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Monday, October 27, 2008,
And there was silence, complete and perfect. It was as though the fen had been cut adrift from time and life, caught like a bubble in sacred amber, neither touching nor being touched by anything of the world. Duncan closed his eyes and wondered if this was what death felt like. "Dark warrior..." The soft whisper pulled the ground from beneath Duncan's feet. He spun around. She was there, within reach, wrapped in her golden robes, watching him with eyes that were too dark in a face that was far too pale. She looked ethereal, more fragile than flame. "Amber," Duncan said, reaching for her. In the moment before he would have touched her, she flinched away. "No more," she whispered. "Please. No more. I can't bear it." "I won't hurt you." "You won't mean to. But you will." "Amber." She stepped back as Duncan stepped forward. "You must go from this place," Amber said urgently. "It is too dangerous for you. Erik and Cassandra never should have guided you here." "They didn't." "They must have. There is no other way." Duncan opened his hand. Amber's pendent lay on his palm. "You guided me," he said simply. "That cannot be. We aren't joined in that deep and final way!" "But we are. I am here. If you will not come away with me, I will stay with you in this amber silence." Amber closed her eyes and fought against the grief and hope that were destroying her equally. "I'm sorry, dark warrior. I meant you to be free." "Without you there is no freedom except death." She sensed his movement and would have retreated again, but the ancient stone was against her back. With the last of her strength, she gathered herself not to cry out at the touch that would come. What Amber felt was a pendent being gently placed against her fingers. The instant she felt the weight, her eyes flew open. It was not only her own pendant that had been given to her. It was Duncan's as well. "Take them back!" she cried. "You will die here!" "Breath of my breath," Duncan whispered. "Heart of my heart. Soul of my soul. Touch me." Slowly Amber lifted her hand. When her fingers brushed against Duncan's palm, she cried out. Pleasure not pain. A pleasure more exquisite than any she had ever known before. Crying, laughing, she threw her arms around her dark warrior and held him, simply held him, drowning in the radiant truth revealed by his touch. Around them the air shimmered and changed, sound pouring in as though a bubble had burst, life returning in a rush, geese calling, wind stirring long gasses until the fen overflowed with whispers and sighs, the same words endlessly repeated, weaving a spell that knew boundaries of time or place... I love you. -Forbidden by Elizabeth Lowell Labels: Forbidden
5:07 AM
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