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Anibelle saunters slowly into the Oval from the south, a casual, wandering path taking her towards the fountain. Grey orbs chase fleetingly around the area, her brow furrowing a little in concentration, but not recongition, before flickering to the north.. her stare hardening marginally as she gazes at the palace. A tiny smile tilts her lips up at the edges, but for no apparent reason really.. her frown easing, her expression shifting to calm serenity.
Samuel casts a bored glance around the plaza, arms draped across the back of the bench. He casually raises his right foot up to prop it on his left knee. His foot bounces slightly on his knee as if tapping, but only against empty air. He reaches up with his right hand to fiddle with one of the bells in his braid when suddenly he goes stock still, gaze locked on a figure in the middle of the oval.
Anibelle continues to make her way to the fountain, slowing as she reaches it to finally drag her gaze from the palace, and come to a full stop against the fountain's rim. With a faint frown, she stares down at the water - a gentle shake of her head setting tawny curls to bouncing. 'Useless..' she murmers softly, the words hardly even a whisper as her gaze wanders back to the palace once more, pale fingertips knotting on her skirts.
Samuel slowly lowers his foot back to the ground and rises. With slow, careful movements he makes his way in a wide arc around the fountain. None of his movements are sudden enough to cause the bells to tinkle. He continues around until directly behind Anibelle, moving to within two paces of her, then stopping, silently considering her.
Anibelle releases a soft, halting breath, those curls bouncing again as her head shakes, then stilling as she glances down. Carefully, with apparent effort, her hands unclench, nimble fingers smoothing over her skirts, flattening the inadvertant creases. Distracted, she doesn't even glance around, the fallen curls hiding a quite blatantly confused expression, grey eyes staring, but not seeing, into the water.
Samuel shakes his head slightly. A small frown tugs at the corners of his lips as he watches the girl. After a long moment, he clears his throat and says in a soft voice pitched so as not to carry far over the noise of the crowd,'I thought you had gone further north. I had actually given up my search.'
Anibelle whirls in a furry of skirts, grey eyes widening in what looks like horror - for a split second just staring, not even breathing. 'Sam!' she gasps suddenly, flinging herself forwards, hurtling herself against his chest, arms outstretched - without even a glance around, or a care for any staring passersby.
Samuel stumbles back slightly in his surprise before catching himself. Not really having much other choice, he catches Anibelle in his arms, likely more to avoid being knocked over by the sudden move than out of any conscious thought. Recovering quickly, he squeezes her tightly against him and mutters softly,'It is you. I wasn't really convinced til now.'
Anibelle wraps her arms around his neck, pressing herself tightly against him - just holding herself there for a second, struggling to take in a ragged breath. Squeezing him just a little bit more firmly, she stretches, standing up on her tiptoes to press a whisper close against his ear, so that even the closest watchers might not hear, 'Light Sam, I was so worried about you...' the words trailing off into silence as her expression smoothes once more, with deliberate effort.
Samuel just holds Anibelle against him for a moment, muttering soft, unintelligible reassuring-type noises. Suddenly, some thought seems to penetrate the fog of his brain and he steps back, holding her at arm's length and peering questioningly at her,'Worried about me? I am fully capable of taking care of myself. I have searched halfway across the land for you, though. I thought you had gone.. too far to the north to track, so I had stopped looking.'
Anibelle knots pale hands in her skirts once more, that expression of calmness straining only a little as she murmers in response, 'I.. did. I'm glad you didn't follow any further.' For a second she scans the Oval, a softly inquisitive, searching stare, before her gaze wanders back to him, her voice ever so soft as she tries to smile, tries to reasure, 'It's nothing.. to worry about. But you have to tell me.. have you seen your mother recently? Or perhaps any of her.. friends?'
Samuel pales slightly at Anibelle's question. He swallows hard and looks around the plaza, then gestures towards the bench he had been lounging on before. With a slight shake of his head he says,'Haven't seen her.. perhaps we should get out of the way of the fountain and talk quietly over in the corner?'
Anibelle nods briskly, whirling quickly - possibly to hide a vaguely worried expression. Careful, fluid strides carry her to the indicated bench, and without even glancing back at him she seats herself, pale hands smoothing her skirts once more, before settling neatly on her lap. Pearly teeth nibble gently on her lower lip, just for a second, before she takes another slow, casual glance around the Oval.
Samuel follows along with Anibelle, trying not to glance around nervously, but failing miserably. The bells in his hair jingle loudly as he sits heavily on the bench beside her. He rests his hands on his legs, fingers drumming on his knees and says quietly,'I do not think I will have to worry about the people looking for me much longer.'
Anibelle turns a little to study him, her lips finally easing into a soft, easy smile - practically girlish, as her eyes rake fleetingly over his form. At the words, she stiffens slightly, one tawny brow arcing in curiosity. 'Why?' her lips quicking again, just a little, as she adds, 'I was going to go all the way to Salidar if I had to.. '
The drumming of Samuel's fingers stops. He turns sharply to face her and says,'That would not be a good idea would it? I am not sure what they would do with you.' A deep frown etches itself into his face as he adds,'And it would probably be for nothing. I'm going to get all of that settled soon. I'm supposed to go back to the Golden Bowl later this afternoon. Some men there are supposed to be able to answer that question that was troubling me.'
Dreq walks into the Oval slowly with slow, deliberate steps, as if taking his time. His cold and distant eyes scan the plaza without much interest. His scabbarded sword swings lightly from his hip as he makes his way to the fountain.
Anibelle blinks rapidly, her smooth brow furrowing a little in consternation. One hand lifts, to rake back a few strey curls, tucking the strands behind one ear as she murmers softly, 'Oh Light.. I'd..' the words dying, as she stares ever so intently into his eyes, 'I'd hoped I'd imagined it. Back then. I'd hoped it had been wrong.. you.. you're in trouble, if it's true.' The word trouble spoken with a tiny, almost imperceptable tightening of her expression.
Samuel shakes his head vigorously, sending his bells to jingling discordantly again. He is too focused on the young woman to notice the swordsman strutting through the plaza. He lets out a sigh and says in a very small voice,'I may be in trouble even if it is not. I mean..' He sighs again, deeply, before continuing,'If it is true, these men will protect me from the people looking for me. If it is not, well, they won't need me. Then I'll have to convince the other people that it isn't true. And you know how mother's people are about people telling them something isn't true when they think it is.'
Anibelle nods a little, her eyes leaving his face to trail around the area once more.. passing over the swordsman, then back again, grey eyes narrowing slightly in concentration - before quickly coming back to the man at her side. 'I don't, ' she mutters softly, perhaps just a little bit offended, before she continues much, much more softly, 'These people, these.. men. You know what their protection entails, don't you? What you'll become?'
Samuel shakes his head slightly, not quite enough to cause his bells to sound. His expression changes as if this was not really a possibility he had considered. He chews his bottom lip for a moment as if thinking. Then he shakes his head roughly again, to another round of chiming. Vehemently, he says,'No. It won't be true. They are crazy. I would have known if I had done something like they said. I mean, I've heard mother talk about doing that kind of thing. No, definitely not something you could do without knowing you'd done it.' He crosses his arms over his chest and nods to Anibelle as if he has convinced himself.
Anibelle stares at him for a second, her expression shifting slightly, that vague worry becoming clearer, more tense. 'You lived around Aes Sedai for so long, and don't know that?' shaking her head sightly, setting those tight little curls to bouncing again, she releases a soft giggle, murmering softly, 'I spent months in the town, then at the Tower, before I would believe them that I could either. Before I proved it to myself..' the words trailing off into silence.
Samuel's eyes go wide. For a long moment, he just stares at the young woman, completely stunned. When he finally recovers the ability to speak, he stammers out,'Y-you were there? B-b.. but how did you.. I mean..' He takes a deep breath and lets it out very slowly, trying to regain his composure.
Anibelle casts a quick glance around, before leaning slightly closer to him, her head tilting delicately to the side. 'I wasn't sure, not for a long time.' she offers softly. 'I didn't even think about it unti-' breaking off suddenly, she stares at him, hard, grey eyes narrowing slightly in concentration. 'Did your mother, or the others, tell you what happened when they became Accepted?'
Samuel shakes his head slowly from side to side, so slowly as not to even disturb the bells. He says softly,'She wouldn't talk about something like that. She's too proud to talk about a time when she had to take orders and such. But, how did you get back here? They are probably looking harder for you than they are for me.'
Anibelle releases a soft, silvery chuckle - very nearly a giggle, her lips curving upwards in a tiny smile. 'Can't imagime your mother taking orders all that well.. ' she admits, that same pale hand lifting to fiddle with her hair, notch it back then rub gently at her temple. Her chest rises, then falls in a tiny sigh as she mutters, 'Its.. complicated. Too complicated to explain really. But something that happened while I was at the White Tower made me realise.. about you.'
Samuel rolls his eyes dramatically then nods his head,'Yes, you have been there all right. Is that the first lesson or the second?' He adopts a mocking, high-pitched voice,'Here's your white dress.. oh, and remember if a man asks you anything, just tell him it's complicated and he wouldn't understand.' When he finishes, he resettles his arms across his chest and turns away from Anibelle with a loud snort.
Anibelle glares at the back of his head, her eyes borring into his skull with sudden angry irritation, a strange expression on her usually cheary face. 'Light!' she hisses angrily, shifting a little closer to him, whispering urgently, 'I'm trying to save your stubborn, mule-brained life! Don't you think I came as soon as I could?' Grey eyes wander for just a second, catch sight of the approaching man and narrow further.
Samuel glares about the plaza, not really looking at or noticing anything or anyone. Suddenly his head snaps back around towards her, braids flying with his sudden movement, bells sounding cacophonously. He glares at Anibelle for a moment. Then, trembling with the effort not to shout, he says in a fairly controlled voice, 'I am not stubborn.'
Toban finishes his approach, his ice blue eyes taking in the tall Arafallien, and the small tawny haired lady. He nods politely to the pair of them, and says softly, "Light Illumine."
Anibelle pulls back just a little, the rapid motion and expression on his face making her own anger die, grey eyes widening suddenly in surprise. Rapidly, she stands, nervously smoothing her skirts with visably shaking fingertips - not even glancing down at him, or the newcommer, as she whispers hurriedly, 'I.. I'm sorry..', the words dying to a loud swallow, to match the furious, suspiciously liquid blinking of her eyes.
Samuel lets out a sigh and opens his mouth as if to say something, posture relaxing very slightly. The arrival of the stranger derails his train of thought, though. He turns his head to peer up at the man, unable to completely wipe the look of frustration from his face. His tone is polite, but only by the barest of margins as he says,'And may the Light illuminate your path as well, neighbor. Is there something I can do for you?'
Toban smiles softly at Samuel, and says lightly, "Possibly, possibly. Although I believe your companion may be able to help me more." With that, he takes a long measuring look at Aniblle.
Anibelle blinks ever so quickly, her head falling a little to let a veil of sun-kissed curls obscure her face. As they speak, she stiffens slightly.. grey eyes peering up, through the strands, to catch sight of Toban. Abruptly, she takes a step forwards, closer to Samuel. With deliberate effort, her head tilts back up, and she greets with surprising firmness, her lips curving a little in recognition, 'I. is there something I can do for you?'
Toban smiles softly at Anibelle, and chuckles, "'Tis always pleasant to see a familiar face."
Anibelle offers Toban a tiny nod, glancing down at Samuel, then back up again. 'Yes.. I.. it is. ' With another dry, nervous swallow, she nods, before dropping a small, graceful cutsey in his direction. 'I'm terribly sorry, but I really do have to leave.' Shooting a glance down again, dark eyes narrow.. again, blinking rapidly, as if she were on the very brink of tears, 'Please excuse me..'
Toban nods softly, "Light Illumine, as you wish."
Anibelle repeats politely, 'Light Illuminate,' nodding with another jouncing of tawny curls. Ever so quickly she stoops, her lips pausing a few inches from Samuel's ear to offer a quick, soft whisper,'Please don't be angry at me.'.. before she straightens up, stepping fluidly away and heading off towards the east - not even looking back once.
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