The Wheel of Time Turns and Ages come and go leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In an Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose up in the Blight, where Malkier once stood. The wind was not the beginning. For there are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.

The wind blew south and east, across Tarwin's Gap. It blew through the Niamh Pass and across the Spine of the World. It flowed into the Aiel Waste, gaining strength. It was almost strong enough to be a sand storm when it blew through a group of Maidens, whipping their veils into a frenzy and pressing their cadin'sor against their bodies.

Once, a shorter Maiden, her red hair cut shorter on top, but the tail at the back of her head thicker and longer than most, out of the typical Maiden fashion, reached out to snatch her veil before it blew away. "Nice catch, Roh," a second Maiden murmured. This Maiden had a shorter tail than the first, but again longer than normal, cut a little past her shoulders.

"Shadowfax, Roheryn," a third hissed. "Quiet, they are coming." The third, Lanra by name, motioned them to the edge of the ridge that they were sitting on. The fourth and final Maiden of the group motioned them close. She began talking with her hands. 'They are right below us. On the count of three. One' she held up one finger. 'Two' she held up a second, 'Three!' On three, she launched herself up and over the ridge edge, spear in hand. She screamed an Aiel War cry, face un veiled. The other three followed, adding their voices to the chorus, as they flew down the dune.

The two male Aiel below them turned as one, grabbing their own spears. The four Maidens ignored the one, a tall, grey eyed, dark reddish haired Far Aldazar Din. They circled the other, a slightly shorter, stocky man. Before he could lift his spear any higher, the four had their spears at his throat.

"Must you always do that?" Carin growled, hardly moving because of the spears at his throat. "Well, Puppy. If it was not so fun to play with you we wouldn't do it." Kilahn smiled sweetly.

"But I hate Maiden's Kiss," He growled vehemently. "We know." Lanra's smile matched that of her first sister. "That is why we love to play it with you, Puppy."

Carin grumbled under his breath, inarticulately. "What was that, Puppy?" Kilahn asked.

"He said that that isn't a very good reason, and he would rather not play," Caerrc, the second male Aiel said. "Carin shot him a murderous glare, as Lanra said, "Be quiet Birdie. We will play with you next." She grinned wickedly.

"If you insist on playing it, let's get started so we can get it over with faster," Carin interrupted. "You know how it goes. It is up to you and how well you can kiss as to how fast this game of Maiden's Kiss goes." Shadowfax informed him, her voice dripping with honey sweetness.

'Go ahead, Kilahn,' Roheryn signed, one hand holding her spear steady as she talked with the other hand. 'You can do us the honor of starting the game.'

"Are you ready?" Kilahn asked innocently. Carin just stared stoically ahead, out of the small ring of Maidens. "I don't believe he is," Lanra replied, just as innocently. "I didn't hear his affirmation. Did you?" she turned to the other two Maidens. Shadowfax and Roheryn shood their heads, matching grins spreading across the faces of another pair of first sisters. "No, I don't believe I heard him agree," Roheryn said blandly.

Kilahn looked blandly at Carin, blinking. The other three joined her, creating a ring of stares around Carin. Caerrc stood nearby, one arm crossed across his chest, the other propped on his wrist, his hand over his face and mouth to hold in his laughter.

"What was that, Bridie? Was that a squeak, or a squawk I heard, or would you like to play as well?" Lanra asked, looking at him over her shoulder.

"oh, no, go ahead. Don't let me interrupt," Caerrc said, waving a hand at them, his face now perfectly straight.

At that moment, Carin growled in exasperation. He seemed ready to throw his arms up in anger and defeat, but stopped just in time, obviously remembering the ring of spears. It made him look odd, like he was getting twitchy.

"So, I ask again, are you ready?" Kilahn repeated, looking at Carin.

"Only if you understand that this is under protest," he growled.

"Of course, isn't it always?" Lanra asked with a smile.

"Just start it already since I obviously can't stop you." The Maiden's burst into laughter, their spears not wavering an inch. Carin growled, not saying an words, just making a noise deep in his throat.

Kilahn smiled at him. Then with a quick movement, she leaned in, to kiss him. He blinked in surprise, then he looked down, cross eyed at the spear that was suddenly closer to his throat.

"Now, Puppy, what should every other time that we've played this game taught you?" Lanra asked in a sweet tone. His glare was interrupted when Lanra moved in for the next kiss.

The game continues this way for a while, kisses from the Maidens interspersed with glares from Carin, small comments Caerrc, and everything from warnings, advice on playing Maiden's Kiss, hints, tips, tricks, and fits of giggles from the four Maidens.

Just as Kilahn was taking down her spear, which happened to be the final one at Carin's neck, a Brother of the Eagle appeared. He trotted over a dune, right to Caerrc. Pulling him away from the others, the new Brother of the Eagle whispered furiously in his ear. Then, he broke away, and the second Brother of the Eagle trotted off, waving over his shoulder, as Caerrc returned to the group.

Disclaimer:

This one doesn't own Wheel of Time, or the races or ideas contained therein...

'though this one did have a hand in making up these particular charries, along with friend.