Duck Lake what have they done to us?

there are no words left to match the weight that crushes inwards on the two of them. his mind is blank, save for what he feels for her. he does not speak, does not sully what falls between them trance-like, instead he holds her tighter, as if he alone could banish her pain. he knows it is not as simple as that.

breath warm enough to unthaw frost, a lifeline in the cold. he burrows his nose briefly into the raven fur of her nape, drinking in her scent; it is greedy, the way he seeks to cherish her. as he holds her, he knows he cannot ever part from her.

he knows that not even the gods can remove him from her side.

paw idly brushes her jaw, tilting her head upwards, to bring periwinkle eyes gazing upon his that burn with the extent of his affections, his loyalty. he hears her words not as a plea but as an order he will gladly obey until death itself calls him away.

he speaks into the cold air befallen them. ég mun alltaf.

each subtle movement causes the lake around to ripple outwards, disturbed by the mixing of their voices and presence. for once, they do not need more words. grief, love, guilt—all of it twists together in the space between their breaths.

he presses his firm-lipped mouth to her temple, another kiss. it is her he cannot pull himself away from. he offers her a glimpse of what he could give her, if only she lets him. for lifetimes to come. when he speaks again, it is bitten with emotion. with passion that lights like an inferno, blazing wildly from him. present in his voice, his eyes, his face, and the way he holds her. nú, og þegar við snúum aftur til saatsine. ég mun vera með þér. ég fer aðeins ef þú býð. guðirnir né maðurinn sjálfur geta slitið mig frá þér. Þetta er heit mitt til þín.

foreheads come together again. he knows he has spoken enough, but cannot stop the flood that breaches the cage of his teeth; the urge to swathe her in the workings of his mind and heart. the heart that beats solely for her, the mind that exists only with her. sólætur segir að lanzadoii maðurinn taki konuna í burtu í sjö daga. við getum veitt, haldið veislu, talað. ekki talað. legið saman. séð stjörnurnar og ofan. þegar við komum aftur, ákveður þú hvort þú veljir mig.