Surprises (Attn: Lysira)

[Jack]

Jerid’s eyes lingered on his son for a long time. The boy he had held while still an infant had grown into a fine and apparently well-groomed man.

How much of that could be placed at his own absence? How much different would Cade have turned out had he stayed in the lad’s life?

The Indigo had been a father and grandfather well before entering his second century of life. He had attempted to be a father to a grown Sojin, at times succeeding but mostly failing.

Lysira’s presence tugged his gold-green eyes away from Cade and toward the small Warder. He smiled as her hands signed the conditions for staying at the Library a little longer.

“Your mother is correct,” Jerid said with a smile. “Besides, if you stay too long, the Brown Ajah may claim you for a page or docent.”

He spoke the words with a healthy respect. Many Brothers and Sisters had some old-fashioned notions about the Brown Ajah, but the Indigo had been mentored in part by Edwyn Malekin Asha’man, a Brown who had become a master of the Dream.

Jerid touched Cade’s shoulder and murmured, “We will have much to speak on at dinner tonight, my son, conservations I trust will be of many to come.’

His other hand clasped Lysira’s hand tightly as he slowly moved away.

His mind was already swimming with questions and topics of conversation. How could one approach a topic with a mind that could be much sharper than his own?

Jerid let go of Lysira’s hand after a moment and murmured with love, “He’s grown into a fine young man, so much like you.”

OOC: And I'm back after brain dead and job exhaustion! I think ...

[Bella]

It was with a heart full of warmth and family, for the first time in a long time, that Lysira walked away from the library. It warmed her further to know that this was not a single moment to be forgotten, but the start of a new life; or, perhaps, a return... No. It was new. There were resemblances to the old, but it was a life forged from this moment and only going forward. There would be no steps back, because that's not how life was made for.

Hearing his words as they left, she looked up at him and flashed a loving smile. 'Thank you, my husband.' She said it just because she could, liking the feeling of the word upon her mind again. Like the sign she made with her fingers just felt good. 'You will enjoy getting to know him.'

She walked with him in silence for a small while then, lost in her thoughts. Her smile faded a little into ruefulness. Her keen eyes took in their surroundings for a moment, taking in the corridor they walked through. 'I wish our return and reunion could have been only happiness,' she said, unable to not start thinking back to what drew them here. She could not hold the thought off forever. 'We have much to figure out now, but it seems a little less daunting to know I don't have to do it alone now.'