Disclaimers: I've said it once, I say it again: I don't owe the Wheel of Time, just borrowed the characters for my own imagination of things.
Author's Note: Gee! I asked for 3 reviews, and I got 4! I just love you guys! :) And don't you worry, I'll keep this story going until the very end!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 3 – Lan Receives the News
Rand watched as every general left the tent, except Lan. The former Warder stood by the table, looking down at the maps and sometimes murmuring to himself. As Mat disappeared out the entrance, Lan turned to Rand, who sat down in his chair and poured himself a cup of cool spiced wine. He gestured Lan to sit down in the other chair and have a cup spiced wine himself, but the man kept standing.
"What is it you wish to talk to me about?" Rand looked curiously up at the Commander for the Dragon Reborn's life guard, but he had already guessed what was coming.
"Why Nynaeve?" Lan looked expressionless at him, but Rand knew that deeper feelings wanted to burst out, and decided to move carefully so he did not get a mouthful. He moved in his chair and sat down the cup.
"You know why, Lan," Rand answered. "We have discussed this several times, and she herself agreed to be there." The man had come to discuss his wife presence beside Rand at Tarmon Gai'don almost every day now after the generals' meeting, it was beginning to get irritating. Lan wore a grim expression. "Look, Lan. If you don't want her there, it is better you talk to her about it. I am not going to change my mind."
"Even if Nynaeve turns out to be with child?" Min stood in the entrance, her hands placed at her hips and her eyes blazing. Lan looked at her in a half shocked, half confused expression.
"Nynaeve is with child?" His question was low, and Rand was surprised of the softness in Lan's voice. Min stared long at the other man, then nodded, but her face wore an expression that said she regretted to have said anything at all. Lan started pacing around for a few moments, his eyes fixed on the floor, his face grim. Then he stopped and looked back at Min. "Well, where is she?" he asked impatiently. Min –very surprisingly– hesitated, dwelling a moment if she was to let out that information yet, but in the end she thought better of telling him, and looked up at the tall man.
"She's in Elayne's tent with the other women." Min sighed, and Rand became even more surprised at Lan's reaction; he narrowed his eyes and looked the direction of Elayne's tent. "She did not actually want me to tell you, but –" Both men glared at her, their eyes wide, but Min continued as if she had never seen their stares. "But you're her husband and the children's father, and… and it would not be right for you to be left out."
"Children? Is she having more than one?" Again, Lan's face was half shocked, half curious, but now Rand also heard worry in his voice. No wonder, he thought grimly. Tarmon Gai'don is here any minute, and she's going to fight at my side. Light! Why did she have to go through all that now? He stopped thinking, and turned his attention back to Min. The bond told him she was sad and regretting despite her earlier words.
"Twins." Min's voice was low. 'Twins… Is it me being ta'veren or is everyone I know getting twins. First the Aiel Chief Bael's wife, then Elayne, and next it's Nynaeve.'
Immediately, Lan was on his way out, taking long strides, but then he suddenly stopped after passing her, and looked over his shoulder. "Thank you for telling me this. Although I would rather have heard it from my wife, I do not regret to have heard it from you. This news have made me both happy and scared." He made a motion to go, but Min took hold of his arm and looked sad at him. Like she had talked to him through the bond, Rand stood up from the chair, and moved over to the former Warder.
"I am sorry you have to go through this now, Lan." He hesitated, earning a glare from Min, who understood exactly what Rand was trying to say, and he continued. "I withdraw my wish to have Nynaeve at my side when I fight, and instead urge her to instead stay behind with her Ajah, helping the wounded. However, since we both know Nynaeve is a stubborn woman, I think it would be best if I leave the decision for you two to make. Come to the dinner tonight, and if you have made a decision, I would like to know. Tai'shar Malkier." He finished, clutching his fist in honour to the other man, the last remainer of the royal Malkieri blood line.
Lan stared at him for a long moment, his face expressionless. Then he nodded, his lips twitching sligthly. "Tai'shar Manetheren." His voice was not so cold any longer, and his eyes had regained a little of that warmth he often showed these days. Marrying Nynaeve had certainly changed the former Warder. Rand smiled slightly too. Min just stared at the two men, the bond saying she was satisfied, sad and happy. Then the other man left through the tent flap, and Rand collected Min in a tight embrace, her head resting at his chest.
"I can't help but feel both sad and happy for them, Rand."
"I know, Min. I know." Their embrace tightened more, as they stood there for long moments of silence, until the broke away, turning their thoughts to other things.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Ok, so what do you think? Still a bit short? Well, I would love to have reviews from you guys! Whether or not they're bad or good! Please?***Response to reviews***
Eonwe – You know, I did not even think about Aviendha being pregnant when I started this story, but I admit that your question certainly brought me a few thoughts, and even a few ideas. ;)
Hermmes – I'll try to keep my chapters longer.
Ufoapresident/Lara Roberts – I couldn't have agreed more: there really should be more Nynaeve/Lan stories.
Min Wolph – Well, I'm glad you liked it. :)