"Certain things," Marcello answered, and he kissed her back fondly. "Yes or no is easiest. If you wagered that we were having fruit pie, I might be able to tell you what type of fruit, but if we weren't having fruit pie, I would probably not be able to tell you what we were having instead. Er. If that makes sense? Sometimes it's better than others. I think in this case, it couldn't tell whether a splinter counted as harmed or not."

"So she's just fine, in other words." Her relief was so great, she slumped against his shoulder and shivered. "I miss him."

Marcello choked a little, his throat going tight, and wrapped his arms around her. "I do, too," he assured her softly. "I know I only knew him a little while, so it's not the same." He stroked her back comfortingly, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "But I understand."

"There wasn't time enough to miss him while it was all happening." She sighed. "This is exactly what I meant. About how things don't get any better if you think about them."

"But being sad doesn't mean it's not getting better," Marcello replied. "You have to let yourself miss him. You need to mourn. It's normal. Mourning hurts, but it is what helps you find peace with it."

"It doesn't get better. It stirs everything up again." She swallowed. "I just want to let it go."

"What do you need, then?" Marcello asked. "talking helps me let him go. What will help you?"

"I really don't know." She grimaced; it seemed that every other sentence was 'I don't know'. "I'm not being difficult on purpose, I promise. I. I don't like the idea of him being all alone on Tir-Nan-Og." Her voice shook. "I wish we could have taken him home to be with his mother."

He stroked her shoulder, gently. "Do you want to take him to her?" he asked. "Would it help? I don't think anyone would fault you for it."

"I don't know if it is a good time to be on the north of Tir-Nan-Og just now," she said softly. "With the Oisins. And the ground's going to be frozen for months yet." She swallowed again. "I think . . . maybe some day. I would feel better about it. I've thought about it a lot."