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Vin awoke from an unknown, sweet smell overwhelming her senses. Her eyes fluttered open and, the foreign smell momentarily forgotten, she winced at the bright light that shone in her eyes and warmed her pale skin.
She slowly raised her arm up and stretched it in front of her to create some shade, the rays of light piercing through in between her fingers. She squinted, confused. That ball of light above her… it looked like the Scadrian sun. It was the same shape, the same size. And yet, it was still different. As if the crimson layers had burnt away and been replaced by dazzling white instead.
And... it was shining amidst a clear, smoke-free sky, the dark ash and violent red tones replaced by light, calming blue. Vin had never seen anything like it, but she let her eyes wander and take in the beauty of it all. The peace. The infinite serenity.
Something she had never known before.
She let her arm drop back to her side and frowned, for the first time noticing the soft surface she was lying on. She stretched her fingers flat and felt for the ground underneath her. It was smooth and prickly at the same time. Strange. She didn’t recognise the texture.
Intrigued, she tore her gaze away from the sky and sat up, her body feeling oddly numb and light with each of her movements.
Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the field that surrounded her.
Grass. Everywhere. Green stretching in the distance, with thousands of colourful specks scattered throughout.
No, not simply specks.
Pastel blue and vibrant white surrounded her in the softest blanket of grass and flowers. Vin ran a hand through the grass next to her, her fingers catching the delicate edges of a flower. She smiled at the life that expanded under her eyes, at the colours that blended with the sky, at the whispering breeze that blew some wild locks of dark hair away from her face.
This was what she had fought for. The prize for her sacrifice. A liberation. A gift.
She turned her head to the side, squinting at the dark silhouette that stood in the distance. She frowned, tilting her head to the side.
The man looked familiar. Could it be—
Her breath catching in her throat, she leaped to her feet. Fists clenched at her side, she took a step forward, her hand already reaching to her side for her dagger. She let it rest there as she marched forward, ready to attack or defend herself if required. Why was that man not moving? Why was he simply standing there, staring aimlessly ahead? Why was he not turning around? Could he not hear her approach?
Another step forward and she gasped before stopping in her walk. Her arm dropped to her side, limp.
Elend.
Even with his back turned to her, there was no doubt it was him. His tall stature, his square shoulders, his determined posture and his brown hair ruffled by the wind. He stood there, in the same clothes he had worn during their final battle.
Lord Ruler, it really was him.
Vin had seen him die. She’d watched Marsh behead him. His limp, headless body had dropped to the ground, had drowned amidst a crimson bath of his own blood.
And yet, there he was. Staring into the distance. Untouched. Unbroken. His crisp white uniform immaculate. Not a drop of blood, not a spot of grime. Not a flicker of weakness, of an illusion. It was all as if he’d never gone into battle, as if the weight of leadership and the violence of the war had never dug their claws into him, had never dragged him away from the light.
He seemed at peace.
She felt a vague thud in her chest, like the echo of a heart that once beat. She pushed herself into a sprint, her bare feet sharply hitting the soft ground, her mistcloak flapping behind her as it caught in the wind.
Elend spun as she approached and Vin paused right in front of him, surprised at the wave of calm that washed over her as she gazed into Elend’s eyes.
The same eyes she had lost herself in during their first and last dance. The same eyes she had loved with the intensity of an untameable flame. The same eyes that had always looked at her like she was the most precious thing in the world, like she was the only thing worth looking at.
And the more he took her in this time, the more his eyes searched her, the brighter the sun seemed to illuminate his features, casting a veil of blissful peace on his face, the shadows that had previously haunted him chased away.
“Elend,” Vin said, her voice hoarse and uncanny to her own ears.
“You found me,” he whispered, his lips stretching into a fond smile.
“I did,” Vin said.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t,” he admitted, his hand easily finding hers. “Not for a while, at least.”
“I couldn’t get rid of you at balls... and you won’t be able to get rid of me here,” Vin said.
Elend chuckled and his eyes softened. “That sounds fair.”
Silence settled between them for a moment, during which Vin’s eyes lowered to their tightly intertwined fingers. She broke into a small smile at the way they fitted together perfectly, at the invigorating warmth that somehow still spread through at the simple touch of his cold skin against hers.
“You did it, Vin” Elend whispered after a while. “You won.”
She raised her head to meet his stare again and guilt stabbed her in the gut. His eyes sparkled with nothing but love as he looked down at her, and yet... Yet, she had been unable to protect him. She had watched him get killed, had watched Marsh deliver the final blow.
And she had done nothing to prevent it. Couldn’t have done anything to prevent it.
“I’m sorry, Elend,” Vin murmured. “I couldn’t protect you this time.”
“Perhaps not,” he said, his thumb now tracing gentle circles on her knuckles. “But I was prepared to die. For our friends. For our home. For the world. If I was given the choice, I would do it all over again.”
Vin shook her head, her lips drawn to a line. “I should have prevented it. I’ve spent months trying to protect you but I failed when it mattered. I–”
“Vin,” Elend interrupted, bringing a hand to cup her cheek. “You’ve done and given enough. You saved everyone. You saved me.”
He paused, his thumb brushing her face. His touch was so tender, so comforting, she let herself melt against it and leaned into the palm of his hand.
“Before you, all I was a man with books and dreams,” Elend continued. “But you... You made me brave. A leader, daring enough to act and create change. A man strong enough to take risks, look Death right in the eye and accept it. A man capable of saving the world he loves.”
She swallowed, her chest aching. “And you made me more Human, Elend. You showed me trust and love. You proved me I was more than my powers, more than a weapon.” She looked down at their linked hands once more. “You gave me a home.”
Elend grinned at her. A broad, boyish grin. One she hadn’t seen on his face is a long time.
Overwhelmed by the sudden urge to hold him close, she closed the distance between them and let herself crash against his chest, his familiar fragrance tickling her nose. His arms wrapped around her instinctively, squeezing her body against his in a tight, steady embrace. Anchoring her in the moment, in their new-found reality and peace.
“I didn’t expect us to survive,” Vin said. “But I wish we’d had more time. You and me.”
“I do too. But I like to think there is another version of us somewhere else, having the things we wish we’d had, doing the things we wish we’d done.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think that’s true?”
She felt him shrug against her. “I like to believe it is. I like to believe you and I find each other in every other life too and get to live those lives. Together.”
Vin closed her eyes and tightened her arms around Elend – as if trying to hold him even closer, if such a thing was even possible – while he slowly stroked her hair.
“Do you think we’ll see them again?” Vin asked. “The crew? Breeze. Ham Sazed. Spook.”
“Eventually,” Elend said. “But hopefully not anytime soon. It’s just you and me for now, Vin.”
She buried her head in his chest and stifled a laugh. “Did you bring books? I heard the afterlife is quite boring.”
He pulled away, just enough to meet her gaze. “Why would I need books, when I can just stare at my wife every second of forever instead?”
Vin rolled her eyes but chuckled despite herself. “Elend Venture, please do not tell me I’ll have to put up with your terrible flirting for eternity.”
“I’m afraid so, love,” he smiled, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
She laughed and he joined her, the sound both foreign and wonderful. When was the last time she had laughed with him?
“So, what now?” she asked.
Elend shot their surroundings a furtive glance, the light of the sun reflecting briefly in his eyes.
“Perhaps we could take a walk,” he said. “See what’s beyond the flowers.”
She nodded and arm in arm, they set into a slow walk toward the perpetually glowing horizon, toward the infinite sea of colours. Finally at peace. Together.