To Honor a Warrior

Almost as if they were bestowing a gift, the skies had cleared to offer a beautiful, star filled night for the pyre. Drawing on her reserves of strength she has approached the area with head held high. A flow of emotions swirled within her as she looked around. The first thing she had noticed was her family, the strong, straight frames of her brothers standing shoulder to shoulder, their faces solemn. Briefly her mind flashed back to her life, and how they have always been there for her in good times, but more so to the times of trials. She drew strength just in the knowledge of their love for her.


There were so many there, including some that she had not expected, and this brought pride to her, knowing that they were here to honor her mate. Tears welled inside her, but she managed to hold them at bay, when she saw Kam mount Frick and approach the pyre wagon. There was knowledge that this was difficult for him, to be the one that arranged the pyre for his beloved grandson. What strength the man had, to do it with such dignity.


There were so many moments that would stay in her heart and memory forever. The gifts that were laid to the pyre, the ones that would travel with Lochlan on that final ride, the poignant moment when Falon stepped up to sing a song of farewell to a brother. How she must be hurting, to know that she was now the only one left of three. Of how she must carry on for not only Tanzia, but now for Loch. Pride had swelled within her as she saw Shi step forward to honor Loch in the old ways. With the song and dance that had sent so many warriors on their last ride. It touched her, and she would remember it always.


She could not sing, it just was not in her, but she did step forward to speak of the man, and of how she loved him, and how he loved her. Words of how he had taught her to live at a time when she did not think it was possible, of how he had loved her, protected her, and allowed her to grow into the woman she was now. Her words of farewell had been spoken to him in private as she did the final preparations for him. As she bathed and rubbed the herbed oils into his cold flesh. She bid them to sing and to celebrate, and to know that this was not an ending, but a beginning. Loch had moved from this adventure, to a new one, where they could not follow yet. But he would be waiting for them when their time came.


When Tarra stepped forward, the was this horrid wrenching of emotion. The woman had such dignity, such a presence. How did a mother handle this, seeing a child going before her. Somewhere inside her, she hoped that she would never have to do this, and if she did, she hoped that she would do it with the same honor and pride tha Tarra showed.


When Ba'atar stepped up to sing, she finally allowed quiet tears to fall onto her cheeks. He sang his song to the beat of his hand upon the drum that had belonged to Lochley, the father of Lochlan. It just seemed so right, and so fitting that Lochlan would begin his journey to the skies to the rhythm of his fathers drum. She found a certain peach in joy, knowing that he would be met in the skies by his father, and the sister that had gone before him.


If it can be said that a pyre was beautiful, this one was. In the end, she had walked around to give her thanks to those that had attended. She truly hoped that they realized how touched she was by them and the way they honored him.


She had even managed to put in an appearance at the celebration that took place afterwards at the main fires. There was much laughter, and there were tears. Life would move on, and she with it. Did she still feel that the skies were angry with her? Yes. Ba'atar had pointed out to her how blessed she was, to have had the love of two men, that have the gift of a son, and the gift of the child she carried, but she still could not get over the feeling of how they mocked her, gave her so much, but at the same time tore so much from her. But these were things that she would hold within her heart, her secrets.


Time had come to live, and she would do that as best she could. It was simply the only thing she knew how to do. She would not dishonor Lochlan by losing herself to grief, or by feeling sorry for herself. He would not want it that way. He would expect her to live, and she would.