Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
DUTY AND HONOR
ten minutes
"I WANT TO be haunted by every horrible memory I've ever had or forget them all in favor of my golden childhood. I don't think I can take the poison being forced down my throat but then the antidote sinking in just in time over and over," Regulus cried. "I want to be free."
"Well then don't think about the past. Think about now," Senara coaxed.
"I am nothing if I am not my past," he replied solemnly.
"But are you entirely your past?" she asked. "Because from what I know, your past never would have done this. Your past would have let me die."
"Can't you see?" he asked through his welling tears as he grabbed her hand and fiddled with her ring. "That is also selfish of me. Innocent people are dying, so I can be with you."
"People are dying because of this locket?" she whispered.
He nodded solemnly.
"What kind of people?" she asked.
"All sorts," he admitted. "Women, children, families, lovers ..."
She pulled away and gulped. Did this make her selfish too? Did this make her just as guilty?
"You must kill me," she whispered. "It's the only way to get the locket."
"Senara!" he protested. "I'm not-"
"You don't have a choice, Reg!" she cried. "You don't have a choice."
"I-" he whispered.
"Either you're going to do it or I'm going to," she said quietly. "I'm not letting-"
"Senara!" he cried. "Think of all we have!"
"I'm not letting more innocent people die!" she exclaimed. "People who have so much to live for!"
"What about us?" he asked.
"We were cursed from the start," she whispered. "I can't leave here and you can't stay."
"Senara, please," he begged.
"We were passing stars, Regulus," she whispered. "You lit up my universe for the time, but it can't last, not here at least."
"Senara," Regulus protested. "What if I make it? What is life without you?"
"Just the same," she whispered. "Because it's not about me. It's about how you felt about me. And if you carry that on with you, then have I truly died?"
Regulus knew what he had to do, because she was right. They burned brilliantly, but were fading just as quickly.
"What are human being if not a tapestry of everything we've ever felt?" she asked softly. "I will always be there. Right til the end."
"Ok," he whispered as he stood up.
"Have courage and be kind, my love," she said as she got up and he stood opposite her.
Only then did Kreacher stir from the boat.
"Master," he said gruffly. "Kreacher has been observing the water and Kreacher noticed something moving down there."
"Don't ... don't touch the water," she replied. "Whatever you do. Even if you're dying of thirst. Do not touch that water."
"Do you hear that Kreacher?" Regulus asked.
"Yes, master," he said as he gulped.
"Whenever you're ready," she said as she turned to face him.
