Edit : Here a text that *Adella wrote and sent to me to illustrate this image.
"Adella " He whispered into her hair, his body heavily pitched against her as she struggled to support him. She had begun to claw at his armor, trembling fingers frantically attempting pry the buckles loose to remove it.
" Leave it " Davids voice strained to protest.
But she would notshe could not. He would be alright. If she could just get the breastplate off and stop the bleeding...
Click! David groaned painfully as the leather buckles finally gave way, the battered breastplate falling to the ground with a clatter. Panic lanced through her, dashing any hopes for his survival that she had clung to so desperately. His gambeson was completely soaked with blood, and what could no longer be absorbed by the permeated fabric was pooling beneath him on the floor.
His breathing was becoming labored.
Adella lowered him gently onto his back, her arms carefully supporting his head and shoulders. Fresh tears stung her eyes, blinding her as her hands shakily brushed back his hair, touched his face, then slid down to press against his wound as if doing so might still save him. She was so afraid now. This couldnt be happening.
" My beauty " He said quietly, looking up at her with all the love and pride that he had when they exchanged their vows. Often he gazed at her this way, and always it had caused her insides to flutter and her heart to swell. Her chest heaved with a sob. This was not how it was supposed to end. He was supposed to grow old at her side
No.. She whimpered, as if denying it might change his fate. Fear consumed herFear of losing him; Fear of waking up the next morning unable to see his smile; Fear that with time she would forget the sound of his voice, the softness of his touch. They still had so many years together. Not him
"Please " Adella begged him, her voice warbling in anguish. " Stay with me Don't go Don't leave me here by myself I need you..." Her tears came unbidden, streaming down her face.
"I have no regrets. This world it is safe now for everyone." He protected his subjects to the bitter end, and now he had given everything for them. David had dedicated his life to the salvation and prosperity of his people, and as he lay dying in her arms, she felt the devotion he had to his duty acutely.
In all of her life she had never loved like this, never experienced her spirit soar with such joy. Adella had not thought happiness like this was possible. Her story, it was stuff of fairytales
But the fairytale was over; the book was closing.
Using the remainder of his strength, he lifted his hand up to cup her cheek. But it was always you I loved best... As if he had read her thoughts and understood her affliction, he reassured her. Then, with one last smile, with one last gaze into her eyes, his hand dropped away.
Oh no Oh no no She pleaded, her breath seizing as she clutched at him fervently, David
The fire roared around them unrelenting, but she did not care. David She begged again in denial, her free hand shakily reaching to grasp the hilt of his fallen sword and drag it to him. Adella curled his fingers around it carefully. He had lived by this blade. It was only fitting that he would die grasping it. Realization that he was now gone hit her harder than she had anticipated.
All at once she screamed, her arms grasping onto his beleaguered body as her own convulsed with agony. Anguish harried her thoughts, the pain of his loss driven into her heart like a metal spike. A thousand memories of all that they had shared lay broken around her, the dreams of their once happy life shattered forever.
Adella remained there on the floor, ignoring the fire which blazed closer and closer, masking her cries as she rocked him endlessly. She could not bear to leave him here like this. She could not bear for him to be taken by the flames, consumed to ash like the beautiful frescos on the marred walls surrounding her.
I can't stop looking at this. It's very visually striking and I love the story it tells on its own, without even having read the accompanying text. I especially like how you show them behind the burning curtain. It's as though we, as the audience, are peeking into a very intimate moment without actually being involved in the scene at all. Fantastic job!
This picture is matched only by your beautiful writing... Your words brought me to tears. Such a beautiful and tragic tale can resonate with anyone who has lost someone close to their heart. Well done.