Thread: ᴏɴᴇ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ʟᴏsᴛ, ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ғɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ [ ɢᴇᴍ x ᴡᴏʟᴢᴇʀᴇx ]

As she had anticipated, he began to follow behind her. Despite her predictions, however, she didn't feel the least bit prepared for whatever could unfold. Her heart continued pounding wildly in her ears, the harsh noise drowning out his heavy footsteps as he grew closer. It was his voice calling out to her that cut through it all, her strides slowing despite her mind urging her to keep walking. The war had long past, but there was no changing the fact that the man closing in on her was a monster . She was fully ready to dismiss his praise, brush him off as if he was the scum of the earth. There were sharp words on the tip of her tongue, ready to fall from her lips like liquid venom. Curses that she had fantasized about screaming for years. And yet...she spoke no such words. It surprised her, the softness in her voice as she responded, ...Thank you. What was causing her to hesitate? What was this apprehension that had come over her when moments ago she was filled with nothing other than deep, burning rage? Why was she more scared of facing him for who he was rather than what he was. Or...rather...who he could be. Fate could not toy with her any more than she already had, right? It was almost laughable to think that the place she had just come to believe could make a home of would have to be shared with the very being that completely destroyed her first one. Not only destroyed, but stolen. The once beautiful, shimmering kingdom now nothing but surely ash and rubble. Or, perhaps the orcs had made what was left something of their own twisted design. The dark elf would never know. She prayed she would remain ignorant for the rest of her life if it meant remembering everything as it was. Picturing the past was painful enough. Seeing it in the present...she wouldn't be able to bear it. A shiver ran down her spine as he called to her again. Both of them had stopped walking, completely still as if waiting for the other to make a move. Phoenix knew there was a chance to escape if she wanted to. She could make the choice to save herself from the pain of the sight of this stranger. It was at that sentiment that she felt the skin beneath her necklace grow warm, as if urging her to take the plunge...As if it was something she was meant to do. The silence in the space between them had grown suffocating. The dark elf took a in a long, shaky breath reaching up and holding the silver star upon her neck in a silent prayer. What exactly she was praying for...She wasn't quite sure. There was no time to think about it, however, her body moving before her mind could catch up. Her amethyst gaze stayed lowered at first, avoiding looking at his own out of fear for what she may find in them. The image of a distance memory flashed behind her eyes -- Arms reaching out, rough hands fastening a chain behind her neck. The scene following showing dainty fingers dropping a silver band into hands much larger than her own. A silver ring with woven chords-- -- A silver ring staring her dead in the eye. Her breath hitched, lips parting as understanding washed over her like a tidal wave. Suddenly her head shot up, eyes sweeping over every feature, every contour, of the half-ling's hardened face. It seemed as if she were searching for some sort of confirmation. But, in her heart, there was no mistaking it. Time had taken his toll on him, his face no longer that of a maturing young man. Even so, it was still, undeniably him . There was no mistaking the face of the boy she met at the border for ten long years...And, the man that she was realizing held her heart for much longer. She hadn't noticed how hard she had been squeezing at the silver star upon her neck until the points pricked at her skin. Swallowing harshly, she let her quivering hand fall away. It made sense that he should see it. After all...it was he who had crafted it for her. After ages of simply taking him in, an awed expression painting her features, she finally whispered, I believe you already know it...Korm. His name fell from her lips breathlessly, so easily rolling off her tongue despite not speaking it for an entire six years.