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He needed to be himself. None could make it happen but only him, and the Ned he always knew. To realize his purpose and goals, he needed to be Ned. 

"I needed to be me," Ned whispered. "The same me people wanted to see, wanted to realize, wanted to care, and wanted to be friends with." 

Ned was convinced, becoming legend wasn't to be realized alone. And, perhaps, Tiathe knew it. Perhaps, she knew what Ned was capable of. She knew that her heart wouldn't revive her. She knew she wouldn't serve Ned with her as a captive. She knew it. 

"That's it," Rassus said. "Good. Do it. Just do it." 

Ned knelt before Su'ayun's body. He bit his thumb and let his blood flow to Su'ayun's open wound. The blood seeped into it, or the wound absorbed it.