Silver Moon

by Silena Buckelew

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  5:

  Harnz casually walked up the stairs towards the roof terrace of the estate they called home. There, he found who he was looking for, “Moon, sire, I’ve come to give the news.”

  Moon stood near the railing of the terrace, looking towards the scenery. It was a calm setting, even after only having just called for victory just a few days before.

  It was a victory that was halfway bittersweet:

  Moon had roused to consciousness. He could feel it instantly that the life-pact had been severed, for it had allowed his injuries to heal in a way that they only would if such was done.

  "Silver!" he called out as he flew off the bed stumbling as he attempted to gain footing.

  "You shouldn’t be up..." Zei muttered.

  Moon ignored them as he found himself on the floor next to where Silver lay. She was dead...or dying. The old wounds that had been closed had reopened themselves when he had been wounded close to fatal.

  Moon gathered her into his lap not caring that her blood was still seeping from the wounds to soak into his clothes, "No! I will not accept this. You're the savior of this world: savior of humans and Dealk. You will not be just a sacrifice!" He placed a hand over her heart.

  "Wait...! Re-doing the pact..! It could kill you both!" Harnz shouted.

  Moon had ignored them and did as he had done once before. He would be the anchor to both of them living; he reset the life pact. A moment later unconsciousness…

  “Should you really be up and about?” Harnz inquired.

  “Tell me what you came to say, Harnz.” Moon stated, not even turning to face the other. He had awoken the medical wing of the base and found himself drastically weak. The fatal wounds had healed from his natural healing, but the wounds had lingered in forms of simply not fatal wounds but wounds none the less.

  Harnz cleared his throat, “Well,” he began, “the doctor said that she has fully stabilized. They’re doing the best they can, considering she is still, technically, considered a Risen. They still say it’s possible she would never wake up… After all, she died for her second time, that day.”

  “I would give her my entire being if it would have helped.” Moon had stated.

  Harnz sighed and shook his head, “Just alike, you two… Well, I’ve given my news that I came to give. But can I ask you something? Why still cling to her even though she could sleep forever?”

  “I’m sure you know the answer…that’s why I did what I had to in order to bring her back." he replied.

  "I understand; she's irreplaceable to you, as well as us. I, personally, never expected to become attached to her; your attachment to her I understood, but to the extent, I never could have gambled... But I understand and wouldn't have had it any other way," he said with a smile on his face.

  Moon turned to meet his gaze.

  Harnz turned, "Oh, and one more thing, your highness, the doctors found something else... and advised me to inquire you on their desired option. I told them what I knew would be your answer, but they have me ask anyway. You see, Silver was found to be pregnant."

  Moon looked at him in dismay.

  "They've advised me that it would be best to terminate the pregnancy," Harnz stated.

  "No; never," Moon said sternly, "She would never forgive me; even if she sleeps for one hundred years and the child would grow while she is asleep..."

  Harnz smiled, "That's what I said, but now I can confirm this for them. I wouldn't have it any other way," he turned, "I've said my piece; I've got work to do. Don't overexert yourself; your injuries are still healing."

  "Oh,” Harnz paused, “…and one more thing; I feel that, the day your child is born, it'll be the greatest day in this new empire." With that, Harnz walked back down the stairs returning to the lower levels.

  The day the doctors induced labor for Silver's baby to be born, it was a hectic day; one would have guessed with the circumstance surrounding Silver's condition with being a comatose Risen, after all...

  The child was born and immediately taken into care of the physicians, but not without Harnz following the child into the rooms that most were not allowed. Either he went, he said, or the baby stayed there.

  Dealk were different than Humans, though half Human, the child, and he dare not let them diagnose an issue that was not of concern to Dealk.

  It eventually left Moon alone with Silver. It left the room in silence. Moon simply sat there, holding her hand. His eyes were cast to the floor next to the bed.

  It was then in an instant that Moon felt Silver’s hand move.

  Moon found himself frozen in place. Did it really happen? He slowly cast his gaze up from the floor and too Silver’s face, “…Silver?” he called to her.

  Silver’s eyes fluttered open, initially looking at the ceiling. A look of confusion covered her face.

  Moon stood, though still holding her hand, “I can’t believe it; you’re really awake. “Silver, say something.” He said.

  Silver coughed, “…Moon? What…?” her voice was hoarse.

  “Hold on; let me get you some water.” Moon released her hand, going round the bed to a sink next to the other wall. He pulled a cup from the shelf and filled it with water before returning to Silver’s side.

  Moon assisted Silver by holding her head up to give her a drink of water.

  Though Silver was conscious, it was somewhat silent. Moon’s mind was racing, however. He was happy yet confused by her awakening. Why now? Yet it was then that he realized. Silver was a Risen—creatures that were not “alive” by their own methods: It was because Silver was pregnant that she had not awoken; It was Silver having the baby that had allowed her to awaken.

  Moon smiled faintly, “I’m sorry.” He stated.

  Silver, still lying down, looked at him, “For what?”

  “I…” Moon began, only to be cut off by the door opening.

  Harnz stood at the door. He looked a Moon before casting his gaze to Silver. He was holding the baby in his arms; he smiled, “Good morning, princess," he said to Silver.

  "Anyway, I've suppose I am to introduce you to you, your daughter," he said as he motioned to the baby in his arms.

  Silver seemed confused so she looked towards Moon, who nodded. “That’s what I was going to explain just before…”

  Harnz cleared his throat, "And I'm sure he has stuff he has yet to explain, so I’ll just leave her with you and allow you all to bond as one does." he walked towards the bed and waited for Moon to help Silver to sit up before Harnz handed her the baby, "Glad you're back, Silver...It’s been a bore without you." he grinned, “And I’ll let your friend know you’re awake so she can visit you later.”

  “So Heather is all right?” Silver asked.

  Harnz laughed, “Funny how you’re worried about her despite the fact that you’re sitting in a hospital bed right now…” he pointed towards Silver and motioned to the bed, “But yes, she’s been helping me the past few months with managing some things.”

  Harnz glanced at Moon, who nodded.

  “Well, I’ll see you all later,” Harnz nodded before heading to leave the room.

  Silver looked at the baby she was holding in her arms. It was hers; she could hardly believe… It was even harder to believe that she was even alive after all that had happened.

  “I...I re-placed the life pact as soon as I awakened that day…” Moon stated and he lowered his head. “They thought we were both going to die that day…but miraculously, we’re both still here. …You’ve been asleep for so long; none of us knew when you were going to wake up…”

  “I did what I had to do.” Silver stated. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here.”

  Moon shook his head, a slight smile on his face, “No; it’s nothing you should apologize for.”

  “And this?” Silver motioned to the baby. “I…I didn’t think it was possible.”

  “Neither did I.” Moo
n replied. “When Harnz told me I was shocked. But that doesn’t matter; it is what it is. And I think it is because you are a Risen and have no ‘life-force’ entirely your own that the pact allowed the child to grow while you slept. However it happened, it happened. …But I’m happy; I’m happy that the war is over; I’m happy that the child is ours; and I’m happy…I’m happy you’re awake, Silver.”

  “I made you worry…” Silver muttered.

  Moon smiled, “Of course you did; I love you, after all…for a very long time.”

  Silver met his gaze and smiled, “I’ve loved you probably just as long…”

  A conference of sorts had been called. It would be something of a celebration as well as a meeting of the state of the world. It would be the first large gathering since the end of the war. There had been meetings but they had been smaller and were done in the means to getting things figured out.

  Over the months, things had been ironed out and it was time to enjoy the end of the war.

  Moon had to assist Silver on making it to the conference; she was unable to walk due to her having been lain up the bed for so long. Heather had gone to a human hospital and had come back with a wheelchair for her friend.

  Heather had been happy that Silver had awakened; and coming with that, both Heather and Silver had truly become the best of friends. All of Heather’s previous discretions with Silver’s attitude had been dismissed, as Silver decided to quit hiding her feelings from people.

  It was good times; and people as individuals and as society were so much happier. Sure there was clearly work to be done, but, overall, the world was better since the War’s end. Thus it was time for all to truly unite to overcome the changes that need be made.

  That is what the conference would address; that is why Moon and Silver would head it with Heather, Harnz, and Zei at their side.

  Silver looked up at Moon, who went to her side. He assisted her to her feet and braced her to allow her to stand while still holding their daughter.

  Silver cleared her throat, readying to speak to the group that had followed them for the first time since before the final battle, “I’m afraid that I slept through the toughest part of this new era. I’m glad to see that all has gone well; and I apologize that I was not around to help.”

  “I’m happy to see the various forms of people come together so quickly in this new era… and am glad to see that the majority of the Four Prince’s regime has been removed.” Silver stated. “This proves that, despite the differences we all have, we still all have the desire to fight for our future. It’s this notion that made me come to the appropriate name for Moon and my daughter. In honor of all—Dealk, Human, and Risen—working together so greatly: I have decided to bestow upon my daughter the name ‘Harmony’… For without the harmonious bonds we created during these years we never would have made it to this point.” She smiled and looked back up towards Moon, she nodded.

  Moon helped her sit back down. After doing so he reached for a glass filled with wine. He raised it; people copying his motion.

  “A toast: to us and harmony; may days to come be filled with peace and progress.” Moon stated.

  The toast finished, Moon sat down next to Silver, propping slightly upon the edge of her chair. The pair looked at each other and smiled.

  As was said, there was no danger lurking at all hours of the day; the danger eradicated, allowing piece and life to continue. It would be their defining moment, declaring the world a place for all beings to come together to work together—as it had proven successful by their victory over the Four fallen Princes.

  If the army itself wasn’t proof enough, there was always the proof that lay in the leaders that led them to victory: Silver and Moon.

  ~END~