Ok, people…I got some pretty good feedback so I'm going to write another story (don't throw tomatoes at me!!!). In this one, I AM going to try to make some subplots and I AM going to do a little more describing…
Wind blew Graendal's skirts as she stood on her balcony. A storm was coming. Her lips turned up at the corners. A big storm. She was interrupted by an artificial wind that almost threw her off the ledge. Her head whipped back, but she only saw Moridin.
"You think too much, yet do too little, Graendal," Moridin said mockingly. "Who are your friends among the men now…and who are your enemies?"
Graendal struggled not to glare at him. "My friends are all those who serve the Shadow, Nae'blis." Her smug tone faltered as Moridin cut her off.
"The Great Lord of the Dark won't be pleased with that tone, Graendal. There is room for another cour'sourva if it is necessary."
Graendal visibly gulped before going on. "There is only one remaining male Chosen, Nae'blis. I can't say I particularly trust him, though I do believe that he is loyal. Why do you ask?"
Moridin dropped his tone a little. "You know why the Great Lord put the…shadow…on saidin. Now that that is gone, we must…make sure of our loyalties."
Graendal sighed. "What is it you want me to do, Nae'blis?"
***
Rand sat back in the Sun Throne, holding on to saidin. This time, Lews Therin muttered happily for once. So, this is what it was like when you were still alive… Rand silently thought.
When I was still alive? Light, man, you really are mad! Lews's voice answered.
Rand shook his head and tested his warder bonds--Min was a little frustrated with something, Aviendha was concentrating, and Elayne…he couldn't quite tell, so he assumed she was asleep. He knew one thing, though--he needed to get back to the Black Tower. He didn't quite trust Mazrim Taim yet. That can wait for tomorrow, he thought.
Tomorrow never comes!
came the incessant man's voice.Rand sighed and muted it to a buzz. Just as he got up to go to his bedchambers, an Asha'man walked through the door.
Rand almost smiled. "Narishma! What brings you here?"
He shuffled his feet. "I came to report to you…Flinn and I have been Healing stilled Aes Sedai."
Rand barely kept his mouth dropping open. "Why in the name of the Light did you do that?" he got out angrily.
"My Lord Dragon, our Aes Sedai that we are bonded to…suggested…that the Black and the White Towers could be partners
"Taim let you do this?" Rand's eyebrows raised slightly.
He looked around at nothing. "Not exactly, my Lord Dragon. We felt that it would be in the best interest of the Black Tower--no, no excuses. I came to submit myself to your judgement." He ended flatly.
Rand rested his chin on his hands. "I am going to the Black Tower myself, Narishma. I hear there is a shortage of na'lin there, and since you and Flinn seem so well-versed in Healing, my judgement is to send you both there to fill the post for 6 months."
Narishma, who had been pacing, almost tripped over his coat. "Me and Flinn…teachers?" He suddenly looked abashed when he realized he was talking to the Dragon Reborn.
Rand had a distant look in his eyes. "There's enough taught about killing there to fill anyone's brain. You and Flinn might add a little something different to it."
Narishma looked at Rand closely. "You are a good man, my Lord Dragon. Flinn and I will depart whenever you leave." Rand nodded. Narishma put his fist to his chest and walked out.
You are a good man, my Lord Dragon
, Lews Therin mocked.Shut up!
Rand yelled at him.***
Verin caught Nynaeve's arm in the streets of Caemlyn. "Cadusane wishes to speak with you, Nynaeve."
Nynaeve took a deep breath and asked, "Do you know why? Lan is expecting me in a few minutes…" That was the best lie she could come up with on her feet. Not really a lie--Lan was expecting her… Anyway, the absolute last thing she wanted to be questioned about was the cleansing of saidin.
Verin smiled slightly. "Does Cadusane usually give reasons? Either way, you need to come. Lan can wait."
Nynaeve sighed resignedly. "Where is she, Verin?"
"I would…rather keep that a secret, Nynaeve. Link with me if you must embrace saidar." Nynaeve almost growled. That woman read my mind!
Once they stepped through the portal, Cadusane motioned them to have a seat. "I brought you here, Nynaeve, because we must do something about Rand. He must be broken somehow."
Nynaeve's eyes widened. "What are you saying, Cadusane?" she asked, horrified.
Cadusane slapped a hand to her forehead. "No, no, no! He must laugh or cry, Nynaeve. Even the Aiel agree to that."
Nynaeve released saidar. "And you need me because…"
"We know of Rand's little trip that he's taking to the Black Tower. If we could enlist your and one of his Asha'man's help, then we might be able to break him."
As the conversation went on, Nynaeve's smile grew wider and wider.
***
Narishma's eyes almost popped. "You want me to do what? Listen, I'm already treading on thin ice with the Lord Dragon as it is…"
Nynaeve rolled her eyes impatiently. "Listen, Narishma! If Tarmon Gai'don were today, Rand's victory would be as bad as defeat. You don't want that, do you?"
Narishma's eyes narrowed. "No, I guess not; but I really don't think that we should do this to the Lord Dragon. He has enough on his mind already." When Nynaeve gestured for him to continue, he said, "He…keeps a mental list of all the women that have died because of him. If one that held his bond were to die--" Nynaeve started to say something, but he quickly added, "to him, anyway…he might even try to kill himself."
"It's a chance we'll have to take, Narishma! It'll only be for a minute, maybe even less…"
Narishma rolled his eyes. "All right, all right. But on one condition--you must swear fealty to the Lord Dragon."
If her eyes almost popped a minute ago, they would have now. "Me?" she started, flustered, "Me? You listen here, Narishma: I've got no intentions of sitting around in an Aiel prison!"
It was Narishma's turn to get angry. "Now you listen, Nynaeve! The Lord Dragon is very kind to his prisoners! He allowed them to channel again," well, not exactly, Narishma thought to himself, "and they have high standing with the Aiel. They deserved far worse. You see Verin? She swore fealty to the Lord Dragon!"
Nynaeve's face grew considerably less red. "I'll…have to think about it, Narishma."
"Choose wisely."
