Forget Me Not

XI

Birds, that had been resting peacefully on the top of the church squawked in protest and surprise, flying off with a hard flap of their wings as the bells chimed loudly in the church. Their sound echoed through the village; a mourning cry. Many people gathered outside, and inside the church, to see, mourn, pay their respects, and bid farewell to the brave knight-in-training, Flyn Bishop.

As I walked to the entrance of the church, I realized that nothing cut through your soul more than hearing a mother cry out for her lost child. It was a pain that would probably never get any easier for her. Xander was standing beside Flyn's parents, supporting Mrs. Bishop with a look of sadness on his face as she howled. He had been on a trip, I had found out, and returned as quickly as possible when he received a letter from Erik stating what had happened. Even with everyone having some time to mourn, the air was heavy with grief. I felt as if I were choking on it.

A gentle hand rested on my back then and I realized I had froze in the entrance of the doorway to the church. I looked up to see Erik beside me, silently urging me forward. Despite the awkwardness of our last conversation, I was thankful it was him beside me. I felt as if I were drawing off his strength and I stepped forward into the church, and then took another step, and another. Until we were standing before an intricately designed casket holding the young boy we loved and adored. A boy that was caught in an endless, and I hoped more than anything in the world, a peaceful sleep.

Flyn was wrapped in a winding sheet, so you couldn't see his body, but underneath he was most likely wearing his finest clothes, looking dapper and handsome. I squeezed my eyes shut, but only saw all the blood again and I opened them again, tears burning my eyes. I envied those that never saw Flyn the way I had. For those that could remember him only for how he was when he was alive.

The whole order of knights were around the casket, standing with members of Flyn's family. Maleah was silently holding a crying Geneth close to her, as was Verity, who was stroking Geneth's hair as her own tears stained her face. Lucian and Tristian stood close together, looking solemn, but as if standing near each other helped them. I caught Tristian sneaking a quick look over at Geneth, a mixture of sadness and concern on his face. When he caught me looking at him, he turned his face quickly away, focusing on another point in the room.

My eyes landed on Phoenix last. He was up at the front with the rest of us, but was standing off to the side away from everyone. His eyes were puffy, but his face was turned down in the worst, and most furious scowl I had ever seen. I was scared to imagine what was going through his head. I hoped it wasn't anything that was stupid and would get him hurt.

Once again, I hadn't noticed Erik's presence until he grasped my hand tightly in his as people began to pray before Flyn's body. When it was my turn, I shakily got down on my knees and did the best I could. Erik was already waiting for me as I almost ran into his arms, sobbing. I didn't uncover my tear stained face until a familiar girl's voice spoke.

"I'm so sorry..." Katrine cried, as she lowered herself to her knees to start praying. She was sobbing, almost unable to pray as she struggled to suck in breaths. I immediately left Erik's arms to kneel down to take her in my own. She threw her arms around me tightly, whispering in my ear, "I heard what you did... thank you."

I wanted to tell her I was happy to see she was okay, the only injury to her head, a bandage wrapped around it, but I couldn't speak. I felt horrible. I didn't deserve to be thanked. I didn't do anything. I was a part of that group that killed Flyn! I think I was just as guilty for his death as the one who killed him!

I stayed close to my friends as the procession went on. There were hymns and songs that were sung, and more prayers and tears that were made. All of it dragged on, a torture for some of those left behind.

Then it was time.

He was taken to the courtyard of the church, and brought to a six feet hole already dug in the earth. He was placed with care inside the hole, before the dirt was piled back onto the top of the casket. The sound of the dirt as the shovel scooped it up and as it was thrown on the casket was ominous to my ears. Every shovel of dirt on his casket meant being closer to sealing Flyn in eternal darkness.

But it also meant he was closer to a new world. I think everyone here knew that Flyn's life here was a stepping stone to something more. Somewhere beautiful, and deserving of him. Because he deserved more than he ever got in this life. As much as it still hurt, this wasn't a goodbye, it was something better, that I looked forward to.

I'll see you soon.