by Jariel Camen
80709.2300
After Still
-=Deck Four, USS Alchemy=-
80709.2300
After Still
-=Deck Four, USS Alchemy=-
Camen walked from the dining hall as Fleur's words resonated in his mind.
“She has done it before, she will do it again.”
*Break my heart. * He thought. *The only time my heart has been broken was when I was too scared and foolish to see what I had right before my eyes. *
He walked, stiff and stoic to his quarters. He had been running around like mad for so many days he had lost count.
His every worry and fear had been centered on Zanh Liis since the moment memories had begun to surface. Every part, that was, except for the piece of him that had become aware at some point during all of this that Fleur Le Marc was in love with him.
*I wonder how many people realized? Did Liis know? She had always seemed uneasy around Fleur, and vice versa. *
He knew he could not go to Betazed, and could not speak to Liis there, without resolving the situation with Fleur somehow.
At last he entered his quarters, and the doors slid shut behind him. Once free from the public view, his muscles relaxed, he slid down the wall…
…and he sobbed.
He only hoped he had not been too brutal with her. Jariel Camen was in the habit of making people feel better about themselves, not breaking their hearts. This was uncharted territory for him.
As he cried, every emotion washed over him. He had run the gamut from bitter jealousy, to anger, to relief and love. There was nothing he had not felt, and every feeling was cataloged and filed away neatly on the shelf of his mind to be dealt with later.
Now that he had spoken with Fleur and Liis was at least here and well enough that her life was no longer in danger, his emotions had decided that ‘later’ was now.
The floodgates opened and the torrent engulfed him.
Speaking with Fleur had not been as easy as he thought it would be. He had told himself that through it all his heart belonged to Liis, and that was why it was the right thing to do.
But as he spoke with Fleur and saw her heart breaking, he could not help but recall times when her heart was not broken.
Times when she had laughed while walking with him, whispered her affection while holding him, and sighed deeply while embracing him.
and...
-=Spring of 2378; Alternate Timeline, Earth=-
-=Spring of 2378; Alternate Timeline, Earth=-
“I promise Camen, I have you. You will not fall.”
Fleur held onto his hand with one of hers, and held the other over his eyes so he could not see. For some time now Camen was aware only of the sound of his feet landing on the cobblestone steps below. He had no idea where she was leading him, but his weary legs wished they were headed down rather than up.
He was beginning to wish he had not eaten so much as well, but when a chef brings you to a place with food she enjoys to eat, it must be good. To say the food was exquisite would be an understatement. However, the long climb in concert with his nervous energy was not a good mix at the moment.
“Just a few more steps, and through a doorway.” Fleur cautioned. Camen fumbled blindly with his hand to push the manual door open, and felt the cool night air hit him in the face.
“Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.” He said.
“Voila!” Fleur withdrew her hand from before his eyes, and Jariel looked down onto the streets of Paris for the first time.
“La Ville Lumiere is only done justice from high above, no?” Fleur beamed with pride as she watched him take in the beauty of the city. She had mentioned many times how she longed to show him these sights.
Soon he would be Kai and an excursion like this would be nearly impossible without press, security details and everything else that came with visiting dignitaries.
She had also mentioned many times what a romantic place Paris was to propose to the one you love. He knew the thought was on her mind, and that this was the place he would choose.
He knew he couldn’t ask her on Bajor...
He leaned on the stone railing before him, and watched and listened to the lights and the sounds of the city. In the distance the Eiffel Tower stood watch over all those below.
Fleur slid her arm under his, linking them together. “It is not as beautiful as your Bajor of course, but we are proud.”
“It’s beautiful.” Camen replied. “Fleur?”
“Yes, my Camen?”
He slid his arm out from hers, and reached into his pocket. Tears filled her eyes, as she knew he would finally ask. She had hoped since the moment they arrived this may be the time.
Camen withdrew a small box, and opened it to reveal a diamond ring.
“I know you’ve waited patiently for this for some time. Longer than you should have, I’m sorry for that. I will not make you wait any longer. Will you be my wife, Fleur Le Marc?”
She needed no words to reply. She threw her arms around him, and he spun her and set her down. Fleur removed the ring, and placed it upon her finger. She looked so happy, Camen could not help but feel pleased to see such joy brought into her life. She had been so good to him, he was lucky to have her hand.
She grinned from ear to ear as she watched the diamond sparkle in the lights of Paris. Suddenly she looked very concerned.
“Oh, Camen. What about your betrothal bracelet? You said it meant a lot to you.”
“It’s all right, Fleur. It’s an old keepsake, this is far more beautiful and fitting.”
“Are you sure? I love the ring, but I will wear the bracelet if you prefer. Whatever you desire.”
“The ring is especially for you, Fleur.” Camen smiled.
There was only one women that bracelet was ever intended for, and she was not here.
Camen had left it safely locked away back on Bajor, along with the earring Zanh Liis had given him so many years ago.
“Come, Fleur. Let me show my fiancée to the people of Paris.”
-= Current time; USS Alchemy=-
He had never seen her as happy as she was that night as they walked the streets of Paris. She had waited patiently for his proposal as he sorted out his love for Zanh Liis in his own mind. Love that never went away, for as long as he had lived in that timeline.
Knowing how joyful she had been then made it so much more difficult to do what he had done tonight. But he could not, and would not, let her go on believing he would fall in love with her in this time. It just was not fair to anyone.
His heart belonged to but one woman.
-=Flash=-
“Still he persists!” A Prophet, in the form of Salvek said in frustration.
“The Jariel has seen the other side, seen the joy that could be, he should want that life now,” Said a second Prophet, in the form of February Grace.
“His pattern is erratic, flawed, irrational,” Replied Salvek.
“What now?” Jariel asked, sounding as exhausted and frustrated as he really felt.
“She treats you well, the Jariel should accept the Human. She will lead you back to us.”
“She is a kind, loving woman, but... I’m simply not in love with her. Why can’t you understand and accept this? I only ask you to accept the same ideals of true love that your own teachings have taught the people of Bajor, are so important.”
“It is not necessary for us to explain, we are your Gods.” February replied, as if that should have made perfect sense to Jariel.
“If you’ve seen what I’ve seen you also know my feelings for Zanh Liis simply cannot be let go, in any time. We’ve fought too hard, been through too much to be denied."
“She loves the one called O’Sullivan.” The Salvek Prophet warned.
“I believe in my heart she would not have left Earth if she had wanted to stay but,” Jariel’s voice cracked as he spoke. “If she does, then so be it. I will continue to love her, regardless.”
“You still do not understand, and,” The Salvek Prophet approached him, appearing angered, “you have not yet earned the right to speak.”
“No, please. Don’t take my voice again, I beg you. Let me tell her just one time I love her, please will you grant me that?”
Salvek regarded him for several moments. Camen waited patiently for their judgment. He chided himself for not speaking to Liis when he had the chance, if the Prophets were going to once again silence him.
The scene around him shifted, to the bridge of the Alchemy. Camen sat in the Command chair. From the shadows stepped the smiling visage of Zanh Liis.
“Jariel has suffered enough.” She offered. The Liis Prophet leaned towards him, her lips parting for a kiss. Camen turned his head to the side to avoid her. The Prophet possessed her features but not her soul. The very idea of touching the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing repulsed him.
“We will accept this Zanh Liis, and welcome you both back to our arms.”
Camen pushed her arm aside and rose from the command chair, walking to the center of the bridge.
“Why?”
“It has been decided.”
“Just now?” Camen asked.
“Yes.”
“After all these years? Just right now.”
The Liis Prophet was silent, as Camen pondered their change of heart.
Suddenly, it dawned on him. “You can’t undo this, can you?”
Still, the Liis Prophet was silent.
“I think the Sylph one-upped you. I think they possess a power that you cannot overrule.”
“Return home, Jariel Camen. We will not interfere with you.”
Jariel vanished from the sight of the Prophets. 'Salvek' moved to join 'Liis' on the bridge. “Perhaps it is best to accept that this is his chosen path. There are others who can speak.”
“Perhaps.” Liis replied. “Or perhaps another opportunity will present itself.”
-=Flash=-
-=USS Alchemy=-
-=USS Alchemy=-
Jariel awoke from his vision of the Prophets, still sitting with his back against the wall.
“Liis.” He said to the empty room, just to be sure his voice was still there.
Satisfied, he allowed himself to drift to sleep, without ever making it to his bed.
-------------------------
Jariel Camen
Ship’s Chaplain
USS Serendipity/Alchemy
Jariel Camen
Ship’s Chaplain
USS Serendipity/Alchemy