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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 20:38:58 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 15, 2006 20:38:58 GMT -5
Wysteria continued to fight to bring the injured woman back from the edge but... She shook her head after taking her pulse one last time. Gone.
She continued to fight, not wanting to admit defeat.
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 20:56:11 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 20:56:11 GMT -5
In the very instant that Philomena passed, Demetrius knew because it was as if the earth had fallen out from under his feet just as it had earlier when he had fallen from the bridge. Except this time, he did not feel as though he was living a strange, yet oddly pleasant dream - this time, it was a nightmare. A nightmare that he wanted to shake off desperately but couldn't. Stumbling back from the bed on which his wife rested, Demetrius shook his head violently as he said hoarsely, "No, no, no." Holding up his hand to Rowen and Wysteria, he whispered fiercely, "Don't you dare say it. Don't you dare tell me she's gone. I won't believe you - I refuse to believe you." But in the deepest depths of his heart, he knew that no matter how much he protested, his Mena was gone. He could feel it - or rather, he couldn't feel her anymore. Her spirit, her presence, her aura, all of which he had felt only moments before had vanished - slipped through his fingers and out the window, forever lost to him. Forever. The word echoed in his mind again and again. He couldn't take it. Crumbling to the floor, Demetrius' shoulders shook with silent cries for the one woman he had ever truly loved.
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Tragedy
Jul 16, 2006 5:54:31 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 16, 2006 5:54:31 GMT -5
: Rowen sat and watched his best friend shatter, knowing there really wasn't anything he could do. So, he simply adjusted Léa in his arms and rocked her. A small tiny voice broke the silence. "Dada?"
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Tragedy
Jul 17, 2006 0:27:34 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 17, 2006 0:27:34 GMT -5
Lost in his tormented thoughts, the sound of his daughter's call for him washed over Demetrius without any visible recognition; he was too disconnected from their world, his mind too focused on the paralyzing realization that his world was now filled with a million nevers. He would never hear his wife's mellifluous voice gently chiding him again. Never feel her hand playfully slapping his arm at one of his crude jokes. Never smell the fresh lavender scent of her hair after a bath. Never watch her demurely undress for bed. Never see her eyes sparkle at the sight of their boys playing in the yard . . . never again feel her rest her forehead against his and the tickle of her breath as she whispered, 'I love you, darling.' At this terrible thought, Demetrius jerked to his feet, unable to stand being in the same room as Philomena's lifeless body. It was her . . . but it also wasn't. That thing lying on the bed looked like her, but it lacked all of her goodness. Most of all, it lacked the warmth she had once radiated without so much as a thought. Yes, she was gone. Gone far, far away . . . and he hadn't even been able to properly say goodbye. God, had he known that the last time he would ever hear her voice was in that river when she called his name before losing consciousness, he would have dragged her into his arms and kissed her and told her that she was it for him. That there could never be another woman who would ever take her place in his heart. But now she would never know. Feeling his stomach lurch, Demetrius staggered out of the house and down the yard, detachedly thinking to himself that it wouldn't be polite to vomit on Wysteria's flower bushes.
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Tragedy
Jul 17, 2006 5:04:48 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 17, 2006 5:04:48 GMT -5
: Rowen adjusted his niece in his arms and pulled his wife close, letting her cry on him. He hated to see Wystie cry after she failed to do something - always broke his heart. Léa just continued to babble for a bit before starting to cry and demand her Father.
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 5:28:05 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 18, 2006 5:28:05 GMT -5
Stumbling into an orchard, Demetrius slumped down against the base of a tree, feeling as though the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders. Yes, he was a strong man, but it was more than he could bear; he needed an escape. An escape that could only be provided by sleep. Closing his eyes, Demetrius wearily allowed himself to slip away into the darkness . . . ~~~ "Demeeetrius. Demetrius. Demetrius, darling, wake up." Shifting on the ground, Demetrius slowly sat up, his heart skipping a beat, at the sound of a familiar voice calling his name . . . but it couldn't be. And yet . . . . "Mena? Mena, is that you?" Laughter. And then, "Of course it is, dear. Who else would it be?" So he had been right! It had all been a dream! Mena wasn't dead - it was all an illusion. It wasn't real! Leaping to his feet, Demetrius called out happily, "Darling, where are you?" More laughter. But fainter this time. And the voice was as well. "Come find me, Demi." "Where? Where are you? Mena!" Silence. And then . . . "Demetrius, find me. Please, darling, find me. Before it's too late." The voice. It was so fragile now and the laughter, it was gone. "Mena! Mena, please - don't go! Darling, don't go!" "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Demi . . . I have to go . . . I have to-" "No! Mena! Come back! Don't leave me here!" ~~~ Jerking awake, a cold sweat having broken out across his forehead, Demetrius swallowed hard, fighting back a wave of sorrow. The dream had been so real . . . but it wasn't. Mena hadn't come back. She would never come back. Squeezing his eyes shut, Demetrius shook his head. He had to get a grip on reality. Because if this dream was any indicator of his nights to come . . . he was on the fast track toward madness. Toward shutting out the real world. Toward losing himself in a dream world where his wife still existed. But that wasn't healthy and that was exactly what he had to be. Healthy. Not so much for himself - for if he had it his way, he'd gladly lose himself to the dreams if it allowed him to be close to her - but for his sons. At the thought of his children, Demetrius felt his heart constrict painfully. How could he bring himself to tell them that their mother was dead? They loved her more than anyone else . . . having to learn that she was gone would crush them. Suddenly feeling very old, Demetrius slowly rose to his feet, his mind beginning to work out the horror his life had become in one short instant. First, he would have to make arrangements to have Mena returned back to her home realm for the proper burial and then he would have to sit down with the boys and break the news. And then . . . and then he'd have to find a way to pick up the pieces to his broken family. That's what Mena would have wanted and that was what he was going to do.
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 5:59:17 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 18, 2006 5:59:17 GMT -5
Walking back toward Rowen's home, Demetrius shoved his hands into his pockets, his shoulders hunched forward desolately for at that moment, he felt absolutely alone. He had to be strong on the outside for his sons, but inwardly, Demetrius knew there was no denying that a part of him had died along with Mena. It was as if a part of his heart had been chopped out and now all he was left with was a dull, aching feeling. He missed her. It was the simplest way to put it. There would never again be another woman like her. She was far from perfect, but he knew now that she had been the best person he had ever known. She had been loyal. Gentle. Hardworking. Understanding. Yes, most of all, understanding. He had dragged her to hell and back, but she had stuck by his side because . . . because. Demetrius closed his eyes briefly. Because why? Why would a woman like her ever want him? He who had always put her behind his work. He who had cheated on her. He . . . who loved her. A shaky smile crossing his face, Demetrius cast his gaze upward as he whispered, "So you did know, darling. You did know that I loved you." At this realization, Demetrius felt some of the pain ease away. Though he hadn't been able to say the specific words 'I love you' to her one last time, she had known. She had known. No, there would never be another woman like Mena. Even in her death, she was still providing him comfort - still reminding him that somehow, he'd get through whatever it was that stood in his way. In his mind, Demetrius saw a brief image of her face flash across his thoughts and though his heart still ached for his lost, he was comforted as well. She wasn't gone - not entirely. She would still live on his memories and in their children. Somehow, she would always be around. And he would always love her. Only her. At this thought, Demetrius silently pondered if this would always be true - if someday there would be the possibility of his falling in love again. Quickly pushing this idea aside, Demetrius chose that moment to solemnly vow to himself that for the rest of his life he would live without a woman's love. A part of him knew that Mena would want him to be happy - even if that included falling in love with someone else - but in Demetrius' eyes, he owed her his loyalty. Since he hadn't been faithful to her while she was alive, he was going to work to rectify that wrong by living by his wedding vows to her from that day forth. He had vowed to love, honor, and cherish her. Not anyone else. That was the way it had to be. Feeling at peace for the moment, Demetrius felt his thoughts partially shift to Aurelie and their daughter for the first time since he had arrived in Linphea. As he neared Rowen's house, he vaguely wondered what exactly Aurelie had told his friend - her brother. With a thinly concealed sigh, Demetrius supposed that he would find out soon enough.
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 7:38:00 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 18, 2006 7:38:00 GMT -5
: Rowen was at his wit's end, neither he or Wysteria were successful in getting Léa to be quiet - at least quiet long enough to feed. So, frazzed as he was, he was entirely grateful when Demetrius walked back in. Fixing him with a stern look, he walked over and handed his niece to her father. "Your. Turn." Léa paused in midscream to see that her father was holding her.... and fell silent, cooing softly. : Rowen's eye twitched. "You mean, all we had to do to get her to be quiet was give her to you. Nargh!"
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 17:44:06 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 18, 2006 17:44:06 GMT -5
Wearily lifting the little girl into his arms, Demetrius wished with all of heart that he could just fast forward several years into the future - when all of this wouldn't be so new, so raw. With a backward glance at the closed door behind which Mena's body still rested, he again felt a stab of pain in his chest. Out in the orchard he had felt at peace, but being inside the house where she had died just hours before . . . it was still too overwhelming. But he should have expected as much - only a fool would think that one could just accept a loved one's death and move on in less than a day. He should have known that there were going to be many, many ups and downs. As Demetrius silently stood holding Léa, he felt a distinctive change in himself begin to take root. With a thin smile, he knew that if Mena had been there to witness it, she would say that it was called growing and that he might as well accept it. And she would be right. He was growing. He was changing and he knew that the Demetrius that he had been only the day before was transforming into someone else. He could just feel it - could sense that the humor with which he had always approached life was slipping away to be replaced with seriousness. That he was finally coming to terms with the fact that he had responsibilities to his family that he couldn't avoid any longer. That his life no longer revolved largely around him. With a certain sadness, Demetrius nodded his head. His youth was finally all gone. He would never be that carefree young man again. That man had died with Mena. Feeling heavy-hearted, Demetrius adjusted his daughter in his arms before he said quietly to Rowen, "I am sorry to be a burden to you and Wysteria. I will contact Mena's father at once; I know that he'll come right away to take her body back home for her funeral . . . I will follow him shortly, but first I would like to speak to Aurelie. That is, after all, why I traveled here and I think it would be more prudent for me to do it now when I'm here than it would be for me to return after Mena's service." His face grim, he added softly "I do not think I will be up for traveling afterwards."
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 18:15:26 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 18, 2006 18:15:26 GMT -5
: Rowen was quiet for a long moment. "She's off looking at locations to have a house built. She will not be returning to Eraklyon, lest she face the queen's wrath of having a child out of wedlock." He sighed softly. "She will return later this evening. We can retreat to the house we had started for Flora when she became of age to move out. That way, we can discuss matters without having to worry about offending anyone."
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 19:26:29 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 18, 2006 19:26:29 GMT -5
Nodding his head, Demetrius then excused himself for a moment to write a message to send to his father-in-law concerning his daughter's death. Twenty minutes later he returned to Rowen's side and said as he discreetly wiped his slightly reddened eyes, "Well, I suppose we have matters to discuss now."
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 19:52:58 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 18, 2006 19:52:58 GMT -5
: Rowen nodded. "For starters, we need to discuss what role you're going to take for Léa. Her christening is set for tomorrow and I would like to know if you'll be there for her. The only question I have - are you and Aurelie going to be mature adults and not have a spat about your impact on Léa's life?"
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 20:18:18 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 18, 2006 20:18:18 GMT -5
"I came here to try to find a solution to this situation that would work out for the both of us," Demetrius answered impassively. "I cannot speak for Aurelie, but I myself do not wish to stir up any more trouble or hard feelings." Pausing for a moment, he then said, "As for Léa's christening, no, I will not be there. If my predictions are correct, Mena's father will arrive for her body sometime this evening and I, after speaking with Aurelie, will travel back to my wife's home realm so that I can break the news to my sons and be with them, because I know they will need me."
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 20:26:20 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 18, 2006 20:26:20 GMT -5
Rowen nodded. "All right," he said quietly. He paused when he heard his younger sister doing her self censored swearing as she entered the house. "I'm not sure I like the sound of that."
"So help me, if that man thinks I'll marry him or even agree to helping him marry my niece he has another thing coming," she said, or would have said if she wasn't cursing nearly every other word. Of course, the angry diatrabe was directed towards Bryar. She hadn't noticed that Demetrius had arrived until she heard her daughter say "Dada." She froze and whipped around to see Demetrius.
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Tragedy
Jul 18, 2006 20:32:30 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 18, 2006 20:32:30 GMT -5
Seeing Aurelie, Demetrius walked forward as he said quietly, "We need to talk. I know that you probably don't want to speak with me, but this isn't about you. It's about our daughter." Gesturing toward the door, Demetrius asked, "Should we go outside?"
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