This one ends on a bit of a bummer note. Or does it? Just as Eric Seven is about to be sacrificed (a.k.a. murdered) to bring fertility to Blessed Island, Merle thinks quickly and manages to save him, and the two run off to escape on the sea. Yay. But then comes the downer part: They bump into a whole bunch of islanders who pull them back to the stone table.
With death looming over both of them in the form of a very sharp knife, Eric tells Merle to "remember the sea" (7.5.44) and she thinks of the two of them having a great time laughing and swimming together like they did when Eric first came to Blessed Island. And like they did centuries ago when they were king and queen together. Suddenly, Merle is calm:
She knows that they both believe the same thing, that if a life can be ruined in a single moment, a moment of betrayal, or violence, or ill luck, then why can a life not also be saved, be worth living, be made, by just a few pure moments of perfection? (7.5.46)
As they both die, we're told that "there is nothing now but the two of them, and their love, which has waited for centuries to be made again." In fact, "they are no longer in love, they have become love itself" (7.5.53) and they set off on a new journey together.
So, what the heck does that mean?
Well, if you think about it, this is the first time that Eric and Merle have died together. They've always been connected in other lives, but have met their end at very different times. Now, they've managed to find each other as they meet their demise. Their love has lasted centuries in one form or another, and this has made their lives worth living. Even after all the terrible things that have happened to them (and are currently happening—remember the knife?), the journey has been worth it. Their sacrifices have paid off.
Wherever they go now, whatever they do, they will be together. They're united in love and no one can take that from them. Not even mean old Tor.
Sure, we were hoping that these two crazy kids would make it out alive instead of becoming the victims of a grisly double-murder, but the whole eternal love thing is nice, too, right?