Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. No matter how much I want to.
What is true love?
Stefan cried softly in his sleep. His tears stained the pillow. Vanyel. After two years he still missed him. How could he not? He was his lifebonded. Stefan sighed. No one could tell him he had not experienced true love now. No one could say he was cold and had no heart. For he loved and was loved by Vanyel, the last herald-mage. But then he thought, in realism itself. What is love? No that's not correct, he thought, no, what is true love? What is the meaning of love? Is true love being able to do anything for a certain someone? Is true love knowing wherever you or the loved one is, you'll always think of them? As he thought about all these things, Stefan cried. He poured his heart and sould into his tears.
Vanyel. His name was like the whisper of silk to him. It caressed him. Just hearing his name was like being enveloped in his arms again. It was the feel of those sweet lips on his again. It was the song that was linked to his soul. It could never be played, it could only be heard.
He closed his eyes and wept softly. He went into his soul. A land of dreams. There he dreamt among the memories of Vanyel. However short their encounter had been, he remembered it. It was reliving every moment Vanyel had been with him.
Then after all the memories, everything turned black. There were no more tears to be shed. His heart ached but there was nothing he could do. Then a voice came to him.
"Stefan," it whispered meekly.
He turned his head slowly towards the sound. Something materialized before him. A ghostly pale form, it began to look slightly like a human. He squinted his eyes, in an attempt to focus. Nothing. It was still blurred. He rubbed his eyes. When he opened them again, before him stood Vanyel.
"No," Stefan quietly said, "You can't be back. You. You're dead… Aren't you?"
Vanyel lifted a hand to Stefan's face and cupped his cheek. Vanyel shook his head. Stefan knew the hand on his face wasn't there. It looked to be there but in his soul he knew it could only be the wind. Stefan looked at Vanyel. Vanyel smiled at him. Stefan smiled back.
"I've missed you." Stefan whispered to Vanyel.
Vanyel nodded. He took Stefan into his arms, wrapping them around his neck.
Stefan looked at Vanyel. "You can't speak?"
Vanyel shook his head.
Stefan shrugged. It was okay as long as Vanyel was with him. He buried his face in Vanyel's shirt. They lay there for a while in his land of dreams. Although Vanyel couldn't speak, he could still feel the love that radiated off his form. And that was all tha mattered. Stefan had his head in Vanyel's lap. Vanyel ran his hands through his hair, slowly. Stefan slept.
When Stefan woke up, he knew the answer. He got out of bed and looked into his mirror. True love is knowing whatever may happen be it death, or be it hate. The love will never diminish. It will always be there and you will always know. "Farewell, Vanyel Ashkevron."