A Walk in the Garden
Sep. 13th, 2004 04:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blue_ajahIt is very nearly a ritual, now. As she slips into sleep, Moiraine curls her hand around the amethyst key and thinks of the Waygate that leads to the Garden. In a few moments (or perhaps a bit longer, or maybe immediately- who can say for certain, in the strange timelessness of dreams?) she finds herself once again standing in the now-familiar, yet always beautiful, spring forest, listening to the melodic chatter of birds.
And then he is there, as well, as though he had never been elsewhere. Dream straightens from where he is leaning against a nearby tree and bows slightly. "Good evening, Moiraine."
Her eyes light with quiet joy, and she smiles, holding out a hand. "Morpheus. Good evening. Will you walk with me?"
"It would be my pleasure to do so." He takes her hand and laces his fingers with hers. Together, they move slowly through the forest, alternating between companionable silence and light talk of inconsequential matters. Warm sunlight filters through the trees as they walk, and wildflowers dot the grass. Over everything lies a sense of peace and contentment.
They arrive at the edge of a clearing, and Dream brings Moiraine to a stop next to a tiny hollow that is filled with blue flowers. The delicate scent of their perfume, which happens to be the scent of apples, floats lightly on the breeze. He reaches, and then pale fingers brush across her cheek as he places a single blossom in her hair.
"Moiraine." He hesitates, seeking the proper words. "I do not think it likely that I shall be returning to Milliways for the time being."
Her smile fades; dark eyes grow troubled, and she looks up at him. Moiraine is quiet for a long, long moment. "Why?"
He has never been good at explaining. "Things are unsettled. I find myself wanting the peace of the Dreaming."
She studies him thoughtfully as she speaks. "You have had a difficult time of late, Morpheus. Adapting to the link with Liz, for one; if it is affecting her so strongly, I cannot but think that you are influenced as well, and the misunderstanding between you has not helped, I am certain. Then there is the situation with James Potter, and your worry for Del. Finally, there is the recent sorrow in the aftermath of Sirius and Kassandra's departure. I do not wonder that you would wish a respite."
He nods, silently. All of these things trouble him, yes. He does not mention that which she has inadvertently left out; Rand al'Thor's return to Milliways, and Dream's fear that this time, Rand will take Moiraine away with him when he leaves.
She smiles up at him reassuringly. "Look there, do you see?" With her free hand, Moiraine indicates a single tree with trefoil leaves, growing at the center of the clearing. "It is Avendesora, the Tree of Life. When last I saw it in Rhuidean, it was damaged and nearly destroyed, but here in the Garden it has been renewed." She pauses, and it is clear that although her words are casual, their meaning is not. "This place is good for such healing, I think."
Gently, she pulls at Dream's hand and leads him across the clearing to Avendesora. There she draws him down to sit beside her on the grass. Moiraine hesitates for a moment, then says, "It is a lovely world, this Dreaming, and it is a pleasant one. While you remain apart from Milliways, I shall look for you here instead, if you do not mind."
"I do not mind. I am glad of it." Carefully, he puts an arm around her. She sighs, and relaxes into the gentle embrace, laying her head on his shoulder. They sit there, talking quietly of various things, as night passes in the waking world.
In the morning, when Moiraine opens her eyes to her room once more, she notices the scent of apples. Reaching up to her hair, she finds a familiar blue flower. Moiraine smiles and places the flower in a waterglass on the table, where it continues to bloom.
And then he is there, as well, as though he had never been elsewhere. Dream straightens from where he is leaning against a nearby tree and bows slightly. "Good evening, Moiraine."
Her eyes light with quiet joy, and she smiles, holding out a hand. "Morpheus. Good evening. Will you walk with me?"
"It would be my pleasure to do so." He takes her hand and laces his fingers with hers. Together, they move slowly through the forest, alternating between companionable silence and light talk of inconsequential matters. Warm sunlight filters through the trees as they walk, and wildflowers dot the grass. Over everything lies a sense of peace and contentment.
They arrive at the edge of a clearing, and Dream brings Moiraine to a stop next to a tiny hollow that is filled with blue flowers. The delicate scent of their perfume, which happens to be the scent of apples, floats lightly on the breeze. He reaches, and then pale fingers brush across her cheek as he places a single blossom in her hair.
"Moiraine." He hesitates, seeking the proper words. "I do not think it likely that I shall be returning to Milliways for the time being."
Her smile fades; dark eyes grow troubled, and she looks up at him. Moiraine is quiet for a long, long moment. "Why?"
He has never been good at explaining. "Things are unsettled. I find myself wanting the peace of the Dreaming."
She studies him thoughtfully as she speaks. "You have had a difficult time of late, Morpheus. Adapting to the link with Liz, for one; if it is affecting her so strongly, I cannot but think that you are influenced as well, and the misunderstanding between you has not helped, I am certain. Then there is the situation with James Potter, and your worry for Del. Finally, there is the recent sorrow in the aftermath of Sirius and Kassandra's departure. I do not wonder that you would wish a respite."
He nods, silently. All of these things trouble him, yes. He does not mention that which she has inadvertently left out; Rand al'Thor's return to Milliways, and Dream's fear that this time, Rand will take Moiraine away with him when he leaves.
She smiles up at him reassuringly. "Look there, do you see?" With her free hand, Moiraine indicates a single tree with trefoil leaves, growing at the center of the clearing. "It is Avendesora, the Tree of Life. When last I saw it in Rhuidean, it was damaged and nearly destroyed, but here in the Garden it has been renewed." She pauses, and it is clear that although her words are casual, their meaning is not. "This place is good for such healing, I think."
Gently, she pulls at Dream's hand and leads him across the clearing to Avendesora. There she draws him down to sit beside her on the grass. Moiraine hesitates for a moment, then says, "It is a lovely world, this Dreaming, and it is a pleasant one. While you remain apart from Milliways, I shall look for you here instead, if you do not mind."
"I do not mind. I am glad of it." Carefully, he puts an arm around her. She sighs, and relaxes into the gentle embrace, laying her head on his shoulder. They sit there, talking quietly of various things, as night passes in the waking world.
In the morning, when Moiraine opens her eyes to her room once more, she notices the scent of apples. Reaching up to her hair, she finds a familiar blue flower. Moiraine smiles and places the flower in a waterglass on the table, where it continues to bloom.
