Title - Love Lost
Summary – A hundred years after Tarmon Gaidon. The war has been won but love has been lost. Will Rand and Egwene be able to find solace now?
Egwene's POV
A hundred years.
This is the price of channeling.
Living when you don't have to.
Living when you don't want to.
Living beyond HIM.
"Silviana, I'll be stepping out for some time." Egwene said as she started weaving weaves for Travelling,
"Yes Mother" Silviana said and looked at Egwene worriedly.
Egwene stepped out through the gateway. She had travelled to the only place she knew she could be alone.
Rand's POV
He stood where Emond's field had been once. Where Manetheren once was.
"It was always the land of the brave." Lewis Therin said.
Rand nodded subconsciously.
The land had lived up to its name. Everyone had fought to the very end. The very end of Tarmon Gaidon.
They didn't have to fight. Light blind the foolishness of woman.
"They would have fought no matter what you did. Elayne would have given you an Aes Sedai stare combined with the-haughty-queen stare. Aviendha would have died of shame. Min would have never stood back and let others have the fun." Lewis Therin said.
For once in a long time Rand smiled as he made his way to the Green.
At The Green
Egwene stood in the middle of the place where the Green once was. The grass had started to regrow.
Life will continue no matter how badly you want it stop
Why did you have to be so foolish Gawyn? Why couldn't you have stayed back? Just for my sake?
Then she started crying. Tears fell. Even a hundred years weren't enough.
"Long time no see Mother"
Egwene spun around and wove weaves of air to freeze whoever was behind her.
She saw Rand and immediately let go of the weave.
"Don't call me that. I never wanted it. I don't w…want it." Egwene sobbed.
"Egwene. I know how you feel…" Rand said.
They both sat down on a boulder near them. Facing each other none of them had the courage to speak.
The battle had been won. Love had been lost.
"How are you now?" Egwene asked.
"I'm fine" Rand replied.
"We searched everywhere for you, but none of us could find you."
"I wanted to be left alone"
"Light blinded fool"
Rand was a bit taken back.
"Do you know how it was for me thinking there was no one left? Do you know what it feels like to know that you truly are alone in this world, with no one to turn back to? Did you even once think…."
"Maybe she's right." Lewis Therin said
"What do you mean?"
"We stopped feeling sad for our loved ones long back."
"I'm sorry Egwene"
"Why?"
"You were right all along. I should have come and talked to you before."
"Don't you ever do that again or else..."
Egwene hugged Rand. They felt the warmth in their hearts that they thought they would never have been able to feel again.
Night fell. Rand and Egwene lay back on the grass and looked into the stars.
Love had not been truly lost it just had delayed recoming.
Their hands intertwined. Egwene moved closer to Rand for warmth. For the first time in a hundred years, Rand let go of his iron face and Egwene let go of her serene mask. They both smiled. Together, no more alone in the new world, as they looked into each other's eyes.
Their eyes had enough brightness now to rival stars.
They both had someone to turn back to. Someone they loved.
Life continues whether we want it stop then and there or not.
Hundred years were never enough, but his one touch was.
Loved ones were never lost or gone.