"Right. That makes a lot of sense. Um, I would normally think Randi would obviously keep his promises on this, but if you're worried about Heralds period because of the Companions thing, Melody could chaperone and make sure no one has a chance to do it. She has pretty strong feelings about people getting pressured into going under Truth Spell. Randi probably would want to reserve the right to use first-stage, but all that does is confirm you're not actively lying, it won't force you to reveal anything." 

"I think that should be fine? If I can refuse to answer and it doesn't do anything but confirm or not when I do. Uh, my worry about Heralds is mostly that you've been - shaped, like how you can make trees grow in weird shapes if you make little adjustments to them or grow them near a stake or whatever? Not that you'll suddenly snap but that you might be wrong, like anyone, except if you are you're likely to all be wrong in the same way at the same time."

"...Um. Right." Vanyel seems pretty unhappy about this. 

"Sorry."

Vanyel acknowledges her apology with a nod, is quiet for a bit. "...I think this seems like a reasonable plan? I'll try to remember all the conditions you wanted - Gating to a place with a Guard-post works, I think, if you know one, we'll just need to be aware that the Web is going to pick up an alarm for the Gate. Probably you should also send us another letter with your conditions written down, so it's not just relying on my memory, and then Randi does have a way to reply, I think, if he accepts?" 

"Uh, sanity-check, Leareth, can you in fact get me to a place I've been and know but you haven't necessarily - and yeah I can send you a letter."

“Yes, I ought to be able to, although we will want to practice it.”

"All right then. Ugh, this is going to suck."

"You don't have to do it! If you're not comfortable with it..." 

"You do not have to," Leareth says quietly. "But - it may end up making a great deal of difference." 

"Yeah, it'll suck less than a war."

"Fair enough."

"I'll write up a letter. You can tell folks on your end to expect it, probably by the next opportunity for a drop but it might take me longer than that."

"All right. Belrun, thank you, this really–" The sky is starting to come apart. He takes a half-step forward. "...Can I have another hug?" 

"'Course." Hug.

And they wake up in bed. 

"Well," Leareth mumbles, "seems less dire..." He sits up. Notes notes notes–

Belrun takes notes too, but after that she's clingier than usual.

Leareth doesn't want her to go either. It's very brave and it's - probably the correct move, strategically - but he's not looking forward to it at all. He falls asleep again with his arms wrapped tightly around her. 

She doesn't get up and about first thing in the morning.

"If they figure they can meet every condition I set -

I mean, I guess the dreams'd still happen, right."

Hug. "I think so? I do not understand the exact mechanism but it started as soon as we were lifebonded and we are going to remain lifebonded." 

"So even if it drags on I'd see you. Sometimes."

"Yes. And we could set a limit on the total time, if we wished, although I am not sure if that is wise overall." 

"Probably isn't. Looks all kinds of suspicious."

"I know. I - very, very badly do not want you to be gone for an unknown length of time, but...if Valdemar agrees to it and they can meet all of our conditions then I think it is our best option. We ought to work on that letter." He isn't letting go of Belrun, though. 

Five minutes won't make a difference.