#earthrunes

"Adam, would you like a hug?" Not teasing. No cruelty

"No ma'am." Hoarsely. In pain.

She puts her brandy down, and approaches him "Well, I need one. "And.. puts arms around him gently and holds

HE convulses stiffly, with an angry sob.

"It's not your fault... it's not"

"It IS!" and now he's just sobbing, grief stricken.

"No.. no... you can blame Da'an, you can blame the sidhe, but don't blame yourself. "

"MY fault! I couldn't stop her. I tried to mag... magic her away and made ... made it worse and.... and....."

"Your magic didn't make it worse though I know it must have hurt that it didn't help. Darling, she had all the ferocity...of a starving panther seeing her first meal in weeks. She was despeerate to find a haven... you couldn't stop that. I couldn't stop that"

"She didn't want to go." Horrified, seeing it happen again in his memory "She begged. I screwed up so bad... I'm so sorry. I'm so SORRY....."

"Adam, Adam.. please, you are not to blame for this. " Bondraste strokes his hair "Sometimes we don't see what might happen. We never guess or have a chance to know... all we can do is try to make what remains right as best we can"

"Ican't. How can Ifix this?"

"Grieve.. go ahead, and take care of yourself. We'll find out what the Baroness and others decide"

Adam gives her a long incredulous look at tears well up again, spilling down his cheeks.

"Oh.. " A hug again

"I know how you feel. I do. "

He catches her sleeve in his hand, gripping desperately, as the sobs begin; sobs that feel as if they will never end.

She lets him have it. He can use it as a kerchief or whatever he needs. She's there for him "Oh my poor sweet boy" Sympathy "I know... when you learn someone you didn't evne know about means the world to you, that you feel like you should have been at the right spots and times to save the day, but all you can do is see it through"

He might not make sense of her words, but certainly the comforting tone of voice registers. Not that his tears stop, not at all.

"I feel so bad I wasn't there for you sooner. I wish I was. I would tried to be ..well, I'm sure the Chief would consider me a terrible pest. You're such a good boy, a brave boy, and becoming such a caring young man. I'm proud of that. "

He doesn't FEELlike any of those things. All he can feel is the horrible, acid emptiness inside, burning but not consuming.

But eventually.... you know, you run out of tears. It still hurts but... you run dry.

"It's okay.. it's as okay as it can be"

He sags in her arms, surrendering.

She guides him to sit with her

He does, limply; wrung-out.

"Adam... there's something I need to tell you about you and me, but now's not the time" She says gently "But I wish I could keep this pain from you. I truly do. If i could, i'd bear it for you. Please believe that"

A dejected nod, acknowledgement.

And the old woman hums a tune, a lullaby? She's not as good as Stevi, or manhhy others, but it's gentle, soothing

Slowly, his breathing goes from hitching gasps to something more steady... but he is not sleeping. He stares into the middle distance sadly.

And the old woman holds his hand quietly for as long as he needs.

And if that's for hours and hours...so be it

(End Scene)