Dappled sunlight glistened against their soft skin, both blessed with many years of good youth. If only they could spend eternity in each others arms like this. The Calciner awoke first, his flesh dusted a light teal against the pale colored blankets and pillows of the Contessa's bed. His lover. His queen. A gentle smile graced his lips as he looked over to her. She stared back at him with half closed eyes, her hair surrounding her head like a crown, soft like flower petals to the touch. He ran a strand between his fingers and sighed happily, loving to confirm her presence beside him. She always seemed too busy for him lately, and she would come back to him late at night so he could hold her tightly to his chest, right over his beating heart. He loved the sweet scent of her, always mixed with the scent of the ocean depths. He loved to touch every curve and edge on her body as if he could memorize each one. He leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to her lips before rising to a stand, picking his shirt up off the floor.

"Will you have to go to another meeting today?" He asked, watching her out of the corner of his eye, a hint of bitterness in his tone. He hated to be apart from her, and these meetings always seemed to take the longest for her to get back from. She let out a laugh like tinkling glass and arose as well, throwing on the silken robes she always seemed to adorn.

"Of course, you know this my matesprit." Another teal flush graced his cheeks and ears, feeling the familiar heart pounding rush whenever she called him matesprit. "If it makes you feel any better, I will go and grab us breakfast to share together. What's another hour of a meeting postponed when it lasts so long anyways?" Her voice was always sultry it seemed, and yet as clear as crystals. They both laughed quietly together, drinking each other's presences in.

"Fine, I guess it's a deal." Flinan relented, allowing his lover to steal a kiss from him before she headed towards the doors leading into the hallway.

"Stay here, love!" She called behind her, and Flinan could practically  hear her grin.

"Anything for you, my Joruda." He replied, but she had already closed the door with a soft click behind her.

~~

Unfortunately, the kitchens were very far away from her room. Designed in this way so that all the crashing and banging that goes along in there doesn't sound all the way to her rooms. Though sometimes Joruda thinks she would rather have them closer rather than have them so far away. She sighed aloud to herself, running a hand to her messy hair. As she did so, a loud boom erupted from a distance away. Perhaps someone slammed a door? She tried to convince herself it was nothing, but suspicion had already taken root within her. After not hearing anything more, she continued towards the kitchens, now several hallways away from her own rooms.

~~

Calciner on the other hand, had been in Contessa's room, which had been right next to the loud boom. It was the sound of a door being forced open, and the sound of angry taunts jeering immediately after. He heard soldiers commanding a retreat outside the room and immediately went for his weapon. A pair of long metallic talons attached to his hands, dangerous and as sharp as a bone saw, as he used them for such a purpose. Carefully he edged his way towards the door, listening to the angry mob rumbling by. If he hid, he wouldn't be able to protect Joruda. And so he made his decision. Determination filled his bones and he burst out of the room.

~~

Joruda didn't hear the pounding footsteps as much as she felt them. Whipping around she found her guards, chased by an angry mob of lowbloods and  sympathizers. Instantly they were dragging her along with them. Her fuscia eyes flashing in outrage. How dare they attack her here! While her Flinan was here- her brain froze momentarily, realizing the direction of where they were coming from. Flinan was still in her room way back down the halls. She wailed, the screams tearing from her throat in nonsensical curses as she scratched and clawed at the guards holding her.

"I can't leave him! Let me go to him!" She screeched, the crowd following the almost inhuman cries.

~~

Flinan tore through the crowds, talons digging into every bit of flesh they could find. Flinan may not be a warrior but that doesn't mean he wasn't raised as one. He fought tooth and nail. Forcing his way down the halls, he finally heard his love's screams. Fearing the worst he fought with more vigor and aggression, adrenaline fueling his body with the need to protect the one he loves. He broke past the front lines, barely keeping ahead as they grabbed at his once fine clothes and adornments. He looked up and made eye contact with his struggling love as the guards carried her to safety. Upon seeing him she wailed louder, reaching out for him despite the far distance between them. He smiled sadly, knowing she was safe now. He had already begun to feel tired. He turned and knocked the first few trolls into the ones behind them in hopes of giving his love more time. Slashing and stabbing, he knew he would be overwhelmed. His smile ever  present as the tear trickled down the corner of his eye. He imagined himself in his love's gentle arms. Someone kicked his feet out from under him. He closed is eyes and imagined the smile she always seemed to wear only for him. Someone stomped on his spine, cracking it and making him gasp out,

"It's the Contessa's royal nook sucker!" Someone growled out smugly, grasping the Calciner's hair and lifting his head to make him look at them.

"What else can hurt her besides the one she made love to!" The mob heartily cheered. Half the group carried the limp Flinan as they headed for the courtyard, shouting taunting and jeers about his sweetest Matesprit. He longed to feel her cool fingers touch the hot injuries on his flesh, to hear her voice whispering into his ear and having her breath tingle his sensitive ears.

~~

Contessa could hear their taunts from the safe room, even after being locked in. A secret window overlooked the courtyard and in an instant she was upon it. She watched the crowd gather around the Calciner's Silver Furnace, a gift she had placed so he could work from her castle. And now it would be his downfall. Calciner wasn't moving as they carried him up to the  furnace and lit the fire. She let out a scream of terror, grasping at the window as if she could break it. But no, there was no way to reach her love, to comfort him as his head lulled forward in prayer and they threw him into the fire. The sobs that wracked her body felt like blows. Her tears could've led to a river if she tried. She still watched as Calciner's hand lulled out of the fire, his hand permanently formed into a half heart, and she knew he knew she was watching him. hours rolled by and the fire died, leaving only the ashy bones and Canciner's half heart hand.