Angel ran over to where Fiera was killed and hit his knees. He used his hand to feel along the floor, but found no trace of his love, save for her wedding necklace, the golden wings. He fought back tears, but still they came, falling on the stone floor, splattering into each other.
Odette and Derek could hardly believe it. One moment, Fiera had been blocking for Odette, the next, she was gone, engulfed by a much more powerful version of the Forbidden Arts than they had ever seen before.
There was no sound in the room. Even Angel's tears were silent as they fell for his fallen love, splattering on the stone floor. Odette and Derek knelt down beside him to offer him some comfort, though there was little they could offer, and little they could say. Odette couldn't believe that Fiera had died saving her. It all happened so fast, and right before her eyes. She was sure she would die, but then Fiera broke the spell on herself and saved Odette, sacrificing herself in the process.
Angel brought his hands up to his head, trying to make the pain go away, trying to ease his rushing heart, trying to tell himself that things would be alright. But it didn't matter. Fiera was gone, out of his reach, so soon, so bravely. Things couldn't be alright. He couldn't bring himself to be strong enough to admit it to himself, but somewhere in his heart, within himself, he knew the horrible truth to be nothing but the cold reality.
Fiera had been taken from him, murdered in cold blood, trying only to save her friend, trying only to do what was right, to keep a promise.
Slowly, he stood up. The air around him seemed colder, more bitter. Or maybe it was just his own heart, the pain of loss taking its toll on him already. It didn't matter.
"We have to go back," he said soberly, his tears suppressed, but not even close to being gone. "They have to know what happened."
Odette and Derek agreed and stood up beside him, still trying to comfort him wordlessly.
Outside, the snow began to fall, and the sky darkened, as if the whole world was mourning Fiera. It felt so wrong, to see the pure white snow, and be headed home. Fiera would never have that chance again.
The flight back was wordless. What was there to say?
When they finally made it back, things were just as they left them, not really a welcoming sign. It was as if their gloom was intruding on the cheeriness of Elmswell, or was it the other way around?
They walked solemnly into the reception room, none of them speaking a word, still contemplating what had happened. They were greeted by Rogers, Bromley, Cassandra, and Galatea, who had decided to come into the city to visit with Cassandra, who had been her friend since childhood.
Their conversation was shattered by the looks on Derek, Odette, and Angel's faces. Cassandra rushed over to Odette, and Galatea to Angel, having only one question.
"Where is my daughter?"
The tears that Angel had worked so hard to control flooded forward, like rivers down his cheeks, flowing down his face as he fought for control of himself.
"She… she's gone… She died fighting Leda, protecting Odette… she's gone…"
"No…" Galatea whispered, shocked. "No! This can't be happening," her cries drowned out whatever else she was about to say. They held each other, both the remnants of the memory of a hero gone.
One the love of her life, the other the mother that kept and held her close, both of them trying to bring each other through their pain.
Angel fought back the choking sobs as he tried to explain more of what happened. "She jumped in front of Odette, and absorbed Hell's Might with her own body. Her body was engulfed. There's nothing left. No trace of Fiera."
"She'll die with all the honors that can be bestowed on her," Cassandra vowed. "Everything is owed to her, and she shall have it."
Odette nodded in agreement, feeling like that was the only thing to do, to honor Fiera in every way possible. "She kept her promise. I'm in one piece, but at what cost?"
XxX
The funeral was solemn, a procession of pain and love and tribute. The drummers that would usually announce Fiera, Odette, Derek, and Angel at dinner were now parading down the street, announcing the rest of the funeral goers.
The procession marched down the main street of Elmswell, added to by the people who lived along the road as they exited their houses and took places behind the main mourners. It seemed like, although she was a half demon, that she was every bit a part of the community as a pure Guardian. It made Odette happy to see so many people coming together, feeling the same sorrow. If only the circumstances had been different. Maybe this would have been a happy occasion.
Derek, Angel, who was wearing Fiera's wedding necklace in a show of love and remembrance, Odette, Cassandra, Galatea, and Nicolai, one of Fiera's lieutenants, were the casket bearers. They walked silently down the street, dressed in heavy black cloaks, as if Fiera's death had stolen all the color away from the world. The sky was grey, heavy with clouds that seemed to be threatening to weep at any moment. The cold wind whistled throughout the city, bringing a feeling of desolation wherever it blew, mirroring the feelings of every Guardian in attendance.
Finally, they reached the northern gate, where a statue was erected, a tribute to Fiera's sacrifice, a beautifully carved marble sword, with Fiera's full title running down the blade in gold inlay. It was a work of art, a beautiful thing among such sadness and sorrow. Next to the statue was a podium, where the minister who had married Fiera and Angel was about to speak. The casket bearers set the coffin, an empty symbol, a vacant show of respect, on a stone table that waited for it. The minister nodded at them in respect and thanks as they took their seats near the podium.
" Guardians," the minister intoned, calling all attention to himself, bringing the room to silence. "Today, we lay to rest one of the greatest fighters, the noblest of heroes, the loyalist of people that ever graced this city. But not only do we mourn a stunning and tragic loss, we honor a life well lived. We honor a person who, regardless of how she was treated, stood by us, all of us, in our time of need. No other can claim to do that, and with as much sincerity as First Captain Fiera Bivar Reed."
The crowd applauded, standing up and giving the full salute out of respect. Many people were crying. All were silent in their mourning.
"I give audience to Second Captain Angel Reed, who loved her more than any of us combined," the minister announced, stepping down from the podium, meeting Angel's grieving eyes as they passed.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Angel began. "What is there to say about my wife of two days? She was taken too soon, torn from us too early. She had a lot of life to live. But that does not mean I regret the time I've spent with her, the things I've seen her do, the sacrifices she's made. Fiera was the greatest hero I have ever known and could ever hope to know. I hope she finds peace, wherever she is. I hope she is happy."
Galatea then took the podium. "I would like to thank you for coming," she began. "And I would also like to thank my daughter for her bravery, for her ability to do what is right, even more so than some of the Guardians she has resided among. Fiera, if you're listening, if you can hear me at all, you make me so proud. To be your mother is the greatest honor to have ever been bestowed on me. And you'll be missed, but never forgotten. Heroes don't die. They live on in the hearts of those they affected forever."
There was a ceremonial song played by a band led by Nicolai. The song was slow at first, but grew into a heroic euphony before settling into a clam melody and fading out for effect. Several people left flowers at her grave, and many of them expressed their sorrows to Angel and Galatea, who politely stood and listened, and thanked them when they were done.
Finally, after a long day that turned into night, the funeral was over. The mourners went home, and Angel was left with Derek, Odette, Cassandra, and Galatea.
"I'm sure she's found peace, wherever she is," Galatea said, putting her hand on Angel's shoulder.
"Yes. And she'll be in our hearts forever. I feel better now that she was given a proper burial and recognition. I think she'd be comforted to know just how many people knew her, how many people cared for her."
XxX
Odette had barely spoken all day. Derek knew she was upset by Fiera's death – who wouldn't be? But he didn't know just how much it affected her until she burst into sobs so heavy that she couldn't breathe. It took Derek all he had to calm Odette down without starting to cry himself.
"Why?" Odette demanded, as if he could answer.
"Because she was brave," Derek answered. "She wanted to make sure you were safe, and she wanted to keep her promise."
"But how could she be beaten like that? She's the strongest person I know, how could this happen?"
"Hell's Might must be a force beyond our recognition. Fiera couldn't handle it. Her body couldn't withstand the attack. And she knew it."
"She knew she was going to die for me," Odette whispered.
"You were her best friend, someone she loved more than herself. She wanted to save you with her last breath. And I am as much indebted to her as you are."
What Derek couldn't bring himself to say was that there was no hope. Fiera was gone, forever. There were no notes to burn, no spell to break. She was truly lost, a fallen hero. A soldier that would never return home. As unfair as it seemed, as evil and wrong as it was, it had to be true. There was no chance of her return.
The scene flashed in all their minds as they tried to sleep.
Odette being knocked to the ground, Leda holding her sword in triumph, Fiera jumping on front of Odette to protect her and being struck with the sword, the blinding light, and the sudden disappearance of Leda and Fiera, who's scream of pain rang throughout the castle's great hall, all of it ran in their minds all night until they fell into a grievous sleep.