Moonstone Quarry [m] snow trickles

he saw her break, and it broke something in him.
no— his voice cracked like stone beneath thaw. and before her grief could deepen, before it could sink her too far, solharr closed the space between them and pulled her into the breadth of him, into the fire-warmed furs and the scars he had dragged home. his one good eye shut as her sob bled through his chest, and he held her like the wind holds a trembling flame.
fleur, he breathed into the crown of her head, low and hoarse. i was not lost. not from you.
his jaws trembled at her temple, not knowing whether to kiss or press, so he did both. he did not try to silence her. he let her weep. and as she did, he cradled her tighter.
i needed to see the ash with my own eye. i needed to put her to rest. for us, he whispered, so that i could come back whole.
there was silence again—but this one was not hollow. it was filled with the weight of her tears, his heartbeat, and the softest sigh of a ghost released.
i will not leave again, he murmured, and this he swore with every rib and bone that clung to her now. i am yours.