The soldier hurried into the house. It was warm, well decorated and furnished with the most modern amenities technology had to offer. He was a handsome man with somewhat rough features and golden hair that was chopped short upon his head. His blue eyes possessed an almost effeminate fairness, but the square cut of his jaw and his harsh cheekbones eliminated any possibility of him being mistaken for a woman. The look on his face however, suggested nothing short of torture.
"Gem," He called. "Gem, come to me, quickly, please."
A beautiful -- though harried-looking -- woman emerged from one of the rooms inside. Rich, red hair spilled down all the way to her waist, framing teary eyes as green as precious stones. "Is it time?" She asked thickly. The soldier responded with a nod. "My superiors have agreed to surrender, but the men of my unit want to fight. I don't think we have any chance, but we need to show people that they can still fight."
"Let me fight with you, Engheimr, please. You know I've bested even some of your own men." Gem's plea was heartfelt, and only increased the spill of tears down her pale face. Engheimr the soldier would not have it. "As much as I want to die with you beside me, someone needs to see our child to safety. Someone needs to make sure that he doesn't become a part of -- them. They'll take the children and brainwash them, you know it. Where is he? Inside?"
Gem nodded once. "Sleeping. I didn't want him to be awake to see if anything went wrong. If you want to see him -- now's the time."
Engheimr nodded and quickly moved to one of the inner rooms. Gem went with him, shamelessly allowing her emotion to pour and drip from her pointed chin.Â
The room was simple -- a few implements for the change of a diaper, a small station to mix formula and prepare food, and a great deal of toys. Against the wall, a small bed stood, with a smaller figure upon it. Like his mother, his hair was as red as the blood in his veins. He was a little large for his age -- something that his father had been loudly proud of. Very quickly Engheimr crossed the room to the bed and gently scooped the boy up. He slept soundly, and only stirred in slumbering protest. Engheimr clutched him, and kissed his head. The moment Gem held on to his waist and pressed her head into his shoulder, however, he broke down into quiet, hitching sobs, refusing to stop the kisses to the mop of wild red hair.
"I love you, my son. I love you so much. Please remember at least a little of me. Grow to be a better man than I, a man that your mother can be proud of. You're already so strong, and everyone sees greatness in you. Grow well, and return to this place. Seize it back for us, and make my spirit smile."
Gem's sobs joined Engheimr's as they held on for their last precious moments together.Â
"My sweet boy. My sweet baby boy," the soldier sobbed. "I leave you now. Travel with your mother and take care of her. Be safe in the lands beyond our own."
Gem took the child, who had not awakened. His hair was even more of a mess than before on account of all the kisses. Through her tears, she managed her husband a promise. "I'll make sure Berrod never forgets you, Engheimr. I shan't let that happen. Now go; our time is short."
"Gem," He called. "Gem, come to me, quickly, please."
A beautiful -- though harried-looking -- woman emerged from one of the rooms inside. Rich, red hair spilled down all the way to her waist, framing teary eyes as green as precious stones. "Is it time?" She asked thickly. The soldier responded with a nod. "My superiors have agreed to surrender, but the men of my unit want to fight. I don't think we have any chance, but we need to show people that they can still fight."
"Let me fight with you, Engheimr, please. You know I've bested even some of your own men." Gem's plea was heartfelt, and only increased the spill of tears down her pale face. Engheimr the soldier would not have it. "As much as I want to die with you beside me, someone needs to see our child to safety. Someone needs to make sure that he doesn't become a part of -- them. They'll take the children and brainwash them, you know it. Where is he? Inside?"
Gem nodded once. "Sleeping. I didn't want him to be awake to see if anything went wrong. If you want to see him -- now's the time."
Engheimr nodded and quickly moved to one of the inner rooms. Gem went with him, shamelessly allowing her emotion to pour and drip from her pointed chin.Â
The room was simple -- a few implements for the change of a diaper, a small station to mix formula and prepare food, and a great deal of toys. Against the wall, a small bed stood, with a smaller figure upon it. Like his mother, his hair was as red as the blood in his veins. He was a little large for his age -- something that his father had been loudly proud of. Very quickly Engheimr crossed the room to the bed and gently scooped the boy up. He slept soundly, and only stirred in slumbering protest. Engheimr clutched him, and kissed his head. The moment Gem held on to his waist and pressed her head into his shoulder, however, he broke down into quiet, hitching sobs, refusing to stop the kisses to the mop of wild red hair.
"I love you, my son. I love you so much. Please remember at least a little of me. Grow to be a better man than I, a man that your mother can be proud of. You're already so strong, and everyone sees greatness in you. Grow well, and return to this place. Seize it back for us, and make my spirit smile."
Gem's sobs joined Engheimr's as they held on for their last precious moments together.Â
"My sweet boy. My sweet baby boy," the soldier sobbed. "I leave you now. Travel with your mother and take care of her. Be safe in the lands beyond our own."
Gem took the child, who had not awakened. His hair was even more of a mess than before on account of all the kisses. Through her tears, she managed her husband a promise. "I'll make sure Berrod never forgets you, Engheimr. I shan't let that happen. Now go; our time is short."
![[Image: tumblr_ojgu7zoaag1robwlio1_540.png]](https://68.media.tumblr.com/80be4033cdf57fb6268473ef9ce37db6/tumblr_ojgu7zoaag1robwlio1_540.png)
