Peace Becomes Us

I lay there praying for death to take me, anything would be better then this pain. I knew I would never see my family again, and that hurt more then the wound stretching across my mid section.

I was afraid.

No.

I was terrified; it wasn't supposed to end like this. I see flashes of my family's faces across my vision, they had lost so much and sacrificed so much, and now instead of peace and happiness, I brought them more pain.

I think of Zane especially, his high hopes for peace, I wish I had his enthusiasm and his faith. He spoke of such things that were far beyond my abilities and he spoke of them as certainties rather then dreams, and for the first time in my life I find myself wishing I could see that future too. I wish that I had not laughed at his dreams, and instead embraced them as he did.

I think about a year ago when he had looked Irene and I in the eyes and declared that our brother would be the last of us to go, he was determined to keep our family together and then he promised that none of us would ever have to suffer again, how wrong he was.

For this pain was worse then any I had ever encountered, had I angered the gods so much that they couldn't even grant me a quick passage, what had I done to deserve a slow and painful death?

Suddenly I hear movement to my right, a serpiente soldier perhaps? Maybe not, but did it really matter? An avian soldier would no less end it just as soon, I cry out in pain, letting all the agony into my voice. I hear the bushes shift and suddenly the clearing is full.

A young avian woman kneels down beside me, I am struck by the beauty before me, surely she is an angel sent from above to help me make my passage, could she really be an avian? The very people I hated more then anything else.

I feel it then; the tear on my cheek,

Am I crying?

No, but she is, I watch as this young birds eyes fill with tears and sorrow beyond her age, it is then that I feel something break inside me, had I done that, caused that pain? I hope not, it isn't fair that something that magnificent feel that much pain.

I look into her endless eyes and ask my final request,

"End it please."

It look as though she might, but then someone stops her, she stands and walks away from my line of vision;

oh please no, do not leave me here to die,

and then she is back, she settles down beside me and takes my hand, I grasp it hoping for a relief, I grasp her hand knowing it would be my last, and I grasp her hand with all the pain, grief and guilt that I can, for I now know who this angel is.

She was Danica Shardae, and it was her brother I had slain before being injured myself, I have caused her pain and tears and for that I welcome death.

She then begins to sing, a beautiful song of hope, dreams and peace. I relax as her voice floats around me and I immerse myself in her lyrics. I don't know how long I sit here it might be minutes, hours or days, but I finally I feel my will beginning to waver, and my strength slowly diminishing. I look into her eyes, and finally I know what peace is, I have witnessed it first hand. It is kindness, sacrifice, and in this moment it is a beautiful woman singing to her sworn enemy of forgiveness, peace and of the bright future that is sure to come. With this last thought I let go and soar up above the clearing, thankful to shed the pain, and happy to know what the future would bring, and that was peace, the peace I had seen in the sad eyes of Danica Shardae as she sang to a dying man.