Epilogue
A long time ago in a Galaxy far, far away...
A long time ago in a galaxy made up of stars, surrounded by planets, where at any given moment supernovas flare in vibrancy—living on as the charge of brilliance spreads through constellations...
Endless light, endless time...
In the galactic scheme of time...there is only eternity.
Take a step closer, see what else we can see...
Star systems, trade routes orbiting multiple suns with multiple moons dancing silently in gravities arm. Choreographed or spinning free they dance together with lives measured in billions of years.
Geographical location clumps them together and alliances create large super-nations. Trying to make sense out of nature's chaos and building merely a structure of artificiality. Organized yet, surreal.
In the last one hundred years, a thought on the galactic scale, The Old Republic fell, the Empire fell, the New Republic fell...
...but what does it mean?
In the galaxy proper, the core worlds, there was pain, yes—pain. Blood, red-indigo, death, tinged with terror and pungent aromas of dried sweat and black-nights without stars. A fathomless death of nothingness.
There was also light, magic joy and laughter driving away the sorrow, new coalitions, with stability coming together to fight invisible foes with might and determination. Standing for the people, another alliance, the Galactic Federation of the Free Alliances, someday it may fall too—but for now it is a fragile pillar of strength, idealistic in vision yet with clarity in purpose.
As history trembles, she also records. All seeing eyes taking in the nights, days, months years, decades and centuries.
Take one step closer...
In the outer rim, the fringes, away from the maddening scramble, untouched and unmarred by galactic politics...two planets.
One green from orbit embraces the rose hued eternally blushing neighbor—always hiding but never lonely. From orbit things are transient, peaceful...until the decent.
There was conflict here—conflict-a sanitized world in an ever cynical age.
There was death here—death of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, pets, and strangers—one cannot forget the strangers. Yes, they died too.
Two families, two planets, with one heart, one soul joined in mutual hatred—the reason why, long since forgotten, never to be understood.
Take one step closer...can you smell the acrid atmosphere? Can you smell the vapor warmed by the golden heat of the suns rays?
Valdet rebuilds, but Danshitie is where it shall end.
Sentient life, non sentient life...these two planets tell a tale beyond labels of power and emulation. They tell the tale of all species, male or female, children, lovers, assassins. They tell the tale of a single blue Agnor roosting one evening watching as two beings found one another. Found Balance.
A girl, not yet a woman died here. A man, still bound and tied strictly to tradition found his heart...only to lose it upon reaching home. Others found respect and a place to belong, while some soared into the stars to achieve their dream.
Above all history records the words and thoughts and deeds and lives of individuals. They are the ones who can turn the tide, perhaps not winning the war, or becoming heroes, because war creates heroes, beyond individual identities--symbols. Rather individuals form society, not at an endless eternal speed, but rather taking every day, every hour, every minute and every second and making the most of it, living—breathing and existing.
Ah...so the end, is not the end...but rather a new beginning.
Danshitie
It was a small gathering, enough guests to fill two long tables—basic crystal stemware, and drapes along looped poles the color of the former royal guards of Danshitie. Deep, honorable red, edged with the noble colors of the Morodin.
Tonight the survivors came to honor one of their own.
In the stillness, the sound of tapping on a glass caught everyone's attention. Some, by habit, stood and bowed, and the being at the end of the table waved the attention away. A hand grasped his, and he glanced at his wife and at his daughter before continuing.
"Some time ago, Nestor Alluvia grabbed me by the shoulders and demanded my attention. His words resonated, despite my often painful attempts to ignore them. They were words of wisdom, insisting that I look beyond the lenses that shaded my thoughts, past the despair and anger that drove my waking moments. Rather, they were words of a man with knowledge and love for our worlds so deep that even I cannot fathom its end.
In this world of uncertainty, we have two choices, we can choose to live, or choose to die. Death is a destructive force...impossible to conquer. "
Tristan hesitated before rushing forward. Avoiding Nestor's thoughtful expression and Syla's tear-filled eyes.
"But we're not here to talk about death, but life... Living is embracing all possibility and never letting the dark destroy options, and today marks possibility into fact. We are here to talk about Nestor and Syla whose love and commitment have brought them to this point which was long foreseen by their friends.
Yes Nestor, you were right.
It is more important that we survive.
In surviving we have gained wisdom.
In surviving we have gained joy.
In surviving we have gained love.
In surviving we have family, and those who see in the future a beacon of light so strong that no shadow can diminish it.
In surviving we take one step closer, determined to honor the dead, survive another changing of the guard, and yes to face the coming challenges head on."
Steadying his hand, Tristan raised the champagne flute high and turned to the newlyweds at the head of the table,
"To the coming challenges...may you meet them with continued strength and valiance. May you emerge victorious! Se'la aur S'ela.
To Nestor and Syla Alluvia."
A chorus of voices repeated him. "Se'la aur S'ela, Nestor and Syla."
Tristan slipped back into his seat and reached for little Eli, already asleep after a long day of play. After settling her in he, softly reached for Keladry's hand, bringing it to his lips.
She leaned over and whispered into his ear, "and so the journey ends?"
He nodded, "What began here and on Valdet as a struggle against evil and a fight for vengeance, ends with love. What more can I ask for? What more can I want?"
In the far distance the warble calls of the blue Agnor filled him with a sense of peace. He had survived, and with Kel, his daughter—family and friends by his side, his path was set, and his heart was strong.
The rest would take care of itself.
It has been a long, hard road.
I saw greed, violence, and death, along with the despair; but I also saw kindness, generosity and a myriad of riches in mind, body and soul.
I saw one man's selfishness, maliciousness and need for vengeance fuel a crusade that was not in his hands to fight, but he learnt to step back and improve those whose lives he could change, even at the expense of his own.
I saw him lead; I saw his soul. I saw myself lead, and found my own place, my own purpose.
It has been a long hard road...but journeys are meant to be taken, and the only lessons worth learning are on the longer and harder paths where you are presented with choices...
Remember, Love, and above all choose life.
The End
Whew it has been a long..(not so hard) road...
I started this trilogy in September/August 2000 when I entered undergrad at William and Mary...now five years later..the circle is now complete...
Thank you to those who have been reading.
And Kez who kindly commented, I appreciate it, I really did. I have not had much luck on these boards (if you see the comments on the prior story you'll know what I mean...) So I thank you...any criticisms/suggestions to make my writing better is welcome...
This is probably going to be the last long fic I write for a while, mostly b/c I have an orig. ficlet in my head begging to be written. And the next year with school is going to be very painful with comprehensive exams and my masters research seminar (aka thesis)...
That being said, look out for viggies since I'll probably need to satisfy the muse from time to time. And I appreciate bearing through the random moments where I urged Lurkers to delurk and speak..(yes I'm doing it again, if you Lurk NOW IS YOUR LAST CHANCE (ok not really but sometimes that works :))
Tell me what you think in the comment page... THANK YOU to my beta's Yelsly (TFN'er who i think has succumbed to DRL, since I have not spoken to him in a while) Kagome (another SW buddy) and PregnantPadme (TFN'er) who helped me in a pinch, -Trickster-(TFN'er who betaed Changing of the Guard and Veregre (TFN'er who oh so long ago, and no longer frequents the boards betaed To Honor the Dead. I could not have done this without you.
It's been a pleasure writing for you! I'll be around, so it is not goodbye but a see ya later...
Jade51999
Inspiration: Songs that Inspired/helped me write certain portions of the story...
Prior to Post I
Angry Johnny by Poe
Fly Away by Poe
Both songs are illustrative of Tristan and Keladry's feelings at this juncture. He dealing with frustration, hatred and anger, she with fear.
Prior to Post IV
Dreams of Our Fathers by Dave Mathews Band
The Dreaming Tree by Dave Mathews Band
Burdens of Tristan's life, and the sins/fallacies of his ancestors before he came on Valdet/Danshitie.
Prior to Post V
Could I be You by Matchbox 20
Finding Me by Vertical Horizon
Essentially how Tristan is feeling at this point, following Nestor's revelation.
Prior to Post VI
Every breath you take by Sting (and the Police I think)
Stalker's p.o.v. I was tempted to put up the lyrics for Sweet Dreams, b/c the atmosphere of the song as sung by Marilyn Manson is just creepy...but...eh I decided these lyrics work better.
Post VII
Fortress by Sister Hazel
Keladry right before her breakdown after realizing that her mother was murdered.
Post IX
Forever by Vertical Horizon
Love Rescue Me by U2
I will remember you by Sara Mclaughlin
And for the second half of Post 9
Let Me In by REM
I'll see it through by Texas
High Speed Train by REM
One Love by Sister Hazel
Angel Standing By by Jewel
Various parts of Post 9 relating to Elbereth's letters etc. And Tristan's realization of his love for Keladry and the proposal.
Post X
Amen by Jewel
Her vivid lyrics remind me of the thoughts flaring through Tristan's mind whe he was running through the forest.
Post XI
When you Dream by Bare Naked Ladies
Cry Freedom Cry by Dave Mathews Band
A beautiful song about a parent watching his son sleep...made me think of what was going through Kel's and Tristan's mind when Eli was born and they had to let her go.
DMB's song is related to Tristan's connection to his home, and want to go back and warn them about the events in the larger galaxy.
Prior to the Epilogue and Perhaps the "Theme Song" for the Trilogy
Walk Unafraid by REM
Lyrics are based on the live version where Michael Stipe sings the chorus at the beginning in a beautiful aria(i think that's the appropriate description) form.. As per requirements, I've gotten rid of the full lyrics...but check them out online.
Determined and defiant...Tristan is ready to face the world.
Thanks for reading
PC 4/17/05
