Hello! We'll get back into this with a somewhat-fluffy filler episode! I'm hoping that this will kickstart my Tortallan creative juices!

To those who have just shown up here, welcome! To those who have faithfully and loyally waited (the readers who waited...wow, I love you guys), welcome back! I hope I can do your interest and patience justice!

That's all for now!

With love,

MagicalLeaves

With Thom's capitulation came action. Working in concert with his former teacher, Thom scoured the library for possible solutions, exhausting any and every opportunity he could. Jon and I sometimes helped, though it was often beyond the knowledge of either of us and we would end up carrying books, scrolls, and other various objects around for the other two – a situation that actually amused my brother to no end ("Well, since when have I ever been ordered to carry anything by someone who is below me in rank?").

Eventually we both called defeat on helping, and instead my brother – along with all our friends – got the dubious pleasure of attempting to keep me busy lest I 'worry myself to an early grave', as Gary so diplomatically put it. On days when Jon was busy, Alanna stepped in with stories of her recent adventures. She was often accompanied by Princess Thayet and her friend Buriram Tourakom, who both cheerfully entertained me with old folk tales of their people, the K'mir. Had my focus not been taken by Thom's situation, I would've fully enjoyed their company – the princess was a person of lively intelligence and wit, while Buri (as she liked to be called) carried within her eyes an endless fire that had somehow stayed alight while witnessing and enduring the terrible treatment of her people in Sarain. Despite my worry over Thom, we still became fast friends as I was regaled with adventures that the princess and her bodyguard had had while first travelling Sarain and then later accompanying Alanna – including the knight's admittedly suicidal trek through a blizzard for the Dominion Jewel. Jon was in attendance for that particular tale – after laughing with the others as I told Alanna off he allowed me to see the fabled artefact, though I didn't attempt to reach it with my own Gift.

When being inside made me restless, I went riding, losing myself in the Royal Forest. I was often accompanied by Raoul or Alanna – both Jon and Gary were becoming busier as they started taking up far more palace responsibilities, though they did try to make time for both me and themselves. Thayet and Buri also joined in as often as possible – and recognising my need to be outside, the pair also attempted to teach me archery, to my brother's mock dismay. In return I taught the pair a few common dances used at Tortallan Court balls, which delighted Buri about 'as much as jumping off Balor's Needle'. When Jon and Gary did have free hours, we used them to sneak out of the palace as a group to visit George and introduce Thayet and Buri to the thief's people.

Yet still I was restless, roaming the palace halls, haunting the tower walls and balcony of Balor's Needle – the latter never alone – and hiding in my quarters when everything got too much for me. It was there where I would, in Jon or Alanna's company, scream and worry and rage – as accomplished users of their Gifts, either of them were fully capable of watching for any magic that got away from me. Between all my friends, I managed to keep some semblance of dignity in Court eye – though it was only when Thom would return from a day's frustrations that I would be truly calmed. Despite his own failures with Si-Cham at devising a solution, he never took it out on me, often using the night to hold me and be held in return, each of us just glad for the opportunity to do so. As the days passed I began to sense a growing urgency in our time together, as if Thom had finally begun to comprehend the growing shadow looming over us – yet he remained calm on the surface, only letting go of his control when we were locked in the most intimate of ways. It was a rage and passion that I adored and willingly lost myself in too, if only to cherish the moments we had left.

It was after one such coupling that he requested my company for the next day. "Not for my…condition," he added, seeing the quizzical look on my face, "just…with me."

"…but your research-"

"-is complete. We just have to gather the necessary resources and make the required preparations, and that will take time."

I went still as the true meaning of his words hit me. Seeing my expression, Thom nodded. "It will take several weeks to prepare the necessary elements, so I don't think Si-Cham will begrudge us time together – nonetheless, I did ask."

Time to spend with the most important person in my life, who'd somehow become one of my only reasons for living? "Did you even have to ask?" I whispered.

"With you, always," my lover replied, before a startled look crossed his face. "I think that you need someone who will always ask," he said slowly, "and I think that someone has become me."

Though we were still locked together in the most physical of ways, it was his words that made the breath clog in my throat. "You know, Alanna once told me how amusing she thought it that you knew who to converse with a noblewoman in this matter – and that said noblewoman was me," I finally managed.

"…Oh?" a raised brow, the look one that promised revenge for his sister.

I leaned up to press lips to his collarbone, feeling the tremor that ran across his skin. "Me, I think you're doing just fine."

"Is that so?" Thom chuckled a hand drifting idly across my body. I shivered, tilting slightly towards his touch, yet I didn't stop tasting his heated skin. "If that is the case, then I'm of the opinion that we should explore other forms of conversation. A gentle shift of his hips that had my whole body rippling towards him in pleasure.

With him? "Yes…Let's."

~oOo~

The day dawned bright and far hotter than usual – then I realised the reason for that was that Thom as still sharing my bed. Thrilled that he'd stayed – for he normally left early to continue his research with Si-Cham – yet chilled by the reason behind his unearthly heat, I was still trying to plan my next move when I felt him exhale against my skin. Turning slowly so as not to wake him, I let my gaze settle on his face.

He looked so young.

The lines on his face were gone for once, his expression peaceful in a way that I'd only ever seen in sleep or in meditation. As I stared I thought I finally caught a glimpse of the boy that Alanna had told me about, long before his journey to the City of the Gods to study magic, and before his cold arrogance that had developed there.

A child…has he ever been that young for me? Would he be?

Throat closing up, I reached up to slide fingers through his hair. He murmured sleepily, his eyes slowly opening as I gently combed his fiery locks. "Hmmm…Willow?" his gaze fixed on mine as he went from drowsy to concern. "Is something wrong?"

"No." I pulled myself closer, sensing rather than seeing his bemusement as I buried my face in his shoulder so I wouldn't scare him or myself with the depth of my feelings. "Just…stay?"

To my surprise I felt lips brush my hair before a finger tucked itself underneath my chin. Thom tilted my head up to meet his gaze. "Do you even need to ask that question?" A brush of his lips across mine – soothing me, gentling me – before he spoke again. "Always."

I didn't tell him not to make promises he might not be able to keep. I didn't mention the insidious cloud looming over him – or what it might mean for our future. Instead I only nodded, lifting up to meet his lips in return. "Okay."

And so begins my foray back into something I should've continued a long time ago! I hope you like it.

Love,

MagicalLeaves