FEAR

Epilogue

            I felt as if a great wrong had been done, and for a week I avoided Goliath at all costs, I spent most of my time on the battlements at the other side of the castle, refusing to go on patrol, refusing to speak to anyone at times. 

            I felt so…betrayed.  I understood why Goliath had done what he had did – to teach me a lesson – yet it had come at a price that frankly was not affordable, and now I felt it had almost cost Alena her life.

            I knew that I was right, if Goliath had not gone missing, I would have been protecting her, I knew this for a fact, and if Goliath had been there, Lexington would have called him when Broadway was shot and Goliath could have carried Broadway with more ease, as he is more stronger than I, and I would have not broken my wing – which was now still aching even after a week's healing.  I wondered if it would ever be fully functional again, stone sleep did not want to heal it.    I would probably bear those pains for a lifetime.

            But more importantly, I'd bear the pain of guilt.  However much I tried to blame Goliath, I should have tried to watch over Alena or at least make someone in the clan watch over her.  But because of me, she'd been hurt.  Everyone I go near seems to get hurt or comes to hate me and reject me.  I should be used to it.

            But I wasn't, it just hurt way too much this time.  She'd been so enthusiastic about us talking, about us maybe befriending each other, and because of the attack, I was as guilty as the bastards who raped her.

            I could not imagine the agony and torment she was probably going through.  The trouble I had caused her.  Those kind of scars would never heal, I realised that.

            I could never ask for forgiveness.

            And then, this one night, a week later, I was standing on the battlements over looking the courtyard when I heard a soft flutter at my back, I knew it was someone from my clan, "Brooklyn?"

            It was Goliath's voice, but I still was not ready to forgive him – nor would I ever be.  What he'd done was despicable and beyond all forgiveness.

            I stayed silent, my back turned, and I was sure I heard him walk away, and then, I felt something, I felt a soft hand touch my wing, "what happened to your wing?"

            The splint was still on, I realised that, but it needed to be, as the bone had not completely healed, it still hurt when I took to the sky, I needed to wait until the pain stopped before I could remove it.

            But the splint was not what was important now, it was the voice…

            I turned to see Alena there, her bruising had healed a little, her eye was open, but still a little puffy and red, the stitches were still in.

            "I…uhm…broke it gliding while carrying something too heavy," I answered simply, "Alena…what are you doing here, how did you get here?"

            "Goliath brought me," she answered, "He…felt bad for what had happened…"

            "He did?" I asked, I looked over her shoulder, seeing Goliath walking slowly along the battlements.

            "He told me the reason you weren't there to save me – is because you were trying to find him because he'd gone missing – only he'd faked his disappearance…and…explained he was the guilty one, not you," Alena stated.  "He feels as if he has done you a terrible wrong, Brooklyn, and he wanted to right it – if that's possible."

            "I'm sorry about what happened…" I looked at her, "I should have been there…"

            "But you couldn't be, you had other obligations and I understand that," Alena stated, I could see the hurt in her eyes when I had mentioned about what happened, but she seemed to shake it off.

            "So you forgive me?" I asked.

            "What's to forgive?" Alena asked, "You never had anything to do with it."

            "I still had promised to protect you, Alena, I let you down…" I looked to the ground.

            Alena reached put and put her hand under my beak so I raised my head a little, "Brooklyn…I don't think you need forgiveness for what wasn't your fault…but…if it makes you feel better, I'll forgive you…" she smiled faintly.

            "Okay…" I murmured, suddenly the pain of the rejection of last week had all started to melt away, and I felt at peace, and everything was right in the world.  All the fear had left me now, and I wasn't frightened anymore.

            Alena looked at me, and reached out putting her open hand out to me, "Friends?" she asked.

            I smiled softly, and took her hand in mines, "Friends."

The End.

            Okay, so there it is, it's sappy, it's shitty, but an ending's an ending so there you have it.  Complaints about the crappy ending can be left in review.