Part 33
Crystal Tears
The crowd on the shore stayed for what seemed hours, just standing and staring at the place where Cammi had last fallen, their eyes filled with a great sadness and sorrow. Their kind and many others were safe again, from another evil, but at the cost of another life, who did not deserve to die.
Everyone on the shore knew that since the day Cammi had been born, his life had been in constant danger, always being on alert and cautious of what was going on around him.
Fighting for his life when he was fourteen against Tarquan, and nearly losing his mother and father in the process, then eight years later, fighting against Altanion to protect his kind and nearly losing his little sister.
They turned away from the scene with a heavy heart, preparing to return back to the castle Gummadoon to deliver the good and bad news, when they saw something they least expected…Cammi's body washing up on shore, they immediately rushed towards him. He lay face down in the sand, his face pale, and his eyes closed.
Sir Plucki handed Isabella over to his mate, before proceeding forward towards his son, where Lilli sat beside, hesitant, not sure what to do. Coming to the other side of Cammi, opposite Lilli, he turned his son over, to lay him on his back, then checked for a pulse.
Lifting his head, he looked up to the hopeful gazes of his family and friends and slowly shook his head, Cammi was gone and out of this world.
The poor soul had hardly a chance to live his life, and then when the chance was finally within his grasp it was robbed from him.
Lilli began to cry hysterically, whilst Sir Plucki rose to comfort his family, she fell forward, and cried into Cammi's tunic, his family and her childhood watching on with sad eyes at the scene unfolding before them.
"It's not fair!" whispered Lilli, her voice hoarse from crying.
"You weren't supposed to die" she cried into his shirt, her words muffled.
High above in the grey clouds, a light pierced through the clouds, and there stood the angel Lalaith, the once mischievous, eyes full of mirth, now held nothing but a deep sorrow, and suddenly her true age began to show, and her light fell upon the young gummi, Cammi.
"Lilli's right, Cammi" she whispered "You were never supposed to die"
"But he loved them too much to see them hurt" came the deep husky voice behind Lalaith.
"Very much like you, Derrum" Lalaith smiled weakly.
"True" he stated, a moment silence fell between them.
"Come, Lalaith, there's nothing we can do, only grieve" Derrum said calmly walking away.
"It shouldn't have been this way!" Lalaith spoke moments later, her voice waving slightly, and her eyes began to fill with unshed tears.
The first signs of dusk began to appear in the sky, and the only light shining, which strangely seemed to be settled on Cammi lithe form.
"You stupid, stupid gummi" muttered Lilli into tunic, when she suddenly felt calm, and a sudden warmth spread through her, she bolted back and noticed that Cammi form was glowing golden slightly, and steadily growing brighter.
"I presume that is his magic leaving him, if not already" whispered Meloni to the crowd.
His form now hovered a metre or so off the ground, great magic still at work, then as suddenly as it started it stopped, and his form dropped none too gently back onto the sand.
"Lalaith, what are you doing?" asked Lalaith's brother, Telequentin watching in awe at his sister.
"For your noble and honourable deed, I grant you this" Lalaith whispered ignoring her brother's comment, and she shed one crystal tear, and allowed it roll off her cheek, and cascading down to the earth below.
"What have you done?" asked Telequentin quietly, his voice only a whisper.
"Granted him something he deserves" whispered Lalaith.
The last shed of light disappeared behind the clouds, and the grey clouds began to rumble, and thunderclaps could be heard in the distances.
"Come Lilli, we have to go!" said Sir Cubbi walking forward and attempting to pull her away from his best friend.
"No! Leave me" she mumbled out so only he heard.
The clouds began to spit, and a single raindrop fell on Cammi's brow. Lilli looked up to the sky, and for the first time saw the grey clouds, and cursed the heavens for such foul weather, and cursed them again, for taking her friend and in her heart, her lover away from her.
"You stupid gummi, I loved you from the very start" she whispered into his tunic.
"Hmm….I always wondered about that" came the groggy reply.
"Wha…CAMMI!" shouted Lilli wrapping him in a fierce hug.
"I…can't…breathe" he choked out Cammi said as his family and friends looked on in awe.
"Oh…sorry" Lilli replied smiling broadly and releasing him.
"How is this possible?" asked Meloni.
"Cammi" came a cubs scream knocking the breath from his lungs as it jumped on him.
"I missed you so much" Isabelle said burying her head in his tunic.
"It's good to see you too Isabelle and you Lilli" he said looking into her eyes.
He was more than pleased to notice the blush that stained Lilli's cheeks, taking her hand Lilli looked down at their intertwined hands then back at Cammi who was gazing quite intently into her eyes. Looking back she found herself leaning forward and falling into his gaze just before they slid shut and her mouth met his half way. It felt like a million sensations at once and her heart practically sang with joy, she was finally kissing him. Unknown to them as they'd quite forgotten Isabelle sat on Cammi's knee pulling quite a disgusted face. They parted breathless to the sound of Stanney's whistles and his families approving smiles and cheers. Isabelle climbed off her brother allowing him to stand which he did. He faced the ocean surrounded by his family and friends staring at the space where Altanion had met his end.
"It's over, I'm free" Cammi whispered, staring out to sea, his arm wrapped round Lilli's waist and he pulled her towards him, her hand resting on his chest, and she laid her head on his shoulder, and sighed in contentment.
"Come on, let's go home" whispered Lilli happily.
"Let's celebrate" announced Cammi cheerfully.
"Not until you've seen the medics" stated Lilli, and his face suddenly changed from happy to miserable in a matter of seconds causing a majority of the gummies to laugh at his sudden change of mood.
"What you expect me to let you join the party without at least being checked over" Lilli waved a finger in front of his finger, setting in her medic mode, and making him feel like a small cub again.
"I'm fine, what make you think I'm not?" whined Cammi mounting his unicorn, and pulling Lilli up, to sit in front of him.
"Hmm…let's see, you've been fighting Altanion, then fell off from a cliff and into the sea, then you wash up onshore and momentarily dead, and then you come back to life, how are you alive any how?" said Lilli, ticking off her fingers, and eyeing Cammi suspiciously.
"Oh, Lalaith" replied Cammi knowing that though the answer was short no other explanation was needed.
"You still need to see a medic" said Lilli.
"Do I have to? I feel fine" Cammi whined
"Oh…you!" Lilli replied jest fully, and playfully smacked him on the arm.
"Ow…that hurt!" Cammi exaggerated, and acted dramatically clinging to his arm, causing several more gummi around him to laugh, and they rode back home to Gummadoon.
The journey home seemed to pass by much more quickly, than when they were first setting out, especially when Cammi started to be very dramatic, and cause several gummies to laugh with his sense of humour.
Arriving on the outskirt of the forest, they were able to see the castle of their home in full glory, and Cammi turned to face his family, his eyes sparkling mischief, and for a moment the group thought they were seeing a fourteen year old Cammi again, which meant trouble!
"Race ya home! 3..2..1..go!" he roared but then his unicorn stood on hind legs, knocking Cammi to the ground while several of his friends and family racing towards the gate, with all the speed they could muster.
"HEY! Wait for me!" shouted Cammi, and he could hear the distinct voice of Lilli's laughter ringing in the air.
"Fine!" he muttered with a smirk then thought of being on the back of the unicorn with Lilli.
"Apparum"
He disappeared, and appeared where he imaged he would, behind Lilli.
"Cammi!" Lilli squealed, and again could hear his family laughing in the background.
"That's cheating" she shouted.
He only laughed and replied, "That's magic"
They went through the gates which had now being opened since spotting them racing through the open, towards the castle and they arrived in the courtyard where several gummies were waiting for them, all cheering and congratulating Cammi.
Dismounting his unicorn, Cammi proceeded with the crowd and his family into the great hall, where celebration began to take place.
"Well done, Cammi!" his father said, clasping him on the shoulder, then released him to join in the crowd.
Beaming with pride, Cammi began to chat with his friends and was about to go and join in the celebration when another hand on the shoulder stopped him.
"Cammi" came Lilli's stern voice that left no room for delay "It's time to go to sickbay, now!"
He groaned.
"I can fight Tarquan and Altanion, yet somehow I daren't suffer a woman's wrath" laughter erupting around his friend, even earning a smile from Lilli, and he allowed himself to pulled away to the infirmary.
"Sit" she motioned to the bed, when they entered sickbay.
He sat.
"Don't worry I won't keep you for long" said Lilli smiling, and quickly set to examining him.
Half an hour later, examining him, she pulled back smiling, and watched him put his shirt on again.
"Well you have nasty bruises particularly on the ribs, and your left shoulder, but otherwise you're fine and free to go!" she announced.
"Do I get a kiss?" he questioned, his eyes showing amusement.
"Oh…Cammi" she shook her head laughing. "Be off with you!"
He stood up from the bed laughing and was about to leave, when she pulled him down by his collar so they were eye level.
"But one won't hurt" she muttered, crushing her lips to his, in a soft lingering kiss, catching him off guard, he opened his eyes at her surprised, then closed them again, smiling into the kiss, he wrapped his arms around her petite waist and pulled her closer to him.
After what seemed an eternity the two broke apart for air, leaning their forehead against the other, and looking into each others eyes, showing the other what they felt.
"Go!" she whispered smiling, pushing him away from her.
"I can't" he grinned back at her, sitting on the bed again. "I'm wounded".
"Out. Of. Here. Now!" she said a bit more forcefully though the smile never left her face and Cammi disappeared out the infirmary his laughter echoing in the air.
Arriving back at the party in the great hall, he immediately started to join in the celebration, eating, dancing, singing everything imaginable, even sitting in the middle of the room, and telling the cub's one of his adventures, much too their excitement and joy.
They celebrated until very late at night, but also knew that the celebration would continue on going for another few days yet.
Slowly the music drifted finally coming to a close, indicating the last song had been finished, and Cammi who had originally been dancing with Lilli, gave her a chaste kiss, then whispered in her ear.
"I love you".
"I love you too" she murmured.
"Which is why I must do this" he said nervously, pulling back from Lilli, and falling on one knee, he pulled out a small box and opened it to reveal a ring, earning several gasps from the crowd and Lilli.
"Lilli Gummi, I have loved you from the first moment I saw you. You're everything I've dreamed of and more and while many things have stood in our way I hope you'll do me the honour and make the happiest gummi on earth by being my wife" asked Cammi.
The room went into a stunned silence at the hero's sudden proposal even if it was suspected and long over due. Lilli stood a gape a moment in shock, when Cammi began squirming ever so slightly she answered.
"Yes" she cried and he stood up and slipped the ring on her finger.
"When?" he asked.
"Two weeks from now" she whispered.
They stared intently into one another's eyes, showing their happiness, and slowly they inched forward, until their lips met and they melted into the kiss, seemingly forgetting that the whole Gummadoon residents were in the hall watching them, when a small cub's voice that could only belong to Isabella broke out loudly.
"Ew, Gross. Get a room-" the rest was mumbled with Cammi's hand clamped round her mouth preventing her from saying anything else.
The room burst out into applause and laughter at Cammi's proposal and Isabella's comment.
"Your disgusting, Cammi" muttered Isabella as he released her.
"I'll remind you of that ten years from now, when you're sucking the lips off somebody"
Isabella did not reply after that and settles for looking extremely sick at which Cammi and Lilli broke out laughing.
So, it was two weeks later at sunset the Great Hall decked out in its best for the celebration of a lifetime. The hall was filled with guest as Councillor Berrybaum took the service.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife" announced Councillor Berrybaum as the two leaned forward and sealed their titles with a loving kiss.
THE END!
Plz, R&R!
Epilogue coming soon.