Heroes

No matter how things may seem in the beginning, all things that come to pass will be explained in the end; for there is no better time.

Despite all pretenses, all those who own absolute power will be and always were cowards, but were too much in their own minds to admit it.  It was this fact that allows heroes, people who know the risks of there own peril and are terrified of it, yet they still trudge on…to recapture the world.  Though despite the obvious valor that is embedded deeply within the hearts of these heroes, those hearts tire…and die.   And this is why…evil and cowardice rule the world…because no matter the number of heroes…there is always evil…and evil never dies.

Silver moonlight filtered through the courtyard, bouncing off flagstones. It reflected off the armor, molten silver covering the man’s body. He held a woman to him, and both faces were pale from night.  His sword lay against the stone bench she sat on, him kneeling in front of her.  Its blade caught the few gold rays that could just be seen over the line of intermingled air and land. It was gold flame against cold silver. The mix was noxious.

“When must you go?” She stared into eyes that withheld fear and fierce determination. She lay her head on his shoulder, trying to push back thoughts of trepidation.

He brushed a hand over tear stained hair, “Soon.  As the sun rises.”

A resounding thud echoed through the courtyard, filling the room with as much dread as sullen silence. The sun began to fully awake, thin fingers creeping over the horizon, reaching to reclaim its domain that was lost the night previous.

“They come…” Her voice was shrill, laced with tears that let no one know the pain that welled in her heart.

“Yes. Are you afraid?”  The question was nothing but a whisper, but harsh with tears and fright.

“Yes…but for you.” She clutched her to him, molten silver pressed against thin cloth.  It hurt, god it hurt to think she would never do this again.

“No…fear not.” The words were in vain, since no matter what he spoke, they would not help her.

“I try…oh I try…but I cannot help it…I know…” She fell silent as a second thud came echoing to them, shattering whatever calm she could have raised.  Birds took flight against the air, flying away from death and noise.

“I will return…dearest I will…” a piercing cry rang through the night, a third rumble that made the very earth tremble shook dust and earth from everywhere around them.

“I must…I must go.” He brushed away a tear that stained his dirty hand clean.

“I know just…” she connected their lips, a fierce thought of life amongst so much death.  It brought with it heat and the courtyard was suddenly light with the risen sun. He tore away, unable to withhold any more his thoughts of loss.

“I love you…I must…I must…go.” He drew a hand through her hair.

“I know…”

A shrill echo sliced the silence that hung over their heads.  A thud came soon after, softer than almost anything.  Then silence returned. Deadly silence. And pain…so much pain.

“What was that?” She brought a hand to his face, and felt cold sweat.  Pain spread through her stomach, burning a hole through her. She looked down.

A bolt, white as fresh snow was in her stomach, bleeding onto her clothes. Blood was everywhere, everything.  The world spun and she fell to her knees.

“I don’t-” he tottered and fell to his knees, a loud clank of steel and gold. His lips were wet, darkened with blood. “But-” he caught sight of her and looked down. A hole was in him.  A hole torn through him.  A hole in him.

“But-” she fell forward, the world spinning helpless in its speed.

“No-” his hand went to grasp hers, the skin pale stained with red.

“Good-bye” Her grasp was weak, her life weakened. “I love you.”

“I love you…but-” words failed as the light in her eyes was extinguished.  He was dizzy, was there no end, or was there an end that was too much? How to live? She’s gone! I gods.  Am I to go?

He lay back with a gasp, tears washing away dirt and blood from his face. He could no longer live. She was gone. He hadn’t to wait long. Minutes were an eternity.

“Good-bye.” The word was a wisp of sound against the beating of his heart. Breathing was too much work, so hard…so difficult. His eyes fluttered close, he no longer wanted to see the unaltered perfection of the sky. He was no longer here. He was gone. Or was he?