#the ��you’re my only one my julieta~~~~’ thing they have going on must bring a sense of joy to lonely girls who want to be loved…

[deus-ex-mona]

when you say you’re happy being by yourself

but maybe that’s just what you’re trying to convince yourself of…?

[julieta-ravencrest]

Kyosky

CW/TW: Attempted suicide, Torture 

A shattered blade was all her eyes could take in. The damned blade that held a shred of her soul for so long, always calling to her, never letting her suffering end. The ascent through this frozen keep did not do her well. Kyosky thought that facing her ruiner head-on with the army of champions would let her breath, to help ease knowing that she was no longer under the Lich King’s control. She was denied that chance.

A sect of champions had taken to the blood halls, the San’layn stood watch over all here. Defeating the three brothers had not gone well and they had lost a fair amount of soldiers to their magicks. As Kyosky raced through the halls towards Lanathel, countless steps in sync with her, she felt a confidence that had long been stifled. They could do this. What was one queen against an army? 

Yet again, she had been wrong. She could not do it, the Death Knight had been gravely wounded. Her comrades decimated by the time they managed to strike down the vampyr. Ariather raced to her side, attempting to hide the fear in her eyes. They had known one another for so long, the paladin would not let this be the end. 

“Tend to the wounded, all soldiers in favorable condition, march on. You must make it to the throne.” The paladin commanded the gathered champions. A priest or paladin here and there stayed briefly to call upon the lights' healing powers. Ariather had hoisted her up and began a slow descent to where they all started at the gates of the Citadel. 

“Leave me you blasted elf. Your skills are better suited for the battle with Arthas.” Kyosky forced the words out, a cough forcing its way out of her throat. Though Ari had mended her slightly in the Blood Halls, if she was to recover, she knew the paladin would stay behind. She had after all been the only one of their group who managed to sooth the Death Knights beaten soul. 

Ever trying to keep a light mood, Ariather huffed a small laugh, “My shining personality will be missed, yes. However, Keltius can make up for that for me. They will be fine. I know it.” Her statement received a roll of eyes from her patient. Always thinking of that warrior of hers. She would feign a gag if it wouldn’t agitate her injury.

-    -    -    -    - 

Few remained in the lower halls. Injured and sentries scattered about. Ariather had brought her to an alcove off to the side. The privacy did nothing.

She felt it, his victory. Frostmourne ripped at her soul, eliciting a violent scream of torment. 

“Kyo please, he can’t take you, you’re free!” Ariather read her easily. 

Arthas had defeated all those champions. The best Azeroth had, snuffed out like a candle. His voice echoed through their minds. 

“Watch now as I raise them from the dead to become masters of the Scourge. They will shroud this world in chaos and destruction. Azeroth’s fall will come at their hands-- and you will be the first to die.”

He knew what this would mean for those in his citadel. They would hear these words, scratching at their minds as he spoke them to Tirion. They had all fallen and he was resurrecting them as he once had to her own soul.

That invisible chain yanked at her again, Kyosky arched her back in agony, her piercing scream echoing through the hall. All who stayed behind froze as she was tortured. No physical pain would ever overtake the pain of a soul being ripped. Frostmourne called for more of her as she remained so close. 

She would never escape him, would never know a shred of peace, so long as he ruled on his frozen throne. Ariather continually spending her precious power of the light trying to heal both physical and spiritual wounds. “Don’t you dare give up, you can’t leave me.” The paladin had begun sobbing as she saw her friend suffer, seeing in Kyosky’s eyes that she was giving up. It would be so easy to let him take control once more. She would not know pain or suffering under his grasp. The paladins actions were the only thing keeping her from letting go. She would not abandon Ariather again, let alone force the paladin to fight her own friend. 

There was a shift, sudden yet soft. The strain ebbed away, letting her shattered soul rest. Something or someone had pulled through for the fallen champions atop Icecrown. Ariather stiffened, she too could tell something changed. 

“Tirion. Tirion is still alive! I can feel the Lights guidance Kyo, he’s saved them. Everyone is fine, you are fine.” As she spoke, she grasped Kyosky’s hand, squeezing it and bringing it to her face. 

The Death Knight strained, forcing her way upright despite Ariather’s protests. “Take me to them. Now Aria.” Her name for the paladin alone, she could see the shock wash over the elfs face at the mention.

Stammering response incoherent, a simple nod. They worked their way to the transporter at the entrance, it’s icy magic swirling calmly, they were gone.

He was defeated, the helm… gone. No, Fordragon now sat on the throne. Entombed in ice, helm of domination upon his head. Tirion addressed all those gathered, all champions of Azeroth.

“Heroes, the Lich King we know is no more. The time of our victory has come but know this. The world must not know what happened here. There must always be a Lich King. Bolvar Fordragon has taken the mantle and will control what remains of the scourge army. You must not speak of what transpired other than Arthas’ defeat.” His voice commanded respect and obedience from those around him. 

No one dared step into the center of the open chamber. Arthas’ lifeless body remained for now. Frostmourne shattered around him. 

Kirin Tor mages opened rifts back to Dalaran, portalling any who stepped forward out of the citadel. Few remained. Mostly Death Knights and Paladins, those who were greatly affected by Arthas. All spoke in varying levels of light knows what, she cared not. 

The Death Knight looked around her immediate space. Julieta, Aradia, Ariather, Laesneniel, all stood close by. A Draenei walked up to the last, Aveena. While horde and alliance they were, no fighting would ensue. This was a trusted group. One she did not feel she should be seeing. 

She looked out to the mountains of Icecrown, looked to the descending towers around them. She took a step towards the edge of the open platform. Ariather’s attention immediately broken from her current conversation and trained on her friend. 

“Kyo… what is it?” Caution.

A cold smile formed on her face. “Arthas is defeated. Frostmourne shattered. I should be able to return from this citadel with a new life. Yet why do I still hear whispers. Faint, so very faint. Ones I have never heard before. I can never live a normal life, even in my undeath.” Another step.

The paladin mirrored her step. Her arm slowly rising towards her, “Kyosky please.”

She would hear none of it, “What does it matter if I can’t be free. My soul is broken, mine again but broken. Yet still spoken to. By who?” Her voice raised, “What is the point? There is NOTHING holding me here.”

Her words struck those around her, pain hitting Ariathers eyes. Julieta’s keen eyes watching the Death Knights every move, every muscle twinge. Her fingers signalled, a motion missed by any not watching. Forsanna, her Mist Bat, the only one watching for such a move. The Bat was poised, knowing she would need to act quickly.

“Ariather. My closest friend. You have worried about me for so long, ever since you found me again. You have a life to live though, one not spent doting on my broken pieces. Keltius is waiting for you. The time has come for you to move on from me.” Full realization hit the paladin and spurred her to rush forward, the Night Elf and Draenei too far back to assist. 

Kyosky fell back. Embracing the void below her. It did not come. Julieta gave her final motion to Forsanna, right as the Death Knight made her move. Aradia was already using her magic, in a blink she was closing in the gap. She flung a spell at the plummeting Elf, slowing her fall just enough for Forsanna to swoop in and grab her in her claws. Though she was safe, the bat had to descend to the lower reaches of the Citadel, the weight too great to fly upward.

Kyosky sat alone in a room in Dalaran, windows magically sealed, door locked, and her armor and weapons stripped from her. Ariather was furious with her. Shouting from below sailed up, occasionally shifting into wailing. 

She had woken up in Aradia’s room. Bandages covering her chest, a light linen shirt hiding them from sight. Trousers covered her scarred legs. Simple clothes for someone back from battle… and imprisoned in this room. They were giving her no out.

The whispering had faded to a dull, almost inaudible hum. The further from the peak of Icecrown Citadel, the quieter they became. It must be Bolvar, her only thought on what could be occurring. 

Faint steps interrupted any coming thoughts. The door clicked open and shut again. 

Aradia entered.

“Good to see you came to. Your injuries and the brief fall were enough to put you out for three days.” She paused, furrowing her brows. “You hurt her Kyo. I’ve never seen her so bad. She’s practically your sister.”

The flirtatious, irritating mage was gone. She had gone serious upon seeing Kyosky awake. 

She couldn’t conjure up sorrow in her face for the paladin, not while she could still feel the phantom pain of her soul being ripped out again. “She would be fine without me.”

A sign breathed out of Aradia’s mouth, “Kyo, she wouldn’t. I know you would laugh in the face of love now but even Keltius hasn’t been able to calm her. Please think about at least her next time you try to off yourself. I understand we can’t know what you’ve gone through and are still going through… but if you're not going to think of all of us, think of her. She will always be there to help you.” Aradia didn’t wait for a response. With a waved hand, she conjured up a small platter of food and drink. “I will bring better food in a little, Julie is cooking now. Eat. It’s not a suggestion.” She turned and was through the door as the command finished leaving her lips.

Once she was alone, she truly was left with her thoughts. Despite her words to the mage, they were a lie now that she faced them in full. She felt sorrow for her friend. Yes, her actions were indeed selfish, spurred on by years of torment. Wishing for it all to just stop. She could never truly be alive again. She had to speak with Ariather. 

She stood up, impressed with how thorough the paladins healing had been this time around. She spared no expense, the exhaustion that must have taken her to do so well. Kyosky smiled a little at the thought. Opening the door, no runes blocking it anymore, she began working her way down the mages home to the central floor. She could hear various hushed voices and one that sniffled here and there in her sentences. Ariather.

Kyosky made sure not to silence her steps, to not catch her friends off guard. Their chatter did not stop, only the weeping paladin hushed. She was seated on a plush couch, Keltius gently holding her shoulders, Aradia perched on the arm next to him. Julieta stood to the side. They all wore some semblance of more civilian clothes, armor cast off while able to have the city comforts. 

Unsure what to say in front of them all, Ariather and Aradia, the only ones meeting her eyes. Though she knew the others were keenly aware of her presence. She shuffled down the last steps and focussed on Ariather. Giving a small smile and nodding back towards the stairs, clearing her throat of the tightness that took over. 

Her signal was all her friend needed. She went to stand up but Keltius held her in a comforting embrace for a moment, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Whispered words of affection shared between the two, their hands not separating until she was too far away and they fell apart. Keltius stern gaze taking in the Death Knight that caused his love so much pain. He would not forget this yet she knew he would not hold it against her so long as Ariather was helped. 

As Ariather closed the distance, she grabbed Kyoskys hand. Squeezing gently and tugging back to the stairs. The paladin stole a glance back at Keltius, her love and comfort of this world. Kyosky was truly grateful for his presence.

No words were exchanged as Ariather led them up the winding stairs, lavender flames casting shadows across their faces. As they reached the landing, they continued straight into a parlor, forgoing the use of the mages room this time. 

  Books covered the main wall, some magically suspended as if frozen in time where Aradia had been reading. Lounge chairs carefully placed to follow the sunlight

         They sat on a chair, saying nothing for the moment. It seemed like Ariather was taking in her friend. Making sure she hadn't missed any wounds. The long silence grew unbearable for Kyosky, knowing she needed to speak, but letting her friend take time to know she was well enough.

After what seemed to be an eternity, she decided to finally speak, though the words clung to her throat. "Aria… forgive me. I know I thought only of what I was going through-"

         The paladin lunged forward and hugged her tight. She slowly raised her arms and gently pressed them on her friends back in return.

Ariather spoke, her voice a rasp after her days spent crying or yelling, "Kyo never be sorry. I would do anything to take this pain away from you. Light damn that wretched citadel and it's master. You were… you ARE still a wonderful friend. I will always be there for you should you feel like it's all slipping away, like you are slipping away. I will reach into whatever void tried to take you and pull you back." Her words were soft and caring.

The Death Knight’s resolve broke, she embraced Ariather tightly, shedding tears no other would ever see. “I am blessed by all beings to have you Aria, I will not forget again.” 

After a short time, the two pulled back and smiled at each other. Ariather’s red eyes puffy, if Kyosky’s blood flowed the same, she might look the part as well. 

        They spoke of the many things that transpired before they found themselves reunited again at Light's Hope. Talking of life late into the night until the paladin, who had shifted to using her friends lap to lay while talking, had finally drifted off. 

Kyosky carefully managed to stand, carrying her friend to the room across from Aradias. She gently placed her on the bed and walked to the door. She hesitated for a moment but did not look back. Carefully closing the door, she breathed out. A small calm settled on her, she had not known a moment of peace in years. The Death Knight silently thanked the Light, of who she had not heard since her fall. Her vow to herself to trust her friend beyond all others, for she had stood by her side in her darkest hours.