At least so he dreamed, in his immeasurable loneliness.
He did not tolerate the thought that other forces might have called her even had she lived, and that she might not have been his to hold and to fight for.

He did not question the possibility of shackles and chains that might have bound her, or other inclinations that might have led her.

He claimed her, now that she was dead, and knew that living he would have possessed her.

Nothing could have kept him from that.

But she was gone.