The morning after, and Crevan ask something difficult from Pen

Pen Lay beside Nuada, love-making fading into spooning together. She smiled, making content noises as he kissed her shoulder.

"...You didn't throw Rhiannon at Crevan tonight did you?" Nuada asked.

"No, he's with Regis at the garden table tonight..." Pen said. "And that was one time so it doesn't appear I'm playing favorites..."

"...So he won't be alone tonight, either way, that's good." A smirk against her skin "And where is our spy mistress tonight?"

"With Aiden..."

"So at home..."

Pen laughed softly. "Yes..."

"...would that my rose come home as well..."

"I am," She said nestling into him. "In your arms I am..."

He gave her shoulder a small nip before rolling to his back so she could lay her head on his chest.

The morning brought another small gathering, this one more intimate than the celebration. Just the two couples and a few guards. Pen had arranged breakfast in the solar. A tapestry depicting Ker Morhen hung on one of the walls. Ciri was surprised by it.

"One of our Archivists is an accomplished artist as well, they managed to find an archive containing a drawing depicting it." Pen said. "They did the cartoon for the weaver..."

"...Amazing." She said.

"I can introduce you since you will be here a while..." Pen said.

"No, I have an artist of my own," Ciri said, looking over at Avallac'h who was looking at a display of books.

Pen smiled. "...and I have my own tinker."

Nuada was pointing out the various diagrams copied from the books.

"We should go fetch them before breakfast gets cold..." Ciri said.

"Agreed." Pen said.

They gathered up their mates and got them to the table.

Crevan rolled over, half expecting to find someone with him. No, he'd gone to the garden with Regis. He remembered getting back and deciding that a few shots were a good idea as well. No, that had not been a good idea. He was walking the line again, he knew. How many years had it been, ten...twenty...a thousand. He couldn't tell and that was bad. He needed something more than a one night stand or a few shots. He did not want to ask, but he could not tolerate it anymore.

Pen was shocked to see Crevan in her study. She was even more shocked by what he asked her to do. To ask for Reverie, the deepest kind that was almost death. She had thought him stable, but this said he wasn't.

"...Do you know what you ask, sage..."

"Yes, I would rather sleep as death than this...I do not remember how long ago."

She saw it in his face, the sickness returning, no not that of the addiction but that of the soul. He had fought it long and hard.

...I will arrange it." She said. "and another tutor for the young monarch...I will give you rest..."

Crevan murmured a thank you before rising and departing.

Nuada found Pen sitting in the window seat of his Solar, silent and staring out the window. He knew something had been asked of her, something she did not wish to do. She didn't travel to the High seat lightly.

"...I don't know if I can do this..." She said, after explaining.

"There are few choices for a cure..." He said. "You know that. Soul sickness is hard upon the unseen, it is harder upon a Sage. The long rest will do him the best good, and give him the time to heal..." He held her. "You can do this, it is your duty to do this...I will guard the door while you do."

She broke down then, crying.

The day was sunny, warm like a day a thousand years past. Crevan was sitting in the garden, taking in the beauty before his long sleep. He knew he would be bathed, his clothes would be changed, and "Woken" enough to take food and water. It was a fitting day, it was the day he'd lost his Swallow...

"...I lied when I said I wanted the lie to stand." He told Pen as they walked through the maze. "...I did not want to think of that time, its betrayal or the hope it brought. I will have a very long time to contemplate it."

"I don't want to do this, but you have the right to request it of me."

"And I have. I grow weary, watching memories." He tried to smile. "...what is it you said Lord Jareth told Lady Sarha...forever, not long at all..."

Yes, it was forever, and not long at all.