Helena watched her love get taken in by the 'children's book' and smiled as the brunette dozed off. They were supposed to be comforting, she supposed, being read to children and all. A little too comforting, it appeared, as she eventually forgot to speak the words before fading from the Aiel's eyes. She smiled fondly, pulling the book from her grasp and marking the page with a ribbon before setting it on her nightstand. She hummed, kissing her woman's forehead and slowly lifting her from the chair. "Stay asleep, stay asleep, stay asleep," she whispered in pleading. If Moiraine ever discovered the events of the night, there would be Dark to pay, hilariously. She could always mock her with her statement. The wheel willed her asleep that night. She pulled her coat off slowly, grimacing and staring at her lax face the entire time. She got the Blue near-naked and clicked her tongue at the misfortune of having to do nothing. She covered her love up with the blanket, stripping herself to be on equal footing and cozied up beneath the blankets. Humming, she rubbed her face against Moiraine's shoulder, throwing her arm over her midsection.
~*~
Helena never got to see her wife's reaction to her state or the previous night due to having to rise with the sun at the soft, yet urgent knocking on her door. She threw on her formal dress, forgoing underwear and pulling her hair up into a ponytail with her Ajah. It still draped her shoulders still and she found Egwene on the other side of the door.
"Hel- Nyn- She tried a Weave to shortcut her cleaning."
Helena huffed in exasperation. "Arrogant-" She grabbed her boots, throwing them on as well, not bothering with socks. She huffed, following the girl down the hall.
The red-haired Aes Sedai was forcing the girls to sit still and meditate in the big tower garden around two hours later. Egwene was doing a decent job with concentrating more or less on herself and the force while sitting there calm and without movement, while Nyneave had to be scolded a few times for her lack of patience, but in the end the young woman’s cheeks were burning and Helena was in need to hold back a small grin. Maybe she was enjoying this too much. Although she could have pictured a lovelier task to spent her morning with. And as if her with had read her thoughts as she began to pull her into her mind, she was walking down the stone path along the flowery field. Moiraine shot a knowing glance towards the grey Ajah as she came to stand next to the group.
“Egwene, Nyneave”, the brunette spoke, looking down at them, “You are awaited in the kitchen. Egwene, when you are finished with your work you may come and find me. There’s something I’d like to talk about. As for you, Nyneave, you will offer the rest of your afternoon to Helena Sedai and your… practice.”
The look Moiraine received could have killed. But the girls hurried away.
“I thought we’re not supposed to bully our students”, came the immediate tease to which there was no snapped answer for both their surprise.
“Did you eat?” Moiraine checked. “Good. Would you mind a walk?”
Helena smirked. "How could I ever mind a walk with one as lovely as my wife?" She took the offered hand and was soon hauled to her feet. The two of them took the break and walked an acceptable (not to either of them) distance from each other until they were in the privacy of the garden. It was criminal how rarely their Sisters used the space. But praiseable to the women. "And how was your morning?"
"Surprising," Moiraine answered easily, side eyeing her wife for a reaction.
The redhead feigned innocence. "Oh? In what way?"
The Blue took the out and faced the front. "Rand was by your door this morning, looking for Egwene, interestingly enough."
Helena frowned. "I thought she was with wolf boy," she commented.
Blue eyes rolled and the woman waved her hand dismissively. Clearly, she didn't know and didn't much care.
“So no gossip from you, huh? Seems like I have to join the Amyrlin for lunch. I bet Mat’s giving her all the good-”
“Do as you please”, Moiraine lifted her chin a little, “but spare me the details. I don’t wish to hear it.” A little milder she continued: “So how is it going with the girls?” She had seen enough, but she’d like to hear it from her wife.
Helena rolled her grey eyes and crossed her arms before her chest. “Egwene is at least listening. And Nyneave… let’s pray to the light she continued listening for a little longer. She could burn this place down without even knowing what she’s doing.”
The blue gave a hum. This was nothing new. She looked down the path they came to assure they were alone, before stealing a kiss from her wife’s lips. It was too short to satisfy, but the most she dared, and the most she could offer here. Helena looked displeased as well. “Is there anywhere you need to go, my love? I have to be on the first floor soon but I’d like to be with you until then, if you have the time.”
The Grey smiled bemusedly. She'd quite like to soak up as much time as she could with her wife as well. They spent a good portion of time together, and somehow it always left the redhead hungering for more. She could spend several Ages with her wife and refused to turn down more time. "Nothing more than my lessons with our beloved Wisdom," she answered with a nose wrinkle.
With no thought to their surroundings or the potential for visitors, Moiraine reached over and ran her finger down her face, smoothing out the signs of disgruntlement with barely a touch. She smiled before pulling away.
Doing so prompted another nose wrinkle, this time accompanied by a glare. "Tease," Helena bit out sharply.
“Would you rather have me sweeping you off your feet right here?” The blue went a little further with the teasing, not missing a beat. “You will have to be patient.” The words might be spoken casually, but Helena noticed Moiraine’s tone being slightly more accented than it usually was. Blue eyes said what words didn’t, and eventually the two broke into a smile they shared, knowing very clearly what the other thought without saying more. But now there was no time for it. Maybe there even would not be later. The grey Ajah accompanied her wife downstairs, where she would attend a meeting. “Don’t do something I wouldn’t do”, Moiraine mentioned, as if that were a good goodbye for the next hours. She knew very well it wasn’t.
