Meredith's Dragon

Epilogue

The night before Gwen left for her first true battle, I told her what I'd seen in the dragon's eyes.

Ebba had fallen asleep with her head in Gwen's lap. Gwen, for her part, rested her head on my shoulder as we sat by the fire. "I still don't want you to go, Gwen. I'm still afraid you'll be hurt or worse, even if you are the best warrior Sigbert has ever trained."

There was nothing Gwen could say to contradict my fears. Last summer's battles had cost many of our village's men, along with much of the king's southern territory.

"But every time I think about losing you and want to hold you back, I see her eyes. I see myself holding onto you so tightly you can't breathe. I know I have to let you go. Even if it hurts." I stared into the flames, remembering.

"I'll come back," Gwen promised, though I knew she couldn't be sure of it. She gave a small laugh. "Landis will be awfully disappointed if I don't."

Landis had slowly recovered from his burns and broken bones, but not in time to train to go out with the militia this summer. If anyone hated the idea of Gwen leaving more than I did, it was Landis. Not only was he unable to go along to help her in battle, she refused to marry him until after the fighting ceased for the winter. He had reconciled himself to the situation through weaving her a coat of mail, while I likewise wove the padded tunic to wear beneath it. In a way, we would be with her in battle and do our best to protect her.

"Father would be proud of you," I told Gwen, squeezing her shoulder. "And though I wish you didn't have to leave . . . I'm proud of you too."