The Melancholy of Misaligned Stars

{Warning: Broken bones and Major Character death up ahead.}

Nicholas. His name is Nicholas, and he’s the love of my life. I’ve loved him since the first time I saw his shoulder length, golden, luscious locks. His beautiful blue eyes filled with something fierce and determined. That fateful day we met at the contest, and the day I heroically saved his life from a Utah-Raptor. He’ll tell you that he could’ve handled it, and that it didn’t happen like that, but it did. Nicholas Featherbright III, the most heroic, kindest, and bravest man I ever met. If only we could’ve lasted. If only I could’ve told him just how much he meant to me.

It started 3 hours ago. Something was in the air, something cold. Hateful. Cruel. The wind was billowing around the party and I, something was coming. Our footsteps thundered past as we ran through the forest, searching for the artifact. Nicholas to my right, Caildaire to my left. Dict was flying above, keeping lookout, calling out directions for us to follow. Pharius and Adamar were riding upon Scar, the Utah-Raptor I was able to tame to help us win in this contest. Adamar had broken his leg in the last battle, and Pharius was doing all that he could until we could make it out of this maze-like forest, towards Aunt Jodie’s shack. My heart was pounding in my ears, the warm trickle of blood blending into my water-like hair, staining it with a hint of red. I couldn’t feel my left arm, broken in 4 places I believe. The others were no better. Crushed lung I think, feeling the pressure weigh in on my chest. It’s so hard to breathe. Why is it so hard to breathe?

“Up ahead!” Dict's voice was muffled to me, almost as if he was under water. Ironically, as a Water Genasi, I could always hear perfectly well underwater. Is this what it sounds like to the others? Muffled? Distant? Trapped? “We’re almost there!”

I could feel Nicholas wrap my arm around his shoulders, hoisting me up with some hidden strength. “Hold on Damian! We’re almost there, OK? Mon Ver?” If I couldn’t feel myself dying, I almost would've laughed at that stupid nickname. Mon Ver, he calls me. French for, Worm. God how I love this beautiful man. The Paladin that broke his oath to save me. The man who saw me for me, and didn’t run away. The man who saw me for all my flaws, and still loved me anyway.

A blast came from behind, sending all those who were running high up in the sky. I landed hard, feeling my bones crack and snap inside me. But, oddly enough, no pain. Is this what death feels like? Is this how my mother felt when she died? Was it…peace? I was supposed to die in another two hundred years. Not now. Not when I finally found the family I’ve been searching my whole life for. Please, not now.

I opened my eyes, and all I could see was stars. The stars. God, how I loved the stars. The stories they told, the lives they lived. A beacon of hope in my otherwise darkest night. Well, they were. Until him. I looked next to me, and there he was, staring up at the sky, the stars shining in his eyes. And I realized, it was him. The light I've been searching for. The stars of my night sky.

“Why’re you looking at me like that?” God, his voice. So warm, and soft. The deep, gravelly, one of a kind voice that only worked with him. His voice. “Damian?”

“Sorry, Mi Melda..” I murmured softly to him, not wanting to break the peace and the intimate moment of the night. “How am I looking at you?”

He smiled, God, his smile. Even on the darkest and gloomiest of days, his smile will be the only thing that makes it worth it. I will spend the rest of his lifetime, just to see that beautiful smile. “Like I single-handedly defeated the dragons, and created the universe. Like I hung up the stars.”

I laughed quietly, a breathless sound. “Maybe not defeating the dragons, I’m pretty sure Caildaire has you on that one.” The offended gasp he let out, cutting me off mid-sentence, had me bellow out a deep laugh. Tears filled my eyes heartily before I leaned over, my lips gently pressing against his. Soft, slow, intimate. No rush, just a moment between two men against the world, falling in love all over again in the wildest of ways. I slowly pulled away, smiling as I watched him try to chase my lips, letting out a quiet chuckle. I slowly raised my hand, and delicately pushed a strand of loose hair behind his ear, before I cupped his face with utmost care. This man has fought against so many, has won in so many battles, but, all I wish to do, is treat him with care. To hold him as if he was fragile, yet I knew how strong he truly was. But, that little voice inside me wanted nothing more than to show him that he deserves such gentleness, such love. Call it what you will, but the love and affection I held for this man outweighed anything I've ever felt before.

“You do hang up the stars.” I told him tenderly, my voice soft and full of love and yearning. “You, Mi Melda, are the light of my life. The stars have no chance with you. You put the stars to shame, with how much I adore you.” I brushed my nose with his, breathing him in, simply existing with this exquisite man. “The stars hold the stories of yesterday and today, burning balls of fire in the skies, watching as our stories pass by so quickly in their everlasting glow. But you and me? We’ll be amongst them, in the sky, telling our own stories. The stories of our tomorrow.” I watched as a lone tear fell from his eye, quickly wiping it away, I laid my lips on the corner of his eye, listening, feeling, his breath hitch for just a moment. “I don’t know what’ll happen in this lifetime. But I do know this, you glorious bastard,” I smiled as he let out a choked laugh, leaning into my touch. “No matter what happens, you’re it for me. You, Nicholas Featherbright III, are everything and more, and I promise you this, I will find you in every lifetime come after.”

“Forever, Mon Ver?” he whispered, leaning up to catch my lips.

“Forever, my darling…forever and so much more.” I whispered against his lips, kissing him deeply, pouring everything into it.

Forever, I had told him. And yet, here I am. Dying before we could win. How pathetic, I let out a choked laugh, blood dripping out from my lips, the very essence of my being, a river of life and love, ebbed away into the waiting dust, staring up at the stars above, the rain softly pelting against my skin, cooling me down. There was so much going on around me, and yet, not enough. Hands were on my chest, and his beautiful face was soon in my vision. I felt myself smile, could feel and taste the iron of my blood staining my mouth. Tears were streaming down his face, he seemed to be yelling out for something, but I heard nothing. How beautiful he looks, he truly does put the stars to shame. With what little strength I had left, I raised my hand, and gently cupped his face, my blood smearing softly onto his cheek. I watched as he swiveled his head towards me, his lip wobbling with repressed emotion. I watched as his beautiful, bright, yet cool sky blue eyes swam with tears. His eyes said so much, yet so little. Anger, despair, grief, and anxiety ran through them. My poor darling. So young, yet those eyes looked as if they held the world on his shoulders.

“Forever…” I rasped out. “In every lifetime, right?”

“Swan!” God, did I love his voice, even filled with anguish, he still sounded like the most beautiful man I have ever met. He ducked his head as broken sobs racked his body as my body grew colder. “Stay with me, OK?! You gotta stay with me, OK?! Please-” I could feel my heart splinter as his voice cracked. “Don’t leave me yet…Damian…you promised-”

A gentle squeeze of his cheek cut him off, his eyes meeting mine once again. I only smiled at him, a lone tear falling down my cheek. “In every lifetime, Mi Melda…I’ll be waiting. When it’s your time, I'll find you. I just have to go through the stars…”

“Damian-please-”

“It's OK…” I mumbled, feeling the life drain from my body, my magic surrounding us in a vibrant blue light, as if shielding him from the outside world. “Can I tell you a secret..?” I whispered

“Anything-” he sobbed, laying his forehead against mine.

“You, Mi Melda, are the only thing I’ve ever wished for…” I felt my eyes close for the final time, a soft smile gracing my face. The last thing I heard was the anguished scream from my true family. The family I've been searching my whole life for. My name was Swanflap, but, to them, I was Damian. Damian Azure-Ravaris. His name was Nicholas Featherbright III, and I really wished I told him exactly how much he meant to me.