(no subject)

[theravenboy]

Bran is standing before Arthur Pendragon's writing desk, touching the things his father left on it. He can hardly read Arthur's handwriting, he realises. The king's notes, scratched into the wax on an ivory tablet and written in ink on pages of vellum, are in Latin that is heavy with abbreviations and does not even have spaces between the words. The rounded script, incomprehensible as it is, does remind him of something, and he can't remember what.

Bran's head is pounding, as it has been since he arrived. Yesterday? He thinks they came yesterday.

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[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

Every inch of this country, he thinks, strikes a chord deep inside him. Every inch seems familiar and beloved.

And at the same time, it's all new.

There are no scheduled demands on his time here, at least not yet. The only clear demand is the constant awareness, day and night, of the part of his mind working always on the spells holding this country together around Bran. It's a little distracting, but not so bad.

So he's exploring. Partly.

Partly, he's keeping an eye open for Bran.

And others. But mostly, at the moment, for Bran.

[theravenboy]

Bran jerks up automatically, when he hears the footsteps, into the posture of a king receiving visitors. Seeing Will and no one else, Bran relaxes his shoulders.

He points to the ivory tablets. "I do not even know what he does."

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

Will's clothing, a moment ago, was a light linen shirt and wool trousers; this is still true, but the cut of them is subtly more modern as he steps fully into the room.

"Settling disputes and the like, I should think, at least in part," Will answers, with a glance at the tablets. He's a little too far away at the moment to read them clearly.

Wryly, "Though I don't know how many there would be here."

It is not a country conducive to discord.

[theravenboy]

"Arranging for food, and clothing, and enough supplies for the artists and proper care for the animals and plants, maybe, unless it is all magic that does that."

Bran shrugs, letting bleak unhappiness show.

"I do not understand this land. And I should, shouldn't I? It is speaking to me, every minute, calling me by name!"

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

"And it is new," Will says quietly.

"Very little even in magic comes to you all together, all at once. Complete, like that."

[theravenboy]

"Some of it did. Before."

Bran walks away from the desk. He cannot read the writing, and it is hurting his head worse to try. "I keep wondering, is it that I do not belong here at all? I said I could not come."

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

"Some of it."

Will can, not because of schoolboy Latin but because an Old One has skill with all languages if he sets his mind to it. He glances at the tablet briefly -- it is, indeed, notes on a dispute between Glyndwr and Gaheris -- and dismisses it.

"If you did not belong here at least somewhat, Bran, you could not be here at all. Let alone as you are."

"I don't know everything about it either."

[theravenboy]

"I know that, and yet--" Bran takes a breath. "What is it like here, for you? Old One."

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

Will's back straightens fractionally, in unconscious reaction to that term of address from Bran, here in Arthur's study in the Summer Country.

"It is familiar," he says slowly, "and utterly new. All at the same time. As if I dreamed it once, but still I am learning it for the first time."

"The Circle is joined here, and there are people I am glad to see. And..." he glances at the desk again briefly, looking for the right words. "I can feel the work being done, always. But it is not a burden. Nothing like that -- only something that is there."

Soberly, "It is easier for me, I think. But I do not know everything here either."

[theravenboy]

"Thank you, Will." Following Will's change in bearing, Bran, too, raises his head and pushes aside his mood. It is easier to remember he is regent, and must hold himself appropriately, when Will Stanton is all Old One beside him. "For your work, and for listening. My wizard."

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

Will inclines his head, the old gesture of grave and restrained formality.

And then "'Course," he says, with a crooked grin that makes some of the Old One's solemnity vanish into cheerful boyhood.

Not all. But some.

[theravenboy]

Bran's smile flashes, in quick understanding, and disappears almost at once, replaced by the regent's dignity. "Is there anything I can do, Will Stanton, to make your work easier?"

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

"I can't think of anything," Will says after a moment's reflection, gravely in response to Bran's demeanor. "The spells of this land go as they do, and go well. And for myself I am well."

[theravenboy]

"Good." There is nothing more Bran can say to acknowledge Will's loyalty, and to thank him for it, so he changes the subject.

"Very interesting jewelry here, have you seen? All sorts of periods, all mixed up and crossing. You should find one of the Makers to study with."

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

"There's an idea. Some of it's marvelous, isn't it? All that heavy Viking gold, and then the dainty work right next to it."

He grins slightly. "My professors would be very impressed with how much I seemed to have studied theory and history over hols."

Not that Will is likely to let much slip to them, really. And not that he doesn't keep a diplomatic silence about how much history he knows anyway.

[theravenboy]

Bran grins back. "You mean they don't already think you've revised more than any human being should?"

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

"Of course not," Will says with dignity. "I revise a perfectly normal amount."

Beat.

"Mind, I think the entire history department suspects I have a photographic memory."

[theravenboy]

Bran shakes his head. "Shame you can't tell them, 'No, it is not that I have a good memory, it is only that I ate supper with Owain Glyndwr last week and he told me all about the Welsh rebellions. It was only a reminder, of course, because I visited him years ago...'"

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

Will laughs.

"Yes, and they'd have me off for a nice long talk with a psychologist, for that. Or another rest cure to Wales. Nice way to skive off exams sometime, I suppose."

[theravenboy]

"Bah, exams!" Bran waves a hand. "What do you art students know of exams? I'll trade with you next term, if you like."

[sign-seeker.livejournal.com]

Will snorts.

"We can both be dreadfully surprised by our poor marks afterwards. It's a brilliant plan."

[theravenboy]

"Of course it is," Bran laughs. "It will give you some useful humility."

The magic of the Summer Country is still pushing on Bran's mind, the notes on Arthur's desk are still impenetrable, and the regent of the kingdom is not quite sure what to do next. But Will is here, and willing to listen, or talk, or do whatever needs to be done for Bran's and the kingdom's support, and that much is enough.