Alaia Skyhawk: Aww man, I just know I'm going to cry all the way through writing this. The song I wrote this to, I made up some different lyrics for it. Lady Jancine sings them partway through the chapter, so if you happen to look up the music prepare to sniffle at that scene because it's all the more poignant with it. I may actually record those lyrics to the instrumental version I listen to.

But if you want a really unearthly version to listen to, search "Boys Air Choir: Silent O Moyle" on Youtube.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Merlin TV series etc, but I do own the star of this fic... LIAM!

Music: "Silent O Moyle" Celtic folk song

~(-)~

Chapter 10: Inconsolable Grief ~Part 1~

The face of every man was grim, the riders silent as they rode back into Ulwin with Lord Hargren and his tragic passenger at their head. The people of the town came to doorways to watch their passage in the evening gloom, all of them realising something terrible had happened even if no announcement was made.

Lord Hargren gestured to his men, indicating they continue onward to the manor without him. There was one sad duty he wished to perform, before the attack on Tadoras was announced to the people of Ulwin. He wanted Samer to learn the fate of his family first, from him and not from someone else.

He reached the house belonging to the carpenter, a house that once resounded with the sounds of Alina's loom. But never again would she set foot here, and never again would she use that loom.

Solemn and full of regret, Lord Hargren dismounted from his horse and lifted Liam down. He then gently led the boy to the door of the house, pausing at the threshold before knocking firmly on the wooden door.

He heard footsteps cross the room inside, the door opening to reveal Samer. The carpenter frowned when he found his lord stood there, that frown turning confusion and concern when he saw Liam was with him.

"What is it? What... What's happened?"

Lord Hargren shook his head sadly.

"I'm sorry, Samer, but the warning I received of the approaching threat did not reach us in time. Raiders struck the village of Rilen yesterday, and proceeded onwards into these lands. They struck Tadoras today just a few hours after noon... Liam was the only one survive the attack."

Samer stared at him, starting to slowly shake his head in denial.

"No... That can't be true... Alina, and my children... No!"

At his cry of denial, Lord Hargren firmly pushed Liam to him forcing him to divert his attention to the boy. Once Samer had hold of his son, Hargren did his best to ease the man's grief.

"Liam said that Alan had left to go to Camelot, so he should be safe and return here in a few days once he learns the news. I will deliver it personally, for am I to go to Camelot anyway. My escort, sent by Uther, are the ones who saved Liam... They could not find the body of your daughter; she must have been in the burning barn he was rescued from, and for that I am sorry. I have brought Alina and Elias back with me, they are being taken to the chapel of rest within my manor as we speak." He placed a hand on Samer's shoulder, his expression full of sympathy. "You may bury them wherever you wish, but I would like to offer a place in my personal gardens as a mark of my respect for you and your family. You need not make a decision now, but I will be waiting for you when you are ready to come for them."

He turned away and went to his horse, climbing up into the saddle with one last nod to Samer before riding away.

The carpenter numbly watched him go, before retreating back into the house and closing the door. He then let go of Liam, who watched in silence as his father walked slowly to the bed he'd shared with Alina and sat on its edge. When his father began to cry, breaking down into sobbing and wails of anguish, the seven-year-old then quietly went to the bed he'd shared with his brothers and curled up upon them in silence... So traumatised by the attack that he had yet to realise his mother, brother, and sister were gone.

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"By the time anyone reached them, it was too late. I'm sorry, Jancine, but Samer's wife, as well as his children Elias and Helen, are gone. We couldn't find Helen, but Alina and Elias are in the chapel if you want to pay your respects."

Jancine sat there in shock as her husband left her chamber, hand pressed to her mouth as she fought to accept his words. Just a few days ago she'd been introducing Alina to nobles at the banquet, and now she was dead?

She stood up suddenly, turning and hurrying from her room. Those who tried to speak to her as she strode through the manor were ignored, the lady speaking to no one as she went straight to the chapel. Arriving there she entered, closing the door behind her before approaching the two biers that had been set up at the far end.

Alina and Elias appeared to only be sleeping, their wounds hidden by the pale linen cloth with which they'd been wrapped. All traces of dirt and blood had been cleared from their faces, leaving them looking peaceful despite the terrible way they had died.

Tears welled up in her eyes, as Jancine moved to sit on the stool at Alina's side. She remained there, gently stroking her friend's hair, until the sound of the chapel door opening caused her to look towards it.

Samer was stood there, a small figure behind him. He did not need to speak for her to see his request, and without a word she got up and allowed him to pass her at the door while she took care of Liam outside.

He did not want his son to see them. Did not want Liam to have to face the sight of his dead mother and brother. Samer wanted to shield him from that pain, and she was happy to oblige. Liam had already gone through so much. It would have been cruel to force him to face them.

Inside the chapel, Samer moved to his son's side, reaching out once to touch the boy's shoulder, before he went and sat where Jancine had been, staring at the silent face of his wife before once again breaking down into sobs of grief.

In the antechamber outside, Lady Jancine could hear him wailing. Liam noticed it too, clinging tightly to her in silence until she began to stroke his head and sing softly what was both a lament and a lullaby.

"Hush, oh dear little one, the day is long and weary. Roads dark and lonely, the light it has gone. But hope leads us through the night of pain and darkness passing. Follow on their way, in time you will be strong. Onwards beneath sun, never retreating. Soon day will come when the dreams fly free. In the night when you are softly sleeping. That is when those that have gone before will come. Their dreams are you, you who walk now they are gone. Hold to their faith, dear child, you who will be. The answer to their prayers for this world. That you live all your dreams here, in the light of the risen sun... That you live all your dreams, in future just begun."

He fell asleep leaning against her, and remained there until Samer emerged from the chapel.

Samer's eyes were red with tears, his voice hoarse from crying when he spoke to her.

"I wish to accept the offer, for my wife and son to be buried here within the manor grounds."

She nodded solemnly, wiping away one of the tears that had crept from her eyes as she'd sung for Liam.

"Would that we could stay for the funeral, but my husband and I cannot. We are departing at noon, for Camelot, but you have our word that we will seek out Alan and let him know what happened. He will miss the funeral, but he will still be able to pay his respects to them when he returns to Ulwin."

Samer nodded in thanks, murmuring quietly.

"Thank you, for all you and Lord Hargren have done for us. Few are those among the nobility who would show such kindness to mere commoners."

Jancine rose to her feet, gently waking Liam as she did so.

"Sad as I am to admit it, I know it's true. They know not the honourable and wonderful people they have among those who serve them, because they blind themselves to them. I would not change for all the world, the time I have known your family. My husband and I owe you a great deal, and it is an honour to be able to repay that in whatever way we can at this time. I will inform the staff to have the graves prepared ready for this evening. Let Alina and Elias go to their rest as sun sets, along with prayers for Helen whom has already gone to hers."

She passed the still sleepy Liam to him, before offering him a deep curtsey of respect. It was the least she could do for he who has lost much.

~(-)~

It had been a solemn air that had enveloped the town, the people subdued as they went about their business beneath the noonday sun. The news of the lost of Tadoras had brought much grief and anger, there not a single family here that did not have friends or relatives in that village. The people wanted answers, and while he had suspicions as to the source of the attack, Lord Hargren could not give them answers.

He rode out of the town with the escort of knights, Jancine and his son following behind him within that convoy. He truly wished he could stay for the funeral, but he knew that if Uther learnt he had delayed his departure for commoners it would not be looked on well. That was one of his friend's greatest flaws, that while he cared for the well being of his people, he rarely showed sympathy for any losses they might suffer. For Uther, attending the funeral of a commoner was an outlandish thing, but even so Lord Hargren intended to pay the proper respects to Samer's family once he returned from the visit.

While he and his family rode away from Ulwin and headed for Camelot, back in the town Samer and Liam had returned to their house to prepare for the funeral. They were not alone though, for upon their arrival they had found someone waiting for them.

It was Lillian, Alan's fiancée, and her brown eyes were as rimmed with red as Samer's. She mutely went about the house once they were inside, cooking food for them and making sure Liam was clean. The boy still had the scent of smoke lingering around him, his clothing streaked with soot and his face with dirt. Lillian bathed him; ignoring his half-hearted and quiet protests before dressing him in his best breeches and the new shirt his mother had bought him for the banquet.

She laid out Samer's best clothing as well, leaving the carpenter to prepare in his own time. That he did, when the day grew late and sunset drew near, and it was in silence that the three of them went to the manor in the dimming light.

They were ushered respectfully into the manor grounds, and led to the rear of the main building to the gardens that lay there. There, in the heart of those carefully tended grounds, they were shown to a small glade set amid a group of hazel trees. It was there that the now fully wrapped forms of Alina and Elias were gently lowered into the ground to the sound of Lillian's tears.

Samer and Liam, though, remained silent. One too numb now to cry, and the other not understanding what was going on. They remained there as the sun set, waiting until the graves were filled in and a last prayer said over each. It was then that Lillian led the two of them back to their home, dressing Liam for bed and singing him to sleep before promising Samer she would return in the morning.

Lillian closed the door behind her softly, but no amount of sympathy could ease the pain in Samer's heart... as once again his sobbing filled the house that would never again know the voice of his wife.

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Alaia Skyhawk: (sniffles) The next chapter is going to have me bawling my eyes out as well. On a side note, if you want something to cheer you up after this, I did a Christmas fic called "A Question of... Gift Wrap?" It's AU from this and Motives, but it's still fun.