Falls

The ache never goes away entirely. Time never speeds up. After a while, the longing turns into a solid thing and settles somewhere deep inside. Gael carries it around like a stone. It will eventually drown him, and that is a reality he accepts with grace.

Dying for the love of her meant everything.

But the time wasn’t now and he knew it. He still hasn’t quite given up searching for her, hoping beyond hope she might be nestled in some far off valley. Her spirit was all around him, in everything and nothing. Even the sun along his spine was like her touch, warming him and making his blood sing inside his veins. His ears swivel on his proud head, listening to the bubbling laughter of the water. It tells him secrets, ancient and cold. And he wonders what it all means, his existence and his pain and the world swirling bright all around him.

Then he catches the scent of someone and his eyes flutter, his lips twist. Gael looks at the oncoming stallion with remorse, or perhaps dismay. His head extends to offer a friendly exchange of breath, then he settles there looking at the gurgling falls before them. “Good morning,” he says quietly and shakes his head. No, this was not his first time here, but it had been so long now he can hardly remember it.

“Not quite. I’ve been here before, but it was a very long time ago,” Gael sighs like a sweet summer breeze and his eyelashes flutter again. His body is relaxed, slumping almost. Only the motion of his tail lazily swatting, the in and out of his ribs with each breath he takes.

The Lagoon? Gael had heard of Cullen and he had been intrigued, not for the cruelty, but for the downfall of that vicious leader. If only to secretly protect the Peak, which was where his heart truly was, or at the very least what was left of his heart. Gael had gone to speak with Wasp and the other leaders, but then there had been a terrible raid from Cullen. He had left quietly to come back another day when the world was not so dangerous.

He had no use in power, nor did he seek the pain of others. From the Lagoon he could watch out for the Peak and keep them out of trouble, it was the least he could do for her. She had so fondly loved the mountains, they had been her entire life.

“My name is Gael,” he doesn’t expect the youngster to know him. His time in the story of the islands had been so long ago now. The mercenary secret lover of Corinth, the queen of the Peak and the bringing of a Golden Age of peace. He smiles weakly at the colt beside him, “you miss someone, don’t you? I can see it in your eyes, in the shape of your words.”