All Things Change, as is the Will of the Wheel;
This is my first fic you guys, so plz go easy on me! Have fun, and let me know whether this sounds legit or not :) Have a nice time reading it...
_
As Rand meandered across the plains in the Caralain Grasslands, he absently studied the grass all around him, with what was left of Shadar Logoth to his front, and the Mountains of Mist even further ahead. He shook his head slightly.
"And I still don't know to where I'm headed" he said ruefully. He shrugged to himself. "Not that it matters now, does it?"
As he hummed to himself, he began to scan his surroundings. He had an odd feeling that he was being followed. A hint of a noise here, a ray of sunlight bouncing off metal there. He didn't know whether it was the three of them, or someone else, but it never hurt to be wary. He stopped his horse, led it to a small copse to the side and ducked into a ditch. He poked his head out and turned to look the way he came. Soon, he heard —and half saw— what sounded like an entire company of men. Or women. Light, but those Saldaean women were a menace! He chuckled at the memory that leapt unbidden to his mind. Deira, Bashere's wife leading with him, charging the shadowspawn army with naught but a dagger in either hand. Both had died there. That thought sobered him up immediately. He peered out towards where he'd seen the dust emanating from, and stiffened. There was nothing there, all of a sudden. No noise, no large group of people, nothing. He warily looked around him. grass for as far as he could see. Relaxing slighting, he examined his hand again. It really was a confusing to have both hands now, after so long of living with only one. He suddenly looked up again, some sixth sense prompting him to look around. He stared at where he'd last seen the approaching group and grimaced. Then sat ramrod straight as he heard a slight whoosh of a gateway opening up behind him on the roadway.
He cursed softly, then giving up his attempt at hiding, stood up. He turned around at the sound of a booming voice coming from a muscular young man.
"You! Ishamael or whoever you think you are!" Perrin called. "Come talk to us, we're not here to hurt you!". "Us?" Rand wondered. Then he noticed a pair of young women almost hidden behind Perrin. He blinked twice in confusion, until he realised that two of the three bonds in his head had neared and were almost next to him. He narrowed his eyes. The shorter one of the pair rolled her eyes and tugged on Perrin's arm and whispered something into his ear. Perrin listened intently at what she said, then roared with apparent laughter at something he could not catch, something about 'switching', or 'changing'. She cracked her knuckles on his head and shook her head furiously. By her now raised voice, he could hear her clearly.
"You wool brain Perrin, why do you think I'm making a joke? Especially about something like this? You think I'd make a joke about this? Really?". By now Rand was almost certain it was Min, and the other was Aviendha. One part of him wondered where Elayne was, as he walked towards them cautiously. Perrin shrugged in disbelief as he eyed Rand, coming closer.
Suddenly Min stepped forwards, her knives flashing out of her sleeve, glinting in the sunlight. She looked absolutely furious. He stepped back nervously as she darted forwards, knives swinging.
"You fool! Sheepherder when the Aiel said you'd accepted your death, I thought you'd come to terms with it! Not that you'd try to run away from us and pretend you actually were dead! Blood and ashes Rand, don't you try running from us! The three of us love you, and there's nothing you can do about it, and that's that!".
Eyes wide and mouth open though nothing came out, he tried fending off her tirade as she advanced towards him. Then she took one large step and suddenly she stood in front of him, breathing hard, eyes dark, seeming to stare into his soul. He gulped and shook slightly as he went cross eyed, looking at her knife point about to pierce his chest. As he opened his mouth to talk, she grabbed his neck, brought him down and kissed him fiercely. "Never, ever do this again sheepherder. Do you get it?" She demanded.
He nodded mutely. As she walked to one side of him with a twinkle in her eyes and a smile on her lips, the second –Aviendha– stepped forward. As she narrowed her eyes at him, she stepped towards him and waggled her fingers.
"You may be the Car'a'carn but that doesn't mean you can go haring off like a Far Dareis Mai on her first raid Rand al'Thor" she said.
He sighed heavily and she smiled slightly. She stepped in closer and whispered in his ear.
"I love you, but I meant every word I said" she whispered.
He gave her a look as she straightened and stood to his side, then brightened as she took his hand on both of hers and squeezed it comfortingly. For an Aiel, that was surprising to the point of shock. They did not show any affection at all in public. Then he turned back to Perrin when he heard a cough. Perrin eyed him dubiously then practically leapt towards him. He raised an eyebrow until Perrin asked him
"What was the animal Mat caught the day the Trollocs came?".
In spite of himself Rand laughed. Perrin shook his arm and asked him again.
"Peace Perrin, I was just thinking about the old days" he said.
"Mat had caught a badger in a sack, and he wanted to release it into the green, if I remember correctly".
Perrin sighed, then looked at him suspiciously. "You couldn't have told me or Mat that you lived?" he demanded. Rand sighed. He was suddenly too weary to explain his reasoning, so he just waved his hand and yawned. As the women took his arms, he shook his head and mumbled something about his horse in the small copse. His knees suddenly buckled, and his eyes began to close, but before they shut, he saw Perrin point the women in the direction in the still-open gateway as he went in the direction of his horse. He passed out.
The next time he woke up, he was in what looked like a maroon coloured tent. Still groggy, he shook his head about a little, and walked to the tent's water supply. He gratefully scooped up some of the water in his hands and rubbed his face. Blinking hard, he stepped out into the bright sunshine and stretched. Looking around, he was taken aback by his surroundings. He ducked back inside, shrugged on his black coat and stepped out, thinking of finding breakfast. And then maybe talking to Min and Aviendha. Light, but it was still difficult getting to terms with their... accommodation.
Walking around, he was surprised. It seemed orderly, and neat. That was until he heard raised voices in the distance. Peering towards it, he started walking in that direction, then stopped up short in surprise. There, standing off to the side of the camp, were Perrin and Faile, yelling at each other. Amused, he walked over slowly, and stood to the side, watching them. Moments later, Faile noticed him leaning on a tree, wearing an entertained expression. She eyed him, poked Perrin in the chest, muttered something to him and walked over.
"And who do you think you are? Walking up to me and Perrin like you own the camp? Let's get this clear. Perrin is the camp master. Not anyone else. You understand?".
She said all this with a straight face and in a lowered tone. Rand raised an eyebrow and said quietly "Why don't you go and ask Perrin who I am then?".
Faile, more confused rather than angry now, followed Rand to Perrin. "Perrin, why don't you explain to your wife here, who I am?" Rand asked.
He then stepped back and smiled at them. Faile walked slowly over to Perrin and gave him a dangerous look. "Now dear husband." She said.
Perrin gave Rand a pleading glance. Rand simply grinned at him and shook his head. Perrin sighed.
"Now Faile, you can't tell anyone this at all, for the moment ok?". She crossed her arms and gave him a look. He gave her a look back, and she finally nodded.
"Ok. Well, this is Rand." He gestured at Rand in Moridin's body and Rand gave a wave.
Faile snorted "I thought you weren't one for lies, Perrin. When did that change?". Perrin sighed again.
"I had the exact same thought when Min told me that.
"Min?" She asked slightly suspicious. "Yes, Min, Faile".
Perrin groaned inside. Even after all this time, she was still jealous?
"When was this?". Perrin, busy giving Rand a dirty look absently shook his head and said "yesterday." Suddenly she changed her tone and turned to Rand, eyes wide.
"Is this true? Are you really...him?". Rand nodded, and asked "So where is this camp headed to now?"
"Back to the two rivers, Rand" Perrin replied.
Slightly taken aback, he nodded his acceptance, and asked, rather tentatively, "Is Tam here somewhere? I believe he survived, correct?"
Perrin opened his mouth but Faile, hearing his stomach rumble said "Why don't you go have some breakfast? I'll ask someone to bring your father to the mess tent." Rand nodded gratefully and headed off to eat.
On the way there, he sensed, rather than felt, Aviendha nearing him. Turning to the side, he smiled at her and held out his arm. She smiled back at him and took it, and he pulled her close for a hug.
"Sleep well?" She asked.
He grimaced. "Not so well as I should have."
She stopped walking and turned to look at him intently.
"You have circles around your eyes" she said. "What have you been doing the last week by yourself?"
He shrugged. "I may have been riding too hard, and for too long. I wasn't really paying attention."
She frowned at him "You must not stress yourself out so. Even if you care but naught for yourself, you are important to me, my first sister and Min Farshaw" she admonished. He nodded his acquiescence and they continued once more, in a friendly silence. As Rand sat down to eat, Tam walked in, looking confused. Rand stood up, walked to him and all of a sudden, Tam's expression hardened, and he raised his hand as if to slap him. Rand caught his hand and Aviendha saw – and felt - the hurt in him.
Rand spoke "Tam it's me. Can't you tell it's me?" Tam leaned forwards and yanked his hand back.
"Rand?" he practically whispered. Rand took a deep breath, nodded, and a single tear fell from his eye. As Tam started to shake, Rand pulled him in tightly for a hug to his chest.
"Then... who did we burn?" He asked.
"That would be Ishamael, or Moridin's consciousness" he said.
Even more confused now, Tam asked "Who?".
"Ishamael. The Betrayer of Hope, the first to sell his soul to the shadow, 3 thousand years ago, when he publicly named himself the dark one's creature."
Rand's became icy and distant as he was lost in memories of days thousands of years past. Tam inhaled sharply but Rand simple slung his arm around Tam's shoulder and said, "It's all past father, so let's not dwell on the past, and instead focus on the future."
Tam goggled at Rand's now complete left hand, then shook his head and grinned ruefully.
"I forgot you'd changed bodies. How did you do that by the way? How was that even possible?" Tam inquired. "It's a power I understand that the dark one possesses".
If a person dies, he's able to capture their wandering souls and transport them to living people's bodies. I don't know whether he did it, or it was something I was able to do it, and I don't want to dwell on it. Never mind that, I have some other...things let's say that I gained, when I switched bodies."
"What are you even talking about?" Tam asked, scratching his head.
"Well for one, we were equal on power levels. He also still somehow has access to the True Power, which I don't understand. I also am still able to touch the one power, which I also don't understand." Rand pause and frowned for a moment. He didn't like not understanding or knowing things. Then he continued. "I also have now, access to his memories which is an amazing treasure trove. But anyway, sit down, father. I'm hungry, what about you?"
The two men sat down, and as Tam gathered food for them, Rand spoke suddenly. "Father, you know I still have access to the one power. Don't you think I should make a gateway for us and get us to Emond's Field right now, and get us there without trouble?" Tam sat down next to Rand and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Rand, son, this is a great idea. But it can wait until a few hours, right? I have some work to do." Rand nodded, and Tam left, leaving Rand and a silent Aviendha in the tent.