I’m sorry this is so short but I couldn’t think how to make it longer. I hope it’s a suitable ending and please look out for ‘The Moon Twins’ which I put up the prologue of at the same time as this.

            Resc arrived just in time to be told he had a healthy niece and nephew. He popped in to say a quick greeting to his brother and the crown prince but he left as soon as he had seen the little twins, wanting to see Vilya as soon as possible. He was dreading telling his beloved about what had happened but the sooner he got it over with the better, unless the Tal’larie already knew. Then he would at least be there for comfort.

            He found his lover sitting on the floor of their bedroom, half-sprawled as if he had fallen and only had the strength to sit up. Moving to him quickly, he drew the slender body into his arms, lifting it from the floor and holding his love tight. Breathing in deeply of the sweet, fresh scent of snow-coloured strands of silk. “I love you so much.” He whispered fiercely before sitting on the bed, bringing the Tal’larie with him. The smaller body was trembling so he held him closer, stroking the soft hair and rubbing his back. Finally, slender, elegant hands gripped him, Vilya melting against him and the trembling ceased.

            “I’m so glad you’re here. I need your strength so much.” Vilya’s voice wavered and he drew in a shaky breath. “And… and I need your love more. I’ve felt so alone…”

            “Oh, my beloved Tal’larie. You’re not alone.” He was sure by now he was cutting off Vilya’s air supply but he just couldn’t seem to hold him tight enough, not that Vilya seemed to mind, his own arms wrapped tightly around him. “What’s upset you so much?” Upset you enough that you’re actually talking to me about your problems and feelings, he added silently, wryly.

            “So many things.” Vilya sighed, nuzzling his neck for a moment, placing a soft kiss to his skin, almost startling Resc into letting go. Vilya certainly had opened up since his visit to Ethriel. “At first, because you weren’t there and I didn’t want to pester Kirash, I spoke to Hally. But then it got too much and I just wanted you.” Vilya suddenly pulled back, looking at him with large serious eyes, on the verge of tears. “You’re not going to leave me are you?”

            “Of course not, love.” He pulled him close again, his own eyes moistening with tears of sympathy. “You know about Yerin?”

            “Yes. And I know he saved your life… that it was him or you…”

            “Are you ok?”

            There was a pause, then Vilya’s hands slid into his hair, fingertips massaging his scalp and neck. “I will be. I have mourned for him.”

            “He was a good man.”

            “In the end…” Vilya shifted his leg a little, as if something pained him. “He did the right thing. You’re the one I need.” He thought the Tal’larie was being a little cold but something in his tone warned him not to comment.

            “Ashie told me how you healed the little princeling.” He commented after the silence had lasted a couple of minutes, wanting to lighten the mood, but his plan failed, Vilya seeming to cling to him again as he shivered.

            “It was so simple for him.”

            “What?” Resc frowned in puzzlement, not liking the resentment in his lover’s voice.

            “He ordered me to do it.” Vilya hissed, then froze, checking himself and calming somewhat before continuing. “He ordered me to save his son, even though I didn’t want to. Then he decided to lose some of his memory, so he conveniently forgot but I still had to do it. I had to do it and now I’m useless.”

            “Whoa.” Pushing Vilya back gently he cupped his face, forcing their eyes to lock. “Slow down, love. I don’t understand, what makes you think you are useless? Just because Kirash has had his babies doesn’t mean you aren’t needed here anymore.”

            “That’s not what I meant.” Vilya lowered his eyelids for a long moment, despair clear in the emerald depths when they lifted. “Ever since the incident in Kerck my magic has been lessened and erratic. I spoke to Isharn about it and he found out that it was a normal thing to happen when a Tal’larie is strained like I was. And my magic would go back to normal in a few years, as long as I used as little as possible and didn’t strain myself again.”

            “But you did.” Resc commented in sudden understanding. “When you healed little Talan.”

            “Yes. So now… now I don’t have any magic left… and it’s not going to come back. I’m useless.” The last was said with such despair his heart clenched and he pulled his lover close again.

            “You are not useless, Vilya. Even if you don’t have magic anymore. You have lots of other talents.”

            “What? Crying?” Vilya mumbled against his neck. “That’s all I seem to do these days.”

            “There is that.” Resc smiled, patting the pale hair. “You also make a nice ornament, though I must admit you are looking a little pale, maybe we should go for a walk in the garden later. Let’s not forget to mention the fact you can be slaughteringly vicious in battle and you are very good in bed… and the bath.”

            “Resc!” Vilya laughed softly, the sound heavenly to the faery’s ears.

            “It’s true.” He stated sincerely and earned another chuckle. “I love you.”

            “I love you too, but I’m too tired.”

            “I know, Vil.” He smiled. “We have plenty of years to fill with… love.” A contented sigh was the only response he got and he found himself studying his lover’s hair closely as he ran fingers through it. He frowned in consternation, trying to single out a few of the strands. When he caught a few he held them to the light. “Vilya?”

            “What?”

            “Do you know your hair is starting to… go grey?”

            “Yes, and it’s not going grey, idiot, it’s going black. That’s my natural hair colour. My magic can’t heal but at least my hair seems to be.”

THE END