Jaha held Kitana closely as he observed the ceremony held in the Great Hall. It was part celebration and partly a time for mourning. The prisoners had been saved, some old friends, and some new. The High Council had declared that a celebration be held in their honor and in the honor of Ledocteur and Ragdinolin who both had been lost in the journey.

Jaha looked fondly upon his wife and realized how grateful he was that she was safe. He regretted the loss of his brave friends but knew that they had averted yet another danger to their precious home and loved ones. He wondered idly if they would be safe now. His instincts told him that some struggles would never end, but as he looked at his fellow Immortals he realized that they would continue to fight. How resilient were these people of his! A smile came to his lips as he stood there with the sun on his face.

“How is your arm feeling?” Kitana asked as she delicately touched his arm only recently fully healed by Caerial. “Good as new.” He said simply in reply. “I am glad in my heart to hear it” Kitana replied with a smile and turned back to observe the ceremony.

On the dais in front of them stood the High Council and Jaha listened to what they had to say. “Our fellow Immortals have again secured our future. Against all odds, they sacrificed so that we might go on in relative peace and harmony.” Dennizon said wrapping up what had been a long speech. The people voiced their noisy agreement until Albertus raised his had begging them for silence. “It is true what Dennizon has said, and I simply want to add this. In all my many years as your Councilor I have rarely seen a time in which there is so much promise. This home, our people, our spirits are all growing each and every day. I will remember fondly those brave souls he have come and gone from our ranks. They gave their lives so that we may live on, so that I may live on. We have among us again some treasured from the past and some who are newly brought to us by the recent events. As with all things there can always be found good from the ashes of sacrifice or even tragedy. Let us live each day so as to bring honor to those who gave to secure this life for us, and let us never forget their love and companionship. I know I never shall.”