Dissolution of Arms
By Eerie
Epilogue
Scented winds blew over the grassy hills full of subtle melodies with the rushing of the river. The moon shone radiant and full just above the crest of the mountains in the distance, washing the landscape in soft silver light. Blooming flowers swayed contently with each caressing stir around them. Summer had come once again.
The vampire hunter sat on horseback, gazing over the majestic land painted in twilight colors. The breezes and shivering leaves above lulled him into a kind of somber trance; even the parasite had considerately fallen into a hush.
It had been one year to the day since Caruwyn's passing, and D wished the youth could be there to share in the glorious view, for he knew that his bright hungry eyes would adore it.
There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't think of the young man. It was with fondness that D chose to remember him, and he was content to keep it that way. Even still, that lingering sadness would come, though he would never let it show. Yet, since that day, D had ceased to dream.
Gently nudging his heels into the mechanical steed's sides, the hunter descended the hill to the wide valley below. As he made his way to the fragrant pear tree, a flock of birds that had been sleeping in its boughs startled and flew away, filling the air with feathers.
D halted before it and dismounted, breathing in its heady scent. The feathers floated down slowly and settled upon the grave at the tree's base as D stood over it. It was unmarked, and no passerby would even recognize it for what it was. The hunter had not wanted to chance its being disturbed. But it needed no marker for him to remember where it lay.
Kneeling down, D picked up one of the downy feathers and ran his fingers over it, recalling the way Caruwyn had carved the small sparrow in astounding likeness to the real creatures. "Do the birds keep you company?" he asked quietly. He regretted voicing his question at all, for the sound of it brought that sadness back to him. Its weight upon his spirit left him weary.
The dhampire stretched himself out to lie next to the slightly raised mound of earth, allowing the night sounds and the steed's soft munching to lull him into a light slumber.
A soft voice calling his name stirred him soon afterward, and D opened his eyes. A figure in white reclined against the trunk of the pear tree to his side. D sat up and looked into familiar ruby eyes.
Caruwyn sat with a small blade in one hand and a rounded piece of wood in the other. He held his left hand out to give D a closer look of what it held.
"I thought I should do another one, but it's not quite finished yet," the young man said and smiled. He motioned with his blade to the ground beside him.
D stood and moved closer before lowering himself beside the pale figure. Caruwyn glanced over at him with a concerned look.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Are you a ghost?" D found himself asking rather mindlessly.
Caruwyn laughed lightly, its sound sending pleasant shimmers down the dhampire's spine. He turned his attention back to his work but did not answer. He said instead, "I've always loved the birds most. What about you?"
"Yes," D answered quietly.
"Their freedom in the skies with those wonderful wings," the albino continued, "it used to make me envious. But you know, we all have wings of our own kind."
D continued to gaze at the young man, not quite sure how to answer.
"D," the youth said a bit quieter, pausing his work, "you haven't lost yours." Caruwyn let his eyes fall into the hunter's.
They searched each other in that manner for a long while before the youth turned away and slid the thin blade through the wood again.
The dhampire simply watched the youth carve. He felt drawn into the graceful motions of the skilled hands, their narrow bones and fine nails. And for a while, he was content to relax in Caruwyn's presence, forgetting the hundreds of questions he had once longed to ask. Before he knew it, the project was completed.
Caruwyn set the blade down and handed the finished product to the hunter at his side. D turned it over in his hands, marveling. Though he had watched many of its details being formed, it seemed as though he had never seen it before.
"D," the youth said as he leaned closer, "I haven't lost my wings either. Please, don't let your spirit fade."
The hunter turned away from the carving to look at Caruwyn. His eyes drank in that achingly smooth face, as beautiful as a pale night. Slowly he allowed his eyes to close against the light as he leaned closer to the youth's soft mouth. A warm breath of wind met his lips instead and D opened his eyes.
He was lying beside the grave in the same position as when he had fallen asleep. The moon ascended higher above the mountains and the stars seemed to have brightened.
So he had only dreamed it.
But as D sat up, he felt something hard clenched in his hand. Looking down, he discovered a small wooden sparrow with tiny eyes gazing back up at him. The lines carved into its body were masterful, giving the inanimate carving a strange sort of life, as if it were about to leap from his hand and take to the sky at any moment.
D stood and gazed at the sculpture, a small smile breaking his indifferent mask. A strange sense of relief came over him as he held it. Clutching the bird tight, he strode to his grazing horse before mounting. Casting one last look upon Caruwyn's grave, D drove his heels into the beast's flanks and tore swiftly over the hillsides beneath the moonlight, his mantle flying up high behind him.
The End
A/N: Well it's finally done! As elating as it is to finish it, I'm also a little sad that it's over. For everyone who has taken the time to leave me such kind reviews, I give you my most sincere thanks. This story was often challenging to write, and I was so happy to hear that you all enjoyed reading it. I'm sorry it took me so long to put new chapters up, but hopefully I didn't break the story's flow too much. As always, I'm happy to hear what you think so please drop me a line or leave a review.
My special thanks to Kitala, who has been my faithful reviewer for every chapter since I started this back in February . Also to the lovely and talented AlexandriaH for her relentless support. Thank you all! 8/24/03