death of time

[Riana]

She tossed the last log on the fire, watching as it blazed up then steadied to the warm glow that would last most of the night. The others, giving her time, had returned to the ship. She, unable to find relaxation within the metal enclosure waited out the night.

Correon snored deeply in his sleep. She laughed softly, clapping a hand over her mouth as he stirred. "Apprentice, you laugh at me?" His eyes opened a slit as he looked at her. Her laughter deepended, then faded as he sat up.

"You do not want to go, and I do not wish you to go." He said as he wrestled the blanket from around him. A moment later he gathered her to his side. "I have never known anyone like you, " he said quietly, "you are as a daughter I might have dreamed of."

She nodded, sniffling slightly. "We will stay together, always," she said softly, as she placed a gentle kiss to his cheek. His hug tightened as he held her closer. Could he, even now, teach her all that he had wished? All he wanted to pass on? One of the oldest, he felt every ache from the past weeks. Aches that once were mere annoyances, now caused his breath to catch in his throat. He hoped she did not notice.

Why, so late in life, did he find her? And now, instead of dedicated times of training, his life...and hers...were tossed into a tailspin. Who would survive? "Riana", he said with his affectionally gruff tone, "Yes?", she glanced to him, uncertainty in her tone as she felt something like a chill dance over her skin. His mouth opened, then he shook his head, hugging her for a moment, "Go rest Apprentice, you are no good to me if you are tired." He gently pushed her from him, waiting until she settled down by the fire and closed her eyes.

He kept watch, listening as her breathing slowed and she fell into a deep sleep. He turned his gaze to the stars, then to the ship the others had come. Could he keep her from her sister? Did he have that right? Even now as the ache pressed against his heart, he did not have that answer. He knew he wanted her to stay. Needed her to stay. But was it best? What if it were he?

Those questions pressed his mind as she lay sleeping. For once, turmoil had been left aside and she dreamed.....dreams. Of blue and green, of oceans and cities, of laughter and wrenching tears.

[Deleted]

she curls against Jali, sighing softly and holding tight to him. She couldn't sleep and grew restless. she was troubled in part because she had caused them to join, it was meant to be a happy occasion and while it was happy - the why of it wasn't. she whispers against his neck, nuzzling close

"I'm sorry my beloved, I didn't mean for it to happen like this"

she closes her eyes and thinks of her sister, she wonders what Riana is doing, thinking, dreaming. The closest bonds to her were her parents, and that seemed like so long ago that she remembers little of them.. should she reach out to her sister? Can she feel what she feels? know what she thinks or dreams without waking her sister. She didn't want to use it to influence her now. She did it once, that was enough, for now she would rest and it came easier now that she was with her beloved

[Jali]

He felt the restlessness in her, lightly caressing her arm as she touched his mind. Her voice was like a sweet that melted on his tongue. As she settled, he tightened his arms about her. Knowing she was worried about Riana, he too worried. Yet, it was more.

Kept silently deep within him, he pondered all that he'd learned of Riana. Even if she were to return home, and he knew it was solely for Ghinana he attempted this, would she thrive, or would she be as one of the lost ones? Never truely one with them, nor one with her adopted planet? He had known of them, they all knew....but, this close to him? Dare he tell Ghinana his thoughts?

As she stirred, murmuring softly against him, he tightened his hold. No, he could not tell her. Not now. Perhaps never. Perhaps it was a worry he need not feel.

[Shalamorn]

It seemed a restless night for many. She moved to the vidscreen, tapping in a short code. A moment later a data stream moved across the screen and she settled back, reading.

"How can we do this?", she whispered softly to herself. She tapped the screen, closed out the link and rose.

They were not unreasonable in their demands, she realized. Yet, it was a civil disorder, many discontent on this planet. And nothing she could do to help, except perhaps....no, she knew neither of them wanted to leave. The man certainly, and the girl.....

Shalamorn smiled slightly, the kind affection easily seen. The girl was much like Mera, stubborn and ....

'willing to give up everything for her belief." Shalamorn whispered softly. She knew that was what Riana would do. She only hoped it would not tear the newly bound sisters asunder as Mera had broken bond with Neri.

Oh, how would they fix it. Could they even begin to do so?

She turned to the corridor, glancing at the door that hid Jali and Ghinana. She loved the girl like her own daughters. Jali had chosen well. Had they failed Mera? All of them? How alone she must have felt?

Her brow wrinkled as she remembered the young Jali and Mera. Neither had wanted to be separated from the other once they had returned to Kaminao. How close they had been. She should have seen it. Why did they not let her....

The sliding door drew her thoughts and she looked to her consort. "My beloved, worry will do no good. Now it is too late." Kal said softly to her as he neared and pulled her close to him.

"I know." She rested her cheek against his chest. "I fear, in our attempts to do all that was right, we forgot one thing."

He rested his hand against her hair, gently caressing. "What is that?" he asked.

"The power of love and the pain lost love causes."

He nodded, tightening his hold on her. Now Riana was caught in it's web. "I want to go home, I want things as they were," she said softly.

"I know." Kal said with a sigh, "I know."

[Deleted]

she rested against Jali, her eyes opening as she lay there. She couldn't sleep, it was pointless to try, but she didn't want to leave his embrace, not yet.

Her thoughts turned to her sister. What if?.. oh there were a thousand of them. She remembers back when her family went to exile, before her mother's death. She remembers those torn apart from their families. Her eyes closed tightly and she reflexively squeezed Jali for a moment. No one spoke of their suffering, what they went through and she wondered how it would affect herself.. but even more so Riana.

And what if Riana came, but never found her place? Yes, she had thought of these things, or rather was thinking of these things. She knew her Beloved would do anything for her to not see her hurt, but sometimes she knew hurt and pain was a necessary part of growing.

Her eyes still closed as tears slid silently down her cheeks, she let them fall. She didn't even know why they had come, was she crying for the possibility? Or did she believe already in her heart that she would live apart from Riana?

She shivered against Jali, trembling slightly though she was unaware as she tried to sleep. But she simply lay there, awake pondering the possibilities and torturing her own heart with things that may never even happen.

[Jali]

"Beloved?" He whispered as they lay there. He could feel her awakefulness and tightened his hold on her for a moment before turning to face her. A sad smile hovered near his eyes as he brushed hair from her forehead.

A soft kiss on the now exposed skin and he drew her to his embrace. Holding her in silence for a few minutes, he pondered everything that had happened since he'd arrived. "Ghinana? What if...what if we stayed?"

He'd thought about it, if Riana didn't go, it would cause such great pain to his beloved. What other could they do? What more could he do for her?

[Deleted]

she opened her eyes as you spoke, you could see the tears that had fallen against her cheek, she tilts her head, taking a breath and closing her eyes as you kissed her forehead and spoke, she sighs softly

"But What of your family? Your duties?"

There had to be a way, she had not heard of it, but she spent many years in a place of her own making. maybe.. no, she didn't know if it was possible, but it had to be.

"And how would that change anything? What do we know of this world? Your mother spoke truthfully my Love. We would be putting ourselves and your family in dangers way"

she was torn, she didn't know what to do. But there had to be a way to do something.

she closed her eyes, but didn't speak, she held tightly to you for a moment.

oh how she'd wanted this and now the joining was bittersweet. She hadn't meant to cause the joining to happen and she didn't even realize what she was doing. And now, you were at risk just as she was. How cold she have been so selfish? she inhales softly and lets it out slowly, her face pressed to your chest as tears flowed again.

[Jali]

"Do not cry, Beloved" he held her closer. The dampness on his chest, wet from her tears. "I am where I want to be, where I need to be. Wherever you are, Ghinase, my beautiful one. That is my home. My duty is to you now. You are my love." His voice broke on the last of his words.

He began to rock her gently, his eyes turning to the wall. ~Mera? Sister? What have you done?~

Though he did not want to hide anything from Ghinana, that touch to his sister was tightly held to their private communiques. For now he realized, with his words, just how broken their family had become.

[Shalamorn]

She swayed clutching tightly to Kal.

"Oh, no...not Jali" Her stricken gaze turned to her consort. "What is happening? Why this? Why now? I am losing them, Kal, we are losing them."

She slumped against him, clinging to him as he steadied her. "Shala, my dearest.....Wait!!" he called as she pushed frantically against him and ran outside.

As the lift lowered, she looked around spying Riana and Correon. The girl was asleep. Kal followed with a slower step as she neared the fire and motioned to Correon. It was clear she meant to talk, and clearer still she would remain until she did.

He creaked to his feet. His voice gruff with feeling as he came to her, standing in the light of the ship. "What is wrong?" It was clear to him something had happened.

"Please, I beg you. Tell her to come. Even if it is a short time. If she stays, I lose them. I lose them all. I can not lose my children. We can not, please. I beg you." She looked at Kal, melting into his arms as they awaited Correon's reply.

[Deleted]

she couldn't help it. she took a breath as his words brought comfort. He had chosen her, she'd seen it before she left with her parents, the look in his eyes.. and she said yes, that was the look in her own, she remembered that well, it was the briefest of looks that were shared, but it was shared.

now she lay in your arms, but it was not supposed to be like this was it? She took a breath and pulled her face back to look at him, she reached up to caress his face, she smiles softly, the sorrow was replaced with a look of determination as her mother's words came back to her

"you are a child of greatness Ghinana. You have strength you have not yet found, but you will find it when you need it most"

those were the words her mother spoke often to her, they were some of her dying words. She remembered today once more, the fear and unknowing that held her eyes were replaced with a determination and love for this family she had become a part of

she let her thoughts reach out to him

~we will find a way my Love. We will find a way~

and this family will be whole once again, she hoped, there would have to be healing.. for everyone, including herself.

she pressed her lips to his, kissing him softly, then hugging him tightly, there had to be a way.

[Jali]

He felt warm inside. A warmth of her next to him. Her kiss. Her love.

He sighed deeply, tucking her close to his side. "It will be as it will be Beloved."

He smiled as he kissed her temple, tightening again his arms against her. "As long as it is with you, I am content."

[Deleted]

she smiled at that, smiling, curling into his side. "Yes"

her only words, the warmth of love he felt she felt, she was content as well, but it did not diminish her determination to find a way.

for now, she was where she needed to be, with her Beloved. her eyes closed and sleep finally came