Disclaimers: I do not own the Wheel of Time universe, or the characters involved. The only thing I do own is the plot and my imagination.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the reviews! It's nice to know there are still people out there who read my story. I decided to answer a few of my reviews, so you can either read the chapter first or scroll quickly down to the bottom, it's your choice! :)
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NYNAEVE'S DECISION
CHAPTER 2 - Meetings
by neela
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Five minutes later, Nynaeve found herself trudging along the hard-trampled roads between the hundreds and hundreds of tents, rage still roaring inside her. If she hadn't already been late for this meeting, she would've hunted down Lan and given his precious bottom some well-directed kicks. He won't be able to sit for a week when she was finished; she would make sure of that!
Suddenly, she hit something hard and bounced three feet back and landed on her bottom on the stony ground. Nynaeve cursed loudly, and groaned as she stood up. Her bottom felt like it had been bouncing all over the world. As hand rubbed the sore place, she looked up to see what she had hit, and locked eyes with Logain Ablar. Surprise was evident in her eyes, she was sure. Of all places, why would she run into Logain in the Aes Sedai camp?
"Ah, Nynaeve Sedai, what a pleasure," he said bowing slightly, unaffected by her stare. She bit back a scathing remark that had formed on her tongue. The Asha'man didn't need lashing out at, he had after all saved Rand's life many times and revealed the true self of Mazrim Taim –a man just after glory and power, Rand's power.
"Good day Logain, " she replied stiffly, fingers itching to take hold of her braid and give it a tug. "I hope everything is well?" She indicated to the fact that the man was just exiting the camp of the Yellow Ajah, and as far as she knew, he didn't know any other Yellow sister than herself. The man flashed her a brilliant smile, but her foul mood refused to acknowledge it.
"Yes, nothing to worry about. Just a scratch from today's training with a young Soldier. What brings you out so early in the day then, Lady Nynaeve?"
She wanted to growl. It seemed many had taken a liking to call her 'Lady', but even though she could officially use the title, she didn't like it. She only allowed servants to use it, and then only when Lan was nearby. Royalty was difficult to adapt to.
"A meeting, and I am already running late."
"Well," he replied with a smile. "Don't let me keep you away. Good day to you!" With a slight bow, he turned and disappeared from her view.
Just as well, she thought. Now I can get to that dratted meeting.
It took another five minutes to find her way among the tents. The Novices and Accepted she met all curtsied when she passed, only to resume their duties when she was gone. She didn't like the idea of having the young channelers with them on the march. They could get easily killed if the Enemy decided to launch an attack at the camps while the armies fought on the front. Most of them could barely hold enough of the Power to do a simple Heating.
"Nynaeve! There you are!" A woman's voice sounded to her right, and she turned abruptly, spotting Leane on her way over to her. "Where have you been?" The Amyrlin just sent me after you, she's not pleased." Nynaeve groaned. This was all Lan's fault.
"I was delayed, Leane," she replied, forcing her hands away from the wrist-thick, long braid falling down her front.
Leane chuckled. "Lan's being insolent again?" she asked with a wink, falling into step as they made their way to the Amyrlin's tent. Wisely, Nynaeve chose not to answer as they drew nearer, but she bobbed her head as if saying yes. The Domani's grin widened.
Leane and Nynaeve had gotten to know each other pretty well after she had Healed the Green more than two years previous. Despite their differences, Nynaeve had come to value Leane as a friend, and vice versa. The ex-Wisdom had taught Leane how to enter and fare in Tel'aran'riod while Leane taught her how to fare around a, uhm, man... Their friendship hadn't just been based on those things, but that was all she wanted to admit.
A hand on her arm made her stop and the look at the Green's face which said that she had missed something.
"Excuse me, could you repeat that?" The other woman's face broke into a large grin that stretched from ear to ear.
"Light be blessed, Nynaeve, sometimes you just amaze me," Leane said. "I must say I rather like that red colour on your face, it suits you." She cursed below her breath. Well, her thoughts had been quite private memories! She turned to say something, but Leane stopped her with an upraised hand. "What I said was, we're here." She indicated to the wide, many-coloured tent in front of them.
Before she knew it, Nynaeve stood inside the tent, in front of a plain table where a woman sat. The woman was dressed in a simple green, low-cut dress lined with golden bands. Her dark hair was put up in an elegant bun, with loose strands caressing her temples. A belt of braided leather rested at her hips, a dagger fastened to it. Around the woman's slender neck was a striped seven-coloured stole. One colour for each of the Ajah.
"Nynaeve Sedai, I'm glad you could join us," the woman said, a smile twitching her lips. Nynaeve bit back a remark.
"I'm sorry for being late, Mother, I was delayed." This time, Egwene couldn't help hiding the grin. Just as Leane, she asked the same question, but only in her eyes. Anger welled up inside her again as she nodded meekly, earning a chuckle from nearby. She tilted her head to the side, and spotted Siuan sitting on a chair by the tent wall. The Blue spoke softly, smoothing the creases on the skirt.
"You haven't missed much. Actually, we decided not to start until you got here."
"Well, then let's not keep it waiting any longer," Nynaeve answered through gritted teeth, and sat down on an empty three-legged stool. Leane followed suit, settling down on a chair beside Siuan. Egwene straightened up and leaned forward across the table, and thus began the meeting.
For more than an hour, Nynaeve sat and listened with only half a ear as the other three Aes Sedai talked about things she didn't indulge herself too much into, like running the camp and news of the eyes and ears. They were bravely trying to include her in these meetings, hoping she would join them in their little team, but she simply wasn't interested. One thing was to face those things in the Woman's Circle back in Two Rivers as a Wisdom; another was to face it here, in the middle of the Blight, and on a higher level, as a Sister. You couldn't find much scheming in Emond's Field unless it was the Coplins heading on a warpath. Luckily, she had always had some essence of authority as a Wisdom, and they were few who'd been frightened by her, including a certain wheedling of an Amyrlin.
Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her she hadn't had any breakfast yet. She looked around the tent to see if there was anything she could eat, or drink, but to no avail. There wasn't much more other than a stack of papers, a lamp and some quills and ink.
Finally, after what had seemed like a lifetime to Nynaeve, but was merely an hour and a half, the others rose and Siuan and Leane went for the exit. Egwene stood behind the table, looking at a letter on the desk before tilting her head towards Nynaeve who was on her way up. Suddenly, dizziness engulfed her, nausea following. She quickly sat down.
Light, not again!
Egwene had seen the odd look on her face and the slight wavering of her body, and had rushed to her side. Now she sat besides her, steadying her as she balanced on the stool. She vaguely heard the woman's voice, but it was drowned by the emptiness filling her head. She looked towards her, but blackness crept across her eyesight. As the world swirled and darkness swallowed her, she could feel the vibration of many voices and feet running. Then, she knew no more.
Five minutes later, Nynaeve found herself trudging along the hard-trampled roads between the hundreds and hundreds of tents, rage still roaring inside her. If she hadn't already been late for this meeting, she would've hunted down Lan and given his precious bottom some well-directed kicks. He won't be able to sit for a week when she was finished; she would make sure of that!
Suddenly, she hit something hard and bounced three feet back and landed on her bottom on the stony ground. Nynaeve cursed loudly, and groaned as she stood up. Her bottom felt like it had been bouncing all over the world. As hand rubbed the sore place, she looked up to see what she had hit, and locked eyes with Logain Ablar. Surprise was evident in her eyes, she was sure. Of all places, why would she run into Logain in the Aes Sedai camp?
"Ah, Nynaeve Sedai, what a pleasure," he said bowing slightly, unaffected by her stare. She bit back a scathing remark that had formed on her tongue. The Asha'man didn't need lashing out at, he had after all saved Rand's life many times and revealed the true self of Mazrim Taim –a man just after glory and power, Rand's power.
"Good day Logain, " she replied stiffly, fingers itching to take hold of her braid and give it a tug. "I hope everything is well?" She indicated to the fact that the man was just exiting the camp of the Yellow Ajah, and as far as she knew, he didn't know any other Yellow sister than herself. The man flashed her a brilliant smile, but her foul mood refused to acknowledge it.
"Yes, nothing to worry about. Just a scratch from today's training with a young Soldier. What brings you out so early in the day then, Lady Nynaeve?"
She wanted to growl. It seemed many had taken a liking to call her 'Lady', but even though she could officially use the title, she didn't like it. She only allowed servants to use it, and then only when Lan was nearby. Royalty was difficult to adapt to.
"A meeting, and I am already running late."
"Well," he replied with a smile. "Don't let me keep you away. Good day to you!" With a slight bow, he turned and disappeared from her view.
Just as well, she thought. Now I can get to that dratted meeting.
It took another five minutes to find her way among the tents. The Novices and Accepted she met all curtsied when she passed, only to resume their duties when she was gone. She didn't like the idea of having the young channelers with them on the march. They could get easily killed if the Enemy decided to launch an attack at the camps while the armies fought on the front. Most of them could barely hold enough of the Power to do a simple Heating.
"Nynaeve! There you are!" A woman's voice sounded to her right, and she turned abruptly, spotting Leane on her way over to her. "Where have you been?" The Amyrlin just sent me after you, she's not pleased." Nynaeve groaned. This was all Lan's fault.
"I was delayed, Leane," she replied, forcing her hands away from the wrist-thick, long braid falling down her front.
Leane chuckled. "Lan's being insolent again?" she asked with a wink, falling into step as they made their way to the Amyrlin's tent. Wisely, Nynaeve chose not to answer as they drew nearer, but she bobbed her head as if saying yes. The Domani's grin widened.
Leane and Nynaeve had gotten to know each other pretty well after she had Healed the Green more than two years previous. Despite their differences, Nynaeve had come to value Leane as a friend, and vice versa. The ex-Wisdom had taught Leane how to enter and fare in Tel'aran'riod while Leane taught her how to fare around a, uhm, man... Their friendship hadn't just been based on those things, but that was all she wanted to admit.
A hand on her arm made her stop and the look at the Green's face which said that she had missed something.
"Excuse me, could you repeat that?" The other woman's face broke into a large grin that stretched from ear to ear.
"Light be blessed, Nynaeve, sometimes you just amaze me," Leane said. "I must say I rather like that red colour on your face, it suits you." She cursed below her breath. Well, her thoughts had been quite private memories! She turned to say something, but Leane stopped her with an upraised hand. "What I said was, we're here." She indicated to the wide, many-coloured tent in front of them.
Before she knew it, Nynaeve stood inside the tent, in front of a plain table where a woman sat. The woman was dressed in a simple green, low-cut dress lined with golden bands. Her dark hair was put up in an elegant bun, with loose strands caressing her temples. A belt of braided leather rested at her hips, a dagger fastened to it. Around the woman's slender neck was a striped seven-coloured stole. One colour for each of the Ajah.
"Nynaeve Sedai, I'm glad you could join us," the woman said, a smile twitching her lips. Nynaeve bit back a remark.
"I'm sorry for being late, Mother, I was delayed." This time, Egwene couldn't help hiding the grin. Just as Leane, she asked the same question, but only in her eyes. Anger welled up inside her again as she nodded meekly, earning a chuckle from nearby. She tilted her head to the side, and spotted Siuan sitting on a chair by the tent wall. The Blue spoke softly, smoothing the creases on the skirt.
"You haven't missed much. Actually, we decided not to start until you got here."
"Well, then let's not keep it waiting any longer," Nynaeve answered through gritted teeth, and sat down on an empty three-legged stool. Leane followed suit, settling down on a chair beside Siuan. Egwene straightened up and leaned forward across the table, and thus began the meeting.
For more than an hour, Nynaeve sat and listened with only half a ear as the other three Aes Sedai talked about things she didn't indulge herself too much into, like running the camp and news of the eyes and ears. They were bravely trying to include her in these meetings, hoping she would join them in their little team, but she simply wasn't interested. One thing was to face those things in the Woman's Circle back in Two Rivers as a Wisdom; another was to face it here, in the middle of the Blight, and on a higher level, as a Sister. You couldn't find much scheming in Emond's Field unless it was the Coplins heading on a warpath. Luckily, she had always had some essence of authority as a Wisdom, and they were few who'd been frightened by her, including a certain wheedling of an Amyrlin.
Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her she hadn't had any breakfast yet. She looked around the tent to see if there was anything she could eat, or drink, but to no avail. There wasn't much more other than a stack of papers, a lamp and some quills and ink.
Finally, after what had seemed like a lifetime to Nynaeve, but was merely an hour and a half, the others rose and Siuan and Leane went for the exit. Egwene stood behind the table, looking at a letter on the desk before tilting her head towards Nynaeve who was on her way up. Suddenly, dizziness engulfed her, nausea following. She quickly sat down.
Light, not again!
Egwene had seen the odd look on her face and the slight wavering of her body, and had rushed to her side. Now she sat besides her, steadying her as she balanced on the stool. She vaguely heard the woman's voice, but it was drowned by the emptiness filling her head. She looked towards her, but blackness crept across her eyesight. As the world swirled and darkness swallowed her, she could feel the vibration of many voices and feet running. Then, she knew no more.
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Egwene's eyes met her as the world came back into her view, at first blurry, then clearing as her consciousness woke up.
"Hello there, you gave me quite a scare."
"Wha-what happened?" Nynaeve asked as she sat up, but then decided against it as dizziness threatened again. Egwene snorted.
"I would think that was obvious, especially to a Healer. You fainted."
"I did? How long was I out cold?" That was all she could reply for now, as she felt her body calm down. Her voice sounded almost ignorant, and Egwene noted this quite fast.
"Only a few minutes. I've sent someone to fetch a Healer, though."
"Nonsense, I'm fine. I don't need a Healer to look at me." The younger woman shot her a look saying well-I-think-you-do. Nynaeve ignored it as she began to stand up, ignoring the outstretched arms aiding her. "See?" she said as she stood. "There's nothing wrong with me. All that is wrong is that I haven't had a decent breakfast yet. Now will you stop bickering?" Nynaeve waved her hands, and turned to leave, only to stop and turn her head towards Egwene. "If there's nothing else, Mother, I would like to be excused." She didn't stay to see Egwene's nod, and strode out. Soon, she was on her way towards the Generals' tent.
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Min watched as general after general came through the entrance, each and every one of them dressed for battle, except the last man, Lan. He was to lead Rand's life guard, and Min was actually glad he had agreed to that, because she saw him best fit to protect her beloved while he fought. She herself had managed last night to convince Rand of taking her with him to the front, but it had claimed much smiles, gentle touches and kisses. Lots of it, she thought with a grin.
The meeting seemed to last forever, as every one of those gathered around the table came with his or her inputs on the strategies. Mostly, it was Mat who talked. His endless tales of diversions and advances and defences, threatened to send Min into a restless sleep. Though, every time Rand sent her a look, golden veins pulsating, she woke up, replying with a smile of her own. He turned his head back to the table with a secret grin.
After some time, the meeting came to a break, as servants brought in food and drinks at Rand's orders. Before she knew what was happening, she found herself enveloped in a bear embrace.
"Rand," she said through her gasps. "You're squeezing me." He quickly let go of her, grinning ruefully, earning him a slap at the arm.
At that point, the tent opened again, and Nynaeve strode in. Min quickly saw how pale she looked, but the woman seemed to ignore it. As the ex-Wisdom approached her husband, her eyes shifted from hard to soft. Lan's back was towards her, so Min couldn't see his response, but of what she knew of the man, he was worried.
"Looks a bit pale, don't you think?" Rand asked besides her. She just nodded, because at that moment, Nynaeve and Lan's hands brushed each other as the woman set off for the food tray, and a picture appeared inside Min's head.
Nynaeve was with child, Lan's child. Twins. The viewing disappeared, leaving her speechless. From the back of her mind, she knew Rand was trying to make contact with her, and looked up at him, unfocused
"Min? What's wrong?" He noticed the glazed eyes, and stared to where Nynaeve and Lan stood talking by the food trays. "Did you just have a viewing?" That drove Min out of her reverie.
"Yes, I did. I- I need some time to think about it." Rand's face revealed his sudden fear.
"Was it something bad about Nynaeve?" Min just shook her head and smiled vastly.
"No, no. Quite the opposite, actually." She paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Uhm, Rand. I think they're ready to resume the meeting again." She nodded towards the table where the generals had taken up where they left. He smiled and with a chaste kiss, he went back. From the corner of her eye, Min could see Lan and Nynaeve separate too. She sighed. Well, she needed to make a decision. Should she tell Nynaeve now, or wait?
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Nynaeve's eyes followed Lan's broad-shouldered figure as he took his place beside Lord Bashere, his face already concentrated as they all listened to Mat's input on a strategy he'd worked out. He'd noticed her paleness, and had of course worried, but she dismissed all his arguments about seeing a Healer after he learned she'd fainted. News travelled fast around the camp it seemed. One of the servants carrying food trays had spilled the beans. Well, it was nothing she couldn't handle.
Turning, she moved to where Min sat by a little round table, seemingly deep in thought. The plate in her hands was already half-empty of food, yet she still felt as if she could eat another two. At last, her stomach had calmed down, and wanted very much to be filled with all that had been emptied. Quietly, she sat down, her thoughts already wandering off.
Neither she nor Min talked for what seemed like ages. Nynaeve was beginning to get slightly irritated and restless. Couldn't this meeting end soon? How long did they really need to discuss strategies? Isn't it just the same kick-and-run-thing? Are they so brain-dead they need assistance to make a decision? She silently chided her thoughts. Don't meddle in things you know nothing about, Nynaeve. It can only cause disaster.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her arm, and bobbed her head in the direction of the owner. Min looked at her like if she did not know whether she should speak or not. Nynaeve arched an eyebrow. The woman bit her lip as she opened her mouth.
"Nynaeve, you're with child."
TO BE CONTINUED
Nynaeve's eyes followed Lan's broad-shouldered figure as he took his place beside Lord Bashere, his face already concentrated as they all listened to Mat's input on a strategy he'd worked out. He'd noticed her paleness, and had of course worried, but she dismissed all his arguments about seeing a Healer after he learned she'd fainted. News travelled fast around the camp it seemed. One of the servants carrying food trays had spilled the beans. Well, it was nothing she couldn't handle.
Turning, she moved to where Min sat by a little round table, seemingly deep in thought. The plate in her hands was already half-empty of food, yet she still felt as if she could eat another two. At last, her stomach had calmed down, and wanted very much to be filled with all that had been emptied. Quietly, she sat down, her thoughts already wandering off.
Neither she nor Min talked for what seemed like ages. Nynaeve was beginning to get slightly irritated and restless. Couldn't this meeting end soon? How long did they really need to discuss strategies? Isn't it just the same kick-and-run-thing? Are they so brain-dead they need assistance to make a decision? She silently chided her thoughts. Don't meddle in things you know nothing about, Nynaeve. It can only cause disaster.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her arm, and bobbed her head in the direction of the owner. Min looked at her like if she did not know whether she should speak or not. Nynaeve arched an eyebrow. The woman bit her lip as she opened her mouth.
"Nynaeve, you're with child."
TO BE CONTINUED
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Author's Note: Well, another chapter is finished, so please tell me what did you think? The next chapter will come in one or two-and-a-half weeks.
Response to reviews:
::An answer about Lan's survival/death ---- You will all just have to wait and see. Remember, I'm writing a sequel too…
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::blackcats of the moon ---- Yes, I will rewrite all the other chapters too
::Trickster's-Lulaby ---- 'blushes' Thank you :)
::Spacing Out ---- I hope this story will live up to your expectations! smile
::anmar ---- oh, I'm flattered…
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