Rand sat at the table in the farmhouse, staring at the pitcher that he had hooked over the fire, looking forward to the promise of a warm bath. Behind him, Kari was mending one of her dresses, while Tam had gone back to lock the doors. This decision had put Rand on edge, no one in Two Rivers ever locked their doors, what need was there, but at least it meant Tam was taking his comments about the Fade seriously, though Rand had not mentioned him as anything but a dark rider yet. Perrin had seen it as well, and Tam had mentioned Lem Thane and Bandry Crawe, names from the meeting of the council, and apparently the village was mustering to look for him. Rand could only hope that the Myrddraal kept its distance as it had today, no one in the village was equipped to fight one.

Sighing softly to himself, he got up as the pitcher began to boil, moving it from the fire and into the bath. Normally he would channel a small weave of fire into the water to speed the process up, but today had spooked him. The peddler, Padan Fain, had bought news as well as fireworks; the banner of the Dragon had been raised in Ghealdan. This had set the village off, predictions of the end of times and cries of the Dark One being loose had been flung around, encouraged enough by Cenn Buie. Eventually, the Mayor had managed to calm the hysteria, dragging Fain off to the Inn for an impromptu council meeting.

Rand refilled the pitcher and replaced it on the fire, he tried to avoid thinking of the Dragon Reborn when he could. Most folks did, he found, but Rand tried harder than most, the mere mention was enough to tip Lews Therin into one of his less sane rants, during which he would call himself by a whole range of titles, Dragon included, and generally gave Rand such a headache that he would run off into the woods until the madman quietened down again.

Most of what Rand had known of the Dragon Reborn came from Mat, who had wheedled the stories out of peddlers when they were younger. He seemed to vary from telling to telling, some said he was the Dark One in physical form, others said he would be ten feet tall, could breathe fire and would burn the world to ash, but most seemed to say that he would break the world again as he did in the breaking, in one way or another. One memorable guard had said that the Dragon would be reborn in man's time of greatest need to save them, though he had been shouted at by the merchant who had hired him and was never seen in Emond's Field again.

Once Rand had asked Tam about it, while Mat was excited by every new story that came up Rand was tired of listening to a new contradictory account every Spring, but his father had refused to answer, saying that the Dragon Reborn was nothing to care about for folks like them. Later though, Kari had told him what she knew; there was a prophecy called the Karaethon Cycle which she had been forced to learn by her parents in the hopes her education would catch the eye of some young noble. Kari had forgotten much of it, apparently it had been a dull read, but she had recited one verse for Rand,

Twice and twice shall he be marked,

Twice to live, and twice to die,

Once the heron, to set his path.

Twice the heron, to name him true.

Once the Dragon, for remembrance lost.

Twice the Dragon, for the price he must pay.

He had nodded, thanked her, and went on with his life now content to simply nod and hum in agreement whenever Mat recited another fantastical tale he had heard from some outlander or another. Even when Rand started channelling he did not worry, he had never seen a heron around Emond's Field before, and he had no idea what a dragon looked like. That had changed when Rand was eighteen. The year before, he had accidentally knocked over some furniture while practising a weave he hoped would cut down on the time it took him to tidy the house. Behind it, he had found a sword, and not like the ones he had made with Mat and Perrin once, whittled sticks of wood, no, this was a real sword with a blade that could be used as a mirror, and an edge that seemed like it could cut grass without pushing the stem.

Power-wrought, Lews Therin had murmured in his mind, not quite awed but certainly impressed, a blademaster's weapon. He had confronted his father about it the next time they worked in the field together and managed to extract some of the story from him. Tam first said he had purchased the sword off a merchant, but he had an odd look on his face as he said it and Rand doubted that you could buy a sword that belonged to a blademaster. Eventually, Tam had caved under his disbelieving glare and told Rand that as part of the follies of a misspent youth he had left the Two Rivers to see the world and got caught up in war, in which he had 'acquired' the sword. He had then stated the only good things he had gotten out of his adventures had been Kari and Rand and told him not to ask again.

Despite his curiosity over the subject, Rand had allowed his father his secrets, and did not push him to speak more on the subject. He did, however, ask Tam to teach him the sword. At first, he was refused, but Rand asked every day for a week and Tam eventually gave in, consenting to give Rand one lesson, so long as he did exactly as he was told, and he did not speak about it to his mother.

Tam had taken him to a small clearing in the woods one day whilst Kari was off meeting with the women's circle, the first half of the lesson consisted of Rand convincing him that he had, in fact, mastered the flame and void before he was given a bundle of wood lathes that Tam had bound together, which he was informed would serve as a practice sword. Tam then had Rand demonstrate how he thought the blade should be held, begrudgingly admitting that his actions, while sloppy, showed good instincts for someone who had never been instructed before. The forms he was then told to practice, many of which seemed to have ridiculous names, though Rand could see how they connected to the movements, left him aching in muscles he didn't even know he had.

Rand had evidently impressed his father as Tam led him out to the clearing again the next time Kari left the farm, and again the time after. Eventually, Tam produced his own practice blade and invited Rand to try and strike him. Excited with the progression in his training, Rand eagerly employed the forms Tam had taught him, only to find his 'blade' contemptuously brushed aside. Their session that day had ended with Rand having barely scored more than a handful of hits, whilst he himself was smarting from dozens of bruises, his father wryly commenting that a few hours practicing forms did not make one a blademaster.

Despite that, Tam did admit after one intense bout that Rand was a quick study at the art, certainly more so than Tam himself had been, he won his first match after a few months and after a year he was able to do so with some consistency. Finally, his father pronounced that he had little more that he could teach him, beyond acting as a regular sparring partner.

"Does this mean I'm a blademaster now?" Rand had asked, staring at the stylised heron on the hilt of Tam's blade.

Tam huffed a laugh, "if there's test to pass for that lad, I don't know what it would entail." Rand gave him a slightly suspicious look, but if he pressed with the knowledge that Tam's sword was the mark of a blademaster he would be obliged to reveal how he learned that and discussing the voice in his head was a conversation he did not intend to have that day, or any other, and so he let the subject drop.

Tam still joined Rand to practice every now and again, but otherwise Rand ventured to the clearing to practice alone. It was due to his newfound isolation that he finally tried wielding Saidin and the sword at the same time, something he had been eagerly awaiting since he had first picked up the weapon but dared not do in front of Tam.

The first time he seized saidin with the sword in his hand Rand recalled some half-faded memory of using the Power in a duel and acting on instinct he had replicated the flows – and then dropped the sword with a cry of pain. Later he had discovered that those weaves formed a burning blade made of the One Power and that in his eagerness he had formed the burning sword inside the metal one he was holding and had succeeded in heating up the blade enough to burn his hand.

After that he had retreated back to the house, feeling careless and embarrassed. Unfortunately, he could not use the one power heal himself and so was forced to care for the wound the slow way. Neither Tam nor Kari bought Rand's awkward excuse about touching a pot that he had forgotten was hot, but thankfully seemed to decide the injury was chastisement enough for whatever he'd actually done. It was not until a few days later that Rand studied the burn properly, while the skin was always going to be tighter than it was there did not appear to be any permanent damage, since removing the bandages he had not found any difficulty in completing his usual tasks and no infection appeared to have manifested. All that remained was a slight scar, which from the right angle might resemble a heron in flight.

The scar, and what it possibly represented, settled as a weight in the back of Rand's mind, but ever since his mind had acquired a squatter Rand had grown practiced at ignoring the parts that unsettled him.

The gentle bubbling of the pitcher roused Rand from his reminiscence and he rose again to pour the water into the bath, as he did so Tam returned to the room, a braced look on his face and his heron marked sword in his hand, sheathed but ready. His father hovered in the doorway and Rand stared, Tam had made much of the fact that under no circumstances was Rand to let Kari know he knew of the sword let alone that he was having lessons in it, and now he was bringing it openly into the house. Father and son held each other's gazes for a moment, something in Tam's eyes communicated to Rand without words, and went to retrieve his bow.

"Tam!" Kari's sharp tone cut from behind Rand as he moved to the corner where his bow stave was propped.

"There's strange things afoot Kari" his father replied, the chair creaking as he lowered himself into it, "Wit Congar may believe the Women's Circle does naught but gossip about what boy has caught Calle's eye this month, but I know that stranger in black will have come up in your meeting just as he did in mine." Rand returned to his seat and began stringing the bow, eyes fixed on Kari. She had her eyes narrowed, almost glaring, at the sword which now rested across Tam's lap.

"Until this rider is gone," she said between pursed lips, "and then it'll go away again." Her eyes darted to Rand for a second, and it was only with the benefit of years of hearing Lew Therin's sudden interjections that Rand did not start.

"Until the rider is gone," Tam echoed back. Bow strung, Rand settled back down waiting for the last pitcher to boil.

As steady sound of bubbling filled the air again Rand stood up, then paused and frowned. Underneath the sound of the water was another rhythmic beat, it almost sounded like the pounding of hooves.

"Were all the sheep in?" he asked, glancing at Tam.

"Yes," his father responded slowly, but Rand could see why the way his hand moved to the hilt of the sword and his muscles tensed that Tam could hear the hoofbeats too. They were closer now, more distinct and definitely heavier than any sheep they owned, not even the cows on the Ayellin farm would tread as hard as that. "Kari," Tam began, but whatever he was intending to say was cut short.

There was a great crash as all of a sudden the front window was smashed in, Tam leapt to his feet, drawing his sword in one smooth motion and moving towards the broken window. Rand hesitated for all but a second, before he pushed his thoughts into the void and seized saidin , instantly his vision sharpened, even as the sickly taste of the taint clawed at his soul, he could see large beasts with glowing gold and red eyes pushing forward towards the house. Shadowspawn! Lews Therin cried, returning as he often did when Rand channelled. Trollocs! KILL THEM!

Disguising his nausea, Rand lunged for his bow, just as Tam yelled out to him, "take Kari and run!" Rand's mother had also got to her feet, and was staring at the window, her face pale. "Go!" Tam yelled again, having planted himself in front of the window, "out the back, I'll meet you in the forest." Not needing to be told twice Rand grabbed Kari and headed for the back door, though she remained rooted to the spot his power enhanced strength was more than enough to drag her with him.

Then, there was a splintering sound and the front door was caved inwards, Tam nimbly dodged the shattered remains, stood before the being that had entered the opening. It was tall, taller than Tam, taller than Rand who had to be the tallest person in the village. Its body seemed to alternate between dusky skin and mottled black fur, all of it layered on top of inhumanly bulging muscles. Its head was the pointed snout of a bear, jaw open in a deafening roar, further back the hair disappeared and two very human ears protrude, a horrific contrast with the animalistic proportions of the rest of it's face. The body was covered in crude armour, clearly too small for the beast yet it had forced itself into it anyway, in one hand it carried large axe which was dripping with blood, and the other a board of wood that might once have resembled a shield. Its eyes were black, and full of a sadistic intelligence, it fixed them on Tam and roared again, Kari screamed behind him and Tam cried out something. All the voices mixed with the incoherent yelling of Lews Therin, and Rand watched in horror as his father stepped forward, raising his sword to meet the monster's axe.

AN: Well, would you look at that, I'm alive! We've reached Winternight, though I'm sorry to leave you on a cliff hanger, I wanted to put something out while I had the time and energy for it. The next chapter may well be out next week, it may take another two years, who knows, certainly not I.

I am aware that in the books the attack happens whilst Tam and Rand are sitting down for dinner, not running a bath, but it's been two years since I started this chapter and I honestly couldn't tell you why I changed it. If it bothers you like it bothers me, imagine that Kari was making dinner while the boys were off doing whatever was needed to close up the farm, and because of her woman's touch everything domestic in the al'Thor household runs a bit smoother.

Reviews:

Lews Therin:

Thank you very much! The voice will be very mad during the raid, as you can no doubt tell from the end of this chapter. Lews' relative lucidity thus far has been because Rand's life is pretty dull at the moment, canon Rand had to deal with taint induced madness as well as all the PTSD from the horrible stuff that kept happening to him, without the latter this Rand is in a bit better shape.

Rand won't be burning anyone to cinders, he's doing his upmost to keep his channelling hidden, and unlike canon Kari is around and conscious for the journey. That said, there's plenty of subtle ways to use the power to kill, as Siuan said, if you can use the power to start a heart you can stop it as well, in the chaos of it all who's going to notice if a couple of Trollocs drop for unknown reasons, or if a weapon changed trajectory to miss?

Sorry it's taken 2 years to get the next chapter up, hopefully we'll be at Shadar Logoth before another two have passed!

Neqa'elis:

Glad you're enjoying the story, you're quite right that no one has spotted Rand channelling yet, Tam and Kari have a suspicion that something might be up, but honestly "he can channel" is not something people tend to consider, both because it's unlikely and because they really don't want it to be true.

Saint:

Thank you! 2 years is technically "soon" on a geological timescale?

Guest:

Thank you, glad you're enjoying it!

Caver Floyd:

One of Lews' flaws is arrogance, he doesn't trust Moiraine but he's confidant he could take her in a fight. Plus, she's been bound, sure you'd be a bit wary of a criminal, but less so if they've come before wrapped in chains. Rand's pretty good at not revealing he knows too much, but that's partly due to there not being much for Lews to recognise in Emond's Field, rest assured there'll be plenty of opportunities for Rand to overplay his hand when they get on the road.

Janizary, Mikki88, X4n3:

Glad you're liking it, I promise that it will always come back to this story eventually, even if it takes a while.

the DragonBard:

Hmm, I have no idea when Fades started to be called Fades, but Lews isn't actually Lews Therin manifesting in Rand's head, it's Rand's subconscious splitting off the memories it doesn't know what to do with, so if Lews uses some terminology he shouldn't know, just imagine it's Rand's memories bleeding a bit into him, just as Lews bleeds some of his memories to Rand.

magnus374:

I hope you'll like everything going forward as well!

DarkFayt:

That's the plan! Half the problems in the series could be solved if people just talked to each other, and I plan to make them. While I love the books, I don't have the patience to write however many million words are in them, so if I can shorten some plots through the magical power of decent communication skills, so be it!

shiffle:

Next chapter is here! I hope the next one will follow soon.

quietwraith:

Glad you like it, the WoT fandom is dreadfully short of good AU fics, I hope I'm helping to change that.

xfel:

Rand does on some level recognise that Lews Therin is the dragon, he's just being wilfully ignorant because being a chaneller was a hard enough pill to swallow. I'm looking forward to writing more Moiraine and Rand interactions, luckily for Rand his suspicion will have a cover in that people are usually wary of people who can wield the power.