Lanthriel

((So, I mentioned before that I want to completely rewrite Vahaadi’s character for Ashen Shard.  Rather than changing Vahaadi back from the character he’s become for Loose Canon, I’ve decided to jailbreak him from the story entirely.  I will be writing a completely different character to take his place, and Spark now gets to have Vahaadi all to herself! This decision has been cemented by the recent ideas I’ve had about revamping Ashen Shard. Initially everything was hunky-dory, but the day after I had my epiphany about Ashen Shard, I started feeling some pushback from Lanthriel.  This surprised me, since Vahaadi’s exclusion will theoretically make his own story so much better. But much to his own chagrin, Lanthriel does feel strongly for Vahaadi and regrets the drama. Sending Vahaadi to a different story entirely means they will no longer have to torment each other with their mixed feelings.))

“I suppose this is farewell,” Lanthriel said softly. “I’m sorry it had to end this way.”

Vahaadi closed his pack without looking up. “It’s for the best,” he replied, trying to sound confident. He flipped the pack, filled with every sign he’d ever been a part of Ashen Shard, over his shoulder.

“You’ll have to spend hundreds of years a slave and a villain instead of only a few.”

“True…” Vahaadi responded grimly. “But, I’ll get to be a hero, too.” Feeling the confidence he’d been seeking finally coming into his voice, he looked up at Latnrhiel. “Ink’s promised me a happy ending.  There’s no guarantee of that for me here.”

Lanthriel’s eyes darkened, and Vahaadi was alarmed by the look of deep pain and regret he wore.

“Don’t worry,” Vahaadi tried to reassure him. “Spark will take good care of me.”

Lanthriel’s brow knit and he cast his eyes away.  His voice was thin when he spoke next.

“I’ll miss you.”

Vahaadi’s throat tightened uncomfortably. Why, why did he always have to make everything so hard? “I’ll miss you, too,” he murmured.

For a moment, the two just stared at each other. At length, Vahaadi moved closer, extending his hand to touch Lanthriel’s face. Lanthriel seemed to come to himself abruptly and turned faintly pink. He cleared his throat hastily and held out his hand, as if to shake.

“Let us part as friends, and nothing more,” he said.

Vahaadi hesitated, and Lanthriel saw the fleeting resignation and sadness in his eyes. But then he smiled.

“Friends, and nothing less,” Vahaadi agreed, and he pulled himself against Lanthriel in an embrace.  Lanthriel’s hand, still extended, hovered uncertainly in midair.  Then he relaxed, and tenderly returned Vahaadi’s embrace. Vahaadi sighed into his chest, feeling he would melt.

“UUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH would you stop with the mush and just GO already?” a harsh voice whined.

Lanthriel relaxed his hold but didn’t pull away completely, looking at Took with a mixture of scorn and embarrassment.

“Oh, Took,” Vahaadi purred with his teasing smile. “You KNOW you’ll miss me too.”

Took put his hands on his hips. “I can’t miss you IF YOU WON’T LEAVE.”

Vahaadi laughed at his retort and shook his head. “Alright, alright,” he chuckled, unwrapping himself from Lanthriel.  He smiled up at Lanthriel, inviting him to laugh with him at Took’s expense, but there was no trace of a smile in return.

“Oh, Ehric,” Vahaadi murmured. “Don’t look so sad.  Knowing Ink and Evie, we’re bound to see each other again! We’ll run into each other in an RP or some out-of-context meme for certain!”

Lanthriel rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at the ground. “Haha. I guess you’re right.” He sighed quietly, then returned his gaze to Vahaadi’s. “Well, goodbye for now, Vahaadi,” he said.

“Goodbye, Ehric. I’ll see you around.” With that, he stepped up to Lanthriel, and gently kissed him under his jaw. For once, Lanthriel had been more or less expecting the kiss and didn’t tense. Grateful, Vahaadi resisted the desire to over stay his welcome, and with a final smile up at Lanthriel, he turned and ran off toward his new home, his new beginning.

(( Mood music, by One Republic of course:

I like listening to this and imagining the scene and a montage of memories and Lanthriel and Vahaadi facing their new stories and just coming to terms with everything and mutually and separately moving on. <3

Also relevant is Rascal Flatt’s “I’m Moving On” but it isn’t as uplifting/encouraging as “Stop and Stare.”))