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[blue_ajah]

*Dream moves through the bar and upstairs to Moiraine's room, carrying the Aes Sedai. She is silent, watching everything with vague interest as they pass by. Once inside her room, he sits down in one of the chairs, still cradling her in his arms.*

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[blue_ajah]

*Moiraine glances around the room as though she has never seen it before. She frowns slightly, trying to make sense of it, then looks up at Dream.*

This is real, then?

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"Yes, Moiraine. Any sense of lingering dreams is my fault. If you wish, I shall leave you to recover."

He does not want to offer. That does not keep his voice from being even. Dream of the Endless has far more practice at seeming unruffled than Moiraine Sedai.

"My greatest wish is for you to recover. If I hinder that, I can wait to see you."

And he caresses her cheek gently to say, without words, that he missed her, he was afraid for her, he will miss her...but he will not resent her time of healing.

[blue_ajah]

*Sudden fear fills her eyes, and Moiraine tenses abruptly. Her voice is sharp with alarm.*

No-- *She cuts herself off, and tries again, more carefully, more controlled.*

Please. Do not leave me yet, if you are willing to stay.

*She looks up at him, waiting.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"For so long as you want me, Moiraine, I am here."

He continues to touch her face, gently stroking the soft skin of her cheek with cool, silky fingers.

[blue_ajah]

*A smile curves her lips, the first since her return.*

Thank you.

*A hint of blue at the corner of her eye draws her attention, and she studies the flowers in their waterglass on the table with some confusion, then reaches out and takes one, looking more closely at it.*

I have seen these before, elsewhere. There was... a garden, was there not? *She looks back up at him, and now her voice is certain.* They are yours.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"There is a garden, yes. It waits just beyond the edge of sleep, and when you are there nothing can harm or cause you fear."

His hand covers hers, wrapping around it and the flower easily,

"But the flower is not mine. It is yours, I created it for you. I had gotten quite drunk, as had a number of others, and while you slept I caused many hundreds of these flowers to fall around you in your dreams.

It was something of an accident, born of my inebriation and my longing for you."

He doesn't mind admitting it to her, in fact he sounds rather fond of the outcome of it all.

[blue_ajah]

*Recognition flickers in her eyes, and she looks amused.*

Yes. You and alcohol do not go that well together. Was there music?... no, that was another time. But there were cherries. I remember, now. Avendesora bore cherries.

*All amusement leaves her, then.*

It burned, in my mind. The Tree, and the Garden, both. The world is burning. It was lost, for a time.

*She touches the flower with her other hand, gently, in wonder.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"My Sibling would say that, perhaps, it went with me very well indeed."

He dips his head. It might be shame, but isn't. He did what he did, and at the time he thought he needed to.

"It shall not burn for you again, Moiraine, so long as I am there."

[blue_ajah]

*She reaches up and runs her fingers through his hair, smiling.*

Morpheus.

*Nothing else, just his name, but the trust and the emotion in her voice are unmistakable. A few moments pass in silence, then, and a thought seems to strike her. Moiraine appears faintly troubled.*

How long have I been gone?

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"Five days, Moiraine."

Five horrible days of torture on her part and waiting on his. Which, he might admit to Death, is another form of torture.

He dips his head so that she has a better angle, and sighs softly with relief.

[blue_ajah]

It did not seem like five days.

*There is something flat about her tone; whether her time in the Tower seemed only moments or an eternity long, Moiraine does not say, however. She continues to stroke his hair, and then asks,*

How is it that I am returned? *She frowns again, biting her lip.* I saw Will, and Rand, and I think there were others, but I am not certain.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"I know."

He strokes her hair again, soothing gestures.

"Rand came back just after you left. He and the others went through to rescue you. I do not know the details of what happened."

Because he wasn't there. Guilt is thick.

[blue_ajah]

*She lets her hand drop and toys idly with the blue flower, then leans her head against his shoulder and sighs quietly.*

I am glad to be here.

*A pause.* I will not go back there, if it can be avoided at all by any means, ever.

*A single shiver, then she is quiet and still once more.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"I do not think that I would be able to let you go there again."

Despite what duty means to both of them, he will not watch her walk into those lands again. Ever. At the shiver, he tilts her face up toward him and assuming she does not draw away he sets a gentle kiss on her lips briefly.

[blue_ajah]

*She smiles as the kiss ends, and looks at him. Her voice is quiet, and her dark eyes are clear and intent on his star-eyed gaze.*

I thought, when I left, that I might be able to bargain with them for passage to Andor. If one enters under treaty, one can be relatively safe, after all, if one is careful. I did not know that I had never truly been free of the Tower. *There is a pause.* And when I realized what was to come, I thought that I would never see you again.

*Moiraine hesitates for a moment, then lets the flower fall into her lap and reaches up to Dream. With one hand she brushes the hair back from his forehead, and then she gently draws him down into another kiss.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

There are times when it is wiser for men, and man shaped beings, to remain silent. He cradles her, not as though she were fragile but rather as though she were a precious thing. Which, when it is looked at even tangentially, she is.

The kiss lasts as long as she wants it to, he is remaining on his self-promised path of letting her pick the speed this relationship happens at.

And, truth be known, he is more than content with the silent revelation that it is, indeed, possible to live within a kiss.

[blue_ajah]

*This kiss ends as well, and Moiraine lays her hand against his cheek briefly, watching him, and then looks down at the flower again. The Aes Sedai seems thoughtful.*

I cannot remember everything clearly, I am afraid. There is -- it is like a stain, a film, that lies over nearly everything and covers it with darkness. It may fade in time, I think; I believe it did, before...

*Left unsaid is that this second experience was far, far worse than the first.*

I do recall that which is most important, though, I believe. *She glances up at him and smiles shyly, then returns to studying the flower.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"If you wish, Moiraine, I can help you make it fade. Later, when you are more grounded in the now. Some things are best left to time for a while."

He smiles back at her shy one, and simply watches her watch the flower.

"I am glad."

[blue_ajah]

*She frowns, very slightly, considering this.*

Perhaps at some point, if it does not fade on its own or if I cannot find a way past it. I will need to be able to think clearly again, I am certain of that, and very likely in the near future.

But not now, no, as you said. It is ... too soon. I do not think it would go well. *A tiny shiver, which she instantly represses.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"Nor do I, beloved."

He doesn't want to offer her ring back. However, it is a link to what she was before the tower. He moves his hand to make it glint,

"Moiraine? Do you desire your ring back?"

Mental note. Have the Sibling bring flowers. Lots of them.

[blue_ajah]

*She blinks at it, and starts immediately to answer, then stops. A moment goes by, then another, while she looks at it. Moiraine tilts her head to look up at Dream.*

It is the symbol of the Aes Sedai.

Do you wish to return it?

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"No. However, it is yours and a link to what you knew before the tower which has no touch of the Dreaming upon it. My everything is for your healing, now."

[blue_ajah]

*She has not looked away, and a faintly amused smile crosses her face now. Moiraine makes a slight gesture around the room, and light flashes from a silver bracelet on her wrist as she reaches to touch the amethyst key that hangs at her throat.*

Much of what I knew here before the Tower also has the touch of the Dreaming on it, Morpheus. Surely you must realize that. There is also the matter of having spent a year and a half in the World of Dreams; having gone on the search for you; and yes, even this second ... experience. And even if all of this were otherwise, your very presence carries the feel of Tel'aran'rhiod and always has, and I do not wish you to depart from me.

*Very softly, she continues.* Keep the ring, if you wish. The reason I gave it to you has not changed.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"I so wish, my love. I so wish."

[blue_ajah]

*She smiles up at him, even as a hint of color briefly stains her cheek. Moiraine brushes her hand through his hair again, and her voice is very soft.*

Then it is yours for as long as you want to keep it.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He traces the blush with a perpetually pale finger.

"Try to sleep, my dear one. You are safe, now."

[blue_ajah]

*She is still for a moment, then nods.*

You are right, I think. I should probably try to rest.

*As Dream releases her, Moiraine rises, and stands there for a moment, looking at him.*

Thank you, Morpheus.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"Yes, beloved."

He rises, pauses,

"If you need me, you have only to ask. I will be there."

[blue_ajah]

*She nods again, her hand rising to the amethyst key.*

I-- *Moiraine bites her lip, stopping her words.*

I shall remember, Morpheus.

*She smiles at him.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

And so he kisses her gently, and then walks out the door before returning to the Dreaming.

But he is only a whisper away, watching her through the night.

[blue_ajah]

*After Dream leaves, she sits on the edge of the bed, and then buries her head in her hands and shudders as the memories of the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn and the treatment she received at their hands tear through her. Moiraine does not weep, nor does she scream; she simply sits and waits for the storm to pass, as it did once before. Twice her hand rises towards the key, and twice she forces herself to stop -- he can help, eventually, he has said it, but first she must be able to center herself back in the world outside the Tower. No one else can do that for her; she must be able to face it herself.

This is only the first night. There will be others, and not all will be as bad. She knows this, from bitter experience.

Eventually, she rises and goes about the room, making certain that every possible source of light is lit and shining brightly. Only after that is done does Moiraine lie down and attempt to sleep.*