38: The Most Brilliant Thing

Aurora returns to the castle on the day of Caspian’s burial, cutting white roses and bringing them to his casket in the sanctuary. She reflects on her grief, her love, and the mirror she left to keep reflecting the statue skyward, fearing the Sun has forgotten.

The Sun’s voice answers, remembering the story Aurora told. The Sun admits she shed pain and with it love, and thanks Aurora for restoring it. Then the Sun proposes returning love in kind: splitting Aurora’s immortality with Caspian. The condition is that the mountain needs a body and must be fed their blood until burial; Aurora realizes her blood can sustain it and agrees without hesitation.

Following the Sun’s instructions, Aurora rolls Caspian’s casket into the snow, wrestles his preserved body out into the open, and clasps his hand. Darkness falls, the mountain quakes, and a blinding radiance descends as the Sun speaks words of power and love. Agonizing pain tears through Aurora’s arm as years of her life are drawn out and given to Caspian, yet she refuses to let go.

Amid northern lights and silence, a falling star lands on Caspian’s chest. The tremors cease and daylight returns, but Caspian remains still. Aurora waits, feeling the gifted years moving beneath his skin, pleading for him to return.

At last Caspian gasps awake, bewilderment giving way to understanding. He cradles Aurora’s face, recognizing her stubborn devotion. They laugh and embrace, sealing their restored life with a kiss, as the mountain stands protected and the Sun falls silent.