Jisa wrapped Stefen in a fiercely protective hug that belied her rather delicate frame. "Gods, Stef, we weren't sure you were coming back," she said before pulling back.

His gaze, clearer than it had been in the months before his disappearance to Sorrows, met hers apologetically. "I wasn't planning to."

She sighed and placed a hand on his cheek. "I know none of us can understand your pain, love. But Trev and I are incredibly glad you made the choice to stay with us."

He managed a crooked smile. "It wasn't entirely my choice."

Jisa let that cryptic remark sit in silence for a moment. Stefen had arrived at the palace an hour ago and she had immediately begged leave of the late-night council meeting to meet him in his quarters. At that point, they were simply too tired to realize they were back to arguing the same point we'd resolved two hours ago. Stubborn old men, the lot of them

"Stef, what happened up there?" she asked quietly. "After you left, I spent a month tracing who you'd seen, where you'd been. I found out about the argonel. I sent Guardsmen at top speed, but they never found a hint of your passing. They said they couldn't even get past the outer border of Sorrows without wanting to jump out of their own skin. I'd just about given up hope when they sent me word you'd passed Haven's gates a candlemark ago-" she paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself- "and I haven't felt so grateful, eternally grateful to whatever force kept you alive, in my life."

Bowing his head, Stefen murmured, "I'm sorry, Jisa. I truly am. But I just couldn't- can't- imagine life without him. I don't think I'll ever be able to."

Life without Treven… no, I couldn't imagine. I would do the same. She sent out a tendril of Empathic forgiveness to Stefen. "I'm just glad you're here."

He looked at her in wordless thanks. Then he truly looked at her, and a slight frown creased his forehead. "Not that you need to hear how hard it is for me. Do you even have time to eat, or do Council meetings devour every moment of free time?"

She shrugged dismissively. "We all do what we must, Stef. That simply means ten times as much with… Uncle Van gone."

"You can call him Father, I know." Her eyes widened. "He told me."

"I haven't told anyone- not even Trev- " She could feel the tears coming and swallowed hard.

"Oh, Jisa," he said, his expression softening. A tear slid past her control. "You've been carrying that grief all alone?" This time he gathered her in his arms. She shook, once, and then straightened. "He loved you so, so much. He could barely stand to leave you here, with so much to shoulder… he would have given anything to stay here and help you through this."

"I know," she whispered, half to herself. "I know he would have." She paused. "There won't ever be anyone quite like him again, will there?"

Stefen shook his head mutely.

I probably didn't need to remind him of that. Ah, Van; we're all a bit lost without you, aren't we? But you'd be the first to shake us awake to the living friends who need us so very badly.

"Well, I'll let you get settled in- I've had a bath drawn, and you know you can ring for anything else you need-"

"Just a bit of dinner, whatever's left, and a night's rest will set all aright, " he replied.

Jisa looked at him doubtfully, but acquiesced with a nod. Exiting his room, she turned, hand on the doorknob, "And Stef—

He looked up.

"If you need to talk, I'm here. To unload, to grieve, or simply to remember…" Again, she opened up a channel to him, sending him a wordless wave of love, "…I'm here."

"Thank you," he said, and meant it.