The water that had frothed and swirled moments before was suddenly still in the presence of Lord Ulmo. The Vala raised his hand and drew Olwë from where he bowed in obeisance.
"Olwë, you carry much anger and resentment deep within. Let us speak of it before it darkens your heart." A gentle wind ironically announced the presence of a more powerful Vala. That Olwë gave Manwë no bow was telling.
"Were your Maiar here unclothed during the kinslaying? Did they watch the events unfold when they could have prevented death?" Olwë's voice shook with righteous indignation.
"Yes, they were there. They cried, as did I. But the elder King ordered us not to interfere." Ulmo stepped closer.
"Our prior actions had unfortunate effects." Manwë and Ulmo exchanged a long look that Olwë interpreted as a private conversation.
"What are we to you?" Olwë shook with emotion. "Did you know what would happen when you exiled Fëanor to Formenos? Or do you allow our foibles and errors simply for your amusement or for the amusement of the Maiar who pass through our numbers unseen?"
"How can you ask that now, after so many years? Have most of those harmed not been reborn?" Manwe's voice was gentle. But Olwë instinctively backed away from him and moved towards Ulmo.
"You said the Maiar would only come among us openly. But that is not so. Do they believe there is little harm if they violate that precinct? Perhaps they think us too dim to know. Only Elrond or Elwing can detect their presence." Olwë took a deep breath. "Trust is a bond that transcends cultures and kin. How will we live together here if we can not trust?"
"We are not omniscient, nor do we control the will of the Maiar. Do not the Maiar have free will? Five, we sent east to help the elves in the fight against Sauron. Once there, only two carried out the tasks with which they were entrusted." Manwë paused. "Perhaps Olwë, you have fared better with those upon whom you have assigned a duty. Perhaps you are a better judge of hearts?"
"Some are easy to read, for they have devoted themselves to good works ever to carry out the will of the all father." Olwë paused. "The Peredhel is such a one. Will you not help him?"
"The Peredhil of the line of Lúthien is a mystery." Manwë sighed.
"Undoubtedly sent by Adar to keep us honest." Ulmo laughed in a deep, rumbling voice. Manwë smiled, and to Olwë, it felt as if the light of pure love flooded his fëa.
"Perhaps they were sent by Ilúvatar to ultimately act as a bridge between the Maiar and the elves." Manwë waved his hand, and a picture of Celembrior floated in the mist. "We did not predict that an elf would have the ingenuity and power to craft the Silmarils any more than we could have guessed that his grandson would forge rings powerful enough to harness natural forces. Even more surprising was the evolution as Cirdan, Olórin, your Granddaughter, and the Peredhel wielded these instruments."
"We can see deeper into the All-father's plans than you, Olwë. Yet, sometimes, we are also surprised. Even now, with the help of Irmo and Estë, the injuries to Elrond's heart are being cared for. Yet, it is the will of the One that the healing of his fëa falls to elves. Many will grow in spirit in healing the refugees, and healing will blossom more fully among these lands." Manwë spread his arms wide as Ulmo encouraged Olwë to come forward.
"How many yeni have you kept these feelings hidden deep within? Only your love and concern for your great-granddaughter brought these out into the open."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Cirulian and Erestor stood dumbfounded outside the healing halls. When the healers from Lórien had come in the middle of the night to take Elrond to surgery, they had only recognized Mistress Idhrendes. Yet, Celebrían followed the healers, dazed and silent. Her lack of protest made them follow without question. Later, an elf garbed in healer's attire had made it clear that no one was to enter the healing halls. Word would be sent once the complex surgery was over.
"Lord Elrond is safe here in the palace." The Teleri guards observed them. "You, too, have traveled far. Why not rest? We will inform you when the healers are finished."
"I do not doubt you. But I am not moving from this spot until I see my Lord and Lady safely back to their chambers." Cirulian folded his arms across his chest. Erestor paused, then nodded. Cirulian, though dressed as an Imladhrim, was of the Teleri and readily assimilated into the palace guard.
"Why is Silsilalda not here? I will see if she is aware of the situation." Erestor was perplexed by the odd hour and by the absence of the regular healers. He told Cirulian so before he left to search out Silsilalda. A long covered walkway separated the halls of healing from the large square that stood in front of Olwë's palace. In the moonlit darkness, Erestor could not hold back a yawn—the excitement of the last few days with little sleep was catching up with him. The walkway path seemed to lengthen as he walked. "Surely, the square was not this far." He thought dazedly before slipping into dreams.
"Erestor?" Someone was shaking him persistently. He opened his eyes to see Healer Silsilalda and Gwidian looking down at him. He was on a bench in the garden just before the great square. The morning sun was not enough to warm the late autumn air. Yet, he did not feel the chill. Still, Silsi and his wife wore cloaks as if it were cold. Gwidian frowned and caressed his cheek when he did not answer.
"Erestor, I thought you and Cirulian were watching Elrond? Our Lord and Lady are nowhere to be found." Gwidian wrapped her arms around her husband.
"Erestor, where are they." The voice was deep and calm, but the command in Arafinwë's voice was unmistakable. It broke through the fog that still surrounded Erestor.
"Mistress Idhrendes took Elrond to the healing halls for surgery during the night. I stayed for a short while and then sought to inform Silsilalda. Somehow, I," Erestor paused. "I have no idea how it could be already morning. It was dark a few minutes ago when I set out from the halls."
"Was it indeed?" Arafinwë raised an eyebrow and turned to someone behind him, who Erestor could not see clearly. "Perhaps Celebrían's words were persuasive. I heard you also added your voices in this manner." Erestor's brow furled at this curious exchange, but he remained quiet and drew comfort from his wife's and Silsilalda's presence.
"When you did not appear at breakfast, we came looking for you," Gwidian whispered. Arafinwë turned to his guard.
"Send word to the Queen that Elrond and Celebrían are in the halls of healing." The guard bowed and left. Arafinwë turned to the pair with him and grasped the Lady's hand. "Come Elwing and Eärendil. Now is the time for your unconditional support." They walked quickly to the healing halls and found a familiar figure standing guard.
"I was told you were coming and to enter once you arrived," Cirulian said. The typically stoic guard was weary and concerned. Arafinwë nodded and led the group forward. Eärendil held his wife's hand as they tentatively followed. Lady Idhrendes was standing by the closed door at the end of the hall.
"The surgery went as well as could be expected."
"Why was I not informed?" Silsilalda was upset. As Elrond's longtime friend and healer, she had the most thorough knowledge of his injuries. She would have protested more had Arafinwë not grasped her shoulder. One look at the King of the Noldor, and she fell silent.
"Others more knowledgeable than you performed the procedure." Healer Idhrendes stated firmly. Both her tone and her expression brokered no further argument. "He is in healing sleep. The physical injury of the heart has been repaired, though recovery will take time. As for the injury to his fëa," the healer paused as if she was listening to some conversation beyond their ears. "That is beyond our skill. His life still hangs in the balance. You may move them back to their quarters." She signaled them forward. Arafinwë led them into the recovery room, which was dim and nearly silent but for the low rhythmic hum of breathing. Elrond lay white and still on the raised table. Celebrían stooped on a stool with her head resting on the table. It was designed with a stretcher to move the patients between the surgeries. As they moved forward, they realized that Celebrían seemed to be sleeping with her face touching her husband's hand. Arafinwë was at his granddaughter's side an instant later while Silsilalda stepped up to assess Elrond. A soft glow emanated from Celebrían, which seemed to engulf her and her husband.
"It is a shared healing sleep." Silsilalda said softly. "She is his anchor."
"Great trials leave marks on the fëa. The loss of family tears holes in it. Celebrimbor's ring left others." Arafinwë ran his hands over Elrond's forehead as he, too, assessed the Peredhel. Elwing and Eärendil held back, obviously fearful to intervene, given that Celebrían was there. Arafinwë turned towards them when he noted their absence.
"You must help heal his fëa. He has suffered the loss of too many." Arafinwë waved them forward as he gently lifted Celebrían. He motioned with his head. "Let us return them to their quarters." Erestor, Cirulian, and Eärendil moved forward to lift the stretcher under Silsilalda's guidance. Elwing carefully took hold of Elrond's hand and walked beside them.
"Even the bonds to his children were severed during the journey here to help them concentrate on their tasks." Erestor divulged quietly.
"Only one bond has been renewed and tethers his spirit here." Silsilalda motioned to Celebrían.
"But it is not enough to bind his spirit together. We must be part of his healing." Arafinwë whispered as he led them out from the healing halls. Celebrían blinked dazedly but did not truly wake. She was not wholly aware of the trip back to their room. Nor did she speak when they laid her gently beside Elrond in the sizeable bed, placing her hand gently over his bandaged chest. Parts of his spirit responded. They all gave a sigh of hope when they saw a strengthening in the colors of their joined auras.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Good morning." Celebrían blinked to clear her vision. Her grandmother was sitting beside her. She did not reply. Instead, she sat up, careful not to jostle her husband too much. He was pale, but his breathing was steady.
"How is he?" Eärwen moved to drape a light robe over her. She shrugged it away and repeated her question. "How is he?"
"The healers were pleased at how his heart is mending," Eärwen said carefully. There was no need to bring up the apparent damage to his fëa. She guided her granddaughter's arms into the robe. Celebrían had eyes only for her husband. "But they are keeping him heavily sedated given the obvious pain inflicted by the surgery."
"He is so pale." Celebrían's voice shook as she lifted Elrond's hand to her lips, then cupped it against her cheek. Eärwen's heart went out to her. But they were not alone; perhaps it was time to make her granddaughter aware of that. Celebrían spoke before she could say something. "He can not leave me now. Not now, after we have finally been reunited." Eärwen moved closer and stood behind her granddaughter to shield her from the view of the others.
"Go to the sitting room." She commanded them. "They deserve their privacy." Celebrían looked up in shock, barely catching the eyes of a blond elf. He seemed to tower above her from her perspective on the low bed. His eyes flashed for a second, jogging an old memory.
"I barely remember my Adar," Elrond admitted as they stood on the shores of Lake Nenuial during their courtship. He opened his mind and shared an image that resembled this elf. "I like to think that I remember him. But the day he sailed, all I remember was his ship, Elros playing on the beach, and my Mother's sorrow. She would have gladly gone with him. We were her …. But duties tied her to Sirion." His slip came back to her. She wondered again about its significance.
"Celebrían?" Eärwen ordered the others out of the room and looked at Celebrían with worry. "Have you not yet met Eärendil and Elwing?" Celebrían shook her head in the negative. Eärwen gently stroked her cheek and stated calmly, "Well, come wash and dress. Then you can meet your in-laws."
"No, I can not leave him." Eärwen took Celebrían's hand in her own.
"You are not leaving him, child. You have slept long – nearly two full days. Come refresh yourself and have a bite to eat."
"I dare not leave him." Her voice wavered. How could she explain that slivers of his fëa swirled in little eddy about her own? Their connection was what kept him grounded. She just prayed it would be enough that slowly these pieces would be reintegrated and they could mend the tears in his soul. "Just ask them to send the meal here."
"I have already requested that they send a meal here." Her grandmother smiled indulgently, but her voice turned firm. But you must bathe and change. All your wits are required to meet two who have little idea of what it truly means to be a parent. They are mired in the events of ages past, giving undue weight to words voiced by tiny children." She helped her rise and guided her to the attendant.
"My Lady, allow me." The Elleth led her away to the washroom.
"I am fine," Celebrían replied as she tried to suppress her annoyance. Her Grandmother was Queen and not to be gainedaid. A bath was waiting. The cheerful maid was efficient, helping her undress and leading her to the tub. She sank down with a deep sigh into the hot water. The Elleth set about washing her hair. The gentle pressure on her scalp made her sigh again.
"That is right, my Lady. A little pampering is in order. Then we will have you dressed to meet your in-laws." The kind maid soothed and babbled on about her own first meeting with her husband's parents ages before.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Why did you not tell me?" Galadriel's ire was evident. That she could no longer hide her emotions under a diplomatic and ethereal barrier gave him reason to pause. "Take me to them!"
"Saes (please), sister," Finrod spoke softly. He was more used to dealing with the reborn, who had many different issues than the injuries to his sister's fëa. You must realize that you have no more healing strength to spare. I do not understand the principles behind Celembrior's creations, but I think they drew more strength from you than they gave." Her exquisite azure eyes spoke of hesitation before she softly spoke.
"I know not how he could have wroth such creations. The connections they supported were at once empowering and draining." She shuddered slightly, and Finrod knew it was from loss. "I can not truly explain." He squeezed her hand supportively.
"You do not have to. Just know that these schisms in your spirit will require much time to heal. Our parents could not bear to lose you when you have been so newly restored to them."
"I would not want Elrond to lose his battle either. My daughter's happiness lies in the balance." Galadriel pushed past her brother and stepped out into the hall. Only Finrod noted her hesitation and stepped up beside her.
"Lady Artanis, Lord Findaráto, may we be of service?" The guards inquired.
"We are going to see my niece," Finrod informed them as he turned to his sister. "May I? Celebrian and Elrond's suite is in the east wing." Finrod smiled as his sister took his arm.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Celebrían smoothed down the layers on the front of her dress. It was a comfortable weave, too casual for meeting her in-laws for the first time. But all that mattered was if Eärwen had approved. The kindly maid studied her hair, stepping forward to capture a wayward strand and guide it back into the braids.
"You look lovely, if I may say so, my Lady." The Elleth smiled and motioned to the door. "Queen Eärwen sent word that it is time to meet your husband's parents and to enjoy a small meal." Celebrían nodded, thanked her, and took a deep breath before entering the other room. Three people sat around a table filled with seasonal treats. Her Grandmother greeted her.
"Elrond is not alone?" Celebrían's voice wavered in fear. "Surely Erestor or Cirulian are with him?"
"Nay, dear one, he is not alone, though it is healers and not his friends and family who are with him. I sent Erestor down to the Quay to meet a ship." Eärwen stepped forward to take her Granddaughter's hand. "We just stepped from Elrond's room. The healers will check the incision site and change his dressings. They estimated the process would last a half an hour. Come, refresh yourself, and meet Lord Eärendil and Lady Elwing." She drew Celebrian over to them. Eärendil stepped forward first.
"Lady Celebrían," he bowed over Celebrían's hand. "It is good to meet you finally. Words of the happiness you brought to our son and your beautiful children were a balm to our spirits." Celebrían looked down first at the rough hand of the Mariner then up into his stunning blue eyes. Although his eyes and hair color were very different from Elrond's, something about his countenance marked him as Elrond's Adar.
"It is good to meet you finally. Elrond will be amazed to …. see you." Celebrían's verbal stumble was immediately understood.
"He does not remember me," Eärendil stated. Celebrían nodded. Elwing stifled a gasp, which prompted Celebrían to turn and greet her. Elwing pulled her daughter-in-law into a chair when she noted how the younger Elleth trembled. Then Eärwen poured her a glass of the famed Teleri restorative.
"Drink, child," the Noldor Queen ordered. Celebrían glanced back at Eärendil. The ghostly huge figure from Elrond's childhood memory resembled the person sitting beside her. She ate the seasoned minnows and rice, a simple Telerin snack.
"His memories of you are vague." She automatically fingered a pendant the hung around her neck and suddenly realized the reason that she had felt it compelled to wear Elrond's first gift." She moved to unhook the chain. "He did not have much when they left Himring." Both her in-laws shuddered at the reminder. "He brought what was most dear to him – some books, a harp gifted to him by Maglor, and this pendant. He said it gave him courage and was a gift from you to remind him of loyal friends. I will ever be in your debt because you had the foresight to send Glorfindel back to him." She handed the pendant to Eärendil.
"How did it come to you?" He fingered the small gold flower and admitted softly. "I did give it to one of my sons. It was just a small thing to appease him before we went to a town meeting."
"He gave it to me as a token at the beginning of our courtship. It meant a great deal to him." Celebrían smiled at the treasured memory.
"It was my Naneth who suggested Glorfindel go back. Idril and Glorfindel were old friends. She recognized his restlessness. We were all shocked when the Valar permitted it. I asked him to deliver a message about our love." Eärendil took a deep breath. "Truthfully, I could not tell my sons apart. I did not spend much time with them, so focused was I on my own quest."
"You have the chance to change that." A new voice reminded him. They turned to see Galadriel and Findaráto enter.
"Naneth! Uncle!" Celebrían rose to greet them, embracing her mother and leading her to the table. "Please join us. Naneth, you look weary. Are you well?" Galadriel cupped her daughter's cheek and ignored the question.
"How is it you are just meeting each other?" Galadriel watched her daughter blush. Eärendil and Elwing looked even more ashamed. "I thought, given our friendship in Doriath and Sirion, that you would reach out to my daughter, especially considering that she is also your daughter-in-law."
"I did not know if," Celebrían started out, but Elwing interrupted her.
"Forgive our foolishness." Elwing apologized. "We sent no invitation. We received but one letter from Elrond and did not think Celebrían would want to meet us."
"He received only one letter from you." Galadriel's voice was soft, but the accusation was clear. Celebrían turned to her Mother, dismayed to be able to read the weariness in her eyes. Yet Galadriel's voice was light and even as she continued. "At that time, he was but a youth dealing with what was for him cataclysmic change."
"I sent as much as I dared." Eärwen's eyes flashed with the power and controlled anger Celebrían usually associated with Galadriel. "A trunk full of gifts for my daughter and her husband during the War of Wrath and letters whenever we were aware of elves traveling east." The Matriarch of the family presumed that Elwing had done the same.
"The past can not be changed," Finrod stressed each word equally. "Now is the time to give all we can to those who have struggled so hard to overcome the darkness."
"Finrod tells me Elrond's spirit is splintered and distressed." Galadriel's voice was concerned as she took her daughter's hand. "It is not the first time I have heard this description. Can you tell me how this happened and what you perceive?"
"It occurred during the surgery." Celebrían carefully omitted the Valar's presence, although she knew her Naneth and Uncle understood the unspoken details. "I felt his spirit breaking like the shattering of a mirror as it left his hröar."
"His spirit left his hröa?" Eärwen repeated. Eärendil looked stunned while Elwing did not seem to react. "Then he will die?"
"The Valar said I was his anchor. Indeed, it seemed as if the pieces of his fëa surrounded me. The Valar intervened at this point." Celebrían did not see any harm in this admission. "They called his spirit back and tried to bind it to his hröa, but they could not say if it would be successful. I still feel parts of his spirit that did not heed their call and remain near me." A tear slipped unbidden down her cheek.
"Keep hope alive, dear daughter." Galadriel touched the tear. "He has survived such a thing – perhaps more than once." Then, mind-to-mind, she spoke to Finrod. "Why are Ereinion and Indiriel not here? Surely they have been reborn?"
"We thought – at least Olwë and Arafinwë thought – that Eärendil and Elwing needed to meet their son first. They will be arriving shortly." Finrod replied. Galadriel then relayed an incident from over a yen earlier, when Elrond had been tortured and poisoned by one of the Istar. With Vilya's help, his spirit and hröa transformed, ridding him of the poison and freeing him to travel on the wind to warn Thranduil of the danger.
"One of the Istar!" Eärendil repeated in shock.
"How could Celembrior's creations enable such a transformation?" Finrod was curious. Unspoken was the follow-up question. "Or was the transformation due to his heritage?"
"Likely Alatar, though we know not if he was under the control of Sauron, for the poison originated in Mordor." Galadriel clarified, pointedly ignoring her brother's other questions. "It was Glorfindel who helped draw him back. I can only guess that it was Ilúvatar's will. It was many weeks before his spirit recovered and months before his hröa healed."
"The new scars on his shoulder and shadows down his arm." Celebrían shuddered, clearly horrified by the idea that her husband had again been a captive. Her old nightmare surfaced, which featured her mourning the disembodied song of his fëa, which vanished in the wind.
"No longer visible but still detectable. After that incident, Arwen's Maiar heritage awoke. Thus, Arwen remained with us in Lothlórien for many years, for only she and Elrond could detect the approach of one of the Maiar." Galadriel squeezed her daughter's hand. "Your requests of Glorfindel and Erestor showed a foresight that astonished me."
"I see there is much yet from the events that occurred after I sailed, which you and Elrond need to relate," Celebrían stated. At that moment, the door opened, and the healers emerged. Lady Idhrendes emerged, followed by Silsilalda and Master Tarwatirno.
"The heart is responding well, although time is needed for true healing. We need to attend to the hobbits next. Mithrandir is with them. Please summon us if you observe anything concerning." Lady Idhrendes reported before leaving with Master Tarwatirno. Silsilalda walked up to Celebrían.
"My Lady, we lacked the skill for such an operation in Imladris. Even here, there have been no successful procedures. But truly, the repair of his heart has gone well. So perhaps this will be the first example of a successful procedure. If his spirit can heal, his hröa will too." Silsilalda's words filled Celebrían with renewed hope.
"Naneth, please come and tell us how the state of his fëa compares to the last time you observed this?" Galadriel rose with her brother's aid and followed her daughter into the bedroom. Celebrían quickly sat down on the bed next to her husband. A new top sheet in blue covered his bandages. Celebrían gently straightened the unusually warm quilt over him. Finrod sensed her concern, and as Galadriel sat down in the chair by Elrond, he went to stir the fire. It was not cold, but one injured person would feel a slight chill from the autumn air. Celebrían bent to kiss his brow as her Mother took Elrond's limp hand. She held her breath as she watched Galadriel assess Elrond's spirit. Silsilalda moved forward to help the Lady of Light but gladly ceded her position to the former King of Nargothrond. The bright, powerful son of Arafinwë gently laid his hand on his sister's shoulder, gifting her strength. A trained healer, Finrod had recognized the extensive lacerations that marred Elrond's fëa as clearly as he had seen the deep hurt to his sister's spirit. But the news that the Peredhel had previously survived such a break from his hröa was shocking. Silence reigned for a seemingly endless time. How could a quarter hour pass so slowly? Finally, Galadriel blinked dazedly and drew in a deep breath.
"The hurts cut deeper than before, but now your spirit is the strong thread connecting you both. Some of the tears in his spirit can be mended by reestablishing connections sundered over these many long years. The loss of his mother was the first in a long line of trials. We cannot mend all the losses, for some are gone forever. Yet," Galadriel turned to Eärendil, "there is time to forge new relationships with an Adar he did not know and with Grandparents newly met." They listened in rapt attention as Galadriel described his recovery after being lost in the wind. Celebrian moved to fasten the golden flower chain around his neck in honor of the dear brother of their heart, who had stood by Elrond for over an age. Finally, Elwing stepped forward with a tremulous smile and sought to call to her son to try to awaken their familial bond broken over six thousand years earlier. But Elrond's spirit, tethered through Celebrian's strength, was yet awash in pain and confusion and did not respond to Elwing's calls. Eärendil moved forward and squeezed her hand, adding the light of his spirit to the call. Galadriel and Finrod sought to strengthen Celebrian, who gave so much through her bond to Elrond.
"Elrond, Ion-nin." Elwing focused all her thoughts on this call. The light swirled as images flashed in Elwing's mind. Were she not of the Maiar, these little insights would have flashed too quickly for her to catch.
"Our presence evokes memories," she gasped. Elros was playing on the beach while a white ship sailed away. A voice cried in the night—it was her voice! "Eärendil, why have you left me? I cannot care for them alone. What were we thinking having children now?" The soulful melancholy call of a seagull rang out.
"I love you, my sons - no matter what happens." Elwing's voice and the sensation of a light kiss goodbye. Screams and fire followed. A flaming head and angry eyes swirled before them. Maedhros' eyes glazed with battle fury as fingers tightened around a small neck.
"Even your mother despised you, abandoning you for a stone."
"Maedhros, stop! They are but children! Stop, brother!" Being pulled into a safe embrace, trying to shield him from the gruesome view. "Fear drives away reason. An instinct to fly takes over." Maglor's voice soothed. "Do not take to heart the words my brother spoke in anger and frustration. I will keep you safe." Then suddenly, she sensed nothing more from him and could not help but sob at the jumbled insights. Had her spirit awakened these long-buried memories? Her husband squeezed her arm.
"Perhaps it is better that he does not remember us," Eärendil said.
"Nay, he does remember." She said softly, leaning forward to kiss Elrond's forehead as she grasped his hand tightly. "Ion-nin, please forgive me. Please forgive us. There is no excuse for our abandoning you." She felt Eärendil bristle behind her. "We can not change the past. But I would heal this wound in your soul if you let me. Please draw strength from us, please." Elwing gasped as different pieces of her son's soul solidified as a powerful force that concealed these ancient memories from her.
"Ion-nin, please forgive me. Please forgive us." She called and found herself looking into silver eyes. They were open and revealed the depth of the damage to his fëa and the pain he was bearing due to the surgery. She read wonder and shocked recognition in his silver eyes.
"Nana," the word barely passed his breathless lips. Yet it rang in her soul. In her head, she heard his rich tenor clearly expressing his utter amazement. "Long years has it been since I last dreamt of you. It is a good dream." A long-forgotten melody played in the background of his thoughts. His eyes closed again in exhaustion as she bent to kiss his temple.
"It's not a dream, ion-nin." She whispered. I look forward to getting to know you."