Nettle stands leaning against a tree in the Goddess-protected realm of the Umbra, motionless and staring with thoughtful eyes in the direction that the group took when they left a good 15 minutes before. Nettle and Alec had taken Veil aside to confer with her in hushed tones about how they didn't think it was wise to confront Thares with Nettle in her condition, and it had been agreed on that the Gideons would stay in this place for a few days, and then slowly make their way to the chantry's horizon realm. Nettle was excited to use her new skills to navigate the umbra-- and explore it a little-- but mostly she wanted to stay here to reflect...rest...reconnect with the gods...but for now she was thinking about her companions, hoping they'd come out of the confrontation with Thares in one piece and with the telescope's eyepiece.

Alec walks out from behind the bushes and adjusts his sunglasses. Zipping up his pants he flashes Nettle a winning smile.
"All done love." He says looking her up and down. He digs into his pocket and pulls out a pack of cloves. He hands her one and lights it for her. He lights himself one and sits down leaning his back against the tree.
"Not such a bad place is it? I mean look at that sunset...well it's been that way since we got here but it is still nice."

Alec's return snaps Nettle from her reverie, and she accepts the clove from him and sits in front of him with her legs crossed. She brings the clove to her lips and lets the smoke fill her mouth, and then blows it out.
"Gods, Alec, what were you doing back there??" Nettle smirks, takes another "drag," and gazes at the sky. "Yes, this is a beautiful place...and Alec...we're completely alone in it."

"Sorry love," he says with a chuckle. He looks sideways at her, "Alone eh?" he smiles and tilts his head. "So love a while back you did some type of channeling and you were completely different. I saw a side of you I hadn't seen before. What was that about?"

Nettle's hand freezes on its path to her lips for a moment. "Oh...that. Well..." Nettle starts playing with the grass with her other hand. "...I felt like I needed some strength and wisdom, so I tried to channel the Celtic war-goddess Cerridwen so I could feel what it was like to be her...to learn from her, and have her teach me a little self-control...things like that. When I do that with the Goddess, I wait and hope that she'll hear my call and fill my body. But with Cerridwen, I actually pulled her into myself by accident using powers I had no idea how to control. I really don't remember what happened-- Veil told me some of the things I did later. I have to be careful not to over-extend my abilities. If Veil hadn't asked her to leave, I might still be her!"
Nettle quickly brings the clove to her lips and lets the smoke linger in her mouth and watches Alec for a moment with worry in her eyes. "What...did I do? Was I talking weird?"

Alec smiles and puts his arm around her, "Nah love, you were just very tough talking. You acted like Tania there for a bit," he leans in and whispers in her ear, "I thought you were smashingly sexy baby!" he whispers.

Nettle laughs and raises her eyebrow. "Thanks, baby-- I think! I'll have to keep that in mind!" Nettle smiles. "I take it I treated you OK? Cerridwen's not known to be particularly kind, in general!"

Alec nods, "Oh yeah love. She said I was a good husband and would be a good father. She said you chose well." He says with a chuckle.
"What did she say to you?"

Nettle beams brightly when she hears Cerridwen's words about Alec. Then her eyes cloud a little as she tries to remember if Cerridwen said anything to her.
"I...don't remember. I have hazy flashes of memory during that time-- like I was looking through someone else's eyes-- but from what Veil said, she saw me trying to push through and take control of my body a couple of times, and Cerridwen got after me and said she'd leave if I didn't relax, so I relaxed. I wish I knew what happened to make me try to get control of my body again! I've been worried about that! But no one seems unusually mad at me, so it musn't have been anything serious."

Alec thinks back a moment and nods, "Yeah you might have offended Nastya a little but otherwise you were fine." He says. He looks around a bit and stands up offering to help her stand.
"Let's find that pool, I haven't seen it yet."

Nettle's eyes sparkle at the mention of the pool. "Me either!" She stands with Alec's help, and the two wander off down a dirt path into the trees. After pushing between some branches, a clearing opens up before them with a sparkling clear blue pool. The sky has finally grown dark, and unnaturally large and bright stars twinkle slowly overhead like rotating diamonds. Nettle lets out a slow breath and gazes in wonder.
"If you can't see the Lady's hand in this, there's no hope for you..." Nettle murmurs quietly as she takes it all in.

Alec whistles in appreciation. "It's beautiful isn't it love." He says hooking his arms around her, "Let's take a dip, a nice bath would feel good."

Nettle smiles and drapes her arms around Alec's neck, kissing him. "Sounds wonderful..." she says in a low, slow voice, and then suddenly pulls her arms away and starts throwing off her clothes.
"...but first one in gets to choose the music-- you'll see what I mean!" Nettle has a determined look on her face as she throws the last article of clothing off and makes a mad-dash for the pool.

Alec laughs as he races to take off his clothes and runs in to the pool. He swims out a bit and finally treads as he motions for Nettle to join him.

Nettle laughs and makes her way through the water over to Alec, putting her arms around his neck again. "I won. Now you'll see why you should have been faster!"
Nettle closes her eyes as she lets the ABBA song "Fernando" cycle through her mind quickly. Then she concentrates and connects her Mind with Forces, and the song is amplified through the clearing. She grins and opens her eyes, already singing along.

Alec makes a noise and shakes his head.
"That's quite enough of that," he says as he dunks Nettle under the water. He laughs as he swims a few feet away.

Nettle comes up sputtering with water streaming down her face. It takes her a second to recover, but after she's pushed the wet hair out of her face, Alec can see a look of pure evil in her eyes. With a growl she lunges towards him, swimming hard. When she reaches him, she lunges onto his head, pushing it down under the water.

Alec goes down into the water and struggles to grab Nettle's legs. Not quite getting a grip, he pushes himself away and comes back up to the surface. He rubs the water out of his face and begins to laugh as he splashes at her.

Nettle squeals and kicks away when she feels Alec trying to get a hold of her legs, and then turns back around and laughs breathlessly when she sees his head emerge. She swims leisurely back over to him, and then concentrates for a second and the song stops playing.
"OK Alec, I'll let you pick a song." she says smiling, but still watching him warily.

He brings her closer to him and kisses her. "How about we make our own song, love," he says wriggling his eyebrows. "You look absolutely ravashing baby..."

Nettle giggles despite herself. "You want me to amplify it?" Nettle laughs when Alec laughs and shakes his head.
"You look delicious, as well, honey..." and Nettle holds him close to her and kisses him back.

Afterwards...

Alec sighs contentedly as he holds Nettle in his arms. Music plays around them as the pool lies still at their feet. The grass is cool on his back and he closes his eyes as "Free as a Bird" guides him towards sleep. He sings a few verses-- his voice slowly sinking.

Nettle sings along contentedly until she notices Alec starting to drop off. She watches him lovingly while stroking his hair until the song has ended, and then slowly disentangles herself from his arms and sits cross-legged beside him. She closes her eyes and carefully brings her consciousness into her womb-- checking everything to make sure it's OK as she does every night and morning-- and then brings her mind's eye out and concentrates on holding it above the pool using her powers of translocation. She slowly reaches out with her mind until she feels herself touching the trees...leaves...water...earth...sky...she is a part of everything around her, and everything around her is a part of her.
When she reaches a state of complete at-oneness with her surroundings, she calls out to the Mother and Father of all. "Lord and Lady...let me know Thy will..." her voice whispers on the wind. "The dragon-spirits and great trees must return to the earth, but danger surrounds us wherever we go. Is it Thy will that Alec and I accompany our companions, or go where Alec believes we will be safe? If our assistance to Veil is necessary for Thy work to be accomplished, say it and we will go. But if leaving the cabal for a time to protect these tiny spirits within me is Thy will, we will depart immediately. Please-- let me know Thy wish, Mother and Father!"
Nettle remains in this meditation until she finally falls asleep, but upon waking she has the impression that she will receive her answer on the third night in the realm.
The days and nights pass blissfully for the couple-- Nettle getting some much-needed rest as her mind finally unwinds from all her worry and stress. On the third night of Nettle's meditation, she receives the answer to her question. There is no rushing required of them, so Nettle lays down to sleep. The next morning when she and Alec awaken, Nettle whispers into his ear what they must do and waits for his response.

He looks at her seriously for a moment and then nods, sending a thought to her mind. He looks around the clearing while digging into his pocket and pulling out a joint. He lights it, takes a deep drag, and then stands with Nettle. The two brush themselves off, and then start walking together.

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