Artemis Fowl: Held Captive

Epilogue

Epilogue

Annmarie and Holly sat in wait. They were not aloud in the room yet as Artemis was not yet awake, and would be drowsy when he was.

Holly had healed Annmarie's wrists using fairy magic, and sending a series of blue and amber sparks through her fingertips and into the wrists, healing the burns and torn skin.

"Incredible." Annmarie had remarked.

"Not as much as you think." Holly said.

And now, they wait.

"He's up, but I would advise you to wait a few minutes before entering. He's a bit drowsy." A nurse came over to the chairs in which they sat and said to them.

"Advise is to suggest. Does that mean I can go in if I wish?" Annmarie asked.

"You can if you wish." She replied. "I'll take you there now."

"I'll get you in a few minutes." Annmarie said to Holly before following the nurse.

She felt so tall among these people. As if she were walking along side a child in a hallway with a low ceiling. She was able to stand and walk through, though.

The nurse opened a door and let Annmarie through. On a low, not quite long enough bed, Artemis lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. He hadn't even noticed her entry. Too deep in thought.

"Artemis? It is you, now?" She asked quietly.

"He sat up immediately, letting out a breath it seemed he had been holding quite some time. "You are here." He swung his legs down and stood at the side of his bed, wobbling slightly. "Yes, it's me. Just a bit disoriented."

Annmarie strode over to him, enveloping him in her arms, a favour in which he returned.

"That was your plan, then. Summon Orion and then come to Haven for treatment?"

"I'm sorry I had to do it."

"I'm not mad at you. Quite the contrary. I just can't believe that such chaos can all come together in such a short time."

"I should have told you. This isn't any little thing."

"No, you were right not to. This city, this world, it's amazing. I can't believe this. It's incredible. And I wouldn't want you to sacrifice the safety of it, or ours. Our own world isn't ready for such things. They would go to war with these peaceful creatures and kill themselves in the process. We would be no match, and we would be defeated. You did what was right, Artemis. I really don't care whether I know or not."

"You'd have found out anyway."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

They held each other for a few moments, reminded just how precious life can be. How fast it can end, how fast it can start. How rapidly and extremely it can change. Change everything, for better or for worse. How it can make you weak or strong. How it can fool you, deceive you, hurt you, and leave you with nothing. But there are things it cannot do. It cannot take away family. Dead or alive, they are always there. It cannot take away friendship, that is of one's own choice. And it cannot take away love. You must earn that yourself, and then figure out what to do with it, and how to control it. How to keep it.

No, life cannot control these things. Neither can we. We simply must hope for the best. And when we are not handed the best, we must find a way to deal with it.

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