Deep in the forest, a voice cried in desperation and sorrow, echoing through the night sky. Glowing aqua eyes stared at the elven woman, her skin so pale it was almost transparent, hair a shimmering silver and with the moons rays, it only made it more radiant. Lavender eyes framed with dark spiked lashes from her tears, stared back into his. The drow kept her pinned against the tree using his body, holding the woman’s delicate hands above her head with his own.

“Why? he cried painfully, his face filled with anguish. “Why not me, Lyra?”

The woman’s body shook with her sobs as she drew her gaze away from her beloveds. She could not bring herself to look at him. Why? She did not know the answer herself to his question. If only her family, her race would allow them to marry. Secret friends since childhood, Tylen and herself grew to love quite deeply. Gods only know how much she loved him and down much she cursed her parents for arranging a marriage for her to someone she despised.

“Look at me!” Releasing a hand from hers, he cups her chin and turned it so she stared back at him.

“Why Lyra?” he asked in tense, but calmer voice.

“I wish it ‘twas you, Tylen. But you don’t understand!”

“Don’t understand? Damnit, Lyra, just leave with me! We can go away, far from here.” He released her other hand to both sides of her jawline, the pads of his dark callused thumbs brushing her softly pale skin gently. “Please Lyra. Be my wife. Come away with me. I’ll love you for all time, you know that. There is no questions about it.”

Another sob choked her. How much she wanted to just throw her arms around this man and cry yes! But no matter how much she wanted to follow her heart, she could not. They would be hunted for all their lives until they were found and punished for the crime. None were allowed to love or marry outside their own race, especially a drow.

“I can’t. I just can’t.” Lyra whispered.

“No!” He let her go, thrusting himself away from her as if he had just been scalded. “You can! You just don’t love me enough to marry me and come away with me.”

“No Tylen, I do but-“

“I don’t want excuses!” He narrows his eyes on her. “No excuses.” He studied her silently for a moment before he asked, barely above a whisper.

“You love him, don’t you?”

“Tylen, I love you!” he moved toward him, her soft white gown hugging her tiny form, the skirt flowing with her steps.

“Then why do you not come with me?” His voice was so full of emotion; his dark lashed spiking with the moister forming there.

“My parents and many others would come after us, Tylen, you know that.”

Tylen turned his back to her but she continued forward. She slipped her arms around his narrow waist from behind, holding him close as she rested her cheek against his back, feeling his long black hair against her flesh. “I love you, Tylen, never doubt it.”

He closed his eyes, fighting back his emotions. His thoughts raced, so many memories replaying all at once. Their time together as children, swimming in secret pool they had discovered, when she taught him to read and write after her own studies each day, and those many times when they grew older when they would lie in each others arms after the love they had made.

Tylen’s jaw clenched.

He knew what had to be done. If he couldn’t have her, no one would.

Drawing a dagger quietly from the sleeve of his wrist, he opened his eyes, their aqua glow dim as he stared down at the deadly sharp point of the metal.

“I want to be with you, Tylen, but we can’t.” Lyra mumbled softly.

“We can”

Lyra stepped back, her arms falling to her sides. “Tylen, you must accept it. We would become the hunted!”

He turned slowly to face her. “No we won’t.” Tylen watched her eyes widen upon seeing the blade. “We will be free.”

“Tylen, no…”

“Shh, my love.” He reaches out to her, snatching her against him before she could even blink. “All will be well.”

She shook her head frantically, “Tylen, you can’t possibly do this!”

“But I can.”

Lyra stared at the blade with her lavender eyes, so full of fear and dread, but yet, so empty.

“Shh…” Tylen lowered his head and gently touched his lips to hers, kissing her softly for the last time. “I love you, Lyra, more than life. You are every breath with in me. We must be together.”

“Oh Tylen, please don’t…” tears streamed down her pale cheeks as she looked up at him.

He slowly brought the dagger into the hair, but stopped short as he stared down into the eyes of his loved one. He couldn’t do it. Not too her. He would not spill her blood.

Lyra watched, silently pleading with him. He slowly began to lower the dagger and she knew he would not harm her.

Suddenly, he jerked; his eyes widening with surprise and pain as the dagger fell from his grasp, dropping to the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips as he slumped forward, falling to the grassy earth as well.

“Tylen, what…oh gods no!” She cried as she spotted the arrow in his back as he fell. She dropped to her knees next to him, reaching out to touch his cheek, “Oh Tylen, please don’t die.”

He looked at her and with the last of his strength, mouthed the words ‘I love you.’

There was a rustling of leaves as a man stepped out from the bushes. “Lyra? Are you all right?”
Lifting her eyes, she spotted the man moving toward her slowly, the man her parents had arranged her to marry.

“Oh thank the gods you’re all right. I saw him with the knife aimed to kill you and-“

“You killed him!” She shrieked. “Leave us!”

His face contorted into a mask of rage. “Of course I killed that dirty drow bastard! He was going to kill you!”

“You have no right! He was not going to kill me!” She cradled the head of her dear Tylen in her lap, gently stroking his hair. “Oh Tylen, I love you so…”

“Love him? Are you mad?!” The man began to stride toward her.

Seeing his movements, she tensed. She would not leave Tylen. She thought she could, but now, even in death she couldn’t. The glint of the dagger that Tylen had held caught her eyes. She knew what she had to do to be with him. She snatched up the dagger and faced the one that she was pledged to.

“Stay back!”

He came to an abrupt stop. “Don’t be silly, Lyra. Put that down.”

She regarded him for a moment then glances at Tylen’s motionless body. Saying a silent prayer to the gods, she closed her eyes as she plunged the blade deep into her stomach. “Forgive me…my love…” she whispered with her last breath before she fells beside her beloved for all eternity.

The man watched this silently then cursed. He glared at the dead woman; the wench was he was suppose to marry to gain his father a fortune, completely enraged. “What a waste.” He growled then stalked off, back into the forest.