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[owendavies.livejournal.com]

Last Saturday, Owen Davies drove Bran to the Machynlleth train station. Since then he has been working very hard indeed on the farm, and volunteering more than usual at chapel. David and Jen Evans had him to dinner three times, and John Rowlands has been a great support, and there has been plenty of work to do.

At night, though, when Owen comes home, leading Lluchddu into the house, the little cottage is far too still.

If anything, Owen is relieved when he finds Milliways at the other side of his bedroom door.

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[blue_ajah]

The dark-haired, dark-eyed woman in blue at the nearby corner booth glances up from her work as the door opens, almost as if out of habit.

Instead of looking back down again, however, she focuses on him, and a very faint frown touches her features as she considers him.

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

Owen vaguely remembers the woman looking at him; Bran pointed her out to him once.

He might as well go and speak to her. It's something to do, after all.

"I think you know my son?"

[blue_ajah]

"I believe that I do," she says in serene tones. "That is, if you are Owen Davies."

She gestures to a seat across from her, adding,

"I am Moiraine Sedai."

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

Owen takes the seat, nodding in thanks. He does not smile. "Yes. Bran mentioned you to me. Very nice to meet you."

[blue_ajah]

"I am pleased to meet you, as well," she replies. Moiraine tilts her head, studying him thoughtfully.

"Would you care for a cup of tea, perhaps?"

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

Owen lowers his eyes before Moiraine's gaze. "That would be pleasant, thank you."

[blue_ajah]

Gracefully, she takes a cup from those provided with the service at her table, and goes through the process of pouring and presenting the tea.

"How are matters with you?"

The inquiry seems perfectly casual, of the sort that constitutes polite conversation.

As with anything the Aes Sedai does, however, there is more to it than that.

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

Over the last years, Bran has acquired some skill in interpreting Moiraine's conversational tactics. Owen, however, has not.

"All is well, thank God," Owen says. It's true. He's still not smiling, though. "How are you, Miss Sedai?"

[blue_ajah]

"You must call me Moiraine," she says, smiling serenely at him. "I am as well as may be expected."

A beat.

"I was fortunate enough to see your son recently, as well."

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Paul tends to look up, still, when the locked door opens; it's a concept to get accustomed to.

The man who walks through has more of an air of the modern world to him than anyone Paul's encountered yet.

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

The young man's air of intense attention is immediately, painfully familiar to Owen. Owen looks down, hands clasping each other, but pulls his chin up again firmly.

"Hallo," he says to the younger man. "My name is Owen Davies."

[pwyll_twiceborn]

"Paul Schafer."

Paul hesitates a moment, then extends a hand.

"My apologies," he adds, a little wryly, "if I was staring - the door attracts some attention."

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

Owen shakes gingerly, with a hand callused from labour. "Oh, that is all right. There is plenty to stare at here."

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Paul's handshake is strong, though his wrists are deceptively delicate.

"You're accustomed to coming and going often, then?" he asks; there's an air of information-gathering in his voice. It's not just idle conversation.

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

"Not often. My son used to bring me here, once in a while. Have you been here before?"

[pwyll_twiceborn]

"I arrived not long ago," Paul says, carefully, "with a friend. We've been here since - I think the term is Bound."

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry to hear that." Owen looks at something over Paul's shoulder. "Bran was Bound here once."

[kitchen_maid]

"Good evening, Mr. Davies," says Amy.

She's not entirely sure he'll remember her. They only met once, there was rather a lot going on at the time, and she wasn't pregnant or dressed like a queen.

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry," Owen says, blinking and lowering his head. "Have we met?"

[kitchen_maid]

See? She was right.

"Under rather curious circumstances, some time ago," she says, with a small smile. "We took Henry Wellard to the infirmary together. I'm Amy, and I know Bran."

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

"Of course," says Owen, with something like a smile. "Bran told me that Mr Wellard was doing better, but I have not heard about him recently. How are you?"

[kitchen_maid]

"Very well, thank you. As was Henry, the last time I saw him. How are you? And how is Bran? I've not seen him for a while."

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

Owen's face shuts utterly, for a moment. Then he blinks apologetically, and says, "Bran is in Cardiff, at university."

[kitchen_maid]

"Is he? It must be the season for it; my friends Anne and Phil are getting ready to go as well.

"You must miss him," says Amy, gently.

[owendavies.livejournal.com]

"School starts in the fall," Owen says, in his lilting baritone; he does not reply to Amy's second comment.