Authors Notes:

I'm not going to apologise for the delays this time, at some point it really just becomes the standard. I don't think I'll ever be one of those authors who churn out chapter after chapter, day after day.
Good news though, I've already written a bit of the next chapter so the delay between them shouldn't be too ridiculous this time!

Thank you so much for your reviews!
Khryx - Thanks for picking up on that! All revealed in this chapter, Chapter 6 edited to reflect.

Flaming Man of Iron - Your reviews are thoroughly appreciated :D
junkandmorejunk - Thanks for the review. Only one new character ;-)
Leez - Thanks heaps. Hope you enjoy this chapter :D

Louise - Hope this chapter isn't too weird or gross :/ The fem-slashiness will calm down a bit in the next chapter.

**** Some parts of the chapter are rated M for sexy times. ****

-Chapter 8: - Darkness in the mirror

I was woken from pleasant dreams of home early in the morning by Illy, who informed me that I had just enough time for breakfast before I was due to meet Elayne for her lessons.

I dressed quickly in a green and white dress and while Illy braided my hair, a young serving boy arrived with a tray of freshly baked bread, butter, jam and a cup of milk. I ate and drank quickly before I made my way towards the Eastern sun room where Elayne had her lessons. Elayne was standing at the door, waiting for me, she looked much more awake than I felt.

"Ready?" she asked.

I nodded and she opened the door so that we could enter.

Elaida Sedai was sitting in a high backed chair against the left hand wall, she gestured immediately to two chairs sitting next to each other in front of her. Elayne and I entered the room, closing the door behind us, she took the seat nearest the windows and I sat down on the one nearest the door. My closeness to the only route of escape did nothing to calm the butterflies in my tummy.

"The One Power," Elaida began in a stern voice, "Comes from the True Source, the force the Creator made to turn the Wheel of Time."

"Saidin, the male half of the True Source," her face twisted in disgust at being forced to mention Saidin, "and Saidar, the female half, work against each other and at the same time together to provide that force."

"Saidin," again she showed disgust, "is fouled by the touch of the Dark One. The force itself is still pure, but cannot be touched without the male channeler becoming fouled. Men who come into contact with the corruption from the Dark One's touch are struck down with madness. Saidar, however, is still safe to use."

"Elayne said that I can channel this Saidar." I told her, "She said that I've already started."

"Yes." Elaida said sharply, "Only a very few women can learn to touch the True Source and use the One Power. Elayne is one for whom there is no need to learn, she will touch it whether she wants to or not. Without the lessons learned in Tar Valon, children like Elayne may never learn to channel properly and can quite often die."

"You," she said pointedly, "have already begun. An Aes Sedai can feel a woman who can channel or who is close to channeling. I recognised you for what you are when I first saw you. You must have channeled without thought or conscious direction on some few occasions. Something you desired greatly? Something you needed that miraculously happened? You would have felt nothing at the time, but a week later you would have had your first reaction to touching the True Source. An illness that lasted only a few hours? Dizziness or Euphoria? There are many different symptoms."

I shook my head before I really thought about it, my home didn't have magic, didn't have the 'True Source' or the 'One Power'. But then I realised, back in Year Seven. My mother just blamed it all on puberty and said that it was a phase of awkwardness that I'd just 'grow out of'. I did grow out of it and it was soon forgotten, until now. I remembered a Japanese presentation where I had to stand at the front of the class and tell everyone what I did on the weekend. I failed miserably, unable to pronounce a single word properly despite having it well memorised the night before. I remembered being sent home from school a couple of weeks later with chills and fever that has disappeared by the time my mother got home from work. I remembered a few weeks after that, when a collapsed walking home from school because everything kept spinning. But there was no magic involved, I didn't get any of my wishes or deepest desires granted, no luck happened to fall in my favour. Everything was just... normal.

I ended up nodding and Elaida continued in her cold lecturing tone, "You are what is called a wilder. You have learned to touch the True Source and have survived on your own. You will most likely have a block, something protecting you from channeling unless under certain circumstances. The tricky thing will be discovering and breaking this block, so that you can embrace Saidar willingly."

"There is a process that you must follow in order to embrace Saidar. It must be practiced over and over until you can do it without thought in even the most stressful of circumstances" Elaida explained and began immediately, "Close your eyes and empty yourself. Empty your thoughts. There is only one thing in your mind. The bud of a flower. Only that. Only the bud. You can see it in every detail. You can smell it. You can feel it. Every vein of every leaf, every curve of every petal. You can feel the sap pulsing. Feel it. Know it. Be it. You and the bud are the same. You are one. You are the bud."

Her voice droned on and on hypnotically. I gave myself into the meditative exercise. Years of sitting with Sunshine the the lotus position chanting "Ommmmmmmmmmmm" and opening up our chakras provided a great deal of experience. I emptied my mind except for the image of a rose bud ready to bloom.

"There is light, feel the light. Light pushing on the bud. The bud is ready to bloom. You are ready to bloom. Feel your petals unfold. Unfold towards the light. Feel the light. The light and your flower are one." Elaida continued, "You and the light are one. You are the light. Feel the light flow through you. Surrender yourself to the light. Feel the flow. Flow of the Power. Flow like a breeze, a gentle stirring in the air."

I could picture the rose bud and I could feel the light, but I couldn't open myself up to it. I couldn't get it to flow through me and I couldn't feel a breeze. I opened my eyes and shook my head in frustration.

"It takes time." Elaida explained then gestured to Elayne, "Elayne, you try it."

Elaida repeated the mantra and I watched as the light surrounded Elayne. I watched threads of light spring from her, twisting as if they were wind currents. I watched them extend towards the window and ruffle the curtains. In a completely still room, she had managed to make wind!

I clapped my hands in my excitement and hugged her impulsively. Magic! Real magic! A wave of giddiness passed over me, I had just seen real magic.

"Saidar is gentle, but infinitely powerful." Elaida lectured, "It requires patience and submission to channel it. You must surrender yourself to it, you must embrace the power. Only once you have embraced it and allowed it to flow into you can you guide it into the weaves you desire."

I tried the meditation a couple more times, but still could not complete the connection, each time growing more and more frustrated. I was about ready to throw in the towel after watching the weaves spring forth from Elayne for a third time, when I simply tried copying her. For a brief moment I felt the light all through me, it extended out into weaves similar to Elayne's, but much, much bigger. I felt like I was merely a tunnel, a conduit, for the light; the One Power. It rushed through me leaving me feeling exhilarated. The weaves shot out, twisting and twirling around each other, around the room. Where the weaves went, I felt the wind follow and for a moment it felt like we were in localised Cyclone. Our hair whipped around our heads and the curtains ripped down from their rings overhead, to spin around us all. Dust spun up in the air, whipping around and around. I felt like Dorothy Gale inside a tornado. As suddenly as it sprung up, it was gone, leaving the curtains in a twisted pile on the floor and dust motes floating lackadaisically in the streaming sunlight. Elaida's eyes were quite wide for a moment, until she schooled her face back into it's usual serenely stern mask. Elayne had no such mask, she was staring at me with her mouth open and her face concealed by mussed up hair.

"So." I said as nonchalantly as I could make it, "That's channeling then."

Everything went black.

I opened my eyes to see a blurry Elayne looking down at me with worry.

"Emi?" She asked, her voice breaking a little and her eyes moist.

The light from the windows was a bit bright and I could feel a headache coming on, but I lifted myself up onto my elbows. It was about all I could manage right off the bat, a bone deep weariness had come over me and I closed my eyes briefly.

"'I'm okay." I said, my voice sounding as flat as I felt.

"You exhausted yourself." Elaida said, without a hint of compassion "Your body is not used to the the One Power and you channelled as much Saidin in that exhibition as a fully trained Aes Sedai. If you work hard, you may make a very strong Aes Sedai".

"The force is strong in my family." I geeked and saw the curious look on Elaidas face.

"Nevermind." I muttered, realising that it would be way too difficult to explain.

The sun chose that moment to rise up past the height of the window, dropping me in shadow and indicating to us all that it was nearing midday.

"Go have something to eat and rest." She instructed, "Elayne, you can come back for your afternoon lessons once you've eaten."

I lifted myself up as Elayne curtsied, "Yes, Elaida Sedai."

Elayne took me up to the Sunrise Gardens. It was a small garden, set right above the Eastern Sun Room. Although it required negotiating stairs, there wasn't much distance to travel. She led me to a stone bench beside a small stream bed that ran through the middle of the garden. I admired the green grass around us and the smell of rose blossoms. I could see the roses, climbing up the walls. Other flowering plants rested in large pots around the garden.

"Wait here." Elayne said, "I'll get some lunch brought up to us."

My strength was slowly returning, so I stood up and walked around the garden. The Eastern edge was not enclosed, and I could see out across the city. I watched the hustle and bustle in the streets below for a few moments before I returned to the bench. The garden was peaceful and quiet, a nice secluded private place.

Elayne returned after a short while with a servant carrying a tray, which he set down on the grass before leaving. They tray held thick slices of bread, fruits and small ramekins of jams. Freshly whipped cream rested in a small bowl. Elayne placed down an urn and two glasses.

"Just water" she said with a slight grin, "I can't imagine how you would be if you had wine in your state."

"Cheeky." I returned, "This looks delicious!"

The bread was delicious, heavy and sweet, perfectly accompanied by jam and cream. I described scones and damper (the two types of bread that I knew how to make and were usually served with jam and cream) to Elayne, who was interested in the other sorts of food I was used to. It was difficult to explain the tastes of things that they had no concept of, but I tried and in some instances I was pleasantly surprised to find out that some things existed in both worlds (but not chocolate, which made my Tim Tams even more valuable). We ate our fill and were soon lying side by side on the grass looking up at the clouds.

"This is so exciting!" Elayne exclaimed, "We will be Aes Sedai together!"

She rolled onto her side and embraced me in an enthusiastic hug, snaking one arm under my neck. I inhaled the scent of her hair as it cascaded over my face. I rolled over to face her and hugged her tightly, my hand resting just above the swell of her bum. The tips of our noses touched and I looked into her eyes. She blushed as she moved her head a little, bringing our lips together. I felt like I was electrified, like a current ran down from my lips to the tips of my toes. It lasted a brief moment before we parted and I looked her in the eyes.

"You are so beautiful." I whispered to her.

"No." She replied, "You are."

I leant forward and kissed her in reply.

"We both are." I said when we broke apart, and we both erupted in giggles.

She started to frown a little, her face scrunching up into the most adorable expression.

"Oh," she exclaimed, "I'm going to be late for my lessons!"

She stood up quickly and started to rush towards the stairs, where she stopped suddenly and turned.

"Do you need my assistance getting back to your rooms?" She asked me, concerned.

"No." I answered, lifting myself up onto my feet, "I think that you may have healed me of all exhaustion."

I blew her a kiss as she ran out of the garden.

"And now," I said to myself, feeling a growing ache of desire, "I either need a cold shower or something to take my mind off it."

Firstly i went to get changed into jeans and a t-shirt, then I decided to make my way down to the practice courtyard to continue with my archery. There were a number of soldiers there practicing with either sword or bow. I collected a quiver of arrows and a bow (I managed to string it on my second attempt) and made my way to the targets. I gave a smile in greeting to the man next to me and he gave me a nod in reply.

Remembering my lessons from the previous day, I soon lost myself in the repetitiveness of my new hobby.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me and I turned around to see that it was getting dark and everyone else had gone, except for Wil who was standing there looking a little nervous.

"The men was wonderin' if you'd like to come with us to take yer meal in the Barracks?" Wil asked me.

"I don't know about that." I said, a little bit wary about going to their Barracks where I'd be a lone girl surrounded by men.

His eyebrows raised as he seemed to interpret my caution, "Oh, the men were kind of hopin' you'd tell us all another story?"

"A story?" I asked.

"Aye." Replied Wil, "The boys loved yer story 'bout Katniss Everdeen. They was wondering if you could tell us another? They reckon yer jus as good as any gleeman they've ever 'eard."

"Well." I stalled, trying to think of a story to tell.

"It's just a stew for dinner. But we've got beer." He said, then looked a bit stumped, "er, I think we have some wine somewhere."

"I'm Australian." I told him, "Beer is basically our National drink."

He smiled widely and I wondered If I was the first woman he'd come across that actually drank it.

"Sure. I'd love to." I said, and he escorted me to a small stone building attached to the palace. The atmosphere was warm, cozy and cheerful. It was sort of set out like an Inn, with a common room and kitchen downstairs and I presumed that there were beds or cots upstairs.
The men sitting at the large table all cheered when Wil escorted me through the door, raising their mugs in a toast. It made me feel a bit like a rock star. Wil sat me down at the head of the table and brought me out a bowl of stew and a mug of foamy beer. Both were delicious. Once I had finished the stew, one of the men took my bowl and refilled my mug and they all looked up at me expectantly.

I cleared my throat and took a gulp of beer and thought about how to start.

"In a hole in the ground," I began, "there lived a hobbit."

That was all I could remember word for word, but I believed that I did an admiral job of the rest of it. I had to describe the various monsters and the concept of Gandalf being a 'male channeler' seemed to draw a bit of wary interest. I'd forgotten Elaida's lesson so quickly in the exhilaration of weaving Saidin myself (and the excitement of lunch with Elayne afterwards). I was glad that I didn't go with my first choice of 'Star Wars' though, however could I explain Luke Skywalker learning 'the Force'?

The men seemed happy with my story however and had kept bringing up to me mugs of beer as I went. Once I finished they gave me a resounding round of applause. I realised that it was getting fairly late and I'd already drunk five mugs of beer. Two of the men who were about to start watch duty offered to escort me back to my rooms, which proved to be a good thing when one had to catch me when I tripped over my own feet halfway there. Elayne was waiting for me and we shared kisses and cuddles on my bed before she had to return to her own rooms. Once I took care of my frustrations, I fell asleep in an exhausted mess.

The next ten or so days was pretty much a repeat. Saidar lessons with Elaida and Elayne followed by a lunch of some sort, then an afternoon of archery. By the end of the eight solid days my arms had toned up and I could almost see a little bit of muscle definition. Arrows hit the target almost every time with a marked increase in bullseyes, maybe one in every thirty arrows loosed. It was nowhere near the standard that some of the soldiers displayed and my targets were only half the distance away but their encouragement made me feel better about it.

My grasp of Saidar on the other hand was frustratingly irregular. I still could not let the Saidar flow over me and keep myself there, I could not surrender to it, I could feel it there, but I could not surrender myself to it. Elaida told that it was a block so common amongst wilders. But, should I have a weave in mind I could just skip that step and start channeling. I could make a breeze whenever I wanted to, I could make coloured balls of light appear and I could make them dance around in the air! Elaida demonstrated a variety of different weaves and I could replicate each and every one. I did learn how to limit the amount I channeled though; Like the Wind weave (Elaida called it Harness the Wind), my Light weave created a blinding white light the first time. My Voice of Power could be heard in the kitchens. Eventually though, I got used to it and my Raise Fog only filled the room the first time I tried it. Try as I might though, I could not embrace Saidar. Although Elaida acted like she knew exactly what was going on, I was sure that she had no idea. I had dinner in the barracks every second night, telling them a story in return. The other nights were spent eating with the Royal Family. It was kind of funny really. My Mother and Stepfather ignored me most of the time, to socialise with the 'Upper class' and yet here I was dining with a Queen every second night! The girl whose Mother thought would never amount to anything. My non relationship with Elayne was slowly getting out of control, with stolen kisses turning into clandestine make-out sessions and cuddling turning into something so much more. It was pretty much torture. I was determined not to fall for her, I knew that it could never be, but while I stayed close to her she was all I wanted. I couldn't distance myself from her, she was basically my only friend. It only made matters worse that I knew that she wanted something more almost as much as I, but I kept reminding myself that she was a Princess with duties and responsibilities. For my part, I realised that If I released the tight hold I had on my own heart that I would never have it back again.

Over those days, I noticed that there seemed to be an ever increasing underlying current of excitement building in the Palace. Logain was due to arrive. I had a little bit of an idea, thanks to the announcement back in the town on my way here, but questions revealed a few more details. He was a male channeler, a False Dragon. A number of Aes Sedai had captured him and were taking him to Tar Valon to be 'gentled'. I gathered that was a euphemism for some sort of castration.

"Logain is arriving today, our lessons have been cancelled." Elayne said after bursting into my room and jumping on my bed.

"Are we going to see this Logain?" I asked, curious about the man who had caused so much fuss around the castle.

"No, Gawyn and I are forbidden from joining mother in viewing him." She said with a pout, that quickly changed into a sly grin.

"We're going to spend the day in your rooms?" I asked hopefully, cursing myself for sounding too eager.

She paused to think about that for a moment, an immense battle seemed to play itself out on her face.

"No." She said finally, although it looked like she was on the verge of changing her mind, "I want you to go see him in case my plan doesn't work."

"You have a plan?" I asked.

"I have a plan." She said, looking immensely pleased with herself.

I tackled her in a hug, and pinned her arms above her head.

"You have a plan?" I asked again; nipping, licking and kissing her throat. I enjoyed the sounds of her moaning beneath me.

With a supreme effort of will she focused herself and looked up at me with a wide grin, "I do have a plan!"

I let her go and jumped off my bed, walking to the wardrobe I said "Well, if you have a plan then."

I could feel her pouting behind me and smiled to myself.

"Should I wear a dress or jeans?" I asked.

"Wear your jeans, I like the way you're...you, look in them." she answered.

I looked over my shoulder at her, "Do you like how I look in them?" I asked slyly as I pulled my nightgown over my head, "Or do you prefer how I look out of them?"

She blushed a deep crimson and I quickly dressed, while I could still resist the temptation lying on my bed.

"My Lady." I said with a bow, "What is your plan for me?"

I made my way to the Grand Hall, which was already half full of noble men, ladies and Queens Guardsmen. I greeted politely a number of people I had met at the ball and made my way towards the Lion Throne end of the room. It wasn't long before I began to hear a commotion outside, the sounds of trumpets blaring and the beating of drums filtered in through the windows. The procession was on it's way. A hush fell over the hall as everyone started moving towards the side walls, filtering themselves in some sort of order I could make neither heads nor tails of. As people moved out of the way, I realised that Queen Morgase, Gareth Bryne and Elaida-Sedai had arrived. Elaida spotted me, and pointed down next to her.

'Wow' I thought, 'she wants me up the front?'

I must not have moved quickly enough, because she did it again. I hurried up the front and took a place behind her and to her right.

"If you see me send a weave towards Logain," she whispered harshly, "Copy it and hold it."

I nodded. The weave would have to be the one of shielding, that prevents a male channeler from embracing Saidin.

A long line of Guardsmen marched into the hall in two columns, upon entry they split up and took posts in front of the nobility on either side of the room. Once they were in place, four Aes-Sedai entered the room. They were formed in a diamond. The one in the lead was very pretty, with honey hair done in a multitude of braids surrounding a doll-like face. She wore a beautiful red-silk dress. I could the glow of Saidar around all four.

"Morgase, by the grace of the Light, Queen of Andor, Protector of the Realm, Defender of the People and High Seat of House Trackand." Said the Aes Sedai at the front, her voice loud and carrying to all corners of the great hall. "People of Andor, I present to you the Defeated False Dragon Logain Ablar!"

The crowd cheered as Logain was brought into the Hall. He had four long chains coming out from a collar around his neck, each was held by a Guardsman. Despite this, he stood tall and strode forward confidently. He was surrounded by a giant sphere of Saidar, that glowed brightly to my eyes. He was dressed in plain looking clothes, but defied the old saying "The clothes make the man". He may as well have been dressed in the finest silks and furs for the way he stood there, his presence marked him as a man who would bow to nobody. To begin with he was looking up at Queen Morgase, but he soon looked in my direction. His stare chilled me to the bone. No matter the noises that people made, the shouts and hisses, he kept his eyes firmly targeted at me. It made me amazingly uncomfortable and I tried to look everywhere but at him in return. The smile that he had on his face made him look like some dodgy perv.

Behind him walked Eight more Aes-Sedai, each walked eerily in-step, gliding forward and never taking their eyes off their prisoner. Lines of Saidar stretched out from each one, connecting with the sphere that surrounded Logain. Behind the Aes-Sedai, walked in formation a dozen men wearing what could only be described as invisibility cloaks. It looked like the alien from that old Predator movie, shifting colours constantly as they moved. Each man had his hand resting on the hilt of a sword and they glided forward almost as gracefully as the Aes Sedai they followed.

Behind the men walked small contingents of soldiers, two or three in each, the lead of each group carrying a small banner. I saw bees and suns, moons and fish, stars and sword. I guessed that these might be representatives of other countries.

Queen Morgase stood up and looked down at the man. It was only now that he took his eyes from me. If there was a battle of wills, neither came out the victor. Both stood firm and straight. Elaida lit up and I watched a thread of Saidar snake out to her.

"Andor thanks the Aes-Sedai for their efforts in capturing this False Dragon and all of the other Countries whose armies helped to end his follower's banditry and lawlessness." Queen Morgase spoke loudly and clear, "We thank-you Liandrin-Sedai and stand ever ready with Tar Valon to promote peace and justice."

The crowd cheered and Logain was escorted away. As the soldiers and Aes Sedai left, a Queens Guardsmen came in and whispered something to the Queen. She sighed and flicked a dark glance my way. It could only mean one thing, Elayne's plan had backfired. I edged myself away from Elaida and tried to blend in with the nobility and others filtering out of the Great Hall. I was just thinking that I'd made it out scott free when a hand shot out from the crowd and took hold of my arm. I followed the red sleeve up to the pretty face of Liandrin Sedai.

"You are Emi Watson? Yes?" She asked me, "The wilder that Elaida-Sedai found?"

"I'm Emi." I answered simply.

I didn't really like the tone of her voice, she made 'wilder' sound like 'leper'.

"I hear tell that you might find a home in the Red Ajah, as long as you pay attention to your studies." She said firmly.

I nodded to her and she released her grip on my arm, leaving me standing there in a rapidly emptying room. When I looked over my shoulder I noticed that The Queen, Elaida and Gareth Bryne had already left.

I went back to my room to wait for Elayne.

"We met a boy, Rand Al'Thor from the Two Rivers. He looked as much like an Aiel as you do." She started excitedly, before telling me the story of her eventful day. I felt a spark of jealousy ignite when she told me about their parting conversation.

"Handsome?" I growled.

My jealousy must have been evident as she leant forward to kiss me, "We were just bandying words. He was handsome enough, I suppose, if you were not here to show me your love."

Love?

I came to the sudden realisation, just as she had put it into words.

"Yes." I said, surrendering to the feelings, "Yes, I do love you."

It felt good, I had been holding back for so long. To finally just give in to it was amazing.

Elayne gave a little squee and jumped forward to kiss me very thoroughly. She took my hand and started to drag me away, "Come on, to my rooms."

We ran through the corridors hand in hand and soon ended up at her door. She opened the door, but stood spread eagled in the doorway.

"A kiss is the price of entry." she demanded, with a cheeky grin.

A quick look left and right to check for people and I was soon pushing her inwards, my tongue probing and hers responding. My foot closed the door behind us as we shed clothes, making our way slowly towards her bed. Soon we were naked together on the bed, entwined in our embrace.

I woke up to see the first hints of dawn coming in through the window. Elayne's reddish-gold hair

in front of me. She was lying on her back, half covered. One of my arms rested across her chest. I moved my hand and gently caressed a pale nipple. It stiffened under my touch. Her nakedness excited me, memories of what we did last night excited me, her semi conscious desire excited me. I slowly extricated myself and slid down the bed and gently spread her thighs. I giggled slightly when I thought about what I was about to do.

'Kisses where morning breath doesn't matter.'

I exhaled gently onto her sex and watched her stir a little. I gently licked each thigh, closer and closer to her core. I wrapped my arms around her thighs and looked up the length of her body as I giggled again.

"Breakfast is served." I whispered, before I started kissing, licking and sucking.

It wasn't long before she woke up, I'm not sure if she thought it was a dream to begin with though. Very soon she hand one hand was wrapped up in my hair keeping my head in position and another was grasping the sheets of her bed. Soon she was panting loudly, her legs clamped around my head holding me in place. Even as she climaxed I kept up my ministrations, slowly teasing her, savouring her taste. Her legs spread again as she tried to get her breath.

I didn't hear the door open, but I did hear Gawyn when he said "See, I told you that they would be..."

I froze and lifted me head to look over Elayne's leg. My face must have been shining with her wetness, my eyes like saucers. Elayne was still moaning a little, coming down from her climax. She looked down her body at me, to see why I had stopped. She followed my eyes to see her brothers standing in the doorway, looking as shocked as I felt.

"By the Light!" She screamed rolling away from them off the bed, her foot clipping me in the head even as she rolled right off, landing with a thud on the ground.

Her head, complete with thoroughly dishevelled sex hair poked up from the other side.

"Why didn't you knock?" She screamed in righteous indignation, "I know Mother taught you to knock!"

"We did knock." Gawyn said with a smile, "You must have been making too much noise and she appeared to have her ears covered."

Is it possible to full body blush? Galad seemed to be doing the honorable thing and look away, Gawyn seemed to be more focussed on his sister's face poking over the bed.

"This is no joking matter Gawyn. Did Mother not reiterate the duties of the first Sword to you today?" Galad upbraided Gawyn before turning back to us, "Get dressed."

Galad picked up Elayne's dress and threw it at me, the boys then turned their backs to us.

We looked at each other, shrugged and started to get dressed. The whole thing felt very shaming. Once we were done I cleared my throat loudly. Galad was the first to peek over his shoulder before they both turned around.

"I don't know what to say Elayne." Galad said, shaking his head.

"You can say sorry for barging in like that and leave!" Elayne said in a huff.

"I must inform Mother." Galad said, turning to leave "She will be most disappointed that you have turned your back on your duty in this way."

"No, you cannot!" Elayne cried, running up to him and taking hold of his arm, "I love her!"

"Love?" He sneered, "There is no love here, this is not the way of the Light."

"Now Galad," entreated Gawyn, "It is harmless, she has not abandoned her duty. Tell him Elayne, tell him it's just harmless fun."

"I cannot." Cried Elayne, "We are in love!"

"Enough!" Gallad ordered, breaking free of Elayne's grasp, "I must inform our Mother, the Queen."

Visions of the Queen of Hearts shouting "Off with her head!" Swam through my mind. I watched numbly as Galad strode towards the door. I wished that there was some way to turn back time, or make him forget that he had ever seen us. Where was the channelling equivalent of an Obliviate spell?

Then it came to me, a weave just popped into my head. I could feel the One Power building up inside me. Elayne was attempting to stop Galad, Gawyn was trying to pull her back. I watched as streams of Saidar burst forth from me, too fast, too strong. I tried to picture them, direct them, towards Galad; but they split up, slamming into all three. I watched in horror as the threads of the One Power wrapped themselves around the heads of Galad, Gawyn and Elayne. Just as suddenly as the threads shot out, they came back into me, leaving me standing in the room looking at Elayne and her brothers. All of them had stopped moving. I took a tentative step forward. All three looked up at me with blank faces.