Dragoncrest Cliffs riptide

She knew then, but denial dug unforgiving claws into her chest. Lucette imagined grave injury, wasting sickness, a half-dozen scenarios in the span of a few seconds; none of them included death, but even so, she knew. On some level. Numb, not quite ready to question the silence, she nodded. She still coughed and trembled as she lifted herself with her family's assistance, but no word of complaint would escape her now.

Her eyes found Lafayette belatedly, as if only just seeing him; as if only just hearing his voice. For a moment — just a moment! — it was not love which lit her venom-green gaze. Not love at all. Her twin had blossomed in her absence into some kind of delicate seaside flower, blossomed while the sea had battered Lucette and wizened her beyond her years. Now she moved like an aged woman, sore and weak, while Lafayette was prompted to use his youthful strength to aid her.

Oh, but she did love him. She did. Lucette softened a bit, murmuring his name, but her eyes left him and did not return as she was guided. She was silent; processing.