Marrow

~Dormant Guard~

*An old fairytale who once was*

Every now and again the children will roam the halls of those who've fallen into the soundless sleep, in an effort to play pranks amongst themselves. Every now and again they'll tell stories of those who rest here. Children are bright y'know? Often very imaginative, making impossible embellishments on the lives of those who once were. Usually in an effort to frighten one another. Children are also sometimes susceptible to hearing the echoes of voices of those long gone, sometimes that fear is justified. After all speaking with the dead is considered quite taboo, they don't want to be found out. Sometimes the stories told by the children are actually true, suggested to them as if of their own creation. That's how you gotta do it if you want your story told properly. At least. That's what he says anyway.


In the halls of those that rest eternal, underground in the vast cave system that houses the tombs, lit by the blue soul fire candles so loved by the Orator who speaks for those who can't and who tends to those that sleep, there was an individual loved by his people. Loved by all, including myself. He had been laid there before the clan that resides there now, in fact many of them were; it used to be a patch of dirt under Earth's priority. He wasn't upset when the contagion spread, not many were. It allowed him to feel at home after..... After that... The events are hazy to him still. He remembers feeling loved. Feeling protected. In the arms of another? Yes. Yes he should. I hope he would. The dinners they shared. Traveling together. They had to go somewhere. Somewhere important. For something important. A mission he should've never been on.

His face was much like mine. Kinder, gentler. Maybe a little more naive. It belonged in the sun kissed courtyard under the fig trees. Not here. Not here... At first it was just a job, just my duty. But he'd tell me things. Things about his job, things that weren't my business to know, things I made it my business to know. I had to protect him from the world. And that's why we went together. On this mission that was so important no one else could've done, apparently. It was treacherous, but that's to be expected. That's my job. But then. Something happened.

Something happened.
We were attacked. No. Set up. Outnumbered. and I... I failed.
A celebration? A parade? No... A funeral. I don't blame them, not entirely. They wanted power, the people needed answers and I was the most convenient scapegoat. I was blamed and I took the fall. And why not? After all I couldn't save him. I failed my duty. It's rightfully my fault.

I'm sorry.

At least now we can be together once more.