⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The best way to get the students to conform to the new regime was to start on a good note. Rosalind knew it, Queen Luna knew it and Andreas of Eraklyon knew it. Of course this was hard since they'd all just lost one of their own, even if they didn't all know her she was one of them and they would be forever changed by her loss. 

No one at that school would ever see the brunette with a bow over her shoulder running away from her two best friends squealing. No one would ever see her adorable smile with the most perfect dimples. No one would ever see her have kids or get married. 

The funeral was held as soon as the five fairies from the Winx suite returned to school, those five having been the only people aloud to leave for the weekend because of their involvement in defeating the Burned Ones. 

It was gloomy with a sense of disappointment in the air.

Disappointed about not being able to save their friend. 

Disappointed about not being with her in her last moments.

Disappointed that she didn't even have any family to grieve her. 

But they were wrong about that. Tara Williams did have a family. She had a father in Headmaster Silva, a brother in her best friend Sky, a lover she adored until her last breath, Riven. Those were her closest family but she had more for Tara Williams would never be alone. 

They were playing music at her funeral that Riven would know she would absolutely hate. Tara liked the upbeat songs not sad depressing songs that would make her cringe. Even though she wasn't one for parties, you could always find her dancing her heart out in her dorm, not giving a shit that she looked crazy. 

Riven missed those moments. 

When she danced like no one was watching, laughed inappropriately at an inconvenient time, sung with the worst possible singing voice not caring that she was out of tune. 

But maybe what he missed the most was the fact she would never be able to smile again. Never be able to have children. Never be able to get married (which he was sure they would). Never be able to grow old and grey by each others side. 

Riven was spooked out of his thoughts when a hand got placed on his shoulder. Sky. He and Sky hadn't been getting along simply because of petty arguments, but now was no time to argue. Sky had tears in his eyes as he looked at Riven who was remaining stoic. 

He could still feel her. 

Her dying in his arms. 

Trying to stop the blood from leaking from her abdomen. There was so much blood. Blood on her lips, coughing up blood that had leaked into her oesophagus, that wasn't a good sign. He didn't know it at the time but her internal organs had been deeply ruptured. Even if they had gotten to a hospital in time, Headmaster Silva had informed them, she still wouldn't have survived. 

Out of respect for the girl who died protecting Alfea, Headmaster Silva was released from his sentence and was allowed to attend the funeral of the girl he had practically raised. 

Riven can remember his hands absolutely coated with the red substance, giving a distinctly metallic smell. He remembered Sky helping him into the shower before the funeral, the water turning red with her blood. He had screamed and punched the wall: he wanted it to be his blood and not hers. Anybody but hers. 

His blood had mixed with hers and all he felt was relief. It wasn't her blood going down the drain anymore but his. 

They had only just gotten together and she was ripped away from him. It seemed like nothing ever lasted for the blue eyed boy. 

She had told him she loved him. And he never got to say it back. She died in his arms not knowing if he loved her back, because he always told himself next time. But now there was no next time, and that broke his heart.

But she knew. A woman always knows when he loves her, and boy did he love her. She died happy. 

She cried in his arms when she died. The last tear fell just as the light from her eyes faded, those stunning brown gazing lifelessly at the boy who she loved. He cried too, couldn't stop and basically had a panic attack. 

When Sky had arrived with Silva, they had to physically tear her away from the boy who was just sobbing holding her to his body. Silva had taken his daughter into his arms and closed her brown eyes, she had no sparkle in them anymore. 

Riven hadn't removed his eyes from her until Sky turned him away. All he had felt was rage. Where was Sky when their best friend had died? Where was Sky when they were outnumbered? Where was Sky when she was dying? In pain and bleeding. He wasn't. That was the simple answer: he wasn't there. 

Riven's gaze filled with rage and he threw a punch at his blonde best friend. Riven threw a punch which smacked straight into Sky's jaw, his face had been coated in her blood from the punch. The worst feeling about that moment wasn't even the punch, it was the fact that it was still warm. 

They were doing a traditional burial for the girl who was gone too soon. Silva walked out with her body in his arms, the man begged himself not to tremble so his fingers tightened on her now cold body. Someone had changed her, most likely the person who had cleaned her up. 

She no longer wore her armour that was adjusted with a quiver. She wore a plain white dress which made it look like she was sleeping. Her hair had been braided with small flowers braided in creating a crown: Carnations, Chrysanthemums and Gardenias. 

Chrysanthemums represent a life well-lived. 

Daffodils are a symbol of rebirth and a new life.

The gardenia represents peace and purity.

Terra had done her hair arrangements and nodded softly at Riven once she saw him look her way. Terra was the only one he knew that would've taken that much time for a flower arrangement. 

There was a wooden boat at the side of the specialists pond, the whole school stood on the training grounds where her funeral was being held. Silva walked through the crowd cradling his child, people had tears streaming down their faces as she was carried past. 

Her closest friends stood next to the boat. The girls from the Winx suite who wished they had gotten to know her better, Sam, the cheeky earth fairy who always helped her cheat, Sky her brother and Riven, the one she always loved. Silva gently placed her on the boat and brushed a strand of hair that had fallen onto her face. Silva kissed her forehead as a tear rolled down his face and onto her cheek, he wiped it quickly from her ice cold skin and hoped people hadn't noticed the action; they had. 

Silva stepped away and stood next to Sky who was barley holding himself together. He would forever be guilty about this, his best friend, his sister had always been there for him but when she needed him most? He was with another girl and he felt disgusted with himself, it would take time before he would let himself be alone with Bloom again. 

Before two soldiers from Solaria could push the boat into the middle, Riven firmly grabbed their arms and pulled them back. They raised their arms towards the swords on their backs but Queen Luna raised her hand from where she was stood above the pond with Rosalind and Andreas letting him access the girl. 

Riven slowly stepped forward and although he knew everyone was watching him, he didn't care.  He stepped into the water remaining unbothered that his suit got soaked by dirty pond water and grabbed her hand. 

An unrealistic part of him wanted her to squeeze his hand back. And in another world she did, but this was not that world. 

"I never got to say it back, Tar," Riven started and moved to kiss her freezing hand, she was so pale, was she always so pale? "You should've let me say it back." Riven took a deep breath in and Beatrix looked away from where she was standing next to Rosalind. They had never meant for anyone to die but here she was, dead. The archer was always nice to Beatrix and now that was something she would never be able to repay. It was dead silent, the only sounds being sniffing and coughing. Not even the birds sung which made Riven's words all the more clear. 

"So even though I'm late, I'm gonna say it now," tears now continued to fall down his face and he kissed her forehead, "I love you, Tara Williams." Riven stood up straight and let her hand go. gently, his hand trailing along hers until only their fingertips touched and with one last tear he let her go, "I'll always love you, that's a promise."

Riven pushed the boat into the middle of a pond where it floated still. He got out of the water not  fazed by the fact that he was completely soaked from the waist down.

"Thank you for gathering here today." Queen Luna's voice hung over the whole congregation, "We are gathered to say goodbye to one of our bravest soldiers." Riven scoffed at that and Sky frowned, she didn't even know Tara, and here she was giving a speech about how great she was.

"Tara Williams was a fantastic specialist and it's a true shame she can't continue to grow and improve, but we are forever thankful that she gave her life so we may live on. She was a beautiful soul and may we all learn from her sacrifice." Riven so wanted to speak up but in no way would he ruin her funeral, "So I'm pleased to say that with the upcoming dangers, a new hall for training will be built and it shall be named, The Tara Tribute Centre."

That would be reminder enough of what Riven has lost. Queen Luna nodded her head and at once the boat with Tara's body was lit on fire. Gasps were heard as the body burnt and all that reflected in Riven's eyes was his soul being burned to pieces. 

"Now we say the words." Queen Luna didn't have to elaborate as everyone knew the words to release the soul from the body. It was done rarely at funerals only when respect was due to the past. It was to say goodbye to a hero.

"Ave Atque Vale. Hail and Farewell." Over two hundred voices spoke at once and Riven's voice cracked as he said the words. An occurrence that only happened a few centuries happened. 

Gold sparkles seemed to raise into the air and spun in a circle up into the sky, fading into the golden sun. 

Riven was crying but he knew, he knew they would see each other again because that kind of love never dies. 

And in the end Tara was right, To die would be an awfully big adventure.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

NOTE - oh my god I cant believe its over! thank you to everyone who followed this book! I really enjoyed writing it and I had such a dilemma with the ending. 

ngl teared up a little writing this. 

Thank you all who read to the end and waited for my updating.