#earthrunes

"No, but..." and the words come out as a choked whisper, "...I'm afraid for him."

THAT gets a hug "you being afraid for him isn't a betrayal to your faith in him, my student"

He can feel the tension in her shoulders as she returns the hug. "No?"

"Of course not. Am I right in guessing that's one of the things that troubles you? That fearing for him means you aren't giving him his due? That you're somehow thinking less of him?"

She buries her face against his shoulder and nods quickly. "I can't sleep because I'm worried, and then I feel bad that I'm worried. I shouldn't be. He's...he's a clever man and a fine warrior in good company." Something she seems to have recited to herself before.

"If a man goes out in a storm, some stranger, and there is only one chance in a thousand he will be hit by lightning.. well, you can see why the gamble is worth it for him whatever he's after. But if someone you LOVE goes out... one in a thousand is just too risky, not because he's incompetent compared to the first man, but because your heart values him all the more. It's not a lack of faith, it's the realization of the personal stakes to you. And to him.. and what you have."

A sigh as she stays in his embrace. "I told him to go, Bachdion. To hurry and do it. I know this quest is important, but...it's taking so long...."

The last a bit of a petulant sigh.

"It is" he agrees without a fuss, "But think how happy you'll be when he returns?"

"When he returns," she echoes...then a long exhale. "Yes. Yes...it'll be wonderful...."

She still sounds a bit worried.

"And you will have a party, and he will wear his finest clothes and spoil you rotten. ANd vice versa"

"A party. Yes. That sounds lovely." A pause. "Thank you, teacher-mine." She hasn't moved from the comfort of his arms, his shoulder.

Nor does he ask her to. "You're tired." not a debate, "Not sleeping well you said. Perhaps you'll allow this old goat to play the part of pillow?"

"I'd like that." She shifts back just enough to look at him. "I'm sorry I've been...distant. I didn't mean to hurt you by it."

He strokes her hair, "What sort of nonsense is this? Me? Hurt? I'm invincible." gentle "Or at least that's what my memoirs will say" He assures her "It wasn't hard to guess. I had a lady in my life once that I was most unsatyrish about...got positively irritable when she was gone for more than a month when I thought she'd be gone for a week. Oh I must have dueled with everyone who I even thought was looking at me sideways. Fortunately I had friends who found ways to occupy me. "

The self-recognition makes her smile wryly. "Clever friends. And now you pass one what you've learned from them?"

"Not exactly, THEY ended up dragging me into a quest where I delved into a Leanhaun stronghold to steal a very valuable item. Here, you pick where you want to settle and doze and I'll tell you about it as long as you stay awake. "A smile "The story has a harem of sorts... plot twist... my friends and I were the Harem."

That draws a true smile from her. "Spoilers. But I want to hear all about it. Your room, please, my mentor?"

"Of course" He leads her gently to his chambers "To tell this right, I have to begin it properly as the story was told by a dear friend of mine" He clears his throat "No shit... there I was..."

hoping to get a laugh, or at least a wider smile.

She has taken his arm and paces along at his side...and yes, the story intro does make her smile, charmed.

For the first time in three nights, she'll sleep comfortably. Bachdion will serve his lady...

with his clothes on, no less. People always assumethings about satyrs and fiona. Tish tosh. Narrow minds

Coradel does sleep...and when she wakes with worry, he soothes her back to dreams. Eventually, she does get a true rest, and wakes refreshed....and perhaps more affectionate....but that is between the two of them.

((End Scene)