1491 A.D.

When you open your history books and see the horrors that make up that past, it's easy to ask, "How could anyone do this?" And yet, it has already happened. It has happened over and over again, repeating itself as if learning isn't possible for the course of history. It is doomed to repeat itself in numerous ways as it did with me and Neytiri.

Generations of war beget strained relations, and the smallest of nudges toward the edge set off another repeat of history. Ikniri killing Dragonborn and Dragonborn killing Ikniri. Until there was barely any left.

I once had everything. I had a kingdom, a culture, a family... a home. But it was taken from me sending me into a spiral of destruction and hatred, hellbent on getting the revenge I believed I so rightfully deserved. I am the last of my line, and one of the few left of my people. I am the king of an endangered race, the legacy of the Dragonborn fading into the tattered pages of history. Now all that remains of us is my legacy. And it is a bloody one.

"Your majesty, they have arrived."

Ulric calls to me from the doorway but I can only keep my eyes focused on the distance. The mountains. It is the only place I did not take. It is the only place safe from my wrath. It is the mountainside that belongs to the race of people that wiped out my own. And yet, they live and breathe... because of her.

The world's "last hope". Now, her body rests there entombed in a bed of ice because of me.

"Your Majesty."

Ulric's insistent tone pulls me out of my trance and I turn away from the window to face him. It's been a year since Neytiri and I clashed swords. A year since my own men turned on me to follow her. With her out of the way, unleashing my wrath on the world has been easy. But I no longer feel as I once did; I feel empty. My wrath and vengeance have come with no satisfaction as they once did, her dying words plaguing me like a disease as of late, they are all I can think of, sucking every possibility of joy from me.

I turn away from the window to look where Ulric stands.

"Bring them in."

Ulric bows before moving toward the open archway signaling for my guests to enter. I silently take my seat, my gaze level as I watch the last leaders of their clans step in. Hynden and Xander. They both bow immediately.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Their voices ring out in unison as they speak. Uncertainty hangs in the air as I stand. I can see by their expressions and demeanor they are uncertain of my motives in summoning them here. My mood since the death of Neytiri has been anything but manageable. Even the castle I took over is empty and cold, fear hanging in the air.

"I'm leaving."

Silence hangs in the air, both of them still uneasy about speaking in my presence. Thankfully, Hynden is the first to step forward.

"What exactly do you mean by 'leaving'? You can't just disappear, you are our king, you are supposed to lead us. You have no heirs are you just going to leave us alone to die?"

I shake my head.

"I am leaving this part of me behind. I will go into hibernation for a few years and let the world heal without me. When I re-emerge, I shall find a new place for us... A new path."

Dragonborn can live to be thousands of years old. In the olden days, some dragonborn would never shift out of their dragon form, allowing them to hibernate for centuries. The idea of this is the only thing that can give me peace as of late.

Now it is Xander's turn to voice his anger.

"Is this because of the Ikniri?" he snaps. I whip my gaze to him, allowing my irritation to seep through and he immediately drops his head, silently showing his submission.

"I wiped out the Inkiri, I conquered the continent, I avenged our families several times over and I have been doing it for centuries. Is this the legacy you wish for our people to have? What have we brought to the world other than suffering?"

"They deserve it for what they did to us."

Xander is shaking from his anger but I only laugh.

"This is why I am king and you are not. I can see when my people are no longer benefitting from what I am doing."

Shock crosses Xander's features, replaced with shame as he comes to terms with my words. Hynden looks between us, and I can already see that she is accepting my decision.

"Cassian, what do you expect us to do without our king?"

I release a breath looking toward the mountains.

"I am no longer king. I will divide the lands among you and your people. Someone should benefit from my wrath. It is yours to do with as you please. Be fair to your own."

Concern crosses Hynden's features.

"What has gotten into you?" she asks. Snow is beginning to fall outside, the thick white blanket covering the kingdom.

"My time has finished is all. I trust both of you. All I want is for you to be happy. This way of life isn't one that will give you that," I say honestly.

My gaze shifts as Xander kneels placing his hand over his heart.

"You will always be our king, Cassian. We will be here when you emerge to follow your rule. And we will continue to serve you."

Hynden follows his lead kneeling as well.

"We will never forget all that you

"I think my time here is done is all. I trust both of you. I want you to be happy," I say honestly. Xander kneels, placing his hand over his heart.

"You will always be our King, Cassian. Whenever you are ready to come back and join us, we will be ready. And, we will serve you," he says. Hynden follows his lead, kneeling as well.

"What you have done for our families and our race, we shall never forget."

I watch them in shock and for the first time in almost a year, I smile.

"Rise up. Ulric will share the details of the lands with you," I say standing. I watch in silence as they stand, bowing once again before exiting the room. Hynden, however, stays. She comes toward me, hesitantly placing her hand on my chest. Her gaze is steady as she eyes the place my heart sits before her eyes lift to meet mine.

"What is this about, Cassian?" she whispers. Her expression is the same as when we were children. It once made me melt when she would look at me that way. Now, I feel nothing. I take a deep breath pulling her hands away from my chest.

"I'm tired, Hynden. The world no longer holds interest to me. I feel... nothing," I say. Now that my rage has subsided, I have nothing left to fuel me. Nothing to give me purpose.

Hynden's voice is hesitant but she voices her question.

"It's her, isn't it?" I don't have to ask her to clarify. Everyone knows. I release a breath nodding my head.

"Do you regret it? Killing her?" she asks.

When I look into Hynden's gaze, I hate the pity I see there.

"How can I make something right that I have destroyed?" I ask. My gaze once again shifts to the mountains as the snow begins to pick up.

"She haunts me."

Her last words repeat themselves to me over and over.

"Don't let the world suffer. Start a new era."

Hynden seems to be thinking and looks back at me.

"I don't know what to say. Just... come back to us, ok? Don't leave us. We're your family too. We care about you. Don't punish yourself over this forever..."

Her hand gently cups my jaw to pull my gaze to hers.

"...please," she whispers.

I suddenly realize just how close she is to me, her eyes shift to my lips just as her breathing grows slightly heavy. She steps closer to me, her breasts coming flush with my chest as she places her lips over mine. She kisses me with a deep intensity and need, and I find myself kissing her back, wanting nothing more than to get rid of this aching emptiness I feel in my chest.

I deepen the kiss, lifting her so that she is sitting on the desk, my lips traveling down her throat. A soft moan fills the room hitting me in the chest with a fury. I close my eyes, fighting for control and she senses it.

"Hynden..."

She places her fingers over my lips looking me in the eyes. Her hand travels to my jaw as a sad smile spreads on her lips.

"I know... it's ok," she murmurs. She leans into me, kissing me gently before repeating herself.

"It's ok."