elio had insisted that she stayed behind the safety lines; ‘to lose you, sarya, would be to lose everything.’ - she knew it to be true, but there was so much on her shoulders. so many people expected things from her; that she didn’t know if she could ever be, ever do. she was only just twenty; how could the gods expect so much from her.
she supposed the gods were cruel. but then, she supposed she was selfish. cleolind had the fate of continued existence on her shoulders. it was petty to think her burden was so heavy in comparison to her ancestors. it was selfish for her to pity herself in this moment, especially when a total of five thousand were fighting in her name today.
she had to be a better leader.
despite the thoughts that were occupying her mind, she took a seat opposite aulise. she wondered what was to go through the other’s mind now. both her husband, and her daughter (also sarya’s own lover) were out there; taking on alexandria’s empire. she had waited here for days, in case they needed a callback to retreat. they had heard nothing yet. either they were fine - or they were all dead.
she should have gone. no army was prepared to deal with avnysso. she was a coward to have listened to elio. what kind of leader was she to not be prepared to die with her people?
as she had this thought, aulise stood abruptly. turning to the girl who shared in her company these last few days. “could you retrieve those who can help?” aulise asked; and the girl nodded, scurrying from the room. minutes passed before those she remembered from brief meetings entered the room.
helion had called for assistance to retreat, then.
just like that, together a portal was opened. sarya’s hand came to rest on the hilt of her sword - just in case there was any surprises. the image given was a distorted view of a landscape; thousands of dwelin’s soldiers stood in organised ranks - and then, her own rebels came through the portal. one... two... three - it was a handful at best.
helion had not come through yet, neither had bo’dariel. she could see aulise straining to keep the portal open; they were struggling, it would close soon.
mother, please. and silent prayer was whispered to cleolind; she would save them, she had to - she wouldn’t lose them. one minute passed - then two - then three... then helion came through. “she’s not coming. close it; alexandria arrived.”
the words came in as static; but she understood them. no, no, no, no... before anyone had looked toward her, sarya moved forward to the still open portal. she would die - so determined she forgot those around her. as she approached the portal, coarse arms caught her waist, blocking her progression. she merely had to watch as the portal closed; the link between the two places closed. and so left bo’dariel stranded, facing the queen alone.
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