IMORTANT: READ THIS MESSAGE!!! Hello, my name at ff.net is Jakie Marie. This story contains spoilers, if you have not read book seven and wish to keep the story unspoiled, return to the previous page. If you have not read the other books, stay at your own risk, I may accidentally put in a few more spoilers that I am not aware of. Please R&R, and please, only constructive flames.
READ THIS TOO: This is an AWOTP (alternate weave of the Pattern). In this story, Lan, refuses to go to Nynaeve, because of his need to protect her - even, from himself, and from guilt of being unfaithful to her with Myrelle. Rand has given her Lan's message, and Nynaeve has given up on their relationship, thinking that he is truly no longer in love with her, if he ever was, and is going about her business with the black ajah as usual. If I get the locations of some of our major characters wrong, please let me know so I can change it.
EBOU DAR: FESTIVAL OF BIRDS
The streets were crowded. The streets were crowded by people
wearing very colorful outfits. Nynaeve al'Mera sighed. There
was no way to get to the Palace on time. Elayne would just have to
be patient. She successfully made it around another corner, just
in time to see an all-to-familiar face enter a building a few feet ahead
of her.
It can't be, she thought, it just can't be. Nevertheless, she followed the woman into the building, and began to search it for a trace of the other woman. Her search led her to the roof. There on the edge stood her quarry.
Nynaeve wasted no time with a warning. One instant she stood
there, the next she was letting a weave of saidar at the other women.
The woman turned in time to counter the shield.
"Your getting better Moghedien. You actually countered
the weave." Nynaeve said sarcastically as she flung a weave of water
to clash with Moghedien's weave of fire. The struggle continued,
neither women landing a blow. Nynaeve felt her legs begin to weaken,
and she knew that she couldn't last much longer.
ROYAL PALACE: ELAYNE'S ROOMS
Elayne sighed. Nynaeve was late for the meeting with the
Seafolk. Leave it to her to just not show up. Mat and his men
were posted all over the palace, hoping to see her. I am going to kill
that woman when I get my hands on her, leaving me to deal with the Seafolk
by myself. Elayne sighed once again.
Elayne turned to the Seafolk Windfinders and Sailmistresses.
"It looks like we had better start without Nyneave. I can't imagine
what is keeping her. This is nothing like her."
Just as they were about to start bargaining, Elyane's head shot
up, as did the heads of the Windfinders. There was an awesome amount
of Saidar being used. Elayne knew deep down that Nyneave was involved.
"Nyneave", she whispered.
Without thinking, she ran out of her room and down the corridor.
She saw Mat walking toward her. His hat was in his hand and he was
a little dusty from being outside.
"Elayne, I looked, I can't find her anywhere."
"Never mind Mat, there is some massive channeling down in the market.
Nyneave must be there. If not, that is where she'll go if she feels
it. Gather what men you can, and quickly, there is no time to waste."
Mat stared for a moment then nodded and ran down the corridor shouting
at her to meet him in front of the Palace. He ran on, scattering
servants in his wake. Elayne, grabbed a passing servant, gave him
a message to carry to Tylin. That done, she too ran.
By the time she reached the front of the Palace, Mat had assembled
most of his band, Aviendha and Brigitte. He had even managed to get
horses saddled. Mat helped her into her saddle and off they went.
The streets were crowded with people preparing for the festival and it
took what seemed forever to get to the right street.
There was a momentary lull in the channeling and they stopped in frustration,
looking from building to building, waiting for a hint of where to go.
Then it started again.
Rooftop Battlefield:
Nyneave sagged as Moghedien managed to land yet another blow. She couldn't last much longer, and she knew it. So did Moghedien. Moghedien started the weave made to finish her off when the door to the roof burst open. There stood Elayne and Mat, Brigitte and Aviendha, and what looked to be some of Mat's men.
Moghedien changed the weave to hit them. Nyneave watched
in horror as her closest friends drooped to their knees at the unexpected
attack. I can't let her hurt them. While Moghedien busied herself
with the Elayne and the others, laughing as she avoided their attacks,
she began to weave again. Moghedien felt it and whirled, hurling
her weave at Nyneave just before let go with hers.
Nyneave didn't have time to try to defend herself , just to feel mind
numbing, excruciating pain. Just to see Moghedien fall under the
force of her own weave. Then darkness.
Mat watched as Moghedien and Nyneave collapsed. His heart
in his throat he knelt down next to Moghedien to feel her pulse, as Elayne
did the same for Nyneave. He couldn't find a pulse.
"Moghedien is dead."
He looked over at Elayne she was on her knees beside Nyneave, weeping. He couldn't tell if Nyneave was, if she was- "Is she - I mean will she be-". He couldn't even complete that thought. Nyneave might be a pain most of the time, but she was a friend, she had watched him grow-up, taken care of him when he was hurt. He didn't want her hurt.
Brigitte's whisper was so quiet he almost missed it. "She lives, for now." Brigitte put her arms around Elayne as she continued to cry. Nalesean scooped Nyneave up. She was as limp as a doll. Slowly, so as not to jar Nyneave, they made their way to the Palace.
Ebou Dari Palace: An hour later
Mat paced up and down the hall outside Nyneave's room. The healer had kicked them out the minute they had gotten there. Elayne, Aviendha and Brigitte were huddled together near the door. No one had said a word since reaching the palace. The only sound was the echoing of Mat's own footsteps and the occasional sniffle from Olver. He had refused to go to his room. Not that anyone could blame him. He had lost both his parents and now he might lose another adult in his life.
The minutes ticked by slowly, each trickling after the other. Just when Mat thought that he was going to go insane, the door opened. The healer came out. Mat could tell by the look on her face that it wasn't good news.
"We've done all we can. She was severely weak when she took that weave, and that weave was just too much for her mind and body to take. It did no internal damage, but exhaustion is literally killing her."
"Is there any chance she'll make it through?" Asked Elayne, sobs evident in her voice.
"There is always a chance, Nyneave is a fighter, - healers tend to be very stubborn about their injuries. However, it is only going to get worse before it can get better, and worse might very well kill her. I wouldn't hold out much hope for survival, she will need a miracle. I'm sorry."
"May we see her?" Asked Aviendha.
The healer was quiet for a moment. Finally she sighed. "You may see her for a few minutes." Aviendha, Elayne, Brigitte, Olver, and Mat all headed to the door. Only to stopped. "Wait, no more then two at a time, for no more then ten minutes, only when she is awake, if she falls asleep get out of the room, and no more then one visit an hour." With that the healer left, saying she would return in a little while.
After a few minutes of discussion, it was agreed that Elayne and
Aviendha would go first so that Elayne could contact Egwene and Aviendha
could contact the Wise Ones, and through them, Rand. When their time
limit was up, Elayne and Aviendha, came out. Aviendha was grim faced
and Elayne was in tears. Mat and Olver went to his room to rest until
their turn came. Olver was very upset and standing outside the room
would do no good. Brigitte volunteered to stay behind with the healer.
So what do you think? Did you like it? Constructive flames only, please. Just telling me it stank won't help me any. I need five reviews before I post the next chapter. The wheel weaves as the wheel wills. Nyn and Lan 4ever!