Chapter 7: The False Dragon
Rand, atop the wall, took hold of saidin. He looked down at Logain, in that flimsy cage the so-called Aes Sedai had him in. Rand began to weave flows of all the Five Powers into letters. He hoped that Logain knew how to read.
~~~ Switch POV to Logain ~~~
~ Logain ~
Logain blinked at the letters. They were woven from saidin, he knew that much, but he didn't know who wove them.
~ Look up, Logain ~
Logain raised his head, and saw a tall redhead standing on a wall.
~ The Wheel has you, Logain ~
Logain just stared at the man. The weaves were coming from him.
~ Follow the Dragon ~
The tall man fell off the roof, and into a garden in the Palace. Two people he didn't see before followed him down.
(A/N: you got to love The Matrix)
~~~ Switch POV to Rand ~~~
It was a déjà vu, Lews Therin told him. If he knew what a déjà vu was, it would probably mean something to Rand. He was lying down on the ground on the inside of the wall in a palace garden, and he saw Elayne and Gawyn Trakand climb down to meet him.
He hastily jumped up, trying his best to look like a country bumpkin that stumbled into a forbidden place. He tried to look like if he had a hat, he would wring it. Elayne got down the wall first, and looked at Rand curiously. It was hard for him to look at her and not go to her, tell her how much he loved her… she would probably call for the guards, but that wasn't the point. Then Gawyn would try to do harm to him, but the future First Prince of the Sword could barely swat a fly.
Gawyn fingered his dagger, a nervous habit of his. Rand slowly spread his hands, so that they will see that he was not a threat. Elayne stepped forward, and looked at him. Rand knew that he didn't have any cuts or anything on him, because he fell on purpose, and made sure that the Light-blinded tree didn't hit him. The reason it wasn't bloody flaming was because he didn't set fire to it yet. He would, in good time.
They heard footsteps coming, and a second later Galad was seen in the gate. Rand heard from Nyneave that his half-brother would become a Whitecloak, and resisted the urge to balefire him. Of course, he always had an urge to balefire something, but he didn't always resist that urge.
"Who is that man, yea, the stranger, good sister?" Galad asked.
"Stop talking like that, Galad. I told you too many times that is annoys me."
"You didn't answer my question."
"Well, just before you so rudely intruded on us, he was on top of that wall and fell down. I was just about to ask for his name." All three of Rand's closest relations turned to look at him.
Rand guessed that by now Logain was far away from him to take hold of the Source again without him feeling it, so he did. He didn't do anything yet, though, just in case they noticed something was wrong.
"My, uh, name m'lords and lady, is, umm, Bran." He said, acting like a complete woolhead, not that it was hard for him. He made up a name just so that they wouldn't find him later on if they searched the city later. The three looked at him expectantly. But Rand learned during the brief time he actually did anything as a king that breaking the silence was something that other people were supposed to do.
Elayne seemed to take in everything he said and did, but didn't register what he didn't do.
Gawyn suddenly coughed. Galad seemed to realize that Rand was not supposed to be there, and told his siblings that he was going to get the guards. Neither Elayne nor Gawyn made a move to stop him.
The three stood there for a few minutes, waiting for the palace guards. Rand did his best to look apprehensive and scared. Elayne and Gawyn looked curiously at Rand.
Galad returned with five armed guards, because the Queen would not hire guards that had amputated limbs. They didn't draw their weapons, because Galad told them that Rand didn't seem to want to use it.
Rand was marched through the palace to the Queen's audience chamber, where she just was presented with the captured Logain. When they entered, they all knelt, Rand not being accustomed to kneeling. He was used to being knelt to. He managed to at least get on one knee and bend his back, but he couldn't do much more than that. After Morgase told them to rise, she asked Elayne who this stranger was. Elayne just told her mother that his name was Bran, and that he was standing on the wall, looking at Logain. He fell in the garden when they surprised him.
"Why were you out of your quarters, daughter?" the Queen asked, taking her eyes off Rand for a minute. He took the opportunity to look for Elaida. He had half a mind to still her now, that half being Lews Therin Telamon.
"I just wanted to see Logain, that's all." Elayne said, honestly.
"Even after I explicitly told you to stay to your rooms?" Morgase raised an eyebrow. Elayne shifted uncomfortably.
"Gawyn was with me." She said uncertainly.
"That was no reason you could disobey me, daughter. In a few days you will be on your way to Tar Valon, and you will not be allowed to be one hundred paces of him. If I didn't know how hard your lessons in the White Tower will be, I would send Lini along with you to make sure you stay there." Said Morgase.
"Within a week you will want to be back with your mother. Within a month, you will want to run away with the Traveling People." Said Elaida, from her stool near the throne.
"And within a year, she will be with the Kin." Rand muttered. Elaida looked up at him. He grinned mockingly, and she looked back at her knitting. He said that quietly enough so she would hear him only if she was holding saidar.
"There was a reason you were not to see the False Dragon, Elayne." Said the Queen, not giving Rand's comment any notice. "I saw him, and I would prefer if I didn't. He seemed to be very much in control of himself, like a born ruler. Not like this boy here." she glanced at Rand, and did a double take. She caught what he daughter missed. Elaida didn't spot it yet, because she was engrossed in her knitting. The Queen of Andor, Daes Dae'mar drilled into her by living in a southern kingdom, and with training in the White Tower, noticed that Rand was acting as someone not wanting to be noticed, but in a practiced way, only as a trained Player could.
"Elaida," the Queen said hurriedly. "Elaida, look at this." finally, with indignant slowness, Elaida Sedai looked up from her knitting. Rand, realizing that his cover was blown, decided that he had a few options. One was that he could announce himself as the Dragon Reborn, free Logain, and shield all the Aes Sedai in the Palace. Or, he decided he could act as a run-away noble from some nation, whose lands were claimed by the King. Or, he could say that he was born in Andor, but raised in Cairhien, and learned from an old retainer how to use a sword.
Or, his best idea was not tell them anything, and let them assume what they want.
Elaida walked to him, and seemed to study him.
"Where are you from, boy?" she barked. Rand just looked at her, unruffled. He was stared at by Cadsuane Sedai, so he could be stared at by Elaida. No one could stare at someone like Cadsuane.
"Answer me, you Light-blinded fool!" She demanded. Rand just looked down at her calmly.
"As Queen of Andor, I command you to answer my adviser's question." Said the Queen.
"I began traveling from the Two Rivers in Andor." Rand said stiffly and reluctantly.
"What were you doing on the wall of the palace garden, then?" the Queen asked.
"I just wanted to see the False Dragon, your Majesty." He said smoothly. He would not lie to an Aes Sedai or in a presence of one, he decided. He could and would beat them in their own game.
"From the Two Rivers…" Elaida muttered. She looked him up and down. "Two Rivers men are of dark hair and eye, not redheads and gray eyes. And they are hardly this tall. Where are you really from, boy?" she demanded. Rand just regarded her, coolly. Suddenly she spoke again. "This I Foretell," she said, and Rand knew what was coming. "From this day Andor marches toward pain and division. The Shadow has yet to darken to its blackest, and I cannot see if the Light will come after. Where the world has wept one tear, it will weep thousands. This I Foretell." The room fell quiet. The Servant of All kept staring into Rand's eyes. She kept talking, but now she barely moved her lips, talking low so only Rand could hear. "This, too, I Foretell. Pain and division come to the whole world, and this man stands in the heart of it. I obey the Queen, and speak it clearly."
Morgase looked shocked, but quickly composed herself. "Is that all you can say?" she asked her advisor.
"I have said all that I could Foretell." Said the Aes Sedai shortly. "Let us go back to the business at hand. We have before us someone who claims to be from the west of Andor, though he clearly is not from there." Rand's eyes flashed. "A shepherd that carries a sword." She touched the handle of the weapon, and her eyes went wide. "A heron-marked sword."
Rand had the brief thought of also saying that he could channel, but he didn't think that that would go over well.
Everyone in the throne room changed positions. Gareth Bryne moved in front of the Queen, and the Queen herself gripped the edge of the throne tightly.
Elayne took a step back before remembering herself, and Gawyn stepped in front of her, his hand on his knife.
All the guards in the room moved away from him, but half-drew their weapons, ready to kill him if he looked threatening in any way to the Queen. Rand consorted his face into the look of annoyance.
"This sword was given to me by my father, Tam al'Thor, also a shepherd." Elaida looked amused.
"Another shepherd with a heron-marked sword? And how did he come by it?"
"Tam al'Thor held a high office in the Illianer army during the Aiel War. He is very skilled with a sword. He told me that I would need it out in the world."
"Really?" to a non-Player (one who is inexperienced in the ways of Daes Dae'mar) it would seem that Elaida didn't believe Rand, but he saw that she was actually considering what he said. "What position did he hold?"
"The second undercaptain of the Illian Companions." Said Rand stiffly. He hated giving out information. Elaida shifted gears.
"That war was in NE 976." She smiled mockingly. "You seem to have been born around that time." She let the question hang in the air. Rand returned the smile.
"They say that after a battle men want to let off some steam." He heard Elayne stifle a laugh. Surprisingly, also Morgase. Rand didn't look at Tallanvor, though he was sure he was blushing, if not slightly tinged red. Gawyn looked startled.
"Someone who held such a high office wouldn't willingly let it go to take up the profession of a farmer." Said the Aes Sedai. She looked, if anything, angry at his answer. Typical Red response, thought Rand.
"You don't believe me." He said flatly. He didn't wait for a response. "I have come here with an Aes Sedai. Perhaps you will recognize her." If nothing else, thought Rand, it would be amusing to watch them argue.
Elaida opened her mouth to ask him the name of this Aes Sedai, when Morgase spoke quickly.
"Perhaps he should take us to her, Elaida?" she said. "That way you would have the advantage of surprise. He also might be telling a lie. He might have heard the name of an Aes Sedai, and repeat it to us. If there really is an Aes Sedai outside of those that brought Logain, we should know about it." Elaida seemed to consider this, then nodded. "Tallanvor," the Queen said to the guardsman-lieutenant. "Put together a squad of guardsmen to escort the Queen. Only the best men. Elayne, Gawyn, Gareth, you are all coming too. And Elaida goes without speaking. You, Bran," she turned to Rand. "You will lead us through the city to the inn where you are staying. If it is good enough for an Aes Sedai to stay there, it will be good enough for a short visit by the Queen." Rand noticed that she didn't ask for the name of the inn.
~~~ A while later, in front of The Queen's Blessings ~~~
Morgase commented that the Aes Sedai that picked this inn had good taste.
When they entered the inn, guards and all, the common room fell quiet, and everyone stared at her. Suddenly Basel Gill came to his senses, and kneeled before the Queen.
"My Queen," he said breathlessly. "You honor me to be under my roof. How may I serve you?" Elaida made an impatient sound.
"No time for that nonsense. This boy tells us there is an Aes Sedai staying here. Take us to her. Right now." She added when he didn't move. Rand gave master Gill a panicked smile, to at least make it seem that he was forced into this, and not that he had planned this.
Master Gill left the common room with a bow to the Queen, and returned a few minutes later followed by Moiraine Sedai, Egwene, and Nyneave, who had a firm hold on her braid. Rand stood where he was and was prepared to enjoy the show that would brew between Elaida and Moiraine, although Egwene seemed to regret upbraiding her hair. She needed something to yank, it seemed.
~~~ INTERMISSION ~~~
How many Aes Sedai does it take to replace a glowbulb?
Fifty-eight!
...A Blue to try to manipulate an innocent bystander into changing it.
...A second Blue to try to manipulate the first Blue to do it.
...A Gray to settle the conflict between the two Blues.
...A White to try to prove logically that the bulb shouldn't be changed because darkness is a natural state indoors at night.
...A second White to try to prove logically that the first White is an idiot.
...A second and a third Gray to calm the two Whites as they dispassionately, non-emotionally, logically, and coolly try to scratch each other's eyes out.
...A Brown to go away to try to find ancient instructions in the library. This Brown is not seen again for at least a month.
...A Red to complain that this would never have happened if a woman had invented the light bulb.
...Another Red to agree.
...A third Red (secretly a Black sister) to try to convince the others that the easiest way to stop all men that can channel is to kill all men in the world.
...A second Brown to look suspiciously on the third Red.
...A third White to nod to the second Brown.
...A dozen sisters of mixed colors to shield, haul away, interrogate, still, and execute the third Red.
...Thirteen other Blacks to flee the Tower.
...Thirteen more Reds to locate and gentle the man who channeled to cause the glowbulb to break.
...A Green to try to "privately convince" a handsome young man to change it.
...A second Green to try to "privately convince" another handsome young man to change it.
...Three more Greens trying to "convince" one handsome young man each. (Just in case)
...One Yellow to revive the glowbulb.
...And a fifteenth Black to kill it again as soon as the coast is clear.
(See www.wotmania.com for more answers)
~~~ WE NOW RETURN YOU TO YOUR NORMALLY SCHEDUELED FANFIC ~~~
Rand watched in amusement as Moiraine and Elaida regarded each other coolly. He wasn't surprised to feel the tingling on his arms that signaled that someone in the room was holding saidar. He wasn't too sure that it was a woman, though. He heard from those Ash'aman that were with him while cleansing saidin that there was a woman there that held saidin. He was pretty sure that it would also work the other way around.
At any rate, he watched as Moiraine arched her eyebrow at Elaida, which told Rand that it was Elaida that held the Source. He then saw Nyneave glare at him and he quickly whiped the smile of his face.
"Afraid, Elaida?" asked Moiraine in a coolly calm voice.
"Hardly, Moiraine. I do not need a man to look over my shoulder to make sure I don't fumble." The insult was clear.
"This is neither the time nor the place to discuss ways to keep warm on winter nights, Elaida." Moiraine said, and Nyneave's eyes flashed. Elayne and Gawyn went red, and Mat tried to stifle a laugh.
"Correct, Sister." Said Elaida stiffly. "Now is the time for you to enlighten us. Why are you here, with this country bumpkin?" she gestured at Rand. Rand heard Mat suck in breath, as if expecting Rand to go postal on them, for being insulted like that. Rand shook his head at Mat, letting him know he wouldn't. Not right now, anyway.
"I did not come here with this country bumpkin as you call him. If you did not notice yet, Sister, he is ta'veren." As soon as Moiraine said that, Mat left the common room, and went towards the library. Fortunately for him, Elaida was too busy glaring at Moiraine to notice him.
"You very well know that I do not have that Talent, Moiraine." Which wasn't a lie. But she knew that Rand was, indeed ta'veren.
"Perhaps we should continue this conversation behind closed doors, Sister." Said Moiraine, and motioned for Basel to lead them to an empty dining room.
Rand was disappointed he couldn't watch more of the argument, and be amused longer. He was hoping to see them dispassionately, non-emotionally, logically, and coolly try to scratch each other's eyes out, like a pair of fighting Whites. Oh well.
He looked around, and saw that Min and Elayne were talking and giggling with each other and Egwene, looking at Nyneave who was standing near Lan, trying not to look as if she was trying to be near him.
Rand paled. This was not good. He wanted them to stay away from each other, not get together. That way he would have a better chance of them liking him. Nyneave would most definitely call him a leacher, but he didn't care. He wanted them separated, without harming either one of them. Too much.
Rand, atop the wall, took hold of saidin. He looked down at Logain, in that flimsy cage the so-called Aes Sedai had him in. Rand began to weave flows of all the Five Powers into letters. He hoped that Logain knew how to read.
~~~ Switch POV to Logain ~~~
~ Logain ~
Logain blinked at the letters. They were woven from saidin, he knew that much, but he didn't know who wove them.
~ Look up, Logain ~
Logain raised his head, and saw a tall redhead standing on a wall.
~ The Wheel has you, Logain ~
Logain just stared at the man. The weaves were coming from him.
~ Follow the Dragon ~
The tall man fell off the roof, and into a garden in the Palace. Two people he didn't see before followed him down.
(A/N: you got to love The Matrix)
~~~ Switch POV to Rand ~~~
It was a déjà vu, Lews Therin told him. If he knew what a déjà vu was, it would probably mean something to Rand. He was lying down on the ground on the inside of the wall in a palace garden, and he saw Elayne and Gawyn Trakand climb down to meet him.
He hastily jumped up, trying his best to look like a country bumpkin that stumbled into a forbidden place. He tried to look like if he had a hat, he would wring it. Elayne got down the wall first, and looked at Rand curiously. It was hard for him to look at her and not go to her, tell her how much he loved her… she would probably call for the guards, but that wasn't the point. Then Gawyn would try to do harm to him, but the future First Prince of the Sword could barely swat a fly.
Gawyn fingered his dagger, a nervous habit of his. Rand slowly spread his hands, so that they will see that he was not a threat. Elayne stepped forward, and looked at him. Rand knew that he didn't have any cuts or anything on him, because he fell on purpose, and made sure that the Light-blinded tree didn't hit him. The reason it wasn't bloody flaming was because he didn't set fire to it yet. He would, in good time.
They heard footsteps coming, and a second later Galad was seen in the gate. Rand heard from Nyneave that his half-brother would become a Whitecloak, and resisted the urge to balefire him. Of course, he always had an urge to balefire something, but he didn't always resist that urge.
"Who is that man, yea, the stranger, good sister?" Galad asked.
"Stop talking like that, Galad. I told you too many times that is annoys me."
"You didn't answer my question."
"Well, just before you so rudely intruded on us, he was on top of that wall and fell down. I was just about to ask for his name." All three of Rand's closest relations turned to look at him.
Rand guessed that by now Logain was far away from him to take hold of the Source again without him feeling it, so he did. He didn't do anything yet, though, just in case they noticed something was wrong.
"My, uh, name m'lords and lady, is, umm, Bran." He said, acting like a complete woolhead, not that it was hard for him. He made up a name just so that they wouldn't find him later on if they searched the city later. The three looked at him expectantly. But Rand learned during the brief time he actually did anything as a king that breaking the silence was something that other people were supposed to do.
Elayne seemed to take in everything he said and did, but didn't register what he didn't do.
Gawyn suddenly coughed. Galad seemed to realize that Rand was not supposed to be there, and told his siblings that he was going to get the guards. Neither Elayne nor Gawyn made a move to stop him.
The three stood there for a few minutes, waiting for the palace guards. Rand did his best to look apprehensive and scared. Elayne and Gawyn looked curiously at Rand.
Galad returned with five armed guards, because the Queen would not hire guards that had amputated limbs. They didn't draw their weapons, because Galad told them that Rand didn't seem to want to use it.
Rand was marched through the palace to the Queen's audience chamber, where she just was presented with the captured Logain. When they entered, they all knelt, Rand not being accustomed to kneeling. He was used to being knelt to. He managed to at least get on one knee and bend his back, but he couldn't do much more than that. After Morgase told them to rise, she asked Elayne who this stranger was. Elayne just told her mother that his name was Bran, and that he was standing on the wall, looking at Logain. He fell in the garden when they surprised him.
"Why were you out of your quarters, daughter?" the Queen asked, taking her eyes off Rand for a minute. He took the opportunity to look for Elaida. He had half a mind to still her now, that half being Lews Therin Telamon.
"I just wanted to see Logain, that's all." Elayne said, honestly.
"Even after I explicitly told you to stay to your rooms?" Morgase raised an eyebrow. Elayne shifted uncomfortably.
"Gawyn was with me." She said uncertainly.
"That was no reason you could disobey me, daughter. In a few days you will be on your way to Tar Valon, and you will not be allowed to be one hundred paces of him. If I didn't know how hard your lessons in the White Tower will be, I would send Lini along with you to make sure you stay there." Said Morgase.
"Within a week you will want to be back with your mother. Within a month, you will want to run away with the Traveling People." Said Elaida, from her stool near the throne.
"And within a year, she will be with the Kin." Rand muttered. Elaida looked up at him. He grinned mockingly, and she looked back at her knitting. He said that quietly enough so she would hear him only if she was holding saidar.
"There was a reason you were not to see the False Dragon, Elayne." Said the Queen, not giving Rand's comment any notice. "I saw him, and I would prefer if I didn't. He seemed to be very much in control of himself, like a born ruler. Not like this boy here." she glanced at Rand, and did a double take. She caught what he daughter missed. Elaida didn't spot it yet, because she was engrossed in her knitting. The Queen of Andor, Daes Dae'mar drilled into her by living in a southern kingdom, and with training in the White Tower, noticed that Rand was acting as someone not wanting to be noticed, but in a practiced way, only as a trained Player could.
"Elaida," the Queen said hurriedly. "Elaida, look at this." finally, with indignant slowness, Elaida Sedai looked up from her knitting. Rand, realizing that his cover was blown, decided that he had a few options. One was that he could announce himself as the Dragon Reborn, free Logain, and shield all the Aes Sedai in the Palace. Or, he decided he could act as a run-away noble from some nation, whose lands were claimed by the King. Or, he could say that he was born in Andor, but raised in Cairhien, and learned from an old retainer how to use a sword.
Or, his best idea was not tell them anything, and let them assume what they want.
Elaida walked to him, and seemed to study him.
"Where are you from, boy?" she barked. Rand just looked at her, unruffled. He was stared at by Cadsuane Sedai, so he could be stared at by Elaida. No one could stare at someone like Cadsuane.
"Answer me, you Light-blinded fool!" She demanded. Rand just looked down at her calmly.
"As Queen of Andor, I command you to answer my adviser's question." Said the Queen.
"I began traveling from the Two Rivers in Andor." Rand said stiffly and reluctantly.
"What were you doing on the wall of the palace garden, then?" the Queen asked.
"I just wanted to see the False Dragon, your Majesty." He said smoothly. He would not lie to an Aes Sedai or in a presence of one, he decided. He could and would beat them in their own game.
"From the Two Rivers…" Elaida muttered. She looked him up and down. "Two Rivers men are of dark hair and eye, not redheads and gray eyes. And they are hardly this tall. Where are you really from, boy?" she demanded. Rand just regarded her, coolly. Suddenly she spoke again. "This I Foretell," she said, and Rand knew what was coming. "From this day Andor marches toward pain and division. The Shadow has yet to darken to its blackest, and I cannot see if the Light will come after. Where the world has wept one tear, it will weep thousands. This I Foretell." The room fell quiet. The Servant of All kept staring into Rand's eyes. She kept talking, but now she barely moved her lips, talking low so only Rand could hear. "This, too, I Foretell. Pain and division come to the whole world, and this man stands in the heart of it. I obey the Queen, and speak it clearly."
Morgase looked shocked, but quickly composed herself. "Is that all you can say?" she asked her advisor.
"I have said all that I could Foretell." Said the Aes Sedai shortly. "Let us go back to the business at hand. We have before us someone who claims to be from the west of Andor, though he clearly is not from there." Rand's eyes flashed. "A shepherd that carries a sword." She touched the handle of the weapon, and her eyes went wide. "A heron-marked sword."
Rand had the brief thought of also saying that he could channel, but he didn't think that that would go over well.
Everyone in the throne room changed positions. Gareth Bryne moved in front of the Queen, and the Queen herself gripped the edge of the throne tightly.
Elayne took a step back before remembering herself, and Gawyn stepped in front of her, his hand on his knife.
All the guards in the room moved away from him, but half-drew their weapons, ready to kill him if he looked threatening in any way to the Queen. Rand consorted his face into the look of annoyance.
"This sword was given to me by my father, Tam al'Thor, also a shepherd." Elaida looked amused.
"Another shepherd with a heron-marked sword? And how did he come by it?"
"Tam al'Thor held a high office in the Illianer army during the Aiel War. He is very skilled with a sword. He told me that I would need it out in the world."
"Really?" to a non-Player (one who is inexperienced in the ways of Daes Dae'mar) it would seem that Elaida didn't believe Rand, but he saw that she was actually considering what he said. "What position did he hold?"
"The second undercaptain of the Illian Companions." Said Rand stiffly. He hated giving out information. Elaida shifted gears.
"That war was in NE 976." She smiled mockingly. "You seem to have been born around that time." She let the question hang in the air. Rand returned the smile.
"They say that after a battle men want to let off some steam." He heard Elayne stifle a laugh. Surprisingly, also Morgase. Rand didn't look at Tallanvor, though he was sure he was blushing, if not slightly tinged red. Gawyn looked startled.
"Someone who held such a high office wouldn't willingly let it go to take up the profession of a farmer." Said the Aes Sedai. She looked, if anything, angry at his answer. Typical Red response, thought Rand.
"You don't believe me." He said flatly. He didn't wait for a response. "I have come here with an Aes Sedai. Perhaps you will recognize her." If nothing else, thought Rand, it would be amusing to watch them argue.
Elaida opened her mouth to ask him the name of this Aes Sedai, when Morgase spoke quickly.
"Perhaps he should take us to her, Elaida?" she said. "That way you would have the advantage of surprise. He also might be telling a lie. He might have heard the name of an Aes Sedai, and repeat it to us. If there really is an Aes Sedai outside of those that brought Logain, we should know about it." Elaida seemed to consider this, then nodded. "Tallanvor," the Queen said to the guardsman-lieutenant. "Put together a squad of guardsmen to escort the Queen. Only the best men. Elayne, Gawyn, Gareth, you are all coming too. And Elaida goes without speaking. You, Bran," she turned to Rand. "You will lead us through the city to the inn where you are staying. If it is good enough for an Aes Sedai to stay there, it will be good enough for a short visit by the Queen." Rand noticed that she didn't ask for the name of the inn.
~~~ A while later, in front of The Queen's Blessings ~~~
Morgase commented that the Aes Sedai that picked this inn had good taste.
When they entered the inn, guards and all, the common room fell quiet, and everyone stared at her. Suddenly Basel Gill came to his senses, and kneeled before the Queen.
"My Queen," he said breathlessly. "You honor me to be under my roof. How may I serve you?" Elaida made an impatient sound.
"No time for that nonsense. This boy tells us there is an Aes Sedai staying here. Take us to her. Right now." She added when he didn't move. Rand gave master Gill a panicked smile, to at least make it seem that he was forced into this, and not that he had planned this.
Master Gill left the common room with a bow to the Queen, and returned a few minutes later followed by Moiraine Sedai, Egwene, and Nyneave, who had a firm hold on her braid. Rand stood where he was and was prepared to enjoy the show that would brew between Elaida and Moiraine, although Egwene seemed to regret upbraiding her hair. She needed something to yank, it seemed.
~~~ INTERMISSION ~~~
How many Aes Sedai does it take to replace a glowbulb?
Fifty-eight!
...A Blue to try to manipulate an innocent bystander into changing it.
...A second Blue to try to manipulate the first Blue to do it.
...A Gray to settle the conflict between the two Blues.
...A White to try to prove logically that the bulb shouldn't be changed because darkness is a natural state indoors at night.
...A second White to try to prove logically that the first White is an idiot.
...A second and a third Gray to calm the two Whites as they dispassionately, non-emotionally, logically, and coolly try to scratch each other's eyes out.
...A Brown to go away to try to find ancient instructions in the library. This Brown is not seen again for at least a month.
...A Red to complain that this would never have happened if a woman had invented the light bulb.
...Another Red to agree.
...A third Red (secretly a Black sister) to try to convince the others that the easiest way to stop all men that can channel is to kill all men in the world.
...A second Brown to look suspiciously on the third Red.
...A third White to nod to the second Brown.
...A dozen sisters of mixed colors to shield, haul away, interrogate, still, and execute the third Red.
...Thirteen other Blacks to flee the Tower.
...Thirteen more Reds to locate and gentle the man who channeled to cause the glowbulb to break.
...A Green to try to "privately convince" a handsome young man to change it.
...A second Green to try to "privately convince" another handsome young man to change it.
...Three more Greens trying to "convince" one handsome young man each. (Just in case)
...One Yellow to revive the glowbulb.
...And a fifteenth Black to kill it again as soon as the coast is clear.
(See www.wotmania.com for more answers)
~~~ WE NOW RETURN YOU TO YOUR NORMALLY SCHEDUELED FANFIC ~~~
Rand watched in amusement as Moiraine and Elaida regarded each other coolly. He wasn't surprised to feel the tingling on his arms that signaled that someone in the room was holding saidar. He wasn't too sure that it was a woman, though. He heard from those Ash'aman that were with him while cleansing saidin that there was a woman there that held saidin. He was pretty sure that it would also work the other way around.
At any rate, he watched as Moiraine arched her eyebrow at Elaida, which told Rand that it was Elaida that held the Source. He then saw Nyneave glare at him and he quickly whiped the smile of his face.
"Afraid, Elaida?" asked Moiraine in a coolly calm voice.
"Hardly, Moiraine. I do not need a man to look over my shoulder to make sure I don't fumble." The insult was clear.
"This is neither the time nor the place to discuss ways to keep warm on winter nights, Elaida." Moiraine said, and Nyneave's eyes flashed. Elayne and Gawyn went red, and Mat tried to stifle a laugh.
"Correct, Sister." Said Elaida stiffly. "Now is the time for you to enlighten us. Why are you here, with this country bumpkin?" she gestured at Rand. Rand heard Mat suck in breath, as if expecting Rand to go postal on them, for being insulted like that. Rand shook his head at Mat, letting him know he wouldn't. Not right now, anyway.
"I did not come here with this country bumpkin as you call him. If you did not notice yet, Sister, he is ta'veren." As soon as Moiraine said that, Mat left the common room, and went towards the library. Fortunately for him, Elaida was too busy glaring at Moiraine to notice him.
"You very well know that I do not have that Talent, Moiraine." Which wasn't a lie. But she knew that Rand was, indeed ta'veren.
"Perhaps we should continue this conversation behind closed doors, Sister." Said Moiraine, and motioned for Basel to lead them to an empty dining room.
Rand was disappointed he couldn't watch more of the argument, and be amused longer. He was hoping to see them dispassionately, non-emotionally, logically, and coolly try to scratch each other's eyes out, like a pair of fighting Whites. Oh well.
He looked around, and saw that Min and Elayne were talking and giggling with each other and Egwene, looking at Nyneave who was standing near Lan, trying not to look as if she was trying to be near him.
Rand paled. This was not good. He wanted them to stay away from each other, not get together. That way he would have a better chance of them liking him. Nyneave would most definitely call him a leacher, but he didn't care. He wanted them separated, without harming either one of them. Too much.