He came back seventeen days later, jumping out of a gateway and clutching the Sceptre. Apparently, he had dropped everyone in the courtyard and opened another gateway just inside the bedroom a moment later – at least that's what Kal told her the next day. He was smiling. Grinning, really. She had been so startled she had almost choked on her weak tea. He had dismissed Nyamukuta with a vague wave of his hand and practically thrown Neya on the bed.

She watched him sleep for a while that night, wondering what would happen next. He would be crowned soon, and then he would begin gathering his forces in earnest, she assumed. Only a few boys could channel, but apparently there would be enough of them to form a full circle. It could be mainly constituted of female channelers without breaking the link, although a more balanced number of each gender would have provided an even more powerful circle. With Sakarnen, however, Neya didn't think it would matter. Unless Rand decided to attack Bao with the Choedan Kal, he would likely be overwhelmed. She wasn't certain that the channelers of the Light knew how to form a circle, let alone a full one. And even if they did, it would mean that the Asha'man and Aes Sedai would have to work together, and the very idea was laughable. She wondered if Rand had managed to unite everyone under his rule. It seemed improbable, no matter how strongly ta'veren he might be.

She had taken the opportunity of Bao's absence to attempt to befriend, or at least become acquainted, to some of the female Ayyad. She hadn't expected anything from Galbrait, despite having saved the woman's life, and indeed only received a contemptuous stare for her trouble. She'd had more success with the young woman Bao had entrusted with the rehabilitation of the former slaves, however. She had been appointed just a few weeks ago. Her name was Taimaka, and she was also a Healer, the best amongst the Ayyad.

She became aware that Bao was looking at her and smiled at him. He smiled back, and her heart leaped in her chest. It wasn't fair. When the Last Battle began, she knew she would have to abandon him. She wasn't that far gone that she wouldn't at least try to fight for the Light, although she doubted they'd want her there, after everything she'd done. In any case, her relationship with the Forsaken was doomed, no matter how she looked at it. He would either repudiate her for betraying him, or die. There would be no happy ending for them.

"You're a mess," she said teasingly. He really was, and not just from what they'd been doing all night. There were deep gashes on his back and thighs, and she suspected a few cracked ribs as well. He was covered in bruises. Why hadn't he asked someone to Heal him? "What did you do, wrestle a bear?"

"A jumara, actually," he replied casually. "A full-fledged one."

She stared at him blankly for a second as she tried to remember what the word meant. "A Worm?" she asked incredulously when it finally hit her. He nodded. "Are you bloody insane? You could have gotten yourself killed! Peace, man, don't you have any regard for your own skin?"

"I am here, am I not? In one piece, as promised. And I brought back the prize, just as I said I would." He looked unusually smug.

She shook her head. "May I Heal you? Or do you want to keep the scars to remember the Worm by?" she asked wryly.

"By all means," he answered indifferently.

She placed a hand on his arm and made it all disappear, save for the small scar on his nose. She rather liked it. "I don't know how you do that."

"It is not too difficult, as long as you do not use the Power and know where to strike. You just have to cut the beast to pieces until it is dead."

"Oh yeah, it's a piece of cake. That's not what I meant, though." He frowned slightly. "I remember when my Da cracked a rib some years ago. For weeks he could barely move. He said it hurt to even breathe. So how do you manage to do… well, anything, really? You do feel the pain, don't you?"

"Of course I do. I simply do not allow it to come between me and whatever task I am undertaking. Not unless I want it to," he amended.

She chuckled softly. "I don't suppose you would give birth in my stead, by any chance?"

He seemed to think it over for a time, as if seriously considering it. "No, I would not," he said eventually. "That is something I would never want to experience."

"Well, you're not likely to," she told him wryly. "Why not, though?"

"The pain would be too excruciating, even for me."

She stared at him incredulously. "Blood and ashes! If even you couldn't take it… That's very comforting, thank you."

"I had not realised you were so worried about it. You know that women have been giving birth since the dawn of time, do you not? Most of them survive the ordeal, some more than once. They even manage to be happy about it, afterward."

Was he being sarcastic? She couldn't tell for certain. "Again, not particularly reassuring." She snuggled closer to him. "And what if you're gone to the Last Battle when it happens? I can't do this on my own."

"Tarmon Gai'don will be upon us much sooner than that. But you will not be alone, even if I am not around. I will make sure of that."

She was not relieved in the slightest, but she put the matter aside for now. "I believe you said something about being enthroned when you came back from the Hearttomb?"

"Yes, as soon as possible," he replied.

"We should make it a proper celebration. You're officially the Wyld now, and you're the king. That calls for festivities. It will raise everyone's spirits, in light of the battle to come."

"I suppose we could do that," he said cautiously. "How soon do you think we could make it happen?"

"A few days, a week at most. I suppose Shendla will take care of the ritual ceremony. Taimaka will help with the rest, and Kal, too, if I ask nicely. Where are the boys, anyway? Did you take them back to the camp?" she asked as she got out of bed. It would be a stretch, but she could make it work. She had already made some preparations while he was away, at his request.

"No, but I told them they could make a gateway there if they wanted."

She put on some clothes and walked to the balcony that overlooked the gardens. Mid-spring was the best season to enjoy the view, as most of the flowers were in bloom. She had spent a lot of time down there in the past two weeks. Bao followed and stood behind her. "If we are going to celebrate…"

"We certainly are," she cut in happily.

"…perhaps we should take the opportunity to be wed at the same time."

What did he just say? She didn't speak for a long moment. Her mind was utterly blank; it couldn't process.

"Neya?" he prompted her softly. When she didn't answer, he turned her around gently. She couldn't even look at him. She buried her face in his chest. "What is the matter?" he asked with a faint trace of concern.

"You have no idea how much I'm struggling not to break down in hysterical giggles right now," she finally managed to whisper.

He sighed irritably. "I was being serious," he said, seriously indeed.

"I know. You're always serious." Inhaling deeply, she took a tiny step back to look up at him. He was scowling at her. "Why do you want to marry me?"

"If I die during the Last Battle, I want to make sure this land is left in good hands," he replied quietly.

Always the practical one, she thought wryly. "And if you live?"

His scowl deepened. "What do you mean?"

"Shendla said you needed me until the Last Battle. What if you live past it? You won't need me then. And I would be a ruler in my own right, if we're married, wouldn't I?" She shrugged. "Not to mention that I'm pregnant with Mazrim's baby."

"You misunderstand me," he murmured. It was her turn to frown. "I want to marry you, and not only for the practicalities it entails. And I thought I made it clear that I would look after the child." He gazed at her intently. He never said anything he didn't mean, but did it really matter in any case? It was a moot point. Whatever happened during the Last Battle, he would die; either the other side would see him dead for his crimes or kill him in battle, or the world would end and everyone would die.

With that in mind, it seemed irrelevant whether they were married or not when it happened. If that was what he wanted, she would give it to him. Besides, she realised she wanted it, too.