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As dawn slowly crept over the horizon and kissed her face, caressing it in its warm and tender embrace, she stirred. Her arm crept slowly towards the opposite side of the bed, longing to touch her one true love, and finding only air. She was confused at first, but as her mind became more awake and shrugged off the fog of sleep, realization and then remembrance hit her with such force that she cried out in pain. This was how she awoke most days, forgetting at first that her beloved was gone forever. Never again would she smell the sweet scent of his body, feel the warm touch of his callused and warn hands. She would never bare his children and watch in delight as they grew into adults. She was reminded of it every day. The pitiful looks in the other villagers eyes as she stumbled through her day. The remarks that were made and the comments in her direction were enough to drive her to tears most days. She was but a shell of her former self. Once a wealthy and powerful tradeswoman, she had let her fortune dwindle and disappear after his death. It was if she had given up on the world. Truth be known she had. Her former husband's memory was haunting her, driving her to an early grave. She had many reasons to be haunted by his memory though, reasons that the other villagers had no idea of. She had been the reason he had died. She had sent away for an extraordinarily expensive trade good. So much so that she had hired the best mercenaries that money could buy to watch over its shipping. She had purchased a Diadem. Rarest of all jewelers creations, the diadem was drooled over by many and owned by very few. It was to be a surprise present for her beloved husband. When it finally got into town and she had it safely in hand she planned a huge ball to celebrate their kindred spirits. She planned on giving it to him for being by her side and loving her so much that she felt that even if she were in poverty she would be truly and blissfully happy. Word spread round that she was in possession of an extremely rare and expensive item, rumored to be crafted by the jewelers, and many in the thieves' guild took notice and bent an ear towards all who had something to say about it. The day of the celebration arrived at last, and she presented the diadem to her husband at the end of the evening. He was in shock and awe at receiving something so special. In love to his wife he put it on then and there, not wanting to keep it in a treasure room to look at on rare occasions. He wanted the world to know that his wife loved him, and that he loved her in return. After they had professed their words of renewed love to one another, he slipped outside to get the gift he had hid in the stables for her. As he rummaged in the hay stack he had hidden his gift in the light from the doorway was blocked. Thinking it only a stable boy come to muck the stalls he paid it no attention. No attention, that is, until he felt a blade slide between his ribs. As he drowned in his own blood, he prayed to the gods that his wife would be taken care of. He fell to the floor, murdered for the token of love his wife had given him. This is why she blames herself for his death. If she had never given him such an extraordinarily expensive gift he would still be alive, and she would still have him in her life. His memory haunted her to her grave. She died not two months after him, a smile on her face. She would be with him again, forever. -GoHoN | |