Post by Xander on Jul 20, 2015 12:30:22 GMT -5
Merick stared down numbly at Bilkin, having already buried the Dragonborn. The man's face was pale, his eyelids closed and his mousy-brown hair fanned across the earth beneath him. They had found a pleasant clearing underneath a large oak tree, beyond where the battle with the hell hounds had been fought. Blank and Tecuani stood across from Merick, on the other side of Bilkin's grave. Merick lifted a cloth drape and respectfully lowered it across Bilkin's torso, covering the burns which defiled his skin and robes and restoring a restful dignity to the body. He stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Here lies Bilkin. He was a loyal friend and he died defending those closest to him. He had a keen mind, a powerful curiosity and a strong heart. Though I only knew him for a few days, his actions here today tell me this - I would have liked to have known him better. You fought valiantly and died well, my friend. You can rest now. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam - eternal peace to your soul, my friend."
He stepped back and looked up at Blank. Their eyes met over the grave and she nodded sadly. She knelt down, scooping up a handful of earth from the pile beside the grave. Slowly she raised her arm over the resting place of her fallen friend and allowed the dirt to trickle between her fingers onto the white sheet. A single tear rolled down her cheek, shining like a gem in the dappled moonlight of the forest clearing, and dropped onto the mage's uncovered cheek. Tecuani bowed his head, full of sorrow, and laid a consoling hand on Blank's shoulder. Merick recovered the makeshift shovel from the ground beside him and began to bury the young man below him. Bilkin gradually disappeared under the earth, his frantic mind finally at rest. The old soldier laid down the final shovel of earth, stood silently for a long moment and moved back to a respectful distance while Bilkin's friends said their goodbyes. Eventually Blank turned away and Tecuani followed her from the grave. Prixan and Bilkin lay below the forest floor, their bodies gazing up through the earth, through the canopy of leaves above their unmarked resting places and into the streaming starlight beyond.
Merick opened his eyes, satisfied at last with the image of the young man at rest. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and hoped he had appeased Bilkin's watching spirit - the last thing he needed now was another face haunting him...
"Here lies Bilkin. He was a loyal friend and he died defending those closest to him. He had a keen mind, a powerful curiosity and a strong heart. Though I only knew him for a few days, his actions here today tell me this - I would have liked to have known him better. You fought valiantly and died well, my friend. You can rest now. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam - eternal peace to your soul, my friend."
He stepped back and looked up at Blank. Their eyes met over the grave and she nodded sadly. She knelt down, scooping up a handful of earth from the pile beside the grave. Slowly she raised her arm over the resting place of her fallen friend and allowed the dirt to trickle between her fingers onto the white sheet. A single tear rolled down her cheek, shining like a gem in the dappled moonlight of the forest clearing, and dropped onto the mage's uncovered cheek. Tecuani bowed his head, full of sorrow, and laid a consoling hand on Blank's shoulder. Merick recovered the makeshift shovel from the ground beside him and began to bury the young man below him. Bilkin gradually disappeared under the earth, his frantic mind finally at rest. The old soldier laid down the final shovel of earth, stood silently for a long moment and moved back to a respectful distance while Bilkin's friends said their goodbyes. Eventually Blank turned away and Tecuani followed her from the grave. Prixan and Bilkin lay below the forest floor, their bodies gazing up through the earth, through the canopy of leaves above their unmarked resting places and into the streaming starlight beyond.
Merick opened his eyes, satisfied at last with the image of the young man at rest. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and hoped he had appeased Bilkin's watching spirit - the last thing he needed now was another face haunting him...
