Seven Seals
Chapter One
I sat in my chambers in the Hall of the Servants, looking at the empty bed on the other side of the room. Even though it had been several months since I broke off my relationship with Mierin Eronaile, I still missed the warmth of her body at nights, when I was lonely, or not preoccupied, which nowadays was hardly ever. I was spending more and more time in the Hall of Tamyrlin, reading the reports and letters that were being sent to me. One was off a very interesting woman called Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar, who had some interesting theories about the age before ours now. She claimed that the One Power was only a recent discovery, and that it was a "recurrent gene." What a gene was I do not know, but I think that she was quoting from an old book she found. However, she asked if we could meet. I agreed to her request, but asked if we could meet in my office, hoping that I could put up a façade of interest if I ever got bored with her rambling on.
Light, how wrong was I?
As she walked in, all my expectations were shattered. As I had never heard of her, except for the fact that she was an Aes Sedai, I assumed that she was an old woman who had spent years away from any contact with the Hall of the Servants. Instead, I was faced with a woman who was the complete opposite of Mierin, yet just as beautiful.
She had golden blonde hair that fell to her waist in a long braid, and her dress was made of green silk that hinted at everything, but gave away nothing. What a shame. She held out a slim hand, and spoke, and when she did, her voice rang like a soft bell.
"Lews Therin Telamon? My name is Ilyena Dalisar. Thank you for meeting me." Dumbfounded for a moment, I composed myself, and shook the hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, Ilyena. After reading your letters, and the books that you have published, I was extremely interested in meeting you."
She smiled. "Is the pleasure in meeting me professional, or personal, Tamyrlin?" I turned a shade red here. I tried not to, but the blood ran up to my cheeks.
"Maybe a bit off both, Ilyena. May I possibly invite you for a meal? So we can talk about your theories and your work, in a more informal location?"
"There are just two things I would like to say before I give my answer to that. One is a statement. You chose these surroundings, Lews Telamon, not me. Secondly, will this meeting purely be about my work, or will other things be cropping up in our conversation?"
"Maybe a bit off both, Ilyena Dalisar. Do you accept my invitation?" I could not believe I was doing this. I was stumbling over my words like I used to stumble over plum tree roots when I was a child, or when I was first talking to a girl when I was thirteen, saying I had feelings for her. Light! Was that it? Did I have feelings for this woman who I had just met? Most likely.
"Yes, Lews Therin Telamon, I will kindly accept your offer. There is a lovely inn near where my chambers are. It does a delicious selection. Will you be able to find out where I live?"
I just nodded, my tongue being in several different knots at the moment.
"Very well, I am free the day after tomorrow. If you could come and collect me in the evening, I would like it very much." Gathering up her papers, she walked out of the door, then walked back in and gave me a peck on the cheek. Then she walked back out again.
"I think that you may have found someone to replace your feelings for Mierin Sedai, my lord." Said a voice from the background. I looked up to see an old male Da'shain Aiel standing there. It was Gardim. He had been in my service ever since I had become Aes Sedai, some fifty years previously. Since then, he had been more than a servant to me. He was a friend, who had helped me through the good and bad times that I had had, especially recently with my break up with Mierin.
"My old friend, I think that you are right. She is..."
"Just so different from Mierin Sedai." Gardim said as he walked over to me. "Lews, I know. Mierin Sedai did not love you, not as you loved her. But here, it seems that the Aes Sedai that you have chosen may love you back."
"Gardim, have you ever loved someone?"
The aged Da'shain looked at me, and his eyes were misted with tears. "Yes, Lews. I have loved someone; a long time ago, but those days are long past. It is my job and my life to serve you now. Believe me, it takes a lifetime to look after you." He laughed, as did I. Even though Gardim was my servant, I did not treat him like my servant. He could say things in front of me that would have resulted in extreme punishment if he had said them in front of anyone else. He was also my confidant, and I told him things that I could not tell anyone else, not even my own mother or sister. There was a banging at the door. Gardim got up, and went to see whom it was. He rushed back up the stairs and called to me.
"Lews, my lord, I would come quickly."
"Why in the Creator's name, Gardim. Who is it?"
"It is Mierin Sedai, Lews. She says that she wants to talk with you."