Free
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:50 pm
Free.
Her form walked, one leg kicking out, pushing her forward as the other drew forward. Yet she did not walk, she floated forward. She looked down, her form no longer alien. Her legs returned to the shape she knew them best, her hips, her fine, not-too-delicate hands. If she held color, she would be grey again. A tight hand squeezed her heart, pushing tears out of her eyes. They dissipated before landing on her hands. She pushed once-white hair back, breathing deep of unneeded air. Old habits, she almost smiled.
Free.
It was better than the other time she was here. Though more solid than many others, the shifting greys emanated warmth and comfort. She walked the distorted mirror of the Prime, wide eyes searching the other shadows. What were their stories? How did they end? So many seemed familiar, yet were not. Tricks of the shadows, she smiled.
Free.
She continued to float-walk, looking for familiar faces among the Prime. There! She found one, watching him walk his forest. His hair as wild as the fire it resembled, the green eyes searching. A smile sometimes in his eyes, but never touching his lips. She touched his ear, his head snapped to look through her. She drew back, too mortal fright rising before she remembered he would not see her. Yes, she loved this one in the end. She watched him return to his search, rubbing his ear.
Free.
She slipped into the bowels of Undermountain. She knew his fate, but had to see him again. The shadows here were unkind, but she posed no threat. The silent grey child stood before the great book, studying the words just as when she would read to him. He would be like his father. Sadness dampened her escape from that place.
Free.
She moved through the landscape, twirling in a dance only she knew. Timelessness as seductive as the lack of pain. She stopped short at another familiar face. A different breed of elf, neither sun nor moon nor wood nor wild, he was a shadow elf through and through and could see her now if she were not careful. She had aspired to that, after her change. They turned her to a false elf, she knew, but maybe she could be a shadow elf, too. She loved this one, at a time when she felt it best to hide that affection. For his sake, she bore the pain of longing. For his sake, she spared him her poisoned touch. And it worked. He yet lived. She smiled.
Free.
She spun away before the shadow elf would see her. Another joined her in the dance, his feet as sure as hers. She laughed, her nonvoice dropped to the rich contralto she once had. They separated on the Prime, each to a different task, yet died at the same time. He was right, it was fate that brought them together at the right time. They had finally found their match. Though he promised not to die on her, she forgave him the oversight. Dancing and laughing, in the comfort of the dark. Never to find out if their children would be grey or white, but it no longer mattered.
Free.
Her form walked, one leg kicking out, pushing her forward as the other drew forward. Yet she did not walk, she floated forward. She looked down, her form no longer alien. Her legs returned to the shape she knew them best, her hips, her fine, not-too-delicate hands. If she held color, she would be grey again. A tight hand squeezed her heart, pushing tears out of her eyes. They dissipated before landing on her hands. She pushed once-white hair back, breathing deep of unneeded air. Old habits, she almost smiled.
Free.
It was better than the other time she was here. Though more solid than many others, the shifting greys emanated warmth and comfort. She walked the distorted mirror of the Prime, wide eyes searching the other shadows. What were their stories? How did they end? So many seemed familiar, yet were not. Tricks of the shadows, she smiled.
Free.
She continued to float-walk, looking for familiar faces among the Prime. There! She found one, watching him walk his forest. His hair as wild as the fire it resembled, the green eyes searching. A smile sometimes in his eyes, but never touching his lips. She touched his ear, his head snapped to look through her. She drew back, too mortal fright rising before she remembered he would not see her. Yes, she loved this one in the end. She watched him return to his search, rubbing his ear.
Free.
She slipped into the bowels of Undermountain. She knew his fate, but had to see him again. The shadows here were unkind, but she posed no threat. The silent grey child stood before the great book, studying the words just as when she would read to him. He would be like his father. Sadness dampened her escape from that place.
Free.
She moved through the landscape, twirling in a dance only she knew. Timelessness as seductive as the lack of pain. She stopped short at another familiar face. A different breed of elf, neither sun nor moon nor wood nor wild, he was a shadow elf through and through and could see her now if she were not careful. She had aspired to that, after her change. They turned her to a false elf, she knew, but maybe she could be a shadow elf, too. She loved this one, at a time when she felt it best to hide that affection. For his sake, she bore the pain of longing. For his sake, she spared him her poisoned touch. And it worked. He yet lived. She smiled.
Free.
She spun away before the shadow elf would see her. Another joined her in the dance, his feet as sure as hers. She laughed, her nonvoice dropped to the rich contralto she once had. They separated on the Prime, each to a different task, yet died at the same time. He was right, it was fate that brought them together at the right time. They had finally found their match. Though he promised not to die on her, she forgave him the oversight. Dancing and laughing, in the comfort of the dark. Never to find out if their children would be grey or white, but it no longer mattered.
Free.
