Disclaimer: Alas, tis not mine. And as the first book was copyrighted the same year as I was born…. I seriously doubt I wrote it... But... Maybe... No! Don't be silly.

Dedication: Erm. I am not entirely sure who to dedicate this one too. My Cat didn't respond to well to being the previous dedication, but I think he thought I was saying vaccination, and to a cat, vaccination means the vets…bad.

So, this one is dedicated to… Dreamer of Tales… because they were one of the two people who reviewed the last chapter, and I have already dedicated one to Neela. So thanks.

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Lan wrapped his arms round his wife's body; it had been two days since the abduction of Queen of Andor, and the couple had been travelling for over half a day. Nynaeve smiled and rested her head on his slowly breathing chest. At first she had been restless to get a way because of her injury, but the closer she moved towards their destination the more she wished she was still was still in her sick bed.

Nynaeve knew Lan wanted to know where they were going, first she had travelled deep into Saldaea, and from then they had been travelling on horse. Luckily the spring temperatures allowed them to move quickly and they stayed traceless. Birgitte knows something as to why I was attacked. She must, or she wouldn't have told me to go to him. Him of all people…

For the millionth time since Birgitte's orders she questioned her judgement for obeying them, Lan seemed to understand her dilemma, as he stopped asking where they were going and seemed to put himself on extra guard. They had been moving away from the blight, but Lan was still wary when travelling. It was possible for Shadow spawn to reach this far beyond the blight if the border patrols were lax or incompetent. Lord Bashere had but extra precautions in place before he'd left, but Lan didn't want to leave his wife's safety in another mans hands again.

The inn where they were staying was called the Lazy Rooster; it was a small village inn with half a dozen rooms and a small stable. The village itself was well off the main highway, and it consisted of about 30 homes. The couple had arrived earlier that day; Lan quickly asserted his authority and booked a room for the rest of the day and night. Nynaeve sighed and silently agreed, the tiredness in her shoulders had built up very quickly after they had set out.

Lan had felt this through the bond and knew she could disobey their marriage vows, plus Nynaeve knew Lan would definitely be up for a different sort of exercise tonight. Nynaeve allowed him to lower his head and kiss her. Looking round the room, the double bed was lumpy looking and had only a thin blanket but it was serviceable. The other pieces of furniture were a small table, two stools and a shabby wardrobe.

The kiss stretched out, Nynaeve felt a small tug as her Lan loosed her braid. Perhaps the bed would be used sooner rather than later. The ties on her dress her were undone quicker than Nynaeve thought possible and soon Lans hands caressed her naked body, though he was fully clothed. She shivered as he traced the scar running across the top of her back, the kiss deepened, the bed would definitely be needed soon. She smiled into the kiss and began removing his clothing.

o-o-o-o-o

Egwene paced relentlessly, the applicants for Elayne's advisory position would arrive in the Amyrlins apartments soon. Then Egwene needed to be calm, at least one of the them is likely to be a dark friend, the Black Ajah of the rebels wouldn't have allowed the Aes Sedai to leave without one of them being involved. The door creaked, the Guards wouldn't allow any but and Aes Sedai to walk through those doors.

"Mother?" Egwene turned, her face a cold mask. It was Intaru the green. Intaru stood about middle height and had dark hazel eyes that matched her olive complexion and almost black hair. The greens warders, Loren and Hamish fanned out behind her. The pair was identical twins, odd for Sheniarians, Egwene wasn't sure which was which and so didn't address them. "Intaru, take a seat. We should not have to wait long for the others."

As Egwene spoke the next arrived in the corner of her eye. "Mother? You summoned me?" Maewen, she was a blue, raised about a year after Moiraine and Siuan. Siuan had little except novice gossip to say about her. She was a hard worker, and had married her first warder Nat. He died in a bandit attack about 4 years ago; Maewen had sworn never to marry or bond again. She was rather tall for a woman and had appeared almost Aiel when Egwene first spoke to her. Her red hair was unstained by grey but her brown eyes, that wouldn't belong to any Aiel, added years to her young face. Grief had aged what time would not.

At Egwenes request she too took a seat, the last was Neela. Siuan had called her refreshing, but had added she also was well known for unconventional opinions. The grey had had a succession of warders, one she killed herself for being a dark friend. The tower had reprimanded her for not bringing him to the tower for justice, but she was let of with a slapped wrist and a warning not to do it again. Though the likelihood of having two warders who were dark friends was very slim indeed. If he was a dark friend at all.

The knock surprised Egwene, and made the other women's faces pale, Egwene knew their thoughts, should they have knocked? Egwene smiled; perhaps Neela Sedai was wilier than previously thought. The mischievous smile on the woman's calm face made Egwene sure she knew the others were inside before she arrived. "You summoned me Mother." She didn't phrase it as a question as the others had done and proceeded to take the free seat without directions to do so. Her smile slimmed into calm assurance as she swept a grey hair from behind her ear. She will prove interesting.

Neela inclined her head towards the maid, who hastily filled the cup in front of her full of tea. Egwene faced them, it is better to say it out right than beat about the bushes. "Two days ago, Queen Elayne went into 'retreat' due to her hard pregnancy. This was a lie." All three women blinked, the message that Elayne was in retreat had come almost directly from Egwene, and it had been incredibly hard for Egwene to say the truth in such a twisted and contorted manner. Even without the Oath rod, Egwene could lie no more than the average sister. The average sister who wasn't Black ajah, anyway.

Intaru's reaction was only a raised eyebrow; plainly she knew something had taken place. Likely she had Loren and Hamish questioning the servants as soon as she arrived. Her warders quickly exchanged glances, and Egwene rethought. Perhaps they weren't the ones spying. Maewen looked confused, obviously she didn't realise Egwene hadn't sworn the Oaths. Neela just nodded, the grey haired woman was the first to speak. "I know you wouldn't lie mother, so who did you get to lie for you?" She then waved off her own question, "More importantly, where is the Queen of Andor and her heirs?"

The Amyrlin was glad Neela didn't say more on her 'lie', but she was reluctant to speak her next few words. "Moghedien. She took her, something to do with raising the children deep in the shadow. That way, when Elayne's daughter comes to claim the throne none can dispute it. Dark friend or not. Elayne's enactment that the eldest daughter always inherit, whether or not the Andorran nobles agree has just made it easier for them to succeed. I fear that there is little we can do."

Intaru nodded, "we can still try. We can't allow something like that to happen to a royal ruler! Especially when five Aes Sedai are in residence and the Queen is an Aes Sedai herself! So that's six Aes Sedai!" Intaru's disgust had put her warders on edge, they had chance stance and had a hand on their swords. Or at least, they did before Egwenes glare could remove it.

Neela directed glittering dark blue eyes at the younger, weaker Aes Sedai and she blushed, but before she could apologise Maewen spoke up. "Mother? If this is so important, and it is. Then why isn't Nynaeve here? Her help could prove the difference, it was novice rumour in Salidar that Nynaeve had beaten a Forsaken woman, and I think it was Moghedien. If true she will be in danger too, and chance to take out our strongest would damage us irreparably." Egwene nodded throughout the blues Question. "Nynaeve defeated Moghedien twice, but neither time could she manage to bring her to justice completely. After her wounding at the coronation ball she was seriously injured. Once recovered slightly she left with her husband, I believe she goes to recover with him for a while. Do not fear Lan will look after her."

Neela raised the next question. "Lan? Mandragoran? Moiraine's Lan?" At Egwenes nod she whistled. Intaru's warders tensed at the uncrowned king's name, whereas Maewen Intaru just looked confused. Carhienien and Illainer respectfully, they would know the last of the Malkieri. Malkieri history hadn't been taught to novices in years and Moiraine and Lans infrequent trips to the tower had secured a type of anonymity. This meeting would continue long into the evening, and as Egwene settled into a chair she silently cursed Nynaeve for leaving.

o-o-o-o-o

Thom flexed his arms; the leap was a small one, from one window ledge to another. The old appearing man pulled himself up. The house he had just entered was battered and bruised but still occupied. His knife found th man in the bedclothes quickly, lighting th small lamp by the bedside Thom examined his face. It was the Carhienien, Moiraine's lover and he was a dark friend too. Wiping his blood-stained knife on the bedclothes h crept onto th upper landing. Moiraine was in here, somewhere. Sleeping perhaps, and dreaming dreams of freedom and light. No, she was a dark friend now, her dreams would be of the dark one and the shadows victory.

A vague hope still lingered that he could save her, a tiny part of him that said she might still dream of him. This flare of light lit a very small part of his soul, making the deed harder to complete. If she could change then this was murder, not protecting her. Another part of his mind argued in his defence. She told me to kill her, she knows she can't be turned.

His light footsteps crept further into the house. Moiraine was somewhere deep inside, and only time would tell whether Thom could do the deed he had set out to do. Thom wiped the knife again on his thigh before approaching the stairs. A small part of his mind spoke causing Thom to smile. I don't suppose she will be in her bath? What a thought to think of now, when he was going to kill her. It must be done, she even agrees.

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Please review. Please? Go on... you know you want to…. PLEEEEEEASE? And can people please point out spelling mistakes, thank youp.

OK, begging over and done with, I hope you like it. It has required a lot of effort to get this chapter up, so, I have been slightly late in posting. For that I apologise but there wasn't much I could do about it. Thanks.

Praying for Robert Jordan, please get better soon.

A happy Halloween to all readers. And a happy Bonfire night for the 5th of November.. for all you Englishy people. Enjoy the fireworks and don't drink too much… drunken readers don't review.

Hayley

XXX

P.S. Sorry, this was written on Halloween but I hadn't got round to posting it then… so… Happy Halloween for next year.