I don't own the Wheel of Time

Summary: Several millennia after the "Final Battle" and Rand Al'Thors sacrifice. Three girls are coming of age in Emond's Field, now known as the Dragon's Plane. But the Shadow is not defeated and The Wheel has come full circle once more and his seals are breaking once more.

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Gillian could not believe it. Not since before she was born was the crop this decimated. It was not her fault, she knew, nor the fault of the farmers themselves. The Dragon must not think them worthy, or else the winter would have ended long ago. The first year she could braid her hair and she might just starve to death.

Emond's Field, or The Dragon's Plane to anyone outside the immediate area. The birthplace of not only the Dragon, though no one remembered his name, merely as being the Dragon and Emonds field his home, but also two others. The three ta'avern that saved the world from the Shadow nearly a thousand years previous that history forgot and Gillians home. It had become a tourist attraction. Even the Dragon's farm was kept around; it made good business for tourists, whether or not it was actually his home didn't matter. Not only that but many Asha'men made a journey there every year, bringing uneasiness to the town each time.

Nonetheless Gillian was perfectly ready for her dance. It was her first time, but she would dance with the other unmarried women and hopefully Lincoln would pick her.

Lincoln was a man in his mid twenties, almost seven years older than she, but she didn't care. He was a good man, a provider and one of the youngest men she knew that owned his land. She would make a good wife; she would keep him in line and make sure everything got done around his farm. She had only seen his land twice, once when she was little and her parents were friends with his and the second when Gillian was with a small contingent of unmarried women scouting the best men with the best farms. Lincoln was not the best choice, but the best she could hope for. He was tall and handsome, much taller than most men in The Dragon's Plane and especially taller than Gillian.

Gillian admired her new hairstyle as a knock came from the other side of the door. Without any bidding another young woman. Nicole was taller than her friend Gillian, but no more beautiful. Few liked her, she was an outsider from Andor and not many in Manetheren liked Andorians, though everyone knew the two countries were once one. "Ready?" Nicole asked, uncertainty permeating her voice. With a small nod Gillian rose and followed her friend outside.

Few people in the streets weren't doing something. With the festival on its way, merchants were streaming through the Two Rivers like never before. Most with food once they heard of the bad crop. Not wasting time the two friends navigated through the busy street and found themselves in The Green. There around seven women were erecting a pole and when the fires started that night, they would finally dance, and maybe gain husbands.

A huffing voice soon signified that Nicole and Gillian were soon to be joined by another. Mary Al'Vere, the daughter of Daniel Al'Vere, the head of the Village Council. She was a year younger than Gillian and Nicole and her hair unbraided, but that did not stop her from looking at the boys that were about. "The fires are going to be lit soon. You two will be married in no time. Why are you looking at me like that Nicole?" The girl blurted unceremoniously.

Nicole scoffed and held her hands at hips. Looking around the street she saw her target. Raas Fi'gar. A young, capable looking man, Raas was a scoundrel. He spent more time playing pranks than he did hunting, which he did a lot of anyway. He held four rabbit skins in one hand and the bag over his shoulder suggested he had many skins to sell. His horse, though really his fathers drank from the fountain eagerly and was saddled in case of a quick getaway, something Galad was fond of having to do.

Two figures in black bumped past them. Without an apology the Asha'men continued on their way in the direction of The Dragon's Farm. Gillian saw their clothes and did not think to impose an apology from them.

Suddenly the fires erupted and fireworks exploded. Unmarried woman rushed to the pole and dance about in the tall green grass. Nicole grabbed Gillians wrist and pulled her towards the grass outcropping.

Gillian began dancing half-heartedly; he eyes scanning the unmarried men who watched. Rass, Nicole's crush, had joined her in the dance. It signified his interest in her and together they would go before the Women's Circle to defend their right to marriage. But she saw no sign of Lincoln. She stopped dancing, and in humiliation walked out of the outcropping and down the street towards his farm.

She had gone for only four hundred yards before she remembered that it was night, and she was alone. But now it would take her longer to get home than to get to Lincolns farm. Single-minded in her effort she did not see the shadows following her.

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Lincoln threw the bundle of hay over the doorway and into the horse's pen. He did not go to the Festival; he had work to do here and could not dally in his duties. He could prove to his parents that he deserved this land and could turn a profit from it. Wouldn't happen this year though, Lincoln know, but then no farm had done well this year. The Winter cold was biting his crops to nothing and what little he did have had gone to feeding the animals, especially Pip, his prized warhorse he purchased from a merchant that had come from Illian.

Without thinking Lincoln head flew up and he stared out the barns open doors. He saw nothing in the blackness but knew something was there. There was a ruffle of clothing and Gillian stumbled into the barn. Obviously she was not used to walking in pitch black.

"You are not at the Festival?" Lincoln said. He threw another bundle of hay over the stall but did not take his eyes from the darkness that clouded the outside.

Gillian huffed, "Neither are you. I was dancing there for you, you know. You could at least be considerate enough to come." She took a deep breath and put her hands on her head, allowing more air into her lungs.

Lincoln looked at her boldly, "You could have told me beforehand. I would have come."

Gillian let out an embarrassed "Oh" and turned away from Lincoln. She stared into the darkness, not really looking at anything. Then she heard a noise, a ruffle of leaves, and a low grunt. "There's some one outside." She whispered.

Lincoln dropped the third bundle of hay and stepped into line with her, "Yes." Spinning on his heels he walked over past his farming tools to a chestnut trunk with a decaying lock. Unlocking the trunk Lincoln removed what Gillian believed was a blanket, before he threw the blanket to the ground to relieve a marked blade.

The hilt of the sword was decorated with a heron and was the only part of the blade that seemed anything more than simple steel. Though simple in her mind; the fact that it was on Lincoln hip was boggling. The strange part was, was that in Lincoln's eyes, Gillian knew that he could use it. As if to assuage her fears Lincoln spoke, "A man name Adam Mandragoran from the Borderlands gave this to me, and for a little gold taught me the basics of how to use it."

Gillian felt embarrassed once more, but the feeling was soon overridden by fear. Something was definitely outside and by the sounds of it, there was more than one. Lincoln stalked behind her and startled her as he whispered, "Get Pip, second stall on the right. Unlatch the door and saddle him. Go, now." Gillian obeyed.

Finding the saddle easily enough she had a hard time actually saddling the horse. He had a temper, or he just didn't like unfamiliar hands on him. Military training was the only thing that kept Pip from bolting. That, and he knew he could not leave his master for the Trollocs he smelled stalking the barn.

Gillian took Pip by the neck and led him out into the centre of the barn. Lincoln was waiting for them, the sword in one hand and a torch in the other. "Get on." He commanded. Dipping his sword back into its scabbard Lincoln used his newly freed hand to help Gillian up.

Suddenly the wall in the back of Pip's pen became a doorway and a massive creature flung itself inside. It was a Trolloc. The creature snorted and brandished a single sided axe. Gillian screamed as Pip darted from the barn and into the night, leaving Lincoln in his barn.

Lincoln brandished his blade, watching the five Trollocs surround him. He charged.

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Pip ran into Emond's Field, not slowing for the people still celebrating. Gillian's head bobbed up and down as the great horse charged through the throngs of people. "Trollocs! Trollocs!" she screamed, causing panic.

Daniel al'Vere rushed out of his family's inn. "Tarn! Get as many bows as you can and enough men to use them!" He roared over the screaming.

Tarn, another Village Council member grabbed his bow, which wasn't hard as it was always beside him. "Two Rivers! To Me! To Me!" Raas rushed to his horse and jumped on it. Gillian thought him a coward before she realized he was racing in the direction she had come from. The two Asha'men were seen bounding onto horses, obviously angry at shadowspawn being anywhere near their sacred ground.

Nicole was nowhere to be found, probably with the other women and children in the homes. But Mary stood by her father with a short bow in her hand. Daniel appeared unaffected by his daughter going to battle. But Mary had been using the bow since she was born and could handle herself if she needed to.

Men were lined in the streets with horses below them and bow on their backs. They pushed forward as one and charged through the street after Raas.

Raas was farther ahead than anyone and reached the farm long before the rest of Emonds Field came. Lincoln was bruised and bloody, but four Trollocs were dead. A new enemy accompanied the fifth. The black cloak of the Myddraal never stirred as the beast parried and counterattacked Lincoln's attacks. Without a thought Raas snatched his bow from it's place at his side and knocked an arrow in one smooth motion, letting loose only a moment later. It struck the Trolloc with a loud gurgled thud. The Trolloc fell to its knees and received a second arrow to the back of the head.

Very little could withstand the force of a fully strung Two Rivers bow, especially when a Two River's man used it. The Trolloc was dead before Raas grabbed his skinning daggers and hopped from his horse. Raas was about to tell his horse to not follow him, but as he saw, the beast he found the thing would come no closer to the Myddraal.

Throwing his dagger wildly he took the Myddraals attention from Lincoln. Lincoln pressed the advantage and stabbed the demon through its gut. The thing snarled and fell to it's knees and began convulsing. Finally it erupted in flames as three horses rode towards the two friends, along with another three shortly behind those.

The first three riders jumped from their horses and landed gracefully several yards from Lincoln and Raas. "The Power is the only way to kill them immediately." One said. Asha'men, Rass realized. "We need to get to the Black Tower. We cannot allow them to take everyone." The third rider stepped down from his horse and uncovered his cloak.

The last three horses arrived and their riders halted just ahead of the Asha'men. Gillian, Nicole, Mary and Lincoln's friend Warren stayed on their horses and appeared ready to take flight at any moment. Warren appeared particularly distressed; "Trollocs have not been seen outside the Borderlands since the Last Battle. I always thought they never existed."

One of the Asha'men brought his hand up in an attempt for silence, "We need to leave. Aes Sedai will be here soon."

Raas raised an eyebrow, "Thought you two were friendly with each other. Trouble in paradise?" He sneered.

The Asha'men took the insult in stride, "We are on speaking terms, and they have ulterior motives. As they always do. Still think they rule the world." Lincoln felt a tingle as the Asha'men looked about, "They are nearly here, round up your horses, we ride now."

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Please R&R and tell me what you think.