"I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light."
― Helen Keller

Eirena opened the door to the thief curiously, wondering what he wanted and why he felt the need to bang on the door so frantically, but he stormed past her without a word and went immediately to the bedside of the Demon Hunter. The enchantress smiled at that, she was beginning to like this new version of the scoundrel, he was much more pleasant to be around when he was concerned about someone other than himself. Really, she found it rather sweet of him.

Then, she saw something she did not quite expect. Completely ignoring her presence, Lyndon rested a careful hand on the hunter's brow, eyebrows knit in concern and gently stroked the skin between Jack's eyebrows, as though he were petting something fragile, a fledgling bird. After a moment, seeming to suddenly remember himself, he turned his head quickly to look at her and pulled his hand away as if burned.

Very curious.

"Something funny?" The thief barked defensively. He appeared so flustered, so unlike himself, that she could not help but grin wide.

"You have been quite altruistic lately. But I told you to not worry so, he will be fine." Eirena said with a light giggle that elicited a deep scowl on the thief's face, which only served to add to her amusement.

"I wasn't worried, I was just... checking!" He snapped, flushing pink.

"Have you not checked enough?" She chided gently, soaking fabric in the ice water and cooling the sleeping hunter's face, easing the heat there.

"I was just making sure... And it's not funny! Stop laughing!" He hissed at her as she giggled behind her hand. She could see that he was embarrassed, it felt good to get him back for all the times he had humiliated poor Kormac in her presence.

The scoundrel growled when she could not control herself. "I don't have to take this! I'll go find Kormac, he's miserable enough, he'll never bloody laugh at anything!" Lyndon grumbled.

"He is on the battlefield." Eirena managed to say between peals of laughter, it was refreshing to laugh after all the stress and heartache she had felt the last few days. "He will likely appreciate your assistance in retrieving-"

"Yes, yes, yes. Great. Whatever." He muttered dismissively, "Have an amusing time." He added with a sarcastic wave of his hand. Almost as an afterthought, he grabbed the hunter's warm cloak that lay folded on an empty bed, before exiting the room and shutting the door behind him with a snap.

"Come now Kormac, surely you could just talk to her." Lyndon urged him gently. The Templar couldn't believe the man was bringing this up again. And out here of all places! Likely because the wretched scoundrel knew that Kormac could not just avoid him out in the black emptiness of the battlefield. They had valuable supplies to bring back. He stared at the thief, gaping in sheer awe of his persistence. Lyndon looked odd wearing black, having obviously borrowed a cloak that did not belong to him, (Kormac had a pretty good idea of who it did belong to though) and was smiling at him in a rather absurd manner. And damn it if he didn't look comfortably warm in that stolen cloak too!

"I have told you a thousand, nay a million times, that I have vows to the Templar Order, are you so thick that you cannot remember this after so many reminders?" Kormac hissed at him, practically spitting.

"Hmm. Ahh, why yes, I do seem to recall you saying something about some sort of silly vows you had taken. It is bit hazy though." Lyndon replied airily.

Kormac uttered a loud yell of pure frustration then, nearly giving in to his desire to pick the man up and hurl him like a spear.

"Hush, you'll startle our dear pony." Lyndon laughed heartily, which only served to make Kormac clench his hands in a bid to control his anger. Lyndon managed to stay quiet for a time after that, perhaps finally sensing Kormac's black mood.

They were walking through the snow across a corpse littered battlefield. It was very dark and very cold, but thankfully there was no wind to flay their skin raw and make their eyes water and sting. They walked, leading one tired horse by torchlight, each on one side of her, both had a hand on her leather bridle, keeping her going in a straight line toward the lights of Bastion's Keep. The mare was cold and tired, but she was of a strong breed and they needed her to pull the wagon of food they had cobbled together. Having found the fresh, frozen corpse of a packbeast, as Lyndon had said, would provide everyone with enough food to last another week at least. Pleased by this thought, Kormac calmed considerably. He thought he should reward the mare's honorable services with an apple, a warm blanket, and all the hay she could ever want, once they got inside the Arreat Gate. Kormac had known that if they had not found the pack beast meat, they likely would have killed the poor mare to feed everyone, he was grateful the gentle horse did not have to suffer such a fate.

Kormac reflected again on his poor decision to tell Lyndon of his attraction to the enchantress. The thief was, in fact, the only person he had outright admitted it to, and he had regretted telling him every day since. He suspected the Demon Hunter also knew, since the scoundrel could not keep his trap shut and hung around the taller man most of the time, but Jack had not said anything to him. Lyndon had teased Kormac relentlessly since the Templar had confided in him, but had so far not told Eirena outright. Nevertheless, Lyndon constantly urged him to talk to her whenever they were alone together. Kormac supposed it was preferable to arguing about other things, but whenever he spoke to the scoundrel, he did not seem to be able to keep his temper in check and their talks frequently ended in verbal fights nonetheless.

"However..." Lyndon began again, after the long silence. "You seem to forget how many times I have told you that your Order does not seem to be telling you the whole truth. You have uncovered lies and flimsy cover ups more than once. You know that you had been bloody tortured to forget your past, a life where you had not sinned at all. You were as much of a goody two shoes then as you are now, and you even found illustrations to make angelic weapons to fit human-"

"Alright, alright!" Kormac shouted, "I know all of that, you've made your damned point!" The Templar sighed. Sometimes he wondered why he ever spoke to the man at all. A small voice in the back of his mind said that Lyndon sometimes made sense. He angrily squashed it down. It was merely the weak part of him, wishing everything bad were true so that he could abandon his Order and faith and be with Eirena. Well, if she... wanted to be with him that is.

"I cannot just assume. I must go to Westmarch and consult the Grand Meister for answers first." Kormac finished quietly. "Jack said that he would aid me in this task, we are to go to Westmarch in a month or two."

"Ah, you know what they say about assume, it makes an ass out of you and me! Ahaha... Though, it is likely your Meister will lie to you." Lyndon finished seriously.

"Oh like how you lie to me?" Kormac snapped, tolerance for Lyndon's shenanigans beginning to wear thin.

The thief balked then, and had the gall to look offended, "Why I- how dare you? I have never lied to you!"

"I don't believe you!" Kormac bellowed.

"That is wise." Scoundrel said with a smile. The Templar grit his teeth feeling his jaw creak.

"I was serious before, you should take this window of opportunity to talk to Eirena." Lyndon reiterated in a gentle tone.

"Did we not just discuss-" Kormac seethed, blood boiling at the thief's inability to listen to him.

"How about a game of cards to settle the matter hm?" The scoundrel offered quickly, interrupting his display of anger. "If I win, you have to talk to her. If I lose, as unlikely as that sounds, I'll leave you alone... for a time." he implored evenly.

"You will cheat me!" Kormac accused immediately. He would not fall for this trick again!

"Cross my heart I won't! A game of wits and skill and honor it shall be!" Lyndon declared dramatically.

Kormac considered this a moment, resting his hand on the horse's soft muzzle to warm it for her. "By my faith, you have my word... if it will shut you up then consider your challenge accepted!"

They had all feasted. Lyndon and Kormac had returned to the Keep to practically a second hero's welcome. Everyone was overjoyed to finally have food. The women (and much of the men) had banded together and cooked up a rather spectacular late night supper of vegetables and brick oven baked bread, the roast pack beast was cooked to perfection and they had enough vegetables to round out the meal nicely. After a brief visit in the armory room to ask Eirena about the Demon Hunter, The thief had only been slapped three times while he tried to hassle the ladies kneading bread dough in a back room. A good day!

Now that everyone was happy, fed and comfortable, Lyndon stood (face throbbing just a bit) with Haedrig, Covetous Shen, Captain Haile, Damotrius and a few more able bodied soldiers. They stood in a circle around a wooden case of ancient wine bottles and examined them dubiously, but with great interest, as though inspecting a rigged treasure chest. Lyndon had more than enough experience with those, so he felt it best to proceed cautiously when he saw something that seemed too good to be true.

"Where did you find this again private?" Captain Haile asked the young soldier distractedly, observing the maroon liquid within the dust and spiderweb caked bottles.

"They were... bricked up in the wall Sir." Damotrius answered immediately. Ever the soldier, even though the battles had ended. For now.

"What in the Hell for?" The captain snapped irritably.

"This place was built by Kagus Deel, Sir, the drunken architect. We thought they would be long gone by now, but apparently he still has stashes all over the keep." Damotrius offered hesitantly.

"A man after my own heart." Lyndon said dreamily, then added, "That explains the dead end hallways downstairs I suppose, drunken bastard." Shen giggled at this and Lyndon grinned at him.

"Do you think they're safe to drink?" Haedrig asked curiously. The wood practically looked petrified. The bottles were literally centuries old.

"It's alcohol. I'm sure its fine." Lyndon said cheerfully, he may have been acting a bit foolhardy, but damn if he didn't want a bloody drink!

"You drink it then." Haedrig suggested, "If yeh die from it then at least you'll have saved th' rest of us from the same fate."

"Hey, you don't need to twist my arm!" Lyndon responded with a laugh, then uncorked the bottle carefully. What if it exploded or something? Was this Kagus Deel a rogue wizard perhaps? There were a lot of strange fire traps down in the Keep depths... perhaps he'd protected his wine caches as well?

At least, that was what Lyndon would have done. And if not? Well... enough alcohol would kill just about anything.

It smelled alright at least. The men watched with bated breath as he took a sip. He stood there a moment after, and they stared at him as if he would drop dead at any moment.

"Well?" Covetous Shen asked impatiently.

"Prophet's bones... it's some of the best I've ever had!" He murmured, shocked by the quality, but he recovered quickly and grabbed three more bottles.

"Hey! Give me some o' that!" Captain Haile shouted at him.

"No, I need it. I deserve it." Lyndon wailed, clutching the bottles to his chest protectively. He made a quick escape, leaving everyone to fight over what was left.

Hours later, after many rowdy card games and shared drinks. Kormac was sulking and sweating slightly, sharing apples with his new horse friend. "Remember your honor Kormac, I said a game of skill did I not? To cheat successfully, one must know the game inside and out. Don't you have a lady you should be talking to? And no , lady horses do not count." Lyndon called to him smugly.

"Shut up wretch. I said I would didn't I?" Kormac huffed angrily. He looked like a man going to the guillotine. Lyndon couldn't remember the last time he had felt so nervous to talk to a woman... well... it was a lifetime ago anyway.

"If you love the light so bloody much, perhaps you might lighten up, eh? Ahahaha!" The Templar merely scowled at him. "Cheer up Kormac. Hey, do you know how to make holy water?" Lyndon asked him with a smile.

Kormac sighed and dropped his head into his hands. " How ?" He moaned.

"Boil the Hell out of it! HA!" Lyndon laughed, patting him on the back before joining the soldiers back at the table.

Some time later, the games were over and everyone was comfortably tipsy, warmed by alcohol of the highest quality. It was then that the tales began to come. Each man that remained was alive because of the Demon Hunter. The hesitantly began to give their accounts of seeing Jack fight and being rescued by him on the battlefield.

"I saw him kill a hundred skeleton archers in two blows I did!" One lad exclaimed. "What comes out of those crossbows of his? Dynamite?"

"He saved me from burning debris! I was trapped beneath it, I surely would have cooked." Another said from the end of the table.

"Shot down one o' them flying bastards that tried to carry me off th' wall 'e did!" An older man with a broken arm said over his cup of wine. Lyndon listened to their stories patiently, glad that Jack had been in almost multiple places at once to save these men. Jack had saved the thief's life thousands of times in thousands of ways, he was quite certain he had their stories beat, but now was not the time to gloat apparently, as the men had begun to question him.

"That Demon Hunter, e's your friend right?" The broken armed soldier asked.

"Yes, he is." Lyndon replied proudly, aimlessly shuffling the card deck in his hands.

"They say 'e's a... is 'e?" The man whispered cautiously.

"Is he a... what ?" Lyndon asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

"A demon ?" He finished, practically under his breath. Lyndon almost laughed.

"Oh no ! No, nonono, of course not! Don't be-" Then he paused, and he thought about it. "Well..." He began, and then realized that everyone was staring at him and hanging on his every word. He looked around for Haedrig, Covetous Shen or Kormac, but they were no where to be seen. They'd probably be able to answer this much better than he could. Eirena or Tyrael would likely be the most qualified, but they weren't here either. Lyndon supposed Jack would be too if he were here but... he didn't really talk much anyway.

"Uhm... he is... partly , I think." Lyndon began, struggling to remember what he had heard. "But technically we all are. Part angel, part demon, that's what humans are."

"That's rubbish." The older man said. The other soldiers listened with rapt attention.

"Oh it's rubbishissit? Who went to Heaven then you limp armed bastard? Him or you?" Captain Haile cut in, a bit drunk, but just as loud as he'd always been. "I heard it from the angel Tyrael hisself." Lyndon grinned wolfishly at the drunk Captain, pleased to be defended.

"Then 'ow come we aren't all as good as 'im then if we're all part angel and part demon or whatnot?" A tipsy soldier asked.

Lyndon thought on this, he probably wasn't the best person to ask, but he would try to explain. "Because the Worldstone that was in Mt. Arreat was tuned so that we would get weaker over the generations. Nephalem are from centuries ago, we were once like them, but over time, we became, well normal I suppose." He said as coherently as he could manage. It was still confusing to him, let alone soldiers who had little concept of the history of Sanctuary and had not seen what Lyndon had seen in the Demon Hunter's company.

As the hour grew later, the soldiers prattled on about angels and demons and argued over the truth of what Lyndon knew to be fact. Eventually, most were too drunk to coherently speak of anything, let alone such complicated subjects such as the origins of mankind.

Tired now, Lyndon wobbled his way back to the armory's private room. Kormac and Eirena were asleep, but not in the same bed as Lyndon had hoped. Jack still appeared to be sleeping as well, and the concern for him came back full force. Though... if Eirena were asleep... then he supposed the hunter really was alright and Lyndon really should stop worrying so bloody much, it was much too stressful and he'd had enough stress in the last week to last him six lifetimes.

The scoundrel crawled back into his bed and was asleep quickly, helped along to dream land by two bottles of wine.

The world came back in pieces, hazy colors and lights first, then ambient sounds that began muffled, but cleared over time. There was a light haired figure seated next to him. Blonde. Hair light and silvery just like he remembered her. He tried to speak.

"Ha... lissa?" He managed to croak, throat dry and raw like a burning desert.

"What? Jack?" A concerned voice answered. He knew that voice, the haze finally cleared and it was not his years-dead sister who sat before him, but Eirena. Her normally done up hair was down, and hung long, straight and pretty about her face. Jack blinked at her, feeling strange and groggy. But more or less alright. Thinking about it, he realized he felt more rested than he had in weeks. He sat up slowly and aches and pains immediately made themselves known, but they were small and easily ignored.

"Please be careful, you've been asleep for quite a while, you're not yet fully healed." The enchantress advised him in a gentle voice.

Jack closed his eyes a moment and sighed. He noticed he was still dressed and was very glad for it. The only worrisome thing was that he seemed to have a rather large gap in his memory. He did not know how he came to be in this bed nor how injured he had apparently been. The last thing he remembered was talking to Lyndon, everything after that was just pain and blackness.

"How long?" He rasped, swallowing. Eirena quickly handed him some water that he drank greedily.

"Almost two days now." She responded lightly, rubbing the belly of one of his ferrets that lay sprawled in her lap.

"Two days?" Jack said with some disbelief, voice better now. It hadn't felt nearly so long, the hunter had guessed it had been hours, a full night at most. He had never before slept for such an extended period of time. Hadn't known it was possible, especially for him of all people.

Eirena nodded and smiled sadly at him. "You had some very serious injuries, four broken ribs, three cracked ribs... " She counted off on her fingers, "Some burns, cuts, scrapes and a countless number of bruises, but Kormac and I have healed most of it. Though you should be careful of the bones, Kormac was not able to finish restoring them before he became too tired to continue." The enchantress explained. "Not to mention you had exhausted yourself. You had a slight fever too, but I think you're alright now." She finished with a smile.

Jack digested this information with more than a little surprise, he had known about some of the injuries, but he had not realized it had been as bad as all that. Though, he supposed he should have, it had certainly hurt enough.

"Thank you for healing me. I must thank Kormac as well." He said quietly.

"Of course, it was the least we could do, I'm glad you're alright now. I was a bit worried. Lyndon will be glad to know you are up, he was very concerned as well." She said with a concerning giggle.

"Lyndon?" Jack questioned. The other ferret had made itself known by nuzzling into his left hand that rested on the blankets. He scratched its head gently with his index finger and thumb, it chittered happily.

"Yes, he barely left me alone, asking after you every other minute." She replied with a another stifled, bubbly laugh.

"Hmm." Jack was a bit amused by this, he had never seen Lyndon worry all that much for anyone other than himself. Apparently Eirena was tickled by the thought as well.

He suddenly remembered, "Where is Tyrael? Did they already have the council-" He began anxiously.

"Yes, yesterday." Eirena interrupted quickly. "They decided not to ask for you, and well, you would not have been able to go anyways. They made their decision and wanted to tell as few people as possible. But Tyrael told me that he will form a new Horadrim and they will hide the stone on Sanctuary, where neither angels nor demons will be able to find it."

Jack nodded at her explanation, frustrated that he had been unable to attend and wondered curiously where on Sanctuary even existed a place that was safe from the eyes of angel and demon alike and could house such a dangerous thing. He doubted there even was such a place, but kept his thoughts to himself. He trusted Tyrael to do what was right and hoped that they would never again hear the voices of the demon lords that yearned to be freed from that cursed stone. The stone that had taken so much. He tried to push thoughts of Leah away before they fully formed. The pain they brought were worse than any shattered bone could ever be.

"When did you last eat?" She asked suddenly, shaking him from his dark thoughts.

As if her mentioning it made his body remember, he suddenly felt so hungry that it bordered on nausea. He swallowed and thought on her question, a little surprised he could not answer her right away. He'd avoided eating to leave more for the people in the Keep, the health potions had been enough to keep him going but... Gods, how long had it been?

"I... I don't remember." He admitted sheepishly.

Eirena frowned and appeared a bit angry. "We will start small then." she said evenly and handed him a cup of broth and a bit of bread from a tray behind her. The food was fresh he noted. He was glad they seemed to have found food.

"For someone who tries so hard to care for other people, you take very poor care of yourself!" Eirena stated angrily."You will not do something like this again. You must learn to pay attention to your needs or you will not be able to keep going." She lectured. Jack nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed to be mothered so. "You should not have concealed your injuries. You could have died. It was foolish of you." The enchantress finished.

"I'm sorry... I didn't fully realize how bad it was until it was too late... thank you... for caring for me." He apologized quietly. She softened at that, and though the thought of eating anything at the moment made his stomach turn, he wanted to appease her, so he drank a little broth. And as the warmth of it filled his empty gut, the sick feeling left and he felt significantly better.

"Really, I'm glad you're alright." She said again quietly, smiling down at the ferret she petted. Jack was sorry he had ever made her worry over him, sorry that Lyndon and Kormac had worried as well. He did not want people to have to think about his well being, it was his responsibility to think of theirs, not the other way around.

"Eirena?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"Do you know how to cut hair?"

She beamed at him and laughed merrily.

The following morning started much the same as the one before, only this time Lyndon was back out on the battlefields with Kormac much earlier in the day. The sky was clear and pretty with a few clouds whisping about, and again there was no wind to make their work significantly more miserable. A blessing really. Despite how pretty it was though, it was still bitterly cold and they still traversed a field of corpses as they went back and forth with supplies and anything they could find that identified missing or dead men. Something to send their families at least if there was no body left to bury.

It was almost worse to see the frozen, half eaten bodies of man and demon alike in the revealing light of day. And even worse than that was the countless number of ravens and other carrion birds that still picked at them, looking for the bits they has missed, or fighting amongst themselves over much loved favorites like the frozen eyeball, or the iced brain.

Lyndon felt that the experience was made a little easier if he focused on the soothing sound of Kormac's nagging. Their brave little lady horse (well, maybe not so little) happily pulled the cart back and forth across the frozen expanse, perhaps pleased to be out and about in nicer weather. The scoundrel found that the prayers the Templar uttered for the dead soothed him as well.

It was not so bad really, doing good work for the benefit of others. He thought that just maybe he could get accustomed to it. It was hard being on the run, almost as hard as being alone. Selfishness did not lend itself well to making lasting connections.

When they returned for the day to the Keep, Lyndon again asked Eirena about Jack, as he does every hour or so when he was inside, and was elated when she told him that the man was finally up and about!

"Oh, he's fine. He's awake now!" Eirena said to him cheerfully when he'd found her sorting the items they'd brought back with the other women. He noticed that the children were absent and wondered what kind of mischief they were likely getting themselves into. He furiously hoped it had nothing to do with any of his possessions or there would be Hell to pay!

"Oh! Well, where is he then?" He asked as nonchalantly as he could. He was desperate to replace the awful memory of the man lying nearly lifeless on the floor, suffering unimaginable pain, with something better. Like Jack finally standing on his own two feet without help.

"He went to the tower, outside the armory." Eirena said with a hint of sadness. There were several towers outside the armory entrance, but he knew exactly which one she was referring to without having to ask for specifics.

The tower where Leah had died. He should have guessed Jack would go there.

Thanking her, he left and went to find the Demon Hunter. He had avoided the door that led to this tower ever since they had returned from Heaven. The pain of what they had witnessed happen to that poor girl was right at the surface. It was the worst thing he had ever seen. With a heavy heart, he climbed the staircase, hoping that at least he wouldn't have to look at that wretched sigil, and all the blood and candles and dead soldiers strewn about. He didn't think he'd be able to take the sight of it a second time.

But when he reached the top of the tower he was met with a sight very different from what he had remembered. The vile sigil had been scrubbed away and there were wildflowers , at least a hundred of them piled up in the center of the platform. They were white with icy blue centers, short stubby things that had been picked by who could say from Akarat only knows.

And Jack was there along with every wretched brat in the Keep. It was so good to see him up, just an immense relief. He looked a little worn and still a little gaunt, but he was eating, one hand holding bread, the other an apple. If the hunter knew the scoundrel was there, he did not let on. He wore no armor, just a black knitted wrap of some kind, it looked warm at least, and just his plain black boots and pants. Standing there, he looked like an enormous crow. A black shape that towered over the children that were in thrall to him.

His hair had been cut, Lyndon observed. It was much shorter in the back, but longer in the front and long bangs hung over his eyes. His hair looked a lot cleaner and more cared for than it had since he'd met him. The wind kicked up and caught pieces of it, blowing it freely about his face like the flapping wings of black birds. For a single moment, he thought he looked beautiful, but then he blinked and the thought was gone before he could really even think about it.

There was an archer's target set up at the opposite edge. Jack was patiently teaching the young boy that captain Haile was adopting how to shoot a bow and arrow. Leah's bow and arrow. So they had something left of her to bring back to New Tristram after all. He pictured the site of the urn where the ashes of Deckard Cain rested and it seemed only right that the bow would sit next to it on that overlook that looked so pretty in springtime.

He really needed to stop this. He'd really cried enough.

Lyndon sat himself on the stone wall and observed the scene with great amusement.

"Keep your arm straight and steady." Jack said tot the boy. "It is not about you and your part in achieving the end goal of hitting the target. It is about being unconscious of yourself until there is only the bow and the arrow. You must let the arrow go where it wants. Only when you feel you have become it, should you loose it." The hunter explained patiently to the boy who pulled the bowstring back and held it for many moments, arm trembling. Jack may have looked a bit tired still, but his voice was strong.

After a few moments more, the blonde haired boy loosed the arrow and it struck the eastern edge of the target with an audible thunk. "I-I hit it!" the lad exclaimed in joyful disbelief.

"Very good. you seem to be a natural, with practice you could become a regular master. Who's next?" Jack asked, addressing the children around him.

They all seemed to erupt at once, waving their hands eagerly. And Jack smiled, a real one, unguarded and honest. Lyndon has never seen him smile like that before, it transformed his features completely.

He'd make a good father, Lyndon thought suddenly. Better than the scoundrel ever would have at least. Rea was so much better off having married his brother. His noble, wonderful brother who was better than him in every possible way. The brother that he would soon be able to free with the unbelievably generous help of the man standing in front of him.

He owed him the world.

"I like your haircut." Lyndon finally said with a smile, making his presence known.

The hunter turned to him then, there was nothing on his face to indicate that he was surprised by the thief's presence in any way. "Thanks." he said looking a bit shy and lightly touching the back of his head where long hair used to be. "Eirena cut it for me."

"Feeling better then are you?" Lyndon inquired hopefully.

"Well enough, and I was wondering what had happened to my cloak." Jack replied, slightly irritated. Lyndon grinned at him, took it off and gave it back. The hunter gratefully put it on, looking much more himself.

"I still can't bend too much, or draw a bow. Or at least I'm not supposed to." He continued with a look of deep frustration. "Want to help?" Jack asked him, indicating the children who wanted a turn to fire the bow.

Lyndon was a bit taken aback at the question and suddenly felt nervous for reasons he could not explain. "Um, a-alright." He agreed quickly.

A small brown haired girl stood in front of him expectantly, holding the bow in her tiny (no doubt grubby and snot smeared) hands. "Listen up brat. Don't listen to his rubbish, archery all about proper stance ." He adjusted her back and legs with light touches until she looked like a little archer.

"Just, aim, pray to whatever god pleases you, and fire when ready!" The girl closed one eye and stuck her tongue out while she held the bowstring back with difficulty. The bow was a bit big for her, but they didn't have any smaller ones available. She certainly wasn't going to use either of the hunter's twin crossbows.

After a minute, she fired at the target and missed by a foot. Lyndon clicked tongue sympathetically and handed her another arrow that she patiently held until it wouldn't tilt away from the string. Noticing a flaw, he dragged her foot back and she wobbled a bit, but then fired and struck dead center.

"Haha! Bulls eye!" Lyndon exclaimed, "T ake that Demon Hunter!" He crowed triumphantly.

Jack merely sighed. "Yes, you have certainly taught me much about your bow and crossbow "techniques" Lyndon. "Shoot and hope for the best" is a technique I've certainly never had the pleasure of learning." He responded dryly, completely underwhelmed. The girl giggled and smiled up at Lyndon triumphantly, she was missing one of her baby teeth. He stared back at her, with her short brown hair and Leah's bow in her hand.

Doing this... for them. It was something Leah would have done without a second thought. Lyndon suddenly felt incredibly sad again, but it was worse this time, a heavy ache that settled deep in his heart and again he felt like he wanted to cry. But he blinked hard and looked away from her and it passed quickly.

"Lyndon." Jack said.

"Hm?" He turned to look at him.

"What will you do now?" The hunter asked him seriously.

"Uhm, I guess I hadn't really thought about it. Probably go back to my old activities, until you ask for me or something... to... go to Kingsport...?" He brought it up again hesitantly, he still wasn't quite sure the Demon Hunter intended to keep his promise, or that it wasn't even just a conversation he dreamed whilst unconscious. He wanted it so badly he was afraid that it was simply too good to be true. Like everything else he had ever desired with every inch of his heart.

The Demon Hunter seemed to ponder his words while he watched the children take turns with the bow.

"I was wondering if you would accompany me to Westmarch." Jack eventually said. "I want to pass through Caldeum when we're done cleaning up here, and also stop by in Tristram to make sure everything is alright." The hunter turned to him again, "I don't yet know how to assist Eirena, but Kormac's Order sits astride Westmarch and we must get to the bottom of it, lives may be at stake. And after that... we can go to Kingsport and free your brother." He finished with a slight upward quirk of his lips. As close to a smile as he usually got.

Lyndon felt something in his chest loosen and he breathed out in relief. It wasn't like he had anything special to do besides moving from one woman to the next and sending gold home. The Thieves Guild was still looking for him and he felt it was unwise to travel by himself. That and he always made gold with Jack.

And they were friends. He wanted to stay with him.

"Sounds fun." He answered with a grin, "Alright then."

Jack directed a smile at him that made his breath catch. He didn't get to observe it for long though, something was tugging rather insistently on his pant leg.

"I want to try next! I need help!" A boy shouted.

"Oh gods, stop yelling! I hate that!" Lyndon snapped at him. Gods, they were no better than animals. "Let go of me! Wait your bloody turn!" But he went to help him anyway.

They made sure all the kids had a try until it became too cold and they were starting to lose the light. Jack took the bow back and sent them back inside.

"When were you thinking of leaving?" Lyndon asked once they were alone.

"Three days." Jack replied simply.

Lyndon sputtered, "T- three days ?! But you're barely healed!"

"Nearly healed." Jack corrected. "I'll be fine."

"Want your rib cage caved in again already do you? You're supposed to be careful of it." Lyndon lectured.

"I've already heard as much from Eirena, but Nephalem heal quickly do they not?" Jack asked him curiously.

Lyndon didn't quite know what to say to that. It was the first time Jack had actually admitted to what they all thought he was. He was the last to accept it, refusing to believe he was different or special in any way.

"That was a stupid thing you did." He said instead, feeling a bit upset.

"What?" Jack asked curiously.

"Not telling anyone how badly you were hurt!" Lyndon shot back quickly.

"Honestly, I didn't even know at first. I knew that I wasn't fine, but it didn't even hurt until I was in the armory room, and then I... don't remember anything after letting you back in." Jack admitted hesitantly.

Lyndon sighed."Well, don't do it again ." He replied curtly, slightly embarrassed he had even said anything at all .

"I'm sorry I worried you." Jack said with a smirk.

"Hmph." Lyndon looked away from him at the sky. The sun had dipped low on the horizon and had set the sky alight in reds and oranges. From this high up in the mountains, it was truly a spectacular view.

"We should go in, it's cold." Lyndon said, thinking of the Demon Hunter's condition.

"We can wait a little longer." Jack answered, staring at the setting sun. There was a calmness about the hunter now. He seemed to have recovered much of his spirit in lieu of their victory. And it couldn't hurt to stand out a few minutes more, for the first time in months, they finally had the luxury of time.

"Yes, I... suppose we can." Lyndon sighs and settles in against the stone, hunched into his coat against the cold.

They wait at the top of the tower for a time. Neither one speaking, watching the sky turn from red to purple then a deep sapphire. They did not leave to go back inside until the Sky Lights of the North danced in ribbons of color among the blinking stars.