"Easy now- that's right, nice and gentle..."  Carefully, a statue is placed down beneath the shelter of a tree, the forest ground littered with changing leaves as a pair of brothers huff and wipe sweat off their brows.  "...Nice view, ain't it?"  The taller one speaks again, looking not at his brother, but up at the statue of a woman with her hand stretched out protectively. 

She stares off into the distance, a resigned but resolute glare in her stony eyes as he's kept immortalized in his last moments.  The taller brother stares up at her, his smile wavering before he looks away.

"...Don't you worry none.  I'll take care of ya until this spell wears off.  Promise."

"Lethe..."  His older brother speaks up, concern furrowing his brow as he peers at Lethe.  "There ain't no guarantee he'll... come back."

"Guaranteed or not, I'll wait for her."  Lethe stares down at the ground as he clenches his fist.  "He protected us.  Gave his life to make sure we'd- we'd have a fighting chance."  He looks back up at the statue, his eyes watering at the sight of her.  "...It's the least I can do.  We were gonna make a life together, after all."

"I know, li'l gem.  I know."  They both stand in silence, gazing out past the forest as the river bubbles beside them.  Another minute goes by before Lethe speaks up.

"I'll make a home by the lake.  Ain't too far from here after all and... I'll be able to take care of her while I wait."

"Ya sure 'bout this?"  His brother, though his tone gruff and stern, continues on with clear worry in his voice.  "I don't like the idea of you living on your own like this, far from the nearest town."

"Ain't but a day or two's ride away," Lethe says jovially as his brother grumbles.  "...But I promise I'll be okay, Adam.  I'll come visit when I can.  Heck, you can come visit too.  Ain't gonna stop ya from doing surprise visits, that much I know."

Adam harrumphs in response, arms crossed as the brim of his hat slips over his eyes.  "I'll hold ya to it.  Do ya need help building that house of yours?"

"Well..."