#tremendous

Dash lifted his head from the door and pondered the lack of reply to his calls. His blue eyes drifting up to the top of the frame as he waited, straining to see if he could get anything from the minuscule gap from where he stood to the treasure within. There was a flicker of movement and the smell of roasted meat from the midday meal but no sound of steps or words to answer his own. It was comforting to know that his fiancé was within, but also terrifying to the plethora of the wild imagination of the unknown.

His smile began to falter as he felt a familiar grim line of his lips grip his face as his hands came to brace along the sides of the door-frame as he strained further to hear. The knight knew that fear should never define him as the woman within was as capable (if not more than) to take care of herself in the event of danger.

For the last decade they had fought side by side in the expedition of a lifetime thanks to the vision of the mighty Emperor himself. Swords raised in unison to the shining light of the Flame they had left the Empire behind for distant shores to support and fulfill his vision of victory for their people. They had been a happy time as the sky was filled with light and joyful cries for the host as they boarded the Third Fleet set to the victory horns of the Old Kingdom. None had forgotten the ringing in their ears at the bellow of their might as anchors were lifted.

None had forgotten the storm that grasped the fleet either.

A cruel moment in time as those former cries of his people's hope now turned to the horrified screams of his comrades lost to the open air.

But not all were lost in life.

"Fayle," Dash's voice grew stronger now as he spoke. "Please open the door. I need to know you're alright."

Why was his heart beating faster? Hallowfell was a safe place or at least as it could in the light of Beledar and the watchful eye of his comrades within the Sacred Flame. True there were 'unsavories' among who had lost their way and outside forces from further within the depths of Khaz Algar, but they were hardly alone now. Allies from the surface had arrived and brought greater hope to the stalwart of the remaining expeditionary forces. The crash had cost so many lives but never faltered their faith in the light or each other.

With each new victory they had been brought closer to peace. And with peace could bring new beginnings that had had to wait.

"Fayle," Dashell spoke louder again as his hands grasped the handle of the door and he began to push to try and force his way in. Why was this making him so uneasy? They were knights of the Sacred Flame, they had faced all manner of beast or monster in these caverns together and apart. Apart was always worse in the uncertain years as they struggled in the dark with mere tinder and hope, but they overcame. What was the quiet on the joyous day of union to disrupt his faith? It was ridiculous. And yet he found himself pushing hard on the door to seek his beloved.

For him the door opened and what was within caused his breath to catch quickly.

Fayle stood quiet and demure before him, her white robes shining bright by the light of the crystal that kept them alive for so many years. As beautiful as she had been the first time he had seen her boarding the The Wick as they left their home, Dash felt his mouth gaping at the sight of her. Dark hair cut short as only a soldier could understand, framed her soft rounded face. How a woman with so much time spent with sword and shield in hand could remain so perfect was beyond him. Of course she would roll her eyes at such sentiment, but the smile that would grace those luscious red lips always appreciated his longing gazes.

From the stunned look he gave her, Dash prayed that would appreciate it all the more now as he filled the doorway staring at her after practically breaking to see her. The sight of her sent his fear fluttering away like embers of a campfire. White robes shining, ruby earrings glittering, and the same piece of ruby sparkling from the necklace he had presented to her with those earrings when he finally asked her to be his alone. The fire between them burned bright as she accepted them and his embrace. Now they were here in Dunelle's Rest, ready to begin the next chapter they had longed for for so long.

Uncomfortable silence filled the void between them at his barging in, causing a matching crimson to the rubies on her person to wash over Dashell's scarred face. Sputtering softly, the knight would do his best to recover his emotions and poise in her presence as he leaned forward in a deep bow. "Fayle, forgive me. When you didn't answer or come to my call, I just assumed."

Head still bowed Dash continued to babble on, surprised at his own lack of civility in the presence of his wife to be. "I had a lapse in faith and feared the worst. It was foolish and truly there's no excuse. I find myself more nervous in this time before than ever we were before, which is laughable as dying should be a much greater fear than hearing your voice say."

Fingers gently ran over his scalp, gliding through his thick blonde hair as he did his best to suppress a shudder. She had never done something like that. Their pious lives had dictated so much of their courtship over the last few years that the sheer volume of will not to sweep her away like a lovesick vagabond had driven them both near mad with boiling passion. Dash failed in swallowing that shudder now as the fire deep within burst to a rage as he gently reached out to touch the white robes before him as at least she spoke.

"I do."

Those same fingers would grasp cruelly to his hair as swift pain flooded his eyes before a hard yank lifted him up to look at her. Shock hurt worse than her strong grip as he stared up into what should be pools of brown warmth but now seemed to be tainted with a strange violet tint.

The question died quickly on his lips as the sharp steak knife slashed at his throat and swept up to pierce beneath his chin into his upper palette. The soft flesh resisted little to the quick strikes as the blood that should have bubbled out his mouth now cascaded from his jugular and between his teeth in a slow drowning torrent.

Candlelight snuffed quickly from Dashell's eyes as his body began to seize in the throes of his shocking murder, as Fayle grabbed hold of his shoulder and toppled him forward into her room. Violet eyes growing duller by the moment as she stepped past the pool of blood and stiff body to shut the door with a soft click.

Peace came to the hallway.