It didn't take long and Nynaeve and Egwene officially became novices. The two women shared a room, while Rand, Perrin, and Loial rented two rooms at a tavern in town, where the yellow Ajah of the Aes Sedai tried to help Mat. Neither of them was happy when Moiraine told them that the dagger from Shadar Lagoth wasn't in the White Tower anymore. Nynaeve wanted to look for herself, but Moiraine didn't tell her, where she had hidden the dagger, and Lan was just as bad.

Since Moiraine was back in the tower, the Blue Ajah kept her busy by asking about her traveling and any news she had received. Especially, Maigan was taking her time with Moiraine, so, the poor woman was barely getting some sleep.

Nynaeve couldn't believe that Moiraine was too busy to deal with the search for the dagger, but finally, Lan convinced her when he explained that he hadn't seen his Aes Sedai in days. Although she once waited a whole day in front of Moiraine's bedroom until the night fell and an Aes Sedai sent her to bed, just to be sure.

A week later, Lan decided that it was time to search for his Aes Sedai to ensure himself that she was alright. He kept knocking against the door, where the Blue Ajah was holding their meetings until Maigan opened the door and used the air to freeze him. The sitter of the Blue Ajah had short brown hair and strict brown eyes.

"What do you want?"

"I want to see Moiraine Sedai."

Maigan stepped aside. This way, Lan was able to see Moiraine, who was sitting in a chair opposite Maigan's desk, and even without the bond, it was clear how exhausted the woman was. She gave him a small smile, which didn't reassure him at all. "I'm good, Lan."

"You saw her. Now leave."

Maigan released the air around Lan, but the warder stepped forward until he was standing right in front of the smaller woman. "I want to talk to her."

"You're stepping over your boundaries, warder. This is important and…"

"You are talking for days! I haven't seen her in a week! Without the bond, I wouldn't know if she would be doing anything else than talking to you! She is my Aes Sedai and I demand to talk to her!"

With the help of the air, Maigan pushed the strong man backward before she returned to her desk. "You have two minutes, Moiraine. Satisfy your warder and then make him disappear."

Moiraine rolled her eyes at Maigan's back, but she stood up and walked to Lan, who had regained his composure. Gently, he laid his hand on her cheek. She looked pale, and he felt her tiredness and exhaustion. There was no way, she could keep up with this interrogation any longer. He sent her his worries through the bond, which made her smile and she laid her hands on his chest. "I'm good."

"How long does she want to keep you in here?", he whispers.

A sarcastic laugh escaped Moiraine's lips, then she whispered back: "For as long as she wishes."

"Why don't you try to talk to…?"

"She couldn't do anything. This is Maigan's punishment for my terrible behavior against the Amyrlin. In her eyes, I did this on purpose, so I wouldn't have to stay in the tower. And she is right about it, which means, I have to get through this until she decides that there is nothing new, she can get out of me."

"You need a break."

Moiraine smiled at him, then she shook her head. This torture would be over soon. She just had to hang on a little longer.

"Your time is up, Moiraine.", Maigan said without looking up from her papers "Tell him to leave."

The young woman sighed heavily. How much she wished she could leave this room and Maigan's question behind her. Instead, she leaned her forehead against Lan's chest and tried to copy his strength. She would need it if she wanted to survive. Then she took a step back, but Lan put his arm around her waist and pulled her close against him, while his other hand encircled her neck. He didn't want to let her go. There had to be a way to save her from this woman.

"Lan.", Moiraine pleaded. She was thankful for his worries regarding her well-being, but right now, she couldn't anger Maigan any further. She didn't want to stick with the Aes Sedai forever.

"If you need help with your warder, sister, I am more than happy to help you."

"No." Again, Moiraine took a step back, and this time, Lan didn't hold her back. Only his left hand was moving over her arm until he intertwined his fingers with hers. Reassuring, Moiraine squeezed his hand, then she stepped back further into the room of her fellow sister. "There is no need, Maigan. Lan understands that he can't stay. I'm… LAN!"

Before Moiraine had been able to release Lan's hand as well, the warder had tightened his grip and had pulled her back to him. Moiraine, who hadn't expected this, stumbled forward, then Lan ducked, which allowed him to throw his Aes Sedai over his shoulder. "LAN!"

"I'm sorry, but it's time for a break."

"What…?!" Maigan rose from her chair when Lan run down the corridor already. He just had to get out of the reach of the other blue Aes Sedai, and then they would be safe. He didn't care what the other Aes Sedai were thinking when he passed them, but everyone was looking confused and probably most of them thought that he had lost his mind.

"Lan! Would you please stop?" He didn't. They weren't safe in the tower. If they would stay in here, Maigan would find them within the next hour. No, they had to leave the White Tower. This way, it would take a while until someone would be on to them. And Moiraine would get the break she needed so desperately. "Lan!"

"Quiet." This was his only response, while he kept running. Light, she needed to lower her voice or she would guide Maigan right to them, although he was doing his best to get some distance between them. Luckily, she stayed quiet, then he had reached the entrance.

Gently, he placed Moiraine back on her feet. He couldn't carry her out of the tower. This would definitely look weird and bring them more attention than they could use. "What in lights name…?" But he didn't let her finish her question. Instead, he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him out on the street. She almost had to run since she couldn't keep up with his pace, while he was moving through the crowd.

Finally, he stopped and she stumbled against him. "What… have you… done, Lan?"

"I couldn't let you go back in there."

"Maigan… she will kill you… for what you've done. And she will… kill me for not… stopping you."

Lan laughed and pulled Moiraine close to him. "No, she will be pissed that's for sure. But honestly… I don't care. She kept you a prisoner for a week. You are exhausted and tired, and that is something, I won't forgive her."

"She will send other sisters after us and you know that she will find us. After all, she belongs to the Blue Ajah, and you know that we have our informants everywhere."

"Then we have to go somewhere, she won't find us that easily." Smiling, Lan moved onward, and Moiraine had no choice but to follow him.

"Lan, this is crazy. Where are we going?" But the warder didn't answer. Moiraine threw one last look at the White Tower, then she kept her eyes on Lan.

'Screw Maigan and her endless questions. Lan is right. I need a break from this madness.'

She mended her pace, so, she was able to stay at Lan's side, while he was searching his way through the crowd. An honest smile appeared on her lips when she thought about Maigan's angry face when she wouldn't be able to find them.

Lan's eyes connected with hers, and she felt his amusement through the bond about her childish joy over their rebellious act. But he couldn't foul her. He was enjoying this just as much as she did.

After walking through the city for quite a while, Lan finally found a small teahouse, which they had never visited before. It was close to the gates of Tar Valon, and it would take Maigan and the other Aes Sedai probably the rest of the day until they would find them there.

Contently and relaxed, the Aes Sedai and her warder sat on the balcony of the teahouse, enjoying the warm sun on their skin, while they listened to the people, who were passing on the street.

"We should do this more often."

Confused, Lan opened his eyes. "Enjoying some tea?"

"No.", Moiraine laughed "Although, I would never say no to a good cup of tea. But I meant, this break. We should leave the tower more often to get away from everything."

"Maybe next time, you don't do it to anger another Aes Sedai." When Moiraine opened her eyes, she saw Alanna, guarded by Maksim and Ihvon, standing on the balcony with her hands on her hips and a smile on her lips. "Do you know that every Aes Sedai in Tar Valon is searching for you two?"

"Well, you're the first one we see.", Lan stated calmly.

"Maigan is furious.", Alanna explained "And she wants your heads."

Sighing, Moiraine grabbed her teacup. "I assume she ordered everyone to bring us in. Am I allowed to finish my tea?"

Alanna's smile grew, then she sat down in a chair beside Moiraine. "Maigan ordered everyone to bring you back to the tower when we would find you. However, I don't recall that she said anything about WHEN exactly we should return with you."

Moiraine smiled when she saw the mischievous glint in her friend's eyes. "That's a real shame, I would say. Can we offer you some tea?"

"Do you think they serve some snacks as well? This whole search has made me hungry."

Ihvon left the balcony to find the owner, while Maksim sat down beside the green Aes Sedai, who was already pouring some tea into another teacup.

Meanwhile, Nynaeve and Egwene stood on the street and watched the little balcony. They couldn't hear what the Aes Sedai and her warders were talking about, but they were obviously having fun. The wisdom raised her eyebrow when she saw how Lan was smiling and laughing with his fellow brothers. It felt strange to see him… so happy.

"It doesn't look like Lan is in trouble." Egwene sounded confused when she turned to her friend. "What do you wanna do?"

Nynaeve sighed. "Nothing."

"But Liandrin Sedai…"

"She lied, Egwene. She lied to let us do her work."

"Aes Sedai can't lie."

"Lan may be in trouble because of Moiraine, but I don't think that she's responsible. Lan hasn't seen her in days, and even we couldn't get a glimpse of her. However, I believe that he did something inappropriate to see her."

Egwene's eyes returned to the balcony. "And since they are sitting with Alanna Sedai drinking tea, you don't think that it is something terrible."

"Lan would move a mountain for Moiraine, but if he would fear the wrath of the Aes Sedai, he would've taken her far away from here." Finally, Nynaeve pulled her eyes away from the man she loved and started to walk back to the White Tower. "If Liandrin wants to find Moiraine, she has to do it on her own. I'm not gonna help her. This woman is a snake and I don't like it to be used."

Egwene smiled, while she threw a last glance at Moiraine and Lan. She knew that Nynaeve would do anything to make Moiraine uncomfortable, but since Lan was involved… Whether she liked it or not, Nynaeve and Moiraine had something in common and that was Lan's well-being. But Egwene would never tell this her friend. The wisdom would have her head for this.