So Be It....

As dusk settled upon the land, Ari found herself in her usual position of late, sitting in front of the fire in her husband's favorite chair, sipping on strong, red wine in their home in Southwall. Quietly sitting for hours staring at the fire, she had continued this tradition of hers for many months. She held in her hand a piece of paper, that looked like it had been mutilated beyond recognition, the words on the page no longer readable. But she knew the words, they had been ingrained in her mind, they haunted her dreams and tormented her spirit.

All of the knights knew of Darkon's departure from the Round Table and she was sure from the looks that she received when she visited Camelot that all wondered what was to become of this marriage. But Ari said nothing. She attended to her knightly duties, especially to the training of her squire, Sir Helios. She was very grateful for him, for he kept her mind off the matters at hand.

But now, in the comfort of the home she once shared with the man she loved and adored, the only words that would come to her mind were, "So be it...". These words were almost comforting to her. At this point, she had shed all the tears she could. There was a sense of conclusiveness and resolution to these words and she had begun repeating them over and over in her mind like a mantra.

She held in her hand, the only message she had received from her estranged husband. She remembered the day clearly that she had received it. Her face lit up, as the courier delivered it to her. She saw the seal, the seal of the House of Dinadan. As she read it, her face turned deathly white and she slowly walked back into the house. She sat down at the kitchen table as a servant noticed her pale palor and offered to get her a glass of water. She nodded absentmindedly and the servant immediately went to fetch the water. When he returned he asked with a serious tone, "Is there anything wrong, M'lady?". "No, no I am fine Syrius just feeling a little fatigued", she answered solemnly. The servant, not convinced, chastised her saying, "M'lady tis not wise in your condition to be up and about when you are ill...think of the baby and all. Please, M'lady let me escort you to your quart...". She would not even let him finish before snapping at him, "Syrius, Please! I said I am fine...Now, You are excused, I wish to be alone." He immediately retreated, "Aye, M'lady as you wish", as he bowed and exited the room.

She knew she should have taken better care of herself physically. But, somewhere, somehow, in the dark recesses of her mind, she must not have wanted this child. The guilt she felt was beyond comprehension and she knew she would carry this sorrow with her the rest of her days. She had been in her fourth month when it happened; a month after receiving the letter from her husband. She had not been eating, and had taken to drinking wine in the evenings, often large quantities of it. The disproving servants just shook their heads and said nothing for they knew the foulness of her mood.

And then the inevitable happened. Horrible pains that came in the middle of the night, screaming as she woke up and felt the life inside her dying. She told noone of her miscarriage for her shame was too great and she knew that through her negligence, she had murdered this child, this precious innocent child.

She stared at the paper held out in front of her and watched as the fire was beginning to die down. She took a sip of wine and placed the glass on the table. She mouthed the words of the letter for one last time as to purge them from her mind.....

My Dearest Ari,
I cannot say how it pains me to write this letter. I do not know when I may return to Neverwinter or that I ever will. But nevertheless, I cannot expect ye to wait for I do not know if I shall ever return. I am writing this letter to offer ye the release of your marital bonds.

The choice is yours, and the freedom is there for ye to take.

Be well, and know that I think of ye often.

Darkon Dinadan

As she crumpled the letter one last time, she threw the paper in the fire, watching the flames shoot up to consume it, and whispered, "So be it....".

Arianna Dinadan
~KORT~