From Distant Shores Collection Part 2 by K.R. Gomlok (ebook reader browser txt) 📕

would have wanted to push you this far! She loved you, Valormin! She never told anyone, but I could see in my old friend that you had pierced her heart! Please Valormin, I would do anything for Nafilas! I would have gone with her through the darkest of nights! She is all I have left, I was happy she had found someone she cared for. Please, will you not leave her image intact? I beg you, come back before it is to late!?
Valormin stopped struggling, his breathing became labored, and he looked across the unfathomable space that separated him from Joria. He felt his sword fall from his hands. He gasped for air, ?By the light of the heavens, what have I done??
?Don?t worry,? Joria said, though her voice still quavered, smoothing back his hair with her long Elven fingers. ?It?s over now, return to the light. We shall end this together.?
Valormin nodded and took Joria?s hand. As they looked firmly into each other?s eyes, he grasped his sword and smiled a small, shaky smile, ?For Nafilas,? he whispered.
With this, he charged into the battle, fighting side by side with Joria in perfect synch, ?There are too many,? He stated with effort, though his tone was calm, ?How shall we end this??
?Just keep fighting,? Joria replied, her breath becoming as ragged as his, ?Until the end of your strength, we will persevere. Truth and life are with us!?
Valormin was about to inquire what she meant when he came face to face with someone very familiar. ?Nafilas?? He blurted out, hardly believing his eyes, ?What are you??
His question was cut short by a quick kick to his stomach. Nafilas twirled and tripped Joria before pinning them both to the ground. ?Nafilas! What are you doing?? Valormin cried as one of her hands curled around his neck.
But in that moment, he realized it was not Nafilas, The palm that choked him was rough and ashen, and the tortured eyes he looked into shone with a fierce delight in his struggle.
?Nafilas is no more!? The ersatz Nafilas spat back, dark saliva dripping from the corners of its mouth, ? I now hold total dominion over what she once was, for I am Safilan!?
Safilan? Suddenly, Valormin understood, in his days in shadow he had been detained by a being known as Nimrolav. Nimrolav, Valormin. When Mäsene had died he had referred to his Galdrood as Enesäm. And now this creature that was named Safilan must be?
?Consuming darkness,? He whispered, ?Nafilas, why did you fall? What have you become??
?Quiet!? Safilan hissed, ?Your voice can no longer reach her. Don?t you understand? She wanted to save you! She turned to me because the light she fought in was to restraining. Now die knowing it was you who turned her to darkness!?
?Wait, Safilan!? The voice was terrible and dark, ?I still need him! He knows something that may prove crucial to our plot.?
?No, Ragsol,? Safilan said, contempt dripping from its dark mouth, ?This one is mine!?
Ragsol, who now appeared in person, stepped back, ?You will be your own ruin, mark my words.?
?What?? Safilan exclaimed. But it was too late, Ragsol had disappeared.
Before Safilan could turn back to Valormin a clear voice broke through the air, ?Túvro mril, Galdrood!? Ikiaghn shouted, Valormin could see him through a break in the crowd. His diamond sword was now shining with a heavenly light, ?Jaï thren rakka! Gallo túvrin lé giëh lor klona rilam umlar!?
With these words uttered, something amazing happened. Every Zalian still standing went limp, falling to the blood stained ground. Suddenly, Nafilas?s eyes became clear and she stared into the face of Valormin, who trembled beneath her grip. A great, relieved smile came across her face, ?Valormin?? She said. And he smiled back. As they exchanged looks, Nafilas felt faint. With a contented sigh, she collapsed beside Valormin and fell into a deep slumber.

Joria stared at her friends. For a moment the whole world had gone silent. Then, without warning, dozens of beings composed entirely of shadows and embers materialized and with a roar of unison, leapt upon Ikiaghn. ?No!? She cried out, springing to her feet, if they caused the slightest harm to him?
But before she could regain her balance, much less, get over to Ikiaghn, his sword flashed through them, dissolving a considerable segment of the writhing mass that had encased him. He fought gallantly, and deep within the darkness, she saw glimpses of light start to shine through.
Yet still this was not enough, the shadows came out of nowhere and were so numerous that she estimated their sum to be at least a thousand. ?High Lord of the Heavens,? She pleaded, ?Do not let him fall.?
Then, as she stared in horror at Ikiaghn?s epic prowess being matched with sheer numbers, she felt a rain drop. Looking up, she found that the sky was now cloud filled and stained blood red from the distant sunset. The shadows stopped and gaped at the looming cloud blanket.
And the cleansing rains fell from the heavens, cutting through the last remnants of the Zalian army. Deep within her heart, Joria knew the purifying flood was not of the earth, it had come from distant shores?

* * *

When Valormin finally awoke, it was morning again; the lush, damp grass that was under him felt pleasant against his sore back and other wounds. A little ways away he could see Nafilas, her coppery curls splayed around her. She was still in her battle stained armor, though it seemed as if the rain had carried away some of the scars. A new beauty had come about her, or perhaps it had always been there, but as Valormin gazed upon her peaceful face he wondered if he would ever be enough for her. Could he ever be deserving of her favor? Sub consciously, he reached out to brush aside a wayward curl.
?Don?t wake her, Valormin,? He twisted around to see Ikiaghn sitting against a nearby tree. There was something new about him that Valormin could sense, a newly asserted confidence in? something. It was not an eerie feeling, rather a reassuring one, like the sound of the waves upon the sand saying that things will always heal; all darkness will wash away. ?She will awake in time,? Ikiaghn continued, still watching Valormin, as a shepherd watches sheep. ?Go refresh yourself at the shores, there will be food when you return.?
?Thank you, Ikiaghn,? Valormin said slowly. It seemed like a foreign thought that there would finally be peace. For so long he had been running, always falling from one frying pan to another. But now the battle was over, was it not?
Shaking off the thought, Valormin walked off to the tranquil waters of the ocean. He winced as the icy waters engulfed his feet but still continued until he was immersed up to his waist. After the shock had worn off, he released a long, contented sigh. The cleansing waters were washing away the darkness.
After a while, Valormin pulled himself from the waters. He felt rejuvenated, but something was still missing. During that last battle, in the very end, he had felt so desolate at merely the thought that he might have lost Nafilas. He never would have talked with her again, laughed with her when things had finally come to rest, or cried with her when times of mourning were at hand and comfort was scarce. He realized he never wanted that to happen again. But how could he stop it?
Walking back to the field where he had awoke, he noticed the bright colors of spring were about him. Kneeling to the ground, he could see the life coming into the world that had been so dark and terrible yesterday. Robins were in the air, singing songs of renewal as wild flowers turned their bright faces to welcome the new day that had dawned on their valley. Did Nafilas like flowers?
He stepped back for a moment and examined himself, what was he thinking? Did he really believe he could change things with a few flowers?
He shook off the thought; he wanted to do this for Nafilas. She had become dear to him, how could he deny it? Taking in a deep breath, he picked flowers of deep, soothing blue, the color of the heavens, and some golden orange poppies, almost the color of Nafilas?s hair.
He turned his gaze heavenward, whatever power had saved them yesterday, it must have been of the supernatural. Sighing to himself, he wondered if he would have the courage to offer his gift to Nafilas. Now that he looked at it, it seemed pitiful. The petals were wrinkled with dew and the color did not seem quite so vibrant now. Now or never, he thought to himself, I can?t lose her again. I?ve fought battles against monstrous odds, how can I back down now?
Some how, this did not fill him with the courage he had hoped. And, as he came upon an empty field with Ikiaghn still sitting peacefully by the tree like some kind of sentinel, he panicked even more. ?Where?s Nafilas?? he demanded, ignoring the biscuit Ikiaghn offered him despite his alarmingly empty stomach.
?She went to the cliffs to eat her breakfast,? Ikiaghn explained, gesturing towards a small path that lead out of the field. ?She seemed disappointed when you weren?t here when she awoke.? He had just the beginnings of a grin touch his face as he continued, ?I told her I?d send you to meet her as soon as you returned. Don?t worry Valormin, she?ll be pleased to see you. Even if you?re a little wet.?
Ignoring Ikiaghn, Valormin snatched the biscuit and began his march to the cliffs he had indicated. They offered an amazing view of the ocean. Sitting alone on the cliff side, Nafilas was bent over something in her hand, she was so absorbed in whatever it was that she did not detect Valormin until he was sitting beside her.
For a while, they both were silent. Valormin still held his bunch of wild flowers out of her view and she was still looking at her secret treasure in a manner that prevented Valormin from knowing what it was.
Desperately, he hoped the moment he unveiled his tribute to her would not be one of the awkward kind. With him pouring out his excessive emotions he had kept inside and her standing there, not quite knowing what to do but tolerating him out of sheer pity. Oh, how he wished he could know if she cared for him. Just in the slightest.
He released a nervous sigh, after all the corruption and dissidence they had experienced he could not name one scenario in which he had been half as