(Untitled)

[veryvorkosigan]

CALIBAN: Be not afeared. The isle is full of noises;
Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometimes voices
That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again...

*The thought of sleeping again is much less enticing than it has been lately

Comments

[blue_ajah]

*There is a knock at the door, and Moiraine opens it just slightly and looks in.*

Cordelia? Am I intruding?

[veryvorkosigan]

*She sets the book aside, her eyes lighting with welcome.*

Moiraine. No, please, come in. I was hoping to see you.

[blue_ajah]

*She moves into the room and pauses, nodding.*

Yes; Will mentioned that you wanted to speak with me. You are better, I hope?

[veryvorkosigan]

I am, thank you. I should be able to get home soon. Tomorrow, I hope.

And then my doctors can get started on synthesizing the cure...

[blue_ajah]

*Moiraine winces slightly at this.*

Yes.

I am glad that you will soon be able to return home, then.

[veryvorkosigan]

*Cordelia's brows crinkle. Something about Moiraine's manner ... it's familiar, and yet wrong somehow. Vague, and slightly uncertain ... subtly so, subtly enough that in someone else it would be barely remarkable, but on the face of this woman, always so purposeful and intent --

The familiarity jumps into focus suddenly.

Simon Illyan. Over the past few years. Simon after his memory chip was damaged.*

Moiraine ...

How bad was it?

[blue_ajah]

*Although perhaps she should have been, she is unprepared for this after the long night and the number of people she has spoken with. Moiraine takes a sharp breath, and sinks into a nearby chair. Her eyes darken with pain, and her gaze is distant.*

It... was far from pleasant, I am afraid.

[veryvorkosigan]

I see.

*She says nothing more, for the moment.*

[blue_ajah]

*Moiraine continues to stare into the distance, and absently reaches as if to turn a ring on her finger. On not finding it, she looks down, and idly spins a bracelet on her wrist instead, then focuses again on Cordelia with a sharp gaze.*

Perhaps you might, at that.

[veryvorkosigan]

*Cordelia raises an eyebrow inquiringly.*

[blue_ajah]

*Moiraine smiles at her, but there is no joy in her eyes, which remain shadowed.*

It may help your research to know that I was never, in fact, Bound by the bar.

[veryvorkosigan]

Really. By what, then?

*Her tone is cool, almost that of a disinterested observer. Her intent gaze tells a slightly different story.*

[blue_ajah]

It is more that I was never free when I arrived, you see.

*One hand fastens tightly around her other wrist, over the bracelet. Her voice is strained, but controlled and even.*

I arrived from the Tower of Ghenjei, where I had been kept prisoner by the Aelfinn and Eelfinn. *If Moiraine realizes that she is telling Cordelia things that the other woman already knows, she does not seem aware of it.*

When I returned, seeking to invoke an ancient treaty for safe passage, I found that I had not truly escaped from their hold, and so remained their prisoner.

They are not kind.

*Her face has lost all color and is deathly white.*

[veryvorkosigan]

No. I would imagine not.

*She is silent for a moment, then:*

If you need to talk about it, I can listen.

[blue_ajah]

I am not entirely certain what I would say. It is difficult, and confused.

*She goes quiet.*

[veryvorkosigan]

Confused?

*That vague, lost look ... and Cordelia finds herself possessed of a dreadful suspicion.*