Chapter 8

The funeral was sad but beautiful. Kinthia was carried on a litter from the main house to the elven graveyard, it held some ancient graves from when Rivendell was last occupied and some fresh ones, but thankfully those were few. Her body was brought to her grave and laid down above the open ground. Ron stood nearby, with Earithramir beside him. Kinthia looked beautiful, she was dressed in a finely embroidered white robe, her dark hair loose and set about her shoulders in soft curls. Her hands rested upon her chest, a single pure white flower held in them. The full moon shone down on her making her glow with an ethereal light. She looked like Sleeping Beauty, fancied Ron; only no kiss from a prince would awaken her. Standing right beside her was Maedd, he stood still as a statue, the only signs of life were the tears gently rolling down his cheeks and the way that the soft breeze was stroking his hair back, almost like the wind was trying to offer comfort to him. Cilath stood beside him, her fair face blank, cold, like the north wind, the only sign of emotion was the single tear that rolled off her cheek. Ron's eyes followed it as it fell to the grass. Before his warm blue eyes, a tiny, perfect white flower sprouted, a life born of grief, a beginning born of an ending. Legolas stood beside his niece, a hand on her shoulder for comfort, his face was sad a reflection of Ron's, although his couldn't be seen since he was wearing a hood, which was casting a shadow over his face, he was not alone, many had hoods up to show that they were in mourning but Ron had another reason. Earithramir had advised him to because he'd been afraid of Maedd's reaction to seeing the red head again. Ron had reluctantly agreed. He dimly heard Elrond speak in Quenya,

"Sina fui me indome thand as lye melin Kinthia. Me indome tennoio enyala he rille manu, he aica lamba, he nostale onya ar he mela. Me indome enyala, ve mai, he voron wie en i visions. Quel esta, Kinthia." (This night we will part with our dear Kinthia. We will always remember her bright spirit, her sharp tongue, her kind heart and her love. We will remember, as well, her endurance of the visions. Rest well Kinthia) he finished in a whisper.

The people on either side of her gently threw flower petals into the air. They floated down to rest on her as she was lowered into the ground. Her body now a part of the earth, protected by nature, no war would ever desecrate this sacred space, for the forces of nature are the most powerful of all.

Ron stood on one of the many balconies of Rivendell, leaning onto the railing looking down at the grave of Kinthia. A lone figure stood there, still as a statue, just staring at the ground.

"Maedd." said Cilath coming up behind him and looking over his shoulder. Ron nodded slightly

"I'm just waiting," he said, his voice slightly hitching, "for him to show some sign of life, that there is still some part of him that wants to keep going." She put her hand on his shoulder,

"It's there. It's just buried under grief at the moment, but it'll find its way through eventually." Ron looked at her and her breath hitched slightly at the lost look in his eyes.

"He hates me."

"No he doesn't." Ron's voice rose in distress

"Yes he-" he caught himself and quieted down, "Yes he does, and he has every right to. I made him lose his brother and his love!"

"Did you wield the weapon that shot Kinthia? Did you hold the Goa'uld that took possession of Cer?"

"No."

"Then you are not to blame. I was right beside her and I couldn't save her!" Cilath let her own guilt show through. Ron gave her shoulder a squeeze saying

"You must have done all you could."

"And so did you." She said smirking slightly as Ron realised if he didn't agree with her he was being a hypocrite.

"Checkmate!" he said softly, acknowledging she had beaten him. She smirked even more. Ron turned away from Maedd, who still hadn't moved. Cilath took his hand and led him inside. It was late, even for elves, so many had retired to bed. The two of them walked for a long time it seemed as they made their way up to Cilath's room. They stopped at the door and Ron said

"Well… good night." and turned to leave.

"Wait!" she called him back, "Um, come in for a minute." Ron raised his eyebrows, but nodded and followed her inside. He looked around as he stepped in, surveying his surroundings, something all his combat teachers told him to do. Cilath's room was clean and had a few plants in it. In one corner was a hutch of some kind and inside were five baby rabbits watching him inquisitively. Cilath went and sat on the bed and Ron chose to lean against the wall. They remain in silence for a few moments then Cilath cleared her throat gently and said

"Well um, the reason I invited you in was to talk about this morning and that, um, kiss." Ron nodded, he'd guessed as much. They said nothing for another minute. Cilath sighed and said

"Look, I'll admit that I… felt something… strong when we kissed, but I don't know if you felt it too." Ron looked at her carefully then strode over to her and pulled her up to stand. He leaned in and kissed her. She melted to his touch, wrapping her arms around his neck while he pressed his hands to the small of her back. They pulled apart only enough to stare into each other's eyes and Ron whispered

"I feel it. I… I love you." The words were past his lips before he realised it. He hadn't really thought about it but the words sounded so right. Cilath's eyes widened in amazement and she smiled brightly, her hand cupping his cheek softly as she whispered,

"Oh Ron, I love you too." She kissed him passionately, their bodies pressing together.

Ron was in a daze as he kissed the elven beauty. He couldn't believe this was really happening.

'If this is a dream then may I never wake up.' he thought to himself as his hands went a little lower down her back and she deepened the kiss. She loved him; she had really said it to him. He pushed her gently back and they lay down on her bed. Cilath gasped softly as he kissed along her neck, turning her head slightly to give him better access. Her hands trailed down his back to pull at his shirt. Ron stopped kissing her and looked her in the eyes, he knew what she wanted, but he had to ask

"Are you sure you want this?" she nodded whispering

"Amin mela lle Ron, im aníro le." (I love you Ron, I want you) he smiled at her and kissed her cheek gently, his hands sliding along her back to find the laces that did it up at the back. They came loose under his fingers and he pulled the dress down to her waist, exposing her naked skin. She helped him take off his shirt and she began to kiss his chest, while he ran his fingers through her silky hair and kissed her temples. He met her eyes again and whispered

"You're a goddess on so many levels, and I'm going to show you how much I love you." She smiled softly up at him,

"Oh Ron."