The Chain (Thresh & OC FanFiction)

11. choices

Thresh checked once more that the boat was securely moored. The ropes held, the boat floated gently on the water, rocking from right to left, bumping against the wooden pier. Thresh had sailed here yesterday, alone, with the slight help of the souls trapped in the lantern, who had then served him both as sail and as power to his oars. The wraith filled in whatever was missing, repaired the oars, and hung up a new sail. Now the boat was waiting only for Harrowing.

Thresh stood up with a scowl. Finding this boat was incredibly lucky. Aylin's joy was immense, and so was Thresh's. But the wraith knew that in their hearts, as strong as joy, flowed a chilling and burning sadness.

The Warden wouldn't admit it to himself, but he didn't want Aylin to leave. The more he saw her, the more he was inclined to beg her to stay. But he knew it was stupid and illogical – so he preferred to stay away from the woman, away from her, her lovely eyes, rosy cheeks and faint smile. Away from what so incredibly warmed his dead heart.

The boat was waiting for Harrowing. The big day was about to begin – Thresh was already feeling the immense power of the Mist, which, encouraged by the laments of people from across the ocean, was gathering to travel. Wraiths and ghosts were getting ready too, headed for the harbor and the beach, expecting to be able to go with the Mist to where the world of the living was and where they usually had no chance of going.

Thresh sighed and looked at the boat again. It was whole, he checked it every day, making sure the boat was ready to travel. The closer Harrowing got, the more he checked it. He would rather not throw this chance away, even if he wanted Aylin to stay here.

He growled, angry with himself beyond measure. No! Thresh, you fool, no! She can't stay here. She just can't.

He couldn't concentrate on his work, so he cruised between the Keep and the harbor, checking the boat and carrying supplies for Aylin. He assumed it would be safer to sail in Harrowing with her. Furthermore, he didn't venture out of the Isles much on this day, he considered it a wistful sob for nothing, but now... he preferred to make sure the woman got safely somewhere where she could go on alone.

Despite warnings to himself, despite admonitions and promises, he ended up outside the Twilight Brotherhood building. This time, however, Aylin wasn't in the garden. But Yorick was at work on the crumbling wall, moving stones and clearing rubble.

"She's getting ready," the gravedigger muttered, not even turning to Thresh. "Not for travel, however."

"Then?" Thresh set the lantern away from the blessed waters.

"A thousand years has definitely clouded your logic," Yorick snorted, digging his shovel into the ground and leaning heavily against it. "She is a woman. Naive and young, but still a woman."

Something in Thresh's heart clenched at those words. Something kindled with restless heat, and something else froze his soul.

"You surprised me," Yorick admitted after a moment.

Thresh merely tilted his head to the side.

"You walked her here every time," the gravedigger explained. "Why?"

Thrash couldn't answer. He had asked himself this question many times, but never found the answer. He wanted to study the woman as much as he wanted to protect her. Likewise, he didn't like these conflicting feelings.

"I don't know," he confessed finally.

Yorick just snorted, straightened up, and took the shovel out of the ground.

"If you thought it was hard now, it's going to get worse soon," he remarked.

Thresh just clenched his jaw. He liked less and less what riddles the gravedigger spoke. The wraith felt like a fool, not understanding the curse of the Shepherd's intricate words. Yorick, however, apparently had no intention of explaining anything further. Taking his shovel, he disappeared into the depths of the Brotherhood, leaving behind a cleared gap in the wall. The transition was convenient and there was no need to jump over it. Thresh sat in it, leaning his back against the broken wall.

Was it hard for him now? He did not know. He had conflicting feelings, he wanted the impossible, and it drove him crazy. The thought of it getting worse didn't make it any better.

"Thresh!"

The wraith looked up, and his unbeating heart stopped in time and space, as much as his body and mind. Aylin. She was getting ready. Not for travel. She was getting ready for him.

She looked stunning. Pale cheeks, dark hair, that unusual smile. She put on a little make-up, and a beautiful, short, airy dress. She was alive, unattainable, and Thresh realized he wanted her more than anyone else in the world.

"Thresh?" Aylin stood right in front of him in all her glory.

"The boat is ready and safe in the harbor," he purred, being careful to form logical sentences and pronounce the words accurately. "Harrowing will begin soon."

Aylin only nodded her head, but her sad expression did not indicate that the woman was particularly happy about this turn of events. Thresh didn't like it. He would rather not have any more problems with conflicting thoughts, and that was precisely what a woman's insecurities were causing him.

"What if I can't make it on my own?" she asked, sitting down next to him.

"I'll go with you," he promised. "As far as possible. A little more faith, Aylin."

The woman just nodded. Thresh didn't look at her – he was afraid if he did, he'd ask the woman to stay with him, and she would naively agree to it at her peril.

"Thresh..."

"Yes?" he replied almost immediately.

"Can we go for a walk again?"

The wraith nodded and got up and grabbed his lantern. Aylin squeezed under his arm. He felt her warmth, he shouldn't have, but he did. He liked it, as well as the pleasant smell of the delicate, floral perfume.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"Anywhere," she whispered. "Just let me go with you."

Thresh raised his lantern and, his heart strangely clenched and dead, set off from Aylin.