For several agonizing moments, Jacquelynn thought that it was too late. Lavenda's eyes flickered weakly but she did not speak. The Aes Sedai shook her head, her eyes on the ground. So young, so brave...so brave... Anger welled up in her heart, an emotion that she was not familiar with, and for the briefest of seconds, she wished she had chosen the green shawl so that she might tear apart those responsible for this.
"...Yes" The Ghealdanin woman looked up, meeting Lavenda's eyes, misted with the pain from her injuries. "Yes. I am yours..." the Aiel woman finished and her eyes closed with a finality that was un-nerving. If Jacquelynn had been a more emotional woman, she was certain she would have been in tears. Even as she was, the Sitter was touched by the honest sincerity in the Gaidar's gestures and words. These Aiel, they have courage beyond expression.
Time was of the essence, though, and she wove quickly and far more neatly than she had ever done. The unique weave of spirit flowed easily despite the fact that she had been shown it only once. Every newly raised Aes Sedai was shown in a single time, and it burned it's way into their mind so that it was memorable beyond all other weaves, even the ones that were used everyday, or those that had been learned for the Aes Sedai test.
She didn't even pause before laying the weave over Lavenda's mind, tying it off with that impossible knot that only she could undo, aware that every second might count for the Aiel Warder. Instantly, she could feel the other woman in her mind, feel the excruciating pain that she was suffering and feel the way she fought for her life. Do not give up now, Lavenda...
xxxx
She sucked in air sharply, her eyes flying open as the weaves settled around her. Taking another breath, she noted her breath didn't seem to rattle so much any more. I'm... whole again... She could feel Jacquelynn in her mind, where before Laina had dwelled. Yes. I was made for this, I know it.
Lavenda's eyes fluttered open again. Her lips curved upwards once more, and she looked up for the first time with her new Aes Sedai. She felt Jacquelynn's mind, and her calm nerve, even now. And... concern. For me. There was comfort in the thought, an elixir that soothed her wounds. My wounds, she was reminded. I have time, yet. But I will not live past dusk without a Healing. It was a fact, not an opinion. There wasn't even despair attached. Maybe a small bit of urgency...
As if sensing her thoughts, the Aes Sedai leaned over again, placing a cool hand on her moist brow. Moist? But I never sweat... A moment later, she arched her back as the Healing flowed through her again, the cold scouring out the pain. She closed her eyes as she felt her insides writhe and knit back together. As always, it seemed to last an eternity, but was only seconds. When it was done she relaxed again, her bloody cadin'sor resting on the dirt.
"I'm extremely tired," she informed Jacquelynn, grinning. "And rather hungry, although I think that can wait." Then she laughed, and coughed, relieved to find no more blood in her lungs than had been there already. Lavenda tried to sit up, mildly annoyed at finding her muscles unwilling to cooperate. "Definitely tired," she said, and promptly fell asleep.
xxxx
With the bond now firmly in place, Jacquelynn could feel of something of Lavenda in that little knot in the back of her mind, that place that neither Aes Sedai nor Warder knew existed until it was filled by the wholeness of the bond. The Aes Sedai smiled, although a very slight melancholy touched her mind as she realised how different the Aiel woman was from her previous Gaidar, Monet. I had thought that I might have forgotten enough of her by now...In the Violet Sitter's mind, a door clicked shut and another one opened and she felt that it was finally time to release the memory of Monet once and for all. Goodbye, my friend.
Right now, Lavenda had to be her priority though, and Jacquelynn hoped that would never have to change. She began to weave another Healing weave, and realized with a slight start that she was subconsciously adjusting it to better suit the injuries her Warder have. The Aes Sedai had scarcely even delved the woman! This bond certainly has it's benefits! I suppose I have forgotten the many perks over time...
Lavenda went to sleep only a few moments later, seeming slightly frustrated that she felt the need to do so. In truth, the Aes Sedai was also tired - from stress, she supposed - and looking at the sky, she saw that night was coming on. They had both ridden and fought today and it was surprising how time could fly when you weren't enjoying yourself!
She decided that before sleeping, she might as well prepare something for Lavenda to eat when she awoke, not being certain how much good even a sleep would do her. It may take a few days before she is recovered completely, although I could not say is exactly. She is Aiel and Gaidar, both of which seem to have a remarkable habit of cheating death!
Ferreting around in her saddle bags provided some corn meal, which she promptly heated up with water and a handful of spices. There were a few strips of dried meat too, but that was pretty much the rather sorry extent of traveling rations. Wishing there were more, she placed what she had managed to prepare a couple of paces from Lavenda, wove a simple ward around them to alert her if any Shadowspawn came near, and then went to sleep herself. I'm not as young as I used to be!
xxxx
Lavenda slept long, but not deeply. Dreams haunted her. Her face twisted, a grimace on her face.
Lavenda ran quickly over the broken, cracked ground, her cloth-covered feet pounded silently into the earth. Covered in her Cadin'sor, she barely felt warm despite the blazing sun, her face free of perspiration. Her spears and knives thumping on her back with every stride, she relished the fresh air, and the freedom.
Smiling broadly, she spotted something on the ground in the distance, and she hurried towards it, feeling carefree. She got closer and closer, each stride eating hundreds, until the mountains were in view. Out of the waste, she was almost upon the shapes she now recognized as humans lying on the ground, in Cadin'sor as well.
Frowning slightly, she ran into Janghai Pass, just out of the Waste, where the rains began. Coming over a damp hill, she was on top of the bodies.
Bodies they were. Wide-eyed faces stared back at her, their mouths frozen screaming. Blood pooled around them, ugly gaping holes carved into their torsos, their faces unearthly lifelike and untouched. They were her parents.
That one always came back. It replayed over and over in her mind now, burning the backs of her eyelids. Other old dreams haunted her; the night her Aes Sedai was killed- No. Murdered, a part of her murmured. Others. The previous day; hot knives stabbing into her body, driven by an ugly half goat face. Mentiri, gazing into her eyes as she stood on his blade. Older memories, of laughing in the sunshine with her Aes Sedai, and fighting by her side, and for her.
When she woke, it was a relief, and yet she wanted to fall back asleep, experience again the oblivion of her happier days, and avoid the pain of now. The hole in me has been patched, she thought. I have a purpose again. A surge of joy came through with that realization. Yes. I have a purpose.
She opened her eyes slowly, contentedly, slightly shocked to find bright afternoon sun filtering through the boughs of the great trees. Bracing herself with an arm, she propped herself up, gazing blearily around her for a moment. The Aes Sedai's horse stood nearby, miraculously untouched, and her spears.
A bundle of clothes shifted on the other side of the clearing- Mentiri. Jacquelynn was nowhere in sight, and Lavenda began to look for her- until she remembered the bond they now shared. She closed her eyes and pointed at the Violet, just for the thrill of it. Feeling Jacquelynn moving closer now, she stood up without too much effort, leaning against a tree. Food, she thought, and jerkily began walking towards the packs. They, too, seem almost untouched. Only one lay split open. Finally regaining her grace, she sat cross-legged, grabbing a large piece of hard bread and gnawing on it, as the Aes Sedai entered the grassy area.
xxxx
Three days passed before Lavenda opened her eyes again. Three agonizing days that lasted longer that seemed possible. Mentiri and Jacquelynn rarely spoke anymore than was necessary. He had nothing to say to her, and likewise was true for the Aes Sedai. An ethereal calm enveloped the grassy clearing and only the sleeping Gaidar's expression told that all was not peace and serenity.
Even so, Jacquelynn had no doubts that her Warder would recover. Through the bond, she could feel the Aiel woman's strength returning to her, even with whatever fitful dreams she had. Disquiet seeped through to the Violet Sister, and she wondered if the younger woman would speak of what she had seen in her sleep.
Practical and quick to settle, the Sitter spent the extra time well enough, making notes in her journal of the events which had befallen the little traveling party. From time to time she would venture outside the clearing, sometimes with Mentiri and sometimes without. Her horse grew restless with all the waiting and she thought it only fair to let him stretch his legs from time to time. Some of the mess left by the battle she also cleared up, amazed at the number that the two Warders had managed to kill.
It was on the day that she finally finished clearing up the battleground that Jacquelynn returned to find Lavenda standing, although the bond had already informed her that her Gaidar was conscious. A half-smile spread across her face without her realizing it as she returned to their base.
Glad to see the young woman tucking into some food she remained silent for a few moments, noting the smile on Mentiri's face; the first he had worn in days. When the Gaidar had eaten a suitable amount and still probably had room for more, Jacquelynn sat down on her cloak and spoke at last, breaking a quiet which seemed to have lasted forever.
"So, Lavenda. I am glad to see you have returned to us. How are you feeling?" The Aes Sedai shifted slightly, not sure if now was the appropriate time for her next question, but it had to be asked. "Do you wish to continue, or return to Tar Valon...?"
xxxx
It
took a long while for the hunger in Lavenda's belly to be sated,
but it seemed to her only minutes. She straightened at last, brushing
a few errant crumbs from her clothing. Lavenda blinked. Oh
my... I was hungry,
wasn't I? Fortunately, she hadn't
seemed to have eaten their entire store. As she cleaned herself up a
little, Jacquelynn sat down, speaking her words loudly into the
silence.
"Do you wish to continue, or return to Tar Valon?" her Aes Sedai asked abruptly, as if she did not really want to. Lavenda started; a blink of her light eyes. Return to... She hadn't thought of that before. Silly, that's because you had no need to... Mentiri sat silent, the smile she had seen before gone. A bandage lay on his side, and a scabbed-over cut made a long line on one forearm. Of course, I know now she only has a small ability in Healing. Mentiri's face was blank, no hint of emotion on his face.
She turned back to Jacquelynn, truly uncertain for one of the few times in her short life. She didn't like to leave things undone. But...
"I cannot continue, not right now anyways," Mentiri spoke softly. "Though I could catch up easily if you continue on." He fell silent again, staring into her eyes. Lavenda bit her lip, her eyes darting from her Aes Sedai to Mentiri and back again.
"Jacquelynn Sedai," she said at long last. "I am your Warder now. If you order me to do something, I will do it. And even if I would not..." she paused. "You could force me," she said, gathering momentum. "However, I truly believe we should continue... Why, I do not yet know." She shot a glance at Mentiri. "But if you decide we may carry on, I will consent turn back if Mentiri has not caught up to us once we reach Dragonmount." I'm sorry, Mentiri, she thought, But there's no point in that dangerous journey without you! Lavenda fell silent, watching her bond holder carefully.
xxxx
Jacquelynn smiled slightly, a hint of approval in her placid expression. The Gaidar had spoken as she had expected. The Aiel people rarely gave up easily.
"I shall follow your counsel, Lavenda. Of course, I will not pretend that you recommend the option that I would wish to choose anyway." Her face hardened a touch before she continued. "However, I would never force you to anything, Gaidar. Order you, perhaps, but never force. Such manipulation is frowned upon by most Aes Sedai at current, and I am sure you will agree that a free mind is more useful than a puppet."
Ethically, the Sitter disagreed with using the bond to compel as well, but now was not the time to enter into a discussion of moralities. The sun was well risen, and they should be on their way if they wished to make any progress at all that day.
The Aes Sedai cast one last glance over to Mentiri, loathe to admit that there was nothing more that she could do for him. Her patchy Healing would make sure that the wound did not open up again or infect. In her opinion, he would probably be able to travel lightly in week or so, but she was no Yellow Sister by a long call and saw no point to making predictions she was unsure of.
Turning to her packs, she began to bundle everything up again, appreciating the activity after so many idle hours.
"Come, Lavenda. We must make haste." she said airily.
xxxx
The words from Jacquelynn reassured Lavenda, though she had always known that the Sitter was not one who would force anyone to do anything. Not without a very good reason, at least. Mentiri still sat by his tree, a bitter smile on his face. Being left behind is hard. But sometimes there are things you must do...
"Come, Lavenda. We must make haste," Jacquelynn said, turning to collect her belongings. Taking her cue, Lavenda in turn bent over her pack and began gathering what little she had. Her spears, she noted with content, were well polished, cleaned of the corrosive blood of the Halfmen and the stains of the Trollocs. They gleamed softly, the edges keen. Her bowstring was coiled in her back once more, and most of her arrows were in her quiver. Strapping it on her hip, she stood, placing the spears onto her back with old ease.
She strode quickly over to Mentiri, bending over to clasp his forearm, the discomfort of a few days prior gone. "Fare well, Mentiri," she spoke quietly. "Catch up quickly." Blinking fast, she flowed smoothly to a spot by Jacquelynn. I shall see him again, you milk-brained slop, she told herself sternly. With one last look back, and a nod from the Sitter, they began to travel into the woods, towards the Spine.
I will...
"Jacquelynn Sedai," she said aloud once they had gone a little ways, "I just wish to thank you. I know I would be dead right now if not for you... and the Healing must have been quite a strain." She smiled upwards, towards the woman she had pledged her life to. No one will take her away from me, not this time, she thought vehemently.
"Although I wonder what you would have done if I had said no?" she wondered aloud. I wouldn't be here, that's what would have happened, and of my own foolishness too...And then there was still that matter of the Trollocs laying a trap. That would require much further thought. But not now.
xxxx
Jacquelynn sat her dark bay patiently. It was difficult saying goodbye to friends. She had learned that lesson a long time ago. Being an Aes Sedai was hard. Watching friends and family grow old while one stayed young was not a pleasant experience, watching your time fade away and being forced to adapt to the new. For many women, becoming Aes Sedai was a window into a beautiful new life, but the Ghealdanin woman would have been just as content to live out her days on the farm back home. I should have got rid of such thoughts a long time ago. Got rid of them when I got rid of saying farewell...
A tinge of sadness washed through the newly forged bond to her and she turned her attention to securing her saddlebags, giving Lavenda and Mentiri a few moments of as much privacy as she could. Mentiri would get better. She knew he would. Her Healing had done enough for him to give his own body the energy to repair itseld and the man was strong in more ways than one. He was every bit as dangerous as the Aiel Gaidar.
The younger woman was at her side in a heartbeat, looking up to talk with her as they walked out of the clearing and began to follow a deer track through the dense forest. Every so often, they came across a mark of the battle; a few droplets of , scratched on the ground, or tufts of thread caught on a branch. The trolloc bodies were gone though. Jacquelynn had seen to that in the many hours that had needed occupying while she waited for Lavenda to wake. It had been touch and go whether she would ever rise again, even with the bond, and relief still flushed the Sitter's mind that her Gaidar had made it through. To fight again...
"What I would have done...?" she glanced up pensively, letting her horse pick it's own way. "I would not have bonded you against your will, Lavenda, that is for sure. Instead, I believe I would have done my best to Heal you...and made you as comfortable as I could. There would have been nothing else I could have done."
They walked in silence for a few minutes, and Jacquelynn was sure the Aiel was slowing her stride so the horse could keep up. She wondered if Lavenda would want her to release the bond now that she was healthy again. If the Gaidar asked, the Aes Sedai would not refuse. And yet she hoped it wouldn't come to that. I have not know her long, but Lavenda will make a good Warder, and a good friend.
Lavenda looked up suddenly, and her horse snorted. Jacquelynn tilted her head and after a few seconds she caught the scent of woodsmoke. Who else would be out here...? The other woman would probably be able to tell what direction it was coming from.
"What do you think?" she asked softly, "Friend of foe?" Should we approach it, or should we stay away? Part of her wondered if someone else had been caught out by the trollocs, and another part of her wondered if some of the trollocs had survived.
xxxx
She nodded, satisfied. She had known that, most likely. But it would have been a foolish decision regardless, to die pointlessly when others had need of her. Then hers would have been a death without honor, and partially her fault if either Mentiri or Jacquelynn had died after. Although she wondered if they would have continued on without her...
Well, not having Mentiri doesn't seem to be stopping us, she thought dryly. Us. I could get used to that once more... And I will. Just then, she smelled something that made her head snap back up. Woodsmoke, from the South. And a faint sound.... Talking, perhaps? She couldn't quite make it out. I usually wouldn't be able to hear them anyways... not lately. A thrill ran through her when she remembered her senses were sharpened now, after what had seemed to be centuries of a blunt world. That's not the matter at hand. Focus, Lavenda, she scolded herself. Remember your duty. A second later, Jacquelynn spoke.
"Friend or foe?" Lavenda paused for a moment, indecisive. Normally it would be no problem for her to get close enough to the camp to check...
"I'll go," she said, already checking to make sure her weapons were silent. "Stay here, and try to keep the horse from whickering," she patted the mare's velvet nose. "I'll make a call-"she cupped her hands, making the shrill of a owl she remembered from her childhood- "If they welcome us to their fire. If not..." she shrugged. "I'll come back." Waiting only for a nod from her Aes Sedai, she strode swiftly away, being careful to stay downwind, the smoke getting thicker.
Could be Trollocs, she mused as she stalked closer, bent slightly. Or thieves. Or even a simple travelling party, like ourselves... though we're not quite that simple. Finally, a soft glow appeared between a few leaves. The fire. Hmmm... Crouching behind a dense bush, she parted a few leaves with her hand, being mindful of dry leaves.
A glance revealed a small group, huddled around the fire despite the warm weather and light of the day. They seemed to be a mixed band; a few had the hard eyes of a bandit or a thief, another was in a faded cadin'sor, and another had a slender sword topped with a tarnished heron, although it looked fake. Most alarming, one of the men in the circle, who's back was to her, wore a tattered white rag that she immediately recognized as a Whitecloak. Even if he was a deserter... better to be sure. Lavenda trotted back in the direction she came, listening for sounds of pursuing footsteps. None came.
Coming upon Jacquelynn, she quickly related what she had seen. "I don't know how friendly they are- but most definitely dangerous. The one with the heron sword, no matter how fake, still knows how to use that blade."