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I wander around the battefield, only thinking about one thing. Where is he? Houses are collapsed, still burning. Swords and shields lay forgotten and useless on the ground. My feet take me in between bodies and crying soldiers; the scent of blood, sweat, and ash clog my nostrils, causing me to cough.
"Ace? Where are you?" He must be helping the survivors. Maybe he's already back at camp. He's fine, I'm sure he's fine.
"Lina." A garbled voice whispers from behind me. I spin around immediately and am met with Ace's crumpled and bloody body. My breath catches in my throat. Stumbling forward, I collapse to my knees at his side. No. No.
"Ace?" My hands hover, shaking, over the gaping hole in his chest. "It'll be fine, I'll call a doctor. You'll be fine." I stutter and I know I sound far from confident. I turn and call out, just like everyone else still breathing here. "Medic! I need help!" Ace grasps my hand, making me look back to him.
"I love you, Lina." He manages and I shake my head violently, pressing my palms against his tattered shirt and large gash.
"No, no, no. I said you'll be fine. Hear me? You're gonna be okay." Ace smiles softly and reaches up to brush away tears I hadn't noticed were falling. A swish of warm blood spreads across my cheek. His hand falls and his eyes grow dim. Suddenly, I'm pressing so hard on his wound that I fear a rib will break. "No, stop. Ace, come back to me. You promised!" I scream, "You promised me you'd live! Wake up goddammit!" I can feel his blood pouring through my fingers. His eyes are lifeless and mine are filled with too much life. Why him? Why couldn't it have been me?
I lean over him, cupping his cheeks and shaking his head. Like he used to do to me when I wasn't listening. Shaking harder and harder as if he'll wake up if I accidentally snap his neck. My hands smear his own blood across his cheeks. Now we match.
"Wake up. Wake up. I never got to tell you. Wake up, please. Just look at me one more time." I stop moving and his head falls limp back onto the rocky ground. I press my forehead to his. Tears run together with blood, making it look like my dead lover also cries.
"It was always so easy for you to say it. I was too scared but," I mutter against his quickly blueing lips. "I love you." And I kiss him one last time as his voice fills my brain. I'll always be here, nothing will change that. I promise. My hand wanders down to his still sheathed dagger. I press the blade to my chest, above my heart in a salute we've done since we joined the army. "Nothing can take me away from you."