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[sai_delgado]

As the sun moves higher in the sky, the light that filters through the window of the room slowly brightens. Long-used to rising early to tend to matters at the stable, she's been awake for a while.

This morning, however, she hasn't yet stirred to leave Cuthbert's side-- instead, Susan is quiet, watching him sleep, a soft smile on her face.

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[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

For quite some time now, Cuthbert's been in the habit of sleeping later than he ever did in life.

However, considering how early he was accustomed to waking in life, late for him still isn't terribly late, so it's not long before he stirs and opens his eyes as well.

[sai_delgado]

"Good morning, 'Bert."

Soft and mayhap a little sleepy still, but she's smiling.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Morning."

Cuthbert lifts himself on one elbow just enough to lean across and kiss her. As he does so, it occurs to him that while he's done this many times already, this is his first time doing it as as a future husband, and there's a smile on his face as he draws back.

[sai_delgado]

There's a moment of stillness between them, as they simply look at each other, and then Susan laughs ruefully and confesses,

"I thought at first when I woke that it must have been a dream, do'ee ken?"

A glance at the ring shining on her finger and she looks back at him, still smiling.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

He takes her hand, looking down at the ring for a moment. "No dream."

Leaning in again, he brushes his lips lightly across first her lips, and then her forehead. "Love you."

[sai_delgado]

"And I love thee, 'Bert," she says softly. "Although I'd not-- I'd never expected--"

She trails off there, but the unspoken is still clear, mayhap.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert nods silently, then flops back on the bed, still holding her hand.

"And we've got a lot to figure out for this to really work, I guess."

Last night, all the doubts and problems that go hand in hand with this were easy to put aside. It would probably be easy to put them aside this morning, as well--but they won't wait forever.

[sai_delgado]

She nods as well, and her grasp on his hand tightens a little. She's quiet, thinking.

(bird and bear and hare and fish)

Remembering another place and another time, almost exactly a year ago.

(give my love her fondest wish)

Remembering promises, and what came after, as well.

(wedded in fire - charyou tree)

"I-- I have to talk to Roland."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert knew this would be coming.

He still tenses.

"I...I talked to him. Night before last."

[sai_delgado]

It doesn't really surprise her, say true -- since things had changed between them, they'd agreed not to keep it from him.

(I'd not willingly do anything to cause you pain, Roland. You're my oldest friend, and my best friend, and I love you.)

But oh, she does not miss Cuthbert's sudden tension, and her heart sinks within her.

"What-- what did he say?"

(my grief - you are the source of it)

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"I told him what I meant to do, and asked if he was alright with it."

Cuthbert rolls on his side to face her--trying, for her sake, to keep the bleakness out of his face and voice.

"He--he said he wouldn't stop me."

A pause.

"No more than that."

[sai_delgado]

And it is that which Roland had left unsaid, mayhap, that hangs in the air now.

Susan closes her eyes and is silent.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

He lets go of her hand then, and moves closer, his forehead touching her shoulder as he puts one arm around her.

[sai_delgado]

Susan leans into his embrace, and wraps both arms around him, holding him closely.

"It'll be all right, 'Bert. Somehow. It were-- mayhap it were but the surprise of it?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

He holds onto her tightly.

"Mayhap. And--as Alain said, he knows we'd never wish to hurt him, and..."

He pauses, and takes a deep breath. "We'll find a way for it to work out. We will."

[sai_delgado]

"We will," she whispers, running one hand up and down his back.

"Alain's right, usually. And I'll-- I'll speak with him, too."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert wonders if she'll be more successful than he was.

He hopes so, anyway.

For now, he falls back into silence.

[sai_delgado]

"I never wanted to come between thee," she says, finally.

"I never wanted to cause thee grief."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

He pulls her a bit closer, one hand going to her hair. "Not your fault. I...if there's any blame for this, it's mine."

[sai_delgado]

"I'll not have thee blame yerself, 'Bert, for that which we've found together, do'ee ken?"

Soft words, but utterly certain, say true.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"I kennit, Sue."

He pulls back enough to look at her. "But it was my decision to ask, even though I'd already seen his reaction to the idea."

[sai_delgado]

"And I'm -- I'm glad thee did," she tells him, as a little smile reappears.

"Mayhap-- mayhap it'll only take time."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Mayhap."

Then, as he strokes her hair back and cups her face in one hand, his smile returns. "And I'm not sorry I asked."

Sorry for Roland--but he can't bring himself to regret this, even for his friend's sake.

[sai_delgado]

Her eyes are shining even though she doesn't speak. Can't speak, mayhap-- and so, Susan leans forward and kisses him.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert leans in deepening the kiss--and then suddenly pulls back as a thought hit him.

"Oh, hell, this means we have to plan a wedding, doesn't it?"

[sai_delgado]

Susan stares at him, and then starts laughing.

"Do'ee kennit, I'd not even thought?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

He laughs as well, shaking his head.

"I hadn't--I mean, I'd thought about it a little, but hadn't wanted to think about it too much before I'd even asked--"

[sai_delgado]

"Then mayhap ye should be planning," she tells him firmly-- and then hesitates.

"Are yer plans anything like yer naming of creatures?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert just gives her a deeply, deeply wounded look.

[sai_delgado]

She giggles at his expression.

"... well then. Mayhap we'd best both do what's needed to plan it."

A beat, and she looks a little lost. "Whatever that is."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Aye."

Silence for a moment, then, "Mayhap we shouldn't try think too much about when, just yet. There's other things going on--"

He won't mention the Academy, not here and now, but it's what he's thinking of,

"--and I don't think there's any need for haste, really."

[sai_delgado]

"Thee say true," she answers softly.

The Academy, and other things as well-- including a conversation she means to have as soon as may be.

"There's time, 'Bert."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert nods silently.

There'll be time to deal with everything they must--both the bad, and the good.

For now, he simply puts his arms around her again, and leans in, and kisses her.