PELLINOR
Alternative ending.
"But the silence was not the end. For as the music died, it seemed to Maerad that she was beginning to unravel with it, that her longing for the Elidhu undid her as if she was a spool that was spinning around and around and the thread of herself were being pulled away..."
And, for the first time, she embraced what she truly was. She knew that she could no longer bear to be treated with fear, to feel guilt for death and pain she had caused, to be in her own eyes, and others, a monster. She felt the power of the Elidhu rush around her, and in her, and through her, and knew,in the deepest corner of her heart that this was what she was. She felt the longing for the wild places of the world, the comfort that she was whole and that nothing she did was wrong- the guiltless, whole existence of Elidhu. And as the music died away, she shrugged the last thread of humanity from her shoulders, and for the first time, felt in no danger of losing herself within herself. She opened her new, perfect eyes for the first time, and saw before her the face of Arkan, crowned with icy diamonds. He smiled dazzlingly, and held out his hand. She took it, and for the first time she heard his voice as his fellow being, as strong as an icy mountain and as delicate as a flake of snow.
"Come, fire lily," he said, and kissed her hand, "We have all of eternity." and with him Maerad strode away, and together they left this world..
