Eventually he sighted the cabin ahead. He stopped when still a little ways off and set the woman down.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome ma'am," he responded, feeling suddenly very young and awkward. There was something about her that was old, really old. As old maybe even as Aidan was.

Then Aidan stepped out of the cabin, and David felt like he had vanished. The pair looked only at each other, there was nothing else in the world. The woman's gaze was wary, with a tired and bitter edge to it. Aidan's was full of sorrow, hope, regret, and things David couldn't even name.

"Flame Song," he said, and David knew, by the way he said it, by the way that everything that was in Aidan's eyes was in it, that this was her name.

"Aidan," she said softly. "Your young friend convinced me to talk to you. And I'm tired of running and chasing anyhow. I became tired of it many years past."

"I am sorry," said Aidan, and he stepped forward and sank to his knees in front of her. "I don't even have words to say how sorry I am. I don't expect your forgiveness, but I will do anything, anything at all, to pay for even a tiny portion of the wrong I've done you."

She was silent for a long time, as he knelt, looking up at her with a flicker of hope mingled with the incredible sorrow of his expression. Then she sighed again, that weary, sad sound. "And what if all I want is for you to go away, to leave me alone?"

"Then I will go. If that is what you wish. Though..." he hesitated. "I don't say it to try and convince you, but if I go, you can't pass through the gate. There's no way home for you."

"By now my home may well be crumbled to dust," she said harshly. "Even if you could take me home, it may not be there for me to return to!"

He lowered his head, gazing at her feet. "Yes," he said softly.

"And just leaving... that pays for nothing!" she added. "What if I want you dead?"

His voice was almost steady, but David could hear a faint tremble, not of fear, but of heartbreak in it as he answered, "If that is what you wish."

She gave Aidan a hard, doubting look. "You'd just let me kill you?"

A little shiver went through him, and his feathers rustled against each other. "If that is what you want in payment for my debt, then yes."

She was silent for another long moment, and then she turned to David. "Give me your sword."

"What? I... no! I'm not going to let you kill him!"

"David," said Aidan softly, "Give it to her. I can take it from you if you don't, you know that."

"You're crazy!" said David.

Aidan shook his head. "Not crazy. But I've told you before, I owe her everything, even my life if she wants it. Give her your sword, or I will take it."

David hesitated. Then slowly, reluctantly, he drew the sword. For an instant he considered attacking the woman with it, but he knew that Aidan wouldn't let him, so he turned it hilt first and held it out, still not sure if he should be doing this or not. The woman took the sword from him, holding it with the loose ease of long familiarity.

"I think perhaps you should go," said Aidan softly.

David hesitated again, then he nodded. He didn't want to stay and watch his friend get killed. But as he walked away, he couldn't resist turning back for a glance.

Aidan knelt still, his head bowed, and she stood over him, sword raised. David couldn't quite bring himself to turn away as she brought it sweeping down. He knew that stroke, he had delivered it many times, and she was putting her full force behind the weight of the blade as it sliced through the air. It would be a killing stroke. At the last instant David shut his eyes, finally unable to watch.