There are gifts she has been given in life and when she looks at her oldest warden and his most loyal vassal there are gifts still flowing freely; no one had to love her. They made a choice to offer a young girl a place in the circle of their lives, just like they had chosen each other again and again.

--And so no matter the agony, the story unfolds and Kihel cannot bring herself to regret a minute of it despite the flood of tears when the chapter closes.

2023 note #they grow old together and die

2023 note I’m not usually a fan of the “Dion and Terence adopt Kihel” take, although [this fic] kind of changed my mind on that? It’s gorgeous, anyway.

Alternative link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49504939