A/N: This it is, the end. Thanks for staying along. The song was "Mystic's Dream", by Loreena McKennitt, with a few modifications to make it appropriate to the setting. More commentary at the end.
I planed the wood carefully. The large piece of timber- white pine, the good stuff- was going to be an interior support. Lots of knots, it was gonna look good. After everything, working wood poorly was...calming. I smiled for the first time in weeks. It wasn't going to be perfect, and I didn't expect anything to end...but I was definitely gonna hang up the flail for awhile. I smiled, continued working.
"How goes it, dear?"
I looked up. Jaheira smiled, trowel in hand. Sweaty, dusty, but still gorgeous. Bright green eyes, leathers, tunic. Whipcord muscles flexed under tanned skin. I smiled back, setting the planer aside. Took her hand in mine. In the background, Keldorn's kids squealed and chased one another around. I thought about children briefly, banished the thought. Not now. Too soon.
"Not bad. It's good to have my hands pre-calloused. We've got a month or two of work here love, even with everyone helping."
"Excellent."
"Excellent?"
"Yes. Enough traveling. Enough fighting. It is time to put down roots."
"Yeah, I guess. I always loved this neck of the woods. Wonder what Bjornin will bring for housewarming?"
The sounds of construction reverberated across the pond. Torlo watched with some curiosity as our motley crew ambled about. Minsc carried lumber to and fro. Jan was working on some arcane piece of plumbing. Everyone was here, helping out again. More than I deserved, I know...but it was still good to have them all around. Enormous amounts of gold had been offered -sent, in fact- to help me settle, or to encourage me to settle in a certain place. Athkatla wanted me back, after hearing about how we took down the Bhaalspawn. Offered me a big place in the Government district. The church offered me permanent lodging at Beregost, Athkatla and Baldur's Gate. I had a stack of requests sitting in my backpack, filling a scroll case. One of Aerie's, actually. Poor thing, she just...left. I broke her heart, and I felt awful. She just...left. Couldn't stand it. I wanted to...but...well, to be honest, Jaheira just meant more to me. Tore my heart in two to see her suffer more. She left me a note. I haven't even opened it yet.
Viconia and Sarevok helped haul up a large timber towards the roof. They were smiling, happy as they were capable of being. I know that my brother had a lot of issues, offered to let him stay with us as long as he wanted. He had business, though. He was leaving with Viconia once my house was done. Everyone was splitting up again. That same sadness returned. They were family, my family, practically the only I ever knew. The road had been my home for too long.
I could hear someone off in the distance, humming. Garrick strummed his lyre, and Haer'dalis' voice rose in time as he sat up, taking up the hand drum.
"A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song of an ageless might
Sings at the coming dawn..."
I smiled. It was something impromptu and simple, quickly taken up like the shanties and cadences they had played on the road. Men and women stopped work, came down and passed around a waterskin. The sky was clear above us, the lake calm. I couldn't ask for more. I was smiling a lot. 'Dalis let the song continue a bit, then gestured at Jaheira. She broke into song for everyone to hear.
"Birds in flight are calling me
Where the heart moves the stones
It's there that my heart is longing
All for the love of you"
You wouldn't think it. You wouldn't think it in a million years, but she could sing. She sung loud and clear, holding me tight the entire time. I recognized the tune, suddenly. It struck me. It was the same song that she had hummed beside me in the swamp. Other pitched in, impromptu acapella. It was beautiful...it felt like family. Arms casually slung over one another's. A journey's end, I suppose, was what it was. One journey's end. Everyone present had been swept up in mine. My mind snapped from one to the next as my eyes swung from one face to the next.
Keldorn, ever my trusted advisor. His wise counsel had helped me through so much. He was brighter than I gave him credit for. He looked up, nodded and smiled. It was good to see him enjoying himself again. He needed to hang up the sword more than I did.He was going to retire from the Order, he promised me. He passed the skin on.
Minsc was here just to help me build my home, then he was to catch up to his men in Baldur's Gate before heading back to his own land to finish his dejemma. He was a hero to his people, all told. One of the Rashamenian warriors had spoke of his exploits at length. He had unwittingly become a folk hero. The instant he had asked it, the finest warriors of each Berserker Lodge had volunteered to help him fight Melissan. He was to get the welcome he deserved. Sweat stood out on his head as he tossed the skin across the circle to a wiry, haunted man.
Coran clapped along. It had been a long hard road for him. He had fought hard, fallen in love, and lost that woman in her own scheme to betray him. He too was heading off into the sunset, back to Cloakwood, like he had always intended. There was a peace there, for him. At least he'd be close enough to visit.Cloakwood was home to Kivan as well now. The tattooed ranger took some relief from sending Tazok to his final death, and I think he was starting to get past his desire for revenge. He was still morose and quiet, but he wasn't angry anymore. I don't think he was particularly happy, even before he lost his wife. But I'll never know.
Valygar and Mazzy had stared death in face. Mazzy herself had lost two fingers on her left hand in the final battle. Valygar had an arrow sticking out of his hip and Mazzy was being bandaged in the middle of Beregost when they demanded I marry them. Duncan -now a hero in town- was the best man. It was odd, considering they just met then. Valygar was summarily propped up. I guess it was sort of like me and Jaheira's realization. After helping me, they were off to the Umar Hills. I hear they have two kids already.
Kagain and Korgan were eager to resume their holy war against the Drow, but had debts to repay to me. They had enjoyed our time together, considered the entire affair profitable. They were off at sunup tomorrow, their part of building done. Still, I felt it an honor to know them. Their lack of morals aside, they were fine warriors. I never heard from them again.
'Dalis was going to form a traveling band of minstrels based in Athkatla, and Garrick was going with him. They were inseparable these days. Their share of our accumulated treasure had bought them a stage and some actors. I wished them the best of luck with their venture. They had too much of the wanderlust in them still.
Xan was a changed man. The battle for the throne had left him a leader, cynical as he was. I still get odd letters from him, sent by courier. He's a landed noble, quite high ranking. Nalia went home, and we still visit her keep every now and again. Things are looking up for the D'Arnise lands. Imoen, Edwin and most of the other mages went back to Candlekeep. Everyone more or less was going home, heavily laden with treasure and tall tales. They all still have an open invitation- anytime they show up on my doorstep, they're welcome here. If they ask for my help, they'll get it. We're to have a reunion in five years- it'll be good to see everyone again.
We buried Yeslick in Cloakwood, where he always belonged. Poor, wise old man. He deserved better than to die for my cause. But he was old. He lived a full life. He didn't die in combat. He died in his sleep, at Feldpost's. It was the least I could do to honor him. Many wept openly, even me.
Something struck me as we all sat, taking a break from the work. I hadn't settled -hell, even tried to settle- during any of the opportunities for me to do to. Not after dealign with my brother, not after killing Irenicus. It wasn't my blood driving me on. Candlekeep had been my house, not my home. My home was on the road, in the forests, in the dungeons and in peril. It was where my friends -my brothers and sisters- were. They had given me a sort of home. What was I building was a place where my family could come together and be under one roof. The last verse of the song tugged me back to reality.
"Darkness lays her crimson cloak
Your lamps will call me..."
I looked at everyone, motioned for silence.
"If any of you ever need a place to stay, a place to stop, want to visit...you're more than welcome, any time of night and day."
"...call me home."
BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG
Dearest love,
I just wanted you to know that I did all I could to make you as happy as you made me. It wasn't enough. It didn't matter that you chose HER, I would have been happy just to hold you once. It didn't matter about anything. You are my sun and my moon and my stars. But I think you need her to be happy, so I'm heading to Athkatla in the morning. I sincerely hope you are happy. No matter what, I will always hold a torch for you. Memories of you keep me warm even now.
You gave me the strength to go on. You gave me more than that. I'm going to try and give that strength to others, like you did to me. Maybe I'll send more letters, I don't know. All you need to know is that I love you, and that if you call I'll be there.
Yours in heart, mind and spirit,
Aerie
A/N: Well, it's been a great journey to have. This is how I feel that the story would have played out, less a hundred million other things. Hope everyone enjoyed this as much as I have.
Abbot of Beregost