Disclaimer: Don't own etc

Maiwen Wyvyrn-Gifre smiled as she watched the towering city of Rathir slide into view. It had been just over a year since she had left, full of bright eyed optimism and excitement. Just over a year since she had bribed her way onto the lists.

It seemed so much longer. So very much longer.

"I can't believe that it's finally over," Captain Dhekakh Crenrur said as he stood beside her. "It's over and we've actually prevailed against the Tuatha." He leaned back and looked at her. "You know, there were times I was actually convinced that I would never see this city again."

"Growing up, I was afraid that I'd never even leave the Spire," Maiwen said with a crooked smile, her one eye twinkling with amusement. She tapped the eyepatch that was covering her left eye. "I wasn't expecting to lose my eye like this though. No, I was going to be an untouchable war hero, the kind who inspired generations and had sagas sung about me. The kind that great sagas are built around." She looked up at the city once more and sighed. "I can't imagine going back to my old life. Putting it on like a comfortable old shoe. But...at the same time, I don't know what else I can do. There's not exactly a demand for adventurers who need a walking stick and are missing one eye."

"I could take you with me," Captain Crenrur said with a shrug and Maiwen snorted.

"I don't want your pity job," she said and Crenrur sighed.

"I'm not giving you a pity job," he said and Maiwen raised an eyebrow. "You're a smart girl. Good with numbers and the like and I need a quartermaster who can keep my troops supplied." He looked at the rest of his company. "Can you see any of these men and women doing a better job?"

"Maybe," Maiwen said guardedly and Crenrur snorted.

"You're better educated than anyone else here. You might have joined us as a naive child with a head full of fanciful tales, but you've grown up a lot."

"Thanks," Maiwen said as the ship nudged against the docks. There was yelling as the crew began to tie up the ship. She grabbed her walking stick and hobbled her way to the gangplank off the ship. Captain Crenrur walked beside her.

"I am serious. What say you? We're setting off for the Isle of Eamonn in a week and we could use your help," he asked and Maiwen sighed.

"I don't really know," she said with a slight shrug. "It is a tempting offer. But…" She paused and shrugged again. "I want to see my parents before anything else. Even if they shout at me for bribing and tricking my way into the war. I just...I don't want to sneak off again."

"I understand," Crenrur said with a slight shrug. "My family are long gone, but I would do anything to see them one last time."

Maiwen nodded as she stood at the top of the gangplank. Even the busy, chaotic docks, a place that she had only seen when she had left for Klurikon, brought on a wave of nostalgia and familiarity. She wiped a tear away from her eye. It was ridiculous! She barely even knew of the docks existence before leaving for war and now it was making her teary-eyed.

She hobbled her way down the gangplank, desperately trying to keep her balance and Crenrur gave her his arm to hold. She gave him a grateful smile and continued to walk.

On the dock, she could see families reuniting. Scenes of joy and happiness and she felt a twinge of sadness. She knew that she shouldn't have expected her family to meet her here, but it would have been nice to see them.

"Maiwen!"

Maiwen looked up, her heart rising as she heard a familiar voice. She felt as though she could almost throw away her cane and run towards it. There was no mistaking that voice.

Her one eye widened in disbelief as she saw the owner of the voice.

Standing there at the docks of Rathir was her mother, tears pooling her eyes. Her father stood beside her, a steadying hand on her shoulder, but who he was steadying, Maiwen couldn't tell.

Maiwen hobbled towards them, a smile on her face and threw her arms around her mother crying tears of happiness. It had been just over a year since she had seen their faces. Just over a year since she had excitedly told them about her conscription and the disappointed looks on their faces.

It seemed like an eternity had passed since then.

"I'm so happy to see you," she whispered as they hugged, her cane held loosely in her hand.

"It's been too long Maiwen. Much too long," her mother replied as she hugged her tightly. "But…" She paused as she looked at the eyepatch on her daughter's left eye. "Oh my poor daughter…" She reached delicately towards the eyepatch.

"It's okay mother," she said gently, touching her eyepatch. "It's only an eye." She gave a bitter laugh. "Too many have lost a lot more in Klurikon. It's a miracle I only lost my eye and not my life really."

Her mother winced slightly. The casualty list were still coming in and the memorials to the fallen were still being carved. Even with the war over, they were still finding yet more casualties of the war, either dying from their injuries or found buried in Klurikon's marshes.

There was a few minutes of awkward silence.

"We're proud of you," her father said quietly, his voice threatening to break. "When we heard about your medal for your actions at Mel Senshir-"

Maiwen cut him off with a bitter laugh.

"I got a medal for surviving." She looked wistfully at the ship she had just disembarked from. "When I left, our ship was packed. I was so excited and convinced that I was destined to be a great hero, like the tales of old. Now the ship is half empty and most of the faces I see are completely different from the ones I set out with." She looked out towards the sea, towards Mel Senshir. "I screamed when I first saw someone die, struck down by a Tuatha monster like he was nothing. I pissed myself with fear when I saw the Balor."She shuddered. "I used to mock General Tilera for not standing up to the beast, but…" She shuddered once more. "After seeing that creature in the flesh...I...it was terrifying. Like nothing could stand against it. No wonder it forced her to retreat." She turned and looked at her parents once more. "I'm just...I'm so happy to be back in Rathir. Finally back home."

"Welcome home," her mother said as both her parents hugged her with tears streaming from their eyes.