Chapter 1.b ; Surprises
This session was sealed to the flame and no Aes Sedai beyond Sitters was supposed to be present. That however didn't stop them from crowding in around the Halls gates awaiting news about the current development. They gave way before her slowly and were displeased once the doors closed them off but they couldn't be allowed to learn anything that was to take place here.
The Hall of the Tower was a large circular chamber dominated by a big marble seal on its floor, half black, half white divided by a sinuous line – the ancient symbol of Aes Sedai. Directly opposite to the entrance stood the Amyrlin's chair of wines-carved wood, and placed around the symbol were similar chairs in the same design for the Sitters of the Hall, three for every Ajah. Windows on the surrounding walls shone the last of the evening's light across the white cobwebs of marble, glittering like molten gold, especially upon the seven tall support columns which seemed to pore liquid marble out of them, which in turn was merging into a perfect dome above their heads. For untold centuries this chamber served as the most important room in the entire Tower, where the Amyrlin and the Hall would come together and discuss the crucial decisions for their future and the dangers they would have to face. And now they have gathered to face turbulent saidar and the Dragon Reborn.
Most of the Sitters were already seated awaiting her arrival while the six absent ones were with Rand waiting to escort him here once the session begins. As Silviana's announcement echoed beneath the dome, Egwene calmly paced to her chair but didn't take a seat right away. Instead, with Silviana taking place by her side, she faced the Sitters. " There is much that we need to decide today, as we stand faced with a potentially lethal crisis. However, as we believe that the Dragon Reborn's actions have had something to do with our difficulty with channeling, I place a proposal before the Hall that we bring him here and question him on the matter. "
As before few objections were raised, mostly by Telaine Mahnin and Sereitha Sanches, newly raised Sitters for the Red but as predicted, further discussion did not last long. With a spark of the power and with great care, they had channeled a simple weave of air which tolled a long reverberating gong. It was surely felt by everyone, even the absent Sitters, and that in fact was a signal for them to bring Rand before the Hall. To anyone else it would appear as though they were studying the situation. Soon after, a wobbly gateway of inverted weaves opened at the center of the room and Rand stepped through accompanied by the six missing Sitters. He was still in the same black Tairen outfit though the cloak was gone and the sleeves of his shirt have been pushed up exposing the dragons of Rhuidean. And he was… composed. Everything about him seemed at ease. She used to remember when his very walk radiated hot arrogance of an angry king, but now even that was transformed into a cool deliberate pace. He seem like he's been schooled in composure by Aes Sedai. Still that turned out not to be the case for as the Gateway closed behind him, he cast a brief look around the chamber and smiled like he had found something amusing. Light, how long has it been since she had seen that boyish grin of his ? Another weave of the power slowly produced a ward against listening and once privacy was finally guaranteed, Silviana spoke in a loud voice. " Rand al'Thor, you may approach the Hall of the Tower. "
The other Sitters were taking their respective seats, but every eye seemed to be on him. He merely blinked to the loudness of the Keeper's declaration and placing his hands behind his back swiftly walked to the center of the seal. No, he stood on the Dragon's Fang. Spearing a glance for the assembly, he fixed his eyes on Egwene and gave her a formal bow. " As you have summoned me Mother, so do I come. "
Of all the openings they had expected this was not one of them. A soft sound of gasp flowed briefly through the chamber but Egwene's loud words concealed it. " Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn. You are one of the few men who had been summoned to a session of the Hall of the White Tower. " He straightened slowly, showing no response. " Do you know why you are here ?"
He glanced around at the Sitters, taking them in again. All of them were watching him, faces blank and considering. Some of those faces turned towards her as if to check up on her determination but shifted back quickly enough. " I believe I do, Mother. " He sighed. " The reasons are many, but the most important one is for us to bridge the gap which separates us. "
" That is not why you are here now. " Egwene spoke. It was an important matter, and she had promised herself to give him a chance for that, but the main priority was something else. " You have been found on the highest peek of Dragonmount with a shattered ter'angreal shortly after the sunlight returned to us. " He smiled again, no doubt quite pleased with himself. " You are here to tell us of what you did. "
For a few moments, he considered before voicing his answer clearly. " I have faced myself. I have seen the depths of myself, who I was, who I used to be, who I would have been and who I had to be. I have asked that question and I have found an answer, or rather the answer had been given to me. And in that moment I have regained what I had once lost. "
Egwene hid a small smile. So, it would seem that the hardness of the Dragon Reborn had finally left him, and she was glad for that and happy for him, but she had to make sure he hadn't damage saidar somehow.
" So, " Romanda spoke after a short pause. " You're saying you have made a decision. "
Now Rand's face showed hints of tightness and anger. He looked at her slowly but even so, it was enough for her to barely be able to mask her flinch. " Anyone can make a decision, Aes Sedai. I have mastered my self. And all of my previous achievements pale in the face of that. " Alas, he was not as meek as she had hoped. Some things remained the same, and that could be bad, if he would allow his temper to run wild again.
Some of the Sitters even rolled their eyes at that statement. " What was the purpose of the shattered ter'angreal ?" Takima asked.
The anger he had shown for Romanda faded away by the time he turned his head to face the Brown. Inspecting her Ajah colors he spoke. " It used to be the access key for the Choden Kal. " Egwene frowned ; why did that sound familiar ?
As soon as the words left his lips though, Takima's eyes shot wide and an uncomfortable murmur rippled throughout the chamber. " Do you have another access key ?" She asked him in a breathy voice and he shook his head.
" I have used them and I am done with them. " He said. " Both are destroyed completely. " Another round of murmurs passed spreading relief amongst those who could understand and puzzlement amongst those who didn't. Egwene remained passive.
" The Choden Kal " Takima spoke in an educating tone. " were the two mightiest sa'angreal ever created, one for a woman and the other for a man. They were made to fight the Dark One at the end of the War of the Power. But luckily, their power was never used. Until now. "
" They should have never made them in the first place. " Rand crossed his arms on his chest, seemingly speaking to himself.
" I am glad you do see it that way. " Kwamasa addressed him, sounding out of breath. " You could have shattered the world itself by trying. If, what you say be true, than it did be you at Shadar Logoth, some time ago. You did be linked with a woman, using the Choden Kal. " Of Course. Egwene thought. That must have been it. But that had also brought about their attempts to form an alliance with the Black Tower. With this new revelation, would the Hall continue on with those plans ?
" To what purpose ?" Kwamasa resumed and he responded instantly.
" The cleansing of saidin. " He replied. " And twice more after that ; to kill Graendal, and to gain my soul back. "
So that's how the cleansing was done, Egwene thought. And at Shadar Logoth, no less. Somehow he had used the evil of that place against the evil of the Dark One's taint and made them destroy one another. She had to confess, that was clever, even for him.
" So. " Lelaine spoke, anger showing in her voice. " So, you've went atop Dragonmount, had your little personal grudges played out, cleared the sky and cared nothing for the consequences. " Rand frowned opening his mouth, but she went on. " What did you do to saidar ?"
He blinked, surprised. " I have done nothing to saidar. "
" Ever since we found you, we can no longer control our weaves !" She growled. She actually growled, and the other Sitters stared at her. Her eyes went wide realizing what she had said but the words kept coming out. " Even the simplest of weaves have turned challenging and dangerous even for the most skilled among us. " Only then did she manage to stop herself, covering her mouth with both hands but it was too late. Some Sitters were gaping before they collected themselves enough to close their mouth. He was not to be told this ; it might cause him to think them powerless, and now he might very well decide to channel right there.
But no. Instead, he only grinned and swallowed a laugh, appearing like a boy of ten. " Ta'veren. " He said and after clearing his throat his composure was back and unruffled. Lelaine sat back down still covering her mouth with both hands, appearing too frightened to say more.
" Well, we can't hold you responsible for… that. " Saerin spoke a bit too roughly. " And know that we will certainly do our best to stop you should you try something… willful. Numbers still tilt to our favor. " He gave no response and she continued. " But you must have done something. The matter is too big to be a coincidence. In your use of the Choden Kal you must have damaged saidar somehow. What did you do ?"
" I'm telling you " He sighed. " I haven't even… " Abruptly he stopped in his tracks. " Of course. " He breathed. " Now I remember. I did cause this thing you speak of. "
That brought about an explosion from the Sitters, everyone speaking at once.
" You did do it ?" Kwamasa spoke. " And you confess ? You should be birched for your recklessness !"
" How on earth are we to fix saidar when you've destroyed the Choden Kal ?" Yukiri screeched. " You are mad ! You must be mad !"
" How are we… "
" Why would you… "
" …consequences… "
" ENOUGH !" Egwene shouted, stopping everyone in mid sentence. Casting a glare around them she waited until they all returned to their seats before she herself did as well. Taking a deep breath, she faced Rand next. Was he grinning at her ? Approving ? How dare he, after what he had done. She should not have allowed him to be in Tower's stables, let alone the Hall's chamber. " You have admitted to your crime. " She declared. " Before you are judged accordingly, you will tell us how to fix the matter. "
And once again, instead of being outraged, he merely shook his head. " You don't understand. " He said. " I haven't touched saidar in any way. I have merely removed the Dark One's hold of the sky. " she frowned but he rose his hand – his stump actually – up as if pointing. The headless dragon twining around it glittered in the evening light. " Allow me to explain. "
Crossing his arms behind his back he assumed a pose which would put a scholar to shame. The nerve of him ! He used to shed sheep and farm tabbac and now he acted like he knew more than them. " You must understand ; " He began. " This knowledge is all in half forgotten bits and I can't always put it together right. But the basis of the matter is this ; as he is reaching from his prison the Dark One tends to grip the pattern and… re-weaves it to take on seemingly impossible turns. In this Age it is called the Dark One's touch. " Several Sitters slowly arranged their skirts. " I see you know what I'm talking about. " He stated gravely. What did he mean by 'in this age' ?" But the One Power weaves the pattern as well, and it can be… used to remove his influence and set things right, after a fashion. However, if his grip is strong and over a wide area, there are consequences. "
" So what you are saying, " Silviana frowned. " is that, when you've cleared the sky… "
" Because of it, the One Power became… willful. And slippery. " He nodded. It did make sort of sense, Egwene thought. The effects were contained only to the wide area around them and not beyond. Around the Dragonmount actually, as they had first assumed that it was aimed at the Tower. It could be true, but then how could he possibly know these things ? Sighing heavily, Rand finally uncrossed his arms and lowered his head slightly. " Had I seized saidin, I would have realized it instantly – it too is affected just like saidar. But until this moment I was unaware that I had caused such a commotion and for that I apologize. Do not worry ; it will fade away in a few days. "
" If it is true, " Egwene stated. " than you will be freed of that charge. But that still leaves you with a long list of other offenses. Offenses which you and your Asha Man are responsible for. "
" I know. " Was all he said. And another episode of murmur echoed beneath the dome.
" Than you confess to that as well ?" She asked him.
" Yes. I do. " He replied, cool like a winter's pond. Was that all he was about to say ? Wasn't he going to defend himself ? She added as much.
" Do you have anything further to say on your part ?" She asked.
He sighed and facing the Sitters he spoke in a soft leveled voice. " There's no use denying it. I did commit crimes against you. I had little choice in the mater, but that is no excuse. "
" No, it is not. " Egwene nodded but he cut her off.
" I was supposed to have my say, Mother. " He arched an eyebrow at her over his shoulder and waited for her nod before continuing. Some of the Sitters spared him a disapproving frown. " While I waited for this, I have had time to think. About what I have done to you and about what you have done to me in turn. Oh, I'm sure that my doing is far worse in your eyes, but know that yours also is in mine. Perhaps we have been destined to hate each other from the start, or perhaps the Dark One had had a hand in that too. " He was talking about the Black Ajah, Egwene realized. And he was doing so very subtly. Unusual, for him. " Whatever the cause, we are where we are, with plenty of reasons to choose from about why we should hate and distrust each other. You wish to judge me for my crimes. Well, the Light knows I shall pay for them soon enough whatever you decide, but as for your crimes to me… " He paused casting a long empty gaze that encompassed all of them. And sighed. " … as for your crimes, I say that there has been enough hatred. I forgive you for all you have done. "
Dead silence dominated the chamber as those ageless expressionless faces watched him and as he watched them in turn. Egwene had to give him credit for delivering it so diplomatically. It was a surprise to be sure, but at least it was a pleasant one. He did seem to be rid of that hardness of his, his temper was under control and for once in his life he was making perfect sense. And the Sitters saw that too. Was this really the same man who had captured and tortured Aes Sedai ? The hated and feared Dragon Reborn who made the nations tremble and quake with terror ? Now it seemed so hard to believe that some of them surely wondered whether they had the right man before them. Had Egwene not known him she would have wondered the same thing. Whatever it was that happened to him up there, she was grateful for it. Even the difficulty with channeling was a small price to pay for this… so long as it doesn't last beyond a day or two.
Well, they have had enough of his surprises for one day. Nodding, Egwene gave Silviana a hint to bring this matter to an end, but it wasn't until she cleared her throat that the woman noticed. " Rand al'Thor, you shall be escorted back to the gardens. Your words have been heard and shall be considered carefully but we ask you to be patient a while longer. We must have time to ourselves to decide what's best. "
" Of course. " He replied giving a hint of a bow for the Keeper. " Before I go, you should know that Cadsuane Meliadhrin is about to arrive. " More quietly, he added as if to himself. " After all this time I can practically smell her. " Making another formal bow to Egwene he spoke formally. " By your leave, Mother, may I depart in the Light ?"
To which she responded equally formal. " I give you my leave to go in the Light, my son. " He smiled again before his six Sitters escorted him back through the gateway.
Lazaruss :" Hope you have enjoyed that. "