((*Authors note: I apologize for leaving this story lengthened to long but I managed to break it up into chapters ^.^, which from some reviews suggested that I should have done well enjoy*)) "Iris"

And I'd give up forever to touch you

Cuz I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

Cuz sooner or later it's over

I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me

Cuz I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming

Or the moment of truth in your lies

When everything feels like the movies

Yeah, you'd bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me

Cuz I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me

Cuz I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me

Cuz I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am - " iris from the goo goo dolls".

Under the bullet sky of darkness, the rains fell in heavy sheets washing the sins of the world away. Near the ruins of Avalon, the rains were at their heaviest fall. The oceans gentle whispers crashed against the ruins. It had been the holiest place of all. The graves of knights that had served King Arthur and had followed the old code stood there, pale crosses covering the ruins reflected the whispers of peace that sailed in the wind. Somewhere on a lone hill, Grace sat curled up huddled under King Arthur's tombstone. All her hopes and dreams had been ground up with her heart that night. She sat there soaked from the rain, seeing a faint fog rising from her breath. The sobs shook her, as she gave herself up to them. Great shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench her whole body, as if information was rooted down in the heart of sorrow. Her face puckered and the tears leapt from her red puffy eyes. Her mouth pouting hidden by her shaking hands let out lamentation drowning her voice and then sustained.



The rains slowly gave way and faded, soon the sea of stars, came out dazzling through the jeweled sky. Grace breeched her head toward the constellation Draco, living on the stars that died in the night and would fall in a trail of scattering light. Her eyes stared hopelessly at the constellation and then one of the stars blew up in an explosion of pale light, acting like a supernova then faded. After the whole constellation lit up it being the brightest of stars in the sky. Sadly, Grace looked down at the puddles of water. A sound from the distance startled her a little but she let it pass as she hid her face beneath her wings. Not far from the graves and crumbled towers, Drake arrived hoping that Avalon would be where Grace fled. Some how Drake knew she was here, it was also the closest most possible place to heaven that he could be in.



Slowly he scaled the dusk mist that was left behind from the rain. He approached the graves and that's when he saw Grace beneath King Arthur's tombstone. Under the faint twinkle of stars Grace truly blended in with the white moonstones and painted crosses almost appearing to be a marble cherub statue. Drake's eyes were filled with sorrow and his features frowned greatly. He came to realize that the angel beneath King Arthur's tombstone had not been a statue at all but the angel he longed to search for. He approached her silently," Grace." his soft voice carrying faintly. Grace never noticed Drake was before her but did hear a gentle voice call her name. She looked up, her face was stained from tears, and her whole body drenched from the cold rains. Only seeing a silhouette from the darkness, she could barely make out weather the figure had been Drake.



Drake slowly proceeded towards her stepping into the light of the crescent moon. His expressions showing great worry. Graces eyes lit up through her tears and she whipped them away quickly. " Drake?" she said softly her voice unable to sustain its normal sound but a more cracking pain. She pulled herself up from Arthur's grave and hurried toward Drake. Drake sat there as she approached. " Grace", he asked," are you alright?". Grace nodded looking toward the ground. Then she looked up at him", I'm sorry I.I didn't know". Drake interrupted her," no Grace it wasn't you I should be the one who apologizes, I was convinced by Osric's lies and when I found out who he really was I knew you were telling the truth". Graces soft features turned into a delicate smile.





" I was so worried Grace." Drake hesitated and spoke with a gentle voice. He reached toward her with a clawed hand and pulled her toward him comforting her in his embrace. " Why were you worried?" Grace asked. " I thought I might have lost you.", Drake whispered lightly. Drake could feel Graces body trembling from the cold, her lips were blue, and her feathers on her wings were like ice. Drake suddenly incased Grace with his wings holding her trembling body close to his own for warmth. Graces eyes faded watching the moonlight reflect in the pools of water from the washed puddles. She still shook from the cold but had not been shaking as much as before. " Drake" she asked, she looked up at him meeting his eyes." What is it?". Grace hesitated not being able to spill out the words, instead she watched as Drake placed a gentle smile on his face. His clawed hand gently spanned across her face to capture her spilled tears, and afterward he parted a white cherubic curl away from her face. Grace closed her eyes leaning against Drake hearing the slow beatings of his heart and smiled warmly as Drake lowered his head toward her setting a light kiss on her forehead.



The past few days came to a silence around the kingdom. Everything was stirred to aggression of what had happened the night of the imperial ball. Everyone across the land had feared the worst and propelled to hide themselves from Griffin who cast a dark shadow. The people now knew that Osric had placed a horrible spell of forgetfulness on them. Some how he was back and with a sequel to the prophecy of the Dragon-stigmata that could only lead to the roots of death or life. All people could do was wait, wait to live, wait to die, waiting for a golden hope that would save them.



After a few days from the night of the imperial ball, Osric had fled from the castle to a place deep in the mountains. No one would find his path or hunt him down and that he made sure of. It was like he appeared out of the mist and disappeared just the same. For days people sought out the angel wanting to know more about her like a craving but none could find her. It appeared to e more of a dream since the disappearance of Griffin, the angel, Geoff, and Drake. However, it had only been a calm before the real storm.



On the open hill behind the monastery, Geoff sat thinking about the changes that had occurred. He had not spoken to Drake for days, but he knew that Drake had been with Grace. He felt a heavy guilt burden on his soul. He regretted saying those vulgar words about Grace but mostly felt the guilt about hurting Drake, his brother, and his closest friend. Osric or Griffin had been the real monster, and it puzzled Geoff to know and wonder how he returned after Drake destroyed him with a cold breath of ice. Now nothing mattered all that mattered was finding the gems and help Grace defeat the evil that Orodruin spoke of. Geoff had been fascinated with Grace, it would take him time to adjust to Graces new look but in time he would come to realize she had been no different than any other soul or creature. Rather the same as every living thing that carried a soul and shared the equilibrium of emotions to all beings that held a purpose in life.



Deep in the mountains and in the cool shaded shadows of the caverns, Osric stood at the mouth of the cave devising his plans carefully. He watched the silhouette figures of warriors that attended the knight's tournament march from far off in the meadow fields. They had been newly recruited knights to the Kings realm and minutes before were hired by Osric to assassinate the king. As soon as their shadows disappeared over the lumps of the hill, Osric strolled into the mouth of the cavern disappearing into the darkness. He had no use for the warriors and would eventually kill them in his true form. He peered about the darkness his voice halted in a whisper," only a few days and I'll be able to carry my plans out fully, this lair will be perfect". A red glow pulsed from his armor. His heart wrenched increasing heavy in beats as his body began to unfold and take shape. His whole body was engulfed in a crimson glow. From outside the dark cavern a storming vicious cry boomed and had spilled itself into an echo across the meadows and fields in the distance.