At the end of the dream, which isn't one of their more productive conversations because Leareth is very distracted, he wakes up STARTLED and ALARMED and instinctively reaches for the lifebond, is Belrun definitely alive and all right–

Alive, all right, asleep.

She rolls over, says "parsnips" more emphatically.

In the morning she doesn't even know she's missed anything.

After breakfast, there's a knock on the door. "Belrun?" It's Vanyel's voice, sounding slightly frantic. 

She opens the door. "- good morning, Vanyel?"

He looks very worried. Shavri is hanging back behind him looking exhausted again. 

"I had the dream last night," he says. "With Leareth. You didn't, did you?" 

"No," she says softly.

"He was really upset about it. I mean, he looked slightly upset and agitated, by which I can infer he was extremely upset." 

"Well, yes, we were - expecting to -

- damn it, this isn't even surprising in retrospect, we're so far apart -"

"He said that too. Said maybe it was about touching, actually, being partially inside each other's shields. ...I'm sorry. This really isn't great, is it." 

"I could try sleeping in your bed? - that's probably both unwelcome and logistically complicated -"

Shavri giggles and then immediately claps a hand over her mouth. 

Vanyel turns crimson. "I. Um. That would be extremely weird as I'm sure you're aware, but - I mean, if Leareth wouldn't mind, which it doesn't seem like the sort of thing that'd bother him, I would feel bad about not helping you with that?" 

"We haven't extensively discussed whether we are allowed to sleep in third parties' beds within the terms of our relationship but I'm pretty sure it'd bother him dramatically less than not getting to see me, if it bothered him at all. But like, it's a pretty big ask of you and it would take weeks to even find out if it would work."

"That's true, it wouldn't just be one night. Hmm, that makes it kind of a worse idea because I have nightmares a lot, especially right now, and if we're both sleeping badly I think we'd just make it even worse for each other." 

She nods, biting her lip. "Well. Who knows. Maybe soon somebody'll - figure out how to blow up the moon."

"Huh?" 

"Stand-in for coming up with a replacement for the 'invade Valdemar' step of the secret plan that I made up for quick reference when I was talking to Savil."

"Interesting. I guess that's a helpful thing to have, to talk about hypotheticals." He yawns. "Sorry. Oh, by the way, I've been un-uninvited from meetings! Although I think I might not be at the first one today because Tran will be there and we, er, don't do well in the same room right now." 

"He doesn't like me either but I suppose he wouldn't care to be skipping all the meetings I'm in."

Bitter chuckle. "No. Anyway, er, did you at least sleep a bit better last night?" 

"Not great but better, yeah, thank you."

"Mmm, that's good. Anyway, sorry for barging in on you like that - I almost told you in the middle of the night but Yfandes thought you probably wouldn't thank me for that." 

"I would have said 'thank you' but objectively it wouldn't have done me any good. Thank you for telling me now."

"You're welcome. Er, I did take notes on the conversation - it wasn't that useful a conversation, Leareth was so distracted - but I can make you a copy and bring it when I see you later today?" 

"I'd appreciate that."