The snow was thick on the ground when Serenna returned to the town. She trudged through the silent streets, remembering how it had been last spring, so full of life and warmth. It was past midnight now and everyone was safely indoors, asleep under fur blankets.

Serenna knocked on the wooden door. A few flakes of snow fell from the roof. She raised her hand to knock again but the door swung open. Ewan stood in the doorway, supporting himself on a crutch.

“Serenna.” He said her name like a prayer. “I thought…”

She flung her arms around his neck before he could say anything more. He staggered, then stood tall, one hand on her back, holding her so tight she could barely breathe.

“Gods, I love you,” she whispered in his ear.

“I can’t believe… the war’s really over?”

She nodded. He kissed her then, so warm and passionate she thought she would melt. Ewan pulled her inside and she kicked the door shut behind them. Snow fell during the night, covering her tracks. By morning it was as if she had never left.