Warnings: Angst. And slash, but i'm not saying who. If you get offended don't read.

Chapter Thirteen: Of Death and Love

The four remaining Sons came back to the Oval slowly, shoulders slumped and tears staining their faces. When they got back into the changing rooms, they gently laid Damien's body on the soft massage table. Then Shane tapped them on the shoulder.

'It's Matt,' he said simply.

Justin shoved the others aside and dropped to his knees. 'Matt! Oh Matt!' More tears dripped from his beautiful blue eyes and onto Matt's face. Then Matt's eyes opened and he made an effort to smile, though his breathing was growing shallower. His fingers came up to brush the tears away.

'Justin…Oh Justin…don't cry…please don't cry…smile for me, Justin…'

Justin smiled weakly. Then Matt gave a sigh, his eyes closed and they felt him slip away into the cold river of Death.

Justin rocked back on his heels and screamed again, his anguish permeating the air around him. Then, quite suddenly, he slumped over forwards and lay still. Brad reached for his wrist. He looked up with a pained expression. 'He's dead!'

Justin waded through the river. 'Matt!' he cried. 'Matt! Matt! Ma-att!' He saw a white spirit lift its head from the river. A black thread ran from Matt's chest to Justin's. 'Matt! Don't leave me! Please don't go!'

Matt stood and took Justin into his arms. 'I won't leave you. Do you come beyond the Ninth Gate?'

Justin laughed through his tears. 'Matt, you silly, we aren't dead. Our spirits are still alive. Do you remember what Lirael said?'

'No.'

'That should one die to save the other, only true love can break the spell and return the dead. Now, we have a Test match to win. Come with me, my love.'

The players heard a distant sound of laughter, then saw Justin's eyes blink sluggishly and open. He crossed to Matt and sent a stream of healing magic into Matt's body.

Matt's eyes opened and, seeing Justin, he began to laugh. Then he took the small sweet face into his hands and kissed him. 'Oh Justin, sweet one. You were prepared to die for me.'

'Oh Matt…I nearly lost you forever.'

Everyone looked at each other, bewildered but smiling. Now they knew why Justin had been so interested in Bonded Clayr – he was one!

The mood dampened somewhat when Lirael came bursting into the rooms, not wearing a bandolier. She froze at the sight of Damien's still body.

'I came as fast as I could. What happened?'

'He used Astarael. He knew we couldn't use other bells.'

'No,' replied Lirael, her brow clouding. 'No, the Clayr have Seen him at the Glacier, and Seen his children.'

She dropped into a boxing stance and took the bells from Damien's chest. Then frost covered her body, and her eyes became unseeing. She had gone to find Damien.

Lirael called 'Damien!' in every precinct. She knew that his spirit was not truly dead; if the Nine Day Watch had seen him and his offspring, then he must live. But as she called out the spell to open the Eighth Gate, she realised that if he were here, or already gone through the Ninth, she would be too late, and nothing could be done. She hoped that he was all right.

'Damien! Damien, are you here?'

Damien's spirit rose from the river. 'Lirael? Princess Lirael, what are you doing here?'

'I've come to get you. You have a future, the Clayr have Seen it. You are not truly dead. Now come with me.'

'Matt…I promised Justin I would stay and travel through the Final Gate with him and Matt.'

'You don't need to, Damien. Justin's true love for Matt broke the spell and brought Matt back to life. They wait for you, Damien…'

The ice on Lirael cracked and she was smiling. Then Damien stirred, groaned and opened his eyes. He focused on Astarael, still resting on his chest, fingers still wrapped around the clapper. 'Well,' he grinned, 'that would explain why I've lost feeling in my fingers!' Then he laughed, long and heartily.

Lirael turned to them all. 'Sons of the Clayr, you have served well. Now you can return with me to the Glacier, so that you may receive formal Sight training and nourish your Clayr abilities.'

The Sons turned and had a quick discussion. Then Adam spoke.

'Lirael, we thank you for your kind offer. However, we ask that this journey be delayed until we retire – none of us want to walk away from the game now.'

'It is done,' Lirael smiled, leaving the Sons to continue play.

And the Test match meandered slowly along into a draw, much to the anguish of the Australians. The Ashes had returned to England after sixteen long years.

And the Sons were free.