Final Farewell

The walk to The Den was simple and easy enough and as you assumed, the streets of the Syndicate were beyond packed. So many warriors were getting ready to leave and many of their families and friends who were staying behind in the Syndicate were saying their good byes. It was interesting to see and you were happy that all these warriors were ready to go this morning but you also felt a little bad due to the fact that they are all marching to war.

As you make it to The Den and find your way to the stall with your Tiger, she's as happy as can be to see you. With purrs, licks and head nudges on you you pet her back, kiss the bridge of her nose and whisper sweet nothings into the albino sabre tooth tiger who has been with you for such a long time. After spending a few minutes talking with your tiger and letting her know the game plan, something you didn't have to do, but felt you should, you bring her out of the stall and hop up on her back. Situating yourself, she begins to move through out The Den and back into the streets of the Syndicate.

All the attention, gasps and stares you received, truthfully is something you absolutely loved. Being able to move through out the streets on your bigger than normal albino tiger decked out in your sabre toothed armor, with your hood up of course and your gorgeous weapons hanging off your waist, you truly looked like a champion of destruction. As you march through the streets to make your way towards the front gate, you constantly tell warriors to spread the word that the army leaves in thirty minutes, which should give plenty of time to say good byes and situate themselves.

You pass by many horses that were locked into carriages or pulling wagons full of supplies. Not only many warriors were coming, but also a handful of civilians and housekeepers. They would follow the army down carrying supplies such as food, water, tents and medical necessities. Most of them, after helping set up the night before war would stay the night with the army at the Turth and then as the war starts, many would slowly march back north to stay far away from any danger.

Thousands of warriors were lining the streets, starting to form that line to begin the march. With all the cheers and salutes you were receiving, you were grateful that the Syndicate was completely ready to go march south for the war, to fight for their beloved city, to fight for what they believe in.

As you make it to the main gate into the Syndicate, you see the three ladies you've grown to care for in your life that were staying behind in the Syndicate waiting there. None other then the Queen herself, who is not only there for you, but to see almost her entire army off and wish them luck. You see Zoe, who is dressed up in her battle gear but hopefully she's only doing that to also cheer everybody off, not because she's secretly planning on joining you, but you also see Lexie, your wife, standing there with her hands interlocked and staring at you with a smile on her face.

"Hello Karisi." you throw your leg over your tiger and leap down to the ground, "Thanks for making it." you reach up, grip your hood and pull it off your face.

"Couldn't have you leave without saying good bye." she smirks, "Plus, what type of Queen would I be if I didn't say farewell and wish my army good luck."

"Nice of you to call it your army." you tease back, "But it's appreciated. I'm sure all these warriors will be happy their Queen is down here, taking the time out of her day to show the love and support of her troops. The last time we went south to war, the previous King didn't even bother to leave the castle, so this definitely shows a lot of respect. Thank you."

"Of course, Darien." she nods as she steps in close to you, "Now don't go losing this war for me." she whispers into your ear, "I don't want to be Queen of a bunch of losers." she jests as you exhale a puff of air, "And I also want you and as many of these warriors to come back alive, you hear me? That cocky self of yours better be able to back up that talk."

"Hah!" you step back and smile, "Rathkin will be tough, but I know we can do it. I have faith in the Syndicate, we can win, I know we can."

"You will." Karisi brings her left hand up and rests it upon your cheek, "Kick some ass, Darien. Best of luck and..." her eyes drop your gaze for a second before she brings them back to you, "Come back home afterwards."

"Awwww..." you look at her eyes, "Is dear ol' Karisi starting to care about little ol' me?" you tease.

"Or just die then, yeah?" she shrugs as a smirk forms across her face.

"Don't fuck up the Syndicate while I"m gone, okay?"

"No promises." the two of you release a few laughs at one another.

You step forward and wrap your arms around your Queen, pulling her in for an embrace where the two of you stand there silent for a couple moments. You softly rub your hand up and down her back, caressing her to show her how much she means to you, "Thank you, Karisi." you whisper into her ear, "For everything you've done for me in my life, for Nillix, for helping me into the Dungeon to get Claire, to leading the Syndicate..." you swallow, "Hell, to even trying to assassinate me you jerk." causing her to release a few giggles, "Seriously though..." you break the embrace and grip each of her arms, "Thank you." your voice goes sincere, "You have no idea how much you did for me, so if something happens where I don't come home, I want you to know..." you pause as you look directly into her eyes, "Thank you for everything."

With an approving nod, your Queen smiles back at you as a sheen of liquid starts to coat her eyes. You've never see Karisi get emotional like this before but you knew those words you said to her truly meant a lot. You grin at her, lean forward and give her a kiss on the cheek before you turn to your side, take a few steps forward and approach the next girl waiting for you.

"Hi Zoster." you smile at her before she immediately jumps into your arms and wraps herself around you.

"Darien!!!" she squeals, "You're leaving! You're leaving! I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna gooooo!!" she yelps out, "And I'm mad at you!! Yes, I am mad!!! Mad mad mad!" she pushes herself back and glares at you, "Big jerk for leaving me especially when I'd kick so many Rathkin butts! You know I would! I would crush them all!"

"I know, I know Zoster!" you reply, "I mean, there's no way you'd beat me in a kill count, but you'd be close, maybe fourth or five highest kills."

"Fourth or fifth?!" her hands go to her hips as her eyebrows furrow, "Darien, I'd be first! MAYBE second if I let you win! I would destroy all those Rathkin scum!"

"Well, hopefully you'd go easy on them, ya know, to let me be the best." you smile, "I'd hate for all my warriors to know that I got bested by the great Zoe."

"Damn right! Maybe I'd go easy on you, maybe maybe maybe!" she dances in place.

You wish nothing but the best for Zoe. You know she was and still is going through hard times with her Snuff addiction but you are happy as can be that she is here for you, talking to you and generally being her normal carefree, energetic self. Part of you wants to tell her to grab a horse and ride south because it appears she's trying her best to overcome that addiction but you already put your foot down, so you don't want to go back on that.

Stepping forward, you place a hand on each of Zoe's hips as you move in close, "Hey..." you whisper to her, "Take good care of Lexie and Karisi, okay? Watch them, protect them, be there for them, okay?"

"Yes sir! Of course I will! I'll watch them like a hawk!" she exclaims.

"I know you will." you nod, "I'll miss you Zoe and just so you know, if for some reason..."

"NO!" she interrupts you, "You are coming back! You are! I know it! Don't you die on me you stupid dumb Darien! Don't you do that! You come back alive! You don't die! You don't die!!!" she balls her hands up into fists and pounds on your chest, "Don't you die..." she pleads over and over again as she continues to hit your chest. She can't even look at your face anymore as it's got to be tough on this girl. You're her role model, the person she's always looked up to, the one that uprooted her whole life to move to the Syndicate to train with you and now, she's probably figuring out this could possibly be the last time you'll ever talk with her, "You come home! You come back! You have to! You have to!!!"

Your arms snake around her back and pull her close, bringing her into you as you caress the young girl, "I can't promise anything, Zoe." you whisper, "But you know I'll do everything I can to get back home. You know that. Plus..." you rub your hand up and down her back, "If I don't come back, Karisi is going to go mad with frustration because who else is gonna fuck her?" you say causing Zoe to start laughing.

"Haha! Darien!!!!" she wails out before she pushes herself away from you, "What about your wife! Huh?! All you think about is fucking our Queen but what about her?! And what about me...err, I mean..." she suddenly turns flush, "I-I mean, that's, I, uhh..."

"Zoe..." you interrupt her, "I am NOT going to sleep with you so please stop trying so hard!"

"Grrrrr!!!" she growls out, "That's not what..." she looks frustrated now, "I hate you Darien..."

"Love you too, Zoe." you say with a sarcastic tone as you step forward again, embracing the dark haired woman one more time.

"I love you too, Darien." she mumbles out almost under her breath but just barely loud enough for you to hear.

With that, you break your hug with Zoe and turn to the side to take a few more steps to the final woman in your life. She's the last one waiting for you but definitely the most important. As you pace up towards her, you can't help but smile at her as your body is filled with nothing but happiness as you see her, "Hi Lexie." you whisper as you grip her hands in each of your own, interlocking them together.

"Hi." she replies, unsure of what to say as you can tell she's still quite an emotional wreck at the moment with you having to leave.

"I told you everything I needed to the other night..." you whisper out, "But the thing I want to keep saying to you is that I love you, always and forever."

She smiles at you but doesn't say a word. You gaze back into her eyes and it saddens you as Lexie, the girl in your life who was your rock, the one who was always there for you and generally is always so laid back and strong. Watching her eyes, they were longing back into your own as you stand there holding hands, they slowly start to fill with her sadness, coating her brown eyes with a layer of moisture.

"Lexie..." you whisper, "Come on..." you pull her in close before your right hand goes to her lower back and holds her tight while your left hand goes behind her head and caresses her. She turns her head and places her cheek right by your chest and holds it there, doing her best to listen to your heart beat and relax herself.

Nothing had to be said anymore, all you wanted to do was hold your wife, caress her and share this one final moment before war with her. It was probably another solid five minutes of not saying a word and only holding her as you softly rub her lower back and the side of her head, "I love you Lexie." you whisper off.

She takes in a deep breath before slowly exhaling and then she steps back. Her eyes have a shade of pink to them from the tears she's shed but she gives you a smile none the less, "I love you too, Darien. Now go kick some Rathkin ass and get back to the Syndicate as soon as you can, okay?" she grins.

"Damn right, babe." you wink, "Rathkin won't know what hit em."

Lexie steps forward, throws her arms around the back of your head and pulls herself in for a kiss. Your lips touch, your mouths open and your tongues dance for quite possibly the last time ever. You hold your wife tight, sharing this intimate kiss with her and all the while, praying and hoping you'll make it back to her alive and well.

Finally as the kiss ends you step away from your Wife and make your way back towards the Tiger. As you hop back up on top of it that's when you notice Ashe coming up from the distance while she too is riding on her tiger. With a simple nod, happy that your High Commander is finally here, you know the march south can begin. "You ready Ashe?" you ask which she affirms immediately.

"WARRIORS OF THE SYNDICATE!" you shout out, garnering the attention of many of the warriors who are close enough to hear you, "We march south until we hit the Turth River!" your voice commands, "We should get there right before night fall which means we set up base at the Turth, sleep and recover there. Then the next morning, we go to war with Rathkin!!" you expel your voice, causing cheers and hollers, "Say your final good byes and give your husband, wife or child a farewell kiss because now is the time we march south, now is the time we march for war, now is the time we fight for ourselves!" you pull your short sword out of your waistband, "FOR THE SYNDICATE!!!!" you shout which is echoed and bellowed out by many other warriors, Sunriders and civilians.

And with that, you guide your tiger around and start the march south, leaving your beloved city, queen, trainee, wife and child behind. You hope to return to them, but as what happens in war, there are no guarantees. With a final turn of your head back at Karisi, Lexie and Zoe, you smile, wave good bye, blow them a kiss and mouth the words "I Love You" before you return your gaze to the horizon in the distance. This was a tough moment for you, marching south to war, leaving behind the ones you love for quite possibly the last time.