Aly's Death
The coffin was lowered silently as people watched some in tears others in silence.
Alanna stood still barely aware of those around her. To die after one of your own children was terrible. The feelings swimming through her were obvious. Sorrow Aly had died so young, pride she had died for what she believed in, anger her daughter had been taken from her, worry her husband would not speak. Most prominent was her sorrow.
Watching her daughter be placed into the ground almost tore the Lioness apart. Yet the smallest feeling of amusement ran through her, knowing her daughter the coffin did not contain the body of Aly but another.
George meanwhile stood by his wife's side guilt coursing through him. He could have stopped this, the meetings she had been to as a child, and the teachings about spy work, and all of it could have kept her safe. Even as he thought this, he winced he had known her well enough to know that spying was her life, she would not have given it up. She had been born for it in a way he had. Keeping her away from the knowledge would have made it worse not better.
A stranger stood to the side as they watched the coffin being lowered. The child had died so young and yet with so much courage. Even as she backed away, slowly her gaze raked through the people watching silently, as the first trickle of earth hit the coffin. The girl had collected many people who respected her for herself, not just her famed mother, and her father who stood in the shadow.
Queen Dove of the Copper Islands stood silently watching as her late friend's family said their last respects and yet still no tears fell. Aly had been there, supported her through the tough times of her early reign, even as she thought this she felt the squeeze of her husband's hand. In recent years, Aly had been in the background, as her marriage took centre stage not her friendship. A slight feeling of guilt coursed through her yet she pushed it down, Aly had been happy. Dove's own husband had given her that support and comfort that Aly had given while Aly had focused on her job and her young children. Her young children that were now motherless.
Nawat crow had tears streaking down his face, Aly was so young, she had so much to accomplish not even 30 and gone, gone like the wind. Nothing gold can stay. He thoughteven as he heard a great sob rack the body of his eldest child. Maybe now it would sink in. Although, he hated the fact she would no longer be there, with her crocked smile, he had to go on living if only for the sake of his children.
The crowd that had gathered slowly dispersed, in spite of that, those that had been closest to Aly did not move. Still slowly backing off to one side the stranger finally turned. The girl had achieved all she had meant to. Even as they thought this, she vanished a small smile on her face.
No one noticed as the figure disappeared, just a small child that kept her tongue. Her mother had just died; her father would not care about the figure. Even as she thought this, she began thinking that maybe it had been her imagination. She was tiered even as sobs racked her body she slowly began to allow exhaustion to catch up. She was not even 10, but her mother had been stolen from her. Even at such a young age she understood revenge, she swore she would get it. No matter how long it took, she would get it.