Wilder in the Mist
By: Rikku24 of the Green Ajah
Chapter 4: There is HopeA/N: Sorry about the looooooooooooong wait. I was working on my Yu-Gi-Oh angst/romance story. I have concluded that it is writing itself. This story, however, is not. I had writer's block for this too. I didn't know how to start the chapter so sorry if it's not my best. This is also my last chapter for this story, but no worries it WILL be long. My name has to do with a quiz I took to see what Ajah I'd be in. Yeah, I ended up being best suited for the Green Ajah, aka the Battle Ajah. Suits me fine… I feel like Vandene Sedai from the Great Hunt. She's a Green who would do very well as a Brown. Yeah, I would fit in either the Green or Brown Ajah. But enough of that, now for the story!
Egwene's eyes gained a gleam that had been absent from them for so long. She smiled now too. You'd think she was a flower deprived of light and water but just now receiving it and becoming healthy. The elves no longer looked at her with pity or sorrow. In fact, they almost completely ignored her. Sometimes they'd look at Egwene out of the corners of their eyes but other than that it was as if she didn't exist. Opal and her mother, Amethyst, still kept a sharp eye on Egwene, though, and set up extra guards in the forests.
"What brings you joy, Aes Sedai?" Opal asked, the "leash" in her hands.
"Why would you care? You just want me as a pet, one you can show off. But know what, Opal? I'm no pet," Egwene said dangerously.
"My my aren't you feisty. I think we need to teach you a lesson. Come on now pet," Opal said cruelly.
Gawyn searched the forests and filled his effort with need. He needed to find Egwene. He needed to free her. He needed to get into the Elven world. And his need and effort paid off.
"Opal, my lady, I have urgent news," an Elven archer said.
"Tell me, do not mind the girl. She can hear this too," Opal said coolly.
"Well, my lady, a stranger has been spotted in the forest. He looks as if he is searching for something. He never rests and has been able to avoid our every trap," the elf explained.
"Thank you. I am glad that you alerted me of this stranger," Opal said offhandedly.
"Gawyn," Egwene whispered to herself.
She knew it was Gawyn and she hoped that he would find her. Luckily, Opal didn't hear Egwene because she was sure that Opal would order the capture and/or execution of Gawyn.
The elf left and Opal turned towards Egwene, snapping the collar about Egwene's neck and placing the bracelet on her (Opal's) wrist.
"Come on, Aes Sedai. Time for your walk," Opal sneered.
Egwene just obeyed and followed. It didn't matter. Gawyn was near and maybe, just maybe, he would find her during the walk.
Gawyn realized that the elves knew of his presence but he was too sly for him. He was a fox in the midst of cats. Both creatures are sly and witty yet Gawyn was wittier. He snuck past several guards and entered the town. With his cloak on and hood up, no one could tell that he was human and not Elven.
Egwene searched the forest and shadows hoping to catch a glimpse of Gawyn. He would probably be cloaked and hidden from view or he could be wandering the forest or he could be caught without her knowing it. Too many possibilities. Egwene wanted to see her love and she wanted to see him NOW.
And her love appeared. It took a lot of effort to keep from gasping in surprise. He was standing in the shadows by a small store. His eyes searching the crowd intently. His eyes met hers. He seemed surprised at first but his surprise faded away after she gave him a reassuring smile. Egwene seemed to forget Opal had her on a leash and was a bit surprised when she felt something tug at her neck.
"What are you staring at, Aes Sedai?" Opal asked.
"Oh, huh, what? Oh, just the crowd and the stands. I saw some pretty flowers being sold at one of them and couldn't help but look at them," Egwene said in a farm girl's voice.
"Aes Sedai, you seem to be losing your wit by the minute. Come now, to the forest," Opal said, walking in the direction of the forest and tugging Egwene behind her.
Gawyn stared at Egwene in shock and surprise. There was a collar about her neck and some Elvish woman pulling the leash connected to it. Egwene's clothes looked in need of washing and her hair needed some cleaning up to. She didn't look too healthy either; she was a bit skinnier than when he last saw her. Suddenly, Egwene was pulled from his sight. He searched the crowds frantically for her and just saw Egwene and the Elf heading towards the forest. Poor Egwene, she was being held captive and not being treated properly AND not enjoying her sty. Gawyn swore to free her, even if he lost his life doing so.
Egwene and Opal walked through the forest. Egwene searched the shadows for Gawyn while Opal searched the shadows for… Egwene wasn't sure but whatever it was Opal wanted to find it soon.
Gawyn watched the to women from a distance. They both seemed to e looking for something; no doubt Egwene was looking for him. He needed to free Egwene NOW. Gawyn quickly made a plan up in his head. The Element of Surprise being the main key to it. It should work…it would work. Gawyn stalked up behind Egwene and her captor. He unsheathed his sword and…
"Egwene it appears that you have company," Opal said coolly.
Egwene could see weaves being formed and moved towards… Gawyn?
Gawyn had his sword unsheathed and looked like a cat ready to pounce, a wolf about to kill.
"Gawyn! Watch out!" Egwene cried desperately.
He looked up from where he was but it was too late. Gawyn was bound by the One Power.
"Let him go Opal!" Egwene demanded.
"It looks as if I have two pets now. A cat and a wolf. How lovely, I should have fun," Opal said, sneering.
"Shut up!" Egwene yelled at Opal.
Opal just stood there smirking. She had Egwene bound by a leash that could only be taken off by Opal and Gawyn bound by the One Power.
"Let me go you…you witch!" Gawyn yelled, trying to break free.
"Foolish mortal, I am no witch. I am an elf much different from any witch I've ever seen. Now stop your foolish attempts to break free. Face the truth. You cannot break free," Opal explained coolly.
Opal started to walk back towards the palace, bringing Gawyn and Egwene with her.
Egwene desperately tried to break the weave separating her from the True Source.
As I told you before (I think…) the leash only keeps Egwene from escaping and lets Opal (or whoever currently has the leash) use Egwene for the One Power instead of herself. Opal then made a weave that blocked Egwene from the True Source.
Egwene searched the "wall" with her mind, looking for weaknesses and cracks in it. After searching it a dozen times, Egwene eventually decided to give up. But then something caught her eye. At the center of the wall was a knot. It was here that Opal tied off the weave. Egwene began to probe and pull at the knot with her mind, trying her best to untie it. Her effort paid off gradually for the knot became looser and looser. Then… it untied all together and the weave that had blocked Egwene from her "life" was finally destroyed.
Gawyn stared at the ground, hiding his face. He was crying for he had failed in the small task he had appointed himself. Now both he and Egwene were trapped. Instead of making matters better, Gawyn had made them worse. It was so frustrating! Gawyn looked up and saw a palace up ahead, he also saw Egwene staring triumphantly at the Elven woman? That was…different.
"Hah! I'm free of your cursed imprisonment!" Egwene yelled triumphantly.
"No! It's impossible," Opal exclaimed in horror.
"Now take this dreaded collar off of my neck or face the consequences," Egwene demanded.
"I guess I have no other choice," Opal said, taking off the collar.
Egwene felt her neck and smiled. The collar was gone…she was free. Egwene created some weaves and directed them at the weaves that were holding Gawyn. Opal's weaves broke instantly and Gawyn landed on the ground. He got up quickly and ran over to Egwene. They hugged each other and Egwene kissed Gawyn on the cheek.
Egwene turned towards Opal.
"You witch. I don't know what I should do to you for all the pain you've caused. I will drop all grudges I have against you if you will agree to take Gawyn and me out of this cursed utopia," Egwene said darkly.
"Very well, I will lead you out of this world," Opal said.
This is too easy. You'd think that Opal would put up some kind of fight. Egwene thought to herself, eyeing Opal suspiciously.
The group of three walked through the forest and saw no one. This was mainly due to the fact that Opal was traveling with them and no common elf would stick their nose into business that was being made by a royal elf.
"Here's the exit portal," Opal said, snapping her fingers.
Egwene and Gawyn walked towards the exit portal when they found arrows pointed at their heads. Elven archers surrounded the two humans.
"I can't let you leave that easily. You'll have to swear you won't tell anyone about this world and then seal your oath with blood," Opal said.
Egwene and Gawyn looked at each other and nodded.
"Under the Light and by hope of my rebirth I, Egwene al'Vere, swear to speak not a word of this place," Egwene said coolly and confidently.
"Under the Light and by hope of my rebirth I, Gawyn of House Trakand, swear to speak not a word of this place," Gawyn said in a serious tone.
"Under the Light and by the hope of my rebirth I, Opal Treeheart, accept and seal this oath," Opal said, taking out a small gold-hilted dagger.
She cut the tip of her pointer finger and Egwene and Gawyn did the same. Then they pressed their fingers together, sealing the oath.
"You may leave in peace now," Opal said.
Gawyn and Egwene left the Elven world for the first…and last…time in their lives.
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So that's the end of that. I'll have an epilogue out soon though. PLEASE REVIEW!