Adjusting to life without sight had been the most difficult challenge of his life. Every mundane task he'd taken for granted like navigating corridors or going up and down stairs had now become a dizzying and potentially lethal task. Figuring out where the hell he was in the castle was nigh impossible. Even just going through his daily life felt overwhelming and frustrating. He couldn't pick out food or wine, he couldn't tell which direction was north or south, he couldn't even consider how he was supposed to fight now! Artorias hadn't spoken to Ulric about it yet, but he was certain he'd be unable to lead the Hallows any longer. A pack with a blind wolf that could barely walk a straight line without tripping over something leading it would be a laughing stock and a vulnerable target. No, he couldn't let his disability bring his family down.

For all his depression and sorrow, Briar had stepped up to be his champion in more ways than he could ever have asked her to do. She stayed with him at all times, always by his side to help him get around. She helped him fetch meals and talked him down off the ledge whenever he felt another panic attack coming on. At night, she comforted and cuddled him, loved him silly until he fell asleep and proved he was still capable of loving her in turn. He'd been so crushed when he thought he'd have to give her up because of his blindness, and though a part of him still felt immense guilt for not heeding her worries, he knew he couldn't have possibly survived without her. Briar was the keystone of his life; without her he would crumble and collapse.

Morning crept slowly over Auster, though the sun barely peeked over the horizon anymore. It was a little over a week since Artorias had lost his sight. He lay tucked up in bed with Briar pressed up into him, entwined securely in his arms, just the way she'd been when they'd fallen asleep after another night of passionate lovemaking. A robin landed on his balcony, chirping its song to herald a sun that would never show. The noise disturbed Artorias from sleep, the young brute grumbling under his breath while he tried to burrow his face into the pillows and drift back off. When the bird refused to leave, Artorias resigned himself to consciousness with a sigh and blinked open his eyes, gazing around the dark bedroom. It was still early, light barely peeking in through cracks in the curtains. His eyes followed the paths of light across the stone walls, glancing down to his sleeping girlfriend in his arms. A loving smile crept across his face while the groggy wolf lay his head back down and closed his eyes, losing the room around him to darkness once more...

Amber eyes flew open with a gasp. The room. The light. Briar. He could see it all! Artorias could see again! Sitting up, he looked all around, taking in the sights with amazement. A quick pinch to his thigh to make sure this wasn't a dream, and nope! He was awake and he could see! Art blinked a few times in bewilderment, turning his amber gaze back down to Briar once more. "Briar!" he whispered to her in the stillness of the early morning, gently shaking her shoulder. "Briar, wake up! I...I can see again!"

"Artorias Carpathius"

Briar was fast asleep, getting some rest after a week of helping Artorias adjust to this new normal and struggling with him to find aways certain things. She was patient with him even when it was frustrating for her as well. At the end of the day she knew that however frightening, worrying, frustrating it was for her it was ten times that for Artorias and she was dedicated to staying true to her promise to him. They were going to figure this out together and she wouldn't dream about leaving his side until she was confident that he could handle this difficult way of life. She knew that she would have to make a trip home sooner rather than later and was planning on asking Bowen to help tend to Art in her absence so she could do just that. She was going to ask her father to let her make the move early, bring Lia down here with her to help Artorias as well, and then they could go from there. Living apart was no longer an option. She had to be here with him—no ifs, ands, or buts. In a way she was almost happy that she had an excuse to be here with him full time at last, even if it meant cutting the time she had promised to her family short.

She was pulled slowly from her sleep as Artorias shifted beside her, groggily grumbling when he started shaking her shoulder to wake her. She was about to complain and tell him that she wanted five more minutes, but then his words actually sunk in. He could see. He could see. Her own eyes flew open with a gasp and she looked up at him with shock, seeing his familiar amber eyes looking back at her. With awe and bewilderment, she lifted a paw to his cheek, looking at those warm, fiery eyes that she had missed so deeply, a huge, joyful smile crossing her face. "Your eyes are back to normal..." she breathed, a little giddy laugh escaping her as it registered that this wasn't a dream. This was real and he was actually better. His sight was back, his eyes were the eyes she had fallen in love with again.

Briar giggled again, relieved, happy tears welling up in her eyes as she threw her forelegs around his neck and pulled him into an embrace, her tail wagging like crazy. She fully loved him either way, she would have stayed by his side and supported him either way, but knowing he was okay and knowing that they could live their lives normally together again was such an overwhelming relief. All she could think of was how grateful she was that whatever had caused this had been merciful enough to make this temporary. "I'm so glad you're okay," she told him, nuzzling into his scruff and blinking away the tears that had gathered in her turquoise eyes. He could continue to be the alpha, she could be his queen. One day when they got married and started their family he would be able to experience it fully with her. She hugged him tighter as she thought about it, about their future together, and it just made her all the more thankful for it.

"Briar Fatalis"

Artorias watched when Briar resisted his attempts to wake her, then fully woke once the realization of what he was saying sank into her groggy brain. He saw her turn to face him, staring up at him with shocked turquoise eyes shining with brightness. He saw her! An incredulous laugh escaped him while a huge grin split his lips, drinking in the sight of her as if he might lose his sight again at a moment's notice. He felt her paw on his cheek and leaned happily into her touch, unable to take his gaze away from hers for even a second. Briar confirmed that his eyes had gone back to normal too, and again Artorias laughed with near disbelief. The firefly entity... it had taken his sight only temporarily. It was teaching him a lesson.

"Perhaps you are looking at things all wrong..." Artorias understood now. He hadn't needed anything special to be able to protect his loved ones. He'd had what he needed all along. He'd had courage, heart, passion, devotion. He had the strength of spirit and body without anything to cripple or handicap him. He didn't need anything else besides to have the confidence in himself that he had all he needed. Artorias breathed a sigh of relief, whispering a silent prayer to whatever gods had been merciful enough to not take his sight permanently. He'd been given an incredible second chance, and now he had a new perspective to see his life and his world with.

Happy, relieved tears of his own began to well up in his amber eyes while he watched the overwhelming joy spread across Briar's face. He could only imagine the struggle and worry she'd gone through this past week having to care for him in such a state. He really owed his life to her more than he could ever say. But most importantly, she'd proven that no matter what happened to them, she was in this for life. His love for Briar had grown stronger through this tribulation, further resolving that she was his soul mate, that she was the one meant to be his queen.

Lifting a blue paw to caress her cheek in turn, Artorias leaned in to return her affectionate nuzzles, still too overwhelmed to really know how he should be reacting. "I am too. I... Gods, I was afraid." He brushed his snout through the fur on her cheek, holding her close to him in the warm bed. "I love you, Briar. What you did for me... How you cared for me... I'll never be able to say just how much I love you, or how much your love means to me."

"Artorias Carpathius"

As Artorias returned her overjoyed affections and told her how much he loved her, how much her love meant to him, citing how she had cared for him and what she did for him... She just smiled and pulled back to look at him with a little shake of her head, tears still glistening in her eyes. "You don't have to say. I know. I love you too, Artorias." She would care for him and help him through any struggle he might face for the rest of their lives because he was worth it. He was worth every single moment of hardship and effort to her. There was no doubt in her mind that if the roles had been reversed, if she had been hurt or blinded or any other number of things, then he would have done the same for her and that was why she was so willing to give him every moment of her time and attention when he needed it. What had once been a crush or a simple attraction had grown into a dedicated understanding, a willingness to put each other first, a love so deep she wasn't sure she even fully understood how deep it went. She didn't want to be anywhere else but at his side.

But she couldn't be at his side permanently—at least not yet. The realization that her excuse for moving here early was now gone with his returned vision dawned on her and her smile faltered a little. Of course it was a small price to pay considering Artorias could see again, but that slight pang of disappointment still hit her. With him fine and well there was no excuse she could make to keep her from having to go back to Armada. She knew she was lucky to even get her father to agree for her to leave in the summer without too much fuss so she wouldn't push her luck without good cause, but... there was a part of her that wished she could. She brushed her muzzle against his, leaving a light kiss on his lips as she said, "Well... I guess my training as your guide has to come to an end, huh? No more bumping into me or stepped on toes," she said with a soft chuckle, trying to use humor to deflect her emotions. Between the huge wave of relief and joy and the heavy weight of dread and disappointment in her stomach it was all so overwhelming. "How about some breakfast?" she questioned as she started to pull away to get up.

"Briar Fatalis"

Briar returned his vow of love and told him he didn't need to say anything, and Artorias knew he didn't have to, but he would always want to. He never wanted a single second of Briar's life to be spent doubting or worrying over the love they shared. This pure, passionate and intense love that had blossomed from the seed of puppy rivalry into a magnificent thing. It was what brought Artorias true joy to his heart. She brought him true joy and peace. With every moment they spent together, every little gesture she performed showed him there was no limit to her devotion to him. Artorias had long since vowed to always be worthy of her love and devotion, but this trial had reaffirmed that commitment to her. He was hers, and she was his, for as long as she would want him.

Artorias noticed the way something in Briar's eyes shifted and the way her bright smile faltered at the corners, suddenly infinitely more perceptive of her every little expression and gesture. She was very good at hiding when something was bothering her, but Artorias knew Briar well enough to know when she was pulling a poker face or being genuine. He felt her muzzle brush against his and returned her gentle kiss, but when she tried to pull away with the offer of breakfast, Artorias refused to let her go. His strong forelegs wrapped tighter around Briar's side, denying her any chance to get up just yet. Restored amber eyes gazed into deep pools of turquoise, his smile slipping from his lips as well, wishing he could see through her eyes into her mind to know what had robbed her of her joy. He didn't know... but he had a hunch.

"Stay," he asked her in the soft stillness of the dark morning. A large blue paw drifted slowly up over Briar's side to rest on the side of her neck, holding her like he was moments away from watching his true love slip away. Slowly he brought his lips closer to claim hers in a slow, loving kiss, pulling apart only an inch after a few blissful moments. "There might not be any more stepped on toes... maybe some bumping still... but please, stay. Just for a bit longer." He knew he couldn't ask Briar to stay forever yet. She had duties and commitments to her family first, and he would insist on walking her back home to make sure she got there safely, but Artorias wasn't ready to let go of his Briar just yet. Not when the world still felt like it could fall apart at a moment's notice.

"Artorias Carpathius"

Briar attempted to pull away, but Artorias' forelegs wrapped tighter around her and held her firmly where she was, making her look back at him and see the smile fade on his lips as well. Her ears flicked back as he held her gaze, feeling his paw come to rest on her neck as he requested the one thing from her that she knew she couldn't give him. A soft whine escaped her when he asked her to stay, returning his kiss as it tempted and reminded her of what she would have to leave behind. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay here with him and stop this constant back and forth, the constant uncertainty of if he was okay, if he was taking care of himself, if this pack she had come to love was doing alright.

Her heart ached, but she knew what her answer had to be. If she gave a bit longer she'd be tempted to give a bit longer after that and a bit longer after that. She was too weak to the temptation of him and didn't trust herself to have the self control she'd need to leave. "I can't..." she said softly with a soft sigh, her muzzle brushing against his. "I'll stay through tomorrow just to make sure everything is back to normal before I go, but... I should get back. I need to get back to Lia and my family... and I don't want to push my luck with my father. He's already letting me move in the summer without much fuss and that's all I can really ask for." Briar leaned her cheek into Artorias' and wrapped her forelegs around his neck as she held onto him tightly, closing her eyes as she fought against the emotions that wanted to overwhelm her. "The moment that summer comes... I'll be here. It's just a couple more months..." She didn't know if she was trying to convince him or herself.

"Briar Fatalis"

Artorias saw the conflicting emotions raging war behind Briar's vivid turquoise eyes at his request. Were these any other normal circumstances, he would have said the plea more in jest, teasing her with the idea of staying. But with the world coming apart and the sky falling around them, Artorias wanted nothing more than to be selfish and keep Briar with him here at all times. Then he could at least know she was safe, know he could protect her, know where she was and how she was doing. With her half the world away, he would be left wondering every day if the darkness had claimed the love of his life. He didn't give a damn about anything else—only her.

The soft whine she emitted nearly broke his heart, feeling the yearning in her voice and tasting the longing on her lips. He knew she would have given everything up for him in a heartbeat, and if he pushed a little more, maybe he could have gotten what he wanted. But as selfish as Artorias wanted to be with her, he knew Briar had to return home. She refused his request, though there was no conviction or desire to refuse him. She didn't want to leave any more than he did. But they both knew she had to go home, to be with her family during this crisis, if for no other reason than to assuage her father's paranoia if she suddenly disappeared into the endless night without a trace. Briar made a compromise though—she would stay for one more day, then go back to her family and return again in the summer. Though it still seemed so far away, and Artorias was beginning to wonder if summer would ever come, he knew he wouldn't be able to convince her otherwise in good conscience.

"I know, I just don't like the waiting..." Artorias gave a soft rumble of a chuckle while he rubbed the side of his muzzle back against hers, leaning his cheek back into hers while she clung to his neck with tight forelegs. His own thickly muscled limbs wrapped around Briar's sides, holding her tight to him, as if he were afraid she would vanish if he let her go for even a second. "Just promise me you'll be safe and smart. You're my Briar, my Deer Girl... If anything happened to you..." Artorias let his words drift off, refusing to entertain that thought any further. He squeezed Briar in his embrace, burying his muzzle into her neck fur. "I'll be here waiting for you on the first day of summer. We can make it. We'll survive this, and then we'll never have to be apart again. I love you."

"Artorias Carpathius"