0.Wow all the way to chapter 6. This is where the story starts changing
from the original plot. Remember, Moiraine does not know that Ruby is
Ta'veren. Will Tam survive? Sorry if you don't like the conversations the
same. I AM making an effort to change the story some so it isn't all book
like. When I get to writing the second part of book one lot's of things
will change. Here's a hint, Logian will not be meeting the queen. I feel
really evil at the moment... expect lots of updates over spring break. All
my friends went on vacation leaving me alone with nothing to do...
Disclaimer: *Same*
Chapter 6: Aes Sedai, useless...
The first rays of the sun had just come up when Ruby made it into the village. When she saw the houses her heart leaped into her throat. "The trollocs were here too." She stumbled out to the wreckage of the village. Despair was all she felt as she passed others going through the ashes of their homes.
Master Luhhan hurried over when he saw her. Her carried an axe in one hand as he knelt down beside Tam.
"Trollocs girl? Here too, here too. Well we may have been luckier than anyone has a right to be, if you can credit it. He needs the wisdom. Now where in the light is she? Egwene!"
Egwene came running. She looked at them without slowing, her eyes held a questioning look when she saw Ruby's attire. She put questions off for later. "Oh no, Ruby, your father? Is he...? Come, I'll take you to Nynaeve."
Ruby nodded in a daze and started after Egwene as Haral picked up the back of the litter. Silent tears feel from her cheeks and into the dirt as she walked. The atmosphere of Emonds Field had shattered the void, and seeped into her.
"So the stories are all true..."
"So it seems girl, so it seems." The blacksmith answered.
Many of the houses were burned to foundations. Ruby saw Abell Cauthon's, Mat's fathers, and her heart skipped a beat.
Egwene stopped and turned to them. "Wait here."
"Master Luhhan is.. is Mat okay?"
"He's alive, saw him a little while ago. It's a wonder any of us are alive. They way they came after my forge; you'd have thought I had gold and jewels there. Alsbet cracked one's skull with a frying pan. She took one look at the ashes of our house this morning and set out hunting around the village with the biggest hammer she could dig out of whats left of the forge, just in case any of them hid instead of running away. I could almost pity the thing if she finds one. Mistress Calder and a few others took in some of those who were hurt, the ones with no home of theirs still standing. When the Wisdoms seen Tam well find him a bed. The inn maybe. The mayor already offered it, but Nynaeve said the hurt folk would heal better if there weren't so many of them together."
She fiddled with Tams blankets for a moment. "What if they come back?"
"The will weaves as the wheel wills. If they come back... well, they're gone now. So we pick up the pieces, build up whats been torn down." He stood up stretched tiredly. "I don't suppose today will be much of a Bel Tine. But will make it through, we always have. There's work waiting for me. Don't you worry girl, the Wisdom will take good care of him, and the light will take care of us all. And if the light doesn't, well, will just take care of ourselves. Remember were Two rivers folk."
Ruby cracked a small smile at the last comment. She nodded, "Were Two Rivers folk." Master Luhhan nodded back and left. Whispering to herself: "Two Rivers folk don't give up, and even if I wasn't born here, I grew up here."
Nynaeve and Egwene appeared. Nynaeve plopped down next to the litter and checked over Tam. Ruby just sat there hoping. Nynaeve pulled back the bandage and looked down. She put back the covers and faced Ruby.
"There's nothing I can do, I'm sorry Ruby."
Tears broke free in what seemed to be a river. "So..s..so he's dying..."
"I know."
"You have to do something! You're the Wisdom." She was wiping her eyes with a sleeve and collapsing.
"Yes, I am. I know what I can do with my medicines, and know when its too late. Don't you think I would do something if I could? But I can't, I can't Ruby. There are others who need me. People I can help." With that Nynaeve rose and walked back.
She was knocked back when Egwene hugged her. Anger and hopeless made Ruby unstable. She pushed Egwene away, so hard that she seemed to bounce.
"IF I WANTED YOUR PITY I WOULD HAVE ASKED FOR IT!!" Egwene sat that mouth gaping. A green fire ignited in Rubys eyes.
Ruby picked up the back of the litter and started for the mayor's house. He'll know what to do, he always does.
She picked her way through the rubble. Several looked at her with pity, but after her out burst with Egwene, they thought it best she calmed down.
Ruby finally reached the inn and idly noticed Thom on a foundation stone cleaning his cloak. When he saw her he got up and lifted the back of the litter.
"Inside? Of course, of course. Don't you worry, girl. Your Wisdom will take care of him. I've watched her work, since last night, and she has a deft touch and sure skill. It could be a lot worse. Some died last night. Not many, perhaps, but any at all is too many for me. Old Fain just disappeared, and that's the worst of all . Trollocs will eat anything. You should thank the light your fathers still here, and alive for the Wisdom to heal."
Ruby couldn't bare to here more. She burst out in tears that had yet to stop. She was tired of people trying to cheer her up. It was her father that needed help.
Her sudden wailing startled Thom. He was about to ask what was wrong when they entered the inn.
"Whats your trouble? Be quick about it, if your hurt go see the Wisdom. Well? Out with it!" He said all that without looking up.
"I-I'm s...s...sorry Master al'Thor, its my father."
"Ruby? Tam!" Bran rushed over. "Perhaps the light hasn't abandoned us all together. I was afraid you were both dead. Bella galloped into the village an hour after the Trollocs left, lathered and blowing as if she ran all the way from the farm, and I thought....No time for that now. Well take him upstairs." He took the back of the litter. "You go to the wisdom Master Merrilin-"
Ruby shot an arm out and caught Thom as he was turning. "Don't bother, she said..she said there was nothing she could do..." Ruby shook her head as the flow that had been ebbing started again.
Thom took the front of the litter and gently pushed Ruby aside. He patted her shoulder. The group went upstairs passed the first three doors that were in use.
"Lets get him into bed, he can rest easy at least."
Ruby nodded and after he was settled she pulled a chair over and sat down beside the bed. She took Tam's hand and started rocking. "Don't die father, hold on don't die."
Thom and Bran just stared at her. All his life Bran never saw Ruby acting like this. Thom just had no idea what to do about a girl that looked as if she were having mood swings. She rounded on the two men.
"What can I do Master al'Vere? I can't sit here and watch him die. It hurts too much... is there anything I can do? Anything at all?"
Thom spoke up. "I was just wondering, does the Mayor know who scrawled that dragons fang on his door?" He lit his pipe. Ruby, for a second, wondered why people smoked. "Someone seems to not like him anymore, or maybe it's his guest they don't like."
"It's probably work of one of the Congars or Coplins..." Ruby half listened to the conversation. She stared at Tam, tears still fell. Then she heard something to interest her.
"...Demanding I put Mistress Moiraine and Master Lan out of the inn, out of the village, as if there would be any village at all left without them."
Ruby asked,: "What did they do?"
"Why, she called ball lighting out of the clear night sky. Sent it darting straight at the Trollocs. You've seen trees shattered by it. The trollocs stood it no better."
"Moiraine?"
"Mistress Moiraine. And Master Lan was a whirlwind with that sword of his. His sword? The man himself was a weapon, and in ten places at once, or so it seemed. Burn me I still wouldn't believe it if I couldn't step outside and see... Winternight visits just beginning, our hands full of presents and honeycakes and our heads full of wine, then dogs snarling, and suddenly the 2 of them burst out of the inn, running through the village, shouting about trollocs. I thought they'd had too much wine. After all trollocs? Then before anyone knew what was happening, those...those things were right in the streets with us, slashing people with their swords, torching houses, howling to freeze a mans blood. We just ran like chickens with a fox in the hen yard till Master Lan put some back bone in us."
Thom put in, "No need be so hard, you did as well as anyone could. Not every trolloc out there fell two the two of them."
"ummm. Yes, well, its still almost too much to believe. An Aes Sedai in Emonds Field. And Master Lan is a warder."
"An Aes Sedai?" Ruby had too many shocks today and wasn't thinking clearly. "She can't be. I talked to her. She isn't...she doesn't"
"Did you think they wore signs?" The Mayor attempted a joke, "Aes Sedai, painted across their backs, and maybe, Danger stay away." Realization hit him like a train in Arkansas. "Aes Sedai. I'm an old fool, and loosing my wits. There's a chance, Ruby, if you're willing to take it. I can't tell you to do it, and I don't think I'd have the nerve, if it were me. But there's a chance."
The girl had a pleading look on her face. "A chance? I'll take any chance if it'll help." "Aes Sedai can heal, Ruby. Burn me girl, you've heard the stories. They can cure where medicines fail. Gleeman you should have remembered that better than I. Gleeman's tales are full Aes Sedai. Why didn't you speak up, instead of letting me flail around?"
"I'm a stranger here, and Goodman Coplin isn't the only one who wants nothing to do with Aes Sedai. Best the idea came from you."
"An Aes Sedai" she whispered having an internal battle. Risk having a figurative hook in her mouth, or not do everything to keep Tam alive.
"I can't make—"
"Where is she?!" Bran was taken aback; how could she come to a decision so quickly. For a second he thought he saw something flash in her eyes.
"The other side of the bridges. Where they..." Thom trailed off seeing the girl was already gone. He turned to the innkeeper, "Fast, isn't she."
"Always has been, above average I guess. Never thought about before. I just hope that Moiraine Sedai can heal Tam."
***AT the burning trollocs
Ruby ran up the Bel Tine fires. A small part of her brain wrote down that they were using the festival fires to burn the trolloc bodies. She had forgotten to take off the sword, though she had left her bow in the inn room. Lan she saw first and moved toward him.
"Ko'bal. That makes seven bands so far." Ruby stopped short and noticed he was taking off the badges of dead trollocs. Ruby was about to ask where Moiraine was when she heard her speak.
"7 bands! Seven! Not that many have acted together since the trolloc wars. Bad news piles on bad news. I am afraid, Lan. I thought we had gained a march, but we may be further behind than ever."
Ruby paused for a moment. She was an Aes Sedai, a manipulator of thrones, and yet she was Tam's only chance. She giggled. Oh yes, I'm giggling, the stress is getting to me...
"Um, Moiraine Sedai, it's my father, could you help him." Both turned to her in surprise and Moiraine arched an eyebrow. "He's hurt. Its not much more than a scratch, but the fever is burning him up. The Wisdom says she can't help... and the stories, they say an Aes Sedai can heal. If you can help him." She bit back tears, and took a breath. "I am willing to pay any price, what ever the cost."
"Any price? We will speak of prices later, Ruby, if it all. I can make no promises. Your wisdom knows what she is about. I will do what I can, but it is beyond my power to stop the wheel from turning."
Then Lan spoke up, "Death comes sooner or later to everyone, unless they serve the Dark One, and only fools pay that price."
In the back of her mind, Ruby found her self thinking, "If it would save Tam, I would serve the Dark one..."
Moiraine made a sound. "Do not be so gloomy Lan. We have some reason to celebrate. A small one but a reason. Take me to your father, Ruby. I will help him as much as I am able. Too many here have refused to let me help at all."
"He's at the inn, This way, and Thank you."
She walked a bit ahead of them, her body was starting to remind her that she had not been taking care of it. Her stomach ached, and her arms and legs were sore from the journey.
"Please Hurry, you don't know how much he means to me."
"Can't you see she's tired? Even with an angrel—" Ruby shot Lan a glare that said, don't-fuck-with-me-I-am-liable-to-kill-you. Lan, for the first time in a long time, felt unsure, so he shut up. He almost drew his sword when he noticed the tiny blue pinpricks of light in her eyes.
"I am coming as quickly as I can, Ruby, I promise you."
***Back at the INN WAHAHAHA
Ruby's attention went straight to her father. She felt giggles forming in her throat but killed them. Maybe she WAS going crazy. She reached for void barely maintaining it. She ignored Thom's leaving. She was pulled out of her musings when Master al'Vere took her shoulder and pulled her to the door.
"Come along, girl. Let us leave Moiraine Sedai to her...ah...her...theirs plenty you can give me a hand with downstairs. Before you know it Tam will be shouting for his pipe and mug of ale."
"Can I stay? Please? I'll keep out of your way. You won't even know I'm here. He's my father."
Moiraine tossed her head. "Yes, Yes Sit over there and you too Lan. You may talk if you wish." She leaned down, hands on Tam's chest.
Ruby nearly smacked Lan when he whispered to her. She watching Moiraine, afraid she might hurt Tam further.
"That is a fine weapon you wear. Is there by chance a heron on the blade, as well?"
Ruby was a bit creeped out. What did a warder want with her sword? "Yes, there is."
"I'd not thought to find a heron-mark sword in a place like this."
"It belongs to my father. He bought it a long time ago."
"Strange thing for a sheepherder to buy."
Ruby looked from her sword to Lans. They only real difference seemed to be that she had herons on hers. "He never had any use for it, that I know of. He said it had no use. Until last night, anyway. I didn't even know he had it until then."
"He called it useless did he? He must have not always have thought so. There are places where the heron is a symbol of a master swordsman. That blade must have traveled a strange road to end up with a sheepherder in 2 Rivers."
Ruby ignored the comment. She was about to ask a question of her own when Moiraine stood up. Ruby saw no change in Tam. Her heart leapt to her throat as she ran to the bedside.
"I am sorry. Trolloc blades are forged in the valley called Thakan'dar, on the slopes of Shayol Ghul itself. Some of those blades take a taint from the place. Those tainted blades make wounds that will not heal unaided, or cause deadly fevers, strange sicknesses that medicines cannot touch. The taint in your father has grown to strong for me to remove, even with an angrel. He only has a few moments left."
Through the whole explanation Ruby had tears streaming down her face and her eyes had grown red from the past days. She was grief stricken. It took all of her power but she did it, in a cool voice she answered the Aes Sedai. "I thank you for your time, but get out."
"The wheel weaves as the wheel wills."
Ruby couldn't take it anymore. Moiraine and Lan had begun leaving when Moiraine had said that.
"THE BLOODLY WHEEL DOES NOT BLOODLY WEAVE AS IT BLOODLY WILLS!"
The two were on the stairs when that shout went through the house. Moiraine shook her head. Lan stared at the door. If either had bothered to stay a moment longer they would have seen a deep green aura burst forth from Ruby.
END...
Chapter 6: Aes Sedai, useless...
The first rays of the sun had just come up when Ruby made it into the village. When she saw the houses her heart leaped into her throat. "The trollocs were here too." She stumbled out to the wreckage of the village. Despair was all she felt as she passed others going through the ashes of their homes.
Master Luhhan hurried over when he saw her. Her carried an axe in one hand as he knelt down beside Tam.
"Trollocs girl? Here too, here too. Well we may have been luckier than anyone has a right to be, if you can credit it. He needs the wisdom. Now where in the light is she? Egwene!"
Egwene came running. She looked at them without slowing, her eyes held a questioning look when she saw Ruby's attire. She put questions off for later. "Oh no, Ruby, your father? Is he...? Come, I'll take you to Nynaeve."
Ruby nodded in a daze and started after Egwene as Haral picked up the back of the litter. Silent tears feel from her cheeks and into the dirt as she walked. The atmosphere of Emonds Field had shattered the void, and seeped into her.
"So the stories are all true..."
"So it seems girl, so it seems." The blacksmith answered.
Many of the houses were burned to foundations. Ruby saw Abell Cauthon's, Mat's fathers, and her heart skipped a beat.
Egwene stopped and turned to them. "Wait here."
"Master Luhhan is.. is Mat okay?"
"He's alive, saw him a little while ago. It's a wonder any of us are alive. They way they came after my forge; you'd have thought I had gold and jewels there. Alsbet cracked one's skull with a frying pan. She took one look at the ashes of our house this morning and set out hunting around the village with the biggest hammer she could dig out of whats left of the forge, just in case any of them hid instead of running away. I could almost pity the thing if she finds one. Mistress Calder and a few others took in some of those who were hurt, the ones with no home of theirs still standing. When the Wisdoms seen Tam well find him a bed. The inn maybe. The mayor already offered it, but Nynaeve said the hurt folk would heal better if there weren't so many of them together."
She fiddled with Tams blankets for a moment. "What if they come back?"
"The will weaves as the wheel wills. If they come back... well, they're gone now. So we pick up the pieces, build up whats been torn down." He stood up stretched tiredly. "I don't suppose today will be much of a Bel Tine. But will make it through, we always have. There's work waiting for me. Don't you worry girl, the Wisdom will take good care of him, and the light will take care of us all. And if the light doesn't, well, will just take care of ourselves. Remember were Two rivers folk."
Ruby cracked a small smile at the last comment. She nodded, "Were Two Rivers folk." Master Luhhan nodded back and left. Whispering to herself: "Two Rivers folk don't give up, and even if I wasn't born here, I grew up here."
Nynaeve and Egwene appeared. Nynaeve plopped down next to the litter and checked over Tam. Ruby just sat there hoping. Nynaeve pulled back the bandage and looked down. She put back the covers and faced Ruby.
"There's nothing I can do, I'm sorry Ruby."
Tears broke free in what seemed to be a river. "So..s..so he's dying..."
"I know."
"You have to do something! You're the Wisdom." She was wiping her eyes with a sleeve and collapsing.
"Yes, I am. I know what I can do with my medicines, and know when its too late. Don't you think I would do something if I could? But I can't, I can't Ruby. There are others who need me. People I can help." With that Nynaeve rose and walked back.
She was knocked back when Egwene hugged her. Anger and hopeless made Ruby unstable. She pushed Egwene away, so hard that she seemed to bounce.
"IF I WANTED YOUR PITY I WOULD HAVE ASKED FOR IT!!" Egwene sat that mouth gaping. A green fire ignited in Rubys eyes.
Ruby picked up the back of the litter and started for the mayor's house. He'll know what to do, he always does.
She picked her way through the rubble. Several looked at her with pity, but after her out burst with Egwene, they thought it best she calmed down.
Ruby finally reached the inn and idly noticed Thom on a foundation stone cleaning his cloak. When he saw her he got up and lifted the back of the litter.
"Inside? Of course, of course. Don't you worry, girl. Your Wisdom will take care of him. I've watched her work, since last night, and she has a deft touch and sure skill. It could be a lot worse. Some died last night. Not many, perhaps, but any at all is too many for me. Old Fain just disappeared, and that's the worst of all . Trollocs will eat anything. You should thank the light your fathers still here, and alive for the Wisdom to heal."
Ruby couldn't bare to here more. She burst out in tears that had yet to stop. She was tired of people trying to cheer her up. It was her father that needed help.
Her sudden wailing startled Thom. He was about to ask what was wrong when they entered the inn.
"Whats your trouble? Be quick about it, if your hurt go see the Wisdom. Well? Out with it!" He said all that without looking up.
"I-I'm s...s...sorry Master al'Thor, its my father."
"Ruby? Tam!" Bran rushed over. "Perhaps the light hasn't abandoned us all together. I was afraid you were both dead. Bella galloped into the village an hour after the Trollocs left, lathered and blowing as if she ran all the way from the farm, and I thought....No time for that now. Well take him upstairs." He took the back of the litter. "You go to the wisdom Master Merrilin-"
Ruby shot an arm out and caught Thom as he was turning. "Don't bother, she said..she said there was nothing she could do..." Ruby shook her head as the flow that had been ebbing started again.
Thom took the front of the litter and gently pushed Ruby aside. He patted her shoulder. The group went upstairs passed the first three doors that were in use.
"Lets get him into bed, he can rest easy at least."
Ruby nodded and after he was settled she pulled a chair over and sat down beside the bed. She took Tam's hand and started rocking. "Don't die father, hold on don't die."
Thom and Bran just stared at her. All his life Bran never saw Ruby acting like this. Thom just had no idea what to do about a girl that looked as if she were having mood swings. She rounded on the two men.
"What can I do Master al'Vere? I can't sit here and watch him die. It hurts too much... is there anything I can do? Anything at all?"
Thom spoke up. "I was just wondering, does the Mayor know who scrawled that dragons fang on his door?" He lit his pipe. Ruby, for a second, wondered why people smoked. "Someone seems to not like him anymore, or maybe it's his guest they don't like."
"It's probably work of one of the Congars or Coplins..." Ruby half listened to the conversation. She stared at Tam, tears still fell. Then she heard something to interest her.
"...Demanding I put Mistress Moiraine and Master Lan out of the inn, out of the village, as if there would be any village at all left without them."
Ruby asked,: "What did they do?"
"Why, she called ball lighting out of the clear night sky. Sent it darting straight at the Trollocs. You've seen trees shattered by it. The trollocs stood it no better."
"Moiraine?"
"Mistress Moiraine. And Master Lan was a whirlwind with that sword of his. His sword? The man himself was a weapon, and in ten places at once, or so it seemed. Burn me I still wouldn't believe it if I couldn't step outside and see... Winternight visits just beginning, our hands full of presents and honeycakes and our heads full of wine, then dogs snarling, and suddenly the 2 of them burst out of the inn, running through the village, shouting about trollocs. I thought they'd had too much wine. After all trollocs? Then before anyone knew what was happening, those...those things were right in the streets with us, slashing people with their swords, torching houses, howling to freeze a mans blood. We just ran like chickens with a fox in the hen yard till Master Lan put some back bone in us."
Thom put in, "No need be so hard, you did as well as anyone could. Not every trolloc out there fell two the two of them."
"ummm. Yes, well, its still almost too much to believe. An Aes Sedai in Emonds Field. And Master Lan is a warder."
"An Aes Sedai?" Ruby had too many shocks today and wasn't thinking clearly. "She can't be. I talked to her. She isn't...she doesn't"
"Did you think they wore signs?" The Mayor attempted a joke, "Aes Sedai, painted across their backs, and maybe, Danger stay away." Realization hit him like a train in Arkansas. "Aes Sedai. I'm an old fool, and loosing my wits. There's a chance, Ruby, if you're willing to take it. I can't tell you to do it, and I don't think I'd have the nerve, if it were me. But there's a chance."
The girl had a pleading look on her face. "A chance? I'll take any chance if it'll help." "Aes Sedai can heal, Ruby. Burn me girl, you've heard the stories. They can cure where medicines fail. Gleeman you should have remembered that better than I. Gleeman's tales are full Aes Sedai. Why didn't you speak up, instead of letting me flail around?"
"I'm a stranger here, and Goodman Coplin isn't the only one who wants nothing to do with Aes Sedai. Best the idea came from you."
"An Aes Sedai" she whispered having an internal battle. Risk having a figurative hook in her mouth, or not do everything to keep Tam alive.
"I can't make—"
"Where is she?!" Bran was taken aback; how could she come to a decision so quickly. For a second he thought he saw something flash in her eyes.
"The other side of the bridges. Where they..." Thom trailed off seeing the girl was already gone. He turned to the innkeeper, "Fast, isn't she."
"Always has been, above average I guess. Never thought about before. I just hope that Moiraine Sedai can heal Tam."
***AT the burning trollocs
Ruby ran up the Bel Tine fires. A small part of her brain wrote down that they were using the festival fires to burn the trolloc bodies. She had forgotten to take off the sword, though she had left her bow in the inn room. Lan she saw first and moved toward him.
"Ko'bal. That makes seven bands so far." Ruby stopped short and noticed he was taking off the badges of dead trollocs. Ruby was about to ask where Moiraine was when she heard her speak.
"7 bands! Seven! Not that many have acted together since the trolloc wars. Bad news piles on bad news. I am afraid, Lan. I thought we had gained a march, but we may be further behind than ever."
Ruby paused for a moment. She was an Aes Sedai, a manipulator of thrones, and yet she was Tam's only chance. She giggled. Oh yes, I'm giggling, the stress is getting to me...
"Um, Moiraine Sedai, it's my father, could you help him." Both turned to her in surprise and Moiraine arched an eyebrow. "He's hurt. Its not much more than a scratch, but the fever is burning him up. The Wisdom says she can't help... and the stories, they say an Aes Sedai can heal. If you can help him." She bit back tears, and took a breath. "I am willing to pay any price, what ever the cost."
"Any price? We will speak of prices later, Ruby, if it all. I can make no promises. Your wisdom knows what she is about. I will do what I can, but it is beyond my power to stop the wheel from turning."
Then Lan spoke up, "Death comes sooner or later to everyone, unless they serve the Dark One, and only fools pay that price."
In the back of her mind, Ruby found her self thinking, "If it would save Tam, I would serve the Dark one..."
Moiraine made a sound. "Do not be so gloomy Lan. We have some reason to celebrate. A small one but a reason. Take me to your father, Ruby. I will help him as much as I am able. Too many here have refused to let me help at all."
"He's at the inn, This way, and Thank you."
She walked a bit ahead of them, her body was starting to remind her that she had not been taking care of it. Her stomach ached, and her arms and legs were sore from the journey.
"Please Hurry, you don't know how much he means to me."
"Can't you see she's tired? Even with an angrel—" Ruby shot Lan a glare that said, don't-fuck-with-me-I-am-liable-to-kill-you. Lan, for the first time in a long time, felt unsure, so he shut up. He almost drew his sword when he noticed the tiny blue pinpricks of light in her eyes.
"I am coming as quickly as I can, Ruby, I promise you."
***Back at the INN WAHAHAHA
Ruby's attention went straight to her father. She felt giggles forming in her throat but killed them. Maybe she WAS going crazy. She reached for void barely maintaining it. She ignored Thom's leaving. She was pulled out of her musings when Master al'Vere took her shoulder and pulled her to the door.
"Come along, girl. Let us leave Moiraine Sedai to her...ah...her...theirs plenty you can give me a hand with downstairs. Before you know it Tam will be shouting for his pipe and mug of ale."
"Can I stay? Please? I'll keep out of your way. You won't even know I'm here. He's my father."
Moiraine tossed her head. "Yes, Yes Sit over there and you too Lan. You may talk if you wish." She leaned down, hands on Tam's chest.
Ruby nearly smacked Lan when he whispered to her. She watching Moiraine, afraid she might hurt Tam further.
"That is a fine weapon you wear. Is there by chance a heron on the blade, as well?"
Ruby was a bit creeped out. What did a warder want with her sword? "Yes, there is."
"I'd not thought to find a heron-mark sword in a place like this."
"It belongs to my father. He bought it a long time ago."
"Strange thing for a sheepherder to buy."
Ruby looked from her sword to Lans. They only real difference seemed to be that she had herons on hers. "He never had any use for it, that I know of. He said it had no use. Until last night, anyway. I didn't even know he had it until then."
"He called it useless did he? He must have not always have thought so. There are places where the heron is a symbol of a master swordsman. That blade must have traveled a strange road to end up with a sheepherder in 2 Rivers."
Ruby ignored the comment. She was about to ask a question of her own when Moiraine stood up. Ruby saw no change in Tam. Her heart leapt to her throat as she ran to the bedside.
"I am sorry. Trolloc blades are forged in the valley called Thakan'dar, on the slopes of Shayol Ghul itself. Some of those blades take a taint from the place. Those tainted blades make wounds that will not heal unaided, or cause deadly fevers, strange sicknesses that medicines cannot touch. The taint in your father has grown to strong for me to remove, even with an angrel. He only has a few moments left."
Through the whole explanation Ruby had tears streaming down her face and her eyes had grown red from the past days. She was grief stricken. It took all of her power but she did it, in a cool voice she answered the Aes Sedai. "I thank you for your time, but get out."
"The wheel weaves as the wheel wills."
Ruby couldn't take it anymore. Moiraine and Lan had begun leaving when Moiraine had said that.
"THE BLOODLY WHEEL DOES NOT BLOODLY WEAVE AS IT BLOODLY WILLS!"
The two were on the stairs when that shout went through the house. Moiraine shook her head. Lan stared at the door. If either had bothered to stay a moment longer they would have seen a deep green aura burst forth from Ruby.
END...