"You will always be Kreyu to me first and foremost," he says. "Above the rest of all of it. It was you that I fell in love with," he adds. "It was the vibrancy of your soul, your spirit, your Karma that lead me to realize that I was worthy of such treatment as you have given me. That did not require you to be a Goddess."

Skellig presses his lips to her temple, glances at their cups and the plate - then to the table. It would not be difficult to get out of the bed and set them safely away - but then he'd have to move from where he's curled up with her...

"You stay," he says softly. "I will put this up."