Private Out of the Dark

[Nina Heavenshield]

The BLACK CHASM
UNDER-REALM ENTRYWAY
​

Since the signing of the treaty which formalised the alliance between the race of Man and Dwarf, there had been a steady stream of reinforcements delving into the depths to aid their newfound brethren in the seemingly endless conflict that raged below. Casualties had been kept at a manageable rate since the Lion King broke the siege, finally allowing the Duergar to mount offensives on their own and strike out against the Uruk, semi-regularly patrol the closest junctions of the underways and even send scouting parties to better get their bearings.

Reinforcements were sent in waves, intended to replace the fighting men at regular intervals that they do not suffer exhaustion or deplete their numbers. Located outside the entrance into the mountain known as the Black Chasm is a vast war camp acting as a military checkpoint where loved ones gather to welcome warriors home and tend to their wounds whenever they are rotated out of action. Some are brought home to be buried, and others still never return at all. It was on one such occasion that Nina found herself.

She lingered on the threshold of the mountain entrance, eagerly and anxiously awaiting the return of her betrothed. The Lord Commander had been put in command of the Valkyri forces many moons ago, remaining behind to lead the new arrivals whilst his fellow countrymen were rotated out. It took a written order by the High King himself for Arden Durane to finally return to the surface for an overdue rest.

It was deafly quiet as everyone awaited the first to appear from the depths, like a dam on the verge of bursting. Nina, sensing them approach, held aloft her staff and had its crystal head issue forth a pale blue glow, lighting up the entranceway just as the first few strode out into the sun. Immediately the returning soldiers were rushed by loved ones and taken to get checked out, with more and more appearing every second. Some were carried on stretchers by their brothers, others hobbled about on crutches and walking sticks. None bore the likeness of the Lord Commander, however.

Only when all hope seemed lost, and Nina was about to turn away, did she detect Arden's presence in the dark. Her heart soared upon laying eyes on him, and she took off in a sprint towards her beloved so unabashed that she dropped her staff and her blue cloak came loose and fell upon the cavern floor. Nina ran until she crashed into Arden, throwing her arms around him before even taking the time to detect whether or not he was wounded.

"You're late," she sniffled into his shoulder.

 

[Arden Durane]

The days had been long, grueling, chaotic. To someone who wasn't accustomed to battle, it would seem like the ultimate nightmare, something you wanted to escape and never look back on. Arden was used to it by now. It wasn't that he was born for this. He was born of a union between two magnificent races, looking to bring a newfound light into a cold galaxy. Ever since he was born, or for as long as he could remember, that was what he did.

From the first day he picked up his sword and shield, to the first day he began training with his father, he had been shaped by those around him. Lessons of humbleness, humility, and goodness came from his mother. He learned about command, heroism, and grace from Thurion Heavenshield

And from Nina Heavenshield , he learned love. True love.

Every day wasn't an escape. It was a means to bring peace to the world of Midvinter, to bring peace during the High King's reign, and to bear any burden so His Grace wasn't so troubled. He knew things hadn't been easy. Since Coci, it seemed every day after that had brought another terrible loss. Arden couldn't imagine what that was like. He couldn't imagine losing Nina like that.

He would bear their burdens and take their pain without breaking. If that was his purpose, then, for all the gods above, that was what he would do.

The first breath of air breached his nostrils, filling his lungs. He closed his eyes for a moment, parting with those soldiers he had fought alongside in the underground for so long. Finally, he had been recalled home. His eyes searched for her before catching sight of her running toward him. The Commander smiled, moving to meet her until the threshold finally broke, and he was in the arms of his love once more.

"You're late,"

"I know." He replied softly against her, taking in her warmth, scent, grace, and goodness. "I've missed you so much." His hand rested against the back of her head, holding her gently. "I thought about you every day. To see you now is more than I could ever hope for."

 

[Nina Heavenshield]

Everything was as it should be, was the prevailing feeling the moment she felt his arms around her. Months on end without so much as a word — wondering, fearing, hoping. She knew well Arden's swordsmanship was second only to her father, and on par with his brothers, but even the greatest warrior and most fearless commander might be slain by a well-aimed arrow or thrown into an endless chasm. Mayhap the scheming of their dogmatic church might see fit to remove a perceived threat to their overzealous grip on the populace. She'd witnessed firsthand their fanaticism, their heavy-handed preaching, their two-faced corruption. She would not put political assassination past the likes of them.

She reached up to cup his cheeks, to feel his face against the palms of her hands, and immediately found cuts and dried blood where they had no business being. For a good few seconds she did little but stare up at him, utterly drinking in the sight of her beloved. "You're wounded," Nina worried and wrapped herself around his arm, their fingers interlaced as she escorted him outside into the open air of Midvinter. They were but two among thousands, each reunion more beautiful and heartbreaking than the last. Still, as they passed through the throng of people, the sight of their Lord Commander had each and every returning warrior, wounded or no, offer what meagre salute they could, for they had shed and spilt blood together as brothers.

They navigated their way through the camp and found the Lord Commander's tent prepared in advance for his return, and she wasted no time in caring for her betrothed. She began by relieving him of the burden of his sword and shield, stashing them away one at a time before she bid him sit on a stool where she started taking apart his suit of armour one piece at a time. With each sheet of plating removed, Nina felt emotion build up in her until she found Arden sat before her in naught but a ravaged shirt caked in blood. Once he was rid of it, she could not help but weep at some of the grissly harm committed against the man she loved.

Gentle fingers ran the length of one such scar across his upper back, before she then put his arms around his chest, embracing him from behind where he sat, and hid herself in his shoulder. "The horror," she whimpered. "I cannot begin to imagine..." Being no stranger to battle, she could only hope the man before her had returned the same man, and that pieces of his soul had not been abandoned on the field of war.

Arden Durane ​

 

[Arden Durane]

Nina Heavenshield
​

She wrapped herself around his arm, and she noted his wounds.

"It's nothing, really," Arden said with a genuine smile, a partial truth. For while he was okay, physically he was worn and tired. But that was something he couldn't show, not here, not to anyone. The only person he could show that to was her.

They passed through the mass of people, who were all doing what they were doing. Checking on loved ones, reunions, both happy and sad. He couldn't help but feel the swell of pride and duty as he was saluted, still, by those he was passing. It wasn't just him. It never was. It was all of them. They faced the trials together, and the only thing that pierced his soul was those who couldn't be saved, those who had perished alongside him.

As they entered his tent, she immediately began tending to him. He didn't protest. It was her way of caring, of showing love, and all the things that naturally came with it. He could feel her through the Force, not just as she placed her hands upon him.

He took a deep breath, breathing in slowly and exhaling. The gentle touch of her hands was a welcome feeling.

"The horror,"

"Hey...." Arden, in just a whispher. He laned back into her touch, as her arms wrapped around.

"I cannot begin to imagine..."

His hands moved over her arms, as he leaned back, nestling into her embrace. "Don't think about that now, I'm back. And I'm yours, for all time. My body and soul, okay my love?"