And so, the end of winter came...

[roughforkisses]

Streaks of sunlight filter through the roof of the church, dappling the floor in patches of light and shadow. There is no organ, no music at all but the faint echo of the birds outside, greeting the abrupt return of summer

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[outlawrobin]

Robin's faith in Rome, in the Church was broken long ago in the Holy Land. In blood and death and suffering and war he knew in his bones to be needless. He could not have said what had happened to his faith in that beyond the Church, he had deliberately given it no thought.

Now wordless he kneels beside Silence, his own thoughts stricken and his prayers silent but no less fervent. He wonders if he will ever see her again and the idea that he won't chokes any words of comfort that he might try to invent for Silence from his throat. But perhaps that is for the best - what comfort could words be now.

[roughforkisses]

There are none, of course. And Robin has known more loss, and deeper, than Silence, who before this had all in his power not to be very close to anyone. It is not the first loss he has ever felt, but it is the most savage, and he knows not what he can do but surrender himself to whatever mercy the only One who can ease this pain might see fit to give him.

Having wept his last he whispers, perhaps to Robin, perhaps again to a God he hopes will accept it: "I am so sorry."

[outlawrobin]

The words make Robin want to deny things even more and he knows not where the apology is directed. If he thought it was at him, he would deny it. But perhaps it is not and he has no cause to deny Silence sorrow. It is Robin who should be sorry - he thinks of foolish things. Of how often he quarrelled with Marian, of the poor grace with which he eventually accepted her choice. The time he wasted.

"If sorrow would bring her back," he said hoarsely. "We'd have her twice over."

[roughforkisses]

"I know." Silence does not look at him, drags his forearm across his eyes and hopes it might look that he merely pushes back a lock of hair. He thinks the deception is probably a useless one. "And even then she would not remember me." The way she would thee. He does not say it, for it can only go amiss, though he means nothing by it. He has not enough strength in his heart to be bitter now.

[out_of_realm]

He didn't know the man well, not beyond what Marian had told him, the secret curve of her lips and her growing bump, that he had made her smile in her wedding whites. A few exchanged words at the wedding and afterward, but beyond that, the most time he'd spent with the man was during the futile search for his wife just days before. Not an easy road to friendship.

So many people gone so suddenly. At night, in the World Tree, they put the girls to sleep in the space between them on the bed and hoped it was enough.

After a moment's hesitation, not sure now why he'd come, Tom knelt beside the other man and bowed his head. He did not pray, but he remembered as hard as he could.

[roughforkisses]

And perhaps that is part of the hollowness, that Silence, too much in the habit of keeping secrets, has been left without anyone now, in the absence of the girl who had forced her way through the walls. Well. There is Robin, still, who had slipped in behind her. But he is alone, well and truly, and there is no escaping it.

"Didst thou hope?" he asks, almost silent, at last. "While we searched? I fear I did, although so many go."

[out_of_realm]

"I always do," Tom said quietly. He sagged back onto his legs, rubbing a hand over his face. "I...it's impossible not to, isn't it? When Eostre went..."

He shook his head. Every person they lost brought back the pain of every person before them. Just when you thought the wound had healed...

"Silence, I'm so sorry..."

[roughforkisses]

"For certes," Silence whispers, "the Almighty has yet some plan...He tries us when He will, and all to the good." He swallows. "But I cannot see the good in this. Not now, not yet."

[curiously_cora]

"Silence?" Coraline said quietly, as she saw the knight and man kneeling in front of the church. He looked as heartbroken as she was. Coraline walked over and knelt beside him so she could hug the side of his arm. "Please don't cry, please."

[roughforkisses]

He looks down at her, gathering up his strength; he cannot be a burden to a child. "It is not always shameful to cry," he says quietly, "but I shall not if it disturbs thee."

[curiously_cora]

"I just don't like to see you so upset," Coraline said quietly. It was very sad when adults cried, Coraline hated it when her mother cried- it always upset her greatly.

[roughforkisses]

Silence smiles at her, watery and weak and pale. "And thee, little fierce one? How farest thee? Thou hast lost friends as well, I think."