Cadvan smiled to himself as he looked out of the frost glazed window, taking in the view across the school of Innail. It was already early night-time. He hadn't seen much of Maerad all day, as he had been in the library, and she had gone out into the vale with Silvia. The silken notes of a lone violin pealed joyously through the cold air. A young couple could be heard laughing down in the street and the star-light bathed the town in silver. Cadvan pulled a small harp from the corner and sat it upon his lap. Ever since the singing seven weeks ago, the tree song had been haunting him. Try though he might, he couldn't capture the essence. Sometimes he would play a chord, with the same pitches and intervals as that which Maerad and Hem had attained, but it no longer resonated with the same, pure, natural, truth. But that wouldn't stop him, he felt that the treesong as the root of life, should be played everywhere to give life meaning, although it truly belonged to the Elidhu. He heard a tentative knock at the door.

"Who is it?" He called.

"Maerad." She responded. Ever since he had kissed her, they hadn't gone much further. He and she were both content (for the meanwhile) that they loved each other, and that was what truly mattered. Plus, after what Maerad had been through it would be wrong to pressure her in any way.

"Come in!" She entered, curious. Although it was seven weeks since the singing, the strains of it and her crazed march with no sleep or food had left her pale, exhausted and thin. "How was your day, darling?" he enquired.

"It was lovely. I missed you though. I've never been in your rooms before!"

Cadvan eyed the scrolls left everywhere and random objects all over the place, and raised an eyebrow. "Lucky you." Maerad snorted. She had a small harp on her back, and was wearing a white cotton night slip. The harp was new, and was a type called a clarsach, native to the region of Lirigon. She was picking it up quickly, in spite of her missing fingers.

"I was wondering," she began, grinning at him, "if we could maybe sing together?"

"Well; I don't see why not. What would you like to sing?"

"What about the lay we sang at the meet, the first song we ever sang together. The lay of Andume and Beruldh?" she suggested. "I've been learning the chords on this, although I have to change a lot of levers, it is possible. Please?." She said, indicating to the metal pegs which when lifted and put down changed the pitch of the string.

"Deal" Cadvan whispered, leaning over to tuck some stray hair behind her ear with his long and nimble fingers. She placed a hand on his scarred cheek, and he kissed her forehead, before pulling her into his chest. "I love you, Maerad." He mumbled into her hair. She looked into his deep blue eyes and smiled, then kissed him mischievously on the lips before quickly changing some levers and playing a minor seventh chord. "Shall we begin?"

Cadvan laughed, "Yes, Lady Maerad; thine wish is my command."

And together they burst into music.

Later, they lay next to each other on top of the covers holding hands. Cadvan idly fiddled her onyx hair. Maerad frowned as she looked out at the stars.

"Cadvan?" she whispered.

"Mm?"

"remember on the boat, after leaving Thorold. Before the storm-dog?"

"Yes" Cadvan propped himself up on one elbow and looked down at her.

"You said I looked like the Lady Ardina. It's just, I know this is stupid, but… never mind."

Cadvan was concerned, he stroked the lines out of her forehead.

"Darling, if it matters to you it matters to me." He said firmly.

"It's just, I'm only really two-thirds me now. And are you sure you don't love the Elidhu bit, not the bard or person?" Tears threatened to escape her large, corn-flower eyes.

"Don't be silly. I loved and still love every single part of you. I was always wary of your Elidhu side because of your powers… But that is behind us. I adore every tiny bit of you from this-" Cadvan tapped the beauty spot on her right cheek. "Or this." And he kissed the scars on her maimed hand.

"I love you too." She whispered. Cadvan rolled himself over so he was lying practically on top of her.

He kissed her on her jawline and she stroked down his back. He brought his lips to hers, and she nibbled tentatively on his.

"Always." Cadvan murmured. Maerad pulled him into a tight embrace and doused his neck in dragonfly kisses.

"Always" she replied.

And Cadvan realised he didn't need to find the tree-song, as he already had his own part. Their love was as beautiful and perfect as it, if not more, and would remain so long after they were both gone.