"Kedi." Nock's foreign voice was like a hammer striking metal in the silence of the Sanctuary's underground tunnels. Kedi halted her progress and ran a hand over her face with a sigh.

"Lucien, continue on to my room and begin packing our supplies. Please."

The stranger stared down at her curiously with dark eyes for many heartbeats before he nodded and started walking.

"What is it, Nock?"

"I am reluctant to let you travel alone."

"I won't be alone, I'll have Lucien."

The elf's frown deepened. "The spirits told me to protect you, to accompany you wherever you must go. I do not wish to remain behind while you journey into danger with a man you do not know."

Kedi drew her eyebrows together and ran a hand through her red hair. "You were the one who told me I could trust him."

Nock nodded. "I trust his intentions. I do not trust his skill. I can protect you better than he can."

The Breton emptied her lungs in a massive sigh. "Why am I so bloody important? Why does everyone seem so desperate to protect me?! I have been doing this for years. This cook may be an orc, but he's a cook. I can do this alone."

"Don't even try to get rid of me."

Kedi nearly jumped out of her skin when Lucien emerged from the darkness beside her, but she quickly composed herself and scowled at him.

"Why did Sithis send you to help me?"

He shot her a lopsided grin. "I'm beginning to suspect you do believe murdering the Emperor will be an easy task. Tell me, have the Imperials put a babbling moron on the throne? Or perhaps a child, a wailing babe in sodden undergarments?"

"Don't give me that. If you're here to help us with the Emperor, why do you have to accompany me to kill the cook? Why do you have to protect me?"

Lucien shrugged, his handsome face growing serious. "Sithis' will is clear, but I know not his reasoning. You are important, that's all I know." Kedi sighed heavily and slumped against the wall of the tunnel. "I'm sorry that I cannot tell you more. However," he gestured towards Kedi's room, "our bags are packed and I am ready to depart when you are."

Kedi straightened and murmured a thank you, before telling a frustrated Nock to go find Gabriella and heading into her room.

The Breton was rewarded with another scare when she discovered Veezara in her room. How he had made it there, she had no idea. She ignored him and slumped into the chair in front of the desk, thoroughly exhausted.

"Kedi…"

"Don't, Veezara. Please. There's been too much to deal with and I've hardly slept. I don't want to argue with you, too. Besides, Astrid would never let you come with me, especially not now."

He chuckled softly and came up behind her, touching her auburn hair with the tips of his fingers. "I'm not here to argue, Kedi." His raspy voice deepened. "I was just thinking… I've missed you. And you're right; you've had a lot to deal with. This Listener business… I feel as though a huge change has been set in motion, and who knows what the future may hold for us now." He hooked a finger beneath her chin and turned her head, tilting it upwards till her yellow eyes met his. "We haven't really had a chance to be alone, in a while."

Kedi's face warmed as she smiled. She stood and stepped into his embrace, feeling his heart thud against her chest as their bodies molded against each other. Moments later, as their heartbeats synched, the world melted away and their troubles were forgotten while warm pearly skin moved over cool green scales.

Just outside the closed door, Lucien slumped against the wall, his heart inexplicably heavy as he listened to the sounds coming from within the room. Though it pained him, he still remained there long after they had fallen silent, sleeping in each other's arms. It didn't matter that she didn't want him like he wanted her. It didn't matter that she already loved another. Lucien would protect her with his life.