The Second Arch (Failure).

They Sitters were Sitting, and that was all they could do. In the Hall, there was a permeating sense of despair. Everyone knew it was pointless now. Rayel knew it, so deep in her soul that every small movement caused her physical pain. They were doomed.

"I have seen to the distribution," Davian said. "The rest of them are in the valley as you requested." He cleared his throat. It was rare to see the man display such discomfort. Then again, it was rare to see Raymal with sweat on her brow, or Johanas's face so pale. It was rare to see Whenmae look so ill, as ill as Rayel felt nearly twenty-four hours a day.

It was not a usual thing to realise that the world was gone to hell.

"There is much danger," Whenmae murmured. "Out there. I never thought to see–"

"Hell on earth," Coéla murmured, and Rayel jumped. She has read my mind, she thought, then dismissed her superstition. The Yellow Evraise was the one with the uncanny ability to see into people's heads and hearts. It reminded Rayel so of Marana, that long-lost friend whom she had never had the privilege of calling Sister. But Rayel didn't like Evraise; nor was there any sort of link between them. Just Evraise's irritating tendency to confront her on thoughts that were rightfully hers alone. She resented having to guard her inner ramblings as closely as she guarded her tongue.

"Coéla, please," Raymal said sharply, turning a hard glance on the Red. Coéla stared at her, never one to back down easily. Yet Raymal had proved repeatedly that she could outlast anyone. Soon enough Coéla was staring at her hands again.

"It is not over yet." Raymal's expression dared any of the others to challenge that statement. No one did. "We know it is not over. Logic tells us as much."

"Feoneya is our resident White," Johanas said curtly, and Rayel sensed that there would be a struggle, even in this desperate hour. Johanas' words had unspoken meaning; the rest of the White Sitters had mysteriously disappeared, and Feoneya Vaalis was the only one left to stand in their stead. A sign of decay, surely, when not all the Sitters bothered to show up to a convening of the Hall. Rayel's stomach twisted painfully.

"Logic," Raymal continued coldly—she was the coldest Gray Rayel had ever encountered—"tells us that something cannot be over until it is over. We do not suffer the aftermath until the event has transpired. It is sensible, yes?"

"It is," Rayel said immediately, not wanting to allow anyone else to speak up first. Please just let them co-operate, this once.

"Therefore," Raymal went on, nodding briefly to Rayel, "we would do well to get ourselves out there. It will make things all the worse if the people have no guidance. They need to see us doing what we have always done. Are we in agreement?"

"Yes," Rayel said again, and now Raymal almost looked annoyed. Coéla stared at Rayel and muttered, "I did not know parrots could Sit." Her eyes were flat, and Rayel guessed she was on the brink of losing her wits. For that reason she bit back the sharp reply that danced eagerly on her tongue.

"Enough," Feoneya said. She stood up, not waiting for the assent which most had learned over the years to ask of Raymal. "This is quite pointless. I've had altogether enough of gatherings of fools. You may all do as you wish, but I am going to do what I do best. I am leaving." Then she strode from the room. Raymal said nothing, just stared after her.

Rayel hesitated a second before climbing to her feet also. "It is time for the last stand," she muttered, shivering. "As dramatic as that sounds…" Her eyes flickered to the window, not seeing but knowing what was out there, and she knew no one could accuse her of overreacting. "…It is time. For us to dig down to our last reserves."

She paused again, then moved around to the double doors which had been shut tight in Feoneya's wake.

'*''*''*''*'

The journey through the Tower had been unnerving for all of them. The halls had yawned before them, stretching for miles in their wake. This was the message their tired, frayed minds sent them. Their footsteps had echoed strangely.

Raymal had allowed others to take the lead. By no means had she given over authority—everyone still knew she walked amongst them. Raymal was the most powerful female Aes Sedai remaining in the Tower. Rayel had been aware of the woman's presence all day long, and had often shrugged uncomfortably, seeking to scratch an unreachable itch.

At the doors to outside, Raymal stopped. "No hesitations," she said simply, not meeting anyone's eyes. "Calculations, smooth execution, follow through, seek your next target." She made it sound so simple, and Rayel marveled again at her Whiteness.

"I hear them," Coéla whispered, seeming not to have listened to Raymal at all. Her face was painted with the sort of terror that crippled a woman. "I hear them now." No one else appeared to know what she was talking about. "Hush," Rayel said softly, reaching out to take the woman's hand. "We may do well enough."

The Oaths had forced her to alter her choice of words so that she did not outright lie. She was sure Coéla was not comforted by the resultant sentence.

Nothing for it now, Rayel told herself, scrabbling around for some bit of resolve. Duty was heavier than a mountain; or, on this day, an entire range of mountains.

The doors opened and the sunlight poured in. They stepped outside.

'*''*''*''*'

As they walked through the streets of Tar Valon, it seemed that most of the enemies' work had been done. The profound silence was explained in time by the corpses that were piled up against walls, in doorways and in the mouths of alley ways. Rayel realised she was nodding calmly, taking note of what she saw. At one point she noticed that her hand no longer held Coéla's. When she paused to look back she saw the Red Sister vomiting.

Rayel wondered why the Red Ajah had ever accepted poor Coéla into their ranks. You seem to be questioning everybody's choice of Ajah today, a small voice told her sourly. And what of yourself? You are happy counting corpses as if they were chunks of firewood. Perhaps being human is too noble a profession for you, let alone being a Green Sister.

She heard someone step up behind her. "Admiring the display?" She turned to face a scowling Johanas, who pointed to something behind her, and she turned again. A dead teenaged body, his body twisted unnaturally. She had been peering closely at the corpse, not really seeing. Now she turned blazing eyes on Johanas and, before she could think twice, slapped him with a small brick of Air. He grunted in surprise, then recovered from the blow and came at her in fury. He slammed into a wall of Air which, Rayel soon found out, had been woven by Raymal.

"Children! That is enough!" the Gray snapped, coming to stand with both of them. "Get moving," she ordered Rayel, and then turned her attention to Johanas. Rayel was content to let the Gray deal with him. Her numbness was wearing off fast, and her eyes were really opening to what she was seeing. Her stomach was ever-clenched. She had developed a splitting head ache.

The streets passed by and nothing changed. Johanas did not look at Rayel again, and she pretended she was happy with that. She was now incredibly aware of her surroundings. She felt the cobblestones beneath her feet, through the flimsy slippers she had grabbed in haste this morning on her way out. She ignored everything while she could: the dead bodies piled up on either side of her; the discarded weapons, soaked in blood and other ghastly substances. She ignored the ever-present scent of death, detectable not so much physically as mentally.

Warders sprang into being miles from the battle ground. Rayel had never accustomed herself to the way these people moved—she was a Green but she had never Bonded. There was something disconcerting about the women and men in the fancloaks; she thought she was the only Green in history to feel that way.

The other Aes Sedai looked relieved as familiar-faced Gaidin trotted forth. Raymal and her Warder Elaisia embraced tightly, and immediately fell into hushed conversation. Even Coéla seemed reassured by the warriors' presence. Rayel and Johanas lingered at the edges, each feeling out of place. They pretended they did not see each other.

Suddenly Rayel became aware of a sound that did not fit.

She frowned and opened her mouth, but she was not the only one who had noticed it. Elaisia yelled, "Make haste!" The others began to run. Rayel did not hesitate to follow.

She knew what had happened. The battle had started without them.

'*''*''*''*'

It was a scene out of nightmare, and Rayel and the other Sitters stood at the edge of it, for now safely out of the way. They were severely outnumbered. It was as if every now and then, in a sea of enemy forces, Rayel caught sight of one of her own. Often they were swallowed quickly by the consuming tide of darkness. Other times they were joined by reinforcements, but what did they hope to achieve? Did they really have hope?

No. It was not hope that sustained them, but a knowledge of their duty. Duty, heavier than a mountain. So why not shirk it? How simple it would be

The way back will come but once

She blinked and cocked her head. The way back to…?

"Rayel!"

Coéla was motioning to her frantically while glancing repeatedly at Raymal. The Gray was in discussion with the Red, Rya of Tarabon. Evidently Raymal had begun giving orders already. Rayel approached with doubt on her face, tuning into what was being said. "…Were not prepared. They cheated."

Raymal laughed richly. "Ah, yes. They broke the rules." She shook her head sadly. "You speak as if they have a sense of right and wrong."

Rya nodded uncomfortably. "Yes. I know. Human nature, I suppose, to expect the best of people…"

"We are wasting time," Raymal said promptly, forestalling whatever Johanas had been going to say. She shrugged and glanced once at Elaisia before continuing, ignoring the glower that Johanas gave her. "We will reinforce the right flank. They need us most."

That was all she needed to say. Everyone hurried off in the same direction, besides Rya who remained at her post to oversee the Aes Sedai she had positioned there.

"What happened?" Rayel asked quietly as she moved to Raymal's side. The Gray did not hear, or else pretended not to. Rayel spoke louder. "Is this really where we can do the most good?" She saw that Raymal understood that she was pretending that she thought their aid would make a difference anywhere.

"I would tell you to take a good look at what is happening to them," Raymal said, nodding at the struggling right flank. "But I wouldn't want you to lose what breakfast you have remaining in there." She was not being sarcastic or cutting. She was being frank.

When in position Rayel began channeling, and was not even sure what weaves she flung out. Her eyes darted around, seeking weak spots where her weaves might do the most damage. Be steadfast.

The battle waged on, and people died.

'*''*''*''*'

"Where, where, where…?"

Rayel was murmuring the word aloud, trying to find a place where she would help most.

"Talk to me, not yourself!"

Rayel spun to face the owner of that familiar voice. Voda had just loosed a fireball and now turned her attention to Rayel, that glint in her eye announcing that she was able to make jokes even now. "Voda…" Rayel said softly, and was not sure what else to add.

She was soon too busy to talk, let alone think. She worked off instinct alone, hurling weaves at a stunning rate, finding herself always one step ahead, locating her next target even as her weaves struck home. She channeled and wove, loosed, and channeled again. She saw that others followed her example, and at one point, glimpsing Raymal's face, she saw exhilaration there. The woman was beginning to believe that there was hope after all.

A voice called to her, and she turned her head. In amongst the trees stood a silver arch, gleaming blindingly in the full light of mid-morning. She felt the sudden urge to race to it and dive through. "Rayel?" She gasped and caught sight of Whenmae, who had been calling her for some time now. She looked concerned, but there was no time to reassure her. Soon Rayel had forgotten all about the arch, although a strangely familiar voice called out inside her, telling her to be steadfast. She barely heard it when she noticed that things were about to go horribly sour.

The rest of the enemy forces had arrived.

From that moment on the situation deteriorated. The Aes Sedai and Warders were afflicted by a growing sense of desperation. Fear produced mistakes, especially when it was closer to panic. Mistakes were made, the Aes Sedai were pressed back, and were forced to lean on the mercenary reserves for defense. They had always said they knew it would come to this, but they could never have fully prepared for it. Rayel found herself closed inside the center of a battling ring of Gaidin and mercenaries, her fellow Aes Sedai crowding in so close it soon became unbearable. Claustrophobia gripped her, and she imagined that she saw her expression mirrored in the frantic gazes of her friends.

When they reached the edge of the forest proper, the Aes Sedai were no longer enclosed in a circle. They were rather defended by a long line of dancing, darting Warders. She found herself face to face with Raymal, who was shouting orders. Rayel could barely hear her over the chaotic orchestra of sword blades and pained screams. She managed to gather that Raymal wanted an assessment of the surrounding landscape. "Why didn't you find that out before?!" Rayel shrieked in sudden anger, feeling inexplicably agitated as well as fearful. Raymal appeared to mouth the word "What?" Rayel growled and threw up her hands, then spun and hurried from the fray, intending to execute Raymal's orders however she could.

She soon deduced that things could not get any worse. There was no room to move back further. At least it does not rain, a cynical voice muttered inside her, and she found she could actually take comfort from that. The way back will come

"But once!" Rayel snapped. A familiar voice screamed in horror. She jerked her head around and squinted, trying to see what had happened. She had to move closer. Even as she walked she sensed the silver arch behind her, seeming to burn its elegant shape into her back. She somehow felt that if she were to go to it and step through, all would be well. She pushed her insane thoughts away and fought the desire to turn and bolt.

She found Raymal on the ground, run through with a blackened spear. The woman twitched involuntarily and groaned. Agony was etched across her face. Rayel gripped her stomach, thinking she would vomit. She managed somehow to hold it back. Other Aes Sedai were losing control. Coéla sat on the ground, howling in despair. Never mind the Red Ajah. How did she ever become a Sister?!

Whenmae attempted to Heal Raymal. Rayel was now standing with her back to her friends, facing the silvery arch. She knew that the better part of her agitation was linked with the arch. She knew that she had to go to it, though why she could not say. She watched the arch, not noticing that her name was being called, and saw it flicker. Panic seized her. She found it difficult to breathe. If that arch winked out of existence…

What then? What would happen? She did not know, but she was already walking. The voices were distinct now, as if they were all that existed besides the arch. It was Whenmae, and Coéla, yelling her name. Even Raymal found enough strength to call to her. Then they all chorused it together, sounding like a fabrication of her mind. She turned and saw accusation in their eyes. Her throat was tight and tears began to stream down her face. She sobbed once and started to go back to them. Whenmae was stretching out her arms, appealing desperately to Rayel. The grim cloud of doom swarmed ever closer, and Rayel saw Warders fall. Coéla too staggered and crumpled, and Rayel turned again, racing for the arch now. It seemed that her soul tore away from her body, and she knew the wounds would never heal, no matter what she decided in the end.

She became aware of the sun now, of it beating down on her, heating her hair and making her light-headed. She turned, feeling like a marionette whose strings were controlled by two rival puppeteers. She saw Whenmae's tear-stained face, and watched as the darkness seeped in and around her. It began to drag her down. Rayel sobbed again and sprinted now. She heard Whenmae scream, and it was a sound of utter horror, accusing her.

Abandon the ones who mean the most to you. Desert the innocents, and those who would have lived on to save them. Turn your back on the Light itself and prove yourself a hateful coward. Be forever consumed by your gnawing guilt. May you

Whenmae's scream cut off and Rayel fell through the arch, feeling her body and soul being divided into tiny millionths by the cutting light.