The Final Breath – Faeneon’s Goodbye

The wind whispered gently as it blew over the city, carrying with it the sighs of the mountains. She was resting in her favorite place just outside her home. As the years passed, she given up whatever quest she was on and simply decided to spend her time near her home. Peace surrounded her which led to her dozing off in the soft warmth of the two suns.

He appeared to her then. In dreams or in her reality, either way he was there.

“Papa?” she whispered.

“There you are, poppet.” He lowered himself onto the bench beside her, looking as young and wise as she had ever seen him. “I was beginning to wonder when you were ready.”

She smiled faintly at the pet name as her eyes traced every line and curve of his face. It had been so long that she had almost forgotten what he looked like. She shrugged faintly, looking embarrassed by his comment.

“It’s alright. I know. Our family seems to have a problem accepting death the first time around. It usually takes twice for it to stick.” His lips curved slightly on his bemused face. He was probably remembering the two lifetimes he spent on Gatihnar before he accepted Death’s reward. Then he folded his hands into the sleeves of his robe. “Yet you have had 150 years on this realm. Without the dying part, of course.”

“That long?” Years she could hardly remember now. Years that she had unwillingly forgotten about.

“Why haven’t you come to join us yet, poppet?”

“I don’t know. I thought I had a purpose, a reason to stay here.. but now.. I’ve forgotten so much. Time has slid by me that it no longer seems to matter if I arise tomorrow.”

“Yes, time tends to take away the memories until there are none left.”

Sighing, she shifted against the stone bench and looked out over the open land of Falania. Suddenly she was so tired. The realm had fallen silent under the threat of darkness and perhaps she was holding onto something that no longer needed her.
Her gaze fell once again on her father, the hyin who had taught her everything and more. He had been a powerful priest. Even though she took up the garbe of a cleric, she shared some of his power.

And now that power had waned, telling her it was time to go.

He seemed to know. He brushed a hand down her hair and stood, holding out his hand. “Come with me, dear.”

She looked down at her hands, they were beginning to age all over again. And she was tired of chasing what may never happen. The future was meant to change. If we knew the future, then we lost all chance of surprises and the ability to shape our own lives. There was no longer a reason for her to hold onto this plane of existence.

Knowing this brought such a wave of deep peace she had never felt before. She didn’t even need to remove any of the mystic items that tied her to this realm.

As death’s sweet caress reached out to her, she was not afraid. In fact, she now welcomed the touch that slid easily through the magic weave of the objects and plucked her soul from the vessel she was given to explore life with.

With the final breath, the spirit of who she once was, the princess of the royal Tabisou’s.. the last of the line, was standing in front of the now peaceful remains of Faeneon.

She watched with curiosity as a guard of Falania came by and noticed her stillness. Raising the call, he rushed medics and doctors to her side. All for naught as she was already gone. The spectre smiled and raised her fingertips to her lips, kissing the city she had called home goodbye.

“Fae.”

Turning, she smiled at her family that was waiting for her in the light of the Afterrealm. With a squeal of joy, she picked up the skirts of her brilliant white robe and rushed into the embrace of her family once more.

Finally.

Copyright 2009.
Do not copy, publish, recreate or otherwise use any part of these stories without permission from the owner. This is a work of fiction. Any likeness to any real person or event is completely coincidental.