This is the final chapter of Vaughan's story.

When I started this almost two years ago I set out to answer the question of why Vaughan didn't join the final battle, what was he doing for all that time? It took me some time to find the answer but I finally managed to get all my different ideas and characters out of my head and into this fanfic.

I really hope you enjoy the ending to Sandre and Vaughan's story.

Chapter 30: Vaughan

Aboard the ship I knew it was going to be a race against time to make it to Terrasen for the final stand. However, we were both willing to try. It was for a better world and I now I had it, I wasn't about to give it up. For Lisora and for Sandre I would fight against the blood oath on the battlefield no matter how likely it was to kill me.

As the days stretched on training could do nothing to sooth the impatience and agitation waiting seemed to make us feel. I had even resorted to mediation, a practice I had firmly held the belief of being a waste of time, ineffective and futile. Safe to say I did not have the patience for it. My mind kept wondering, often to what meal I was going to consume next. Sandre complained that my prejudice meant I hadn't given a fair try and that I had to preserve. After another fifteen minutes she had cursed me out the cabin telling me to keep my dirty thoughts to myself during mediation time. I was banished from the cabin every day since during meditation time.

One particularly hot day, I was mid-way through my drills when I felt the very moment Maeve fell, knew through the pain of the bond that was braking. I collapsed to my knees, reaching out and clutching onto the mating bond for support trying desperately to pull myself from the pain. For it was pain like no other I had ever experienced, neither physical nor emotional I had no comparison for what I was experiencing. It was as if my very essence was being cleaved in two, remaining present in this world only by my mating bond. I hated to think what might have happened if the bond had broken and my mating bond wasn't present, death probably. It felt like death but ironically, I was being rebirthed as a free person.

I opened my eyes and wept. I didn't know how long I stayed in that position, Sandre kneeling next to me the whole-time concern lining her face that was inches from my own but asked no questions knowing I needed this moment to breakdown. When at last no more tears would fall from my eyes and I finished putting myself together, I embraced my mate pulling her onto my lap with the biggest smile now on my face.

"Vaughan," Sandre smiled at me "Vaughan what has happened?" Her hand came up to cup my face staring into my eyes with utter love mirrored in her face it threatened to bring tears again to my eyes.

I was breathless as I looked down at my beautiful mate and replied, "My blood oath has been broken."

Sandre's hand trembled slightly against my face as she asked equally as breathless "Maeve is dead?"

"Almost certainly, she wouldn't give me up as her last blood sworn."

"She's dead!" Not disbelieving question like last time but rather a statement of hope, of longing.

That face tore down every barrier of self-control as I brought my lips crashing down onto hers. I was free… we were finally free.

When finally, we pulled away foreheads touching, both red faced and out of breath, I asked the question I'd always wanted my future to be since I had known she was mine.

"So, what do you think mate do we start our new life in Terrasen?" No doubt Sandre saw the vulnerability in my eyes.

"You want to stay in Erliea?" a tentative question.

"I want to stay with you in the better world. There is nothing for me in Wendlyn now." I'd never spoken such true words in my life. Everyday aboard this ship I had longed for this future, one without Maeve. I had hated any scenario that ended up me having to leave Sandre and travel back to Donanelle if she had indeed escaped the death blow the Queen of Terrasen had promised all those weeks ago.

"Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes Vaughan!" Her voice shaking as her own tears threatened to fall.

I suddenly stood up pulling Sandre with me so I could swing her around in my arms before our lips collided yet again. The future for once seemingly bright in the darkness of the last year.

Sandre:

Following the death of Maeve, the news of Queen of Terrasen and King of Adarlan with help from the Crochan Queen had won against Erawan. That no more was the darkness that I had once had visons about.

Visions that no longer troubled me, as if they too had disappeared when Erawan departed. Only time would tell if my gifts continued past his death. Deep down I hoped truly for them to be gone, as much as they had been a blessing, they had been a curse in my life for a long time. I no longer blamed my gifts for my imprisonment, but they were a constant reminder of what I had endured for 10 long years. I would not complain if they were gone.

Celebrations on the ship lasted the majority of the journey back to Erliea, only stopping if everyone was asleep at the same time. This was a rare phenomenon so for the most part singing, dancing and eating were constant. Vaughan and I took time away for our own private moment in which we thanked Lisora for her sacrifice, her bravery. She was a saviour of the better world whether people knew it or not and it felt right to commemorate her. Vaughan seemed alight talking about his sister, telling me more stories of their adventures. I missed her even though I never knew her. It was a sober moment, the only one for from then on laughter was the only sound I heard from Vaughan, his true happiness infectious to anyone who saw him.

One morning, I walked up the splintering steps of the ship to Vaughan waiting hand outstretched on the front of the ship. Behind him the outline of Erliea loomed, I gripped my mate's hand hard, and he squeezed our interlocked fingers. Together we looked upon our future and for once it wasn't shrouded in uncertainty, it was the first glimpse of freedom. We remained standing there on the deck not paying any attention to the others who joined us in gazing at the ever-nearing shore line. Then later that very day, when the ship finally docked at a Terrasen port and we walked off and stepped onto my homeland I knew a better world awaited us all.

For all my readers that have been through this journey with me I thank you for your endless patience and thank you all for reading :)