One more down... but how many more to go? Lavenda wondered as she turned away from the dead Trolloc, searching for her next target. It was then that she saw Mentiri, the black cloth around his eyes splashed with something even darker. He was looking in her direction, and running. Fool man, I can take care of myself, she thought sullenly, but she relieved he seemed unhurt. Yet. You can't take anything for granted in a battle, she said to herself, repeating a saying she remembered hearing often from Aiel she had met. She sniffed the air, smelling only a few faint Trolloc stinks. It was from the direction of one of those that a crossbow bolt shot, weakly thudding into the bark of a tree. It held, but barely. Not that close, she though.
She moved towards the archer, moving further away from Mentiri as a result. The archers are the most dangerous of all, in this territory, she thought. You can't see them until you're dead. And then you can't see. With a dry laugh, she moved closer. Crouching behind a few bushes, she peered into the dim light, searching for her target. There. A back was to her, goat horns curling past the helmet. Cloven hooves stamped restlessly as the animal looked around nervously, holding it's crossbow more as a gesture than a true weapon. Ignorant idiots, she thought mirthlessly as she sprung forwards.
"No!" came a desperate call from behind her. What? Mentiri... But it was too late. As her spear slid into her prey, making it scream it's too-human scream, motion sounded behind her, from the direction she had come. She had no time to marvel at the planning of it, too complicated for the simple mind of a Trolloc- They were upwind!- as she turned, desperately trying to ward off the attack.
It was then that fate turned against her, and she tripped, sprawling on the ground. She tried to raise her spears, but too late. Always too late... Metal pierced her, the rusted blade of the first Trolloc stabbing into her stomach. She bit her lip, drawing blood, as it stabbed a lung. She convulsed, unable to draw breath. No... I will not die! Not here! Not now! But she was helpless as two more blades pinned her arms to the ground, and the first blade rose above her heart.
"No!" The cry came only a split second before a figure crashed through the Trolloc, taking it's blade with it. Mentiri... He was a blur of motion, striking down the enemies within moments, although it seemed their blades touched him. As her vision clouded, she looked towards him as he killed the last one, sinking to his knees, breathing heavily. Her eyes met his, and then all was dark.
xxxx
Nothing entered the clearing after that single trolloc, and Jacquelynn assumed that the beasts were tracking down Lavenda and Mentiri. She wished there was something she could do, but knew that her presence would be more of a hindrance than a help. Besides, they were probably perfectly capable of looking after themselves.
Only...well, this battle seemed to be going on for an awfully long time. Jacquelynn shielded her eyes as she gazed upwards through the canopy, gauging the sun's position. This was no random encounter if it could take so long. Either the trollocs had been tracking them, or the trollocs had encountered them on their way somewhere else. Neither was a pleasant thought. This many trollocs this far south is never a pleasant thought. Grimly, the Violet Sitter sat her mare and waited as patiently as she could. Somehow, her normally infinite reserves of tolerance seemed to be wearing thin.
After another handful of minutes had painfully inched by, there was silence for a few seconds and then an anguished scream. That was Mentiri! she thought with shock. A second of indecision brushed her mind, but Jacquelynn wasted little time in heading in the direction of the sound. Her aide was doubtless better than nothing. Light, but let them be alright...Her talent with Healing was close to non-existent.
She had not gone more than a few paces into the forest before she met Mentiri. He face was ashen and Lavenda was cradled in his arms, lifeless. The Aes Sedai put a hand to her mouth.
"You should not have moved her..." she chastised with little energy, slowly taking in the depth of the woman's wounds. They were far beyond her capabilities. "Lay her down over there. Put something underneath her head."
Saidar leapt to her command as she wove Healing weaves as dexterously as she had ever done. The added incentive seemed to add strength and confidence to her weaves, but she was no Yellow Sister and knew Novices who had better talent than she in this area. Quickly, she dismounted from her horse and knelt by the Gaidar's side. She did not move and her breathing seemed shallow. Mentiri leaned over anxiously, but she waved him away, gesturing vaguely that he should protect the borders of the clearing. The last thing they needed now was a trolloc attacking them.
She laid the Healing weaves over Lavenda, her hands on the woman's forehead as the wounds slowly knitted up. At least she would lose no more blood now. Jacquelynn knew that it was not enough though. Lavenda would die by sunset if she didn't get more help. If only we were closer to Tar Valon...
The Gaidar's eyes flickered open and her breathing became more sporadic as she regained a slightly consciousness. I will not let her die! Anger touched the Aes Sedai's features, and the rare emotion looked out of place on her gentle face. A thought crossed her mind, slowly at first, but building momentum as she thought it through. No...I could not...but it may be the only way...even so...Light, but should I...?
Lavenda's eyes seemed to be growing cloudy, and Jacquelynn realised that there was no time. She spoke clearly but quietly so her words did not Mentiri. Not yet, anyway.
"Lavenda, your wounds are too great for me to Heal. I have done what I can, but it is not enough. I...am sorry." Aes Sedai were not used to apologising, but it seemed appropriate. "There is one last weave that I could perform, but I do not know if you would want it. Perhaps it would save your life, but I am not certain."
Jacquelynn took a deep breath, her composure well and truly gone.
"Lavenda, I could bond you as my Warder."
xxxx
Lavenda battled against the darkness, not willing to accept oblivion, and death. I'm not dead yet! she screamed silently. But despite all she could do, she seemed to be drifting furthur away from... herself... the way you slipped from a dream into deep sleep, or how everything seemed in slow motion as you fell. Isn't that all life is? A dream? What if I don't want to wake? Then, something seemed to catch her, and she stopped falling. Not going back 'up'... just... stopped. Then she moved up a little... just a little.
Light flooded her vision, and she realized her eyes were open. What? But- ah. The Aes Sedai's face floated into view. She frowned slightly, trying to focus. You stay still, hear? she told the image as it dipped and weaved. She drew breath jaggedly, blood bubbling in her lungs.
A trace of a smile appeared. Just my luck, to be stuck with an Aes Sedai who can't Heal well, she thought wryly. Just as she began to give up, to accept her fate, Jacquelynn's lips moved, and Lavenda fought to listen.
"Lavenda, I could bond you as my Warder."
Her mind reeled. Serve this Aes Sedai... whom she had only known a little while... serve until she died, or until Jacquelynn died, and then go mad of grief. To devote the rest of her life to one person. Her life before the Aes Sedai's. Her spears, belonging to the other. And yet, there was only one answer, to her. She had lived for this. She would live for it again.
"Yes," she whispered, tasting the metallic taste of blood. She coughed, sharp pains stabbing into her chest like hot knives. She bit her cheek, focussing on the small pain. She must stay awake.
"Yes." With an effort she didn't know she had left, she raised an arm, pressing her fingers to her lips, then the Aes Sedai's. "I am yours," she breathed. Her arm crashed unceremoniously back to the dirt. Hurry, she mentally urged the other woman, as the woods grew darker again. Am I closing my eyes, or dying? It doesn't matter.
Hurry.