My very first fanfic (I'm rather excited). This small bit is part of a much larger story that will come at some point once edited and what not.

In regards to Mi'aada it is supposed to mean "my dear" in the Old Tongue ( sorry, I try my best).

She was happy, sitting out in the sun reading, completely absorbed in the thick leather bound volume he'd often seen Helen carry back in Tar Valon. It was rare, her face to be so quiet and composed. Ginny was Aes Sedai no mistake, but she had never actually mastered the constant serenity that other sisters wore like a shield. Any emotion sat on her face clear as day, the only time he had seen such calm was in times of terrible danger.

He had thought those days to be few and far between, what with the hard-won peace and their little ones, but even this tiny corner of Andor had its dangers.

If you had asked him when he arrived in Tar Valon where he would be in ten years, watching his wife read on their porch while their children slept upstairs would never have crossed his mind. The wild woman he had met as an accepted, who did what she wanted, all others be damned and for the longest time thought he was the one needing protection, had grown up. Mind you; he had grown with her, moving far from the outspoken young warder who had healed her those early years, to quick to judge, too stubborn to listen. It had taken an incident that had seen him with one foot in the grave and Ginny a broken woman for too long, to realize he had to be the voice of reason, the cautioning hand and if that meant his life then so be it. Yarrin still ached whenever he thought of it, the white roping scar down the middle of his back a painful reminder of a warders job and his youthful stupidity.

"The more you think about it, the more it will hurt," cut Ginny's voice from behind her book calling across the clearing.

"And if it pains you as much as I know it does you will be coming down to have it healed."

She had placed the volume on her lap and spoke to the trees where she knew he hid, the bond directing her to a large oak.

He smiled at her offer, more of an order actually, but did not move. She was tired; the twins demanded much of her time on top of the work she did for the Lord in Emond's Field. His comfort could wait for another day when she was stronger.

"Gaidin you're not moving" she called her bond a mix of concern and annoyance.

His wife was persistent, but he had always been too stubborn for his good, so stayed in his perch turning to watch the traveling ground. Ragan should have returned from Shienar two days ago, but Ginny wasn't worried, so neither was he, though his cousin and brother warders presence would be appreciated. To know there was someone in the house who could be trusted while he kept watch would ease his mind.

Rolling his shoulders, silently wishing he had allowed her to heal his back Yarrin turned again to face the house, finding an empty porch, the red book open on the ground and Ginny nowhere in sight.

Her bond told him she was close and still content but to not have eyes on his Aes Sedai, brought on an almost irrational fear. She was in no state to be going anywhere without him after the ordeal in the village but a week ago. Repressing his growing panic Yarrin turned slowly making himself find calm as he scanned the traveling ground, then their house and the trees surrounding, knowing she was close but half convinced she was lost in the woods and didn't know it yet, moments away from a collar around her neck. Seeing nothing Yarrin prepared to descend the tree only to meet Ginny's smiling face looking up at him as she climbed, skirts hiked up to her knees.

"I almost fell you know."

He must have looked horrified since she laughed and continued to climb, oblivious of his shock and hastily outstretched hand, moving from branch to branch with relative ease before pulling herself onto the platform.

Slightly flushed but beaming she crossed her legs and sat facing the traveling ground tapping the spot beside her for him to sit, and he did, some worry wearing off to be replaced by amusement. So close he could feel her fatigue, in the same way, he knew she could sense his concern, that could not entirely be overshadowed by her happiness and love, as she leaned against his shoulder tracing a hand up his back to settle at the base of his skull. A sudden coldness shot up Yarrin's spine, and before he could pull away his pain disappeared

"Got you" she chuckled butting her head against his shoulder, quite self-satisfied.

"You shouldn't have, I could have gone another day" he whispered into her hair, kissing the top of her head, thankful nonetheless for the relief.

"And had you grumpier than a mountain bear- I think not Gaidin, one warder with a permanent scowl is enough for me."

"Which one is that?" he joked, her expression only serving to encourage him

"It couldn't be my cousin; he's the picture of serenity."

A hard swat landed across his shoulder

"Smart ass."

Skirts still up around her knees with no stockings or shoes to speak of she looked much like the young women in the village. That disapproving stare though was all her own as she tried to keep a straight face. The agelessness that marked an Aes Sedai just beginning to change her, visible through her frown, though it was still his Ginny.

"You're rather distracted today Gaidin" all annoyance suddenly gone, replaced by concern and curiosity as he realized he had been drifting off.

He shook his head, his gift had disappeared slowly over the years as had hers, but he was quite sure she could still read his mind

"My apologies Aes Sedai " he replied, turning to her just as she glanced over her shoulder at the house and he followed her gaze instantly looking for danger, despite their location. At one time he would have staked his life on the safety of their home, but no longer.

"No need to apologize mi'aada, what do you think on" her bond was warm and attentive as she turned back, giving him her undivided attention though the exhaustion was still there, only heightened by her healing.

"You're tired" he began

She laughed softly and shook her head, "I'm a mother of twins, of course, I'm tired."

"Yet you still climb trees, and you have not been sleeping even when little ones are quiet."

She pressed her lips together giving him a careful look but did not interrupt.

"It's dangerous for you to be so exhausted, what if that woman and her leashed Aes Sedai return, I cannot protect you and our children. A sword does nothing against a damane and if you were to be collared again" -

Yarrin trailed off, what he wouldn't give to have never felt that crushing darkness, then the burning desire to die, to forget everything, his brother warder, his wife, even his children to seek vengeance. He remembered almost nothing after the bond disappeared, other than his maddening search for death, but when he finally came to himself, Lord Perrin had him pinned to the ground. The man used to be a blacksmith and was easily one of the strongest men Yarrin had ever met, but he looked utterly exhausted when Olwyn finally arrived and wrapped him in flows of air. Everything that followed had again been a fog, mere hours feeling like days until he was released from his bonds and forcibly turned to face a woman with short brown hair covered in dirt, her skirt ripped up the side and a silver collar around her neck. She had given him a small smile and held out a hand-

"Yarrin,"the voice familiar, a step towards her.

"Mi'aada

As if he had been under water, drowning then finally given breath, his head breaking the surface and he ran to her, his wife, his Aes Sedai, his Ginny. Kneeling at her feet, he held her to him, his forehead press to her stomach, hands clutching at her dress over the swell of her hips. The bond was still gone, but she stood before him, and that was all that mattered.

It had taken hours to convince that woman holding the leash Ginny was to be released, and for a second time, Lord Perrin had to step in and hold him back. All of his hard-won sense, his calm, even his desire for self-preservation flickered in and out, leaving him steady one minute and berserk the next.

She had held him each time he lost himself, whispering soothing words, her fingers intertwined in his hair, on the back of his neck, as he shook and struggled to fight down the madness. Despite the disapproving stares of the woman holding her leash Ginny only glared back, with a face death would have found frightening and in his right mind, he would have been proud of her calm defiance, her cool serenity.

Such serenity starred back at him now, only cast in shadow by the hanging leaves and broken by a sad smile for just a moment at his pain before returning, the bond firm, projecting an assurance he did not feel.

"I do believe" she said, rising and holding out a hand, "if we could survive Tarmon Gai'don as foolish as we were, it will take more than a sul'dam and her damane to send us running, and besides I have no intention of ever letting a collar close around my neck again".

He nodded,though the bond betrayed him as he stood, and she cupped his cheek in her hand, absentmindedly tucking a loose piece of hair behind his ear, her emotions a mixture of love, fear and confidence.

"You needen't worry Gaidin" though she smirked as she spoke.

Ginny knew he would regardless, it was a warders job to worry.