(no subject)

[white_flowers]

Her plans are slowly being laid in place as a particular day draws nearer, and it is to that end that she is walking through the edge of the woods this early evening.

Her white cloak will stand out against the trees, she knows; therefore, as she starts into the forest, it is the green kirtle that she wears, and the form of Anghared of Northgalis.

Besides, passing so may buy her peace and time both, given certain recent events.

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[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"My lady."

His voice is soft, as he moves out from the trees. Bow and arrow are in his hands, but neither are aimed at her, and a moment later he returns the arrow to its quiver.

"May we speak, my lady?"

[white_flowers]

Something like surprise is very clear on her face as he puts the weapon away-- and clear in the soft musical voice as well, when she answers him.

"I would not have thought, now, that you would wish to speak with me."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"Aye, I can understand that."

He pushes his hair back, gravely thoughtful.

"When last we spoke, I was -- surprised. And aye, upset, because you did deceive me, my lady, and I had trusted you. But there were mitigating circumstances that made my reaction as it was."

Silence, for a moment.

"I would explain, if you would hear me."

[white_flowers]

"And how is it that," she starts, and then, "-- no. You will not hear it, nor care, of that I am certain."

A beat, and blue, blue eyes meet his as they stand there amid the trees.

"But I will listen."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"When I was sixteen, my mother was killed by a witch in the form of a serpent. That same witch enchanted and abducted me, and for ten years she kept me beneath the earth, in the dark places, plotting to overthrow Narnia by force and rule through me, as a puppet-king. For twenty-three hours of each day, I believed myself under a spell that she was striving to break; for one hour, I knew the truth, and she delighted in tormenting me during my hour of sanity. For ten years I lived that life, the toy and plaything of a witch, and it is not so long ago that it was ended that I can so easily throw off the effects it has had on me."

His voice is quiet.

"You say I will not hear, nor care, what you have to say. You misjudge me, Anghared. I do not understand you, nor why you do what you do, but I care yet for you. That much was not a lie."

[white_flowers]

"A lying snake, it was," Anghared says, and oh, that softly. "Clear it is now, goodness yes indeed."

(enough, witch!)

"And whatever did I do of harm to you, Rilian?" A half-laugh, half-sob, and she casts her glance away from him. A beat of silence, and then,

"How can you possibly care?"

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"You? Nothing to harm me, my lady. I do not know what dealings you have had with my father or Lucy or any of my other countrymen, but you have done nothing to harm me, and I care for you, because I cared for Anghared and you are her, whoever else you may be."

He sighs, and his expression is tired and sad.

"Ah, lady. Is there some way I can help you to be her again?"

[white_flowers]

"Why, and I have not harmed any of them, either," she tells him-- and the gentle voice has more than a touch of bitterness in it.

"Your lord father will not have it so, Rilian; surely it is that you know that?"

The Seafarer, she thinks, and a surge of icy anger rises within the

(Lady of the Green Kirtle -- a witch)

White Rider. Caspian Seafarer, and his interference -- would that she had dealt more completely with him before!

Her gaze is still fixed on the grass as she adds softly,

"It is kind of you to offer, my lord, even to a witch." Bitter, bitter words, soft and tired.

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"Anghared."

He gently touches her shoulder, equally as gently tilts her chin up to make her look at him.

"This is my doing, not his. And you called me Rilian, once; might you do so again?"

Another soft sigh, another sad look.

"Ah, my lady, what wrongs have been done to make you this way?"

[white_flowers]

She is tall, fair and fey, but he is taller. She does not resist his touch, and as he turns her face up to his a cool breeze darts through the air, bringing the slightest sheen of moisture to her eyes and easily hiding the darkness behind them.

"Rilian," she says, the sweet gentle voice very soft now. "Some of it you know -- you have seen evidence of the struggles that I have been put through here."

And had promised to guard her and protect her as a result, although she does not mention it aloud-- it is not really necessary to, after all.

"How can I not distrust, when there are those that would gladly see me dead, simply because of what I am?"

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"And what are you, that people distrust you so?"

There is no rancour in his voice, no accusation. Just a question.

"I want to understand, Anghared, I want to stop the pain between you and those who I love. If I cannot do that - and it may not be able to be done, I acknowledge that - then at least salvage what I may of the friendship we had begun."

[white_flowers]

"I am Anghared of Northgalis." Her response is instant, and then, only then, does she hesitate. "It has never been a lie, Rilian. I am she."

"It is only that I am other things as well-- and by now you will have heard, oh I am certain that you will have heard, of Blodwen Rowlands, the White Rider of the Dark."

She stands straight and tall before him, as the (cloak) kirtle shifts and settles around her, waiting for his reaction.

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"I believe you."

There is no deceit in his tone, nor in his eyes.

"What does the White Rider of the Dark do, Anghared? I am not from your world, I don't understand your terms as others might."

[white_flowers]

As has happened before, the more they talk, the less defined by Welsh her speech becomes, although the light musical lilt remains clear and sweet. It is almost an imperceptible change, so slowly and naturally does it happen.

"It... I..." A hesitation, while she glances aside, and then she meets his gaze once more.

"Of all people, you might be one who could-- who would understand, Rilian. I had never thought..."

She trails off there, taking a quick breath to steady herself. Will Stanton or Merriman Lyon would recognize a plea similar to one they once had seen -- as would a man named John Rowlands.

"All I ever wanted was to have power enough to make my own way, so long ago-- I was afraid, and I wished..."

"A mind it is, that comes into my own mind, and I say and do things. A battle there was, in the world from which I came, and I was a part of it-- or the Dark was, working through me, and I could not, could not--"

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

Her words strike a chord, that much is clear in his face.

Softly, so softly, "ah, Anghared, I know, I understand more than any might think. What price you have paid for that power, that surcease from fear..."

Gentle, strong arms are around her shoulders, and there is nothing of hatred or fear in his face, only empathy, sympathy, an understanding that perhaps few others can claim.

"I do not think you are an innocent in all of this. But nor do I think you are the evil that people may claim. Ah, my lady, how frightened you must have been, so long ago... long-ago times are rarely kind to those who lack power. I can understand why you bargained for the power you now hold, I can understand the price it exacts."

[white_flowers]

And oh, the difference between this plaintive explanation and the plea that Blodwen Rowlands had given to John during the Dark's attempt to have Bran Davies cast out of his place in Time-- the difference here is that Rilian believes Anghared, that he believes her.

She is almost trembling as he embraces her, offering support and comfort, and then a shiver passes through her. Anghared puts her arms around him and buries her face in his shoulder with a small sob.

He cannot see the unnatural inhuman brightness to her cold ice-blue gaze, not this way, but the few tears that fall are warm and seem real enough.

(when we live in your world... we feel and see and hear as you do)

She has had many, many years of existing in mortal form, after all, and when she wishes it to be, the semblance is very nearly perfect.

(only there are certain perceptions in us that are not in you - and these in the last resort have dominion over the others)

Very nearly perfect, indeed.

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"Oh, my lady," he says quietly, stroking her hair as though comforting a child woken from a nightmare. "I am sorry, so very sorry it has been this way for you."

[white_flowers]

She remains still in his arms for just a moment longer, and then draws back as though ashamed of some weakness.

Anghared flushes slightly as she looks up at him, her blue eyes still wet with tears.

"What you must think of me--"

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"I don't think badly of you for grieving," he says gently. "I understand it, Anghared, better than you know."

[white_flowers]

"Because-- because of the (witch) enchantment, that you spoke of?"

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"Because of that, aye, because I know what it is to want power, to be afraid and to be willing to do nearly anything to stop that fear." He sighs. "I still wish it could be otherwise, what has passed between you and my kinsfolk, but I do not hate you, Anghared."

[white_flowers]

"They do."

Softly said, and without a hint of doubt.

"For what I am, they hate and despise me, Rilian. You know it as well as I."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"I know."

His voice is soft, and sorrowful.

"Is there any way to change, Anghared? Any way I can help you to change?"

[white_flowers]

"Too late, it is," she whispers. "And no second chances here, I do not care what others say -- from the moment I passed through the door, it was made clear to me that it would not be allowed, not for me."

She sighs, and moves as if to step back from him.

"I-- I will leave you -- your father would not want you speaking with me--"

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

His hands tighten on her arms, not enough to hurt or to constrain her if she wants to get away, but enough to say he does not want her to leave.

"Let me be your second chance. Please, Anghared, I -- I know there is good in you. Let me help you find it again. We can show them that they were wrong."

[white_flowers]

She freezes, like some startled wild creature, and her gaze is wondering as she searches his face.

"You mean it," she says, oh, so softly. "Why, you truly mean that, I do believe."

Deep within and hidden, the White Rider makes a decision. This young king may mean her well, may believe in her-- but his father does not, and will never be convinced.

Caspian will have to be dealt with, and likely his lady Lucy as well.

Anghared smiles, a trembling, sweetly hopeful smile.

"I will trust you again, Rilian."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"I truly mean it, my lady."

He smiles gently, and offers her his hand.

"Walk with me a while, Anghared."

And for a while, the forest sounds are joined by quiet, somber voices.