Fragments Gallery
A Fruitless Path
"Princess," he said in greeting as he entered the sitting room. His back was straight and stiff, his tone reserved, "You summoned me?"
The man smoothly went down on one knee and knelt before her, head bowed and hand on the hilt of his blade. It was a pose worth of any throne room. However this was no great hall of rulers.
Princess Rithastu rose from her chair and slipped across the room to the kneeling man. She placed a hand on his shoulder, gently caressing the old scar along the side of his neck as her hand fell into place.
"Please rise Falnor, you don't have to do this with me."
He remained in place, unmoving and silent. His expression remained blank.
"It used to be different between us."
He said nothing. Things had been different once. She could remember the way he had laughed when he had joined her here. The way he'd looked at her and the way he had spoken to her then were so different from how he saw her now. He'd loved her; part of her had loved him as well. But that was a love that could never be acknowledged. Still part of her wished that it could work out.
"I... Wish for us to go back. Back to how things were before," she continued on in spite of his silence.
"Do you?" he asked, finally raising his gaze from the floor to meet her own.
"Of course,"
"That seems to be a fruitless path to walk," Pain flashed in his eyes, "You made a choice before. You should remain steadfast with that decision, just as I have accepted and come to terms with your choice."
It wasn't that simple. Why couldn't he see it wasn't that simple? She couldn't just act for herself, besides she knew she wasn't yet ready. She still had options to explore.
"So far as I can tell I don't really exist. I never have," he murmured, his voice was so soft she had to lean closer to hear him, "Not to you anyways."
She didn't know what to say, she wasn't sure what she could say.
"Unless there is something you would ask of me Milady..."
When she remained silent he rose smoothly, gave her a straight-backed bow and retreated towards the door.
She watched him leave, longing to speak but having nothing to say.
All this time spent chasing a dream. All for naught.
That thought echoed in his head every time he saw her. The best he could do for the princess and himself was to let go of that fantasy. This way he could at least limit their pain.