This is how I imagined the bit that is missing between the last chapter and the epilogue of The Singing. Enjoy.
Maerad couldn't move. Her body ached all over but she was aware of someone holding her tightly. A sound reached her ears, a choking sob that came from the body that held her.
"Hem," she tried to say but all that came out was a strangled croak, it felt as if she had not drunk a drop of water in over a week, her throat burned and she was suddenly aware of how hungry she was. She lifted her eyelids slowly. The light was too bright but eventually her eyes focused upon the familiar face of her younger brother. She smiled at the disbelief on his face and hugged him back as he lunged at her and held her fiercely.
"I thought you were dead!" he said, his voice trembling slightly. Maerad pulled back slightly and plucked the small bottle of Medhyl that Hem carried from his hand. She took a long drink and felt her voice return and the exhaustion she felt lift slightly.
"I think I nearly was," she croaked in answer.
"Maerad!" someone shouted.
Cadvan was running towards her and, when he reached her, dropped to his knees beside her. He reached out hesitantly, as if she was so fragile that she might break if he touched her, and stroked her face.
"Cadvan," she sighed. Then his strong arms grabbed her and pulled her to him so he could shower her face in wet kisses; she could feel his tears on her face. Her heart swelled with love for him and she latched her arms around his neck. Cadvan's reserve towards her seemed to disappear in those few moments. Their lips connected hesitantly and Maerad melted into him all of her previous exhaustion disappearing. Maerad suddenly realised that she had been waiting for this moment since she had first laid eyes on Cadvan just over a year ago.
She felt him smile as he kissed her and pulled away to look at him. His sapphire blue eyes twinkled.
"And what, pray tell, are you smiling at?" she asked.
"You did it," he answered, his voice giving away the pride and love he felt for her. His palm cupped her face while his thumb stroked her cheek.
"No," she said, "we did it." This time there was no hesitating, his lips met hers quickly and they didn't part for quite some time.
"Ahem," someone cleared their throat discretely making Maerad laugh against Cadvan's lips. They both broke apart to find Hekibel standing there awkwardly as Saliman was busy hugging Hem and checking him over for any injuries.
Maerad realised she had been neglecting everyone especially her brother and tried to stand up to check that everyone was fine. Unfortunately she had forgotten the fact that she hadn't eaten in almost a week. Her legs buckled as she tried to stand but luckily Cadvan caught her before she fell and picked her up in his arms.
"You should be taking it easy," he whispered in her ear as she blushed, "you have just saved us all Maerad, you deserve it."
The decision was made that they would ride, as quickly as they could, to Innail where they could all have the much needed rest they deserved. Cadvan gave Maerad some food to chew on for their journey and helped her onto Darsor's back before climbing up behind her. His arms came round her waist to hold the great horses' reins. She leaned back into his chest and sighed contentedly. He chuckled quietly and she could feel the vibrations.
"Sleep, love. I'll keep you on Darsor," he whispered to her. As he said this her eyes drooped and she felt her mind slipping away. But before she was completely under she heard him whisper one more thing.
"I love you." She smiled and leaned further back into him. It had been worth the wait, she thought as finally she drifted to sleep.
The end. Although I'm thinking I might write more of a story for these two following on after the epilogue. We'll see.
Please review.