A/N: I should say that since I'm writing just after the fifth book, some stuff is going to be the same. You're already going to know some things if you've read past the fifth book. I am going to make some drastic changes. I'm doing this as sort of an alternate ending type thing. I'm going to write my disclaimer now also because I think it's a good idea. All themes and characters pertaining to the Wheel of Time series are owned solely by Robert Jordan.
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Nynaeve awoke the next morning feeling fresh and anew. Elayne took note of this fact and had to hide a smug smile throughout the day. If it were possible, Elayne thought she did not see Nynaeve yank her braid more than twice.
"Nynaeve, you need to tell someone. At least talk to Siuan about it." There was no need for Elayne to explain what she was asking Nynaeve to do.
"He must have a ter'angreal Elayne. I don't want to talk of it anymore." Nynaeve said with her chin held high. It was unfortunately bad timing. She lost her balance as she raised her chin and she was lucky that the bed broke her fall. Elayne couldn't contain herself. She burst into hysterical fits of laughter while Nynaeve looked up only to scowl at her.
"Alright Nynaeve. But if he's there again tonight, you have to promise to talk to Siuan." Nynaeve grunted in agreement.
In truth, Nynaeve wouldn't have minded speaking to a sister about it. Only, there were no sisters that she felt she could trust fully. Elayne would have argued that Siuan was no longer a sister, but she got on Nynaeve's nerves. There was also the fact that she would most likely have to go into great lengths over what exactly had gone on while they were there. That was not something she wanted to divulge to anyone.
After dressing and having a quick breakfast of honey-buns and cold berry tea, they parted ways, Nynaeve to meet with Sheriam and Elayne to teach a novice class.
Nynaeve scurried through the streets of Salidar, trying to take Lan out of her mind. She kept unconsciously fingering his ring and, realizing what she was doing would snap her hand back to her side until she caught herself again. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't notice Birgitte calling her and motioning her to stop. Nynaeve just continued to tread on until she plowed into a group of novices and other Accepted. She untangled herself from the mob of people she had knocked down and apologized profusely. She dusted the sand and grass from her dress and was startled when she looked up to see Elayne's warder standing directly in front of her.
Fortunately, Birgitte found Nynaeve's absentmindedness quite amusing and had a large smirk plastered across her face. At least she's not angry with me. Nynaeve thought to herself.
"Nynaeve, I want to try using the ter'angreal tonight to see what happens when I re-enter tel'aran'rhiod." Nynaeve stared at her in shock. Why had she not thought of Birgitte! Birgitte knew all about The World of Dreams.
"Birgitte, I need to speak with you also. Meet me in my rooms later tonight and we will discuss the ter'angreal." Nynaeve did not wait for a reply. She was late as it was but she was so eager to talk with her later that she wanted to hurry and get the day over with.
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"Aviendha, I really wish you'd at least warn me before you -" He cut off abruptly as she removed the last of her clothing.
Aviendha smiled in satisfaction the way that women do when they know they've made a man's heart race. It quickly turned to a grimace though, as she realized what she was doing. Her expression had changed so drastically in such a short amount of time that one would have thought she had been slapped across the face. "I'd like to see your reaction in a sweat tent." Aviendha said, letting great bellows of laughter escape her.
Rand shook his head. "Bloody Aiel humour." He muttered to himself. Aviendha climbed into her pallet gracefully and said quietly while stifling a yawn, "Sleep well and wake Car-a-Carn."
He smiled at the familiar phrase and suddenly wished Aviendha would lie with him. Just so he could be closer to the heartbeat that he would die to keep drumming. Just so he could feel her soft skin against his once more; so he could lie closer to her steady breathing that he was no longer sure he could sleep without. Impossible. Even if he did not have Elayne and Aviendha's promise behind that, he could never bring anyone close. Only Lan seemed to understand this. "I am as much a lecher as Mat ever could be." He thought aloud.
Lews Therin cackled in madness.
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Lan awoke as the sun rose and wondered over his dream. He knew he should not dwell on it, his training had taught him not to let emotions get in the way of duty. So, he let his mind become a state of calm. All emotion left him as he entered the void. He felt a great flow of energy enter him as he began preparing for the day and journey ahead of him.
He raised himself from the pallet he had made for himself from hay and baggage. He stretched his arms to the ceiling and warmed his muscles. Last night had truly relieved some kinks that he had not been aware of.
Lan sighed as he looked out of the window to the horizon. He could feel her. He could feel himself being drawn to the woman that Moiraine had handed him over to. He felt a tinge of contempt creep through the void and he quickly brushed it aside. He knew he had no time to dawdle; he would have many days to sit and stare at the horizon.
He ate a hurried breakfast of dried meat and water and crunched on the last bits as he began to put his armor back on. He held back a grunt as each piece slid perfectly on to fit the contours of his body. The weather had certainly become something of a mystery. It was already near to scorching and it was not yet mid-morning.
Lan packed the last of his things in the saddlebags and attached them expertly to his gelding. Within the void he could sense much more of his surroundings. He felt a something uneasy in the air and whipped his sword out as he spun around to meet Mazrim Taim's face. Taim raised his eyebrows in surprise and stepped backwards only to disappear.
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"Where is that woman?" Nynaeve said to herself. She paced back and forth across their small room. Elayne might not have seen her pull her braid more than a few times, but at that moment Nynaeve even thought she should give her scalp a rest for fear she might tear all of her hair out.
She had been late for her meeting with Sheriam and had received a sufficient scolding from all the Aes Sedai present. Apparently they were going to assign sisters to remove her block. She didn't have time to waste every day on some fool woman thinking that she could help her.
Nynaeve stopped pacing abruptly as a strong and confident knock rapped upon the wooden door. She breathed a sigh of relief at Birgitte's arrival and opened the door. "Elayne! Where is Birgitte! That woman was supposed to me here ages ago."
"I don't know Nynaeve but right now we have other things to do."
"She's your warder shouldn't you have some idea?"
"Nynaeve, we're being asked to give a lesson in Tel'aran'rhiod. We don't have time to go gallivanting off for Birgitte. Let's go."
Nynaeve frowned and almost began to argue but she knew there was nothing that could be done. She gave her braid one last yank when she thought Elayne wasn't looking and grabbed the two ter'angreal.
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Nynaeve awoke the next morning feeling fresh and anew. Elayne took note of this fact and had to hide a smug smile throughout the day. If it were possible, Elayne thought she did not see Nynaeve yank her braid more than twice.
"Nynaeve, you need to tell someone. At least talk to Siuan about it." There was no need for Elayne to explain what she was asking Nynaeve to do.
"He must have a ter'angreal Elayne. I don't want to talk of it anymore." Nynaeve said with her chin held high. It was unfortunately bad timing. She lost her balance as she raised her chin and she was lucky that the bed broke her fall. Elayne couldn't contain herself. She burst into hysterical fits of laughter while Nynaeve looked up only to scowl at her.
"Alright Nynaeve. But if he's there again tonight, you have to promise to talk to Siuan." Nynaeve grunted in agreement.
In truth, Nynaeve wouldn't have minded speaking to a sister about it. Only, there were no sisters that she felt she could trust fully. Elayne would have argued that Siuan was no longer a sister, but she got on Nynaeve's nerves. There was also the fact that she would most likely have to go into great lengths over what exactly had gone on while they were there. That was not something she wanted to divulge to anyone.
After dressing and having a quick breakfast of honey-buns and cold berry tea, they parted ways, Nynaeve to meet with Sheriam and Elayne to teach a novice class.
Nynaeve scurried through the streets of Salidar, trying to take Lan out of her mind. She kept unconsciously fingering his ring and, realizing what she was doing would snap her hand back to her side until she caught herself again. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't notice Birgitte calling her and motioning her to stop. Nynaeve just continued to tread on until she plowed into a group of novices and other Accepted. She untangled herself from the mob of people she had knocked down and apologized profusely. She dusted the sand and grass from her dress and was startled when she looked up to see Elayne's warder standing directly in front of her.
Fortunately, Birgitte found Nynaeve's absentmindedness quite amusing and had a large smirk plastered across her face. At least she's not angry with me. Nynaeve thought to herself.
"Nynaeve, I want to try using the ter'angreal tonight to see what happens when I re-enter tel'aran'rhiod." Nynaeve stared at her in shock. Why had she not thought of Birgitte! Birgitte knew all about The World of Dreams.
"Birgitte, I need to speak with you also. Meet me in my rooms later tonight and we will discuss the ter'angreal." Nynaeve did not wait for a reply. She was late as it was but she was so eager to talk with her later that she wanted to hurry and get the day over with.
-----------
"Aviendha, I really wish you'd at least warn me before you -" He cut off abruptly as she removed the last of her clothing.
Aviendha smiled in satisfaction the way that women do when they know they've made a man's heart race. It quickly turned to a grimace though, as she realized what she was doing. Her expression had changed so drastically in such a short amount of time that one would have thought she had been slapped across the face. "I'd like to see your reaction in a sweat tent." Aviendha said, letting great bellows of laughter escape her.
Rand shook his head. "Bloody Aiel humour." He muttered to himself. Aviendha climbed into her pallet gracefully and said quietly while stifling a yawn, "Sleep well and wake Car-a-Carn."
He smiled at the familiar phrase and suddenly wished Aviendha would lie with him. Just so he could be closer to the heartbeat that he would die to keep drumming. Just so he could feel her soft skin against his once more; so he could lie closer to her steady breathing that he was no longer sure he could sleep without. Impossible. Even if he did not have Elayne and Aviendha's promise behind that, he could never bring anyone close. Only Lan seemed to understand this. "I am as much a lecher as Mat ever could be." He thought aloud.
Lews Therin cackled in madness.
-----------
Lan awoke as the sun rose and wondered over his dream. He knew he should not dwell on it, his training had taught him not to let emotions get in the way of duty. So, he let his mind become a state of calm. All emotion left him as he entered the void. He felt a great flow of energy enter him as he began preparing for the day and journey ahead of him.
He raised himself from the pallet he had made for himself from hay and baggage. He stretched his arms to the ceiling and warmed his muscles. Last night had truly relieved some kinks that he had not been aware of.
Lan sighed as he looked out of the window to the horizon. He could feel her. He could feel himself being drawn to the woman that Moiraine had handed him over to. He felt a tinge of contempt creep through the void and he quickly brushed it aside. He knew he had no time to dawdle; he would have many days to sit and stare at the horizon.
He ate a hurried breakfast of dried meat and water and crunched on the last bits as he began to put his armor back on. He held back a grunt as each piece slid perfectly on to fit the contours of his body. The weather had certainly become something of a mystery. It was already near to scorching and it was not yet mid-morning.
Lan packed the last of his things in the saddlebags and attached them expertly to his gelding. Within the void he could sense much more of his surroundings. He felt a something uneasy in the air and whipped his sword out as he spun around to meet Mazrim Taim's face. Taim raised his eyebrows in surprise and stepped backwards only to disappear.
------------
"Where is that woman?" Nynaeve said to herself. She paced back and forth across their small room. Elayne might not have seen her pull her braid more than a few times, but at that moment Nynaeve even thought she should give her scalp a rest for fear she might tear all of her hair out.
She had been late for her meeting with Sheriam and had received a sufficient scolding from all the Aes Sedai present. Apparently they were going to assign sisters to remove her block. She didn't have time to waste every day on some fool woman thinking that she could help her.
Nynaeve stopped pacing abruptly as a strong and confident knock rapped upon the wooden door. She breathed a sigh of relief at Birgitte's arrival and opened the door. "Elayne! Where is Birgitte! That woman was supposed to me here ages ago."
"I don't know Nynaeve but right now we have other things to do."
"She's your warder shouldn't you have some idea?"
"Nynaeve, we're being asked to give a lesson in Tel'aran'rhiod. We don't have time to go gallivanting off for Birgitte. Let's go."
Nynaeve frowned and almost began to argue but she knew there was nothing that could be done. She gave her braid one last yank when she thought Elayne wasn't looking and grabbed the two ter'angreal.
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