Raindrops fell across the earth, pouring from the obsidian heavens. Continuously, the downpour drummed out its beat of sorrow, inspiring depression, and forbidding laughter or joy of any kind.
For Kacy, this seemed entirely appropriate. There was nothing left in this world to be joyous about. The Elven girl sat in a cave, tears streaming down her face, marring her beautiful features. Her golden locks hung down over her eyes. Had they been visible, one would see those beautiful brown orbs drowning in a sea of pink.
Only hours earlier, she and her husband, Tanil, had been walking along the road, heading for her sister’s village. Her wedding was to be the next day, and of course, there was no way that Kacy was going to miss her sister’s wedding. Her sister, Cea, was the closest friend she had, with the exception of Tanil.
Tanil…there was no more Tanil. Her loving husband was gone, dragged off by a patrol of Orc raiders. She had seen it herself, watched as Tanil was bashed over the head by a club, and tossed over the beast’s shoulder roughly. They had looked for her, but she was hidden, where Tanil, her loving Tanil, had shoved her into a bush.
After they had left, she had managed to drag herself to the cave she was in now, crying and moaning in despair. Wistfully, she glanced upon memories of passionate days and nights, wishing she had cherished them more. She wished she had not taken them for granted as she had. Now there would be no more passion. There would be no more love. And thus, her life would continue, without love, without happiness. She would live from day to dreary day, merely living, and not caring. Her life had been taken from her just as Tanil had.
She realized as she sobbed that she would not make her sister’s wedding, for she had not the strength to go on. Irony laughed down at her, finding it amusing that the day before her sister’s wedding, true love had gone out of her life for good.
She missed him so already, and she knew that the pain would only grow. Kacy could hear him calling her, his light tenor breaking the heavy air, lifting a veil from before her. She heard once again the words of the priest pronouncing them man and wife. Tanil. He was calling her again. Through her tears and the golden blur of her hair falling into her eyes, she swore she could see him. Another fit of hysteria encompassed her, and she fell over. Her sides heaved with the pain of losing him. He had been the only one who had ever shown her love. He was calling her still, crying out, reaching out.
She felt strong arms embrace her crumpled form, lifting her and comforting the pain she felt inside. She heard him whisper her name, whisper that everything was all right. She swore it was real, only to deny it immediately, realizing that it was only the grief. A hand caressed her cheek, turning it towards the face of its owner, while another wiped away the tears.
Suddenly, he was there. He was real. Tanil had come back to her, come back from the grave to deliver his message of eternal love posthumously. She embraced him tightly, kissing his cheek repeatedly, and sobbing into his ear. She was a lost lamb who had found her shepherd once again.
Tanil stroked her golden hair, holding her close. He would tell her later, after she calmed down, how he had escaped the jowls of fate. Upon waking, he had found himself being carried through the forest. The fool Orc had not thought to secure his captive, and soon found that his own blade had stabbed him in the back. With only Kacy in mind, Tanil had fought off the remaining duo of Orcs, determined to get back to her.
And so he had. He was back. He would wait a while before telling her of how his love for her had saved him. For now, he just sang to her, soft and sweet. His rich tenor voice filled the air, and for a moment, the darkness of the day was forgotten. Tanil sang of love, of how love was a weakness, and yet a strength. He sang of how, when in love, one could do anything, especially to protect that love.
As he sang, Kacy soaked up the lyrics. It was a song she had too easily forgotten. It was an old Elven song that had been sung at their wedding. Once again, she stared into his eyes as the music washed over her, and she drowned herself in those twin, sapphire orbs. Once again, she vowed that she would cherish him until death came to claim her, knowing that this time she would, indeed, do so. This time, she knew that the chance was there that he would be taken…and so she was able to love him more.
The couple, husband and wife reunited, lay down inside the cave as passion laid claim to their souls once more.