Serenity had spent a very long time in the Sanctuary. It surprised her how long it took to begin to feel like herself again. It was an interesting place and, though she was reluctant to embrace her abilities, her curiosity had won out. She observed some of her favourite moments in history and learned a lot about what she could do.

As she’d healed and her mood improved, she got to see the beauty of the Sanctuary. The only constant was that it was bright and beautiful and she could create whatever surrounding she liked. Today, she made a terraced balcony overlooking a lake. She also finally been able to see the others in the Sanctuary, individuals of all races, genders and species. They were all kind but some were a little in awe of her being the ‘first’. She decided to not pay it any mind and just be herself. It usually worked.

The surrounding dimmed a little as Serenity contemplated her goal today. She was all healed and ready to return to her present but she needed closure. One of her new gift allowed her to view and specific time from up close rather than from a distance and she planned to check in with Robert and Osgar, a sort of final goodbye. She closed her eyes and concentrated.

A swirling windows the side of a long, wide mirror appeared and Serenity opened her eyes, staring into it. Out of the swirling darkness his face appeared, just as she had last seen it. Grim set to the mouth yet eyes pleading. In a blink she was back there on the cliff top. She was insubstantial and no one seemed to see her. She hadn’t meant to use this gift, it was too soon and she wasn’t ready to be this involved.

Serenity calmed herself and focused, she needed to say goodbye. He was alone at the same spot she had fallen. Using her invited senses, she realised it was about a week after the engagement celebration. Oh! Poor Aelfwine and Evelyn. Their big day was marred by her “p’death’. The sky was inappropriately bright, a gentle breeze picked up and snapped her hair and ruffled her dress. He seemed so sense her though he didn’t look her way and she longed to reach out and touch him, feel his warm arms comfort her and watching his face split with a smile. But she was anchored in the Sanctuary and it was unwise to revisit this time and place.

"Why did you let him take you?"

His voice was quiet and strong but he sounded so lost. She knew what he really meant. Robert was stubborn and Serenity suspected he always intended to find a way to stay close to her. She knew it wouldn’t work and told him so often. Yea was really asking, ‘Why did you leave?’ The pain of her decision was still raw. She didn't know what awaited her when she jumped to her present. She was still falling after all and she knew she couldn’t stay at the Sanctuary forever. He time with Robert was very real but she had family and friends in her present and she needed to return, feel that connection again. She needed to finish her healing.

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Maybe she’d die, maybe not. You never know with these things, nothing is certain. So, if she could remove this threat that Wick represented, save her beloved Robert and little Osgar, save Aelfwine and his people, her death wasn't so bad was it? Serenity had finally accepted that this was real, not some kind of dream and she was received. She could deal with losing them, never being able to see them again, and that, from her time, they are long gone. But for a while here, they were real and they were her friends. So how did she answer the man she loved, how do you explain why you chose to leave rather than stay?

"I couldn't lose you Robert. I couldn't let Wick twist and destroy all that was good in you and this land. He had to be stopped. If our places were reversed and you could save me from that, would you have hesitated? I don't want you to suffer Robert, not before and not now."

He was silent, the sadness in his face so pronounced, yet the hint of acceptance crept into the line of his shoulders. Had he dared her? She didn’t care, she had to tell him, even if he never heard.

"Robert I love you with everything I am. And though I hate leaving you, will suffer that loss every day of my life with every heart beat, this fate is far better than if I had never loved you. You'll always be a part of me and I regret nothing because you and Osagar and all my friends are now safe. Please forgive me my Love."

Tears escaped her eyes to slide down her pale cheeks. She had to make him accept this, so he could live the rest of his life, even if it was just a little.

"... I don’t know if this is a miracle or I am going insane. All I know is that I love you Serenity and I'll never forget you. So please, please somehow be alive my love. I can carry on if I know you are alive somewhere…"

He had tears in his own eyes but she managed to smile, just a little.

"I'm here aren't I? I'm safe now. I promise, I'm alive."

"I won’t chase you, I know you’d want me to look after my people and try to keep this treaty with the Saxons. I have responsibilities here so I have to stay but I'm not letting you go Serenity. Never. You are alive in my heart." Robert cleared his throat, unable to continue. He turned his back to the cliff and slowly walked way. Serenity noticed a path had been cut through the trees.

Serenity tried to smile through her tears and whispered "Thank you." And with that, as if his words unlocked their little bubble, everything began to fade around them. She held desperately to her calm and smiled her most radiant smile for him. "See you in your dreams darling."

He turned as if her heard her and opened his mouth to answer but before he could, the world went black and she let go of herself, unsure what the Sanctuary would look like when she woke again but for now, she needed to rest again. In the darkness, a voice seemed to call out and her heart ached…

Never let me go, Darling

My place is in your heart

And my heart is in your hands

I will love you for all my days

And all my yesterdays are yours

So Darling, never let me go