livingmyths | 096: Just Rain?

Current Location: at the river

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096: Just Rain?

I guess I have to think about things some more. Some people who are really important to me don't want to call me River because Rain is really important to them.

So maybe... maybe Rain is good enough. I have to think about it for a while.

[Private to Harry]

Harry? Is he all right? Can I see him?

[Private to Thomas[

Thomas... This doesn't change the way I feel about you.

I just want to help. Please let me? At least keep talking to me.

I'll be watching Orion and pretending I'm with you.

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She curled into him, resting her head against one hip, with one arm draped around him. "Horses and quarterstaffs. What do they have in common that you should like them both so much?"

"They don't really. I like horses because I've always been good with them. The quarterstaff though. There's a story where I'm from about the greatest swordsman in all the land. No one could defeat him. And everyone tried." He smiled down at her. "One day he came across a farmer. A fight began between them and moments later the man with the sword was on the ground. He was stunned that this simple farmer with his quarterstaff had defeated him. I wanted to be like that farmer and my da is so good at it that I wanted to be like him too. He always wins competitions with it during festivals."

"Did you win competitions, too?" she asked. "I bet you could if you wanted."

"I haven't been in one since Two Rivers. And my da always won those." He grinned though. Against his father, he didn't mind losing.

"You should teach me sometime," Rain said idly, just enjoying having him close again. "Do you think I'd be any good?"

"Who knows? But I think you'd be pretty good at it. It would probably help you keep your mind quiet too. It helps me sometimes." He ran his fingers through her hair.

"That would be a good thing," she admitted, moving a bit to give him better access to her hair. "I didn't know it would be so hard and confusing. I thought if my mind was a little better it would be easier, but it just makes me think of more things and worry more."

"Sometimes I wish that I were better. But then there are other times when I wonder if it would be worth it. Maybe it's better if we are the way we are." It wasn't an answer he liked but he couldn't help wondering if that were the truth.

She was quiet for a minute considering that. "Maybe... maybe we're just supposed to be like this. 'Mana says my mind sort of stopped growing in some ways to protect me from what was happening."

"I think your mind is still growing in all ways but differently from others so that it can keep you safe." His fingers brushed her cheek now.

"It did a good job, huh?" she said. "I... now when I think back about things... it's scary what happened. But then... I didn't know how scary."

"You don't have to be scared, Rain. I'll protect you."

She turned to smile up at him. "I know you will. I always feel safe with you."

He smiled at her. "That's right. I will."

Rain shifted to be looking up at the clouds, without moving any further from Mat. "Tell me about where you grew up. It sounds so nice there."

Where he grew up. It had been awhile since he last saw Two Rivers. "We're farmers and herders there mostly so our home are spread out from each other. In some areas there are fields of vegetables and other places have fields of grass. And around us are trees of a forest that only we can manage to navigate successfully. We all usually live our lives separately but visit each other often. And on holidays, we all come together for celebrations with good food, good drink, conversation, dancing, and competitions. We're away from all the chaos of the world in our own peaceful little corner."

At least, that was how it was when he left. He had no idea what it was like now.

She sighed happily. "I would love to live someplace like that."

"It's beautiful there." He missed it too.

"I'm trying to imagine it," Rain said, "but it seems like something in one of the books I read. A real community. Where people are safe and there's enough food and people come together to celebrate... I don't remember anything like that."

"I never knew hunger and all that was really real until I had to leave home." Had to. Yes, that was the right word.

Rain wriggled around to look up at him. "I'm sorry you had to leave," she said softly, stretching one hand up to touch his cheek. "I wish you'd been able to stay there and be happy forever. Even... even if it meant I'd never have met you."

He smiled at her and kissed her hand. "Now where would be the bloody fun in that? I like that I met you."

She smiled up at him. "Maybe... maybe I should wish that I'd met you there at Two Rivers."

Now he grinned in amusement. "You'd look so pretty in a Two Rivers dress."

"A Two Rivers dress?" she asked curiously. "What's that?"

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