Work Text:
When they'd finished making love, Moiraine gathered Siuan into her arms, and the two of them lay there quietly, entangled in each other like jellyfish, breathing in and out at the same time. Light, but she'd missed this. She'd missed Siuan so much.
As though her wife had read her mind, Siuan snuggled into Moiraine. "I missed you," she said. "Every last bit of you. You have no idea how good it is to hold you again."
Moiraine ran her fingers through Siuan's hair, the familiar soft texture of her curls that she loved so much. "I missed you too," she said, pressing a kiss on Siuan's forehead. "It physically pained me to be apart from you."
Siuan squeezed her arms around Moiraine. "I'm here now," she said, idly tracing patterns on Moiraine's shoulder blade. "What did you get up to while you were away? I'm sure you've got some stories. You always do."
Moiraine laughed. "Well. Mat nearly got himself into trouble, having his portrait painted with the Horn of Valere, and posing about with it. He's still here at the White Tower now, isn't he? I'm guessing he tried to impress all the Novices. Speaking of, you did take the Horn off him, didn't you?"
Siuan kissed the tip of Moiraine's nose and her forehead, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Her love looked a little sunburned from her time in the Aiel Waste, her normally porcelain pale skin reddened. Tomorrow morning, she'd find some of that cooling plant she had, and rub it on her wife's sunburn to soothe it. Healing was an option, but she wanted to be able to feel Moiraine, to touch her, to know she was real.
"You've read my mind," Siuan said. "That's exactly what he's been doing. They've really become our children now, haven't they? And yes, I did keep the Horn for him. It's safe."
Moiraine shifted against Siuan. "That's good," she said.
Siuan lifted a hand to caress Moiraine's cheek. "What was in the Waste?" she asked, curiously. "If we had our way, I'd have gone with you. We were going to see the world together, after all."
Moiraine smiled. "It's just what all the books say," she said. "Hot, with lots of sun. Not much water, but the Aiel make good use of what they have. And, you know, they had sweat tents."
Siuan raised her eyebrows. "Sweat tents?"
"That's what they use instead of baths," Moiraine said. "Which is sad, really, because nothing beats a lovely hot bath. But it was oddly relaxing. We should go together sometime."
Siuan laughed, her warm breath tickling Moiraine's cheek. "You really miss your baths, don't you?"
Moiraine nodded. "At least we got to have one together tonight," she said. "Even if it'll be our last for a while."
Siuan looked a little sad at the thought, and Moiraine could feel her face mirroring her expression. She'd have given anything, and she meant anything, to always be able to be with Siuan. Which would've been the case, if not for a cruel turn of the Wheel.
"When do you leave?" Siuan asked. Moiraine felt rather than heard the words whispered against her skin. "Must be soon, right? With Rand and all?"
Moiraine nodded, sadly. "I'll be leaving tomorrow," she said. "But I'll do everything I can to be able to see you again. And one day, we'll be free from this Dragon business, and we can see the world together. I should bring you to Cairhien again- you'd look good in one of those dresses those noblewomen always wear. And I should bring you to the Two Rivers. Egwene's father makes a good apple brandy. I don't think you'll like it as much as your Tairen Ale, but it's really very good."
Siuan met Moiraine's lips in a soft kiss, brushing their noses together in the softest of touches. "One day we will," she said. "In this life or the next."
Moiraine sighed, taking Siuan's hand in hers. Every single one of her calluses was still there, parts of Siuan that Moiraine knew by touch.
"I wish you could come with me," she said, eyes filling.
Siuan wiped a lone tear from Moiraine's face. "I wish you could stay."
Moiraine buried her face in Siuan's shoulder, sniffling. Siuan stroked her hair to comfort her, like she always did.
"I'm sorry, love," she said. "I didn't mean to make you sad."
Moiraine shook her head. "I could never be sad when I'm with you. Only when I'm away from you." She held Siuan just a little tighter, as though she was afraid that if she let go for a second, her wife would disappear. Siuan placed Moiraine's head under her chin, using one hand to massage the back of her neck.
"One more night of cuddles," Moiraine said ruefully. "Lovely, sweet cuddles from my wife."
Siuan kissed the top of Moiraine's head. Her hair was a little bleached from the sun, but she still smelt like Moiraine. A soft hint of roses and something that was unmistakably her.
"Don't talk about tomorrow," she pleaded. "I just want to have you tonight."
"I'm all yours," Moiraine said. "Though we can't deny that we won't be seeing each other for ages, as much as we want to. But for now, I'm here."
Siuan nodded, settling them both back against the pillows and throwing the blankets over them. "And I too," she said. "Even if it's just for tonight. I'm here."