(no subject)

[theravenboy]

One can't count days in the Summer Country. Bran tried to keep track of the passing of time, but after the third time he lost count, he gave up.

That said, Bran is beginning to feel that he has been here for far too long. This morning, he's escaped the business waiting for him in Arthur's office, the great hall and the throne room, and gone to pace up and down the shore where Pridwen rests.

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[blue_ajah]

All things considered, it does not take her as long to find him as it might have, for Moiraine has silently made it her business to keep track of Bran's habits and usual schedule.

As she glides down the path leading to the water, the Aes Sedai spares one brief second to be grateful that these docks are so very different from those of Cairhien.

She pauses at the edge of the shore, watching Bran as he paces. There is nothing of impatience in her manner or expression, but dark eyes are slightly narrowed with concern as she assesses him.

[theravenboy]

Bran stops, remembering to smile. There is a tense wrinkle in his forehead that appeared some weeks ago and has not gone away. "Good morning, Moiraine."

[blue_ajah]

"One might hope so," she murmurs, watching him. "Good morning, then, Bran."

A pause.

"How are matters with you?"

[theravenboy]

"I am not going to borrow your usual answer," Bran says. "But the land is holding."

[blue_ajah]

"Were it not, I suspect we would notice," she observes calmly. "And yet my question stands."

[theravenboy]

Bran cannot show weakness now, even if no one will see but Moiraine; he is regent, and he is in public. "I am also holding."

[blue_ajah]

She nods, very slightly.

"Would you allow that I make us private?"

[theravenboy]

"If you will." As Bran waits, he holds his back straight and his head high. He hadn't meant Moiraine to catch him pacing, before, and he's covering the mistake as best he can.

[blue_ajah]

She inclines her head to him, then opens herself to saidar.

Here in the Summer Country, the golden aura about her is not as visible as it is in Milliways, nor is the weave of white and blue threads that flashes from her fingertips and wreathes into a large dome about them-- although it may be sensed by some.

The Aes Sedai ties off the weave and releases the True Source, saying,

"We may now be neither seen nor heard; I will know if someone tries, I think. To a passer-by, this area shall appear as if the shore were merely lacking our presence."

[theravenboy]

Bran does not relax yet. "If Will or Merriman were looking for me, could they find me?"

[blue_ajah]

"You may think of it as a bending, if you prefer," she tells him. "If they are truly seeking you out of need, I believe that they should be able to find you, yes."

[theravenboy]

Bran exhales. "Good." He sits down, legs crossed, on the pebbly beach, and leans his head on his arm. "You asked how I am. How matters are with me, actually, I should know better than to paraphrase you by now... well. This is all taking too long, Moiraine."

[blue_ajah]

"I realize that it must seem that way," the Aes Sedai murmurs, even as she glides across the shore toward him. "But why do you say it?"

[theravenboy]

"There is very little that changes here." Bran sits up to look at Moiraine. "And we are outside of Time, so the passing of days does not mean much. Except that every day, the cracks in the spells are more apparent. When I wake in the morning I can feel it. And there is no way to tell when the king my father will come home. Or whether he will."

[blue_ajah]

Gracefully, without apparent thought for the state of her silk gown, Moiraine sinks to the ground beside him.

"You must not let it overwhelm you, Bran," she tells him, and although the Aes Sedai's voice is very kind, it is still firm. "You must not. It is a delicate balance to strike, and one that perhaps becomes more difficult with time-- but it can be managed."

And there is no one else, she does not say. There is no need to.

"Would you like me to seek what information I may find in Milliways, regarding how matters stand in Fionavar?"

[theravenboy]

"I would appreciate that," says Bran.

"And I know, I know. I can do it. I must do it."

[blue_ajah]

"Then I shall."

A pause, and her gaze remains steady upon him.

"I do not need to tell you that if you fail, we are all lost."

[theravenboy]

"All?" Bran raises his head. "All but you, surely? Of course you are not lying, so what is it that I do not know?"

[blue_ajah]

The pause before she replies is a little longer than it should be, perhaps, but then she shrugs and speaks lightly.

"It may be only that I consider myself that closely allied to you, Bran."

[theravenboy]

Bran leans forward, watching Moiraine closely. "I am glad to have you here. We all are. Goodness knows we cannot afford to turn down your help. But your own world must take priority, for you."

[blue_ajah]

"You are not telling me anything I do not already know, Bran," she says steadily, meeting his gaze with no evasion.

[theravenboy]

"Then if I were going to fail," Bran replies, "you would have to leave as soon as the warning went up. I am sure Raven would help you."

[blue_ajah]

"Better we see that you do not fail, do you not think?" she replies.

Moiraine appears perfectly serene and untroubled-- and utterly without doubt.

[theravenboy]

"Yes, but-- Moiraine, I can tell when there is something you do not want to say."

[blue_ajah]

"Then you are learning," the Aes Sedai tells him, tranquilly. "Not everyone can discern such subtleties of speech, but it is a skill that will be invaluable for you."

[theravenboy]

Bran grits his teeth. "Good. Now I would like to learn how to stop you from talking in circles."

[blue_ajah]

There is a pause, and then Moiraine smiles faintly.

"I do not think it likely you can break the Oath by which I am bound, but..."

She shrugs.

"Do not let it trouble you, in this case, Bran. It is only an echo, if you will, of another place and time. It is even almost expected, or should have been."

[theravenboy]

It's long habit, by now, for Bran to run Moiraine's phrasing over and over in his mind until he makes sense of it. He thinks over her words silently. At last a memory rises in his mind.

"Oh," Bran says very quietly. "I am sorry, Moiraine."

[blue_ajah]

"Do not be," she says and her words are both clear and certain. "I am not."

[theravenboy]

Bran nods, in grave acceptance of this unambiguous truth, and pushes himself to his feet. "Thank you, Moiraine. I am not going to fail."

[blue_ajah]

She remains seated, looking up at him. Sunlight sparks from the blue jewel of the kesiera on her forehead.

"I know," Moiraine says.

[theravenboy]

Bran nods again, with finality, and offers Moiraine his hand to help her up.

"Is there anything we can do for you, here?"

[blue_ajah]

She allows him to assist her to her feet, and smiles at him.

"You have already done far more than you know, Bran."

[theravenboy]

Bran smiles back, answering lightly, "I hope it is good, whatever it is I did."

[blue_ajah]

"It is," the Aes Sedai assures him, quietly.

"You may be certain of that."