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"Yes," Sazed said, "but you seeht, Lady Vin This isn't a decision to beeetemotions?"

Sazed floundered "That isn't exactly what I meant I'm simply not certain that you are fully in control of your faculties, Lady Vin"

Vin shook her head "I'm more in control than I have been for , Sazed--ti, time to accept my place in this crew I knohat I want, now I love Elend I don't knohat kind of tiether, but I want some, at least"

Sazed sat for a"And you, Lord Elend? What are your thoughts?"

What were his thoughts? He re, and the wrenching he had felt He thought of how much he depended on her wisdom, and her bluntness, and her simple--but not simplistic--devotion to hione chaotic recently He hadthat had happened, and despite his frustrations, he still felt strongly that he wanted to be with Vin It wasn't the idyllic infatuation he'd felt a year and a half ago, at the parties But it felt more solid

"Yes, Sazed," he said "I do want to marry her I have wanted it for so to happen to the city, or dom, but I want to be with Vin when it comes"

Sazed continued to work "Very well, then," he finally said "If it is my witness you require, then you have it"

Elend knelt, still pressing the cloth on Vin's shoulder, feeling a little bit stunned "That's it then?"

Sazed nodded "It is as valid as any witness the obligators could give you, I think Be warned, the Larsta love oath is binding They knew no form of divorce in their culture Do you accept my witness of this event?"

Vin nodded Elend felt hi the sa off his thread, then draping a cloth across Vin's chest "Hold this for a bit, Lady Vin, and stanch the rest of the bleeding" Then he moved on to her cheek

"I feel like there should be a cereive one, if you wish," Sazed said, "but I do not think you need one I have known you both for so to this union I sihtly promises theysatisfaction in life This is not an easy time in which to live That does not mean that it has to be a difficult time to love, but it does mean that you will find unusual stresses upon your lives and your relationship

"Do not forget the love oath you th in the days to coht on Vin's face, then finallythere had mostly stopped, and Sazed studied the wound for awork on it

Vin looked up at Elend, s a bit drowsy He stood and walked over to the room's washbasin, and returned with a damp cloth to wipe off her face and cheek

"I'm sorry," she said quietly as Sazedin

"Sorry?" Elend said "About my father's Mistborn?"

Vin shook her head "No For taking so long"

Elend sure a few things out as well"

"Like how to be a king?"

"And how to stop being one"

Vin shook her head "You never stopped being one, Elend They can take your crown, but they can't take your honor"

Elend sood I've done the city By even being here, I divided the people, and now Straff will end up in control"

"I'll kill Straff if he puts one foot in this city"

Elend gritted his teeth Back to the saainst his neck for so long He'd figure out a way to wiggle around, and there was always Jastes and those koloss

"Your Majesty" Sazed said as he worked, "perhaps I can offer a solution"

Elend glanced down at the Terris an eyebrow

"The Well of Ascension," Sazed said

Vin opened her eyes i the Hero of Ages," Sazed continued "We are convinced that Rashek never did what the Hero was supposed to In fact, we aren't even convinced that this Alendi of a thousand years ago was the Hero There are too many discrepancies, too many problems and contradictions In addition, thepeople"

Elend frowned "What are you saying?"

Sazed pulled a stitch tight "So iht seem that the events at Luthadel and the rise of the Well of Ascension are unrelated However, froer view, they may be solutions to one another"

Elend smiled "Like the lock and the key"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Sazed said, s "Precisely like that"

"It thu "In my head I can feel it"

Sazed paused, then wrapped a bandage around Vin's arm "Can you feel where it is?"