{attn: Gaheris}

[morvydd]

Morvydd is in her long linen nightgown, brushing out her hair by the wide mirror in her front room. The fire is low; she's about to go to bed.

Comments

[littlebetter]

Gaheris doesn't so much knock on the door as slump against it, breathless with astonishment and fear. After a panting moment he manages to fumble with the handle, making more than enough noise to alert her to his presence.

The experience with Morgause has either sobered him or made the alcohol go to his head; either way, his clumsiness is back.

[morvydd]

"Who is't?" She puts down the brush and goes to the door. "--Gaheris?"

[littlebetter]

"Morvydd--" almost panicked, rushing his Latin so much it's hard to understand. "Morvydd, I defied her, I swore at her, I told her I meant nothing to her, I--"

[morvydd]

"Hush, hush, coz, come in." Morvydd gets an arm around him and draws him inside, shutting the door.

[littlebetter]

He stumbles along with her--his clothes are wrinkled, he smells of bourbon, not exactly providing the best impression ever--drawing deep breaths. "Oh, God."

[morvydd]

She hugs him tightly for a moment, all the same. "Come, sit."

[littlebetter]

Gaheris obeys, and lets his head fall into his hands for a moment, trying to catch hold of himself.

[morvydd]

Meanwhile Morvydd pushes her hair back, and kneels down to build up the fire again.

[littlebetter]

More slowly, "I defied her. I don't even know--I don't know what it means. I swear I never meant to say any of it."

[morvydd]

"Mine aunt?" softly. Morvydd never speaks of 'his mother', any more than he does.

[littlebetter]

"My lady. Aye. I raised my voice to her."

[morvydd]

She sits back on her heels, looking up at him. "And what did she do?"

[littlebetter]

"Nothing. Looked at me."

[morvydd]

Morvydd considers a moment, then pokes the fire again and stands to put her arms around his shoulders. "And thou, what didst thou say to her?"

[littlebetter]

"That I knew she had no use for me. She said she would I had not been born, and I said I had never in my life done anything to make her regret or be glad of my birth until I killed her--and I bade her tell me why she had not."

[morvydd]

She strokes his back gently, quiet.