(no subject)
Done for 15minuteficlets. Word: Wondering
How can someone so great suddenly be reduced to something so fragile? The body that has never known illness now hunches over in pain; the fair, gentle face is now as taunt as leather, attempting to mask the terror of a slow death. Whisps of silver hair cling to his pale brow, glued on by a feverish sweat. It terrifies me that he, of all people, can be brought to his knees.
Now we hunt for his murderer. The one who let loose this poison in his veins, the poison that is destroying his people. Our little, odd band, all supposedly the best of what they do; I cannot help but fear that our enemies may be better at their jobs than us. They have brought down the shape-shifting dragons, the greatest kindred of our world, like the one who leads us, destroying everything they are, bit by bit.
He stumbles, inhaling sharply, and we all hold our breath during that split, terrifying moment in which it seems that he may fall and not get back up. However, he rights himself, and quickly begins forward again, pretending, as we did, that nothing was wrong. The shadows in our eyes are the only thing that reveals the doubt and fear that we all feel. I watch him, striding forward, golden sunlight tangling in the silver of his hair and clothing, and wonder how long it will be before he can lead us no more.
How can someone so great suddenly be reduced to something so fragile? The body that has never known illness now hunches over in pain; the fair, gentle face is now as taunt as leather, attempting to mask the terror of a slow death. Whisps of silver hair cling to his pale brow, glued on by a feverish sweat. It terrifies me that he, of all people, can be brought to his knees.
Now we hunt for his murderer. The one who let loose this poison in his veins, the poison that is destroying his people. Our little, odd band, all supposedly the best of what they do; I cannot help but fear that our enemies may be better at their jobs than us. They have brought down the shape-shifting dragons, the greatest kindred of our world, like the one who leads us, destroying everything they are, bit by bit.
He stumbles, inhaling sharply, and we all hold our breath during that split, terrifying moment in which it seems that he may fall and not get back up. However, he rights himself, and quickly begins forward again, pretending, as we did, that nothing was wrong. The shadows in our eyes are the only thing that reveals the doubt and fear that we all feel. I watch him, striding forward, golden sunlight tangling in the silver of his hair and clothing, and wonder how long it will be before he can lead us no more.