Author's Note: Okay, this one is weird because it's about the EVENTS of Disney's "The Black Cauldron," but has the characterization more inspired by the books. But fic sites tend to count them as separate fandoms, and on here, there's like... three options? Even though this was initially for a Disney Alphabet series lol, I'll count it as "Lloyd Alexander," since I was thinking of the books more when I wrote it...

Originally posted: Oct. 8, 2017

Alphabet Prompt: "Death"

Of Fears and Miracles

"It's ironic, really," Eilonwy always said afterwards. "That he should die at the hands of his own weapon that he searched for so long for. Served him right!"

"Indeed," Flewdurr said, shuddering at the memory. "Though, I must say, that was quite possibly the most hideous, horrific, absolutely terrifying death I've ever seen!"

His harp strings remained quite still, but even without their snapping, Taran knew the bard spoke the truth. The image of the Horned King's gruesome death was burned into his skull, forever reminding him that he could very well have shared the same fate had he not clung to the solid stone tablets on the castle's floor.

For days after their adventure defeating the Horned King and stopping the Black Cauldron's evil powers, Taran and his companions traveled on foot back to Caer Dallben, all the while rehashing over every detail, partly to remind each other of their impossible survival, and to also fill in the details with Gurgi, the unlikely hero of the group. But by the third day, Taran was exhausted recalling memories he'd rather erase. Even with Gurgi's miracle, Taran remained haunted with the image of his little friend jumping into the Cauldron to save them all.

"What was death like, Gurgi?" he finally asked one night, after they made camp, and while Flewdurr and Eilonwy were preparing a fire. The little furry creature pondered for a few moments, scratching his ears absentmindedly.

"Gurgi is not sure, Master," he said at last, in his strange, primitive voice. "Gurgi only remembers dark and silence. No talkings and singings, no yellings, or whackings and smackings. Just... quiet. Like when Gurgi sleeps, only without dreamings."

"D-did it hurt?" Taran asked softly, almost dreading the answer.

"Gurgi doesn't know, Master," Gurgi said, his eyes downcast and shuffling his toe in the dirt. "Can't really explains it. Gurgi remembers jumping in the scary Cauldron and then... nothing. The last thing Gurgi remembers after that is the silent darkness and then being picked up by Master and waking up."

Taran nodded, satisfied with the closest answer he could expect. As Gurgi scrambled off to Eilonwy's call for dinner, Taran remained in the shadows of the forest, deep in thought.

"Taran?" He turned. Eilonwy stood a foot away, biting her lower lip and cocking her head on the side. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I was just asking Gurgi about... about what he went through."

Eilonwy paused, then took a step closer and knelt down on the ground to Taran's level, who kept his back toward her. "And?"

"Well... it made sense, but it also seemed frightening. To die and be left in nothingness. At first, I tried to tell myself it was because Gurgi was destined to return to us, or that because he wasn't entirely human – if he is at all – it might be different for, say, you, me, and Flewdurr, but-"

"But, you're still scared."

"Y-yes."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with that!" Taran turned to face her again, mouth open, ready to argue, but Eilonwy covered it with her hand. "I mean, silly Assistant Pig-Keeper, that everyone fears death. It's perfectly normal, and you shouldn't be ashamed of it. And even if it's as Gurgi described it..." Eilonwy closed her eyes for a moment, and took a deep, shuddering breath, "well, it doesn't really matter, does it? After all, you're still alive!"

Taran stared at her in shock, then burst out laughing. Eilonwy blushed and nearly spluttered out an angry retort, but was silenced when he pulled her into a hug.

"Thank you, Eilonwy. I guess I needed someone to remind me," he murmured in her hair.

The princess remained stiff for a moment, then nuzzled against Taran's shoulder.

"I'll always be around to remind you of things, Taran of Caer Dallben, so you better get used to it."