Disclaimer: It is, with a heavy heart and an empty purse I must say… It isn't mine. I don't own the wheel of time or any other pieces of Robert Jordan's work. Nor do I make any money from this, or any other stories I have written based on Mr Jordan's work. Shame. But there is nothing I can do about it.
Dedication: This one is dedicated to Morganofthefairies, Dreamer of Tales and Lady Maigraith, who all reviewed the last chapter. So thanks, and I hope you really like this one. Pretty pretty pretty please? With a cherry on top? PLEASE!?!?!
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Nynaeve watched the slow rise and fall of her husband's chest from her seat at the end of their bed. They would arrive at their destination today; the Man she visited would be surprised to see her. According to Mat he is married now, perhaps he will leave me alone now. What would Lan do if he knew where they were headed? She had explained who he was after his questions, He is a fool, a fool who knows nothing about Nynaeve only Nana. Going to him was inevitable, but her mind rolled over and over, any excuse for her to disobey Birgitte would work. No, I promised her I would go. And I shall go!
Nynaeve caressed her stomach, one day; her and Lans child would grow in there. Their attempts at conceiving had not gone unnoticed; Elayne had her midwife give the couple some potions that hadn't worked. Even Egwene noticed Nynaeve's longing looks at the children running joyfully in the streets. What if I'm got a good mother? Mine died, how am I supposed to know what to do?
"You will be a great mother Nynaeve. I know you will" The voice had caused her to spin quickly; her gaze that had drifted out through the window met her husbands eyes. When Nynaeve raised a questioning eyebrow he smiled. Life sparkled in his eyes, the cold death that had occupied them rarely made an appearance now. "I know that thought, we have been bonded long enough Nynaeve. We will have children, and they will be as beautiful as you. It isn't your fault or mine we haven't conceived yet. Its stress, think how much we have been through recently, relax my heart."
Nynaeve moved over to him and let him wrap his arms round her waist, a small smile formed at her husbands words, and allowed the silence to stretch between them before adding her own comment. "It certainly isn't for lack of trying though." Standing up, Lan towered over his love, he kissed her cheek and nodded towards the saddlebags. "We have to leave. The innkeeper wants us out of the room in an hour. Plus, we can always stop for an early dinner…" Lans insinuation caused Nynaeve to blush. But perhaps an early dinner might be what we need.
The couple fetched the horses, and led out of the village. The grey skies and oppressive warmth didn't do much to stop Nynaeve dwelling on the folly of their next action. Valan Luca was a indeed a fool. But it was perhaps it was also her fault for allowing herself to be so demeaned by Lucas former offer. Hopefully, marriage has changed as much about him as it has about me. Lan smiled at his wife's pale face, "All will be well Nynaeve, all be well my heart."
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The house had been empty. Thom had waited for almost an entire night for Moiraine to come back. She had stayed out till the small hours of the morning before arriving back at the house accompanied by three tall men in black cloaks. Myradraal! Thom hesitated; perhaps it would be best to wait until they had left before confronting her, as it would be suicide to attempt it now.
It had been over three hours since their arrival and Thom hear a creak of the front door opening, sticking his head round the corner again presented a grave risk should any of them look up, but Thom was glad to see the departing backs of the Fades. Moiraine locked the door behind them, swinging three separate bars from their position behind the door. Thom could barely restrain a chuckle, whatever reason she became a dark friend hadn't affected her natural distrust of everything.
Thom stepped out on the landing his heart beat doubled then tripled in quick succession. Still facing the door Moiraine spoke, "Paetir, I fear we have yet more work to do." At the lack of a rply the Aes Sedai turned, a small smile graced her lips. "I told you that you couldn't turn me back Master Gleeman, why do you persist in trying?"
Thom smiled, gripping the banister to prevent him falling he descended th stairs. "What makes you think I didn't believe you Aes Sedai?" Thom knew the answer to this already, so it came as no surprise when she started to state he would have killed her when she had her back to him if he really wanted to. Reaching the bottom of the stairs he grinned, he would try for a disarming tactic. "What if I said I wanted to join you? You and the Great Lord of the Dark?" Moiraine visibly winced when Thom said he wanted to join the Dark One.
"You wouldn't Thom. You have values you could never betray willingly, you would never desire the power that causes many to join us. Or arrogance to believe you are worthy of it. You are a good person Thom. For that I must congratulate you, together we never would have been as good as you were alone. I loved you Thom, but fundamentally we were too different. We sort the same results for different ends, and it wasn't working." The smile had long since faded from the gleeman's face, but any remains were wiped away with her next words. "I loved you Thom, but I can't allow you to be ruled by your want to protect me now. I am past the hope of recovery."
Thom twiddled the knife in his sleeve, he couldn't make himself throw, and he knew that should he manage that much he would miss. He still loved her. Love takes more than words to wipe away. "What have you done that you can't be forgiven for Moiraine? Who have you hurt that you cannot heal? Moiraine?"
"I have done much that is beyond repair. As for who I have hurt… You Thom. I cannot heal the grief I have given you, or give you sympathy for the need to kill me. Do it soon Thom, Moghedien will return before Midday!" The knife slipped from his grasp veering off at the last moment. His subconscious still wanted her alive, still wanted her to kiss him and make love as they used to, he still wanted her to be the woman she once was.
The flows of air that occurred picked him from his feet and threw his against the wall, none of the greeting that had shown on Moiraine's face still remained. Hatred and anger rippled above the usual façade of calm. "You failed! You couldn't do it! Thom stop me, the Light know I can't stop myself! The bonds loosened as Moiraine slipped into despair, but never faded entirely, reaching for the second knife he had brought he threw. It landed true in the Aes Sedai's stomach.
Relieve flooded through him as the constraining bonds wavered then faded completely, Moiraine fell to the floor almost silently before Thom caught her, the wound would take minutes to kill, Thom brought his lips down and kissed her fluttering eyelids. Her bluish lips mouthed the words she couldn't voice. Thank you Thom.
Thom stared at her pale face, the blood ebbing out onto the floor tiles, the gleam behind her eyes flicked, life was leaving her, slowly but surely. There was nothing a healer could do now. Her breathing slowed and her breath rattled in her throat, the Aes Sedai slowly succumbed to the unconsciousness that eased the way into death. Shutting her eyes he rose, retrieving the second knife from the wall beside where he had missed Moiraine.
Her breath stopped as he lent over her. He had killed her. I killed the only woman I ever really loved. Light forgive me. Breathing a final prayer for her souls salvation he twisted the knife in his grip and plunged it into his own stomach. Unconsciousness took Thom faster than it had his lover, pain drifting off into the blackness. Moghedien would find an interesting welcome to the home of on of the black ajah. A few thoughts flickered through Thom's mind before death took him, predominate among them was the prayer for Moiraine.
Who will pray for my loss? Who will know of my sacrifice? No story will be sung about me, nor any ballads written. I lost life for the loss of love. I couldn't go on living knowing I had destroyed my only chance of true love.
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I hope this chapter was as good as I wanted it to be, it took a lot of effort and hard work so I hope you will at lease let me know your opinions.
Thanks to every one who had reviewed a chapter of my work before, but can you pretty-please-with-a-cherry-on-top review again. And to all those of you out there who have never reviewed for me… please do!!! Please!!
Thanks for reading this far. The next chapter will up be ASAP, so soonish at any rate.
Best of Luck.