As the group breaks up to rest, Ahuru takes Brianna by the hand and smiles down upon her. He leads her down the street-- where once the din of battle could be heard, now there is only the confusion of the men.
"Let us go home, we have much to discuss. I have been gone too long, my love. I need to know what has happened so far..."
Brianna smiles up at Ahuru, face radiant. As they walk, she tells him of her time as a Reaper, her time waiting for him to come home.
"But...two of the Five attacked me and stole the mask, robe and scythe-- they can not use them, can they?" She looks at Ahuru with a concerned expression, still feeling guilty about losing such precious artifacts, and worried that in the hands of spectres they might do great harm.
"No they cannot, they are not able to use a Reaper's instruments. You have done well bringing the cohort all together. They have become strong in their convictions, however I worry for Cliodhna."
Brianna nods, her face mirroring her concern. "I hope I did right in not telling her the truth," she begins. "I did not feel she was ready to hear it. But now, if she finds out I knew all along she might begin to mistrust me..." Brianna unconsciously tightens her grip on Ahuru's hand.
"She is very strong-willed, but her faith in everything centers upon her mother-- she worshipped her. How to keep her from following her-- or from giving up and slipping into Oblivion?"
Ahuru turns and takes Brianna's shoulders, "She will understand your reluctance to tell her. There is a great choice coming, a choice for all of us. Two of us will not be returning. You must prepare yourself for that, my love."
"Who will not be returning?" Brianna asks, feeling a rush of panic race through her.
Ahuru begins to speak, telling her of what is to come in his prophecy. Her eyes widen and sudenly it all makes sense. Then her mind spins and a cool breeze blows through her mind. "So what was I saying???" she asks.
Ahuru smiles, "You were asking if I wanted to go home to rest."
Brianna returns his smile. "That was strange...suddenly I felt dizzy." She slips her arm through Ahuru's and hugs him. "Perhaps we should go home. It's been a trying time for all of us.." She looks back at Hope trailing behind them and turns back to Ahuru. "I think she's feeling neglected..shall we?"
Ahuru climbs upon her back and lifts Brianna up in front of him. He puts his arms around her and the two gallop towards Swar. She can feel him kiss the back of her head. "I have missed you, my time in the Tempest was trying."
"What happened? Can you talk about it?" Brianna asks with concern.
"Nothing but what was supposed to happen. I understand much now, and I will have the patience to wait." he says. They finally turn the corner into Swar. Ahuru dismounts and hold out his hand to Brianna.
Brianna takes his hand and lets him help her dismount. She looks around at all the bright colors in the Swarian district, so great a contrast to the greys and greens that surround them elsewhere in the Shadowlands. It seems fitting that they end their journey here. She smiles up at Ahuru, feeling at last that everything is finally as it should be.
Ahuru takes her hand and leads her to their room. Opening the door he walks through, and waits for her to enter and closes the door. "I am sorry you had to go through what you must have while I was...not myself."
Brianna reaches out and touches Ahuru's arm. "Don't be sorry, my love. It was hard for both of us, but we got through it, and now we are together again. You did what you had to do.." she looks at him wistfully for a time before continuing, "What will you do now? Are you going to resume Ambassadorship for the Amenti in the city? Or are you free to choose?"
Ahuru turns to Brianna, "No there is no need for an Ambassador now. I will stay with you and your companions. They will decide what to do next. May they choose wisely."
"Then we can stay together? You won't have to leave again?" she asks hopefully. "I know there is much to do...I just...I want to be at your side. We have been apart for too long."
Ahuru turns to Brianna and his eyes seem to penetrate into her soul, "I have always been by your side."
Brianna stares back at Ahuru, eyes searching his. "I know..." she replies softly. "I felt you, when I most needed you.." her mind drifts back to that horrible moment when she almost capitulated to Markova's temptations and feels a cold horror again at what she had almost done because of her desperation to be with Ahuru again. It's frightening, how powerful her need for him is. Without him she feels incomplete and empty. His very presence soothes a hurt in her so deep that until she saw him standing before her again, she didn't realize it was there.
Ahuru takes Brianna in his arms, "I will not leave your side again. We shall be together forevermore...." Ahuru leans down and kisses her forehead.
Brianna melts in his embrace, slipping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest. His words calm the fears and worries that had been racing around in her head since this all began. If Ahuru says it will be so, Brianna believes it, and her paranoia that one of them will be separated from the other is finally banished.
Wraith Side-Story 7: "Two Steps Behind"