Tam P.O.V 

They were finally gone. After two years of hard battle, they had finally disappeared. Out of my life, Linh's life, our lives forever. 

Yet, we couldn't celebrate. There were deaths to be mourned. Mr. Forkle (both of them), Tiergan, Jensi, Livvy, Lord Cassius, Sandor and Grizel, Lovise, Woltzer, Kelser, and countless others I couldn't name. The Wanderlings were blossoming as if they were unaware of how much pain they had caused the others. 

Today, it was Lord Cassius's, Livvy and Kelser's time to be celebrated and mourned. I wore so much green these days, I could have been mistaken for a tree myself. 

Linh stood by my side, as we had no family that died. how could we? Our parents, both distant and as far away as the dead were. 

I watched numbly as one of the Counciler's lifted a large seed. "Today, we honor Livvy Sonden, a proud member of the Black Swan, even as she fell in battle. A loyal adopted mother of Amy Foster, a remarkable doctor. We honor her today and wish her the best of all lives. May her soul reside forever in peace." 

The tree started small, then sprouted quickly. The tree had multicolored berries as if it was trying to recreate the beads in Livvy's hair. As if it would ever be close to Livvy's personality. The reason I was alive was that Livvy was there, always ready to heal, to protect. 

After Livvy's tree was finished growing, another Councilor stepped up, this time from a throne covered with animals. She raised a hand. "Next, we honor Lord Cassius. He was an excellent map maker, helped stop many evil plots including one to steal the precious alicorns. His wife, Lady Gisela is currently behind bars." 

I looked right next to the Councilers. There, was the mourning table. Today was the last day, so only Dex and Keefe stood up there, looking upset and tired. 

Keefe had his hands balled into fists, and his eyes held tears that refused to spill. I could understand what he was feeling. He didn't know whether he should cry or be happy that he was freed from his father's control. 

When Keefe was supposed to step up and talk about his dad, he refused and stayed where he was. I glanced over at the opposite side of the podium, where Fitz and Biana stood. I glanced at Biana and saw that her beautiful teal eyes were clouded over by white tears.

I tried to make my way over to them, but Linh caught my arm. She shook her head silently and I understood. Don't move in the middle of this ceremony. 

After a while, Sophie rushed up, tears running down her cheeks. She grabbed Keefe's arm and I saw Fitz's lips tighten into a line. Sophie whispered to Keefe and nudged him forward. Sighing, Keefe obeyed, stepping up to the podium. The Councilor moved to give Keefe a place to speak. 

I wondered what Keefe would say. I didn't have to wait long to find out. "My Dad was a selfish control freak," Keefe said. "He would always boss me around, be cruel to me. Nothing ever satisfied him. Yet, I don't think he deserved to die. Sure, be punished like with a bunch of slime dumped on his head, or his favorite cloak ruined, but killed? That's going too far. My father is a loss, that's for sure. I mean, sure he wasn't a great guy in general, but a loss nonetheless. So...yeah." 

Lord Cassius's seed was planted, and lastly came Kelser. The entire crowd hushed as Oralie stepped up to the podium. 

"Kelser was different," she began. "He was talentless, yet one of the most remarkable men I had ever met. He was brave and loyal and determined to do what he thought was right. He never let anything stand between him and justice. Even though he had no ability, his courage and loyalty made up for it. He needed no ability. He saw through the Council's terrible laws, and never let them stop him. Now, let's let the Dizznee family speak." 

Dex looked up at Juline, his Mom. Juline shook her head, tears were streaming down her cheeks. She motioned Dex forward, and the entire family, the triplets and all of Kelser's brothers nodded along with her. 

"My dad..." Dex's voice cracked. "I never knew anyone like him. He was...he was always there. No matter what happened, he would...he would always make me laugh. It made me feel better, it made my siblings feel better. He made everyone feel better. And now...now that he's not here...I don't know what to do anymore." 

Dex started to cry, small sobs that tore through my heart, even though Kelser wan't my Dad. I looked over at Linh, and saw that she was crying almost as hard as Dex. She leaned against me, sobbing. 

The war was over. Yet, why did it seem like it had just begun?