A/N: The final chapter at last. Thanks so much for reading this far; I applaud you. And to all people who reviewed – you're so cool!

Disclaimer: None of this is mine, especially since one scene is adapted from the book.

Chapter 6: Sabriel

Terciel felt the baby die as he entered the clearing. He walked swiftly past the onlookers, heading straight for the fire.

"…shall be no need for baptism," the Charter Mage was saying. Terciel caught his hand as it reached up to brush the ash from his forehead.

"Peace! I mean you no harm." Terciel stepped into the light, noticing with grim amusement that the band of travellers did not trust his words at all. Hands darted to weapons, Charter spells were ready to cast, and all eyes stared at him hostilely.

Terciel ignored them, and moved to look at what remained of his family. Sabrine's face was peaceful in death. Rain pattered upon her pale skin, and Terciel almost felt as if he could reach out and wake her. But he knew that she was gone.

He looked next at his daughter nestled in the midwife's arms. She was small, having been born early, but the fine strands of hair on her head were jet-black. She still could be saved. He would not let Sabrine's sacrifice be in vain.

He turned back to the people, and lowered his hood. "I am called Abhorsen," he announced, noticing the effect that these words had on the listeners, "And there will be a baptism tonight."

"The child is dead, Abhorsen," the Charter Mage protested. "We are travellers, our life lived under the sky, and it is often harsh." The man crossed his arms obstinately. "We know death, lord."

Terciel smiled at the man's claim, not failing to notice the irony. "Not as I do," he replied confidently. "And I say the child is not yet dead."

The two men faced each other across the fire, and Terciel felt a ripple of pleasure when the Mage was unable to hold his gaze. A woman, the leader of the band, stepped forward and spoke into the silence. "So. It is easily done. Sign the child, Arrenil," she commanded. "We will make a new camp at Leovi's Ford. Join us when you are finished here."

As the people made to pack, Terciel turned to the midwife. "Wait," he called. "You will be needed."

The woman hesitated, then dutifully held the child out to Arrenil, the Charter Mage. He said angrily, "If the Charter does not–"

"Let us see what the Charter wills," Abhorsen interrupted, raising his hand.

As the Mage began the ceremony, Abhorsen prepared himself to go into Death. He paused when he realized that he would need to name the child. What should he call her? His gaze fell on the body of his dead wife Sabrine. As if from far off, he heard the Charter Mage cry: "By the Charter that binds all things, we name thee–"

Terciel's tongue seemed to move of its own accord, and found himself saying, "Sabriel." He smiled at the name, then closed his eyes, and went into Death.

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"Sabriel." The five-year-old girl looked up from her play.

Terciel smiled down at her. "Go back to the camp."

The child obediently scampered off, and Abhorsen turned his gaze back to the sky, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand. The green Paperwing touched down in front of him in the clearing, and a young Clayr sprang out to help an older woman to the ground.

"Aah…" groaned the old Clayr. "Good to have both feet on solid earth again."

Terciel grinned, and bowed. "Filris. You are most welcome."

The woman waved a gnarled hand at her young companion. "This is Mirelle, one of our best rangers." The Clayr nodded her blonde head, hitching her quiver more securely onto her back.

Terciel bowed to her as well, before asking, "Why have you sought me out?"

"It concerns your daughter," Filris answered, taking Terciel's arm as they walked slowly about the clearing. Mirelle followed them, a watchful guardian.

"What of Sabriel?" Abhorsen asked calmly.

The old woman turned her face to him. "The Clayr have Seen that we will need someone who knows Ancelstierre," she said frankly. "We do not know why, but something of great importance is happening there. Has happened there. Will happen there."

Terciel was silent. Send his daughter away? He loved her dearly, but he could not keep her always at the House, and he could not take her with him on his travels. And the time had come for him to leave the travelling band, for duty was calling him elsewhere. "I understand," he whispered finally. "She will go."

Filris nodded in satisfaction. "Another thing," she remarked. "We meant to tell you five years ago… Or five days ago? Anyway, the necromancer that attacked your wife was receiving information from inside the Glacier."

Terciel frowned. "The servant of Kerrigor, you mean? The necromancer Caim?"

The old Clayr gestured at the ranger. "Mirelle can inform you better."

"It was one of our own. A traitor," the young woman said stiffly. "She overheard the prophecy about your daughter, and informed Caim. He must have had some sort of hold over her, because she killed herself to avoid talking."

Filris shook her head sorrowfully. "Sometimes we focus so much on the workings of the Kingdom, that we overlook the troubles in our midst". The old woman sighed. "We apologize, Abhorsen."

"No need," Terciel said softly.

He saw the two Clayr into their Paperwing, and once it was gone from sight he turned his steps back to the camp. His daughter ran to him in welcome, and he scooped her up in his arms.

"Sabriel," he said, lifting her high into the air. "Do you know what a boarding school is?"

End.

A/N: Finished! Now, let me explain all the little goodies: Filris is Lirael's great-grandmother. I'm sure you recognized Lirael's aunt Kirrith and mother Arielle as the two little girls in the first chapter. And Mirelle was mentioned in Lirael as the leader of the Clayr's Rangers. Goodness, there are nearly no original characters in this fic, are there?

So what did you think of it? If you've read this far, I would dearly love to hear from you. Reviews take so little effort but they still give me so much happiness. Go on, I dare you.

-Sanaryelle