He was no stranger to silence, nor to patience. He remained kneeling a little ways from the couch, his back straight and his hands resting on his thighs, quietly watching the siblings. Bright Nova rested peacefully at last, and her brother...
His mother's son, indeed.
Hadama inclined his head in acknowledgment of the statement that Vesper made. Agreement, though he did not know the girl well. There was strength in joy, however. Strength in hope. Seren had--
A thought wrapped in grief and in loss. Private, and pulled close within his heart as he focused on Safrin's living children. Light and dark, in the shadows of evening. Shadows that seemed to hold more weight than usual, and Safrin's words about Vesper's purpose drifted briefly through his thoughts before his attention returned to Nova's sleeping face. He did not answer the question put to him immediately. He studied the young woman's relaxed face, the fear finally banished from it, as he turned the query slowly around in his head. Considering Nova's words. Her actions. And in the end--
"Only she can answer that question." He could not read her mind. He could guess, only, but he could not know. Nor did he know whether the day's experience had changed her opinion of him. For better or for worse.
He turned his emerald gaze back to Vesper's composed face, the young man a closed book in his emotions. And thought of his own brother, and what it had been like to wait by his bedside. To Nova, the Tidebreaker was no stranger. But to Vesper... "May we speak another day?" he rumbled softly at last, not wishing to intrude further now that Nova was returned to her family for the healing only they could provide her heart.
His mother's son, indeed.
Hadama inclined his head in acknowledgment of the statement that Vesper made. Agreement, though he did not know the girl well. There was strength in joy, however. Strength in hope. Seren had--
A thought wrapped in grief and in loss. Private, and pulled close within his heart as he focused on Safrin's living children. Light and dark, in the shadows of evening. Shadows that seemed to hold more weight than usual, and Safrin's words about Vesper's purpose drifted briefly through his thoughts before his attention returned to Nova's sleeping face. He did not answer the question put to him immediately. He studied the young woman's relaxed face, the fear finally banished from it, as he turned the query slowly around in his head. Considering Nova's words. Her actions. And in the end--
"Only she can answer that question." He could not read her mind. He could guess, only, but he could not know. Nor did he know whether the day's experience had changed her opinion of him. For better or for worse.
He turned his emerald gaze back to Vesper's composed face, the young man a closed book in his emotions. And thought of his own brother, and what it had been like to wait by his bedside. To Nova, the Tidebreaker was no stranger. But to Vesper... "May we speak another day?" he rumbled softly at last, not wishing to intrude further now that Nova was returned to her family for the healing only they could provide her heart.
