In the morning, Moiraine was surprised that Nynaeve didn't start a new fight after she told her that she couldn't remember anything. The wisdom only looked at Lan as if she wanted to say I-told-you-so. The Aes Sedai didn't like that look at all. It meant that her warder was talking to the wisdom about her, while she was unconscious. She would rather face the fury of the young woman than lose her warder to this… child.

During the day, they thought about where to go next. Egwene studied the map, while she tried to think about a place where Rand could hide. Where he would go. They all knew that it wasn't Tar Valon and not the Two Rivers, but apart from those places, he could be anywhere.

Loial tried to help as well by retelling his conversations with Rand. The ogier was finally able to sit upright, but he still didn't leave the floor.

When the sun was setting slowly, they finished their lunch early, since Lan wanted Moiraine to be in bed before the bond between her and Rand would be formed. Meanwhile, Nynaeve made hot water. This way, the Aes Sedai would be able to drink the herbs.

"Are you nervous?", Egwene asked the woman in blue.

Moiraine smiled at her. "Why should I be nervous?"

"Well, you feel Rand's pain, and even if it is not yours, I assume that it must be exhausting. Especially, since you can't shield yourself with the One Power."

"I'll be fine, Egwene."

Lan, who was sitting beside his Aes Sedai, looked at her with raised eyebrows, but he didn't say anything. Everyone was able to see how pale Moiraine was getting. Although she had slept after regaining her consciousness, the connection was still hurting her.

Nynaeve appeared beside Lan with a teacup in her hands. Lan hesitated when he saw the steamy cup, then he took it out of her hands and turned towards Moiraine, who had seen his hesitation. She also saw Nynaeve's urging look, although Lan was already concentrated on his bonded woman.

"Here." The warder put the steamy cup in front of Moiraine, who was just looking at it. She saw some herbs swimming on the surface and it smelled… sweet. Whatever this was, Moiraine was sure that this was part of a plan, which she didn't know of.

Carefully, she shoved the cup back to her warder. "I think I'll pass." Lan stopped the cup midway and gave her his best Do-as-I-say-look. Sadly, Moiraine was able to play this game as well. "I'm not thirsty."

"Drink it." Since the tea was hot, Moiraine needed to move her fingers if she didn't want to burn herself. She took the cup and shoved it to Egwene's side of the table. But Lan just took it out of her hands and placed it back in front of her. "Drink it, Moiraine."

"I told you that I'm not thirsty."

"This will help you, while you're unconscious."

"I'd rather have a clear mind when I take the involuntary nap."

Lan hissed angrily: "Drink it or I'll make you!"

Calmly, the Aes Sedai looked in the eyes of her warder. She saw that he was pissed at her and that he was close to an actual outburst. Normally, she wouldn't think about it, since she had the One Power to protect herself. But now… she didn't have this protection and Lan knew it. Still, she wanted to be damned if she would drink this tea without questioning it. Not when Nynaeve had made it.

Without saying another word, Moiraine stood up and made her way to her room. She didn't want to fight with Lan, not even verbally. Light, she couldn't even remember when it had been the last time, they had fought this often as they had in those past days.

A strong arm moved around her waist and pulled her to the nearest wall until her back was pressed against the wall. It was Lan! He held her in place with his own body, while he grabbed her chin to force the tea into her. Immediately, Moiraine fought against him. She didn't have her power, but she wouldn't drink this tea. Sadly, she couldn't reach the cup since Lan was holding it out of her reach, while he was blocking her attacks.

"Let go of me!"

Lan growled, but it was a stupid situation. He couldn't give her the tea, while she was able to slap it out of his hands. Meanwhile, she couldn't get away, as long as he was pressing her against the wall.

Suddenly, Nynaeve appeared at his right side and grabbed Moiraine's left hand. "Nynaeve, what are you…?"

"Egwene! Now!", the wisdom interrupted Lan's question, then the young woman from the Two Rivers was on Lan's left side and took Moiraine's other hand.

Lan saw the panic in Moiraine's eyes when she realized that she was trapped, and at the same time, her eyes were begging him not to do it. She shook her head, and he felt himself hesitating. By the light, she was his Aes Sedai! What was he doing?

"LAN!" Nynaeve's growl reminded him that they were doing this, so, he would get access to Moiraine's head. They needed a direction to follow Rand, or Moiraine would get sick from this weird bond very soon.

The Aes Sedai saw the change in Lan's face and shook her head vehemently until Lan's grip became tighter. She couldn't move her head anymore, so, she pressed her lips to a thin line when Lan was holding the cup to them.

"Moiraine, please." She saw that he wasn't doing this out of pleasure. He hated every second of it, but she couldn't do it. Whatever this tea was doing to her, she was certain that she wouldn't like it.

Carefully, the warder increased his pressure on her jaw until she couldn't take it anymore. As soon as her lips parted, he released the pressure and poured the tea into her. Moiraine fought against their hold one last time, but it was useless. She wasn't strong enough.

In the end, she had to swallow the tea. Lan stepped back, and Nynaeve and Egwene released her arms. The Aes Sedai glared at her warder, but she didn't say a word. Then she pushed herself away from the wall and left the throne room. Lan looked at the empty teacup in his hands.

'Please, let me be right. If this won't work then I made her mad for no reason.'

"We have to end this." At least, Nynaeve looked uncomfortable, as if she felt guilty for what she had made him do. "You see how weak she gets, and none of us can help her. We have to find Rand or this will go on until she dies of exhaustion."

The warder didn't respond. Instead, he returned to the table to put the cup down. He would give his Aes Sedai a few minutes before he would follow her. The moon was almost up and this would mean that she would fall unconscious very soon. He had to be by her side when this was happening.

When he opened her door, she was already lying under the blankets and her eyes were closed. Lan smiled when he saw that she had curled up in a ball as if this could protect her. Sighing, he took off his tunic and his boots.

"Leave."

Of course, she didn't want him here tonight. Not after what he had done. Well, it looked as if he would have another fight with her.

When he tried to move the blanket, her eyes shot open and she glared at him. "I said, leave." Her voice was threatening, but Lan knew her well enough. He wasn't afraid of her.

"I'm sorry."

"What will those herbs do to me?"

"I'm not going to tell you. It's an attempt to get answers. Answers you can't give us since you can't remember anything."

Her eyes were still cold, and when he tried to lift the blanket, she pulled it closer to herself. "Leave. Tonight, I want to be alone."

"I'm not going to leave you, Moiraine." Lan didn't care about the blanket. He lay down beside her and closed his eyes. He didn't know how long it would take until the bond would form again, but he couldn't do anything if he wanted her to be clueless.

Suddenly, he felt how the blanket touched his bare chest and he opened his eyes again. Moiraine tried to cover him with the blanket without moving one inch. Lan smiled, which earned him another glare. "Stop smiling. I just don't want you to get sick. The nights are cold here."

"Are they? Well, I have a solution for this problem." Moiraine shrieked in surprise when he grabbed her and pulled her on top of him. This way, she was covering his bare chest. "See? I'm covered and we both keep each other warm."

"That's not funny, Lan. I'm still angry with you." She pushed herself up on her elbow. This way, she had a better position to glare at him. Gently, Lan cupped her face in his hands.

"I've sworn to protect you. Why can't you just trust me?"

"Because you are not yourself since you met the wisdom. Before her, you obeyed when I told you not to do something." Lan raised his eyebrow doubting, and Moiraine rolled her eyes. "Fine, most of the time, you obeyed." The eyebrow didn't move. "Sometimes? Well, you definitely listened to me more than you do now."

"That's not true, and you know it. You're just searching for a reason to blame Nynaeve."

Moiraine pulled a face at him, then she tried to move away from him. His legs were free again when her arms gave up. Quickly, Lan bedded her head on his chest and laid her arm over his stomach. Gently, he brushed her brown locks out of her face, while he felt her breathing slowing down.

"This… isn't…" Then she was unconscious again. Lan pulled the blanket over her and himself, then he took a deep breath.

Nynaeve entered the room, slowly. She locked eyes with Lan, who was feeling very nervous. "Are you ready?"

"Am I not getting some of your tea?"

"You need a clear mind to break through the barrier. I'm afraid you have to do this on your own." Lan nodded in agreement. With one hand, he held the unconscious woman close to him, the other one laid on her head. Maybe, this would get him the access he needed.

The warder closed his eyes, then he searched for the bond within him until he reached the barrier, which was shutting him off from Moiraine's feelings and thoughts. He tried to see it visually in front of his eyes, then he imagined how he would touch it. The barrier held, but it wasn't a hard brick wall. Instead, it felt like a thin layer, which moved like water.

'Let me in, Moiraine. You know me. You're not alone. Let me in.'

The thin layer was swallowing his hand, so, he pushed forward until he felt how his mind was passing the barrier.