[ WP ] You lament for your lost lover as , unbeknownst to you , your wife walks into the room .

Colonel Schneider handed off his horse's reins to the servant as walked towards the steps of his townhouse. The grey sleet falls unendingly. The rains are common this time of year in the capital city of Fredericksburg. As he enters his home, he hands his cloak to his footman and accepts a cup of strong black tea. Finishing it, he climbs the stairs that lead to his quarters. The servants look mournfully as their master disappears. It is the anniversary. 
 
 Colonel Schneider washes his face in the basin and stares at the man looking back at him. Flicking his eyes, he glances at the small painting done when he was a far younger man. It shows a youthful soldier barely out of his teens, garbed in the dress uniform of the old monarchy's lancers. He smiles ever so slightly. The introduction of new uniforms was one of the popular reforms King Aidan did. His smile drops when he looks at the other person in the portrait. It is a small woman, a head shorter than her partner. Her hair is raven black and flowing free, cascading over her shoulder. The artist captured her brilliantly green eyes so that they seem to shine on the canvas. One could tell just by the picture that she was a intelligent woman, full of fire and life. Despite her small size, it is obvious that she is the center of attention in the portrait. The painter to great pains to have the light cast upon her as to make her seem to glow with radiance. Schneider smiles fondly at the picture. 
 
 He turns about and makes his way to down the hall to his personal shrine. Most of the Gods and Goddesses have their own personal temples or sacred sites, but a certain few are worshiped in the home, such as household protectors and the like, and one in particular. His shrine is a small room, lined with tapestries of his personal deities. There is Lana the Huntress, and Tyburn the High King. To his left is depicted Talran the Blood Prince, God of Warfare. A half dozen more cover the walls. But at the center of the small chapel is a depiction of his chosen deity. The only window in the room is made of stained glass that is nearly four feet by six feet tall. It depicts a young female garbed in black, holding a Shepard's crook. She is leading a long column of white garbed people towards a green paradise. Other faiths have winged monsters or foul creatures of bones, but Verlanders are fortunate to have a different god. She is Val, the Goddess of Death. She is the most benevolent goddess in the Verlander pantheon. It is she who ends the suffering of man, she provides them with rest and peace after death. She is the highest paragon of love and kindness there is. Other nations scoff at our fascination of death. But we know better. Our deity of death is worthy of worship. 
 
 He picks up the items he was given by his servants. It is always the same. He kneels at the alter table and bows his head. He speaks. `` Oh Queen of crows, Goddess of Comfort and Peace. I come before you to ask a favor once more. Though you never ask, and never will, I humbly beseech you to accept my offer of incense in your honor. Let it but be a token of my devotion to you and your generous deeds to mankind.'' He takes the mentioned sticks of incense and lights them, filling the room with the aromatic smoke. He bows his head once more. `` Please, Lady of Ravens, bring forth my lost wife from her sleep so I might speak to her. I thank you for your kindness.'' He waits for several minutes, head bowed, breathing in the scent of the burning incense. Finally, with his eyes closed, tears flowing down his cheeks, he speaks. 
 
 `` Katrin. I'm sure Lady Val has already spoken to you. I have not forgotten and will never forget. I know you wait for me. I promise I will join you eventually. In fact, perhaps sooner than we expected. Do you remember Aidan? Though I will spare you the details, he has become King, and I colonel. Verland is at war and she will need every last loyal son to defend her. I may fall in battle, I may see you far sooner than we thought. Please Katrin, I offer up these gifts to you so your time apart from me will seem all the shorter. Wine from your brother's vineyard.'' He pours a small glass of it, the color is blood red. he takes a small sip. `` A collection of flowers I have picked myself from garden. They are marigolds and red tulips. Both our favorites'' He places them in the prepared vase. He then pulls out a small fruit. `` A blood orange, that I thought we might share.'' He pulls out a small dagger and expertly slices the round citrus into quarters. He places two on a small plate and takes a bite out of one of his pieces. It is delicious, the flavor sweet with a slight bitter finish. Much like his life in some respects. He bites into the second piece, tears and juices run down his face. He bows again. `` Thank you Katrin for sharing this meal with me. I will not keep you long from your sleep. I just want to let you know, that I have not forgotten, and will never forget. I will speak with you in another year or see you in the afterlife, whichever comes first. Take care my love. Sleep well and dream of us together.'' 
 
 The door to the shrine suddenly opens an inch. Whirling around, he draws his sword an inch out of it's scabbard. He shoves it back into places as he glances at who disturbed him. He looks to the ground bashfully. He clears his throat. `` Sara. I... take the trip to the dressmaker was productive?'' She smiles slightly and nods. She takes him by the arm and rests her head against his shoulder. `` It was, Dieter. I'm sorry if I disturbed you...'' `` No, no. It is fine. I had just finished up. You did nothing wrong I assure you.'' She leads him out of the chapel and through the hallway to their chamber. She stops in front of the portrait of his first wedding. His wife rubs his shoulder as he glances at the picture. `` She must have been an amazing woman.'' He nods. `` Yes, she was. Look, Sara, I apologize. I have not been the most perfect of husbands in the world.'' She presses a finger to his lips, shushing him. `` Dieter. I know we married for political reasons, but know this, I love you all the same. I understand I'll never occupy the place she had in your heart, I am fine with that. But whether you realize it or not, you love me more than any other man could. I do not think less of you for remembering her, in fact, it shows your devotion and faithfulness. You are good man, and a lovely husband. I could not ask for more.'' She kisses him on the lips. `` Now come dear, let us enjoy the evening. I bought tickets to the opera for tonight.'' He smiles and leads her down the stairs. `` As my wife commands.''
