001, written

[keyandstar]

[ After having gotten over the shock of... Well, everything, and after having herself a good cry, Lirael examined the journal she'd found next to her neatly folded clothes.

It seemed like it had to be magical, and yet she could feel nothing from it. Was it dangerous? It didn't seem like it. Just strange.

Hence, after having read a few entries and come to the conclusion that this had to be some kind of communication device, she tentatively wrote: ]

Is this Ancelstierre?

Comments

[Action!] (<3)

[keyandstar]

How does that even work? Are they magical in some way?

[Action!]

[faithfulflame]

Yes, in a sense. They are tied to your well-being in this world.

[Action!]

[keyandstar]

Does anyone know how that works?

[Action!]

[faithfulflame]

Not that I'm aware of.

[By now, they're close to House 3]

We wake up with the wings, here. Even the Malnosso, the organization keeping us in the barrier, have them.

[Action!]

[thebellthatbinds]

[Ever since Rei gave her the heads up of an arrival from the Old Kingdom Sabriel's been in a bit of a tizzy preparing some tea and sandwiches for when they get home. The name had not been familiar and...well, she's a little sad that Touchstone had not arrived but she was determined to make a good impression and help Lirael in whatever way she could.

By the time she realizes she's rearranging the snacks on the coffee table for the third time Sabriel sits herself down with an anxious sigh. Nothing to do but wait for them to return, then she'll know whether she'll have to worry about expectations from this newcomer or not.]

[Action!] arghleblarghle pardon my slow ;;

[keyandstar]

[ Lirael has been gradually getting more and more nervous by the thought that she is actually going to meet and speak to the Queen Abhorsen, not to mention the fact that she will somehow have to inform said Queen that she is in fact her half sister.

Maybe she should skip that part?

Sameth had said that she would be welcomed into the family, but how did he know?

Head full of thoughts like these, she merely nodded at Rei's explanation, and asked nothing further until they got to the house because she felt pretty much all talked out, and somehow she would still have to find the energy to talk some more because speaking with Sabriel was important. ]

[Action!] Don't sweat it

[faithfulflame]

[Rei took note of Lirael's silence, and just lead the way. When they reached House 3, she opened the door and gestured for Lirael to enter, guiding her into the living room where Sabriel was waiting.

When she entered with the other girl, Rei took a moment to wave and excuse herself, letting them talk]

I'll be back later, with some food...

[And out she went]

[thebellthatbinds]

[Sabriel's head snaps up at the sound of the door unlocking and she hastily makes her way back up to her feet. What if this person knew her from the future? What if it was someone she barely knew from the past? It seemed too much to hope that it could be either of her school friends and as the footsteps draw closer Sabriel is anxiously smoothing out the wrinkles in the clothing, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear when the two young women enter the room.

She freezes, eyes locked on the emblem patterned across the surcoat so very much like her own. The Clayr's star and the Abhorsen's key. What did it mean?

It may not be very dignified for Sabriel to stare but it is over in a moment as she reigns back her surprise and the hundreds of questions that want to leap to the tip of her tongue. Instead, she dips her head to the young woman in greeting, a little shocked out of eloquence.]

...Hello. I am Abhorsen Sabriel.

[keyandstar]

[ ... Wow, Sabriel looked good for her age. She didn't look much older than Lirael herself!

Lirael does a fair bit of staring before remembering her (at the best of times slightly questionable) manners and bows to Sabriel ]

Your Majesty. I'm Lirael.

[ ... your sister. How do you even say that? ]

[thebellthatbinds]

Just Sabriel is fine- wait. Wait, 'Your majesty'?

[She blinks as the other girl bows, her expression very much confused and puzzled when Lirael straightens out again.]

There must be some mistake, I'm not- I am Abhorsen. And so are you, it seems.

[Okay Sabriel, breathe, try to think clearly. Passing a hand through her hair Sabriel huffs a thoughtful breath, frowning faintly.]

I'm afraid I don't understand and this is all going to sound very odd but do you...know me?

[keyandstar]

Ah, no... well, yes. [ Oh dear, this is really awkward. But if this isn't the queen, is it some... other Abhorsen called Sabriel? How does that work? ]

I'm the Abhorsen-in-waiting. Apparently. It's pretty new. And I don't know you, I only know of... well, it's probably not you, I'm so sorry, I just assumed. The Abhorsen is also the Queen, and her name is Sabriel.

[thebellthatbinds]

Oh... Oh.

[Taking a step back Sabriel falls heavily into one of the armchairs around the living room, rubbing her forehead to try and sooth the headache she felt gathering behind her temples. She said the 'queen' had been an Abhorsen named Sabriel...and what are the chances of there being another Abhorsen named Sabriel in the Old Kingdom when she was the last of her family? There are implications there...very significant ones that have her cheeks tinging a bright pink.]

Have a seat Lirael, I think I know what's happened here.

[keyandstar]

[ Yes, sitting down does feel like a remarkably good idea.

... Why is Sabriel blushing? Has Lirael said something wrong? Help, what if she's managed to insult the other girl!

In any case she takes the offered seat, unsure where to look and settling on her own hands that are picking nervously at her surcoat. ]

Then you know more than me.

[thebellthatbinds]

People brought to Luceti are not always from the same point in time as others from their world might be. I think...you might be from the future in regards to the time I'm drawn from.

[As Lirael takes a seat Sabriel pours her a cup of tea from the pot she had prepared on the table, sliding it over to the young woman before pouring herself a cup and taking a good sip of the strong brew. If Lirael was Abhorsen-In-Waiting, wouldn't that mean she is...or will be, Sabriel's daughter? But then how would Lirael not have known her? Sabriel can't imagine either herself or Touchstone letting one of their children grow up away from them...oh dear the thought of them together still makes her ears go red with a blush.]

For instance, I am eighteen; I've only been back in the Old Kingdom for a few weeks but in your time I must be quite different if I am...or will be, Queen.

[keyandstar]

Oh, I see.

[ That means Lirael is currently older than her. That thought is very peculiar, and rather hard to wrap her mind around.

She takes a sip of tea, trying to decide on what to say next. ]

I don't... actually know what you're like, really. See, I'm... a Daughter of the Clayr [ It feels so very awkward to say... ] and have lived on the glacier all my life. It was Prince Sameth who was the Abhorsen in waiting... he's your son. [ And that was even more awkward. ]

But as it turns out... I'm the one who's supposed to become the Abhorsen after you. We're... um... sisters. [ The most awkward. ]

[thebellthatbinds]

[Ah, one of the Clayr, that explains the seven pointed star on her surcoat. Sabriel nods quietly, mind boggling at the mention of a son followed by another rush of heat to her cheeks. She'll have a son, she and Touchstone will have a family...and then the other shoe drops and Sabriel very nearly drops her tea cup.

For a moment she can only stare at the other girl in surprise and disbelief...and yet the signs were all there, the surcoat, the dark hair and pale skin...and if she looks close enough she could even see traces of her father in Lirael's features. But a sister? They looked to be the same age, and yet her father was now Dead.]

I...I never knew...Father never told me.

[keyandstar]

He probably didn't know. I don't think they... spent all that much time together.

[ To put things somewhat tactfully. ]

[thebellthatbinds]

Oh.

[Sabriel's ears turn a little red but she never takes her eyes off the other girl. It was so strange, the more she looked the more she recognized. Tiny things really, little details, and the more she noticies the more she feels this strange warmth deep in her chest. A sister...she still had family. She wasn't alone.]

You said you grew up in the Glacier...is the rest of your family there?

[keyandstar]

Well... my aunt. Well, we're all sort of related on the glacier really I suppose.

[ Lirael can't seem to look at Sabriel for extended periods of time, but she keeps stealing glances, looking for a family resemblance. She can sort of see it, maybe, though she thinks Sabriel looks way more interesting than she's ever been able to consider herself. ]

My mother died when I was very little. I've never really fit in there.

[thebellthatbinds]

Ah...you never knew yours either?

[The resemblance would be easier to see if Sabriel's hair hadn't been burnt and then cut short. Sabriel can't help but feel a pang of guilt when she compares her life in Wyverley to what Lirael has told her of her experience in the Glacier. Sabriel had many friends at school, and more importantly, her Father took the time to visit her in spirit every month since she had first enrolled when she was five. If he had known about Lirael he would have said something, or his visits would have been shorter or later, there would have been some sign but...there wasn't.

Lirael had been on her own, and without a proper parent at all...Sabriel can only imagine how hard that must have been.]

I'm so sorry. If I had known, I...

[But what could she have done, really? Taken care of an infant Lirael herself? She most certainly couldn't have left her at Wyverley and with her role as Abhorsen it would be dangerous taking such a young child around so many Dead. For the first time Sabriel has a strange appreciation of what her Father must have gone through when trying to decide what was best for her.

With a heavy sigh Sabriel shakes her head. She couldn't change Lirael's past even if she wanted to but...perhaps it would be for the best.]

I'm glad they were able to keep you safe.

[keyandstar]

I have a few very vague memories... but that isn't really like knowing someone, or having known them.

[ She looks Sabriel in the eyes now, because she feels that the other girl needs to know how earnest she is. ]

I'm sorry I'm... intruding.

[ On her life. On her family. It isn't enough that she's been a blight on the Clayr bloodline, now she's tainting the Abhorsen one too. Who'd want to deal with her? ]

[thebellthatbinds]

It's good to have something at the very least.

[When Lirael looks up she's a little taken aback. She seemed so nervous, anxious...sure, Sabriel was still a little in shock from it all but ultimately she was happy. Just so happy that she's not alone. Shaking her head earnestly she leans in a little, just as earnest.]

Lirael, you're not intruding at all, you're family. I just...I wish there was some way I could have known in my time so you wouldn't be so alone.

[keyandstar]

[ It's such a shock to her, to be accepted so immediately. Not that she's ever been not accepted among the Clayr either but she hasn't belonged, and everyone's been aware.

She can't help it, her eyes start filling with tears. ]

I wish that too.

[ She wipes at her eyes with her sleeve. ]

Sorry, I just... I wasn't sure you'd feel that way.

[thebellthatbinds]

How could I feel any differently?

[Reaching out to cover what distance there was between their chairs, Sabriel tentatively takes Lirael's hand; the gesture a quiet reassurance that they weren't alone anymore, that Sabriel wasn't going anywhere, nor did she plan to abandon her sister.]

Do you have anywhere to stay?

[keyandstar]

[ She holds that hand, probably too tightly, but she needs the physical connection right now to reassure herself that it's real. Of course the senses can be fooled, but she isn't really being all that rational right now. ]

No, not yet.