Greengrass, The Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)
When Arya awoke, what could have been days later but was merely nightfall, she could see nothing through the darkness that surrounded her.
She did not need her sight, though, for she keenly remembered that haunting scream and the terrible flash of light that went with it. Gripping the grass in front of her, Arya pulled herself hand over hand, toward where she had seen Gylther'yel fall. She did not have far to go.
The grass receded as she reached a scarred swath of land, and Arya knew that she had found where Gylther'yel had died-died in a great explosion nothing could have survived.
Why, then, was Arya alive? Why had she…
Then Arya felt the surprisingly cool metal around her finger, and she knew.
The wolf's head ring! The damnable ring had kept her alive! Alive, on the very spot…
Had he known it would end this way? Had he known that one of them would die, and chosen to save her? Had he known, all along?
With a moan, Arya felt around blindly. Long, agonizing moments passed before she realized there was nothing there to find. Walker and Gylther'yel had both vanished.
A wave of love, undying love, washed over her, and Arya wept in agony, great sobs welling up from her aching, torn body. The sound attracted someone else from nearby, who came to her side. Arya felt a momentary swell of hope, that perhaps it was Walker, but even her blurry vision could tell her it was not.
'There, there,' a feminine voice whispered in her ear. Tender arms hugged her. 'My name's Amra Clearwater. You're safe now.'
'Wh-where is he?' Arya asked in agony, only part of it physical. 'Wh-where…?'
'Who?' Amra asked. 'There is no one here but you and me. The Ghostly Lady's gone. There was no one else.'
'He's gone,' said Arya, her heart sinking. 'Gone without me…'
But then there was another sound, cutting her off. Even as Selune ushered in the dawn of spring, rising silver and full, a lonely wolf howled.
'Seek your redemption,' Arya whispered to the wind, tears sliding down her cheeks. 'And if-when-you find it, I'll be waiting.'
Arya smiled as darkness closed around her and she knew no more.
Amra Clearwater smiled sadly, thinking the now-slumbering knight spoke nonsense.
The wolf's song to the spring moon was at an end.
The Nightingale's Song
A cold hand touches my cheek, but it is only wind,
the breeze that caressed us as we lay peaceful and warm
among the shadows, tangled together and guarded by stars.
In love-in a moment.
Now you walk one way and I the other, but your voice
lingers in my mind -
I hear its broken beauty shattering the stillness,
and I know I would throw my memories away
for just one moment more with you.
But all I can lose is your ring from my hand,
a kindness and a curse, and all I have left of you to touch.
Though I walk lonely into the years,
I won't let go.
I could not save you, could not find your path.
Were you too lost for salvation?
Perhaps, you would say. But, perhaps
I was the one who lost the way,
And you saved me.
Translated from the original Elvish
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