Redsand Canyon I will love you until the last breath leaves my body

two. four. six. eight. 

he had stopped counting the hours.

between his own arrangements and his constant attention to bring whatever aquene needed, germanicus had felt a deep sense of exhaustion set into him.

and yet it could not be worse than what ruenna suffered now.

towhee was close. aquene was within.

he neared in time to hear the very uncommon growl which sounded from the depths of their chamber. both women hurried from the denmouth and so the imperator did not draw near.

stiff-backed and voiceless, he sat down to wait, eyes fixed upon the entrance as if fate might befall them all should he look away.

and then his wife's voice sounded again, and all he could hear was the call for himself. but germanicus did not press into the domicile until aquene had gone before him.

his heart seemed to gallop. ruenna was not in their bed but tucked into the place where she had first slept during the initial nights of their marriage. it felt both strange and correct that she should choose a place not touched by himself to bring their children earthside. their children. their children. he was dizzied and enamoured, staring at the three downy bundles moving alongside his wife. 

valiria. cornelius. aquillius. his throat clenched with the honor of both their existence and their names. uncaring who might see now, the imperator pressed his lips to her cheek with a low clearing of his throat. "they are very beautiful. and very strong," he said hoarsely, able only to look at them without words until his attention was drawn to the healer's attentive presence.