The story so far:

---- Aija and the others are on the South-Land. They are waiting for the Leadership to attack. Aija finds out that The Gale was attacked on the Main Lands, and she worries for her brother - Rei/Goldstar. Goldstar is alive. They lost the Premiere, Leigh, Tailyn, Arah Lin. His leg is broken and his finger missing. Ze is getting better in his training. Ze and Ruyanir aren't married yet. Avery gets copies of the Leadership's experiments from Tailyn And feels bad for doubting Goldstar. Zuri thinks of the first time she met Aija. The Leadership attacks them and Zuri goes to protect the people of the South. Xan tries going after the others to help but soon realizes that he can't. He hates it. Zuri manages to get the shield up at the Zayr Settlement but a soldier fires at her. Luka goes with Var-Inu to fight and when seeking an Iernei shielder, an explosive hurtles to the ground towards him. Goldstar is weak thanks to his broken leg. he struggles in the battle. When a bomb comes hurtling towards them, Luka protects him. Thieron is with Aija and Ayr'i. They try and bring several jets down. When the Iernei spaceships arrive, the jets plunge into water, creating large waves that drag them all into the ocean. Aija and Ayr'i survive the ocean. The war comes to an end when Iernei spaceships arrive. Aija finds her brother Rei and Vincent alive. Nala finds Zuri in the Zayr Settlement. They go to the Core and find Luka, Aija, and Thieron.

----Aija and Thieron tell Goldstar all that has happened with them. Aija and Thieorn want to go to Ierne to give Aa'di Irih'va the Avo. Aija convinces Zuri to meet her family once before they leave. Luka didn't expect to survive this long. He now feels at home with Thieron and Nala. Zuri goes home. She asks her parents to go to the South-land with her. They refuse. Xan gets to the Core on the South back to the Aija and the others. He accepts Var-Inu's offer to get an Iernei body. Aija agrees to help and it works. Xan is now Iernei. Thieron goes to the Open to collect his family photo; Ieas confronts him. Aija saves Thieron. Thieron talks to Aija; she says she's confused and needs time. They all go to Ierne, Aa'di Irih'va welcomes them and takes Aija away. Zuri roams the Palace. She meets Ze, who tells her he doesn't like Nala and makes Zuri doubt her relationship with Nala. Aija is with Irih'va. He presents her the blade he'd had made for her. Aija asks Irih'va to remove her bond with Thieron. He agrees and accomplishes it.

----Goldstar gives Premier Zhaleh a plan to use against the Leadership. 

✽✽✽

****15 THIERON****

The faint thumping of snow against glass serenaded him into wakefulness.

He opened his eyes to the lurid bright; too bright suddenly, he clenched his eyes close.

Thieron had dreamt of Zya'ara again. And Aija. Always Aija.

He slowly opened his eyes, attuning to the light, rubbing his temple to get the dull ache to wane. The glass-dome was half-covered in snow, and he could see the fat flakes drifting ground-wards, glinting in the suns' light. He sat and inspected his right wrist: the Uil'dran was light, fading, and barely noticeable against the rest of the tattoos.

And Thieron felt it: the stark absence of Aija's presence, rooted deep in his bones.

He'd grown so accustomed to feeling her presence in his soul; now, it felt like the universe had tilted.

He missed her.

Thieron remembered the pain coursing through him, setting his soul afire. The blinding pain had overtaken his senses reining him into darkness. He hoped Aija was fine; she must be, for she was with Irih'va. He remembered the anger that had ruled him when Ru'n Lwr'vyn prevented him from going to Aija. He didn't mind that she had the Uil'dran removed; he'd wanted to ask Irih'va for his help. Thieron still worried about Etrie hurting Aija, but he knew it would make her happy to remove the bond. But he'd wanted to be by her when it happened. Ru'n Lwr'vyn had barred him, saying that his loyalty was to the Emperor first, and he didn't want Thieron there. Thieron respected Ru'n Lwr'vyn; he didn't know a time when Irih'va was at the Palace where the Head Royal Guard wasn't by him. Perhaps, even Irih'va didn't know of a day on Ierne without the man.

Thieron clambered up from the bed, feeling atrociously sore, and his eyes focussed on the note on the bedside table. In stunning Iernei script, Ne'vei had left him a message – Glad to have you back, Ah'n. Take the tonic for your strength. Xlo'qua Ne'vei.

He found the tonic next to where the note had been. He unscrewed the lid and drained the contents; the fizzy sweetness tingled his tongue. Almost instantly, he felt the soreness ebb from his body. Iernei medicine, based half in ancient healing-magic and half in modern science, worked wonders.

Thieron's room at the Palace was small in comparison to others. The room, meant as a day room to the Librarian (who now used a different one right inside the Library), had a glass-domed roof, minimal furniture that included a tall cabinet on one wall of the room, holding scriptures on each shelf. The wall perpendicular to the rack was glass, too, and the room had a slight curve, the glass wall adhering to the structure of the Palace.

After a long, hot shower that reminded him he didn't have the Uil'dran any longer and left him lamenting over Aija's safety, Thieron dressed into an emerald-green winter gw'xun embellished with gold embroidery, not before ensuring all his blades were secured on his holster.

The door opened and in entered Ayr'i, dressed in a gw'xun the colour of the Au flower – shimmery silver.

"You're up? How long?" she asked, plopping onto the bed.

"A while,"

"Ru'n Ve'dir was keeping an eye on you; he must've left. Hungry? You've been out three days."

"Three?"

When he'd put the rune, he'd felt faint for a while, but he'd recovered in minutes. He couldn't believe he'd been out cold for days now.

Ayr'i nodded, left to send word for food, and returned. "I can't believe you put an Uil'dran on Aija."

Thieron sat, head lowered in shame, next to his sister. "I had to keep her safe from Etrie,"

"Why?" she asked, trying hard to contain her fury.

Thieron explained how Etrie wanted to use the Àvo to bring humans under absolute control of the R'ies, who should have left four-hundred years ago. Few members of R'ies had seen the chaos on Earth and wanted to take over – no different from H'eon, except that R'ies wanted to rule humans, and Alton had wanted them dead.

Ayr'i huffed.

Two Place Staff brought them food, a large spread of dyr, breads, sweets, savouries, curries, and sides. Iernei food never failed to impress Thieron, though, probably, it was just a Palace trait.

Thieron ate, hoping the food would obviate his plangent mood and exhaustion, while Ayr'i recounted her experiences at the Mux'xra Ust. She'd discovered the Grand Staircase made to resemble a Ro'ein (like most architecture in the Palace), the Library (next to Thieron's room), the towers, the Riu-nu-Aresean, and where Aija was – in Irih'va's suite. Apparently, there would be a wedding at the Palace – Ze with Ja'wri Ruyanir. Thieron didn't know how to respond to that piece of information, but he refrained from telling Ayr'i he'd kidnapped Ze too. It must have been Irih'va's plan to take Ze after all. Thieron didn't know how it made him feel, confused for sure, but certainly more. After everything, he still chose to come to Ierne, to Irih'va.

Nala arrived just as Ayr'i finished speaking. She joined them at the square table and nicked a sweet from the spread. Thieron placed the bowl in front of her; she glared at him. But she indulged herself with more. Thieron knew Nala had a sweet tooth; he'd followed her about Rin'zomn a few days before approaching her at the Housing. He'd tracked her for Alton, but he'd found her interesting.

"Glad you're better," Nala told Ah'n.

He smiled.

"It must have hurt terribly," Nala glanced at the fading rune and its line on his wrist peeking from under his sleeve.

"That's because," Ayr'i stated, "they were bonded for too long, and Aija clearly drew on his powers." She paused and added, without preamble, "He's in love with her."

Nala choked on a piece of iene. Thieron glared at his sister, food forgotten.

"What?" Nala stared at him.

"It's true,"

"Ayr'i," Thieron uttered, voice carrying a warning.

"Ah'n?" Nala prodded.

Thieron said nothing.

"You're not saying you don't," Nala observed. "Since when?"

"How does it matter? She hates me,"

"She doesn't," Ayr'i challenged.

"She does avoid him," noted Nala.

"Perhaps, but she doesn't hate him,"

"Don't give him false hope,"

"I'm not. I've seen the way Aija looks at him. She doesn't hate him," Ayr'i insisted, offended by Nala. "Confused, maybe. There's no hate."

"Ayr'i, you don't know how harsh I've been with her. Not to mention rude. I've not treated her right. I'll understand if she hates me."

Nala and Ayr'i studied him, expressions sad.

"I'm trying to be better," he whispered.

"Then, that's a good start," Ayr'i remarked.

"Have you told her?" Nala questioned Thieron.

"No, she doesn't want anything to do with me," he muttered, thinking of their last conversation.

'You must forgive yourself first.' But he couldn't.

"One day, she will be ready," Ayr'i stabbed a piece of iene from the bowl in front of Nala with her blade and popped it into her mouth, daring Nala to stop her. Nala merely glared, snatched the bowl off the table, and went to sit on the bed. Ayr'i stuck her tongue out at Nala.

Luka arrived, interrupting Nala and Ayr'i's bout. His eyes fell on all three of them in succession before it went to the glass-dome. The glass-dome, a structure of art like everything in the Palace, was composed of stained glass, Iernei art glittering when the light blessed it.

"Beautiful," murmured Luka and joined Thieron and his sister at the table.

Thieron handed him a plate and helped him serve food. Ayr'i gave Luka a clandestine glance and focused on her food. The two rarely interacted.

Luka inquired about Thieron and ate, telling them that Aija was still asleep. He'd visited her before he came there, and it seemed like Irih'va appeared tired too. Thieron sat quietly through the conversation, wary, but neither Nala nor Ayr'i mentioned his feelings for Aija.

Luka turned to Nala, "Why did Zuri move out?"

"Did you fight?" Thieron asked, concerned.

Nala shook her head. "She told me she's confused. All of a sudden, she says she needs time. Everything was fine; we never fought."

"What do you think happened?" Luka asked.

Nala shrugged and mumbled with a hue of sadness. "She met Ze – that's what she said. She spoke about how she needs time to see if what she feels for me is right."

Thieron felt terrible. Nala had seemed content with Zuri.

"It'll be fine," Ayr'i comforted Nala, surprising everyone. "Give her time. She'll come back; she loves you."

Nala nodded and put her hand over her heart, ingratitude.

"I'm dropping Ayr'i and Iro'h to Ytèan," Thieron told Luka. "You should go too."

"You never told me!" Ayr'i and Nala shouted in unison.

"Well, I am," Thieron declared. "Iro'h, you're going home. It's final," he affirmed, ignoring her protests, and told Luka, "I can drop you to Rin'zomn."

Luka sat, quiet for so long, Thieron hoped he hadn't insulted him. Ayr'i protested, refusing to go home, and Nala announced she wasn't ready to go to Urè.

"You?" Luka inquired.

"I don't know yet,"

"If you're dropping me home, you're coming too," Ayr'i barked, pointing her blade at Thieron. He ignored her.

"Rurenor," Thieron called out his Ytai name.

Luka smiled. "I have no one in Rin'zomn or on Ytèan to get back to. No matter where in the universe, I've found that home isn't a place. It's the people you're with. I found my home with you and Nala. I'm by your side for the rest of my days."

Luka's words softened Thieron's heart.

"You've worked to save my life, Ah'n."

"You don't owe me for it, Rurenor. You're an Ithi'hra combatant; you can always continue working for them. I've no future."

"I want to be with you. We'll figure things out in time,"

"Perhaps join Ade on the Dul'ryh," Nala offered, tone optimistic.

Thieron scoffed, but it made him smile. He embraced Luka, unable to think of times when they'd hugged. Luka held him tightly and whispered, "Dhi'er,"

Thieron let him go and stood.

"Where are you going?" Ayr'i scowled.

"I need air,"

"Aija hasn't woken; you'll waste your time."

"I'm not going to Aija,"

"Right,"

Luka glanced between the bickering siblings, amused. Nala kept her head down, but Thieron did notice her peering at Luka, once, furtively.

****

Thieron had, inexplicably, gone towards Irih'va's suite. Midway, he'd cursed himself, rerouted, made his way down the Grand Staircase and out of the Mux'xra Ust.

The lack of the extended Royal family, away for the winter, made the Palace quiet and deserted. Even the Palace Staff were few. Thieron waddled through the snow, under the circular arches to the stairs carved into the mountain – the only way to and from the Palace. At the start, he came face to face with Ze. Thieron halted, startled.

So did Ze. He wore a thick brown robe and a heavy dusting of snow on his shoulders and hair.

"You?" Ze swore.

"Ze,"

Ze glowered at him, continued climbing the stairs and pushed past him.

"Ze,"

Ze turned, fists clenched over the fh're. He appeared different from the Ze Thieron had known.

"Glad to see you're well,"

"You don't care," Ze snapped.

"I never meant to kill you...or Aija,"

Ze eyes him with distrust.

"Congratulations on your wedding,"

Ze nodded.

"I'm sorry, Ze, for the way I treated you. You may not forgive me, but I do apologize."

Ze clenched his fists tighter over his weapon. Thieron thought of the incantation to see auras, 'In-Kwan'. Ze's orange-aura lit up with a cream-yellow for surprise. Thieron supposed he'd shock a few people in his lifetime.

"Thank you," Ze stammered, lowering the fh're.

Thieron turned to leave, but... "Ze, did you say something to Zuri that would make her leave Nala?"

Ze blinked, dazed, and a second later, recognition hit him. "Zuri deserves better,"

"Zuri can choose what she deserves. Allow her to make her choices."

"But,"

"Nala is a good person, Ze. Every wrong she'd done is in the past; give her a chance."

Ze clenched his jaw.

Thieron left.

****

Iernei winters were harsh.

Thieron pulled the coat tighter around himself, making the ascent, and cursed himself for walking out without gloves and ear-warmers. He'd wanted, awfully, to be alone, get his thoughts in order. Luka's insistence on being with him hadn't pleased him, not entirely. Luka had a better life with the Ithi'hra; he shouldn't be wasting time with Thieron. And it was high time Nala went home.

Thieron climbed the stairs, fearing the long fall as the winds grew brutal. The dark didn't help either. He'd roamed the capital until dark, purchased the ever famous Iernei hui'je candy, worried about Nala, Luka, and Ayr'i's futures with him, convincing himself to drop them off on Ytèan and bolt.

At last, he reached the top and breathed a sigh of relief. The climb, treacherous, had him thinking he'd die. He trudged over new snow, back to the Palace, and halfway noticed a figure in bright red robes standing at the entrance. Irih'va stood outside, eyes narrowed. Behind him was Ru'n Lwr'vyn, expression stony. Thieron hurried, anxious. Had something gone wrong?

"You have guts," Irih'va raged, a rare frown knitting his brows. "Iernei winters are vicious. Did you wish to die?"

Thieron halted, heart pounding. Irih'va rarely got angry; he was furious now, though only his frown served as proof. His long hair swayed in the harsh cold winds, snowflakes dotting his hair, lashes, and clothes. He wore gear, boots, ear-warmers, a sword at his waist. Ru'n Lwr'vyn appeared annoyed, his aura unrevealing.

"Did you wish to die?" Irih'va asked, louder this time. From anyone else, it was equivalent to a shout.

Thieron shook his head, feeling like a child.

"Come in," Irih'va left.

Thieron followed, shivering; Ru'n Lwr'vyn walked behind him. Irih'va led him to his suite. Thieron searched for Aija, but no one was in the suite other than the three of them.

"She's in her room," Irih'va directed Thieron to a chair by the table in the leisure room. "She's awake."

She's awake.

Thieron sat, shivering violently, teeth chattering. He heard Irih'va ask Ru'n Lwr'vyn to call for warm food and spicy bhan before he returned to him. Irih'va covered Thieron in thick furs, making him feel sheepish. Embarrassed, Thieron stared at the blankets, avoiding Irih'va's glare. Irih'va gave him two healing-runes and didn't speak to him until Ru'n Lwr'vyn had brought him the bhan, and he'd drunk it.

"Why are you so reckless?" Irih'va asked when Thieron placed the empty glass on the table. "You could've died out there."

"You were going somewhere,"

"To search for you; yes," Irih'va fumed, sitting down in front of Thieron, making Thieron flinch. "Going out in the afternoon is one thing; staying out at night another."

"You're upset,"

Irih'va glowered. Thieron lowered his head, pulling the blanket tighter.

"You know better than to do things like this in winter, Ah'n," Irih'va's tone nuanced concern and Thieron felt awful for making him worry. "You are still weak from Izemirn, and...and from removing the Uil'dran. You think I'd like it if you died?"

Thieron glanced at the Emperor; cheeks flushed from cold and fury, he appeared stunning as ever. Even when they were young, Irih'va had an air of royalty about him; a beauty that came only from Gods' blessings.

Thieron shook his head in response.

"I'm glad you know that your death will wreck me," whispered Irih'va, blinking back tears. "And you're still too proud to apologise," he winked.

Thieron sat agape; Irih'va left, leaving Thieron alone in the leisure room. Ru'n Lwr'vyn returned with three Staff in tow, a sumptuous array of hot foods on their carts. They arranged the dishes on the table and left. Irih'va arrived, dressed in simple black robes, to see Thieron eating. The cold had famished him.

Irih'va sat in front of him again, his long legs stretched out, head rested in his palm, elbow on the table, surveying Thieron eating. He seemed, finally, relaxed, though Thieron could see how tired he was; dark circles under his eyes, limp posture. His eyes were on Thieron the whole time.

"I hope you're not in love with me."

Irih'va rolled his eyes and sat straighter.

"Ader'in asked about you,"

"Now that's a man in love with you," Irih'va grinned. "How's he?"

"Good. Better," Thieron thought of the cool-confidence he'd eased into.

"I do miss those days,"

"The only time you were out of here," Thieron said between bites of food.

"Because I ran; yes."

"Nih'ite,"

"For?"

"I'm warm now."

Irih'va smiled.

Thieron had missed Irih'va's adroitness in putting anyone at ease; the winter's warmth, the summer's cool.

"We did it, Irih'va. We got the Àvo, unused."

Irih'va gave him a glum smile. "You did, Ah'n. I did nothing."

"All those years ago, if someone told you I'd do it, would you have believed it?"

"I have faith in you, Ah'n. I believe you can do anything you put your mind to, like forgiving yourself."

Thieron stopped eating.

"You're struggling,"

Thieron's gaze fell to his food. He'd wanted, profoundly, to hate Irih'va. He'd gone out with to work up loathing for his friend for taking Ze and giving Aija a reason to stay on Ierne. Thieron had instead worked up a raging hunger and had half-frozen in the cold. He'd known Irih'va for far too long, far too closely, to hate him. Most of all, Irih'va never had malicious intentions, which made it harder to feel enmity towards him. Thieron trusted him, blindly, with his life.

"You did what you had to,"

"I could've done better," Thieron thought of Aija.

"Join Ithi'hra,"

Thieron's gaze snapped to Irih'va.

"Join us. On Ierne,"

"Swear fealty to the Crown?"

"You know I'd never ask that of you,"

"But working for you is working for the Crown,"

"It isn't always; there's so much of Ierne not under my rule."

"If I work with you, I work for the Empire. It's simple."

Irih'va recoiled, pursing his lips, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Is it that bad? To work with me?"

It wasn't; Thieron knew he'd offended him. Working with Irih'va or even for him was the best that could happen to him now. He was lost, and Irih'va offered a future. But it confused him. It's not that Thieron hated working for the Crown; he simply had a hard time coming to terms with what he wanted to do and made excuses that he didn't want to swear fealty. Perhaps, this was the best offer he'd ever receive from anyone considering all the sins he'd committed.

"I'll think about it," Thieron didn't commit yet. "I promise."

Irih'va accepted with a nod. "Go home, first."

"Irih'va, I..."

"Ah'n," his tone stern, he continued, "go home. Think about it there. You can always return to Ierne. Trust me; stay in Zya'ara for a while. Understood?"

Thieron thought of the possibility of Irih'va having seen a future-vision of Zya'ara.

"Ah'n?"

"I'll go,"

"Good,"

A while later, Irih'va said, "I'm sorry,"

Thieron glanced at him, puzzled. "Whatever for"?

"I didn't know what would happen at the Ker'zan. Had I...if I'd known, I'd have sent help. I'd sent guards for Aija and Ze; I'd have sent someone for you. The Izemirn has wrecked you."

"You sent for Aija and Ze," Thieron whispered.

"I did."

"I knew it was you."

Irih'va observed him, chary.

"It's ok. It's not your fault."

"I should've known."

"You can't know everything, Irih'va. It's alright."

****

Irih'va didn't let Thieron go until he'd finished half the food laid out for him, including the obnoxious scen'he. 

Feeling heavy and sleepy thanks to the bhan, Thieron exited Irih'va's suite, warm and cared for, and glad he'd met the Hi'er Emperor all those years ago. Peculiar circumstance as it may have been, it had been the best thing in his life. Not because Irih'va was an Emperor, but because of the honourable man he was.

He greeted Ru'n Ve'dir outside when the door to the suite opposite Irih'va's opened softly. Aija stepped out, and her grey eyes fell on him. Thieron felt his cheeks warm, though he convinced himself it was the result of the bhan.

Dressed in simple black robes, Aija had pulled her hair into the tiniest of top-knots, making him think of how fast her hair had grown. She appeared well, a rosy glow to her cheeks like she'd been after returning to Earth from Ierne.

Seeing her, Thieron noticed he hadn't felt her presence at all. A pang of sadness clutched him. Aware of Ru'n Ve'dir's furtive glances between them, he said, "Aija," and went to her.

Aija watched him approach her, unmoving, eyes fixed on him, making his heart race. Thieron fished out a few hui'je candies from his pocket and handed them to her. Startled, Aija bit her lower lip. He expected her to deny his offer of candy, but she took them, her hands brushing against his. The electricity fizzed between them, despite the Uil'dran not there, surprising them both.

Aija's gaze cushioned his appetency to touch her, satisfied that she didn't turn away from him.

"Good night," he whispered.

She nodded; he observed the red over her cheeks go from rose to blood. Thieron walked away, wishing he could reach out to her feelings through the bond. But it wasn't there anymore. He turned to see her; she still stood there, looking at him.

And, Aija smiled at him.

Thieron halted, his heart skipping a wild, unruly beat. He stood a few seconds longer, just soaking up the sight of her smile, hoping it wasn't a bhan-induced fever-dream.

Then he left, a hint of a smile on his lips, soul lighter than it had been in years.

✽✽✽

****END OF PART ONE****