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. Irih'va tries to convince Thieron to go with him to Ierne. Nala stops Zuri from killing Ea. She checks on Thieron. Zuri struggles to deal with Aija's death. Nala proposes marriage; Zuri declines for the moment.

----Thieron sees that his name is on Aija's ock blade. Tai'un reminds him that he's a weapon. Var-Inu tells that he'd planned everything earlier.

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****50.2 FIRI ZYA'ARA EN'ARI RU AH'N****

With a new purpose kindling fire into him, Thieron showered, changed into fresh clothes, and ate the obscenely stinking scen'he for strength.

Irih'va eyed him with concern as he stuffed spoonful after spoonful of the gruel into his mouth.

"Slow down; you haven't eaten in days," Irih'va warned.

Thieron growled at him; the Emperor rolled his eyes.

"Where are you going?" he asked when Thieron stood, placing the empty bowl on the table.

"To see Aija,"

"Wear a coat," Irih'va threw his at him.

Thieron caught it with one hand, slipped it on, not looking Irih'va in the eyes. He left, hearing the Emperor sigh behind him.

Thieron marched through the hallways. Nearly everyone stopped on their way, shocked to see him out. Even humans he didn't know paused. He walked past a surprised Rei and Vincent out into the front-yard. He acknowledged them with a nod. They smiled.

The fires burned in the lamps. Flowers and little trinkets adorned the mounds covered with snow. It was more a God's shrine than a grave mourning the dead. Thieron felt the power permeating the air; the powers of gratefulness, hope, and love.

Thieron never understood why Luka wished to be buried on Earth instead of having a customary Ytai xau'kyvn. Had he felt more at home on Earth? Or because he knew he'd die for Earth?

"I miss you, dhi'er," Thieron told Luka. "I wish I didn't have to see you die after everything I did to keep you alive and with me. I don't know how to get you both back. But I'll find a way. I will, dhi'er. If I can't, I'll join you."

Thieron went to Aija's grave, throat choking. He felt Aija's absence in every atom that composed him, calling out to their missing counterparts. Thieron was incomplete without Aija; he'd always be half of a whole. She'd taken the light she'd filled his soul with her, leaving him unto his darkness. She'd died a supernova, igniting new life into the world and leaving him a black-hole, all alone in her afterglow.

Thieron missed Aija; her grey eyes starlight, not a mere thunderstorm. Her white hair had glowed pearlescent-silver on death like she'd stolen light from the brightest parts of the universe and woven it into her hair. She was never a meagre thunderstorm, never had petty white hair. Thieron knew now she was more. And he'd loved her a very, very long time.

"I'm not angry with you, Aija. I understand. I understand why you did it. But I miss you so awfully much, I can't breathe. I detest my beating heart without you to beat for. I miss you, Aija."

The sun lit the snow golden on the graves. Had Aija seen it snow on Earth? Thieron hadn't known Aija loved snow that much; if he had, he'd have taken her to the Riu-nu-Aresean, and made her stand amidst the white fluff, all around, till the eyes could see. He'd have married her there.

Right now, in this room, if that's what you want. He should've done it. Thieron should've married Aija then and there.

He took out Aija's letter, brushing his fingers over the ink as if he could over her skin. He missed her, the feel of her warmth in his arms, the need of calming his breath to her steady pace, the way she enticed his lightning to dance in his blood, the feeling of home. Thieron was thrown into a hellish bubble of pain and wrath without Aija to lull him.

It seemed like she remembered him, who he truly was when she left. It meant she knew who she was too. Thieron would recall who he was even if it was the last thing he did.

Ro'ere sah,

I'm sorry I took so long to recognize you. I've loved you a long time; I'll love you forever, in the snow that kisses your skin, in the wind that rushes through your hair, in the stars shining over you.

I will return to you. Live long, for me.

Yours until the end of time,

Ru Aija.

Thieron swept his fingertips over 'Ru Aija' before pocketing it. No wonder Aija felt like the home he'd lost long, long ago. She was his home; he was made for her.

Thieron would wage war on the Gods. They'd taken Aija and Luka from him. He'd get them back. Or join them.

But before that, Thieron would make the Gods pay the price of keeping them apart.

Thieron would hunt the Gods.

Thieron would destroy them.

"And, I will always wait," Thieron told Aija. "I will always wait for you, va lh'ean."

He had a new reason to live. He promised himself he'd find her. Thieron had loved Aija from the beginning of his time; he'd love her until the end of time.

He looked skywards at the snow drifting on him.

No matter where he dwelled, the snow would always bring him memories.

Thieron remembered the feeling when Aija gazed at him the last time, 'Va lh'ean,' on her lips.

Thieron remembered the feeling when Aija first looked into his eyes.

Aija was starlight, his universe, his purpose. It'd always been Aija.

The memory of Aija permeated through every fibre of his being, cocooning, lulling him in its power.

Ah'n knew some feelings in the world are indescribable.

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********THE END********