Here's the next bit. Urm.. not to sure where this is going at the mo, but
I'm enjoying writing it. I did recycle a part of Birgette's plight at the
end but I need moraine in the real world. May I remind you that this is not
mine. ITS NOT MINE!!
As saidin raged within he could feel the taint respond to each swell of the power, inflicting itself on the world around Rand. He tried to let it go and found himself trapped. The taint clung to him as it clung to saidin, linking them together, extending it's own touch all the while.
Finally he broke free and he felt the power flee from him as if it too had battled to escape.
For moments he couldn't think, feel, see. The Dark One's touch was all over him, churning within him. Slowly it receded, but only to a corner, crouching there like a cat, ready to pounce at any time.
His vision cleared and he stared at stone. A few more seconds passed before he realised he was on his hands and knees, staring at the floor. He looked, up the world was spinning, slowly he focused on Moiraine's slippered feet, and eventually put a hand to knee to aid rising.
She held out a hand to help him stagger to his feet and he held it as if it was his only anchor to life. "This is just the beginning. What you felt as strangeness in saidin before was the Dark One asserting his presence in this world. Now you hold the taint within you, his hand is on you alone."
Rand dragged air into his lungs in what felt like the first breath since seizing the flow.
"The effect is not just within, Rand. You cannot witness the damag3e here because of the changes in Tel'aran'rhoid, but the effects in the waking world will be permanent. And it will get worse. Every time you touch saidin the effects will increase and so will the area affected.
"So will I" Rand accused.
"Yes. There is no way to escape your own mind."
"How will I fight him now? How do I defeat the Dark One without using the True Source? That was the reason I tried to cleanse it!"
"You must find a way, Rand. No matter how a mad Dragon is to the world, the Dark One is infinitely worse."
"So I will go mad?" not so much a question now as admitting the truth.
"Yes the more you use saidin the worse it will get. After just one use, you are already falling."
"What?!"
"Can you not feel it? Can you remember all the days of your youth? The names of your childhood friends?"
"I…I….I…." defeated "and it will get worse" as if he did not understand the words he spoke.
"I will give you some advice. Do not channel unless you truly must. The greatest danger will come when you are so far gone, that you feel sane once more.
"You must go now. Your body was weak to start with, and your absence makes it weaker still. Go."
"Will you come with me Moiraine? We could all use your help." She quirked a brow at his apparent deference and a small smile graced her lips.
"I cannot. I am bound until the wheel plays me out. Even if I did leave now I would be nothing but a mewling babe.
"I ask a boon though. Please say sorry to Nyneave for me. I knew what lay between her and Lan but she was not ready. There was no way to keep him alive, else."
"how do I go?"
"feel your body, concentrate on it and you will be there"
"Thank you Moiraine. I don't know what I'll do without you." Again his submissiveness amused her. "Goodbye Rand." She spoke to his fading shade, and then he was gone.
A figure as perfect as a statue stepped from behind a marble pillar in a white satin dress which swayed with her movements. An evil grin spread on her beautiful face. "He won't have to do without you, Moiraine"
The woman in blue turned quickly towards the voice.
"Lanfear!" she gasped. Then a scream ripped from her throat, echoing the pain as her soul was torn. She vanished.
As saidin raged within he could feel the taint respond to each swell of the power, inflicting itself on the world around Rand. He tried to let it go and found himself trapped. The taint clung to him as it clung to saidin, linking them together, extending it's own touch all the while.
Finally he broke free and he felt the power flee from him as if it too had battled to escape.
For moments he couldn't think, feel, see. The Dark One's touch was all over him, churning within him. Slowly it receded, but only to a corner, crouching there like a cat, ready to pounce at any time.
His vision cleared and he stared at stone. A few more seconds passed before he realised he was on his hands and knees, staring at the floor. He looked, up the world was spinning, slowly he focused on Moiraine's slippered feet, and eventually put a hand to knee to aid rising.
She held out a hand to help him stagger to his feet and he held it as if it was his only anchor to life. "This is just the beginning. What you felt as strangeness in saidin before was the Dark One asserting his presence in this world. Now you hold the taint within you, his hand is on you alone."
Rand dragged air into his lungs in what felt like the first breath since seizing the flow.
"The effect is not just within, Rand. You cannot witness the damag3e here because of the changes in Tel'aran'rhoid, but the effects in the waking world will be permanent. And it will get worse. Every time you touch saidin the effects will increase and so will the area affected.
"So will I" Rand accused.
"Yes. There is no way to escape your own mind."
"How will I fight him now? How do I defeat the Dark One without using the True Source? That was the reason I tried to cleanse it!"
"You must find a way, Rand. No matter how a mad Dragon is to the world, the Dark One is infinitely worse."
"So I will go mad?" not so much a question now as admitting the truth.
"Yes the more you use saidin the worse it will get. After just one use, you are already falling."
"What?!"
"Can you not feel it? Can you remember all the days of your youth? The names of your childhood friends?"
"I…I….I…." defeated "and it will get worse" as if he did not understand the words he spoke.
"I will give you some advice. Do not channel unless you truly must. The greatest danger will come when you are so far gone, that you feel sane once more.
"You must go now. Your body was weak to start with, and your absence makes it weaker still. Go."
"Will you come with me Moiraine? We could all use your help." She quirked a brow at his apparent deference and a small smile graced her lips.
"I cannot. I am bound until the wheel plays me out. Even if I did leave now I would be nothing but a mewling babe.
"I ask a boon though. Please say sorry to Nyneave for me. I knew what lay between her and Lan but she was not ready. There was no way to keep him alive, else."
"how do I go?"
"feel your body, concentrate on it and you will be there"
"Thank you Moiraine. I don't know what I'll do without you." Again his submissiveness amused her. "Goodbye Rand." She spoke to his fading shade, and then he was gone.
A figure as perfect as a statue stepped from behind a marble pillar in a white satin dress which swayed with her movements. An evil grin spread on her beautiful face. "He won't have to do without you, Moiraine"
The woman in blue turned quickly towards the voice.
"Lanfear!" she gasped. Then a scream ripped from her throat, echoing the pain as her soul was torn. She vanished.