Summary: Flashbacks are fun! Especially when they become important to the plot! Do watch your step when entering Tel'Aran'Rhiod, though.
Disclaimer: I own my OC and the alternativeness of this plotline. Everything else belongs to Robert Jordan. No mirrors were harmed in the making of this fic (they were already like that o.O .)
Authors Notes are at the end of the chapter.
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CHAPTER FOUR- A Simple Slip, A Lovely Trip
-FIRST PART- 3RD PERSON POV- RAND-
Sweat dripped down Rand's face and the area around his eyes began to burn in warning how close the salty liquid was to getting in his eyes. He brought the towel that had been set out for him to his face to blot away the sweat. Throwing the cloth down, Rand obtained his sword from where he had discarded it and once again faced his opponent. Training was a haven for Rand: one of the few times he could clear his mind and forget the complex schemes, deviant politics, and just…be. It was a time he could use to just think about, well, everything without an advisor parroting economic statistics or a noble reciting over-worded drabbles of loyalty, self-interest, and insubordination. In fact, it had been during said training sessions he had been able to plot out his plan concerning amnesty toward men who could channel and his admittedly idealistic strategy to unite them. Speaking of channelers-
His opponent lunged a sword at his left shoulder and he pivoted on his right foot, bringing his arm up to stop the opposing blade with a well-practiced Grapevine Twines and then levering his sword into Parting the Silk. The opposing sword skittered across the stone well away from the man's reach. The man bowed in a show of good sportsmanship while Rand returned the gesture, signaling that their sparring session was now over and walking to the stool to use the damp towel on his face and torso before donning his shirt. He would have to seek out more people to train with him. One-on-one was becoming too easy.
Now what had he been thinking about? Oh yes.
Despite Asmodean's suggestion, Rand had been in contact with Loran no more than three or four times since he'd first met the boy no less than two weeks ago, and all but one of those times had either been during meals or an occasional glimpse as Loran wandered the halls aimlessly or followed Amys who-knew-where.
-About A Week Ago-
First he sensed the not-quite-his feeling of panic in the back of his mind, then heard the rapid footfalls and labored breathing, and finally saw the eccentric, sweat-drenched figure of Loran burst into the room. Oh wonderful, thought Rand, not even a week here and he's already being chased by people…I wonder what he did. He stared straight at the Dragon Reborn and was suddenly behind a vase that stood several paces tall and about three paces wide. Rand looked at where Loran was hidden and the top part of the boy's head poked out from where he was crouched.
'If Amys comes in, you haven't seen me,' Rand's face furrowed in confusion but he shrugged and continued his study of the maps spread across the table. Voices outside announced the Wise One's arrival and Rand watched with growing amusement as Amys strode to the vase and pulled out a protesting Loran.
'No way! How'd you find me?' Everyone glanced toward the still-open doors, where Enaila and Somara stood with arms crossed and a smug look on their faces.
'No fair! You guys sold me out!' he looked at Rand pleadingly, 'Help me.'
'Why exactly do you need helping?' Rand asked, a small grin tugging at the edges of his mouth. Loran pointed accusingly at Amys.
'They keep trying to run these- these experiments on me! I do exactly what they want but they're always telling me I'm not doing it right!' Rand raised an eyebrow and directed a questioning look toward Amys. At first, he thought the white-haired woman would simply walk away without so much as an explanation. But after a moment, she sighed and released Loran, who scrambled over to Rand and stood with his arms folded and face set defiantly.
'I suppose what we are doing now is nothing more than proving water is wet. I have been trying to get the boy to use saidar,' at this she pointedly glared at the two males, 'as he does feel and sense it like a woman who can channel would. But so far, all he has done is channel saidin. It would seem…he could use saidar- as in- it was an option for him to use it- but now he cannot.' Rand's cocked his head to the side, confusion.
'Are you saying, before I came into contact with him, there was an opportunity for him to use either saidin or saidar?' Amys nodded.
'Egwene believes- as well as I- that because not only were you the first person to come into contact with him but you can also channel, he is able to channel saidin and not saidar. It is possible that if I or another Wise One had touched him first, he would be using saidar and not saidin,' she spoke in a tone that was almost accusatory, and Loran's defiant stance drooped slightly with what seemed to be guilt. Rand felt a twinge or sympathy for the poor boy. This brought to mind images, however ridiculous, of Aes Sedai strapping down men like him or Mazrim Taim to prod and study them like a doctor's apprentice with a cadaver. A muted laugh followed the image quickly and Rand's thoughts were momentarily interspersed with a voice urging him to 'get of them…all of them'.
'If that is your conclusion, I suggest you refrain from forcing him to participate in such, uh,' he glanced at Loran in search of the right word, 'tests.' A brief flicker of disappointment spread across the Wise One's face but she bowed and muttered an 'As the Car'a'carn wishes.' As soon as she was gone and the doors closed with a resounding THUD, Rand grasped Loran by the shoulder.
You are the one that's been channeling?' he was angered by the fact that Loran had failed to ask permission, amnesty or not. His companion shrugged.
'I don't really know what I'm doing or how I did the stuff they told me to do. The knowledge was just sort of…there, ya know?' Rand would never become accustomed to Loran's strange way of speaking, but at least his words were straight forward: a refreshing experience after a day full of nobles' word games. However, that did not lessen his frustration. Loran apparently sensed his unease.
'Am I not supposed to channel?' Rand pushed the voice that had been steadily growing louder out of his head and rubbed his temples to try and calm his mind.
'No, you can but- I think it may be best if you channel only when I am nearby,' It is a plausible caution, he told himself, he obviously does not know what he is doing and could injure himself. And if Asmodean- where in the Light is he- thinks it is wise to put him in my charge, I might as well- it would be a responsible thing to do.
'Cool,' Loran suddenly replied, clapping Rand on the shoulder, 'I knew you'd help me. Good man. Well, I'm gonna go- and don't worry, I'm not gonna go get myself chased by people, especially Grandma. She's fast
Rand choked when he heard Loran refer to Amys as a grandma, but before he could reprimand his "charge", the boy was long gone.
-End Flashback-
Rand stopped his brisk walk down the shaded landing that followed the contour of the courtyard and stared absently at the wooden slats that ran between the shingled edge of the walkway's covering and the seam where it connected to the palace wall. Why had Loran said 'cool'? It hadn't been cool, but actually rather warm for the season. And that knowing look he'd been given when his charge promised not to be-
Oh no.
Rand felt a chill associated with neither saidar nor the weather as he realized a fatal detail he had missed, How did he know that? I hadn't said anything. How did he even know where I was, for that matter? He had spoken as if he'd known exactly where to find me Rand was torn from his thoughts as a yell came from above him.
-SECOND PART- 3RD PERSON POV- LORAN-
Loran felt tired. Not in a physical sense; nor was it an emotional exhaustion. He just felt…drained. He had a pretty good reason why, though.
-Flashback-
'Can I put it down now?'
'Are you sure that's the only way you can hold it up? Nothing else? No alternate- erm, pathway that you feel is available?' Loran scowled at Egwene for the thirty-eighth time that day, struggling to keep the head-sized stone level with his own head.
'I told you once, and I'll tell you again: I don't feel anything like that,' beads of sweat were beginning to form at his hairline as he struggled to control the unfamiliar power that coursed through him. While it was an exhilarating experience each time he tapped into saidin, he wasn't used to the existence of magic, much less conditioned to use it, and was having trouble keeping how much energy he exerted in check. Egwene, who had spearheaded the last three days of tests sighed and motioned for him to stop. He let the rock drop with relief and receiving disapproving glances from the Wise One's surrounding him. He was about to walk away when a hand grabbed the back of his loose shirt.
'Not yet, we have a ways to go yet,' Loran gestured at Amys in exasperation.
'We've been doing this for- what- four days now. Haven't you run out of things to make me do yet?'
'Though we have decided you cannot and will not be using saidar anytime soon, there are a few more things we would like to make certain of.'
'Whatever grandma,' Loran mumbled under his breath only loud enough for the Wise One right behind him to hear. Amys's eyes widened, and then narrowed angrily. But instead of reprimanding him, she ignored his comment and began channeling. Loran watched nervously, as he could see the weaves tightening into a sphere-like apparition. Amys held the weave and approached the boy once more.
'Now let us see what happens when we do this.'
-End Flashback-
Loran shuddered at the memory. His pace slowed as he walked by a set of open doors. It was an empty room filled with overstuffed chairs, lacquered end tables, ornate wall hangings, and a missing chunk of ceiling and wall that was probably a result of the invasion. Rubble spilled over both sides of the wall, and a full-sized mirror in the corner had been shattered, possibly by falling debris. Though some of the furniture was covered in dust and pieces of stone, many of the chairs were clean and situated against each other in a way that labeled this room as a temporary storing space. Overcome with fatigue and a childish urge to bounce on the overstuffed cushions, Loran walked over to a love seat and curled up on the plush surface. Maybe if he just close…his eyes…for..a..minu-
He was dreaming.
He was sure he was dreaming. The room he'd fallen asleep in was half destroyed and this one was perfectly intact so therefore he had to be dreaming. Loran sat up on the sofa and glanced around the room. It was eerily quiet. Everything seemed so real, and that was odd because things were supposed to be vague and surreal when you were dreaming. Right? But this felt real, very real, except, of course, for the obvious fact that walls cannot rebuild themselves in mere seconds. At first, Loran just sat there, expecting something- anything to happen and make this more dreamlike. So much for that. He continued to fidget until he realized how boring this was- was it even possible to become bored in a dream? Apparently. He stood and tied to open the doors, finding with dismay that they were locked. Instead, he surveyed the room to see what else was different. He was closely inspecting a table that he was sure had been split in two when he heard…something above him. He looked up. Nothing but the completely intact ceiling.
He waited.
And heard it again- there was someone on the roof. How he knew he wasn't sure, but the feeling settled in his stomach, refusing to leave until he satisfied the curiosity. But it was above him, probably outside, and the doors were locked. What to do, what to- ah! He strode to the windows and pushed one side open. He was on the ground level of the castle, facing the gardens of the inner courtyard. The frame of the window was weighted so it would swing shut by itself, and there was no latch on the other side Loran could see to pull to get back in. Closing the window and turning back to the room's interior, he instantly saw the solution to his problem. He pulled the full-size mirror and stepped through the window cautiously. Then, tipping the mirror so it swung horizontal on its axis, he pulled the bottom half through the window and then lowered it. He guided the window frame shut to keep from slamming, absently noting the mirror's surface was cracked and falling apart. He shrugged and focused his attention once again on the presence. There was no obvious way for him to get on top of the roof, and the urge increased. There was someone up there- there had to be! He had to go up!
Loran found himself looking down at were he had just stood a minute ago. At first, he panicked, but soon remembered that this was a dream and this sort of thing was supposed to happen. Satisfied, he began searching for the person he knew was nearby. He saw no one. Disappointed he paced along the mild slope of the courtyard covering. This was starting to be a very annoying dream and he hoped he woke up soon before- The presence returned with such force, this time from below, that Loran lost his balance. Arms pin wheeling, he frantically tried to command himself awake. Come on, comeoncomeon! Damnit! He felt his weight carry him over the ledge. He screamed- and suddenly Rand was standing in the path of his fall.
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Ooo suspense!
Yes, he was in Tel'Aran'Rhiod; a fact which deserves a big fat "DUH". Sorry if this chapter is slightly confusing…and long. This was SUPPOSED to start at the beginning of the sixth book but as I wrote it, I realized that too much time passes between books five and six so this chapter is STILL IN BETWEEN…but the next one SHALL start chapter six! (rar) Besides, I made you guys wait like, a week, so I might as well give you something, right?
Four things were revealed about Loran in this chapter! FOUR! I was only going to reveal that he couldn't use saidar in this chapter…oh well. The other three, for a quick summary, are:
-He DOES use saidin and can do stuff with it too…but he doesn't understand how he knows what do to.
-He shares a link to Rand, which explains how he found him and how he knew about Rand's thoughts. HE CAN'T ACTUALLY READ HIS MIND. But he can catch vague ideas/feelings of things, especially when they're about him. I'm guessing he saw an image of people with pitchforks chasing him and he somehow figured it was from Rand.
-He can go into Tel'Aran'Rhiod…which is important. (Write that down now, children. :D )
Maybe I should list these as we go along? I don't know, you guys tell me.
A note on a few other things:
-How is everyone character wise? Are they too OOC? Especially Amys…I took some liberty with her. (She's awesome; she and Loran are going to be beeest friends! note sarcasm)
-For the mirror, I was making a reference to the mirror Rand shatters in that weird room, when encountering the Forsaken…I think that's before the sixth book, right? If not, then it's foreboding. (I love being lazy with details. rolls eyes)
-who was the presence? It was probably that universal paranoia everyone gets when they enter the Dream World. Or it could be something else…I'm not telling.
-Loran uses modern slang and will continue to do so as A) that is how he usually speaks anyway, and B) it distinguishes him from everyone else.
A big thanks to Ginnia and Viggen who reviewed!
I should be updating in the next week or two. Hope you guys enjoy it!
Loran: Read and Review, damnit! I feel like I'm being gawked at rather than people are reading the story! So say something! Sheesh, this is the quietest fandom I've ever seen.