By the time they left the shop, the top floor was ablaze. In the street outside, a wardrobe was waiting.
Susan turned to Harry and hugged him, kissing his cheek. “I have to go and see Grandad and bring Lilith back here, but I’ll see you soon.” Harry smiled and kissed her, and then she was gone. He felt a weight on his shoulder. It was a huge white owl.
“Not going home?” Asked Harry.
‘I am home’ said Taylor.
“So you fucking did it!” Lucy walked over to meet them. She looked weak but happy. “I’m so glad to see you all… she looked at the group. “Huck?” Harry shook his head. He thought she was going to swear, but instead she hugged him. “Ok, let’s get you back, cleaned up and rested.”
“It is over, isn’t it?” Said Cinderella. “I mean, I don’t need the guns anymore, do I?”
“No, you don’t. Let me take those.” Mr Tumnus took them from her and placed them in his bag.
Cinderella turned towards the shop. “I want to watch it burn for a little while.”
Harry put his arm around her. He remembered he was holding Huck’s cane sword and offered it to her. “I think you should have this.” She took it and pressed it to her heart.
They all stood, watching the flames until sirens could be heard in the distance, at which point they each stepped inside the wardrobe and were gone.
———————————————————————————
Days later, Harry wasn’t sure how many, to be honest, the meeting of the remaining Pages was scheduled. Harry and Taylor, who was now a Mongolian woman, were heading to the meeting hall. It had been good to rest and to grieve the last few days. This was going to be the final assembly of the Pages, and Harry was dreading it.
When they got to the main entrance, Susan and Cinderella were waiting for them. “The final official meeting of the Council,” Cinderella said.
Harry hugged Susan. “Yes, it’s going to be an interesting meeting, and Grandad’s coming!”
“Oh,” said Harry, suddenly aware he was hugging Death’s Granddaughter. He fumbled in his pocket for a moment. “I need to give you this.” And he pulled the knife from his pocket.
“Some girls prefer chocolates or flowers, you know!” she replied, “but you know me so well.” She kissed him on the cheek and smiled, taking the knife and then his hand, closing her fingers around his, and squeezing. “OK, let’s go in.”
Taylor opened the doors into the main room, and they stepped through. A loud cheer went up as they entered, and they all stood for a moment unsure what to do. The crowd were celebrating victory and calling them heroes, but Harry, Cinderella, Susan and Taylor were still grieving the loss of their friends, and it was all they could do not to cry.
Lilith stepped forward to greet them, with Lucy following just behind. The room was filled this time with many faces Harry hadn’t seen before. “We have seats for you over here,” she said, leading them to the tables, which were not in a circle this time, but in a line. “It’s a big ask, but could one of you say a few words before we start?”
They all looked at Harry. “Who me… No!”
“Just try to say a few words about those we have lost, Harry,” said Susan.
“No… Errr…” He took a deep breath, “Ok.” He stood facing the crowd, who quickly grew silent.
“Thanks. We survived and got the job done. But others deserve the title Hero. They didn’t return.” As he started to speak their names, he felt his throat dry and tears form in his eyes. “Gandalf, Gimli, Batman and Huck.” He paused, regaining control. “They… they gave their lives without thinking, don’t forget them.” He sat down. Susan squeezed his arm.
Some of the crowd began to clap, and were quickly joined by others until every person was standing and clapping. The sound was almost tangible, and quite uncomfortable for Harry, but there was no cheering now. It was more like a salute to the fellowship, alive or dead.
Lilith stepped forward. She was crying and wiped tears from her eyes. The room began to quieten and then became silent again. “We’ve all lost good friends we were never meant to have or know,” she paused. “I had a speech… It’s not important. As Harry said, just remember those we lost.” She stood for a moment. The room remained silent. She began again.
“This is the last meeting of the remaining Pages. After the execution of Smedley, all the devices or totems he brought into this world are now gone. Now we have to decide what will become of us.” She stepped from behind the table. “We can continue how we are, as paper in this world, or we can decide to cease being here, as I know some of you would prefer. Those are the options we always had, but there is now a third.”
Out of the shadows, Death stepped forward. He took a moment and then spoke. “Hmmm, I’m Death, which is ironic because this is about life, so no need to panic.” There was silence. “Hmm, tough crowd!”
Harry, Susan, Taylor and Cinderella began laughing. It was like letting a weight go. Lilith, Lucy and Mr Tumnus joined them soon after, and then a wave of laughter moved through the crowd, like a sigh of relief.
“You all know me and what I represent,” continued Death, “but today I have a unique offer, a different offer. If you want, you can become human, like Harry. It will mean you will have a human lifespan. You will die eventually, but you will be able to live, work, laugh, love and even have children if you wish.” There were sighs and gasps in the crowd. Some began to chatter. “I am going to open a portal here and leave it open for 24 hours, then it will disappear. All you have to do is step through it within that time.”
He turned from the crowd and made a motion with his staff. The air became dark, and a sparkling doorframe appeared. “Hmm, doesn’t look very impressive, but it’ll do the job. Step through it, and you become human, and all that means. Back pain, hunger, reality TV shows, diets. But know the process is irreversible, the choice is final.” He stepped back into the shadows and was gone.
Lilith spoke next, “And that’s it, you have the choices, take your own counsel and decide your path. Please speak to me if you want. I’m happy to discuss anything.” She straightened up. “And that is the end of the council of Pages. Life now begins, whatever you choose. I wish you the best.” She sat down.
Cinderella immediately stood up, walked to the portal, and stepped through it with no hesitation. She paused for a moment and breathed in deeply before heading back to her chair.
“How do you feel?” said Susan.
“Hungry?” She replied.
“Ok, let’s go eat then. We aren’t needed here,” said Harry, standing up.
As they left the room, Harry saw Lucy positively run through the portal, followed by Lilith and Mr Tumnus, who did hesitate for a moment, looking at Lucy and pointing at his legs. She waved him through, and when he emerged, his legs had been transformed and were now human. Harry smiled.
“Hello Harry,” came the unmistakable voice of Death, “Do you have a moment?”
“Of course, Sir.” Harry’s mind raced, ‘I love your granddaughter.. Too soon…We only kissed once… She kissed me…’
“I think you found a crystal in the ashes that belonged to Gandalf?”
“Ohh, yes, I did, it’s here.” He fished it out of his pocket.
“Ahh, yes, can I have that please?” he took it from Harry, “and this is for you, and your friends.” Death pressed a small envelope into Harry’s hand and stepped back into the shadows.
Harry stood for a moment, turned the envelope over and then shouted excitedly to the others who had waited for him. “Hey!” he said, “I have a letter from Huck.”