Lan awoke in the morning when a beam of sunlight reached his eyes. Surprised, he noticed that Moiraine was still in his arms and asleep. She hadn't moved at all.

The warder took a deep breath, then he closed his eyes again and searched for the bond between Moiraine and him. He was rewarded with silence. No feelings, no presence, nothing. He was alone with his thoughts and feelings. He sighed and buried his nose in Moiraine's hair. It felt strange to be close to her and not be able to feel her.

'Light. It looks as if Nynaeve is right. A part of myself is missing. I definitely need to find a way to unmask our bond.'

Suddenly, Moiraine shrugged then she opened her eyes. Lan waited until she realized where she was before he moved his hand over her back. "You're still here."

"Looks like it.", Lan murmured in her hair.

"I'm surprised that Nynaeve isn't here to look for you."

"You mean to yell at you."

"She drives me crazy."

"She wants to know what happened to Rand. You can't tell me that you wouldn't ask questions if someone would tell you that Siuan was gone." Immediately, Moiraine stiffened by his words, then she tried to push herself up. Lan sighed and pulled her close to his chest again. "Don't."

"Get out of my room!"

"Moiraine, please stop being so stubborn. I'm not asking about Rand." She stopped in her attempts, but Lan noticed that she was on high alert about what he would do next. His other hand found its way back to her hair, which he stroked gently until he felt how her body relaxed again. "How do you feel?"

Her fingertips were drawing circles on his bare chest, but she didn't answer. Without a warning, Lan turned her on her back, so, he was lying on top of her. "Lan!", she complained, but he didn't care.

"I told you that you should talk to me."

"Well, I'm not in the mood. So, leave." Tired, she put her arm over her eyes to avoid his staring. As if she could get rid of him that easily. She should know him better by now.

Finally, Moiraine realized that her warder wouldn't move, so, she tried to move him. It was hard for Lan to keep his stoic face, while this woman was trying unsuccessfully to move his bigger and heavier body. When this didn't work, she tried to move her own body, but still, he was heavier than her and he had pinned her down very well. It only took her a few minutes, then she let herself fall back and released a short, frustrated scream.

This time, Lan couldn't hide his smile. "Are you ready to talk now?"

"No!" She threw him her best evil eye, which didn't work on him. Frustrated, she let her head fall back on the pillow and closed her eyes again. "Why don't you go and look after Nynaeve and the others?"

"Because I want answers."

"And I'd like some space. You're heavy."

"Talk to me and I will move." Lan watched carefully how Moiraine was trying to calm herself. He felt how her fingers were moving as if she was trying to use the One Power. She probably wished, she could use the air to remove him. He reached out his hand and cupped her cheek, while his thumb was gently caressing her skin. Immediately, she leaned into his touch before she moved her head to the other side, but he didn't let go.

"Moiraine." Her eyes fluttered open when he whispered her name softly, and he saw the pain in them. "Talk."

"I don't know what you want to hear."

"Yes, you do."

"I… I still can't channel. And I can't unmask our bond. And when I get out of this bed, Nynaeve will be questioning me again, which drives me crazy."

"What happened at the eye of the world?"

"Lan…" She didn't try to push him away, which was progress in his eyes. Still, he didn't want to hear any lies.

"I'm not Nynaeve, Moiraine. I don't judge you, I will not yell at you and I definitely will not slap you. But I want to know what happened down there before I had arrived. You left with a boy to defeat the Dark One, but when I find you, you're broken-" He felt the shrug in her body when she heard his words and he saw how she lost control over her face for a few seconds, but he continued "-and you're holding a piece of the unbreakable heartstone in your hand. No signs of a fight, and there was not even a body. What happened?"

The Aes Sedai needed a moment until she had her emotions under control. Finally, she said: "I don't know what happened between the Dark One and Rand."

"Don't give me one of your obscure speeches."

Moiraine opened her mouth when they heard a hesitating knock at the door. "Moiraine? Lan? Are you awake?" It was Egwene. "We made breakfast if you want to join us."

Lan dropped his head until his forehead was resting on Moiraine's collarbone. How was it possible that he couldn't end a conversation with his Aes Sedai? Why was there always someone or something that was giving her a possibility to avoid his questions?

He felt how Moiraine was breathing in. "We'll be there.", she answered before Lan was able to stop her. His hand covered her mouth a second too late. Now, they couldn't pretend anymore to sleep, and she knew it.

"This isn't over yet," he whispered, while he felt how her lips moved under his palm into a smile "Stop smiling. I can't protect you if I don't know anything. I'm your warder and I stand by your side, no matter what. But I don't like it to be left in the dark."

Her smile faded when he got up and left her on the bed. With pain in her eyes, the Aes Sedai watched how her warder put on his clothes again. "Maybe it is time for you to bond a new Aes Sedai."

Lan froze at her words, while Moiraine put herself in an upright position. She didn't just say that to him! "Nynaeve will be a very powerful Aes Sedai when she goes to the White Tower. Way more powerful than I will ever be. She will need a strong warder, who will protect her at any cost."

Suddenly, Lan stormed to the bed and kneeled beside her, then he grabbed her chin and pulled her face to him until they were nose to nose. "I want you to listen to me very carefully now.", Lan said in a deep threatening tone "Because I won't repeat myself. I have an Aes Sedai. And I will never break my vow, just because there is someone, who is more powerful. You, Moiraine Damodred, you are MY Aes Sedai and this will never change."

"I'm no Aes Sedai anymore.", Moiraine whispered, while tears were running down her cheeks "I can't touch the source."

"We'll find out what the Dark One did to you. And the first thing you do – when you have your powers back – will be to unmask our bond."

This time, she didn't answer, but more tears ran down her cheeks, so, he laid his forehead against hers. "Say it."

"We have to go." Moiraine's voice sounded hoarse. She wanted to pull back, but Lan didn't allow it.

"Say it.", he repeated and his tone became stricter "Say that you understand that I'm not leaving you." The Aes Sedai gulped, then she whispered: "I understand."

"Then never ever tell me to bond another Aes Sedai. Never again!" With those words, he released his grip on her. "And now we should go before Nynaeve comes looking for us."

When they entered the throne room, Nynaeve eyed them suspiciously, but she didn't say anything. Egwene, who obviously didn't want another fight, smiled at them.

"Good morning. How do you feel, Moiraine?"

"Better, Egwene. Thank you."

"We were worried about you when you collapsed last night. Did we do anything wrong?"

Moiraine smiled at the young woman to calm her. "Please, don't worry. There was nothing you could have done to prevent it." The Aes Sedai turned to the ogier, who was still lying on the floor. "How are you doing, Loial?"

"I'm good, Moiraine Sedai. I'm glad that you are alright. You're looking better than yesterday."

"Thank you, Loial." The ogier furrowed his forehead, something Moiraine noticed immediately. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm just… I assumed that I would see… I don't know." He then realized that everyone was looking at him. "Well, last night I saw… I saw your bond."

Moiraine's eyes widen in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"In those few seconds, before you collapsed, your bond became visible to me. And when Lan carried you out of the room, I saw it too. But today… I can't see it."

Slowly, Lan walked to Moiraine's side. "You saw our bond? But it is masked and Moiraine doesn't have her power."

"Oh." Now it was Loial, whose eyes got big. "I'm sorry. I didn't see the bond between you two."

"That makes no sense. What bond do you mean?"

"I'm talking about the bond from Moiraine Sedai. Well, the other bond she has."

"She doesn't have another bond.", Lan explained "I should know about it since I'm the one, who can feel her."

Nynaeve entered the discussion and said: "But you don't know what she did after she left Fal Dara and went to the eye of the world." Her eyes were narrowed on the back of Moiraine's head.

Lan shook his head. "That's nonsense. Moiraine doesn't have…" The warder's eyes fell on the quiet Aes Sedai, who hadn't moved or talked since Loial's announcement. But Lan saw that her mind was racing, and fear was suddenly erupting in his heart. His fingers grabbed her upper arm, and slowly, she turned her head to him. His eyes were searching in hers for an answer to his unspoken question. Did she bond herself to someone else? But she belonged to the Blue Ajah. They only had one warder and…

Moiraine couldn't hold his gaze anymore and suddenly, Lan knew what had happened. "You are bonded to Rand."

"What?!" Egwene and Perrin were shocked, but Nynaeve read the bottom line of Lan's statement. "Rand is alive."

"Tell me why.", Lan demanded from his Aes Sedai, who shook her head.

"Lan, it's not what you think. I didn't…"

"Is this the reason why you didn't want to tell me what had happened?"

"No, I…"

"You masked our bond, so, I wouldn't notice that you bond another one to you?!" Angry, Lan took a step back, but Moiraine closed the distance between them immediately and grabbed his tunic.

"This is not what happened!"

"Then tell me what happened, Moiraine! Why did you bond yourself to Rand?!"

"I didn't! I masked our bond, so, you wouldn't follow me! So, you would be safe here! But I swear to you that I didn't bond myself to Rand!"

Lan wanted to yell at her, but then he saw the panic in her eyes, and his anger faded. She was telling the truth. She didn't do it. Carefully, he cupped her face in his hands.

"Why do you have a bond with him?"

"I don't know how this has happened. I didn't ask for it and I definitely didn't plan it." Tears were running down her cheeks, and Lan wiped them away. "We went to the eye and suddenly, Rand became unconscious. I couldn't wake him, then the Dark One appeared and did… something. Maybe, he bonded me with Rand, while he was taking my powers. I swear that I don't know it." There was still no reaction on Lan's face as if he was waiting for something. "Please, Lan. You have to believe me. I would never bond myself to someone else. I don't want another warder. In my whole life, there was only one time, when I wanted to bond myself to someone. And that was when I met you."

Lan nodded, then he laid his forehead against hers. She had always been with him and had never mentioned that she wanted to release him.

"Can you feel him? Can you feel Rand?" Suddenly, Nynaeve was standing beside them, eager to get some news about their friend. Moiraine closed her eyes, but Lan wanted those answers as well. He felt how jealousy was pricking him just from the thought that Rand would be able to feel Moiraine, while he, her warder, couldn't.

"Answer her.", he whispered, and the Aes Sedai took a deep breath.

"No, I can't feel him." Something didn't sound right. Again, there was something she didn't say. Something she left out, so, Lan had to fill the gaps.

"But you have. After we had left the eye of the world and now, you have felt him at some point. This mentioning of your bond wasn't new to you. You must have known about it."

Moiraine was biting her lips, and Lan knew that she was back to thinking about every word she would say. But right now, he had enough of this game. He didn't need her to say anything. He could take guesses and read the answers in her eyes.

"The question is: when did you notice the connection? After I found you, you were barely able to walk. You were too weak. And then you…"

"Didn't Loial say that he saw the bond BEFORE she collapsed and while she was unconscious?" Perrin asked with furrowed brows "Couldn't it be that this was the moment where…? The young man left the rest of his question to everyone's imagination.

But his questions had been correct. Lan felt it when Moiraine shifted. He leaned back to have a better look at her face. "You two aren't connected the whole time. It only happens when something extraordinary happens. Like when…"

"Rand is dreaming." Now it was Egwene, who interrupted Lan's thoughts. "Rand used to dream about the Dark One. And it was getting dark when Moiraine collapsed. What if they connect as soon as Rand falls asleep?"

"This means that you can find him.", Nynaeve said and her eyes started to shine with new hope "Where is he?"

"I don't know." Nynaeve growled and took a step closer, but Lan moved between the two women. Until now, they had been doing just fine and he didn't want the wisdom to ruin it, by slapping the Aes Sedai again.

"Moiraine Sedai." Loial sounded apologetic as if he didn't want to get caught between the fronts, but apparently, even the ogier wanted answers. "Please, tell me. When you should be connected to Rand again, could you find him?"

"I don't know, Loial."

"Did you see anything, while you were bonded?"

"If I did, then I don't remember." Again, Nynaeve's face showed signs of brutality, but Lan gave her a warning look. "The only thing I remember is that I heard Rand's voice and that he was desperate, but in the end, I felt his pain and then I woke up."

"In light's name, we have to find him." Egwene sounded terrified. "He is out there on his own. We have to help him."

Nynaeve gritted her teeth angrily. She finally had got answers, but there were still too many questions left. "Why wasn't Rand with you when Lan found you? What did you say to him?"

Moiraine laughed sarcastically. "Of course, you assume that it had to be me, who did something to make him leave. What do you think did I do? That I threatened him that I would kill him? Or worse? That I would take him back to Tar Valon? Back to the Aes Sedai, so, they can gentle him?" Another short laugh. Nynaeve's cheeks turned red in anger, but Lan touched her arm to calm her down.

"If we fight against each other, then we will never find Rand."

"Then make her talk!", Nynaeve growled and turned back to Egwene "I'm tired of her holding back information!"

Lan sighed and pinched his nose. Why did he have to be the one, who had to make sure that they wouldn't fight? He was stuck between two strong women. Tired, he turned to his Aes Sedai and took a good look at her. He knew her for many years now. For twenty years, they were searching the Dragon Reborn. They had traveled through the land, had visited many towns and villages. She wouldn't let go of the Dragon so easily. Not after all this time.

"Moiraine wouldn't let Rand go just like that. If she would have had the One Power, she would've brought him back to Fal Dara. But without it…" The Aes Sedai just looked at him and waited for him to continue. Lan shook his head. "Rand left on his own and you couldn't stop him. But why did you try to lie about what had happened to him?"

Moiraine took a deep breath, then she looked at Egwene, Nynaeve, Perrin, and Loial. Everyone was watching her, waiting for her explanation.

Well, they already know that Rand is alive. It won't change anything if I tell them about Rand's fear.

"Because Rand asked me to. He knows that men, who can use the One Power, give into the darkness and eventually hurt their family and friends. Rand is afraid that he will hurt you, so, he left."

"Such an idiot!" Nynaeve smashed her fist on the table. "He should've come to us! We had come this far now and we did it together! How is this any different?!"

Egwene stepped forward. "I beg you, Moiraine. Can't you tell us anything about his whereabouts? Rand can be stubborn from time to time, but he would never hurt us. We need to find him."

"I wish I knew where he went, but he didn't tell me, Egwene."

"What about this bond? Can't you contact him when he is dreaming again?"

"I don't have control over this connection. Obviously, I don't even have a say in it, if I want to be in his dreams. And when I awake, I can't remember anything."

Suddenly, Nynaeve stepped beside Egwene. "But now, you know about the bond. Last night, it was a surprise to all of us. Maybe tonight, you can find out more."

Moiraine looked at Lan, who shrugged with his shoulders. "We have to make a new plan, where we go next, and how we can get your power back. There is no way we are leaving Fal Dara today."

The Aes Sedai sighed, then she walked to the table, where their breakfast was standing. "I won't make any promises. I've never heard about this kind of bond before. I don't even know if I will be back in his dreams tonight."

"There is only one way to find out.", Nynaeve answered "But now, it is time to fill our stomachs."