Tabalah

((There is a reference to a song in this story, and an active link in the footnote.  To fully enjoy it, I hope you'll use it and run it in the background.))

When Zaraek awakened alone, he sat up quickly, his stomach twisted with foreboding. He hadn't said a word to Avriella about the others in the heartlink.

The night had been a wonder of newly awakened joy to her and he had hesitated to break the moment with knowledge that might push her to revert to her distrust. He had planned to talk with her in the morning, but now she was gone.

When Zaraek received the next letter from Tabalah, he couldn't help but smile at her excitement. He stood at the mailbox and chuckled out loud, ignoring the raised eyebrows from the elves who strolled by, lost in self-importance, and the even ruder behavior from the ones who seemed always in a hurry, on the edge of madness in their rush to consume. You would think by their insane haste that the trees were threatening to stop giving fruit and the flowers to grow.

Dearest Tabalah~

I received your letter with much joy. It soothes my soul to know that you truly are with me even as I am with you, even in the most intimate moments that I share with Linthice. I am beginning to understand the nature of this love that we share, a higher love in the Light, of the Light. This Love reminds us of our Oneness, none of us separate, none better, none lesser. All One.

In bringing Linthice in to this heartlink with you, I have hope for others like her, those of the Ebon Blade who still balance on the sword's edge, fighting the power that animates their bodies but does not command their souls. They need to be reminded that their souls always belong to the Light.

((This is a little closer to the present, but really out of place.  It was a comment left under Jasper's blog, when the civil war broke out, but I think it belongs in the book.))

Tabalah sat at the altar at the edge of the still pond, watching the sun rise over Shattrath City, and bit her lip as she read the letter in her hand.

                My Dearest Tabalah~

                Please stay where you are, you will be safer there in Shattrath City.  Civil war has broken out in Silvermoon.

              “Ahhh, by the Light…”  Zaraek murmured under his breath.  He spun and sprinted for the I

((Background theme, Silence by Delerium - please watch video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncGSwQ3sQ9c, then listen while reading this for full effect! ))

            Silence.  Zaraek couldn’t hear her singing in his mind anymore.  He stayed by her, he didn’t know how long.  He couldn’t let go.

Silence by Delerium ((please search "silence delerium" 6:11 video for background theme))

Give me release
Witness me
I am outside

Give me peace
Heaven holds a sense of wonder
And I wanted to believe
That I'd get caught up
When the rage in me subsides

                Running blindly through Eversong Woods, going deeper to find a dark, quiet place where he would not be found, Zaraek ran until he was exhausted.  Then he sank to his knees, threw back his head and howled.

                “Llyriannaaaaa!!!” 

                That’s not her name, now.  She’s not your wife… not your wife... your wife…

               Ahhh, by the Light, there she is…

                Zaraek saw Tabalah strolling out to Stillwhisper Pond from his vantage point over to the side closest to the Dead Scar.  Quickly, he jumped to his feet and sprinted up the hill to a nearby tree, slipping behind it to watch her.  It wasn’t the first time he had guarded her like this, to keep her safe.

Tabalah watched the grotesque creature, rotting, stinking corpse that it was, as it advanced on her with its lopsided gait, dragging one leg.

Ah, you're awake, wonderful. I left breakfast out on the table, over there, help yourself. I would recommend the goat's milk, it's fresh. Did you sleep well? Ah, continue the story? But it's bright in the morning, and there is no fire. A story can't be told without a fire. Unless you're in Thunder Bluff, of course, during the Sing...

Thought I'd whip up some quick signage for Fancy Cakes -- Aestan's idea, really. Not my best work, but it does it's job. ;)

When I close my eyes, I see... Sometimes during the day, when I am walking along in the Ghostlands or in Silverpine Forest on my dear, fluffy purple hawkstrider, Zenda, I close my eyes and shift into some other place where I see from your eyes, just for a moment. I can feel your heart.   And I sing...

And in the night, I dream.  I see images of places I have never seen and people I don't know parading through my mind.

The first time it happened, it was terrible.  Horrible images, of a dark place... 

Now there are moments of awesome beauty and peace...

Ah, you're back. Please, sit down, warm yourself by the fire, while I go get the tea. Don't look so surprised, of course I knew you were coming. Now... where was I? Ah, but of course! The Cake Shoppe. As you'll recall, our young knight had just arrived there, sided by bright Oneska. Perhaps his entire tale would never have happened without Oneska, as he might have been too shy to simply approach the store by himself. But, strengthened by her presence, he did approach.

              Zaraek Starstriker felt the screaming wind as he drifted in and out of consciousness, hot even in the night, falling free, glimpsing stars whirling around him as he streaked toward the ground like a descending dark angel.  The long locks of his white hair whipped across his face, stinging as he spun.  Still, he could feel Llyriana’s heart beating his, deep in his chest – with each throb he wondered, would this be the last pulse of life…?