Chapter 16

We had the funeral at Obernewtyn. It had taken us weeks to arrive but when we did I admit my heart lifted. As we came through the gates, I felt as if my heart would explode from the emotion.

We were bringing back Matthew, but we had lost Ceirwan.

I cried when we saw Dameon. He held onto Matthew and I for hours.

Rushton was still distant from me, which made my heart ache even more, but it wasn't the time to talk to him. He had things on his mind. Rosalind for one.

She wasn't his real sister and that caused him a lot of pain. I think in his heart he knew that Rosalind wasn't his sister, but he wanted her to be so badly that he convinced himself of it. But I also felt sorry for her. She had nowhere to go now. And she blamed her self harshly for the tragedy of losing Ceirwan. She locked herself in the healer hall and wouldn't come out for days, refusing food and water. Kella was the only one allowed in there, and she tried desperately to help Rosalind but she was having a hard time succeeding.

The funeral was beautiful. We buried Ceirwan in his secret spot. A spot that he and Freya had escaped to often, but no one had ever known where it was. Only Freya. Until now, when she let us in on the secret so we could all say our goodbyes to Ceirwan.

Miky and Angina soothed, playing music. They played a song they had expecially written for Ceirwan. Freya spoke, and I was amazed at how composed she was. But I knew inside she was terribly distraught. Dameon had helped ease some of her pain, but you could still see it flicker in her eyes.

Afterwards I sat alone on the grass, watching the sun creep slowly down. I pulled my dress up from where I was sitting and wrapped my arms around my knees, a sudden wind blowing in from the west, chilling me to the bones.

"Elspeth." Someone whispered from behind me.

I turned my head to see Rushton standing above me.

"Can I…?" he asked motioning with his hand to sit down.

I nodded and watched as he sat beside me in the grass, pulling his knees up in the same positon I was sitting.

I looked straight ahead, still watching the sun and could sense Rushton staring at me, at loss of what to say.

We hadn't spoke since it happened. I shuddered, as I knew Rushton was thinking of some words to console me. But I didn't need to hear it.

"I…" he paused.

I turned to stare him square in the eyes.

"It's ok, you don't have to say anything Rushton."

He looked flustered.

I continued to watch him as he turned to look at the ground.

"I want to say something, Elspeth. And the fact that I can't is what worries me most."

His honesty surprised me.

"Rushton…." I began.

"No." he said softly.

I was taken aback as he lifted my chin gently to face him.

"I am a fool. I haven't been myself and I'm sorry."

I went to open my mouth but he silenced me by tilting my chin up.

"I love you, my Elspeth."

I smiled, all the worry floated away from me. Well almost all.

I began to frown.

"There is still so much that is going on. So much. Ariel is gone, yes, but still I have a lot I have to do. There's the matter of Malik's men and… this whole war between the rebels… and…. well you saying you love me isn't going to make that all better."

Rushton continued to stare at me.

"I know that. I know that nothing has changed, but what are we to do Elspeth? Dwell on all the evil, all the horrible fates that have surrounded us? I think that is a dishonour to Ceirwan. I think we have to accept all of this that's going on… but we do this together." He paused.

"Together?" he asked tentatively, in a softer tone.

I hesitated, thinking of Ceirwan and everything that had happened and was still continuing to happen. But then I stopped and smiled. Somewhere deep down I knew that what Rushton was saying was the truth.

"Together." I said grinning.

Rushton's eyes widened, as he had not expected my reaction.

Then he smiled softly, shyly before leaning in close and kissing me.

He wrapped his arms around me to shield me from the cold and we sat there for what seemed like forever, happy and content, my head on his shoulder as we watched the sun set before us.

Omg that's it!!! Lol hope u guys liked it. Tell me what you think, don't b scared to review I luv them! Im prob gunna write an O.C fiction next or somfing. I luv that show so much. Well gotta go, I really hope u liked this!