A broken figure walks beneath the white willows, head down in thought and sorrow. His steps seem weary and in painful slowness he sits down on the carved bench. His hand reaches out and smoothes the delicate and beautifully embroided fabric that covers a still body. As it moves upwards in the process of smoothing, his hand brushes anothers and he looks to the face. The dark hair frames the pale face, the expression of grief is unmoving upon it. Tears drop upon the fabric from his face as he falls to kneel alongside the bed.

My dearest love, still your body lies, long since your worn spirit surrendered it. It is a reminder of what I once loved... once because it is no longer you. It is only an image, a memory of what you were. Memory is all I have, my visits here will end as there is nothing other than pain for me to find. At least in memory there is joy. All my attempts to bring you back, to rekindle the joy we had have failed. For so long I have tried. I have never stopped calling you but my voice will not reach the halls you rest in, and you have no strength left to return my calls. No strength left to return to me. I have begged and strived to bring you back, to renew the life in you. Forgive me for selfishly trying and forgive me for failing. And again I must ask your forgiveness. In the days of sadness after you relinquished your life our son has kept my spirit but the thought of another has also helped heal it. I ask for forgiveness for loving another. Never has love been taken twice but I feel without love I will not be able to continue. I cannot support our son by myself and I cannot selfishly leave him if I follow you as my heart would wish too. The only council I can take in this matter is from my own heart and though it may seem I betray you in wedding another my love for you will live on in our son; what was once you lives on in him now. Farewell my love.

Rising stiffly from alongside the bed he reaches into his tunic pocket and grips something tightly in his hand. His hand hovers above the body, slowly and carefully he releases the object from his grasp and lays it down softly. The dusky light causes the clear gem to shine brightly from where it lays exposed on the body. He whispers softly before turning to leave "Miriel."