Chapter 7 Invitations
Egwene gazed out into the courtyard where a tall man practised the sword in the heat. It had been a month since Nynaeve's death and still Lan felt it like a fresh wound. He had pushed himself into practising and when he wasn't whirling a sword around his head with great skill, he sat perfectly still, staring into nothing, his eyes cold and dead.
A month they had sat in Caemlyn and still they didn't have the supplies they needed even though Romanda had promised it by the end of the week.
Elayne and Aviendha stood either side of her, both watching Lan.
"He prepares himself for a battle he hopes he shall lose but will take as many enemies to the grave with him," whispered Aviendha. Strangely Elayne nodded in agreement. The Queen had been spending too much with the Aiel.
"I can't let him die," Egwene muttered, "I promised Nynaeve I would take care of him, of everyone."
"You know you can't do that. We are many leagues apart and each of us faces our own threats and dangers," Elayne said, sun glinting off the jewels in her head.
"I must try," Egwene said, more to herself than to the two women standing with her.
Elayne produced a letter from thin air and handed to Egwene, "This arrived. I received one as well. It seems that one of the Houses I have yet to win over wish for us to attend a ball of theirs."
Egwene opened the letter marked 'The Amyrlin Seat'.
Dearest Mother
Watcher of the Seals
Flame of Tar Valon
The Amyrlin Seat
I humbly ask for your attendance at the House Paeron masquerade ball inspired by Ebou Dar.
My House and I would be honoured and privileged to have you at this ball tomorrow night at Paeron Hall in Caemlyn. I look forward to meeting you.
Your Humble Servant
Electria Paeron
High Seat of House Paeron.
"There will be many nobles there. Some may be able to assist us," Elayne continued, "I find the idea of a masked ball fascinating."
Egwene stopped listening to Elayne mindless chatter. She knew Elayne was just trying to cheer her up.
Lan had ceased his practise and was heading back inside. Egwene hurried after him shouting apologies back to Elayne and Aviendha. Once Lan knew she was following him, he sped up and only stopped when she caught up.
"Really Egwene, you don't need to watch me like a hawk," he said.
"Well maybe I need to," Egwene snapped, "don't run from me, Lan. I miss her too."
Lan's eyes flared. "Miss her!?! Do you see her every night in your dreams!?! Do you reach for her and find her gone!?! You'll never understand what I've lost. You think I didn't notice the looks passed between yourself and Elayne! She tried her best for you and all you did was ridicule her. Pushing her away, never letting her in!!" He roared face livid red. Slowly the colour faded. "I'm sorry, leave me alone." With that he turned and walked away.
Egwene stood, stunned by the usually cool Warder's outburst. All that rage had been pent up over Nynaeve's death. Was she really like that?
"Lan," she called as she caught up. "She and I were never the best of friends all the time but I loved her as a friend. A good friend, who I owe my life to. Did I really behave like that?"
Lan didn't answer so she continued.
"Lan I have to keep you alive whether you like it or not. For Nynaeve. Now find something decent to wear and I'll get you a mask. You are accompanying me to a party." She left then, leaving a stunned Lan in her wake.
Egwene gazed out into the courtyard where a tall man practised the sword in the heat. It had been a month since Nynaeve's death and still Lan felt it like a fresh wound. He had pushed himself into practising and when he wasn't whirling a sword around his head with great skill, he sat perfectly still, staring into nothing, his eyes cold and dead.
A month they had sat in Caemlyn and still they didn't have the supplies they needed even though Romanda had promised it by the end of the week.
Elayne and Aviendha stood either side of her, both watching Lan.
"He prepares himself for a battle he hopes he shall lose but will take as many enemies to the grave with him," whispered Aviendha. Strangely Elayne nodded in agreement. The Queen had been spending too much with the Aiel.
"I can't let him die," Egwene muttered, "I promised Nynaeve I would take care of him, of everyone."
"You know you can't do that. We are many leagues apart and each of us faces our own threats and dangers," Elayne said, sun glinting off the jewels in her head.
"I must try," Egwene said, more to herself than to the two women standing with her.
Elayne produced a letter from thin air and handed to Egwene, "This arrived. I received one as well. It seems that one of the Houses I have yet to win over wish for us to attend a ball of theirs."
Egwene opened the letter marked 'The Amyrlin Seat'.
Dearest Mother
Watcher of the Seals
Flame of Tar Valon
The Amyrlin Seat
I humbly ask for your attendance at the House Paeron masquerade ball inspired by Ebou Dar.
My House and I would be honoured and privileged to have you at this ball tomorrow night at Paeron Hall in Caemlyn. I look forward to meeting you.
Your Humble Servant
Electria Paeron
High Seat of House Paeron.
"There will be many nobles there. Some may be able to assist us," Elayne continued, "I find the idea of a masked ball fascinating."
Egwene stopped listening to Elayne mindless chatter. She knew Elayne was just trying to cheer her up.
Lan had ceased his practise and was heading back inside. Egwene hurried after him shouting apologies back to Elayne and Aviendha. Once Lan knew she was following him, he sped up and only stopped when she caught up.
"Really Egwene, you don't need to watch me like a hawk," he said.
"Well maybe I need to," Egwene snapped, "don't run from me, Lan. I miss her too."
Lan's eyes flared. "Miss her!?! Do you see her every night in your dreams!?! Do you reach for her and find her gone!?! You'll never understand what I've lost. You think I didn't notice the looks passed between yourself and Elayne! She tried her best for you and all you did was ridicule her. Pushing her away, never letting her in!!" He roared face livid red. Slowly the colour faded. "I'm sorry, leave me alone." With that he turned and walked away.
Egwene stood, stunned by the usually cool Warder's outburst. All that rage had been pent up over Nynaeve's death. Was she really like that?
"Lan," she called as she caught up. "She and I were never the best of friends all the time but I loved her as a friend. A good friend, who I owe my life to. Did I really behave like that?"
Lan didn't answer so she continued.
"Lan I have to keep you alive whether you like it or not. For Nynaeve. Now find something decent to wear and I'll get you a mask. You are accompanying me to a party." She left then, leaving a stunned Lan in her wake.