Tenshi had attempted to hide it during the trip down to Auster. Whether it was the change in the season, something in the air, or her body still healing from birthing very large puppies, Tenshi wasn't feeling great. On the way down to the Hallows, she had felt great, excited, and eager for the raid. Fighting hadn't been anything to her before and she had shown her capability time and time again.

But now as they headed back, she had to request someone else pull the cart with her puppies in it. Following behind with a weak smile on her face as she tried to keep up. A cough swept through her lungs and exhaustion riddled her bones. The sickness came quickly, too quickly for her to realize until the snowy mountain was in view. When the white landscape would usually be welcoming, all she felt was cold. Shivering so much she couldn't hide it any longer.

Hushed tones to Rota and Audr to help look after the puppies while she recovered in her room. Only trusting Vidarr's siblings to help so the others in the pack wouldn't be alarmed. Once Vidarr realized how sick she truly was... Tenshi feared how he would react.

Settling down in their bed with more furs than normal, Tenshi hides her coughs with tea thickly laden with honey. The fire crackles hot and high in the hearth as she stares blankly at the room. Her lungs wheeze and her eyelids droop as her chin tucks neatly beneath her tail. This cold was worse than others and she wasn't sure if she could outlast it...

"Speech"

* SET POST RAID WITH THE HALLOWS

Kicking himself for not seeing the signs sooner, Víðarr is quick to return to her side. An ache in his chest, the pups stashed safely with his siblings. No one else could know, not yet. Hopefully no one else would need to. The time he's spent away from her side in the last days has been sparse, tending to his wife as best he can. Víðarr is no healer, but the same hands that brought her a mountain could make her tea.

Returning after a moment out to check on the children, Víðarr's heart sinks. The fire fed higher than usual, the warmth of their den near-stifling. He moves to their bed, dragging a reindeer pelt to tuck around the both of them as he curls around Tenshi. Wrapping entirely around the woman, holding as tightly as he dares.

"What can I do, käraste?" The words are tender, a murmur. Not great at comfort, but for Tenshi? Víðarr would move hell and earth.

"Víðarr"

In reality, it doesn't take long for the Konungr to come back to her side. Within her though, it feels like a century. A cold wind draping along her back and furs where Vidarr fit in neatly. It's not until he's securely around her, holding her tightly, that she relaxes. His warmth helps, aids her in feeling somewhat better. Not that she doesn't feel guilty. Why did she have to get sick? Why couldn't she just... stay better? She wanted to be there for their pups as they grew. Thinking of them now hurt, made her heart ache in all the ways she had tried to forget.

Keeping her eyes closed, she moves her head to rest as close to Vidarr as she can. Breathing in his all too familiar scent, she lets out a sigh that unfortunately ends in a dry cough. "Just keep the tea coming," Tenshi manages to whisper, her face tightening as she holds her breath, trying her best to hold back the reaction her body has in trying to expel the cold. He didn't need to see her like this. "I will be fine if you are needed elsewhere," her voice is quiet, a hoarse mumbling of words as she finally turns her head to cough into a handkerchief she's kept nearby. When she opens her eyes, she sees it spotted with dark red, staining it with an obvious sign that she attempts to hide from Vidarr by tucking it back under her paw.

"Speech"

The rattling cough, it's enough to paint his expression, drawn and worried. Sides aching, chest too. Víðarr isn't a healer, but fuck, he knows his wife. He's never seen Tenshi this weak, he's never seen her struggle like this, and it's all he can do to hold tightly to her. To hold her tea cup, to try to hide the tremble from his paws while he does. The shadow and his light-- oh how he clings to her.

"I am needed right here, and that is the most important." His words are quiet, tender. Blood staining her pale handkerchief, Víðarr can smell it before she manages to tuck it away. Pressing a kiss to Tenshi's temple, stroking her back, every reverence he can bestow on her.

"I love you." The words are soft, pressed against Tenshi's cheek. Curled around her, holding as tightly as he feels he comfortably can. He isn't going anywhere, he isn't letting go, and she's going to be fine. She has to be.

"Víðarr"

The thing that Tenshi doesn't want to admit allowed is that she's ready. She has already lived a lifetime of tragedy, love, and everything in between. Of course, she doesn't want to leave her babies. Those tender hearts, so young, so fragile, they need their mother for guidance. But what was she to do? She could hardly stand, hardly breathe, everything ached and hurt, and was so unbearably tight.

Her eyelids fluttered as his lips press against her temple. A sip of tea here and there helps to soothe her throat, but it doesn't get any better. No matter what bundle of herbs or combinations of medicines she's attempted, none of it has worked. Even a stop at the hot springs on the way home hadn't done much other than bring her a brief amount of joy for one last happy moment alone with Vidarr.

But now? She can barely eat, barely keep anything down. Everything is cold and with winter fast approaching, she is terrified. "I love you too," Tenshi finally murmurs, as loud as she can manage before the words begin to scrape her throat. "We need to make preparations," she whispers, eyes straining to look over at Vidarr, tears welling at the corners.

"Speech"