Earth and Stone

Chapter Twelve: A New Dawn

The wolf brothers had descended the slope to investigate the remains, and San had pulled herself onto the gray mare behind Ashitaka, physically drained from the chase. Ashitaka's shoulders sagged from exhaustion, and as the mare started to walk, he swayed a little before steadying himself. His back ached, and his bow arm felt cramped and tired. The mare, though a smooth-gaited animal, seemed to jar his bones with every step.

Ashitaka felt weary, and old. Ever since he had first heard the men speak, he knew he was delaying the inevitable. He had to return to Iron Town, to make sure Lady Eboshi was alive and able to manage the people. Had Kataki Bou harmed her in his pursuit of information on their whereabouts, Ashitaka knew he had to rule in her stead. He had already been doing much of the tasks assigned to the head of the town before he left; his responsibilities nagged at his conscience.

But how to tell San? How will I ever find the strength to leave her… again? He sighed. "Shall I bring you back to the cave?"

San instantly was alert, jerking from the doze she had slipped into. "Why are we not both going to the cave? Where are you going?"

Ashitaka gave a sad, grim smile. "I need to return to Iron Town."

They rode on in silence, knowing that each step the mare took drew them closer to a possibly damning discussion. The wolves hadn't returned, and the forest was quiet around them. The light of the setting sun filtered through the green canopy, sending dark shadows behind the tree trunks and amid the loam of the forest floor.

The mare stopped at Ashitaka's gentle command in a clearing. If they continued west, they would arrive at the wolves' cave. And to the southeast lay Iron Town, its massive sprawling metropolis so isolated in the midst of nature. San rested her forehead on Ashitaka's shoulder, and he slipped one hand back to grasp hers. They stayed like that for a moment, and then the mare started, and turned southeast.

Ashitaka half-twisted to look incredulously at San. It had been her slight kick that had turned the mare toward Iron Town. She met his gaze with a smile.

"If that's where you need to be… then that's where we'll go."

"But…"

"Don't talk. The original thing that kept me from you was this forest, putting it back together, piece by piece. You were there when that final piece returned, when the Forest Spirit's own does appeared. I could do more, but this forest doesn't need me like it did seven years ago."

Ashitaka searched San's face, trusting the mare to navigate their way through the trees at her own delicate pace. "Can you be happy?"

"You won't lock me away from the forest, will you?" San countered, raising an eyebrow as if to dare him to say otherwise.

"Of course not." Ashitaka didn't know why he was looking for some sort of catch. San was saying she would live with him in Iron Town! It seemed much too good to be true. "But… why?"

San gave him a look. "Do you need to ask? I feel that if you do, maybe I shouldn't go with you." Abruptly she slid off the back of the mare and began to walk away, back west. Ashitaka seized the mare's rein and wheeled her around, urging her into a sudden burst of speed. When they were level with San, the gray mare obediently stopped as Ashitaka dismounted swiftly.

"You're not going to walk away from me twice, San." As he spoke, Ashitaka spun her and then he put his mouth on hers. She had gasped as he had pulled her around, and he took advantage of her parted lips to slip his tongue inside. San started at the intrusion, and then relaxed to return the action.

It was only for lack of air that they pulled apart, breathing heavily on to each other's mouths, staring at each other. Ashitaka's heart beat wildly against his ribcage as it had when he had faced Kataki Bou, but now the sensation that caused it was far from fear as it had been then. He wanted to voice the feeling so than San wouldn't misunderstand. "I'm in love with you, San."

She gazed at him, a blush staining both cheeks from the kiss.

"I give you my heart, San. It has been yours since I first saw you by the river, all those years ago when I was little more than a child who knew nothing of love. Go with me if it will make you happy. Whatever your actions, as long as you are at peace, so will I be."

San hesitated, and then placed one of her hands over her heart. "Love? That's the name for a feeling that makes you feel weak and strong all at once?"

Ashitaka nodded, smiling. "Wonderfully enslaved and totally free. I believe that to be love, yes."

"Then," San whispered as she leaned in for another kiss, "I must be in love with you, too."

The night guard jumped out of his torpor at an animalistic howl echoing out of the fringes of the forest, the forest that always seemed more oppressive during the night. He pushed his fellow guard into wakefulness.

"Did you hear that? It sounded like a wolf."

"Don't be a superstitious old woman, Hanso." The sleepy guard yawned. "It's your watch until dawn, so let me sleep. I don't wake you on my watch."

Just as the man finished speaking, two answering howls burst through the still night air. These two were much more distant, probably only audible due to the wind that carried the sound towards the walled city.

"Alright, Hanso, I heard that 'un." The guard said nervously. "Bring us a torch, will ya?"

"Don't be daft." Hanso said crossly, now scanning the land in front of them. "Bright lights here will only make it blacker out there."

"Look!" The other guard said presently, pointing to a slow-moving dark spot on the main road.

"That ain't no wolf," Hanso muttered. "Looks like a rider."

"Is her Ladyship expecting anyone?" The other guard ducked below the wall for a moment, pulling out a piece of paper and squinting at it in the dull light from the city's glow.

"Not that I was told. Must be another traveler. Don't know if I'm going to let him in, after the last group of innocent travelers we had turned out to be mercenaries."

Hanso motioned back to a small crate sitting alongside the inside stone of the wall walk. "Best get yourself a rifle, Kiba. If it's any of those scum, I don't think we'll chance more mischief."

Kiba nodded, putting the paper back where he found it and going to the crate to select a rifle. Before he could prepare the weapon for use, however, Hanso gave a great shout of laughter, full of relief.

"It's Lord Ashitaka!"

Lady Eboshi wasn't in her bed. In fact, she wasn't even in her home. Ashitaka and San were brought instead to the newly constructed town hall, where the lady sat, reviewing documents and trade agreements. She looked up as they entered, and her mouth fell open at the sight of San. Ashitaka looked at her from the corner of his eye; standing in front of an old enemy, San looked remarkably composed.

She has grown from the girl I once loved into the woman I love now.

"Lord Ashitaka…. Mononoke-hime." Lady Eboshi rose from her chair, and stepped around the desk to clasp Ashitaka's outstretched hand.

"My Lady, you appear to be in excellent health." Ashitaka said, San silent at his side.

"I am. The only sickness I had before was inspired by the bed I was confined to. No fault of my able medics, but a miscalculation of my own." She cleared her throat, looking directly at San. "Yet another of my many miscalculations stands here before me. Daughter of she who took my arm, Mononoke-hime, I have yet to apologize to you for the grief I have no doubt caused you."

San spoke, her voice not unfriendly. "You have not suffered as much as you should have for all that you did to the forest. But I believe you were ignorant then in a way you no longer are, and, if given the chance, would you do the same that you did then?"

"Age brings wisdom, and I am no exception. My deeds are not a cause of pride but a source of rancorousness. I would not have killed the Spirit, and would revive it if I only knew how." Lady Eboshi said steadily, still staring into San's eyes. "I do not deserve your forgiveness, nor do I ask for it."

"Your apology is enough for me. Ashitaka has told me about your goodness." San said simply.

Eboshi extended her good hand to her once-rival, and slowly, imitating Ashitaka's previous handshake, San grasped it gently.

"You are most welcome here, Mononoke-hime."

"Thank you."

One Week Later

"Where are we going, Kouroku?" Ashitaka asked again. He and San were riding double on the mare they had named Konsetsu and they were following Kouroku away from the city. Lady Eboshi rode with them, Yakul pulling the light cart, keeping up easily with the horses. Many of the citizens were following them, talking excitedly and laughing among themselves, some of the children running in front of the horses along a well-worn path that Ashitaka didn't recognize. "This road was not here before I left."

"You'll see," Kouroku said mysteriously, grinning widely. Toki had had the same smile on her face when she had waved them off in front of her and Kouroku's house, holding their new daughter Suki.

They followed the road some distance away from the main gate of the town, along the crops that ran up to the water's edge. Presently, Ashitaka spotted a building that had to have been erected since he left. He didn't remember any plans for structures outside of the city, and this looked too small to be a city building. It looked more like a house, matching the design of many of the homes in the residential district. It was only a few yards from the first trees of the forest, and a large paddock was constructed on the far side of it. Beyond the building, Ashitaka could see a small lean-to, much like one that was used for the oxen stables by the first of the crops.

"What is this, Kouroku?"

"This, my Lord, is your home." Kouroku beamed. "Lady Eboshi, along with the rest of us, was concerned for you, and all the work you do. This is our town's way of saying thank you. We were almost done when you arrived back."

"You've done so much for your people, Ashitaka. You deserve this, and we won't take no for an answer." Lady Eboshi said, a smile playing on her lips.

Ashitaka was at a loss for words. He looked around at everyone gathered, feeling the burn for grateful tears in the corners of his eyes, and smiled.

"Thank you… This is…" He stopped, overwhelmed. The crowd took up a cheer, and with a motion from Lady Eboshi, they began to disperse, calling out goodbyes to San and Ashitaka as they went. The lady nodded to the couple as well before directing Yakul back toward the city.

"Well, go in and get comfortable," Kouroku grinned at them. "Toki is still expecting you two for dinner to celebrate Suki tonight, right?"

"We'll be there," Ashitaka promised, and then the man turned his horse to follow the crowd back to the gate. Ashitaka urged Konsetsu forward toward their new home.

"They built it right by the forest," San's smile was evident in her happy voice. "It's so perfect."

"I couldn't agree more." Ashitaka looked the idyllic building over, still stunned over the grand gesture from the townspeople. "We won't even need to leave our yard to see your brothers."

Konsetsu picked up into a canter, urged by the elation she felt from her new masters. San, though perfectly able to balance without holding on to Ashitaka, slipped her arms around his waist and gave him a small squeeze. Ashitaka felt a seven-year old weight lift from his shoulders- he was alone no more.

The End

Well, readers, here it is. The end of Earth and Stone. I've been honored by your kind comments and by your dedication to this story, despite the huge gaps between most chapters. I will miss writing this, but I'm still glad we've reached a happy ending.

Cheers,
Pen