Horkin gave them both a cursory glance, not noticing, or choosing not to comment on, their state of disarray. Luni knew they had nothing to be ashamed about so gave the other mage a cursory nod before turning her attention back to her companion. The sun was just passed the zenith, which meant they still had a good six hours before she would disperse. Raistlin coughed behind her, when she turned, she noted that his scowl was fixed back in place and she sighed. The moment they were out of the tent, a couple of soldiers moved in so they could strike it and get the army moving. Light hands on her shoulder startled her and she jumped.

"Come on, you heard him," Raistlin said with a jerk of his head. He slipped a golden hand into hers and led her away from the rest of the soldiers. She could feel Horkin's eyes on their linked fingers but found she didn't really care all that much. Let the old mage see, they had nothing to hide as far as she was concerned. It soon became obvious that he felt the same as he didn't let go either. Silently, they walked away from the hubbub and into a quieter spot.

When Raistlin stopped beside her, he began to cough. The deep hacking always sent a pang through her; she had no idea what to do to help ease this suffering. She was no healer; there was no clerical magic within her following; that was the realm of Paladine and as far as she knew, he'd not interfered on Krynn since the cataclysm. She'd seen something once though and moved to stand to the side of the spluttering mage. Gently, she ran a hand over his back as he coughed and choked. He made no sign of the contact helping but it was better than doing nothing.

It seemed to go on for eternity and when he finally straightened, he was wheezing and gasping for breath. Leaning on his staff, his face was pale; his skin had a slick sheen of sweat clinging to it. She remained silent, at his back for a moment, feeling every bone of his spine as she continued moving her hand. When she finally stopped, she looked at her hands and shifted her weight. She wanted to ask if he was alright but knew the answer already. A shiver passed through the mage at her side and she pulled a face. "You should be inside," she said. He nodded mutely, apparently unable to find his voice yet and she thought for a moment.

Then it came to her, where they could go and not be disturbed for a while, even if it was just so he could recuperate from this latest attack. She slipped her arm around his slender waist, stepped into his trembling form and mouthed the words. Moments later, they stood in the very centre of his home in Solace. There was a fire laid in the hearth ready for the twins return. This she left for him to light while she fetched water for tea.

As soon as the kettle was on, she sank into the chair near the fire, opposite her mage and smiled, "I hope you don't mind," she said.

"Why would I mind?" he asked. His voice was a cracked whisper. She fell silent as she moved in front of the fire and fixed a mug of tea for them both. Handing his up, she caught an expression in his eyes that had never been there before.

"What is it?" she asked.

"You pity me." It was a statement. His voice harsh and bitter. Luni wrapped her hands around the mug and returned to her seat, considering his words. He wasn't looking at her, just starring into the fire as though it had personally offended him.

"No. I don't," she said after a moment.

"Yes you do." He sounded petulant now and she knew he was trying to bait her. An incline of what he was feeling passed through her mind and she let out a sigh. Perhaps the embarrassment of having to rely on others was taking its toll on him, maybe the isolation he subjected himself to, that had been thrust upon him, she had no real idea what went on in his head and she wasn't going to push into his mind to find out.

"Let me tell you how I see it, from my standpoint, not as a mortal you understand but from the one who reigns and supplies you with you capacities," she said. It was the first time she had spoken in this manner and a strange sensation flowed through her. Sitting up straight, she waited for a moment, waited for his full attention. Raistlin turned his golden eyes towards her for the first time since they'd returned to his home and waited for her to speak.

"I do not pity mortals," she said. "You have such a fleeting existence on this land that it is an endless source of fascination for us. All of us, why do you think we are so interested in what you do with your short days. Why we're always meddling and interfering!" She let that sink in for a moment before continuing. "That you have decided to dedicate your life to furthering my cause is flattering. That you have done so to the detriment of your already weak health is humbling. You ask if I pity you. I say no, I say that I admire you for it." She fell silent and let him digest her words.

"Your cousins walk the land too?" he asked after a moment.

"Not as often, this was due to the loss of a bet after all," she said as a reminder, "However, they have been known to when the occasion demands."

An odd look passed over his face, as though he was filing this piece of information away for future reference, "Then you can choose when you do so?"

Luni didn't like where this was going and she let out a small sigh, "There are rules Raistlin," she said, "We cannot be here for more than a day at a time, as you well know and the longer we are here, the weaker we become, the strength of our followers wanes as we are unable to conduct our duties." It was a sort of explanation of what happened, she wanted to keep it as vague as she could, she had no idea who else would hear the information and although she trusted this mage completely, there were some that would abuse the knowledge.

The warmth of the fire permeated the room and she felt herself slipping back into the chair, felt herself returning to speaking to him as a friend, a lover even, rather than as the Goddess. Her green eyes met his golden ones and she offered him a smile, "Does that clear that up?" she asked. His expression was still thoughtful and he nodded slowly

"Yes," he said. There was approval in his tone and she let out a held breath. They lapsed into silence once more, content to stare into the flickering flames for the moment. Luni was startled when his hand reached out and touched hers. Turning her head to look at him, she noticed there was an odd expression on his unique features.

"What is it?" she asked.

"You've…never spoken to me in that manner before," he said. His voice was still cracked, broken and sore but he spoke none the less.

"Was it too much?" she asked. He shook his head and gave her hand a squeeze.

"Just a reminder of who you really are. I have no right to ask of you some of the things I demand," he said.

She leaned over and brushed a fine white lock of hair off his face and tucked it behind his ear, "Don't you?" she asked. "Would you stop?" He shook his head and she smiled, "And that in itself makes you unique." His breathing was still shallow, still light and fragile even after finishing the tea so she tugged his hand as she rose. "You need to sleep Raistlin," she said.

"No, I-" His voice was cut off by a light cough and she raised her red eyebrows in disbelief.

"Stubborn man," she grumbled, even as she led him from the living room and into the bedroom. He followed her without speaking this time, even allowed her to push him down onto the bed. Without a sound of protest, she removed his pouches and drew a blanket around them both.

"This wasn't quite what I had in mind earlier," he said as she settled against his back, circling her arm over his waist for warmth. She buried her nose within his long grey white hair and chuckled.

"I will be here when you wake," she whispered.

"You will?"

"Yes my mage, now sleep, gather your strength as best you can," she said. He shifted in the mattress for a moment, wrapping the blanket over his thin shoulders and shut his eyes. It wasn't long before his breathing became long and even. She couldn't help notice that when he slept, the cares on his yet young face seemed to melt away, the sardonic lines that had begun to form around his mouth fled, leaving him looking peaceful and care free. She laid her head down on the pillow beside his and thought about trying her hand at this whole sleeping business. She'd never done it before, never having the need to and so wondered what all the fuss was about.

Snuggling close to Raistlin, she shut her eyes and waited for the unknown of sleep to take over. Not a lot happened. Forcing her eyes to remain shut, she then concentrated on her breathing, letting the air flow in and out her lungs at the same pace as the mage. Nothing happened. Perhaps it wasn't as easy as it looked. Although looking at the sleeping Raistlin would has told her otherwise. She tried again, shutting her eyes and trying to block out all the thoughts that seemed to flow through her. Honestly, she did try but it just didn't seem to want to happen, instead, she listened to the sounds of the birds singing happily in the early summer sunshine. They were going about building their nests and tending to their young as all creatures did at this time of year and the sound was joyful.

The inhabitants of Solace too were coming and going, she could hear their voices, softened through the woodwork and their footsteps on the walkways outside. A couple of them had gathered outside the door for a conversation, they spoke of nothing more exciting than how the weather had turned for the better and that the harvest was sure to be bountiful. Simple things that would be more than mundane to the mage sleeping by her side, yet to her, held such wonder and fascination, these were the small things that seemed to keep the world turned. A warm smile spread over her face and she felt that bit closer to the pulse of the world.

Turning her eyes back to the young mage who had thoroughly caught her attention, she had to resist the temptation of touching his fine, long lashes as she did not want to wake him, not yet anyway. Tilting her head as she leaned over him, she wondered what it was about him that had snagged her affections. She wasn't one for giving them lightly but this one seemed to be able to command them at will. Never before had she been so taken by a mortal. Perhaps she never would be again. "What is it?" he whispered as one of his golden eyes cracked open. She regarded him as his eyes flickered open and her own narrowed a little, not in anger but more in contemplation.

"Raistlin, I think you're beautiful," she said. The self-derisive snort that followed wasn't what she expected to hear and she frowned. "No, I mean it." He shook his head and twisted so he lay on his back, looking up at where she was propped on her elbows. There was something utterly delicious about the way his hair thudded onto the pillow, about how he looked at her as though she was something tasty. His slender hand reached up and pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes.

"I may be many things, but I am not beautiful Luni," he said. She thought about arguing the point, making him understand how he appeared in her eyes but knew that he would never believe her. The damage of his early years had been done and there was no coming back from that. Not sure what else to say, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his in a gentle kiss.

"You are to me," she whispered. He smiled as he returned her kiss, his too warm hand reaching up to push into her hair. He looked at her with a sort of wonder on his face, as though he hardly understood what it was that she said. He didn't seem to have anything else to say to that, so she resumed the attentions she had been forced to abandon earlier. Her gentle fingertips were not met with any resistance at least, only a slight quickening of breath.

"Luni, what are you doing?" There was no bite to his words, just curiosity at her touch. Perhaps a flicker of the old nervousness creeping back again, she found it impossible to believe that no one had been this close to him before.

"Relax Raistlin," she said. His hand brushed the skin of her shoulder where it met her neck and a shiver tickled down her spine, "Let me get to know you." With that, she pushed the folds of his red robes aside, finding the tunic underneath. She should have known he would have been bundled up in all those layers, seeing how the cold always affected him. This, she tugged up before sliding her hands up over his ribcage; she could feel each and every one of them but found that it didn't matter. The whimper that escaped his thin lips and the tightening of his grip told her she must be doing something right.

Leaning forward, she placed a wet kiss on the soft spot just above his navel. His skin tasted static, tingly, as though it fizzed and she realised that it must be the magic that infused every aspect of his being. "I can taste your magic," she giggled when she twisted her head to catch his eye.

"What?"

"Your skin, I can taste your magic on it." His hands tugged on her shoulder then, drew her up once more so he could claim her mouth. The heat of his searing mouth fixed her, and she once more knew the complete abandon of passion. His unique scent punctuated his every movement, the smell of their art merely added to the fever of their collision. Before she knew it, she'd willed every stitch of their clothing onto the floor beside them. The surprise on his face made her chuckle a little but she hastily pulled the covers back over them so he wouldn't get cold.

"How did you..?"

"There are a lot of things I can do that you don't yet know about," she chuckled, "Not all of them for nefarious purposes either," she added when she spotted the unconvinced expression on his face. Then it was his turn to do a little exploring of his own, gentle, warm fingers brushed along her collarbone to her shoulder and back, dipped in at the clavicle and along the other side. His skin was soft against hers, the contact she had somehow craved and not known it.

His hand then pushed against her shoulder, tipping her onto her back. A giggle escaped her lips and he swallowed it with a kiss. He followed her and she shifted so he nestled between her hips, the ends of his hair straggled and brushed against her cheeks and for a long moment, the only thing he did was look down into her eyes. Her thighs parted and he shifted. Heat flowed through her when she felt him nudging between her legs. "Raistlin…" she whispered. She raised her legs, cushioning his bony hips with her thighs, a most delicious noise escaped his lips and she tucked the stray hair behind his ear.

"Luni," he said. It sounded as though he were asking her, making sure that this was alright. She responded by wiggling against him. Then he shoved forward; there was a build-up of pressure, a moment of resistance and then he was there, the blazing flesh seemed so thick and huge and it was all she could do to breathe. His eyes were as wide as hers, she felt his heart racing, his breath shallow; a dangerous wheeze in the back of his throat.

"A… Are you..?" It was a bit difficult to talk in that position and although his eyes were wide, she saw no fear in them. He nodded, holding still for the moment, weight resting on thin arms. She lifted her hip a little; his hand dug into the sheets and he let cry a strangled moan.

"Just…" he hissed resting his head on her shoulder. She seemed to understand his meaning and so remained as she was. Her hands ran over his arms, trying to stop them from trembling, trying to lend him some of the strength his body lacked. Slowly, he drew back. She let out a held breath, it was as though he was going to drag everything within her out with him and for a moment, she was fearful he would. Then he pushed forward again. The onset of sensation threatened to overwhelm her, her breath hitched but he paused again and she saw the effect was the same on him.

"Do that again," she whispered. He smirked down at her but complied with her wish. The waves of different feelings flowed around her, through her, taking her somewhere she had never been before. Her back arched to meet him this time and then, there was no stopping. Picking up speed, they found a rhythm that suited them both, quick and hard and fast until both were hot. The mingled sound of their breathing and the impact of flesh on flesh filled the room.

"I… I can't…" His words trailed off and he caught her lips in a rough kiss, "Too…tight, can't stop." His passion rough voice was all it took after the rough grind of their bodies, she arched further and tensed. The sensations that bombarded her were divine and before she could stop, she was jerking beneath him, clenching hard. His harsh shout joined hers as her jerked finally, his eyes glazing over.

Her arms wrapped around his slender chest loosely as they slowly came back down to each other. He collapsed onto her, tangling their hair and mingling their sweat once more, his breathing hissed in and out of his lungs and she feared he was going to have another coughing fit. It seemed to alright however as he pressed dry lips to her temple.

They laid there, content to breath for many minutes, the shadows lengthening across the ceiling showing that the sun was beginning to sink beneath the horizon. When he shifted, she pulled him close so his head rested easily on her shoulder. His wheezing didn't seem to want to settle and he moved onto his side to try and ease the congestion. Soothing his hair against his head, she pressed her lips to his forehead with a smile. "Is it always like this afterwards," she whispered.

"You tell me," he replied. His voice was little more than a soft breath on her cheek and she tilted her head a little. "Never been here before." He added when he sensed her confusion. She let the subject slide then, not wanting to face that fact. "If I sleep, will you be here when I wake?"

"You have until the dawn, I need to take you back to Horkin anyway," she added. He nodded.

"Ah yes, and brother dear," he said, the sneer evident in his tone. She ran a hand down his cheek and let out a sigh, wanting to stay more than ever. He sat up then and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. She followed suit, noticing for the first time that there was fluid between her legs; how curious. Must be a mortal thing. She watched him pull his clothing back on, his back to her and she was once again struck by his graceful movements. "Might as well get going," he said.

She rose then and dressed, noticing the clipped tones he was using. It was because she was leaving. She was touched that he didn't want her to go but a little hurt by the way in which he showed it. As soon as they were both dressed, she stepped into him again and drew him into a warm embrace. He froze for a moment but soon relaxed, folding his red clothed sleeves around her. Looking up into his golden eyes, she could only smile, "Thank you Raistlin," she said. He looked puzzled at that but bent his head to kiss her regardless.

The moment their lips broke apart, she willed them back to where Baron Langtree's army was now camped. It did not take them long to locate Caramon, who was becoming frantic with worry and settle him down again. He looked suspiciously at them both but said nothing. Luni reiterated her promise to stay until the morning and so curled up beside her mage when they retired. As he drifted in and out of consciousness, she soothed his white hair back, trying to ease whatever it was that bothered him so. The time sailed passed however, and before long, she was forced to press her lips to his once more in farewell.