Years passed by. They had to be always on the move. Earth was really a beautiful planet, always changing. Landscapes were always different but always breathtaking. Gilgamesh tried to keep them away from any conflicts as much as he could without them becoming total hermits. Humanity was good at violence and war. They always found a reason, as stupid as it could be to start trouble. Druig wasn't wrong when he wanted to make them stop that madness. But they could also create beautiful things. All humans had an infinite capacity for love. That was maybe the most difficult and yet beautiful thing about them. If only they could focus on making love and not war. That was wishful thinking.
Gilgamesh didn't want Thena to feel like a prisoner and himself her jailer. He didn't want to be the one forbidding her to do whatever she fancied doing. Protecting her didn't mean she couldn't enjoy her life the fullest. He would do anything to see her happy and free. Hurting an innocent bystander would kill her with more certainty than her illness would. He would protect her against the world and beyond no matter what.
The Mahd Wy'ry seemed to only show its ugly side when she was to fight. How ironic for the goddess of war. Knowing that, somehow, made it easier to deal with it. Athena didn't need to show up that often and only Thena was left, the real her. Of course, she knew how to fight, to strategize but she was also the girl who loved to create things with her own two hands and read a lot. Many heroes throughout the centuries had succeeded thanks to her patience and kindness. Despite what Phastos wanted to think, she also had help improving many crafts, especially weaving and spinning. Thena always managed to make Gilgamesh laugh. They shared the same sense of humour and so much more.
When Mahd Wy'ry came anyway, it was their bond that always brought her back. They were attuned to one another like no other eternals were. Even Sersi and Ikaris weren't as close as them. Sometime Gilgamesh wondered how his friend would have reacted if his wife had been the one with the illness. It was hard to say. Ikaris was the kind to follow the rules no matter what. Perhaps, he would have chosen to erase Sersi's memories and try to start. No doubt he would have tried to bring back what they had, to make her fall in love again. They couldn't be sure that it would work, that they would be the same. Gilgamesh didn't want Thena any other way. Maybe he had been a bit selfish when he said that he would take care of her, it was also for her to stay the same toward him.
When the illness was gone, Thena was left feeling guilty and unsure of herself, especially if he had been wounded during their fight. She never cried in front of him. She had too much pride for that. More often than not, her eyes were red when she had been left alone for a while. Gilgamesh never said anything even though he hated seeing her like that. The only thing he could do was to take her hand and keep it in his, stand beside her patiently until a small smile came back on her lips. He loved that part, when they were so close. The reason behind it was just awful.
The right moment to talk never seemed to come around. They should have "that" conversation. His feelings were stronger than ever. They would never change. Gilgamesh didn't know how to express what was in his heart. Words were never his weapon of choice. Often, he regretted not having said anything before. Before the illness, before Sersi and Ikari's wedding. Now, he was afraid he would force her into something she didn't really want, because she needed his help, because she wasn't totally herself. Thena was a strong woman, no doubt about that. It should be a real choice, not one due to her special circumstances. In all honesty, he was afraid. What they had was so precious, it wasn't worth losing over some what if. At least that was what he was trying to convince himself of.
Australia had something that suited Thena deeply and she couldn't really say what it was. The country was wild and beautiful. This land felt like a new beginning was possible for them. The scenery was very changing. They could be away and near from the people at the same time. Thena built herself a little shrine next to a tree, hanging all sorts of things to its branches. The place was quiet and helped her center herself.
