Sorry it's been so long but the pc had a tad too much to drink and had to be checked into A.A to have counselling! Oh god, I've missed it. Let me know what you all think. On we go...
***********
"I can only surmise that due to the fact I have not been truly born," Moiraine explained to her obviously astounded audience, "I am not truly connected to wheel nor to it's driving power, the True Source. So it would follow that I cannot channel."
Rand felt a wave of despair. Moiraine had been his last hope of help, now that his attempt to cleanse saidin had backfired. She must have seen the faint flicker of his hopelessness, as she added, "However, I am not totally useless. I have retained all that I knew before as well as having gained much during my time in the Dream World."
At that point she turned towards the door, and Rand thought he heard her mutter something to herself, but had no time to ask as the door to her room was throw open so violently it rebounded from the wall with a resounding crash.
In the door way stood Nyneave. Not the woman Rand knew from recent events, who was trying to be pleasant whilst appearing almost dumbstruck by love, but the Nyneave of old. She dominated the room in her fury, her hand wrapped so tightly around her bristling braid, that her knuckles were white and a trickle of blood ran down her wrist, caused by her own fingernails. The vision before him transported Rand back to his youth, when he, Mat and another boy, what was his name?, had tried to mix up a magic potion using Nyneave's herbal infusions. Instead they had ended up setting fire to her kitchen. It had taken Master al'Vere, Master Luhhan, and Mat's father to hold her down long enough for them to escape to Rand's home. Even then, Tam had kept all three of them close for almost a week before making them apologise and repair the damage.
In a voice that spoke of dire consequences she spoke. "I don't care why you are here, or how you managed it. You will release his bond to me, now."
A look of almost profound sorrow passed over Moiraine's face as she spoke. "The thing I regret most about losing my abilities is that I cannot do just that. I had asked Rand to explain to you, but I think that is something we should discuss in private."
Nyneave's confusion was as plain as her rage had been moments before. She seemed to fold in upon herself, almost visibly shrinking. It was only then that another figure could be seen in the doorway, and Rand could not believe that the person who slid guiltily into the room was Lan. He even looked slightly flushed as he stared at the floor, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.
"Loss of your abilities?" Nyneave repeated as she pulled up a chair. "What are you talking about woman?"
"I am no longer connected to the source Nyneave. So I have just been explaining to our friends. Fortunately, I have been privy to certain information which I hope will make up for the loss."
Cadsuane coughed pointedly. "I assume you have asked us here to share that knowledge"
"Yes Cadsuane Sedai." Even though she was Aes Sedai no longer, the edicts of her training were deeply ingrained. " The most important thing is that we must prepare for war." The room was silent as she continued; "The rebel faction of the tower will attack the White Tower at dawn. If they have any hope of surviving we must be there."
Shock reverberated through Min's bond, and they both jumped to their feet.
"Tomorrow," cried Min, "Rand we have to go to them. Egwene needs us!"
He put a hand on her arm to try and calm her. "Of course we will go. Let me gather the Aiel and I will take us there at once." He moved to the door to call for Sulin but Moiraine held his arm. "There are things we all must do before we depart, but I would like to speak to you alone Rand." He could feel Min's anxiousness through the bond and made efforts to reassure her. "If it is something that you think cannot wait Moiraine then I will stay, but I will not abandon those loyal to my cause." He would go to Egwene, no matter what!
Sulin leaned around the door expectantly. "I will need as many Maidens as you can round up" said Rand, "and tell the clan chiefs to ready their warriors." She departed with and abrupt nod, with eagerness clear on her face.
As the others departed Cadsuane stopped by his side. "I can see you are well committed to this insane rescue already, so I will not gainsay you. I think it would be a good idea if I were to accompany you. You do seem to need constant watching over." A tiny quirk of her lips took the sting for her remark, and reassured Rand that she would not stand in his path.
As the door closed behind the others, Moiraine motioned for him to return to his seat. "I hope this won't take long Moiraine. There is a lot to do before morning."
"I realise you are worried for your friends Rand, but you need to be very cautious. If any of your enemies discover you cannot channel then you will be in serious trouble. Demandred is still at large and we have no way of knowing where his agents may be watching from."
"I was hoping that that was all part of my dream, but that would make everything too easy!" Rand spat bitterly. "What can you tell me Moiraine? There must be some way around this."
"I do not think there is any way to circumvent what has happened Rand. You should use these Asha'man" this was accompanied by a bitter twist of her lips, "to carry out any necessary channelling. It is vital that no one knows that you are weakened. It is also vital that you keep yourself under control. There is no way to tell how the corruption has grown in the last four days."
He knew he should tell her about Lews Therin, but he could not admit how much power a dead man had gained over him, knowing this was a sign of his impending madness. He rose from his seat and moved to the door. With his hand on the handle he turned his head. "I am glad to see you Moiraine." He left to prepare for the impending battle.
*****************
Preparations were made, and orders were being carried out. Rand sat alone in his chambers. Min was still with the wise one's, so he was alone for the first time in ages. The events of the last few days were catching up on him, and he could feel the seductive pull of sleep. He resisted as long as possible but his body was exhausted. He could feel Lews Therin at the back of his mind, repeating the same phrase over again. "There is a task for me. She will wait for me. There is a task for me."
To silence the madman's voice would take too much effort, instead he focused on the task before him. He still found it difficult to believe that Egwene had been raised to the First among Servants, even if it was a Hall in exile. He lost himself in the memories of days long past now, when he had thought she would be his wife one day. The thought of that made him squirm inside even now. How innocent those days had been, before the Dark One had been released.
Of all the things that had changed since the Bore had opened he mourned the loss of that innocence the most. All the children that had grown up knowing only war and hardship, giving up the chance to study the wonders of the world to be trained as warriors. All the Aes Sedai who had been lost in the fight against the shadow, abilities and talents that could never been replaced. Lives cut short by hundreds of years, their loss incalculable. There were also those who had been subverted, fighting openly for the Dark One.
The most stunning betrayal had come when Mierin had turned to the shadow. He knew that she had done it because she could not have him. Ha! Some would say that was his enormous ego talking, but he knew the truth. Mierin had only wanted him so badly because he was the most powerful of the Aes Sedai, and that was the way she was. Only accepting the best of anything, the most lavish apartments, the most rare delicacies to dine on, and the costliest fabrics fashioned by the best designers for her gowns. Even the Da'shain Aiel that served her were the most dedicated, serving her generation after generation.
When he had wed Ilenya, Mierin had been outraged, believing that he was meant only for her, and that had sparked her move to the shadow. She had excelled in that as well, taking on a new name, a name that could put fear into the heart of the bravest warrior, a name that was always whispered for fear of attracting her attention.
There were more pressing matters at hand than Lanfear. He would Travel to the rescue of this Rebel Hall, and gain valuable help in completing his task. He knew the fate that awaited him and accepted his part, unlike the boy he heard in his mind. The voice that broke into his awareness was frantic. It screamed at him, ranting on about taking control. It always seemed to be there in the back of his mind watching him, listening to his thoughts.
Lews was exhausted, and there was much waiting to be done in the morning. He rose from his chair and began to undress for bed. As his head settled on to the pillow he saw in his mind a young woman wearing a striped stole. Quite a pretty young thing really, with brown eyes and long dark hair. For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that he knew her and that she was vital to his mission.
***********
"I can only surmise that due to the fact I have not been truly born," Moiraine explained to her obviously astounded audience, "I am not truly connected to wheel nor to it's driving power, the True Source. So it would follow that I cannot channel."
Rand felt a wave of despair. Moiraine had been his last hope of help, now that his attempt to cleanse saidin had backfired. She must have seen the faint flicker of his hopelessness, as she added, "However, I am not totally useless. I have retained all that I knew before as well as having gained much during my time in the Dream World."
At that point she turned towards the door, and Rand thought he heard her mutter something to herself, but had no time to ask as the door to her room was throw open so violently it rebounded from the wall with a resounding crash.
In the door way stood Nyneave. Not the woman Rand knew from recent events, who was trying to be pleasant whilst appearing almost dumbstruck by love, but the Nyneave of old. She dominated the room in her fury, her hand wrapped so tightly around her bristling braid, that her knuckles were white and a trickle of blood ran down her wrist, caused by her own fingernails. The vision before him transported Rand back to his youth, when he, Mat and another boy, what was his name?, had tried to mix up a magic potion using Nyneave's herbal infusions. Instead they had ended up setting fire to her kitchen. It had taken Master al'Vere, Master Luhhan, and Mat's father to hold her down long enough for them to escape to Rand's home. Even then, Tam had kept all three of them close for almost a week before making them apologise and repair the damage.
In a voice that spoke of dire consequences she spoke. "I don't care why you are here, or how you managed it. You will release his bond to me, now."
A look of almost profound sorrow passed over Moiraine's face as she spoke. "The thing I regret most about losing my abilities is that I cannot do just that. I had asked Rand to explain to you, but I think that is something we should discuss in private."
Nyneave's confusion was as plain as her rage had been moments before. She seemed to fold in upon herself, almost visibly shrinking. It was only then that another figure could be seen in the doorway, and Rand could not believe that the person who slid guiltily into the room was Lan. He even looked slightly flushed as he stared at the floor, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.
"Loss of your abilities?" Nyneave repeated as she pulled up a chair. "What are you talking about woman?"
"I am no longer connected to the source Nyneave. So I have just been explaining to our friends. Fortunately, I have been privy to certain information which I hope will make up for the loss."
Cadsuane coughed pointedly. "I assume you have asked us here to share that knowledge"
"Yes Cadsuane Sedai." Even though she was Aes Sedai no longer, the edicts of her training were deeply ingrained. " The most important thing is that we must prepare for war." The room was silent as she continued; "The rebel faction of the tower will attack the White Tower at dawn. If they have any hope of surviving we must be there."
Shock reverberated through Min's bond, and they both jumped to their feet.
"Tomorrow," cried Min, "Rand we have to go to them. Egwene needs us!"
He put a hand on her arm to try and calm her. "Of course we will go. Let me gather the Aiel and I will take us there at once." He moved to the door to call for Sulin but Moiraine held his arm. "There are things we all must do before we depart, but I would like to speak to you alone Rand." He could feel Min's anxiousness through the bond and made efforts to reassure her. "If it is something that you think cannot wait Moiraine then I will stay, but I will not abandon those loyal to my cause." He would go to Egwene, no matter what!
Sulin leaned around the door expectantly. "I will need as many Maidens as you can round up" said Rand, "and tell the clan chiefs to ready their warriors." She departed with and abrupt nod, with eagerness clear on her face.
As the others departed Cadsuane stopped by his side. "I can see you are well committed to this insane rescue already, so I will not gainsay you. I think it would be a good idea if I were to accompany you. You do seem to need constant watching over." A tiny quirk of her lips took the sting for her remark, and reassured Rand that she would not stand in his path.
As the door closed behind the others, Moiraine motioned for him to return to his seat. "I hope this won't take long Moiraine. There is a lot to do before morning."
"I realise you are worried for your friends Rand, but you need to be very cautious. If any of your enemies discover you cannot channel then you will be in serious trouble. Demandred is still at large and we have no way of knowing where his agents may be watching from."
"I was hoping that that was all part of my dream, but that would make everything too easy!" Rand spat bitterly. "What can you tell me Moiraine? There must be some way around this."
"I do not think there is any way to circumvent what has happened Rand. You should use these Asha'man" this was accompanied by a bitter twist of her lips, "to carry out any necessary channelling. It is vital that no one knows that you are weakened. It is also vital that you keep yourself under control. There is no way to tell how the corruption has grown in the last four days."
He knew he should tell her about Lews Therin, but he could not admit how much power a dead man had gained over him, knowing this was a sign of his impending madness. He rose from his seat and moved to the door. With his hand on the handle he turned his head. "I am glad to see you Moiraine." He left to prepare for the impending battle.
*****************
Preparations were made, and orders were being carried out. Rand sat alone in his chambers. Min was still with the wise one's, so he was alone for the first time in ages. The events of the last few days were catching up on him, and he could feel the seductive pull of sleep. He resisted as long as possible but his body was exhausted. He could feel Lews Therin at the back of his mind, repeating the same phrase over again. "There is a task for me. She will wait for me. There is a task for me."
To silence the madman's voice would take too much effort, instead he focused on the task before him. He still found it difficult to believe that Egwene had been raised to the First among Servants, even if it was a Hall in exile. He lost himself in the memories of days long past now, when he had thought she would be his wife one day. The thought of that made him squirm inside even now. How innocent those days had been, before the Dark One had been released.
Of all the things that had changed since the Bore had opened he mourned the loss of that innocence the most. All the children that had grown up knowing only war and hardship, giving up the chance to study the wonders of the world to be trained as warriors. All the Aes Sedai who had been lost in the fight against the shadow, abilities and talents that could never been replaced. Lives cut short by hundreds of years, their loss incalculable. There were also those who had been subverted, fighting openly for the Dark One.
The most stunning betrayal had come when Mierin had turned to the shadow. He knew that she had done it because she could not have him. Ha! Some would say that was his enormous ego talking, but he knew the truth. Mierin had only wanted him so badly because he was the most powerful of the Aes Sedai, and that was the way she was. Only accepting the best of anything, the most lavish apartments, the most rare delicacies to dine on, and the costliest fabrics fashioned by the best designers for her gowns. Even the Da'shain Aiel that served her were the most dedicated, serving her generation after generation.
When he had wed Ilenya, Mierin had been outraged, believing that he was meant only for her, and that had sparked her move to the shadow. She had excelled in that as well, taking on a new name, a name that could put fear into the heart of the bravest warrior, a name that was always whispered for fear of attracting her attention.
There were more pressing matters at hand than Lanfear. He would Travel to the rescue of this Rebel Hall, and gain valuable help in completing his task. He knew the fate that awaited him and accepted his part, unlike the boy he heard in his mind. The voice that broke into his awareness was frantic. It screamed at him, ranting on about taking control. It always seemed to be there in the back of his mind watching him, listening to his thoughts.
Lews was exhausted, and there was much waiting to be done in the morning. He rose from his chair and began to undress for bed. As his head settled on to the pillow he saw in his mind a young woman wearing a striped stole. Quite a pretty young thing really, with brown eyes and long dark hair. For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that he knew her and that she was vital to his mission.