Chapter Eleven : The Funeral on Summer's First day.

A/N: Yay, the end is in sight. This is the second to last chapter. The next will be the first anniversary and final closure for both Alex and Robin.

When the dark road fell before me,

And all the paths are overgrown,

Over the next few days, Robin was disturbed. What had happened to his love after her death? Would her deeds stand her in good stead, or would her heritage, her curse win out to engulf her for eternity?

His mind filled both with unanswered questions and a burning, searing grief that seemed like a rock of massive proportions weighing down on his heart.

When the priests of pride say there is no other way,

I tilled the sorrows of stone

Every night he could hardly sleep for worrying about it, but that night, he fell into a deep sleep. He relished it for the rest it would bring him but also guilty that he would forget her.

And then, all of a sudden, she was there. She looked so different from what he remembered her last; as a cold dead body on the floor, her pale skin even paler in death. No, here she was alive, with an adorable flush on her cheeks and a serene smile. Her beauty a vision as beautiful and familiar as a portrait that could be seen forever and the eyes not tire of. The few steps into her arms, a path to walk a thousand times, and the legs not ever tire of walking.

I did not believe because I could not see,

You came to me in the light

She was clothed all in white, and as she extended her hand toward him, he felt his heart breaking all over again. She was just so beautiful, a vision of perfection.

His hopes rose, as he laid eyes on her. Only someone at peace would be that beautiful. She smiled, as if she knew what he had been thinking, and drew close enough to take his hands. She was so warm. For a moment it seemed as if she was alive again.

When the dawn seemed forever lost,

You showed me your love in the light of the stars

'I know what you were thinking and I am so sorry I did not come see you sooner. It takes three days for the soul to truly leave this earth. As soon as I could, I came to set your mind at rest. There was something beautiful waiting for me when I left, you just didn't see it.

Cast your eyes on the ocean,

Cast your soul to the sea,

When the dark night seems endless,

Please remember me.

I was terrified that I would go to join my father. All of my efforts gone to waste. But it wasn't my work as a superhero, or my efforts to save people that saved my soul. It was you. Your love allowed me to open myself to feel love too, and helped me rediscover the inherent goodness in me, and to have hope again that I could be saved. To have faith in what lay beyond.

The mountain rose before me,

By the deep well of desire

That and the fact that I died before the prophecy of doom that was to take place on my eighteenth birthday, something that would make even the event last year with Slade seem like nothing. That and the fact that my death was a sacrifice to so many people. Not just the team, but an entire city. To sacrifice for so many people that I had never met. And the strength of will to see through the resolution that I would rather die than to join my father and Ciaran. It would seem that Ciaran was right, much as I hate to say it. I did have the power to change my destiny all along. Nothing in the future is ever set in stone. Only the irretrievable past is.

In the fountain of forgiveness,

Beyond the ice and the fire,

The Universe and The Witness are always fair, even sometimes merciful, even to someone like me. No matter what the circumstances, if we are truly repentant and if we still have some good our hearts, we are forgiven. They knew it was no fault of mine that I am who I am. That was why I was saved.

To be honest, I was to join my father; my demonic blood was dragging me down to his lair. But I was saved; I was taken away to a much better place, one where I can wait for you.

There we need never be apart again. I'll be waiting for you, love, don't worry, you're well on your way to earning your place. Just keep on living your life as you have been and you're sure to join us when it is all over. Be happy again, and live like you have always lived. I'll be waiting for you in the Plains. Death is not the end of everything.

Death comes to those who have lived good lives like a lover, bearing you away gently to make your choice. Mine was to wait in the Plains for you. Then, who knows? But I know we will never again be apart. We will face the Shepherd Of Heaven together, and there we will make our final choice, together. '

Cast your eyes on the ocean,

Cast your soul to the sea,

When the dark night seems endless,

Please remember me.

She leaned over and placed a light kiss on his lips, gentle and chaste, a kiss of farewell, but filled with promise of things yet to come.

When Robin awoke the next morning, he felt more energised and rested as he had in days. The anguish that he felt before had been tempered into a sorrow that seemed much more to bear. Silently thanking Raven, he washed up and left his room to face a new day withought her, one that would be the routine for the rest of his life.

Instrumental.

Though we share this humble path alone,

How fragile is the heart,

Raven was buried the next day in a quiet graveyard overlooking the bay. It was facing the Tower, that stood framed by the rising sun. No one asked how Richard had gotten it on such short notice, and no one cared, as it was perfect.

The burial was quiet and unassuming; just as she had been in life. In that simple ceremony, her body was returned to the earth of the world that she had loved, her spirit set free on its final journey to places unknown. But to be sure it was where the blessed reside.

O give these clay feet wings to fly,

To touch the face of the stars,

For she had finally beaten her father. She was finally free of him. Not in combat and in a show of brute force but in her deeds and words. And how she had died, saving those she cared about and stood to protect.

Breathe life into this feeble heart,

Lift this mortal veil of fear,

In doing so, in dying so, she was finally free. She was finally far away, free of him, his influence and his curse upon her, the curse that she had had to live with since before she could remember.

There was only a simple marker. It was but a slab of stone, plain and simple, to mark the grave of one of the city's greatest people. It was also plainly engraved, with her name, her birthday, and the day she died. The team said no words, each member giving her his or her own private funeral in their thoughts. Though one, Robin's thoughts of her were not full of melancholy and sad memories, but were filled with relief, hope and joy.

And then, suddenly, a melody started to sound on the air; played on a rich toned flute. It started out softly, but gradually increased in volume as the melody progressed. It was a faintly inspirational melody, bringing hope and comfort to all that heard it, yet sweet and gentle, bringing with it the image of safety and protection. Yet, for all its positive qualities, there was an undeniable sadness, a regret and longing in that melody, as if the player had suffered a terrible loss, and it had spilled over into the song.

In the hands of the mysterious flautist, even the happiest song could wrench at your heart, bringing to the surface all the hurts and tragedies of more than a single lifetime. And it was this song in particular, that made every tree and animal, even the silent ghosts of the graveyard, stop to listen.

But for all its beauty, the real meaning of the melody was lost, for only the flautist and the one for whom the song was being played, the one who was now asleep in that grave, knew what that song was. Only they knew, what that sweet song was, sounding over the still, lambent morning air, in farewell, and salute.

Only they knew that it was the fanfare of Azarath that was played for her.

Unseen by them all, hidden in the shrinking shadows of the graveyard, a tall slender figure stood underneath a tree not far from the grave holding in his hands, a slender wooden flute. The raised hood of his long black cloak covered the upper half of his face, leaving only a full mouth and strong jaw visible.

As the figure watched the grave, the light of the rising sun glittered of a single tear running down his face.

As the others left, Robin broke away from the others, moving toward the figure. He was sure this was whom he had to deliver Raven's letter to. A letter he was to guard with his life, and deliver, unopened, to one person only. 'Who are you?' he asked. 'I am Alex. Raven's messenger.' The figure replied sadly. Wheeling he melted into the shadows. 'Wait!' Robin exclaimed as Alex left; but as he gave chase, deep in the shadows cast by the branches there was only nothingness.

Take these crumbled hopes etched with tears,

To rise above these earthly cares,

As Robin finally left alone, the rising sun shone its first rays upon her grave, paving the way, its rays her own golden road to that heavenly land. And all on the most beautiful of days, on the dawn of summer's first day.

And there remained nothing of her there except memories; the most fitting memorial of all, for only her body was in her grave, a body that would soon turn to dust. What really mattered were their memories and emotions, and most of all their love; all of which were the very tools of immortality. Those were what truly made someone real. And they were in the safest place imaginable. In their hearts.

Cast your eyes on the ocean,

Cast your soul to the sea,

When the dark night seems endless,

Please remember me.

For as long as there is a heart to carry those emotions, love and the sweet memory of someone dearly loved is often the only constant one has in an ever changing world. Stones may crumble to dust and heroes and villains, cities and nations, even whole empires may rise and fall, but love and a heart's fond memories remain steadfast through anything at all.

Please remember me,

Please remember me.