Epilogue
The double doors opened and a stream of distinguished personalities came out. The inquiry had halted for lunch.
Gilthunder strained his neck to catch a glimpse of Margaret in the crowd. Even with his height, he couldn't see over the sea of heads.
"Looking for me?"
He whipped around to see Margaret behind him, smiling softly, dressed formally in a pencil skirt and frilly blouse, a folder hanging loosely by her side.
Gil grinned as he took the folder in one hand and her hand in the other.
"How did it go?" he asked. It was a closed hearing which meant that even he wasn't allowed in the audience. This was the 3rd day; Margaret had testified in the morning.
"I think it went alright," Margaret said thoughtfully. "It felt like they were genuinely after the truth, especially since the committee is made up of new faculty members who had no stake in what happened 10 years ago."
"I just want his name cleared. That's all. The rest… I'll learn to live with that."
Margaret squeezed his hand, her eyes looking warmly into his own. "I'm sure they'll do that. Turns out, I wasn't the only one who had something to say that contradicted Vivian and Hendrickson's testimony back then. And the Chancellor is a good woman - she won't stand by and see someone wronged."
Gilthunder nodded and looked around the gardens of Liones College, peaceful and serene on a weekend. For a moment, he could see himself and Margaret as children, chasing after each other around the bushes and gardens.
"I'm sure he'll always be watching over you, Gil," Margaret said as she too gazed over the sight of their shared childhood memories.
Gil looked back at her and smiled, feeling at peace after a long, long time.
