Reviews are still very appreciated :D

Moiraine lay on Siuan's bed, wearing a white nightgown of her best friend. Siuan wore a similar one, while she was lying on the bed as well, with her head on Moiraine's stomach.

"Alright, so, the Dark One kind of shielded you AND bonded you to the Dragon."

"Yes." Moiraine played with one of Siuan's locks, while the other woman was trying to comprehend the full story.

"But you didn't know about the bond until the boy fell asleep for the first time."

"I lost my consciousness every time Rand dreamed about the Dark One, and since he had run away, we never knew when this would happen again."

"And this symbol…"

"The ogier noticed that it was actually a run. A protection run, to be precise. He assumed that I could break the shield when I would be in danger and that Lan had to be present. But it never worked. Not when the Trollocs attacked us and not whenever I was trying to touch the source."

Siuan turned on her side and lifted her upper body until she was able to look at her best friend. She cupped Moiraine's cheek in her palm and gently stroked it with her thumb. "Tell me about Kaslian."

Moiraine closed her eyes and turned her head away. She didn't want to talk about her brother. The unpleasant encounter with him and the Whitecloaks was still very vividly in her mind, although she had healed Lan's wounds. "He belongs to the Whitecloaks. We met him and I fought against him after I got my powers back."

"That's what you said the first time. But I know that there is more to this story, Moiraine. What aren't you telling me?"

"Maybe another time."

"Do I really have to ask Lan?"

Moiraine's eyes flashed angrily when she looked at the Amyrlin. "Leave him out of this."

"Then tell me what happened. It has something to do with him." In front of Moiraine's eyes appeared the image of Lan, tied to this wooden construct, while Valda was cutting him with the dagger, and the blood was running down Lan's back. Her throat tightened and she closed her eyes again before the tears were escaping. She had been so close to losing him.

Siuan saw the pain on Moiraine's face. She put herself in an upright position and kissed her girlfriend softly. A single tear ran down Moiraine's cheek, and Siuan didn't wipe it away. "What did Kaslian do to Lan?"

More silent tears escaped, although Moiraine did her best to hold them back, but it was useless. She couldn't shake this fear, which was usually hidden very well underneath her calm mask.

"Oh, Moiraine." Siuan leaned down and kissed away every single tear until she kissed her lips again. "He is safe. You both are safe."

"He almost died.", Moiraine whispered. She barely was able to talk. It was so hard to say these words. No, even the bare thought of him… it felt as if a dagger was pushed into her heart. Moiraine was glad that she had masked the bond tonight. She didn't want Lan to worry, because she was going through painful memories.

"Kaslian tortured him?"

Moiraine shook her head. Her eyes were still closed. It was easier when she wouldn't see the pity in Siuan's eyes. "No. He… was focused on me. He wanted me to channel and when I didn't do it, he slapped me in the face. I tried to explain, but I don't think that he actually believed me. Another one of the Whitecloaks was there with a dagger, and… and Lan he was… tied to this… thing." Fresh tears ran down her face, but this time the Amyrlin was too shocked to do anything but listen. "There was so much blood. And then Kaslian ordered his brother to…"

She couldn't say it. The words didn't want to come over her lips, but they didn't have to. Siuan understood what her best friend couldn't say. Her own throat tightened when she realized what Moiraine had been gone through. "But he didn't kill Lan. What happened?"

"I don't know. Suddenly, I was able to touch the source again and I grabbed it without thinking twice. I pushed the Whitecloak off him, healed his wounds, and freed him, so he could escape with Nynaeve. Meanwhile, I had freed myself, and… light, I was so angry. I wanted to kill the Whitecloak, who had hurt my warder."

"But you didn't, Moiraine."

"It is all a blur after I used the One Power. I remember using it, and that I beat the man with it, but I can't say what I used or what exactly I did to him. And then there is only darkness. Lan had told me that he had knocked me out because I had drawn way too much of the One Power. I was close to burning out and I didn't even realize it."

Carefully, the Amyrlin lay down beside her sister, with her forehead pressed against Moiraine's temple, and put her arm protectively around the crying woman. She knew how strong Moiraine usually was, and that the situation must have been terrifying when she was still shaken. "Rest. No one is going to hurt you here. Or Lan. You both are safe. And I will be damned if I let anything happen to you."

Her best friend didn't reply, so, Siuan closed her eyes as well, and silence fell over the room.

Moiraine awoke when she felt how Siuan moved beside her. Tiredly, she rolled onto her other side, but then she noticed a heavy feeling on her chest, which was kind of pulling her somewhere. Groaning, she put her hand on her chest, but the feeling stayed.

She heard how Siuan left the bed and crossed the room. Where was she going? Moiraine rolled back to the other side and opened her eyes. Siuan was aiming for the door.

"Where are you going?", Moiraine mumbled, while she was trying to ignore the weight on her chest.

"I… don't know. My body… I can't stop."

When Siuan opened her bedroom door, Moiraine's tired brain finally realized what her friend had said. Gasping, she sat upright and her hand was back on her chest again. She knew this weird feeling! "The Black Ajah!"

The poisonous liquid of the Black Ajah had to be in Tar Valon when she was having this urge to follow it through the tower. And it had to be close since her hands were shaking.

'How is that possible? How did they enter the town without being noticed? This shouldn't be possible! We have to leave! And I have to warn…!'

Suddenly, Moiraine noticed that she was feeling the deadly pull of the poison, but her body wasn't moving. Although she was shaking and felt sick, she was able to resist. She could walk out of the tower without touching the poison. Maybe the other Aes Sedai…

'Siuan!'

Quickly, Moiraine jumped out of the bed and ran after her best friend. She had to stop her! Sadly, the woman from the Blue Ajah noticed very soon that the pull on her body became stronger the closer she moved to the poison. How close would she be able to get until she couldn't resist the liquid anymore?

'Well, I guess I'll have to find out. I can't allow Siuan to touch it.'

Moiraine entered the next corridor and almost collided with her best friend, who was slowly walking towards her death. With shaking hands, she cupped Siuan's face. "Resist! You have to resist it!"

"I can't. Moiraine, my body… it's not listening to me anymore." The Amyrlin was sweating and her eyes were filled with panic, while she slowly pushed Moiraine backward. "The other Aes Sedai… we need help."

"If I can resist it, then you can do it too."

"Moiraine, you said that you were exposed to this poison only a few weeks ago. Your body already knows the pull, but our bodies… no Aes Sedai in this tower had an encounter with it before. We can't resist it." The Amyrlin gave her blue sister a harder push, which made Moiraine stumble to the floor. "I'm sorry. I have no control."

Luckily, Moiraine didn't care about it. She ignored the scratches on her forearm and got back on her feet. Then she put her arms around Siuan's waist and pulled her in the other direction. Of course, she was no foul. Siuan was stronger than her and would keep moving, no matter how hard she was trying.

Moiraine concentrated on the One Power and opened her bond with Lan again. At the first moment, she gasped when his feelings flooded her brain and body and she needed a second to adapt to them. Then she realized that her warder was still awake and that he was obviously having fun with Nynaeve.

'I'm sorry, Lan, but I need your help!'

Desperate, she flooded their bond with her panic. It was one of the few feelings, which would alarm her warder immediately since he wasn't used to her being panicking. She could only hope that he would reach them in time.

Lan and Nynaeve were indeed still awake. Lan had taken his time and had explored every inch of the wisdom's body before he had given in to his desire. Now, he was lying on top of her, while his arms were carrying his weight and he kissed her softly.

When Moiraine's panic reached him, he gasped and pushed himself into an upright position.

"What? Did I hurt you?" Nynaeve was shocked when she saw how the strong man was holding his head as if it would explode any minute. "Lan, talk to me!"

"Moiraine.", he groaned, while he tried to breathe through the pain "She…"

"This insufferable woman! She had your attention all day! What can she possibly…?!"

"Nynaeve!" The young woman wanted to yell at him for defending his annoying Aes Sedai again, but then she saw that he was actually in pain. So, she swallowed her anger.

"Tell me. What can I do? Shall I get you some water or…?"

"I need a second." His breathing became calmer until he finally opened his eyes again.

"What can you feel?"

But Lan didn't answer. Instead, he touched his bond and tried to see through the panic, which had reached him. There had to be more than that. Moiraine never panicked. She always had a plan and… There it was. He felt fear and pain and desperation. Something was terribly wrong.

The warder jumped out of the bed and put on his clothes, while Nynaeve was confused. "Lan! Talk to me!"

"I have to find Moiraine!"

"Why? Why do you always jump when she calls for you? I thought you said that she doesn't own you." Frustrated, Nynaeve rubbed over her chest, but the weird pull stayed.

"Something is wrong! Moiraine never panics! And right now…" When Lan put his tunic on, he saw that Nynaeve was rubbing her chest. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean? I'm sitting here and trying to knock some sense into your stubborn…!"

"Your hand, Nynaeve! Why are you rubbing your chest?!"

"Because I'm feeling sick! The thought of Moiraine being able to make you run when she calls obviously makes my body… Oh." Realization hit the wisdom, then she jumped out of the bed as well and put her dress on.

"What is it?"

"You're right. Something is wrong." Lan stepped closer to look into her eyes, searching for an answer. "I feel this pull again, Lan. It's the same I had when you told us about the poison of the Black Ajah."

Immediately, Lan turned around and grabbed his sword. "Stay in here!" Then he left his chamber and started to run. Of course, Nynaeve was as stubborn as he was and followed him quickly. She would stand by his side, no matter what they would have to face.