! Disclaimer: I do not own any part of "The Black Jewels" or "The Wheel Of Time" series, nor do I have plans to profit financially from this story !
If you don't own Anne Bishop and Robert Jordan's books - go buy them now - this will not be money wasted!
If you don't have any cash, and can't find the local library (or made a fool of yourself hitting on the librarian there and never want to go back), it's not the end of the world. I do a fair amount of explaining in my story so that all characters are properly introduced and they, and the readers, know what is going on and why.
My story begins at the end of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's "The Gathering Storm"- after Rand destroys the Choeden Kal (super-magic-amplifier-doohickey).
Rand appears in Anne Bishop's "The Black Jewels" Realms after the events in "Kaleer's Heart".
Yes, I used the dialogue (only the dialogue) from part of one of the first chapters in "Towers of Midnight" to set the scene. I also couldn't bring myself to butcher Anne Bishop's paragraph describing Witch's appearance. But the rest is original. (At least I think it is, who knows how much is subconsciously robbed from other series of novels I loved? - Hey, maybe you'll recognize something. Keep an eye out, but I assure you I did not intentionally plagiarize anyone, scout's honour and all that jazz.)
I Genuinely respect all of the authors who inspired this work, and I wish them the absolute best in this life and the next.
This fan-fiction novel was started on 19/01/'11
*denotes psychic communication *
The Dark One's Darkest Dream by SpottedLesbian
Chapter 1 - Awakenings
Egwene could vaguely hear the sounds of a servant opening the drapes covering the large door and window that led onto the Amyrlin apartment's personal balcony. After the madness of the last few days she had decided to treat herself to indescribable luxury in the form of a full night's sleep. Unfortunately, thanks to her training and natural aptitude as a dreamer, a portion of her mind had remained aware and concerned. Exhausting battles with Seanchan in the Tower, Gawyn's miraculous appearance, her subsequent abduction from the Tower, and being raised to Amyrlin properly, all combined and served to keep Egwene's head spinning.
"Nothing is going to fix itself while I lay here," she thought to herself as she mentally shook away the sleep and opened her dark eyes. "And if I stay here too long there are all too many people ready and willing to 'fix' things their own way," she thought sardonically. She looked over to the corner where a small, pretty young servant waited patiently near a steaming washbasin. There were plush towels, and a carafe of orange-yellow fruit juice and crystal goblet on an immense silver platter placed on the gilded side table.
"Thank you, Meraine." Egwene gently thanked the girl as she stood up and stretched. "Please inform Silviana that I would like her to gather Romanda, Lelaine, and at least one sister from each ajah in my office within the hour for an informal meeting before the calling of the Hall later this morning."
"Yes, Mother." The girl bobbed a perfect curtsy before scurrying out the door, causing a small smile to grow on Egwene's serious face. It would be some time yet before Egwene al'Vere could watch a young woman bow and run off to do her mistress's bidding without a small, rueful smile to herself, recalling her own recent tribulations. The adversity and hardship had been worth the reward, however, as the young woman prepared to face another day as the leader of the ancient and powerful group known as Aes Sedai.
Pushing those thoughts aside as she washed her face and dressed, she concentrated on what to say and how to lay out her plans to the women who came to her 'informal' gathering. She chose to wear a simple, elegant blue gown with green and white interwoven bands around the wrists and waist. Quickly brushing the tangles out of her long and dark, straight hair, she picked up her stole and left the apartment.
On her way to her adjoining office, Egwene came upon a large group of women already congregating around the Keeper's Desk. Peering through the crowd, Egwene could see square-featured, solid Silviana. She was talking excitedly with several other Aes Sedai of the red ajah, and incredibly two other sisters of the brown and white ajahs. On second look, Egwene noticed an inordinate number of sisters present. What was most intriguing was that many were no longer glaring suspiciously at each other out of the corners of their eyes. The women were still grouped roughly by ajah, but she saw more cordial inter-ajah interaction in this one room than she had since she came to the White Tower. Not everyone looked happy, but most women had a speculative, wondering tone, and no voices were raised beyond the regular levels heard often in debate.
Silviana gracefully pulled herself away from those immediately surrounding her, and sidled up to Egwene in order to speak to her quietly as they passed the group. They proceeded to the massive Amyrlin's Office doors together. "None of the teams sent out yesterday afternoon to report on what is now being dubbed 'The Phenomenon' have checked in yet. Even so, the mood in the Tower is lighter than it has been in a long time. We don't know if this light, and the resulting partial cloud dispersal, bodes well or ill for us, but the majority of sisters feel it to be a positive thing."
"We'll just have to wait until our teams return from Dragonmount to know anything for sure," Egwene said softly as they entered her office and she settled herself on her chair. "But it's heartening to see that so many sisters feel the same way, and appear willing to at least talk to those of other ajahs. I see that the directions I gave Meraine to pass on to you have been followed, so please give me five minutes to prepare while you gather at least one woman from each ajah, and as many Sitters as are lounging around out there. Send for tea and a dozen chairs, then bring the sisters in."
Silviana gave a surprisingly girlish twitter of laughter, "I'm afraid those orders were completely unnecessary Egwene, as half of those women outside were at my desk when I arrived a half hour ago. This event has stirred up the pot, but I'm glad because at least now nobody is screeching at each other, or throwing daggers with their eyes. Other than Romanda, and Lelaine, that is." She gave another small laugh as she slipped out the door.
"Regardless of what caused the cloud clearing yesterday, I must find a way to turn this positive feeling to advantage," Egwene thought to herself as she tidied the previous day's reports. Her brain was awhirl with ideas and schemes as Silviana led a number of sisters into the office, followed by hustling servants carrying chairs from the near-by conference room, followed by yet more sisters. As the women settled, Egwene could see that although the ajahs were not represented exactly equally, there were at least two from every ajah, and three and four from the green and white ajahs respectively. There were not enough chairs for all, but naturally the pecking order sorted itself out quickly. The Sitters, or the most powerful women (who were not always one and the same), took the chairs and their subordinates fanned out behind.
"Thank you all for meeting me here so promptly this morning," Egwene said with a wry grin, ready to acknowledge the truth of their convenient appearance. "We are all eager to know the cause of the 'phenomenon' yesterday afternoon. We shall have to wait until the scouting teams have returned and reported before we know what, if anything, we are able to do." This comment caused a stir, several women standing up and demanding that plans be formulated immediately, while others called loudly for a full convening of The Hall.
Egwene let it go on for a minute, then she calmly raised her right hand, palm outwards toward the center of the room. Miraculously, the talk quieted, those women who had risen from their seats smoothing their skirts and settling down again.
"This is not the most important thing at this time. There are other issues to be addressed, but fear not, when the scouting teams return, this will be brought before the entire hall. My primary reason for..." Egwene was calmly but authoritatively wrenching the conversation in the direction she wished it to head when a red-faced Novice burst through the door. The young girl froze when two dozen sets of intense Aes Sedai eyes pinned her to the unopened half of the large office doors.
"Erm... um... aaa..." The poor girl started to stammer under the fierce gazes. "Ap... apologies Mother, but he's here, at the White Tower! What are we going to do? He's here!" she blurted out.
"Calm yourself, child." Romanda cut in as soon as the girl had finished. "Now take a breath and tell us who is here."
"The Dragon Reborn. And he's asking to see you." The girl turned to Egwene and added a very quiet "Mother" as the room went silent.
Tar Valon was quite a sight, and although standing at the very base of the White Tower limited one's ability to take in the grandiose Post-Breaking Ogier-built metropolis as a whole, it was a spectacular spot from which to view the many spires and towers poking up above the impressive city. The hustle and bustle of Tar Valon was usually muted somewhat on the grounds of the White Tower, as many would not bother an Aes Sedai for anything less than dire need. Today, however, the stairs leading to the main entrance hall were packed with city residents, Aes Sedai, Warders, Accepted, serving and stabling staff, and even a few Novices here and there. The crowd had grown in the last few minutes to spill onto the lawn and grounds in a fan around the staircase, and everywhere it was whispered, "Is it true? Is it really him? The Dragon is here?"
Rand laughed inside at the panic and consternation on many of the faces around him. Maintaining his cool composure, he squeezed the arm threaded through his against his side in a show of warmth and support. Min had been unhappy about his plan to go to Tar Valon alone. In fact, she had refused to allow him to put his stubborn-fool head in a bear trap as she called it. She had been so beautiful when raging at him, the light firing her eyes and her face flushed with anger and fear, that he had revised his plan.
She seemed, to Rand, to be on high alert. Most people looking at her wouldn't realize it, but he knew Min was ready to run or pull her knives and fight at any second. It actually made him chuckle aloud at the thought, surrounded by over a hundred Warders and two full circles of Aes Sedai (twenty-six linked sisters), that she would unquestionably fight on his side if things went awry. He gave a small smile to Min's inquiring look, but couldn't and didn't want to hide the sincere love, and amusement in his expressive gray eyes. Seeing a similar sparkle in hers, he turned to study the other women he had brought with him today.
Cadsuane, of course, was as cool as ice. With her crisp dress folds, immaculately bunned steel-grey hair and majestic carriage, along with the unmistakeable ageless face, she was a model of serenity and composure. Aes Sedai to the bone. Nynaeve, on the other hand, appeared ready to attack the Warders, Aes Sedai, and anyone else foolish enough to cross her path. Within minutes of arrival she had lost her 'cool', pulled her braided hair over her shoulder and started to tug at it, all the while glaring at anyone who looked their way. Rand shook his head in amusement at her conspicuous emotional response while he pondered the sequence of events that brought them to the Tower that day.
Rand had been totally exhausted after his insane feat on Dragonmount, somehow making it into a copse of small trees and bushes a couple miles from the base of the mountain. He had wrapped his brown cloak about him, too tired to lament the absence of the fine black coat he had traded for the ragged, earth coloured thing he burrowed into, and fell immediately into a deep sleep.
He awoke feeling amazingly refreshed, albeit stiff from the impossibly uncomfortable position in which he had slept. Standing and stretching slightly, he discovered that he felt good overall, and the wounds on his side even felt a bit better this morning, at least not as agonizing as most times. He wished he had his sword with him. It had been a while since he had trained in earnest, and although he hadn't learned any new one-handed forms since he lost his left hand, he would have enjoyed the workout nonetheless. He made a mental note to talk to a Blademaster or two soon, now that Lan was gone north, to research new exercises and forms that would cover for his infirmity.
Thinking of the sword caused Rand to start. Lews' sword. The sword Lews Therin Telamon himself had used for centuries.
Involuntarily, he closed his eyes and turned his mind's eye inward and back. Rand was Lews Theron Telamon, and he had all of the man's memories. Before, it was sporadic chunks of memory, often seemingly guided by a presence in his head, that came to him. This time though, in the time it takes to draw a breath, Rand lived another life complete and then died.
Gasping for breath and opening his eyes, Rand found himself floundering about on his back in a dense thicket of thorns. Apparently his flashback, or whatever it was, had caused him to stumble backwards into some very sharp, nasty bushes. Leaping up and stepping quickly but carefully away from the thorns, he began to brush himself off, wearing an embarrassed expression on his face. Noticing the streaks of blood left by his hand on his brown trousers, he pulled his hand in front of his face to see what his haste at getting out of that thicket had accomplished.
Ten minutes later, Rand was just getting control of his laughter. He felt ready. Even through the laughter and pain, he could see and think more clearly than in a long while. He wove a gateway in the air, and as he walked through, looking at his bloody hand, he chuckled again and said, "Min's not going to like this."