Disclaimer: Robert Jordan owns the Wheel of Time, the Dragon and the Dragon Reborn, and all other characters and aspects of the series. I am merely putting my imagination to words. Also, the first paragraph is straight (and I mean deliberately copied) from the Eye of the World and is in no way mine. This will be my last disclaimer for this fan fiction work, because it is a little pointless to keep saying, "I don't own the Wheel of Time" when everybody already knows I don't. Anyways, on with the story and thanks for reading.
Chapter 1:
Old Enemies
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time, but it was a beginning.
The wind traveled east, away from its birthplace in the cloud-covered peaks that gave the mountains their name. Across the land named the Two Rivers it blew, leaving its mark with chill in the winter air. It rustled through the leaves of trees and whitened the face of a poor sheepherder on an important mission.
Tam Al'Thor caught his cloak in the chilly wind and held the good wool close, letting it warm his cold body. He was the father of the Dragon Reborn, and if anyone in the world was as clueless about the fact of the Dragon being reborn at last, it was Tam. Through bloodlines he wasn't Rand's true father at all, but he had saved the boy from certain death in the snow at Dragonmount's peak. He had been there when the Aiel had finally been defeated on the slopes of Dragonmount, for he had fought in the Aiel Wars. Tam Al'Thor was one of the very few blade masters in the Two Rivers, probably the only man actually born in the Two Rivers that had ever possessed a heron-marked blade or ever left home to participate in a foreign war.
Now the only weapon he owned was a good Two Rivers longbow, and Tam Al'Thor was well known for his excellent marksmanship, at least in the Two Rivers. For all he knew Rand still had and used the heron-marked blade, and most likely was quite the blade master by now. The only thing was, Tam didn't know where Rand was, or even if the boy was still alive. It seemed like ages ago when Rand, Perrin, Mat, and even Egwene had left the Two Rivers with an Aes Sedai right after the first attack of Trollocs. There was no telling what happened to the four of them, or to Nynaeve once she disappeared to chase after the boys and her apprentice.
Perrin had returned alive and well, but with golden eyes, like the beady eyes of a wolf. And Perrin, now known as Perrin Goldeneyes, Lord of the Two Rivers, had led the Two Rivers men in several attacks against the invading Trollocs with different battle tactics. There was no doubt Perrin had been changed for life, no matter how often he tried to deny it. Because of the change in the boy—now a man—Tam worried about Rand even more so than usual. Perrin had reassured Tam that Rand was still alive, but still he worried about the change in his son. Obviously, Perrin had returned home as soon as possible, but why hadn't Rand come too, or Mat?
His new horse, nicknamed Quickfoot, whinnied and stamped his hooves on the cold snow on the forest floor. Tam reached for the bridle and calmed the horse. Quickfoot may be the fastest horse ever bred in the Two Rivers, but he had to be the one with the least intelligence. Quickfoot jumped if the wind was too cold! So there was no telling what had frightened the dumb horse.
Tam missed Bela. Bela was the smartest horse ever bred in the Two Rivers, to completely rival Quickfoot in intelligence. Bela had been easily trained, and was actually pretty quick once she got going. Tam missed his old horse, but, just like his heron-marked blade, Bela now belonged to Rand. Where can that boy be? Even if he did happen to get tied to that Aes Sedai, why would he not return home just so I can know he's safe?
The snap of a twig from behind him made Tam swerve around, dropping his horse's bridle at the face of a stranger dressed in Aiel clothing. The bright red hair and the height of the man gave him away as an Aiel to most, but the proof for Tam was the veil covering the man's face and the spear in the man's hand that took the place of a sword.
Tam immediately took out his bow and drew an arrow quicker than a normal man could. He held it up, ready to shoot, but here he wavered. He had heard from the refugees flocking to the Two Rivers that the Aiel were now on their side, but a clan had refused to help the "wetlanders." Which side is this Aielman on?
The next movement gave it all away and crushed Tam's hopes to actually find a friend in an old enemy. The Aiel realizing that his secrecy was gone, jumped forward, and Tam's arrow shot the fool in the air. Letting out a breath that he just noticed he had held, Tam lowered his bow. How the Aiel could survive in the snow after living in a desert wasteland for so long without knowledge of even such a thing as rain, Tam did not know, but obviously they could because this fellow had done it.
After a moment, Tam put his bow away, convinced there were no other wandering Aiel in the area. Perhaps this unlucky man had been lost, or maybe he was a scout or even a lookout. Tam hoped for the least likely; he could handle a handful, just a handful, of Aiel, but there was no man alive that could take on an entire clan by himself.
Taking slow steps in the snow, Tam reached the side of the dead Aielman. His arrow had pierced the Aiel straight through the heart, an instant death. The blood froze when it touched the white snow, showing how cold it was outside. Tam clutched his cloak closer to his body, feeling the wind rush by through the winter forest. He'd have to hide the body and let it rot in the snow; he could not bear to risk his path being tracked, especially by a vile Aiel.
SO he set about his task with cold fingers, red more from the cold than the dead man's blood. Tam shivered as he covered the corpse with the dirty snow. He could care less for any Aiel; they had caused too much death in the Aiel Wars, too much death. Every last one of them deserved to die, no matter which side they were on now.
Spitting on the grave of the Aiel corpse, Tam walked back to his horse. Quickfoot was showing signs of being startled yet again, and this Tam Al'Thor took it seriously, looking around out of the corner of his eye as he led Quickfoot on through the snow. IF there were other Aiel about then he needed to be wary and watchful, and that included staying on the ground. Mounted on horseback was a sure way to get shot with a wandering arrow.
Tam pushed aside a snow-covered branch and then held his breath as he froze in his place. That Aiel had not been lost; a lost Aiel was definitely a foolish hope. Looking out at the forest clearing, full with Aiel, covered with a bloody Aiel clan most likely, tam wondered how he ever managed to get this close without being seen. There had to be more than one Aiel lookout for this huge clan, so why had he only encountered one?
No time to worry about that. If the Light blessed him with secrecy, sneaking into an Aiel camp by accident like he had, then there must be a reason for it. No time. He had a message for Perrin from the Two Rivers, and now he had a message about this Aiel camp in the middle of the forest between the Two Rivers and somewhere in Altara or maybe Ghealdan. The Two Rivers was being taken over by some mysterious man, who neither Tam Al'Thor nor the other true Two Rivers men trusted. At least, no one in the Village Council or the Women's Circle trusted the new lord, but the idiotic refugees did believe the liar, forcing all the stubborn Two Rivers men and women to flee the village. No time. Now he also had news about these bloody Aiel! Were they ever going to get a little peace like they used to? Once, when he was young, Tam had searched for adventure. Now he understood that adventure meant more tears and death than victory. He did not want another adventure if he could help it. Not one more!
An abrupt pain in his leg brought his attention back to his position. Still holding onto his horse's bridle strap, Tam turned around, making the new wound in his leg quite known. First he looked down and grimaced at the obvious Aiel spear sticking out of his right leg. Then he dropped his hold on Quickfoot, or more like the frightened horse struggled out of his grip and ran, straight into the busy Aiel camp. Tam watched as several figures in white grappled to control the horse, succeeded, and led the horse away.
It was at about that time when Tam realized there were several Aiel pulling the strings of bows and pointing arrows at his head. Light! That had been foolish! Tam berated himself over getting caught by these light forsaken Aiel, but he knew when to be a fool and when to be smart. As he stared into the faces of the three Aiel surrounding him, Tam couldn't help but think of seeing them all dead and rotting in the snow. Too bad Quickfoot had run off with his Two Rivers long bow; without a weapon he was forced to surrender to Aiel. He would never be able to forgive himself for this!
The only thing that worried him now was escape. From what he heard, Aiel took no prisoners, but those people in white, acting as servants, were in now way Aiel blood. So, the Aiel had changed their ways; that meant he was going straight into enemy territory without any idea of what he was up against. Light help me; I just surrendered to complete strangers without a fight.
Tam noticed the Aielmen whispering among them. Their veils were off and their bows lowered, even though the arrows were still nocked and ready to draw, and they were whispering. Now what could make the Aiel whisper? From what he knew about Aiel, they were not afraid to tell secrets in front of any prisoners. So why the sudden change in Aiel ideas? Tam decided to lean forward just a bit. He was leaning toward the characteristics of being a spy anyway; besides, once he got to Perrin's camp there would be a great appreciation for any knowledge he had to offer, especially with the strange behavior of these Aiel.
"Should we make him gai'shan like the women or kill him like the others?" Out of the three Aielmen in front of him, the one with the dark, dark red hair and dark gray eyes with a scar split across the right eye seemed to despise Tam the most, according to the sneering glare sent his way. Tam knew it wasn't directed at him personally, but instead at all "wetlanders." There were probably many other Aiel just like this fellow. "I say we kill him." Even with the veil now off, all three Aiel looked about ready to engage in battle.
Tam flicked his eyes away from the three, keeping his hands behind his head in a surrender position. At least they knew he was surrendering and he didn't have to say a single word to prove it. He wondered if Aiel would accept a surrendering prisoner. Maybe he should have fought against them. No, that would have resulted in death. Tam forced down a slight smile as he thought about how odd a surrendering "wetlander" must be. No wonder the Aiel just stood there confused; they were so wrapped up in their own problems they seemed to have forgotten they held a prisoner.
Tam took the chance and took a step—just one step—to the open area to the right, and all three Aiel stopped whispering to glare at him. Tam nearly winced at their glare. Bloody Aiel! He did wince, though, but at the spear wound in his leg, not their glares. That would have to be taken care of as soon as he could get the chance.
"He will be gai'shan." The youngest looking of the three said, glaring maliciously at him. Tam couldn't help but shiver at that gaze. What was a gai'shan anyway? He didn't know all that much about Aiel customs, and this gai'shan business did not sound too promising.
The middle-aged Aielman completely ignored Tam as if he were but a piece of property. Tam lowered his eyebrows; he was being reminded over and over again why he did not like Aielmen. "What do we do with him if Sevanna won't take him?"
The dark eyed one smirked, and Tam felt his anger boiling at that look. "I can always find use for an extra gai'shan."
Calm. Stay calm. "If Sevanna won't have anything to do with a male gai'shan, then we'll share his ownership." Calm. Be calm like a small river. Oh but it stung to be referred to as property by these Aiel!
Tam remained clam, saying not a word as the three stripped him of his nice warm, wool clothing and his anger bubbled up, nearly to the surface. Now on top of the fact that he was considered property of Aiel, he had the cold to deal with and his still slightly bleeding wound. Tam kept his mouth shut, though; if he were forced to speak now he would only get himself in trouble because of his anger at being treated this way. He could stand Trollocs and all their horrifying ways, but to be plainly insulted by Aiel was something he had never expected to happen. Never!
It was a short walk in the snow, keeping his head down to avoid the curious eyes of the other white clad "wetlanders," which he knew were all women for some strange reason. There were others clad in white robes, but the other men were Aiel. The Aiel ways were strange enough seen at a distance, and he had no intent to understand or follow their ways, even if he was forced to obey some of them. When he met this Sevanna—which it was quite clear he would—Tam promised himself to give this Aiel leader a piece of his mind; the quick-thinking mind of a stubborn Two Rivers man would surely set her off guard.
It didn't take long to be pushed into a nearby tent; he let himself be pushed to the middle of the tent area, but he scowled when a white robe was forced over his head, a thin white robe. It did nothing to cool his anger, both because it hardly got rid of the cold and he now knew what a gai'shan was. All of those others out there in white, acting as servants were gai'shan, and he would soon join them.
Tam scowled yet again when he was pushed back outside the tent without any footwear. They just wanted him to get frostbite, didn't they? Bloody Aiel and their bloody gai'shan! Even acting as if he were a spy didn't help matters. He was gai'shan now; he was still a servant to the Aiel; he still had no way to escape, not with thousands of Aiel surrounding him. This could even be more than one single clan. What happened to the supposedly "good Aiel?" Rumors. You could never trust a rumor. Never.
But he had to remain strong in this situation. He didn't very much like adventures, but the Pattern had twisted him into a might fine adventure already. The only thing worse that could happen now was for the true Dragon Reborn—not some hopeless fool—to proclaim himself and bring a whole lot of destruction in the essence of another Breaking of the World. But what were the chances of that happening?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TO BE CONTINUED~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
