Lydia had longed to take the tip of Shenyo’s tail in her hand since the very touch of it calmed her. A sigh escaped her when he wrapped it around her waist and pulled her closer. Tipping her head back, she watched his face as arms pulled her closer still. His gaze was far away as he grieved again for someone in his past that he had loved and lost. His next words surprised her when he admitted that he would miss her too and then,<br/><br/>“Love?” she blinked and searched his face for the truth of the word. “You would love me?” Lydia’s voice was soft with incredulity. Her soft fingers touched his mouth as if trying to read the words on his lips. Too many life times had come and gone since that word had been spoken to her by a man. She had thought perhaps it was her curse, to live and die many times without love.<br/><br/>She lay her head against his chest, her ear against his heart.<br/><br/>“What do we do?” she asked him again. The wind sighed in the trees overhead. The whole world stopped while they healed, regenerated and discovered truths about each other. Did love make them weak? Could they fight if the edge was removed from their anger?<br/><br/>“I will take up your cause and together we are more than you alone. I have as much to lose as you. I have heard stories of people who were the victims of tyrants. Each group said that the evil does not touch me and I will not protest, until the day came that there were no good people to withstand the evil and they were swept up in the flood of destruction. I will fight alongside of you. If you will have me.” She declared. Her voice was strong except for the last part, “If you will have me.” For she did not yet know Shenyo’s mind the way a familiar lover might.<br/><br/>“I will listen to your wisdom and be led by your experience. Shenyo, I couldn’t bear to see you swallowed into the night to wait by the fire not knowing your fate. I would fight by your side. Please, don’t reject me!”<br/><br/>Lydia was horrified at the way her voice broke on the plea and at the tear that rolled down her cheek. She sniffed, trying to bring her emotions in check. Willing herself to remain strong, she realized that this would end in a brilliant victory or an agonizing defeat.<br/><br/>“I don’t care about anything, except that I am with you through to the end.”<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>