Title: Begin at the Beginning
Fandom: Wheel of Time
Characters: Mat/Tuon
Prompt: 001 - Beginnings
Word Count:
Rating: PG (what did I say about this?)
Author's Notes: Eh, whatever. It's Mat/Tuon.

Begin at the beginning, Mat's da had always advised. When you're confused, begin at the beginning.

Well, Mat was certainly bloody confused, but he had no idea when the beginning had been, or how to begin there.

Where was it? He wonder. Where was the beginning? Was it with the Aelfinn, with the answers to his stupid questions? Was it in Rhuidean, with the memories that let to the Band that led to Salidar that led to Ebou Dar that led to the Seanchan that led to…Tuon. So many twists, so many turns that might not have been taken. But they had, and they ended her in a caravan with a sore leg and an insufferable woman who was half his wife. Blood Seanchan marriage customs.

But was that where it began? Or did it begin earlier, with Moiraine and Shadar Logoth, with the Tower, Elayne, Tear? Like a game of Stones, one move leading to another until your opponent had you in a vice and you lost. Or was it earlier, with apple brandy, whippings, sheep, his da…Rand. Old memories tangled with older, new with ancient, until it was impossible to tell the difference.

But then, he wondered, was he thinking back too far? Did it begin when he first saw her, calm and poised – a woman in a girl's body? When she first smiled, when she first touched his arm, when he first doubted…that change, so subtle and quiet and unfathomable, such a small thing that changed so much.

Or did it begin when he took her with him, when he made a decision to invite Fate into his arms and give it a dance. But now he discovered that Fate was leading him the dance that he had begun, and that bothered him. He wanted that lead. He needed that lead. Especially with Tuon.

"Your move, Toy," she said. He glanced at the Stones board.

"Yes," he said softly. "I do believe it is."