Chapter Forty-Five

"Come on, try again," urged Siulon, staring blankly at the redheaded nord who gave a disgruntled huff of frustration. "Do you expect to beat a vampire like that? It is sheer luck you have lasted this long," she snapped, standing on the edge of the snowy clearing. Iona pulled at the robes she wore, uncomfortable in them, and longing for her armor. At least then she wouldn't feel so vulnerable. "Onmund can cast spells all around you Iona, try harder!"

"Sorry," uttered the fellow nord mage, the man's face expressing all the regret he had for being pulled into the practice.

"Do not apologize!" Shouted Siulon, "Do you think a vampire will as it drinks her blood? They will laugh and mock and then kill her!"

Gritting her teeth before letting out a jagged breath, Iona raised her hands once more and cast the ward spell. Onmund stood a few feet from her, and as soon as she looked ready he gathered fiery magic between his palms and sent it racing towards her. Making sure she was planted properly, Iona blocked the fireballs, the shimmering barrier wavering for a moment before she resolidified it. "Hit her again!" Ordered Siulon, and the man practically jumped as he obeyed. Iona winced slightly as she felt her magic flare with the fire, struggling to deflect its power, but managed to outlast the assault of flames. She lowered her hands, the ward fizzling into nonexistance, and struggled for breath. As much as she thought practicing with her sword was exhausting, this was ten times more draining. Her body ached in ways it shouldn't have considering the lack of physical effort. A very keen part of her instead cried out from use, and if it weren't for her determination to protect those she loved she might have asked for a break.

Instead, she raised her head, and prepared to block another barrage. This time it was lightning, taking her by surprise as the energy crackled across the courtyard and blasted her. She'd expected something less precise, and her ward failed after but only a moment. A loud explosion filled her ears, and with a pained cry she was sent backwards, smashing into a drift of snow just short of the stone pillars lining the circular area. The onlooker, Mjoll, stiffened in alarm and seemed uncertain if she should check on her. Lingering in the cold white powder for a few moments to gather her strength, Iona rose out of the snow and got back onto her feet. Her mouth tasted of blood, and she felt burns forming across her body. Whispering the words of magic she'd learned quite early on in Siulon's training, a soft yellow aura surrounded her before evaporating in white light, her body healed.

"Try harder," shouted Siulon, standing besides the statue of Shalidor now. "They are fast, they will not give you a chance to get back up if you fall. Go on the offensive!"

Nodding, though her teacher couldn't see it, Iona focused on the power inside of her and a trio of ice spikes began to form in the air in front of her hands. Onmund was quick to throw up a ward, and as she cast it the deadly spikes broke apart upon impacting with the magical barrier. She did not relent however, instead sending a ball of fire towards him and the mage furrowed his brow as he restrengthened his spell. Following it up with another fireball, Iona blasted against his defenses and the fellow nord began to struggle. Onmund shouted as his ward faltered, and then exploded like hers had. He fell onto his back, robes a bit burned, and stared up at the sky dazed.

"Good!" Praised Siulon, grinning madly, "Drink some potions and prepare to continue."

Letting herself take a moment to gather herself, Iona reached down and offered a hand to Onmund. He accepted it with a flush, nodding his head rapidly. "You've got power!" He praised, "if you can just get it to focus you'll be one amazing mage."

Tucking a bit of loose hair behind her ear, she smiled. "Thanks. You're really good too."

"You know, as... harsh as she is, Siulon is a good teacher. She'll certainly get you someplace, so long as you can survive."

"I hear too much talking and not enough potion drinking!" Came Siulon's harsh voice, and the pair practically ran to where Mjoll was standing by a small table covered in blue bottles.

"Everything going... Well?" Asked Mjoll, uncertain if the two managing to break through the other's shields was progress or not. Iona gave a shrug as she uncorked one of the bottles and began to down it. The relief was near instantaneous, something about the concoction naturally restoring her magicka and she felt nearly as good as she did at the start of the day. "Alright... Lydia asked to see you when your training is done," she added, the redhead nodding her head as she drank a second potion.

They'd been at it for hours, and on top of that days. Since Iona had agreed to Siulon's training she'd been up before sunrise practicing spells and reading books. Siulon possessed the strangest ability to know exactly where the nord warrior was, appearing out of thin air as if she knew how to teleport and ordering Iona to her feet. She'd trained with her brother in her youth, joining him in his preparations to become a guard but this was something entirely different. Perhaps because for the most part, it was only Iona that Siulon had to focus on. She'd managed to rope the apprentices in at some point or another, Onmund having been brought in the most though J'zargo and Brelyna both had been dragged into it once or twice. Left with virtually no one else to distract her, Siulon used every moment to further teach the novice mage.

A part of her hadn't known what she'd expected of seriously learning magic, that she could simply open a book and know the spell it contained, or if it would be like any other skill one practiced until perfection. It was almost a mix, as the tomes Siulon would give her seemed to have been enchanted to show her how something was done, she still had to try it for herself and repeat it until it came easily. Which meant every spare breath she took she was having something shoved down her throat or shouted in her ear. A magic teacher had always seemed to be wise and patient and elderly in her mind, but Siulon was but only one of those things.

At one point Iona debated if Siulon was secretly a vampire herself, and being blind allowed her to hide more easily for her ability to simply keep on going. It wasn't until just before midnight that she would be released to sleep, and even then the dunmer didn't seem to get any herself. Whatever drove the dark elf on so tirelessly was beyond her, but Iona was not without her own motivation. Every bit of progress Lydia made in her recovery was a reminder of what she so desperately wanted to protect, and pushed her further to endure Siulon's brutal trainings. She refused to ever let her new significant get injured like that.

Siulon's brisk words echoed in the courtyard, drawing Iona from her thoughts as she finished another potion. "Back to training! Onmund, summon an atronach."

"Which kind?" He asked as the pair capped their potions and rushed back to the portion of the clearing they had been using.

"Frost." Gulping, he gave a nod and raised his hands in front of him, focusing on the magic required to summon forth the icy elemental. The world shimmered a few feet in front of him before a purple sphere appeared, writhing in the air before imploding with a burst of violet magic. In its wake was a massive creature of pure ice, standing near as tall as the statue with spike like limbs. It turned towards Iona, anticipating what was to come, and the redheaded woman stepped back in alarm. "Alright Iona, beat it."

"What!" She gasped in alarm, but it was too late. Onmund gave a command and the hulking creature of ice came charging forward. She dodged to the side of its attack, and blasted its frozen back with fire. The atronach made no noise aside from its thunderous steps as it turned around with a terrifying speed and brought one arm sweeping towards her. Iona practically threw herself into the nearby snow, rolling to avoid a terrible blow. "Couldn't I at least be wearing armor!"

"You will be extra keen on not getting hit like this."

"I'd be keen on not getting hit regardless!"

"Are you sure this is wise?" Asked Mjoll from where she watched, worry knitting her brow.

"We have little time before Lydia feels able to continue your journey, and I expect she will wish to do so as soon as she can walk without any assistance. If I am going to make sure I do not end up hearing of four foolishly brave women dying because of a vampire, or never hear a thing at all, then she must do this. There is no time for slow, restrained teachings," replied the dunmer coldly. Mjoll simply sighed, and watched the ensuing fight with a heavy grimace.

Iona was dodging the atronach the best she could and blasting its cold shapeless face with more and more fire. She tried to keep as much space between herself and the massive being. It came rushing at her once more, and this time the fledgling mage hadn't realized she'd been backed up towards the statue in the center of the courtyard. She gasped as she tripped backwards over the small stone wall containing the mana pool, and the blue substance splashed all over her as she fell into it. The atronach seized upon the moment, raising its long arms up as it jumped into the air, before bringing them down to smash her into Oblivion. With a shout, she raised her hands and desperately cast the ward spell.

There was a resounding boom as the magical shield protected her, exploding into nothing immediately afterwards but it had served its purpose. The atronach was sent stumbling backwards, its smooth feet struggling to find traction as it was spun about awkwardly. With a fierce cry, Iona jumped out of the pool, her robes drenched. She focused on the more potent variant of the fire spell, sending orbs of shimmering flaming magic into the atronach's frozen skin. It attempted to block her barrage of spells with one arm, while it swung at her with the other. Dodging back with ease, Iona was more careful of the mana pool this time around.

"Listen to your instincts," called Siulon, "you know what you must do just stop being so afraid to do it!" Iona glanced at where the frost atronach was readying itself, power surging over skin of ice. "You do not have to forget about your other skills," added Siulon as if she could sense her confusion, "Stop holding yourself back and fight it! Not as a warrior and not as a mage, fight it as you!"

With a sudden realization, Iona lifted her sword hand up and uttered the words she'd been taught, and while her conjuration was surely not as strong as her destruction spells, she was able to create a shimmering purple blade. A weapon of light and magic yet as she grasped the hilt of the daedric looking ghost sword, it was as firm as anything of steel or iron. She raised her other hand and cast the ward spell, this time consolidating it to a smaller form rather than a massive one to protect her entire body. The frost atronach lingered back, Iona wondering if it was Onmund's doing to give her time to summon the spells or not, but either way she was grateful for it. The spells solidified and stable, she readied herself to fight it properly.

Iona rushed forward with the sword ready, a small part of her actually grateful for the robes as she moved far faster than she would have otherwise. The atronach swung at her with its arms, one after another like a giant, and she blocked one with the ward that fizzled and popped but held together. She gritted her teeth, dodged its next attack and then plunge the sword at its thinner waist. The blade cut right through the ice, but an elemental creature such as it did not have to worry about blood or anything of that sort. Without making a sound it swung an arm at her and she was sent skidding back across the snowy courtyard. Her lungs burned from the cold of its limb against her, the passing thought of frostbite shot through her mind but she brushed it aside. As much as Siulon pushed there were still some things under control and the atronach would stop as soon as Onmund, or more accurately Siulon, gave the order.

Failure however, was still very much so a possibility, and she refused to admit to it. So she came at it again, striking its back as she moved quickly, and dropped the ward spell long enough to melt some of the frozen water of its form. The atronach lumbered about, attempting to catch her and on a few occasions did, but it wasn't long before Iona had found a pattern of strike and dodging. It was far more fleeting than her usual style of fighting, facing an opponent head on and locking into a combat of arms, but without armor she couldn't risk such a tactic. So she adapted, and that was quickly being rewarded with fewer blows to herself and more to the elemental being before her.

Dodging around it one more time, she came up behind it and stabbed it with the sword, letting go of the hilt and taking both her hands to summon forth a whirlwind of flames that engulfed it for a few terrible moments before it erupted into magic just as it had appeared. Iona slumped forward, panting hard as exertion took over her and Siulon gave an approving noise.

"Well done, I think we are done for now."

"Really?" Iona asked as she looked up from her knees.

"Yes, but find me in the Arcanaeum in an hour to continue your readings. Onmund, follow me."

Iona felt ready to sleep as the dunmer and nord mage walked away, Onmund giving her an apologetic look as he followed her. She simply waved him off, and straightened up with a wince. Each blow the atronach had managed to get in made her body ache and she felt too drained to cast the healing spell again. She was quite grateful when a potion was offered to her, Mjoll smiling sympathetically. "I didn't think being a mage was so... exhausting," said Iona as she drank it down. The rejuvenation was enough for her to find the energy to cast the healing spell and her body was thankful for the magical restoration.

"Well you're doing just fine if you ask me."

"Thanks," muttered Iona as she finished the potion. "So... Does Lydia know about Whiterun yet?" She asked softly, grimacing.

"I'm fairly certain that's what she wants to talk to you about," sighed Mjoll, the pair walking towards the tower apprentices were housed in, their injured friend residing there as well for the time being. Much to her confusion, a spare room had been given to Iona as well, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was a suggestion at a more permanent arrangement. "Vex and that bosmer friend of hers have been sending so many letters you'd think she knew half of Skyrim. I believe she's trying to figure out just what happened, and everything she's found thus far hasn't been very good."

"Vampires right?"

"Yes but they're said to be Volkihar."

Iona paused for a moment before sighing. "Let's hope to the Gods Yosa wasn't one of them."

"Vex doesn't seem to think so... There was a dragon spotted in the south near Falkreath yesterday."

"A dragon? Why's that important?"

"Because it didn't look like any ordinary dragon. Siulon's got this... hypothesis?" Iona nodded her head, assuring her that was the word. "She thinks that Yosa'Min's blood might alter her form, well that and her soul."

"But she doesn't have her soul anymore," replied Iona, pausing at the door.

"No but it's still who she is isn't it? Either way, things are going on and we're running out of time... See how she's doing, we might be leaving sooner rather than later," Mjoll said, "we're entering that final week..."

Grimacing, Iona averted her gaze. "I'm not going to push Lydia before she's ready and she end up dying."

"I know, and that's not what I'm saying it's just... if she can transform who knows what that means for us, for our one shot... Just think about it."

"I'll see you later," Iona said, and shut the door. She wasn't really in the mood to think of pushing Lydia to her limits, but then again they were already fast approaching that point. Over a week had passed since they'd arrived, and while the first few days the brunet nord hadn't even been awake, each day she made strides towards getting better. She could stand, though not without assistance, and had sessions with Colette three times a day. Iona had long since learned of how Colette had helped heal Yosa'Min in the past from a grievous injury, but when she asked her about it the mage had simply replied she was working with things beyond her usual understanding with Lydia's origin of wounding. Siulon herself had to on occasion divert from teaching Iona to help the healing mage.

As she rounded the circular tower to the room Lydia was staying in, she found her breath catching in her throat. Seeing the woman she felt so strongly for somehow managed to make her chest want to tear itself apart while also burst with joy, a confusing flutter of emotions and thoughts at the mere mention of her. So when she pushed back the cloth door and stepped inside, finding Lydia sitting on the bed writing, she could hardly stop herself from admiring her. She was beautiful, everything about her making her swoon. As those hazel eyes rose up to meet her gaze, a knowing look to them, Iona blushed and entered further into the chamber.

She sat on the edge of the bed, but hadn't been there for a moment before Lydia took hold of her and pulled her into a hug. "Hiya," she said, her voice sounding a bit rough. "How was training?"

Pulling back, though a smile was firmly upon her face now, Iona shrugged. "Hard as always. Siulon's something else. I only have an hour before it's back to it."

A frown tugged at Lydia's lips. "That's not long," she said, "you sure I can't steal you for a bit longer?"

Iona gave a sad shake of her head, but then perked up as a thought came to mind. "We'll just have to enjoy this hour right?" She smiled, biting her lip. Lydia gave a laugh, and stole a kiss from the redhead. Iona was grinning like an idiot when she pulled back. "That's a good start."

"Cute," replied Lyida, "but I'm afraid anything further is a no... It's still hard to stand, I don't think I have anything rigorous in me."

"I didn't-" Iona started, cutting herself abruptly as she began to flush a deep red like her hair, "no I just- by the Nine Lydia!" She shook her head, quickly uttering, "I don't know what Yosa has told you but an hour would not be long enough for what all I'd have in mind."

It was Lydia's turn to blush, and she stared at her with heating cheeks. "What?"

"Nothing!"

They sat there for a few terribly long moments before Lydia cleared her throat. "So, are you... getting it? Magic and all that?"

"I... I think so," she replied, brushing her hair back some. It'd grown past her chin and she reminded herself that she'd need a cut when they got back to Riften. "Siulon isn't holding anything back that's for sure but it's not as hard to understand as I thought it would be. Just perform, that's where it's beyond me."

"I don't think that's quite true," Lydia said softly, "I can hear the magic from here."

"Well maybe not beyond me but... it gets difficult. I just wish there was more time for me to learn but we're running out of it."

Tucking her head, Lydia stared down at the paper on her lap. "I'm sorry... If I hadn't gotten hurt maybe we'd have found her by now."

Instantly Iona pulled her into a hug, arms wrapping tight around Lydia who blinked. "It's not your fault, none of it is."

"I should have been stronger, put up more of a fight," whispered Lydia guiltily.

"Our thane was blood-crazed and wild," argued Iona, "I couldn't stop her, it took realizing that it was you that she'd hurt to draw her out of it. I didn't matter, only you did. You mean a lot to her it would seem, even in this new state."

Lydia gave a bitter laugh, "To think she hated me a year ago."

"Things change, people change... Feelings change." Iona lifted one hand to cup Lydia's cheek and pulled just enough back from the hug to gaze into hazel eyes. "Like us." She gave an small smile, and Lydia returned it. "I never would have thought I'd feel like this for another woman before."

"And what is that?" Lydia goaded.

Blushing, Iona obliged to answer. "A crush? No it's more than that, I just don't know the word for it. I... I care for you, deeper than I've ever cared for someone. The mere thought of you makes me smile and I want to do everything I can to protect you because you mean so much to me, even if you're a woman who can defend herself. You're amazing, beautiful, and I'm made to wonder how I was blessed with meeting someone as strong and passionate as you."

Lydia was smiling when Iona finished, and that smile only grew wider as Iona blushed deeper. "By being amazing yourself," replied Lydia sweetly. Iona's cheeks were nearly the same shade as her hair, and Lydia took that moment to steal another kiss. She quite liked doing that, little moments she could forget about everything else and only think of the woman in her arms. She felt herself being pushed back, and giggled as she found herself on the bed, Iona hovering over her. Hazel eyes roamed over the features of Iona's face, admiring her pale green eyes and fiery hair. Despite herself a rock formed in her chest the longer she looked at her new flame.

"I miss you," whispered Lydia.

Iona frowned. "I'm right here."

"The only people who visit me are the apprentices and you... and you're training most of the day like them."

"Vex and Mjoll are busy doing all they can, tracking Yosa's movements is difficult from here."

Lydia looked away and gave a sad sigh. "I know it's just... I'm trying to get better but it's harder than I would have thought. Standing hurts, walking is impossible on my own, and Colette is doing everything she can... What if I'm not better fast enough?"

"We're not leaving you," said Iona firmly, "I'm not."

"I know and that makes me worry."

"We can't do this without you Lydia, you know that."

"I know- I know! It's just... I'm helpless here, I should be out there looking for her but I'm stuck here trying to heal!"

"Is this about Whiterun?" Asked Iona carefully, knowing how touchy a topic that could be.

Hazel eyes stared into her, angry and hurt. "That was my home, Iona, that was where I was born. I spent every day of my life there until I met Yosa'Min. I ate in that inn and I walked to the market to buy food. I helped tend farms for extra coin and trained to be a housecarl. My entire life was there and now... People I've known since birth are dead."

Iona sat up, Lydia swift to follow him. "How'd you find out?"

"Vex... She brought me a letter she'd intercepted... It was from the Jarl." Lydia reached over to an end table and picked up a piece of parchment, the seal of Jarl Balgruff on the edges. "He was asking where I was, why Yosa'Min wasn't there... He wanted answers for what's going on, she's a thane of that hold she's supposed to help protect it. I've never heard him so angry but this... He's accusing us of abandoning the hold!"

"That's absurd, it's not your fault what happened there."

"But what if it was? What if Yosa was there?"

"He would have mentioned that then," argued Iona, "he'd be stripping her of her titles and land if that were true. She didn't attack Whiterun, there's no way."

"But what if she attacks somewhere else? They were Volkihar weren't they, the bastards that attacked me home? So if they're fine with slaughtering people in their homes who knows what they'll do next! I need to be better, I have to save Yosa and stop this madness!" Lydia struggled upwards, forcing herself to her feet. She held onto the wall for support, her legs shaking beneath her.

"Lydia stop!"

"I can't! I've wasted enough time as it is. I should be out there, not stuck in here!" She took a step, stumbling almost and winced but took another along the wall.

"You're going to hurt yourself," argued Iona, blocking her path now. "Colette and Siulon both have stated if you push too soon then you'll only injure yourself further."

"Then leave me!" Snapped Lydia, glaring into green eyes. "Don't you realize you're just wasting time? Sod the magic, sod tracking her down, and sod me. You know exactly where she will be all you have to do is wait for her! We have what, a week, half a week left before Siulon says she might never be the same again?"

"She also said that's not a definite amount of time, just the norm."

"So we could already be too late!"

"Or we could have more time than we think."

"Why risk it!" Shouted Lydia, gripping a shelf of the nearby bookcase to keep from falling. "We're sworn to protect Yosa'Min so why aren't we trying harder?"

"Because of you!" Screamed Iona, "We're not leaving because of you!"

"So I'm holding you all back? Just leave me then!"

"That's not it!"

"Then what is?"

"You're all that matters Lydia. To us... and to Yosa'Min."

"No, I'm not. She... she did this to me!"

"Yes but she didn't mean to, and when she knew it was you... It wasn't me that snapped her out of that rage it was you. The others... They've all discussed it and you're the one hope we have. You're the answer."

Lydia stumbled back to the bed, sitting down with wide eyes. "That doesn't make any sense! I can't be the answer, she- we-"

"You two are closer than any of us, and had the more positive relationship before all of this. Yes Yosa'Min and I got along but I've known her for what, six months? You have years with her, and we're hoping that will be what works."

"This plan doesn't even make sense," argued Lydia, "I thought we were all writing her letters, putting them in her journal and having her read her own words. The thoughts of a depressed woman..."

"That's just the first part," explained Iona, sitting next to Lydia. "Siulon's discussed it with us and... they might be enough to calm her, to make her start questioning things because she's so volatile but the real hope, what might actually work... is you." She placed her hand on Lydia's, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Our hope is that the writings, our true and honest thoughts, will make her think, will start to pull back that veil... But we know that's not enough."

"But I am?"

"She probably thinks you're dead Lydia... She has no idea that you're alive or not. When she finds out you are, well... We just hope it's enough to shock her into listening."

"And if I'm not," questioned Lydia heavily, "what if I'm not some magic fix?"

Swallowing dryly, Iona grimaced. "Then we put her down."

"Are you serious?"

"Completely."

"Iona- This is Yosa'Min we're talking about!"

"If she attacks you, if she tries to, if she lashes out or anything- then I'm going to protect you. The Yosa we all knew might really be gone, and if she tries to harm you then I'll know for a fact that she is."

Lydia shook her head rapidly. "She's hurt me before though! We hated each other for two years and time and time again we were at odds with each other."

"But in the end you two became good friends," said Iona swiftly, "and that's what matters. You're what might work."

"Then let's go!" Said Lydia, "If I'm the one chance then I say we go now."

"You're not ready," argued Iona, "you can't even walk."

"I'll be ready by the time we get there."

"No, you won't. I'm not letting you leave when you're like this, you'll die if things go wrong!"

"And who says you get to decide things for me?" Challenged Lydia.

"I'm not the only one deciding," answered Iona, "Vex, Mjoll, Siulon; they all agree that Yosa'Min might attack. She nearly killed you when you were healthy, imagine what can happen when you're weakened."

Gritting her teeth, Lydia hissed out once more, "I'll be fine."

"No, you won't! You can't even stand on your own right now!"

"I'm getting there, tomorrow I promise!"

Iona gave a heavy sigh, shaking her head back and forth. "You can't rush it."

"Why not?"

"You almost died," Iona said firmly, anger flittering in her voice at the thought, "and we've done everything we can to make sure you don't. Siulon says a vampire bite isn't like most wounds, it's... blood isn't just blood to vampires, it's fuel and food and energy. They're not just drinking a bodily fluid, they're draining your life... your soul. They leave behind a poison to finish you off or turn you, and she had to get rid of that... But a part of you was already infected. It wasn't just your body that was dying Lydia... Your soul was too."

Lydia frowned heavily. "I don't... I don't understand."

"Yosa tried to turn you," Iona admitted, "and for a few moments... I wanted you to become one of them because then there'd be hope that you might live. My magic wasn't saving you, I couldn't cure you... all I did was keep you alive and in pain. I was so afraid of losing you that I... I was going to let Serana actually do it. Even though she probably would have taken you then, and it wasn't my choice and I'm sorry Lydia..." She couldn't look at her, the thoughts that'd been weighing on the back of her mind since they'd arrived at the College finally coming forth. "It wasn't my place and I'm sorry... And now, I'm just so scared of losing you again because we rushed. If you get hurt and it's my fault... I don't know what I'll do."

Without a word, Lydia placed her hand upon Iona's, drawing the redhead to look at her. She was shocked to find no anger or disgust on the brunet's face. She was confused, if anything. "It's okay."

"How?"

"It just... It is. Iona if I'd been in your place I would have done anything to save you... Even if it'd meant doing something questionable. Besides, we both know there's a cure we could have just taken the other to Fallion and been done with it," she tried to joke, but it did little to lighten the mood. "But it wasn't you that was hurt it was me, and because of that I'm still alive and so are you. I couldn't have done anything to save you myself, I don't have spells or the sort. I've just got my sword and my shield and my wits. Iona, no matter what almost happened I'm alive because of you okay?"

Iona could only give a weak nod.

"So thank you. I'm sorry you were put in that situation, I wish I could have changed things but it's what happened and we have to accept that... I think I understand why you don't want me to go just yet."

"If you die, and if one more day of rest would have saved you or one more day of training..." Iona trailed off, looking down at their hands. "I can't lose you dammit."

"Then... Then we wait. Just a few more days, and we go to where we know we'll find her and we wait. Who knows, it could be days before she shows up there, and I'll get some more rest!" Joked Lydia, and this time Iona gave a soft laugh. "We can't give up on her for my sake though, promise me we won't. If I have to use crutches then I'll do it, I'll figure out how to fight with them even- but we cannot just wait for me to get better and give up on her."

Dipping her head, Iona caved. "Okay..."

"Promise me."

"I promise," she vowed. Lydia smiled, and rewarded her with a kiss.

AN: So this is the first chapter in term of chapter number (we long since passed words) to be longer than "Two Thieves and a Lioness". Just wanted to say thanks.