Liam woke slowly, confused and disoriented. He reached for Olivia, but found the bed next to him cold. He opened his eyes and sat up, looking around but not seeing her. Quickly, he slipped out of bed and pulled on his clothes, glancing out the window to see the moon was still high in the sky. He muttered to himself as he dressed, annoyed that he hadn't expected this. Kendra had been executed yesterday, and it was Olivia who had convinced the advisors Jasper had assembled that it was what was necessary. He frowned, wondering where to look for her, and thought of Kemariam's story. He walked out of the Olivia's childhood room and through the passageways until he arrived at the portrait hall, but didn't see her. Next he tried the library, remembering her comment that it was one of the few rooms in the castle she actually liked. He didn't find her curled up in any of the secluded corner, so he left the castle, walking over the grounds to the graveyard dedicated to executed monarchs. Sarain had plenty, but he didn't see Olivia near the freshly dug grave where they had laid Max. Jasper had insisted he be buried there next to Leilah, and no one had dared object to a commoner's burial among the many former monarchs.
Finally, he walked to the stables, hoping she'd be with Beauty, but Beauty was gone. Liam sighed and saddled Casanova, cursing the fact that he had no idea where she would have gone to ride. He stroked his stallion's nose. "I don't suppose you know where she is," he said quietly. The horse jerked his head upward, making Liam frown. He mounted Casanova and led him out. "You haven't spent enough time around Daine to become that smart," Liam scolded, but allowed the stallion to lead them off to the right of the castle and into the woods. They picked their way along a winding path, and eventually it opened onto a large clearing surrounded by high fencing. Olivia was perched on the wooden rail watching several horses run in circles around the field.
Liam dismounted and walked over to sit next to her on the rail. He slid an arm around her shoulder and she leaned her head next to his chest.
"I can't believe he's gone," Olivia whispered, tears sliding down her face. "It doesn't feel real. What am I supposed to do now? Who do I ask for advice? Who do I turn to when the world seems big and scary, and I feel like I'm not old enough or strong enough to do what I'm supposed to? I know, I know you're there for me, Liam. I know. I really don't know what I would have done if we'd never met, if I hadn't agreed to marry you, but it was different. He always knew the right thing to do. He was my appa. You know what he said on that cliff? He'd gotten my letter saying I was pregnant and come straight there. He came all that way to give me a hug, tell me it would be alright and that I could do whatever I wanted, whatever felt right. That it was my decision. That I could be a good mother. That I deserved a loving husband. And suddenly everything seemed less scary. Because my appa told me I didn't have to be scared. I don't know how to do this with out him. It's been three weeks since he died, and I have had to make an endless parade of decisions and I've wanted his opinion every moment, or even just to hear him say: you know what you're doing baby girl. Especially with Kendra. I needed him to tell me that I was right. And that was just the worst of so many moments. And I keep expecting it to get better, but it doesn't. It doesn't get better."
"I know, sweet," Liam whispered into her hair. "It will get better, but it will take time. Lots of time. You'll never stop missing him, but you'll learn. You'll learn to remember that he would have said that no matter what you did. That he trusted you, and you should trust his opinion of you. And you'll remember that he isn't gone. He's up there."
Liam pointed up at the stars, and Olivia gave him a watery smile. "I just hope they found each other up there," she said quietly.
"Of course they did. Want to know how I know?"
"How do you know?"
"Because I would find you," Liam replied quietly, leaning forward and kissing her softly.
Olivia kissed him back for a long moment before pulling away and giving him a smile. "You're right. I'd find you too."
Olivia repeated the same K'miri phrase under her breath once again.
"What does that mean?" Liam asked
"Oh, it's just a phrase we say when a warrior dies. It means, I don't even know exactly. We just always say it." She paused and considered for a moment. "I suppose the best translation is: 'Find peace, departed warrior. You have earned your rest.'"
"I like it."
"Me too."
Olivia sighed, her eyes dead. "I wish we could stay here and watch the horses. Appa's ranch is the only part of Sarain I truly love, but we have so much still to do. I hate every moment I spend in that castle. I really just want to go home."
"Soon love, soon we will go home, and you know I still owe you from our bet."
"What bet?"
"About whether Leilah would be a boy or a girl. I owe you a week in Persopolis without anyone knowing who we are."
"Can we take Leilah?"
"Of course. It'll be just the three of us. We'll have a wonderful time. It's a beautiful city. There are markets, and there's a gorgeous oasis. Leilah will love it. We'll have to watch her like hawks though. She has no fear. She just walks straight in and keeps going."
"That will be fun," she said with a smile.
Liam smiled back and leaned forward to kiss both her cheekbones, tasting the salt from her tears. "Yes it will. Now, lets get you into bed. We have a long day tomorrow."
"We always have a long day," Olivia said, whistling for Beauty and hopping off the fence. "But thank you for reminding me what I have to look forward to when this is all finally over."
"We have lots to look forward to. For instance, I get to look forward to getting you pregnant again."
Olivia laughed. "Oh really? Do I get a say in this?"
Liam grinned. "I'd wear you down even if you said no. I got you to marry me, didn't I?"
"It's true," Olivia replied, mounting Beauty as Liam mounted Casanova. "But I know your tricks now. Speaking of tricks, how's Korintha?"
"She's coming along nicely. She should be back on her feet in two weeks, though she's insisting three days."
"Good. I would have hated to lose her. I'm sorry about Jayseb, Liam. I just realized I never told you that."
"Thank you," Liam replied quietly, ignoring the tightness in his chest her words brought. He'd lost a few of his men, but Jayseb's death had hurt the most. Jayseb had been with him every step of the way through those horrible days in Scanra. "I hope he finds peace now, too. He never did get right again after Scanra."
Liam was silent until Olivia leaned over and squeezed his hand lightly. He smiled and shook his head slightly, then said, "So, this Lord Paldmer, do you think he'll come around, or are we going to have to ride out and bash him into obedience?"
The two meandered back to the castle, keeping their horses close enough that their boots knocked together occasionally as they discussed the lingering clean-up needs and the few lords who still seemed willing to fight to keep Jasper off the throne. Before long they fell into a companionable silence, and they unsaddled and brushed down their horses before heading back into the castle. Liam took Olivia's hand as they walked to her bedroom, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. They paused to check in on Leilah, and Liam smiled as he watched his wife tuck the blankets a little tighter around their daughter before they made their way to their own room. They helped each other undress the way they always did and climbed into bed. Olivia lay her head down on Liam's chest, and he felt a few more tears slide off her cheeks onto his torso as he gently rubbed slow, comforting circles into her back. Eventually, her breathing took on the regular pattern of sleep and her tears stopped. He stayed awake while she slept, listening to her breath as he waited for dawn to come. Soon, it would all be over, and then they could begin.
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Finis! How exciting is that?!?! I feel a huge sense of accomplishment.
Please, please, please review!
I'll admit I went back and forth on whether to add a happily ever after type epilogue, but I realized these two didn't need it, and this just felt much more fitting to their characters and their story. So this is the end, and I hope you agree that this is a good ending for them. Either way review and tell me!!!!!!
dancelikeyoujustdontcare: Thanks for the review! Hope this meets your expectations!
vivekaM: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you appreciate it. Trust me this was quite the battle.
studentofwords: You loved it!! Yay!! Hope you like this too....
southernbelle61: I know that mixed feeling all too well. I even feel it writing. This story has been dragging on me--demanding to be finished, and I didn't always have time, and I just wanted it finished, and now I'm sad not to be writing it anymore. Thanks for your thoughtful review!
NittersweetHearts08: A review from Chapter 9! Nice to know people are still beginning this story. I'm very fond of that chapter, and I'm glad you liked it too.
Tishica: It was an intense chapter to write too. Glad you liked it!
