milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

*Anthy sits around not looking faintly resentful of the world in general, which means that she is. She's sitting by the fireplace, again, and watching the fire.*

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*Moiraine notices her presence, and her eyes narrow. She looks at the Rose Bride, and her gaze is glacial.*

*Anthy doesn't look at Moiraine, but she smiles a little, still staring at the fire.* Good evening.

*She inclines her head, and her voice is perfectly even, if cold.*

Rose Bride.

*Anthy's, in contrast, is warm and pleasant, if not genuinely.*

Aes Sedai.

Do your flowers continue to bloom?

Oh, yes. Always.

How are you?

*Calmly, serenely, she answers.*

I am as well as may be expected, and perhaps better than you might have hoped, judging by your previous actions.

My previous actions? I offered you a gift.

You offered me a hopeless dream of a rose. Why is that, Anthy?

What do mean?

Would you truly attempt to play the fool?

*Anthy just looks at her. Of course she would.*

*An expression of true anger flickers in her eyes.*

I have Healed you twice. I would have aided you further, once; and you have repaid me with pain.

*Anthy meets Moiraine's gaze, and her own eyes are dark.*

Yes?

I'm of the Shadow, remember?

I have not forgotten.

And you carry the Light within you, stolen from your brother Dios, who is now in Darkness as a result.

I do not forget that, either.

*Anthy sits perfectly still. When she speaks, her voice is flat.*

Yes, I do. Well done.

Do you regret it, Rose Bride?

*She smiles. Her eyes glitter.* No.

I'd do it again. *Her voice is low and very, very calm.* I would lock away the Light of your world, and Rand would be like your Dark One. I'd lock away the Light in Will's, and he would fall, and all his friends. I'd do it --

You might try.

*Moiraine begins to shine with radiant light.*

Had I anything to say about it, you would fail. Rose Bride.

But will you?

*She is still glowing, but she is composed. Her eyes are cold, but her voice is calm.*

The battle in Will's world was won by the Light, and the Dark was cast outside time. I have devoted my life to the Dragon Reborn, and shall continue to serve that cause against the Shadow until I am dead or Tarmon Gai'don is over, and the Dark One is utterly defeated.

I believe that you have only your mischief, your mocking, and your flowers. You cannot truly harm them, I do not think.

*There is a blue rose in her hands, again, she twirls it, frowning.*

You don't know me very well, do you.

*Anger fills her eyes, but the Aes Sedai keeps her voice level. She appears to ignore the rose.*

I have continued to learn since first meeting you, however. And I believe that I have learned much, have I not? You drop clues as others might scatter grain for birds, and presume that no one will notice.

Why notice? It's none of your business.

I didn't ask you to offer me help.

No. You asked for Healing.

Minor healing.

You did not specify.

... and I offered it to you.

*It is apparent, somehow, that Moiraine means for more than just whatever minor injuries Anthy had at the time.*

*flatly* You did.

*Her voice is serene and cool.*

And yet, you chose not to truly accept. You made that choice, Rose Bride, you and you alone. You might have chosen otherwise... and yet, you did not.

*She flicks a glance at the rose in Anthy's hands.*

Keep your blue rose, then, your hopeless dream. It would appear to suit you better than it does me.

*Anthy's hand slips, and a thorn tears the skin. She stares at it.*

I don't dream. Not like that.

You're cruel, too.

*She inclines her head, watching Anthy. There is a long moment of silence.*

It was not always so, now was it? Even though you had said things to harm me in the past-- it was not always so. Perhaps you should consider well the results of different choices. You are tainted by the Shadow, but you carry Light within you.

And as you know, I may speak no word that is not true.

May Light illumine you, Rose Bride.

*The glow around Moiraine vanishes, and she nods to Anthy, then turns away and goes upstairs to her room.*

*Her finger is bleeding; she licks the blood away, and then she rises. She tosses the blue rose in the fireplace as she leaves.*

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