Meadow

In a kinder world, it might have been easy for Sabriel to read the emotions that the champagne stallion did not share openly. To see the pain that his anger-clenched jaw concealed, and read the concern for her that existed between the lines of frustration that furrowed his brow. Of course, in such a world perhaps such a feat would have never been necessary at all. In her ideal present, the black mare and Solomon would have been united not in grief, but in love. Or, perhaps they would have been driven irrevocably apart by the tragedy that was a fitting end to their first meeting. In that present, she would slumber beside Bondurant still, untroubled by the wistful longing that had led her away from his side.

Either way, the dark woman would not be standing here in this meadow as the last dregs of warmth drained from her being. She would not be watching the truth touch the Cove’s king, turning him away from her in a gesture that was echoed by a sharp twist of her heart. Sabriel did not belong to the tobiano male, had never been his in any sense of the phrase. But somehow, she still felt as if she’d been dishonest and unfaithful to Solomon. And if he felt even a dim reflection of the pain that pierced her, then she could not claim to deserve the happiness that she had gained over the course of the past day.

Not from either stallion, and certainly not from both.

“Solomon, I-” she began without knowing what she was going to say. How could Sabriel explain what she felt, when it escaped even her comprehension? How could she tell the stallion that his actions - though forgiven - had left her heart irrevocably broken? That it was now comprised of two pieces that could never, ever hope to coexist, let alone heal? It was a burden far greater than she could expect anyone to share. And with a single step backwards, Solomon’s actions served to confirm this inescapable fact. She could not claim him and Bondurant both. In fact - as soon as the truth of her actions came to light - she was unlikely to hold even one of them.

He had better protect you, Sabriel. I need you to be safe. A jagged breath caught in the black mare’s throat at the gentle caress she could never have anticipated. At the warm air and words that briefly bathed her dark skin. More than you know. And it was more than she could have known - the depths of Solomon’s caring. When she had fled from him following the death of their son, it out of certainty that he would not surrender her willingly, even if it was what her heart so desperately needed. And now?

Now, she wished that she had never run at all. Or wished that she could run now, and turn her back on all of this. The love and the pain, the memories and the regrets - everything.

Somehow, she did find words in the midst of the storm of emotion and despite the protective numbness that had begun to settle over her. But by the time the words found her lips, Solomon had already begun to move away. Perhaps he would not hear the soft voice that chased him through the impending dawn - and if that was the case, then it was likely for the best.

After all - as Sabriel had discovered only moments before - knowing the truth did not make the inevitable any easier.

“As a part of me will always need you, Solomon...more than you could know.”