She has walked out once more into the night. Each and every night since she arrived here it is the same thing. Her cries drift into my chambers at the latest hours. Does anyone one else hear them? Or is it a torture saved just for me? I feel for her in my heart but I'm unable to move. Frightened by what I would find if I went to her. Frightened by what I might hear. I have known nothing but suffering for the past months. I can't grasp a life that has been nothing but that since it's first breath.

Tonight I have decided my sad eyes will follow her. I tell myself it is only to make sure she is safe, but I know within it is because I'm curious of where her pain leads her and why it has been leading me to her since I first set eyes on her.

I slip quietly through the tall oaks and brush. I allow her distance so that my rustling will not alert her. She is so far ahead I can barely make out her form but her crying has increased to make a trail that leads me on. Pushing me. Thunder echoes a storm's entrance. Lightning flickers and I catch a last glimpse as she slips into the depths of some trees.

I fear I have lost her until I hear wails that send a chill through me like the coldest winters. Not even a Banshee's cry could be like what I'm hearing. I follow it and then realize they are heading to the cliffs. My heart falters. Why does she go there? It couldn't be what I fear since she has gone to this place every night to return just before morning's glory. I calm myself. Wondering.

I clear the depths of the trees and enter a clearing of the cliffs. I see her standing at it's edge. She is praying, invoking her God's name. She asks the sky if she has been forsaken? She begs for peace but all that is returned is the cracking of thunder. I see the glittering of a silver shaft in her right hand and I realize what I'm about to witness. She pulls up her sleeve and I watch, gripped by a sadness I haven't felt before. I could step forward and inturrupt her, but I know this is her moment and I hold myself as she etches a wound for each year of her life spent in slavery. I count with each swipe till it comes to the year of her freedom. I think for sure she will stop but it was only a pause. She switches arms and etches a fresh wound into untortured flesh. Oddly I know this represents the last year of her life. The year she seeks freedom. I know I have felt as she does. I had come to these very cliffs thinking  I was six feet from the edge and how maybe six feet wasn't so far down. Galen knew what to say to me. He gave me a purpose much higher than myself.  I hear a voice in my mind and it begs me to call out to her. What can I say to her? What can I do to show her there is a chance for her to be happy. That there is still something left for her and for me? I'm frozen till I see her throw the knife to the ground and take a purposeful step toward the edge. It is tonight she has decided to take her peace into her own hands. Only I can't let her. I can show her that peace can be found in me, with us together.

"Catlin! Don't!"

She turns to me and I don't recognize her face. I remember innocence and gentle features. What I see before me is a face twisted. Full of sadness and hate. I feel like my heart has been wretched from it's place. Broken. I walk to her, slowly.

"Cat," her name catches in my throat as tears edge escape.

"Conor. Go!" She nearly screams. Her voice not at all like her own but an echo of pain. It slaps me with it's invisible force.

"I won't Cat." Her fury shows clearly as her breath quickens and she turns from me to take the steps I had interrupted before.

I rush her, throwing her to the ground. She wrestles within my arms. Screaming.

"Let me go Conor. Please!" she begs me with the same urgent pleading as Longinus' voice had once done. "I can't take these memories any longer!" I fight her and she fights back until the pushing is no longer just that. They become hate filled blows as her sorrow becomes fury. Her eyes no longer seeing me as Conor but as the beasts of her past. And I let her. I say nothing as I let her focus her violence on me but still I hold her. She screams out words meant for them and I take every blow and every curse as my own. I can taste the blood in my mouth. I pray that by the tearing of my flesh and the bruising of my body it will free her somehow.

The blows become weaker till they are still and all that is spoken between us is silence. I'm crying now and the tears sting the wounds on my face. But I do not care. I pull her into me and let her heart bleed over me till it is empty. As she continues to cry and tell me all the things I'm no longer frightened to hear I soothe her, hold her. I tell her I will always be there for her. That she is no longer alone and I seal them with kisses.

In the morning I will tell the other's we were attacked by Roman Assassins. I will tell them we fought bravely and the wounds will heal. No one will know of this greater bond forged by pain and love.

No one but us.
 

~*~ ONE LAST BREATH~*~
By: CREED

Please come now I think I’m falling
I’m holding on to all I think is safe
It seems I found the road to nowhere
And I’m trying to escape
I yelled back when I heard thunder
But I’m down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say

Hold me now
I’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain’t so far down

I’m looking down now that it’s over
Reflecting on all of my mistakes
I thought I found the road to somewhere
Somewhere in His grace
I cried out heaven save me
But I’m down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say

Hold me now
I’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain’t so far down

Sad eyes follow me
But I still believe there’s something left for me
So please come stay with me
‘Cause I still believe there’s something left for you and me
For you and me
For you and me

Hold me now
I’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinking