Blue Moon (43 page)

The Seps managed to flip Alex off, and the dragon spun towards the ground trying to get his wings untwisted. He managed, swooping low then back up. Zorovin flew at the Seps's face, back claws going for the eyes as Alex ducked underneath to rake the skin of its belly. They each grabbed an arm and pulled in opposite directions. The Seps opened its wide mouth, and Zorovin threw something into it. The monster seemed to choke on it and fell from the sky, landing with a crack not far from where the Black Queen lay, bones shattered on the courtyard stones.

She raised her arms over her head, holding her hands tight together. Alex wheeled and swooped down, picking her up on one finger; she felt her feet leave the slate rooftop.

When they landed, Libby ran over to Merlin.

"All right, now what?"

Merlin pointed to the sky. There was a muddy orange haze on the horizon. Sunrise?

"The planets have been separated for so long it's no longer the natural order of things. With luck, everything will return to normal as the blue moon sets."

"God, I hope so,” she said.

The dragons were joining the battle, and so, Libby decided, must she.

It was harder than Rita-Sierra had thought it would be. She took a sword off one of the bodies—a pale blonde elf—and hacked Shadows with it the best she could. Dashiel was near, taking them down with teeth and claws. Her arms grew tired. Her hair, more than once, became an enemy target as they grabbed it and pulled, trying to use the pain to bare her neck. She was too stubborn to give in.

Her bare feet slipped on black blood, and she fell. She thought perhaps she really had died this time and was in hell. A Shadow grinned at her, and raised his sword.

Someone stepped between them, hacked the creature with inexpert moves. Raul smiled at her over his shoulder. She blinked when a very familiar blonde held out a hand.

"Cathy?"

"Come on!” Cathy said.

Rita-Sierra grabbed the woman's hand and got to her feet. The light was changing, turning more gold. Were they near the magic lake again?

There was a shout of triumph. Someone pointed to the sky.

What now? she wondered, avoiding an axe and coming around with her sword. The weapons clashed, and she didn't know how she was going to get hers back.

The Shadow looked over her shoulder. Its white eyes widened, and it screamed and faded.

The Shadows ran, but there was no reprieve from the sun as it rose, huge and golden, the sky pink and orange and luminous blue. Rita grinned at it, looked around. The elves from the ship lowered their swords. The terfas’ remains lay in splintered piles.

Raul looked around, dazed, his broken sword coated in noxious black stuff that steamed and burned away. He had a cut on his cheek. Rita-Sierra ran over to him and hugged him tightly.

"You're all right!"

"Yeah.” He grinned, as if he couldn't believe it. “I am."

"I was worried,” she whispered. “But it's all right now. It's over."

"I finally got to see some real magic,” he said, awed.

She laughed. “Yes, I suppose you did.” She looked over at the body she'd lived in these past years. Cathy was backing away shyly. “Cathy! Please, come here."

Cathy looked at her uncertainly. The clothes looked a little worse for wear, but otherwise, she'd weathered through. It was so weird to look at Cathy, to see her reflection come alive and walk around and talk and have its own expressions.

Rita-Sierra looked at Raul. “You're going to have to let her in,” she said. “Sierra left the keys in the house."

"Which one is Sierra?” he said. “I can't keep it straight."

"I'm the girl you used to know, and she's the one you know now,” she said. She kissed him goodbye. “I'll miss you. Do me proud in school, okay?"

"Okay,” he agreed.

She walked over to Cathy. “Take good care of him. He's a good man."

"I will,” Cathy said. “I promise."

Rita-Sierra sniffed and began to walk away.

"Oh!” she said, and turned back. “The passwords, bank numbers—everything is on a slip of paper in the kitchen, taped to the bottom of the drawer in the stove."

"It's a good life you've left me,” Cathy said. “I'll make as good of a Sierra as I can."

Rita smiled, and continued away.

She felt very lonely. She passed Bronwyn, who was hugging a young elf, taller than her, dark-haired. They looked like they wanted to melt into each other.

"We're not waiting another moment to wed,” he informed her fiercely.

She saw the elves she'd encountered earlier, the taller one talking to an elven woman the color of ice.

"You did well on the field, Terisoth,” she said. “You should come with us on the ship. My husband and I would be pleased to have you."

"Lady Isis,” Terisoth said, “I would be honored, but Aïs and I have obligations at home."

"You're joking, right?” Aïs said.

"You could both come,” she said. “Perhaps catch us up with the ways of the world. Then, we could return you in a year or so."

"I think I'd like that,” Terisoth said. Aïs nodded.

"Since we're on land,” Isis said, “we'll visit your village. Of course, we'll have to send the ship back to sea first."

Rita moved on. Dashiel was talking to a man some of the elves had called “Captain” in the height of battle. The captain had knelt on one knee. He listened with seriousness to whatever Libby's pet was saying.

She came up behind Alex, put her hand on his arm.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I don't know,” he said. “I'm not sure it's up to me."

She patted him. “Come,” she said, “Help me get my things out of the boat."

Libby stood in the courtyard of the castle. She had run down to make sure the Black Queen and the Seps were both, indeed, dead.

The battle was over, and she wondered what the tally would be. The shadow was slowly fading from the sky. Ahead of her, the sun was a bright beacon of hope, and behind, the moon was setting, slowly fading back to the pale silver-white of mundane life.

"Libby?” Dashiel called.

She knelt beside him, wrapped her arms around him. “Thank God, you're safe,” she whispered.

"The elven captain, Cearvus, and I were just speaking,” Dashiel said. “They think the elves will be able to create a sort of magic field that will allow me to remain as I am now."

"You mean, if you stay here, you won't be able to talk anymore?"

"Everything goes back to normal,” Dashiel said. “I think I'll go. I'm not sure I'm ready to be just a dog yet."

She swallowed. “I totally understand,” she said, even though it hurt to say it.

"I'll write. I'll be able to dictate.” He cocked his head and looked at her. “You better tape our show. I'll want to watch it when I get back."

She laughed.

"I see you in a few minutes, Libby,” he said. “I've got some other goodbyes."

"I love you,” she said, and was rewarded with a lick.

She wiped her face off, and not all of it was doggy spit. She watched him go, and she decided it would be selfish of her to cry, even though she knew she would miss him. Didn't stop her, though.

"I guess you humans would say we lucked out,” Zorovin said. He moved in whispers, she thought. You never knew where he was. She would miss him, as well—and whoever he took away with him when he left.

He held a little blue-and-gold magic in his palm. He shuffled the liquid back and forth between hands then rolled a ball of it between his knuckles.

"You were very brave,” he said as he played with the magic. “You are ... most worthy."

"Thank you,” she said, blushing. “I was so scared. I can't believe ... it's all going to be all right, isn't it?"

"It will be normal,” he said. “That's all you can ask, really."

"I guess.” She looked at the magic flowing, in ever lowering levels, past them. “I think I might miss some of it, though."

He plucked a couple of hairs from his head, placed them on top of the magic in one palm and squeezed. When he opened his hand again, the magic was gone, leaving in its place a stone, ocean-blue marbled with gold flecks, on a chain made of fine silver links.

She looked at it.

"Take it,” he said. “It is your ... wedding present."

"I don't know if he's going to stay,” she said.

"He will,” Zorovin told her. “And perhaps it is for the best. He has ... changed.” He spoke with resignation. Then he looked at the necklace again. She took it in both hands.

"Thank you,” she said. “It is beautiful."

"Magic will never truly leave you,” Zorovin continued. “You can use it to call me from time to time. I should like to know how you do.” He sighed. “I should like to hear when you give me a grandchild."

She put it on. “I will."

He turned away, and she could feel some of his grief. She understood. She felt like she was losing so much she wanted to hold on to.

He began to climb the steep pathway. He held his hand out to her.

"It's not an easy way up. We might as well help each other."

She smiled, and took his hand.

"My only regret,” she said, as she worked her way up, “is that I haven't really gotten to know you."

"You humans always think these things are the end,” Zorovin said, crouching on the rim of the cliff. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her up. “There is always time, as long as you breathe."

She stepped away from him, smiling. He smiled back, a little.

"Now, I must go see about your sister."

"Do you love her?” Libby asked.

"I suppose I must,” he admitted, “but to my sorrow, I shall never really know if it is me she loves, or my magic."

Libby thought, and said, “You know, she already made the ‘relationship for magic’ mistake once, so, I think maybe you can trust her not to do it again."

He thought about this for a moment, then, very formally, said, “I pass on to you the most precious thing I possess. Take care of him."

She hugged him fiercely, and let him go before he could feel the need to return the gesture. She wasn't sure if he was human enough to do so without discomfort.

"Ah. Here they come."

"Where's your boat?” Libby asked Rita.

"We pushed it off,” Alex said. He looked at Libby for a long moment then looked away, as if he couldn't bear it.

"Maybe it'll beat Zorovin back to The World,” Rita said, hefting the knapsack on her back. “We went and got my things out of it, anyway."

"Your sister does not have the type of magic that would allow her to become a dragon.” Zorovin said to Rita. “It was my objection to her, because I knew she could not come with us, and if she could, it would not be a life for a human, to live in the northern frost barrens. But you could. If you wanted to. And my son could stay here."

"Do you really want me to?” she asked, sounding doubtful.

Zorovin wrapped Rita in his coat. She stood, trembling. Their eyes met, and she smiled brightly at him, as if his words in her mind were wondrous and sweet.

"Yes. I'll go,” she said. She smiled widely. “I will go wherever you want to take me."

"Rita...” Libby said.

Her sister threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly.

"I love you, Libby,” she said. “And I'll miss you, but this is what I've always wanted, so don't be sad, okay?"

Merlin came over. “Last call, Zorovin,” he said.

Nimue stood beside him. “It is time, Libby. You must give up your eyes."

"I must?"

Nimue nodded. “Do you give them to me? Of your own free will?"

Libby nodded. Nimue placed icy magic-filled hands over her eyes. There was a pulling, a tugging, as the power was extracted from her.

When Nimue stepped away, Libby felt bereft, empty, like all of her senses had been shut off and she was left all alone in her body.

"There,” Nimue said. “Now I can go home."

"You're leaving with him, then?” Morganna asked.

"I rather thought we would both go,” Nimue answered. “Aren't you the least bit homesick? Or curious as to what has happened to our kind?"

"I thought ... I never thought they would have me."

"It is time, Morganna,” Merlin said, and she smiled. Nimue took her hand, and the three walked across to the chamber. They stepped carefully around the shattered glass and splinters of wood, and into Merlin's home.

Rita clutched the coat tightly and took Zorovin's hand. “Name one of your children after me,” she said to her sister. She was grinning widely, excited.

"What shall I name her?"

She shrugged. “Take your pick. I'm Sierra in my heart, but Rita wasn't so bad."

"I will,” she promised.

Libby crossed to Zorovin and hugged him. He pulled away, patted her shoulder awkwardly. He looked at his son, and Alex nodded. They touched hands briefly, and what words they exchanged in the brief moment, Libby never asked.

Together, Zorovin and Sierra stepped off the battlements ... and disappeared. A moment later, they reappeared. They were dragons, one black-and-silver, the other ruby-and-gold. The ruby one had eyes like emeralds, and she carried a knapsack in her claws. They flew around each other, playfully diving over Alex and Libby so low Libby could have reached out and touched them if she'd wanted to. Then, they swung back and flew through the rift.

"She's beautiful,” Libby whispered.

"They both are,” Alex said.

He took her hand, and they picked their way through the ruins.

The elven ship was loading. They could see Dashiel on the gangway, and she waved. He barked twice and ran up into the ship.

"He spoke to me before you came,” Alex said. “We'll see him again."

"I'll bet he made you promise to take care of me."

"Oh, he knew I would, promise or no.” He paused. “But he and your sister both threatened terrible, painful tortures if they find out I haven't dedicated my life to making you happy."

Libby laughed. “What did you say?"

"I said I would deserve it."

They left the castle and climbed up onto a ridge, where they sat and watched the world return to normal. The joining faded, the snow began to melt.

"Do you really want to stay with me?” Libby asked at last.