"I have done everything you asked for! I have been by your side! How could you Ranni? HOW COULD YOU?"
After so many promises, the Witch of the snow and the stars found herself at a loss of words. She had failed him - she promised that she would succeed in her plans to establish her own order and ascend once more, promised that by doing such, she would be able to cure the madness that plagued her beloved brother. Blaidd was not only family to her, but an extension of her - her Shadow, quite literally. By letting him down, she feels as if she, too, had let herself down.
Alas - her newly acquired consort found themselves struggling at the peak of their adventure. There is nothing more that could be done. No manner of rushing would be able to mend the problem before it gets any worse. Even now, Ranni can feel Blaidd's pain in the back of her mind. The howls of agony roaring like a faint echo made her want to cringe, yet the Witch remained perfectly still on her throne, facing the Tarnished before her.
Blaidd was not in her tower. He sat outside, confused, angry, hostile thoughts raking against the back of his mind. Doubts that made him question his master. As much as Ranni wanted to save him, she fears doing so would be an impossibility. Were she any more efficient with her plot.. perhaps this could be avoided.
But the Black Knives have found them - and in doing so, only complicated things further.
What a shame. That she would come so close to reaching her goal, only to lose a part of herself that she loves so dearly. What a dreadful emotion. What a horrible feeling. Had she a heart, she feels as though she'd be stunned by woe alone.
She knew what would become of him.
She knew what the Tarnished -- destined to fulfill her requests to the end of the era of the Golden Order - would have to do.
She knew it would hurt. She knew it would be brief. She knew it would be necessary - to allow him to live any longer not only puts the rest of her plan in jeopardy, but it puts him in insufferable, incurable pain..
Thou hath understood from the very beginning, Blaidd...
That I was never destined to follow the path laid 'pon me by the Two Fingers.
Thou hath been by my side for as long as my memory serves... alas, thy mind hath been clouded by madness and curse.
I'm sorry, Blaidd. I will not be able to save you. You will not be able to see the Age of Stars as the cycle breaks.
I was a fool. Blindly making promises that I could not keep.
But I will make one more promise. I shall grant you a quick death, so that thy suffering lasts no longer.
Though I can not commit to it myself. I... do not have the heart to see thee felled by mine own hands.
I leave your life, and your soul, in the hands of my consort.
I hope you will forgive me. I hope you will not forget me.