Liandrin is quiet when she finally slips into the room. Lanfear watching her with quiet concern until Liandrin moves closer, folding into her arms, the slow, slightly sweet, kiss putting them both at ease. “You are… quite the sneak, my Liandrin.” “Wasn’t that why you chose me?” Liandrin, despite the pain she was still feeling, couldn’t hide the smile. “Partly.” Lanfear admits with a slightly dark laugh. “You are also… quite the charmer.” Liandrin scoffs softly and lets Lanfear kiss her again, slightly blushing when Lanfear moves to lick the blood from her face. It’s new but she can’t help being glad of Lanfear’s love.

it's soft hours in my head so i want cuddles with comfort characters rn

The marks stand out even now, even with the Aes Sedai healing. Lanfear’s fingers trail over the marks, deep, angry marks that are still coal black despite the hot coals being long gone. “You were treated… so poorly.” It's softer than she would usually speak, Lanfear knows that, but there are memories of her own that lurk just as deeply and hurt just as much, so she can’t help being a little fond of the trembling woman in her hands. “Never again, not now I’m here.” Later they will settle together, Lanfear doing what she can to tempt the wounds into healing, even as she knows the memories of the hot coals will never heal.

“It’s mind control Liandrin…” Moiraine’s voice is full of pain, anger and worry. “You can’t possibly…” “Except I chose it.” Liandrin’s voice is also shaking, full of her own pain, anger, upset. She had seen how quickly Moiraine tried to attack Lanfear, had seen the person she had come to love and trust, trust enough to allow her to take control of her mind, suffer. “I chose her… I chose this. She makes it… easy. Easy to exist, easy to… live.” Lanfear revives, of course, rising to come closer, resting a soft hand on Liandrin’s shoulder where she sits, just across from Moiraine. “Why does it matter if it was mind control? She deserves to be happy, doesn’t she? If I can… take her pain, make it stop… why does it matter if I control her mind?” Moiraine’s eyes flicker between them, then she sighs and speaks with a voice full of concern. “It was that bad?” Liandrin scoffs, looking away and Lanfear moves to run a hand through soft hair, her voice soft. “You should know… you caused plenty of the pain.” Once Moiraine leaves it’s easy for Lanfear to smooth a hand through Liandrin’s hair again, then move to gently guide her into looking up, her voice carefully light. “What’s a little mind control between us? Hm?” “Nothing…” Liandrin’s voice is soft, her smile light even as she leans into Lanfear’s touch. “Nothing at all.”

Liandrin Guirale had always hated being trapped. So, when she’s chosen to be the ‘sacrifice’ to the dragon gods of her people, she accepts it. It’s better than being at home. What she doesn’t expect is to find herself facing a s that refuses to eat her. She follows it when it wants to pull her away from her people. She’s quiet, waiting until they are away from everyone to crumble, leaning into the dragon’s thick frame, taking comfort in the gentle nudge it gives. She will be okay, unless she’s found. So she chooses not to be found. She walks calmly into the dragon’s cave, curling into the bed she’s nudged towards, resting herself slowly, even as she feels the warmth of a fire being lit. She wakes to a woman, someone quiet, pale, dark hair and eyes. The woman’s gaze feels familiar and she realises slowly that being chosen has been a blessing. The woman, she learns later, is called Lanfear. A woman who can take the dragon form. Usually she doesn’t see worth in the women she’s brought, but Liandrin’s quiet acceptance and trembling frame had told her all she needed. She finally had her Dragon’s Mate.

It comes from nowhere, for those who see it. Moiraine drops like a stone, folding into herself even as Lanfear strides out of the darkness, a glimmer of unbridled rage in her eyes even as she moves to pull Liandrin behind herself, ignoring the woman’s soft protests even as Moiraine collapses completely, the woman’s eyes closing even as Lanfear spoke. “She’s gone…. Her little love connection too.” Liandrin’s smile is small, a soft sound of pain escaping even as she allowed herself to enjoy the faintly feral sound of Lanfear’s voice. The two would be gone, secreted away safely, soon enough, the bruises and bleeding fading as she allowed herself to enjoy Lanfear’s unbridled rage at the way she was treated, it was nice to be cared for.

The dream is the same as ever. Liandrin falls asleep tucked into some shadows, safe at last, Lanfear is miles from her, in body, but she comes to her in dreams. The two walk, talk, love, in dreams. Then it changes, the dream becomes reality. Lanfear is near death when Liandrin steps from shadows into light, her strike firm and fast and spilling Moiraine’s blood even as she heals Lanfear, pulling her away and home. The dream that night is different, Liandrin is still gentle, still submissive but now there’s a flicker of power to her. Liandrin smiles as she leans into Lanfear’s touch, the gentle domesticity of their love is new, but it is still as strong as ever.

“You’re glowing…” Lanfear’s touch is soft, turning Liandrin to look at her, guiding her to watch her own eyes. “Liandrin…” “It’s almost time…” In a way, this is death, she thinks. Liandrin’s Chosen life will be far different from any she knew as an Aes Sedai, but birthing their egg, their child, will be her last act before she becomes true Chosen. “I know, my love.” Lanfear guides her slowly, watches the glow take over, making Liandrin all the more radiant even as their child, their egg, is finally produced. It’s hard to watch, the slow glimmering fades to simple radiance, she will never glow as bright as she had in those fleeting moments. They will rise, in the next hours, Liandrin alive, well, gloriously glowing with the same hidden promise all Chosen choose. They will raise their child as Chosen, slowly and well. Changing the wheel even as it continues to turn and weave as it wills.