(no subject)

[nerdanel_the_wise]

[OOC: This piece is being used, but it is part of Path Not Taken. As Mary Anne absorbs the power of the tarot in small ways, she sees the paths, can see the various outcomes. This is NOT Millicanon. It is a VISION, and ONLY a VISION. It is a WHAT IF only thing. Nothing more. Námo and Nerdanel IC have no knowledge of these events. They weren't there for them, technically.]


The library is large, bright, full of windows and books. There are comfortable, worn chairs and sofas scattered around the room, and half-finished books left on the tables.

Nerdanel closes the door, taking Gabriel from Mary Anne, and looks beyond her to the tall, gangly youth that looked very much like her.

"Nelyo, please take Gabriel outside? Play with him?"

Maedhros smiles, accepting his brother into his arms, and after casting an interested look at the human, slips from the room while Gabriel yammers at him about the Bar.

Nerdanel sighs, leaning against a nearby table, and looks at Mary Anne. "Welcome to my home."

Comments

[song_tra_bong]

Mary Anne wanders over to one of the windows, hand resting on the glass.

"It's very beautiful."

[nerdanel_the_wise]

She smiles, looking out at the quiet afternoon in Tirion.

"It is." Nerdanel folds her hand in her lap. "He took us from Milliways to protect Feaho," she explains softly. "But I think he expected Gorlim to come after him. To visit. To... I don't know. He expected something, but used the kidnapping as an excuse to run. Now, he won't even come down from his room."

[song_tra_bong]

She's quiet for a moment, then turns away from the window.

"Where is his room?"

[nerdanel_the_wise]

"Up the stairs, four doors down the hall, on your left," she murmurs. "The only door closed."

She crosses the room, taking Mary Anne's hand.

"Forgive me for coming to you, but I somehow believed seeking Gorlim would only muddle matters, upset both of them, and Feaho always speaks of you."

[song_tra_bong]

She gives Nerdanel's hand a light squeeze.

"No need to apologise. It'll be alright."

She'll make sure of it, as much as she can.

[nerdanel_the_wise]

She presses a soft kiss to Mary Anne's cheek.

"Fourth door on the left. You'll have to forgive me, but I don't want to go banging on the door again."

[song_tra_bong]

"I understand."

She flashes a parting smile, then heads upstairs.

[nerdanel_the_wise]

Nerdanel listens to the departing footsteps and lets out a long sigh.

It was bad enough having a Vala living with her.

An upset Vala was beyond her abilities.

[song_tra_bong]

Door one...two...three...

Four.

She knocks, a few notches below pounding.

[namo]

There is no answer.

He's had Nerdanel knocking at that door for days now. He's tired of telling her to go away.

If he waits, she will get tired, and she will leave him alone.

Which is what he wanted.

[song_tra_bong]

There are a few more knocks, gradually getting louder, before there's the sound of a body slumping against the door.

"I know you're in there, lovely. Now you can open the door or I can try to break it."

[namo]

Námo closes his eyes.

"She actually went for you?" he calls hoarsely. "She threatened to, but I didn't think she would."

He remains in the bed, but there is the distinct click of the lock giving. The Vala knows she would try to break Nerdanel's door, and that would be rude of him to allow.

[song_tra_bong]

She opens the door just wide enough to slip inside, then closes it behind her.

"You underestimated her, then."

She stands with her back leaning against the door, not coming any closer just yet.

[namo]

He's in the bed, hair still as neat as ever, skin as white and clean as ever. You wouldn't know from looking at him that he hadn't left the bed for days. All the window are open, three walls of them, creating a soft crossbreeze in the room.

"As everyone tells me so often, I underestimate all those around me."

[song_tra_bong]

She comes over and sits at the foot of the bed, worrying her lower lip with her teeth.

"I know you saw him the other night."

[namo]

"Was it only the other night?" he says faintly, closing his eyes. "Did he go to gloat at you?" Námo smiles ruefully, opening his dark eyes to stare at her. "It is not as if he came to me pretending to be him. It was so much worse than that."

[song_tra_bong]

"He didn't gloat," she murmurs.

"He probably wouldn't even have mentioned it had I not asked."

She's quiet for a moment. "What was it, then?"

[namo]

He rolls onto his back, hand laced on his stomach.

"I invited him, of course."

[song_tra_bong]

She doesn't ask why, just scoots a little closer so she can look at his face.

"You gonna be okay?"

[namo]

His eyes shimmer, but there are no tears. He's spent days shedding those.

"He will not forgive me when he discovers what I have done," he murmurs.

[song_tra_bong]

"I think he will."

He forgave her, after all.

[namo]

He raises a brow and finally looks at her.

"You are not promised to him, Mary Anne. I swore. I swore an oath he wrote, and now I have broken it with--" Námo shakes his head. "Why did he come to me? Why did he not stay away?"

[song_tra_bong]

The necklace chain burns cold at her throat.

"It's not his nature to stay away. He always ends up...involved."

[namo]

"He should not have been," he almost snarls. "Offering to be him. And, in the heat of it, did I not allow myself the illusion?"

Námo throws back the covers, standing from the bed nude, and pulls on loose trousers the colour of his eyes.

"All illusions! Even the real thing is an illusion!"

[song_tra_bong]

Her eyes slide away.

She bites her tongue to keep from asking the first question that comes to mind.

"What do you mean the real thing is an illusion?"