Caro sat in the training yards, holding onto Jon’s sword in her hands. It had been two days since the war was over. The remaining falfreys surrendered to the Dule giants and would be dealt with according to how Belbriv saw was fitting. Caro sat there and remembered everything the three of them had gone through. How none of them did anything without the other two. She remembered traveling on foot with Jon when Noble got hurt on their journey to Orn.
Tears filled here yes and fell onto the steel blade of the sword. It wasn’t the same without him.
“Hey,” came a voice from behind her.
She turned around and saw Noble standing there. He sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders before they both started crying.
“It should have been me,” Caro said. “If he wasn’t standing there he’d still be alive,”
“Now stop it. No one could have stopped it and you know that.” Noble looked at the sword. “He told me how much you meant to him.”
Caro looked at him.
“He was so jealous of Seilen because he had your attention that he’d been trying to get for a long time. He would say, ‘He doesn’t realize who he has’. He would tell me, ‘If there was anyone I’ve loved, it was her’.”
Caro looked away, she couldn’t believe it.
“He told me one time that even though you loved Seilen and were partners, he’d protect you at all cost and Seilen would never appreciate you like he did.”
Caro didn’t know what to say. Then Noble started crying again, trying his hardest to fight back his tears.
“I’ve lost one of my best friends,”
Reality hit them both once again that Jon was dead. For the first time since the war, the two saw Belbriv, who came to talk to them. His arm was in a bandage as a result from the war. He got down on both knees in front of the two and looked at them both in the eyes. He inhaled, getting ready to speak, then looked at the sword in Caro’s hands and stopped himself.
“When do we go home?” Noble asked.
“Whenever you both want. I’m sure your families are eager to see you.”
“Except for mine.” Caro knew her dad wouldn’t care whether she was dead or alive.
“Now don’t talk like that,” Belbriv scolded gently.
“Can we leave tomorrow?” Noble asked, his mind clearly wanting to return to Bef to his adopted family.
Belbriv nodded.
“We can leave first thing,”
“You don’t have to bother coming; we can get back by ourselves.”
Belbriv looked at the boy like he was Noble’s dad.
“Just because we won that doesn’t mean there aren’t still falfreys out there who will try and kill you. I’ll return with you,” the gentle giant assisted.
None of them had mentioned the war, but Belbriv decided it was time.
“I know it hurts deeply for Jon to be gone. Even more so to have watched your best friend die…”
How was this helping?
“But it wasn’t in vain. And no one will ever forget him.”
“We watched Genged die too… how many of the others?” Noble wondered.
“Paime and Quoril.” Belbriv said solemnly. “The rest have injuries, but they’ll be alright.”
“I can’t believe it’s over.” Caro stated.
“Well the war for peace will never be over, but it makes it hard for the dark to take over without a leader.”
“What if they get another leader?” Noble questioned.
“It won’t matter. The Light will always prevail over the dark.”
Belbriv stood up and continued to look at his two trainees.
“Never have I been more proud of three young warriors in my lifetime.”
“You won’t forget Jon will you? I mean…” Caro wasn’t sure what she was trying to say.
Belbriv placed his large hands on her shoulders.
“Like I said, I’ve never been more proud.”
“So we leave tomorrow morning?” Noble checked, hopeful.
Belbriv nodded then left the two.
“We should probably go get things ready for our journey home,” Noble told her.
Caro nodded and they both stood to leave. Leave for home. Home. They were finally going home. Caro stopped and looked out over the training yards one last time. She glanced down at the sword then at her surroundings.
“I won’t forget either…” she reminded herself. “I love you,” she whispered into the wind. “I love you…”
