The sky above is a fitting shade of gray. Full of heavy dark clouds threatening to let loose a flood of freezing rain. I glance around at the somber faces that surround me, not one of them will meet my gaze. Their presence doesn't comfort me, doesn't help ease my pain. I can feel their looks of guilt and pity on my back, serving as fuel for my helpless rage. They knew, each and everyone of them had known what was happening but not a single one had stood in my place to stop it. Breathing deeply I try to push those feelings down and ignore the hot liquid rage in my stomach. This isn't the time for anger ,no matter how righteous, this is a time for mourning.

As they finish lowering the casket into the deep grave I take a slow step forward. I clear my throat once before glancing down at the papers in my hands and beginning in a horse voice.

"Alice was my everything... my best friend, my lover, my wife." I pause and draw a shuddering breathe before forcing myself to continue. "Though the life she lived was short it was sweet, full of joy and kindness. I always called her my angel because that's exactly what she was, an angel. Always looking out for others and never too busy to lend a helping. Even in her final moments she kept doing what she loved, what she lived for, helping others." I glance up from my prepared speech at the crowd, their expressions a mix of grief and guilt, eyes fixed on the ground in front of them. "Cowards, they were too scared to protect Alice even after she had given them so much. They don't deserve to be here, mourning by my side".

Once again I push the burning anger down and resume speaking.

"Alice loved healing, taking those who were unsound of body and mind and helping them return to themselves. If Alice were alive right now she'd be trying her best to cheer each and everyone of us up. To make us smile and laugh. To make this life a little more worth living"

The small sad smiles on their faces was too much for me to handle.

"How dare they??? How dare they smile at her memory, when they are the ones who betrayed her? The ones who just let her die" 

Like a starving beast finally freed from its cage my anger surged forward, pushing aside any thought of mercy or civility. I turn my back on her, on the grave and turn to face the group of cowa- no, of murderers behind me.

"But Alice isn't alive, she lays dead in a box in the ground before you. She'll never know the joy of raising a child, nor any joy at all. You took that from her, from us. Each and everyone of you is to blame for her death!!"

There were gasps of shock  from around the clearing, apparently they had truly believed they would get away unmolested despite the role they had played.

"You hid and watched as the nobles came and took her, violated her in the town square for all to see! Cowering away in your houses like so many frightened mice, you sat and watched. Just watched as my wife was abused by those barbarians before they decapitated her and paraded her head around the town like some demented flag."

Stolen novel; please report.

At this point the look of shock and horror in their eyes had begun to fade, replaced by looks of misery and self-loathing. Good. They deserve to hate themselves, to look back and torment themselves with "what if's" until the day they die. After all we had done for this village, all the men I had trained to hunt and to kill. All the wounds and illnesses Alice had tended and cured. After all that, they just... watched.

A wave of tiredness washes over me, I feel old and tired. So tired of this world and of the life I have lived. All of my effort, my trials and tribulations, for what? Turning around I gaze once more at the wooden box in the ground containing what is left of my beautiful bride.

"Although maybe... maybe it is not your faults. It is I who tried to change you, make you into warriors and guardians when you were born to be serfs and farmers. Maybe there truly is such a thing as fate, maybe it really is impossible for you to change your destiny. But not for me, for I am the master of my fate and the Captain of my soul."

Slowly, I draw my bright steel sword from its sheath at my side. Looking into its polished blade I see the reflection of my weary grey eyes. Glancing behind me I give one last dry chuckle at the sight behind me. They are standing there, frozen in shock, a look of horror on their faces. But they won't move to stop me, for they are enslaved by their fates. They are but sheep, trodding along to the shepherds pace.

Not me.

Turning the point of my trusty blade to face my heart I look up at the sky and gaze at the cloudy sky one last time. With a soft sigh I close my eyes and push the cold blade into my my heart. Strangely I feel no pain, just release and a strange coldness. 

The cries of the villagers sound distant as I fall to my knees before toppling over into the grave before me. With a "thunk" I land on the wooden barrier keeping me from my wife. How I wish I could lay by her side once more but it doesn't matter, soon we will be together again.

I can feel my life fading away, leaving empty blackness in its place before being swept away by a warm glow.

"Alice... I am coming..."