Exton

"Dealg Drubh. Stop growlin at those that would help ye with her remains. Give Mera into the care of the Moon's Daughter. She will nae take her from ye, but respect yer mourning."

Keon sets Mera in Rowan's arms, kissing the little one's forehead. Dark shining eyes, bright with tears, blink up at him. he whispers softly. "I tend yer ma, but will be back soon." Tears still course down his cheeks and he silently kneels next to Cassie. The little mer shifts out of the way as Keon turns Cassie's body, It tentatively reaches out to help, watching the Dark Lord very carefully. When he doesn't growl, she helps to arrange Cassie's body.

When Cassie is laid out, Keon bends until his forehead touches hers. What he says, no one save Nick can hear. He cups her face gently and touches his lips to her still ones.

"Keon."

Fea's voice is soft. not the abrasive tones she usually uses. "Her spirit no longer lives within, lad. Tis time ta let her go."

He nods and sits back on his heels. Fea presses something in his hand and he looks down. Two small vials and a locket lay in his palm. The blue of her blood gleams from the vials and Keon looks at Fea.

"I know yer ways Keon, Ye were never married, but ye were close to it. A vial of heart's blood as a reminder of where yer heart lies. A second, because I foresee a need for it. The locket, that is for yer daughter."

Fea raises a pair of golden shears and snips a lock of Cassie's hair. She cut a bit of Keons and lays them in the open locket. A pass of her hand and the hair becomes portraits. Fae utters a word, snapping it closed.

Keon closes his hand around the talisman, watching silently as four mermen rise to accept Cassie's body. The sound of singing echoes across the water as four beautiful mermaids break the surface halfway across the lake. As beautiful as the females are, the males are not. The largest male bows to Keon, then Mer Cronigh. Keon returns the bow from his knees and they take Cassie into their custody. Dry eyed, he watches as they bear her to the center of the lake. A water nymph appears on the shore. A dryad joins her.

"We take word to her kin. Her mother will know that someone loves her daughter and saw her back to her people. Her father will know that his child was treated with respect."

The nymphs slip away, gone as silently as they came. Keon watches as the mer slip beneath the waters and throws back his head, howling. His voice is joined by the sounds of Wolves and Hellhounds, distant and eerie, harmonizing his song of sorrow.

As silence descends, Keon rises. He stands for a moment, watching the water. Rowan comes forward, offering him Mera. Fea stops him from taking the baby, instead pulling a length of silver chain from her pocket. She threads the locket on the chain, placing it around the baby's neck. She touches the ends together and the chain shrinks, drawing the locket into its proper position.

"Elven silver. The chain will be proper no matter how big she gets."

She threads the two vials on another piece and places it around Keon's neck. Tapping the vials, she smiles at him. The smile would make a less numb man tremble. "One for memory and love. The other... for vengence."

She hands Keon a baby's gown and nappie of pale green. "A gift from the denizens of the lake." She nods when Keon has dressed his little one and holds her in the warmth of his arms.

"Moon's Daughter Rowan, this child will need something other than human sustenance. I have sent word for a siren to aid in the formulary." There is a tap on the dock and Fea looks down. The small mer has returned, bearing a hinged shell. Fea gives the shell to Keon. he opens it to find the necklace and earrings he had gifted to Cassie, along with a braid of her hair. Breathing deep for control, he closes the shell, slipping it into a pocket.

Fea lays a hand on Keon's arm. "I think it is time to return to the Tavern. There are others who would share in yer grief."

As they turn from the lake, Keon looks toward the dark woods. His words are soft and bitter, turning heads.

"By the Darkest of Nights,
by Morrighan's raven flights,
yer blood will spill
for all you hae caused ill.
I'll make ye pay Morgan Abjured."