I can not even begin to tell you about the pain I felt in that moment. I can tell you that I have never felt pain like that since. I was on the floor on my knees, my head in my hands, rocking as he gathered me into his arms. The room was as I left it. Now there was a thick covering of roses petals on the floor, you could not even see the floor beneath, I remember thinking how beautiful it could have been. I don’t remember anything else about the room now, just the roses and the bed.

Perfect, the room was suspended in time, magic of my parents, he looked like he slept. Tiny in the huge bed we used to share. How I wanted to climb in that bed and feel his warm little body tucked against mine, but there would be no warmth in him now.  My cherub, my Wolfric lay peaceful in death.

Raven took my hand and lead to me to the bed. I was in a daze. He knelt beside the bed and I with him.

In death you shall be a prince, in fine company ye shall keep, in the castle of twilight ye shall rule. Raven said, and with that he kissed the hand of our child.

In death you shall be a prince, in fine company ye shall keep, in the castle of twilight ye shall rule. I repeated and leaned to kiss the forehead of my son.

Raven took the candle and together we held it.

May the great father Odin guide you to the arms of the great mother Urntha, so ye may rule for ever in the kingdom of twilight. We said together.

Then hand in hand, Raven took the candle and lit the bed a blaze. We walked through the keep setting it ablaze. I finally collapsed and he carried me out of the cottage. He carried me a good way away from the cottage, then ran back down to gather the horses. We sat side by side, hand in hand all day and watched it burn.

Peace, finally, Wolfric could be at peace as could we. Silently we headed back to Oakhaven. As soon as we arrived Raven had Mother prepare a bath for me and he went down to the springs. I finished my bath, ate some cold chicken and potatoes, but Raven had not returned. I put together a basket of chicken, potatoes, bread, cheese and mead, them set out toward the springs.