#rip lilysa liao

[hmratking]

After Five Years

He sat in the middle of the courtyard in Panderia, the same courtyard where she declared her love for him and where he realized she was all he wanted in his life. He had sat there in the middle, alone, for the past five years. Every year, it felt as if she were creeping closer to him, but Melaeth wasn’t sure if she was or if it was just his urging desire to see her again. 

Melaeth, the Rat King, sat cross-legged on the stone and stared at gray-blue stone in his hand. “The Flea encased it in…something to make it last longer. I got it from Northrend, where we used to spend all our time at.” He chuckled. “I wonder why we stayed there when we could have gone anywhere else.” He swept a strand of blonde hair out of his face and he placed the stone in front of him. “You’ve been gone for so long. I’m starting to forget the sound of your voice and the feel of your touch. I even wonder if…you’ve moved on. I will not blame you if you have, but…if he does anything to hurt you or my daughter, he will die.” There was no passion behind his words, however. He simply didn’t have the energy to be angry. It was as if this place weakened him and he was powerless to everyone and everything. He sat a still another hour, hoping, as usual, that she would appear, take him in her arms, and tell him that everything was going to be alright, but she didn’t. She never did. All he felt was her presence and occasionally, her scent lingered in the air. 

“I have to go. The Kingdom is expanding. You would be so proud of me. Tell my little Amaranthe that I love her and that I cannot wait to see her one day. I will find her, Lily. I will find her and I will tell her everything, even if you are against it. She has to know.” Melaeth sighed and pushed off the ground. “I will meet you at our home for her birthday. Until then, I love you, my beautiful Lily.”

He closed his eyes and as usual, he felt the soft gust of breeze swirl around him and even the soft touch of a caress on his cheek. Melaeth smiled briefly, but after so many years, he was ready to let her be. After all, this was his choice, right? He looked back at the stone he left in the courtyard, and as always, it was gone. 

With a soft chuckle, the Rat King walked away toward the forest as he awaited for the mage to appear to take him home. 

@lilysaliao-blog​

[hmratking]

July in Pandaria

The birds chirped and the trees were silent as the blonde elf sat on the floor in the middle of the courtyard, the same courtyard where Lilysa Liao swore her love to him so many years ago. That day, at the wedding that never was, many people surrounded them, and she admitted that she loved him. Today, it was empty. The sound of a distant brass bell echoed like a whisper of lost or forgotten memories that always haunted him in this very location. He found it fascinating that no one was there on this very special day, the day in which he always returned in the hopes that he will find her, take her hand, and bring her back home.

But she was never there. At least, not physically.

Melaeth closed his eyes and simply took a deep breath. Last year, he felt his daughter’s hand on his neck. This year? He never knew. That was the way Lily worked. One never truly knew what she was up to until she sprung it upon you, like a delightful or terrifying surprise. He loved that about her. He loved her serenity and the way she simply had a plan. She was always in control, even when things spiraled out into many impossible outcomes.

His fingers played with the gold ring he wore on his right ring finger. It never removed. It was always in place, just where she placed it on the day she left. He waited patiently. She taught him that. Lily taught the volatile Rat King to be patient, to breathe, and to wait. Things would work out. So he waited.

He waited for a sign, for something that would show him that she was there with him. It usually came in a gust of wind, her scent, or familiar noises that she would often make when she was near him. Melaeth took a deep breath and he felt the familiar gust of wind. Then he heard footsteps. He was about to turn his head.

No, Tianshi.

The overwhelming feeling of frustration came over him, and his eyes welled up with tears. “I can’t do this anymore,” he whispered, his hands curling into fists. He tightened his eyes and he remembered the day he yelled, he told her to leave, to get out of his life…to protect their child. “I miss you…”

Then, he felt a little hand touching his fist and his hand relaxed, slowly turning to place that little hand in his. He gasped, his lips parting a little. Open your eyes. He did as he was told, but all he could see was the blurred image of red and peach tones. His other hand quickly wiped his eyes as fast as he could before this moment was gone. Lily usually made such moments disappear.

But this time, it didn’t. He saw a little girl with red wavy hair around her face. She looked at him with her child-like curiosity. Melaeth looked down at his hand and her hand, touching for the first time. “A-Amaranthe…” he whispered. The little girl gave him the faintest smile, recognizing her name coming from his lips. He smiled and as he reached a hand to take her in his arms, she moved back. He was still a stranger, after all. He pulled his hands back. He didn’t want her to leave yet.

“Where’s your minn’da?” he asked gently, and she turned to several corners of the courtyard. He chuckled for a moment. Of course, she wouldn’t let herself be seen, but why their daughter? Melaeth moved abruptly and reached into a pocket. The little girl moved back a little more, but then she stopped when she saw the man hold something in his hand. It was a flower and two necklaces: a finger bone, stripped of flesh, and a small gold rat.

“Here,” he said to the girl, “take them.” The little girl didn’t move and he knew he had scared her already. He rose off the ground and left the gifts on the ground. He looked at the little girl and he blew her a kiss. “I’ll close my eyes so that you can go back to your mother,” he said, and he respectfully did. The gust of wind blew once more, his lips brushed by a pair of lips, and when he opened his eyes, the little girl and the gifts were gone.

Melaeth stood alone in the center of the courtyard and he sighed, wiping tears away. He smiled; he had seen his daughter for the first time ever. “Thank you,” he called out. “I love you. Both of you.” He lowered his head and walked away from the courtyard, into a secluded area with trees where the Flea waited for him.

The undead man smiled at the Rat King. “I saw her,” Melaeth said softly. “I saw my daughter.”

“I know,” the Flea said. “She is as beautiful as her mother.”

The Rat King looked up at the Flea. “Did…you see her?”

The Flea smiled, patted the King’s shoulder, and cast his portal spell.

@lilysaliao-blog​