Written for my Donkey Discus entry.

"You took longer than I expected."

Gareth nearly dropped his stack of papers on opening the door. "Your Majesty. I was expecting-"

"My brother?" Roanna's mouth curled into a smile, but her eyes were strangely empty. "I thought you'd know for certain that the note was actually from me when it told you to meet me in the solarium. Or did you often reconvene with Alun here?"

In truth, Gareth's mind had been so preoccupied with Roanna and thoughts of the last time he had even entered the solarium all those years ago that he hadn't suspected a ruse. It looked much different in the daytime, the late autumn sunshine sending rays through the glass ceiling. The more marked difference, however, was in Roanna, looking frail and wan against the golden cushions.

Knowing he shouldn't, that he shouldn't even be on his own with her, Gareth closed the door.

"It's been a while," Roanna said quietly, picking at the embroidery on the cushion next to her. A thread had begun to fray, and she commenced the destruction of an embroidered tree. "We haven't been alone together since that first day at the summer palace, when you were called away. Urgently. You weren't really called away, though, were you?"

Mutely, he shook his head.

"I knew you weren't; I even asked the guards. No messengers that day, not for you. You were going to kiss me that afternoon."

"Roanna, please - we cannot speak this way."

Roanna pursed her lips, fingers starting to unravel the stitched tree-trunk. "Why not? I am tired of not speaking this way. I love you, Gareth. I have loved you since I was a girl, and crawling into my husband's bed felt like a betrayal of you - of what we were, or could have been."

He came to kneel at her feet, at once thrilling and nervous at being so close to her. "Roanna - Mithros, you're burning up. You are not well."

She half-smiled at him, some of the life coming back into her eyes. "I am well enough. It is easier with you here. Will you promise me you won't go anywhere?"

"I will stay if you ask it of me," he said in a low voice, "though truly, I think it best for all of us if I find other engagements."

Roanna took his hands in hers, trembling. "I'm asking it of you. I - I think I'm free to, now. I lost the baby, Gareth. Roald left as soon as he could be sure I was going to live, though to tell the truth, I think he was likely already in his saddle when he got the news. He doesn't care for Caitlyn - she wasn't enough for him. He's gone to Naxen." She pressed her lips to his knuckles. "I'm yours. If you will have me."

Gareth stared up at her, his fingers tightening in hers. This felt like a dream, the kind he would feel the most immense guilt over, for he never wanted Roanna to suffer. "Truly?"

"Truly," she confirmed. "Do you know, I used to fear that you would find somebody else, and I would have to watch you in wedded bliss?"

He smiled, because now, at least, that life was behind them. "There was no danger of that. There was never anyone for me but you."