Inkdeath

Farid was busy at work shining up Orpheus' boots.  He'd been spending a good deal of time in the man's cottage just outside of Ombra.  He waited on Cheeseface, brought him food and wine, cleaned up whatever mess he made, and, most of all, hoped with all his heart that he would soon find the right words to bring Dustfinger back.  How much pain that name brought.  For Farid, it felt as if, every time he thought of the fire-eater's face, that the cold blade of a knife pierced his heart and that death wasn't far away.  And it wasn't.  He had been dead.  He would not be sitting here if Dustfinger hadn't given his own life to the White Women to bring him back to the world of the living.
  Suddenly a crash cut the silence.  Cheeseface was yelling.  He once again discovered that the words he wrote would not suffice, and he sent a bottle of ink crashing against the wall.  Farid automatically picked up a broom and several cloths.  He knew that any second Orpheus would be calling him to clean up the mess.  And that's exactly what he did.
  "BOY!" His voice thundered through the small house, "GET IN HERE AND CLEAN THIS MESS UP!"
  Farid walked into Cheeseface's workshop, which was an utter disaster.  Paper and parchment was crumpled into balls and strewn across the floor, broken pens also littered the area and ink was spattered all over.  He swept up the glass of the bottle into a small pile and began to scrub the ink off the walls.  That was when Cheeseface said, "I may have a solution."
  Farid looked at him, puzzled, "Then why did you throw the ink against the wall?"
  "Usually, I'd say don't ask questions, you're not smart enough to understand the answers," he smirked, "but since I'm in such a good mood, I might as well tell you the legend of the mess you're cleaning up."
  "You don't need to be so rude," Farid snapped, "the only reason you're writing what you're writing is that you want to out do Meggie and you're such a no good..."
  "Pick your next words very carefully, boy, or I may not read this aloud." Cheeseface waved the piece of parchment around in front of his face.
  "You won't need to!" Farid snatched the paper from his hand and made a run for the door.  He knew someone else who could read Dustfinger back.  Cheeseface threw a wooden cane at him.  He ducked just in time.  The cane hit the wall and clattered onto the floor.  Farid quickly opened the workshop door and nimbly avoided all the things Orpheus was throwing at him.  He made it outside and Cheeseface was much too slow to keep up with him.  He had to get to Meggie as fast as he possibly could.
  Farid made it to the farmhouse where Meggie, Silvertongue and Resa were staying.  He knocked hurriedly on the door.  Their lodger, Amelia, opened the door.
  "I need to see Meggie right away!" he panted.

  "Of coarse," she said, "come in.  Sit down, I'll get Meggie."
  Farid took a seat in an armchair in the corner of the cluttered room.  He looked around.  Over in the corner across from him stood a little desk covered with books.  He smiled.  He knew how much this family loved the world of ink and paper.
  "Farid!" Meggie appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, "What are you doing here?" She looked happy and healthy.
  Farid looked at her face.  It was the other face he couldn't get out of his head.  He pushed himself out of the chair and walked over to her.  He looked around to make sure nobody else was here, and he kissed her.  "Is that any way to greet me?" he asked, smiling
  "I suppose not." she said, "how about, how are you, and is Dustfinger back?"
  "Not quite.  Cheeseface never read aloud.  He wrote it, but never read it." The smile on Farid's face grew.  He pulled the paper out of his pocket.  "I would much rather you read it, that's really why I'm here."
  Meggie took the paper and read the first few lines.  It was beautiful.  Really it was.  She looked at him.  "Okay, I'll read it."  Farid kissed her again. "Thank you, Meggie!"
  She sat down on the armchair where Farid just was.  She looked at the paper for a brief moment, then she began to read.

  "Dustfinger made fire dance for the White Women day after day, their coldness spreading over him with every look they gave.  He felt as if he would never be whole again.  The dead surrounded him and watched the fire leap and climb up his arms." The words were coming beautifully from Meggie's mouth, her voice was once again becoming flesh and blood, "The fire-eater longed some people more than others, but all he really wished for was to return to the land of the living.  He missed Roxane, his daughter, and most of all, the boy he died for.  He knew he'd never see their faces again.  But the White Women saw his sorrow.  They loved to watch him tame fire, but they felt sorry for him.  They wanted fire's warmth, but their liking for Dustfinger was too much for even them to bare.  They freed him from their icy bonds, and sent him back to his home.  He was stunned.  Free.  Roxane.  He was deep within the Wayless Wood.  A place only he knew.  He picked his way out of the forest and was home.  He went to Roxane first.  He was on her doorstep, about to knock, but he turned away, and disappeared into the woods yet again."

  "Meggie!  That was amazing!  I know he's back!" Farid was shouting. "Let's go find him!"
  "Farid, it'll take him several days to get out of the Wood.  Three at least." she looked at him. The happiness drained out of his face. "Anyway, I suppose we can go to Roxane's and wait.  If you'll keep looking like that otherwise."
  "Thank you!" the happiness came rushing back.
  Meggie went outside to find Mo and Resa and tell them where she was going.  When she told Mo what had happened, the look on his face told her he was amazed.
  "He's back?" Mo looked at her, "Are you sure?"
  "Yes.  I'm sure he is." Meggie said, them she kissed him on the forehead and left.
  Meggie was warmly welcomed by Roxane, but Farid was lucky she didn't send him to stay in the barn.  Her coldness toward him had not yet gone away.  She gave them the attic to sleep and she never asked why they were there.  Meggie did attempt to give an explanation stating that Resa and Mo were away, but Roxane hushed her.
  Farid and Meggie waited there for two days, constantly peering out the window of the bedroom.  On the morning of the third day, they looked out into a rainy landscape, and there was Dustfinger, striding up the lawn toward the house.  He really was back.
  He stepped carefully onto the porch, just as Farid threw open the door.  The floor creaked under his feet as he ran.  Meggie followed swiftly.  At the bottom of the stairs, she trod on the hem of her dress, and fell, painfully hitting the floor.  Farid turned, pulled her to her feet, then ran out the front door.  The front door hit Dustfinger in the back, causing him to stumble and nearly fall over.  He cursed, then turned around.  When he saw Farid's face, joy washed over his face. 
  "Well, boy," he said, "I see you're fed..." what was he saying? I see you're fed? Then he noticed Meggie.
  "I'm betting you didn't listen when I said for you to keep my name out of your magical mouth, I thank you for that."
  "Sure thing." Meggie smiled.  It was good to see Dustfinger's scarred face again, although she still didn't completely trust him, "well," she looked at Farid, "I have to go home now, Mo must be panicking." She cast one last look at the fire-eater, then walked down the road.  Farid had a look on his face that was similar to that of a dog who had found his master.

THE END

FAKE ENDING (THIS IS A JOKE): and they all skipped off happily into the sunset!