Faorie sits alone in her home.
“Faorie?”
Should I read it? It doesn't belong to me... it was his.
“Are you home?”
I had wanted to ask of it personally, but that option has been long lost. He's..
“The door was open.”
Faorie's eyes finally broke away from the fireplace to see Thenrandir standing at the door frame. “Oh, Thenrandir. I haven't seen you in some time,” she said quietly. Faorie glanced around, wondering how long she had been sitting in silence. “Forgive me,” she said as she stood up from her seat, “I was lost in thought.”
Thenrandir stands within the door frame as Faorie stands in politeness.
“No need to get up,” Thenrandir said casually.
“What brings you here?”
Thenrandir turned his head towards the nearest bookshelf. He neared himself to it and leaned against the red wood. “Nothing important. I had heard you had trouble in the mountains so I thought I'd come see how you were.”
At first Faorie frowned briefly at the mention of trouble, but her head turned towards the fireplace and she managed to smile enough for Thenrandir to notice. “I will be well,” she said gently, “It's a difficult period at the moment...” She paused. “You heard what had gone on?”
“I've heard rumors.” Thenrandir's eyes shifted downwards towards an etching on the bookshelf that read Thendryt Morson. The bookshelves found in Faorie's home had all been carved and placed by Thendryt himself. “But I take it they're true?”
Faorie furrowed her brow as she continued to watch the fire. “It was all a sequence of events that could have been prevented had he – ” She cut herself off, then started another thought. “If only he had – ” She stopped again. Instead of continuing on, she shook her head dismissively. “Thendryt Morson was a valuable member of our company,” she began, “And his death has affected us significantly. It is never a simple thing to watch friends and companions come and go. To live one moment, then the next to – ”.
“Such things are not rare when you are a part of a warband; especially if it also consists of Men.”
“That is what I've been told,” Faorie half whispered. “Khalis has said similar things. I am assured from all around that this is the choice we make upon joining those who watch over the vale. But that does not make it any less difficult to experience a loss as great as this one.”
“I didn't know the two of you were so close.”
Faorie nearly closed her eyes, but she failed to part her gaze from the flames. “I believe I was closer to him that he was to me.” She raised her hand to her head and rubbed her temples in frustration. Then she lowered her arm back to her side and quickly turned towards Thenrandir, smiling warmly. “Thenrandir, I haven't seen you about the valley in recent days. Please tell me that your life has been met with far more pleasant occurrences than my own.”
“I hear his funeral is to be held tomorrow?”
Faorie's expression suddenly turned to one of disappointment. She bowed her head as Thenrandir watched her closely. “Yes, it is,” she uttered simply. “Will you be there?”
“I will do my best to be there.”
Faorie inhaled deeply and turned her body away from him. “It is alright if you cannot be there. Not everyone in our company knew Thendryt well, and many have been sent out on critical journeys. The gathering will be small, and will not be expected to last very long.” There was a brief silence. “It is a shame, really.”
“You feel her deserves a larger event?”
“I don't have much thought on how the event should be held, just that it is done.”
Thenrandir nodded slightly. Then he gently said, “It wasn't your fault.”
Faorie flinched at his statement, but didn't move her eyes away from their focus. Another silence followed, but it had been noticeably longer than the others. Eventually, Faorie began to speak quietly. “Thenradir, come here,” she gestured. “Stand beside me.”
Thenrandir took a few steps forward and stood beside Faorie, following her gaze down to the fireplace where she had been staring intently into for a long time.
“You can feel the fire's heat, can you not?”
“I can,” he responded simply.
“You can hear the logs cracking and the flames moving about?”
Thenrandir slowly shifted his eyes onto Faorie studiously. “I can hear them.”
“Then why do I hear winds?” Faorie's brow furrowed. “Why when surrounded by warmth I can still feel ice on my fingertips?”
Thenrandir's gaze burned onto Faorie as hers did the fires before them. Without a second thought, he reached out and took hold of her hand.
Faorie's gaze broke at last and turned to Thenrandir in a faint surprise.
“You're warm,” he said gently, “The ice will go away in time.”
She glanced down towards their hands linked together, but she wasted no time returning her gaze back to Thenrandir's. Then, as quickly as it came, he let go.
“Much as this heat will fade, so will your coldness,” he said warmly. “Nothing lasts forever, whether it is good or ill.”
Faorie's expression where once was conflicted had turned into one of sincere sadness. She looked down and slowly took hold of Thenrandir's hand again.
He looked at Faorie as she looked him and he gently pulled Faorie towards him and hugged her. “It wasn't your fault,” he repeated.
Faorie returned the embrace tightly. “I hope that Thendryt believed those words more in his final moments than I have the last few days...” They stood holding each other for a long moment before Faorie pulled away to view his face. “Thank you, Thenrandir.”
“No Man can be in darkness forever. I'm sure he didn't blame you. He had no reason to.”
“Have you experienced loss like this?”
Faorie and Thenrandir speak of loss.
Thenrandir smiled slightly and turned away. “I've seen death,” he said lowly, “What soldier hasn't?” Then he smiled. “It will get easier, this I promise you.”
Nodding slowly, Faorie whispered, “Yes, I believe that... Every death is a loss to someone. Even my own death may come at the sorrow of another.”
“Faorie,” Thendryt uttered quietly as the two released one another's hands, “You have many who would mourn should you pass on from this life.”
“My death is far from now Thenrandir,” she responded simply. “I will not allow myself to fall, and neither would you allow it of yourself.” She smiled gently. “I will be making preparations soon for tomorrow. I want to know what I have to say before the memorial begins... and if you cannot be there...” Faorie looked down at his freed hand, then back up to his eyes. “Then I do hope I will see you again soon, may it be patrolling or meeting you by chance.”
“Maybe you'd allow me to visit you in your home again one day.”
Faorie smiled brighter than she had all evening. “You are always welcome to visit me.”
Thenrandir returned the smile. “Then I can assure you that you will see me again very soon.” The two continued to smile at each other before the thought of Faorie preparing for the memorial had returned. “Would you like to be alone? Tomorrow will be a long day.”
Although it was clear that Faorie wished no such thing, she faded her smile in thought. “I would like for you to remain here with me,” she began, “But I think in order for me to truly gather what I need to say tomorrow I should be alone with my thoughts.” At first she lowered her gaze in disappointment, but she quickly raised her chin and smiled warmly. “I look forward to seeing you again. Your words have truly helped me.”
Thenrandir seemed please by her comment. He took a step forward once more and reached towards Faorie's face, gently moving her slightly grown hair from her eyes. He whispered, “No more tears.”
Faorie's eyes widened a bit in surprise to his words. She relaxed herself and fought the urge to lift her hand to his. She pulled away slightly, smiling warmly, and Thenrandir lowered his hand back to his side.
“Good night, Faorie.”
“Good night, Thenrandir.”
And with that, he turned away and began walking down the staircase out of Faorie's home.
She watched him leave, and as the thought of Thendryt returned to her mind her once warmed face had gradually become saddened with memories. She turned towards the seat where she had remained before Thenrandir had appeared and looked at the book she once had sitting beside her.
It was Thendryt's journal.
Was she to read it or leave it be?
Faorie reached for the book and held it in her hands, turning to sit herself back down with her eyes never breaking away from its cover. There she remained for a long moment...
Then she opened to the first page.
