Because I don't know the Rand al'Thor who came before Horos.
[ Abel's hand falls away once Rand begins to compose himself, though there is no less shimmer of something compassionate, empathetic, in his eyes; clearly... Martyr or otherwise, the priest truly feels this boy's pain. ]
...I know the one who is sitting here in front of me. [ that hand newly fallen from a head of red hair now halts, taps, at Rand's chest above his stubbornly beating heart. ]
This world... and all the worlds we come from... are meeting you for the first time. Whatever you'd been, whoever that Rand was -- all the wonderful parts, and all the broken parts... you are who you decide to be from now on. This is your chance to choose that first step, and it's up to you to keep walking it after that. Even if it's hard. Even if you might tell yourself you don't deserve it.
[ another, lighter tap to his chest - and then... a soft try for a smile. ]
Whether you recognize him... I've decided 'Rand' is a friend of mine. And he's coming with us from here on out.
no subject
[ Abel's hand falls away once Rand begins to compose himself, though there is no less shimmer of something compassionate, empathetic, in his eyes; clearly... Martyr or otherwise, the priest truly feels this boy's pain. ]
...I know the one who is sitting here in front of me. [ that hand newly fallen from a head of red hair now halts, taps, at Rand's chest above his stubbornly beating heart. ]
This world... and all the worlds we come from... are meeting you for the first time. Whatever you'd been, whoever that Rand was -- all the wonderful parts, and all the broken parts... you are who you decide to be from now on. This is your chance to choose that first step, and it's up to you to keep walking it after that. Even if it's hard. Even if you might tell yourself you don't deserve it.
[ another, lighter tap to his chest - and then... a soft try for a smile. ]
Whether you recognize him... I've decided 'Rand' is a friend of mine. And he's coming with us from here on out.