(no subject)

[blue_ajah]

*By her reckoning, it is now Christmas. Moiraine looks around her neatly-kept room, lit by the flicker of blue flames in a crystal on a shelf and by the soft light of a lamp on the small table. Her gaze falls on a certain gift, which lies upon the table wrapped in blue foil with a silver ribbon.

The Aes Sedai smiles in hopeful anticipation, and thinks of Dream. Her hand rises to the amethyst key at her throat.*

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[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He appears behind her, and runs his fingers along her hair,

"Merry Christmas, Moiraine."

[blue_ajah]

*She turns around and smiles up at him in pure delight.*

Merry Christmas, Morpheus.

*Moiraine pauses for only a moment, and her eyes sparkle.*

Are you enjoying the holiday, so far?

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He touches her face, and nods.

"Yes, I have."

By virtue of watching others, from the Dreaming. But, well, that is what he chose to do.

[blue_ajah]

*She leans into his touch.*

I am glad to hear it.

*A quiet moment goes by, and then the Aes Sedai smiles with serene delight. She cannot wait longer.*

I have something for you.

*She turns away to pick up the package, and holds it out to him.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He takes it, and unwraps it.

"Oh."

Softly, and he stares into it,

"Thank you, beloved."

One arm moves to embrace her, but he continues to watch the birds.

[blue_ajah]

*Very quietly, noting his absorption,*

You are most welcome, Morpheus.

*She leans into the gentle embrace and lays her head on his shoulder, trying not to distract him. Moiraine looks at the globe, listening to the soft sounds of birdsong and watching the tiny creatures flutter from tree to tree, through the air and across the grass as Dream turns the globe slightly and the view moves accordingly.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He could stare at it all night. Instead he places it in a pocket inside his robes, and then hands her a package wrapped in pale blue flowers.

Ahh, mixed thoughts on how things work.

[blue_ajah]

*She smiles, then sets it gently on the table and carefully unwraps it to reveal a complete tea set -- cups, tea pot, cream pitcher, and sugar bowl, all in her favorite shade of blue. Moiraine looks up at Dream, clearly pleased.*

Thank you, Morpheus.

*She leaves it displayed there, and reaches up to brush her fingers along his cheek.*

Merry Christmas, dear one.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"To you as well. They are real, not items from the Dreaming. I had young Andrew fetch them for me. So you need not fear taking them anywhere."

[blue_ajah]

*She looks at them with a suddenly new appreciation.*

I see. Well, then, I shall be sure to do so, when I must go.

*Moiraine looks directly at him.*

And to bring them back, when I return.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"I have no fear of that, my love."

He holds out a hand, offering to take her to dinner in the Dreaming.

[blue_ajah]

*She places her hand in his with a serene smile.*

I am certainly glad to hear it.

*Moiraine knows that Dream can tell, through the bond, the depth of her determination. Even though she must leave at some point, she will return. She refuses to accept any other possibility.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He can. In return, he knows that she can feel his acceptance of this as fact.

He pulls her close, and they are in the Dreaming.

[blue_ajah]

*She looks up as the world shifts around them and they appear in the Dreaming.*

Does the globe work here, as well? I had hopes that it might, but could not be sure without revealing the secret before time.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He pulls it out, and smiles at the birds,

"Yes. It does. It is wonderful, Moiraine."

[blue_ajah]

*She looks quietly delighted to hear this.*

I am very glad indeed.

*Whatever price Desire may demand of her in the future, Moiraine at this moment believes that it will be worth it.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He turns her a quarter turn to the right. A table, which is perhaps a very long one or perhaps a very intimate one, is set for two and a dream-denizen stands to take orders.

[blue_ajah]

*Court practices stand her in good stead here, as always. Moiraine smiles up at Dream and then gracefully moves to one of the chairs and is seated, accordingly.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He settles down as well, and gestures to her to order what she wishes. Anything she can dream.

[blue_ajah]

*She murmurs a request to the attendant, with a faint smile of wistful memory for a pleasant day long past, then glances around the hall.*

Your home never fails to impress, Morpheus.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He laughs quietly,

"It would say something about the nature of the visitor if it did not, beloved."

[blue_ajah]

I suppose it would, at that. Perhaps unimaginative, or perhaps self-absorbed to the point of failing to notice anything else. It is a question to consider -- but could such a person ever truly find themselves in your Dreaming?

*She looks both amused and thoughtful.*

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"At some point, my love, all people do."

He points it out quetly, and smiles.

[blue_ajah]

*She shrugs, very slightly, and accepts that with a simple observation.*

You are Endless, after all.

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

"Indeed."

The dinners come, and he lifts a fork to begin. Despite the beliefs of some people, he does it. It is simply that the food of dreams means as much as the food of the waking world.

[blue_ajah]

Will's birthday went well, I believe.

*She savors the bite of the spice in the dish before her, then continues.*

As did my trip with Tom to Diagon Alley.

Tell me, did you notice anything unusual when I crossed from this place to that one?

[lord-of-dreams.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head, it was the same. A little distant, but nothing worse than when Will is gone.

"I am gratified to see that things go well."