And he will sit down and hold her tightly and sing.

And she closes her eyes and puts her head on his shoulder and hums along.

And meanwhile some people arrive at their family home.

"Just a moment!" someone calls from inside when the door is knocked on. "...Ah. Hello," the woman says when she opens the door and sees who's on the other side.

"Hi! No one's in trouble, but we want to talk with you - it's about your daughters - is this a good time?"

"Now is fine."

"Is anyone else home?"

"My husband's at work and Imliss went to the library half an hour ago. I'm guessing you know better than I do where Idaia is right now."

"Oh, good, if she told you what was going on this'll go faster. She and Imliss are reincarnations of people we knew from the First Age of the world; she was able to prove it."

"Yes. She's been telling her father and I about the dreams her whole life--the general strokes, if not the details--and I was there when she accidentally did magic and realized it was all true."

"So we're convening to discuss announcing her legally to be a reincarnation of Idaia Zavari Lessnari and anticipating a rather sensationalist news story which we wanted to get out ahead of when it comes to your family. She's going to be living in the palace awhile, are you going to want to be there when this all breaks? Is there a good way to keep in touch?"

"How much detail are you releasing on who she is when she's not going by 'Zavari Lessnerai'?"

"That seems like something you and your husband and Imliss might want to weigh in on."

"Rather, yes. I'm sure Imliss would rather be closer to her sister whatever else ends up happening."

"What's she doing, how easily can it follow her to the capital?"

"She's learning things. I'm sure she's not going to be less able to do that in your vicinity."

"And the two of you?"

"I'm a librarian. My husband is a pharmacist. You'd know better than I would how--relocatable--those things are.

...I'm sure you can imagine I have intensely complicated feelings about this situation."

"Just a little. Can we be reassuring there?"

"I don't know. I--

I love them both so, so much. I am intensely glad they are my daughters. But they wouldn't have been if they hadn't died horribly. When Idaia did magic by accident she filled the room we were in with ice. I hate that that happened to them but the idea of--giving that up--choosing for that not to have happened--I would. But it would hurt more than anything has ever hurt."

He nods.

"I should come," she murmurs. "You don't--know the habits they've developed in this life--I think Imliss has issues she didn't before--if you can't find me meaningful librarian work in the capital I'll come anyway, I can always return to it later, because of your family--their family--I have all the time in the world..."

"I am pretty sure finding librarian work won't be a problem. Do you require assistance with moving out of here, should we delay the announcements until you've had time to resettle -"

"Need? Technically not, I'm sure. Would like? Absolutely. And--that might be for the best, is there any reason to announce things sooner than later?"

"I think my brother Tyelcormo wants Idaia legally declared his wife sooner rather than later but we're Elves, a month would be fine."