Kaj withheld a snrot of surprise and a jump of hoof upon noticing Khan. He had not known Kahlua had bonded, and briefly a sense of bitterness settled upon him like a cloak. Why had Kahlua not shared with him that she had found, or won, an egg? But there were more important matters at hand, old ghosts come to life standing before him, the honor of his Queen to defend. Though it seemed she was not in need of such, if the bite of her words and the proud tilt of her crown was any indication. A terse nod was allowed to Thor to speak his sentiments, though an innate wariness lingered in the crystallized cerulean of his eyes as Kaj awaited what the behemoth thought he had to shake from his chest like a fresh dusting of snow after a noon nap. "Of course. We are bonded old, speak freely." Foreign tongue did not always translate well into Helovian dialect, but the intention was the same. Discernible at least. A twitch of the jaw on the soldier's face was the only giveaway that Thor's words held any needles. None held any personal indication of Kaj, focusing wholly upon Kahlua through most of his sympathies, and the King nodded along every once in a while to show he was attentively listening and respecting the beast's words. "An understandable fear and reaction, from you both. It is over, let forgiveness come in however long it takes. There are better topics to move on to."

Hesitation was something Kaj had anticipated. Helovians seemed ever reluctant to engage in touch and physical companionship, platonic it may be. In the end, as he had also suspected, Thor gave in and their muzzles met in a firm embrace. Kaj greedily inhaled his air, the scent clicking into place like a missing jigsaw piece, a lock's chambers finally unwinding with the proper key. Memories of dark eyes and kind smiles, lengthy patrols and robust laughter shared between the three stallions. Bowing their heads to Mirage, shared smiles and secret jokes, sympathetic eyes after a particularly harrowing spar. Older times. Kaj wished he could make a blanket of that scent, wrap himself in it forever and forget his sorrows and worries. But times had changed, seasons had shifted and passed in numerous amounts since Thor had ruled. Such a wish was impossible to grant, and foolish to desire. And so Kaj pulled away.

"No, broer. Even without us, you are Thor, the Gentle Heart. First and foremost. But we welcome you with old love in our hearts. These walls are forever yours." Whether Kahlua agreed or disagreed, Kaj would push the subject. Thor was his once brother-in-arms, he had taken orders from him and once sworn to protect him. It seemed fate had deemed the roles to now be reversed. Pride was fierce in Kaj's breast as Kahlua took the floor, with a fire he hadn't seen in her before. He was rather...awestruck. And plainly showing it on his face, shocked as he was. A grin melted onto his lips, azure gems nearly glowing with the emotion. Had she changed in his brief journey to the sands of the south? What had changed her to this beautiful flame? Sure, Kaj had suspected it lay within her grasp, but he had never anticipated her reaching out and claiming it as her own.

Leaving the two to their patching up, he merely looked on, a guardian, and observed. How much had changed in the short time since he'd been gone?