X'rhun shed his coat when it snagged on a broken board of what had once been a spectacular building. The warm, Ala Mhigan air ruffled his hair while he dodged between civilians, soldiers, and physicians alike. Isashi was here, he could feel it, but had yet to locate his love.

The letter requesting X'rhun's aid had arrived too late. Having taken on a job that found him well into the Coerthas wilderness, there had been no time to alert Isashi. By the time X'rhun had arrived on the battlefield, the war was underway.

As the Miqo'te worked through the Empire's finest soldiers, he saw evidence of Isashi leading the charge. Of course she had, the damn woman never did anything the easy way. It was that fire that had made X'rhun take her on as an apprentice, then later, then it had claimed his heart.

"Pardon," X'rhun breathed when he bumped the shoulder of a chirurgeon. X'rhun paused when the medical tents came into view. They were the only place that he had yet to check out of fear of what he might find.

After the battle, a cry had gone up for the Warrior of Light when the Empire succumbed. However, no one seemed to know where she had gone. Reports of her receiving a mortal wound mingled with tales of her planting the prince's head on a pike above some central city. Out of the two, X'rhun knew which was more likely to be true, and it soured his stomach.

A flash of white hair caught X'rhun's attention when Y'shtola ducked beneath a flap of fabric while wiping her hands. The dualist jogged closer before she too could vanish from his sight. Having not forgotten his manners, X'rhun gave a quick bow before asking the question he dreaded most. "Good lady, have you seen Isashi?"

The woman's gaze softened when she recognized him. Though X'rhun had only met the famed healer briefly during his visit to Ishgaurd, she'd made an impression with her ageless wisdom. "Last I saw, the Warrior of Light was in the surgical tent."

Heat suffused X'rhun's face, making him lightheaded, at the implications. "Nay, my lord," Y'shtola laughed, then caught herself. "She was visiting the wounded. If you make haste, I'm sure you will catch her."

X'rhun released a long breath before grabbing her hand in both of his. "Thank you, my lady." Before Y'shtola could respond, he hurried in the direction of the worst wounded.

Pulling the fabric aside, X'rhun gasped at the sight. A chirurgeon shouted, but X'rhun was so overcome by the amount of blood soaking the dirt floor, that he wasn't aware of what the man said until someone shoved him from the tent. Shaking his head, X'rhun looked around with a new respect for the price paid for Ala Mhigo's freedom.

A heavy hand clapped X'rhun on the shoulder, pulling him out of his stupor. "Looking for our glorious leader?" Thancred steered the Miqo'te away, continuing without waiting for him to respond. "Last I saw Isashi, she was talking to the builders about what it would take to fix the outer wall."

The two men paused to allow a cart of materials to pass, then Thancred squeezed X'rhun's shoulder. "I saw the damage that red magic can do first hand, damn near blasted the thing down herself."

X'rhun knew that wasn't true, he'd heard of how the mages and foot soldiers combined forces to breach the city. That was far more Isashi's style, but he didn't comment on it. There was more important matters on his mind. "Would you mind pointing the way?"

With a knowing smirk, Thancred tipped his head towards the east. With a hurried thanks, X'rhun detangled himself from the man's grasp and fled in the indicated direction. Upon reaching the wall, his heart sank. Isashi was nowhere to be seen, only her ever present shadow. With a tired sigh, Xrhun started forward. "Master Alphinaud, how fair you?"

The youth turned suspicious eyes on X'rhun. "A few bumps and bruises, nothing severe." An awkward silence settled over them before the boy continued. "Isashi just left with my sister. Though, I couldn't say to where."

"Did you happen to see their direction?" X'rhun replied. Alphinaud had never been fond of X'rhun's relationship with Isashi, so the Miqo'te kept the conversation short.

Alphinaud waved back towards the inner city before hurrying away to correct the work of a local carpenter. "My thanks," X'rhun said to the boy's back before turning on his heel.

The Miqo'te's steps were less sure than before as he trudged aimlessly through debris and temporary shelters. At least he knew that his lady love was uninjured, though the desperation to see her for himself was quickly becoming unbearable.

Removing his hat, X'rhun paused in the shade of one of the few, untouched buildings to wipe sweat from his brow. "There you are," a cross voice shouted. It wasn't until the female version of Alphinaud seized his arm that X'rhun realized who her ire was directed at. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Damn you for not staying put."

"I beg your pardon?" X'rhun breathed as Alisaie dragged him through the streets.

The woman huffed without looking back. "Isashi has been worried sick. I swore that I would find you if she submitted to having her wounds cleaned and cared for."

X'rhun's stomach tightened in fear. "She was wounded?" No one had mentioned it while they directed his manic search.

"That happens in a battle," Alisaie snipped, then softened her tone. "Do not worry so, she will live."

The girl's strength impressed X'rhun as she towed him to a small building away from the others. It looked to have once been a cottage used for housing guests, a suspicion confirmed when Alisaie shoved open the door to reveal a sparsely furnished interior.

"She should be in the back," the girl directed. "If not, I'll break both her legs so that she can't run off again."

While the threat might be violent, X'rhun smiled at the warmth hidden beneath. Isashi was ever vexing when it came to self care, and he'd often grown frustrated with her stubbornness too.

"Thank you," X'rhun whispered. It warmed his heart that Isashi had so many faithful friends. Alisaie nodded, then backed out and shut the door.

Taking a deep breath, X'rhun removed his sword belt and laid it on the table. He made his way through the house, worried that only an empty room would greet him once again. Pushing the door open, X'rhun paused to let relief overwhelm when he finally laid eyes on the woman he cherished.

Pulling on her shirt, Isashi winced when the fabric scraped over the freshly stitched wound at her side. X'rhun took a moment to bask in her beauty. The deep purple braid usually tight and well coiffed was a ragged mess of stray hairs. Mud soaked Isashi's boots and the knees of her pants, and blood coated the shirt she tried to tuck into her waistband.

X'rhun tried to speak, but his voice betrayed him. Two months of separation, and the fear of losing her forever, stole X'rhun's breath. It wasn't until Isashi turned to pin him with those beautiful, two-tone eyes that he remembered how to speak. "Sorry I was late, my lady."

Isashi ran, hitting X'rhun so hard that she knocked him into the wall. His hand instinctively cradled the wound on her side as if he could protect it from further harm. Her fingers tangled in X'rhun's hair while she rained kisses over his face and neck.

At X'rhun's strained laugh, Isashi pulled back to searched Xrhun for injury. "When they told me of a madman in a vibrant red cap, I knew it had to be you." Satisfied that the blood splattered across his white shirt wasn't his, Isashi pressed her hands to either side of his face. "I was so worried."

X'rhun placed his hands over hers and closed his eyes to savor her gentle touch. "I've been chasing your phantom all over camp for hours." When he opened his eyes, a faint smirk had settled across her lips. "Thank you for sending Alisaie to find me."

"If only I'd thought of it," Isashi laughed. "The girl is nearly psychic, I believe. She knew nothing would calm me until I was assured of your wellbeing."

X'rhun kissed Isashi's palm, and she sighed. "Will you stay with me, or must you leave?"

The Miqo'te shook his head. "I will not leave again, my lady. Not unless you travel with me. These last two months have been torturous."

"Good," Isashi stated with a sharp nod. "Because I planned to stalk you wherever you ventured. Letting you leave was my greatest regret." The unexpected words made X'rhun's heart sore. He was old enough to appreciate what it meant to have the loyalty of a good woman. Especially one of Isashi's mettle.

Looking over her shoulder, Isashi's smile widened with a slowness that X'rhun recognized. He followed her gaze to a large tub that steamed in the corner. "Alisaie was quite adamant that I bathe, and ordered the largest tub she could find. It would be a shame to see all of that room go to waste."

X'rhun laughed through the tears pricking his eyes. Now that he held Isashi in his arms, all the fear, exhaustion, and horror from before faded in the face of her teasing. Placing a kiss on her forehead, X'rhun nodded. "Aye, I would love nothing more than to wash away this day and start over with you."

A/N: Thank you for your patience. I've written this chapter three times but nothing felt right, so I decided to give it time to breathe. I think I'm finally satisfied with it, and hope you all are too.

Also, thank you all for the likes, comments, and encouragement during this story. I've really enjoyed writing them, and hope to one day revisit these two in the future.