The silent dance of skyfire had begun to fade, fleeing away to the north to leave the stars and the moon to gleam pale and distant and cold, as though the far-reachingness of Rilana's conversation with Svarak had banished the beautiful glow just as it had chilled the naive joy of her birthday celebration. The Moon Fey inhaled sharply at Svarak's words, her head shaking briefly to deny his sentiment. The reflections in her eyes had gone, leaving them a dark, fathomless blue. There was nothing for her to say on the subject of love, and she shied away from that topic lest it turn out to be something sharp and full of pain. But she did not want to hear him say that he wanted to die. Even so, her protest remained unspoken. It was his life, his choice, and if Rilana knew anything after tonight it would be that there was yet so much more that she didn't know. Thinking that he might complete this terrible duty and then perish...

She felt a tightening in her chest and Kona's presence seemed to growl and curl, as though protected her heart from the outside world. The Druid needed the help.

[color=00aeef]"Whatever the strength of your arm,"[/color] Rilana said, [color=00aeef]"I do not think it will be easy. I can't even imagine how much courage it will take to do what you have to do."[/color]

When Svarak pressed her palm to his broad chest, Rilana didn't look down, though her fingers stretched to slide through his fur, laying flat against him to feel his pulse. She imagined that her own was fluttering weakly. His next words left her stunned. He talked about her eyes and to Rilana's immense surprise, she was able to resist the urge to look away, though her pale cheekbones flushed hot. There was a flicker of doubt on her face as Kona warned her to not let her thoughts run too wild until she gave herself time to process all this. 

[color=00aeef]"It does hurt,"[/color] she murmured thoughtfully, partly distracted for a moment. [color=00aeef]"It makes me feel better to know that you trust me, Svarak. And knowing that, I'll be glad to return the favour. I had been hoping that my Elders would resent my title of Envoy and strip it from me when we arrive, freeing me of..."[/color] she gestured with her free hand to indicate the expedition as a whole, [color=00aeef]"all of this. But if..."[/color] If all he'd said was true, [color=00aeef]"...it seems that may be unlikely. But perhaps it won't be so bad. I can think of at least one reason to keep returning to Ebonfort, if that's where you end up when all of this is done."[/color] She risked a faint smile, though it didn't reach all the way to her eyes.

She was glad enough to get out of the unnatural wind, looping her arm through Svarak's and walking through the snow at his side. Now and then she glanced up thoughtfully but other than when she paused to grab her boots, their trip back to the silent camp was equally wordless. 

His parting invitation to find him in his tent earned a hurried nod from the Moon Fey and she ducked inside, watching him move away until he was out of sight. That night her dreams were worse than ever, but instead of being suffocated by a silver noose, she was climbing a silver rope up out of a crimson pit.