Disclaimer: Robert Jordan owns the Wheel of Time and all the characters. I
own nothing, and make no money from this. Basically, don't sue me, I'm
just here having fun. I did make up most of the prophecy though.
Dedication: To my muse, Eres, long time friend and shopping buddy, whose posts determined whether this would go in the recycle bin, or on the web. I'm glad you chose the latter, Eres, and hopefully the reader will be glad to. You keep musing, and I'll keep writing.
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Moiraine's Search
Chapter 1 – Prophecy Found
Stepping out of the newly-raised Amrylin's office, Moiraine sighed. Matching wills with her best friend Siuan Sanche was unpleasant, at best. Matching wills with Siuan Sanche, the Amrylin Seat, was...well, "unpleasant" was more than an understatement. She smoothed her blue skirts as she tried for a calm look, showing nothing but serenity on her face. If experienced Sisters were to give advice to new Sisters, the first warning she would give was "Do not shout to the Amrylin Seat that 'Maybe we'll be lucky to know where the Dragon Reborn is when the Reds bring him to Tar Valon in chains and they start asking questions about which one of us should be stilled first!'". Luckily, Moiraine didn't give advice, didn't really like to reveal anything about her actions at all, or she would find her life much worse than it already was. She did not want that secret getting out.
That Secret is the problem, Moiraine thought, as Alvarain, a frosty White, brushed past her, impatient to see the new Amrylin. Suian and I have always been in this together, since before we were even Raised to the Blue. Since we learned that a boy child had been born on the slopes of Dragonmount. A child of prophecy. Of doom, perhaps. Moiraine shuddered as she gracefully made her way through the wide marble halls, finer than any palace in the world. Thoughts like that still scared her. Now that child was growing up, each day bringing him closer to the time he would inevitably touch the True Source, whether they found him or not. But now I must find him alone, with Siuan mired in the bureaucracy of the Tower. Not alone, she reminded herself. Lan would always stand beside her, up to the Last Battle if need be. She could feel him, probably in the practice yard, concentrating deeply. Practicing the sword, then. As if he needed to.
He had stayed by her when they made what seemed their fiftieth trip to the Borderlands, only to scratch another name off in the little book she carried. That book still held thousands of names, any one a possibility. That was the reason Siuan was so angry, but there was nothing to be done besides carry on...and hope. She felt confidant Lan would stay with her to the end.
A novice ran past Moiraine, jolting her out of her reverie. Moiraine sighed for the second time that day. The girl wasn't strong enough. She would be put out before she even had a chance to try for Accepted. There are so few. So few of us. Will there be enough to survive what is coming? She feared that the answer was no.
Moiraine realized that she had been walking to the library, a place she liked to go to compose her thoughts. She stepped through the wide open doors, nodding to the two Browns beside the door, watching who came in and out, like gargoyles protecting their precious citadel of knowledge.
She continued her walk, through the main corridors, over the floor tiles in rows of color for each of the seven Ajahs. Her subconscious finally settling on a destination, she strode purposefully into the deeper into the library, to the Ninth Depository. Sighing inwardly, she wished a destination that would make Siuan happy could be as easily presented to her.
After a few minutes, she was surprised when she reached the plain, polished door that led to shelves upon shelves of mathematics. Siuan had found this sanctuary, a wonderful place to be alone in the heavily used Library. Her friend liked puzzles, any puzzles, even the ones in this room involving X's and Y's that baffled Moiraine. Apparently, they baffled most everyone else too because Moiraine had never seen another sister here. Never. But one was pulling the door open just as Moiraine was reaching for the handle. As Moiraine attempted to mask her surprise, Liandrin stepped into the hallway. Oddly, the petulant, honey-haired Red was holding Saidar, and she seemed just as surprised to see Moiraine. Releasing the source, she stalked away quickly, before Moiraine got a chance to ask what she was doing.
Curious, Moiraine thought, wondering what in the Light the woman would have considered interesting in here. Blues liked to be aware of what the Red was up to, to put it mildly. With such a deep hatred embedded within the two factions, it didn't pay to be caught off guard.
Stepping inside, Moiraine looked around. Everything seemed exactly the same as she had seen it six months ago when she was here with Siuan. Servants hadn't even been in to sweep the dust from the floor, so few people came into this room. Moiraine moved to sit down at one of the tables, leaving a trail of footsteps in her wake as velvet slippers disturbed the dust. Realizing what was wrong, she stopped, looking behind her. Only one set of footprints appeared on the ground, and they were hers. Where were Liandrin's? Sisters did know weaves that would settle dust, but why would Liandrin bother to use one, unless she didn't want people to know she was here? Very interesting. Too much had happened in Moiraine's life for her to believe in chance.
She would have to look into it later, though. As she sat down at one of the tables, she withdrew her small black book from her belt, opening it at random and putting her finger down. The name it landed on, Jonan Allaine, was followed by details of a boy in Andor. At the moment, she had no leads to set her course, to direct her to her prize. The best she could do would be to look over the list of names and try to associate a town, or at least a nation to narrow the search.
Looking up from the impossible task, something caught Moiraine's eye. A book on a low shelf put in backwards, so that the spine did not face out. Another curious thing. Moiraine had never seen anything like it in the Library. One of the Browns would have righted it immediately.
Leaving her futile task, Moiraine went over to investigate. The cover was plain black leather, much like the book she used to keep her precious list in. Opening it to the first page revealed the name "Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan" in flowery, pretentious handwriting. She scoffed, Only a fool would write her name in a private journal, and she would have to be as foolish as that Red to leave it lying around.
She continued reading. Growing up in the swirls of the Game of Houses had taught her that any personal information learned about a person could be of use, and her time as Aes Sedai had only verified this teaching. Apparently, Elaida had been plotting her move to Andor, to become Morgase's advisor, for months. Thank the Light the woman had finally did it while I was away, Moiraine thought, thinking of how much she hated the woman. She was a liability, too. Who knows what secrets might be revealed with that woman's talent for Foretelling? Not as strong as Gitara Moroso, but strong enough. It's odd, though. I never would have believed she would bend her neck and obey, certainly not to a woman who could barely light a candle with the Power, even if she was a queen.
After having flipped through the pages for a few minutes, Moiraine gasped. Name the Dark One. She took a deep breath and read the flowery, pretentious passage slowly to herself.
"The Great Battle is lost, The Great Battle is won, Dark opposes Light. Which side loses? Which side wins? A lock upon that knowledge There might as well be. A lion wears a Crown of Roses, For victory, Andor is the key."
It was exactly what she had feared. Oh, it wasn't enough to condemn Suian, or herself, or even reveal their search. But it could bring questions, and Aes Sedai found ways of getting answers. She knew that much from experience. The Reds might even start their own search. She wondered if she could claim foretelling as a Talent of her own now. Her shouts at Suian earlier might really come true.
Trying to calm herself, she looked at the prophecy. She had been studying the Karaethon Cycle for years and knew that prophecy could easily be deceiving, especially concerning the Last Battle. In the margin, in a hand she recognized as Liandrin's, two lines were written:
"House Trakand = silver keystone Morgase = three golden keys."
So the Reds could know. The entire Red Ajah could know what was coming, and while they thought they were saving the world from some poor channeling fool, she and Suian would know the truth. The world would be doomed. If it already wasn't.
She read the page again, and then spoke softly to herself among the tomes and dust.
"Three golden keys. Three signs directing me to Andor. The Wheel of Time weaves, spinning the Age Lace so finely that a spider's gossamer silk is as the clumsiest wool. One can find a single thread within that Pattern, if only one knows how to look. And I must find the most important thread of all."
Going back to the table, she gathered her things quickly along with Elaida's book and hurried from the room. She doubted if anyone would call this walk as graceful as earlier in the day, but there were times when grace and serenity were not what was important to her. Through the warder bond, she could easily find Lan. She had to get to Andor.
To Be Continued
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Please, please, please, please review! REVIEWERS are nice! No flames though, or I'll sick my muse on you. Trust me, if I promise her enough Mountain Dew, she can be viscious.
Dedication: To my muse, Eres, long time friend and shopping buddy, whose posts determined whether this would go in the recycle bin, or on the web. I'm glad you chose the latter, Eres, and hopefully the reader will be glad to. You keep musing, and I'll keep writing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ********************************************************************
Moiraine's Search
Chapter 1 – Prophecy Found
Stepping out of the newly-raised Amrylin's office, Moiraine sighed. Matching wills with her best friend Siuan Sanche was unpleasant, at best. Matching wills with Siuan Sanche, the Amrylin Seat, was...well, "unpleasant" was more than an understatement. She smoothed her blue skirts as she tried for a calm look, showing nothing but serenity on her face. If experienced Sisters were to give advice to new Sisters, the first warning she would give was "Do not shout to the Amrylin Seat that 'Maybe we'll be lucky to know where the Dragon Reborn is when the Reds bring him to Tar Valon in chains and they start asking questions about which one of us should be stilled first!'". Luckily, Moiraine didn't give advice, didn't really like to reveal anything about her actions at all, or she would find her life much worse than it already was. She did not want that secret getting out.
That Secret is the problem, Moiraine thought, as Alvarain, a frosty White, brushed past her, impatient to see the new Amrylin. Suian and I have always been in this together, since before we were even Raised to the Blue. Since we learned that a boy child had been born on the slopes of Dragonmount. A child of prophecy. Of doom, perhaps. Moiraine shuddered as she gracefully made her way through the wide marble halls, finer than any palace in the world. Thoughts like that still scared her. Now that child was growing up, each day bringing him closer to the time he would inevitably touch the True Source, whether they found him or not. But now I must find him alone, with Siuan mired in the bureaucracy of the Tower. Not alone, she reminded herself. Lan would always stand beside her, up to the Last Battle if need be. She could feel him, probably in the practice yard, concentrating deeply. Practicing the sword, then. As if he needed to.
He had stayed by her when they made what seemed their fiftieth trip to the Borderlands, only to scratch another name off in the little book she carried. That book still held thousands of names, any one a possibility. That was the reason Siuan was so angry, but there was nothing to be done besides carry on...and hope. She felt confidant Lan would stay with her to the end.
A novice ran past Moiraine, jolting her out of her reverie. Moiraine sighed for the second time that day. The girl wasn't strong enough. She would be put out before she even had a chance to try for Accepted. There are so few. So few of us. Will there be enough to survive what is coming? She feared that the answer was no.
Moiraine realized that she had been walking to the library, a place she liked to go to compose her thoughts. She stepped through the wide open doors, nodding to the two Browns beside the door, watching who came in and out, like gargoyles protecting their precious citadel of knowledge.
She continued her walk, through the main corridors, over the floor tiles in rows of color for each of the seven Ajahs. Her subconscious finally settling on a destination, she strode purposefully into the deeper into the library, to the Ninth Depository. Sighing inwardly, she wished a destination that would make Siuan happy could be as easily presented to her.
After a few minutes, she was surprised when she reached the plain, polished door that led to shelves upon shelves of mathematics. Siuan had found this sanctuary, a wonderful place to be alone in the heavily used Library. Her friend liked puzzles, any puzzles, even the ones in this room involving X's and Y's that baffled Moiraine. Apparently, they baffled most everyone else too because Moiraine had never seen another sister here. Never. But one was pulling the door open just as Moiraine was reaching for the handle. As Moiraine attempted to mask her surprise, Liandrin stepped into the hallway. Oddly, the petulant, honey-haired Red was holding Saidar, and she seemed just as surprised to see Moiraine. Releasing the source, she stalked away quickly, before Moiraine got a chance to ask what she was doing.
Curious, Moiraine thought, wondering what in the Light the woman would have considered interesting in here. Blues liked to be aware of what the Red was up to, to put it mildly. With such a deep hatred embedded within the two factions, it didn't pay to be caught off guard.
Stepping inside, Moiraine looked around. Everything seemed exactly the same as she had seen it six months ago when she was here with Siuan. Servants hadn't even been in to sweep the dust from the floor, so few people came into this room. Moiraine moved to sit down at one of the tables, leaving a trail of footsteps in her wake as velvet slippers disturbed the dust. Realizing what was wrong, she stopped, looking behind her. Only one set of footprints appeared on the ground, and they were hers. Where were Liandrin's? Sisters did know weaves that would settle dust, but why would Liandrin bother to use one, unless she didn't want people to know she was here? Very interesting. Too much had happened in Moiraine's life for her to believe in chance.
She would have to look into it later, though. As she sat down at one of the tables, she withdrew her small black book from her belt, opening it at random and putting her finger down. The name it landed on, Jonan Allaine, was followed by details of a boy in Andor. At the moment, she had no leads to set her course, to direct her to her prize. The best she could do would be to look over the list of names and try to associate a town, or at least a nation to narrow the search.
Looking up from the impossible task, something caught Moiraine's eye. A book on a low shelf put in backwards, so that the spine did not face out. Another curious thing. Moiraine had never seen anything like it in the Library. One of the Browns would have righted it immediately.
Leaving her futile task, Moiraine went over to investigate. The cover was plain black leather, much like the book she used to keep her precious list in. Opening it to the first page revealed the name "Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan" in flowery, pretentious handwriting. She scoffed, Only a fool would write her name in a private journal, and she would have to be as foolish as that Red to leave it lying around.
She continued reading. Growing up in the swirls of the Game of Houses had taught her that any personal information learned about a person could be of use, and her time as Aes Sedai had only verified this teaching. Apparently, Elaida had been plotting her move to Andor, to become Morgase's advisor, for months. Thank the Light the woman had finally did it while I was away, Moiraine thought, thinking of how much she hated the woman. She was a liability, too. Who knows what secrets might be revealed with that woman's talent for Foretelling? Not as strong as Gitara Moroso, but strong enough. It's odd, though. I never would have believed she would bend her neck and obey, certainly not to a woman who could barely light a candle with the Power, even if she was a queen.
After having flipped through the pages for a few minutes, Moiraine gasped. Name the Dark One. She took a deep breath and read the flowery, pretentious passage slowly to herself.
"The Great Battle is lost, The Great Battle is won, Dark opposes Light. Which side loses? Which side wins? A lock upon that knowledge There might as well be. A lion wears a Crown of Roses, For victory, Andor is the key."
It was exactly what she had feared. Oh, it wasn't enough to condemn Suian, or herself, or even reveal their search. But it could bring questions, and Aes Sedai found ways of getting answers. She knew that much from experience. The Reds might even start their own search. She wondered if she could claim foretelling as a Talent of her own now. Her shouts at Suian earlier might really come true.
Trying to calm herself, she looked at the prophecy. She had been studying the Karaethon Cycle for years and knew that prophecy could easily be deceiving, especially concerning the Last Battle. In the margin, in a hand she recognized as Liandrin's, two lines were written:
"House Trakand = silver keystone Morgase = three golden keys."
So the Reds could know. The entire Red Ajah could know what was coming, and while they thought they were saving the world from some poor channeling fool, she and Suian would know the truth. The world would be doomed. If it already wasn't.
She read the page again, and then spoke softly to herself among the tomes and dust.
"Three golden keys. Three signs directing me to Andor. The Wheel of Time weaves, spinning the Age Lace so finely that a spider's gossamer silk is as the clumsiest wool. One can find a single thread within that Pattern, if only one knows how to look. And I must find the most important thread of all."
Going back to the table, she gathered her things quickly along with Elaida's book and hurried from the room. She doubted if anyone would call this walk as graceful as earlier in the day, but there were times when grace and serenity were not what was important to her. Through the warder bond, she could easily find Lan. She had to get to Andor.
To Be Continued
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Please, please, please, please review! REVIEWERS are nice! No flames though, or I'll sick my muse on you. Trust me, if I promise her enough Mountain Dew, she can be viscious.