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Siuan shook Moiraine gently by her shoulders, trying to rouse her from sleep, before gently using one hand to pat Moiraine's cheeks, in the hopes that doing so would have some effect. If that didn't work, she'd use a weave- it could potentially rouse suspicion, but at least the Accepted were allowed to channel freely. Though whatever she did, she would not go so far as to slap Moiraine in order to wake her. Hurting Moiraine, even in sleep, meant hurting Siuan too.
"Moiraine," she whispered. "Moiraine, love, please wake up."
Moiraine tossed and turned a little, her brow furrowed, a tightness in her features, that Siuan immediately recognised as signs that Moiraine was having a nightmare. She continued shaking Moiraine, then opened herself to the Source to try a weave before Moiraine woke and sat upwards with a jerk.
"Moiraine," Siuan said. "Sweetheart, are you alright?"
Moiraine blinked a couple of times, still disoriented. Then she snapped into realisation, sniffed a couple times, and before Siuan herself realised what was happening, Moiraine's arms were squeezed around her, her small body trembling, the room filled with the sound of her wails.
Siuan immediately wove a ward to prevent eavesdropping, then immediately wrapped her arms back around Moiraine, holding her as close as she possibly could, trying not to weep herself at the sound of Moiraine's distress. Before this, she'd only ever heard Moiraine cry like this twice- once after their Accepted test, and the other time when her father had passed away.
And Light, she knew that when Moiraine was upset enough to allow herself into this state, it was bad. More than bad. She would've done anything to take Moiraine's pain away in an instant, would've taken it upon herself if it meant Moiraine didn't have to suffer.
"Oh, Moiraine," Siuan said. "I'm here, love. I'm right here. Breathe for me, Moiraine. That's good. Now another. Keep going."
"It felt so real," Moiraine wailed. "Oh, Siuan, it felt so real."
Siuan sniffed, wiping at a few of her own tears. "I'm here, Moiraine. Please talk to me."
Moiraine hiccupped a few times, trying to get herself under control, then backed away to meet Siuan's eyes, the rest of her still pressed against Siuan tightly, both their bodies flush, arms and legs tangled together.
"I had a nightmare about the Sun Throne again," Moiraine said, through her tears. "That they forced me to be queen, and then they kept trying to force me to kill everyone. Except I couldn't talk, like my mouth was sewn up or something, and I couldn't move from where I was sitting. And I couldn't do anything to stop it."
Siuan broke down herself, wrapping her arms properly around Moiraine again.
"You poor thing," she sobbed. "You poor, sweet thing. Oh Light, you don't deserve to have to see or feel any of that. I can't imagine how horrible that must be- you've got those sisters pestering you all day, and trying to push you onto the throne to use you as a puppet. But you're just my little pufferfish. Why can't they let you just be?"
"I don't know," Moiraine gasped out, before promptly dissolving into tears again. "I wish I did. But I don't know."
With nothing else to say, they simply held each other tightly, comforting each other with their breathing and presence.
At last, Moiraine pulled away and sniffed. "I'm sorry," she said. "I woke up, then lost it and started bawling on you. I should at least have the decency to not do that when you're always comforting me. Or at least give you a warning before doing it."
Siuan shook her head, dragging a sleeve across her eyes before reaching out and wiping Moiraine's tears with her thumbs. "I'm always here for you, my love. Whenever you need me, for whatever reason. And I mean every last word."
"Thank you," Moiraine said. "Thank you, Siuan. Light, I love you so much. And remember the same always goes for you. No matter what."
Siuan smiled. "And thank you," she said. "But let's not worry about me right now. The main concern in this very moment is you."
Moiraine shifted and positioned herself so she was leaning against Siuan's chest and her head was positioned under her chin, smiling up at Siuan.
"Feeling better, love?" she asked. "I'm right here."
"I am," Moiraine said. "Because of you. Could you please hold me while I sleep? I'm scared I'll have another nightmare if I just go to sleep by myself."
And Light, Siuan loved that Moiraine trusted her enough to ask for what she wanted, and trusted her enough to admit she was scared.
"Of course," Siuan said, gently pushing her back onto the bed, before wrapping herself properly around Moiraine, completely enveloping the smaller woman. "Is that comfortable for you?"
"Perfect," Moiraine sighed dreamily, her eyes closing slowly, her long dark lashes fluttering softly. "Absolutely perfect. Well, I won't keep us awake much longer. Are you comfortable?"
"Always comfortable when I'm cuddling you."
"Okay," Moiraine said, a little sleepily, nestling against Siuan. "I love you, Siuan. Goodnight."
Siuan placed a hand on the back of Moiraine's head, idly playing with a few strands of Moiraine's hair, before kissing the dark crown of her head. "Good night, love."