• Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, and countless other jewels and gemstones glittered and thrummed around her. The multi-colored walls rose, arching high overhead until forming a dome several hundred feet high. The very air of the cavern thrived with the presence of countless jewel-mages who had worked on the dome for centuries. Some names lost to all record.

    Darghalia inhaled deeply, drinking in the thick, reassuring magic of the dome. She couldn’t leave the comfort and relative isolation of it quite yet. Then she would have to face the brutal reality of the War again, though she knew she couldn’t hide forever. The goblins’ war with the dwarves had gotten even more brutal over the past three months and now every dwarf capable of fighting was being called out to fight.

    And Kadev says that this doesn’t include me? Darghalia wondered sadly. True, she was only a half-dwarf, but she could still make the jewels and gemstones do her will and potentially fight as well. He gets summoned and yet insists I stay behind. She loved her husband of four years fiercely, but it didn’t ease the smarting she felt at being left behind like a simple housewife.

    “Dar?” Kadev’s earthy and rich voice vibrated from the stones as he entered the dome behind Darghalia.

    Darghalia sensed he was waiting for her to say something, but she just couldn’t. Tears fell silently from her green eyes.

    The thump of Kadev’s armored boots came closer until Darghalia felt his hands squeeze her shoulders. “Dar, look at me.” His voice was so quiet that Darghalia did turn around and gaze at her dwarf husband’s brown eyes. “Why are you so eager to go to war?”

    “It’s not because of war, Kadev. It’s because of you,” Darghalia replied softly. “While you go to protect the Clan, I’m here waiting for word on whether or not you’re alive or dead. “ She raised a quivering hand to touch the one on her shoulder. “I can’t live like that, Kadev. “

    Beneath his earth-colored beard, Kadev smiled a little. “This may be more serious than the Seers realize, Dar. There are only so many Jewel Mages left among us. If you will not take my word because I’m your husband, then take it from me because I’m your teacher.” He released her shoulders and took her hands in his. “You are young and untrained in the jewel war-craft. You must remain here and continue learning what I have taught you.”

    “But-“

    “Darghalia, I can’t bear the thought of loosing you, either,” Kadev interrupted intensely, squeezing Darghalia’s hands. “Knowing you’re safe here will comfort me greatly.”

    Reluctantly, Darghalia nodded and threw her arms around Kadev in a tight embrace. Her heart and chest were as tight as being clamped between two solid pieces of granite, but she knew that her husband was right. “I know,” she whispered into his thick, spice-smelling hair. “You just get into so much trouble when I’m not there.” Her attempt at a joke was weak, but it was enough to make her feel a little better.

    Kadev chuckled and kissed her with gentleness that bellied his rough appearance. “I’ll come back, Dar, I promise.”

    Someone cleared his throat in the entry. “Bar-Stonemaker, we are ready.” The soldier discretely backed out.

    Now a sense of helplessness enveloped Darghalia, but she hid it from her husband with an embrace. If he hadn’t needed to leave, her arms would never have released him. The tightness of Kadev’s own arms told her he was thinking the same thing.

    Reluctantly, Kadev stepped back, a gloved hand trailing down Darghalia’s cheek. He didn’t say anything; nothing more could be said. He visibly straightened and strode quickly out of the cave.

    Darghalia rushed after him, coming to a stop on the ledge overhanging the main road out of the city, her hand clutching the chain he’d given her on their wedding night. Rank after rank of dwarf warriors marched out of the city to cheers as well as a good amount of weeping. Darghalia’s eyes swept the ranks, searching for one last glimpse of Kadev. There! In one of the last ranks, the gleam of Kadev’s helmet she had polished that morning. She raised a hand in farewell. Just before the army rounded a bend and vanished out of sight, she saw Kadev look back and mirror her. Then the army was gone.

    He’ll come back, she told herself, standing on the ledge long after the sound of their marching faded. He must come back. Then why do I feel like I will never see him again?

    __________________________________________________________________

    Months passed without a word except for the occasional report on how the war was going in general. Darghalia busied herself with keeping up her husband’s affairs and fine-tuning her magic. Still, the nagging worry wouldn’t go away.

    Then the news they had all been waiting for arrived: the war was over. Darghalia was the first on the road to the city and the first to catch sight of the Clan’s war party. They were ragged, but triumphant as the city gave a great roar of joy.

    The commander of the party caught Darghalia’s terrified and worried gaze and approached her, shoulders bent like he was carrying the heaviest load. “Sha-Stonemaker?”

    “Y-yes?” Darghalia replied hesitantly, a sick feeling settling into her stomach.

    “Your husband…Kadev…”

    “What happened?”

    The commander held up a clenched fist and gently pressed something into Darghalia’s palm. “I’m sorry. Our party has no losses, save for one.”

    Numb, Darghalia looked down at what she held…and her breath caught in her throat as a cry of horror emerged. It was her husband’s chain that she’d given him the same night he’d given her the one she wore.

    “We don’t know what happened, but this is all we could find.

    “Kadev is dead.”