An AU twist on recent events.

[white_flowers]

Blodwen Rowlands is sitting at a table with a clear view of the windows and the front door. She doesn't seem to mind the cold at all, to judge by her warmly contented smile.

The knife-sharp silver knitting needles in her hands click and flash merrily in point and counterpoint as she works. This evening's project is as white as the snow outside, and shot through with a gleam of silver thread. The shape is indeterminate at present, and it's hard to tell just what it might be.

Her eyes are bright and clear as she watches the room.

Comments

[white_flowers]

The wild magic is meant to be free, she knows, and there is something of that wildness in the Raven before her -- but he is bound and thrice over, to this form, by his longing, and by her spell.

Her hands stroke soothingly over his hair still as she tells him,

"Oh, my dear. I am very old, myself, and I know what it is to be alone and weary. I shall not leave you, and you shall not leave me--"

Not now, as the spell winds tighter and tighter about him, sinking more deeply in with each word and each touch.

"And you do not need to worry, any more. I am here, and will take care of you, and you will be happy."

Careful crafting with words and comfort, as she binds him to her will.

[creator_raven]

"It is rare, I think, that I do the leaving."

He lifts his head, then, eyes wide and bright and fixed on her face.

"Once in all the time I have been myself, perhaps."

Raven leans forward suddenly, sharply.

"And you?"

[white_flowers]

"I have been separated before from those I cared for, against my wishes," she says softly, meeting his bright-eyed gaze. "It is hard, to lose others to the ravages of time, is it not?"

She smiles at him, and the light soft voice is warm and gentle as she says,

"I will not leave you, cariad." A hesitation. "Unless we are forced apart, but I will fight to keep that from happening, I promise you."

[creator_raven]

He smiles, then, and there is something of sweetness in it.

"I am good at fighting, I think. Also persistence."

[white_flowers]

His beautifully sweet smile is met with an answering warm one from the woman in white.

"Goodness me, pretty bird, then we shall have nothing to fear."

The invisible bands twitch, and sink slightly deeper.

"If you would fight to stay with me-- and it is that I would struggle to keep from losing you--"

She would indeed, for the power in this one is very great. Every word is utterly sincere.

[creator_raven]

Then things are well, indeed."

For the moment. And Raven is good at making moments last. It is a question of practice, mostly.

"I think we are well met, Lady. I am almost grateful."

[white_flowers]

"As am I, dear," Blodwen says, smiling gently at him. "I am very glad indeed."

[creator_raven]

Something in Raven--a thin always-held tension--relaxes at that.

His smile brightens, hovering perilously close to a grin.

"I think, in light of that, there should be cookies. You are fond of them, as well, perhaps?"

[white_flowers]

And as the tension dissolves, the net shivers and then binds him closely, carefully... and securely.

Blodwen laughs, and tells him,

"Goodness me, pretty bird, but I am." Leaning closer, she confides as if to a friend,

"I have even made them, before. A lovely thing it is, the scent of cookies baking in the early morning on a cold day."

[creator_raven]

Raven beams.

"It is possible that you are my new favorite person."

More than possible, really.

It is a certainty.