#cold lilies

They hadn't been able to properly grieve the dead until now; many had held small services for their departed loved ones. She would have love to do the same, but heroes (even if fraudulent heroes) got a public send off.

Magnus. Dear, stupid, hot-headed, loud mouthed Magnus. Silent now. Perhaps for the first time in his life. She would give anything to hear his stupid voice now, to argue with him about trivial things. To see that awful grin of his.

They say many things about love, but they don't tell you how it sticks around no matter how much the relationship falls apart. For so long, Ellegaard was nothing but cross with him. And he with her judging by the letters they sent back and forth. But here she was standing before his grave with all the other grieving people and finding it hard not to cry. Thinking about the days their relationship was something happy. Something she loved and wanted to grow. Thinking about how it all fell apart after the ender dragon.

Many things fell apart after that. The Order itself fell apart. Keeping the lie up was hard when the lie was the reason they weren't whole; was the reason Ivor left.

Ellegaard trained her gaze on the mentioned man. He stood there, head hung. As much as he would deny it, he had adored Magnus too.

Next to him was Gabriel staring at the tombstone of their late friend. He looked stoic as ever. A hero didn't grieve in public.

Soren's absence was felt strongly. Ellegaard was rather cross at him for not at least attending the funeral. Ivor said the man refused to even come with him the day the storm was destroyed. He'd always been a coward.

"Would anyone like to say anything?"

Ellegaard blinked up at the cleric and found herself stepping forward before she could think.

"I'd like to."

The cleric nodded and stepped into the ground giving her the floor. Many sad faces looked at her. Her eyes focused on Jesse. They wore Magnus's armor as a tribute to him. It left a lump in her throat.

"As much as I disagreed with Magnus on everything, it doesn't change that he was a good man when he wanted to be. That he stepped up and was brave when many would have cowered," her airways began to constrict. She searched for some anchor and found it in Ivor. "Boomtown lost a great deal with his death and-and The Order lost a valuable member."

She stopped, attempts to steady her breathing were futile. The first sob broke past her defenses moments later.

Gabriel stepped forward and steered her back into the crowd. She was full on sobbing by the time she was back standing next to Ivor. The man placed a steady hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

"That was lovely, Ellegaard."

She nodded, swiping at her eyes.

"I don't think he would have thought the same."

Ivor laughed. "Oh no, he would have never thought you did him enough justice."

She found herself laughing before another sob broke it up. She leaned into Ivor, needing the comfort. He kept a tight arm around her throughout the remainder of Gabriel's speech.