Disclaimer: don't own. Honestly.
Ok, the final chapter. I don't think I'll do an epilogue-though I may write a squeal (however, if someone else would like to take them the way I wrote them and write the squeal do so-just e-mail me to let me know so I can read it too!) anyway-enjoy.
RUNE
Chapter 5
Thatz pressed a soft kiss to Rath's forehead and detangled himself from his lover and picked up his trousers and travelling tunic-hoping to be dressed and gone before Rath woke up.
"So you still want to leave?" Rath asked quietly, disappointment obvious in his voice.
Thatz nodded. "I can't let the chance slip Rath. I can't." he said, avoiding looking at his lover.
Rath studied him and sighed. He had told himself if Thatz wanted to go he would not stop him. But he had to try once more. "Thatz-why would Rune have left to begin with? He's not the kind to go Demon hunting willingly and alone-he wouldn't go near them unless he absolutely had to-let alone one that would entrap him. You know I'm right Thatz. Your just going to go out there and hurt yourself, over and over, looking for someone who's not there."
"How can you just give up so easily Rath? How?" Thatz demanded, still not looking at him, not wanting his hopes to be dashed by the honesty he knew would be in Rath's eyes.
Rath closed his eyes, knowing it was useless. "Because Rune swore he'd be with us until death-and Rune would never break an oath. He left us that day to die Thatz-it's the only explanation I have. Yes I felt just as betrayed as you-but I moved on Thatz. You never moved on." He sighed. "For all we know Water might just like blond haired, blue eyed empaths as a master-it could have nothing to do with Rune. But if you have to go-go. I won't stop you."
Thatz looked back at Rath-his eyes closed-looking beautiful-and closed the door with a snap. He couldn't let the chance slip by. He had to be right… he just had to be…
X
"Lord Rath!"
Rath sprang up from the bed quickly at the pounding on the door. He had lain, lost in his thoughts for the last hour since Thatz had left. He pulled on his trousers before calling. "What is it?"
"Get out of my way!" he heard Ruwalk say and the door opened and the man entered, waving a sheet of paper at Rath. "Rath we have a big problem. Rune is gone!"
Rath bolted forward, tearing the sheet from Ruwalk's hands. "What do you mean he's gone? Have you checked the castle-the grounds?" he asked, quickly scanning the paper.
'Meester Rath meester Thatz an meester Ruwalk
I is go 2 fiend u r Rune I heew u
lass niet an I go 2 fiend im 4 u.
Rune
"Get a search party out on the grounds now! How far do you thing a four year old could get? When did he leave? Damnit! Can no one keep track of a child in this place! Get everyone looking NOW!" Rath yelled, crumpling the note.
All Ruwalk could think as everyone fled to begin the search and Rath began drawing up search area's was that life had come full circle-and now the Dragon Lord knew what he had put them all through when he was a child.
X
Thatz was making good time down the road. He had passed the town at least an hour ago. When he stopped, hearing something that could have been a scream-whether of fear or pleasure he couldn't tell. As both a Dragon knight and security officer he couldn't, as a rule, keep walking and ignore it. Checking a sigh he veered off the path, loosing his sword.
He cleared a grove of trees to find a beautiful pond, overgrown with wildflowers, it was something Rune would love-he would have to take him here when everything was sorted out. He looked around for the source of the sound, wary-though a demon hadn't been seen in these parts in years.
Then he saw it.
"Watew!" the boy yelled, drawing Thatz attention to a branch hanging above the pond across from him. The Water Dragon was fluttering over the branch and the child who had crawled out on it worriedly.
"Kid…" Thatz called, unsure.
The boy looked up suddenly, sitting up on the branch and waving excitedly. "Mister Fatz!" bouncing a little.
Thatz heard the branch crack, and his eyes widened. "Kid!" he yelled.
The child wrapped his arms around the branch and let out a terrified shriek as the branch broke and plunged into the pond.
Before he had even thought about it, Thatz had sprinted around the pond to a point closer to the falling child, waded in to grab at the struggling and spluttering figure and hauled him from the water but his little tunic and dragged him back to the shore, dumping him on the ground unceremoniously.
The boy giggled.
"That was a singularly stupid thing to do!" Thatz yelled.
The boy looked up at him and shook his head, sending water flying around him. "You look funny mister Fatz!" he grinned.
Thatz looked at him and sat down heavily, wondering vaguely if now that he had come to terms with the fact that Rune was… he frowned as he watched the child grab at the little Dragon, hugging it close.
"Mister Fatz." The boy said, startling him out of his thoughts.
"What?"
"If mister Waf hadn't of called me Wune-would you like me?" those bright blue eyes tracked his expression.
Thatz studied those eyes and he felt his heart sink suddenly. "You're not my Rune are you?" he asked.
The boy shook his head. "Nope. But I go find your Wune fow you. So you can be happy."
For some reason it didn't hurt as much as he had thought it would to have lost that last thread of hope. "So is that why you are all the way out here?" He asked quietly, surprised at the reason.
The boy nodded. "I heaweded you lass night-an' I decide to find youw Wune fow you." He smiled brightly.
Thatz looked away from him, out across the pond, silent as he thought. Rath was right. Rune had sworn-he wouldn't have left them for any other reason. He had been clinging to fake hope, refusing to move on with his life. He didn't notice the tears sliding down his face until a small hand patted them away. He blinked at the child.
"Don't cwy. I find youw Wune. I pwomise." The child smiled.
"No." Thatz said softly. "You shouldn't make promises you can't keep." He sighed lightly. "Now come on, you've probably caused a lot of worry at the castle."
"I left the note." The child said proudly.
Thatz pushed himself to his feet, lifting the child with him, making him giggle. "Rath is very taken with you-he'll have search parties out looking for you. Let's head back." He said, his tone soft, and sad, but with a faintest hints of amusement as he recalled one of Runes many stories about how Rath had pulled stunts like that this as a child-though none for as noble a task.
"But what 'bout youw Wune?" the boy asked, wide eyed.
"My Rune made a promise, and he always keeps his promises. I just forgot that for a little while." Thatz sighed, and then looked at the child, who was still holding Water with one arm, looking at him, amazingly serious for a child his age. "Oh come on! I'm having a conversation with a kid! Damnit!" he complained. "Let's get you back to the castle before I actually start liking you/."
The boy giggled.
"How did you know what my favourite cookie was?" he asked after a moment.
"I sawd you eating dem when I got hewe-an' I askedid da nice cook lady what you likedid-and Mister Waf an' Mister Wuwalk." The boy smiled proudly.
Thatz shook his head, but his lips quirked in a small smile.
X
Somewhere beyond the veil of life as we know it, three people stood, A tall aqua haired man, with his arms around the shoulders of a much smaller woman, while she leaned into him, both smiling at their companion. Who smiled gratefully at them.
"Thank you." He said softly, and turned away from them, brushing a strand of golden hair away from his beautiful blue eyes, as he made his way back to rest, and watch those he loved more than life itself finally begin to heal.
There. Done, finished. Finito. No more (again-anybody want to write a squeal before I get the chance feel free-it could turn into a rather interesting series of stories about little Rune growing up… Aww….!) anyway. There, now please be kind and review for me. Please.
GET IT INTO YOUR HEADS FOLKS! THIS IS NOT A STORY ABOUT BATTLES AND SHIT, AND THE CHILD WAS NEVER BLOODY RUNE! That was the whole point of the story-healing, and finding love outside of that there once was, ok. Just thought I'd let you know, I knew this was how it was going to end from the start. Sorry if it doesn't fit with what you thought. Ah well. I like the story-even if no one else does.