The Sentinels (they call it lonely digging)

her heart had splintered into many different pieces, falling to many different directions. but the core of it was here, where her father rest. she would protect this place, stay here, until she died. many of her kith and kin had decided she did not follow her fathers vision—but all, except for she, had strayed from this place. one due to wanderlust, one due to a broken heart, one escaping her fathers ghost, and the last her sisters shadow. time and time again emaleth had left. it was not shocking to hear, and see, her do it once more. there had been a time emaleth had been there for her, and it had been long, long ago; she had forgotten those days, and doubted there would be a time she would see them again. 

deirdre was not impervious to the callouses life had brought. she was hurt, now, and when casmir called deirdre could not find it in her heart to rush toward him as she usually may. she was the sole leader of this place, and so much had transpired since she had last seen him. her beauty remained, as did her regal disposition as she came toward him, but the light that was deirdre was eclipsed by her mental turmoil that she fought through alone. casmir, she spoke, her voice low. she did not ask him: have you come to return? gone were the days of this foolish hope, gone was the fool. but there was a true smile that came there, a true happiness to see him. she loved him wholeheartedly. come inside, she beckoned, the edges of donnelaith significantly cooler than its depths.