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[lastgunslinger]

He'd found an interesting-looking book in the Library -- More Tales From The Corner, But Only If I Don't Find A Better Title, by a man with the interesting name of F.X. Toole.

So now Roland is sitting in his chair by the fountain in the Garden, reading, with the grey kitten batting at the roses floating on the surface of the water.

Morning-glories bloom around the bottom of the fountain.

Comments

[lastgunslinger]

He pulls his eyes away from David and looks to Moiraine, eyebrows raised a little, waiting.

[blue_ajah]

"As I mentioned, I had opportunity to speak with them, some time past."

A pause, and she tilts her head, studying him.

"Would you prefer that I had not?"

[lastgunslinger]

Roland considers.

"Let's say that it's not something I would have expected you to do, and that I have no preference one way or the other."

He's not angry. Just a little surprised.

[blue_ajah]

"You would not have expected it?" One eyebrow arches slightly, and then she simply inclines her head in acknowledgement. There is a pause.

"Well. Be that as it may."

There is a longer pause, and dark eyes meet faded blue ones. When she speaks again, her tone is very calm and somehow still.

"He has asked her, and she has accepted."

[lastgunslinger]

Roland nods.

"I didn't think she'd reject him."

Even.

[blue_ajah]

She nods as well.

"And yet, I thought perhaps it would be better that you know."

Before his return.

"They are concerned, I believe."

[lastgunslinger]

Quietly: "I wish them well. That's the truth. And that's what they need to hear...and it's what I'll say to them, when the time comes."

And so long as they don't press further, the conversation will go well.

[blue_ajah]

"I do not doubt that you do, nor that you will."

Moiraine studies him, seeming to deliberate over her words for longer than is usual.

"But it is still loss as well as joy, as I have said before, and I would not see you lose that which, as you have said, has been restored to you."

[lastgunslinger]

His eyes are on David again. Still quiet: "I am their dinh, and we have work to do. That won't change. It can't change. The rest may fall as it will."

[blue_ajah]

"The Wheel weaves."

Her composure does not change, but there is the sound of a very faint sigh carried on the mountain's breeze.

"Do you think they will accept that, and that only?"

[lastgunslinger]

"They may have to." Not sullenly, not with bitterness. Just a fact.

[blue_ajah]

"Has this changed how you consider them, then?"

Her tone is one of calm curiosity.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland shakes his head. "They're making a life for themselves, as Cuthbert said. It's not one I can share in. Not one I'd want to share in, either."

Pause.

Still matter-of-fact: "We were very young. She still is. And in many ways Cuthbert still is."

[blue_ajah]

The chirping of birds is very loud in the otherwise-silent air.

"It can be difficult indeed, when there is a span of years and experience dividing those who are otherwise... connected. Difficult in many ways."

There is something of knowledge in her words.

[lastgunslinger]

He knows it's hard.

For a moment he thinks that he'd give anything to hear someone speak plainly. Diplomatic doubletalk won't help.

"Yes."

And Moiraine can say no word that is not true, but this doesn't mean that she can't veil her true meaning to the point of obscurity.

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

Need is the key.

"Why the hell am I up a mountain?"

[blue_ajah]

There is a long moment of absolute stillness marked only by the Aes Sedai's visibly evident and complete shock as she simply stares at Joe Manco.

Finally,

"The Wheel weaves."

Her tone is very, very dry, and her smile serene.

[lastgunslinger]

"Can't tell me you haven't ranged over mountains before."

Roland is fighting amusement.

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

Joe laughs, a dry, ugly sound. "You've always got the answer."

He turns from Moiraine to Roland. "You know how you can tell this is a dream?" he says, gesturing at the wheeling birds.

[lastgunslinger]

"Seems to me like you have the answer for that yourself." Not so much with the fighting, any more.

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

Joe snorts. "Not what I meant." He gestures at the rocks now. "No birdsh--droppings." He tips his hat to Moiraine, and hunkers, regarding them silently.

[blue_ajah]

"Also, since we are in the Dreaming," she says calmly, "perhaps the more surprising thing would be if it were not."

"Some things within Tel'aran'rhiod can be more real than those in the waking world."

[lastgunslinger]

Roland is used to reality being a little weird. He doesn't much care one way or the other.

"Where'd you come in from?"

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

Joe shakes his head. "I wasn't even dreaming about being me."

[lastgunslinger]

"And yet you showed up." Roland sounds like he's musing.