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Lanfear brings Liandrin home quietly, placing her down on the bed and leaving her to both Moiraine and Siuan’s caring ways. She wishes to help but knows she cannot, so she seeks those who can and will make it better.
Liandrin, of course, is silent, curled into herself and reluctant even to emerge from the cocoon of her own clothing and hair, taking her time to unfurl even as both Moiraine and Siuan move around her, settling both seats and other prepared belongings for it she felt ready to share.
“Oh little ghost…”
Moiraine murmurs when Liandrin manages a word, only the one. ‘Son’. It’s enough and Siuan nods when Moiraine glances at her.
“Use your words, little mouse… what do you need from us?”
Silence, then, almost so softly they barely hear it.
“Can you just… stay…”
A pause, a hitching breath closer to a sob then.
“Hold… me.”
Moiraine reaches her first, curls into Liandrin’s back as easy as breathing and smiles softly when Siuan settles with them, letting Liandrin burrow her face into her neck, letting out almost rough, clearly painful, sobs, Siuan’s hand resting lightly in her hair.
“Oh, sweet girl… sweet sweet girl.”
Siuan murmurs softly.
“Let it out… we’ve got you.”
They stay like that for a while, then Siuan asks something she know is a risk.
“Little mouse… why do you never tell us how you feel?”
“Because… because if I say it… it’s real. If I say I… If I say I love you then it’s real and I…”
“Oh little ghost…”
Moiraine murmurs softly.
“We love you too, precious ghost.”
“She’s right, little mouse… we do. Deeply.”
Siuan murmurs.
“We always, always, will.”