milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

sabriel,
sameth

(no subject)

Sabriel has been expecting to open the door into the shared lounge area of the hotel's suite, and pauses at the rush of warmth from Milliways, hesitating instead of stepping through. It has been some time since she was last here, and - truth be told - had not expected to return. She is too busy for such things, and halfway into Ancelstierre they are now beyond where she can reach the Charter. Somehow it seems strange that Milliways can be found where the Charter cannot.

Frowning slightly, she steps in at last, closing the door behind her. Her dress is not her usual surcoat, but is instead the current city fashion - long skirt, bare arms, flimsy fabric that feels uncomfortably clinging.

(It looks odd with the bandolier of bells, but there is a limit to fitting in with her surroundings.)

She crosses to a table, and speaks quietly to the rat which scurries over. The mark on her forehead glows faintly, them fades as she releases the Charter, reassured.

Why not?

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Sam's spent all day working on Jenks' sword and finally stops when he can't do anything more.

His sleeves are rolled up as its hot in the forge and he heads to the counter for some food but stops when he spots bells and then realizes who's wearing them. She's dressed for Ancelstierre,

"Mother?"

There are slight circles under his eyes since he's probably been working too much, but it helps with the dreams.

Sabriel turns in her seat to smile at the sight of her son.

Perhaps Milliways doesn't need much more of a reason than this? Either way, it will do.

"Sam," she says, beckoning him over to her. "I think I have been ordered to take a break from diplomacy."

"I'm sure Dad can handle things while you're here,"

He comes over to sit, his own smile hesitant as he thinks of all the things he was going to tell her before she left. She probably doesn't need to know that he's Bound and has been for a while, that would just be another worry.

"I would hope so," she says, then pulls a discreet but incredibly eloquent face. "They listen to him more than to me, anyway."

None of them understand the title Abhorsen, and many do not even accept the Charter as something real. So her only position in their minds is as Touchstone's wife.

'Queen' is all very well, but a poor substitute for her real job.

"Sometimes they're just bad at listening there. I know Nick always was,"

That's another thing he should mention, but doesn't want to.

Its no good asking about something he won't have a chance to and pulls down his sleeves, taking longer than he needs adjusting them.

"At least Nick talks to you. And he is planning to visit, yes?"

She is watching him quietly, noting the dark circles under his eyes. Whatever he is using his time here for, it does not seem to include rest.

"Yes, he is. He's farther than I expected but that's like him to. He never stops to think things through,"

He has been sleeping just not terribly well. A few weeks ago, his dreams became much worse and they haven't really lessened.

Sabriel smiles faintly, and just a little sadly.

"He is young yet."

He is Sam's age.

"We both are, but we have to grow up and do what we need to,"

This parts always easy to say, its when he faces the book that it all falls apart.

Sabriel nods gently.

She knows about that, much as she would like not to.

"How are you, Sam?"

He looks down at the table as he tries to figure out what to say that won't worry her,

"Bound, but I've been doing a lot of work, which fills the time."

Again?

Sabriel glances back automatically, but the door remains there.

"And if I took you through mine, you would only appear in Ancelstierre," she says ruefully. "What had you been doing at home before you came in?"

Its hard not to miss her glance and he shifts lower in his chair,

"I was just in my workshop."

"Had your father and I been gone long?"

Even now, the time changes this place causes confuse her.

"Not really,"

He's not sure when they actually left and he lost track of time up there.

Sabriel frowns.

"Hmm, perhaps there is a little compression of the time. We are at the Capital, outside. Still, not by too much, I should think."

"No, probably not. How are things going?"

Maybe if they can talk about something else, he won't feel guilty about all the things he doesn't know what to say.

She sighs.

"Slowly. There is so much dancing around, and protocol that must be followed, that we can hardly begin to get into any proper talks."

Beat.

"And this is why I mostly leave politics to Touchstone and Ellimere."

Politicians cannot be defeated by beheading them.

Much as she sometimes wishes they could.

"They've always been better at it. Things just make more sense. I can see how to make the Charter work for something but not people,"

All the times he's bad just end up piling up until he's not sure he can do anything.

"No. Sadly not."

Wouldn't life be so much easier?

...Not really.

After a short pause, Sabriel reaches out to touch his hand.

"You look tired, Sam."

"I've just been having some bad dreams. If I work hard enough, they don't bother me too much,"

Its not really a solution but its what he can do.

"About anything particular?"

She knows how that goes.

"Mainly the attack. I'm used to them,"

They're just one of those things that happens and he hopes maybe someday if he does what he's supposed to do, they'll go away.

"Oh, Sam," Sabriel says, sad and helpless. "I wish I had a foolproof cure."

She frowns, remembering her first few years as Abhorsen, the way the nightmares crept up whenever she thought she was safe.

"If you like, I can Charter-spell you to sleep tonight. It can't be done every night, but it will let you get some rest, at least."

"They could be worse, I wake up from them. I didn't know if I would escape the morphine ones,"

A few nights sleep won't make him unafraid of Death and he they remind him of what he has to face. If he tells himself that enough than he'll do what he needs to.

Edited 2011-03-25 23:14 (UTC)

Sabriel nods reluctantly.

It's one of those problems that there really is nothing she can do to fix.

"I wish I could help more than telling you they will come less in time," she says.

"You do enough. I'll figure something out,"

He hates making her see how weak he is since he has to be as strong as she is.

If only she knew.

But Sabriel has always found it hard to see through other people's eyes.

Seeing through her own is challenge enough.

"I know you will, but-" she sighs, frustrated. "It is a shame this is... almost an occupational hazard."

He hadn't known that and grips his wrist to keep his hand from trembling.

Death scares him enough but that the nightmares don't ever leave will make it harder,

"I.it is?"

She eyes him.

This is not encouraging.

"Only in that we enounter more terrible creatures and situations than most people," she says.

It may not be as reassuring as she intends.

"And at younger ages than we should, as well."

Her gaze makes him feel foolish, he's not allowed to be scared.

He's the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, so he sits up straighter and releases his wrist, yes, he's still pale, but that will pass,

"We're the only ones who can so we have to."

She reaches out again, a little more tentatively then before, to take his hand in hers.

"Yes. But I do know that it is not fair to you- to us, I suppose. The more an Abhorsen is protected, the less experience they have later in life."

She squeezes gently. "But that doesn't mean I don't wish things were different."

"Kait wondered why there weren't more children. I think our history just annoyed her for how it didn't seem well thought out,"

The look on her face when he told her about Touchstone was hard to forget and he smiles as he squeezes Sabriel's hand. His smile is small, but Kait gives him hope that he can do this somehow.

Sabriel nods once, smiling back despite the tight feeling in her chest.

"I really don't know what our ancestors were thinking. Poor planning all around, really."

He looks at her and says quietly,

"I can do it, Mother. I won't let you down."

Then realizes that she doesn't know who Kait is and blushes.

Edited 2011-03-26 02:40 (UTC)

"You never have. You're not likely to start now," Sabriel says, in a gentle tone that should really be reassuring.

...Kait. Hmm.

But she doesn't ask. Yet.

Sam would like to believe that's true, but he knows he has,

"I'll try not to."

"That's all I could possibly ask."

She looks down.

"Perhaps having a little time here will help. Give you some extra time to work through things. I hope it will."

It feels like he's been here for far too long and nothing has really changed but that would just make her worry,

"I hope so."

After a moment she nods, not satisfied, but willing to leave it for now.

"At least you seem to be keeping busy. What are you working on?"

He wishes he could do more but he's so scared of failing her. All the time here keeps proving to him is that he's still scared and waiting isn't helping his fear,

"A couple of projects. I'm helping to fix up an automobile and making some swords."

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