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Morgan is curled up by the fire, looking pale and listless. She absently stroking Arianrhod, but doesn't really seem to be paying much attention to anything around her.

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Morgan's not smiling back - she's looking confused, and hurt, and frustrated that she can't tell what's really going on.

"I'm not...hungry, thank you."

*Alanna sinks back in her chair again, feeling as if she should apologize, but not sure why.

It still hurts.

She glances at Morgan.*

Oh. Okay. Just don't waste away on us. *pause* How is Barty?

"He is fine. Are you going lecture me? Warn me?"

...No.

*Certainly not now.*

I did warn Barty not to hurt you, however. Just so you know.

"He won't." She sounds tired. "He won't, he won't, so you and Adam and Susan and Tim don't have to worry, okay?"

*quietly* Okay. I know you can take care of yourself. But I'll worry anyway as I can't seem to help it.

How is your mare?

"She's...good. Very good, thank you." She has her eyes closed down, and clenches her fists in her blanket to keep from showing how they shake.

I'm trying, Morgan.

Really.

*Alanna swipes a hand across her eyes and stands, moving to sit by Morgan. She stares awkwardly at the girl's fists.*

I want to help. What's really wrong? What can I do?

"Didn't he tell you? Adam? That my mind is in pieces? They fly apart, and I can't find them again."

You mentioned it once, I think. *Alanna reaches over and gently pats her shoulder.* I honestly don't remember Adam saying so. Perhaps he thought you wouldn't want it shared.

I think, perhaps, you should meet my friend Alex. Maybe then you will see... I do understand, Morgan. As much as I can.

What do you see now?

She looks around, ducking her head as if she has a migraine. Quietly,

"Patterns. Of magic or light. Sliding and dancing. Glass, broken on the ground. Knots of people and emotions. Here love, there jealousy. A whispering in my head. Just...things. Shouldn't be there."

*Alanna chokes, going first red, then pale.*

Really? You get... all that?

*She looks around, eyes a bit desperate.* I wonder if it would be possible to measure all the magic in this place.

How do you know if they are meant to be there or not?

"Because it wasn't there before!" She flinches at the sound of her own voice, and Arianrhod hisses.

"Before, before...you healed my back. I didn't see as much before that. It makes it worse and I know there's no glass or blood because no one else sees it. Walk on it. Not supposed to be there, and it is."

*Alanna swallows and glances at the snake.*

Are you given to prophetic visions at all, lass?

Trauma... changes things, on occasion. It might not be permanent.

"Sometimes."

She laughs, low and bitter.

"No? It might be, too. My son...he says I'm crazy. Still. When I raised him. Didn't get better."

In his reality, no. But your reality is different. We can make it different. *She looks determined.*

"How can you do that, Alanna? It's my head. My senses. Not govered by will or reason."

She shakes her head, and looks away.

I don't know. But we can try. If it's possible anywhere, it would be here. I wish... I wish lots of things. But most of all, I wish I had a better answer for you.

*She sighs, thinking that Morgan really sounds the more lucid of the two.*

Will and reason aren't everything you know. There's always heart.

Softly,

"You say that as yours hurts."

*She stares, eventually blinking out of self-defense.*

You...

Sometimes even pain has a purpose. Maybe a thing hurts to make itself known. Or to remind us it's even there to begin with.

Her dreamy eyes not looking away,

"Why jealousy? What have I done?"

*Alanna schools her features, uncomfortable.*

I repeat, you have done nothing.

*She chews on her lip, thinking Adam's name and wondering how he would feel about this conversation.*

"...you're jealous over Adam?"

*Her mouth drops open and she rubs her forehead, turning pink.*

I'm... You're... 'Tis nothing.

*She closes her eyes, mentally reciting the rules of chivalry in her head. You will obey your overlord. You will never turn away from those in need. You will NOT act like a complete JACKASS.

An edited version, at least.*

"Oh, for...Alanna." She straightens in her chair, every inch a princess for a moment.

Eyes...mostly clear.

"Tell me. Please."