The Flame and the Void

by Lunaschild2016

She was controlled and calm, empty of all emotions. He wasn't fooled though and from the moment she crossed that stage he knew he wanted her. She was the master of the void. She felt no pain, no emotions and no fear when she was in her void and no one pierced that void if she didn't want them to. Until Eric that is. Could their flame endure or would it burn them both? Eric/OC AU M

32. Chapter 32

Chapter 32 - Eric's POV

Her friend Lex is already sitting there with a guitar and smirking at her. She rolls his eyes and sits next to him.

I look around and there are a lot more people around than there normally are during Visitation days. I see that they are all eyes on the two. Max looks at me and nods. "You haven't heard her before have you?" He asks quietly.

I shake my head, forehead furrowed and wondering how the hell all these people had and I never had a clue. "Not yet. I didn't realize this many people had."

He nods with a smile at Raven. "Most have at least attended one party by the Pedrad's and if I am not mistaken they will do the most requested song she gets."

Raven looks to Astrid who smiles and shrugs. "You know what song we want."

Raven laughs shaking her head. "I sang it twice yesterday. Once at the party and then when everyone went home and it was just us the smaller group."

Astrid smirks. "One more for today should set me until next weekend.

She roll her eyes and tunes the guitar and then Lex and her smile.

[I see Fire, Ed Sheeran]

The song starts with a single acoustic guitar and once voice playing and singing. As soon as she starts singing I smile. It is from the movie The Hobbit and is a beautiful song. I can see why Dauntless would love it so much.

Lex joins in soon and while she takes the higher parts and he the lower they both play the guitar and use the guitar as the percussion just as in the movie.

Slowly more voices join in as the appropriate choruses start. Astrid was the third. I can tell Raven loves music because with each new voice that is added I see her expression of delight and she closes her eyes. She gives this adorable fucking side smile when she gets to parts as she looks to Lex or Astrid, but by the end of the song it seems everyone in the Pit has joined in. I see even Max and Andrea have joined in and I smile.

Oh, misty eye of the mountain below
Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls
And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke
Keep watching over Durin's sons
If this is to end in fire
Then we should all burn together
Watch the flames climb high into the night
Calling out father oh
Stand by and we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side
And if we should die tonight
Then we should all die together
Raise a glass of wine for the last time
Calling out father oh
Prepare as we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky
Now I see fire
Inside the mountain
I see fire
Burning the trees
And I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze
And I hope that you remember me
Oh, should my people fall
Then surely I'll do the same
Confined in mountain halls
We got too close to the flame
Calling out father oh
Hold fast and we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky
Now I see fire
Inside the mountain
I see fire
Burning the trees
I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze
And I hope that you remember me
And if the night is burning
I will cover my eyes
For if the dark returns
Then my brothers will die
And as the sky is falling down
It crashed into this lonely town
And with that shadow upon the ground
I hear my people screaming out
Now I see fire
Inside the mountains
I see fire
Burning the trees
I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze
I see fire (oh you know I saw a city burning out) (fire)
And I see fire (feel the heat upon my skin, yeah) (fire)
And I see fire (uh-uh-uh-uh) (fire)
And I see fire burn auburn on the mountain side

The most poignant parts are when it references the verse:

And if the night is burning

I will cover my eyes

For if the dark returns

Then my brothers will die

And as the sky is falling down

It crashed into this lonely town

And with that shadow upon the ground

I hear my people screaming out

I see her passion and conviction as she sings those lines that she will stand and fall with her family. I feel shivers run down my spine at that and once again wonder about her hiding this part of herself.

This is a warrior's song that says it plainly. We know the risk and we celebrate like it is our last nights. But when the call comes we will be there beside each other. When the last note is sung there is the loud Dauntless cheering and the clapping of the visitors before The Pit goes back to business as usual and Raven opens her eyes. She hands to the guitar to Lex and Astrid seems happy and bounces away.

Lex frowns at her. "Dammit I was hoping she would ask you for more."

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Don't push it Lex."

He shrugs and says goodbye to her Aunt then moves away carrying the guitars.

Raven moves to sit next to Jeanine which works because I am on the other side of her now.

"Have you found if there is a piano here too Raven?" She asks smiling softly Raven and I tilt my head to listen.

Raven shakes her head. "No I don't want to arm Astrid with any more instruments to spring on me. Maybe I will search it out because I do like to play. Just you know more for me and not on command. Lord help me if she ever hears about me and the cello. Never really cared for that one as much." Raven grimaces and Jeanine chuckles.

Jeanine laughs. "You played the cello because I liked it. So thank you for that very short foray into it before you made it into a wooden bonfire." Raven's eyes got wide and Jeanine smirks. "You didn't think I knew that it didn't just spontaneously combust? And you didn't mind playing the piano for the children."

She shrugged and winked. "They are cuter. Besides I liked volunteering to play for them. Made them happier and the nurses happier because no one likes to see sick children suffer or be unhappy."

Jeanine nods sadly. "I have to go soon Raven. I need to head back and begin the preparations you suggested for the nano-serum. I also want to check on how we can help with the obstacle courses."

Raven smiles sadly too and I turn away a bit. I don't want her to be sad but I am glad she got to see her Aunt. Something I would never have thought last two days ago I would be happy for. "Thank you for coming Aunt Genie. I know it had to be hard…"

Jeanine wrapped her arm around her waist and pulled her gently to her side."Not as hard as never getting to see you again. We all have to confront our mistakes Raven and I hopefully have done that. I can't change what happened but I can learn from it and move forward. Speaking of, has Shane bothered you anymore?"

Raven shook her head. "No, I don't expect him to but I try to be aware and vigilant" She frowned deeply and I could tell she was feeling guilty for something.

"Aunt Genie I was kind of ruthless when dealing with him. The morning of our match I sent a message to my father. It was sarcastic as hell and I told him that I had sad news and that Shane and I are no longer together." She spoke in such a tone of self-loathing and I wanted to let her know Silas probably would have been aware of it from Peter.

Jeanine smiles and shrugs. "Shane made his bed when he lay down with Silas, his whole family did. Let me guess you are worried about when initiation ends and he walks out of those doors bound for wherever?"

Raven thinks for a moment and nods. "A big part of me hopes that he gets what is coming to him but the other part just as fucking big says it doesn't work like that. I am not judge, jury and executioner."

Jeanine shakes her head and frowns and you could see she was not going to listen to this from her and I don't blame her one fucking bit.

"You almost died Raven. If I hadn't insisted that you be hooked up immediately to bags of nano-serum on route to the Med Center and again when you got there, you would have been. You should have been. How you continued to fight…" Jeanine paused closing her eyes and breathing.

"How I wished I could fight like you do Raven. I would have gone after him that moment. I have never felt as weak as when I had to sit there and watch from afar and hope it was enough and I gave the order on time." Max catches my eye and nods as if to say see this is why she is here.

Jeanine cupped Raven's cheek and took a breath. "You fight with every cell in your body and soul and that is why you are with us today. Even when you fought him and put him down you could have killed him very, very easily. They said you hit his nose at the exact angle to take him down but not push the nose up into his brain. Every break was clean and meant to stop him from moving those limbs again. I looked up the law you could have killed him for his attack and been perfectly fine. He wouldn't have cared and we already know about Silas. Stop referring to him as your father just because of stupid norms and dictates. They have never applied to you Little Bird."

"I was almost afraid he was going to come here today." She said but I could tell her Aunt's words had relieved her a bit. As if she needed that reassurance that she wasn't turning horrible like her father.

Max shook his head "He would have never made it close to the fence of the compound Raven. If I can help it he won't come near you again. You know from the moment you climbed up into my lap I saw you as my daughter. He won't come near you again." He growled.