A/N: So, folks, this is the end. We've got an epilogue to go, still, so make sure you stick around – but this is the official end of the story. If you liked this story, keep an eye on my account! I've got a ton of Starwind and Moondance oneshots and short fics just waiting to be posted.
"Moondance… Moondance! Wake up." Savil was shaking his shoulder – probably a little more roughly than necessary – when he opened his eyes. "Let go of him. You're a damn fool too, do you know that?" She pulled Moondance's hand from Starwind's arm.
"Uh?" Moondance's head felt a little cloudier than he would have expected, and his limbs were heavy.
"I told you not to heal him!" She said, shaking her head disapprovingly. "You've exhausted yourself. You're both utterly ridiculous." She sighed. "However, he's looking better. Now, you go back to where you're staying, and…"
"No." Moondance said, crossing his arms over his chest again.
Of course, he simply didn't know that Savil could beat almost anyone in a battle of stubborness. "You need rest." She said, her voice leaving absolutely no room for argument.
Moondance argued anyways. "No. I'm staying here."
"He'll be fine without you," she said in almost a snarl.
"I won't leave Starwind's side."
Savil narrowed her eyes. "You've already half killed yourself trying to look after him, now you need to look after yourself. If Starwind was awake, I know he'd say the same."
"I am not a child, and you can't tell me what to do!"
"You're sounding like a child!"
"Why is there so much noise?" There was a quiet mumble from the bed. Starwind hadn't opened his eyes, but he appeared to be awake. Asheena hopped down from the headboard, where he had been perching – probably to be nearer his bonded – to start picking at his hair again.
"Starwind?" Moondance leaned over him, his voice going soft again. He kissed Starwind gently on the forehead, smoothing his hair.
"No need to coddle me. I am fine." Starwind said, his eyes fluttering open. He pushed himself up on his elbow, his other hand to his temple. "Now, what was the shouting for?"
"Your lover is being incredibly stubborn," Savil said, coming up to the edge of the bed.
"You have healed me, have you not?" Starwind glanced up into Moondance's eyes. "Judging by how I felt when I was last aware – and that was not very well, seeing as a furious beast was attempting to tear out my stomach – I should not be awake, and certainly not in as fair of a state as I am now."
"I warned him not to," Savil said with a sigh.
Moondance blushed, unable to meet Starwind's eyes. "I couldn't see you like that." Keshana hopped up to him from the end of the bed, and he held out his hand for her.
He felt a hand on his arm, and looked up. Starwind was smiling, if a little weakly. "That is perfectly understandable. You are a healer, you will always be compelled to help."
Savil threw up her hands in defeat. "It doesn't matter any more, anyway. What's done is done. You have to agree that he needs to go have a rest, though, don't you?"
"I want to stay here," Moondance said firmly.
"Of course he must rest. However, there is no reason he cannot rest here, with me, if he so wishes," Starwind said tiredly. "I also need more sleep." He lay back down, nudging Asheena away from his head. "Please desist, my winged brother."
"Fine, fine. Obviously it'd take a couple of mage-blasts to separate you two, and I'm just not feeling up to it, so I'll leave you be."
"That may be for the best, ke'chara," Starwind said, as he closed his eyes again. "Please lie down, Moondance, and do not try to heal me any more. I am fine, I assure you."
…
Moondance shivered against Starwind's sleeping body, listening to the sounds of the night. He'd lain awake for hours now. It had probably been the cold that woke him, Tayledras sheets were very thin and offered almost no warmth at all.
He stood up, if only to get his blood circulating a little. He started to pace, his thoughts beginning to wander. Of course, they went where they always did. Ceryen, his parents, the village.
He glanced over to Starwind, who looked so peaceful in his sleep. His parents would not approve of course. Just like with Ceryen, his mother would cry, his father would throw him out of the house. It wouldn't have mattered that he was lifebonded to Starwind, because they were both male.
But why? Why should that matter? When he was with Starwind, he didn't feel like a freak of nature, like his father had said he was. In fact, he had never felt anything so natural and wonderful.
So, how could it be wrong? It certainly didn't feel wrong.
Maybe it wasn't.
He sat back down on the edge of the bed. "It doesn't matter anymore, does it?" He muttered, reaching out to touch Starwind's hair. "None of them matter… I've left them all behind." He wrapped his arms around his knees.
"Ceryen… he never loved me, he only misled me so he could sleep with me. My parents never even gave me a chance, they never even listened… and the town, everyone, they just don't matter. I'll never see them again, will I?" Moondance said, blinking back tears.
"They just don't matter… that isn't my life anymore, I'm not Tallo any more. Their words can't affect Moondance… they didn't say them to me, they said them to Tallo! They threw rocks at Tallo… they killed Tallo, they aren't important now…" Tears started to run down his cheeks. "I love you, Starwind…"
"But that doesn't mean anything either, does it? None of them wanted me, not even my own parents… aren't your parents supposed to be the people who'll always love you?" His shoulders were starting to shake. "You're incredible, Starwind… beautiful, and talented, and so perfect in every way… if my own parents didn't want me, if they didn't even love me… gods, why would you?"
A hand slipped into his, and he looked up in shock. Starwind's eyes were open, and he was smiling. "I cannot tell you why I love you; but you are my shay'kreth'ashke, we are made to be together. I love everything you are, with everything I am. I adore you, Moondance." He sat up, brushing the tears from Moondance's cheeks. "I do not like to see you cry."
"But…" Moondance tried to protest.
Starwind put a finger to his lips. "Hush. There is nothing wrong with you, ashke. In time, you will come to accept this more fully. For now, you will just have to trust me." He gazed into Moondance's eyes a moment, as if reading something there. "Either your hearing is selective, or, more likely, you are incapable of comprehending that you are wanted. I shall assume it is the latter, and continue to remind you of my love. Eventually, you will understand." He smiled, stroking back Moondance's brown hair.
Moondance looked away again, tears still rolling slowly down his cheeks, his eyes red-rimmed. His crying ashamed him.
"You are cold…" Starwind said disapprovingly. "I will have to find you blankets, until you are able to tolerate lower temperatures. Tonight, you will have to use my body heat to warm yourself." He slipped his hands under Moondance's tunic, pulling it up. "That will work best with less fabric between us."
Moondance allowed his tunic to be removed, shivering as the cool air hit his bare skin. He wrapped his arms around his torso, partially to warm himself, and partially because he couldn't help but feel just a little self concious. The way Starwind gazed at him – and everyone else, from what he'd seen – made him feel like he was being analyzed.
Starwind lay back down, moving his arm in a way that invited Moondance to lay against him, which he did. The sheets were pulled over him, and he moved a little closer to Starwind. The Tayledras winced, and Moondance pulled away. "I'm sorry…" He said hurridly, putting a hand to his mouth.
Starwind gave him a tight smile. "No need. I am still slightly sore, that is all." He wrapped a protective arm around Moondance's waist, pulling him close once more.
For a few moments, they lay in silence. Moondance could feel Starwind's breath on his hair. Then, he felt the Tayledras shift his head to look up at the headboard. "Asheena." Starwind said softly, and the gyrfalcon hopped down to land on the pillow beside him. Keshana was currently asleep by Moondance's head.
Starwind rolled over, removing his arm from around Moondance, and touching his bondbird. Actually, it looked like he was grooming Asheena. Moondance was slightly hurt that he was not the one being touched anymore, but bit it back and lifted his head. "What're you doing?"
Smiling, Starwind rolled back over. He had something in his hand. "I may have a way to convince that you are wanted here." He said. The smile was almost a grin, and his eyes sparkled with it. "You are aware that the presentation of a feather represents an invitation into one's bed. However, the presentation of a feather from one's bondbird represents an invitation into one's life, as it were." He held his hand out to Moondance, who saw it contained a single flight feather from a gyrfalcon – Asheena.
Considering the implications, Moondance's eyes widened. "… like marriage?"
Starwind laughed tiredly, a wince marring his features. "Aye, I suppose it is similar. Do you accept my offer? Do you see now that you are loved and wanted?" For a moment, he looked almost shy, though it was hard to tell in the dark.
Moondance took the feather almost reverently from Starwind's hand. "Yes… yes, I would like nothing better." He smiled shakily, before moving to kiss Starwind. It was an awkward kiss, their noses bumped, and there was not room for much passion, but neither of them would have complained.
Asheena, loathe to touch anyone who was not his bonded, strutted across the pillow and began to pick at Moondance's hair.