(no subject)

[lastgunslinger]

In his room in the Dreaming, Roland sits, smoking a cigar and thinking.

Colored light from the stained glass window washes over his face.

As he exhales, the smoke catches the colored light and swirls; there is an airiness, an etherealness, to the room that one would likely never associate with the gunslinger...but it suits him.

Comments

[blue_ajah]

*Dark eyes are intent upon him as she says,*

Is it so, then?

*Her manner remains serene, although her acute interest is evident.*

[lastgunslinger]

"I believe so. The Dream-lord told Joe the manner of his death -- he can see the end. Joe told me not to lose the horn; so did the Dream-lord. Joe read the first book, and there is no reason he could not have read the last. The bar gave him the first, after all."

Roland seems to be inspecting one of the trellises of roses.

[blue_ajah]

I see.

*A pause, as she watches him examine the window.*

Does it disturb you?

[lastgunslinger]

He shakes his head. "I am accustomed to folken knowing things that I do not and cannot."

Eddie. Jake. Susannah. Ted.

"And unless I see him in this place once more, it is not likely, I wot, that I will see him again."

A small half-smile. "He was always a cheater."

[blue_ajah]

Unlikely, but not impossible, particularly in the World of Dreams.

*Moiraine returns his smile with a very slightly wry look, and then says smoothly,*

I would not disagree, I think; he was, in his own way, a devious and clever man.

*A pause.*

It would seem, then, that the horn may be important to you.

[lastgunslinger]

"Not seem. Is." Smile's gone. "I watched Joe's movie. There's not much he'd risk his life for. Not unless it was important." Pause. "And if he'd read the book...it will be important."

[blue_ajah]

*She can almost hear Joe's voice as it was during what turned out to be their last conversation, although she did not know it then. I'm trustin' you to be hard... 'Cos I think your goal and his is the same. Moiraine meets Roland's gaze directly.*

He called you a friend. You were important to him, I think.

*A pause, in which she does not look away.*

Do not lose the horn, and do not forget the reason that you have it now.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland doesn't look away, either, but his eyebrows rise slightly.

"Have you read it too, then?"

[blue_ajah]

*Her answer is serene and without hesitation.*

Before he died, I had spoken with Joe at some length, on several occasions. *A pause.* Including one very interesting discussion about a poem called "The Waste Land."

I would trust his judgment in this matter, I believe, particularly as it has been confirmed by my lord Dream.

[lastgunslinger]

"You speak no word that is not true." Roland shakes his head slightly...but he has a half-smile. "All right. No more questions."

[blue_ajah]

*She smiles very slightly back at him, and inclines her head a fraction, perhaps in acknowledgement.*

It is one of the Oaths.

No more questions, then, perhaps, if you are content. *She looks out the window, herself, as if considering the view.*

[lastgunslinger]

"No reason not to be." His words are light enough, but as the colors play across the room, the words seem to hold a deeper significance.

[blue_ajah]

*She nods to him, although she does not reply to that in words, and looks out the window once more. Silence between them, for a time, and then the Aes Sedai speaks, softly and apparently casual.*

It was real, Roland; I think you may consider it so, at any rate.

[lastgunslinger]

For a moment he does not move at all; then, slowly, he turns his head to face her.

A hard road. But thee has done as well as thee might on it, I think.

Softly: "It is well."

And he looks away. "He was a hard man."

[blue_ajah]

Sometimes it is required that one be hard.

*Calm certainty, showing nothing of inner turmoil, if there were any to be seen. Her tone is academic, or very near.*

This does not necessarily mean that one might care any less.

[lastgunslinger]

"No." His voice is still low. "As I know all too well."

Joe, again: Don't lose the damn horn. But if you lose your friends over a romance or a change in life or hurt pride, you might as well throw it away right now.

[blue_ajah]

*She tilts her head, studying him.*

I know that you do.

*Still calmly.*

As do I.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland inclines his head. "We are colleagues." A very, very slight smile. "It is fitting."

[blue_ajah]

It is, perhaps. *A pause.* The Wheel weaves.

[lastgunslinger]

There is silence for a moment -- not uncomfortable.

Roland looks at the window, and says quietly, "I should return, I think."

[blue_ajah]

Then I shall take you back, if you wish it so.

*She does not yet move, but remains seated, watching him.*

[lastgunslinger]

Roland looks at the window for a moment longer --

Killing and not being killed. Awful lot of that in your life. Not so much of that in Milliways. Lot of things you left behind in the dust are there. Shouldn't only treasure the one of them, to my mind.

-- and stands. It's time.

[blue_ajah]

*She rises, and holds out her hand to him. Moiraine does not remind him that he is welcome to return; he knows.*

[lastgunslinger]

He does.

Roland takes her hand; the last thing he sees as the Dreaming disappears is the window, brought suddenly alive by more light.