Luthien. They’d been to Luthien, she recalled with slight disappointment. Al-Hattaal’s search for his sister had run dry on that isle, and thus he wouldn’t find reason to swim the sea to arrive on those shores again. But Björn’s voice cut through her worries of how she might convince Al-Hattaal she needed to visit Luthien when he asked if she might visit. Avangeline’s warm eyes were on his white face, studying his blue eyes and how prettily they shone with hope. “Yes.” She barely breathed the answer, too excited that he’d asked her to visit to realize that she didn’t know how she was going to. Al-Hattaal was not her keeper, no, but for some strange reason that Avangeline had not yet realized she did not want Björn to know of Al-Hattaal just as she did not want Al-Hattaal to know of Björn.
“I will visit you, Björn. Soon.” She said, smile growing.
A moment of silence was a pause between the two as Avangeline felt a strange, wonderful warmth swell inside her. It felt as though it started from the beat of her heart and crawled up to her mouth, keeping it in a smile even while it wanted to pour forth in a stream of happy words. Instead she stepped forward, just one last time, to lay her lips kindly against Björn’s cheek. It was brief; she tucked her head back with a shy smile. “Goodbye, Björn.” She said and took a few steps by him before she paused and turned her head, looking his way. “Good luck, I hope you find your mother soon.” Her voice had softened, implying the importance of the matter, and then smiled a small smile for him before she turned about to return to where she’d left Al-Hattaal in sleep.
“Tsura,” she whispered softly, knowing the goddess’ light would show soon, “guide him in his journey and keep him safe.”
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