Epilogue

Draco stood next to Edda, looking down at Tira's broken form. Edda looked at the Dragon Edge with keen interest, but knew that now was not the time to ask to examine it. Draco set the sword down behind himself and kneeled next to Tira, lifting her head and resting it on his lap, brushing his fingers through her hair. Edda watched, understanding what was going on in Draco mind, and spoke just as Draco started to move.

"Draco, forget it. Taking your life is not what she would have wanted…at least I think." He said, and Draco moved his hand away from the knife concealed in the side of his greave. Looking back to Tira, Draco's eyes watered up as he wished that her eyes would open and she would speak, even if it were to give him heck, he didn't care. All he wanted was for her to come back.

"Why?" he asked, and Edda looked back to him. "Why did I get a second chance? Why can't she? What difference is there?" he looked over at Edda, and the chronicler recoiled at the sight of the burning red eyes.

"I…I don't know…" he gaped, unable to properly think. Draco ignored him and looked back down at Tira, knowing that he had a life to continue.

"Goodbye…my love." He said, then leaned down and kissed her one last time.

Edda watched in utter amazement as the couple was engulfed in a swirling storm of flames. He backed away as quick as he could, the heat of the fire too much for him as his skin had already started to blister. The flames lowered, then spread out in all directions, passing over Edda. He flinched, waiting for the searing heat to burn into him, but all he felt was the wounds Draco had inflicted on him instantly heal themselves. Amazed, he looked back to see a spiraling tower of flames, through which he saw Draco on his feet, arms around Tira, still locked in his kiss, and Tira with her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her, the two of them in the heat of passion. Edda smiled, then turned and left, knowing that he would see the two again some day.

Tira finally pulled away from Draco and looked up at him, smiling. "We're free at last, aren't we?" she asked, brushing her fingers against his cheek. Draco smiled and pulled her close into a tight hug.

"Yes we are…we're free…and alive."

"Life and love go hand in hand. To lose one, you lose the other. To find one, you find the other. But to learn love, one's life will be reborn in flames of passion."

Draco Faust Williams