ahem

[heartofbirds]

Linden is a man whose voice has the quality of warm milk, soft and soothing; the kind of man you want to trust instinctively, the kind of man you feel you could tell anything to and be understood. When he speaks, he sounds reasonable and a little worn, as if he's spent a few sleepless nights recently

Comments

[youngandhealthy]

"Sir!"

Molly's only just found Xanadu, and has been wandering around with delight. She all but beams when she sees him, but it's softened by the fact he's much older, and clearly distressed.

"Oh, sir, what's so ill?"

[heartofbirds]

Linden stops, and stares, dropping the attitudes he's affected for this particular speech. "Molly?"

[youngandhealthy]

"Aye," she breaks back into a grin, "e'en so."

She's a few years older than when he saw her last, but not as much older as to keep up with him (early 20s instead of late teens, perhaps).

[heartofbirds]

"By all the saints." He lets his breath out. "My child, it's been so long. Are you well?"

[youngandhealthy]

She leans up to kiss his cheek. "Aye, I'm well, well enough. How are you?"

[heartofbirds]

"Old. I'm old, and you're exactly as I left you." Linden runs over her hair; he's still looking at her as though he doesn't quite believe she's real.

[youngandhealthy]

She lifts her hands to rest them lightly on his arms. "It's been a few years, for me. Two or three?"

[heartofbirds]

"Two or three." This time he laughs, almost startled, and kisses her forehead. "It's been nearly thirty years since I saw you."

[youngandhealthy]

"Thirty! Lord, sir, how very strange. You've run on ahead of me."

[heartofbirds]

"I'm afraid I have. Have you been much the same?"

[youngandhealthy]

"Aye, ever. I went home, I only lately came to this place. And you?"

[heartofbirds]

Quietly, "I have been in service to a queen. I come and go as she bids me."

[youngandhealthy]

"A queen, how grand. Are you well-satisfied with her?" She rests a fond hand on his chest.

[heartofbirds]

Linden laughs and sighs. "It gives me purpose, at any rate, even if that purpose is only to be errand-boy to a woman no better than my last mistress."

[youngandhealthy]

"You always did think too poor of yourself," she says, softer, "but as you like."

[heartofbirds]

A touch sadly, "You always though very highly of me."