The Forsaken Hero

As the hours crawled by, the banquet seemed to stretch on indefinitely. While the feasting was limited to a mere hour, drinks flowed throughout the entire night. The other heroes enthusiastically indulged in the assortment of exotic delicacies, their faces lighting up with surprise as they eagerly devoured the dishes before them. Some retained their manners, but conversation dwindled as they rushed to fill their stomachs. Despite my initial melancholy, the alluring aromas and the spectacle of the heroes’ enjoyment briefly rekindled my appetite, but that only led to disappointment as everything turned to ash the instant in met with my tongue. Even the fine spiced wines were thin, and I couldn’t bring myself to down more than a few swallows.

As the servants ceased bringing new dishes around, the heroes began to strike up a conversation once more. From all appearances, the humiliation from earlier was forgotten, yet from their subtle glances and reluctance to meet my gaze, I knew it was burned within their minds.

I embraced the solitude, grateful that even Soltair held back from anything more than a few words in my direction. His wavering eyes betrayed an inner sorrow I couldn’t comprehend. Why hadn’t he done anything? Was this the cause behind his strange words from before the banquet? If he had only told me, then... then... I shook my head. No, that was asking too much. I wouldn’t have agreed to come here if I knew what was going on, but the church couldn’t allow that. They needed my image reinforced in the minds of the world. All that was left would be to force me, and that would barely take them a sentence.

Realization dawned on me that, perhaps, this a mercy in Soltair’s eyes. And while I could understand that, I couldn’t bring myself to accept it. Was he not the strongest hero? Didn’t he carry the authority of the church and state? The more I thought about it, the less sense things made. Why hadn’t he ever exercised that authority on my behalf? He held the full power of my slave crest, yet never relieved any of my pain or lessened the sway commandments held, hiding behind pretentious excuses the whole while.

Acting almost unconsciously, I edged away from him, sitting on the edge of my seat. I knew I was jumping to conclusions, but my faith was shaken. What if he really had been deceiving me this whole time? I’d known far too many men who sought power over another he did, to make a girl dependent and control their whole beings, only to betray and leave them broken in their sadistic wake.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to stop the tears from welling up. Pain and sorrow ravaged my heart, and I found myself lost in fervent prayer to Fate. Everything lost focus, and I simply tried to endure, clinging to the wavering hope that everything was not as it seemed.

I was so caught up in myself that I hardly felt Soltair’s hand fall on my shoulder. Furiously scrubbing my eyes, I brushed it away. "Please, leave me alone," I whispered. I couldn’t face him now. Not yet.

’It’s okay, Xiviyah. You’ll make it." Soft breath tickled my ear as a soft and decidedly feminine voice made me turn in confusion.

Tracing the arm on my shoulder, I looked up into Korra’s vivid blue eyes. The water hero’s guarded features were unusually relaxed, a hint of compassion to mellow out her sharp features.

"Would you care to walk with me?" She asked, holding out her hand.