:I know it doesn't bring her back. Your Savil. But - I'm here, ke'chara: 

After some quick reunions, the two Vanyels and Savil go off to attempt some concert work magical searching. 

Telumë, for the first time in days, is in zero pain, and actually paying full attention to the rest of them. Well, somewhat droopy attention. He's quite tired. 

Leareth glances at Belrun, then back to the other, very strange version of him. "Telumë, I wish to speak with you, but probably you ought sleep first. Belrun and I will go catch up and come back." 

"Sleep well."

And Leareth heads back with Belrun to her house so they can rest, snuggle, and do some other catching-up activities. 

Catching up, is that what they're calling it these days.

It's very pleasant! 

And after that, they can make their way back to meet with Telumë. 

Telumë can focus on a conversation so much better now! "You wanted to speak to me?" 

"Yes. You - are a version of myself, and that means I care, that you are - all right, and - correctly shaped..." Leareth is realizing that he's very unsure how to have this conversation. 

"And you think I am - not the correct shape, because I made some decisions that were...very stupid..." 

And Telumë is suddenly crying. 

Okay what this is not part of the script he was expecting. :Belrun, help?: 

"- Uh, arguably this one isn't the correct shape either on account of being hit by a lifebond, maybe you can check each other for errors."

Telumë nods, takes a few deep breaths and composes himself, but doesn't say anything. 

"I suppose that I could go first," Leareth says uncertainly. "That being said, I suspect that the shape I am now is not necessarily worse for achieving my - our - goals, given the condition that I have a lifebond with Belrun." He glances at her. "And much higher hopes, now, that even if the Velgarth gods wished this as a plot to destroy me, I will be able to find a method of immortality for her without interference." 

Wince. "I had not thought of - how uncomfortable that would be." He shivers. "I am not sure if it is worse than loving someone who is...currently evil...but it might be." 

Leareth is confused. "You are not lifebonded to him, though. You could decide to stop loving him since it is so inconvenient, no? Also there is a case to be made that he is not even the same person at all as the one who you loved before he was evil." 

Blank stare. 

And now he's run out of ideas for what to say again. :Belrun?: 

"...do you actually have experience with volitionally stopping loving people, or are you just assuming you ought to be able to do it even though it is not a normal ability?"

"...I think that as Leareth, before - all of the things that happened - I could and did choose not to love people, in general, even as close friends. I suppose I have less evidence that I made a habit of beginning to love someone and then choosing to stop. He wanted to show me that - it was safe..." And then Telumë has to stop, because he's about to cry again. 

"That does not seem wrong. I would have to review the relevant records to be sure of what I did in the past, in this area. And then I was mind-controlled into loving Belrun, which neither of us were exactly pleased about to start with, however, it is actually not so bad. Lifebond compatibility requires that a person be, well, compatible in certain ways, and Belrun is quite excellent." He squeezes her. 

She plops her head on his shoulder. "Yes I am. But I assume Maitimo is too when he isn't being evil."

"Yes." 

"What is the story there? I assume - well, it sounds as though there was some mind control involved, but he was not mind-controlling you."