Ok, so I'm very bored and desperately want to write about something. So, I'll use Garth Nix's Old Kingdom Trilogy as a springboard. I certainly enjoyed the mysterious and poetic ending of Abhorsen, but I hated the cliffhanger. I think I'll continue that aspect of the story; the aftermath of the Destroyers' binding. And now, the traditional and respectful disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, places, and/or other fictional counterparts found in the original stories, although I own the plot for my work. This is just my humble interpretation of how things might have gone if Garth Nix (now one of my favorite authors) continued the story. Well, now that that's done, may I present.

Story Summary: Several years after the Binding of the Destroyer, peace has returned to the Old Kingdom, Ancelstierre, and the Southern Countries. It is soon shattered when Chlorr, assistant of the long-deceased Hedge, comes back to the living world, along with an army of allied Greater Dead. She wants revenge for the death of her employer and her ultimate chieftain. Storming Belisaere, Chlorr takes the Abhorsen-in-Waitng and her two fellow companions prisoner (in other, simpler words, Sam, Nick, and Lirael), slowly excreting her vengeance upon them while planning out a complete take over of the Old Kingdom. The true Abhorsen was seriously injured in the invasion, and now the people of the Kingdom must rely on someone else who has the ability to wield the famed bells. A young, powerful, and dangerous Necromancer named Erithae. But a Necromancer is a perilous person to entrust the fate of an empire with, especially if you don't know whether they're good.or evil. Also includes a short prologue-beginning sort of thing, which is my take on the happenings directly after the binding of Orannis. I hope you enjoy my story, and please review it once you're finished. Thanks!

~Kavindra

Prologue

Lirael hardly noticed Sam leaving her side, racing up the hill towards something that did not concern her. She was lost in her own world, clutching the small soapstone statue of the Dog to her chest, trying to feel fur, or the warm sense of Charter magic under the skin, things that had been there only moments before. And never would be again. Tears gushed out of Lirael's eyes, dripping down onto the miniature Dog and the charred remains of her left/right hand. She knew it was useless to cry, to weep for something that was gone forever, but she could not suppress the sorrow. Lirael bowed her head, and let her singed hair fall into her wet and hopeless face. For a moment, she was once more a Second-Assistant Librarian who barely let a sentence pass her lips. Once more a shy, reclusive girl who hid behind her hair. She hugged the statue of the Dog tighter. So much had changed. So very much. Lirael looked up. She was the last of a weary procession, picking its way up the hill. They were almost to the top, and Lirael could see Sam quite clearly. And he was embracing Nicholas. Lirael froze. It wasn't possible. Nick was dead. Probably at least at the Sixth Gate. And he wasn't a Charter mage. There was no way that it really could be Nick up there. Absolutely no way. Lirael thought for a moment, until a sudden spark entered her mind. She glanced down at the Dog she held in her hands. It stared back; somehow possessing unfathomable knowledge in those carved stone eyes. Lirael looked up at Nick, and then back at the Dog. She did this several times, the connection becoming clearer with each motion. With the faintest traces of a watery smile, she held the Dog up so it was level with her face.

"Thank you, Dog," she whispered, a sob distorting her voice "Thank you."

Sam could hardly believe his luck. His parents, who he believed to be assassinated, were alive and unharmed. Then Lirael, who should have lost her life during the Binding of the Destroyer, went against all fate and survived. And Nick, who technically did die, had somehow been reincarnated. Maybe this was some sort of sign, Sam thought as he hugged Nick, none too lightly. Maybe he was meant to have fortune like this the rest of his life. There was a rather loud grunt, and Sam immediately pulled away from the embrace.

"Thanks for that," said Nick, clearly relieved, "Thought you were going to suffocate me there for a moment. Don't want me dying again."

Sam shook his head.

"Nick, if you're going to die for a second time, I'm not going to be the one who kills you. You can be absolutely sure of that."

"Well, at least that's encouraging," Nick gave Sam a weak grin, which faded almost immediately. "There's probably.probably a very large chance that I'll die of malnutrition or.or internal bleeding or something in the next week. I didn't come out of this unscathed, Sam."

Sam nodded automatically.

"I know that. I know that very well. But we have magic here. Magic, Nick. Charter Magic. Healing spells. You'll be fine once all that Free Magic wears off," Sam stopped talking once he saw the strange look on Nicks' face. He paused for a moment, and then groaned.

"Please don't tell me you still have a scientific explanation for all this. You can't. After all this, you just can't."

Nick sighed.

"Not to worry. I'm not as firm a believer in science as I once was. I now officially accept magic." He glanced at Sam "I suppose I don't really have a choice, if you know what I mean. For one to die and then come back to the living world completely erases all my doubts."

He looked down the hill. Directly at Lirael, who was still climbing.

"It wasn't me, Sam." Nick said quietly, his eyes fixed on the Abhorsen-in- Waiting "It was her dog. Her dog sent me back. Told me to go back into Life. She also gave me this."

He brushed back a piece of hair, and revealed a Charter mark over his right eye. He ignored Sam's gaping stare and continued.

"She, the dog, I mean, said it was to balance out the Free Magic that was left over from.you know." Nick turned towards Sam.

"I.I don't know what much of that means, actually," he said sheepishly, "If you could provide some assistance in that area."

"Oh, um, right." Sam blinked a few times and ran his fingers through his hair. "Amazing. Nicholas Sayre, a Charter Mage. I can't believe this." He smiled "I just can't believe this."

"Well it's absolutely true," said Nick, sounding impatient. It appeared he had forgotten about his recent death premonition. "And I'm still absolutely clueless. Really, Sam, get on with it."

"I'm not sure if now is exactly the best time," Sam said, looking around. "There's a lot to explain. It's.it's better if you're sitting down."

"Can't you just do an example or something?" asked Nick desperately "You don't even have to tell me what you're doing. I'll just be a simplistic spectator."

"Oh all right. What do you want to see?"

Nick thought for a moment, and then blurted out,

"How about a fireball?"

Sam was glad Nick's request had been so simple. He found the marks he needed, and let the spell blossom in his hand.

"Astonishing!" said Nick, examining the tiny fireball floating around near Sam's palm. "Can it burn anything?"

"Yes, but I'm not going to try it here." Said Sam, wrapping his hand around the flame. It silently extinguished.

"To think I'll be learning how to do that," said Nick with giddy excitement "It's just so strange, to be accepting something you shunned all your life. It's just.strange."

He grew quiet for a moment, and then spoke again.

"Why do you think the Dog gave me this, Sam?" Nick pointed to the new Charter mark on his forehead. Sam shrugged.

"You've answered that question yourself. You said it was there to help even out the Free Magic that's inside of you."

Nick shook his head.

"No, no. I meant to say, why did the Dog send me back? Why didn't she just let me die? Weren't there others who lost their lives in this struggle? Why aren't they coming back to life. I don't understand. There has to be a reason, but what is it?"

He was about to say something more, but several Army vehicles had pulled up on the nearby road. Sam could see Major Greene and his small band of remaining soldiers ushering everyone towards them. Nick turned away from Sam and started to make his way towards the trucks. Sanar and Ryelle immediately came over to help him, which made Sam realize he had completely forgotten about Lirael. As he rushed over to where she was still struggling up the hill, Sam begin to wonder about what Nick had said. Why had the Dog sent him back? There were always deeper meanings to things with those magical talking animals. But nothing seemed particularly special about sending a young man back from Death. He had been undeserving of his passing, certainly, but so had many other innocents who had died at the hand of the Destroyer. Southerlings. Soldiers. Workers at the Lightning Farm. As Sam gently put his arm around Liraels' quivering shoulders, he could only see one potential reason, and it was rather obvious. Perhaps the Dog had sent Nick back as a replacement. A replacement companion to Lirael.



The Ancelstirerran Army had set up a mass of tents a few miles east of the hemispheres' location. It was meant as temporary shelter for the Southerlings, but Major Greene had extended his hospitality everyone involved with the Binding. At the heart of the compound, a massive bonfire was lit. Southerlings danced uproariously around it, and occasionally a soldier or two would join in. They all knew something important had happened, a victory of some sort, and they were celebrating, but they knew almost none of the details. It didn't concern them.

Sam bumped into Nick outside the ring of festivities. Apparently being dangerously frail hadn't stopped him from exploring. He was leaning on a rather oversized pole, and Sam thought he could see a partly collapsed tent in the background. Typical Nick, he thought to himself with a grin. Recovery had come sooner than he had expected.

"So, where are you headed?" Sam said, gesturing towards the pole.

"Oh," Nick drummed his fingers on the wood "I was looking for Lirael. I want to thank her, and tell her it's all her Dog's fault I'm still here to annoy you." Nick evidently thought this was funny, but Sam overlooked the sarcasm.

"You won't really say that, will you?"

Nick gave Sam a look.

"Of course I won't, you ninny. I just wanted to say a nice, formal, thank you, if you know what I'm talking about. I'm not going to go and offend her, because that really was a very nice thing for that Dog to do." He shot another glance at Sam, "A very nice thing."

He sighed.

"I suppose I shouldn't be making jokes about it, hmm?"

Sam shook his head, and suddenly appeared to have remembered something important.

"It's fine, really. But Nick, I was thinking about what you said, about why the Dog sent you back? Well, I think I might have at least an idea. It could be completely wrong, but it's a theory, and theories are wrong all the time."

Sam stopped for a moment, and then plunged into his assumption.

"I think that maybe the Dog sent you back as a sort of.replacement companion to Lirael."

"What?"

"Listen, Nick, you have no idea how close Lirael was to this Dog. She told me it was the only pers- well, thing she ever talked to when she was at the Clayrs' Glacier. That was where Lirael lived before she met up with me," Sam added in response to the blank look on Nicks' face " But that loss.it would be crushing for her. So my idea is that the Dog, knowing how awful the pain would be, sent you back to ease it. You knew Lirael a bit, she was obviously very upset having to let you die, and you were only at the First Gate, making you the perfect contender. It makes sense."

Nick didn't say anything. He appeared to be thinking deeply, staring down at his feet.

"You know, Sam," he said, bringing his head up, "That's perfectly logical."

There was a pause.

"Err, do have any idea of where Lirael actually is?"

Sam pointed up towards the top of a hill, far away form the merriment and celebration of the camp.

"Over there. I can't really blame her for wanting to be alone."

Then, cracking the serious atmosphere, he said with a smirk,

"Of course, she doesn't have to be alone, as long as she has you, Nick."

Nick grimaced in disgust as he realized what Sam was getting at.

"And you thought I was the one making bad jokes? Really, Sam! I'm not planning on.on a blossoming romance or anything of the sort. Just a sincere thank-you. That's all. That's all!"

Sam raised his considerable eyebrows.

"Whatever you say, Nicholas. But I could definitely see it. You and Lir-"

"Stop it NOW, Sam!" thundered Nick, a surprisingly loud voice coming out of his feeble body. He stormed off as fast as he could mange. Sam could have easily caught up with him, but he stayed where he was, smiling to himself. His last words had been truthful. Lirael and Nick was a rather odd, but somehow perfect match. Neither of them had ever had any romantic experience with the opposite gender, although Nick had desperately tried. Sam was well aware that maybe they never would fall in love, but he was absolutely sure of one thing. Nick and Lirael were kindred spirits. Saddened, agonized souls that could flow into one another, slowly choking out the darkness.



Lirael sat in the grass at the very edge of the cliff, the statuette of the Dog propped up between her knees. She would run her hand over it every once in a while, feeling the smooth, cool surface of the soapstone, and trying to feel the Charter magic she knew was buried deep inside. She had no success. Tears began to pour from Lirael's eyes. She buried her face in her remaining hand, trying to stifle the sobs, afraid that someone might hear and come to offer pity. She didn't need pity. Lirael gripped the statue tighter, and at the same time, felt a hand on her shoulder. A timid, light touch. She whirled around, reaching for her sword, only to find an embarrassed and slightly startled Nick, who had obviously jumped back several inches. Nothing happened for a few seconds, then Nick began to mumble out an apology while Lirael desperately scrubbed at her eyes.

"I'm.err.sorry to have..have interrupted your.uh..cry, and, um, I can leave if-"

Lirael stopped rubbing.

"No," she said quietly, barely above a whisper, "It's.all right. I just wasn't.. expecting anyone."

"Oh, well, why should you be?" Nick said, giving a half-hearted attempt at humor. Lirael didn't smile. She silently turned away.

"I came to thank you." Said Nick, taking a step closer.

"Thank me?"

Nick nodded as he seated himself besides Lirael. He picked up a blade of grass and absentmindedly twirled it around in his hands.

"I owe you my life, Lirael."

Lirael stared at him. He was concentrating on the grass.

"Your.your life?" she asked hesitantly, not exactly sure what he meant. "I'm really not sure if I saved your life or n-"

"Your Dog." He still wasn't looking at her. "It was your Dog who brought me back. But." he faltered, "But it wasn't the Dog.You.I.I thought of you, and the boat. And everything you said to me there, whenever I could feel the Destroyer.and.and.oh, what am I saying." he trailed off. However, Lirael's interest had been sparked.

"It was the Dog who sent you back?" she said, still very quiet. Nick looked up, his eyes directly meeting hers for the first time.

"Is that what you thought?'

Lirael nodded.

"Brilliant deduction," he said, sounding impressed, "Brilliant deduction."

"Oh, I.I wouldn't call it that," Lirael said, feeling the blush spread across her face, "Dog hated to see people die.and.and you really didn't deserve to and she must have thought that.that since you were only at the First Gate and your body was still around she could send you back without any trouble. And.that's just what I thought because it." she stopped, and then finished her sentence in a sob-choked voice. '"It just seemed like something Dog would do."

Lirael broke into tears once again, hugging the statue. Nick, rather unsure of what to do, gingerly put his hand on her shoulder.

"Do you know what the Dog said to me?" he whispered, trying to comfort Lirael, When we were at the, err, First Gate? She said that someday, someday you'd be the Abhorsen. Just like Sam's mum. And that you'd be known all over as Lirael Goldenhand, because Sam's going to make you a new hand entirely out of gold. Pure gold. I don't know how that would work, but you know Sam, he's wonderful with those sorts of things. And." he struggled for things to say. Suddenly he remembered.

"I was talking to Sam," Nick gripped Lirael by both shoulders, gently forcing her to look at him, "I asked him why the Dog had brought me back. Because, other than out of kindness or pity, there's no specific reason, at least that I could see. Sam, though, he has a theory. He thinks that I'm.I'm."

Nick didn't know what to say. He didn't know how Lirael would react to Sam's idea. It would be odd, after all, to have a talking Dog swapped for a reincarnated young man. What would she think? What would she say?

"Yes?" asked Lirael quietly.

Nick decided to take the chance.

"He thinks I'm.I'm a sort of.a replacement. For the Dog. He thinks that the Dog knew how much her passing would affect you, so she sent me back as a new companion."

He looked at Lirael. Her eyes were wide, and glistening with tears.

"No one can be sure if that's true or not, but.I for one think that it makes an astonishing amount of sense."

Nick tenderly took Lirael's remaining hand in both of his.

"I'd be ready to do that, Lirael. To be your companion. Your friend. I. I owe you so much, and you've done so much. it just amazes me. And I think that you really do need someone to.to be there for you.and I would be more than willing to be that person. But if you don't want that, then that's perfectly fine. It's your decision, Lirael. Either you want a replacement Dog or you don't."

Lirael only had to look into Nicks' riveting, tortured blue eyes to see that he meant what he was saying. Truly, deeply meant it. She felt another wave of tears behind her eyes, felt them stream down her face. The next thing she knew was weeping into Nick's shoulder, still holding the Dog. She felt him tense, hesitate almost, and then he slowly let go of her hand and put his arms around her, holding her close.

Lirael felt gratitude replace sorrow as soon as Nick embraced her. He was doing this because he saw her pain. He was ignoring his own. Knowing her emotions could never truly be expressed in words, Lirael chose the most subtle and immediate way she could show them. She gently slipped her arms out from under Nick's, and hugged him back.