Chapter 19
Damion found the others awaiting his return in the clearing that surrounded Tempest's lair. They all appeared rather apprehensive when he, Tempest, and Snowfeather first glided down from the sky, but as soon as they saw it was Damion, and not Kaviel, who was atop the dragon's shoulders, they let out a great whoop of joy, and rushed forward to meet them. He quickly scampered to the ground and met his friends, who were still cheering happily.
“So, it’s over?” Sly asked, gripping Damion's shoulder proudly.
“It’s over.” Damion confirmed in a tired voice. “The gem and the sword have been united, and Tempest is finally free of Kaviel's control.”
“How I wish I could have watched you tear him apart!” The little man said wistfully. “I would have loved to see the look on his face as he died!”
“He isn't dead.”
“What? Did he get away again?”
Damion shook his head. “He didn't get away this time.” He smiled a satisfied smile. “Let’s just say he will be paying for the atrocities that he committed for a long, long time.”
Sly gave him a suspicious look. “What did you do?”
He shrugged. “I just thought he may enjoy spending the next thousand years or so sealed alive in stone.”
The scruffy little man blanched. “That’s a little extreme. Why didn't you just kill him?"
"Death wasn't enough." Damion pointed at Snowfeather, who perched on a nearby tree branch. “Snowfeather is the real hero. He stopped Kaviel from joining the gem with the sword, and knocked the gem from his grasp, freeing Tempest."
The great snow owl puffed his chest feathers proudly.
Dar turned and walked over to the enormous dragon, his eyes full of emotion. “Tempest, my friend! It is great to have you back after so many centuries!” He scrambled up her back and threw his arms around her massive neck.
“I always knew that you would never give up searching for me, my friend.” Tempest rumbled in a thick voice. “I never gave up hope that you would find a way to release me.”
Dar slid from her shoulders, and went back to Damion's side. “I owe you a great debt of gratitude. You were able to finally release my friend from that madman's control.”
"I'm just happy it's finally over." Damion replied in relief. He looked around the clearing at his friends and frowned. “Where’s Kariah?”
Sly's face fell. “We can't find her. She and Gretta slipped from the grove to watch the battle, but only Gretta returned.”
Damion cursed, and a cold shiver of fear rippled up his spine.
At that moment, Ket Matoc emerged from the shadows of the forest bearing a small, limp form in his arms. He stared at Damion for a moment, then lowered his head sadly.
“Oh, god!” Damion cried, running towards the elderly centaur, his expression stricken. “No!”
Kariah looked as though she had been beaten severely, and there was a horrendous wound in her chest where she had been run through with a sword.
“I found her in the forest.” The centaur elder murmured, tears streaming openly down his face. “It doth look as though she was set upon by some of the fleeing dragonspawn. She killed one, but succumbed to the others.”
Damion gently took her into his arms, and found that she was still alive, but only just. He carefully laid her down on a soft bed of moss, and took her hand in his. “My beloved!”
Kariah slowly opened her eyes. “Damion,” She murmured weakly, her voice no more than a whisper. “Did you stop him? Is he dead?”
“Aye, my love. Kaviel is no more.” He said gently, holding her tiny hand in his. “His reign of terror has come to an end.”
She smiled weakly, then gasped in pain. When the spasm subsided, she looked up at Damion, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry that I didn't remain at the grove like I promised. I should have never snuck off to watch the battle!” She coughed weakly. “I tried to fight the dragonspawn off, but...” She stopped, wracked by another fit of coughing.
“It is not your fault.” Damion said, cursing himself for allowing her to place herself in danger. “I should have been there to protect you.”
The elf maiden shook head weakly. “Nay, my love. You did what you had to do. You had no other choice.” She coughed again, spitting up a fountain of blood. Her eyes suddenly grew distant. “I love you, my warrior.” She managed to whisper with dying breathe. “I love you.”
“No!” Damion cried as she fell limp. He ripped the Dragon Sword from its sheath, intending to use its power to bring her back, but Sly restrained him.
“It’s too late.” The scruffy little man murmured sadly. “She is gone, Damion. Let her go.”
Later, he wouldn't be able to recall the bestial howl of anguish that echoed horribly throughout the forest. He cradled Kariah's body in his arms, grief tearing at his very soul. It would be several hours before he finally regained enough of his senses to rise to his feet, still cradling her body in his arms, and silently make his way back to the secluded grove. The others followed along closely behind, but he wasn't even aware of their presence. He used his magic to dig a deep grave, then carefully laid her body to rest. The others wordlessly joined in gathering stones to pile atop the grave to ensure that it would not be violated by any of the forest's wildlife.
He remained next to her grave long after the others had finished paying their respects and returned to the battlefield to aid the centaurs in the grim job of disposing of the bodies. His grief seemed endless, and he was sure that the pain that was searing his heart would never fade.
A few hours before nightfall, the flirtatious wood nymph that he and Kariah had encountered several days earlier appeared from the underbrush and knelt down next to him, slipping her tiny hand into his. He raised his head and looked at the beautiful creature, who stared at the grave with a great sadness in her eyes. She turned to look at Damion, a single tear rolling down her cheek, then slowly rose to her feet, and disappeared back into the forest.
“That’s the first time I have ever seen a nymph cry.” Dar said quietly as he emerged from the shadows, his childlike face sad. “I didn't even know that they had the ability to feel sadness. She must have been very taken with Kariah.”
Damion grunted, but remained silent.
“I’m sorry, Damion. I know how much Kariah meant to you. We'll all miss her very much.”
The huge warrior continued to stare at her grave wordlessly, refusing to speak. After a while, Dar disappeared back into the forest, leaving him to his grief. Damion didn't even notice the childlike sprite leave. He was sunk deep in his own self-loathing, replaying all the mistakes that he made, and all of the missed opportunities that he had to tell her how he felt about her. Now, it was too late, and the guilt that he was feeling was overwhelming.
Snowfeather appeared from the forest, gliding down on silent wings to land gently on Damion's shoulder. “You cannot continue to blame yourself, Damion. You did what you had to do.”
“You’re wrong.” He snarled aloud, cursing himself for his weaknesses. “I should have killed Kaviel the first time I had the chance, but I let him escape! If I had finished the job like I should have, Kariah would still be alive!”
The huge snow owl was quiet for a moment. “I know how you feel, you know. I remember what it was like to lose my mate. I felt so helpless, and I hated myself for not being able to protect her. But I did everything that I could, and that's what truly matters.”
Damion grunted, shaking his head. “I can't accept that there was nothing more that I could do. That would be too easy.”
Snowfeather sighed. “You did the only thing you could do, Damion. If you hadn’t, we may all be dead right now.” He turned and leapt into the air to go off in search of something to eat.
That night, the forest inhabitants celebrated their victory over the dragonspawn and goblins, dancing through the forest in glee.
Damion remained next to the grave for the rest of the night, completely oblivious the great c
elebration that took place around him. His grief overpowered his senses to the point that he didn't even notice the frolicking creatures as they gathered into a noisy crowd nearby.
A few hours before dawn, a strange mist began to develop over Kariah's grave, bringing him back to his senses. He watched in wonder as the mist grew thicker, forming into a ghostly figure that hovered over the grave. Within moments, Kariah stood before him, her expression calm and serene.
Damion gasped, rubbing his eyes. “K-Kariah?”
Kariah smiled, her eyes full of love, but at the same time, full of sadness. “It is me, my love.”
“But…But…How?”
The beautiful elf maiden smiled a gentle smile that eased Damion's troubled heart, though it did little to fill the void left by her death. “I have returned to speak with you. You need not grieve for me, my love. It was my time to move on to the next realm. You did what you had to do by stopping Kaviel. You saved countless lives. You made the right choice.”
Damion shook his head. “Now, I don't have anyone left. First my father is taken from me, then the woman I love. What am I going to do without you by my side?”
Kariah glided over and knelt before Damion. “You are far from alone! I will always be with you in your heart, and you have all your friends and loved ones who care deeply about you. Do not push them away. You'll need them during the long road ahead of you.” He looked at her with a confused expression, and she smiled, gesturing to the Dragon Sword. “You have been chosen to wield the Dragon Sword. It is an awesome responsibility. If it ever falls into the wrong hands, all of this has been for naught.”
Damion cursed, tossing the Dragon Sword aside. “I don't want the responsibility! Haven't I been through enough?”
Kariah sighed, then leaned in close and kissed him gently on his cheek. He felt her insubstantial lips brushing against his skin like a gentle breeze, then watched as she returned to float of over her grave. “Do not run away from your destiny, Dragon Lord. Keep the Dragon Sword safe from any that would use its power for evil. The welfare of the world depends on it!”
Her ghostly form began to slowly dissipate, causing Damion to leap to his feet in alarm. “No! Kariah, wait!”
She looked at Damion, her eyes full of sadness. “I love you, my warrior! Remember, I will always be in your heart!”
Damion watched with tears streaming down his cheeks as she vanished into nothingness. “I love you, my beloved.”
He remained next to Kariah's grave until dawn when Sly came and helped him to his feet, then he followed the scruffy little man back to the clearing around Tempest's lair and over to one of the roaring bonfires where the others were still celebrating the great victory.
Dar immediately forced a haunch of deer meat, and a large tankard of wine into his hands. “You must eat.” He insisted, urging Damion with a worried look. “You haven't eaten or slept in two days.”
Damion nodded. “Thanks. I could use something to calm my stomach.” He quickly devoured the deer haunch, then took a long pull from the wine. It had a wonderfully nutty flavor, and instantly warmed his insides. “This is very good wine. Where did it come from?”
“The centaurs were kind enough to provide us with this wonderful brew.” Garth hiccupped, his huge bulbous nose a bright red. “It is marvelously good stuff. I’m hoping to get the recipe. Our brewers back home would like it very much!”
Once he had eaten his fill, Damion grabbed two more large tankards and filled them with the delicious wine, then walked over to K'thar and Layi, who stood near one of the other nearby bonfires speaking quietly to one another. “Your warriors fought bravely. I am honored to have been able to fight alongside of you.” He handed them each a tankard of wine, then bowed deeply.
K'thar smiled, then returned his bow. “It is mine people and I that art honored. Thou hast saved our home. We owe thee a great debt.” He lowered his head. “And we art all saddened at Kariah's passing. She wilt always be remembered in the hearts of those whom dwell in this forest.”
Damion nodded, his grief still fresh in his mind. “She will be greatly missed by all that knew her. But she is at peace now.” He thought about Kariah's ghostly appearance, and noticed that the pain of her passing was not quite as difficult to bear. The pain hadn't diminished any, but he found that it was a little easier to accept.
He returned to the others, then settled down and looked around at his friends. “So, what do we do now?”
Everyone exchanged glances.
“I think it is time to talk about releasing the rest of the dragons.” Dar said gravely.
Damion looked over at the childlike sprite, his face troubled. “How am I to decide if they should be released? What if all the dragons are not like Tempest? What if they begin destroying villages and killing people? I would have to live knowing that I released them into the world.” He grunted, shaking his head. “I can't just destroy the gem and sword. It would destroy the dragons still trapped inside, but I must be certain that they will never harm any innocents before I can release them back into the world."
“You can use the power of the sword to guarantee that they will never harm anyone.” Sly pointed out. “Let’s face the facts, Damion. The Dragon Sword is a responsibility that you’ll likely carry for the rest of your life. As long as the sword remains at your side, the dragons are bound to you. They will follow what you say, if not out of gratitude for their release, then by the Dragon Sword’s power.”
Damion was silent for several moments. “I need to give this a little more thought.” He said finally. “I just want to be sure that I don’t make the wrong decision.”
“What do we do in the mean time?” Garth asked curiously.
“We rest.” Damion said wearily. Without another word, he disappeared into the forest in search of somewhere quiet to sleep.