((An Out of Character Post, my final goodbye))

This post is not the usual story post, but an actual out-of-character entry.  It will also be my last entry into this blog.

I want to thank everyone that has read this blog and kept up to date with Faewyn’s story.   I really enjoyed the time I spent on the MUD.  The role playing has been, and probably will always be, one of the best I’ve ever experienced on an actual MUD.   If you know about MUDs and MUSHes, then you’d probably think that one would be wanting to rp on a MUSH, which are usually geared towards RP…  But Dark Isles was different.  It is a MUD that rps like a MUSH, and it is probably the only MUD that exists that offers the in-depth role play that it does.

I just want to make it clear that I do not regret the time I’ve played on it.  I also want to point out that I hope Dark Isles does well in the future and I hope it continues to strive and grow.

I actually needed to walk away before making this post because I was initially angry when I left.  I needed some time to think about what I liked and disliked from the MUD.  Now I’d like to share my thoughts on the matter, for those that care enough to read about them from my point of view.

I’d now like to point out the pros and cons of having played this MUD.

Now, I’ll start with the good points:

If you strive to find role play, but are not fond of MUSHes in general and enjoy a game that has a combat system, along with other coded features, then I highly recommend Dark Isles.   I was looking for a MUD (before I learned about the glory that are MUSHes) that offered mandatory role play and fit a fantasy theme, and this game delivered it.  Not only did it (and probably still does) have a great community of players, but it had (and probably still has) a very dedicated staff.  The staff members really, truly, cared about every single character that is created in the game.  They take the time to read your blog posts (like this one) and they usually, from my experience, helped do all they can to make your game play more enjoyable.  I really liked most of the staff, and some of the players, and as I said I do not regret my time that I spent on the game but I really enjoyed my time in it.

However, the experience of the MUD changed for me and now I wish to point out my dislikes of the game and the final reason why I left.

For one thing, the MUD itself is very strict.  It has rules (like all games), but the structure of them is very…  What’s the word…  Well, let us say that the consequences are very dire.  Now, I’m not talking about OOC rules, but the actual IC choices one makes in the game and what happens when, say…  You break the IC laws.

For example, and this is from what I experienced over a month and a half or so ago, you had to have special permits in order to do simple tasks in order to make a living.  Some examples include gathering materials in the wild, mining, having weapons equipped on your character…  Name something and there is probably a permit designed for it.  If you were caught, in character mind you, breaking one of these permit laws then you’d have to pay (with in-game money) a fine, and sometimes the fee is a hefty one.

Faewyn was accidentally caught with too many harvested goods in her backpacks, so she initially was fined…  What was it…  20 pounds.  A pound was the most valuable coin, and I have forgotten how the economy works, but it was a very deep price to pay.  Only nobles usually could afford it.  Some of my previous blog entries mentioned that Faewyn had to do community service, well that was her way of paying the fine without going to jail.  I have to admit that it was a kind choice and that, despite how miserable it was, it was better than being locked away in a single room with no other character interaction (jail) for a time.  I felt like a RL month of not being able to make money by gathering was torture, but the staff did try to make things easier for Fae, and I also admit that.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you plan to play this MUD, really think about your character’s actions.    If you think you can get away with something, chances are that you will most likely be caught.  It’s like speeding on the highway IRL, if you take a chance and go extremely fast, you’ll most likely get pulled over.

Another point I’d like to make is that this game is not newbie friendly, at least with making money is concerned.   Remember the permits I mentioned?   Well, you need them right as you start your character in order to not break the law.  And a new character, a new player even, has no means of getting money to buy the permits in the first place!  The only option was to depend on the kindness of strangers and new friends you’d meet, which I guess is realistic but it still will make some new players less likely to stick around and try the MUD out.  It is, however, newbie friendly when it comes to the community.  People, and staff, are usually always willing to help you understand the rules and the laws of the city of Seahaven, but…  Just don’t count on them to help you out financially.  If they do, they usually want something in return, like a service of gathering goods or something.

I guess that is all I can think of to say, besides stating the reason why I left.

I was unhappy with where things had gone with Faewyn.   Sure, she was engaged to perhaps the most devoted guy she could ever meet, but OOCly I was not very pleased with the way the role playing was going.  I had to admit that I always wanted Faewyn to stay with Dalindo and I had a secret hope that they’d always be together, but things did not turn out that way.   Dalindo’s player basically left the game, at least that is from what I guess, like how I left.   I wish, to this day, that I could talk to his player and get a understanding of why he didn’t want to play or be with Fae anymore, but I guess I’ll never know.   Cavinaar’s character is a really interesting one and he was a good match for Faewyn, but there were just…  Too much OOC negatives that I don’t really want to discuss in the hopes that I do not bring any negativity to the player.   Things, just didn’t work out for me in the end and I want to apologize to Cavinaar’s player for that.   You’re a good guy, and you were a great friend to talk to, but…  I was not happy, I’m sorry.

What really made the decision of my leaving clear was the fact that Cavinaar’s character ended up in jail (from what I had seen the last time I logged on), and basically had been (and may still be) locked up in jail for at least a full RL month.   That’s a REALLY long time for one to not have any social interaction or game play with anyone.   I discussed this, or rather I complained, to the staff about this on my last day that I logged on (besides the day I just signed on to update this blog listing, which I am betting will be removed, but at least I can get my message out while I still can), but they basically did not listen very well or very much cared.   Now, I can understand being in jail for a week or two at the max, and I would have no problems with that…  But an entire RL month and counting?   That’s just not right.   Cavinaar was Faewyn’s everything in the end, and he was taken away from her.

Now I will state a fault of myself, as a player.   I tend to get heavily attached to my characters.  I also tend to get heavily attached to the other players that I have romantic RP with.   I had to really struggle when Dalindo left, and I learned the hard way that I couldn’t let my feelings get the better of me IRL and that nothing would come from it.   With Cavinaar though I was a little more steady.  I was not as attached to him as I was with Dalindo.   Still, in the end, I had (and still do) always tried to look out for that potential RP partner.  Someone who would be exclusive to me and only RP with me, but I learned (and I am still learning) that I simply cannot find that anywhere.  No one is willing to play like that, at least not any male players that I have come across.   I still hope one day that I can somehow find that, but I am trying to not get my hopes up.

I guess that about wraps it up.   I could state what I’ve been up to since I’ve left.   I basically went and tried MUSHes, mostly fantasy ones…  And at one point I tried out an Adult themed MUSH (which was VERY interesting).   Now currently I am playing an MMORPG (a graphic online computer game).   I will not state which one I am currently playing, but I am still out there.   And no, I am not playing WoW nor will I ever subject myself to it.   I am also writing again, although now my character is different from Faewyn and she has a different name.   I also am hoping I can start doing some art with my new tablet that I received, but I have been enjoying playing this MMORPG too much.

I guess that is everything…   I apologize to everyone that I’ve hurt or brought difficulties to in Dark Isles, and I really do wish the MUD the best.   I hope that the staff could at least read this blog entry and take away something from it.    Logging back on, even for a mere five seconds onto the MUD is going to be extremely difficult for me, but I want to update the blog list and get this message out there.

Thank you for reading and again I apologize for everything.   I’m not going to bother with proof reading this message as I am too tired to do so and I am nearly about to collapse from exhaustion.

If you would like to give this MUD a try, then I encourage you to go to their website at:  http://www.dark-isles.net/

I really do hope Beckett becomes King and that Cavinaar will get out of jail and find a new girl, and that maybe the permit laws will lessen a bit.  I’ll miss all the times where even Faewyn was attacked and nearly killed.  I’ll miss the friends I made and the wonderful RP time I had.

Good bye.

A New Beginning

I did it.

The thought ran across Faewyn’s mind as she stood on the corner of Gate Street, gazing with near disbelief at the new stall that had been placed there. It was built with a well made structure, displaying various jewelry creations upon a blue-green colored table cloth. It was hers. All the work that went into gathering for materials in the forest and on the beach had paid off. The summer’s bounty was kind this year. Now she had a new goal in life. Whether the stall will be successful or not depended on things, but she honestly didn’t care very much about that. She was just proud of the fact that she can now sell her jewelry to the public.

It seemed like only yesterday that she had been struggling just to earn even one silver shilling. Her only skills at the time had been in gathering for goods and produce in the wild and on the beach. That was only about five months ago, when she had first arrived in Seahaven. She was just a girl who had often gone to the beach in search of seashells. It was only when her sharp eyes started to draw in the more high quality shells that she had begun to wonder what else she could have done with herself. Was there more to life than just scavenging?

Yes, there was.

Faewyn knew what she wanted to do when she first learned that jewelry shops had prized seashells and that it was possible to sculpt them into delicate works of art. She remembered the time when it seemed impossible for her to even earn enough coin for a few tools. Now she had nearly the whole collection, right within her bags. It was now possible to even replace her older, more worn out instruments that were used in creating her work.

Who knew that a simple branch that had fallen from a tree could be used to create such distinct wooden pieces? Pendants, bracelets, and even rings could be crafted from a piece of the world that someone else might easily overlook. Faewyn remembered the day when she sat down and pried open an oyster shell, finding her very first pearl. It was the most beautiful thing she had seen. She thought it would just simply be a dream to have accomplished such a feat. And there was another inspiration, the amber from the trees. She never knew that the forest giants could create such a unique and stunning material to work from. Faewyn was often mesmerized by the golden hue of the resin, how even the littlest imperfections could make it special. Now she enjoyed making translucent rings of amber and carving little shapes into them. She made her very first one for Cavinaar. He was her inspiration. Faewyn wanted so much to make him happy, to do something for him that would show him her feelings for him. That was when she made her first ring, carving a tiny figure of a deer upon the band. To her, the deer represented the gentle and loving side of him. It represented his emotions, his dear smiles, and his kindness to her.

Now she was engaged to him, her best friend. Cavinaar was always the most loyal companion, and Faewyn wished that she had met him long before she had gotten together with Dalindo… Even before she had met Beckett. Sometimes she still thought of the two other men. She and Dalindo had quite a history together, but Beckett had not even been given a proper chance.

Faewyn had still beaten herself up over the thought that she broke Beckett’s heart. She had been foolish. There could have been something between him and her. She wondered though if that, too, would not of worked out. From what she had known of Beckett, he was reserved and often quite busy with his work. She still remembered how his gentle voice made her calm and made her heart flutter. He may think of her differently now, but she still held a place for him in her heart.

Things have taken a sudden turn for the Count. He had become one of the five candidates that could possibly become the next King. There were moments when she wanted nothing more than to see him achieve that dream, now though she felt that if he were to become the next ruler that she might break down inside. What was it that bothered her so much about it? Was it the thought that, the next time she would see him again, that he would have the power to change her life, to churn her emotions? He did that already. She tried to hide it well enough the last time she had seen him. Count Beckett was very selfless and helped a young boy during the storm that had brewed over a short time ago. A part of her wanted to think that Beckett simply helped the child in order to gain favor with him for the crown, but she knew better than that. It was his nature to help, she knew that when she had first met him. All he had ever done was try to help her, even when she nearly died in the hospital from having the plague. And how did she repay him? She turned to another man, one who she had thought she had fallen deeply in love with. Perhaps she had been in love. Sometimes, she still wondered if the feelings were true. What was love? Love, to her, can be expressed in many forms. She loved Beckett, Dalindo, and now Cavinaar more differently than the other.

Faewyn’s heart was like the ocean. It was large, vast and able to hold so much. Her heart, though, could also be treacherous.

Why am I thinking of Beckett? What good is it to do so now?

She thought that perhaps she had to prepare herself. Faewyn knew that the Count was meant to rule. To be a King that could possibly bring Seahaven together again. A part of her wanted to see that happen, but a huge piece of her didn’t want to see him in such a position. Was she selfish? Possibly, probably. She didn’t know what she would do if Beckett were to succeed. Faewyn thought that a part of her would shatter. That she’d possibly hate herself.

No, stop it, Faewyn scolded herself within her mind, If Beckett becomes King, then nothing will change. You will both remain strangers and will have nothing to do with the other.

But it was only a matter of time…

Faewyn tried to put the thoughts into the back of her mind. She was engaged now, to Cavinaar, to a wonderful and loving man who was possibly the only one who could tolerate her faults and still remain deeply head over heels in love with her. Cavinaar knew all her secrets. He knows more about her than anyone else in Seahaven could ever know. There was nothing to hide from him. He was her other half, the one destined to fill in her emptiness.

Sometimes it still surprises her that she had ended up being with him. Someone who she tried to think of as a friend, possibly an adopted brother.

Now she will become his wife.

A smile tugged at her lips as she thought of him. Cavinaar was so happy and excited when she accepted his proposal. He began to share ideas with her of what he wanted to do for their wedding. It was true that he and Faewyn were commoners and couldn’t have an official marriage, but at least they could pledge themselves before Ylessa, at the beach. And that is what they will most likely do.

In all honesty, it felt like Cavinaar was the actual enthusiastic bride and that she were the more mellow groom. Was she strange for feeling this way?

She wondered what Dalindo and Beckett will think when they hear of her being engaged. Both will probably not care in the slightest. That was how it should be.

She needed to move on.

Faewyn was going to start a new life with Cavinaar. The stall was just one of many first steps.

What will come next?

A Deep Love

So much had happened since Cavinaar and Faewyn got together. Things were moving so quickly.

It was so amazing to see the transformation that took place within Cavinaar. There was a time when he had been her best friend. He was her best friend. When he had crossed the line and kissed her though, that was when things had drastically changed. Faewyn had seen him as just a boy who had often lost his temper before, but once he kissed her she had seen another side of him. The way his gentle brown eyes looked so deeply into her own, the way he had cradled her face within his hands. It was surreal. She began to see him as a man, one that was capable of loving with every fiber of his being. She had not realized it before, but he had loved her for a long time. A very long time. Even when he attempted to look to her as a sister, he still managed to fall in love with her. Faewyn never truly looked at Cavinaar as her brother though, she was afraid to. Dalindo had tried to look at her as his sister right before she got together with him… But with Cavinaar, she did not want to take any chances. She was afraid that if she thought of him that way that she would surely end up being attracted to him. When she had refused his advances, Cavinaar then took a drastic turn. He began to be cruel to her. It was as if any love and friendship that had come between them had died. Faewyn had to stay devoted to Dalindo though, she was determined to, despite the hardship that would come between her and Cavinaar.

And then eventually, Dalindo had left her. He abandoned her.

Shortly thereafter, Faewyn began returning the feelings she held for Cavinaar. It was thereafter that they became inseparable.

It was true that Faewyn had found it hard to be completely in love with Cavinaar, not the way she had been with Dalindo. It took some time to open her heart completely, to feel the burning passion that sparked for Cavinaar. But now there were no doubts. She was in love with him.

Cavinaar had shown her how much he loved her. He was so romantic with her. There were times when they slow danced at the Two Lions. Then there were times when he would sweep her off her feet.

And then the day came when he couldn’t hold back his true feelings any longer. Faewyn could remember what he said to her.

“I want to always be with you, Faewyn, through everything life may throw at us. No matter where our life takes us, I want to see it through with you by my side. I want to be yours forever and I never want to be without you. Will you marry me, Faewyn?”

Faewyn had doubts before on the idea of being married to Cavinaar. But as she grew to love him deeply, she felt the same way about him. That it was so right.

She said yes.

An End

It was over.

Dalindo had left Faewyn.

It was true that the loneliness, and the pain of him not loving her, was beginning to torment her and she had thought about letting him go, but he had gone and ended the relationship first.

She had to hear it from another person’s mouth. It was of Cavinaar’s. She remembered his words.

“I saw Dalindo this morning. Figured you should know that he considers your relationship over.”

Her chest had never felt such a great pain before. Not like it had done that night. She had tried her best to sleep, but her mind kept thinking about Dalindo.

Shortly after that day, Faewyn had seen Dalindo at the crossroads. He was distant and cold. He wouldn’t even speak to her until she had yelled at him and chased him down when he simply tried to walk away from her. One of his braids had slapped against her arm. It stung almost as much as the heartbreak she felt.

In the end, he requested that she organize his belongings that he left behind to her. To give his coat to Cienwyn. To give his carpentry tools to Dencity. Everything else was left up to Faewyn to decide. She thought that it was extremely unfair to have been placed with this responsibility. He could of taken the things back. In the end though, he had given up on himself.

Dalindo gave up on life.

It took her another day to realize that she was suddenly free from any ties to him. Of any man. Faewyn couldn’t help though but long for someone to love her. She was in need of it. The loneliness was killing her.

She had been dealing with mixed emotions for another man for quite some time, even before Dalindo had broken up with her. Faewyn cared about this man, but yet while she was still with Dalindo, the man had gone and stepped over his boundaries and kissed her. Three times. She had to push him away. Faewyn had to stay devoted to Dalindo. Now, nothing could stop her any longer.

Faewyn had lead Cavinaar to the beach, the place where Ylessa’s domain rested. She was the mother of the sea and of love and Faewyn needed her to guide her heart.

It was there that Faewyn kissed Cavinaar. It was a soft brushing of her lips, but she wanted to treat the man delicately. He had been heartbroken before. By her and especially by his lost love, Elana. It did not take him long to give in to her and to start kissing her back. Faewyn knew, even before then, that she wanted to make Cavinaar happy. It was a deep desire for her. She felt in her heart that she could possibly love him. He was always so good to her. He was always there when she was in trouble, it seemed. Cavinaar was by her side numerous times. He was always so loving and so gentle with her. He was also a helpless romantic. Surely it was a good match?

But something kept tugging at her heart. It was the part of her that still held a place for Dalindo. No matter how hard she tried, even when she had given herself intimately to Cavinaar, her heart kept haunting her. She tried to hide away the thoughts, the feelings she still had.

Later on, Cavinaar had agreed to take Faewyn to the Wayside inn while he wanted to go and hunt for demons. He refused to take her along, perhaps in fear that she would get hurt. He wanted to leave her in the inn, where she would be relatively safe. They were just about to walk inside the place when Faewyn suddenly noticed something odd about the campfire nearby. There was an object glistening amongst the embers, and it burned brightly in a hot orange glow. She peered closer into the flames, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to determine what the object was. Suddenly, she realized what the item was that was left burning within the fire. It was an intricately worked wrought iron key. The key that she had given to Dalindo. Faewyn clasped her hands over her mouth, her eyes widening upon the discovery.

Cavinaar looked at Faewyn at that moment, a curious expression appearing on his face as he glanced at the campfire and then back at her, giving a shrug and then saying, “It’s just a campfire, Faewyn.”

Faewyn shook her head steadily and pointed at the key that burned within the flames. Her heart felt like it had busted open, bleeding inside her. The sadness and hurt flooded her emotions. She never felt so betrayed. She looked up from the flames and immediately darted her eyes around in the darkness of the night, and she begun to feel the tears form as she said, “I can’t believe it.”

“What is it?” Cavinaar asked Faewyn, his gaze following her finger as it pointed towards the fire. It didn’t seem to take him very long to spot the object, “The key?”

Her voice trembled as she spoke, her watery eyes looking down once more into the flames of the campfire, “I gave that to him. I gave it to him right after he got out of the hospital. He… I didn’t think he’d just throw it away?” Faewyn clenched down on her teeth as she then buried her face within her hands and began to sob, “I can’t believe he’d do this.”

Cavinaar gently guided her to one of the benches nearby, sitting down beside her as he said, “Remember the day I said I had seen him?” He then nodded his head towards the campfire, “I think that was when he threw it in there.” Cavinaar then gently took her hand as he added, “Not everyone ends things the same way, Faewyn.”

Faewyn continued to cry heavily, soon looking back into the flames and upon the key that burned there. She then slowly lowered her hands to her knees, grasping at the blue and white fabric of her skirt as she said in a bitter voice, “He could of given it back to me. I would of understood.” The feeling of anguish and pain then began to take over, her voice deepening as she continued to stare down at the key, “First he agrees to fight in that duel. Then he tries to kill himself.” She then started to yell, at no one in particular, “Then he goes crazy on me and decides that he doesn’t believe in love! And then he leaves his belongings with me, expecting me to deal with it! And now this!?” Faewyn’s breath quickened and her deep hazel eyes began to burn with flames that were not coming from the campfire itself.

Cavinaar just continued sitting with her, letting her have her outburst before he looked back into the fire and then back to the girl once more, speaking with a sympathetic tone of voice, “Would you like me to get it for you, Faewyn?”

She didn’t take her eyes off of the key, just staring as the item that she thought was precious to her just burn away. A strange, cruel smile then formed upon Faewyn’s lips as she said, “I could take all of his things, all of his things, and just throw them in the fire! … But he wouldn’t give a damn. He never gave a damn about me or anything. He just wants to throw away his life. He threw me away and he is just going to throw everything else away, like it never mattered to him.”

“Well, now you have someone that does give a damn,” Cavinaar said to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he continued to sit there on the bench with her.

Indeed, I do have you, Cav. You’re all I ever needed… Yet, why am I still thinking of Dalindo? Her fiery hazel eyes flickered in thought as she remained still, letting Cavinaar hold her as she trembled with rage that she tried very hard to suppress. Faewyn remained silent as she continued to stare at the flames for a long time. Soon, she slowly rose from the bench and just stood there for several moments before she quickly pulled off her cloak and threw it over the campfire. She then promptly began to put out the flames with a stomping of her foot, even if she could feel the intense heat through her sandals.

Cavinaar stood up and picked up the cloak and began to move Faewyn away from the fire, “Step back, dear. I’ll get it.”

She didn’t seem willing to back down, but in the end she forced herself to turn away and look off into the darkness beyond the camp.

He gently pulled Faewyn back a few steps before he lowered himself down to a kneeling position. Cavinaar stared at the intricately worked iron key for a long moment before he raised his hand and moved it swiftly, in what seemed to be a blur, into the fire and pulled out the key. He dropped it onto the ground, in order to let it cool, before he stood up and moved back to her. He turned her towards him and embraced her, “I’m sorry, dear, that things came to this with him.”

As Cavinaar held her, Faewyn lowered her head. Her eyes were still filled with tears as she just stared down at the ground and remained still, her arms resting by her sides.

Cavinaar continued to hold her for a long time, for several minutes, before he proceeded to put her cloak back on her. He then lifted up her chin within a crook of his finger as he looked her in the eye and said, “He is your past, dear, something you cannot change.”

Faewyn remained quiet as Cavinaar attempted to soothe her. Her eyes met his very briefly before she looked off past him and back into the night beyond the campsite. She then gently pulled herself away, turning to look at the key that was lying on the ground. Faewyn crouched down steadily and picked it up and stood back up as she quietly turned the key over in her delicate hands. Her fingertips lightly brushed at the blackened, charred surface of it and traced its familiar shape.

It was at this point that Cavinaar moved away from her, standing over by an apple tree that stood nearby.

Several thoughts ran through Faewyn’s head, How can Dalindo do this to me? How could he have abandoned me like this? Why does my chest still hurt? Where is Dalindo now? Why did I ever fall in love with him? Why did I stay with him for so long? What should I do with this key? It hurts to look at it. And then suddenly realized what she wanted to do with the key. She continued to stare at the object as she then said to Cavinaar, “I have to go… To the beach.”

“It won’t bring him back, Faewyn,” Cavinaar said as he looked at her with a slightly pained gaze and then turned away to stare out into the night.

“I don’t want him,” Faewyn said with a cold voice, which was more directed towards the subject. She then rummaged in one of her backpacks and pulled out an unlit torch, thinking to herself, Did I just lie?

“Please, don’t go,” Cavinaar plead to her in a calm, but firm, voice as he placed his hand upon the apple tree and looked down at the ground. He then looked back out towards the north as he said, “I know it hurts, Faewyn… Believe me, I know. But I am asking you not to go.”

Faewyn looked up at Cavinaar, for the first time in a long while that evening with tears still lingering in her eyes. She was still angry and felt extremely tense, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she could get over Dalindo. She wondered if she could ever stop thinking about him. She then asked Cavinaar in a serious tone of voice, “Would you come with me? Would you take me there?”

Cavinaar then pulled out his lantern, lighting it as he took her by the hand and began to lead her away and towards the beach. His eyes were full of love and of sympathy, and Faewyn thought that she would die if he continued to look at her in that way.

It was some time later that the pair arrived at the eastern beach. Cavinaar let go of Faewyn’s hand and moved off towards a boulder on the shore.

Faewyn glanced over in his direction for a moment, her hand grasping at the air where his hand had just been a few moments before. She then looked down to in her other hand, uncurling her fist as she gazed down at the key that she held. She tried to clear her mind as she set her eyes out towards the dark horizon and began to walk towards the waves. She stopped once the water reached just below her knees and she raised the key up to her eyes, looking it over carefully.

Her heart, all of it, had gone into obtaining this key when she had first rented that room at the boarding house. Faewyn thought that she and Dalindo could have been happy there. The bed was all they had ever needed. She took some time to remember the good things about Dalindo. How caring he was. How warm he had appeared to be. How he had tried to take care of her. The way he made love to her and how he always kissed her everytime she screamed with ecstasy. Her heart beat heavily and it was still in pain. She wondered then if she could ever love another person the way she loved Dalindo. Faewyn began to fear that, perhaps she would have a hard time doing so with Cavinaar. She wanted to try, to give him a chance. But there was something still pulling her back. Cavinaar was… Emotional, like she was when she was with Dalindo. Cavinaar sort of reminded her of herself, and that began to scare her. She wondered if her heart would ever heal. She pondered whether she could get used to the way that Cavinaar always wanted reassurance from her. Of her love, of her devotion. It was understandable, he had been hurt before and she knew, and was deeply afraid, that in the end she could bring pain to Cavinaar again. Her chest then felt empty, the pain growing numb. Was it her feelings for Cavinaar that were doing this?

What am I going to do? Faewyn thought, nearly panicking, as she took a few moments to breathe. She then looked back out towards the sea, feeling the waves beat heavily against her legs as she put all her feelings for Dalindo within the key and then, with a swift motion, threw it out into the ocean and into Ylessa’s hands. As Faewyn began to turn back towards the shore, she still felt an aching in her chest. Could she go on? To start anew with Cavinaar?

Was this fair? Was this really right?

Her doubts made her feel terrible. She wanted the feelings to end and quickly.

A Mistrust

The trees stood like giants, towering over the ground with their imposing figures. They seemed to stare down and judge anyone and anything that would come across them. The wood was fairly quiet that day, the only sounds were the wind whispering through the trees and of Faewyn’s footsteps as she tread lightly through the forest.

It had been about ten days since she got in trouble with a cloak, accused of breaking the gathering permit law for having stored too much material from the wood within her backpack. Faewyn couldn’t prove her innocence in the matter and she now had to live with her punishment. One month of community service within the wood. She would be credited three shilling per day for helping plant trees, clean up trails, and fill in holes. A month of working off her debt seemed like a long time, an eternity for Faewyn. Every single day when she woke up, she would head to the woods in the west and she would spend a few hours working. Despite the fact that she was no longer allowed to gather for goods (or even her beloved seashells) for the time being, she had still kept training her sharp eyes and looked out for any dangers that may lurk in the forest. She knew, from her experience in the past, that there were demons around that were just waiting for any unsuspecting person to come along and fall prey to them. She would never let that happen to her again. If it did, her new dagger that she kept on her belt would allow her to defend herself.

Things couldn’t have gotten any worse for Faewyn. Unfortunately though, that was not the end. She went against Dalindo’s wishes and told Dayne, the cloak that had punished her for breaking the permit law, what had happened between her and Cavinaar. Somehow, she must of used the wrong choice of words because the cloak suddenly felt that she was accusing her former friend of attempting to rape her. That was clearly not her intention. When she tried to explain to Dayne that Cavinaar wasn’t trying to rape her, the cloak fined her ten shillings for making a ‘false report.’ Faewyn thankfully had enough coin to pay for the charge, but the abuse she endured was beyond repair. Dayne went so far as to call her a ‘manipulative bitch.’ The words stung her, so deeply. She never thought anyone could think so ill of her. Faewyn had lost her complete faith with the cloaks, or the rangers for that matter.  They proved to her that they could not give a damn for her feelings, or for anyone else’s.  She knew now that there would be few people that she could tell her problems to. Dalindo was perhaps the only one who would listen to her.  It really meant something, and he was always honest with her.

As she crouched down and began clearing away foilage and fallen branches from a forest path, she couldn’t help but feel just a little bitter about the way her life was going. Faewyn just had to keep her mind busy, to keep herself occupied, and try not to dwell on her problems and just let them settle into the past.

She could make new friends perhaps. Maybe one day she could come face to face with Cavinaar and they could resolve their differences. It was unlikely at this point. She couldn’t help but feel terrible for him. He was alone now and, in a way, she had betrayed him. Faewyn felt he was desperate to have someone to hold onto and unfortunately he tried to take her away from Dalindo. The kisses were, indeed, forced. She thought so in her mind. All those times, before she would push Cavinaar away, she had tried to think that it was Dalindo that was kissing her and not of her former friend. Was it wrong?

She turned away a man that had fallen deeply for her, and yet she chose to stay with another man that no longer believed in love.

Things would never be the same again. 

A Broken Promise

Dalindo finally woke up. Faewyn took him out of the clinic as soon as he was recovered enough. He acted strange. He seemed to be lost and broken, and he was even in a state of mind of where he couldn’t remember who she was. It was very upsetting for Faewyn, but she pulled through it and kept going and eventually, after taking Dalindo to her room at the boarding house, he eventually came back to his senses. He then slept in the bed for a long time, a very long time until he was fully healed. All that remained of his stab wound to his stomach was a scar, one of many to add to his collection upon his body.

When he had awakened, Faewyn was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking deeply troubled. A lot had happened to her since Dali had been resting.

For one, Faewyn was caught and questioned by a cloak named Dayne for her having a backpack full of gathered materials from the forest when she had only a level one gathering permit for the area. She never did take more than she was suppose to for each day she gathered, but she kept everything within her backpack and let the goods build up over the course of several days. She knew she should of known better, but it was too late. She was charged ten pounds for the violation, and she, of course, could not pay it. Faewyn had to choose whether she wanted to serve her sentence in jail or do community service. She chose the latter, of course. Unfortunately, the community service runs for a course of four weeks and, until that time has passed, she was not allowed to gather or to work at a craft at all until then. She had no way of earning money to feed herself and to pay her rent until then. That, however, was the least of her problems.

There was more serious trouble, something far more concerning, and she felt she had to tell Dalindo. She always wanted to be honest with him, to be truthful about everything.

She grew extremely tense with worry, and of fear, as she spoke in a very serious tone of voice to Dalindo, “I need to talk to you, it’s very important.”

He sat up in bed, in an indian style position as he looked briefly confused. He nodded and murmured, “Speak then, Fae. Easier ta let it out then beat ‘roun the bush.”

Faewyn sat down beside Dalindo as she took his hand and rubbed her thumb gently over his knuckles. She then took a deep breath and began talking, “It’s Cavinaar. He… He lost Elana. She left him, you see. He’s been very upset since then. And,” she looked fearfully into Dalindo’s eyes as she continued, “He became infatuated with me and he… He tried to force himself on me. He tried kissing me… Three times,” her lips tightly pressed together, “I pushed him away all three times, and we are not on speaking terms any longer. He has apparently left Seahaven, but then he came by here last night… Knocking on the door. When I opened it, he tried giving me this pound.” She then reached into a small bag that was attached to her belt, pulling out the single silver coin and holding it within the palm of her hand, “I tried to throw it back at him, but he left before it could reach him. I… I can’t take it any more. I’m going to speak with the cloaks about this. I just… I just wanted to let you know, because I love you so much and I want to always be honest with you. I also don’t want you to get the wrong idea…” She then stopped and closed her eyes to embrace herself for Dalindo’s reaction.

Dalindo remained silent for a moment, shaking his head before he said, “Keep the pound. Keep the cloaks outta it. ‘ll talk with Cavinaar. Mean time, stay back from him. Remind him I ain’ dead, an’ he isn’ Kelindel,” he then squeezed Faewyn’s hand, “He’s a good man. Jus’ confused. Let me talk with em firs’.”

“Someone may have gone to the cloaks already… I personally haven’t yet, but… It may be too late,” Faewyn said as she looked up into Dalindo’s eyes, attempting to read his reaction, “You are not angry or upset with me, are you..?”

He shook his head, a tired expression crossing his features, “’m tireda bein angry.” He then gave a strained grin as he took Faewyn’s hand, brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of it.

Faewyn let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes as her hand was kissed. It was the first time that Dalindo had ever made such a romantic gesture, and having her hand kissed was something that deeply moved her. It made her want to melt right then and there. She then took his own hand and softly brushed her lips against his knuckles before she leaned in towards him and gave his right, branded, cheek a tender kiss and murmured, “I love you.”

“Lotta work tado,” Dalindo murmured suddenly and then attempted to climb out of the bed. As he stood up, his trench coat opened up and the scar that formed from his injury to his stomach was made visible.

Faewyn became troubled by his reaction to her words and said, “Dali… Why didn’t you respond to me back? Are you not happy with me?” She paused, attempting to suppress the tension that was flooding her body as she reached down into her bag again and pulled out a single iron key, not waiting for his response before she added, “This is yours. It is the key to this room. If… If you still wish to be with me, please take it.”

Dalindo looked down at the key and squeezed his fist around it and said, “I wanna stay, but more, I gotta. ‘m so worried ‘ma mess up. ‘ve broken most alla the promises ‘ve made lately, an’ I haven’ ment too. I even planned on dien, couldn’ keep a promise ta m’self…’ma failure, an’ I gotta make this last thin’ work. Ya migh’ thin’ I don’ love ya, but I never thin’ I foun’ out what love is. Affection isn’ love. But I thin’ it leads there. We’ll have ta see…’m jus’ not sure.”

Color drained from Faewyn’s face as she became stunned by his words, “… What are you saying..?  That you don’t love me..?”

Dalindo’s expressions looked sad, confused and still tired, all at once, “’m sayin I care fer ya, but I don’ thin’ ‘ve found what love is. ‘m jus’ a failure tha’ won’ ever figgure anythin’ out. Not yer fault, mine.” He made no move to walk away from her but only gazed down sadly upon her.

Faewyn raised her hands up to her face, burying herself in them as a feeling of despair rippled through her, “… After all we’ve been through. You… You promised me. I- I can’t believe this.”

“‘m not leavin,” Dalindo said softly and sighed as he squat down in front of her, “I gotta stay with ya. Yer all I got left ‘sides work. But ‘m sayin that I don’ know what love is. ‘m answerin ya honestly. ‘m confused about everythin’ in my life, an’ feal broken. I need time ta think. ‘ma go out fera walk. ‘ll leave m’stuff here so ya know ‘m comin back.” He then kissed Faewyn lightly on the lips, rose back up to his feet and turned away, walking out the door without saying another word.

Faewyn continued to sit there on the bed, still feeling completely shocked. She felt so confused and uncertain of everything.

He wants to stay with me, and yet… He doesn’t love me. Not yet at least, she thought to herself as she reached up and wiped away at her eyes as they began to fill with water, What am I going to do? What if he decides in the end that he can’t love me after all? I can’t… I can’t believe he broke his promise to love me always. Am I a fool? He said he is broken, but can I help mend him? There is… Still hope. She then made a decision, I need to give Dali time. Show him that I love him, but not try to force him to feel the same way back. … What am I saying? This doesn’t make any sense. Nothing does anymore. Am I smothering him? Will my feelings for him push him away? Faewyn feared the last thought most of all amongst the others.

Will he leave me in the end?

A Trench Coat

It had been several days, perhaps a week, since Faewyn had last seen Dalindo. He was still in the clinic, sleeping every time she had gone to check on him. She wished that she could rest so easily. Faewyn knew eventually that she would be able to speak with him again and she would try her best to remain patient until that day comes.

In the meantime, she tried to keep herself busy. She had worked long and hard to save enough coin and was able to get a hold of a couple of gathering permits. One for the forest and another, most importantly, for the beach. Faewyn risked it and unlawfully gathered oyster shells and other such things from the beach before then. She didn’t like to break the law, but she didn’t have any choice in the matter. Now though, she can rest a little easier. When the rangers do decide to wander onto the beach and ask for her permit, she would gladly show it to them.

Faewyn stood alone in her room at the boarding house, staring blankly at the wardrobe that sat in the corner. The furniture piece was tall and crafted from a dark wood. It was lightly scratched and were left with dent marks from the constant use by other people that had stayed in this room before she came along. She had not used it very much and had often kept the wardrobe closed. She did, however, use it for one purpose.

She slowly pulled the doors of the wardrobe open and looked inside. All that was stored within it was a long, floor-length trench coat. It was made of a sturdy, black leather and it hung a few inches below where the wearer’s ankle would be. It had buckles in the front that fastened together and a large hood was attached.

It was Dalindo’s coat. It looked lost and alone and that was exactly how she had felt at that moment.

She hesitated before she reached inside and gently pulled the trench coat off of its hanger and held it safely within her arms. She continued to hold it there to her breast, as if she were a child that was clung to a security blanket. Faewyn fondly remembered all the times where she had seen Dalindo when he was wearing it. Even with the hood up, she could still recognize him by the shape of his body and by the sight of the trench coat itself. It represented his independence, his ruggedness, and of his mystery.

Flashes of a memory swept Faewyn, of herself running to Dalindo as he opened his arms out to her. He held his coat open once, so that she could be wrapped within it as he embraced her. She could still feel his arms holding her.

Faewyn didn’t want to be apart from Dalindo any longer. He may still be recovering in the clinic and may not be fully responsive to her, but at least she could keep a hold of his belongings that he had left behind since the duel.

She held the coat out in front of her, studying it more fully before she made her decision of what she wanted to do with it. She then carefully pushed one of her arms through the sleeve and then proceeded to insert the other through its twin. Her slender hands slowly peeked out from beneath the edges of the sleeves and the collar draped snugly around her long neck. Faewyn enveloped herself within the coat, letting out a deep breath as it weighed down upon her shoulders. The inside of it felt very soft, almost like wool, and it still held Dalindo’s scent. The scent of a man that she thought she would never come to love.

Faewyn decided then that she would not take off the coat again, not until Dalindo was recovered enough to ask for it back. She didn’t know how he would feel about her wearing it, but she didn’t care. It made her feel warm and protected, as if he was still holding her.

With that, she reached up and pulled the trench coat’s large hood over her head, letting it mask her face in shadow. She gathered her backpacks and then swiftly exited the room, proceeding to live another day.

A Key

Why?

The question flooded Faewyn’s mind, amongst many others, as she laid down upon a large bed. The mattress was soft, lightly cushioning her lithe body as she rested on top of the thick woolen blanket. It was comfortable enough for her needs. The room itself was cozy and it gave her a homey feel. The late day’s sunlight basked her from the tall window, providing a glowing warmth for her. Speckles of dust floated within its light, dancing on air.

This was Faewyn’s new home. It was a small room at the boarding house on the north side of Seahaven, but it was good enough for her. She couldn’t stay at the Two Lions any longer. She didn’t want anything to do with Captain Kelindel, her former landlord, ever again.

But he showed mercy, The thought popped into her head, and she tried to push it away.

The duel was held that early morning. She had gotten to the arena just in time before it started. She had been waiting for Dalindo to find her first, but something in her told her that she had to seek him out. And she found him, facing off against Captain Kelindel. Faewyn tried to reason with Dalindo, even tried to get him to at least put on the boots that she had bought for him but he refused them. He removed most of his possessions from himself; his trench coat, his tools, nearly everything but his pants and the sash he wore around his waist. He then said out loud that he wanted the coat to go to Cien and the tools to go to another woman named Dencity. That was when Faewyn knew that there was no hope. He had made his decision, to give up his life in order to have a chance to fight with the Captain.

Dali, you idiot… You fool. Why did you do it? Faewyn wanted desperately to know, and she thought that she would never find out.

She remembered the way the Captain’s blade struck Dalindo, running it through his stomach. Dalindo didn’t seem to care, he seemed like he wanted it to end that way. He didn’t even acknowledge Faewyn, brushing off the kiss she gave him right before the duel started. It was, perhaps the last kiss that she would ever share with him, and he just threw it away. She watched him as he was dying, right before her eyes and she was powerless to do anything. The Captain, though, surprised her greatly.

Kelindel drew his sword to Dalindo’s throat and gave him a choice. To either sink his neck into the blade, or to yield. In the end, Dalindo chose to yield. He seemed reluctant to do so, but he did it. The relief that washed over Faewyn was like nothing she had ever experienced. She would have been happy, extremely overjoyed that Dalindo was alive, if it were not for the way he acted towards her.

She didn’t know whether it was because he was dying and was in a great amount of pain, or if he intentionally wanted to ignore Faewyn, she wasn’t sure. Even as he was taken to the clinic in Seahaven, he was mostly not responsive.

Cavinaar, perhaps her greatest friend, was the one who helped deliver Dalindo to the clinic. He was there with Faewyn as he tried to talk some sense into Dalindo. She tried to speak to Dalindo as well, even being hard on him and letting out her frustration, but he didn’t respond. All he wanted though was to rest, and eventually she realized that nothing would be explained or done until he recovered. She then decided that she will give him time. Time to clear his head. Time to heal. Time to realize the mistakes he made.

Time to realize what he was doing to her.

Her heart ached, felt empty. It wasn’t just the fact that she had recently been attacked again and had been stabbed in the chest, but she felt her heart slowly break.  The stitches at the wound remained, but the pain in her heart was greater.  It was like she was grieving for him, as if he were dead. But he wasn’t dead. He had been given another chance.

Does Dali still love me..? The thought crept into her, haunting her as she reached down into her small bag that was attached to her belt and pulled out two identical iron keys.  They were the keys to her new room at the boarding house.   She held them in the palm of her slender hand, her eyes shifting from one and to the other.

I’ll give him one of these keys, Faewyn thought, If he still desires to live. If he still desires me.

She rolled over onto her side and gazed out the window as the day’s light began to fade and turn into shadow. Faewyn held the keys to her heart and prayed.

Please Ylessa, please help Dali make the right decision.

A Prayer

Faewyn couldn’t believe it. She wished that it was a nightmare. But the reality hit her and she felt like she was being swallowed by the sea. An ocean of her darkest dreams.

The High Captain Kelindel, her landlord, had challenged Dalindo to a duel. Possibly a duel to the death.

She sat there on the cream-colored velvet couch in the library, her slender hands clutching onto a pair of sturdy, brown leather boots that rested in her lap. Her fingertips lightly traced over the shape of them, wanting to memorize what the texture of the leather felt like. She had saved up all of her coin and decided to buy the boots to give to Dalindo, whenever she would see him again. He had been going around while being bare footed and she didn’t want him to go into battle without a decent pair of boots. It was perhaps a crazy thought, but she didn’t care. She had to do something, anything to help Dalindo.

Faewyn was angry. Furious even. She could not stand the thought that he had been so impulsive as to stand up to the Captain. What was he trying to prove? He said that he didn’t care whether the duel was to be fought to the yield or to the death, but what about her? Did he not care for her? Does he not love her and think about how she would feel if he were to die? She thought that he could change, that he could not get into trouble again, but that has now proven to be wrong.

Faewyn lowered her head, her pained gaze falling upon the boots in her lap as she thought of what else could be done. She searched within herself for awhile, before she came to a realization. There are gods, six of them, that would be willing to listen to her or even to help her in some way. One particular goddess stood out amongst the others within her mind. Ylessa, goddess of the sea, of love, of birth, fertility, of reincarnation.

Of course! Faewyn cried out within her head, I could pray to her. She then closed her eyes tightly and began her prayer.

I haven’t prayed to a god or a goddess before, but I have decided to put my faith into you, Ylessa. Dalindo, my love, will most likely be dueling Captain Kelindel today and it may very well end in death for him. I am praying, to you, to please save Dali from death. I pray that Kelindel will not strike the final blow to him if and when he defeats Dali. And, if Dali were to die, I pray that you will bring him back to me. That you will put some sense into his head and make him realize that I need him, and that he needs me. Please, I beg you, don’t let Dali die. Save him.

Faewyn then began to wonder if Dalindo would allow her to wish that he could be reborn again, if he were to perish. She had promised him that she would move on, find someone else if he were to die, but she didn’t want his life to end like this

She feared she’d have to break the promise after all.

An Ocean Bath

Life.

The word burned into Faewyn’s head as she walked along the beach with Dalindo. It was not raining, for once, and the blue sky held very little clouds. No longer were they gray, at least on this particular day, and Faewyn felt a little relieved. That feeling of relief though was short lived.

It had been several days since the attack. Faewyn thought that she was completely safe in Seahaven, that everyone she had met meant no harm towards her. How wrong she was. How deeply naive she had become. She had been to the docks many times. She didn’t think it could have been a dangerous place, no matter what time of the day it was. Faewyn went there one night, to sell the seashells to the man with the sign who would buy anything and everything. She didn’t think it was strange when a woman had approached her, even if her hood was raised to mask her face in shadow. The conversation that followed seemed innocent enough. The woman asked Faewyn about the oyster shells that she was selling, how they could contain pearls that the woman wanted to buy. She said she was a jeweler, and Faewyn was intrigued, since she had interest in learning how to make jewelry herself. The woman even offered to take Faewyn to Milford, to help her get a hold of the tools needed to make jewelry. It didn’t occur to Faewyn how suspicious the woman was acting, not until another woman had approached them and started accusing the hooded woman of being a murderer, a spy. And then, suddenly, the women changed their forms. The horror struck Faewyn so heavily as the women took her away to the pier, where they…

Faewyn tightly shut her eyes, putting the images away to the back of her mind as she and Dalindo stopped at a clear area upon the beach. Dalindo paused as he turned to her, speaking softly as he asked, “Thisa good spot, ‘r do ya gotta certain one yer lookin fer?”

“This is fine,” Faewyn replied as she stepped away from Dalindo’s side, her attention fully drawn upon her surroundings.

The glittering white sand felt dry beneath her bare feet, comforting her as she looked out upon the waves, which rolled in at a calm pace upon the shore. The sound lured Faewyn as she then turned her back to Dalindo and reached down to pull up the skirt of her long, gray woolen dress. Bandages were wrapped around her tiny waist, covering the majority of her abdomen. She slowly removed them, revealing a long slashing cut right below her belly button, which had been properly stitched up. It still hurt to walk, but Faewyn was slowly getting used to the pain. She then reached up to her neck, lightly brushing her fingertips over yet more bandages and gently pulled them away, showing a small cut that had been applied to the right side of her neck, near the vein. It, too, was stitched up. Faewyn could remember how it felt, when the blood heavily flowed from it. How that woman’s mouth suckled at the wound…

Faewyn shuddered as she began to recall that night. The most horrific night of her entire life. She tried to suppress it to the back of her mind as she held out the used bandages to Dalindo, asking him with a faint smile, “Hold these for me, please.”

“I’ll hold on ta em.” Dalindo assured her, nodding once as he held the bandages with his right mangled hand and grinned.

She gave him a loving gaze, her deep hazel eyes flickering as she murmured, “Thank you,” in a soft voice. Faewyn then looked out towards the sea and began to slowly walk into the water, the waves crashing against her long and slender legs.

The water felt extremely cold, surprising her for a couple of brief moments before she continued to journey deeper in, letting the sea reach up to slightly above her hips. She took a deep breath and then suddenly submerged herself beneath the surface. The sea water briefly stung at her wounds, but the pain quickly dulled away. Faewyn thought she could stay under forever, and was slightly tempted to as she felt of being one with the ocean. Eventually though, she had to come up to breathe. She swiftly shot herself upward, gasping deeply as she took in a lungful of the air. A sharp hiss through clenched teeth followed as she felt the wound upon her stomach ripple with pain when she moved. Slowly, the pain subsided once more and she reached up and began to wipe away the ocean water from her eyes. Her breathing began to slow as she reached down and cupped her hands together, gathering water within them and bringing it to her mouth. She doesn’t drink the salty liquid, but just splashed it upon her lips.

I feel the blood on me still, Faewyn thought to herself as she tried to wash it away, soon bringing handfuls of water to her injury upon her neck and then slowly dipping her stomach underneath the surface to let it soak.

“Ya alrigh, love?” Dalindo’s voice called out to her, sounding quiet but loud enough nevertheless to be heard from over the waves.

“I could still feel her… On me.” Faewyn spoke out in a calm, but trembling voice, speaking as loud as she can muster, “Her bloody lips against mine. I had to wash it away, and the sea water helps heal wounds.” She slowly turned within the water to face Dalindo, who was still standing upon the shore. Faewyn managed to give a small smile despite everything.

“She kissed ya?” Dalindo asked with a confused look striking his rugged face, “I get the blood drinkin, but why would they strip ya an’ kiss ya?” His voice grew into an agitated tone as he spoke, turning away from her as he began to pace.

Faewyn’s lips twitched between a smile and then to a frown and back again as she, too, felt extremely confused. She was indeed forced to strip before her attacker and was indeed kissed after the woman had drank her blood. Faewyn could remember the coppery taste of her own blood that lingered in her mouth afterward, and it disgusted her. She then started heading back to the shore, the waves once more colliding to her legs and pushing her to the dry sand. The sand clung to her wet feet and Faewyn didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that she was soaked from head to toe. Once she had approached Dalindo, she replied, “I don’t know…”

“I don’ eather.” Dalindo murmured to her and took her into his arms, all the while making sure to keep the bandages held within his mangled hand. He seemed to not have a problem of being soaked from embracing her sea drenched body.

She buried her face into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck.  Faewyn silently clung to him and began to cry.

“Awe now.  None of that.” Dalindo murmured gently within her ear as he began to soothingly stroke her back, “Please don’ cry.”

Faewyn’s body jerked lightly as she tried to hold back any further sobs, responding in a choked voice, “I thought I was going to die, that I would not see you again.”

I’m so glad that Dalindo is here with me now. I missed him so much, She thought as she continued to hold onto him, I wish we could spend more time together. I hope he can protect me for now on…

Dalindo fell silent as he continued to rub his hands up and down her back. He then said, “Yer fine now though… Sshhh, jus’ thin’ of this momen’, not what happened. ‘m here.”

 And the thought and the feeling of Dalindo holding her, protecting her, dwelt heavily in her mind and continued to do so afterward that day. She felt safe within his arms and she never wanted to let him go.