Retirement

[Brynefan 2]

This story is also posted on fanfiction.net, but I wanted to contribute to this topic.

[Brynefan 2]

Chapter 1

 

It was a beautiful morning in Baerlon. The rising sun cast along shadows on the frosty ground, and one of them was the one of a wheelchair.

 

 

[Brynefan 2]

Chapter 2

 

Thom studied the leather case carefully to assure himself of that no water had reached his beloved harp.

 

 

[Brynefan 2]

Chapter 3

 

Moiraine put down her teacup on a table crammed with books and pacifiers. She couldn't concentrate on the paper she was reading for the nearly panicked cries from the other room.

 

 

[Kaitlin 22]

*waits quietly for Chapter 4*

[Tosh 8]

Teehee, slimefish.

[Olivia 26]

That was pretty funny!

 

Thom would bow if he were not confined to a wheelchair. He had tried that before, but it just looked like he was folding himself double. Moiraine had thought that he had a heart attack, so he had never done that again.

 

That was my favorite line.

 

And you get bonus points for making it NOT a Mo/Thom fic! Too bad Siuan is with Bryne though. Anyways, keep up the good work.

[Brynefan 2]

My opinion:

 

Siuan and Moiraine are over with and Thom and Moiraine only have a hinted relationship through a letter.

 

Gareth chased Siuan all the way to Salidar because he liked her eyes.

 

Siuan doesn't lie to Gareth, though she can, and when she got upset over Egwene she went to sleep in his tent. That included riding a horse in the middle of the night. I could make a huge list on this subject.

[Tosh 8]

Gareth chased Siuan all the way to Salidar because he liked her eyes.

Hot piss.

 

I don't dislike Gareth like I do Thom, though I don't like the character either. I just think hes pretty borish and he doesn't invoke any feelings at all in me the reader. This ofcourse differs, and this all might be because I skimmed through the whole Eggwen vs. Tar Valon affair

 

Siuan is adorable though. Damn I wish she would slap someone with a big fish in the next book.

[Olivia 26]

Oh, I'm not doubting that Siuan/Bryne is canon, Brynefan. I just don't like it. It's yet another WoT example of a beautiful young woman just the right age for baby-making with little to no experience with men falling for an older uglier more experienced man. I think I liked the idea that Siuan/Moiraine could be a permanent couple so much just because it provided some variety.

 

That thing in the story with Bryne smoking was funny too. WoT is so incredibly old-fashioned; all of the men smoke pipes but none of the women do. I think there was one scene in TSR where Rand and some Aiel along with Mo and Egwene are sitting in a circle after a meal talking, and all the men pull out their pipes and start smoking while Mo, Egwene, and Avi just sit there. I was laughing so hard at that part, it was so silly to me.

 

Hot piss.

 

O_o

[Asmodean82 0]

Provocative.

[jan 14]

Oh my god! You had me hooked when she was pushing Thom to the retirement home!

[Brynefan 2]

Provocative.

 

It's just my personality getting through.

 

The retirement home is a somewhat twisted version of one that I had to work at for a couple of days because of the education system of doom. I remember that table most of all. The TV was on all the days, but you couldn't see it from the table where most of the old people sat, and the nurses put those in wheelchairs with their BACKS to it!

 

And the part with relationships: I'm not trying to point out right or wrongs, just where I stand when I write this. It shouldn't be much of a problem since it's a parody and I don't intend to get too emotional.

[Brynefan 2]

Chapter 4

 

Thom had grown tired of performing. Everybody knew what was coming all the time, except a man whose senility gave him a richer life than the others.

 

"My!" he used to say. "A gleeman, here of all places! Outstanding performance, but now I must bid you all farewell. Where's my hat and coat? I'm late for supper." Then he usually staggered off to hide in a closet for a while, returning some hours later asking for directions to the nearest hatter.

 

"He used to be a hatter?" Thom had asked the third time he witnessed the peculiar ceremony.

 

"No, a highwayman," Cenn had answered.

 

"Oh, yes," Alys had said. "A savage indeed. He robbed me twice and gave me mental scars that made me put on - some weight."

 

Truly tremendous scars, Thom thought as he watched the huge lady gulp down the presumable soup that they got for lunch.

 

Life was dull until Cenn opened a tolerably fresh newspaper one morning. Making an approving sound he turned to the gleeman. "You ought to see this, Thom."

 

"What now?" Thom muttered as he reached for the paper. His eyes widened under bushy brows "Oh! Nice indeed!"

 

xxx

 

Moiraine noticed that Siuan looked unusually pale as her friend emerged from the nursery and sat down in the chair where her husband had sat just moments earlier.

 

"Is Huan finally asleep?" Moiraine asked, moving closer to the other woman.

 

"Probably. The question is for how long." Siuan looked around. "Where did Gareth go?"

 

"He went out for a smoke."

 

Siuan snorted. "He'd better quit that. At his age it's more important to take care of one's health."

 

"He thought that it was because of the baby."

 

"That's because I told him so. The truth is that if we want anotherbaby, or just try to, he'll have to stop soon." Siuan did not care that Moiraine was wriggling in her seat uncomfortably. "Now he can smoke outside, but when winter comes he'll have to reconsider and then I'll be waiting for him indoors."

 

Moiraine cleared her throat discretely. "Huan is a cute little boy, and he reminds me a lot of Gareth." Silently, to herself, she remarked: "How that combination is possible I do not know." Siuan's face lit up with pride. "But I'm worried about you. Though you, Siuan, are doing your best, Gareth is simply not a - modern man. He also told me about your... situation." Now Siuan's face darkened.

 

"I'll rip his ears off!" she growled.

 

"No, please Siuan!" Moiraine said as the other woman rose from her seat. "You really should listen to me instead." Moiraine embraced Saidar, leaving the still weak Siuan with little choice but to obey.

 

"Fine," the Tairen said sullenly.

 

"You need a nanny."

 

"I bloody well know that already! What are you going to do? Give me money? You know I won't accept that."

 

"I know," Moiraine leaned back with a reassuring look on her beautiful face. "But I can get you one for free."

 

A week later a huge wooden box appeared at the doorstep. The delivery man told Siuan to sign a paper in exchange for a bracelet. She told Gareth to fetch a crowbar and sat down on the steps with an evil look on her face, listening to the terrified sounds from inside.

 

"What on earth have you ordered now, Siuan?" Gareth complained as he started to remove the nails on the top of the box. "Is it a dog?"

 

"I would never let a dog travel that way, dear." Siuan sounded quite insulted.

 

Gareth opened the lid, carefully peeking inside and shut it forcefully. "Siuan! Are you aware of..."

 

"Don't worry. She won't do anything as long as I've got this." Siuan held up her wrist, admiring the bracelet.

 

"If you say so, then." Gareth opened the lid and stepped back.

[Tosh 8]

I loved the last part. ^^

Ooh that was a good laugh. It gave me a warm sensation in my stomach. Its nice.