I keep alternating between not knowing what to put on paper, and feeling
rushed to get it all down. I apologize for any grammatical/spelling errors
as this was written in a rush. The next two chapters should be up soon.
Malarkay: I completely agree with what you said about Lan in chapter 1. This is my first fanfic, and I think that I bit off more than I could chew by choosing Lan as one of my main characters. If you have any suggestions for a possible rewrite I would be appreciative. Sometimes constructive criticism is more helpful than praise.
Watcher Tale Neith: Thank you for consistently reviewing. I appreciate the feedback. Sorry if this chapter isn't what you were anticipating.
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The sun had long passed it zenith when Leah shoved the door to her room at the Horse and Buggy open. "Mother's milk in a cup!" Leah practically spat as she stormed into the room. "I'm sorry Aes Sedai. Only a few more stairs Aes Sedai." Leah said in a high mocking tone. "I always wanted to see the palace, but not in one day. I must have climbed every step in the building." Leah flung herself onto the bed, pulling off her right slipper and rubbing the sole of her foot fiercely.
Lan sauntered into the room behind her, the latch of the door clicking softly behind him. Nothing about his face changed, but Leah had the distinct impression that he was hiding a smile. She grabbed a pillow from behind her and hurled it at the Warder. The slightest shift of his knees caused the pillow to sail past his head, inches off its mark.
"And you....You frustrating, exasperating....You...You man!" Somehow she managed to make the last as much an insult as the others. "You knew all along that the Lord Dragon was not in the palace!"
"How could I have known when even the palace servants were unsure?" And there it was again, that look of a hidden smile. Leah seriously considered throwing her remaining slipper at the man but decided that it would do no good. The servants had repeatedly apologized for their extended tour. They had explained that the Lord Dragon often just "appeared" in the palace, and would be gone just as quickly. They were never sure if he was there or not. The only way to be positive was to check.
"Why?" She asked, pulling her left slipper off.
"I am not sure that I understand the question." Lan replied his voice flat and level. Leah felt her teeth grate before she could stop it. Her fists were clenched so tightly she thought her nails would soon draw blood.
"Why? Why all of this? You take me to the palace to see the Dragon when you know very well that he is not there. You force me to wear this, this dress," Leah's mouth twisted around the word "and order me to remain silent, but when I spoke you seemed almost pleased. You and I, we play these games, only no one has told me the rules. I want answers al' Lan Mandragoran!"
"Do you now?" Lan replied, slightly raising an eyebrow. "The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills." This time Leah did throw her shoe. Lan smiled openly now, if it could rightfully be called a smile. It was the slightest curving of the lips. "You are a strong woman, but you often falter, allowing yourself to be led. Only do you truly trust yourself when you're seething."
"All of this was to make me angry?" She made a gesture with her arms that took in her apparel. Leah wished she hadn't let her other shoe drop to the floor.
"Nynaeve would never let another speak for her. She would never show that the palace intimidated her. I had to be sure."
"This was all a test?" The anger had left her voice, but her tone still hinted at vexation. "But then why the palace? Why now?"
"How many servants and guards saw us today? Fifty? One hundred? More? How many tongues did we set wagging? Do you think that all eyes upon you today were friendly?"
Leah's shoulders sagged visibly as the last of the anger drained from her body. She had never thought of the situation in those terms. She had never thought. She allowed herself to be tricked into behaving as he had wished, and all without thought. She could have kicked herself. Now her mind worked rapidly, doing sums she should have done last night, factoring in the new information.
"You never intended for me to meet him did you?"
"Who?"
"Who do you think? Rand al' Thor, the Dragon Reborn. You told me once that I was not intended to fool those she knew, and she was his Wisdom. You never intended for him to meet me."
"No. I did not." She nodded slightly, new pieces to the puzzle falling in place.
"I was not designed to fool those she knew, and yet you drill me every day. Not just questions anymore but corrections on the most minute of details. Who notices that a person always crosses their legs right over left, but their hands left over right? Who cares that each bite of lamb, but no other meat is chewed exactly ten times? Who notices that wine is only drank, after the liquid has been swirled three times counterclockwise?" Her voice had grown softer as she continued, by the end speaking only to herself.
"The Light blind me! I am such a fool. How could I not have seen this before?" Leah actually laughed allowed as the last of the pieces fit into the puzzle. "You love her." Her voice was touched with awe. "Do you not?"
"It is late, and you must be tired." was Lan's emotionless response as he turned towards the door reaching for the handle. Leah was sure however, that his cold blue eyes which so often reminded her of ice, had melted for an instant.
"I can never be her. You know that." Lan did not reply. He stood as if frozen in place, his hand midair, open and reaching for the handle.
"That blade, the one that you carry at your waist, do you know how to use it?" His abrupt change in subject startled Leah and her hand strayed to her abdomen before she responded.
"Not well. I know only what I have learned from my father, and that was for farm work, not...." She let her voice fade off, fingering the cold steel.
"We will begin lessons tomorrow. We have entered dangerous new territory. I would not have you tread these paths blindly." He turned the door handle, in one motion he opened the door, extricated himself from the room, and again shut the door tightly behind himself, leaving Leah to sit in silence, pondering the day's events.
Lan strode purposefully down the hall, wanting to put yet another closed door between he and the girl, but the innkeepers rosy cheeks and ready smile came into view as the older man bounded up the stairs.
"I am sorry to bother you Master Andra." The man said a bit breathlessly, as if the jaunt up the stairs had robbed him of his air. "I trust that your visit to the palace went well." He only continued on once satisfied that Lan's nod was the only response that he intended to give. "A man delivered a message for you earlier this afternoon. He said that it was urgent. I wanted to see that it was delivered personally." Lan accepted the envelope from the older gentleman and handed him several shillings before muttering words of thanks.
Lan waited until his own door was latched firmly behind him before inspecting the letter. The cardstock was heavy, and of obvious quality. It was dark ivory, the color of aged and weathered bones. There was no name on the front. The only marking the blood red wax seal on the back. The wax had been imprinted with a signet ring. A serpent, but very unlike the ring that now occupied Leah's belt pouch. Its sinuous form seemed threatening. Its open mouth revealed teeth as sharp as any sword
Lan opened the letter carefully, using a small knife to lift the wax, preserving the image.
The script was small and tight, but jutted out at irregular intervals.
I know what it is that you do. If you have any wish of succeeding, meet me at the west gate at dusk.
I know what it is that you do. The words seemed to scream at him. Someone knew, or thought they knew. His eyes jerked towards the window and the setting sun. Meet me at the west gate at dusk. He smelled a trap so strongly that he was sure that the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. But did he dare risk not showing? No time. Things were moving too quickly.
Lan's hand was on the doorknob before he even realized what he was doing. His breathing was regular and his pulse steady, the fear was there. He did not fear death, he welcomed it. But not yet. Not before Moghedien's blood was spilled. Mandarb was hurriedly saddled, and Lan rode off as the sun collapsed behind the forest.
Malarkay: I completely agree with what you said about Lan in chapter 1. This is my first fanfic, and I think that I bit off more than I could chew by choosing Lan as one of my main characters. If you have any suggestions for a possible rewrite I would be appreciative. Sometimes constructive criticism is more helpful than praise.
Watcher Tale Neith: Thank you for consistently reviewing. I appreciate the feedback. Sorry if this chapter isn't what you were anticipating.
...........................................................................................................
The sun had long passed it zenith when Leah shoved the door to her room at the Horse and Buggy open. "Mother's milk in a cup!" Leah practically spat as she stormed into the room. "I'm sorry Aes Sedai. Only a few more stairs Aes Sedai." Leah said in a high mocking tone. "I always wanted to see the palace, but not in one day. I must have climbed every step in the building." Leah flung herself onto the bed, pulling off her right slipper and rubbing the sole of her foot fiercely.
Lan sauntered into the room behind her, the latch of the door clicking softly behind him. Nothing about his face changed, but Leah had the distinct impression that he was hiding a smile. She grabbed a pillow from behind her and hurled it at the Warder. The slightest shift of his knees caused the pillow to sail past his head, inches off its mark.
"And you....You frustrating, exasperating....You...You man!" Somehow she managed to make the last as much an insult as the others. "You knew all along that the Lord Dragon was not in the palace!"
"How could I have known when even the palace servants were unsure?" And there it was again, that look of a hidden smile. Leah seriously considered throwing her remaining slipper at the man but decided that it would do no good. The servants had repeatedly apologized for their extended tour. They had explained that the Lord Dragon often just "appeared" in the palace, and would be gone just as quickly. They were never sure if he was there or not. The only way to be positive was to check.
"Why?" She asked, pulling her left slipper off.
"I am not sure that I understand the question." Lan replied his voice flat and level. Leah felt her teeth grate before she could stop it. Her fists were clenched so tightly she thought her nails would soon draw blood.
"Why? Why all of this? You take me to the palace to see the Dragon when you know very well that he is not there. You force me to wear this, this dress," Leah's mouth twisted around the word "and order me to remain silent, but when I spoke you seemed almost pleased. You and I, we play these games, only no one has told me the rules. I want answers al' Lan Mandragoran!"
"Do you now?" Lan replied, slightly raising an eyebrow. "The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills." This time Leah did throw her shoe. Lan smiled openly now, if it could rightfully be called a smile. It was the slightest curving of the lips. "You are a strong woman, but you often falter, allowing yourself to be led. Only do you truly trust yourself when you're seething."
"All of this was to make me angry?" She made a gesture with her arms that took in her apparel. Leah wished she hadn't let her other shoe drop to the floor.
"Nynaeve would never let another speak for her. She would never show that the palace intimidated her. I had to be sure."
"This was all a test?" The anger had left her voice, but her tone still hinted at vexation. "But then why the palace? Why now?"
"How many servants and guards saw us today? Fifty? One hundred? More? How many tongues did we set wagging? Do you think that all eyes upon you today were friendly?"
Leah's shoulders sagged visibly as the last of the anger drained from her body. She had never thought of the situation in those terms. She had never thought. She allowed herself to be tricked into behaving as he had wished, and all without thought. She could have kicked herself. Now her mind worked rapidly, doing sums she should have done last night, factoring in the new information.
"You never intended for me to meet him did you?"
"Who?"
"Who do you think? Rand al' Thor, the Dragon Reborn. You told me once that I was not intended to fool those she knew, and she was his Wisdom. You never intended for him to meet me."
"No. I did not." She nodded slightly, new pieces to the puzzle falling in place.
"I was not designed to fool those she knew, and yet you drill me every day. Not just questions anymore but corrections on the most minute of details. Who notices that a person always crosses their legs right over left, but their hands left over right? Who cares that each bite of lamb, but no other meat is chewed exactly ten times? Who notices that wine is only drank, after the liquid has been swirled three times counterclockwise?" Her voice had grown softer as she continued, by the end speaking only to herself.
"The Light blind me! I am such a fool. How could I not have seen this before?" Leah actually laughed allowed as the last of the pieces fit into the puzzle. "You love her." Her voice was touched with awe. "Do you not?"
"It is late, and you must be tired." was Lan's emotionless response as he turned towards the door reaching for the handle. Leah was sure however, that his cold blue eyes which so often reminded her of ice, had melted for an instant.
"I can never be her. You know that." Lan did not reply. He stood as if frozen in place, his hand midair, open and reaching for the handle.
"That blade, the one that you carry at your waist, do you know how to use it?" His abrupt change in subject startled Leah and her hand strayed to her abdomen before she responded.
"Not well. I know only what I have learned from my father, and that was for farm work, not...." She let her voice fade off, fingering the cold steel.
"We will begin lessons tomorrow. We have entered dangerous new territory. I would not have you tread these paths blindly." He turned the door handle, in one motion he opened the door, extricated himself from the room, and again shut the door tightly behind himself, leaving Leah to sit in silence, pondering the day's events.
Lan strode purposefully down the hall, wanting to put yet another closed door between he and the girl, but the innkeepers rosy cheeks and ready smile came into view as the older man bounded up the stairs.
"I am sorry to bother you Master Andra." The man said a bit breathlessly, as if the jaunt up the stairs had robbed him of his air. "I trust that your visit to the palace went well." He only continued on once satisfied that Lan's nod was the only response that he intended to give. "A man delivered a message for you earlier this afternoon. He said that it was urgent. I wanted to see that it was delivered personally." Lan accepted the envelope from the older gentleman and handed him several shillings before muttering words of thanks.
Lan waited until his own door was latched firmly behind him before inspecting the letter. The cardstock was heavy, and of obvious quality. It was dark ivory, the color of aged and weathered bones. There was no name on the front. The only marking the blood red wax seal on the back. The wax had been imprinted with a signet ring. A serpent, but very unlike the ring that now occupied Leah's belt pouch. Its sinuous form seemed threatening. Its open mouth revealed teeth as sharp as any sword
Lan opened the letter carefully, using a small knife to lift the wax, preserving the image.
The script was small and tight, but jutted out at irregular intervals.
I know what it is that you do. If you have any wish of succeeding, meet me at the west gate at dusk.
I know what it is that you do. The words seemed to scream at him. Someone knew, or thought they knew. His eyes jerked towards the window and the setting sun. Meet me at the west gate at dusk. He smelled a trap so strongly that he was sure that the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. But did he dare risk not showing? No time. Things were moving too quickly.
Lan's hand was on the doorknob before he even realized what he was doing. His breathing was regular and his pulse steady, the fear was there. He did not fear death, he welcomed it. But not yet. Not before Moghedien's blood was spilled. Mandarb was hurriedly saddled, and Lan rode off as the sun collapsed behind the forest.