User:Lonesome Courier/Forge World

Winterhold, The College of Winterhold, 2nd of Rain's Hand, 4E 203

The next morning, Darius and Arabelle were awoken and told to report to the Arcaneum immediately.

Arabelle got dressed and made her way there.

Darius joined her there soon afterward, dressed in his Archmage robes.

"Who's the crazy guy who ordered the Archmage of the College out of bed?" Darius grumbled.

"I am."Galmar Iron-Fist stated angrily.

"Oh shit..."Arabelle sighed.

"Oh shit is right..."Galmar growled.

(Do note that the College is Darius' home turf. Archmage and all...)

Darius sighed. "What brings you to the College, Galmar?" He asked, with an unavoidable tone of annoyance.

"No thanks to you, Riften is ours. But I'm here for a higher purpose." Galmar stated.

"Now both of you listen. And don't get cocky Darius, just because you run this college doesn't make you any better. Can't you see it now? Your love for Arabelle superseding your love of Skyrim has almost gotten your best friend killed. Korgrav wouldn't have been in the shape he is had you two been at your post. He could have died, and we could have lost the Rift. Had you been there the seventy nine men we had to bury might've stood today. I had thought better of you Darius... And Arabelle, after Solitude, you're dismissed from the Stormcloaks for conduct unbecoming of an officer. Your undergarments were found hanging from someone's roof ledge... I do hope you two take a good long look at yourselves before proceeding in life..."

(Cue the song...)

Darius was struck silent, his eyes dropping to the ground.

No...

Arabelle started to sob and ran back to her room... She was shamed beyond belief...

"Darius, you are the last Dragonborn, the Archmage of this college, and according to my sources the master of a guild I don't think I need to mention. You've mastered the thu'um, you've bested Alduin, you've mastered magic, but you can't master self-control. I expect in three weeks your crew to be at our stronghold outside solitude, ready to take Skyrim."

(It had to be done...)

"But I suggest you make a trip to the Rift to talk to the men there. They'd like to hear an apology I'm sure..."

Darius looked at Galmar, anger burning in his heart and tears beginning to gather in the corner of his eyes. "I'll head to the Rift soon. just allow me a few moments..."

"Very well... I'll be waiting at our Stronghold." Galmar stated before leaving.

Darius turned to the bare stone wall behind him, tears starting to fall.

"Why is it... No matter what I do.... I can't find a place to lay my head?!" He shouted at the wall, in anguish.

"Is that my fate?! ANSWER ME! YOL!"

Darius unleashed a tongue of fire at the wall, out of rage at the universe, who had taken his one chance at solace from him...

The Archmage pounded on the blackened wall, tears falling freely.

Arabelle cried her eyes out... Mara I beg of you to fix this broken heart...

Darius turned around, his back to the wall.

His heart broken into a million pieces, the Archmage who had single-handedly defeated Alduin, Harkon, and Miraak put his head in his hands, and wept.

Mara... If you hear me, I beg you to make this right somehow someway someday... Arabelle couldn't breathe without sobbing.

(It'll take 30 years, but Mara will hear their prayers.)

Talos, Julianos, Mara, don't you see this isn't right?!

Darius took a shaky breath, before shouting to the heavens.

"NOOOOOOO!"

Korgrav came up behind Darius. "Brother, I am here for you."

Arabelle wept until she passed out on the stone floor in the middle of the hall of countenance. Where her tears fell, deathbell now grew, and still does to this day.

Yslana came across Aras, and carried her to her own room, and sat next to the bed, and waited.

"I didn't think it was possible, brother..." Darius took a breath. "But my heart is broken..."

To this day, students passing the blackened wall swear that they smelt rain, as it fell on worn stone...

"Look brother there is a saying,'If you love something, let it go. If it's meant to be, it'll come back. If not, then it was never meant at all.'" Korgrav sighed placing his hand on Darius' shoulder.

Arabelle eventually awoke clutching her chest as if it had a massive hole through it.

"If she doesn't come back, I don't think I could handle it." Darius admitted.

"Aras... I'm sorry.' Yslana spoke.

"She may not come back today, tomorrow, or next month, but as all things have a fate and none can outrun it, if you two are meant to be, you will be together again. Patience is the mightiest virtue yet the hardest to get right, but in time, we all can master it." Korgrav sighed.

"It's not fair Ys... What did we do to deserve this? And now I have disgraced myself, my family, the Stormcloaks, Darius..."Arabelle ranted before sobbing once more.

"You sound like Paarthurnax." Darius chuckled weakly. "I kept telling him I don't believe in fate..."

"If you do love him, then not even the gods can keep you apart. Someday, someway, I know that you two will find each other." Yslana offered.

"Well Just remember what I said."Korgrav offered.

"I just... I don't want to wait..."Arabelle cried. As she cried the sweetest yet saddest aroma of wysteria began to fill the hall.

Darius sighed. "I guess I have to head to the Rift now.... deal with the consequences..."

"I believe Darius is just as heartbroken as you." Yslana stated. "I have no doubt he would do anything to make it up to you."

"Don't you see it though Ys? We can't be right now." Arabelle cried.

"Shall I accompany you?" Korgrav stated.