The silence might have lasted years, but Philip had waited steadily through it, trying to read any flicker of a thought or a decision cross her face. Patience was hard enough; but when she finally spoke again, he swallowed.
It suddenly felt very close. He jerked his head in some attempt at a nod, and stepped over to help slide her wand out from her sleeve pocket. He took her wand, tucked it into her palm and waited for her to curl her hand around it. Gentle, Philip rested his hand under her wrist and raised her hand, slowly tracing out the wand movement with her once, twice, again. It was simple enough.
Satisfied, he took a few deliberate paces back to find some space and nodded again at her, poised there to meet the spell. He had no idea what she would have him do, but he was having trouble thinking about it now – his pulse, thunderous in his chest, was drowning everything else out.
It suddenly felt very close. He jerked his head in some attempt at a nod, and stepped over to help slide her wand out from her sleeve pocket. He took her wand, tucked it into her palm and waited for her to curl her hand around it. Gentle, Philip rested his hand under her wrist and raised her hand, slowly tracing out the wand movement with her once, twice, again. It was simple enough.
Satisfied, he took a few deliberate paces back to find some space and nodded again at her, poised there to meet the spell. He had no idea what she would have him do, but he was having trouble thinking about it now – his pulse, thunderous in his chest, was drowning everything else out.
