Lake Party Bonfire Night Two

[the_woodpecker]

Night falls, and the air begins to hold a slight chill

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[necessary_child]

Sam's out on the lakeside, a little way away from the bonfires.

His hands are full of stars tonight, adding to the other flickering lights dotted about the lakeside.

He's watching, but not unapproachable.

Re: Placeholder- Tag if you don't mind slowtimes, the mun's heading to bed soonish

[necessary_child]

"Perhaps." Sam grins, suddenly. "But don't you ever want to give a straight answer, just once, just for kicks? To surprise people?"

Apparently Sam's decided to take friendly curiosity over any kind of hostility, for the moment. But that does mean that Aslan's chances of any kind of reverence are now approaching nil.

But then, this is Sam. Nobody else gets reverence, either.

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[treading_dawn]

"Life frequently serves to provide its own surprises."

Aslan's tail lashes at his flank, stirring up the sweet smell of violets.

"Another fact that you know well enough, child."

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[necessary_child]

"No reason not to add a few more," Sam says idly, stooping to pick up a bright blue flower that's caught his eye, having struggled to life in the small quick summer.

"Surprises are fun. Or at least, interesting."

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[treading_dawn]

"It is fortunate, then, that for such creatures as live and breathe, the existence of surprises is unavoidable."

Solemn golden eyes are fixed on Sam, wise and warm and unwavering.

"Shall you want for nothing else in your life?"

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[necessary_child]

"I don't say that." Thoughtfully, turning the flower over in his hands, maybe remembering some other blue flowers in some other strange and lovely place.

"But to dwell on what I can't have seems rather pointless, however much I want it. I'd sooner live."

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[treading_dawn]

"Wise words. But mark well the effect the past may have on your future. You've more to do than run, Samuel Linnfer."

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[necessary_child]

Sam gives Aslan a long, long pause of a look, meeting the lion's golden eyes unwaveringly; even if he were to be tempted to look away, his own pride would forbid it.

"Perhaps. But I've no interest in fate, beyond avoiding it. I don't much care to have my future decided for me."

Since his so-called fate involves either a) dying nastily, b) going very painfully insane, or c) both, perhaps Sam can be forgiven for this.

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[treading_dawn]

"Avoid and not alter?"

There are other words Aslan could say, other principles he could invoke, but--

All of creation makes its own choices.

It is as true here as anywhere.

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[necessary_child]

"I don't think altering is quite going to work. I was created for a single purpose; either I fulfil that purpose, with all the fun consequences that brings, or I don't."

Sam twists the flowerstem a little more sharply in his fingers.

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[treading_dawn]

"Should you choose to see the world so, I leave that to you."

And again there is a rumbling growl under the Lion's voice, soft and clear.

"You are no fool, child."

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[necessary_child]

"I'll take your word for it," Sam says mildly. "Personally, I've never been sure."

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[treading_dawn]

Aslan makes no reply.

And, should Sam look away for a moment--

The Lion will be gone.

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[necessary_child]

He doesn't mean to look away, but a flash out on the water catches his eye, and when he looks back again, Aslan has vanished.

Sam lets out a long breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"Incarnates."

And turns, thoughtfully, back to the party.

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[powerful_blood]

And a Merlin wanders along, sees the lights and grins, wandering closer. His eyes glow a faint golden and as he moves it is apparent that the faint golden sparkling in the air around him really does move with him.

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[necessary_child]

Sam doubletakes.

"...Brother?"