I apologize in advance for this chapter.

Fox gently put Barley onto the ground. Lyra dug in her pack, and pulled out her violin. Hopefully, the healing magic would work.

Just as she was about to put the bow to the strings, Barley quickly took Lyra's wrist. "D-don't. Please." Lyra was confused, and twisted her hand out of Barley's grasp. "I can't let you die."

Barley coughed. "But you see, Lyra, I deserve to die." Fox tilted her head. "Barley, stop, you're going crazy." "No." Barley muttered. "Lyra," he looked up at her. "I have something to tell you." Lyra shrugged. "Okay, but first, let me heal you." "No!" Barley yelped, surprising her.

Lyra nodded slowly, a little scared. Barley took a deep breath.

"Lyra...I was going to betray you."

Lyra felt a moment of pure confusion. "Barley, you can't be serious. Tell me your joking." The guilt in Barley's eyes gave her the answer. Lyra felt shock hit her hard. She was completely speechless.

Barley sighed. "It was all planned. The king had contacted me, telling me that he had a task. You see, I've been making up for Fox's trouble that she stirred up with the king. He told me to find you, and that if not, Fox would be made officially wanted by the king, and would be killed by anyone on sight." Fox looked just as shocked as Lyra was. Her hands were covering her mouth, and her eyes were watering.

"The plan was to conveniently place myself somewhere I would think you would go. The man I was talking to wasn't my father, but a trained actor I hired. Fox is my only family. Once you took the bait, I would guide you back to Fenrir, where soldiers would be waiting to arrest you."

Lyra only felt numb. A bit of anger, a bit of sadness, but mostly numb. The one person she thought she could trust in this world had been lying to her, and he had been lying to her since she first met him. How could he do that?

Lyra stared at her hands. Barley took a shaky breath.

"But, I became friends with you. I realized I couldn't betray you after we went through the water city. And when Fox came along, I was worried she would blow my cover, but I knew I couldn't do this myself. I figured I would tell Fox the plan when we got into close proximity of Fenrir. Fox had no part of the plan at the moment. She never knew." Fox had tears in her eyes now, and she stared at Barley, her expression unreadable.

"Lyra, until now, I wasn't going to betray you. I was going to come up with a way where you wouldn't have to go to Fenrir. But now-" Barley coughed up some blood. "It's too late."

Fox wiped Barley's mouth with the end of her tunic, still crying. Barley but ignored Fox, and looked at Lyra. "Could you find it, somewhere in your heart, even though I don't deserve it, to-" More coughing. "Forgive me?"

Lyra stared at Barley, unsure of what to do. She was tempted to say no. He had betrayed her, the one person she thought would help her in this world. And he didn't tell her, until now, while he was dying. But, something told her different. Barley had saved her life, many a time. If she was to betrayed, Barley wouldn't do that. And he was only doing it to protect Fox. Lyra found mercy, because her friend was there, begging it from her.

"Yes." Lyra said simply, tears coming to her eyes now. "That's what friends do." Barley smiled weakly. He nodded, his head laying on the ground. "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry. I'm sorry Lyra. I'm sorry Fox."

Barley looked at the sky. "It's so pretty out." The sun was starting to set now. Blood still trickled from his mouth as watched the blotched pink and yellow sky. "I'm sorry."

Lyra went by Barley, looking above him. "You can't go, we still need you with us. I forgive you." Barley looked back up at Lyra. "I know. And that's why I'm ready. I'm ready. And so are you, Lyra." Lyra squeezed her eyes tight as tears leaked out.

Fox quickly shook Barley. "Barley, you can't leave me!" Fox cried, sobbing now. "I still need you, your my cousin! I can't do it without you. I love you Barley! I still need you to stay with me. I'm going to get in trouble, and your the only one to get me out. I can't have 'we' become 'me'!"

Barley's brown eyes rolled to Fox's dark green. Lyra didn't hear what he said to her. He gave them their privacy, and that was what to do. When she heard Barley's muttering was done, she turned back to them. Fox was still crying, but it wasn't as hysterical.

Barley looked at Fox. "Take care of each other, won't you?" The two both nodded. Barley sighed, his smile weak, but sincere. "The sun. It's so...peaceful."

Lyra watched the light slowly leave Barley's eyes. His head slumped, and there was momentary silence. When Lyra grieved, she was silent, and would only let tears flow. Fox was the opposite. And it made Lyra most sad.

Fox wailed. Screams of agony escaped from her, and Fox hugged Barley to her chest, sobs echoing in the sunset.

The two grieved until the night came.

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-Clo