Swan Obsession

Rothbart fell to his knees. The sword's full length had not impaled him, but he knew wounds of his sort were fatal. Odette was lying in front of him, serene as a statue, and that was all he saw. His body felt numb, from shock, but he supposed it no longer mattered.

"Odette" Rothbart rasped, speaking through the pain and reaching for a cold limp hand, "Odette... I love you..." It pained him that she could not hear his words. He crawled weakly through the dirt towards her, covering her cold flesh with his body, careful not to crush her under him, though it was doubtful that she felt anything. His head rested lightly upon her shoulder, the length of his body blanketing hers.

"I've always loved you, I think, though I tried to deny it," he murmured into her unhearing ears. "I'd love you forever; I wish I had the chance...." His voice faltered. "I'd make a vow of everlasting love to you, and prove it to all the world, but the only world I know anymore is you..." Rothbart clutched her frail body tightly, as though fearing it would soon be lost to him.

"Odette..." he whispered, closing his eyes. There was nothing to live for if she was not there for him, making it worthwhile. Unable to do anything else, he let the blackness take him.