((*sobs* Last chapter...))
Keena crept up behind Faolan. Her eyes were puffy, and it was obvious that she'd been crying. "Warder, we will get our revenge. We will make sure that Jacqueline did not die for nothing. Don't you worry. We will make them all see how badly mistaken they have been, and we will make sure the Black Ajah doesn't take over the Tower. Grab a few swords. We will need them." The first one they had to deal with was Painie. After all, they knew she was Black, and she would be easy to overtake.
Faolan smiled grimly and grabbed some swords. He was rather surprised when Keena asked him for some for herself, but he threw two short ones over to her. She strapped them on expertly, as did he. They were ready.
Just as they were about to leave, the sound of metal dropping caught Faolan's ears. He heard muffled cursing. Drawing his sword, he quickly ran over to the other side of the area and struck out...
And met metal with a crash. Bryanne stepped out of the shadows, eyes dark. Nelia was just behind her, also with a sword. "You will need some help," came the soft voice. Bryanne easily twirled a sword in each hand. Nelia, being Blue and not as much of a fighter, still handled her daggers just as easily. "We can give you that," echoed her voice.
Faolan almost grinned. This was exactly what they needed. Now, there were three women who could channel strongly as well as fight well, and there was him. It would be quite a bit easier that way. "Yes, we do need help. Thanks for coming. Come on, now, and you'd better be silent or we'll leave you behind." They both looked at each other and giggled, as if he'd said something funny.
They raced silently through the Tower, not making a sound. At last, they reached the rooms of the Black Sitter. Faolan was almost surprised. The young Sitters had made less noise than himself, if that was possible. His slim form slipped through the door, which one of the Aes Sedai-he wasn't sure which one-had opened using the Power. He came to a halt and signaled to the others that it was all clear.
The lamps flared. Out of the darkness came a shadow. Another shadow. Three shadows. Keena groaned. She had appeared behind Faolan, Nelia and Bryanne at her sides. Swiftly, the smallest of the three shapes moved forward. Her eyes glittered menacingly. "What have we here? Some little heroic assassins trying to avenge their mistress' death?" It was Painie's voice that came nastily.
Faolan cringed instinctively. He knew what would come next. He was prepared for an attack. He was ready to die, wasn't afraid of death. He would fight with all that he had. The others all stood ready for attack as well. None had drawn weapons yet, though. They needed the element of surprise on their side to have any chance at all of winning.
Painie grinned evilly. "You didn't think this through. Unfortunately, there are more of us than you, and you are all tired. Do you want to turn around now? I will give you the chance. This is the only chance you will ever get." Her voice was deadly, and she was completely serious. It did, however, amuse her that they would come so undefended. She sighed. Some people just liked to be killed "nobly" she supposed.
Faolan smiled grimly. He put up three fingers. "You have three. We have four. How does that make us outnumbered?" He was pretty sure that she must have more Blacks with her in that room. If she didn't-well, that was all right with him too.
Painie smirked. More shapes appeared on each side, until there were 13 Black Sisters. "Would you like us to bring in some Myrddraael?" Nelia paled visibly, which was saying much, as it was fairly dark. Without waiting any longer, Painie and her Blacks attacked.
Nelia, Bryanne, and Keena linked together, forming a circle instantly. As the weave came to shield them from the Source, they wove a shield. The weave bounced back and struck three of the Blacks. Three down, ten to go, thought Faolan grimly.
Keena grinned as she pulled out her sword. At the same time, Bryanne took out both of hers, one in each hand, and Nelia drew her daggers. Last, Faolan drew his own sword. No, they were not defenseless. They couldn't attack with the Power and maintain a strong enough shield at the same time, but it was easy enough to strike with weapons they had all trained with their whole lives.
The Blacks retreated a bit as they saw the blades. It was very, very unexpected that they would have other ways to defend themselves. Painie grimaced when the swords came flashing out. She, in the front, was the first to have her throat slit.
The four attackers formed a circle, back to back. The three Aes Sedai maintained the shield while they struck out, so each attack by the Blacks was stopped. The Darkfriends, not expecting an attack with 'primitive weapons,' fell slowly. Soon, there were only five left. Then four. Then three. At last, all thirteen Black Ajah Aes Sedai were dead or dying.
The exhausted attackers leaned on each other for support. They had evidence to present to the Sitters, now. Somehow, they all knew that the only Blacks in the Hall of the Tower were dead, now. They had planned it together, obviously. Faolan sighed, in some ways relieved that he wasn't dead, in others wishing that he was. They would present their evidence to the Hall in the morning.
Faolan, Bryanne, Keena, and Nelia all walked back outside together. They went back to where Jacqueline's body was still lying and picked her up. Strangely, Faolan didn't feel quite so empty and sad anymore. He knew that she had died for a good cause, and she would have peace now. They dug a pit together and laid her in it without a coffin, in the Shienar way. "May you find peace in the light. I love you, Jacqueline."
The Hall of the Tower was gathered. They made their decision. A tall, Domani Yellow stood and said calmly, "We relinquish our charges against you. You have done murder, but you have served the Tower in killing thirteen dangerous Darkfriends. Well done." She paused for a moment then added, "We also remove all charges against Jacqueline Black. May she rest forever in the Light."
Faolan, Bryanne, Keena, and Nelia all bowed their heads. Faolan wondered what he was going to do now, where he was going to go now that this was all over. Maybe he would wander around, join the army. But maybe he would just stay at the Tower. The terrible pain and sadness at Jacqueline's death seemed to have lightened, and he was filled with a new sense of purpose. He could stay in the Tower, and hunt down the Black Ajah...
The Yellow spoke again, this time her soft voice directed towards Keena. "There is an open spot in the Hall of the Tower, now. Do you wish to fill it?"
Keena grinned, face lighting up. "Yes, I would love to fill it." Bryanne and Nelia smiled at her. "Welcome, then, to the Hall of the Tower."
Life went on. Keena was a Sitter now, who could make important decisions. Faolan had friends, and a sense of purpose. A new Amyrlin was chosen, one who was not a Darkfriend. Kella was never seen again, believed to have moved away to some distant country where she wouldn't be known as a Darkfriend that had gotten an innocent killed. Still, that terrible sadness lay deep within Faolan. He grew ill and weary and decided to go live his life somewhere else, in peace. At long last, Faolan, too, died, and he was able to have the peace that he had dreamed of ever since the day of his love's death. Life went on, and the Wheel of Time turned without the world being taken over by evil. And it was all because of the selflessness of an Amyrlin and her Warder.
The End
((It is officially over. Sorry, but I'm really bad at endings. Tell me what you think, and if there is anything I didn't resolve by the end!))
Keena crept up behind Faolan. Her eyes were puffy, and it was obvious that she'd been crying. "Warder, we will get our revenge. We will make sure that Jacqueline did not die for nothing. Don't you worry. We will make them all see how badly mistaken they have been, and we will make sure the Black Ajah doesn't take over the Tower. Grab a few swords. We will need them." The first one they had to deal with was Painie. After all, they knew she was Black, and she would be easy to overtake.
Faolan smiled grimly and grabbed some swords. He was rather surprised when Keena asked him for some for herself, but he threw two short ones over to her. She strapped them on expertly, as did he. They were ready.
Just as they were about to leave, the sound of metal dropping caught Faolan's ears. He heard muffled cursing. Drawing his sword, he quickly ran over to the other side of the area and struck out...
And met metal with a crash. Bryanne stepped out of the shadows, eyes dark. Nelia was just behind her, also with a sword. "You will need some help," came the soft voice. Bryanne easily twirled a sword in each hand. Nelia, being Blue and not as much of a fighter, still handled her daggers just as easily. "We can give you that," echoed her voice.
Faolan almost grinned. This was exactly what they needed. Now, there were three women who could channel strongly as well as fight well, and there was him. It would be quite a bit easier that way. "Yes, we do need help. Thanks for coming. Come on, now, and you'd better be silent or we'll leave you behind." They both looked at each other and giggled, as if he'd said something funny.
They raced silently through the Tower, not making a sound. At last, they reached the rooms of the Black Sitter. Faolan was almost surprised. The young Sitters had made less noise than himself, if that was possible. His slim form slipped through the door, which one of the Aes Sedai-he wasn't sure which one-had opened using the Power. He came to a halt and signaled to the others that it was all clear.
The lamps flared. Out of the darkness came a shadow. Another shadow. Three shadows. Keena groaned. She had appeared behind Faolan, Nelia and Bryanne at her sides. Swiftly, the smallest of the three shapes moved forward. Her eyes glittered menacingly. "What have we here? Some little heroic assassins trying to avenge their mistress' death?" It was Painie's voice that came nastily.
Faolan cringed instinctively. He knew what would come next. He was prepared for an attack. He was ready to die, wasn't afraid of death. He would fight with all that he had. The others all stood ready for attack as well. None had drawn weapons yet, though. They needed the element of surprise on their side to have any chance at all of winning.
Painie grinned evilly. "You didn't think this through. Unfortunately, there are more of us than you, and you are all tired. Do you want to turn around now? I will give you the chance. This is the only chance you will ever get." Her voice was deadly, and she was completely serious. It did, however, amuse her that they would come so undefended. She sighed. Some people just liked to be killed "nobly" she supposed.
Faolan smiled grimly. He put up three fingers. "You have three. We have four. How does that make us outnumbered?" He was pretty sure that she must have more Blacks with her in that room. If she didn't-well, that was all right with him too.
Painie smirked. More shapes appeared on each side, until there were 13 Black Sisters. "Would you like us to bring in some Myrddraael?" Nelia paled visibly, which was saying much, as it was fairly dark. Without waiting any longer, Painie and her Blacks attacked.
Nelia, Bryanne, and Keena linked together, forming a circle instantly. As the weave came to shield them from the Source, they wove a shield. The weave bounced back and struck three of the Blacks. Three down, ten to go, thought Faolan grimly.
Keena grinned as she pulled out her sword. At the same time, Bryanne took out both of hers, one in each hand, and Nelia drew her daggers. Last, Faolan drew his own sword. No, they were not defenseless. They couldn't attack with the Power and maintain a strong enough shield at the same time, but it was easy enough to strike with weapons they had all trained with their whole lives.
The Blacks retreated a bit as they saw the blades. It was very, very unexpected that they would have other ways to defend themselves. Painie grimaced when the swords came flashing out. She, in the front, was the first to have her throat slit.
The four attackers formed a circle, back to back. The three Aes Sedai maintained the shield while they struck out, so each attack by the Blacks was stopped. The Darkfriends, not expecting an attack with 'primitive weapons,' fell slowly. Soon, there were only five left. Then four. Then three. At last, all thirteen Black Ajah Aes Sedai were dead or dying.
The exhausted attackers leaned on each other for support. They had evidence to present to the Sitters, now. Somehow, they all knew that the only Blacks in the Hall of the Tower were dead, now. They had planned it together, obviously. Faolan sighed, in some ways relieved that he wasn't dead, in others wishing that he was. They would present their evidence to the Hall in the morning.
Faolan, Bryanne, Keena, and Nelia all walked back outside together. They went back to where Jacqueline's body was still lying and picked her up. Strangely, Faolan didn't feel quite so empty and sad anymore. He knew that she had died for a good cause, and she would have peace now. They dug a pit together and laid her in it without a coffin, in the Shienar way. "May you find peace in the light. I love you, Jacqueline."
The Hall of the Tower was gathered. They made their decision. A tall, Domani Yellow stood and said calmly, "We relinquish our charges against you. You have done murder, but you have served the Tower in killing thirteen dangerous Darkfriends. Well done." She paused for a moment then added, "We also remove all charges against Jacqueline Black. May she rest forever in the Light."
Faolan, Bryanne, Keena, and Nelia all bowed their heads. Faolan wondered what he was going to do now, where he was going to go now that this was all over. Maybe he would wander around, join the army. But maybe he would just stay at the Tower. The terrible pain and sadness at Jacqueline's death seemed to have lightened, and he was filled with a new sense of purpose. He could stay in the Tower, and hunt down the Black Ajah...
The Yellow spoke again, this time her soft voice directed towards Keena. "There is an open spot in the Hall of the Tower, now. Do you wish to fill it?"
Keena grinned, face lighting up. "Yes, I would love to fill it." Bryanne and Nelia smiled at her. "Welcome, then, to the Hall of the Tower."
Life went on. Keena was a Sitter now, who could make important decisions. Faolan had friends, and a sense of purpose. A new Amyrlin was chosen, one who was not a Darkfriend. Kella was never seen again, believed to have moved away to some distant country where she wouldn't be known as a Darkfriend that had gotten an innocent killed. Still, that terrible sadness lay deep within Faolan. He grew ill and weary and decided to go live his life somewhere else, in peace. At long last, Faolan, too, died, and he was able to have the peace that he had dreamed of ever since the day of his love's death. Life went on, and the Wheel of Time turned without the world being taken over by evil. And it was all because of the selflessness of an Amyrlin and her Warder.
The End
((It is officially over. Sorry, but I'm really bad at endings. Tell me what you think, and if there is anything I didn't resolve by the end!))
