Note: Sorry for the insanely long wait. A new grade has started here, so I'm pretty busy. I can only get on the computer once or twice a week, so forgive me. I'll definately finish the story, though, so don't worry.

Here we go.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Parting

The Prince and his men came back with only three survivors - a young man, a woman, and a skinny little boy, all of them who seemed to have been working under the Adderhead. They had also found Basta's body, half-crushed under a hunk of stone. And beside him, there was Orpheus, sobbing quietly to himself and looking like a demented person. The robbers brought Orpheus back with them. Or rather, dragged him along.

When Mo, Meggie, Resa, Elinor and Darius saw him again, they each gave very different reactions. Mo? His eyes blazed like fire, and he would have beaten Orpheus like he did to Snapper if Meggie hadn't held him back. Meggie tightened her lips and went pale. Resa, on the other hand, simply stared at him. Elinor and Darius clung onto each other as if that would protect them from Orpheus's wicked words and voice.

Fortunately Cheeseface was in no state to read, or write. He got down onto his knees and began to cry for mercy. The Prince looked down at the man with disgust in his eyes.

"Shall we kill him or not?" he said, drawing his sword. Orpheus trembled at the sight of the weapon.

"No," Mo replied, surprising everyone. "No. I have a better idea." Then he took Meggie's hand and drew her away for a few minutes. That very evening, Orpheus disappeared without a trace. Only Meggie and Mo knew what had happened to him. They had written, and read, Orpheus into another world. The world of the Lord of the Rings. Meggie was the one who came up with that idea - the Lord of the Rings was one of her favourite books. Mo had told the Prince to give up on looking for Cheeseface. He did.

The robbers decided to move back to Ombra. It was safe, now that the Adderhead was dead. Meggie and the others wanted to go, too, since no one had really seen Ombra properly. Fenoglio had gone back to his old house, where Minerva was still mourning the death of her husband, so Meggie wanted to go see him again. Meanwhile Farid and Dustfinger had set off for Ombra the day before. Dustfinger was going to see Roxane; Farid, of course, was following him, but Meggie could tell he was avoiding her. Wasn't it obvious? It hurt so much, yet Meggie somehow managed hide her pain. Even Mo barely seemed to notice; possibly because he was so preoccupied with his own thoughts and problems. For instance, the robbers wouldn't talk to him, and the pain in his torso was a lot worse than he would have liked. As for Resa, Elinor and Darius - they were rather excited about going back home. Mo had warned them to keep quiet, but it seemed as if Elinor would burst if she didn't talk soon. All the more reason they should leave soon, thought Meggie.

She had the passage ready in her pocket. She had written it impoossibly quickly, and a strange kind of satisfaction had overtook her. Meggie stroked the smooth binding of the notebook, deep in her own thoughts, walking along with the others. She hadn't realized how much she had been walking - already the Castle of Ombra was in sight. The Prince and his men signaled for them to stop. One of the men had gone to the front to scout for any dangers. It was difficult to completly relax after being hunted down by the Adder, even Meggie felt that. Oh, yes.

The scout came back with the relieving news that the coast was clear. The group made their way into Ombra. The city was different. It was almost as if they couldn't decide whether to celebrate or not. Cosimo was dead; but so was the Adderhead. The robbers didn't meet anyone on their way to Minerva's house. When Meggie, Mo, Resa, Elinor, Darius and the Prince entered the building they were surprised to find that Dustfinger and Farid were already there, with Roxane - and Brianna.

Meggie knew how much Dustfinger hated Fenoglio. Of course, she understood him, better than anyone. But why was he at Fenoglio's in the first place?

"Dustfinger! What are you doing here?" The surprise was evident in the Black Prince's voice and face.

"I have some business to finish up, I suppose," Dustfinger shrugged as they came inside. "Did you come to see the writer?" This was to Meggie.

She nodded, avoiding Farid's eyes. He was acting as if she weren't there. Meggie wished with all her heart that she didn't have to leave. As if wishing ever made any difference.

"Is he home?" Mo asked Dustfinger.

"I don't think so." Dustfinger shook his head, taking Roxane's hand. "Roxane had some herbs to bring to Minerva. We picked up Brianna on the way. We're heading back to the farm now, would you like to come with us?"

The Prince looked at Mo. Resa, Elinor and Darius obviously were enchanted by Ombra, but now wasn't the time for sightseeing. "Yes, we'll come." Mo said at last.

"I'll have to take my men back to our camp." The Prince said, starting to walk out the door.

"Can it wait?" Said Mo suddenly, catching Meggie's eye. She knew exactly what he was thinking. He wanted to say goodbye. They were going to leave.

"I suppose so..." The Prince seemed to have noticed the strange note in Mo's voice. "Yes, I'll come, too."

Farid didn't want to talk ever again.

When Meggie had told him that she was leaving, it felt as if a giant fist was beginning to crush his heart. He couldn't even breathe properly - the thought of life without Meggie made him want to die. He numbly followed Dustfinger, Roxane and Brianna back to the farm. Roxane had thanked him for bringing her husband back, although it wasn't his doing, and she had apologized, too. Farid had barely noticed, but later, much later, he felt so very grateful for her. It was a good thing, since Farid would be living with her and Dustfinger for the rest of his life.

The farm looked the same as it had the last time Farid had seen it - other than that the Folcharts, Darius, Elinor, and the Black Prince were there, as well. And another surprise - so was the writer, Fenoglio.

"Fenoglio! What are you doing here?" Farid closed his eyes for a moment. It was Meggie's clear voice, cutting into him again and again.

"You're going now, aren't you?" Farid heard Fenoglio say instead. He could imagine Meggie nodding. Then, he felt someone hugging him. Meggie. He tasted her tears on his face, and before he knew it, he was sobbing, as well.

"Meggie..." Was all he could choke out.

"Farid, I'm sorry..." Meggie was crying softly into his shoulder. "I have to go now." She took a step back, joining her parents, Elinor and Darius. Resa her arms around her daughter, comforting her, but all the same, there were tears in her eyes, as well.

"Please..." Farid let the tears stream down his cheeks. Dustfinger had put his hand on Farid's shoulder. Brianna and Roxane obviously had no clue of what was going on, but they would soon see. So would the Prince.

"Dustfinger, what's going on?" The Prince's voice was husky.

"You'll see." Dustfinger said with a sigh.

Through his tears Farid saw Silvertongue hand the Prince a single blue feather - from his mask. "Something to remember me by..." He turned to Dustfinger, ignoring the bewilderment on the Prince's face. "I don't think you'll need anything, will you? I think you've had enough of me and my cursed voice, Dustfinger."

Dustfinger just gave a bitter smile and shook Silvertongue's hand. "Hope you get home safely."

Then, before anyone else could interrupt, Silvertongue drew out Meggie's notebook and started to read out loud.

Farid found himself enchanted, despite the situation. He stood there with Dustfinger, unable to move a muscle. But he didn't take his eyes off Meggie, who was also gazing at him with such a sorrowful expression.

Then - they all disappeared. Meggie, Silvertongue, Resa, Darius, Elinor... They all simply vanished, leaving nothing but empty air in their wake.