Tally really wasn't looking forward to spending the night away from Sarah. Not so much out of fear of a nightmare, she took comfort in knowing Sarah would reach her as soon as she could—she just didn't feel right being out of her arms to sleep. She'd become accustomed to waking up wrapped up with her.
When she arrived back at her room, she was delighted to see that there were two new additions in the room, both of which resided on Tally's bed. The first was Sarah's quilt—and Tally felt warmed all over at the gesture that she was trusting Tally with it.
The second was an old looking journal. Clearly worn from years of existence but in good condition. She had plopped down on her bed and picked it up, smiling when she opened it and found a note inside.
I believe we discussed sharing and wanted to leave this for your viewing pleasure. It is my oldest sketchbook, and I have numerous others that are available if you'd wish to see them.
Sarah
Tally smiled as she began going through the pages. There were so many of her fellow witches, all drawn in the 1700s, and Tally surmised they must be members from Sarah's first coven. There were beautiful drawings of the town of Salem, as well as numerous sketches of trees, leaves, and flowers. Tally gathered that Sarah really cherished the area's landscape and foliage. They were all so detailed and beautiful, and she was just finishing going through the pages when Abigail and Raelle entered the room.
"What're you looking at?" Raelle asked curiously as she approached.
"Um," Tally began with a blush, "one of Sarah's sketchbooks."
Abigail's eyebrows rose. "She draws?"
Tally opened to a page with one of her favorite portrait drawings. The woman's name was scrawled in Sarah's script with the date in the bottom right corner.
"Martha Balan," Raelle read. Her brow furrowed. "I can't place that line at all."
Abigail shook her head, unable to as well.
"I think they're her first coven members. The dates aren't too many years after she signed the accords," Tally told them.
"She's really good," Raelle said as her eyes fell on the other new addition. "A quilt?"
Tally blushed furiously. "It's Sarah's."
Abigail couldn't help but laugh as she went back to her bed and crawled in. "She's got it bad for you."
Tally could feel her cheeks heat impossibly further.
Raelle had moved to her own bed and crawled in. "I gotta agree with Abs. She's smitten."
"She isn't the only one," Tally replied softly with a fond smile.
"Heart eyes for days," Abigail teased from her bed.
Tally sighed and flopped back on the bed. She placed the sketchbook on the nightstand and shimmied under her covers, pulling the quilt up to her chin and breathing in Sarah's smell.
"Do you think you'll be okay?" Raelle asked finally from her bunk.
Tally bit her lip. "I honestly don't know. The woman has three hundred years of…horror."
"We'll try and wake you while we wait for her to come," Abigail assured across from Tally. "You aren't alone, Tal. I know it may be hard but try to remember that if you dream."
"Thank you, both of you. I love you guys," she told them seriously.
Raelle's hand appeared from the covers, stretching out across the gap, her pinky finger sticking out for Tally to grab. "We love you too."
Tally reached out and linked pinkies with Raelle for a moment. When they separated, Tally wrapped the quilt around herself, snuggling into the warmth and smell of Sarah—which was distinctively earthy, like sandalwood and pine—and closed her eyes.
She wasn't very tired…like at all. She was wide awake and too worried about what she may see. Sarah wasn't here to rouse her immediately, or here to curl up around.
She sighed quietly and tried to clear her mind as best as she could.
It lasted for about a minute.
She was torn. She needed to sleep or else she'd barely be able to make it through her classes tomorrow. She suddenly remembered Sarah mentioning she could reach her through the link. They'd never conversed through the link while this far apart. She knew the connection had grown stronger though—her mind could brush against Sarah's effortlessly when she was near; her emotions came through easier despite her attempts to bury them.
She focused on their connection, where it sits in her soul, and followed it.
"Sarah?"
"Hello, Tally."
"Holy shit it worked!" Tally was ecstatic.
Sarah's throaty chuckle echoed in Tally's mind as clear as day. "So it would seem. I was unsure if it would carry this far."
"It took me no time at all to find you," Tally thought with a smile.
"Ah, that explains even more why you were so thrilled," Sarah mused. She hummed as she caught some flashes of Tally's thoughts. "Too energized to sleep?"
Tally sighed and rolled over on her side to snuggle her pillow and part of the quilt—attempting to pretend it was Sarah. "Unfortunately. Thank you for the quilt. I'll take good care of it. And the sketchbook. You're ridiculously good."
"I told you I have many talents," Sarah teased. "And I know you will. I had Corinne deliver them before you'd return."
"Tell her thank you for me please?" Tally requested.
Sarah was silent for a few moments, then said, "She says that it was her pleasure, and…" she trailed off, and Tally could practically feel the blush Sarah was sporting, "that she hopes it provides comfort in my absence."
"They're all so sweet. They really care about you. And not because their life force is tied to you. They're genuine. I felt that the moment I became a biddy."
"They certainly care for you as well, and not just because of my feelings for you," Sarah informed her.
Tally smiled into the pillow.
"The drawings of all the women…were they your first coven?" she asked.
"Yes," Sarah replied easily.
Tally could feel the fondness and sadness through the link. "I'm sorry."
"There is no need. I am grateful that I chose to draw each of them. It's comforting to be able to look on their faces even hundreds of years later."
Tally sent a wave of affection through the bond, smiling and basking in their connection.
"Would you mind if I try something?" Sarah asked then.
"Whatever you'd like. I trust you," Tally thought immediately.
The feeling of joy and relief that soared through the connection hit Tally like a bolt of lightning. She shivered under it as if it were praise—pure gratitude for her words pouring from Sarah.
Then, she began to hear Sarah's sleepy time song in her mind, as Tally had so aptly named it.
She sent her thanks through the connection—feeling warmed as if Sarah was right there with her. She quickly drifted off to sleep.
General Alder sat behind her desk, a glass of wine in hand, reviewing some documents from the President. The woman was becoming a true thorn in her side. She released an irritated breath and took a swig of her wine. She pushed the papers away and turned her gaze to the fireplace flickering in the low light of the room. She glanced at the clock—02:00.
Tally had fallen asleep three hours ago, and so far she felt nothing through their connection. She had released her hold on it, just to ease Tally away from her mind so that her thoughts wouldn't disturb her and her presence wouldn't interfere.
Sarah was grateful she wasn't sleeping tonight. She didn't think sleep was something that was ever possible outside of Tally's arms.
She was okay with that thought.
She stood, moving to the armchair near the fireplace, and removed her jacket from where it rested over the back.
Then it hit her—grief. Overwhelming, inescapable, soul aching, grief.
Sarah gasped for air as the emotions washed over her. She could faintly hear her song of grief…and knew what Tally had witnessed. Her pain, coupled with Tally's own at the heartbreaking display, had shaken her to her core.
It took everything she had to run from her office, to push through the emotional pain she was feeling and just get to Tally.
She must have been sprinting, because she was there faster than she had expected—unceremoniously bursting through the door to the Bellweather unit's room.
"What's going on?" Raelle groaned sleepily.
Abigail was already awake and at Tally's side—she backed away as soon as Sarah entered.
Tally wasn't screaming; only broken sobs fell from her mouth.
"Tally," Sarah gasped out as she slid across the floor to the bed and wrapped her arms around the redhead—she pulled her from her bed onto her lap, her sheet and blanket coming with her.
The noises, the pain, the grief, all dissipated like an extinguished flame. Tally awoke, breathing heavily with tears in her eyes. Her hand reached up and touched Sarah's face.
"Shh, I know," Sarah whispered before placing a kiss on Tally's head.
"Don't leave," Tally whimpered, her breathing still erratic.
"Never," Sarah replied immediately and hugged her closer to her body. "Do you wish to stay awake and calm? Or would you like me to sing to you so that you sleep."
"Sleep," she answered, eyes still swimming with the ghosts of Sarah's past.
Alder sang her seed, relief returning to her body as Tally fell back asleep in her arms. She wasn't letting go of her for the rest of the night. Sarah adjusted the blankets around Tally and scooped her up, then placed her on her bed. She removed her boots before she climbed in after her and made sure that Tally was covered with the quilt—then she pulled her against her and smiled when she felt Tally adjust her position so she could lay her head on Sarah's chest.
Alder was sure that she wouldn't be able to sleep—but she was proven wrong a few moments later when she followed after Tally.
Alder woke promptly at 06:00 to a call from her biddies. They were worried about Tally. Sarah gathered from their thoughts that when they entered her office and saw her jacket dropped on the floor late in the evening—they had heard Sarah slam open her office door to sprint down the hall—they assumed Tally had a nightmare.
"She's sleeping," Sarah thought. She sent a checklist of things to have ready for her, and to inform Izadora what had happened.
Sarah rubbed her hand up and down Tally's arm, enjoying just being next to her. She knew she would have to sneak out before anyone else in the Sekhmet coven rose. She couldn't be seen leaving a cadet's room. Tally chose that moment to snuggle into Sarah more, bumping her nose against her neck and nuzzling the spot there before stilling with slumber again.
Never mind then, I'll figure something out, she thought with a chuckle.
At 0730, the alarm went off for everyone to begin rising.
"I hate the morning," Raelle groaned from beside them. "Is Tally okay?"
Abigail's sleepy chuckle drew Alder's line of sight to her. Bellweather had a look on her face that Alder would love to be angry at, but the twinkle in her eyes—grateful for Tally being okay—kept it at bay.
Raelle sat up and turned to see Tally, and her eyebrows shot up to her hairline when she saw Alder.
"General?" Raelle shrieked.
Abigail and Alder both shushed her angrily.
"Sorry, sorry, General…um?"
"She had a nightmare," Alder answered. "You're a hell of a heavy sleeper, Collar. It's a good thing Abigail silenced the room when it started, otherwise the whole floor would be in here."
"She okay?" Raelle questioned.
"I'm not sure," Alder replied truthfully, "I'll know more once she wakes and we have a chance to speak." She looked from Tally to Raelle.
Raelle nodded and set to grabbing her toiletries, along with Abigail and departing from the room to give them some privacy.
"Tally," Sarah said softly. "Sweetheart, you need to rise."
"Fuck school," Tally mumbled against Sarah's shoulder.
She laughed, the motion jostling Tally from her last moments of sleep.
"Sarah," Tally breathed quietly before she captured Sarah's lips in a kiss.
It was soft and languid—Tally's hand cupping Sarah's face, and Sarah's arm over her waist, pulling her in as close as possible.
When they parted, they rested their foreheads against each other. Sarah allowed Tally a few moments to finish waking before she spoke again.
"We will need to speak of your dream, but we can leave that for tonight when you come to my room if you wish."
"Okay, I think that would be—wait, did you say tonight when I'm in your room?" Tally's smile was instantaneous.
"Yes, I did. Should you agree, of course."
"Of course," Tally responded quickly.
It drew a smirk from Sarah and she placed another kiss to Tally's lips. "It's clear that we need to be in close proximity. I think tonight we will sleep in my room, and then the following night I'll have you set up in a room closer to me for that night."
Tally nodded and sighed against Sarah's lips where they still touched. "What if I can't sleep away from you?"
"Then I won't sleep and will meditate to join you in your dreams as before and hope that for the time being, it allows you to get rest," Sarah told her. She kissed her once more, holding onto Tally's lip a little longer. She released her bottom lip and felt a shiver go up her spine at Tally's shaky breath against her. "I still want you to sleep with me, but every night wouldn't be possible while Izadora researches."
"And you can't do anything until you have something to show," Tally finished. She understood completely.
"I should go. I need to find an escape route so I won't be seen," Sarah quipped. "It sounds so juvenile."
Tally couldn't help but laugh. She nodded. "Oh absolutely. Does it make you feel any younger?"
Alder hummed lowly as she slowly rolled over Tally. She was close enough to tease her, but just far enough away that they weren't touching. She leaned in close to Tally's ear, nudging her head to the side with her nose so she could see out of the window. She grinned against Tally as she felt her draw a shaky breath.
"What do you think?" Sarah asked.
She took Tally's earlobe in her mouth, relishing in the gasp that flew from Tally's mouth—as a bolt of bright lightning flashed outside the window, accompanied by the sound of booming thunder.
Tally whimpered. She could feel her nipples straining against her shirt. Alder had pinned her legs, so there was no chance of her spreading them so she could at least get some friction—
Sarah moaned in Tally's ear, having caught the thoughts—and images—that flew through Tally's mind.
She was off her in a flash, leaving Tally flushed and confused. Sarah dropped to her knees on the floor and held her hands out for Tally to take. She kissed her knuckles and sighed, looking up at her with affection and a still smoldering lust.
"You have class, I have appointments, but believe me I would much rather occupy my time with that," she told her, earning a smile from Tally.
"You're right, I need to get ready or I'll be late…and I don't think I can say that I was late to my off-canon class because General Alder was in my bed."
Sarah smiled and shook her head. "Actually I think that you could tell Verger that and she would believe you."
Tally cupped Sarah's face, pulling her in for a soft kiss as the booming thunder turned to a low rumble before disappearing.
"Will you fix my braid?" Tally asked softly.
"Of course," Sarah agreed as Tally stood and turned away from her so she could work. She redid the braid in a few minutes, taking a moment to admire her handiwork. She enjoyed doing something so simple for Tally.
When she finished, she placed a kiss to Tally's shoulder before she moved to the window, glancing out of it onto the ground below. She looked to Tally. "Do you have Salva?"
Tally let out a cackle but grabbed the tin from her pack. "General Alder, are you really going to sneak out of my window after staying the night?" Her words were playful, and rather smug.
Sarah was beginning to enjoy Tally's smugness. She placed the Salva on her neck and leaned in for another goodbye kiss.
Then she lifted the window and hopped out, floating to the ground carefully and thanking the goddess that no one was outside this early just yet on this side of base. She was hoping that the goddess was on her side for a bit longer until she reached another entrance and headed inside.
People were beginning to move outside and she quickly set off in a jog. Might as well give the illusion she was up this early and running.
When she reached her biddies she could feel their amusement through the link.
"Not. A. Word," Sarah ordered, a smirk on her lips.
She couldn't help it. She was the General; and she had snuck out of a cadet's room in the morning after spending the night, through the window with the help of salva. It was ridiculous—but she couldn't remember the last time she felt so alive.
Alder stood in front of the Mycelium wall, watching her closely and basking in her presence. Izadora approached her then, silently joining her in front of it.
She'd met with Izadora to discuss the connection but also to be briefed on the results of Collar's link to the Mycelium. What Izadora had shown her was surprising, and they were simply waiting on the young witch to arrive.
"You wanted to see me, General?" Raelle questioned as she stepped into the room.
"Yes," Alder answered as she turned to regard the young witch. She nodded for Izadora to begin.
The Necro opened a seed box on the table, and a great sound of many many voices poured from it. Raelle winced at the sharp volume, not relaxing until Izadora closed the box.
"The sound you made is composed of thousands of layered voices, one on top of the other," Izadora explained.
"I've never heard anything so complex before. Or beautiful," Alder told her.
"Well how can I make so many voices if I only have the one?" Raelle asked.
Izadora motioned for her to step closer and take a seat in the chair before her. The Necro held up a small mirror to Collar's throat, examining her cords.
"The vocal and ventricular folds have changed. The epiglottis and epiglottal fold—" she moved the mirror over some to see more. "They're mycelial threads." Izadora had a perturbed look on her face as she turned to face the General. "The Mycelium has colonized her larynx."
Raelle immediately touched her throat. "Hol-hold on. It-it did what?"
Alder turned to look in awe at the Mycelium wall. Her thoughts ran wild a moment before she turned and looked back at Raelle. "Your update mentioned that you are now able to effortlessly speak mothertongue, yes?"
"It happens sometimes," Raelle responded in Mothertongue.
"I'd like you to try singing to Her one more time."
Raelle shook her head. "Last time I did it she jumped down my throat."
"Please, Raelle. We need every soldier, every weapon for what is coming. You know what they're capable of," Alder pleaded.
Raelle nodded hesitantly and stood. She approached the wall as Izadora and Alder gave her some space to work, watching from behind.
The Fixer opened her hands, palms facing the wall as she began a seed. The pitch changed as more of the voices sang through her. It grew in pitch and cadence as Raelle raised her hands high, struggling against the power that was pressing against her.
She released it with a cry, pushing it away from herself and at the wall to her left—sending dust and stone to the floor with the strength of the blast.
The cement cracked beneath them, running up the other side of the wall and crumbling.
Alder watched the crack carefully, ready to leap forward and grab Collar if necessary. Thankfully the structure held. She looked at Izadora, who was looking like she was either going to be sick or pass out from worry.
The hole that Raelle had caused, revealed more of the body of the Mycelium. She looked back to the wall.
"She's big," she said quietly.
"In the Tarim," Izadora began as she and Alder cautiously approached, "her gift transmuted organic matter. And now, with control, it broke down inorganic matter."
Alder leaned forward toward Raelle. She was incredibly pleased with this development. The hope she felt at ending this war with the Camarilla was lit anew at the possibilities.
"Do you think you could do it again?" she whispered, eyes lighting up as she gazed at the majesty before her.
The rest of Tally's day had gone by quickly. She had pushed the memory of Sarah's grief to the back of her mind. She had glossed over it with Rae and Abigail, leaving them concerned that Tally was keeping her emotions to herself. It wasn't that at all…she merely told them it was a very sad memory.
It was an understatement.
She had been thrust into a memory alongside Sarah. She was cracked with dry blood, most of which Tally is sure wasn't her own, and covered in soot and dirt from being in the thick of combat.
She was doing her best to run through the forest to a destination Tally wasn't familiar with. They had broken the tree line together, and the first pang of grief washed over Tally at the scene before them.
Tied to various stakes across the field, were the remains of Sarah's first coven—burned at the stake. Some of them were so fresh that the bodies were still twitching.
"No," Sarah rasped as she approached. Her eyes taking them all in.
All of them were gone. Her entire coven was reduced to ash and left for her to find.
Sarah fell to her knees, dropping the dirty Camarilla blade to the ground. She sobbed loudly, her hands digging into the dirt as her pain spilled from her.
Tally was crying as well, sharing in Sarah's grief—and then Sarah began vocalizing the most beautiful, heart wrenching seed that Tally had ever heard. The General sat up on her knees, still grieving into her seed. Tally watched all of the bodies slowly begin to descend into the ground before covering.
She wasn't sure how to explain that to Rae and Abi, and she wanted to speak to Sarah first. The memory was as personal as anything could be, and she didn't feel right sharing it until she made sense of it and received permission from Sarah.
She had suppressed the memory as best as she could, desperately pushing it to the back of her mind so that she could get through her day.
Sarah had sent word for her to meet her after her last class, and to bring her things with her.
When she entered the office, Tally was immediately pulled into waiting arms. It felt like coming home—all of the tension left her body the moment she sunk into Sarah's arms. She could feel their connection thrum with life, as if it had a heartbeat of its very own.
Then she broke down.
She collapsed under the weight of Sarah's grief, but the General was there, easing them both to the floor and sitting so Tally could be in her lap. Sarah stayed silent, allowing Tally to sob and pour everything out she needed. She sent waves of warmth and affection through the connection, feeling relieved when her sobs began to slow, as well as the pain.
She sent her biddies away, leaving the two of them alone in the room.
"It is my grief to bear," she thought through the connection. Her hand rose to brush Tally's hair from her face.
Tally shook her head. "No."
Sarah sighed. "Tally—"
"Sarah, no." Tally looked up, wiping some of the tears from her face. She took a deep breath, and then spoke aloud, "You've been carrying this for hundreds of years. I know you have the biddies, but having another person share in that burden is okay." Tally took her hand in her own and brought it to her lips to place a soft kiss there.
Sarah sighed. She was less than thrilled about Tally wanting to shoulder any of the burden. It wasn't fair to Tally to have to deal with grief from hundreds of years ago—not to mention the rest of her horrors.
Tally continued undeterred, "I want to help you carry your grief. You don't have to suffer in it alone. We can do memories together, or talk, or even send some of it through the connection. You don't have to keep it to yourself."
Sarah was speechless. Her eyes were wide as she looked down at Tally. She could feel the sincerity through the bond—but even without it, she could see it in those warm, brown eyes. She cupped Tally's jaw and kissed her, pouring her gratitude into it.
She'd never had a partner. Her biddies were a part of her, and though they could share through the link…it wasn't the same as having someone offer…this.
When they parted, Tally let out a small chuckle as she realized they were entangled on the floor of Sarah's office.
"This is not the way I thought I would end up on your office floor," she told Sarah with a light laugh.
Sarah's eyes brightened a little. "Yes, I recall…you have quite the fascination with my office."
Tally went red. "Y-you saw?"
Sarah chuckled throatily and rose from the ground, offering Tally her hand and pulling her up so their noses could touch.
"I think my favorite was you riding me in my chair," Sarah whispered, mirth dancing in her eyes.
"Goddess," Tally groaned. "I need to keep a lid on it better."
"Never," Sarah replied. "I am capable of still getting my duties done…even if it's a bit more slow moving with that glorious image in my mind."
Tally was still blushing but smiled through it and tucked her head underneath Sarah's chin.
They stood there for a while, just basking in each other's arms.
Sarah broke the silence first. "Did you tell Collar and Bellweather about the memory?"
Tally shook her head. "It's not mine to tell."
Sarah kissed the top of Tally's head, appreciative that she hadn't mentioned it to her unit. Not that she couldn't…it just was extremely personal and Sarah wasn't comfortable with subordinates knowing that, not yet anyway.
"Come, I'm sure you're tired after today," Sarah urged softly.
She walked with Tally to the room after they gathered her clothing, toiletries, the quilt, and Sarah's sketchbook, and took up residence on the bed while Tally dipped into the bathroom to ready herself.
The biddies entered the bedroom shortly after, handing Sarah a stack of papers and a few journals as she readied herself for bed. She bid them thanks and a goodnight just as Tally emerged from the bathroom in her pajamas.
"You're working?" Tally inquired, eyebrows rising slightly.
"I have been sleeping quite a lot lately," she answered while flashing Tally a soft smile. "I want to help Izadora along in her research and thought if I perused through my old journals I may stumble on something I've forgotten." She took a seat on the bed, resting against the headboard as she eyed the journals before her.
"Can I help?" Tally asked as she approached. She plopped down next to Sarah, sitting cross-legged on the bed, eyes bright with excitement.
Alder glanced at the clock. "You can help until lights out, but then you need to rest.
Tally nodded and plucked up a journal. She opened it, mouth dropping when she noticed it was all in Mothertongue.
"Um…"
Sarah chuckled. She recalled Raelle's ability to suddenly speak Mothertongue because of the Mycelium—she opened their connection, thinking on it and allowing her knowledge of Mothertongue to flow through her and into Tally. The redhead gasped as the words surged through her mind until Sarah retreated a little to allow Tally to focus.
"This is going to give me an unfair advantage in class," Tally told her. "How did you do that?"
"I'm glad it worked. Raelle's newfound abilities, actually. I thought that since you and I are connected, and it has been strengthening—perhaps it would work for us as well," Sarah explained with a gentle smile.
"Thank you so much," Tally told her. "You know, I've always wanted to learn it and when I found out we would be here I was so excited."
"You should have been taught it as a child," came her reply. Her eyes met Tally's then. "It's a shame that not all witches teach their children our language. Our history is in it, our Work, our essence…it is as much a part of us as our voices are."
Tally nodded. She couldn't agree more and the thought made her sad—her mother had such hatred for Sarah and the Army after her aunts died in service. So much so, that she never used Mothertongue around Tally and certainly didn't teach her.
"Thank you," Tally told her sincerely.
Sarah turned to meet her gaze, her hand raising to cup Tally's cheek. "I am sorry that your mother is not supportive of your choice."
Tally could only nod. Her mom was…well, her mom. It hurt her endlessly to not have her support. They couldn't even have a phone conversation without them arguing. She hadn't spoken to her since long before the Tarim. She had thought about calling her…but she decided against it as she was dealing with enough.
Sarah's arms had encircled her and pulled her close, providing as much physical attention as she could to help soothe the young witch.
Tally laid her head in Sarah's lap, rolling onto her back so she could read while Sarah did the same, her back pressed to the headboard.
Sarah had caught the emotions and thoughts from Tally about her mother, and her heart ached for her. Her mother was taken from her too soon, but she had loved and nurtured Sarah in their ways so that she was connected with her heritage.
"Oh my god my mom is going to disown me when she learns about us," Tally gasped out in sudden realization. "She is going to flip, I mean she hates the Army but, Sarah, she really really doesn't like you."
Sarah could feel Tally's pang of heartache at the realization. She could feel her sadness that her mother wouldn't accept any part of her life.
"Mothers can be difficult," Sarah began, her hand stroking Tally's cheek as she looked down into her eyes. "But I am sure your mother loves you and her unwillingness to accept your choices may be but a temporary situation. She will come around, Tally."
Tally released a heavy sigh as she opened the journal. "I hope so."
Sarah mulled over the options. She wondered if Tally would accept it if Sarah took it upon herself to speak with her mother; clear the air of past grievances and move forward for Tally's sake.
She kept this hidden from their connection and pushed it to the back of her mind to think of at a later date. Then she realized she had been able to hide it. It seemed that even though it grew stronger, it also allowed them more control over it.
They read in silence, sharing thoughts through the bond about what they'd found. Tally would ask questions here and there about certain pieces of magic that Sarah had referenced.
They each went through two journals before lights out, neither being successful in their searching.
Tally let out a yawn and sat her second journal down. "You've lived quite the life," Tally told her.
Sarah gave a curt nod and closed her own journal before setting it away. "An understatement."
Tally nodded. She couldn't imagine being alive for so long; watching all of your friends and family pass away; losing every new person you met eventually because you outlived them all; it was all so lonely.
"Hush, sweetheart, it is hard but I have survived against all odds and I do not regret my choice to serve," Sarah told her. She bent over and placed a kiss on Tally's forehead. "You should sleep."
"Can I hold you?" Tally asked as she sat up.
Sarah hadn't expected that. She gave a short nod and moved the journals and papers to the nightstand, and turned off the lamp before facing Tally.
Tally smiled shyly, her face illuminated by the moon shining brightly outside of the window, and laid down on her back, opening her arms for Sarah to curl in on. The General did as requested and laid on her side, her head resting on Tally's chest and her arm over her waist.
"Do you want to do any memories?" Tally asked after a moment.
Sarah hummed from her spot on Tally's chest. "It is entirely up to you. If you do not wish to, we can simply sleep to see if you dream," she suggested.
Tally nodded. She was exhausted from the previous night, and then her entire day. She was willing to give it a shot.
"Then that is what we shall do," Sarah told her easily.
"Goodnight, Sarah," Tally whispered before capturing Sarah's lips in a sweet kiss.
"Goodnight, Tally."
