Chapter 28: The Future

Elizabeth and Darcy sat together quietly on the valleyside, watching the sunset.

The four of them had been making their tired but quiet way back to Elizabeth and Lydia's village. Lydia had been subdued since the events at the cairn. She had sobbed uncontrollably at the sight of the dead she-dragon, but was not willing to discuss her emotions yet. With some sadness, Elizabeth was reminded that in their own ways, Darcy and Querig had more been parents to Lydia than Sir Bennet or their long-dead mother had ever been. Fortunately, it seemed that Lydia's madness had finally left her, and she was now simply a lost, saddened young girl. For poor Lydia, she not only had her regained memories to come to terms with, but also the knowledge that very near, she had almost become dragon herself.

Wickham, for his part, was also more subdued. In fact, he appeared a much-changed man by what he had seen and experienced. It seemed, at least to Elizabeth, that Wickham was leaving his rascal ways behind him, and becoming a man she may not hesitate to want to see her sister with.

While no one had wanted to ever set their sights on the monastery again, Darcy had insisted that they stop by so that he could speak to Father Jonus and let him know of all that had come to pass. As well, both he and Elizabeth had felt that Father Jonus and Father Ninian were owed thanks for helping save them.

With Lord Brennus now dead and the fog lifting, there was naught to fear from his men, though Darcy had said that it was still wise to keep low and leave as soon as their duty was done. While unhappy with the detour, Wickham had not grumble as was his usual custom, and even helped Darcy catch some fish in the river, the only meagre offering within their current means to take with them. However, Wickham was soon able to supplement this by hunting down a young deer, and accordingly, the four of them had made the uncomfortable journey to the monastery.

That necessary trip now been completed, they were free to make their way back. When they had reached near the valley, for the first time since Elizabeth had met him, Darcy declared that he was too tired to continue on, and suggested they camp there for the night. "My heart sings to be with you like this with no mist, but my body now aches," he had said.

That was how they found themselves sitting together watching the sunset, while Wickham went to the river to find some fish to roast for dinner, with Lydia deciding to accompany him.

He had his arm around her waist, and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"This feels right, Princess."

Elizabeth squeezed his hand in response.

"I can see the island from here…our island, just beyond the cove. With the fog now passed, it's clear enough to the eye, even from this afar and despite the trees."

Darcy clasped her hand in return, staring ahead, with a gentle smile. "It is such a special island. A place of strange qualities, and yet full of gentle woods and streams. Many cross to it, yet for each who dwells there, it's as if he walks the island alone, his neighbours unseen and unheard. And a man and woman, with a bond of love unusually strong, may travel to the island with no need to roam it apart, enjoying the pleasures of one another's company."

"And no sooner we deliver Lydia to the village and you settle things with Bingley, we can be on our way there, to be together in peace hereafter."

Darcy nodded quietly, and they sat in silence for some time, watching the horizon.

Elizabeth spoke. "I remembered walking through a market, you wearing your green cloak…and…"

"And you were upset with me, because I said that you would not be able to carry that basket of eggs," he replied with a chuckle.

Elizabeth laughed. "Yes! I was so proud! I held them in a basket before me, insisting that I could carry it, and you walked beside me, peering into the basket all the way for fear my steps would injure the eggs."

"I remeber as well, Princess," Darcy said, looking at her with a smile. "I was anxious because you'd stumbled on a previous errand. A small walk, but I was well contented that day."

"And I did stumble, breaking one or two eggs! Yet, you said nothing!"

"I told you that most of the eggs were safe."

"Yes, yes you did, trying to make me feel better about it. Until now, the she-dragon's breath polluted the air, robbing memories both happy and dark. But Querig's slain and already many things grow clearer in my mind. Our time together was precious, and I recall it with such happiness."

"I do not fear the boatman," Darcy said softly. "I have no doubt that in you and I, the boatman will find an unusually strong bond of love. I am not afraid of the questions he will have for us."

"Neither am I. We talked of this journey for a long time, dreamt of it. We planned it when you had to leave."

Several moments passed.

"Elizabeth, what is it? I hear something in your voice. Do you…do you have doubts?"

"No! Not about our love, not about the boatman."

"Then…?"

"It is many things, connected and unconnected. The last several days…all that happened…it is enough for a lifetime. Querig is no more. The fog is no more. We did that. This land has been irrevocably changed. I already remember so much, and I know I will continue to remember more, as shall everyone. As everyone remembers…I wonder if we do right by leaving the world behind us."

"You mean to say, we owe a duty to see through what we have started."

"Yes, a duty, an obligation. But also, more than that. We may descend into war and chaos, but we may not. A world where people remember horrors may stop them for repeating it. You always wanted to be a farmer, not a warrior. We wanted to go to the island to escape the death and misery around us and live together in peace, but maybe this land now has hope, and perhaps we may no longer have a need to escape."

Darcy breathed deeply, her hand in his, held tightly. After some time, he spoke. "I wish for you to see the land where I was born, where I grew up. It is very low, so close to the sea, full of birds and all manner of animals and trees that grow in water. We have so many meres, and what you call hills we call fen-islands, where we have most of our farms. You would, I believe, find it beautiful."

"I remember picking herbs while you reminisced about the fenlands. I would dearly love to see what I have heard so much about."

"You would receive a hero's welcome."

"We both would."

They held each other, looking at the setting sun.

"We were both so young, Princess, young and so tired of all the death we had seen, and all the death we knew to be ahead of us. What I need is to have you by my side. Whether we go to the island to live the rest of our years, whether you come with me to the fenlands, or whether we stay here and face whatever may come…I cannot bear that we go our ways separately. With you, together, I will go anywhere happily. I love you. I just want to be with you, wherever you are."

"I love you too."

THE END

A/N:

It's done! It took a whopping year or so, but it's finally finished :)

a) I want to thank all the lovely, wonderful, amazing people who have read this story, who have come back despite my late-abandonment, and for all the lovely reviews that truly make me feel so happy, and is often the highlight of my day. You are all amazing. The last few weeks, I truly realised what I was missing when I was away; the sheer joy of wonder reviews and lovely words that does so much to lift spirits :)

b) I want to remind everyone that this is not a 100% original work; the story, the idea, and whole chunks of writing comes straight from Kazuo Ishiguro's 'The Buried Giant', adapted and editd as necessary to fit this story. Those who have read 'The Buried Giant' I hope, clearly see what I have taken from that book and how I have changed it in places, and what I have left intact.

c) For those who are wondering, the connection between the characters from the two books are as follows:
Elizabeth = Axl (and a tiny bit of Beatrice)
Darcy = Wistan
Lydia = Edwin
Mr. Bennet = Sir Gawain
Wickham = no counterpart, but with a touch of Sir Gawain
Jane & Bingley = no counterparts

d) I know there are those who will be upset with the ambiguous ending, that everyone's entire history hasn't been told, etc. I'm so sorry! But I like ambiguous endings. The important thing is everyone knows that Elizabeth and Darcy are together. Beyond that, I like it when readers are allowed to use their imagination and what they have learnt in the story to decide what the rest of the canvas should be - the island, the fenlands, somewhere else, Lydia's and Wickham's future etc. I don't like to write stories and endings that turn into a paint-by-numbers experience for readers. I also wanted to maintain the ambiguous spirit of the ending from 'The Buried Giant'. Also, to go into detail about everyone's past life is beyond the scope of this work; that would end up being a multi-chapter story in and of itself. Again, part of that is also the spirit of 'The Buried Giant', where the reader is left to imagine for themselves much of Axl/Elizabeth/Beatrice's history.

e) For those who haven't read 'The Buried Giant', I encourage you to do so. It is a phenomenal piece of work, and will stay with you months and years after you have read it.

f) Thank you everyone, for this wonderful journey! I hope to be back with a new story, no sooner I stumble upon an appropriate plot!