Gersius knelt in his room. Lilly was already out, and he had a moment alone with his thoughts, or at least he was physically alone, where ever Lilly was he could feel she was pleased.

He tried to work up the strength to call out to Astikar. He wanted to open his voice in prayer, but his heart wouldn't allow it. He knelt there for several long minutes before he gave up and left the room.

He walked into the common room from the stairs next to the bar and scanned the tables.

He found Thayle and Lilly together sitting by the wall in the corner. Thayle looked different; she had on her green robe tied unusually tightly at the waist. Her hair was braided all down one side and tied with white ribbons. Her face was powdered, and she had on an impossibly dark red lip paint. Gersius could not remember seeing her paint her lips this dark before. Lilly had on the traveling dress that he had just purchased for her and looked radiant in its blue and white. Her long silver-blue hair also braided in a loose tail that went down her back. They both sat at a large table made of a reddish wood near the window to the street.

“Good morning, my love,” Lilly called to him sweetly.

“Is it good?” he asked as he felt her emotions. Something was very off about her. “I cannot help but feel I am missing something?” He felt a sudden surge of excitement across the bond from Lilly at his words.

“Why do you feel so good?” he asked silently over the bind.

“I am just in a good mood,” she sent back.

He nodded but didn’t trust her words as he turned his gaze on Thayle.

“You seem to have something on your face priestess,” he said, causing Thayle to blush.

“I was just showing Lilly how beauty powders worked,” Thayle said.

“You should take that off. Your natural beauty does not need help,” he said, drawing an even deeper blush.

“I am impressed husband, you made her blush twice,” Lilly laughed.

“How long have you both been awake?” he asked, ignoring her comment and studying them both.

“We got up about an hour ago I suppose,” Lilly said.

“You are a terrible liar. If Thayle wasn't going to lie to protect you, I would ask her to look at your aura,” Gersius said as he looked at Thayle. “And she wasn’t lying to herself that time,” he said to point out to Thayle that Lilly could lie when she wanted to.

“You look nice today,” Thayle said noting his new Light gray shirt with long sleeves and pressed collar. It buttoned down the front was tucked into a pair of black pants, he had a new polished black leather belt, tied through a brass loop.

“Thank you,” he said, taking note of the quick change of subject. “I will take some of the packs we need into the woods today and hide them with the saddle,” he said. “We should have plenty of food and water for our trip.”

“How long do you think this is going to take?” Thayle asked, starting to sound more normal.

“We have to find and then follow the river. I have no how far north it is, or where it goes. I cannot find a map in this whole city that has that region mapped.”

“I don't need to eat if it will help with food,” Lilly said.

“I hope it won't be that long a trip,” Thayle said.

“I am looking forward to carrying you two again. I rather like feeling so useful,” Lilly added.

“Let us try to avoid any giants we find this time,” Gersius said.

“So my husband, what do you have planned for your wife and her concubine this morning?”

Thayle shot Lilly a glare.

“Concubine?” Gersius said.” Where did you learn that word?”

“Thayle taught it to me,” Lilly said.

Gersius looked at Thayle, who was hiding her face with her hands.

“Do I need to give you two more time alone?” he asked a smirk coming to his face.

“No!” Thayle blurted out, pulling her hands away from her face.

Gersius glared at both women and slowly got up.

“I am going to go get some water and bacon. Would either of you like anything?”

“Could I have more bread?” Lilly asked.

“You should try the bread with jam,” Thayle added. “Actually, could I have a little bread too.”

“I will go ask them if they have any bread,” Gersius said. “While I’m gone try not to teach her any other words you do not want her repeating,” he added as he walked away. He intentionally tried to read Lilly as he walked away. She felt nervous and happy all at the same time. He sighed and went to the kitchen to ask about the bread.

“Lilly, you weren't supposed to tell him that,” Thayle barked when he was safely away.

“My lover, when you told me what a concubine was I just knew I was going to say it,” Lilly laughed.

“I told you that I didn't want to end up a concubine in your relationship, and you called me one immediately!” Thayle quipped.

“Thayle, if Gersius agrees and you do end up in our bed, you will be a wife beside me, not under,” Lilly said, trying to soothe her.

“I kind of enjoyed under,” Thayle said then covered her face in shame.

“Ha, there's the bold priestess I remember,” Lilly teased.

“What have you done to me?” Thayle moaned.

“I made you mine,” Lilly said, putting a hand on her arm. “With any luck, Gersius will too.”

“I am very nervous about this, Lilly. I will go through with it for you, but I have to be honest I am hoping he will say no,” Thayle said, trying not to tremble.

“Thayle, tell me the truth. Do you want to share in our binding and feel what we feel?”

“I do, Lilly. I very much do. I have been envious of what you have, but,..”

“But what my lover?”

Thayle blushed a little at being called lover.

“Your connection is so strong because you are bound to each other, but you can only be bound to one being, it is part of the magic. You're bound already, and so is he. My bind will be one way like yours was in the beginning.”

“So you won't be able to bind either Gersius or I because we are already bound to each other,” Lilly said going sad.

“Exactly, and only one of you will be able to bind me.”

“You told me that already, I was just so upset I didn't think about it as I should have,” Lilly responded going sadder.

“If I had to pick, I would want to be bound to you. you're the one I love,” Thayle said.

“I would want you to be bound to me too, but I feel that would be disrespectful to Gersius. He is my… would be our husband. I feel it would be more appropriate for you to be bound to him.”

“Exactly, Lilly. It would be more appropriate,” Thayle agreed.

“There is still a connection in the single bind. When he had me bound, I could still feel his emotions,” Lilly said, trying to sound hopeful.

“I know, Lilly. It’s how you grew in emotions so quickly. He helped you to feel what you had forgotten,” Thayle said.

“But it wouldn't be what you are actually seeking,” Lilly said.

Gersius returned to the table as Lilly lowered her head.

“I was gone less than two minutes, and you have gone from overjoyed to sad. I can feel your mood dipping from across the room,” he said to Lilly.

He had a basket of small round loaves of bread in one hand and two small bowls in the other.

“We were just talking about something I really thought was a good idea, but Thayle pointed out I did not see it correctly,” Lilly said. “I just got a little upset.

She felt Thayles hand creep into hers under the table, and she immediately felt better.

“Well maybe this will make you both feel better, the bread is fresh from the oven, and they gave me some honey and jam,” he said putting the bread and the bowls down in front of the women.

“They are bringing a tea over when they have water boiled,” he said, sitting down.

“What about your bacon?” Thayle asked as she took her hand away to reach for the bread.

“They did not have any on. I have to wait for that too.”

He watched as the two women tore the round bread open. Thayle showed Lilly how to spread the honey and jam, and they both took little bites humming together as they ate.

“High Priest Lengwin has sent out many letters to the small Abbys and strongholds of Astikar in the area and beyond,” Gersius said as they ate. “He has also scoured his archives and the city itself for maps of the north, as I told you already there are none.”

“So we are going in blind,” Thayle said, spreading more jam on her bread.

“We are,” Gersius agreed. “Fortunately we have a battle priestess going with us.”

Thayle smiled at the compliment.

“I also asked him to search for books and records about Balisha.”

“Did he find anything?” Lilly asked now far more interested.

“Yes, he found one scroll, that appears to be a copy, of a copy. It records the destruction of Balisha's temple in this city by the cities people,” Gersius replied.

“So Numidel was right, the people tore down all her temples,” Thayle said, feeling sad.

“So it would seem,” Gersius said.

A woman in barmaids clothes arrived with a plate full of bacon and a tray with a kettle of hot water and three small ceramic cups, and a small bowl of black powder.

“Thank you,” Gersius said, handing her a coin.

He made them each a tea and noted that Thayle took it very strangely, almost submissively bowing a little and giving him a whispered thank you. He studied her a moment as he ate some of the bacon.

“I have been giving some thought to leaving today. Our packs are ready, and we have all the supplies we should need. We have no reason to stay in town any longer.”

Lilly looked at Thayle, who was nibbling at some bread. He noted the exchange of glances and the sudden tension that spiked from her over the bind.

“Gersius, there was something I wanted to talk to you about tonight,” Lilly said, sounding nervous.

He looked at Lilly who squirmed in her seat a little, then at Thayle who went white at her words.

“You can tell me tonight when we make camp,” he told her, watching them both carefully.

He looked at Thayle, who held a bread inches from her face while her bottom lip trembled.

“I was hoping to talk to you in private,” Lilly said.

He looked between the two women. Lilly looked nervous and felt like she was in turmoil across the bind. Thayle was ghost white, her face powder helping to make her look absolutely morbid, she was frozen just holding her bread. Whatever this was it involved them both, and when he thought about Lilly not being in bed this morning, he had a very shocking idea.

“I have a better idea,” he said, getting up and moving to Lilly, “You can tell me now.” He took Lilly's hand and hauled her to her feet.

“It can wait my love. We can talk another time,” Lilly started to protest, but he hauled her away to the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder to see Thayle hadn't moved, but she had managed to drop her bread in her lap.

When the door to the room shut, he stood before his wife, who had her head down, wringing her hands in front of her chest.

“Gersius, please don't be mad at me. I can feel it across the binding,” she said.

“Lilly, tell me what you wanted to talk to me about.”

“You dreamed last night about having a child,” she said slowly.

“I do not remember a dream,” he said, trying to contain his voice.

“Well, you did. I felt your deep desire to have a child in my heart! It was so strong it woke me up.”

“I am sorry, Lilly. I do not mean to upset you.”

“I know you don't. I love you, Gersius, and I want to have your child for you!” she said her eyes glossing over.

He could feel her love now, and her deep desire to give him what he wanted. It lowered his guard, and he felt his compassion racing back in. “Lilly, it is alright. I know you would have a child for me if you could and that makes me very happy, it makes me love you even more.”

“But it isn't enough, Gersius! I can't live with this pain in my heart every time you think of what you can't have,” she said her voice cracking.

“I am sorry I am burdening you with this. I would stop it if I could.”

“Gersius, you are more dear to me than anything I have ever known. I sometimes can't believe just how much you mean to me. I feel like I am failing you by denying you the child you want.”

“Lilly,” he began, but she spoke over him.

“I went to Thayle when I woke up. I begged her to give me some help. I asked her if I had any other options.”

“So what did she say?” he asked as he wondered if his anger was misplaced.

“She told me about adoption.”

“So you wanted to talk to me about adopting a child?” he asked her.

“No, Gersius. It was the other option she told me about,” Lilly said, looking away from him.

“What other option?”

“She told me about a service that priestess's in her order can do in extreme circumstances, when a couple wants a baby but the woman can't have one.”

“What kind of service?”

“She will offer to have the baby for them,” Lilly said still not making eye contact.

Now he understood, and a whole storm of worries poured into his mind. “So this is why she is nervous and pale as a ghost.”

Lilly wiped her nose with a trembling hand.

“I asked her to do it for you for us. I asked her to have a child with you.”

“The answer is no,” he said resolutely.

“Gersius!” Lilly shouted. “It is the only way! I want you to have this baby!”

“Thayle is not my wife! You are my wife! I will do without.”

“I can feel the pain in my heart even as you say that! I can't live with it, Gersius! I love you too much.”

“You cannot ask Thayle to have a child for you, Lilly!” he shouted back and then struggled to get his composure and lower his voice. “I spoke to Thayle last night. She does not want to have children, Lilly. She doesn't even trust men. You cannot ask her to have a child and hand it over.”

“I didn't ask her to have a child and hand it over. I asked her to join our bed as a wife.”

Gersius was truly shocked. “Lilly, this is wrong. I told you do not force her into this. You have used my pain to pressure Thayle into agreeing to be a wife. This is coercion, Lilly!”

“This is love, Gersius!” she argued back. “I love her, and so do YOU!”

“But does she love me?” he asked. “Yes, you got her to agree to help you, but I only want her to help because she loves us both!”

“How do you know she doesn’t love you?” Lilly asked. “Do you honestly think she would agree to join us if she didn’t?”

“I know we both love her,” he said, putting his hands to her shoulder to steady them both. “But I don't know that I need this. I have you, that is enough.”

“But you need a child, Gersius. You need it, and you know it. You can't hide the truth of it from me because I can feel it,” she said, putting her hand to his face.

“Lilly,” he went to say, but she cut him off again.

“She has already agreed to it, and I have already taken her to bed. I love her just as I love you. I am already a wife alongside her in my heart.”

He wasn't surprised to hear it, he had encouraged it after all, but he hadn't expected it so soon. He looked into her eyes to make sure he had her attention.

“You took her to bed, what does that mean?”

Lilly’s eyes went a little wider, and her lips opened slightly as she stumbled on what to say. “I laid with her in her bed and we… touched.”

“You touched?”

“We made love to each other!” Lilly said, looking anywhere but his face.

“I want to make sure you understand what you are talking about,” he said. “Thayle is right, you have gone from timid and shy to openly bold in too short a time. She is also right in saying this is my fault. I have encouraged you to be open with your feelings.”

“She said it was what was coming across the link that was making me swim in love,” Lilly said trying to quote Thayle.

“Yes, I love you strongly, Lilly, and this bind we share is much more powerful than the previous bind. I am sure you are feeling my emotions, but I worry that you do not understand them.”

Lilly looked hurt, and she folded her arms over her chest as she tried to stand defiant. “I am a dragon! I don't understand your rodent emotions. I have been trying to learn and grow like both of you keep telling me to. I grow tired of trying to understand these silly games you play with your feelings. Do you want me to love or not?”

He nodded his head. “Of course I do, but I want to make sure you understand what that really means?”

Lilly put a hand over her face. “No wonder dragons don't stay together, this relationship nonsense you humans do is far too difficult. Dragons might actually be smarter about how they do it.”

“Lilly, you need to understand that your feelings might be clouded by mine. What you feel now might not be how you really feel.”

Now she was insulted. “Gersius, I begged you to bind me again! I wanted this link and these emotions from you. I wanted you to cloud my mind because I loved you. I made all those decisions when we were not bound together. I made them because I loved you even though I couldn't bring myself to say it.”

“I know you loved me. It is Thayle I am concerned about.”

“You have encouraged me to tease Thayle about my love!” she yelled back at him. “I did what you told me!”

“I know I have, Lilly, and I wonder if I was wrong about it.”

“Oh no, you don't get to back out of this now. We are having this conversation because you want children and I can't give them to you. That is why you rodents...” she paused as she realized that in her anger, she was using the wrong words. “Humans! This is why you humans get married, isn't it?”

“Yes it is, but...”

“There is no but! I want us to have children, and the only way we're going to have them is if Thayle has them for us! It just so happens that we both love her and trust her, so I thought it was the perfect solution.”

Gersius took a breath and let a moment pass to calm them both down.

“It is a good solution, but it is asking a great deal of Thayle. Do you understand what you are asking her to do for you?”

“For us, Gersius! She is doing this for us!”

“Fine, for us! Do you understand what you are asking of her?”

Lilly looked into his eyes with a stern gaze. “I asked her to do this because I love you. Will you please see this as the gift I was hoping it to be?”

“And what about her, Lilly? What is she getting out of this?”

“I thought you wanted her too? Why are you being so obstinate about this?”

“I do want her! I want her to come to us freely because she loved us! Not because you guilted her! I understand why you did it and what we are getting from it, but what is she getting from all this?

“She is getting our love! She is getting the same joy and happiness I feel every time I look in your eyes! She isn't here just to have our children. She is here to love and be loved. I know you will cherish her just as you cherish me. Surely she must want that as badly as I do?”

“You really want this?” Gersius asked her.

“We can't have a happy relationship where I know you desperately want children and will never have them. I feel guilty now, Gersius. I feel guilty about the fact that I can't provide you what you want. You want children, she can have them and wants into our love, and I love you both. What else is there to talk about?”

He shook his head and cleared his mind. He did want Thayle to join them, but he had wanted it to be done differently. He found it hard to be angry at Lilly when her motive was so unselfish. He knew what he needed to do.

“I will talk to her myself then. I need to know she means what she told you.”

“Then let's go talk to her,” Lilly said.

“No, Lilly. I need to speak to her alone. I need you to wait here until I get back,” he said to her.

“I understand, please don't be angry with her. She was trying to help us.”

“Lilly, just stay here,” he said and let her go.

He shut the door behind himself and stood in the hall to take a deep breath. He wasn't sure if he should be angry, overjoyed, insulted, or thankful. He did know one thing; he needed to get far away from Lilly, so the emotions in the binding didn't cloud his judgment. With determination, he headed for the stairs.

Thayle sat hunched over her tea her head down slowly sipping it.

“Priestess!” he barked, causing her to jump and spill a little.

“Gersius, where is Lilly?” she asked in a weak voice.

“You and I have something to talk about. You need to stand up and follow me.”

Panic flashed across her face at his words, and she almost dropped the teacup.

“Up priestess, we have a walk ahead of us.”

She got up slowly and moved around the table as he headed for the door.

“Where are we going?” she asked him as he headed into the streets.

“I once asked you that, and you told me no talking until we get there. Now you can do the same,” he snapped.

Thayle went wide-eyed with panic. She had told him that on the day she took Lilly and him to the ledge so he could bind Lilly.

“Gersius I-” she started to say.

“Quiet, Thayle. You can talk when we get there,” he said, silencing her.

He led her through the streets and out a small gate into an area of low hills and farms. He turned and went down a stone path that went slowly up the slope of a grassy hill.

She felt her panic build as he took her to a secluded little ruin. It was just a stone circle broken by grass and a few partially standing stone pillars. It was the perfect place to bind her. A place so isolated nobody would hear her true name spoken.

“Now, you can speak,” he told her, looking directly at her.

“She, she told you then?” Thayle said, her lips trembling.

“She did,” he said, glaring down at her.

“And. and, and you, you, what did you think?” she stammered, folding her arms to try and look calm.

“I think you would probably do it for Lilly's sake. I believe your heart is so kind that you would do anything to help her.”

“I... I, w,w, would.” Thayle said trembling as badly as Lilly did the day he bound her.

He stared at her almost in disbelief as the night before played through his mind.

“After the conversation, we had last night. I cannot believe you are prepared to do this.”

Thayle struggled to calm her voice and took a moment to collect her thoughts.

“I would do anything for Lilly, and to be honest, Gersius. I was telling the truth. I don't hate men. If I could have met a man like you, I probably would be married.” She looked up into his eyes and sighed.

“What changed your mind so drastically?” he asked her.

Thayle sighed and looked away, turning to face the walls of the distant city. “I got word from Prime Arlin. There is no solution Ulustrah can offer. There is no way we can help you two have a child, except this way. I offer myself to help you two. I will carry your baby.”

He let her stand there, shaking as his heart filled with admiration for her.

“I have two things to say to you, Priestess Thayle. First, you are the kindest person I have ever met in my entire life. You are a credit to your order, and a beautiful woman inside and out.”

“I, I am?”

“You are,” Gersius said with a nod.

“Second, I would welcome you into our bed, if you can tell me honestly that you can love Lilly and I equally. That you will see any children you have as both yours and Lilly’s.”

He saw her trembling magnify as he spoke.

“S, s, so you agreed with, with, her?” Thayle said her legs going so weak she stumbled.

“Only if you can love us both equally and share your children. There is no just you and me, or you and Lilly. It is us, You, me, and Lilly.”

Thayle fell to her knees and settled on her legs as she started to cry.

“I seem to have this effect on women,” Gersius said.

“I will do it!” Thayle wailed looking away from him.

Gersius watched her and let her cry a moment.

“No, you will not,” he said. “Thayle, you are an amazing woman. You just offered to have my children for Lilly’s sake. You offered to trade your desires and your body for Lilly's happiness. I know how you feel about families and children, and yet you are willing to face all those fears just to make Lilly happy.”

“It isn’t just for Lilly’s sake. You need this, Gersius! I want you to be happy too!” she said her head cast down crying. “You are a good man, Gersius! You deserve to have the family you want.” She shook her head. “How much more pain must you suffer? How many more of your dreams will you do without?”

“Priestess, I have to admit to you that I deeply care for you. I have loved you since you brought me, Lilly, back. But look at how badly this frightens you. I cannot do this to you,” Gersius said, kneeling beside her. He put his hand on her shoulder and steadied her.

She sniffed and trembled violently under his touch.

“Relax, Thayle. You will not have to do this, but know this, I now consider you the greatest person I have ever met. I will always be your friend, and I swear to you if you ever truly want to be a part of our love, I would welcome you in, but not like this. I will tell Lilly I changed my mind, and that I will think about it some more so that there will be no pressure on you.”

“Lilly will be hurt, she wants you to have your baby,” Thayle cried.

“Are you ready to have a baby Thayle?” he asked her.

She shook her head.

“Even if Lilly could have a child, I would not want her to have one, not now. Look at the danger that we face ahead of us. I have to build an army, liberate a city from my brothers, then rebuild the power base fast enough to march a larger army out to fight the Doan. Not to mention who knows what we are going to find in the north looking for this temple. Now is not the time to start a family.”

Thayle nodded, she understood, it wasn't the time.

“So the answer is no, Thayle. You are not doing this. Not for Lilly or me.”

“I was so worried,” Thayle said gasping.

“There is nothing to worry about, as I said, you are free of this burden.”

“I thought you brought me up here to bind me,” she said, wiping her eyes.

“Bind you?” Gersius said, confused. “Why do I feel like my life is repeating?”

“I told Lilly my true name. She wanted you to bind me so I could be a part of your connection.”

Gersius froze in surprise, and his face took on a shocked expression with his mouth hanging low.

“You were willing to let me bind you for your love of Lilly?” Gersius said, genuinely stunned.

Thayle just broke down into tears and curled up, pulling her knees to her chest. Gersius did the only thing he could think to do. He had been getting a lot of practice with it since he met Lilly, he put his arms around her and held her close.

“Thayle, Lilly never told me you agreed to be bound. She never even mentioned it or your true name. I couldn’t bind you if I wanted to.”

He felt her make a gentle cry and her shoulders heaved. How could this woman be so kind as to trust him with such a great gift he thought.

“Thayle, I need to tell you the truth about something,” he said as she whimpered in his arms. “I love you. I loved you back in Eastgate, and when you brought Lilly back to me though I was overjoyed to be in her arms, my love for you grew right alongside it. Now, to hear you were willing to let me bind you. Thayle, I want you!”

“You, you do?” Thayle said, struggling to speak above a whisper.

“Thayle, I have been thinking of you every day since we left the temple. I can’t believe you didn’t notice.”

“I did see your light traveling to me, I didn’t want to say anything,” Thayle whimpered.

He nodded his head and pulled her tightly to him. “Lilly and I spoke about how we felt about you. I was afraid you would reject me again, so I encouraged her to show more of her affection for you. I hoped to bring you closer to me through her.”

“It would make sense,” Thayle said with a sniffle. “If Lilly loved me, then you would be free to do so as well. I wonder if how she feels is because of you?”

“Lilly loved you all on her own. I never had to encourage that. I just encouraged her to show it. Maybe she has been so bold because she is feeling some of what I feel for you, but her love for you is genuine. We both love you, Thayle. Look at all you have done for us, how could we not love you?”

“How did all this happen? I am usually so careful,” Thayle said, looking down. “I never get entangled in other relationships.”

“I do not understand how, but two of the most beautiful and amazing women to ever exist are here in one place at one time, and I have the honor of loving them both.”

Thayle saw his aura pulse with a white flash. He truly meant what he said.

“Gersius, I wish I could know love like you two have. It is something so much greater than I have ever seen or known,” she said slowly between breaths. “I have been jealous of it ever since I saw it. I have so badly wanted to know what it felt like.”

“Thayle, I need you to tell me what you want? Do you want us to love you?”

She looked up at him; her eyes ringed with red and her face streaked with tears.

“You have no idea how badly I want you both to love me!” she cried. “I have wanted it since the day I saw your love growing. I am dying inside to have to keep rejecting you!”

He felt his heart soar to hear her admit it. Lilly may have pushed her, but in the end, it was what Thayle wanted. He could see it in her eyes and hear it in her words. But the question had to be asked.

“Then why are you rejecting us?” he asked.

She looked away again and started to sob.

“You cannot tell me?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“But you will accept us now?” he asked.

She nodded with a sniff.

He sighed and put his chin on the top of her head as he tried to work out his thoughts. She was in his arms, but something was still keeping her apart. He realized she had already agreed to join them despite whatever was in the way. He put his need to know aside and focused on the simple truth. Whatever it was, she had agreed to face it and love them anyway. He could live with not knowing for now. Perhaps in time, he could get her to tell him. He decided to put her to a final test and bring this to an end one way or the other.

“Thayle, listen to me. You are free of your burden to Lilly. I want you to know I brought you up here to put an end to all of this. I was going to reject you and make sure this conversation was over. I was worried Lilly filled you with guilt to get you to help her. However, now I see how strongly you love Lilly, and I am deeply touched by the sacrifice you were willing to make for me.”

He paused a moment to make sure his next words were spoken from his heart.

“Thayle, I would be honored to be allowed to love you. I would be honored to share the love Lilly, and I have with you. I would be honored to bind you and bring you into our love.

He paused again as the woman trembled even more.

“If you want to be a part of our love, then I will give you the same advice you gave Lilly that day. Do not think about it anymore. If you can give me your true name, I will take you back to our room as a wife. The choice is yours. You are already in my arms. You can stay in my arms, or I can let you go. I am going to silently count to ten. If you cannot answer by then, I am going to get up and walk away, and I will never ask this of you again.”

“Jillisephoney,” Thayle said with a squeak before he even got to one.

Gersius felt his heart melt, and a joy filled him that he was sure Lilly could feel.

“Shhhh,” Gersius said, starting to rock her. “You are a deeply loving woman, Thayle. We will not have a child until we are passed the danger and you are ready to have one. Do you understand?”

Thayle breathed a faint “yes.”

“Close your eyes, my love, and I will bind you as our wife.”

There in the isolated ruins of a long forgotten building were heard words of ancient power. Words that echoed with love across the hills as Thayle felt the chains of that love wrap around her heart.