Chapter 2: Reunion

"Sing a soft and as pure as snow I fell in love with the fire long ago.."

~~~~~

The next day Emme met Lucy Gray and some of the covey in the field not far from their house. She heard Lucy Gray singing and smiled. Maude Ivory saw her first as she got up and ran over to her with a huge smile after informing Lucy Gray of her arrival.

"You came!" Maude Ivory exclaimed excitedly. Emme smiled.

"I also brought some of those sweets as well as a few other things. Lucy Gray had mentioned y'all liked." Emme said handing Maude Ivory the basket of food. Maude Ivorys eyes lit up. Lucy Gray smiled.

"You didn't have to bring all of that stuff." Lucy Gray said.

"It's the least I could do." Emme told her giving her arm a reassuring squeeze. Lucy Gray smiled.

"We weren't sure if you were coming considering last night." Lucy Gray explained why Maude Ivory thought Emme wouldn't come.

"Me? What about you. You had to deal with your ex. Are you okay?" Emme asked, Lucy Gray laughed and nodded waving her off.

"He's always been like that but.. Sejanus came and helped get him off.. I didn't even think he was here or why.." Lucy Gray said, eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion.

"I think I can answer that.." Lucy Gray looked at Emme confused. "That guy last night was yanked off me by Coriolanus.." Lucy Grays eyes widened in surprise. "I honestly thought I was hallucinating until I saw him right in front of me and Sejanus saying 'Coryo' that I realized I wasn't." Lucy Gray nodded.

"Why was he there?" Lucy Gray asked.

"I'm not really sure why they're here.. maybe because he cheated? I'm not sure.." Emme said.

Lucy Gray shrugged her shoulders before turning back to Maude Ivory who was looking at Lucy Gray.

"You have to ask her it ain't my song." Lucy Gray said in a teasing tone. Maude Ivory rolled her eyes as LG laughed.

"Could you play the song that I love?" Maude Ivory asked. Emme looked at the girl unsure.

"I-I'm not quite sure and besides Lu-" "Oh no don't you use me as an excuse. Cause I've been waiting to also hear it!" Lucy gray said in a playful sassy tone cutting Emme off giving her a look playful smirk.

"Please Emme! Please play the song!" Maude Ivory begged as she pushed the guitar into her arms. Lucy Gray giggled at the young girl looking at Emme.

"See I told you she was dying to hear it!" Lucy Gray said, laughing.

"I just can't believe you remember it."

"How could I forget it? It's my favorite song even the name in it Lenore is perfect!! So please!" Maude Ivory pleaded.

Emme laughed a sigh looking at Lucy Gray for approval which she eagerly nodded also wanting to hear you sing handing her the guitar. Emme sighed as she stared strumming the cords.

"Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor." Maude Ivory clapped excitedly as Emme sang. Her eyes fluttering close as she sang and played.

"Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Nameless here for evermore." Lucy Gray smiled as her once friend got lost in her song. None of them hearing or seeing the two peacekeepers next to the tree.

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;" As Sejanus and Coriolanus got closer to the meadow where they were told that you and Lucy Gray would be they heard a soft angelic voice singing.

"But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"—"

As they moved closer Coriolanus stopped near the tree recognising the voice that was the same one he heard at the academy.. it was Emme.. she was actually here, it wasn't just a fever dream from being in that hot dingy pub. He stood back admiring her from a far as Sejanus admired Lucy Gray.

"Merely this and nothing more.-" Emme stopped as she heard an unexpected twig snap as she saw Lucy Grays expression turn to a scared one. She looked over and stood up. Her breath getting caught in her throat as she realised who it was.

"We didn't mean to scare you.." Sejanus spoke up first looking at Lucy Gray. Emme gave him a slight smile before looking at Coriolanus his eyes still on her.

"I still have one foot in the arena.." Lucy Gray said her shoulders still tense but once Sejanus flashed a soft comforting smile at her.

"That was a beautiful song. Did you write it Em?" Sejanus asked turning his head slightly.

"Hmm I-" "She Did!" Maude Ivory shouted making Lucy Gray and Sejanus let out a soft laugh and Emme looking away embarrassed.

"Alright Maude Ivory! Why don't you stop embarrassing Em before she decides to not sing the song anymore." Lucy Gray said trying to ease Emme's nerves.

The young blonde let out a huff before trekking her way back to the house. Lucy Gray and Sejanus let out a giggle while Emme let out a soft laugh.

"Y-yes I did." Emme confirmed further. Lucy Gray smiled at the girl. But not missing the looks between you and Coriolanus so with that she asked Sejanus if he wanted to go for a walk. Which he simply obliged as the two went in an opposite direction leaving Emme and Coriolanus alone.

"I didn't know you'd be here.. or that I'll see you again..." Coriolanus spoke first.

"I didn't think I'd see you here. I thought the Dean said you were going to 8.. not 12..." Emme trailed off. She couldn't stop her eyes from wondering to Lucy Gray.

"Last minute change.. what are you doing here?" Coriolanus asked his eye brows furrowed slightly. Emme sighed softly looking off. He walked closer to her stopping in front of her.

"I'm sorry for what I did.. and that it hurt you in the process. And I- what's that.." Coriolanus asked his eyes looking onto her.

Emme's eyes widened not realising that the small bruise was visible on her upper on her cheekbone. He came closer placing a hand lightly on her cheeks examining the wound.

"So it was true about your father..." Coriolanus whispered registering that on the train what Sejanus had mentioned was true. He grew angry. Angry at you for not telling him, angry at himself for not noticing and Angry at her father for landing his hand on his girl.

"Why didn't you tell me.." Coriolanus whispered. Emme look into Coriolanus eyes as his hands cup her cheeks..

"I-I don't know." Emme said her eyes saddened looking off.

"I will make him pay for this." Emme's eyes widened "Coriolan-" "No! Listen to me nobody hurts you. And i promise I will make him pay for ever laying a hand on you." Coriolanus said sternly.

It was his own way of saying/threatening that he would protect her no matter what or who it is. Emme looked into his eyes before closer softly putting her lips on his. He immediately deepened the kiss Turing it into a more passionate one.

  They pulled away looking over as they suddenly heard a howl. Emme saw Maude Ivory signalling for Lucy Gray.

"Your Peacekeeper friends." Lucy Gray said as her and Sejanus came up next to the two of you.

"I'll handle this. They'll be here about the fight last night."

"Hey, they can't see us together." Coriolanus said and Sejanus nodded in agreement.

"There's a lake out in the woods. Nobody knows much of it except us Covey and Em if she still remembers. Meet us here tomorrow, we'll go." Lucy Gray said to the three of you. "We can be free out there."

"Maude Ivory, you got my guitar?" Lucy Gray asked.

"I'll get it." Emme said as she was a step away from it. Lucy Gray smiled telling her thank you as she made her way to the house. Sejanus started trekking back Coriolanus pulled Emme in for one last kiss.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked. She nodded giving him a reassuring nod as they parted ways.

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Word Count: 1439

(A/n: The poem the raven turned into a song inspo is from @tessa.chb on TikTok! As always comments are always welcomed!)