We haven't heard from Keresh in a long time -- Ladies of Lallybroch Literary Forum

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Date Posted: 19:33:32 07/05/10 Mon
Author: Debi
Subject: We haven't heard from Keresh in a long time
In reply to: Debi 's message, "It's that time again..." on 08:09:21 06/26/10 Sat

Old Dogs has been keeping me busy, writing and rewriting until...arrggghhh!!! So, in the theme of loss, I've revisited some old friends. This behemoth may NEVER be finished, but as my beloved characters have a place to live, I'm content.

This is near the end, after the big monster battle between Rayne and her friends against Maydrianna, who would like nothing more than to dominate Melior (the continent they inhabit). Our friends have been victorious, but not without great cost.
*************
Keresh knelt beside Rayne and Garoben, Morag doing the same from the other side. Kaelian stood in the corner, radiating worry. Liesl was beside him, leaning into his side to draw what scant comfort he could offer. Morag and Keresh assessed the condition of the pair lying motionless on the ground. He looked up and met Morag�s eyes.

�Alive.�

She nodded. �Him too. But for how long?� Morag shook her head in frustration. �This is my fault. I just wanted her to be able to say goodbye. Now we may lose them both.�

�Not your fault,� Keresh reassured Morag. �She got the idea in her head that she�s going to save him and nothing�s going to stop her, even if it�s hopeless, even if it kills her.� He couldn�t help the angry tone that infused his words, grinding his teeth in frustration.

Helplessness was not a feeling he was used to. He needed an enemy he could fight, someone or something to stick a blade into, to spill its blood. But Rayne had gone somewhere that he could not follow, placed herself in a danger that he could not rescue her from. If he thought she�d feel it, he�d slap some sense into her. She�d defeated two powerful mages, she�d fended off the soldier that tried to attack Liesl, not to mention treating wounded men she found on the battlefield along the way. She had overextended herself long before he�d caught up to her. What was she thinking? He�d seen plenty of men with mortal wounds and a lot of them had looked far better than Garoben did now. Reaching for Rayne�s hands where they lay against Garoben�s face, he was brought up short when Morag caught his wrists.

�You�ll kill them both.�

Keresh set his teeth against the bellow of rage that threatened to boil out of him. Morag wrapped her hands around his and squeezed hard.

�You can hope, pray if you�re so inclined, but none of us can go where they are right now, save being near death ourselves.� She let go his hands and felt again for the pulse at Garoben�s throat.

�Keresh!!� The shout came from outside the tent. Morag nodded.

�Go. I�ll keep watch.�

Keresh got to his feet, paused as he passed Kaelian as if to say something, found no words and simply patted the big man�s shoulder. Kaelian nodded, understanding the wordless sentiment.

Keresh ducked out the tent flap and found Arduval. His face was lined with exhaustion; his expression one of deep sadness, but he beckoned to Keresh.

�Lorelei rushed off a little while ago. I�ve only just found her. Please come!�

They hurried to the brow of the hill and saw Fortunato coming up the slope to them. He bled from dozens of wounds, half his barding had been torn off but still he came. He limped horribly; every step agonizing to watch. As Keresh rushed downslope to meet the stallion he saw blood streaming from a wound in the bay�s chest; the broken haft of a lance protruded, shifting grotesquely through torn skin and muscle with each step. In the saddle sat Lorelei. Her hand lay on his shoulder and she crooned to him, tears streaming from her eyes. As Keresh and Arduval drew alongside them, the great bay stallion groaned and faltered. Arduval caught his daughter from the saddle as Fortunato collapsed, rolling to his side in the long grass. Keresh knelt beside the stallion, his fingers exploring the wound. Fortunato took a deep breath; Keresh saw bubbles form in the blood flowing around the fragment of lance.

�No�� he whispered in disbelief, hand stroking the glossy hide. Rayne had groomed him until he gleamed the night before, as much to quiet herself as the stallion. Keresh felt a small hand next to his on Fortunato�s neck. Lorelei knelt beside him, patting the horse, soothing and whispering to him as she had been doing before.

Fortunato groaned, paddling his legs as if still running and Keresh drew his panga, hating himself for what he was about to do. But as he laid his blade against the horse�s throat, the girl placed one hand on his.

�Just a moment; he has one last thing to do.�

Looking down at her curiously, he saw her other hand resting on the white blaze that was usually hidden under Fortunato�s thick forelock. The horse seemed more at ease; but his legs paddled slightly, the memory of flight still moving them. One more mild flurry of activity and then Lorelei took her hand away.

�It�s done.�

Keresh set his blade against the stallion�s throat and released Fortunato from his pain.

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[> [> NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! >>>> --

Page, 20:49:51 07/09/10 Fri

Okay, I'm sitting here bawling my eyes out over a fictional horse. I mean, it's like you've killed Hedwig here, that's how real Fortunato was to me. OMG, Rayne's going to be devastated! Especially if Garoben dies, too. And poor Keresh, having to do what needed to be done. That's strength I don't have. I can't stand to see an animal in pain, but I don't have the courage to put them out of their misery. Luckily I've never been in such a situation, and I hope I never am because I'd just fall to pieces.

As always, very vividly written and very well done, even though it's just sad as hell.

Hugs,
Page

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[> [> [> Awww..... {{{hugs}}} --

debikm, 11:43:05 07/10/10 Sat

>Okay, I'm sitting here bawling my eyes out over a
>fictional horse. I mean, it's like you've killed
>Hedwig here, that's how real Fortunato was to me.
>OMG, Rayne's going to be devastated! Especially if
>Garoben dies, too. And poor Keresh, having to do what
>needed to be done. That's strength I don't have. I
>can't stand to see an animal in pain, but I don't have
>the courage to put them out of their misery. Luckily
>I've never been in such a situation, and I hope I
>never am because I'd just fall to pieces.
>
>As always, very vividly written and very well done,
>even though it's just sad as hell.
>
>Hugs,
>Page

That's the best compliment I've gotten on my writing, ever, I'm pretty sure. Thank you. You have no idea how hard it was to write that scene.

Yeah, Rayne's life has taken an abrupt turn and it will leave her completely devastated. That's why I have such issues writing this story. She's so abused and tragic through much of it, I feel like I have to lighten it up a LOT, but so much of her story is rough life. I'm trying to keep her a real person, but if any real person edured what she has, they'd be a loony!

Thank you again for the wonderful compliment!
Debi

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