mr. roboto (ex_dus401) wrote in wi_haven, @ 2008-05-16 03:07:00 |
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Entry tags: | dus |
"AND WHEN" : A Story of Alexanderine Knox, Had There Been a Tale to Tell
And when he needed her, she went to him. In the comfort of one another's company, Alexanderine promised her dearest friend, confidant, and now Alpha, that she would never leave him again. At least, Caleb must have known, not while he needed her there. Within her heart was the greatest love for a man that would never be hers, nor would she ever be his, in that one particular way that hearts work when it wishes to be completely given to another. This was a love for a friend, a soulmate of sorts, and just as she knew her own heart, Alexanderine knew that all which Caleb wished for he would receive. All that he could be, he would become, as all he needed to do would be accomplished--so long as she was by his side. No one can stand alone in this world, despite how often it is attempted.
He would appear one day amongst the ranks, years from now. His way into her sights would be through Caleb's; he would climb the ranks into Omega and Caleb would trust him with his life. He had seen hard times, he had seen battle and looked into the face of his own Death on more than one occassion; but he had not hardened himself from the world, not lost sight of its beauty. Between he and Caleb, there is a similarity in their disposition, but when he would look upon Alexanderine, there would be something quite different in his eyes. While she carried no official title and content without it, he would treat her as if she were something of such. Ah, but she is modest and humble and it would almost be a game--whom was the one that deserved the higher honors? And when he would refute that his title meant something while she was clearly so important to the Alpha, she would retort that if her relationship with the Alpha was so important, then his position also must be--she called him on his hypocrisy and he almost did not know what to say. In one of her seldomly bold moments away from something of business, she would tell him that he should ask their Alpha's permission to court her, and hurry up with it. Alexanderine did not have forever, after all.
As Alexanderine had vowed to see and to stay as long as he needed her there, he would be content with his position in life. He would not scrutinize his failures any more than he would appreciate his accomplishments. Caleb would have found a proper mate and as Alexanderine had always known, would become a wonderful father. And when she was satisfied with this, there was her own life, and her own love. When Caleb's father died, his son knew that he was truly proud of him and what he had done for the Pride. Caleb would grant permission to his man. He was a fine man, indeed, and if anyone should be trusted to Alexanderine, then it should be him.
She never liked to be rushed, one of many lovely similarities they shared. To what would be perhaps one of the greater pleasures for her deceased parents, he too was a clouded leopard from a small, humble family off of the island. They might have crossed paths in that outside world, far from Thadius, where they could never have roamed as freely as they could now. He would bring her a flower every time they saw one another, which would become frequent. A pile of small flowers would be pressed into the books that he recommended and into her favorites; he would see how she saved so many when novels were exchanged. And when they finally kissed, he could hold her in his arms and know that he already had her heart.
As he had given permission to court her, Caleb would give his blessing when he would ask for Alexanderine to be his wife. In one of the more peaceful times in the land's history, they would marry, and it would be a beautiful day. The sun would shine but not too bright, not too strong. A traditional white dress, as Alexanderine was truly as pure and innocent as a woman could be in the aspects of love and life, and she would carry a boquet of flowers which resembled those he had picked for her. Caleb would give her away; she would cry a little but as has been her nature, Alexanderine appeared to be the perfectly calm bride. And when they would consummate their union that night, he would show her how much he loved her and how love could be made. Alexanderine would look at him with all of the love in the world; it was visible to anyone that could catch it. There would be children, and their children and Caleb's children would grow together and play and laugh and never have to endure what they did all of those years ago.
And when that force broke through the Dark Coves and tore across the land, Alexanderine was by Caleb's side, just as she had promised. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to lead their people. Those that had remained in Thadius were doomed to a terrible end. The fires rushed up the trees they climbed as children, across the paths they walked and to the sprawling Pride home in which they lived. Few were actually in the home, but it was late at night, and they had been set on finishing a few matters to be sent to Serith in the morning, before they were to head to the Ballantine Manor. The fires wrapped around the gardens and devoured all of those flowers that were meant for Alexanderine, before it shattered the windows and crawled into the manor. As the books burned, they moved as quickly as cats could, but there was no where to go. And when the fires climbed the walls outside and the stairs inside, Alexanderine began to cry. Hot tears rolled out of her eyes and Caleb took her face in his hands, the pair of them crumpled in the corner of his office. He told her not to cry, but could not bring himself to say that everything would be all right. Caleb asked her to smile for him, "Smile for me, Al," and she did.
The smoke filled the room before the heat did, and they held as tightly to one another as they could. Alexanderine had hoped that the smoke would take them before the fire did. And when she thought she could breathe no more, she said, "Promise kept, Cal." And when they teetered between being aware and oblivious, they would die knowing that they were loved, that they were not alone, and that was all the comfort Alexanderine Knox and Caleb Dante could really hope for with an end such as this. And when one loves someone as much as Al loves--loved--Cal, promises are kept and dreams are sacrificed, without remorse, without regret, without fear.
And when.