(Untitled)

[still_golden]

The others left for Gwen Ystrat two days ago; Jennifer had elected to stay in the Temple, surrounded by grey walls and grey-robed priestesses. There's very little to occupy herself with, besides thought, and thought carries her too close to feeling, so she distracts herself with wandering

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[pwyll_twiceborn]

"- Jennifer."

Paul had gone to the Temple in search of her as soon as he returned to the capital.

Halfway to her chambers, he had opened a door and found Milliways. He had been fairly certain, then, that she was here.

He walks quickly over to her table, and the set of his face says that he has something to say.

[still_golden]

She looks up, eyebrows rising.

"Paul. Has something happened?"

[pwyll_twiceborn]

"Several things," Paul says; he sounds tired.

"- may I sit down?"

[still_golden]

A nod towards the opposite chair. "Please."

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Paul takes the seat, and a deep breath, before looking Jen straight in the eye.

"I am afraid," he says, without preamble, "that I have made a grave mistake as regards Darien."

[still_golden]

If he's watching, he might see her hands tighten around her coffee mug.

Otherwise, she's still mild as she says, "How so?"

[pwyll_twiceborn]

"Finn is gone. He has gone to the Longest Road, as the girl Leila predicted; I will tell you what that means, but it is less important now than Darien."

Everything may be less important than Darien.

"I went to the cottage after; I knew he would be feeling Finn's absence, and I thought -"

He makes an impatient gesture. "It makes little difference, I suppose. But I felt that with Finn gone, and Darien coming into his power, he needed to be brought to his maturity. To make his choice, in full awareness of what it means.

"So I brought him to the Summer Tree."

[still_golden]

Her lips tighten slightly.

"You know how I feel about that sort of thing, Paul," she says quietly. "What happened?"

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Paul feels the reproach, though he takes care not to show it

[still_golden]

Jennifer pales.

"Then -- do you think he will?"

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Paul shakes his head, a little helplessly.

"Finn loved him very much. I should like to hope that it will count for enough."

[still_golden]

"It must be enough."

She closes her eyes, pressing a hand to her forehead.

"Oh, God, it must be."

[pwyll_twiceborn]

"I'm sorry," Paul says. He doesn't look down, but he is all Paul Schafer in this moment.

"I am so sorry, Jen. I couldn't think of another way."

[still_golden]

She takes a long breath, lets it out, and shake her head.

"I know."

It has to have been enough. If she's been wrong on this from the beginning--

"Have you told anyone else yet? Jaelle?"

Most people don't even know Darien exists, but maybe there's yet something they can do.

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Paul shakes his head again.

"I came to find you first. Brendel was there, and we told Vae; otherwise nobody knows."

[still_golden]

"Jaelle will have to know."

There's a pause, and then, slowly, "How is Vae?"