Grasping at Straws

Dakran lips pulled up in a semblance of a smile that quickly fell, and he took a step forward, towering over Maya. His eyes gleamed with sorrow over her words, and he deeply inhaled, " I'm sorry, little red! I won't be able to fulfil your wish!" his tone was grave, and his eyebrows knotted together. A clear sign that he will not grant her wish.

" Please, Dakran! I already told you that my heart belongs to someone else!" Maya pleaded. Her eyes shined with unshed tears, and her voice faltered at the end. The memories and feelings of the moments she and Sylus shared were strong, and the longing increased each day. She couldn't let go. She didn't want to let go.

Dakran's jaw ticked, his fists clenched " That someone doesn't exist anymore, little red." he pointed out, and he closed his eyes. He saw his chances with Maya slip through his fingers. She was resisting, fighting back, clawing and fighting for someone that was gone.

" I carry him with me every day. He is not dead. Not to me!" Maya said in a broken voice as tears fell down her cheeks. She bit her lips to stop the sobs, but she failed, and she stormed out of the room.

Dakran stood there unmoving for a moment, raking his hands through his hair. He felt a hand on his shoulder " Be there!" a familiar voice rang in his ear, and he turned around to see who it was, but there was no one.

Dakran left the room without saying a word and followed Maya in the corridor. He found her curled up in a ball against the wall, sobbing. His heart broke into countless tiny pieces, seeing her hurt, shattered, hugging her knees, her fiery red hair shining in the dimming light of the evening like the fading flames of the fire burning in the hearth.

He picked her up in his arms, silent, and walked back to the chamber they shared. Despite her numerous attempts to throw him out, he refused to leave her side. He didn't care how long it would take to win her heart. He pushed the door open, padded on the floor to the bed, and climbed on it with her in his arms, resting against the headboard.

He remained silent. He saw no point in talking. Being this close to her was enough to soothe his aching heart, and Maya could cry on his shoulder until her tears ran dry. He closed his eyes and listened to her whimper and cry, tightly fisting on his tunic. Dakran could feel the wet fabric clinging to his skin, but he didn't move. He was afraid to, afraid that she might run away or worse, she would try and chase him out again. His heart was bleeding for her, with her. He didn't know when it happened or how it happened, nor he cared to find out. But all he knew was that he was deeply in love. His heart squeezed whenever she pushed him away. Seeing her long for another was something he could understand. Grief and loss were his best friends.

Sniffing and hiccups replaced the sobbing, and he felt her head move, resting it on his shoulder. The grip on his tunic loosened a bit, and slowly but surely, silence filled the room. All he could hear was her breathing, it was even, and he knew she had fallen asleep in his arms.

He wasn't sure whether he should be happy about it, but he stayed, unmoving, and drifted to sleep with her.

Back in the dining hall, after a long silence," Who would have thought, Huh?" Haren questioned in disbelief, looking outside the window. He mumbled after long moments of silence.

" What? Who would have thought, what Haren?" Ian scorned. The man got on his nerve. He was a first-class prick, the highest quality.

" That a tiny little thing like her could reduce Lord Dakran Vamadar into a pile of mush!" he scoffed " Weak!" he spitefully said as he turned on his heels and walked towards the door, looking baffled that another human being had captured Dakran's attention to that extent. His brain didn't seem capable of registering that kind of information, by the looks of it.

" Maybe one day," Iris began to speak, and Haren halted his steps in front of her," you will understand that caring about those around you is not a weakness! We only have each other and no one else! When you fall lame, ill, or are wounded, you rely on others to look after you. Without them, you would be dead. I hope that you can accept and be happy for him that he has found someone that he truly holds dear to his heart!" Iris preached, took Ian's hand, and walked past him. Iris's felt the tinge of maliciousness in Haren's tone. The man was bitter and spiteful, and she wondered how he got that way. There must've been something that turned him that way.

They stepped out of the dining hall in silence, and as soon as they put enough distance between them and the hall. " Can you believe that they are brothers?" Iris said, a little taken aback.

Ian chuckled " I said the same thing earlier!" he amusedly said, pushing the inlaid door to their chamber. Despite the similitude in their appearance, the two brothers were worlds apart regarding their character. Dakran was understanding. Underneath his bulky build lived a big softy. On the other hand, Haren was chalky, bitter, a barrel of spite and venom.

Iris placed the book on the bed and slipped her cloak off, and hung back on the side of the mirror. She heard Ian's light footsteps behind her, his arms circled her waist, and she placed hers on top of his.