I took his hand into mine, the long leaves of my dress trailing behind as we walked in silence. Each of us exhausted from the sleepless night filled with terror, his words haunting me nearly as much as Mandrakes actions, and promises. 'I understand where he's coming from, I wouldn't want to live in a world without you.' It seemed like an outcome that was far too horrible to even fathom, hearing him even begin to propose such an action was unspeakable. It was appalling.

I turned to him after a moment, halting his movements he looked down to me, confused. "I don't think you were taking me seriously yesterday, or maybe you were." I take a breath, "if something were to happen to me, the consequences would be more than just my death-"

He put his hand on the side of my face, "you shouldn't be talking like that." He whispered, leaning down to me, his lips pressing lightly against my forehead. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, not now, and not ever."

"No, we need to talk like this, you can't plan for death Nod, if he comes, then... nobody can stop him. I need you to understand, that if something happens to me... you can't abandon this world. Your duty is clear, I need you to do everything in your power to keep peace here, to keep the world from succumbing to darkness, and to maintain life, you'll use whatever means are necessary, if that means you have to end my life, then you do it." I looked into his eyes, extending an arm and brushing the hair from his face. "You don't take your own if something happens to me, this world needs you, it can't afford to lose another who fights for its cause. Do you understand me?"

His head turned to the side, eyes closing as his hand took mine, "that isn't something I can promise you." It was short, and brutally honest. Watching him, he pulled my hand to his lips, gently kissing my palm. "I'd be lying if I told you that losing you was something that I could handle. I couldn't. If I ever did, I'd have lost my best friend, my soul mate, my smile, my laugh, my everything." He looked down, his eyes raw with emotions, far too many to even name, his lips opened before they closed again, and he looked away. Hurt. "I love you too much to let you go."

My heart fluttered, my breath escaping my lungs in shallow pants, as I watched him for a moment, fingers tightening and loosening around his hand as I fought to find the words. He had disarmed me, given me words that shut off my brain, letting my sentiments take over, despite logic, despite every word I had said to him, despite my fear that he would do it, I couldn't find the retaliation that I so desperately needed to convince him otherwise. That I wasn't-

"I'm not worth your life," I spoke quickly. "I'm not worth your ability to help and save this world. You think I am, and that's a lovely gesture, but it shouldn't occupy your mind, not now. Not when the lives of every living being is at risk." My head shook, "I love you, you can't expect me to let you speak as if your life is meaningless, that you have nothing to offer the world once I'm gone."

"It doesn't matter, it's never going to come to that, I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He looked down at me, narrowing his eyes. "We're done talking about this, I'm not entertaining these ideas anymore, and I want you to stop too. Nothing's going to happen, do you understand?"

Sighing, I looked to my feet, "yes, sure." There wasn't anyway I was going to win, he was set in his ways, the only thing I could do now was to keep myself alive, and in turn, him. I wouldn't argue with him anymore.

He held out his hand for me, a smile once again appearing on his face, "we should get going." Nodding, I let him take my hand, pulling my body alongside his as reality begins to set in.

.oO0Oo.

It had been, fast. An ambush, one that hadn't been expected. One that had caused casualties that would be redressed. As the few scouts that remained moved along with me, taking the names of the fallen, I turned to Nod, grasping his hand. "Have you seen Ronin?" I asked, voice soft.

His head shook, and he looked to the ground. "No. I haven't."

.oO0Oo.

It was the last body that had been recovered, before the man's face was turned we all knew who it was. Ronin's body slumped lifelessly against the ground, eyes closed, rot encasing half of his body, it had made its way into the bloodstream, his veins now a dark brown that was visible through his skin.

After a moment, Nod had turned, and left, I watched as he went, standing behind as one of the others lifted his body. "Milady," he spoke softly, words directed towards me. "We need to get back as soon as possible."

I took a breath, nodding. "Yes."