I'm having some trouble with what to put in between what's happened and
stuff that will happen later so I might just skip over some bits and they
will have no explanation at all! Light! I can see why not everyone does
this for a living!
*******
Min's face showed her concern but he would have known how she felt even if she were in another room. The same way he knew that Alanna had been pacing her chambers for most of the night. His bond with Elayne and Avienda was limited to a sense of direction a this distance, but he would still know if any thing bad had happened to either one. As he examined each of his bonded, he felt something odd in Elanye's; he put it down to his massive headache. Min sat back in her chair, and asked "You looked confused, did you forget who you where, you wool headed sheep herder?" He didn't want her to know that that was exactly what had happened so he said "It was just my dreams Min, don't worry yourself about me. I have more important things to concern myself with."
"Yes, wool brain! Like trying to get better!" She crossed her arms and glared at him, the bond conveying her irritation. He knew she could feel very little on her end, so was not worried about her detecting his deceit.
Cadsuane swept into the room, her features a picture of Aes sedai calm. "So you're awake at last. Good. There are things that need attending to."
"The only thing that needs attending right now is my stomach. How long have I been abed?" He looked to Min for his answer. "Nearly four days. Rand we were so worried, when Flynn said there was.."
"Enough chatter, Min. Get the boy some food and be quick. Moiraine Sedai waits for us." Rand's head jerked to Cadsuane as she spoke. "Moiraine. I thought that was a dream."
"I doubt you thought anything, young man. Half your troubles stem from the fact that you do not."
A small smile pulled Rand's lips up " She said the same thing once"; He pulled the covers back to discover he was descent for once. "I should go." Min jumped from her chair, "No. You should do as you are told sheep brain, and eat first", she said as she sent a maiden for food.
**************
Cadsuane led the way to the chambers that Moiraine had been using. Min strolled along beside him, her arm linked through his, as much to help him stay upright as to be I contact with him. He was glad of it, because he didn't want anyone to see the mighty Lord Dragon stumble like a newborn foal. As always, a pair of maidens, who were as always ready to poke fun at him, followed him, as much they were always ready for attack.
At a carved door they waited, until Moiraine herself opened it to them. At sight of her, Rand let out a sigh of relief. He had not quite believed she was truly returned to them. Timidly at first he sited his silent litany of the dead. Her name was gone! Moiraine lived!
His joy at her return was broken by a rush of emotion he felt coming from Min. Panic? He thought his wits were still a bit addled, but he look on her face was enough to confirm it.
"You look like Siuane!" she cried, rushing in through the door.
Rand looked more closely at Moiraine now. He had seen Siuane Sanche, but he did not think that she resembled Moiraine, and he asked "Min? What are you talking about?"
"Rand look at her. She's young! Not just ageless, but young again." Her eyes narrowed as she continued "and I remember why this happened to Siuane as well."
"You are right, Min." These were the first words Rand had heard from Moiraine in nearly a year (is that right anyone?) and her voice was exactly how he remembered. She closed the door behind him. The Maidens were left outside to guard his safety. "Please sit." She indicated to the chairs set up in a large bay window, and as they sat themselves she poured punch for each of them and finally sat herself.
Cadsuane looked to Moiraine "Well, spit it out child. We don't have time for guessing games."
"I'm sure Min is quite correct in assuming the cause of my new found youth, which begs the question, why? But I shall explain. The slowing we achieve with use of the power holds the aging process at bay. Though we have never had the opportunity to study a woman who has burn herself out, we assumed that without contact with the True Source, ageing would continue as usual. I can see now that we were wrong, but this does seem to be to some advantage. I examined this face I wear in the mirror, and I have seen that although it is young, as it would seem am I, it is not the face of my youth."
"I'm sure that, had we time, it would make an interesting source of information. But to the point. It would seem that when I returned to this world I am not the same as when I left it. I cannot channel."
*******
Egwene stood in the field that was used as an informal meeting for the Sisters.
"I cannot order any of you to do this. We will be fighting our Sisters in the hall as well as soldiers. I intend to lead by example. I will go to the fore to be seen as a leader, and although it is something that is anathema to us, I will use the training I had as a da'mane and I will fight with the power." Gasps came from many throats. "I do not ask you to put of your oath, only that if you feel as I do place yourselves in a position where you are at risk.
You have the night to think on my words and tomorrow I will need as many of you as possible, for we march at dawn."
*******
Min's face showed her concern but he would have known how she felt even if she were in another room. The same way he knew that Alanna had been pacing her chambers for most of the night. His bond with Elayne and Avienda was limited to a sense of direction a this distance, but he would still know if any thing bad had happened to either one. As he examined each of his bonded, he felt something odd in Elanye's; he put it down to his massive headache. Min sat back in her chair, and asked "You looked confused, did you forget who you where, you wool headed sheep herder?" He didn't want her to know that that was exactly what had happened so he said "It was just my dreams Min, don't worry yourself about me. I have more important things to concern myself with."
"Yes, wool brain! Like trying to get better!" She crossed her arms and glared at him, the bond conveying her irritation. He knew she could feel very little on her end, so was not worried about her detecting his deceit.
Cadsuane swept into the room, her features a picture of Aes sedai calm. "So you're awake at last. Good. There are things that need attending to."
"The only thing that needs attending right now is my stomach. How long have I been abed?" He looked to Min for his answer. "Nearly four days. Rand we were so worried, when Flynn said there was.."
"Enough chatter, Min. Get the boy some food and be quick. Moiraine Sedai waits for us." Rand's head jerked to Cadsuane as she spoke. "Moiraine. I thought that was a dream."
"I doubt you thought anything, young man. Half your troubles stem from the fact that you do not."
A small smile pulled Rand's lips up " She said the same thing once"; He pulled the covers back to discover he was descent for once. "I should go." Min jumped from her chair, "No. You should do as you are told sheep brain, and eat first", she said as she sent a maiden for food.
**************
Cadsuane led the way to the chambers that Moiraine had been using. Min strolled along beside him, her arm linked through his, as much to help him stay upright as to be I contact with him. He was glad of it, because he didn't want anyone to see the mighty Lord Dragon stumble like a newborn foal. As always, a pair of maidens, who were as always ready to poke fun at him, followed him, as much they were always ready for attack.
At a carved door they waited, until Moiraine herself opened it to them. At sight of her, Rand let out a sigh of relief. He had not quite believed she was truly returned to them. Timidly at first he sited his silent litany of the dead. Her name was gone! Moiraine lived!
His joy at her return was broken by a rush of emotion he felt coming from Min. Panic? He thought his wits were still a bit addled, but he look on her face was enough to confirm it.
"You look like Siuane!" she cried, rushing in through the door.
Rand looked more closely at Moiraine now. He had seen Siuane Sanche, but he did not think that she resembled Moiraine, and he asked "Min? What are you talking about?"
"Rand look at her. She's young! Not just ageless, but young again." Her eyes narrowed as she continued "and I remember why this happened to Siuane as well."
"You are right, Min." These were the first words Rand had heard from Moiraine in nearly a year (is that right anyone?) and her voice was exactly how he remembered. She closed the door behind him. The Maidens were left outside to guard his safety. "Please sit." She indicated to the chairs set up in a large bay window, and as they sat themselves she poured punch for each of them and finally sat herself.
Cadsuane looked to Moiraine "Well, spit it out child. We don't have time for guessing games."
"I'm sure Min is quite correct in assuming the cause of my new found youth, which begs the question, why? But I shall explain. The slowing we achieve with use of the power holds the aging process at bay. Though we have never had the opportunity to study a woman who has burn herself out, we assumed that without contact with the True Source, ageing would continue as usual. I can see now that we were wrong, but this does seem to be to some advantage. I examined this face I wear in the mirror, and I have seen that although it is young, as it would seem am I, it is not the face of my youth."
"I'm sure that, had we time, it would make an interesting source of information. But to the point. It would seem that when I returned to this world I am not the same as when I left it. I cannot channel."
*******
Egwene stood in the field that was used as an informal meeting for the Sisters.
"I cannot order any of you to do this. We will be fighting our Sisters in the hall as well as soldiers. I intend to lead by example. I will go to the fore to be seen as a leader, and although it is something that is anathema to us, I will use the training I had as a da'mane and I will fight with the power." Gasps came from many throats. "I do not ask you to put of your oath, only that if you feel as I do place yourselves in a position where you are at risk.
You have the night to think on my words and tomorrow I will need as many of you as possible, for we march at dawn."