Author's note: Sorry for that really weird lay-out in chapter one and two.
I hope you didn't have to wait so long for the continuation.
Her boots clicked against the marble floor as she made her way through the corridors. Liveried stewards and servants passed her by but stopped a few feet away as they hadn't seen an Aes Sedai. Other openly gawked at her, probably at how she had dressed or probably at the ring or probably both. She gave them no care. When she was finished with her meddling relatives, they would learn to accept her soon. She turned left then continued to walk down the length of a corridor. Only a few servants were met on the way, each eyeing her nervously and other eyeing her contemptuously. Something was wrong in Cairhien. Few would dare give an Aes Sedai that look. She walked on, the faint light from the lighted candelabra illuminating the way. In this part of the house, little sunlight came in so it was no wonder why most tried to stay away from it. Just outside the room, she could hear shouts from two people, both males, from inside the room. Well, whatever argument was going on, they would have to stop. No one takes over her estate and gets away with it. Yes she was very particular with her belongings and very possessive too. No matter. She'd just thought up a plan as she was riding through the gateway. She'd take back her estates and make it into a place where Asha'man and Aes Sedai can meet and well.become friends. If Tarmon Gai'don was coming then it would be better for the them to get together and work together.peacefully. After all, they would be needing all the strength that they can get. The men's voices still rose out of the room. They were fighting over who would have the right to really claim the house. Moira smiled. They would know soon. She pushed the doors open and entered. Thirteen chairs were arranged in a horse shoe pattern, on chair raised on a dais. No one sat here. The other chairs were filled with women and men, mostly in their twenties and above, each face showing a unique emotion. Two men stood in the middle, shaking fists at one another. If they were less than lords they would already be in a brawl. One of them whipped his head at her direction when she closed the door. "What do you want, serving girl? And why aren't you dressed properly?" He snapped. He was Idris, a nephew of hers who was very prickly with clothes. Even what he wore now was with a distinct color code. This time it was blue, from his breeches, coat and even his blue lacquered shoes. The only thing missing was his hair. The brown hair was cut so that it stayed away from his face. When she gave no answer, he opened his mouth to give a scolding but one of the elder women who had grays at her temples stood up and brushed Idris aside. Cerys Damodred was a formidable woman and one who disliked playing Daes dae'mar. She was her great aunt and her favorite relative. She was the total opposite if what the Cairhienin were 'suppose' to be. "Moira child! I never thought you'd return!" She glided-like an Aes Sedai- towards her, arms wide open to embrace her. Moira accepted the embrace and returned it. Cerys ran her hand over her head in an affectionate manner, "I have news for you but that will come later when it is more private." She stepped back and seemed to study her from head to toe. "They feed you well in Tar Valon." Moira nodded and allowed herself to be led to the seat that was raised on the dais. There she sat straight back and calm. She wasn't high seat-that was most likely to be Caraline-but the seat was for whoever owned the estate and that was she. Her younger relatives who were babies when she went to the Tower goggled at her as if she were a creature from a glee man's tale. "I, Moira Damodred, reclaim this estate to be mine and those of my descendants or those I wish to pass it on from this moment on or so the light help me become merciful to anyone who will try to take it from me!" At that questions from everyone were flung at her. Only Cerys nodded with approval however, she wasn't the one Moira expected to be proud. They were not in the room but hopefully they were still in the estate. Moira raised her hand and everyone became quiet. A girl no older than twenty two ogled at the serpent ring. She snatched her hand back down and smothered a glare. Idris made a rude sound and stood on the first step. "Moira, I'm glad you have come but Moiraine is suppose to claim the estate, not you." "Moiraine is dead. She has been for quite some time." Grief flickered across her, leaving red spots in her vision. "And you never told us?" His voice raised murmurs from the on-lookers. "And if I did, you would have asked for her body, wouldn't you? I myself couldn't have told you since I haven't seen her body yet." "Then how is it that she can be dead and yet no corpse?" "Aes Sedai warders know when their Aes Sedai dies. Al'Lan Mandragoran knew it when Moiraine fell into a ter'angreal." And yet sometimes I doubt if she really is dead or if the bond was just broken when she disappeared in to it, never to return, she thought. Idris' mouth was a thin line on face, expressing his fury at her. Was he the one who was suppose to claim her estate? Another woman stood up. Her hair piled up into a ridiculous hairstyle, gold ornaments dangling from a silver chain intertwined in the mass of curls. "I suppose you don't remember me. I am Amelia, a niece of yours. I was just wondering.what do you plan to do with your estate? I mean Aes Sedai are confined to the White Tower aren't they unless I am much mistaken. Or is it right to ask if they exiled you for a.crime?" "The affairs of the White Tower will remain as such. It is no concern to you." Moira got up and moved down the dais to stand in front of Amelia. She could feel saidar through her but it was too weak, so much so that she wouldn't have lasted a month in the White Tower. "As for what I plan to do.it is a surprise. Maybe in a month or two, you will see it." Her finger closed into a fist and opened again, "I suggest that you all get ready for the evening meal. It is quite sometime from now so you'll have enough time to think whether you will leave or stay. Either way, I hope you'll stay. It's been a long time since I've seen and I would dearly like to know a lot of things." The younger ones blinked in surprised, the older ones carefully sifting her words for any insult and finding none, they accepted with a curt nod. Cerys swept towards her and led her out of the chamber, past hallways and up a sweeping marble staircase. There, Cerys tugged her so that she faced a group of servants including the one she had met at the entrance earlier that day. "This is Moira Damodred, your new mistress. You will serve her well with all your heart and loyalty. Swear this under the light!" Murmurs were heard through the servants. Most of the old ones recognized her and smiled. Newer ones, ones that had been hired while she was in Tar Valon shifted nervously but swore anyway. Moira nodded and exited down a corridor with Cerys. They climbed stairs to the third floor and turned left. Down the corridor they went. Moira raised her eyes to the portraits that hung on the wall. One of the largest was a family portrait of the Damodred clan, Galldrian Damodred sitting on a throne atop a dais, their other relatives surrounding him. It was painted a year before she was taken to Tar Valon. Beside her was Moiraine, her dark curls tumbling down her shoulders. Behind them was Caraline, a mere three years old. Standing behind the throne was Cerys with a big beaming smile, a smile of satisfaction showing how happy she was with the clan. Cerys suddenly stopped in front of a room to turn the knob. The door opened to reveal a room with a table with an ink bottle, parchment, pens and wax, ready for her to write her papers. Fire roared in the hearth, crackling whenever it touched a moist part of the wood. Another door led to her private chambers. It was not so big but neither was it cramp. Sunlight streamed in through the open window. Moira breathed in deeply to take in the familiar scent nearly lost to her in the years that she was away. She turned back to see Cerys beaming with absolute delight. "Welcome home, Moira."
Her boots clicked against the marble floor as she made her way through the corridors. Liveried stewards and servants passed her by but stopped a few feet away as they hadn't seen an Aes Sedai. Other openly gawked at her, probably at how she had dressed or probably at the ring or probably both. She gave them no care. When she was finished with her meddling relatives, they would learn to accept her soon. She turned left then continued to walk down the length of a corridor. Only a few servants were met on the way, each eyeing her nervously and other eyeing her contemptuously. Something was wrong in Cairhien. Few would dare give an Aes Sedai that look. She walked on, the faint light from the lighted candelabra illuminating the way. In this part of the house, little sunlight came in so it was no wonder why most tried to stay away from it. Just outside the room, she could hear shouts from two people, both males, from inside the room. Well, whatever argument was going on, they would have to stop. No one takes over her estate and gets away with it. Yes she was very particular with her belongings and very possessive too. No matter. She'd just thought up a plan as she was riding through the gateway. She'd take back her estates and make it into a place where Asha'man and Aes Sedai can meet and well.become friends. If Tarmon Gai'don was coming then it would be better for the them to get together and work together.peacefully. After all, they would be needing all the strength that they can get. The men's voices still rose out of the room. They were fighting over who would have the right to really claim the house. Moira smiled. They would know soon. She pushed the doors open and entered. Thirteen chairs were arranged in a horse shoe pattern, on chair raised on a dais. No one sat here. The other chairs were filled with women and men, mostly in their twenties and above, each face showing a unique emotion. Two men stood in the middle, shaking fists at one another. If they were less than lords they would already be in a brawl. One of them whipped his head at her direction when she closed the door. "What do you want, serving girl? And why aren't you dressed properly?" He snapped. He was Idris, a nephew of hers who was very prickly with clothes. Even what he wore now was with a distinct color code. This time it was blue, from his breeches, coat and even his blue lacquered shoes. The only thing missing was his hair. The brown hair was cut so that it stayed away from his face. When she gave no answer, he opened his mouth to give a scolding but one of the elder women who had grays at her temples stood up and brushed Idris aside. Cerys Damodred was a formidable woman and one who disliked playing Daes dae'mar. She was her great aunt and her favorite relative. She was the total opposite if what the Cairhienin were 'suppose' to be. "Moira child! I never thought you'd return!" She glided-like an Aes Sedai- towards her, arms wide open to embrace her. Moira accepted the embrace and returned it. Cerys ran her hand over her head in an affectionate manner, "I have news for you but that will come later when it is more private." She stepped back and seemed to study her from head to toe. "They feed you well in Tar Valon." Moira nodded and allowed herself to be led to the seat that was raised on the dais. There she sat straight back and calm. She wasn't high seat-that was most likely to be Caraline-but the seat was for whoever owned the estate and that was she. Her younger relatives who were babies when she went to the Tower goggled at her as if she were a creature from a glee man's tale. "I, Moira Damodred, reclaim this estate to be mine and those of my descendants or those I wish to pass it on from this moment on or so the light help me become merciful to anyone who will try to take it from me!" At that questions from everyone were flung at her. Only Cerys nodded with approval however, she wasn't the one Moira expected to be proud. They were not in the room but hopefully they were still in the estate. Moira raised her hand and everyone became quiet. A girl no older than twenty two ogled at the serpent ring. She snatched her hand back down and smothered a glare. Idris made a rude sound and stood on the first step. "Moira, I'm glad you have come but Moiraine is suppose to claim the estate, not you." "Moiraine is dead. She has been for quite some time." Grief flickered across her, leaving red spots in her vision. "And you never told us?" His voice raised murmurs from the on-lookers. "And if I did, you would have asked for her body, wouldn't you? I myself couldn't have told you since I haven't seen her body yet." "Then how is it that she can be dead and yet no corpse?" "Aes Sedai warders know when their Aes Sedai dies. Al'Lan Mandragoran knew it when Moiraine fell into a ter'angreal." And yet sometimes I doubt if she really is dead or if the bond was just broken when she disappeared in to it, never to return, she thought. Idris' mouth was a thin line on face, expressing his fury at her. Was he the one who was suppose to claim her estate? Another woman stood up. Her hair piled up into a ridiculous hairstyle, gold ornaments dangling from a silver chain intertwined in the mass of curls. "I suppose you don't remember me. I am Amelia, a niece of yours. I was just wondering.what do you plan to do with your estate? I mean Aes Sedai are confined to the White Tower aren't they unless I am much mistaken. Or is it right to ask if they exiled you for a.crime?" "The affairs of the White Tower will remain as such. It is no concern to you." Moira got up and moved down the dais to stand in front of Amelia. She could feel saidar through her but it was too weak, so much so that she wouldn't have lasted a month in the White Tower. "As for what I plan to do.it is a surprise. Maybe in a month or two, you will see it." Her finger closed into a fist and opened again, "I suggest that you all get ready for the evening meal. It is quite sometime from now so you'll have enough time to think whether you will leave or stay. Either way, I hope you'll stay. It's been a long time since I've seen and I would dearly like to know a lot of things." The younger ones blinked in surprised, the older ones carefully sifting her words for any insult and finding none, they accepted with a curt nod. Cerys swept towards her and led her out of the chamber, past hallways and up a sweeping marble staircase. There, Cerys tugged her so that she faced a group of servants including the one she had met at the entrance earlier that day. "This is Moira Damodred, your new mistress. You will serve her well with all your heart and loyalty. Swear this under the light!" Murmurs were heard through the servants. Most of the old ones recognized her and smiled. Newer ones, ones that had been hired while she was in Tar Valon shifted nervously but swore anyway. Moira nodded and exited down a corridor with Cerys. They climbed stairs to the third floor and turned left. Down the corridor they went. Moira raised her eyes to the portraits that hung on the wall. One of the largest was a family portrait of the Damodred clan, Galldrian Damodred sitting on a throne atop a dais, their other relatives surrounding him. It was painted a year before she was taken to Tar Valon. Beside her was Moiraine, her dark curls tumbling down her shoulders. Behind them was Caraline, a mere three years old. Standing behind the throne was Cerys with a big beaming smile, a smile of satisfaction showing how happy she was with the clan. Cerys suddenly stopped in front of a room to turn the knob. The door opened to reveal a room with a table with an ink bottle, parchment, pens and wax, ready for her to write her papers. Fire roared in the hearth, crackling whenever it touched a moist part of the wood. Another door led to her private chambers. It was not so big but neither was it cramp. Sunlight streamed in through the open window. Moira breathed in deeply to take in the familiar scent nearly lost to her in the years that she was away. She turned back to see Cerys beaming with absolute delight. "Welcome home, Moira."