always and forever is forever young
your shadow on the pavement, the dark side of the sun
Mallos, in fairness to him, did make an effort to try not to look disappointed.

“Never?” He checked, in what would have passed as a neutral tone to anyone who didn’t know him as well.

Croe shifted, pulling back and to a slight angle, positioning himself so they could meet eye to eye. He hadn’t been sure he’d ever be able to see that face again, with its sharp features and searching eyes. Confidence came so naturally to Mallos (for good reason) that when he was stripped of it, the remaining uncertainty seemed to creep into every stray thought. It was like an unpleasant voice in his head, ever doubting.

He could feel it now. It’s not over yet, is it? It nagged at the back of his mind. You’re safe but she’s not.

A little over a month ago he would have laughed at that voice, calmly reassured it of his ability to predict, prevent and protect from any danger. Who was there in the world to tell him he couldn’t have anything he wanted? Precious few, fewer still with the power to stop him, and none if no one even knew. Don’t ask, don’t tell had been the Council’s preferred policy when dealing with Mallos’ exploits for centuries. That wasn’t about to change any time soon.

Now he was caught between a rock and a hard place. Torn between two families which could not coexist, neither of which he felt capable of giving up.

“It was only finalised five minutes ago.” Mallos wasn’t sure how much information had been getting from the Star Chamber to Shaman. He hadn’t been writing to anyone, but Tsi or Zed might have done. “Pardoned. The law’s been repealed.”

Saying it out loud still felt like verbalising a distant fantasy. The reality of it hadn’t yet sunk in. Freedom, not only from this crime but, at last, for the ones Gwythr had committed in his name. He no longer had to grit his teeth and accept the punishment for deeds done while he’d been imprisoned for a thousand years. He was free, too, for all future acts of the same nature. Free to pursue the basic right of all other living beings: free to have a family, legally, unapologetically.

The newest member of that family stirred, clutching at Croe’s breast with her tiny fingers. Mallos reached around with his free hand and touched her very lightly on the back of her head, feeling her stir again, her solar magic recognising his. Not a single language of this or any world, dead or alive, had yet crafted a word to capture how perfect she was. The emotions which had taken months, even years to fully build up with Morgana and Tristan, ready-made as they were, hit him with all at once and at full force now. Love. Awe. Worry.

“Any word?” He asked, glancing back up to lock eyes with Croe again. He hadn’t heard anything either.


i can feel you in the silence saying, “let forever be,
love, and only love, will set you free.”