The lift slowed down on our descent onto the ground. Still, Elena didn't wait for it to fully settle before grabbing both Lyanna and my hands and dragging us off. Lyanna eep'd but I was just confused. We had spent a couple of hours on the Wall, but after our talk, she had been bouncing on the balls of her feet. Impatient to go back down. I had tried to ask what was wrong, but she wouldn't reply. Lyanna was no help also, either not telling or knowing.

Howard tried to catch our attention as we passed, but Elena brushed him off with 'We're in a hurry.'

She led us through the maze of halls to our given guest room and as she tried to drag us into it, I had to stop her.

"Elena, calm down and explain, please."

"Don't you understand, Lyle?" She asked, a hint of a pleading. "We don't have to lose anyone! If you consummate the relationship, she won't leave."

She was near hysterical, her words coming out rushed. I brought her into a hug and looked to Lyanna over her shoulder. Lyanna only looked worried, which is better than the anger I feared.

"You understand, right Lyle?"

Lyanna moved into a position to join our hug, resulting in her wrapping both of us from Elena's back.

"I understand, Elena, but have you asked Lyanna about this? Or how she feels?"

"She said it, though! She's attracted to you."

"I did, but we don't need to... have sex for me to stay..." Lyanna supplied, running a hand softly through Elena's hair. I took a little distance so she could turn Elena around for a proper hug.

"I don't know what's wrong and I haven't known you long, but I consider you a friend. I wouldn't abandon you." She looked to me as she said this, but I only gave her a sad smile.

"Liar... I've been told that before..." Elena mumbled softly, though it was still heard. Tears weren't running yet, but I could tell they were close. I was suffering a little whiplash, it had been so happy and peaceful before. Still, I got my head screwed back on.

"...Elena, I love you... and sex, it is a wonderful thing. Something that can express how deep feelings lay, but it's not the only way to show love... Or the only way to define a relationship." She turned from Lyanna's embrace to look at me, not breaking it. "Friendship doesn't have to involve it and I'd like to think Lyanna has shown you can trust her. It'll take time, Elena, but we're not in Yharnam anymore. We're not. We broke away from it." I said it with all the conviction I could.

Her face showed a hint of surprise and realization, and she wasn't the only one. As I said it, I felt something breakaway, though I wasn't sure what. I felt lighter. Damnit, now I'm the one crying.

I gently took her from Lyanna, lifting her up into a carry.

"Thank you, Lyanna, but we may be a little while."

She nodded with a face of confusion and worry. As I opened the door to our room, Lyanna walked away with uncertain steps, glancing back every few moments. I gave her a nod as I entered the room, before closing it firmly behind me. Elena stared up at me with doubt. I didn't speak, only stared back.

As I carried her to the bed, I started by taking off her coat. The thin little thing that I doubt kept her very warm. It was confirmed as I placed her on the bed, and my hands touched exposed chilled skin. She rose up to kiss me and clothes started to slowly be pulled off. During the whole time, I mumbled soft affections. 'I love you.' '...You'll never be alone again...'

She moaned as my fingernails softly grazed down her sides, and writhed from lips placed on sensitive skin. I blanketed her with as much love as I could reassure.

Her hands reached lower in impatience but I held them to her side, running a warm tongue over cool breasts. Her moans turned sharper, and wetness was felt on my stomach. I trailed lower and lower until her voice turned to cries.

When we finally left in search of Lyanna, Elena was looking much better. The post-talk did great in clearing some fears, but I doubted her feelings would ever go away. She even confessed to fearing that I would be gone one day. After all, there were some Hunters that she knew longer than I, that still left her in the end. I was just the only one to complete the quest without choosing to wake... and stayed.

Of course, because of my luck, we found Lyanna by the sound of shouts. Arriving in the courtyard, she was stood behind Howard in fear, her dress in disarray. There were five men in front of both of them and blades were drawn. Howard had a gash on his left leg and was holding his sword to create space. Of the five men, one was kneeling on the ground with a stab wound on his stomach, clutching desperately to stop the bleeding. I could tell he didn't have long to live. Another, outside of the five, had his head squashed from what looked to be a terrible fall. With a quick glance around, I could tell most were in support of the assaulting party. It was all I needed to know.

Letting go of Elena's hand, I gave her a soft smile before jumping in the middle of the commotion. The shouting quickly stopped as I arrived, eyes sharpening to judge.

"Lyanna, explain, please."

"That bitch ki--" Was as far as the yellow teeth bastard got before his head fell from his body. A shadow extended over him and the four around him scrambled away as the body was consumed.

"Lyanna!" I barked, breaking her from her stupor.

"L-Lyle, one of the men... tried to drag me away... but when he touched me, h-he..." She broke down in a soft sob. I guess I should have considered how Lyanna would take the offensive spell on her necklace. The man's head did look quite gruesome. I'm also glad the situation didn't get so bad that the shield or portkey needed to activated.

"It's ok, Lyanna, I'm at fault, though I wouldn't spare any of these men your sympathies. I enchanted your necklace to respond to the danger you're in." I tried to say soothingly, but my anger may have interfered. The one's not close I heard scurry away, but many weren't so lucky. My bloodlust was locked on at full and they were forced to the ground. I could see the nightmares playing across their eyes. I latched onto them.

"I'm sorry, Howard, but you may need to recruit more men." And with that said, my shadow stretched out once more. There was an echo of screams that followed them as they sunk into the shadowy abyss. Thirty-some odd men never to be heard from again, a specialized dream awaiting.

My bloodlust wasn't filled, not having gore spilled, but I had the presence of mind to not fully traumatize Lyanna. When I turned back to her, Elena was already there, allowing the small beauty to clutch to her. I could also see her hand was around her necklace in a white knuckle grip.

I knew those were a good idea.