First, thanks so much for Elena, Finduilas and Arabellaesque. You all made my day with your reviews. I'm very glad this story passes the emotions from my characters to you… As for Amousca's return… Anomen didn't really deserve to spend the rest of his life alone and lonely, did he? ;)

Please keep reviewing :)

Chapter IV. Reunited

When he finally closed the door to his room behind him, Anomen allowed himself a minute of contemplation of Amousca's modified form. She was even more beautiful than she used to be; her features were still those of an elf, although hard to recognize because of the blue skin and luminous eyes that forced the regard away from her face. Her circlet and wings gave her a majesty she could not have had before.

Again Anomen knelt.

"My lady… to see you now… I…"

"I know," she said softly. "It will hurt when I go away again."

Anomen nodded, then looked up at her. She had stopped floating and was now standing on the floor in front of him.

"Helm sent me to you with a message."

"Yes, my lady?"

"I am here because you have succeeded in overcoming your bitterness, and Helm knows the trials you have endured. You have learned and grown from those trials, and Helm is satisfied with your strength. He needed to test your determination and strength before he let you summon me."

Anomen lifted his head to her. He wondered how he was expected to survive yet another time when she would leave him forever. He had not touched her since he had summoned her, because he was afraid his heart would be torn and broken and stopped if ever he tasted her touch again, to lose it forever again afterwards.

"You can summon me other times later," Amousca said softly. "Helm does not need to test you any longer, and has no wish to cause you unnecessary pain. And I am also free, because I too have sacrificed and suffered in His service."

Amousca always had had a way of guessing what he thought. Anomen stayed there on his knees, absorbing all this, bathed in the divine light radiating from her.

"You are to be given another mission in Helm's name, Anomen," she added, her voice soft.

"What is this next mission, Amousca?"

"Helm needs a servant, a being of the planes that could yet understand the mortals. All mortals as I am are changed too much by our death and the way our soul is reshaped to allow us to become celestials. We cannot fulfil the duty He has in mind." She paused.

"I do not understand. What is my role in this?"

"Helm needs an aasimar servant, one that will be raised and trained for the service in Helm. Helm wishes for you to be his father, because he is confident that your strength and faith will run strong in your offspring; he would trust your children with such an important mission."

There was a long silence. She took an audible breath.

"Yes, Anomen, you are to sire His servant with me."

Anomen closed his eyes. "My lady, besides the unmentionable pain that I will live just to see you going away again, how can I ever touch you again? How can I ever… be intimate with you again, with the goal to get you with child, when it is what… what made you die…"

He knew her touch would come before her hand reached his shoulder. Her aura brushed him before her hand.

"My love," she started. "You know there are reasons the mortals are not given to see. But now, you are given to see one of these reasons, and you must not cheapen this revelation. I had to die at that moment, Anomen. For my mission, that was to become Helm's servant who had need of my sorcery, but also for yours. To teach you that self-blame was not the answer to grief. And you had to reach this conclusion on your own, not because I have told you so. You have learned well, Anomen. I have watched you endure with great pride; I am proud to have loved and been loved by a man so strong. And I loved you all the while, and I still love you, and will love you again, if you allow us this chance… this joy we are rewarded."

"Helm, forgive me," Anomen exhaled. "You were my strength and my weakness, Amousca. I have found my own strength when you went away, but to see you now… it brought back my weakness, because you could so easily break my heart… break me forever. I am afraid, and I was blinded by this fear, but I will not deny now the trials I have already overcome. I am not broken now, nor will I be." He looked up to her. "I will not consider this a reward, because the actions of the gods should not be considered as punishment or reward. I now understand why. I could not explain, but I know. But I will accept what joy I am offered."

She caressed his cheek. "Even now, you are wiser than I am, and I admire you, for you are a simple mortal and wiser than Helm has made me, his celestial servant."

Anomen trembled under her touch. "May I hold you now, my love?"

"It would be most welcome," she answered with a smile.

He got up on his feet, then slowly walked closer to her, and took her in his arms. Her aura surrounded him as much as her arms encircled him, and he lost himself in the sweetness of the embrace. His eyes filled with tears as he held her again, as he had so many times in his dreams, but this time she was flesh and blood in his arms, her warm body so very real, her sweet scent of vanilla, and he could feel the brush of her bright spirit and soul.

Tears flowed down his cheeks as he kissed her, and lifted her with his arms locked around her waist, and made her spin in the air. "Oh, my love," he murmured. His heart was swelling and pounding. Any second it would leap out of his chest, he could swear.

She softly called his name, her voice a caress he had heard many times in his dreams, and then they shared a long-denied joy.