DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters belong to Tamora Pierce and are used here without permission for no personal gain.
Author's Note: This is the final chapter of The Road Not Taken and wraps up the series from Isas/Crane's point of view. I hope you enjoyed this series. Please, please, please r/r!
Part 5: With You Forever
At last, at last the end is near. I can see my children standing by my bedside. They look so sad to see me go. Why? Don't they know that I have been dead inside for so long. Only they kept me going for all of these years, but now they are adults. For years I provided for them, gave them food, clothes, governesses, servants, and a home. Now I have given them my last gifts, and I can finally rest.
To Albannon I gave my trust. He is now the head of the house, and it is his responsibility to rule. He has tried to take on this burden for years, but now he is finally old enough to carry it.
To Nikolai I gave my dreams. He will become the mage that I wanted to be. He will live the life that you and I could have had. He will leave this cold land for the warmer one that he yearns for.
To Madigan I gave my home. She is the only one who truly loves Yorvan, and my promise to her means that she will never have to leave. She can never be the count, but she can be the power behind the throne, helping her brother, adding his strength to hers.
And now I can finally rest and see you. Oh Niva! I can see you calling to me, and I know that my time is near. Our children cry, but I have been wishing for this day for ten long years. I have loved you since the moment I met you. When you died, I felt like a part of me died too. I felt empty inside without you. I had to keep going, keep living even though all I wanted to do was to curl next to you in your grave. Now I can finally be with you forever.
You stretch out your arms to me. I can almost feel your hands in mine. I hear our children, but they seem to be so far away. All I can see is your smiling face. You look like you did when I first saw you, a carefree, happy, beautiful girl. You call to me, and finally I answer. Finally, after all of these years of waiting, I can be with you. Finally I can see you again and tell you how much I love you. I have waited for this day, yearned for this day, prayed for this day. I feel no pain, only joy so pure that it hurts.
For now, finally I can be with you forever.
Author's Note: This is the final chapter of The Road Not Taken and wraps up the series from Isas/Crane's point of view. I hope you enjoyed this series. Please, please, please r/r!
Part 5: With You Forever
At last, at last the end is near. I can see my children standing by my bedside. They look so sad to see me go. Why? Don't they know that I have been dead inside for so long. Only they kept me going for all of these years, but now they are adults. For years I provided for them, gave them food, clothes, governesses, servants, and a home. Now I have given them my last gifts, and I can finally rest.
To Albannon I gave my trust. He is now the head of the house, and it is his responsibility to rule. He has tried to take on this burden for years, but now he is finally old enough to carry it.
To Nikolai I gave my dreams. He will become the mage that I wanted to be. He will live the life that you and I could have had. He will leave this cold land for the warmer one that he yearns for.
To Madigan I gave my home. She is the only one who truly loves Yorvan, and my promise to her means that she will never have to leave. She can never be the count, but she can be the power behind the throne, helping her brother, adding his strength to hers.
And now I can finally rest and see you. Oh Niva! I can see you calling to me, and I know that my time is near. Our children cry, but I have been wishing for this day for ten long years. I have loved you since the moment I met you. When you died, I felt like a part of me died too. I felt empty inside without you. I had to keep going, keep living even though all I wanted to do was to curl next to you in your grave. Now I can finally be with you forever.
You stretch out your arms to me. I can almost feel your hands in mine. I hear our children, but they seem to be so far away. All I can see is your smiling face. You look like you did when I first saw you, a carefree, happy, beautiful girl. You call to me, and finally I answer. Finally, after all of these years of waiting, I can be with you. Finally I can see you again and tell you how much I love you. I have waited for this day, yearned for this day, prayed for this day. I feel no pain, only joy so pure that it hurts.
For now, finally I can be with you forever.