shelley_winters | (no subject)

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moiraine

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Shelley is sitting outside. Why not? It's a nice day, for Spring, and she has a cup of tea and a book.

It's nice and peaceful.

You'll ignore the way she looks up suspiciously every time someone passes.

Or maybe you won't.

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Her face tightens.

"Because he told me that if I did and anyone came, he would kill them."

"I might well have thought that you would have some awareness as to the trustworthiness of his promises, Shelley."

This is very dry indeed.

"Given your past experience."

Shelley frowns.

"I believed that one. He would have, and it wouldn't have changed anything."

"And if you believe that, then perhaps you are more foolish than it might seem, child."

Her tone is very level.

Shelley glares down at the floor.

"Well, I wasn't going to risk him killing anyone else on my behalf. Going with him seemed the safest thing to do at the time, so I did."

"And now you know." There is not the slightest change in her tone as she continues, "There are things worse than simple death, and the promises of the Forsaken are lies, more often than not. Even the smallest concession may be turned to their advantage."

Dark eyes are very intent upon Shelley.

"It would be well for you to remember this, I think."

"Oh, I know," she says unhappily, still looking at the floor. Her tea's getting cold. It doesn't seem important right now.

She kicks the ground quietly, foot swinging in a strange patternless rhythm.

"Do you?"

Calmly. She is still studying the girl.

"Six months. I know."

She sighs, and bites her lip, pushing her glasses more firmly up on her nose.

"I just... I wasn't prepared for that."

Six months?

"What is it that you were not prepared for, Shelley?"

Moiraine deliberates with herself for a moment, then gracefully takes a seat on a nearby rock.

"Any of it. I'd- been getting used to the idea that he was gone, and it had been longer for me because I'd been going home, and then he was just there and I panicked. I didn't know what he wanted."

She looks up, squinting at the bright sky.

"I thought he was just going to kill me. I mean, maybe he was and got distracted, who can tell?"

"Were it only a simple death that he had wished to visit upon you, it might have easily been accomplished without taking you elsewhere," the Aes Sedai points out.

"Do you have a better understanding of matters -- and his interests -- now?"

"Maybe," the girl murmurs.

"He seemed... happy to be getting me back, which was odd. I think maybe he hated the idea that I'd escaped because- well, I wasn't controlled by him any more. He liked control. Likes. As soon as he knew I'd got away..."

She tails off.

As Shelley goes quiet, Moiraine tilts her head, and waits silently for the girl to continue.

Shelley screws up her eyes slightly as she stares forwards, trying to think.

"He couldn't just grab me and go. He didn't let me see him until I was inside, and welded the door shut behind me. Everything he said, it was- it was all to make me feel helpless. Like he'd won a game and he wanted me to realise. I suppose it worked, now I think about it."

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