Chapter Text
Chandrila greets Vel and Kleya with a setting sun and a slight breeze.
You could stay with me, her cousin had suggested. Enjoy the good weather. Be a spoiled little girl for a while.
Mon hadn't objected when Vel had suggested Kleya come with her, and Kleya hadn't objected when Vel had brought up the idea.
And so, here they are.
Erskin waits for them at the entrance. They acknowledge each other with a tacit nod.
"Long time no see", she teases.
"Long time no see." Erskin flashes a tentative smile. "We prepared rooms for you, Stars know there are too many in this house."
Vel barely hides a chuckle. "There definitely are."
"Tea?"
"Gladly."
Erskin raises his cup. "To the Rebellion."
"To the Rebellion."
"To the Rebellion", Kleya echoes quietly.
Vel sets down her cup and lets her gaze wander around the room.
"Where's Mon?"
Erskin averts his eyes.
"Erskin."
Rustling interrupts them as Perrin slinks into the great hall, forcing a smile as his eyes meet Vel's.
"Mon is resting", he answers in Erskin's stead.
Vel squints. "Everything alright?"
"Yes, just... I don't think she got a chance to close her eyes since she got back here."
Unsurprising, in principle, but the concern in Perrin's tone makes her pause. He's not usually someone to be concerned about much of anything.
"Cup of tea for you too?" she offers. Perrin nods tacitly, and Vel gestures for him to sit.
He's changed more than I'd have expected, she thinks. Perrin a few years ago would have been the one to welcome them, offer them a drink, and proceed to chat about everything and nothing for a while before moving on to something or someone else.
He's quieter, now, the lines have settled deeper into his face, and his hands clench around the cup a bit too tightly, attempting to hide his trembling fingers.
What is going on?
Kleya's hand finds hers under the table, squeezing it, one, two, three times.
Vel squeezes back. One, two, three times.
She hasn't brought up her relationship with Kleya to anyone. She doesn't know if now is the best moment.
"You two must be tired", Erskin eventually says, glancing at her. "Why don't we get some sleep as well and reconvene tomorrow."
She nods, and Erskin gestures for her and Kleya to follow him.
"Keep an eye on Mon", he tells Perrin. "I got this."
"Thank you."
"What's going on with him?" Vel asks as soon as Perrin is out of earshot.
"Don't think too much of it", Erskin replies. "Mon is fine. She needs some time to rest, is all. But Perrin... this affected him more than he cares to admit, and now that Mon is back, he frets over her every chance he gets."
Vel lets out a slow breath. "Who would've thought."
They stop at the end of an ornate hallway.
"Make yourselves at home", Erskin says. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thanks, Erskin."
Come, Vel signs Kleya as Erskin disappears from their view.
"Well, that brings back memories." Vel smiles fondly as they enter the bedroom. "I don't think you've seen this part of the estate yet. This is where Mon and I used to escape to when things got overwhelming. Stars, how many times I came here upset after a bad breakup or because I'd gotten myself into some sort of trouble, and... Kleya?!"
"Hmmm?"
"What's wrong?"
"Wh...? Oh... it's just... that must be... nice", Kleya stammers. "Being able to..."
"Hey." Vel puts an arm around her. "Sssshhh. Come here."
She nudges Kleya onto the plush bed. It's big enough to fit multiple people, but they end up huddled together against the nightly chill. She can feel Kleya drifting in and out of sleep in her arm.
"Vel."
She props herself up. "Yeah?"
"Does it get easier?"
Unfortunately, she knows exactly what Kleya is talking about. Cinta still inhabited her dreams from time to time, after all. Luthen probably inhabited Kleya's.
"No", she admits. "You grow around it."
Kleya nods faintly before drifting off again. Vel gently strokes her hair, and soon her breathing becomes more even, the slumber deeper.
Eventually, Vel drifts to sleep beside her.