( she laughed softly, knowing his words were true, that his efforts in what he'd try to do would be genuine. even if it sounded a little funny. funnier than it ordinarily might )
It's been a long time since I've danced. It felt a little strange.
( but no less enjoyable. maybe when their mission was over she'd get to sit back, enjoy her time and dance more again.
Likely the last celebration we found ourselves in.
( in terms of proper dancing, anyway. there'd always been silly, gleeful moments during her training with siuan but in terms of something like this? it wasn't often )
Otherwise not since I left Cairhien. And that night had a lot of dancing.
Comfortable. ( and who knows moiraine may even dance again. and may even try again to convince her warder to dance ) Relaxed. It's interesting seeing it from a different perspective too.
( she was more familiar with cairhienin ways of celebrating, how her people were so different for the day. this seemed much simpler )
( he nods after a moment because yes, that does sound like it would be a good way to spend a night. he doesn't know when they'll have a night like this so might as well take advantage. )
( even if moiraine was really slowly drinking it. and had disappeared to dance at one point. but if he'd rather drink with her she can do that.
and that really does make it a different night, she doesn't usually drink on their search but tonight she's not searching for anything more than an enjoyable evening.
she pauses a time, drinks, and then tells him a story she never would normally tell )
In Cairhien it's one of the few times people... are themselves. Most of the dancing is in the streets, status seems to not exist. More bonds are made than are often sensible. ( and judging by her smile it's not just friendship that is made. she may not have been there since she was a girl but the memories stay with her )
( yes, he can guess what kind of smile that is. he doesn't blush because he's far too old for that but he does laugh, shaking his head and looking out at the dancers going on around and past them.
he licks his lips and leans forward, resting his weight on his arms. )
I'm trying to imagine you as this young girl, without the burdens you carry now. It's difficult to do since this is how I've known you but...I like the thought of that you.
( she laughs, knowing that he is absolutely right )
Even when we met I was already on this mission.
( she'd fled from the white tower with it, troubled by the knowledge that they sought to put her on the sun throne, troubled by the vision gitara had seen, the knowledge of the dragon reborn and what her other sisters would do if they knew or found him. and more had only added to that )
I'd barely recognise the girl I was before the White Tower. Days in the Palace... are not days I'd return to.
( though one day she does hope that she can do something more carefree, to simply see places and learn their histories without any of the burdens she currently has )
Hmm. I feel the same way. There are things that I miss about where I came from but I'm too different to go back to that life. I don't think I'd fit. Not anymore.
( and that's not entirely a bad thing either. he's grown apart from the person he was and he's become a person that he's comfortable with. things aren't always easy but he knows how to live this life. )
So, tell me what you miss. Remind me of the girl you used to be. Just for a few moments.
( she's quiet for a little moment, making herself think back, to even remember those days. moiraine doesn't reminisce often and cairhien has been far from her mind for a long time.
but when she does think it's not so difficult to remember something that she had enjoyed )
My father defied everything the Damodred's sought to hold. They clung to power but he was a scholar, so was my mother. In the palace, it was easy to find me, often with one of those same books.
( is there any wonder why she didn't want to be queen?
there's a pause as if that's all of her story before a smaller smile appears, amused )
Though some of those books may also be the reason I wished for adventures. And climbed trees to see what else there was.
( her smile widens, lan knowing full well that his assumptions are correct. each successful venture had only encouraged her further )
It hid me from busier days.
( when even a room wasn't quiet enough to lose herself in what she had )
They were also a safe place to channel. Before I admitted it to the Aes Sedai my uncle was advised by I would practice in those trees.
( where no one could see her. it was easier than sneaking away somewhere where there'd be whispers of where the lady moiraine had gone. but disappearing to climb another tree was common for her )
( but it had been able to be passed off as just falling out of the trees. or the wind blowing her out. and those bigger falls had gotten her watched more closely for a time to try and keep her out of the trees.
moiraine, even then, was good at waiting, at playing the longer game as irritating as it was. behaving to get them to stop and then going climbing again )
I wasn't as powerful then, or able to channel as well. ( talking about power was typically taboo as an aes sedai but this is lan ) One of the first things I learned was how to eavesdrop on people. Which from a height gave me interesting conversations.
Did you do anything with that information once you'd heard it?
( he finds the thought of her sitting in trees and listening to conversations an amusing one, one that makes her seem young and untouched by the outside world. )
Did you just keep it to yourself or did you use it to...get things you wanted? By holding it over the heads of those who overheard?
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no subject
( he wouldn't force anything because she would know but he's already smiled a few times today. it wasn't lying to say he thinks he could do it more. )
I'm still not going to dance. I will sit here and applaud you for getting up and twirling around with all these people though.
no subject
It's been a long time since I've danced. It felt a little strange.
( but no less enjoyable. maybe when their mission was over she'd get to sit back, enjoy her time and dance more again.
not that moiraine could picture that happening )
no subject
( she seems lighter and lan wants to hold onto that mood for her, to keep her smiling and thinking of easy things. )
Can you recall?
no subject
( in terms of proper dancing, anyway. there'd always been silly, gleeful moments during her training with siuan but in terms of something like this? it wasn't often )
Otherwise not since I left Cairhien. And that night had a lot of dancing.
no subject
( and while this might not be like that night, it's still good to see her relax and it's good to feel some lightness on his own shoulders as well. )
What kind of night do you think this will be?
no subject
( she hums, a hint longer than she needs to )
Comfortable. ( and who knows moiraine may even dance again. and may even try again to convince her warder to dance ) Relaxed. It's interesting seeing it from a different perspective too.
( she was more familiar with cairhienin ways of celebrating, how her people were so different for the day. this seemed much simpler )
no subject
( he nods after a moment because yes, that does sound like it would be a good way to spend a night. he doesn't know when they'll have a night like this so might as well take advantage. )
Are you going to have a drink with me?
no subject
( even if moiraine was really slowly drinking it. and had disappeared to dance at one point. but if he'd rather drink with her she can do that.
and that really does make it a different night, she doesn't usually drink on their search but tonight she's not searching for anything more than an enjoyable evening.
she pauses a time, drinks, and then tells him a story she never would normally tell )
In Cairhien it's one of the few times people... are themselves. Most of the dancing is in the streets, status seems to not exist. More bonds are made than are often sensible. ( and judging by her smile it's not just friendship that is made. she may not have been there since she was a girl but the memories stay with her )
no subject
he licks his lips and leans forward, resting his weight on his arms. )
I'm trying to imagine you as this young girl, without the burdens you carry now. It's difficult to do since this is how I've known you but...I like the thought of that you.
no subject
Even when we met I was already on this mission.
( she'd fled from the white tower with it, troubled by the knowledge that they sought to put her on the sun throne, troubled by the vision gitara had seen, the knowledge of the dragon reborn and what her other sisters would do if they knew or found him. and more had only added to that )
I'd barely recognise the girl I was before the White Tower. Days in the Palace... are not days I'd return to.
( though one day she does hope that she can do something more carefree, to simply see places and learn their histories without any of the burdens she currently has )
But some things I do miss.
no subject
( and that's not entirely a bad thing either. he's grown apart from the person he was and he's become a person that he's comfortable with. things aren't always easy but he knows how to live this life. )
So, tell me what you miss. Remind me of the girl you used to be. Just for a few moments.
no subject
but when she does think it's not so difficult to remember something that she had enjoyed )
My father defied everything the Damodred's sought to hold. They clung to power but he was a scholar, so was my mother. In the palace, it was easy to find me, often with one of those same books.
( is there any wonder why she didn't want to be queen?
there's a pause as if that's all of her story before a smaller smile appears, amused )
Though some of those books may also be the reason I wished for adventures. And climbed trees to see what else there was.
no subject
( until she fell and had to take a break. but, those wouldn't deter her for long, he knows. )
Did you read your books in those trees? Best of both worlds for you.
no subject
It hid me from busier days.
( when even a room wasn't quiet enough to lose herself in what she had )
They were also a safe place to channel. Before I admitted it to the Aes Sedai my uncle was advised by I would practice in those trees.
( where no one could see her. it was easier than sneaking away somewhere where there'd be whispers of where the lady moiraine had gone. but disappearing to climb another tree was common for her )
no subject
( you would think some people would notice but maybe she was able to disguise it or lessen it at the time. maybe it wasn't quite as potent. )
And you never knocked yourself out of those trees, hm?
no subject
( but it had been able to be passed off as just falling out of the trees. or the wind blowing her out. and those bigger falls had gotten her watched more closely for a time to try and keep her out of the trees.
moiraine, even then, was good at waiting, at playing the longer game as irritating as it was. behaving to get them to stop and then going climbing again )
I wasn't as powerful then, or able to channel as well. ( talking about power was typically taboo as an aes sedai but this is lan ) One of the first things I learned was how to eavesdrop on people. Which from a height gave me interesting conversations.
( no wonder she joined the blue ajah really )
no subject
( he finds the thought of her sitting in trees and listening to conversations an amusing one, one that makes her seem young and untouched by the outside world. )
Did you just keep it to yourself or did you use it to...get things you wanted? By holding it over the heads of those who overheard?
no subject
( which of course means yes. the game of houses could be dangerous unless you played it well and secrets helped )
Most of it was idle gossip but not all. The same as any room. Here you might find an interesting piece mixed with gossip and fanciful notions.
no subject
( he glances around, taking in all the different types of people. there were secrets all over, he guesses, but none he wants to know. )
And are you going to go climb a tree and learn some more secrets here?
no subject
( or has thought about doing so. moiraine doesn't need to hide now and finds her adventure in other ways.
though she'll still happily collect secrets, even from where they're sat )
Though I don't want secrets tonight. Just a simple, enjoyable evening.