Sunflowers --- Lady Maria (BloodBorne)

SUNFLOWERS - Oneshot

It all happened so suddenly when the Hunters Dream enveloped them all. Talia was away. She dreaded the fact that she was gone, that she was unable to witness the crumbling of the church and the turn of the beast men. She can't help but grit her teeth as she cuts down the once-civilized men and women. She wasn't there, wasn't with her.

Talia knew it was wishful thinking, the idea of if, if she had been there then she would have been able to stop it or stop something. And yet at the same time, she couldn't help but notice the coincidence of her being gone when things unfurled into mayhem. It was Maria who requested her to leave, it was she who asked Talia to go on this mission that would take her away from the largely populated areas. Almost as if she knew what was going to happen. It has been a year since then, it would have only taken a couple of months at most to return to the academy. But the madness, beasts, and general fear within the populous made her journey back lengthy.

Talia, Talia Rowen. A young hunter with long sleek wavy black hair parting in the middle. Which framed Talia's pristine face that was luckily unburdened by scars, although her body faired much worse. Talia was only a year younger than Lady Maria although she had always been able to look down at the woman from the start, thanks to a quick growth spurt. They had known each other since they were children. Their parents got on well which resulted in them spending plenty of time together. She was one of the few able to call her by name. Talia couldn't help the small smile that made it to her face reminiscing about her lover.

It wasn't till they began to train in the ways of the Hunter did they began to understand their feelings for one another. Lady Maria followed the teachings of the Church and later the Academy fairly strictly. At the same time, Talia followed the path of the Crow, a hunter of other hunters. Which had her leave abruptly at times to travel and track after rouge hunters. Although, she was happy to find that her job was not in high demand since the Hunt had not begun. And Talia hoped that the Hunt would not arise in her lifetime.

It was Maria who confessed after seeing Talia on the cathedral's clinic bed bandaged and unconscious. She refused to leave her side till she awoke and when she did, Maria kissed her cheek asking her to take better care of herself. Once Talia had been discharged Maria pulled her into an embrace that in unspoken words displayed Maria's love for the black-haired Hunter. The two's love and care for each other were quiet and soft. Not many would know the both of them to be as close as they were and for good reason, Maria had many admirers and just as many enemies. This tied her hands as to how and when she was able to truly let herself relax. But she knew that whenever she was in Talia's company, she'd be able to let her guard down.

And now finally after a year, Talia walked up the arched staircase that leads out onto the balcony, The Lumenwood Gardens, where giant sunflowers grew to the sky. Here she let out a sigh at the sight and moved toward the flowers, it was refreshing to see something unscathed. The tall beasts milled about unbothered by the extra company in their presence. It was then a wave of relief hit her knowing she was so close. She sat at the foot of the Sunflowers listening to them bend in the breeze and she welcomed this moment of respite.

A voice, small and only heard because the wind carried it, "Talia?" Immediately she turned to where the voice called her from and there at the foot of the stairs was who she longed for, "Maria." The world faded away and Talia out reached her arms. As realization dawned on Maria she rushed forward and practically fell into her lover's arms. As Talia held her, Maria's grip tightened and seemed to hold her for dear life; she was exhausted from the burden of protecting the secrets and atrocities that the church and the school committed. So that no one else could get their hands on its tainted power. It had drained her vitality from her and now after all this time will she finally be able to rest. "If I am dreaming, please do not wake me up," Maria says in a hushed tone. "Oh, my love how I searched for you. Forgive me for how long it took." Talia responds while pulling her into her arms more comfortably. Maria is lulled in the sense of safety and she tightens her grasp again as she falls asleep in her lover's arms.

When Maria was soundlessly asleep Talia carries her as she would a bride inside the clocktower. "I am here now so rest, my dear." She says before kissing her forehead with endearment. "I will not leave you to face this Hunt alone."