Back again!! It's been a while but I lost my inspiration. (Sob).
Anyway, hope you like it and thanks for the reviews, I know this doesn't
seem like it's going anywhere but I do have an ending in mind. It's just
all the middle bits that are not so interesting. The subject of Nyn, Lan
and M will be addressed in the (hopefully) near future. Apologies tom all
the Mat fans but I can't seem to work him into it. Anyway, all comments
gratefully received, and I did not discover these people, I just borrowed
them!
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Elaida sat in her office, working through the pile of papers that Alviarin had placed before her that morning. Just the thought of dancing to that woman's tune was enough to boil her blood, but to have to sit under her supervision whilst doing it was beyond belief! She risked a glanced at the woman that caused so much trouble only to have it met with an icy glare. "The sooner you sign these papers, my dear, the sooner you can be excused" said Alviarin, her tone more fit for a wayward novice than the Amyrlin seat! Elaida could feel the fury rise within her, momentarily stronger than her self-loathing for doing as ordered. As she bent to her task once more, one of the sisters came flying through the door of her study, panic etched clearly on her face. "They're here! They appeared out of thin air! There are hundreds of them. THOUSANDS OF THEM!" Alviarin moved towards the brown sister. There must be trouble to stir this shrewish woman from her books. "Get a hold of yourself. What are you talking about? Who is here?" Elaida hadn't moved from her chair, she sat in silence looking out of the window. She could see the gathered armies, growing, multiplying like mould. She had dismissed rumours of the recover of the lost talent of traveling as merely that but the sight before her confirmed them. The keeper had moved the sister to a stool on the opposite side of the room and was questioning her quietly. Elaida knew what was occurring, foe as she had foretold the broken tower was about to meet in battle. A sly glance towards her keeper showed her that this was as unexpected to Alviarin as to the rest of them. The woman usually knew of things before they occurred, Elaida assumed she used dark friends as her source, and had ways of communicating that were beyond the usual manner. That this had caught her of guard was a good sign. The woman was unbearable, giving orders and expecting her to fall on her knees to give homage each night. That would soon all come to an end though. Elide was saved for she had foretold the outcome of this battle and she knew she could not lose!!
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Not a breath of wind stirred the grassy plain as a slivery line appeared in the air. As it rotated the edge sliced through the grass, sharper that any blade ever forged. As the gate opened, Maidens leaped through the partially formed portal, running out in all directions to secure the area before the main body of troops began to pass through. The night still clung to the sky above as the army of the Dragon marched out towards the distant towers of Tar Valon. Rand rode his horse silently, his companions just as muted in the calm before the battle. Min rode at his side, hands tight on the reins. This close to him she did not need the bond to tell her that he was unsettled, but the feelings in her head were stronger than they had been before. The knot of him in her head was usually as hard as stone, but it roiled now like the sea in a storm. This worried her more than the expression on his face. Cadsuane pulled her mount along side Moiraine. "There is much you have not told me." "My apologies, Cadsuane Sedai, but it is not all mine to tell" The years spent in the tower made her respond to this woman's authority, as it did with everyone except possibly the Amyrlin. Light, even Suian would sumit to the legendary Cadsuane! A ripple of regret passed through her as she recalled that Suiane had been deposed. " Be that as it may, child, but there are things that need to be told. This is not the time for needless secrecy. Any thing you hold back could be the crucial piece of information." Moraine studied the woman's face. Her Aes sedai mask never slipped, but Moiraine sensed nothing but commitment in her. "There are many things that must be done, Cadsuane, and some need no help from us. There are some which would use any information to their own advantage, and the fewer who know the less chance there is of that happening." Cadsuane gave a disdainful sniff. "Do you wish to teach me how to embrace saidar next? I must know what is happening to the boy! He is changing. Faster than anyone could have guessed, and I must be able to help him!" "The Black Ajah are the most dangerous foes we face today, but until they use the power against us we have no way of knowing them from the others," Moiraine said, "We need to keep watch for them because Rand will not take direct action against any woman." "Pah, Black sisters! I can hardly believe anyone who has felt the glory of the Source could even consider following the Dark One. They deserve all they get. But I get the feeling that you are leading me around by the nose." She sniffed again, "I will do it anyway. I do not need to beaten around the head to realize a sensible notion. We will talk again after this is finished." "As you wish, Cadsuane Sedai." Moiraine kept her face blank and carefully studied the mane of her mount, struggling to contain her irritation at her own meekness in the face of this living legend. She couldn't help but submit to someone so strong in the power, even though she lacked the ability to gage that strength for herself. Cadsuane had been the subject of many of her lessons as a novice, and Moiraine tried desperately to recall everything she had heard of this monumental woman. A black-coated man ran towards the companions and stopped in their path causing all of them to come to a standstill. Rand looked to the man, taking note of the solitary collar pin, "You have something to report, Dedicated?" Slamming his fist to his chest the Asha'man began "My Lord Dragon, the men are in position, and scouts are returning with news of contact with the rebels force. Section leaders are on standby. Awaiting your commands, my Lord." "Good. Continue as planned." The asha'man turned and formed a gate that carried him to pass the orders. "We are closer to their troops than I expected. I hope they haven't started too far out. We don't want to give Elaida any more warning than necessary." "Gareth Bryne is no fool. He will have this planned to the last yard, and down to the very second. He is the best there is, outside of the borderlands." Lan said without turning his face from the imposing sight of the Tower that loomed above them.
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Egwene sat upon her horse surrounded by a host of Aes Sedai. She was secretly pleased that her words had had such an effect on this number of the sisters, but then the majority of them here were Greens, also known as the Battle Ajah, so maybe the numbers were not so surprising. All the warders of the camp were also aligned with them on this slight rise, most order by their sisters to assist, even though they were unwilling to leave them unattended through the battle. A shout went up from behind her, a cry of warning. The news swiftly passed through the masses of ranked soldiers to group that surrounded her. A force of Aeil had been spotted at their rear. They were under attack! Egwene rose in her saddle to pass her commands. "If the Aeil have been spotted it is because they wished it! We are under no threat from them. Find a scout, get me one of the clansmen here, now!" She did not have to wait long before she saw a familiar figure coming towards her at a ground eating pace. " Clear a path. I will speak with this man." As the figure eased through the massed bodies towards her she dismounted before greeting him. "Rhuarc. May you find water and shelter in this camp." She smiled as the huge man smiled at her. The expression was gone so quickly she might have imagined it. "It is good to see you again, Egwene. I have a message for the Amyrlin." "Well give it to her, man." Growled a nearby warder, who indicated to Egwene with a nod of his head. "It is not a wise man who keeps Amyrlin Seat waiting." The only acknowledgement of his surprise was a slight quirk of an eyebrow. He gazed down into her face a received a truly Aes Sedai expression in return. Rhuarc sank to one knee at her feet. Without taking his eyes from the ground he spoke. "Mother, the Lord Dragon has ordered all the clans to the dance. He awaits your permission to join you in your fight."
Elaida sat in her office, working through the pile of papers that Alviarin had placed before her that morning. Just the thought of dancing to that woman's tune was enough to boil her blood, but to have to sit under her supervision whilst doing it was beyond belief! She risked a glanced at the woman that caused so much trouble only to have it met with an icy glare. "The sooner you sign these papers, my dear, the sooner you can be excused" said Alviarin, her tone more fit for a wayward novice than the Amyrlin seat! Elaida could feel the fury rise within her, momentarily stronger than her self-loathing for doing as ordered. As she bent to her task once more, one of the sisters came flying through the door of her study, panic etched clearly on her face. "They're here! They appeared out of thin air! There are hundreds of them. THOUSANDS OF THEM!" Alviarin moved towards the brown sister. There must be trouble to stir this shrewish woman from her books. "Get a hold of yourself. What are you talking about? Who is here?" Elaida hadn't moved from her chair, she sat in silence looking out of the window. She could see the gathered armies, growing, multiplying like mould. She had dismissed rumours of the recover of the lost talent of traveling as merely that but the sight before her confirmed them. The keeper had moved the sister to a stool on the opposite side of the room and was questioning her quietly. Elaida knew what was occurring, foe as she had foretold the broken tower was about to meet in battle. A sly glance towards her keeper showed her that this was as unexpected to Alviarin as to the rest of them. The woman usually knew of things before they occurred, Elaida assumed she used dark friends as her source, and had ways of communicating that were beyond the usual manner. That this had caught her of guard was a good sign. The woman was unbearable, giving orders and expecting her to fall on her knees to give homage each night. That would soon all come to an end though. Elide was saved for she had foretold the outcome of this battle and she knew she could not lose!!
********************************
Not a breath of wind stirred the grassy plain as a slivery line appeared in the air. As it rotated the edge sliced through the grass, sharper that any blade ever forged. As the gate opened, Maidens leaped through the partially formed portal, running out in all directions to secure the area before the main body of troops began to pass through. The night still clung to the sky above as the army of the Dragon marched out towards the distant towers of Tar Valon. Rand rode his horse silently, his companions just as muted in the calm before the battle. Min rode at his side, hands tight on the reins. This close to him she did not need the bond to tell her that he was unsettled, but the feelings in her head were stronger than they had been before. The knot of him in her head was usually as hard as stone, but it roiled now like the sea in a storm. This worried her more than the expression on his face. Cadsuane pulled her mount along side Moiraine. "There is much you have not told me." "My apologies, Cadsuane Sedai, but it is not all mine to tell" The years spent in the tower made her respond to this woman's authority, as it did with everyone except possibly the Amyrlin. Light, even Suian would sumit to the legendary Cadsuane! A ripple of regret passed through her as she recalled that Suiane had been deposed. " Be that as it may, child, but there are things that need to be told. This is not the time for needless secrecy. Any thing you hold back could be the crucial piece of information." Moraine studied the woman's face. Her Aes sedai mask never slipped, but Moiraine sensed nothing but commitment in her. "There are many things that must be done, Cadsuane, and some need no help from us. There are some which would use any information to their own advantage, and the fewer who know the less chance there is of that happening." Cadsuane gave a disdainful sniff. "Do you wish to teach me how to embrace saidar next? I must know what is happening to the boy! He is changing. Faster than anyone could have guessed, and I must be able to help him!" "The Black Ajah are the most dangerous foes we face today, but until they use the power against us we have no way of knowing them from the others," Moiraine said, "We need to keep watch for them because Rand will not take direct action against any woman." "Pah, Black sisters! I can hardly believe anyone who has felt the glory of the Source could even consider following the Dark One. They deserve all they get. But I get the feeling that you are leading me around by the nose." She sniffed again, "I will do it anyway. I do not need to beaten around the head to realize a sensible notion. We will talk again after this is finished." "As you wish, Cadsuane Sedai." Moiraine kept her face blank and carefully studied the mane of her mount, struggling to contain her irritation at her own meekness in the face of this living legend. She couldn't help but submit to someone so strong in the power, even though she lacked the ability to gage that strength for herself. Cadsuane had been the subject of many of her lessons as a novice, and Moiraine tried desperately to recall everything she had heard of this monumental woman. A black-coated man ran towards the companions and stopped in their path causing all of them to come to a standstill. Rand looked to the man, taking note of the solitary collar pin, "You have something to report, Dedicated?" Slamming his fist to his chest the Asha'man began "My Lord Dragon, the men are in position, and scouts are returning with news of contact with the rebels force. Section leaders are on standby. Awaiting your commands, my Lord." "Good. Continue as planned." The asha'man turned and formed a gate that carried him to pass the orders. "We are closer to their troops than I expected. I hope they haven't started too far out. We don't want to give Elaida any more warning than necessary." "Gareth Bryne is no fool. He will have this planned to the last yard, and down to the very second. He is the best there is, outside of the borderlands." Lan said without turning his face from the imposing sight of the Tower that loomed above them.
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Egwene sat upon her horse surrounded by a host of Aes Sedai. She was secretly pleased that her words had had such an effect on this number of the sisters, but then the majority of them here were Greens, also known as the Battle Ajah, so maybe the numbers were not so surprising. All the warders of the camp were also aligned with them on this slight rise, most order by their sisters to assist, even though they were unwilling to leave them unattended through the battle. A shout went up from behind her, a cry of warning. The news swiftly passed through the masses of ranked soldiers to group that surrounded her. A force of Aeil had been spotted at their rear. They were under attack! Egwene rose in her saddle to pass her commands. "If the Aeil have been spotted it is because they wished it! We are under no threat from them. Find a scout, get me one of the clansmen here, now!" She did not have to wait long before she saw a familiar figure coming towards her at a ground eating pace. " Clear a path. I will speak with this man." As the figure eased through the massed bodies towards her she dismounted before greeting him. "Rhuarc. May you find water and shelter in this camp." She smiled as the huge man smiled at her. The expression was gone so quickly she might have imagined it. "It is good to see you again, Egwene. I have a message for the Amyrlin." "Well give it to her, man." Growled a nearby warder, who indicated to Egwene with a nod of his head. "It is not a wise man who keeps Amyrlin Seat waiting." The only acknowledgement of his surprise was a slight quirk of an eyebrow. He gazed down into her face a received a truly Aes Sedai expression in return. Rhuarc sank to one knee at her feet. Without taking his eyes from the ground he spoke. "Mother, the Lord Dragon has ordered all the clans to the dance. He awaits your permission to join you in your fight."