Cold... was so cold. She felt the wet stones under her, the waters of the river pushing her more and more onto the shore. Coughed water from her lungs, gasping for air. Started crawling slowly, her armor heavy and wet, shivering in the dreadful cold, the thundering of the Tser Falls too loud. "The children cry... they cry! Lord of Dawn help me!" she whispered. No. She screamed, covering her ears and turning on her back, the cold waves still engulfing her feet. "Live... live... my love", Warn said to her. Was he there? No, no... Warn left her, then he died. Warn tricked her into thinking she will be happy, that she will be forgiven.
And suddenly, all was quiet. She opened her eyes, looking around. "Cursed be the gods..." she said, turning on the cold rocks and starting climbing up the steep cliff.
She was alive. Blood gashed through her hair, from a head wound, slowly covering her face and slowly freezing. "I wanted to die... you bastard!" she waves her fist at the sky. "Why didn't you let me die?". She struggled up, with the little strength she got left. "I am... a monster... lord of dawn" she cries almost reaching the plateau on which the bridge was built. "I am... not a paladin. There is no... atonement for a... blackguard". And as she felt the dirt of the road, drained of strength, she fell unconscious.
Opened her eyes. She felt the warmth of a bed. She smiled as a familiar smell filled her senses with joy.
- Warn!
He answered, yet the news she had for him made her pay no attention.
- I am with child! she said with a trembling voice, filled with happiness. We will have a baby!
Another child starts to cry. She stares at the ceiling, smiling.
- Arwin is hungry, my love. And yes, I am with child! she said with a giggle. I am so happy! Aren't you, my love?
- Yes I am... a strange voice of an old man answered, followed by violent coughs.
Her eyes widen as the cry of the children turns to a scream of a thousand newborns. As she turns to look at the man, two glowing eyes meet her gaze, a man in white armor standing right next to her, laughing madly.
- YES I AM... Hahahaha.
Flames appear from nowhere, engulfing the room, as she darts towards the small cradle. Cries of newborns, laughters of a mad voice and coughs of an old man fill the burning room. She takes the child from the cradle. "Arwin! Arwin! You're safe with me." she cried, holding the child at her chest, looking for a way out.
Suddenly, all turned dark. A crushing silence engulfed her, the child scream stopped. She held Arwin at her chest, looking around, terrified. She could only see herself and the child from the dim light of her armor. "I am the pillar of light in the darkness. I am the bringer of hope." she encouraged herself, holding the child with one arm and taking out her sword. From nowhere, dim noises appeared. People. Coming towards her. "I am the pillar of light!" she said looking around. Tens of people were approaching, and as they gathered around her, she would recognize each one of them. All eyes were fixed on her and the child. Few stepped aside. She smiled as she seen Warn approaching, him smiling to her as well.
- My love. Arwin is safe with me... We can make it through! she spoke, her voice filled with hope and happiness.
They stared at her. Warn raised his arm, pointing at her sword. "MURDERER!" he growled. In an instant, tens of voices started repeating the same word over and over again, pointing at her, growling, approaching her with small steps. Her eyes widen as a she sees blood dripping from her sword. A weird salty taste in her mouth. Blood! She looks down at the newborn in horror. His throat was slit open, blood gashing out. "MURDERER!" they screamed. Tens of hands grabbed her. She was crying, begging for forgiveness, holding the dead child in her arms. She felt lifted.
It was cold, but a bit warmer, as she woke up close to a campfire, listening to a familiar voice.
She started crying.