Reunion of the Broken Heart
(Closed to Darkest.Desires)
He had travelled through wind and rain, through the heat of the searing sun, and the blustering gales of the overnight storms; but nothing and no one could stop him from reaching his goal. His heart could push past any problem, any solid wall or foundation, any violent pain or crushing illness, for his love was so powerful, so pure, that nothing in this world could halt him.
His hard wearing boots had seen better days, they were rough and covered in a variety of muck, his skin was dry from the suns warmth, his lips wishing for another drink, and yet he hadn't stopped to quench his thirst. His blue caring eyes were locked facing forward, staring, looking, searching for the Inn he knew Camille would be waiting in.
Corone was hardly a wasteland to travel across, but Gnarl had ignored everything to find her. Neglecting sleep, drink and food as he marched on with a deep determination.
She was worth this effort, he knew that in his heart. No matter how far away she may be, he would have found a way to reach her. However, Gnarl believed he knew, there was only place in his mind that he could imagine her returning to, and if she wasn't there, within that friendly Inn where they first met, then he would be truly lost to where she was.
Finally, things started to feel familiar, that nostalgic feeling of the view in front of him. He could recognise the tree line, the large peculiar rock he had been past before, and the long winding bend of the road that raised up the hill to reveal what would be his destination.
Gnarl came to the top of hill, his legs aching, his breath tired and his body feeling not far from its limit. This had been a tiresome journey, a desperate journey but as the view of the old Inn came into view, the relief and inner encouragement that surged from within was enough to make him feel alive once more.
He scrambled down the other side of the hill, the loose earth not making it the easiest of paths to navigate when he was rushing. Yet in the grand scheme of his journey it was over within a moment.
There it was, the old Inn, trying to keep up the demand of time and custom. One large building of three floors, with various extensions made that took the building from aging to new depending on where you looked. It made him want to smile, there were good memories within this place, but if she was here, he had to earn those memories back.
He stood in front of the large entrance, the thick oak door suddenly felt very intimidating. He had walked through it many times in the past, but he had never feared what was waiting for him on the other side before.
Please be here Camille...Please forgive me.
He glanced up at the sign, The Red Oak Inn. He had always associated it with the good, but now he wasn't so sure. Now it was to be what he made it, and walking through that door was the only way to answer the nagging worries in his mind.
He took a deep breath then pushed his way in, the loud creaking daunting and exciting all at the same time. The open room, full of tables and a few customers, far from the busiest he'd seen this place. The bar itself was quiet, leaving an old acquaintance polishing up the pipes and glasses. Meredith, the large dark haired lady who acted like everyone's mother. She had helped Camille and Gnarl when they had first met, and because of that, she had a special place of importance.
Regardless of those feelings and good memories, the emotion that filled her face was not one of joy at seeing him again. It was grimaced with anger and frustration, her stamping feet as she came around the bar were filled with irritation, and her lips ready to roar at him on approach.
"Meredith..." Her name barely left his lips.
"What in the blue mood of the moon?!" She bawled out, her finger pointing in his direction. "Why are you here?"
"She's here isn't she?" His mind wandered right to Camille as he looked past Meredith to the stairwell.
"Oi! Mr! Don't be lookin' past me. You focus right on these lips! You hear me? You're not getting past to see her, that's the one thing you're gonna understand! "
Gnarl wasn't sure what to say. He knew the truth behind Merediths attack. She felt it was her fault, she after all had encouraged Camille to greet Gnarl that night. Maybe if she hadn't, Camille would have been too nervous to approach him. That thought had crushed Meredith inside, knowing that Gnarl has upset Camille so much, and she had helped start the whole thing.
"I don't know what you're thinking," Gnarl tried to calm her. "But I'm here to make things right."
"Oh, and how do you expect to do that? The poor girls in a state up there. You look fine to me!"
"DAMN IT MEREDITH!" He paused he anger, biting his lip to stop. Not that she backed off, standing strong with her hands on her hips, disgruntled that he had raised his voice to her. "I'm here to make things better, to make things right. I owe her more than that. I don't want this, I don't want the sadness that fills both our hearts...It's wrong. I love her Meredith, I'm here to fight when I should have battled for her in the first place."