After

[makesthings]

The days after the fight at the Lightning Farm and Milliways pass by quickly as there's much to do. Sameth must be a prince to get the promised land to the refugee Southerlings, he must be Wallmaker in terms of helping to rebuild all that's been broken and he has to figure out how to be Wallmaker.

His first major project is Lirael's hand, which takes a couple of months and lots of adjusting to get right. In between working on the hand, he reads all that he can about Wallmakers and talks with his father about the Great Charter Stones so he can take over mending them.

He knows that he needs to travel the Old Kingdom to see the damage to Charter Stones and go over every part of the Wall to understand what he needs to do. Milliways is always at the back of his thoughts as he wonders if Kait was there for the final battle, if she's well, but there's so much to do that he doesn't have time to look for a door.

One night after working far too late, which seems to be what he does of late, he ends up asleep in a comfortable chair in the family study.

Comments

[walksindeath]

"Oh Sam," she says again, helpless.

"I never noticed. I should have known something was wrong."

It had just been - such a relief to know the succession was sorted, and that Sam could learn safely in the palace, and she didn't have to worry...

"I'm so sorry."

[makesthings]

"No, it wasn't your fault. I kept trying to think of ways to tell you, but there was no one else,"

The Old Kingdom and duty have to come first even though he wasn't even good at that part.

[walksindeath]

"I'm your mother, it's my job to notice things like this."

...Also to battle the neverending armies of the Dead!

(Sabriel isn't so good at the family part. Much though she wishes she was.)

[makesthings]

"Ellimere didn't notice, I was good at not showing it and you had more important things to deal with,"

Hiding it and his various troubles has always been simpler especially as he can hide in his workshop or for a time Milliways.

[walksindeath]

She pulls back to look at him.

"Sameth," she says, brushing his hair back from his face.

"There is nothing more important to me than you and your sister."

And Touchstone, always, and there's Lirael now - but that's still so new.

"The duty is something I have to do, but I will always love you more than that. It wouldn't matter to me if you weren't a Charter mage at all. Nothing will change that."

[makesthings]

Sameth nods, he wants to believe that, but its hard to all at once.

His life has been defined by his duty and his parents' duties and what must be done before what might be nice to do.

[walksindeath]

Their lives are not easy, as families go.

But then, none of them have known much else - apart from Touchstone, and he had his own problems.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of."

She pulls back enough to look around the workshop.

"And much to be proud of."

[makesthings]

"Thank you," He's starting to believe that but he's still finding his way.

[walksindeath]

"Thank you."

She rubs an awkwardly affectionate hand through his hair.

[makesthings]

He smiles and blushes before hugging her once again, this might be a rare moment but he's glad it happened.