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The redhead was awake again, for the fourth night in a row. Alder could tell, because she could feel the girl’s restlessness and growing exhaustion as she lay in bed attempting to get some sleep herself. She didn’t require as much sleep as a regular person thanks to her Biddies, but she did try to sleep when possible. Lately it had not been possible, namely because of a certain perpetually awake redheaded cadet.
The General sighed and sat up against the headboard with a slight frown. This was simply getting out of hand. If the Cadet didn’t get some significant rest soon her studies and her training would suffer, not to mention the entire Bellweather Unit’s performance would suffer and if that happened Alder would likely never hear the end of it from Petra. She slid her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, stretching for a few moments before slipping on her trademark jacket over her nightgown and a pair of sneakers. She couldn’t be bothered to get fully dressed at 3 in the morning and knew the chances of anyone seeing her were slim at best.
She closed her eyes for a moment following along the connection with her Biddies in her mind to check that they were all soundly asleep before determinedly making her way out into the halls of the administration building. It wasn’t often that Alder snuck off without them, but she wasn’t in the mood to deal with their hushed gossip and frustratingly knowing glances and they really did need to get their rest if she couldn’t get her own.
It took the General all of seven minutes to cross the grounds to reach the War College barracks and she was eternally grateful to the Goddess that she didn’t run into a single soul on her brisk walk. She didn’t really feel like explaining why she was outside with no pants on in the middle of the night. When she reached Sekhmet’s dorms, she hesitated for the first time since leaving her bed. I can’t just barge in there. What if I wake her Sisters? What should I say? Should I try the link? But then she’d be even more insufferable about the Connection…
Luckily the older witch didn’t have too much time to let her thoughts spiral, because just then the door to Tally’s room creaked open to reveal the Knower in her standard blue army pajama set and slippers looking somehow both confused and smug at the same time. Tally let the door close softly behind her as she leaned against it, facing Alder with a raised eyebrow and a small nervous smile.
“General! What are you doing here? I mean. Um. Hi? Ma’am. What brings you over here so late or erm…early? I could feel you just standing out here and I wasn’t sure if I should come out here and talk to you but then I thought what if you were waiting for me and it was rude of me to keep you waiting but then also you’re probably not actually here to see me anyway I’m sure you have way more important business going on and now I’m rambling. I’m sorry, I get really chatty when I’m nervous and tired and I just haven’t been sleeping very well lately since. Well since you know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with your hair down like that. It looks really nice. Lovely even. Did you know you’re not wearing pants? Are you cold? I can get you some of mine…” Tally’s cheeks turned bright red the longer she rambled and as endearing as Alder found it, she was worried if Tally kept talking she’d wake up the whole dorm.
“Craven,” Alder began softly but firmly, “It’s okay. There’s no need to be nervous. And I am here to see you actually. And that’s very kind of you, Cadet, but I am actually not that cold and we’re not staying so I don’t need to borrow your clothing. Thank you, though.”
Tally’s brow furrowed slightly as she tried to process everything the General had said. She was thankful that the older witch had notably not commented on Tally’s overly enthusiastic appraisal of her loose hair. “You’re here to see me? Wait we’re not staying? Where are we going?”
Alder’s lips quirked up at the sides as she barely suppressed a smile, “If you’re comfortable with it, I’d like you to come back to my quarters with me. I know you haven’t been sleeping, Cadet, and quite frankly it has gone on too long. It’s going to start impacting the performance of your unit soon if it hasn’t already. I have a solution of sorts, well it’s more of a theory at this point than a solution. But nevertheless I’d like to try, if you’re up for it that is.”
Tally blinked slowly, surprise registering on her tired face. “How did you know I haven’t been sleeping? Did Abigail tell you, because I told her not to bother you!” The redhead looked so apologetic and upset and oh this would not do .
“No, Bellweather did not tell me anything. But she was right in wanting to. It is a sign of strong sisterhood that she was so concerned for your well-being and I commend her for it. As I mentioned after the unbinding, we will always be connected in some small ways. Certain things will fade with time of course, but being as it is, I can sense you quite easily still,” Alder sighed and stepped closer to the younger witch, reaching out to cup her cheek as she spoke, “I only wish you had felt it appropriate to tell me yourself, Cadet. There’s no shame in seeking help when needed.” She let her hand fall back to her side and kept her eyes trained on Tally who was currently struggling to maintain eye contact.
“I’m sorry, General. You’re right. I wanted to come to you so many times over the past few nights.” Tally cast her eyes downward, looking just a little too ashamed for Alder’s liking.
Alder took pity on the younger witch and gave her a small, gentle smile, “It’s alright. I appreciate you being honest with me now,” she reached out and surprised the Cadet by taking her hand in her own. “Come along, we wouldn’t want to wake the whole coven and it’s getting very late,” Alder dropped her voice impossibile lower before whispering conspiratorially, “I need to get us both back before the Biddies realize I’m missing.”
Tally’s eyebrows shot into her hairline as she realized for the first time that the seven women who were a constant shadow to the General were in fact absent. “You snuck out?!” Tally gasped, high pitched and just a little louder than entirely appropriate for the situation. Alder chuckled under her breath and wordlessly tugged the younger witch along behind her.
The walk back to the administration building was short, but Alder still kept her guard up the whole way, dropping the Cadet’s hand as soon as they were outside in case anyone happened to see them. Tally fell uncharacteristically quiet as they walked, her mind lost between burning curiosity over the General’s theory and her inappropriately wandering eyes that couldn’t seem to get enough of seeing Alder in such an informal state. A shiver ran down the redhead’s spine as she watched the older witch’s exposed calves tense with each step and she shook her head trying desperately to force her brain to stop producing impossible fantasies that she absolutely could not afford to be having about her C.O.
Alder stopped abruptly as she sensed Tally shiver for a second time. “Are you cold, Cadet?”
Tally swallowed, hard, unsure what to say. If she admitted she wasn’t actually cold, Alder might see her body’s reactions for what they really were and she definitely could not allow that. She also knew she sucked at lying. Like couldn’t lie if the Spree had a balloon in front of her face levels of sucked. Tally let out a shaky breath and shrugged. “A little.”
Alder studied the younger woman for a moment before sighing through her nose and removing her jacket. “Here.”
Tally’s mouth gaped open as she stared at the jacket, glinting in the moonlight with all the General’s badges and stripes. “I can’t take that!” Her eyes widened into saucers and Alder had to bite her cheek to suppress a laugh at how comical the Cadet looked.
“Yes, you can. I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want you to wear it. So, please, go ahead.” Alder tried once more to hand the jacket to the redhead.
Tally chewed her bottom lip nervously for a few more moments before a resigned look washed over her face and she finally accepted the jacket into her arms. She slipped the jacket over her shoulders and marveled in the warmth left by the General’s body heat and the lingering scent that was so familiarly Sarah Alder. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but it was more comfortable than Tally had expected, even with the weight of the General’s many accolades. Oh my Goddess I’m wearing THE General Sarah Alder’s army jacket. Abs and Rae will never believe me if I tell them.
Alder’s impossibly blue eyes scanned the Cadet up and down and she gave a quick nod before turning back around, seemingly pleased that Tally had taken her offering. She then watched closely as the General’s whole body stiffened for a moment and then relaxed as she breathed in the crisp night air.
“Everything okay, ma’am?” Tally tugged the jacket tighter around her, suddenly worried that the General had changed her mind or that she would now be too cold instead.
Alder glanced back at Tally and smiled softly. “Yes, Cadet. Everything is fine. Now come along, it’s getting late and we both need to get some rest.” She began walking again, confident that the younger witch would follow her lead.
Alder thanked the Goddess for a second time that morning as she managed to sneak back into the administration building and up to her quarters with Craven undetected. She slipped through the familiar wards into her simple, understated bedroom and smiled softly as she watched the Cadet’s eyes trail across the room in open awe and curiosity. Not many people had the privilege of seeing her bedroom throughout the centuries, but she felt surprisingly comfortable with Craven being there. She shrugged off the feeling, attributing it to Tally having been a Biddy for a time and walked further into the room, pulling her sneakers off as she went and turning on a few lamps. Tally stood stiffly at the entrance to the room unsure what to do with herself as she quietly observed the General in her most private surroundings.
“Come in, Craven. I don’t bite,” Alder smirked as she saw Tally’s cheeks redden darker than her hair at her attempt at humor.
“Oh- of course, ma’am! Your room is…nice,” the Cadet said lamely, wincing as the words left her mouth.
Alder laughed, honest to Goddess laughed and Tally looked so scandalized that she just laughed even harder as she sat down onto the small bed. “I know it isn’t as grand as one might expect, but it has been my home for hundreds of years and I have seen no reason to change it. It suits me just fine.”
Tally smiled at the General and walked further into the room, stopping a few feet from the bed. “I like it! I just didn’t expect it to be so normal? I guess we all just assumed you would have some huge ostentatious room with a big, fancy bed and a fur rug and a claw foot tub or something. But this actually makes way more sense.”
Alder grinned. “Oh I do have a rather large soaking tub, actually. That’s the one luxury I decided to afford myself after a few too many strained and torn muscles. But I don’t need a big, fancy bed for just myself after all.”
Tally’s eyes lit up excitedly at Alder’s mention of the tub. “Oh my Goddess I miss baths so much. They’re probably the thing I miss the most actually since leaving home. I used to take a bath every night, I swear my mom teased me and said I was like a duckling.” The redhead slapped a hand over her mouth and blushed furiously when she realized what she’d said.
“A duckling, hmm? Well. If you miss baths that much, perhaps we should run you one.”
Tally’s mouth fell open, dumbfounded. For once the rambling Cadet was speechless. The skin around Alder’s eyes crinkled as she gazed at the younger witch fondly. “Baths are a wonderful way to de-stress and relax one’s body before sleep. Perhaps it would be helpful for you. It wasn’t part of my original plan, but I don’t see any harm in adding it. I often take a bath myself when my mind is struggling to quiet down for the night.” With that, Alder lifted off the bed and padded over to her closet, returning with a fluffy white towel. She handed it wordlessly to the Cadet and walked toward the adjoining bathroom, hoping the younger witch would follow and grinning to herself when she did.
Tally gasped when she entered the bathroom. Alder hadn’t been exaggerating, the tub was HUGE! It was easily the largest bathtub the redhead had ever seen. It had built in jets and was accompanied by a rainfall shower-head. “Okay you weren’t kidding. This is luxurious.”
Alder smirked, “Oh, Craven. I never kid.” She bent over to turn the tap on and then stooped down to rummage through a cabinet, reappearing with a fancy looking soap bottle which filled the room with a heavenly lavender chamomile scent as she added several generous capfuls to the water. She spun around to face the Cadet and gestured to the filling tub. “I hope this is to your liking. Lavender always helps me relax when I’m feeling on edge.”
“It’s great! I mean, thank you, ma’am. I’m sure it’s perfect.” Tally smiled deeply, cheeks dimpling as she looked from Alder to the luxurious bathtub. She suddenly realized she was still wearing the older witch’s jacket and reluctantly slid it down her arms and folded it neatly before holding it out for the General. Alder dipped her head slightly in recognition and accepted the jacket.
“Okay, duckling, enjoy your bath. Please don’t fall asleep in here, it’ll be terribly inconvenient for everyone if you drown.” Before Tally could react to the General’s words or the teasing nickname, she had backed out of the bathroom and shut the door.
Tally took a deep breath to steel her nerves. She could sense the General so close on the other side of the door and felt incredibly off kilter from the intimacy of the whole situation. But she did love a good bath, and she was not about to walk away from the nicest tub she’d ever laid eyes on. Shakily she stepped out of her slippers, removed her pajamas and panties and slowly inched her way into the tub. The water felt incredible. It was exactly the right temperature and the soap made it silky and soft in a way she hadn’t known water could even be. She breathed in deeply and reveled in the scent of lavender and chamomile, allowing her mind to feel clearer and calmer than it had in weeks if not months. Every tense muscle in the cadet’s body loosened into jelly and as much as she fought it, she felt her eyes start to drift shut.
While Tally was enjoying her bath, Alder remained alert on her bed unsure what to do with herself. She couldn’t go to sleep with the Cadet in the tub, so she picked up the sketchbook from her nightstand and began to draw. She rarely got a chance to draw these days and was a bit rusty, but enjoyed the creative exercise all the same. She began to sketch a small duckling swimming in an oversized bathtub, laughing to herself at the image in her mind. She studied the sketch for a few moments before deciding it was missing something and adding a tiny duckling-sized recreation of her jacket hanging over the side of the tub.
After about forty-five minutes of sketching, Alder realized the water must be starting to get cold in Craven’s bath, but she had yet to return to the bedroom. Please don’t be asleep in there, Craven. Ugh. I suppose I have no choice but to check on you.
Alder sighed, closing her sketchbook and returning it to the nightstand before approaching the bathroom and knocking gently. No answer. She frowned and knocked again. Still, nothing. She really did not want to invade the Cadet’s privacy, but she couldn’t see any other option. The General pushed the door open and walked softly up to the edge of the tub to see that while Tally had, thankfully, not drowned, she had indeed fallen asleep. The redhead’s body was relatively modestly covered by the bubbles and the water for which Alder found herself once again thanking the Goddess. She grabbed the towel she’d put aside for the Cadet off the counter and performed a simple warming seed on it before carrying it to the edge of the tub and gently clearing her throat. “Tally,” she whispered.
Tally violently shot awake thrashing and causing water droplets to fly out of the tub as she flailed, temporarily forgetting where she was. Alder threw her hands out to catch Tally’s arms and steady her. “Woah, there! It’s okay. You’re okay, Craven. You fell asleep.”
“I fell asleep…” Tally repeated, glancing around hastily to take in her surroundings. That’s right, she was in the bathtub. Alder’s bathtub. And she was…naked. And the General was right there! “Oh Goddess,” she whimpered as her entire face flushed crimson.
Alder released her arms and took a step back. “It’s nearly morning. We’re both lucky that today is Saturday and I don’t have any meetings scheduled until late afternoon. But while I am glad you were able to relax enough to get some sleep, Cadet, I must insist you finish your rest in bed, where you can’t drown.” She produced the warm towel and coaxed the sleepy redhead gently from the tub.
Tally awkwardly tried to take the towel, stand up, and hide her chest with her arms all at once, failing miserably as Alder bit back a laugh. “Craven, I’m over 3 centuries old. You needn’t worry about modesty. I’ve seen everything by now.”
The younger witch supposed logically that was true, but it didn’t make it feel any less embarrassing to rise from the tub under Alder’s watchful eye and take the towel. She was however extremely glad to do so once she felt how warm it was against her skin. “A warming seed?”
“I thought you might be a bit cold from the water by now,” Alder said, purposefully glancing away as Tally secured the towel around her frame. Tally felt her heart skip a beat at the amount of care Alder was showing toward her and she felt warmth spread throughout her body that definitely was not all from the seed.
“Thank you, General.” Tally locked eyes with the older witch trying to convey just how grateful she was for everything she was doing for her.
Alder nodded gently, meeting the redhead’s eyes with her own, “Sarah. You may call me Sarah when we’re alone like this. If you’d like,” she said before she could change her mind. The bright smile that lit up Tally’s face at the request made it absolutely worth having said.
“Oh! Um okay. Sarah. Then, would you maybe be willing to call me Tally?” Like you did when I was a Biddy. I miss hearing you say it.
The Cadet looked so hopeful, that all Sarah could do was nod her assent. “Of course, Tally. Now, change into your pajamas and come to bed. It’s time to test out a theory.”
Sarah left Tally in the bathroom to change and returned to her bedroom, readying the bed for sleep and fluffing the pillows. Second guessing herself, she grabbed the handmade quilt from the chest at the end of her bed and laid it atop the sheets wanting Tally to be as comfortable as possible. Lastly she took a pouch of dried lavender and placed it under the cadet’s pillow. She really hoped her theory would work, but a little extra help wouldn’t hurt.
Tally emerged from the bathroom in her pajamas and paused when she reached the end of the bed. “I just realized something.”
“Yes?” Alder sat up in the bed looking at Tally patiently.
“There’s just like the one bed,” she said, feeling her cheeks start to grow hot.
Sarah laughed softly and smiled at the younger witch. “That’s kind of the point, Tally.” When the Cadet continued to look confused, she sighed. “Proximity. My theory is that proximity will help with the effects of the unbiddying and hopefully help us both get some rest until things subside. Obviously you can’t sleep here permanently, but as long as it helps, you’re welcome here until we find a more long term solution. I have Izadora working on something, but she needs more time. So until then, proximity. Now come to bed. I really don’t bite.”
“Proximity,” Tally mumbled as she hovered near the bed. “I guess that makes sense.” She walked up to the unoccupied side of the bed and hesitated again. “You’re sure you’re okay with this? I can sleep on the floor or something. I don’t mind! You’ve already done so much for me.”
“Nonsense. Don’t be silly, Tally. No one is sleeping on the floor. If I didn’t know better, I’d be a little offended that you don’t feel comfortable sleeping near me.” Alder said, only half joking. She really didn’t like the thought of the Cadet being uncomfortable around her.
“What?! No, it’s not that at all. I promise. Really! I want to sleep with you!” Tally cringed when she saw the older witch’s eyebrows raise and realized what she’d just said. “I mean- near you. I want to sleep near you.” Maybe drowning in the tub wouldn’t have been so bad.
Alder smiled knowingly and chuckled under her breath. “It’s alright, Tally. I know what you meant.” She reached over and patted the open space on the bed next to her, hoping Tally would finally stop overthinking things and get in. To her surprise, it worked. The redhead climbed into the bed and snuggled under the covers, turning to face Sarah with a wide, sleepy smile.
“Okay forget what I said about your bed being simple. It’s way more comfortable than mine.” Tally yawned, burrowing her head into her pillow.
Sarah shook her head fondly. “There are some perks to being in charge I suppose. But I’m glad that you find it comfortable. You’re the only one other than myself who has ever tried it out.”
Tally looked shocked at that. “Wait, wait, wait. Really? Just me?”
Sarah nodded, tucking her face into her pillow to hide the sudden mild embarrassment she felt from the admission. “Yes, Tally. Just you. Now, please for the love of the Goddess try to get some sleep.”
Tally smiled at Sarah with so much tenderness that Sarah felt like her heart was going to leap into her throat. “Okay, I’ll try. Goodnight Sarah.” Tally snuggled further into her pillow and breathed deeply taking in the scent of lavender and something unique to the older witch that felt warm and intoxicating like the whiskey she was always drinking.
Sarah sighed into her pillow as she watched the redhead get comfortable before allowing her own eyes to fall shut. “Goodnight, duckling.”
They lay in relative silence for a good twenty minutes, Sarah content to pretend to doze while she listened to Tally struggle to match her breathing and shuffle into different positions in the bed trying to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. She heard Tally sigh and start muttering at herself something about needing to get it together and knew pretending to sleep was not going to cut it. “What’s the matter?”
Tally groaned and hid her head in her hands. “I can’t relax. I don’t get why! I’ve literally never been more comfortable in my life.”
Sarah opened her eyes and sighed, looking at the younger witch with a mixture of sympathy and trepidation. Finally she seemed to decide on something and lifted her arm. “Come here.”
Tally stared at her for a long moment, not trusting what she was seeing. “What?”
Sarah only rolled her eyes and kept her arms outstretched. “Come here, Tally. Don’t make me order you.”
The younger witch shimmied into Sarah’s open arms and nestled into her, breathing in and shuddering, just barely biting back a soft moan as the sensations of being held by the General washed over her body. Sarah held her tighter against herself, tucking Tally’s head under her chin so it rested against her chest. She willed her heart to beat steadily to help lull the younger woman to sleep as she began to softly stroke her long fingers through her hair with one hand and rub gentle circles on her back through her pajama top with the other.
Tally couldn’t remember ever being held like this and found her eyes fluttering shut of their own accord as she focused on the sound of Sarah’s heart beating beneath her. They both quickly fell asleep wrapped up in one another’s embrace and Tally’s last conscious thought was that she hoped Izadora would never find another solution. Proximity was just too perfect to give up.