He was before her, looming over the healer and gazing upon her.  Even with her face lowered she could feel the terrible weight of those eyes upon her.  They stripped her flesh as neatly as any hunter and swept across her soul with a casual glance, making her feel more naked than any lack of clothing ever could.<br/><br/>Her lady's gaze had been penetrating, but it had carried forgiveness and tenderness and compassion.  The dark lord's was cruel, as if he were seeing every flaw and imperfection to ever mar her thoughts and actions.<br/><br/>A cold touch graced her jaw, a wisp of shadow curling to cup and pull her face upward.<br/><br/>"It was those in the service of Lady Diune that worked to turn my faithful aside.  It was they who set upon those who would not abandon their lord.  It was they who labored to fashion a miserable cage beneath the rocks to imprison me, leaving me to languish without the light of day or night or the touch of my love upon my skin.  It was those, like you, who served the Lady Diune and aided her as she betrayed and abandoned her soulmate and cast him down into the earth to rot and fester and become the monster before you.  So no Elandriel...  I will not let you go to your rest.  Not until these petty beasts have made your soul as warped and twisted as mine will I release you to her.  And when she turns her back on your broken soul and refuses it, I will welcome you back with open arms."