The sound of tears and Tehri's proclamation filled the room. Noone else spoke, and Rowan waited for the tears to slow before she hugged her father and little sister. They held each other, basking in the positives of their reunion as opposed to the negatives.

Alas, there were limits to how long you could embrace someone before it got awkward, especially when you had an audience. Before that happened, Rowan stood up and helped her father to a seat across from the Kaafasts. Tehri sat next to him, and Rowan returned to her place next to Seres.

Once they were all situated, Gyren looked at Hana and Byrden. “You must be the couple that has been taking care of Tehri. Hana and Byrden Kaafast, if I'm not mistaken. I'm sorry for abandoning my duty of care and thrusting it onto you.” He bowed slightly and with great difficulty to punctuate his apology.

“We are, Master Gyren,” Hana replied. “You can raise your head. We may have our grievances with how you handled the situation, but it's clear to me that you have been unwell, and caring for Tehri has been an absolute delight. I just wish you could have remained a part of her life before now.”

“So do I, Miss Hana. Maybe then I would have realised that all was not lost without Rowan needing to remind me.”

“Perhaps,” Byrden said, “but we shouldn't ruin the moment by dwelling on the past. We can always air out the chimney at a more appropriate time.”

“Indeed. Though I do have one question. Why are you here? Aran Village is several days away, and Rowan only just got here.”

“Aran Village was destroyed by the storm, Da,” Rowan told him. Her expression was dire. “I saw the ruins with my eyes. They didnae have a choice. Not really.”

“Was the storm really that bad? No, don't answer that. It was insensitive of me to ask. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.”

“We will,” Hana replied, her lips forming a weary half-smile. “Rowan has already done so much by escorting us here and making sure we have clothes and a place to stay. Seres also told us that the Bureau of the Red Chain will also offer their support.”

“I appreciate that the Red Chain will be a lifeline to many, but you are my daughter's family, and I won't make the same mistake of not being a part of her life again. This house is yours, if you want it.”

Hana and Byrden were taken aback by the offer, whereas Tehri looked pensive, and Kamran seemed unsure of whether or not he was included. Rowan, on the other hand, was conflicted. She wanted the Kaafasts to stay, for Tehri to have her home back, but she was scared of losing hers.

Everyone could see her fear. Tehri started signing, and Hana nodded.

“We would be honoured to accept your offer, but we also have no desire to strip you or your family of your home. If we did, we would also be homeless as we are family by way of Tehri.”

Rowan's heart skipped in triplicate. She interrupted without thinking. “You cannae say no because of us.”

“Who said anything about declining?” Hana replied. Her weary half-smile arched before Rowan into one of ebullient fullness. “Tehri was telling me that even with Kamran and the baby, there's more than enough room for you and your father to have a place here.”

“She's not wrong,” Gyren said, “though I am curious about this Kamran you speak of. I don't believe we’ve been introduced.” His cloudy eyes were filled with clarity as he stared into the depths of Kamran's soul.

The boy shivered in response, but he held firm. “It's an honour to meet you, sir. I'm Kamran, one of Tehri's friends from Aran Village. I lost my family to the storm.”

“I'm sorry to hear that. You can relax, Kamran. Even in my prime I wasn't the type of father who goes out of his way to scare off potential suitors for either of his daughters. Especially not ones they are already dating. After falling in love with their mother, I knew anyone crazy or brave enough to date a Naliir and be accepted is already worthy.”

“How did you know?” Kamran asked.

“Did you really think I wouldn't notice Tehri telling you to be careful with your words?”

“You know sign language, Da?”

“I know three. It's a useful skill for a merchant, though I can no longer sign myself.”

“I really should learn,” Rowan sighed.

“And me,” Seres added.

Lochlan smiled smugly to the side. “Liadra and I can teach you,” he teased.

Rowan sighed again, only this time it had a lot more force behind it. “Are we really the only two people that cannae speak sign language in this entire room?”

“So it would seem,” Byrden mused.

“It's okay, Rowan,” Seres said softly. “We'll have plenty of time to learn when we go to Særis.”

“You're leaving?” Gyren asked. Tehri's face darkened with fear and loneliness at the suggestion.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“In a few days,” Rowan admitted. “I wish we could stay longer, but we need to go to Særis. The people responsible for the raids are still at large, and I made a promise that I would destroy them and save the people still held by them.”

Tehri's lips were quivering. Rowan could see she wanted to protest.

“I know Tehri. What about my promise to you? That's what you're thinking.”

Tehri nodded, tears forming once again in her eyes. Rowan smiled softly.

“I'll be going, but I'm not leaving you. A part of me will always be here, and I will come back. I'll even introduce you to my new girlfriend. If it helps, we still have a few days, and I plan on making the most of them.”

Tehri's expression grew a little brighter. She was getting somewhere.

“We could even get started right this very second. I've got some games we could play in the dance studio. Kamran is welcome to join us. Would you like that?”

This time, Tehri smiled and gave Rowan an affirmative nod. Hana also smiled appreciatively at Rowan, as she and Byrden would be able to capitalise on the situation to air the chimney with Gyren, as Byrden had put it.

*****

They played various games, from cards to Ruun to Blind Miraak until Hana found and told them that lunch was ready. When they finished, Rowan knew it was time to visit the memorial. She was kind of dreading it, but she knew that it would be necessary in the long run for both her and Tehri, and she had spent the morning and early afternoon preparing herself emotionally. It was part of the reason why she had wanted to spend a few hours playing games with Tehri.

Tehri met the suggestion with trepidation. It would be her first real confrontation with their mother's death and the tragedy of the eclipse. That's what Rowan read of her expression, at least.

“You should go, Tehri,” Hana said to her.

Rowan nodded her agreement. “Ma is waiting for us.”

“I'm not ready to say goodbye,” Tehri cried.

“Who said anything about saying goodbye? We're going to greet her with a smile and let her know we found our way back to her.”

Rowan was thinking back to her mother's wish to the Goddess on the night of the eclipse and how she wanted to see her daughters smile again.

“Okay.”

With Tehri's decision made, Rowan turned to Seres. “Will you be okay waiting here with Lochlan and Liadra? I think this is something Tehri and I need to do alone.”

Seres took Rowan's hand and smiled. “You don't need to explain why, Rowan. I understand. You can introduce me to your mother next time.”

“I will,” Rowan replied, pulling Seres into a hug. A moment or two later, Seres stepped back, and Rowan extended her hand to Tehri. It was time for them to leave.

*****

The air between the two youngest Naliir siblings was sombre as they walked to the memorial, hand-in-hand. It was just the two of them, as Rowan had asked, and they said everything that needed to be said just by being together.

Neither of them knew what to expect as they entered the Memorial District on the north-western edge of Næmyris. As they approached, Rowan was reminded of the walled gardens and estates she had seen in Midiris. Not because of what she could see beyond the walls, but rather because of the walls themselves.

They were petite in the grand scheme of things, barely ten feet high and about as wide as the length of Rowan's arm. As fortifications, they were inconsequential. As an expression of the place that would serve as a home for the memories of the lost and departed, it was perfect.

“Are you ready?” Rowan asked.

Tehri squeezed her hand in response. It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no either. Rather, it was an acknowledgement that she was as ready as she'll ever be. Rowan felt the same way.

“Let's go then.”

They stepped through the round moon gate, and Rowan found her breath wanting. It was one thing to see the memorials through the gate or over the walls, but compared to the experience of actually being there? Rowan didn't have the words.

Nothing could have prepared her for the feeling of awe and wonder that the crystalline garden of memories would inspire, let alone the sorrowful beauty of it all. How many tears went into cultivating this memorial?

Rowan could feel Elan Fiir humming at her side. It wanted her to keep going. There was something there that the blade Resonated with.

They made their way past the outer ring of flowers and over the myriad channels. They smiled to an elderly couple paying their respect. Next came the statuesque monuments to the legacies of the lost and departed. Further still.

Elan Fiir didn't stop pulling until they finished ascending the stairs leading to the towering eleven-sided crystal obelisk at the heart of the memorial. The enormous midnight blue structure was absolutely massive, but it was also so much more than that. It was the true monument to the fallen.

Rowan traced her free hand over the face of the crystal before her. Countless names had been carved into the surface and filled with silver. Each one was a person who had died or been taken.

“Keep going, Rowan. You're almost there.”

With Rina's urging, Rowan circled around the obelisk, her hand still tracing the names. She saw Kyr and Kiriin’s name first. When she reached the other side, however, she didn't even need to look up or down. Her fingers had found the answer.

Hlii’hæra Talyren Naliir

Rowan’efrii Alyris Naliir

Tehri’aana Feiandra Naliir

Three names. One lost but never gone, and two lost no more. Even so, Rowan felt like something was missing. Then she felt Tehri let go of her hand.

“Tehri?”

“She's here.” Tehri's voice was almost a whisper. She was crouching next to a fresh bouquet of flowers and a plaque at the bottom of the obelisk. It wasn’t the only plaque — there was one for each face — but this one was special.

From this life to the next, we extend this monument to Hlii’hæra Talyren Naliir, beloved wife, mother, and friend. She was a pillar of this community, and she will be sorely missed, but never forgotten. May her soul know eternal love on the other side. May her family cherish the time they had together. You are not alone.

Rowan crouched down next to Tehri before shifting into a kneel. They each looked to the other with tears forming in their eyes and a smile on their lips.

“We're here, Ma. Can you see us? We're smiling.”

“And we're home.”

With her mother's wish fulfilled, Rowan started singing.

“The river sings for we have returned…”

“Forever in my heart.”

A second voice joined Rowan in harmony. She hesitated for a second, but the voice kept on singing.

The dam on Tehri's soul shattered, and her tears started streaming. It was their mother, clear as day. Neither of them could deny it.

When the song ended, Rowan wrapped her arms around Tehri, accepting all of her emotions and stroking her hair. There was little else she could do. Tehri had Awakened.