POV: Ravenna
The memorial is held two days after the battle.
I'm still exhausted. Still moving like I'm underwater. But I force myself to stand on the platform beside Father and Thalassa as Master Veyron's pyre burns in the courtyard below.
Both kingdoms' forces are assembled. Fire warriors in crimson and black. Water warriors in blue and silver. Standing together. Mourning together. Because Veyron died protecting ALL of us—not just Cindravale, but the alliance that saved us.
Father steps forward to speak.
He looks older than I've ever seen him. The grey at his temples seems starker. The lines around his eyes deeper. Losing Veyron hit him hard—the man had been his dragon combat master, his advisor, his FRIEND for over thirty years.
"Master Veyron served Cindravale for forty years," Father says. His voice carries across the silent courtyard. "He trained three generations of warriors. He shaped our military into what it is today. He was legend made flesh—the kind of warrior songs are written about."
He pauses. When he speaks again, his voice is rougher.
"But more than that, he was a man who understood sacrifice. Who knew that some things are worth dying for. He took a blow meant for his king because that is what honor demands. What love demands." Father's gaze sweeps over the assembled soldiers. "He protected what mattered at any cost. That is what warriors do. That is what HE taught us to do."
The crowd is absolutely silent. I can hear the crackle of the pyre, the distant wind through the volcanic valleys.
"We honor him by continuing that protection," Father says. "By defending our kingdoms. By standing together against those who would tear us apart." He looks at Thalassa. "By building alliances that MATTER."
Thalassa steps forward. She's in full water kingdom regalia—flowing blues and silvers, her white hair braided with pearls. She looks regal and sad and tired.
"I did not know Master Veyron well," she says. "But I know he died protecting my granddaughter. Protecting the alliance between our kingdoms. Protecting a future he believed in." Her voice catches slightly. "I am honored that such a warrior considered us worth saving."
She bows her head toward the pyre. The water kingdom soldiers follow her lead.
Father nods to the fire mages. They release the flames fully—Veyron's body consumed in a roar of heat that turns the sky orange. Traditional Fire kingdom funeral. Ashes to ash, flame to forge.
I watch until there's nothing left but embers and smoke.
***
After the ceremony, the courtyard slowly empties. Soldiers returning to duty. Nobles drifting away in quiet groups. I'm about to leave when I see Thalassa approach Father where he stands alone by the dying pyre.
I should go. Give them privacy.
But I don't. I stay in the shadows of the colonnade and WATCH.
"Aldric," Thalassa says quietly.
He turns. His expression is carefully neutral. "Your Majesty."
"Don't." She shakes her head. "Don't be formal with me. Not after everything."
He studies her for a long moment. "What do you want, Thalassa?"
"To apologize." The words come out stiff, like she's not used to saying them. "For the war I started. For nearly destroying everything because I was too desperate—too SCARED—to let go."
Father's jaw tightens. "You almost got your granddaughter killed."
"I know." Her voice cracks. "I know. And I will live with that for the rest of my life." She steps closer. "But I also know that I failed my daughter. I held Elara so tightly that I drove her away. I lost her because I couldn't—I couldn't let her be free."
Something shifts in Father's expression.
"And then I nearly did the same thing with Ravenna," Thalassa continues. "Nearly repeated my mistake because I was so terrified of losing her too. Of being alone again." She meets his eyes. "I see now why Elara loved you. You let her be free even when it hurt you. Even when you were terrified."
Father is silent for a long moment. Then: "I let her leave because I loved her enough to trust her choice. Even when that choice meant watching her marry another man."
"I couldn't do that." Thalassa's voice is barely a whisper. "I tried to control her. And I lost her anyway."
"She didn't leave because of you," Father says quietly. "She left because she was young and in love and desperate for adventure. She left because staying would have KILLED her spirit." He pauses. "And she came back. She came back to you after she was done exploring. After she'd lived the life she needed to live."
"But I poisoned it with guilt." Thalassa looks down. "I made her feel like she'd betrayed me by choosing love over duty. By choosing YOU over tradition."
"You were grieving your husband. You were alone. You were—" Father stops. Sighs. "You were human, Thalassa. Flawed and scared and desperate not to lose the only family you had left."
She looks up at him with surprise.
"I understand that grief," he says. "Because I share it. We both loved Elara. We both lost her." His voice roughens. "We both spent twenty years drowning in that loss instead of honoring the woman she was."
Thalassa's eyes shine with unshed tears. "How do we honor her now?"
"By protecting Ravenna's freedom," Father says simply. "By letting her choose her own path. By working together instead of fighting over her like she's some prize to be won."
"I can do that." Thalassa straightens her shoulders. "I WILL do that. No more political manipulations. No more trying to force her back to Aetherwyn. She belongs wherever she CHOOSES to belong."
Father extends his hand. "Then we have an alliance. A real one. Built on mutual respect and shared purpose."
Thalassa takes his hand. They shake—formal at first, then Father's grip tightens and he pulls her into a brief, awkward embrace.
"Elara would be proud," he says quietly. "Of both of us. For finally pulling our heads out of our asses."
Thalassa laughs—a wet, choked sound. "She would have said it more elegantly than that."
"She would have said it LOUDER than that."
They pull apart. Both of them look lighter somehow. Less burdened.
"Formalize the alliance," Father says. "Mutual defense. Open borders. Combined military command when necessary. We present a united front to the other kingdoms."
"Agreed." Thalassa pauses. "And my granddaughter?"
"Remains in Cindravale as Crown Princess. But free to visit Aetherwyn whenever she wishes. Free to maintain relationships in both kingdoms. Free to—to be herself." Father's voice softens. "No more cages. Not for her."
"No more cages," Thalassa agrees.
I watch them shake hands again—two monarchs finding peace after decades of grief and miscommunication and loss. Two people who loved my mother finally learning to honor her by letting ME be free.
Something warm unfolds in my chest.
Hope.
Not the fragile, desperate hope I've been clinging to. But something sturdier. Stronger.
Maybe we CAN survive what's coming. Maybe with these two actually working together instead of fighting, with Fire and Water united—maybe we have a chance.
Against the Eclipse. Against the enemies still lurking in shadows.
Against whatever hell comes next.
I slip away before they see me. But as I walk back through the palace corridors, I'm smiling.
Father and Grandmother made peace.
Veyron's sacrifice meant something.
The alliance is real.
We might actually be okay.