A thousand years later... "Its been a hundred years since Janus died," a weary Snowhawk said to no one but herself. It was just past midnight on the anniversary of his death. He grew old and frail, even with the extra time given to him by Rais. It killed her to remember it. They'd had a beautiful life together. As she sat at her dressing table, she looked at her reflection. She'd only aged by number, and the past one hundred and fifty years showed in her eyes. 

It had been nearly as long since she actually saw Adian as well. The last time had been at Janus funeral, where he left her with a gentle kiss on her muzzle. She knew he was still alive and around. He had moved back near the estate, though not on the grounds. He was like a shadow to her. But not actually seeing him... It had been hard on her.

"I miss my wolves," she said, holding back her tears.

But they would not be held back. Unbidden, the tears flowed forth, and she dropped her head and cried.

Outside her window, a lone Lupino looked at the glow from her room. He entered the estate, unquestioned by anyone. He was well known here. He climbed the stairs to the second floor, and then strode down the familiar hallway, as he'd done many, many times before.

The door to Snowhawk's room was partially open. He stepped through and leaned against the wall, restraining himself from running to comfort the crying mare. Adian waited for her to look up. He figured waiting on her to calm herself would scare her less.

This was far from his first visit to this room. He came nearly every night to watch over her as she slept, but he always left before she woke. It would be nearly a quarter hour before she realized she was no longer alone in the room.

"Adian!" she said, wiping the tears from her face. "How long have you been there? Why didn't you say anything? I'm sorry, I probably look stupid, crying over nothing…"

She was rambling. She probably wasn't sure why he was there. Adian smiled gently at her, and walked to her. He knelt next to her. "Fifteen minutes, I didn't want to scare you, and it's not stupid to cry." She again wiped at her eyes, then returned his smile. "I'm the one who's sorry. I guess I waited too long to do this."

"Adian," she began, but he reached up to touch her face, gently stroking it, then leaned in and softly kissed her.

She didn't fight or resist him. After a moment, he leaned back and their lips parted. "I can't tell you how many years I've waited to do that."

She was quietly stunned for a minute. "You aren't going to tell me that you're leaving again, are you?"

"No," he chuckled. "I'm not leaving you again. After we lost my brother, I should have stayed but, I wanted you to have time to heal. I hope I've not pushed anything."

She sniffled a bit. "No, not at all. I've just been terrified of you coming back only to leave me again."

"I'm not leaving you unless you tell me to go, Snow."

She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. "I've been waiting for you to come back, my protector," she whispered. She slid off the seat, landing on her knees in front of him, but still holding him. "Would you..." she began, then trailed off.

"What, dear?"

"Would you be more than that?"

He sighed, smiling and holding her tightly. "And I can't say how many years I've waited to hear you say that. I wasn't sure I ever would."

"I made a promise to you more than a thousand years ago. I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to keep it."

The two sat in the floor for hours holding one another.