Woman of Sorrows-The Black-Veiled Woman

The World Beyond

"There was pain, lots of pain, as I slipped into the darkness. I was afraid, though I would not show it for fear Thane would do something irrational. Choking on my own blood, my lungs gave out. I suffocated, slowly. It was a mercy to go slowly, for I had been able to speak to Thane. Still, it was not pleasant. When I could no longer breath, I felt myself drifting. I struggled to stay conscious, yet I soon fell under the great pressure to let go. The last thing I knew, Thane kissed my lips in the most tender, loving manner, and I felt safe. I knew he could not protect me where I was going, and for that I was afraid. Still, I knew I had to leave, for my body had been mortally wounded.

"The next thing I knew, I was standing amongst the stars, completely and wholly alone. The deep, navy sky surrounded me, without beginning, and without end. The stars speckled the sky, diamonds that illuminated the blackness. The stars, they bent around me, submissive to my will. There was nothing beneath me, nothing above me, only the sky. No moon, only stars. No land, only sky. I was wearing a white dress, in the traditional style. It was loose, though a woven silver belt with a diamond flower in the center cinched my waist. There were no sleeves, it simply was held on my shoulders with matching diamond flower clasps. The skirt pooled around my feet, longer then I was tall. My hair was down, though the front was pulled back to a sort of half-bun in the back. It was wavy, as though I had braided it the night before. On my head was a crown, simple, yet beautiful. The silver band encircled my head, whilst a small diamond flower was mounted over my forehead.

"I felt peace. Not a happiness, not a joy. Simply a peace. There was a sorrow, beneath the peace, yet it was still a peace. All was quiet, all was still. For the longest time, what felt like ages, though could have only been a few moments, I stood there, barefoot among the stars. It was perfect, without flaw and without error. Yet I was not happy. There was sorrow, beneath the peace. I could not explain it, I could only feel it.

"Suddenly, out of the darkness, a fair-haired king walked. 'Alya?' I asked, as though surprised that he would be the one to greet me.

"'Chalandra,' he replied, 'I am sorry to see our paths have entwined again so soon.'

"'I am dead,'" I said, not asking, simply stating.

"'Yes,' he answered calmly, 'Your time was over.'

"'It felt as though it was only just beginning. For so long, I thought I would embrace death, welcome it, And for a long time, that was what I believed I wanted. Yet now, I feel sorrow.'

"'Sorrow? You should not feel sorrow, only peace.'

"'Peace, as well, but I feel sorrow. Sadness,' I mused, trying to understand my feelings.

"My eyes searched the world around me. It was beautiful, peaceful, serene. Yet I only felt sorrow and pain. Slowly, I drew in a deep, long breath of the crisp, still air around me. My eyes could hardly comprehend the wonders around me, for they began to brim with tears.

"'I do not want to be remembered as the woman who could not let go. The woman who was so attracted to her man that she could never fully be at peace until he joined her. I do not want to be that woman. For I was strong in life, long before I met him. But now, it is as though a piece of me is missing. I endured so much before I met him, yet now, I cannot be at peace.'

"'You are not yet at peace, are you?' Alya answered, his voice softened as he took my hand, in a fatherly manner, and smiled, 'You should have felt immediate peace. You should not be torn.'

"'What is the matter with me then?' I asked, my voice breaking as I spoke.

"'Love. You have found a powerful, true love and it is not yet your time'.