Chapter 2: A Lord and Lady Have Come to Emond's Field!
A cool breeze blew through the forest as Rand and Tam al'Thor walked down the road to Emond's Field. There was a heavy silence in the air. The pony, Bela, trotted between the two men, loaded with Tam's annual produce of wine. Rand couldn't wait till he got to Emond's Field, to see Perrin, Mat and Arianna. Especially Arianna. It was odd; everyone thought he had a thing for Egwene al'Vere, the mayors' daughter. Everyone was wrong though. She was but a child to him, even though she was only two years younger to him. Tomorrow was Bel Tine. He had worn his best Feast Day clothes, a white shirt and black breeches with brown boots. He had combed his hair and had a bath. Arianna would be pleased with him, and hopefully she would dance with him all night today. Maybe he could let Perrin have one dance, but she wouldn't dance with Mat if he were the last thing on earth. He laughed to himself. Tam looked at him like he was crazy. Suddenly Rand had a feeling they were being followed. He turned around and saw a man, adorned with black from head to toe. His face was hidden by a hood. Rand noticed something funny about the man. His cloak wasn't moving, despite the breeze that was blowing through Rand's hair.
"What is it lad?" Tam inquired.
"There's a man behind us." Tam stopped and looked back. There was nobody there.
"I think you're seeing things Rand. You should get some sleep in the Inn as soon as we get there." Tam said.
"But-" Rand started.
"No if ands or buts mister!" Tam growled. "Okay..." Rand muttered, annoyed.
They travelled for a while longer and when they finally reached Emond's Field, Rand spotted Arianna and Perrin, sitting on the back of Cenn Buie's wagon. Arianna was gazing intently at Perrin's palm, his hand held in hers. Rand felt a stab of jealousy, but then Perrin looked up, saw Rand and snatched his hand from her. She cried out in protest,
"I'm not done you wool-headed lummox! You've ruined everything!"
"Rand's here..." he said calmly, jumping down. She looked up and spotting a Rand, a grin spread across her face. Perrin held out a hand to help her down and as soon as her feet touched the ground, she ran towards Rand full-speed and threw her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and twirled her around. Perrin gave Rand a hearty pat on the back when Rand had set Arianna down, then they both greeted Tam.
"Good day Master al'Thor!" Perrin exclaimed.
"It's good evening you wool-headed lummox..." Arianna muttered, rolling her eyes, "how are you Master al'Thor."
"Well enough Miss Buie, Master Aybara," Tam replied with a curt nod to each of them.
"Come on Rand, you must be hungry," Arianna declared, taking his hand and heading towards the Winespring Inn. Egwene stepped out as they reached the door.
"Hi Rand!" she said.
"Oh, hello Egwene..." he acknowledged her with a polite nod.
"Egwene, be a dear and help Master al'Thor with the wine," Arianna suggested.
"Anything to help..." Egwene said.
"There's a good girl!" Arianna called after her. Then they entered the Winespring Inn.
Sitting around the hearth of the Common Room were the mayor, Branwyn al'Vere, Arianna's uncle, Cenn Buie and the village Wisdom, Nynaeve al'Meara. The two men were sipping mead as Nynaeve shrieked at them. The door shut behind Arianna, Rand and Perrin with a bang. Nynaeve fell silent and all three in front of the hearth spun around to see who was there.
"I'm sorry Wisdom, Mayor... Uncle Cenn," Arianna muttered, "I didn't mean to disturb you... it's just that Rand has just arrived and her is tired and hungry..."
"Oh... that's quite all right Ari-" the mayor started to say.
"HOW MUCH DID YOU HEAR?!?!" Nynaeve roared. Arianna, Rand and Perrin jumped back in shock, clutching eachother for support, little squeaks of terror blurting from their open mouths.
"Oh, pull yourselves together!" Cenn Buie ordered, "Light! You're 18 years of age, there is no need to be afraid of Nynaeve who is barely 20 yet..." Nynaeve raised her walking stick and rapped Cenn on the head. He cried out with indignation and fury.
"Now, now, Cenn, calm down..." Master al'Vere gave Cenn a warning look.
"Well, can we go now...?" Rand called out meekly, his eyes flickering from the mayor to Nynaeve nervously.
"Yes, go on children," Master al'Vere waved them off. They all but ran into the kitchen.
Mistress al'Vere was baking bread loaves with two of her daughters, Berowyn and Elisa.
"Hello Arianna, Perrin... Rand! Here already al'Thor?" Mistress al'Vere called out in surprise.
"We got an early start this year ma'am," he answered politely.
"May we have something to eat ma'am?" Arianna asked.
"Oh, sure, help yourselves to some bread and cheese." Elisa said, pointing to some prepared food on the counter.
They each took a dinner roll and a slice of cheese, thanked the women and exited through the back door.
"We can go eat in the field." Perrin suggested.
They ran down into Widow Aynal's meadow and sat near the sheep pens, chewing on their food slowly. When they had finished, Rand asked,
"What were you two doing in the back of the wagon when I came?" Perrin blushed and quickly said, "Rand- it was nothing serious..."
"I'm not saying it was!" Rand assured him with a friendly smile.
"Of course it wasn't serious! I was just reading his palm. You can tell someone's future by reading their palm," Arianna explained.
"Ohhh... I see. Read mine!" Rand demanded, thrusting his hand in her face. She laughed at his eagerness and took his hand in her own.
"Let's see...long lifeline...no children, but you'll get married..." she muttered. Suddenly Mat came sprinting through the grass towards them, tripped over his feet and did a huge faceplant in a pile of sheep manure.
"Errlack!" he cried in disgust, voice muffled.
They burst out laughing.
"What Mat?" Perrin croaked through tears of mirth. Mat pulled his face from the dung, wiping it clean with his sleeve and said,
"There's a gleeman in the Inn! And a lord and lady have come to Emond's Field!"
"What do you mean?" Rand asked.
"Mat, have you been at my Uncle's mead?" Arianna inquired suspiciously, pulling his face in her hands and smelling his breath.
"Ugh! You smell like dung!" she exclaimed, shoving him away.
"It's not my fault sheep aren't house broken- but anyway, the lord and lady! They're like no people I've ever seen. Their everyday clothes are better than any of our Feast Day clothes. The lord has a sword and a cloak that makes him blend into his surroundings. The lady is very beautiful, not as beautiful as Arianna, but beautiful none the less." Mat blurt out.
"The man sounds like a Warder!" Arianna said.
"But then, the lady would have to be Aes Sedai." Perrin added.
"Most likely they will be at the dance tonight..." Matt said.
"Hmm... oh Rand! Your clothes are beautiful! And you've combed your hair!" Arianna exclaimed, looking at him closely for the first time.
"I'm glad you noticed!" he grinned.
"How couldn't you! The way he's holding his head up like a lord!" Perrin said incredulously.
"Will you dance with me tonight?" Rand asked, ignoring Perrin's comment.
"Yes, I'll promise you the first and last." Arianna agreed.
"And me?" inquired Perrin. "I will save you two as well."
"Don't forget me!" Mat added.
"Um...well..."
Mat gave a look of hurt and indignation, making puppy eyes at her.
"Awww, okay..." she agreed.
Mat looked as if Christmas had come a month early. They all laughed. Egwene glared from behind a bush. She had wanted to dance with Rand for first and last dance. Why couldn't she be as beautiful as Arianna. After all, Rand was all but promised to her since they were children. It wasn't fair that Arianna could just show up and steal his heart. She knew something about Arianna that nobody else knew. Her sister Berowyn had told her. Tonight, she would tell Arianna and then how perfect would Arianna's life be? Everything she had known all of her perfect little life was a lie. Arianna Buie was not Arianna Buie. Arianna was not Cenn Buie's niece. She wasn't even from the Two Rivers. That was why she had fair hair and blue eyes. Everyone in the Two Rivers had dark hair and eyes...except Rand. Maybe he wasn't from the Two Rivers either. Maybe that was why he and Arianna got on so well...