When dawn broke her blue eyes opened in quiet repose.
Laeleth glanced about the dimly lit room. The polished furniture and elegant surroundings were painted in a golden blush from the sun's emerging kiss. She had already nearly forgotten all the dread of the night before. Despite how troubling the evening had started it had, after all, ended quite beautifully.
She gazed at Gabriel, still sleeping peacefully beside her. His dark hair fell carelessly across the soft pillow, his arm behind his head. She felt as though all of the fear and worry so recently known had just been a bad dream.
Laeleth did not want to stir or leave the safety of this moment. She knew this was the day they must go, the day that once more they would be fatigued, homeless, even hunted perhaps.
This was the day she would have to find the heart to say goodbye to her brother, her most dear brother Laevon, with the acceptance she may never see him again. She knew that no matter how much he still loved her there was the chance he would not wish to go with them.
The concern he had expressed for Tallia convinced her that he would likely remain. Gabriel had not given her any reason to believe they would all depart together.
Her head rested upon her knees as she considered all of this. Laeleth had known all along they could not stay in this place, even though she had hoped otherwise. Fate would not allow them the luxury of tarrying for as long as she had desired. She only hoped now that she would not be a burden or a source of worry to Gabriel once they set off.
The fire opal burned vibrantly against her chest, and she touched it lightly with her fingers - contemplating its mystery. Was there any chance that it could be wielded by her as the sapphire once had been? Laeleth knew it was the one thing to which her life blood was now bound, but was there any power left in it that had not been tainted by the vampire’s curse as well as Zobek’s?
Was this the cause of her recent suffering? Was the magic of this land seeking it and conflicting with her internal life force? These thoughts all whirled inside of her weary mind. Which theory was true? Were any of them?
Or had she simply been drained from the long journey from Andaria? It had seemed that she was gaining strength each day that passed here. She had been sleeping rather well, and there was never any shortage of nourishing food. As Laevon had promised, all of her needs had been consistently met.
Her contemplations were interrupted as she felt Gabriel shift beside her. The sunlight that lit his face had started to waken him. Laeleth readily leaned back down beside him and rested her head upon his chest. She closed her eyes again and listened to the gentle rhythm of his heart. It was the one thing that always comforted her and reassured her that he was no longer under that dreadful curse. She was greatly relieved that Gabriel had relented and they would not be parted. She could not imagine any greater heartache than that.
Gabriel's breathing remained slow and he no longer stirred. Laeleth allowed herself to fall back into reflection as she ran her fingers absently along his firm shoulder.
Would they ever be able to stop running? Would they ever have a place they did not feel threatened? These gentle moments together never lasted and were never entirely fulfilled.
After all of the tears from the previous night she thought she had none left to shed, but Laeleth soon felt them sliding down her cheeks again. Perhaps it was only selfishness on her part, or self pity, but she knew for certain she only wanted their complete happiness.
A warm hand tenderly stroked her head and she leaned up on her elbow.
Gabriel was fully awake and regarding her with a questioning look. “Laeleth, have you not suffered enough? This is not our goodbye, my love.” His voice was low and concerned as he wondered at her fresh tears.
“I know, Gabriel,” she replied with a forced smile and dashed them away from her eyes. “I am only being foolish, as I wish ...” She hesitated as she no longer wanted to remind him of all they still lacked.
