Kate gazes down at Merig's motionless form, her hands trembling as she gently lifts the necklace. With the pendant pressed against the oozing wound where the bolt protrudes from his torso, she clasps the necklace's chain tightly. Looking up at the moon, her eyes brimmed with falling tears as she whispered a desperate plea.
(K)Please bring Merig back, I need him. Please come back to me, my love.
Kate's gaze darts back to the necklace as the group redirects their attention to it, a flicker of hope igniting in their eyes. Gripping the necklace tightly, she squeezes her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face. Time stretches, then a familiar white light begins to emanate from the pendant. The others watch in stunned silence as Barth reaches out, trying to get Kate's attention.
(B)Kate, look.
Kate snaps her eyes open at Barth's voice, the sight of the glowing pendant searing into her vision. A faint luminescence spreads from the pendant, bathing Merig's entire body in its light. In an astonishing display, Merig's wound knits itself shut as the bolt lurches upward, escaping his torso with a clatter. The wound vanishes without a trace as if it never existed. Merig gasps, his breaths returning in a rush as life surges back into him. Kate stares at him, a stunned smile blossoming on her face. Merig meets her gaze, his own lips curling into a grateful smile as he prepares to speak.
(M)Hello, beautiful.
(K)Merig, you’re back!
Kate's tears transform from mourning to elation. Reaching out, she cups Merig's cheek and leans down. Their lips meet in a kiss fueled by joy, a silent promise whispered against his skin. The kiss deepens, then erupts into a tight embrace as they hold onto each other fiercely. Ashley disentangles herself from Larry's arms, their gazes flitting between Merig and each other, mirroring the shared relief and joy. Barth, still reeling from the unbelievable sight, can't help but gape in awe. A wide smile slowly spreads across his face, mirroring the emotions blossoming around him. He extends a hand towards Merig, offering silent support to help him rise.
(B)Here, let’s get him to his feet. I’ll help you.
(K)Okay, do you feel okay to stand, my love?
(M)Yeah, I feel great.
(K)Okay, let’s get him to his feet, then.
A surge of energy jolts Barth to his feet. Kate, her strength fueled by relief, helps Merig prop himself up. Thankfully, he manages to sit upright on his own. Barth rushes forward, planting himself in front of Merig and reaching out with a firm grip. Merig, eyes locking with his brother's, grasps Barth's hands tightly. The combined effort hoists him to his feet, a wobbly but definite return to vertical. Barth takes a moment to examine Merig, his gaze a mix of relief and disbelief. A shared smile erupts between them, followed by a surge of emotion. Tears well up in Barth's eyes, prompting him to pull Merig into a fierce hug. Merig readily reciprocates, clinging to his brother for a long moment. Finally, Barth releases him, searching for the right words as he opens his mouth to speak.
(B)I must be dreaming, you really are alive. Welcome back, little brother.
(M)So it would seem, it’s good to be back.
(B)I think Kate is the one who mourned for you the most, so I think she needs your love more right now.
Relief washes over Kate, urging her to her feet. Her gaze connects with Merig's as he turns to look down at her, a shared smile igniting on both their faces. In a surge of overwhelming emotion, they crash into each other's arms, the hug a desperate attempt to hold onto this newfound life. Tears of joy continue to stream down Kate's face as they cling to each other fiercely. Finally, they reluctantly pull apart. Merig reaches out, his touch gentle as he cups her cheeks. Leaning down, he brushes his lips against hers in a tender kiss. Kate pulls away, her fingers lingering on his face, a soft smile gracing her lips as she prepares to speak.
(K)I can’t believe you’re alive. I thought I lost you.
(M)Me neither, but here I am. I feel like new, almost as if I was reborn.
(K)Maybe you were. I know I was the moment you started breathing again. All that misery of losing you is gone.
(M)Good, because I never want you to be miserable. You know I hate it when you cry.
(K)These are tears of joy, I promise. But without you, I’d feel nothing but misery.
(M)I’d feel the same without you. I love you, Kate.
(K)I love you, too, Merig.
Merig, unable to contain his joy, pulls Kate into another embrace. The kiss deepens, a shared expression of relief and gratitude. The reunion continues as the two pull apart, rejoining the ecstatic group. Cormac, however, remains a silent observer amidst the celebration. A thought flickers across his mind, prompting him to turn away from the scene. With a determined stride, he walks back towards his bandits. As he approaches them, he raises his voice slightly to capture their attention, ready to deliver his message.
(C)Alright boys, this fight is over, we’re done!
(L)I don’t think so, Cormac, Merig may be alive again, but you still killed him.
(B)He was trying to kill Kate, but Merig protected her and me.
Larry's jubilation curdles into suspicion. Gripping the hilt of his sword, he marches towards Cormac, the blade glinting menacingly. With a fierce scowl, he levels the tip of the sword at Cormac's face. The celebratory mood dissipates as the group's attention swivels towards the escalating confrontation. Cormac freezes, his face draining of color as Larry's aggressive tone cuts through the air.
(L)In that case, this fight definitely isn’t over, asshole. You still need to pay for what you did to my best friend and for threatening Kate's life.
(B)He's right, you hurt my little brother.
(K)You killed the love of my life.
Larry relents slightly, lowering the sword a fraction but keeping the tip firmly pressed against Cormac's throat. A flicker of remorse washes over Cormac's face, his bravado replaced by a grimace of fear. His eyes dart down to the glinting blade, then back up to meet Larry's gaze. In a somber tone, Cormac speaks, his voice laced with apology.
(C)Go ahead, Larry, kill me. I know I did wrong. So, what’s stopping you?
(L)No, you don’t get the easy way out. Death is too good for you. How about I just give you another scar so you will always look at it and remember what you did?
(M)That’s enough, Larry, lower your sword. That’s an order.
Larry's scowl lingers, a reluctant truce. He slowly lowers his sword, its point dropping away from Cormac's throat. Merig, fueled by a surge of anger, strides towards Cormac. He snatches Cormac by the collar of his armor, hauling him face-to-face. Merig's eyes, mere moments ago filled with relief, now turn crimson with rage. Cormac shrinks back, terror etched on his face. In his familiar maniacal rasp, Merig unleashes a torrent of words, his voice dripping with anger.
(M)Not only did you hold my brother hostage and send your goons to infiltrate the city, kidnap the woman I love, and do who knows what with her and hold her captive. But you decided you were going to get back at us for leaving you by pointing your crossbow at Kate and shooting and threatening her life and killing me in the process. Because I’m just that dedicated to that precious human over there, that I would give my very life for her. She would’ve lived a life of misery and pain because of you, and I hope you realize that. If you thought I had no spine, just take a look at your own, Cormac. I grew a spine while yours turned to dust. But if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive. I’ll admit that’s a redeeming factor, but you still did all those other things. And for that, you deserve the pain you inflicted on everyone.
Suddenly, Merig draws back his right fist and punches Cormac in the face with all his strength. The impact is so powerful that Cormac falls to the ground, stunned. Without hesitation, Merig delivers a brutal kick to Cormac's stomach, causing him to gasp for air and cry out in pain. Despite the agony, Cormac endures the relentless beating. Larry then approaches with a cold, calculated look and delivers a swift, vicious kick to Cormac's face, causing blood to pour from his nose. Barth steps in, grabs Cormac by the collar, and lifts him from the ground. As Cormac struggles to regain his balance, Barth puts him in a tight headlock, securing him firmly.
(B)You deserved every bit of that, Cormac. It’s best you get on your knees and beg for forgiveness if you want it to stop. You’re lucky I don’t use my spells to teach you a lesson about how not to hold a grudge. What do you guys think? Has he had enough?
(K)That’s enough, Barth.
Barth, Merig, and Larry watch Kate intently as she strides towards them. She halts in front of the group, her gaze fixed on the bloodied and crumpled Cormac still held in Barth's headlock. Kate studies Cormac silently for a beat, a scowl twisting her features, before addressing him in a low, menacing tone.
(K)Not only did you bring misery onto me and the others. But you have brought misery to your own bandits. Gordo told me everything and how he’s grown to hate being a bandit since you became the leader. He, too, wanted to live with humans and live a better life, but you wouldn’t let him or Barth leave. You wanted to take that happiness away from Merig and Larry, as well as me and my best friend. If you wanted to see them so badly, all you had to do was come to the city. The humans in Tara welcome Fomors with open arms, and Merig and Larry are living proof of that. They have all these men at their command and risk their lives to protect the city from horrible people like you. You wanted to take away someone else’s happiness to restore your own. However, you did help me bring back the love of my life, and I thank you for that. If you ever change your mind and want to live in the city, I assure you it will be peaceful as long as you don’t cause trouble. I’ll even put in a good word for you with the queen and maybe you can train to be a Royal Guard. But that’s all up to Merig and Larry.
(M)It’s possible, you’d be put through some rigorous training, though, if you’re prepared for that. But for now, I think you need to stay in your camp for a while and think about what you’ve done.
(L)Agreed, and you should let the bandits decide if they want to stay or go live where they please.
(B)I know I’m going to be getting comfortable in the city, so I can see my little brother again. It’s been ten years since I last saw him. I’ll also consider joining the guards, myself.
(K)And let Gordo leave. He wants to better himself, too.
(M)And now that you know what we’re capable of, you won’t dare try this shit again, will you, Cormac?
(C)Alright, you win, I admit defeat. I guess my biggest grudge was with humans and how they treated me before I joined the bandits. But like Kate said, I lived with terrible humans and the one that betrayed me gave me this scar on my face. My past clouded my judgment of all humans and I see now that not all of them are the same and Kate showed me that. I hope you can forgive me one day. Merig is right. I deserve to be here alone for a while and do some self-reflection. If any bandits want to leave, they can. I won’t force them to be here anymore. This won’t happen again. You have my word. I’m sorry Merig and I regret everything. Seeing what I did to you gave me a wake-up call. When I saw Kate’s necklace, I knew exactly what it was. Because I used one once before to bring back someone I knew, a human. But that’s a story for another day. You all have my deepest apologies.
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(K)Like I said before, I’m sorry you were treated that way. You didn’t deserve that. But doing wrong doesn’t make you a better person and you’ve done terrible things. Let him go, Barth.
Barth, with a grunt of reluctant compliance, releases his hold. Cormac slumps to the ground, the breath knocked out of him. He coughs, a spray of blood escaping his lips. Wincing, he pushes himself upright, swaying slightly. His face, bruised and bloodied, reflects a mix of pain and shame. He stands before them, head hung low, for a tense moment before Larry breaks the silence.
(L)You’re lucky Kate is a lover and not a fighter, or I’d let her zap you with her magic. She’s the one you hurt the most here.
(A)He’s lucky I don’t give him a beating for taking Kate hostage!
(K)It’s fine, I think he’s learned his lesson for now. He’s taking responsibility and vows to leave us alone in peace, and that’s all we want.
(B)Tell your bandits everything. I’m going to go get Gordo and let him know what’s going on. He's still kind of frozen to the floor in that room underground with the cell.
(C)Alright, hopefully, next time we meet, it’s not like this.
(M)Sounds like a plan.
(L)Let’s get the guards together and go home. We have to round up the wounded. Luckily, none of our men lost their lives, but some of yours did, Cormac, and I hope you give them a proper funeral.
(C)I’ll see to it that it’s done.
(K)Good, now let’s all go home.
Kate throws Cormac a final disdainful look before spinning on her heel and striding purposefully away. Her path takes her straight towards a tear-streaked Ashley, who rushes forward with arms outstretched. The two women meet in a tight, emotional embrace, a silent exchange of worry and relief passing between them. Ashley pulls back first, swiping at her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes filled with apology.
(A)I'm glad you’re okay hon, I’m so sorry, I should’ve never left you alone at Merig’s place.
(K)Don’t beat yourself up, Ash, it’s not your fault.
(A)Oh, I almost forgot. Here, these belong to you.
Ashley digs in her pocket, searching for something specific. Her fingers close around a smooth surface, and with a small smile, she pulls out Kate's glasses. Kate, who's been squinting slightly, looks up at the sound and a wide smile replaces her furrowed brow. Ashley holds out the glasses, and Kate takes them gently. She puts them on, the world sharpening into focus. She looks back at Ashley, her smile genuine.
(K)Thanks, Ash, now I can see better, you're the best.
(A)No, you’re the best. I love you, Kate.
(K)I love you, too, Ash.
(A)Now let’s get you home, okay?
(K)Sounds good to me, I’m really tired.
(A)I’m sure you are considering what you just went through.
(K)Let’s go, then.
As Kate, Merig, and the others make preparations to depart from the camp, Cormac engages in a heartfelt conversation with his bandits, granting them the freedom to choose whether to remain in the camp or pursue their own paths. Meanwhile, Barth liberates Gordo from the depths of the underground room and they engage in a hopeful discussion about embarking on a fresh start in the bustling city of Tara.
(B)Sorry about all that, Gordo, it’s all over now. We can get the hell out of here.
(G)Sounds good to me, and I’m sorry, too. I just didn’t want you or Kate to get hurt. I’ve got a lot to make up for. Although I’m sure Merig would end me if he knew what I did.
(B)As long as you fall to your knees and ask for forgiveness, I think you’ll be okay. But when it comes to Kate, Merig isn’t so gracious. So I’d start kissing his ass if I were you.
(G)Maybe I’m better off staying here, then. I don’t deserve a good life in the city.
(B)Nonsense, you’re free to leave, everyone is. Cormac surrendered, and he’s no longer a threat.
(G)Good, because I’m done being a bandit. I’m not sure how I’m going to apologize, though, especially to Kate.
(B)She’s a lovely human. All she cared about was getting back to Merig safely in his arms.
(G)She really is a lovely person. I guess I’ll start with “I’m sorry”.
(B)Good idea, but first, let’s get the hell out of this camp and head to Tara. Maybe get some rest somewhere, and then we all can talk about the future ahead. I missed my brother, and I’m glad he’s alive. We lost him for a little bit, but he's back.
(G)That's good, and you’re right, I’m leaving and never looking back. I’m so tired. Off to Tara, we go.
(B)That’s the spirit.
Barth and Gordo take a moment to collect themselves before making their way through the dimly lit bandit camp to reach their loyal steeds. Meanwhile, Larry mobilizes the Royal Guards, preparing them for departure. Kate and Merig stroll together, their arms entwined, as they head towards Merig’s sturdy horse. Kate gracefully mounts the horse, and as they draw near, Merig smoothly positions himself behind her, taking hold of the reins. Casually draping his arms around Kate, he leans in to place a tender kiss on her cheek as they prepare to set off.
(M)Are you ready to go home?
(K)Yeah, I’m so tired. I just want to lie in your bed and have you hold me for the rest of the night while we sleep.
(M)[smiles] I’d be more than happy to do that.
(K)[smiles] Then let’s go home, my earth.
(M)As you wish, my moon.
Kate turns her head to look at Merig. They share a smile and a tender kiss. Preparations are underway for departure. Barth and Gordo mount their horses, ready to follow Merig and the guards back to Tara. Merig leads the way through the forest, his horse at the head of the group. Their journey marks the end of the battle with Cormac. They ride through the forest for a time, eventually arriving back at Tara. The injured guards head straight to Nessa for treatment, with Kate and Merig also checking in to make sure they're alright. Larry and Ashley lead the remaining guards back to the training grounds, where everyone turns in their weapons and gear. The weary guards disperse to their homes for some well-deserved rest. Larry and Ashley remain at the training grounds, the only ones left standing. Larry notices the exhaustion etched on Ashley's face. He walks over to her just as she glances up and sees him approaching. Larry opens his arms, and Ashley steps into a warm embrace. They hold each other tightly for a moment. Larry pulls away slightly, looking down at Ashley. He leans in for a kiss. They break away, sharing a smile as their eyes meet.
(L)Hey, beautiful, you look a little down. Why don’t I take you home with me and I’ll help turn that frown upside down?
(A)[smiles] You don’t know how much that would mean to me, Larry.
(L)Hey, anything to see you happy, Ash.
Larry notices Ashley looking up at him, a frown creasing her brow. Tears well up in her eyes, and before Larry can react, Ashley throws her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. He holds her tightly, his concern growing as her sobs wrack his embrace. Finally, Ashley pulls back, tears streaming down her face. Larry reaches up, his hands cupping her cheeks. With a gentle touch, he wipes away her tears, his gaze filled with concern.
(L)What’s wrong, Ash?
(A)We almost lost Merig tonight and I just can’t bear the thought of something like that happening to you. Merig means so much to us and especially to Kate, and I can’t imagine the pain she felt when she lost him. And when she brought him back, she was happy again and I just think…I’d feel the same pain if it was you. My life would be hell if you were gone, Larry. I love you so much.
(L)I love you, too, Ash. I’m right here and I’ll always be with you for as long as you need me. But if it came down to it, I would do the same thing Merig did and I would do anything to protect you. But hopefully, we won’t run into that kind of situation. And seeing as Cormac promised he’d leave us alone, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. If you want, I can take time off and we can spend a few days together.
(A)I’d like that, and I’ll take time off, too. I just need you, Larry, and I always will, and I’d stop a bolt, or an arrow, or even a sword for you so you don’t get hurt. My anxiety gets the better of me and just thinking about losing you brings me to tears. But if you say we have nothing to worry about, then I trust you.
(L)If you need me, then I’ll always be here. I hope you never feel obligated to risk your life for me. I guess love can make you do some crazy things. But you don’t have to worry because I’m not going anywhere.
(A)Love itself is a crazy thing, Larry. But we can talk more when we get to your place. Let’s go. I want to lie with you and have you hold me while I sleep.
(L)Your wish is my command, my beautiful red-hot flame.
(A)I love you.
(L)I love you, too. Let’s get out of here. I’m taking you home with me.
(A)You don’t have to tell me twice.
Ashley and Larry stroll out of the training grounds, arms wrapped around each other, heading for Larry's home. Meanwhile, at Merig's place, he and Kate are getting ready for bed. They've both changed into their pajamas, and Merig stands near the bed. Kate emerges from the bathroom and walks towards the bed. Merig intercepts her, gently taking her arm and pulling her closer. She gazes up as he cups her face softly, his touch sending shivers down her spine. He leans down, and a shared smile blooms before a kiss seals the moment.
(K)Hello, my love.
(M)Hey, I wanted to thank you. You saved my life this time. You brought me back so I can be with you again.
(K)I had to, Merig, I would’ve done anything to bring you back. If I didn’t, I would’ve been here all alone without you. I don’t ever want to be without you.
(M)And I don’t ever want to be without you either, Kate. You were my hero this time. Cormac and the other bandits won’t be bothering us ever again, so you don’t have anything to worry about. Everything is going to be okay.
(K)You’ve always been my hero, Merig. I figured I could be your hero in return. I love you so much, my earth.
(M)I love you, too, my moon.
(K)I’ve been thinking about something.
(M)What is it, sweetheart?
(K)We said my being here would only be temporary until everything with the bandits was taken care of. Well, we took care of it, so I’d be going back and living with Ash again. But I wanted to know if I could stay here with you…permanently. But only if you want me to.
(M)[smiles] I would love nothing more than for you to be here with me, Kate. I can hold you every night, kiss you every morning, and make love to you. I can see your beautiful face every second of every day and eat your amazing cooking. And if that’s what you want, then consider it done and my home will be your home, too.
(K)And I would love nothing more than to fall asleep in your arms every night and have you kiss me every morning and make love with you and cook for you. So yes, that’s what I want.
(M)Alright, then, it’s settled. Now, what I want is to take you over to that bed and hold you in my arms for the rest of the night.
(K)[smiles] If that’s what you want, consider it done, my love, because I want that, too.
Merig gently takes Kate's hand, leading her with quiet tenderness to their shared sanctuary, the bed. As Kate gracefully settles onto the soft mattress, she nestles her head into the pillow, seeking comfort in its gentle support. With a single motion, Merig extinguishes the light, joining Kate in the tranquil embrace of the bed. He assumes his place on the left side, extending his arms to warmly welcome her. As they exchange a silent understanding, Kate draws nearer, finding solace in the shelter of his embrace. Merig, with a loving gesture, pulls the blanket over them, cocooning them in its soft warmth. With unwavering devotion, he envelops Kate in his strong, protective embrace, their eyes locked in a wordless language of love and reassurance.
(K)It feels good to be back in your arms.
(M)Yeah, it feels good to hold you again. I promise you, I’m never going to let anyone take you away from me ever again.
(K)And I never want to leave you and have you risk your life for me ever again. I never want to leave these arms that hold me tight and keep me warm.
(M)I’ll always be here to hold you when you need it. I never want to stop holding you.
(K)I never want you to stop, either. I love you, my goblin.
(M)I love you too, my human.
As they gaze into each other's eyes, a smile illuminates their faces. Their tender kiss lingers in the air as they hold each other close. Eventually, they close their eyes and peacefully drift off to sleep, wrapped in each other's embrace.