(no subject)

[sai_delgado]

[After this.]

Susan hurries down the staff hallway to her room, fear and anger mixed and fighting for control of her as she goes.

She's completely forgotten the few ribbons she still holds in her hand, and doesn't notice as a few fall to the ground outside her door.

Once inside she paces back and forth, much like a wild thing trapped and unhappy.

Comments

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert is heading for his own door when he notices the fallen ribbons on the ground outside of Susan's. His brow furrows. It's not like her to drop things carelessly like that.

He passes his room and continues down the hall to hers, rapping gently on the door. "Susan?"

[sai_delgado]

She whirls, staring at the door--

(he followed me Rhea followed me)

--and then scolds herself sharply.

"Cuthbert?"

But the door's locked tonight, although it's not usually, and as she realizes this she starts toward it.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert's already turned the knob himself, and found this out. His look of concern does not decrease.

"Aye, it's me. Is something wrong?"

[sai_delgado]

There's a click as the latch is drawn back and then Susan opens the door, looking up at him.

She hasn't been crying, but there's something half-wild in her look as she glances down the hall and then beckons him in.

"Ye could say that, mayhap-- but I'm-- I'm all right--"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert takes one look at her.

She's unharmed, maybe, but he wouldn't say all right.

He closes the door behind himself and latches it again, then turns back to her, taking her by the shoulders and drawing her close.

"What is it?"

[sai_delgado]

She lets herself be drawn, and puts her arms around him, holding tightly for a moment or two before she pulls away to look up at him once more.

"I met-- I met someone new tonight, do'ee ken? Belasius, he said his name were, fron Brittany."

No honorific, not for him, not now.

"He were-- he were watchful, and I -- I thought he were new-come, mayhap, and told him that there were different worlds, that I'd not heard of his-- nor he of Mid-World, he said--"

(death to ye)

"--but when he sat down-- he had a bowl of ashes, 'Bert, and when he saw me looking, he -- he said--"

One hand fists tightly in her own hair, as if to assure herself that it's still there and not burned to ash as she had been. She's near-mad with fear and fury both, still, and trembling with it.

"'Life to yer crop.'" Poison-soft, as his voice had been.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

At the last words, Cuthbert's hands tighten on Susan's shoulders, almost enough to be painful.

And then he lets with one hand, and lays it over hers where it clutches her hair, gently but firmly prying her fingers loose and then smoothing the golden strands down where she'd clutched them.

"And then what?"

He manages to keep his tome gentle, but only barely, and there's a note in it that does not bode well for Belasius of Brittany.

[sai_delgado]

"I told him he were too late."

Anger is outweighing fear, now.

"And that it were naught of his concern -- but he said he served the Lady, and that since-- since I'd come here after -- that it were his concern."

And that quickly she's all nerves again.

"How did-- did I give it away? How could he-- how could he kennit so? He didn't ken the greeting, or Mid-World, it can't have been the stories--"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert shakes his head, his expression grim. "I don't know. Mayhap--mayhap he sensed something?"

He draws her close again, his arms going around her this time.

"He said he served the Lady...the Lady Morphia?"

[sai_delgado]

"I don't know," she echoes softly, allowing herself to lean against him and be comforted. "He were watching me from -- from the time he greeted me, say true."

She thinks carefully, trying to push past the emotion to remember it all clearly. "He said-- he said it were 'interesting' that She had sent me here, after, and that he does Her will-- but he never said her name."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert's jaw tightens, but he makes himself think this through. With so many from so many worlds here, his Lady can't be the only Lady out there...but it sounds like Her. And just because She is kind does not mean that all those who serve Her are.

His voice, when he speaks again, is far too quiet and calm to mean anything good. "I'd like to speak to this Belasius, I think."

[sai_delgado]

Instantly, she stiffens in his arms, and the surge of fear that races through her now is not for her-- but for him.

(Rhea would have destroyed them all if she could)

"Bert-- I told him I'd not have it, and mayhap it'll be enough--"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

He tightens his arms around her, one hand going to her hair.

"Mayhap--but if it's not, and he troubles you again..."

If he hurts you...

[sai_delgado]

(will you not - are you sure of that, madam?)

She can almost hear the veiled threat and promise that had been in Belasius's words, and she cannot quite control her shiver of response.

Still, she says, nearly in a whisper,

"I don't want to see thee 'troubled,' either."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Gently, "I know."

He tilts her chin up with one hand, looking her in the eyes. "But if he'd trouble thee, then I already am, and I'll not hold back from doing whatever I can."

[sai_delgado]

(we'd all protect her if we could)

She shivers again, slightly, and then goes up on her toes to press a kiss to his lips.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

His hand slips back to tangle in her hair, drawing her closer, deepening the kiss.

His other arm is still around her, holding tight. It may be a while before he's willing to let go.

[sai_delgado]

The door is locked between them and the outisde world, and while Susan's not forgotten the events of the evening, she's willing and glad to let them be pushed aside now, oh aye.

She presses closer into his embrace, sliding one hand up to cup the nape of his neck and curving her other arm around his waist, and for a space of time nothing else matters but the two of them, together here.