(no subject)

[blue_ajah]

*She had not meant to leave Roland to his own devices for quite so long, although she is confident that he will have been well-cared for, but other and serious matters had demanded her attention in the wake of Destiny's visit... and then Daniel's.

Finally, when she feels that she can, Moiraine goes in search of Roland. She finds him in the peace of the Garden, near the fountain with its goldfish, sitting in a chair with Vannay's book in his hands.*

Comments

[lastgunslinger]

Some days when the sky is gray, it weighs on you. Other days, it's not so bad. A relief, almost. There's beauty in gray, if you know how to look at it.

Roland does. And the Garden is peaceful.

He reads, smiling every now and again at Vannay's words -- and raising his eyebrows at others.

When Moiraine approaches, he closes the book and rises. "Lady-sai."

[blue_ajah]

Roland. Good day.

*A pause, and the Aes Sedai amends that, with a faint smile, to,*

Long days and pleasant nights. I may trust that you have been well?

[lastgunslinger]

"May you have twice the number." The faint smile is returned. "You may, and I have, say thankya."

Solitude is not always a bad thing.

"And you and the Dream-lord have been well, I hope."

[blue_ajah]

*A definite pause, composed or not.*

We have been as well as may be expected, and I thank you for your inquiry.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland nods, slightly.

There was a pause.

And added formality.

And they have been as well as may be expected, and no more.

Also, the sky is overcast, and there were storm clouds the other day.

Roland can connect the dots. "If I overstep my bounds, lady-sai, I cry your pardon, and cry off my question...but how well is that?"

[blue_ajah]

*A long, long hesitation, and then Moiraine sighs. Here, in the peace of the Garden, in the face of Roland's concern, the Aes Sedai says quietly,*

Things have been troubled, but I have not wanted to disturb you with it, could it be avoided.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland puts the book on the chair. "If you'd speak of it, I'd hear."

He's better, now; and this goes beyond gratitude for bringing him to the Dreaming, beyond simple reciprocation.

[blue_ajah]

*How much she's willing to speak of it here in the Dreaming itself is open to question, but Moiraine nods, slightly.*

My lord ... is deceased, you are aware?

[lastgunslinger]

Roland shakes his head, and wonders how the Dream-lord can be dead...but he'd not interrupt Moiraine. Not now.

Fucking Milliways.

[blue_ajah]

*She sighs.*

The Endless... are not meant to die. *She is speaking very carefully, with senses attuned to the world around her.*

There are different aspects, which may be in ascendance; you have seen this before. *A speaking glance, and the memory of darkness is clear in her eyes.*

But Morpheus... he sacrificed himself for the world, and took his sister's hand for its sake, and was... replaced, by another aspect. Daniel.

[lastgunslinger]

He remembers a third aspect, yes. Met this third aspect. Better not to think of this one, much less speak his name.

Roland wonders, then, if there are two Dreamings -- or mayhap three. One for each aspect.

He doesn't want to think about what the third's Dreaming might be like.

But once more, he'd not interrupt Moiraine.

[blue_ajah]

Other aspects sleep, or lie quiet within.

*She stops speaking, and there is silence between them for a time, while she watches the fish in the fountain. When she speaks again, it is with unusual simplicity.*

Destiny came to the bar.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland gets very, very still.

Quietly: "The Ka-lord. The First."

[blue_ajah]

*She nods, still watching the fish.*

He who shapes reality itself.

[lastgunslinger]

The scent of the roses seems to hang heavier.

Still quietly: "What happened?"

[blue_ajah]

He shapes reality, it would seem, and so reality is shaped around him.

*A long pause.*

Daniel was drawn to the bar, as he is Dream.

*Another pause, and worry in her eyes is clear.*

And displaced my lord, who was sent... elsewhere.

[lastgunslinger]

It takes Roland a moment to work this out.

The Ka-lord brought Daniel with him to the bar, because Daniel is the Dream-lord who is alive.

And Morpheus, the Dream-lord that Roland knows, was sent elsewhere.

"But he has returned?" Worry, perhaps, in his voice. A thread of it.

[blue_ajah]

He has, now.

*Moiraine sounds calm enough, but her eyes are still very bleak.*

From the Outer Dark, where he was sent who was never meant to die.

It must not happen again.

*It can, and she knows it; but she has determined that she must find a way to prevent it.*

[lastgunslinger]

It is a moment before Roland says, very softly, "The Outer Dark."

[blue_ajah]

*Moiraine glances suddenly at him, and although it is rare to see the Aes Sedai react unguarded, there is clear regret in her eyes.*

Perhaps we should speak of something else, Roland.

*Composed, utterly composed.*

[lastgunslinger]

Ka is cruel.

The sky is gray; the goldfish seem to have lost vibrancy. He breathes, and the roses steady him.

"Is there anything that I may do for either of you?"

[blue_ajah]

It is enough that you asked, Roland, and I thank you for it.

*With calm sincerity.*

[lastgunslinger]

He nods, and for a moment, he, too, looks at the goldfish.

Without looking up, he says, "That explains the clouds, I wot."

[blue_ajah]

It does.

*And rather more than that, as well.*

The Dreaming is affected by that which affects Dream.

*For they are the same.*

[lastgunslinger]

There is silence, for a while. Roland doesn't seem to be looking at anything in particular.

This is because he is taking it all in -- drinking it all in -- as if for the last time.

There are problems to deal with, here in the Dreaming; better that Moiraine not have to think about a guest as well.

That, and he knows that he must face them all some time, and better sooner than later.

He blinks, once, and then says, "When next you intend to return to Milliways, lady-sai, I'd go with you, if it isn't too much trouble."

Respite. Recovery. Return.

[blue_ajah]

*Moiraine looks at him, and then inclines her head in assent.*

It is no trouble. *A pause.* You were welcome, and shall be again, if you wish to return.

[lastgunslinger]

He smiles, at that. One of his Roland smiles: honest but small, and very brief. "Thankee-sai, Moiraine. That would do me fine, one of these days."

He has a means of escape, now. Not Paris. Something closer to home. It means a great deal.

And he'll get to finish Vannay's book, too.

But -- one of these days, he said. Not until the trouble is resolved. But where the Ka-lord is involved...Roland hopes for their sake that ka is with them.

[blue_ajah]

One of these days, then.

*She does not want to take him from the Garden, but Moiraine sighs quietly and says,*

As for when to return to Milliways, that is at your convenience, I think.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland is silent for a moment. He trails his fingers through the water; the goldfish scatter in a flash of orange-gold, and regroup.

There are things to be said, and he must think, first. He must frame his thoughts.

"There are wonders here," he says finally. "Things I've not seen in years. Things I've never seen before, and will never see again." A pause. "And things I had never thought to see again."

She knows that the castle looked like that of Gilead-that-was, to him.

"And people I had never thought to see again."

Now, now he looks at her.

"It is safe for me to return -- and better sooner than later, I think." Even if he did tell Alain where he was going this time. "But for this...I thank you."

[blue_ajah]

You may see them again. *A pause, and the Aes Sedai smiles serenely at him.* When you return.

You are welcome, Roland.

*She stands, and holds out a hand to him.*

Shall we go, then?

[lastgunslinger]

Roland nods. "Aye, lady-sai." He takes her hand.

One last moment: roses, and goldfish, and a sky that is gray and not blue, but soothing all the same.

[blue_ajah]

*Her other hand moves to her throat, and then the Aes Sedai and the gunslinger disappear from the Garden.*