Reunion (Roland)

[Roland]

Roland smiles and strokes Aveline's cheek as she recollects their valentines date. He even finds himself chuckling a little. "You know I was so mad when Vanessa decided to kidnap me and throw me into that meeting of ours." He whispers and thinks back. "And while it was still very wrong of whoever put my name on that list...well I am glad it happened." He admits, though thinking back on the way he acted then makes him reflect for the first time on how much he has calmed down.

"You know, before we got married I was notorious for being hostile and severe, now look at me. Consoling with you in a dungeon." He couldn't help but grin a bit "What have you done to the stern man I used to be?" He asks in a tone that almost sounded joking.

He freezes when Aveline mentions his eyes however. "Gray?" He asks confused, What in the nine hells of Fate to gray eyes mean? He finds himself wondering. "Maybe..." He says uncomfortably clearly not sure what this sudden revelation means. As Aveline rises to leave Roland looks a bit sad, but releases her knowing it would be worse if she stayed.

When she begins to he prepares to speak up and tell her to leave, but her final statement surprises him. Something she can leave with me?...I'd love to have my staff or perhaps a book...but... Roland begins to shake his head when he thinks of something, his ashen features turn slightly red before he says. "You cannot leave anything physical down here...but can you tell me how you feel one more time?" He asks, it was still not something he was accustomed to and each time he heard it he always felt a little better.

[Deleted]

Aveline’s eyes shut as Roland cups her cheek, trying to keep herself from shattering. She’s beginning to tremble, trying desperately to hold herself together. Roland shouldn’t be consoling her- she was free. He was trapped. She reaches up for his hand and turns her face into his palm, covering her eyes with his hand. “You- you were always this way.” her voice was beginning to betray the fact that was was on the verge of tears. “You just didn’t let anyone else see it.”

Aveline lifts her head from his hand, chewing hard on her lower lip, her dark eyes clearly watery. She nods, looking down at his hand. First she lowers his hand to press against her growing stomach firmly, in vain hopes that he could feel something there to hold onto. Then she lifts his hand to press her bitten lips to his fingertips before turning his hand back into the bars to press his fingers to his lips.

“I love you.” Aveline’s voice cracks, unable to stop the tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. Her vision was blurry now- she couldn’t quite see him anymore. “This- this isn’t goodbye. I’ll see you soon. We’ll be free soon.” She knew she had to let go of his hand but she couldn’t, her gloved hands shaking and gripping his hand in as much of a vice-like grip as her fragile hands could manage. “I- I’m so sorry, Roland. You don’t deserve this.”

[Roland]

Roland watches helplessly as Aveline begins to weep and reaches his other hand out to take hers. "Listen Aveline, you may have realized that I am somewhat of a prickly person to most. Even when we met as adults I was intimidating. It was you who saw through all of that..." Roland's eyes seemed glisten a bit as he speaks, but he keeps going.

"I have always, always only thought of my magic and the job. I have spent my life chasing an ideal that..." He falls silent and squeezes her hand. "An ideal that I will continue to follow."

"But, it is not easy to chase after something like that, it cannot return your devotion, it cannot lift your spirits, and it cannot sneak into the prison to ease your heart when you are unsure." He says, his words slightly breathless. "Even if I have always been this person, it took you to help me see it. You have already given me strength by being here. By believing in me, and by standing up for me."

He lifts his second hand to help wipe away the tears streaming from her face. "I abandon my post, it was my decision and the law and they system will determine if he reasons were good enough. But I wish I did not have to put you through this."

Finally he releases her hand. "I love you Aveline, we will be together again soon."

[Deleted]

Aveline crumples, tilting her head against the bars, trying and failing to fight the tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn’t let his hand go and doubted her grip on his hand could hurt him- her hands were as fragile as glass in his. She tilts his head into his hand, trying to absorb as much of this sensation as much as she could- goddess knows the next time she’ll be able to touch him.

He had left his station for her. She would put this right.

When he releases her hand Aveline shakes, grabbing hold of the hand still on her face. It was too soon- she knew she had to leave but she couldn’t let him go. She couldn’t. Not now. She couldn’t leave him alone here, not like this. She presses her lips to her palm then turns it, kissing over his battered hand, not wanting to let go.

“We- we’ll be together.” Aveline’s voice shook, forcing herself to stand, still clinging to Roland’s hand as if she could pull him through the bars to come with her. She couldn’t say goodbye. “Good- I-” her eyes, red and dark and watery stared down at him, her legs shaking under her dress. “I promise. I love you.”

Before she could think twice on it she pulls away, releasing his hand and turning to the stairs. She left without looking back, knowing that if she did, she would have no choice but to stay.

And there was still work left to be done.