Tris doesn’t remember thinking before her legs are pushing her forward.
She will get there in time.
She has to.
She’s already used her life saving arrow on Arma to bring him back.
This new party didn’t have a healer.
Vrock wasn’t here.
She had no other options.
Serene was on one knee trying to raise herself back up but she wouldn’t move in time. She hadn’t even noticed the arcane bolt that was heading straight towards her, but Tris had; before it even left Mirrorface’s hand.
The last arrow she shot hit true to its mark: the killing blow to Mirrorface. As he began to fall he used the last of his strength to take one final blow at Tris by taking out Serene. Tris dropped her bow and was moving before he hit the ground dead.
Serene finally lifted her head and was frozen with fear. Her hands trembled with the realization that was coming her way. Her mind wasn’t moving fast enough and her body wasn’t moving at all.
~~~~~~~
“You hesitated.”
Serene huffed as she raised herself on her elbows,” Well what am I supposed to do in a situation like that?”
“Something. Anything.”
“What if it’s the wrong choice?”
“I’d rather make the wrong choice than have done nothing at all.” Tris walked forward and reached her hand down. Serene accepted it and brushed herself off as she stood.
“So what? You just learn to not to? To always move before thinking?”
“Exactly,” Tris kneeled down to be at eye level with Serene. “What you’re fighting for and who you’re fighting with become the most important thing. When needed you’ll move without thinking, because doing nothing simply isn’t an option. I hope you never have to learn this the hard way.”
~~~~~~~
Tris’s right shoulder slammed into Serene effectively pushing her out of the way of the bolt, as it instead hit the archer directly on her left side. The force pierced through the armor and pushed Tris back five feet onto her stomach. She blinked her vision back and could see Serene running limply towards her with tears in her eyes.
Serene collapsed next to Tris and tried to push any healing magic she had left into the wound.
“Please be ok! I’m sorry, I’m sorry I should’ve done something! Anything! Just please be ok!”
Tris knew this was it. She couldn’t catch her breath so she used her last one wisely.
She placed her hand on top of Serene’s, “It’s ok. We both know there won’t be a next time.”
Her last image before going all black was Arma kneeling next to Serene. Feeling him next to her, Serene turned into him and sobbed. Arma hugged her as tight as he could. He locked tearfilled eyes with Tris one last time and nodded.
~~~~~~~~
Tris awakes in a familiar place. It is all white with no distinguishable walls or ceiling and is painfully silent. Tris takes a deep sigh and stands to her feet as an all too familiar voice speaks behind her.
“You know you don’t have to go through all this just to see me? You have a key and your own room in my house.”
Tris smiled as she turned, ”I gotta keep it interesting after all these years.”
The doctor laughed as he stepped towards her. They embraced in a hug and as they separated he placed his hand on her cheeck and really took in his friend’s features since it had indeed been a while since they’d seen each other in person. Although Tris held a soft smile, her eyes said otherwise. In this place, in this form he was not Zathrian nor Panacea just Vrock, Tris’s best friend and confidante. And he knew as such it was time to let her go.
“It’s time to rest.”
Tris laughed, “I can rest when I’m dead. I gotta help these new kids clean up the mess we made while saving the world, again.”
“You’ve done more than enough. You can finally stop being the hero.”
Tris looked confused and took a half step back, out of Vrock’s space. “What do you mean? I gotta get back to Arma and Serene, they’re waiting.”
“No. It’s time to go home Tris. You’ve more than earned it,” Vrock gentured behind her.
She turns to see a wooden door, that has appeared out of nowhere, begin to open. Inside is an artic elven woman sitting in a room. The sun that is shinning through the window behind her is cascading her in a divine glow as she paints on a canvas and hums to herself. Tris simply stares at her in awe, mouth slightly agape, at seeing the love of her life again.
She turns back to Vrock as he squeezes her hand one last time, “Don’t keep her waiting any longer.” Tris smiles and makes her way to the door. Once she passes through Sylrana turns and jumps out of her chair.
“Tris! You’re finally here!” She runs to her would be wife and jumps into her arms. Tris catches her easy enough and buries her head into Sylrana’s shoulder as the tears begin to fall.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting for so long.”
Sylrana pulls back and cradles Tris’s face in her hands,” You’re always worth the wait. I know you’ll always come back.” Tris laughs and kisses her love deeply as the door behind them closes.
Tris’s life can finally begin. The one she has fought tooth and nail for. The one she has bled and cried for. The one she has almost given up completely for. It was all worth it. And now no one is coming to take it. She can finally rest and simply be happy.