Slowly Nolen opened his eyes. And then he simply stared. Of all the scenarios he had envisaged, being offered a drink by Delling wasn’t one of them. The younger man was painfully thin and pale, but Nolen would know him anywhere. Yet despite their gazes locking, there was no recognition in the large, dark orbs that regarded him so solemnly.

“Asa says you must drink it all,” Delling murmured softly as he held out the bowl.

“Snow?” Nolen whispered the name as he accepted the dish. The young man simply stood, looking blankly at him.

“You have to drink. When I was hurt, I knew Noman would make things better. It took a long time for me. Asa says you will heal quicker.” Delling spoke again as if he hadn’t understood Nolen.

“Delling, don’t you remember me? It’s Nolen. We grew up together. I came after you and your stepmother --” As soon as the word left his lips, Nolen wished he could take it back. Snow’s face became impossibly paler.

“M-monster. Eat my heart. M-monster.” Despite being barely above a whisper, there was no mistaking his fear. Delling fled in obvious terror, leaving Nolen to stagger to his feet only to be blocked at the doorway by Asa as he took several staggering steps.

“He’s running to Ayo and Naz. Let him go. Whatever did you say to scare him so?” Asa asked.

“I know him. His name is Delling. I came to find his body to take it back home. We all, even his father, thought he was dead.” Nolen swayed slightly and wondered if he would make it back to the bed.

“Come inside and sit down. We need to talk.” Asa took Nolen’s arm and gently ushered him back.

Reluctantly, Nolen allowed himself to be led back to his bed. He sat, looking expectantly at the older man and Asa sighed.

“Lorcan, one of my brothers, found your ... Delling, or Gwyn, as we call him, at the entrance to a shaft leading to Surface Hell. His arm was broken and he had a nasty head injury. We did what we could. We never left his side, taking turns caring for him. Lorcan took the majority of sittings. In addition to his physical injuries, he had nightmares of a monster that wanted his heart.” Asa shrugged. “We don’t know what demons and beasts there may be on Surface Hell. It seemed perfectly sound to us there would be one that ate hearts.”

“Go on.” Nolen urged Asa as the other man seemed to become lost in his thoughts.

“Well, we have no way to measure the passing of time.” Asa gazed into the distance as if reliving the time since Delling had been found. “I can’t say how long we were unsure if he would live or die. It took us several failures before we found food that his stomach would tolerate, and much made him ill. Finally he awoke, but knew nothing of who he was or from where he came. The only memory he seemed to have was that of the monster.”

“That’s still his strongest memory.” Nolen sighed. There hadn’t been any memory of him whatsoever. That thought made his heart ache.

“Yes.” Asa gave an emphatic nod. “We then took turns with who slept with him because that fear would wake him screaming. Yet we considered ourselves blessed by his arrival. The Masters never intended us to survive long-term down here. Our women produce mainly male offspring. Girl children are rare and highly prized. One community permits several husbands to one wife, others decide by feats of strength who wins a bride. Love is a rare commodity. But we still live, and we love as best we may.”

“What were you going to do when Delling recovered his memories?” Nolen asked. “Didn’t you expect him to want to try and go home?”

“From the day he was capable of understanding, we told him of the Guardians that keep us from trying to ascend the shafts. He never showed any interest or inclination to even go and look at one. It never occurred to us that anyone would come down here and look for him.” Asa shook his head.

“I have to speak to him.” Nolen started to stand once more but was firmly pushed down by Asa.

“Wait.” Asa gave the command and then left the hut.

Impatiently Nolen sat until Asa returned. The man stared at him as if trying to see into his soul. Nolen met the intense gaze and didn’t flinch.

“You care for him deeply. I see it in your eyes. He has gone to the lagoon. He likes to play on the sand there and he also likes to catch fishes. My people hate the deep water, but he can float happily on its surface.” Asa grimaced as he spoke clearly revealing what he thought of such a notion.

“Swim. Snow was always a good swimmer.” Nolen remembered the many times they’d swum together and he smiled.

“Go to him, but go carefully.” Asa dropped his voice and rested his hand briefly on Nolen’s wrist. “A word of caution. Lorcan wants you sent back to where you were found. If you openly distress Gwyn, none will stop him from carrying out his threat. He is as loved by the rest of us as though he was our son. From here, turn right. The lagoon will then be straight ahead.”

“Thank you.” Nolen steeled himself to move and then stood up. There was no dizziness and this time his steps didn’t falter. He followed Asa’s directions, his mind in a whirl. He had no idea what he might say that could send Delling running once more. He could only pray he found the right words.

Words he wished he’d spoken years before.