Mourning

Through sun and rain she lay with her head on his chest in silence.  Watchful, ever vigilant, she protected what was once hers.  She lay there as others gathered around.  She lay there as they spoke their words though even if she'd wished to speak, her tongue was unable to form the words.  He was gone...

~*~

The man stood before her, his hat held anxiously in his hands, his eyes as frightened as they were sad.  "I'm sorry, m'Lady.  There's no sign of him.  We've searched high and low.  He crossed the lake with his men and none of them returned."  There was nothing left to say.  As he walked away, she sagged against the doorframe, lowering to her knees.

She wept.  She mourned.  But she didn't beg...  Something deep in her soul refused to allow her to beg.  His life was in the hands of the Gods.  She would not - could not challenge that.

~*~

She'd kissed her children and tucked them into bed.  She'd made arrangements: they'd be cared for, kept safe, for right now she just could not do it.  Her duty was to this man.  She lay herself down, dark hair fanned out over his bare chest, and pressed her cheek against his cold skin.  She wept.

And, as she mourned, her body broke, her spirit shattered, and she was remade.  Pride and loyalty filled her soul and kept her going far beyond what she herself would have thought possible.  She would see this through.  His blue eyes, always as serene as the quiet lake, filled her minds eye as she threw back her head and poured out her grief to the weeping sky.  The others granted her silence, granted her their wishes, but she could not respond.  She could not open her mouth, lest she beg.

She would not beg.

And one by one they filtered away, leaving her to her silent vigil.