The story so far:

----Luka sacrifices himself to save Earth. Thieron is upset about Luka. Rei learns Vincent is alive. He finds out that Iyler and John helped Ea. Aija finally feels the enormity of Luka's death. Rei feels scared about the still glowing Avo. Zuri has the inexplicable urge to talk to Aija. She leaves in search of her. Thieron wakes to find Aija gone. Aija goes to the Avo. Thieron tries to stop her. Aija sacrifices herself for Earth. Zuri is shocked when she finds Aija dead. Rei learns Aija sacrificed herself. Irih'va cuts his hair in mourning. He goes to Earth; tell Rei to bury Luka and Aija. Aija and Luka's burial. Rei agrees to take up Irih'va's offer of collaborating with the Itih'hra.

----Xan remembers his last moments with Aija. 

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****48 HI'ER IVAUTH-XRU'LAR JEI'RI-XROU'RIN IRIH'VA****

He turned the Iernei coins in his palm over and over again.

Looped through one was his golden hair-strand. Through the other was a red hair-strand; Thieron's.

Irih'va bit his lip to stop his tears. He'd found the coins in Aija's bag along with other stuff she'd collected. He'd brought it with him; it belonged to Thieron now.

Irih'va put the coins back into Aija's bag and went to sit by the windowsill. Waiting for Thieron to wake became a torment of the worst sort. He hadn't stirred since Irih'va had carried him in after Rei had convinced him to leave the graves. He asked himself if he should've told Thieron what would happen. But, no, that wouldn't have done any good.

It'd been a whole day since Thieron had fainted. Irih'va had a Healer check his vitals every few hours. The Healer assured Thieron was fine, but Irih'va worried. He worried as he'd worried for Aija when she'd arrived on Ierne, battered and bruised, and taken days to wake. It felt a lifetime ago.

Irih'va had sent Ayr'i moments ago to rest; she'd been up for a long time, waiting for Thieron to wake.

A knock sounded on the door, and it opened. Xan peeped in. He saw Thieron still in bed and inspected the room for someone else. He straightened on seeing Irih'va, then bowed.

"Come in, Xan,"

Xan entered, keeping his movements hushed. In his hands was a folded piece of paper; he held it out to him.

Irih'va accepted the paper addressed to Thieron.

"From Ms Niyarah,"

"Thank you, Xan. It must've been hard, knowing what she was doing."

"How?"

"I know things. I knew too,"

Tears filled the boy's eyes. "I'm here because of her,"

"You're also here because of Ah'n, also because of your own decisions, Xan-Ae Lee."

Xan stood still.

"If you ever meet Ish'thnor's family, apologize."

Xan's eyes rounded.

"It's not your fault, Xan. But an apology will bring them peace."

"Yes, Aa'di," he bowed.

Xan left; Irih'va knew the boy would cry himself to sleep. But that was necessary to heal, get the hurt out.

Getting the hurt out of Thieron was a long journey.

Irih'va placed Aija's letter in her bag and retook his place by the window. Thieron's red-aura was strong, despite how long he was out. And it was still shielded, no emotions showing, even when he was unconscious. Thieron himself didn't understand how powerful he was.

Thieron stirred. Irih'va sat straight, watching him, holding his breath. Thieron opened his eyes, pushing the layers of blankets off. He lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Irih'va waited.

Thieron remained that way, staring blankly. Irih'va grew concerned and stood to check on him when Thieron sat. He swayed slightly before steadying himself, and he caught Irih'va standing by the window.

Thieron scowled at Irih'va. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you,"

Thieron grunted, fixing his eyes on his feet.

Irih'va waited patiently for Thieron to gather himself, process everything. Even when Irih'va had known every possible outcome, it'd been onerous to comprehend.

Thieron scoured the room, a knot between his brows.

"Ayr'i's resting; she was here until moments ago. Xan's fine, as are Zuri and Iro'h," Irih'va mentioned everyone, not knowing who Thieron sought. "Rei's with Vincent. Hra'an, A'ed and D'ea are preparing for their journey back to Ytèan. Ze and Ruya are still here."

Ze had come to check on Thieron hours ago. Irih'va could see the remorse in Ze's aura for his judgement of Thieron. But Ze's initial opinion hadn't been his fault; circumstances were such.

Thieron sat on the edge of the bed. Eyes down, voice dangerously low, he asked, "Did you know?"

Irih'va swallowed hard; he knew this was coming.

When Irih'va didn't answer, Thieron fixed a glare on him. He scrambled up; steps unsteady, he wobbled to Irih'va. Irih'va didn't wince when Thieron punched him forcefully, his lightning sending a shock through him. It'd taken three healing-runes to fix his nose the last time Thieron hit him. Irih'va only felt tired as the sharp pain stung his face, and he felt the blood drip over his lips. Thieron grabbed the lapels of his dark-grey robe, pushing him to the wall, face an inch from his.

"Why? Why, Irih'va? Why didn't you tell me?"

"It'd make no difference."

"It would!" Thieron yelled. "I'd have left them on Ierne!"

"You know fate doesn't work the way you want it, Ah'n."

Thieron staggered back, eyes wide. He'd told the exact words to Irih'va when he'd blamed himself for his family's death. Thieron slapped Irih'va. That did offend him in a way Thieron's anger-laced punches hadn't.

"Is this because she chose me?"

"How dare you, Ah'n?" Irih'va grew livid. "You truly offend me now. I was never jealous of you."

"Really?"

Irih'va gritted his teeth. "I'll write this off as your grief speaking for you, Ah'n. Don't accuse me of this. Ever. Again. I always want you to be happy. You don't understand how much I care for you. Your happiness is mine; your sorrow is mine. Aija chose you in front of my eyes; I let her go. You underestimate how you mean to me, Ah'n."

Thieron lurched forward, grabbing Irih'va's robes again, pushing him to the wall. Irih'va's back hit the wall with a loud thud, pain shooting through his spine. "I'll kill you for this, Irih'va."

"Do it,"

Thieron frowned at the lack of emotion in Irih'va's challenge.

"Do it. Save me from this eternal suffering. DO it; end the bloody Empire once and for all. I'm exhausted of the Throne. Free me, Ah'n."

Thieron regarded Irih'va, the thoughts sprinting wild in his mind. He let him go with suddenness; Irih'va quavered, unsupported.

"Then, suffer. Live and suffer," Thieron cursed, words weighted.

Irih'va felt a shiver run down his spine. Words were power; Ytai and Iernei were eloquent in the knowledge of it. Irih'va composed himself, breathing shallow and quick, trying to brush away the feeling of doom clinging to him.

Thieron sat on the bed, knees drawn up to his chest, face resting on them.

Irih'va found that he couldn't remain vexed with Thieron for long. What forces of the universe had brought Thieron to him, he didn't know, but Irih'va was determined to keep him by his side. What they shared was more than friendship; it surpassed time and closeness. Irih'va was confident it wasn't romantic-love. But it was love. And Irih'va knew in his bones he needed Thieron. Not for a specific purpose, just because.

Irih'va went to Thieron, who turned away from his gaze. Irih'va sat in front of him, setting a hand on his arm. Thankfully, Thieron didn't move away from his touch.

"Without Aija, I'm nothing," Thieron whispered. "I've nothing left, nothing. I've nothing to live for."

"Maybe not today, not tomorrow, or not next year. One day, one day, you'll find something worth living for, and you'll be glad you held on. That something will make everything worth the wait, relieved that you survived long enough for it. So, live to find that something,"

"Unless I can find Aija again, there's nothing worth my life."

Irih'va sighed. "What if you do find something?"

Thieron bit his lip, tears clotting in his eyes. "I miss her," the tears slid down his cheeks. "Something in me is missing, Irih'va, gone with her."

"And yet, life's still worth living, Ah'n,"

Thieron snorted. "I'm terrified, sometimes, that you're in love with me."

"I do love you,"

"I hate you."

"Okay,"

Thieron hugged his legs tightly, closing in on himself.

"I'm sorry, Ah'n. I'm sorry you have to go through this, and I can't do more than sit by you while you're hurt. I'm sorry I can't fix this. You sat with me day after day, night after night, while I mourned my family. I know nothing else. Go back to Ierne with me; we'll learn the way forward."

"I'm not going with you."

Irih'va bit down on his tongue. "I'll wait,"

"Then, wait forever."

Irih'va let out a distressed breath. "Look at me, Ah'n,"

Thieron refused, unmoving.

Irih'va squeezed Thieron's arm once. He brought Aija's bag and set it beside Thieron. Thieron stared at it, taken aback, but made no effort to reach for it.

Irih'va patted Thieron's hair. "Come home, Ah'n," he kissed him on the head. "I'll wait."

Irih'va walked out, heading straight to Aija's and Luka's graves. "I'm sorry," he told them.

Of course, silence greeted him. The wailing cold winds filled the quiet, the soft patter of snow, rhythmic.

"I know how he feels. After my family died, I...I couldn't find purpose either. Ah'n made it his goal to see I lived even if for no reason at all."

Irih'va glimpsed at the snow-clouds. The Gods still had a purpose for Thieron; the Spirits kept an eye on him. Irih'va knew. Not only had Aija had the touch of the Ro'ein; Thieron did too. Irih'va had had visions of Thieron and the Ro'ein together. Thieron had to live. If Irih'va's sole purpose was keeping Thieron alive and safe, then so be it.

"I promise, Aija. I'll keep him safe. I promise." 

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