Darkness, from Songs for the Dragon King, by Vivian Hadding

She found herself by the river's edge

She was half aware of having walked there

She tried not to think of the mistakes she had made

The tests she had failed


It seemed her faith in herself...in Him had faltered

Not once, but too many times

Since she'd left the Emperor's land

She knew that's why he'd left


She'd known the legend

She'd known the dream

Only great love

Could awaken the Dragon King

Only great faith

Could keep him in human skin


She clutched her heart and shuddered

It felt as it might stop

Dropping to her knees

She was overcome with grief


Her breath was sharp, ragged

Her throat threatened to close

She had promised she would not cry

Yet her face was moist

Silent tears streamed down her cheeks

She wondered why...

Why she had not been strong enough

Why had she been so foolish

Why she had let her faith fail them

She sunk even lower

Heart and soul both swallowed

In the cold, dark mud

Night setteled around her

But she was unaware of anything

Save the fact that he was gone

The realization

That she might never see him again

For he had been her mentor

Her passion

Her light in the darkness

Her heart's sheild

Her protector

Her strength

Morning..from Songs for the Dragon King, by Vivian Hadding

She held the stones in her hands

Skin chapped and scraped

She wondered if the rest of her looked as worn

Certainly she felt so these days


She clutched the first one to her heart

Not fully conscious why

Cool and dark not quite round

Still, it felt right