#Sammy and Maude both being concerned and stubborn lil doodoo heads

[thesundowncrew]

If Maude's chilled expression couldn't be read, the hearth fire and the way it reacted spoke volumes. Samhain noticed it but drew no attention to it, keeping his eyes and conversation focused on Maude. “That’s got nothing to do with you,” she said, but he found no hostility in her voice. "O-oh, Ms. Haven.. Apologies, ah meant no offense-" He was thankful that she didn't just kick him out right there and then, and her reaction told him there was a lot more going on beneath the surface. But he had to be careful not to pry too much and too hard, else he incurred some any unforeseeable repercussions. He decided to play it slow and safe.

He listened to Maude, finally understanding that her words weren't threats but kindly warnings. She was genuinely concerned, and downright fearful of something he was obviously unaware of. She passed him back his map. “I need you to be safe, Sam.” Oh so she did call him Sam! A nice surprise. But his thoughts were overtaken by other things just as quick as he noticed them.

"..All right," he answered her, sounding obedient at first. Next, he stood up straight and returned her worried gaze with a warm, reassuring smile. "Ah appreciate yer concern, Ms. Haven, truly. If ah knew the news about the river would upset you this much, ah never would've brought it up unless absolutely necessary," he emphasized. "Which is why ah thought ah had to tell you. Bran's... condition... leaves him especially sensitive to magick of all kinds except fae's. Even the smallest spell can trigger a reaction inside of him."

"But if my theories are correct about the river, ah think it'll be of great help to Bran. Either the water or the stones charged with the water, can help temper his reactions the next time they flare up.." explained Samhain, holding onto the rolled-up map gingerly. "..Ah'm grateful for your generosity, Ms. Haven, an' the last thing ah want to do is trouble you an' everyone else as you've been nuthin' but kind.. But if ah do find anything that'll be of use to you, ah hope you'll allow me to share it?"

He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "And ah, uh, apologize but.. his recent episodes were most likely because of me staying here... It's why ah thought it best to switch rooms.. Don't tell him that though, ah'm sure he's better off not knowing."

His words carried reassurance. Maude gave a short hum of acknowledgment, but otherwise she stayed silent, her focus still on the map and her mind lost in thought. Her teeth dug into her lip as she debated what to do with Samhain’s discovery. Perhaps she could add a few more wards. Just to be safe.

She heard him say Bran’s name, and then — He’s been fae-touched, hasn’t he?

Her breath snagged in her throat. Fear flitted across her face in the brief second she looked at Samhain, and the fire on the hearth wavered again, nearly dying this time. A dozen thoughts raced through her mind in a heartbeat. How had he found out? What had they failed to hide? This didn’t matter in the moment, though. All that mattered was that he had puzzled it out somehow, and Maude found she couldn’t bring herself to deflect or deny it.

Her gaze flicked back to the map. The fire regained its strength. “That’s got nothing to do with you,” she said quietly. There wasn’t a trace of harshness in her tone; just an undercurrent of something fragile and defeated. She inhaled to steady herself, shook her head, and went on as she slowly rolled the map back up. “You can stay as long as you’d like, study the river as much as you’d like, but leave Bran alone when it comes to this. There’s nothing you can do for us.”

She offered the rolled-up map back to Samhain. Worry filled her eyes despite her efforts to keep her face calm. “I need you to be safe, Sam. That means you can’t get tangled up in this. Alright?”