Drabbles of life after

Day 14 ARMOR

WoTtober 2023 #14 ARMOR

(back to #3 penance)

Thom has seen Moraine in several different dresses at least. In Tear she wore the best there was, which was only right with her heritage and position as Aes Sedai. Before that he's seen her in more of a travel clothes, but even those were of best quality. Still he was rather unprepared for what she was considering now. Him, who watched many times how Moiraine prepared to impress.

Moraine looked into a chest in her room at the Tower before pulling out several blue garments of the best possible quality. All of them highly structured, with lined bodices reinforced by metal wires.

"Do not wince, Thom," she chided in a sharp manner that surprised him a little. "Those are not for cuddling." At least there was a little playfulness under the almost overwhelming anxiety that she wouldn't admit to feeling. "You should go down." She was looking at two that she didn't discard yet "The other warders would surely be much better company than me now."

"I'm staying." This was not negotiable "I am allowed to stand outside the hall when you're in, aren't I?"

"But you don't have to."

"I want to. If you want to impress, the one on the left would look like a queen."

"You don't sound enthusiastic about it."

"The other one, well..." He was unsure how to put it. "It's not one I would like to see at a ball. Looks like a kind of armour. If you want to be you and stand your ground, this is the one."

They understood each other, he knew, sometimes only based on what they played. Both Daes Dae'mar masters, they felt when a play was needed. She needed help with a play now and he would assist. He waited until she nodded and discarded the more showy dress, then helped her get into the blue armour. She would be able to do it herself, but they both liked the tactile sensation of him tightening the laces and righting every pleat.

As a last element he put her blue fringed shawl on her arms. Full armour.

"Ready" they said in unison.