The Ultimate Power: From the Ashes

When I was young my heart and head were light,
And I was gay and feckless as a colt
Out in the fields, with morning in the may,
Wind on the grass, wings in the orchard bloom.
O thrilling sweet, my joy, when life was free
And all the paths led on from hawthorn-time
Across the caroling meadows into June.

But now my heart is heavy-laden. I sit
Burning my dreams away beside the fire:
For death has made me wise and bitter and strong;
And I am rich in all that I have lost.
O star shine on the fields of long-ago,
Bring me the darkness and the nightingale;
Dim wealds of vanished summer, peace of home,
And silence; and the faces of my friends.

-Siegfried Sassoon (Memory)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Interlude - Memory

December 23, 2062

The fireplace roars to life just as Gram opens her mouth to speak. Cahira turns to see an average sized man stumbling out of the flames. He runs his shoulder into the wall as he attempts to catch himself and curses under his breath.

"Language, Cas!" Gram snaps half-heartedly.

Cas looks up and grins mischievously, a twinkle entering his hazel eyes.

"'Lo everyone," he greets as he shakes ash from his dark hair over Gram's pristine floor.

"Oh, Cas! Not my carpet!" Gram cries in exasperation.

Granddad chuckles and shakes his head as Cahira tries to hide her smile. "You'll never hear the end of that now, you know?"

Cas bends down and plants a kiss atop Gram's head as he says, "She knows I only do it to aggravate her, don't you?"

"And a fine one you make," Gram accuses.

"Always," agrees Cas.

"Where are Mel and the children?" Gram asks, looking around in disappointment.

"Nice to know I'm always enough to please you," Cas snorts as he sits on the floor beside Cahira. "Amelia had a small do at her parents. She took Rem and Lea with her. They'll meet us here in time to leave."

"Why didn't you go with them?"

Cas glances at a photo perched on a low shelf and motions to it. "Asked me to help with something for today."

Gram nods in acceptance as Granddad asks, "Anything particularly special?"

The younger man shrugs and answers, "Not extravagant, at least. You know how it is, though. It's Christmas and it's nice for them to have something, even considering the circumstances." He shakes his head to clear it and glances at the small family. "So, what are you three doing?"

"Gram's telling me a story," Cahira replies.

Cas looks at her, his lips quirking in an amused smirk. "Bit old for stories, aren't you?" he asks loftily.

Cahira huffs in annoyance and opens her mouth to reply with a sharp retort, but Gram answers first.

"Not this type of story, she isn't," she murmurs softly, eyes watching Cas delicately.

Cas gazes at Gram in bemusement for a moment before his eyes widen almost imperceptibly. "Oh," he whispers as he swallows, staring at his shoes.

"I can wait," Gram tells him gently, "and finish it when you're not here."

"No," Cas says, finally looking up, "it's all right. You've already started and I'd hate for her to have to wait to hear the rest on my account." He turns to Cahira. "It's a very good story. 'S not all bad, after all." He tries to smile at Gram and Granddad, but even Cahira can tell that it is forced.

"If you're sure," Gram replies hesitantly.

Cas settles his back against the wall more comfortably. "Of course, go on. I haven't heard it in quite some time either and I'm rather fond of it myself."

Gram smiles in silent support and turns to Cahira. "Well, where was I?" She taps her chin for a silent moment. "Oh, yes, the funeral. Not a day anyone likes to remember, you can be sure. Everything became fairly hectic and downcast after that. I'm not sure why, but that was a turning point for the Order for some reason. Nothing was exactly the same as it had been. Life, as it is wont to do, went on though, and everyone became rather one-track minded. The years passed and the war was fought. There was nothing else that could be done..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~