Work Text:
The Guardian stood in the H.E.L.M. They waited for the Crow to finish filing a report, absentmindedly fidgeting with the locket strewn around their neck. They have had that locket for as long as they could remember. It was purple-blue stone, marbled and ever-changing like that of Awoken architecture. The weight and the coldness of it grounded them as they were Risen for the first time. They remember drawing in their first breath, reaching first to check their heartbeat and then feeling the cool stone of the locket for the first time.
“Ready to go?” asked Crow. He received a nod in response. His fellow Lightbearer was about to walk off when he spoke up again. “Wait.” The Guardian stopped, turning to face them again.
He pointed to their chest. “That necklace, I always see you with it on. Is it… is it a locket?” Another nod. “Can you tell me what’s inside?” The question hung in the air until he was met with a shake of the Guardian’s head.
In truth, the Guardian didn’t know what was inside the locket; they didn’t dare to open it.
“Oh, I- I’m sorry. I was just curious. I hope I didn’t offend you or overstep or-” the Crow was cut off with a pat to his shoulder. The Hunter couldn’t read their expression through their helmet, but he was certain that the Guardian was giving them a look of reassurance.
“Right,” he said, “we should get going then.”
~~~
My love,
I’m afraid that there isn’t much time left. Things have been looking bleak, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, and it doesn’t look like things will be letting up any time soon. As I’ve told you before, my family and I are part of the crew for one of the colony ships. We’re on course to depart [illegible], and we will hopefully depart before things get any worse. My sister reassures me that this is the right thing to do, for the safety of our family and for myself, but I can’t bear to leave you.
I think that I can sneak you onto the ship as one of the passengers. We can start a new life together, without the wavering benevolence of the Traveler. A new adventure among the stars. Should you like, meet me at [illegible]. You must hurry though, the crew has to ensure that all of the passengers are in stasis quite a while before departure.
I know that this won’t be an easy decision for you to make. I know that I am asking a great deal of you, to leave your life behind for something so foreboding and unknown. Should you decide to not come, and these become my last words to you, please know this: whatever worlds we face out there, whatever life I make for myself out in the stars, you will always be with me in my heart. I will carry your love for me as a reminder of what humanity is fighting for. Stay safe, my love, and may my love for you remain in your heart as fervent and as assured as the dawn.
Forever and most sincerely yours,
Uldwyn Sov