Mine's probably--is the Arctic meaningfully the Helcaraxe? Mine's probably buried under tons of snow and ice.

Maybe someday I can retrieve them or something.

Maybe someday we'll dig the Silmarils out of the earth's crust.

I'd ask how they got there but I have not yet had enough snuggle to be ready for more horribly depressing stories about what happened while I was dead.

Well, more snuggle is an option. So is more sex.

These are both excellent things! They should do them.

And get room service so they don't have to leave, and waste a couple more days, and then eventually they should hire a driver to go to California.

Mmm yes it's good to know his ability to come up with the best possible responses to things hasn't been too badly eroded by the time between them.

I love you.

Looooove you, she sighs happily.

Idaia's school!

Since an apartment was not in fact arranged ahead of time we should probably stop by my dorm room at least to drop off miscellaneous stuff before doing things.

Yeah, okay. He does not let go of her.

Of course not.

The room is locked, so Idaia knocks first before unlocking it.

"Just a sec!" calls a feminine voice from inside, and then there are the sounds of footsteps, and then the rattling of the doorknob, and then the door opens. "Idaia! What the hell happened, you just took off without saying a word, I was afraid you'd been kid--"

She notices Tyelcormo.

"...Congratulations on not being dead," she tells him. "This explains everything I was already confused about and leaves me confused about several new things."

"Hello. You are -"

"Daphne White, Idaia's roommate, deuteragonist and confidante."

He hugs Idaia tighter. "Okay."

"You know, I thought she was exaggerating how pretty you are."

"No, I'm exceptionally pretty. Did she tell you everything?"

"I doubt she got around to literally everything, but if she was hiding anything she did it well enough that I don't know it."

"Well. I've found her and we're getting an apartment but will be in your way in the meantime." He squints at her. "Do you have Elven parentage?"

"...What?"

"You vaguely look it? Towards the end of the war that was a thing."

"...I mean, I guess given that I live in a fantasy novel now it's not impossible? It'd have to be on my dad's side, if I do, my mom had me by accident after a one-night-stand while she was backpacking through Europe after college, didn't find out she was pregnant 'till she got back in the States, I know nothing about the guy."

"That would be uncharacteristic of an Elf. I hope."