A Dragon Lament
Ryel knelt in the shrine he had set up to his
fallen sons, daughters, friends, and family. Small statues lined the walls
along with paintings and sculptures. They were of his those that had fallen.
Their bodies no longer carrying their essences. A small altar at the head
of the room holding two rather large goblets that flash the names of the
fallen was hidden behind the body of a young man. The man looked very much
like Ryel, the silver hair, crimson eyes, dark skin, all the same. Cyel's
body lay unmoving as his father knelt there. The ghosts began to lift their
lament. Their voices in perfect harmony, spreading to other ghosts. Though
not many can see the ghosts, their sorrow was felt by those closest to
Cyel, his his father, and Eleni. The ghosts lifted their voices, giving
words to the good deeds that the young man had done. A lone living voice
was lifted in harmony with the ghosts, Ryel's voice was calm and even,
his emotions flooding into the lament. Eleni quickly and quietly entered
the shrine, her steps faltering as she saw Cyel's body. She stopped with
a small gasp, raising her hands to her face as if they could stop the tears
from coming. Ryel continued to lift his voice in the harmony, the statues,
paintings and sculptures coming to life and singing along. His voice finally
falters as his head drops, tears creeping down his cheeks. Eleni covered
her mouth with her hand as a sob erupted from her. She walked slowly over
to the altar and fell to her knees, staring at the body, her eyes momentarily
free of tears. Ryel noticed Eleni and lifted his head, watching her. He
spoke in a small broken whisper, "He's gone."
Eleni chewed on her lips a moment, reaching out to touch Cyel, then pulling
back, staring at his silent form. Without warning, she began shaking and
sobs poured forth from her. She bowed her head and cried. Eleni managed
to speak one word through her sobs, "How?"
Ryel walked on his knees to Eleni, and slowly wrapped his arms around her.
Ryel spoke a single word, "Fate."
Eleni spoke loudly, her words echoing in the shrine, "Fuck
fate. Fate is nothing." Ryel sat and folded
his legs in front of him, lifting Eleni into his lap. She leaned into him,
crying, as he rocked her back and forth, the lament continuing around them.
Eleni spoke softly again, "Fate."
Ryel responded with a whisper, "It was his
time." Eleni mumbled something, as if she
were trying to say more, angrily, but her words were overtaken by her sobs.
She buried her face in Ryel's chest and sobbed uncontrollably as she wrapped
her little arms around him and held on tight. Ryel rocked back and forth
with her in his lap as he again began to sing along with the ghosts. Eleni
hushed slightly, her sobs slowing after a while as she listened to the
song. As her crying stopped, she closed her eyes, and with a soft, broken
voice, joined in.
