(no subject)

[theravenboy]

[An hour or two after this:]

Bran has found a plain chamber on the ground floor of the castle, with a window that faces a long descending hillside and then the wide blueness of the sea. He rests his hands on the cool stone of the wall, but otherwise he stands straight, unthinkingly regal, as he thinks through the speech he must give this evening.

A white and gold scabbard, holding the crystal sword Eirias, is belted to Bran's trousers.

When the Summer Country murmurs into his mind that someone has entered the land, Bran startles, but he realises it is Moiraine and relaxes almost at once.

Comments

[blue_ajah]

It does not take her all that long, as it happens, to encounter the increased awareness on the part of many of the Summer Country's inhabitants.

Very soon after that, she is gliding swiftly along the hallways, in search of the land's regent.

(Some might wonder at how quickly it is that she finds him, in truth.)

"Bran." Moiraine's tone is not quite sharp, but the concern is evident. "Are you well?"

[theravenboy]

On a hearth in the middle of the room, a fire burns without wood and without smoke. Two heavy wooden chairs, ornamented with iron, are set before it.

"Welcome back, Moiraine." Bran favours Moiraine with a tired smile. "You missed an interesting evening."

[blue_ajah]

"So it would appear."

The Aes Sedai is studying him very carefully indeed.

"Do you wish to speak of it?"

[theravenboy]

"Sit down, Moiraine." Bran encourages her by taking one of the chairs himself. With some effort, he manages to sit gracefully, rather than fall into the seat.

Remembering Moiraine's original question, Bran says, "I'm not hurt."

[blue_ajah]

"I am glad to hear that, of course-- although if I may be straightforward about matters, you do not look particularly well, either."

Her gaze drops to the hilt of the familiar sword at his side and remains there for a long moment before she meets his eyes again.

"What has happened?"

[theravenboy]

Bran's lip twitches when Moiraine says 'straightforward'. "Refreshing, that is." But Bran grows serious immediately.

"We had a guest last night. Uninvited. The land told me he was here, so of course I ran to meet him. Stupid of me, I was alone and unarmed and the very last thing I should have been doing was facing attackers.

"It was Galadan, in the shape of a wolf. I have no idea what he wanted. Thank God it never came to a battle -- the Hunter frightened him, and then Merlion and Will came and forced him to flee.

"The fact of the matter, Moiraine, is that the borders of the Summer Country are failing. We cannot trust to the magic to keep invaders out. Worse, someone outside of the land -- at Milliways, very likely -- must know where I am and have told Galadan where to find me. We have few working defences now, and our enemies can reach us here. We will have to rethink our system altogether if we hope to live until my father returns."

[blue_ajah]

Dark eyes flash with temper, but aside from that there is no sign of her anger-- ruthlessly, instantly controlled.

"How could he have been directed here?"

[theravenboy]

"I wish I knew." Bran rests his right hand on Eirias's hilt; the weight of the sword at his side comforts him.

"Very few, there are, who know we are here. You, of course, and Raven. I suppose that Kim Ford and her friends may have guessed, but I cannot imagine they would talk to Galadan about it. My father, who is in Fionavar, and of course he would never speak."

[blue_ajah]

"No, one would not expect that he would," she murmurs, even as a shadow flickers through the dark eyes and is gone.

"It is difficult to imagine what would lead him, or any of them, perhaps, to do so; therefore it seems it must have been another way that was found."

She is thinking quickly, assessing, and the possibilities... well, they are disconcerting, to say the least.

[theravenboy]

"I suppose so. But we have no way of finding out."

Bran is tracing out the same list of possibilities, or nearly; he has not Moiraine's training in human behavior and in methods of betrayal, but he is Arthur's son and the Regent of the Summer Country, and he thinks of some of these things.

"Moiraine, I have no right to command you, but if I asked you to go to Milliways, and learn what you could about Galadan, would you go?"

[blue_ajah]

Dark eyes meet golden ones, and the Aes Sedai inclines her head to him in acquiescence.

"I shall, if you wish it so."

[theravenboy]

"Thank you." Recalling that by Moiraine's standards, he hasn't actually asked her yet, Bran adds, "I would appreciate it."

He is silent for a moment, hand still idle on the hilt of the sword.

"There is a strange thing, here, that I do not understand. I said that the magic of the Land is failing, and yesterday it was. But now that I am listening to it, the Country is more stable than it has been since--"

Bran pulls his right hand away from Eirias as if it were burning hot, gripping his left hand instead.

"Iesu Criste."

[blue_ajah]

His alarm is clear, and an immediate, subtle tension races through the Aes Sedai as she reacts to it.

"Bran. What is it?"

[theravenboy]

"I should have known. Merlion should have known. I did ask him if it would be proper--" Bran stops himself.

Then he stands, all at once arrogant and regal. Quite calmly, his voice resonant with power, Bran says,

"Arthur Pendragon, king of this land, is my father. I am Regent of the Summer Country. I raised Eirias, the sword of the Pendragon, from the place where it rested.

"It follows that despite oaths I have sworn in the past, I am now the Pendragon, of this place outside Time, linked fully to the High Magic that guards and holds the land."

[blue_ajah]

Dark eyes widen in shock, and for several seconds Moiraine stares at him in silence.

"You have reclaimed your heritage," she says, at last. "Your birthright, that which you had renounced."

[theravenboy]

Drily, "It was rather an accident."

[blue_ajah]

"I doubt that," Moiraine murmurs, and her gaze upon him is rather assessing, now.

"The Wheel weaves, and all things are part of the Pattern."

[theravenboy]

"Moiraine, I chose my life before, freely. I accept that my actions today led me to reverse my decision. If your Pattern caused me to break a promise I made in the names of both my fathers, ratified by Merlion and by the High Magic, then is the guilt mine or the Pattern's?"

[blue_ajah]

Strangely, Moiraine hesitates, then shakes her head.

"I did not say it was not your choice to make, Bran-- although there are some few whose choices are more constrained by the Pattern than others, as it weaves around them. But I am certain that there is a reason for it, all the same."

[theravenboy]

"We could not last much longer as we were," Bran answers slowly. "Neither I nor the Old Ones. If I am meant to hold the kingdom for the long term..." He turns to the window to look out upon the (his?) land.

[blue_ajah]

"Or at the very least, a longer term than you may once have expected," she amends, smoothly.

There is no sign of her racing thoughts visible in her outward composure.

"This change-- although unexpected, as you have said-- is something of a strength, where strength is greatly needed."

[theravenboy]

"We do need it," Bran agrees, "but I will have to pay later."

He shivers, fighting off sudden exhaustion. It occurs to Bran, belatedly, that he hasn't slept in more than a day, and since yesterday morning he encountered a wolf, planned defences for the Castle, and removed Eirias from its resting place.

[blue_ajah]

The Aes Sedai's eyes narrow as she studies him.

"And the more so, I think, if you do not rest now," Moiraine informs him. "Can you do so unaided?"

[theravenboy]

"Yes, I can manage that much." Bran's lip twitches. "I suppose that if I do not go willingly, you will take stronger measures?"

[blue_ajah]

"I would prefer that it not be necessary," she replies.

It is a clear answer, as it happens. Clear enough. Quietly, Moiraine adds,

"Light illumine and protect you, Bran. Rest. I shall do what I may here, then seek answers where they might be found."

[theravenboy]

Bran says, "Thank you, Moiraine," and goes to find his neglected bed.