Okay, it's taken a while to put this up because I wanted to put it up WITH the epilogue/end. I apologise that these last few chapters have been boring but it's been hard trying to make this part of the story light-hearted considering that the characters are pretty depressed. Shirin, being not human CAN return, she is a being that will only ever properly die when one action is taken. The ending of this story may prove pretty abrupt and may leave many ends untied, that is why I am writing a short continuation to this story that should bring everything to a end and leave it at the beginning of WW – it will pretty much go over what happens between now in this story, and before WW, because that isn't really covered and there is a large possibility of what could happen; so, as you read the end of this story, please don't be angry at me ;). Again this is from Farah's view:

Chapter 29: Goodbyes

I stood awkwardly out the room; I didn't want to enter because I didn't know what I was going to see. I knew full well what dead bodies looked like…but it was different it was a dead body of a friend. I had woken up early because I had wanted this to be over and done with, yet I'd probably wasted at least an hour trying to mentally prepare myself and that quite clearly proved useless. I was on the first level of the palace, the corridor I was stood in, like most areas of the palace overlooked some greenery. I could hear talking from below so I approached the edge and peered down. It was Eknath…and someone else. I couldn't see her face from the angle that I stood at, but she was a short girl with black hair, I had to admit, she wasn't particularly attractive, she was actually rather plain, but that didn't seem to matter to Eknath, he appeared to be murmuring 'sweet nothings' to her, his eyes glazed with affection. I hated to ruin the moment but it had to be done. I coughed loudly. Almost immediately the two jumped apart from each other and the young girl began blush terribly.

"Farah! What are you doing here?" cried Eknath sharply. "Were you following me?"

"Yes Eknath, you live such an amazing life I feel the need to watch every single move you make," I replied sarcastically. "I'm making some burial preparations," I murmured.

"Oh…I'm sorry…" murmured Eknath. There was a short silence. The young girl continued to blush.

"So are you the girl Eknath wants to marry?" I asked. She came out with a lot stutters before just giving up and nodding. She seemed like a nice girl, well, there was nothing particularly I could judge her on, she looked completely harmless, she looked very timid and to be honest, very suppressed. I could sort of picture her personality although she hadn't spoken, and I just figured she'd be more suited to Eknath than I would. She was royalty, I could tell by her clothes, or if not royalty, she was of noble blood.

"So, how do you know each other?" I asked. This time she managed to reply. She spoke clearly and elegantly, yet she lack confidence.

"My father; is Eknath's father's advisor," she replied, "We have lived together our whole lives," she added. Eknath was my fifth second-cousin, so if the two were to marry then she would become one of my cousins too, which would be easier to understand compared to the idea of Eknath and I marrying.

"Farah, I talked to your father, he is definitely reconsidering, he is actually having talks with the Persian King, I am sure when he has reached a decision he'll call you to the throne room," replied Eknath.

"Good…and what of you two? How are you two going to find a way to marry?" I asked.

"That should not be a problem, for a long time my father has wished me to marry Eknath, not so long ago my father was almost persuaded, but of course, as this journey approached he changed his mind again," explained the young girl. Things seemed to be fitting together perfectly. Things were going to end happily ever after then, or at least that is what it would be if Shirin was still alive.

"Things are working out well then…well, I have matters to attend to…I will see you later at the evening meal," I said. Eknath gave a small bow of his head as acknowledgment, and the young girl gave a small courtesy, I then turned and left. I turned and looked at the door; I guess I had to get it over with. I approached the door and place a hand on the handle. I just shut my eyes and opened the door, whatever I saw couldn't be that bad. It wasn't it. There was a stone alter in the centre of a small candlelit room, on which lay Shirin cover lightly in white linen. On one of the four walls were shutters. I wanted to move and open them up to let in some natural light but I found myself glued to the spot that I stood on. She looked so…peaceful. I felt like I could go up to her and shake her and she'd just wake up…but I knew that wasn't going to happen so I went over to the shutters and opened, the morning light flooded the room and blinded me for a few moments, once I was able to look back with the sun hurting my eyes too much I did so, it was a beautiful day. It wasn't just an ordinary day though…I turned round and looked at Shirin…today was a day for goodbyes…

A few hours past, Shirin was all dressed up and, however awkward it had felt, I had managed to decorate her face with make-up. It was odd; I have never seen her the way she was dressed before. Her dress was a white lengha with a golden hemming. She looked much older than she actually was; she looked older than me even; she also looked even more 'royal' than me, though I didn't understand how that was possible. I suddenly heard someone called me, the Prince. I quickly stepped outside.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you all morning," he asked.

"Shirin…I needed to do the final preparations," I murmured in reply, gesturing briefly to the door behind me. He stared at it.

"And?" he asked; I assumed he wanted to know how she was.

"Well…look for yourself…" I murmured stepping aside. He stared at the door; I could tell he was feeling like I did before.

"I-I'm not sure I should…" he murmured stepping back.

"This is the last time you'll ever get to see her…you shouldn't waste this chance…" I explained.

"I know, I am not waste – " he began before I interrupted.

"There is nothing to be scared of, it's just Shirin," I added. I had persuaded him. He opened the door and slowly peered round. He then pushed the door open even more. He was silent but stared at Shirin. He approached the altar and stood right beside her. I saw him slowly ease and slump to his knees. I knew he had begun crying although I could only see the back of him. I heard him quietly murmur her name. His tears made it hard for me to understand what he was saying, all I could hear were Persian words; I could translate what he was saying. It was also so odd to hear or see him cry. He was shaking his head and he sounded like he was begging. I was able to translate bits of what he said through his sobs but I eventually managed to piece together what he was saying: 'Shirin, we've come so far together, you can't just leave me now…if it wasn't for you then…then I wouldn't be with Farah, you can't just go now…" he murmured. He placed his head down, and continued to sob incoherently. He was holding one of her hands; I had put gloves on both, mainly because one had been severely damaged when she was trying to fight the beast off back in the Temple. I wasn't sure what to do…so I slowly approached him and stooped to his level. I placed a hand on his back comfortingly; he turned and stared at me, his eyes full of tears.

"I-I can't just let go Farah, s-she's always been there…" he sobbed. It made sense, the Prince had only known me for a day but had managed to fall in love with me, it was only normal for to feel strongly towards Shirin. I embraced him reassuringly.

"It's time to say goodbye now, we have to…" I murmured. I helped him stand up, we walked back to the door, but before we left, he turned round and looked back at her one final time.

"Goodbye Shirin…" he murmured and then we left.

As the day went on, the Prince remained in a quite and disheartened mood. It turned out the young woman Eknath loved was called Teja and she really was like what I thought she would, quiet and gentle. Seeing her with Eknath I could tell they made a good pair. Both were very gentle, calm and good-hearted. The sun began to set and the evening meal was being prepared, it was about time for us to go to hall, but the Prince didn't want to move, we were sat in the gardens. He hadn't said anything for a long time but suddenly said something, something that wasn't about Shirin, it surprised me.

"What was your childhood like Farah?" he asked.

"Well…like anyone's I suppose, I was taught how to act like princess by my aunts and mother, and how to fight by brothers…there was nothing out of the ordinary…" I murmured, "What about you?"

"My brothers and sisters took care of me, but sometimes they couldn't so…so they left me with this person, I can't really remember him, but he was probably the best person that came to a good father figure…I honestly don't remember him or his name…I expect he'll be quite old now. I suppose the reason my father cherishes me so much now is because he missed out on a lot of years from my childhood…too busy trying to strengthen Persia," the Prince replied, "Shirin had a sad childhood…" he added now probably thinking about her. "Do you think we'll ever see her again?"

"I don't know," I replied looking at the stars. He looked up at them too.

"Well…the dead stay dead…" he murmured.

"Do they?" I asked.

"Well, yes, because time…" he began and stopped, he knew what I meant, anything that was controlled by time was reversible. "I wish she had explained what she meant before she died…" he added slowly, it was a thought that I shared. A young servant interrupted us and told us that the evening meal had been prepared and was set, and so, with this news, we stood and made our way to hall.

People were still talking even though the meal was set; no one had actually sat down to eat. I saw my father, the prince's and Eknath's all stood talking. There was another man talking too, but he didn't look familiar to me.

"That is my father," said a voice behind me, it was Teja.

"Have you heard what they have been discussing?" I asked. Teja nodded.

"Matters concerning the marriage…but I have heard nothing yet that is for certain…" murmured Teja. I didn't like the sound of that…what would happen if they didn't like the idea at all? Would I have to live the rest of my life with Eknath? It was only now I that I realised the whole uncertainty of the situations. I stood, with either a blank or quizzical face, considering the thought of them saying 'no'. It was only when I noticed people sitting down did I move. It was time to eat, but I just couldn't, they could so easily just not allow it, my mind became flooded with different reason of why they wouldn't…and then the most unusual thing happened. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I felt words in my ear…'It's your fate Farah'. I turned round, but no one was stood there, I could have swore the words had been said, I even felt the breath tingle my ears, but no one was there…I thought about the words…it was my fate…

I ate slowly…I eventually gave up and allowed my still-full plate to be taken away. My father then stood. Why was he standing – he only ever stood when making an announcement.

"As everyone will know, my eldest daughter Farah is due to be wed," he began, at the mentioning of my name he turned and smiled at me. I should have tried to smile back but it was hard because I didn't know what he was going to say next. "And as you also should know, over the past few days, India and Persia's alliance has grown stronger, and I hope this to continue for as long as time itself. As a symbol of our alliance, I take great pleasure in announcing that my daughter Farah will wed King Shahraman's youngest son. Arrangements will commence tomorrow," announced my father and sat. Although completely filled with joy I tried to look somewhat upset.

"But what about Eknath, father?" I enquired.

"Do not put a second thought to him, Farah, he is not 'suitable' to marry you," my father stated. Eknath, managed to look very depressed almost tearful, I had to admit I was somewhat envious of how well he could mask his happiness, he was much better at it then I was, all I could do was look down, trying to hide my smile…

After the meal, I walked peacefully through the gardens with the Prince, we didn't say much, what we had set out to happen was going to happen, nothing was going to get in the way of that. The smell of incense lingered under our noses, we followed it, and eventually we found ourselves near the royal crypt, over the tomb the priest was stood chanting slowly. I felt upset, but it wasn't like the sadness I had felt before, as I stood and looked at the tomb, I felt it finally set in – Shirin was dead and gone, and I just had to let go. I didn't feel guilty as what I suppose was to be expected, I looked at the Prince, and I could tell he felt the same. I wondered a little what Shirin's feelings would be towards our marriage…I didn't think she would be angry but happy; I wondered what path she would take if she was still alive, maybe she would have stayed with us…maybe she would have gone back to her old life, maybe she would have found a new life…I suppose I would never know, it was impossible to find out, but then again, as Shirin had often proved to me, very little was impossible.

I didn't dream during the night, but as I woke I heard a lot of fuss occurring. The wedding was already being planned, my family and the Prince's talked a lot around me and what they spoke about was often concerning me but I didn't listen much. A date had been set, it wasn't too far away, six months…six months…that day that would happen in six months time wouldn't be happening if a lot of certain things hadn't, if I hadn't trusted the Prince, if the Prince hadn't trusted a thief…a thief…none of this would have happened if it weren't for a thief…

Last paragraph there was kinda just musing, okay, you should kinda understand what's happened now, the Prince and Farah are gonna get married, so for the last chapter I'm going to jump ahead to the wedding day – just assume nothing has major has happened in that period between now and then – oh, and the narrator is NOT Farah, it will be explained in the short continuation I'm going to write.