Leaves from the vine,

Falling so slow…

Like fragile, tiny shells

Drifting on the foam.

Little soldier boy,

Come marching home.

Brave soldier boy,

Comes marching home.

They said he would be ok, that the war was over, that he would be safe.

They said he should come see his newborn daughter right away, not to wait for the next patrol pass.

They said he didn’t need an escort; it was safe, only a few hours, he could make the trip on his own.

They said he bleed out quickly, no one could have done anything even if he had been with others.

They whispered that it was a kind thing to his widow to tell her that.

They whispered that it was too bad he couldn’t keep the compress on himself.

They whispered that it was a tragedy bad his hands had been too bloody to start a fire.

They whispered that it was so horrific that those coyotes had found him when he was so week.

She knows that she must go on.

She knows that she must care for their daughter, the only peace of him left.

She knows that she will not be alone, that his friends and family will help her.

She knows that she will stop crying one day.

She sings the song of hope.

She sings the song of grief.

She sings the song of remembrance.

She sings the song of solitude.

For those of you that know the story, this takes place *right* after the end of Lady Knight. The seer girl, Irnai, said that he would have an intresting life, not a long one. (I don't happen to have my books with me, so this may be a bit AU)

The poem at the top is a song from Avatar: The Last Air Bender

Yea, I know, not the universe I normaly write in. I was studying for finals when I got attacked by a rabbid plot bunny, and, well...

For those of you that get author alets from my harry potter fanfic, The universe that this is set in is by Tamora Pierce. It start with the book Alanna: The First Adventure (1st book of a 4 part serries) then goes on to Wild Magic (1st book of another 4 part serries, about 10 years or so after then end of the other serries) and then the next serries, in witch this story takes place, starts with First Test (starts 15-ish years after the ens of the first serries). This story takes place at the end of the serries that starts with First Test, about 24 years after the end of first serries.

They are good books, go read them Potter People!