Greetings lovely readers, this was difficult chapter to write, and it isn't any easier to read. Please don't judge poor Laurelin because I'm not always up to the task of telling her story. We all have good and bad days. We hope you will continue to read on. As always constructive comments and reviews are welcome. Hater will be mocked and blocked. Or something like that. Cheers! ~PyreIris~

Chapter Four - Breaking Point

Letters

Farkas, thank you for the new gloves and boots, I will think of you whenever I wear them. Please look after your brother while I'm away. Knowing him, he'll be anxious the entire time. He may be your older, smarter brother; but he's a skinny, mouthy git sometimes and may need your muscle to get him out of trouble. In truth, I jest with you. I know you always look out for each other, regardless. I'll miss you and look forward to seeing you again soon.
With Love,
Laure

Vilkas, please don't be mad. I'm having a difficult enough time leaving as it is, so I'm taking the easy way out. You are sleeping peacefully right now, and I don't want to disturb that for a long goodbye. I will be back as soon as possible. Thank you for understanding that I need to go do this. I will have Lydia with me to keep me out of trouble.

Don't worry, you will make a splendid interim Harbinger until I return. I'll see you soon, but never soon enough.
I miss you already, beloved.
Laurelin

Sent via courier:

Brynjolf, I will soon be back in Riften. I imagine you are more than ready for a little break from the routine. I apologize once more for my tardiness. I need you to make some inquiries around our contacts; someone is watching me and I don't like it. Find out if there are any rumors or information available on those who might have a new interest in my activities. I look forward to seeing you again, very soon!
Eyes open; Walk with Shadows,
Laurelin

Laurelin said goodbye to Lydia at the Riften stables. She paid the stable master for Roast's board, and turned to her housecarl. "Thank you for the company. Sorry nothing exciting happened on the way."

Lydia squinted at her Thane before nodding. "No need to apologize; exciting is sometimes lethal. If you have no further need of my services, I think I can be back to Ivarstead by nightfall."

"Of course. Here is some gold for your room and drinks, food. Be safe, Lydia." They clasped forearms and separated, Lydia turning her mount around and trotting away at a fast pace. Laure watched her go then slipped around to the back door of Honeyside.

Bryn was waiting for her when she slipped through the door, propped up easily on her bed, his long legs stretched out across her bed comfortably, a glass of wine in one hand, book open in the other. Clad in a smokey quilted tunic and doeskin trousers that fit like a water-shrunk glove, he looked delicious. Laure dropped her pack by the door and leaped onto the bed to perch next to him cross-legged. Bryn, expecting her usual leap into his arms allowed his smile to falter a bit, but he shrugged, "Ah, it's good to see you again, lass. I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten us all."

Laure had nearly forgotten the way his voice made her feel watery inside. The light in his emerald eyes, the music of his lilting voice caused a flood of slumbering feelings to stir. Finally, unable to resist, seeing the hurt in his eyes and being able to smell his disappointment, she relented. Sliding herself lengthwise along his body, she covered his beautiful face with kisses.

He moaned and clasped her tightly to him, wanting to bury his face in her hair, peel her hard armor away. Laure had no intention of letting things move beyond some passionate kisses, however. With a happy, frustrated growl, she rolled away from him and off the bed. Sweeping up the abandoned wine glass and book from the nightstand, she sipped one and examined the other.

"Oh my! Some serious reading here-The Real Berenziah, huh?"

"I found it on your shelves, smart arse. Come back here and give your favorite thief a proper greeting."

"Oh, Rune is here? Why didn't you say something?" she teased, sipping her pilfered wine. She swished enticingly into the kitchen, reading aloud as she went.

They ordered dinner from the Bee and Barb, eating while they exchanged news. Bryn, having sensed her hesitance to rekindle their romance, quickly recovered, throwing on his easy, smooth investor's face to cover his confusion. While his handsome features gave no hint of the hurt he felt- he had no idea she could practically read his mood through his scent—but Laure could smell it on him. Disappointment and sadness lingering, worming deep down where even he wouldn't look.

She tried to make up for her lack of physical contact, praising his efforts with the Guild. "How did you know I was close? Did you pay off the guards to keep an eye out?"

"Aye, and the stable hands, a few Argonian fishermen, about a dozen urchins..." he ticked them all off on his fingers. "Don't worry, I'll send you a bill later, lass." he smirked, dimple making a brief, flutter-inducing appearance.

"Naturally," she replied. "I would never condone wasting the Guild's resources to track down yet another errant leader!" Their eyes met and held, shining with mischief. "So, what educational games have you come up with for the benefit of our 'children'?"

"I would rather show you. Although Vex and Delvin did come up with a rather good one. We call it 'Hide-and-go-Sneak'. The goals are two fold, where teams split up and hide around town, which is divided up equally. Each team has an alternating rota of Hiders and Sneakers. Each Hider selects a torch to defend, and each sneaker tries to get away with as many torches as possible."

"Unseen of course."

"Naturally. The winning team has the most torches at the end of each round. It hones their skills, and they get to have a bit of mostly harmless fun."

"It must irritate the guards to have all the torches disappear."

"The guards have started placing wagers, actually. We get a cut of whatever winnings they pull in."

"Clever! I would like to play some time." She paused and gave him a soft smile. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, Laurelin. I'm proud of them. They've taken to the changes we've made easier than I thought they would."

"They'll do anything for you, love. You always have the Guild's best interests in mind. They all know that."

She paused then, unable to stop herself, reached across the small table and stroked his cheek, the backs of her fingers lightly brushing his whiskers. It was one of her most intimate gestures with him, and Bryn couldn't help but press his face against her hand for a moment.

"I've missed you, Bryn, my devilishly handsome accomplice in crime."

"I've missed you too, lass. You were gone too long."

"I daydreamed about you, thought about you at the most dangerous times-" she was cut short by his chuckle of amusement, although she could sense his rising sadness.

"Aye, most lads object when they realize your thoughts are on someone else during that special time."

She pinched his cheek lightly and laughed hollowly, "Not then, silly. I was talking about on the mountain trails when-"

"I know, lass." he sadly interjected before she could continue. He stood and kissed her hand, his lips warm and smooth on her calloused fingers. "Well, I had better get moving. I told Vex I would only be gone a few hours. Will you be coming down soon? The rest of those thugs are eager to see you again. They were beside themselves with glee when they found out you are the Dragonborn everyone has been speaking of. They nearly pissed themselves. Their precious Guild Master, the new Dragonborn." He hugged her briskly after she nodded. "Goodnight. We can finish catching up when you've rested. I'll see you in the Flagon." His lips lifted into a smile that never quite reached his eyes, and he slid out the front door.

She watched the door close gently-never a slammed door from Bryn—and listened to his nearly quiet steps patter on the wooden walkways. Standing alone in her kitchen, she ran her hand over her face, bringing his clean, spicy aroma right to her nose. She felt her legs go weak and sank back down.

She knew, even without her werewolf senses betraying his every emotion, that he was covering, and doing it for her sake as much as his own. She was aware she had caused his pain and felt helpless to ease it, felt it keenly in her own heart. She had known when she did it that starting a relationship with Vilkas was going to affect all others. She just wished everyone could see how much she truly loved them, her three human lovers. Two, or one. Fuck. None of it made any sense.

Gods, why didn't I fall in love with a fellow Bosmer? Elrindir and his brother are right across the way in Whiterun. That would have been convenient. No, I have to fall in love with a couple of Nords. Stupid, Laurelin. You can't think Vilkas would be happy about you coming back reeking of Bryn. Ever. And it isn't fair to either of them. You can't have it all, Laurelin Vo'Shai. So cry it all out like a spoiled bitch and get over it. Bryn deserves to know what is going on.

Inwardly cursing herself, Laure struggled out of her armor, thoughts swirling and clamoring for her attention. Her fingers seemed stiff and clumsy; and finally she kicked her boots off and fell onto her bed, still wearing the rest of her armor, to toss and turn restlessly. She had nightmares of course, in which she held a still loving and accepting Brynjolf down under a massive, pale claw and casually ate his still beating, broken heart from his chest.

She woke from her dreams and sobbed into the pillow he had leaned on earlier. She wrapped her arms around it, hugging it to her while she steeled herself for the day ahead, afraid of rest, of dreaming. What is the best way to tell someone you love... and the cycle started anew, with the added element of her tears to further drain her.

Laure strode into the Cistern the next day feeling hollowed out. Still exhausted. The enthusiastic cries of her precious Guild rang out, rousing her slightly from the deep funk she was in. They took turns showing her newly acquired baubles, tricks, and related plans, all of which she struggled to summon the necessary awe and excitement for.

Bryn, watching from his desk, finally stepped in, having immediately noted her somewhat forced replies and sunken eyes. "All right, that's enough, you louts. Back to work, all of you!" He guided her away.

She smiled at him in gratitude, saying quietly, "I can't stay long; Laila has invited me to dine with her this afternoon."

"Dining with the Jarl, on a first name basis even. Such a humble public servant you are."

"Shush, I like her, and I like her clueless even more. I'll go have a nice, civilized meal and try to head off any trouble coming our way from the top."

"That's my Nightingale. I've been making inquiries about your trouble; I should start hearing back from our contacts soon. Will you have time to see Maven? She's been asking if you're still alive, wondering where you are hiding out."

"I'll see what I can do. I need to get this other matter settled though, so she may just need to wait." She blew out a long breath, trying to sort out her thoughts and spiraling emotions.

"That should make her fit to be tied. You know how very patient she is."

"Right now, what she wants is at the bottom of my list of important things to mind. I'll send her a note and let her know I'm here for now. She knows where to find me."

Brynjolf ran his fingers through his long red hair. "She's going to roast my balls, lass. Do me a favor; go to her for me?" Laure could tell he had been stretched thin by his duties; dealing with the Guild and throwing Maven in on top of the mix would be stressful to anyone. He was thinner, she realized; it didn't appear he was eating or sleeping enough. She wished she could stay longer, give him a true break, but she knew she needed to get moving. Yet she couldn't deny such a simple request from him.

"I'll be sure to stop by and check in with her after dinner. I want you to get some rest; we can talk later."

"No rest for the wicked, lass. See you soon." With an effort, they both turned away, he striding to his desk, she making for the Flagon. Tonilia often had nice arrows, and she was running low on lockpicks. As she walked away without kissing him goodbye for the first time since they became lovers, she realized how much she was distancing herself from. For months now she had- if she was honest with herself- been avoiding the guild. There were reasons of course, most of them valid. But there was a tiny part of her heart that knew when Bryn found out about Vilkas, it would break his heart. She wanted to delay that as much as possible, some out of selfishness, but mostly because she loved her fiery Nord second in command fiercely and feared hurting him too deeply. Losing his friendship, respect, trust.

Laure bit her lip, forcing back a quiet sob. She would not walk into the tavern with tears streaming down her face like a child. Instead she steeled her mind, determined to make what small, pathetic gestures she could to help him out. It was the least she could do.

She strolled out of the shadows and up to Delvin, smile on her face, as if she had not a care in the world. "You're up early, old man!" She rubbed his bald head fondly then dropped into a chair next to the middle-aged thief.

"Always a pleasure to see you boss. I heard you was back in town. Got up early, just for you." He winked at her and leaned forward, confiding in a hushed tone, "Haven't heard anything yet about your little problem, but it's still early. Was probably a bit... hasty to hope we'd find the answer somewhere close to home. It'll take a few days. Don't worry, boss I've got my best people on it."

"Thanks Del, I appreciate your help. So tell me, why does Bryn look like he hasn't eaten or slept in weeks? I'm worried that I've asked to much of him."

"D'ya really want to know? He's been worried sick about you. We know you're busy, out fightin' dragons and all. We're all right proud of ya, but I don't think any of us would trade places with you, pet. Not for any amount of gold. 'Cept maybe for him." Laure groaned and dropped her face into her hands. Delvin took a moment to look over a letter while she pulled herself together.

"Del, I wish I could say something, do something to make all of this easier, but I don't think I can. I have so many things going on right now. But I want to help him, at least with the things I can. Tell me what I can do."

"He's doing a fine job, boss. It just gets a little much sometimes. Boy rarely leaves the Flagon or Cistern these days. Don't know what to tell ya. I'm not his closest friend; maybe she could tell ya." He gave her a thoughtful look as he sipped his drink. "I think that's what bothers him most. Thought of you not coming back."

"That I can't help, sadly. I wish I knew! I like to think I'll survive this but-tell me how I can ease his work load, get him out of the Cistern." This was not a conversation she wanted to be having, not now, not with Delvin.

"You know how to do that, boss. Do what you do." He lifted his brows meaningfully at her. Well, that was out of the question. It would only confuse the issue, and she knew Vilkas would be hurt as well. Hurt and furious most likely.

"Thanks Del, I talk to you later." She moved away, chatting briefly with Vex before sitting down with Tonilia. Her head was pounding, her heart hurt, and she knew it was likely only going to hurt more before the day was done. When she finished with Tonilia, she headed up to Honeyside, needing to bathe and change before her dinner with Laila.Bryn, meet me at the Shadow Stone tonight before moonrise.
You can bring K, but alone would be better. Don't be late! L.

Trust amongst thieves was a rare thing. Perhaps even more rare given the history of the Nightingales in the not too distant past. However, Laure and Bryn had been closer than normal- thicker than thieves as it were-for several years now. They had entrusted each other with their lives and wealth for longer than they had been lovers. Bryn knew she was a remarkable thief and, when she needed to be, an able killer; yet he trusted her personal code of conduct implicitly. So in spite of a few easily dispelled misgivings, he showed up at the Shadow Stone just before moonrise.

He rose up from the darkness, silently slipping into the clearing, crossing to where she waited. Her head was tilted against the stone while she watched the moons spin silver light across the land.

"So, it's to be a romantic moonlight picnic, then." he rumbled softly into her ear. She said nothing, but put her hand out, and he slid his fingers into hers. While she pressed her cheek into the backs of his fingers, he stepped up behind her, wrapping his free arm around her slender waist. They stood quietly, watching the moon shadows sneak slowly away from their casters.

"How was your dinner with Laila?"

"It went well enough I suppose. Thank you for meeting me here." She lapsed back into silence again, trying to decide where to start.

"You've been as distant as the moons, lass. What's on your mind?" His voice so soft in her ear, giving her tiny chills.

"Ah, Bryn, so many things are on my mind. Where to begin? You may have heard the Companions' Harbinger was slain last month. Kodlak was a wonderful man. Although he was a crusty old warrior, he was a surprisingly thoughtful man. He tried to keep his family out of the civil war, looked after their well-being, so many things. I respected him, but now he's gone, and he appointed me as his successor. I'm still not sure why. There was a much more experienced candidate he could have selected." She leaned her head back against his warm shoulder as she talked, listening intently to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Strong and steady, she could hear the echoes of it in his chest.

"Could your trouble be from a rival for the position then?"

"Out of the question, no." They both lapsed into silence again.

Finally she asked, "Why did you wait for me? I thought we agreed years ago not to take us there." Bryn was silent, wanting to nuzzle her ear and clutch her closer, yet refraining. "Bryn, you can't put off your life waiting for me to get back. No one, least of all me, knows when or if I'll make it back."

"You, lass, are worth waiting for. I've been too busy to start anything with anyone else at any rate. What is this about?"

"Take a walk with me?"

"Of course. Tell me what's on your mind while we go."

"I learned much about being Dragonborn up at High Hrothgar. Soul of a dragon, body of a mortal; if I live through everything and don't get killed, I could live maybe another six or seven hundred years. Doomed to literally see everyone I love die, one way or another." She exhaled.

"Lass, I don't know what to say. I'm sorry doesn't quite seem appropriate." When she waved her hand dismissing his concern he asked, "What else?"

"I was born to hunt dragons, apparently. Someone is watching me, even went to the trouble of going through a tomb I was heading to, breezing through it to collect the artifact I was after, and leaving me a note telling me where I could pick up the Horn."

"There's some cheek. Any ideas who? And what horn? I could start looking around for clues based off that, perhaps."

Laure shook her head as they strolled over the grassy meadow. "No idea who, and I've been racking my brain, but it just eludes me. The horn is that of Jergen Windcaller. The Greybeards asked me to retrieve it, but I think the theft itself is by a third, as of yet unknown, party. Why send me to retrieve it if they could so easily get there ahead of me? For a test? That doesn't make any sense. So I've come to the best for help."

"We've got Karliah and the rest on it. Anything else?"

"So much more." Reluctantly, Laure tugged herself from his arms, spun about facing him, face shadowed. "You need to see something."

"Like you slaying a dragon and absorbing it's soul to power a mystic voice, perhaps?" he teased lightly, becoming increasingly concerned in spite of his easy remarks.

"Bryn, for a moment I need you serious please. Can I count on you to not panic when I show you this?"

"Lass whatever it is, you know I'll be here." His green eyes bored into hers, trying to read her but not succeeding.

"Okay, stand there. Don't move, on your life." His sparkling eyes widened, but he stayed put. Laure was already shrugging out of the dress she wore, while he watched with a mixture of alarm and amusement.

"Sure you don't need a hand with that?" as she stripped off in front of him.

"I know you could help, just stay there!"

Finally nude, Laure looked skyward a moment. She really hoped he didn't bolt. Prey running away was nearly irresistible. As she called her beast form forward, she stepped back a few paces, still staring into Bryn's eyes. She felt the itchy looseness in her joints as her change began, letting it slip to the fore in small stages.

Brynjolf cried out in alarm as his lovely lass began to grow, so frighteningly swift. Her knees hinged back, chest expanded, and long, whitish fur sprouted from her elongating face. Her lips thinned out, barely covering a terrifying assortment of long white fangs. A long, plumy tail swished back and forth behind her as she keened softly, unable to master all of the pain. Huge clawed hands made a fist, then unclenched as her transformation finished sweeping over her body. She turned her burning, pale eyes to meet his stricken emerald gaze.

His mouth worked soundlessly for a moment, gaping at the magnificent, terrifying creature now hulking over him. Finally he managed to gather his wits. "I had wondered about the sudden gain in stature, lass. I thought you were a little past any growth spurts," he joked lamely, but still he stood his ground.

Laure hunched down in front of him on her long haunches, bringing her eyes down level with his. He couldn't help but notice her eyes were the very same eyes he had stared into so deeply many times before; her fur was the same color as her hair. She was lowering her massive head, long swept back ears flattened while she whined softly. She extended a huge, clawed hand, palm up, tentatively closing the distance between them.

His own fingers stole out, almost against his will, to cautiously stroke the fur of her her forearm. It was surprisingly soft, and he could feel the heat radiating off her huge form. Somehow, the heat, the silky fur, and her gentle demeanor were comforting in the face of this unexpected revelation. He glanced back up to her eyes, seeing her still watching, almost pleading. His long fingers slowly rose to sink into the fur of her mane, to stroke over her cheeks, feel her ear flick as he scratched behind it. Her nose dipped and a soft rumble echoed in her throat while he scratched away.

"Can you speak in this form?" he wanted to know.

"Hard. Not, good," she managed to growl and snarl in answer to his question.

"Why? Why a werewolf, Laurelin?" he wanted to know, confusion evident in his gaze, posture, smell.

Laure paused, sniffing the air, then held up one claw. "Stay," she rasped out, then melted off into the night without breaking a twig.

Bryn waited perhaps two anxious minutes before she loped back to him, a small doe in her jaws. She dropped it at his feet and scampered like a giant, happy puppy about the standing stones a moment before pulling up short in front of a frozen, bemused Bryn. She yipped a few high excited calls and then settled down in front of him, her change already shrinking her body, the fur retreating. Quickly her tall, menacing form was back to it's old self, and she stood in front of him naked, a question hovering between them.

"By the gods, how long have you been a bloody werewolf?" he finally asked, his voice hoarse with barely checked emotion. Her lithe elvish figure now gave no clue as to her condition, excepting the now blatantly obvious gain in height.

"Almost two months now. Sometimes it's still pretty strange, and there are a few drawbacks, but I find myself loving it. Thank you for not scarpering off. That might have been bad for you, for us." She picked up her dress and slipped back on. "You're not saying much," she observed, noting his eyes darting from her to the surrounding landscape, up to the stars, then back to her.

"What should I say? Congratulations, you make an astonishingly beautiful man-eating monster?" he replied in bewilderment.

"I've never!" she cried, ignoring the sting that came with the title of monster.

"Well I know you wouldn't, but Shor's Bones, Laurelin, this is beyond my ken! What happened?"

"Bryn, I chose this; it wasn't an accident or a cruel thing forced upon me. I am enjoying the hunter's senses I now have. I can run longer, I'm resistant to almost all diseases, fight without weapons, and my hearing and sense of smell are unbelievably keen now. I use these things as tools, same as I would a blade or a lock pick. And I feel undeniably alive with the beast blood."

"I see." He was stroking his closely cropped whiskers thoughtfully, still alternating his gaze between her and the sky. "I thought you changed on the full moons."

"That's a bit of a myth. We can use our abilities everyday. The moons just make the urge to change considerably more powerful."

"Interesting. Are all of the Companions similarly gifted?" he asked archly.

"No, just the Circle is, Farkas, Vilkas, myself and-"

"Is this the same Farkas who had the crush?"

"Aye, he has become one of my closest friends, my sworn shield-brother."

"Any good in the furs?"

"Fantastic. I could barely walk the next day."

"He must have been in pretty shape by the time you were done with him." Bryn joked.

"Ha, he seemed none the worse for the wear, even though my urges have been through the roof since I took the blood."

"Did you ever give it a go like that?" his eyebrows lifted. She laughed and punched his arm lightly shaking her head, sobering quickly. "So is he the reason you've been away so much? Why you're so distant now?"

Shaking her head again, she said, "I've been away training with the Companions, learning about my Thu'um, bashing my way through crypts and keeps. Killing bandits and the cowards who killed the last Harbinger. But Farkas isn't why. When I first took the blood-well shortly after that is-there was someone who kept me calm, supported me, helped ease the pain and fury that comes with the blood. He ended up being with me during my first moon change, and we, um, bonded."

"I take it from your tone this isn't just bonding in the physical sense." He sighed, sensing the truth was looming closer. He could tell she hesitated to tell him more, but he wanted to know what was going on. Needed to know.

"Vilkas, he's tough to like at first. I wasn't sure if I liked him, and I thought he disliked me. But it turned out we shared too many things to just ignore. We like books and maps, I know he has my back in a fight..." She had been staring at her hands, turning them over nervously while she talked, but finally raised her eyes, noting his lips pressed into a small frown. Swallowing, she continued, "he's more than just a shield-brother to me. He's my teacher, brother in arms, lover, fellow hunter, and my wolf spirit's mate. My mate."

Bryn made a beeline for the nearest low stone, slumping heavily against it, while his head spun dizzily. He knew she would not lightly commit herself to someone, knew what it meant to her to find someone she could connect to on so many levels. She hunts with him. It was something he never did with her. Stealthy as he was, Bryn was no hunter of beasts. His quarry had always run along more human lines.

He didn't know what to make of all this. There was too much to try to make sense of all in one hour. What did it all mean to them, to the Guild, to him? "By Nocturnal, I feel like I hardly know you anymore! Any other surprises in store for me?"

She sank to her knees in front of him, trying to look up into his eyes, but he couldn't meet her gaze, couldn't let her see the hurt and longing. He knew he would fold if he did.

"I'm still the same person, Bryn. Part of me is enhanced now-"

"Aye, enhanced, bloodthirsty, and practically married to the Companions! You know what they do when one of us breaks out of jail, right?" She nodded miserably. "Does he know about you being a thief, a Nightingale? Am I supposed to be happy about all of this?" His voice was rising, growing thicker and hoarse as his misery finally bubbled to the surface.

"I don't know what you're supposed to feel! I just thought you needed to know. And I haven't forgotten you. But-"

"But, you have a new life, a new love, a new title, and no time for your old Guild."

"No!" she cried, feeling the sharp truth in his words. "It was never meant to be like that!"

"And yet it is. I-I'm at a loss for words, lass. I need to go. Clear my head. We'll talk later, goodnight." With that he lurched to his feet and propelled himself past her, his mind reeling in circles. Her mate. Hunt together. Lover. Biting back bitter cries, he shoved his way into Nightingale Hall, seeking solace in the quiet stone refuge of Karliah. An agonized wailing howl followed him down into the lower passages.

Laure listened to him go, staring bleakly at her fingers, laced together, trembling. The pain in her heart was boiling over, but she knew if she felt this badly, having known what was coming and being somewhat able to prepare herself for it, that his pain must be even more intense. His scent drifted over her, reminding her of all the times they had lain wrapped comfortably in each other's arms, in bed, or her little fishing boat on the dock out back. She would probably never again enjoy his caresses, or tussle with him over a prize and then fall into the furs in a heated embrace...she could feel her heart crying out in response to his torment.

Lifting her head, she let out a throaty cry of sorrow, trailing off into a choked sob. Folded in upon herself, she quietly struggled to master her tears. You've lost one lover, but your mate waits for you. Live with the life you have made, and stop crying about it.

Finally she dragged herself up, walking slowly back to where she had dropped the doe. Picking it up, she made her way down the hill, depositing it inside the front door of Nightingale hall. A pathetic offering in her mind, but the only thing she could think to do at the moment. Dry eyed and mustering resolution she didn't presently feel, she slowly made her way back to Honeyside. Another night of restless, lonely tossing in her bed. A bed of my own making. Now sleep in it, you fucking milkdrinker.