[This post is from Thordin’s point of view.]
“I want that,” he said. Her fingers were cool against his face but her hand felt so much smaller than he had ever really thought about. A soft sigh escaped him. Sif smiled faintly.
“So do I,” she said. “When I thought I’d lost you forever then, I—” she stopped, closing her eyes for a moment. She took a shaky breath, then another, clearly trying to master herself again. Thordin leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m here now.”
“I know. I know, and I’m so glad that you are.” Her hand twisted in his, fingers tangling in his and squeezing hard. “You’ll never know how glad I am you’re here, Thordin.”
“And I always will be.” He gave her another kiss, this time his lips brushing over hers. Sif sighed again, sagging against the mattress. “Go back to sleep,” he breathed. “I’ll be back soon.”
Her eyes came open again and she stared at him, a flicker of pain and need passing through her eyes before she buried it again. “Promise?”
“I promise.”
She pushed herself up just enough to kiss him one more time, then settled in again, letting go of his hand and tugging the blankets around herself more securely. “Then go, and be careful. I hope you’re right. I hope it’s nothing.”
Thordin nodded, his throat abruptly too tight to speak. He stroked her cheek with calloused fingers and she smiled.
“I love you,” she said again. His heart still soared every time he heard the words coming from her lips.
“I know,” he murmured. His thumb brushed over her lips and she smiled.
“Go on. Standing here all day isn’t going to solve and problems that may or may not be showing up.”
“A weapon rarely solves any problems.”
“Back then, it did,” she said with a weak smile. “Maybe not as much now. Go. The sooner you go, the sooner you’re back.”
Thordin wasn’t sure he tracked her logic, but he nodded mutely and stood up, trudging toward the door, suddenly reluctant to leave her.
Her voice stopped him as his hand fell to the latch.
“Be careful.”
“I will,” Thordin said quietly, then ducked out into the hall.
