As Rayann stood watching and listening to Myth, her face remained unreadable. Knowing there were things he had to say to clear his own conscience, she let him speak. The elation she felt at seeing him up and walking around was heart felt but she didn’t want to get her hopes up too high for anything else. There was no doubt he was treading in waters he’d never swam in and she knew she needed to give him time to cope with the emotions he was feeling.
True to his warrior nature, he was going to treat this as any other moment in a warrior’s life and try to restore his honor with her the only way he knew how. For some reason, she felt sorely disappointed he was going to do things this way. But when he stopped himself and began speaking from his heart, Rayann felt such a rush of relief and love that she was struck speechless.
He regretted everything he’d done to deceive her. That was the truth. And now, as he stood humbly before her and tried to find the words he needed to say to her, Rayann felt tears begin to burn the back of her eyes. Forcing herself to hold them back, she swallowed hard and barely breathed as she listened to him.
There was no doubt he knew what she had done to save his soul from eternal torture and suffering. What she did, she would never tell him, and even right now, she wasn’t sure she could explain it in terms he would understand. Rayann herself was having trouble trying to find words the described it. All she knew was that she won this round, but she also knew that was just the beginning.
Rayann had slipped deeper into his mind than she had any ones and because of that, she had left a permanent imprint of herself deep within him. One she doubted would ever go away. Fortunately it was one that was not riddled and infused with pain and for that, she was eternally grateful.
When he held his sword before her then set it on the ground before going to one knee and once more professing his love for her, Rayann once more felt a profound sorrow fill her very being knowing it was from him she felt such an emotion. The seconds seemed to tick by like hours before she finally began to move. Her foot steps were as quiet as a church mouse but his hearing was so acute he could hear her shallow breathing.
As his eyes remained fixed on the floor he saw her feet now and knew she was right there before him. Again the seconds seemed to tick by slowly before he heard her voice once more speak audibly to him. While it was as soft as it ever has been, there was a slight tremor to it as well.
”Any punishment I could ever think appropriate for you is noting compared to the punishment you’ve already inflicted upon yourself, Mythalas. You were willing to allow yourself eternal suffering at the hands of something that knows nothing about love and sacrifice because of your feelings for me.”Rayann watched as Myth slowly raised his head to look upon her. Her lavender eyes shimmered with moisture she was barely able to keep at bay.
”That was something I couldn’t allow you to do. Especially knowing how you truly felt about me.”Looking up for a moment and taking a deep breath, she regained her composure then looked back down at him.
”What I saw in your mind was a man who knew what his duty was and performed his tasks with perfection. I cannot fault you for that. You made the choice to become what you are. Just as I did. But there was one thing neither of us had a choice in. We have no control over our hearts. As you and I both discovered these past couple of months. And because of the way we feel about each other, we both knew it wasn’t going to be easy for either of us.”Her hands reached out and tenderly cupped his face as she took the last step closer to him. Her eyes misted once more with unshed tears as she let her lavender depths look deep into his piercing green gaze. Her voice now floated tenderly through his mind and now, along with her voice, he could feel the love she felt for him as much as she could feel his love for her.
You are no longer just a warrior I saved from brigands in Witch Wood, Mythalas. What happened between us in the past was regrettable, but we can’t change it. The path laid out before us is uncharted and I don’t know what will happen, but I do know one thing. To make you leave would be the one thing I could never forgive myself for doing. Stay with me for as long as you wish. The only hold upon you is the one you place there yourself but I shall not now nor shall I ever tell you stay with me for I cannot control your heart.Her tears could no longer be contained as they began to slowly slide down her flushed cheeks. Once more her voice filled the quiet room they occupied.
“Words so many times are over used, but there are words that need to be heard. And these words you need to hear. Not just in your mind, but from my lips to your ears. I love you, Myth.”