The Descent, Part 10: The Last...

((Wrapping this up with this final repost from the Hand site. Shar will have to decide if she wants to repost Ascent, the precursor story to this one, so I can put the last little bits of that up in the proper spaces. Thanks for paying attention if you did ;) ))

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Years passed into the distance. As foreseen, the spires of Thunderbluff rose again to look out over the valley of Mulgore. As a new winter turned to spring, fireworks exploded into the night over the village of Nighthaven. Lush green trees filtered the silver moonlight into dusky shadows. Flashes of orange and gold showed the pier in high relief before letting it fall back again into the blurred half light of the new year moon. Revelers went to and fro, boisterously making merry. All races of Azeroth presented themselves in their finest apparel. For a brief wondrous time, the Horde and Alliance respected peace and raised toasts to their sometime foes. Talashar leaned on her elbows against the dock railing alone. She looked into the sea at the reflection of full moon. A gown of fine purple velvet clung tightly to her, outlining the curve of her hips in a silver sheen. Golden embroidered traceries whorled about the hills and valleys of her body and winked in concert with the clusters rockets as they popped and fizzled before dropping to the water. Laughter floated to her from behind, tickling at her earlobes. Talashar looked over her shoulder hopefully and then sighed. Her shoulders slumped. A group of young trolls chased each other over the pier and jumped unceremonious into the water. Talashar smiled wistfully, watching their play. A frown darkened her expression, and she turned to walk from the pier.

She walked back down the path from the dock, her tread slow. Party goers stopped to carouse with her shaking her momentarily from her doldrums. Talashar laughed and they danced away. She continued on the path, walking toward the festival pavilion. She could see the moonbeams blasting into the starry sky, marking the way home for the travelers from distant parts of the realm. Talashar stumbled, catching her shoe on a stone. She cursed and bent down to rub her ankle.

“Yah shoodah beh mar careful.”, Talashar bolted upright. Across the path, a figure stood in the shadows. Talashar knew the voice and her face bloomed with a warm grin. Xistla walked out into the path, moonlight falling on her. She looked uncomfortable but lithe in the the sheer green silk gown. Her eyes wrinkled in a smile, ribbons of white hair streaked her ebony mane and shone in the moonlight like lightning. She did a little turn for Talashar's approval. “Sah, wha beh yah thinkin? Soot meh?”

“Yes, you look beautiful.” Talashar laughed. She hugged Xistla to her and they stood that way for a long moment. Xistla closed her eyes, feeling Talashar's heart beating against her. They stood away from each other again, hand in hand. Xistla twined her fingers with Talashar's and they walked, silently. They passed a small lake. Xistla grinned at Talashar and broke for the water stripping off her gown as she ran. Talashar hesitated, looking side to side for anyone who might be watching on the path.

“Com'on Blue!” Xista yelled back over her shoulder. She was already at the water's edge. Talashar ran after her. Xistla tossed her dress aside. The moon shone on her bare skin as she waded out up to her thighs. She turned to look back at Talashar standing on shore, hands on her hips glaring out at her. “Wha?”

“I can't get this off by myself!”, Talashar said trying to be quiet and yell at the same time. Xistla cackled and splashed back out. She placed her hands on Talashar's shoulders and turned her around to look at the fastenings. One by one, she loosed the buttons, and parted the velvet to reveal Talashar's back. Talashar pulled the gown off from the front until it was free enough to drop from her hips and then she stepped out of it. Xistla rested her hand on Talashar's skin for a moment and warmth spread through Talashar's limbs. Then Xistla was gone again, splashing into the water. Talashar laughed and careened after her. She leapt on Xistla, dunking her under. Xistla kicked away and came up spluttering a yard or two away. The water gathered her hair into molten silver rivulets. Talashar caught her breath. Xistla swung her arm in a great arc, splashing Talashar in torrent of water. They screamed like trollings splashing and mock fighting. Xistla lifted Talashar into the cool night air and tossed her. She screamed as the crashed below the surface. Xistla looked waiting for her to come up and then felt the legs pulled from underneath her. Under the water, they wrestled until finally they had to come up for air panting.

They treaded water, grinning at each other. Talashar shivered. Xistla smiled and swam closer, wrapping her arms around her friend. Talashar sighed snuggling into the warmth of Xistla's naked body. After a moment she became aware of herself. She blushed and pulled back. Talashar looked into Xistla's face and saw the look of disappointment there. Her heart skipped a beat and she came closer again. Xistla put her hands on Talashar's hips and hugged her close. Pleasure sounded a chord of music from Talashar's body. So close, she whispered to herself. Xistla held her for another long moment. Their hearts beat furiously, Talashar wondered at the fact she could not see the water rippling from it. Finally Xistla released her and broke for the shore. Talashar collected herself and followed after.

Talashar cast the cantrip to dry them and they lay naked looking up at the stars. Talashar snaked out a hand and caught Xistla's in her own. Xistla squeezed. She let out a great yawn and rolled on her side to look at Talashar. Talashar grinned.

“Sleepy head.” Talashar teased. Her eyes traced the curve of Xistla's form in the half darkness. She reached out a tentative hand and caressed Xistla's hip. Xistla lip curled in an inviting smile. Talashar felt her heart move to her throat. She looked away. Xistla frowned at this. She sat up and stretched.

“Aye.” She nodded. “We best beh gettin back tah dah inn and dah Bluff.” She rose gathering up her dress and casually wriggled back into it. Talashar's heart dropped. It was over so soon. She felt tears welling up in her. She locked them away and took Xistla's hands to pull herself standing. Once she was up, Xistla helped her back into her gown. Every touch on her skin agonized her. Wrapped once again, she couldn't help herself. She hugged Xistla to her tightly. Xistla whispered into her ear, “Yah look wondahful en dis.” Now the tears came. She couldn't hold them any longer. Xistla pulled back, her face concerned. She shook her head and wiped the tears away from Talashar's face. Talashar closed her eyes, resting her head into Xistla's palm. Hand in hand again, they walked up the path from the lake back to the pavilion.

The moonbeam deposited them in the central rise of the bluff. Firecrackers crackled and startled them into a tiny jump. They laughed at each other and walked into the inn and up to their room. Moonlight cascaded through the balcony window. The curtains danced out from the wall, tossed by the wind. Talashar lit a small oil brazier, which cast a flickering warm light against the walls and ceiling. She turned to her pack, rummaging around for the new pajama's she and Xistla had scored. Xistla thought the things comical. The notion of wearing clothes to sleep in made her laugh. She stood by the window looking out into the night as Talashar dressed for bed.

Something glimmered hanging from the balcony. Xistla bent and looked at it closely. She took it from its place. The silver ankh reflected the moonlight and flashed as she turned it back and forth in her palm. She closed her eyes, silently praying. “Not yet.”, she begged. Talashar laid a hand on her shoulder and she turned to look at her. Talashar's face was framed by the night sky and the stars. Xistla's tongue grew thick and she swallowed trying to contain the fear and the hope that wanted to burst from her mouth. She rose riveted, Talashar's eyes locked to her own. With her free hand, she touched Talashar's cheek. Talashar's lip quivered ever so slightly. Xistla leaned forward and kissed her mouth softly. Talashar's heart stopped, hanging suspended in the moment. They parted and stood almost forehead to forehead, both afraid to meet the eyes of the other again. Finally, Xistla could endure no more. The words wouldn't be denied. The hand that clutched the ankh opened and the icon fell unseen to the balcony.

“I love you, Blue.” It was almost a whisper. “I don't know-” Talashar stopped her lips with a finger. She shook her head, and kissed Xistla again eagerly. It poured out of her like a dam breaking. Between the kisses, moments of lost time found their place. They fell to bed together talking, laughing and crying, and for the first time loving... and they did not sleep or dream.

-The End