Touch of Magic (attn: Sean)

[Astarte]

There was a lot about what had happened that Betrys wished was different but after a year she had started to come to the realization that there had actually been very little that she could have done or in fact that anything she'd done was in fact wrong.

That none of what she'd done or said was the reason and that hadn't been why he'd been so strange and even though Betrys didn't know why - and still didn't - she would have to accept it was simply the way things were going to end up being, even if she didn't like the loss of someone who'd been a close friend.

Someone whom she'd shared so much with and now...now there seemed to be a chasm what was attempting to widen with each passing second between the two of them "Should I be mentioning that tae yer as well?" Betrys replied, looking at him pointedly "Seem like yer were the one more keen on avoiding being happy than me" she was older now, confident and assured of her place and capabilities. Betrys was not the little girl he'd first met and it was time he saw her, the real her and not some imagined vision that he seemed to insist on.

Part of her time here had been able learning (and accepting) the mistakes and limits of what she could achieve personally. It hadn't been focused on being happy or finding some sweet kind of forever ever after.

No matter what he might believe was the case.

"As long as I ain't gonna need tae save yer ass" she replied, the last time had involved a fight, one that had resulted in some bruised ribs and a black eye. She'd definitely prefer to avoid that "I dinnae want folks suggesting I canna care for me clothes properly..." Betrys added, it was not the same as it had been before but it was closer to what it had been...just a little bit.

[Sean]

In her agreement there seemed to be a touch of the old Bee, but Valadin had long since abandoned hoping for a return to their former friendship. Those were the fancies of a boy. Men trusted in what they could see…what they could do.

They took their leave of the Healing house though not without passing by the Yellow sister from earlier. The pudgy woman bore Val a baleful look which he weathered calmly, the serenity of the Void granting him peace in the face of a nuisance. Outside was the Yards where Gaidin-in-training and the subsequent gathering of Aspiring Yellow Accepted congregated in number daily. This early in the day few Warders were about; most preferred to train in peace without the need to educate some hairless beginner on how to avoid skewering themselves in the pitch of battle.

Warm air embraced the day as they toured the Grey Tower grounds and eventually after hailing a carriage crossed the boundary separating the nearest village, Elman’s Creek, from the auspicious home to male and female channelers. Neither Valadin nor Betrys had said much during the walk and ride over. The earlier chill still existed between them despite being the sole inhabitants of the carriage. They didn’t quite avoid each other’s gaze, but Val noticed that whenever he glanced over at the young woman seated across from him, her eyes found elsewhere to look. With little left to do, but reciprocate the silence he waited out the journey until finally a shout from outside signaled their arrival. Flipping a silver mark into the hands of the cartman, Val extended a hand to Betrys to help her from the carriage and waited until she was steady upon the ground.

Elman’s Creek hadn’t changed much in the year that they’d spent apart. The ever-present hint of baked pie still lingered in the air and the gleeful shrieks of village children at play brought back fond memories. It was only slight one, but Valadin could feel the smile taking shape upon his lips.

“A different place in the daytime,” he said aloud to no one in particular. Those of the townsfolk who noticed the shawl and Dragon pin immediately came to pay homage to the pair. Faces filled with equal measures of trust and expectation whenever they gazed upon the men and women chosen by the Creator to do battle against the darkness of the Shadow crowded around. To the helpless the Dragon Reborn’s acknowledgement and rise in the world was enough to assure the Light’s victory. Few considered that everything could end. Only the strong know the price of weakness…

Once away from the villagers, Valadin felt the need for drink more greatly than he had before. The tavern like much of the village had remained the same though this time there were few of the mountain guard about. Most would have duties to mind; Val was almost disappointed.

“Ho, there Asha’man! Sister! Light Shine on the both of ya!” greeted the establishment’s proprietor. A few heads turned to offer a respectful if somber bows of the head in their direction. Seemed drink had given this lot more sense than those outside.  

Picking an empty table Valadin half-heartedly cast an eye out for the serving girl who’d tended him the last time they’d been here. On occasion he’d come for a drink, but training, patrols, and other responsibilities expected of him had left little time for indulgences. Not finding the one he searched for he instead caught the attention of another woman who scurried over and took a simple order of two mugs of ale to tip things off before leaving to fulfill the request.

No one sat in the tables around them. Most gracing the tavern were owners of something or hawkers taking a break from work. None wanted the trouble of offending an Ash’man or Aes Sedai. Wisely so.

“Floor still creaks with every step,” Val muttered, not knowing what else to say. He folded his arms and leaned against the hard-backed wooden chair. “Should have a word with the owner ‘bout it. Gets bothersome after a bit, wouldn’t you say?”

A flimsy attempt at parley, but he was trying. Light, sword forms were so much simpler than women and words.

[Astarte]

While she wasn't confident about how truly sensible an idea this was in the long run Betrys had little reason to ignore or deny the opportunity to spend time with him. Even if the setting might be a little challenging given the last time they'd been here.

Of course, she was at least far more sure about the nature of their relationship...even if she'd like to have the chance to recapture a touch more of what they'd had before now "I'll be back fore long, Aislyws Sedai" she stated during their departure, very conscious of the fact that the older woman was definitely judging them both as they left the Infirmary behind them.

"Nice tae see that the weather is on the turn..." she stated, unwilling to walk in complete silence - that had never been her particular sense of style but she did stop once they were both mounted. There was a lot on her mind and Betrys wasn't about to force conversation between the two of them. While nothing inappropriate had ever really happen between them, her mind had the memories of the Arches and her own patient desires that had grown now into a gentleness that would ensure they were always friends.

Betrys dismounted and took her time settling her mount before coming on inside, she didn't recognise anyone immediately but noticed the looks of respect which were directed towards them both. Betrys was of the Yellow and being a Healer often ensured that a degree of fondness and good humour existed in her presence, being able to Heal the sick certainly helped, although it could just as easily be negative depending upon the personal experience of the observer and what might have happened in their own lives. Failing to help someone was often a means of ensuring future hostility no matter the reality of the circumstances.

"Aye, true enough. Though I tend nae tae have the time to visit...save for a few matters of Healing" and that had often been at night, she hadn't really seen much value in visiting again since the last time she'd been here "I wonder ya nae hae some matching creak given yer time spent upon it but are yer planning on offering to lend him a hand in fixing it?" she was perfectly prepared to tease him relentlessly. After all, it wasn't often she could brag that she'd rescued someone of Valadin's size, even if that had been more the result of drink "But tell me we ain't here tae be discussing creaking wood..." Betrys looked at him pointedly and sniffed slightly "Cause I might have a wee bit of cause tae take a swing fer yer...it's been a year Valadin. Light above, tell me of it before I'm forced tae...challenge yer tae a drinking game" she was fumbling slightly but the effort had been made.

[Sean]

The strong urge to accept a drinking challenge went unsated as better judgment advised Bee’s jest held deeper hurts than she let on.

“Aye, a year it’s been.” A year of tours, blood, and screaming men with swords; a year of fire.

As ever the tavern wasn’t busy in the early part of the day, mostly drunks or hawkers seeking shade from the incorrigible lounged in various states of disrepair. Even the serving maids bustled about with less than their usual step at this hour; which encouraged more than mischievous pinch of their rear. Before Valadin could say anything further a particularly harassed looking lass interrupted with a strained greeting and a coloring to her face revealing that not all tavern girls were used to such treatment tepid or no. “Ya’ll be ‘avin’ mah lord an’ lady,” the girl inquired.

“Nothing for the moment. I imagine drink would make this talk harder than one is prepared for.”

“—but…”

Now Valadin turned from Betrys for the first time since they’d arrived, the dark of his eyes sternly falling upon the poor girl. “I would caution you press this no further. My friend and I have things to discuss. We’ll order in a short spell.”

The girl’s reluctance to leave made it clear that something more than stubbornness kept her standing before them; most townsfolk avoided directly addressing Aes Sedai and Asha’man if they could afford to. Those that did were usually eager to be about other business. Glancing past the trembling server Val noted the frequent flickering of the hawk-nosed proprietor’s eyes in their direction. Of course. Gold is only thing that would make a man force a child to do what he wouldn’t dare.

Softening his gaze as he focused on the girl once more, Val took her hand and pressed enough coin to cover their expenses for the length of the day if needed. “Come ‘round after you’ve tarried about in the taproom for a bit. Maybe after midday. Anyone bothers you just say the Asha’man has asked for the finest vintage this place can offer and has asked you see to this task before any other. If they take issue with that you’d do well to point them in my direction, understood?”

Wide-eyed and confused the girl bid them both thanks before scurrying off with a relieved huff. A half-smiled ghosted over Valadin’s features as faced Betrys once more.

“Right. I owe you an apology…” The words formed well enough in his mind. He’d loved her…or maybe he thought he had. Maybe it had just been her skirts he’d been after. Hard to believe those feelings had withered and died away over the course. Looking Betrys full in the face now, Val found that she’d grown into a handsome woman. The smudges of dirt rimming her blouse added a peculiar comeliness that would soon see her a favored pairing for some fortunate Gaidin. “I’m…”

She’d be happy. The lurking sadness behind each scathing remark would eventually be replaced and forgotten as another took their place in her heart. Eventually everything shared between them would fade and the Pattern would see them eternally parted. It was not a welcome thought.

Hating people who fidgeted as it was the mark of those caught in between plots Valadin found his mood worsened at noticing how his fingers rapped nervously on the roughly cut surface of their table. As large as he was the furniture seemed fit for a child and now he’d been reduced to behaving as such. Be a man and have done with this. You’ve chosen. Let her go, the Asha’man snapped impatiently in his head. If only such certainty could be given voice Val would have happily given Bee what she wanted; closure. And if it’s not?

“I’ve not been a good friend to you, Bee…” he sighed finally, knobbed fingers coming together in a steeple. “Betrys Sedai,” he corrected himself. “I wasn’t ready then…wasn’t strong enough to tell you.”

Another serving maid approached, this one older and carried herself with far more poise than the small girl. The curve of his smile never lessened after a lecherous nip made her flinch; a true professional. Valadin would have none of it. Not now. His gaze fell fiercely upon the woman who appeared startled by menace his eyes held.

“M-milord?”

“Away with you.”

“Bu…I mean yessir.” That and a clumsy curtsy was the only thing left in the woman’s wake.

“Well?” Val asked of the brewer’s daughter with whom he could’ve had much if not for his woolheadedness. “Where do we stand now?”

[Astarte]

She had learned to harness her pain, partition it away from the front of her mind and heart so that she could carry on. It was not all centred on the people in her life, friends who had changed in the years that she'd been in the Tower but there was other pain as well. The times she had failed or not achieved the success which she would have deemed best and appropriate, Betrys had grown, changing into a more confident woman than the girl who'd first arrived.

Betrys had accepted her pain and that she would need to carry the scars upon her for some further time to come but she would not pass to Valadin her pain and loss. That was not something she needed to be concerned with. He had been a good friend and even if Betrys would never be more that could and would be more than sufficient for the time being in her life "Keen as ever to make the folks nervous?" she questioned him, a teasing glint appearing in her eyes. While the life she led now might be a more serious and controlled one than before it did not make her less than she had been, the girl who had delighted in pranks and spent time with Mirin was still present in the woman who sat opposite him.

"Stand?" she tilted her head slightly, noticing the fidgeting and the strangeness of his hesitant manner as well. Betrys was not a complete fool but she was not about to dare an assumption "You are terrible at saying what yer mean and I'll nae take a new black eye to chase after yer this time" she replied, it was bitterness though as she stretched her hand out across towards him and laid it flat upon the table.

Betrys slowed breathed in and out and met his eyes steadily. She had no reason to be ashamed or rendered upset by her actions - why should she after all, that had been another lesson that had been hard learned and earned but she had grown into accepting it as well "Yer remain one of my terrible friends. But no less terrible than some others, friendship is not about how good or bad someone is, Val...it has never been" she had always insisted on being his friend, her feelings might run deeper than friendship at times but Betrys would not push such upon him.

That had never been part of her nature.

"I will...I hae business away from the Tower now. I'm glad then we spoke" she mentioned softly and the soft smile that escaped was a sincere if absent one "Perhaps I'll see yer on my return" Betrys added, it might not be the best thing to comment upon but she had not mentioned her destination, that would only have him worrying. In time she would need a permanent companion but again she did not mention that. Betrys wondered if he had thought much about her taking a Warder into her life but she doubted it, not many Yellow did but Betrys was not interested in spending time behind safe walls - she wanted more than that.

[Sean]

Betry’s hand lay outstretched toward him. There in a modest tavern located in a small town overshadowed by the monolithic Grey Tower the girl whom he’d found wandering aimlessly about the Gardens returned. “Terrible, indeed,” he rumbled in response to her, his own hand settling over hers.


The warmth of her skin on his was familiar…and sorely missed. There was a time when they’d shared such without the confusion of loyalties or fear of worthiness…a time when they were tightly bound by a companionship nourished purely by the presence of the other without need for reason or want. Has that been lost forever? In choosing Nykk…did I cast away another fine person? Val wondered. It was hard to keep the question from his gaze, but being Asha’man he’d grown accustomed to these small deceptions as loathed as they were. Besides now was not the time for sad things. Not now. They needed to be happy again. For that reason he flashed a boyish grin that felt unpracticed and crooked after so long being the severe man who’d recently been Raised to the Green.

Her mention of heading away from the Tower quickly dispelled the false mirth. As with all things involving Betrys, a myriad of emotions warred with another, fighting to reach the surface. Recalling his hand, Val decided to press the issue no further.

“A drink then,” he chirped, the smile gone, but the amusement in his voice lingering still, “…for your safety away from home and on your return, Sister Cadawaller.”

Luck would have it that the first serving girl who’d made their acquaintance emerged from the stock room looking far less harassed than before. With a wave, Val called her over. “I’d like tankards of your finest stuff,” he ordered, foolish smirk taking root despite his best efforts. “My friend is going away and I may not see her for some time. I’m hoping a memorable midday tipple will set the road for her success.”

“Yessir, milord and Lady…I ah,” the girl began, but hesitated stealing a glance in the direction of the tavern owner. “It would hafta be from the sir’s personal stock. Fine wines from Murandy and Altara. Only ever ‘ad a sip o’ the stuff meself, but…”

Valadin winked and called for the proprietor who scuttled over, upper lip glistening in uncertainty. “I hear you keep the best for yourself, leaving paying customers—Asha’man and Aes Sedai no less—to suffer this swill you pass off as drink.”

“N-no…certainly not, Asha’man!”

“I think, the Sister and I will keep that in mind when next we endanger our lives for your ilk,” Val grumbled sternly. The miserly owner swept pleading eyes towards Betrys looking for refuge only to find Bee sending a particularly venomous gaze of her own in his direction. Poor man. I know the feeling of being on the poor end of that look.

For all his guilt, Valadin played his part and made as if to leave. As expected their ruse worked and within moments their table was lavished with expensive looking bottles of red wine. After insisting that nothing finer was offered to kings and queens, the owner was obliged to be away once Val expressed meager satisfaction. It was difficult, but Val held his mirth save for the steady stream of tears leaking from his eyes and the occasional hiccup from the strong fit of laughter that gripped him.

Eventually the amusement faded leaving behind only the realization that she was leaving; possibly because of him. Don’t be arrogant. A choice was made; be certain in your course, Val unconvincingly told himself while tipping back his third or fourth tankard of the rich vintage. “Do…you…have you any idea of when you’ll return?” Val asked over the rim of his cup betraying the earlier pact to avoid the subject.

It felt foolish to experience these soft emotions. They were supposed to be gone…or at least reserved only for Nykkolaia. In a way it wasn’t the same with Bee…Nykk set his entire being on fire, but still the remnants of the weaker Valadin’s heart ached with the way things would be left between them.