A/N Sorry if you were hoping for Tam to die, but he doesn't! Thank you
SOOO much for all the reviews! I fell kind of bad cuz I got an Infraction
on a stupid mistake on my part. Since I couldn't update before, I'm going
to give you people three chapters. Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Getting them back.
Ruby collapsed onto her father's bed. Tears were pouring down her face. A dark green aura had formed around her and lit the room. He can't die, he can't die... Ruby felt the energy from her grief faintly. Her one wish was to let Tam live.
Her tears had blurred her vision; all she could make out were vague shapes. She buried her head into Tam's blankets and sobbed, headless of her surroundings. I hate the wheel, I want to break it, smash it... Unconsciously, Ruby's chi had started to focus on Tam. Green light flowed around his still form, healing slowly.
The taint in Tam had begun to convulse. It was evil, but it had never encountered something like what it had now. The taint was an evil that lived for the joy of pain and killing. What had invaded it's new home was a power of pain beyond anything it could hope to compete with, the pain of love. Fearing destruction, the taint fled Tam's body back to where it came.
Ruby was murmuring over and over, "Don't die father, you can't die, don't die..." Her body started to become weaker, and she slipped into half awareness.
Tam's eyes shot open. He felt his side and saw as it was closing up the wound. On his other side he could feel a weight. A glance made his mouth drop. Ruby was still murmuring, she was falling asleep rapidly. He saw her glowing green.
"Don't die, please don't die" Tam quickly got his wits back and patted the distraught girl on the back.
"Shush now, I'm alright. Everything's okay."
Ruby gave one final sob before she went into a blissful sleep. Her final thought was I beat the wheel, he's still here. Tam hopped out of bed surprised at his newfound energy. The first thing he did was unbuckle the sword from Ruby's side. Then he moved her to the bed.
His mind went over the events of last night, and remembered the cut that had given him fever. He couldn't recall the journey to the inn. Tam walked across the room and locked the door; Ruby was still faintly glowing and he didn't want someone to assume something and hurt her. He fingered his side; there was seemingly no wound. Whatever it was the girl had done it was powerful.
Tam fished his pipe out from his coat by the door and lit it. He sat by the door waiting for his daughter to wake up. Something was going on. He heard someone try to open the door, but they found it locked. Voices could by heard out side.
"The poor girl, she's locked herself in."
"From what Moiraine Sedai said this will be Tam's final moments. She must want to stay with him."
Tam nearly choked. They thought he was dead? There was going to be some questions asked when she woke up.
"Come on Bran, leave her be. She'll come out when she's hungry."
***The next morning
Ruby squinted as she awoke. Sunlight was streaming through the open window. A bed? She remembered Tam and fell flat on her face as she tried to get out of bed.
"Hold it girl. Tell me happened after the trolloc attack."
Pure joy lit her face as scrambled to get up. "Your alive you're alive! Moiraine said there was nothing that could be done." She took a breath and was going to ramble on and jump around when Tam stopped her.
"Stop, now what happened after I blacked out?"
"You were mumbling about people coming over some wall. I had to carry you to the village."
"What did I say about the wall?"
"Something about Laman's sin. "
"Well, before you fell asleep you were muttering about me dieing. Why would I die, it was only a scratch."
"The Wisdom said there was nothing she could do. You were burning with fever, I brought you here. Master al'Vere suggested I go see the Aes Sedai."
"Wait, Aes Sedai?" He looked skeptical.
She nodded. "Yes, Mistress Moiraine is an Aes Sedai, and Master Lan her Warder. From what I heard, they saved the village."
"Go on."
"I went to see them. They came but Moiraine Sedai said you were too far gone and left. I think I went a bit crazy then." She looked down. "I lost consciousness and now here you are."
"Girl, do you now you were glowing. Were you using the One Power?"
Ruby looked shocked. "No, I don't know what I was doing, but I am sure it wasn't the one power."
"If you say so. Now, I was facing certain death, you start glowing, and I live, despite what an Aes Sedai thinks. Now that I know what's going on what do you say we go downstairs for a bite?"
"Sure."
Both father and daughter unlock the door and walk downstairs. They receive stunned looks from all in the common room. Almost at once questions begin to fly about how Tam was still alive. Ruby locks up like a rabbit. Tam waves them off saying that the light willed it and nothing an Aes Sedai said made a difference.
While Tam sits down and speaks with some of the village council, Ruby grabs a loaf of bread and goes to find Mat and Perrin. Lets see, I suppose I could look for Master Luhhan first, he kind of sticks out. So she wandered around the burned and wrecked village until she spotted a large person a head taller than most. Ruby walked over calling out to him.
"Master Luhhan! Have you seen Perrin?" He turns and sends a questioning look at the girl.
"Did you not know? Mistress Moiriane left during the night with him, Mat, and Egwene."
Shock went through her system. She muttered a thank you before turning her heel. She did not trust the woman. Hmmm. They have had at least one day ahead. Well, I will catch up, if she thinks she can separate me from my friends... Ruby marched back to the inn. As she entered she made a beeline for her father.
"Pardon, but I need to speak to my father in private." Tam nodded and excused himself from his conversation with Cenn and Barn. They walked over to the stairs. A cat began rubbing her legs, but she kicked it away. She never liked cats.
"What is, Ruby?"
"Have you told anyone about the...um... glowing?"
"No and I don't plan too. Is that all?"
"Nope, I just found out Moiriane Sedai took Mat and Perrin with her as she left. I mean to follow them, if I can get them back I will, but I don't plan on leaving them alone with her." Tam seemed lost in thought for a moment. He closed his eyes for a moment." I see, well, take Bella, when are you leaving?"
"As soon as I can. Maybe within the hour." Tams eyes took on a hard look as spoke in a no nonsense tone.
"I understand your wish to remain with your friends, but before you leave I want you to take my old sword. I will perform all the forms I know and I expect you to watch. Your memory is the best I have ever seen. Practice what you see, I have a feeling you may need it."
She nodded; a feeling of awe seemed stuck. Her father was a blade master. She knew it. Ruby hugged him then turned and began gathering supplies.
***25 minutes later.
Ruby was in the stable readying Bella, she had ridden her bareback before and didn't see a reason to saddle her now. She had packed a change of skirts generously supplied by Mistress al'Vere. Also some food and a bed roll. She attached her long bow to her pack and walked Bella out to where Tam was waiting.
She sat on the ground and nodded for him to begin. Tam took a stance that she remembered he had used the other night. Ruby had her eyes trained on her father, as he seemed to whirl and disappear. He flowed like water from one form to the next, first a slightly hesitant then with confidence as unused skill came forth. As sudden as it started it stopped. He walked calmly over and handed her the blade.
Taking it, Ruby climbed onto the horse and started off. In her mind she was going through everything Tam had just showed her. That witch was in for a surprise when she found her.
End...
Chapter 7: Getting them back.
Ruby collapsed onto her father's bed. Tears were pouring down her face. A dark green aura had formed around her and lit the room. He can't die, he can't die... Ruby felt the energy from her grief faintly. Her one wish was to let Tam live.
Her tears had blurred her vision; all she could make out were vague shapes. She buried her head into Tam's blankets and sobbed, headless of her surroundings. I hate the wheel, I want to break it, smash it... Unconsciously, Ruby's chi had started to focus on Tam. Green light flowed around his still form, healing slowly.
The taint in Tam had begun to convulse. It was evil, but it had never encountered something like what it had now. The taint was an evil that lived for the joy of pain and killing. What had invaded it's new home was a power of pain beyond anything it could hope to compete with, the pain of love. Fearing destruction, the taint fled Tam's body back to where it came.
Ruby was murmuring over and over, "Don't die father, you can't die, don't die..." Her body started to become weaker, and she slipped into half awareness.
Tam's eyes shot open. He felt his side and saw as it was closing up the wound. On his other side he could feel a weight. A glance made his mouth drop. Ruby was still murmuring, she was falling asleep rapidly. He saw her glowing green.
"Don't die, please don't die" Tam quickly got his wits back and patted the distraught girl on the back.
"Shush now, I'm alright. Everything's okay."
Ruby gave one final sob before she went into a blissful sleep. Her final thought was I beat the wheel, he's still here. Tam hopped out of bed surprised at his newfound energy. The first thing he did was unbuckle the sword from Ruby's side. Then he moved her to the bed.
His mind went over the events of last night, and remembered the cut that had given him fever. He couldn't recall the journey to the inn. Tam walked across the room and locked the door; Ruby was still faintly glowing and he didn't want someone to assume something and hurt her. He fingered his side; there was seemingly no wound. Whatever it was the girl had done it was powerful.
Tam fished his pipe out from his coat by the door and lit it. He sat by the door waiting for his daughter to wake up. Something was going on. He heard someone try to open the door, but they found it locked. Voices could by heard out side.
"The poor girl, she's locked herself in."
"From what Moiraine Sedai said this will be Tam's final moments. She must want to stay with him."
Tam nearly choked. They thought he was dead? There was going to be some questions asked when she woke up.
"Come on Bran, leave her be. She'll come out when she's hungry."
***The next morning
Ruby squinted as she awoke. Sunlight was streaming through the open window. A bed? She remembered Tam and fell flat on her face as she tried to get out of bed.
"Hold it girl. Tell me happened after the trolloc attack."
Pure joy lit her face as scrambled to get up. "Your alive you're alive! Moiraine said there was nothing that could be done." She took a breath and was going to ramble on and jump around when Tam stopped her.
"Stop, now what happened after I blacked out?"
"You were mumbling about people coming over some wall. I had to carry you to the village."
"What did I say about the wall?"
"Something about Laman's sin. "
"Well, before you fell asleep you were muttering about me dieing. Why would I die, it was only a scratch."
"The Wisdom said there was nothing she could do. You were burning with fever, I brought you here. Master al'Vere suggested I go see the Aes Sedai."
"Wait, Aes Sedai?" He looked skeptical.
She nodded. "Yes, Mistress Moiraine is an Aes Sedai, and Master Lan her Warder. From what I heard, they saved the village."
"Go on."
"I went to see them. They came but Moiraine Sedai said you were too far gone and left. I think I went a bit crazy then." She looked down. "I lost consciousness and now here you are."
"Girl, do you now you were glowing. Were you using the One Power?"
Ruby looked shocked. "No, I don't know what I was doing, but I am sure it wasn't the one power."
"If you say so. Now, I was facing certain death, you start glowing, and I live, despite what an Aes Sedai thinks. Now that I know what's going on what do you say we go downstairs for a bite?"
"Sure."
Both father and daughter unlock the door and walk downstairs. They receive stunned looks from all in the common room. Almost at once questions begin to fly about how Tam was still alive. Ruby locks up like a rabbit. Tam waves them off saying that the light willed it and nothing an Aes Sedai said made a difference.
While Tam sits down and speaks with some of the village council, Ruby grabs a loaf of bread and goes to find Mat and Perrin. Lets see, I suppose I could look for Master Luhhan first, he kind of sticks out. So she wandered around the burned and wrecked village until she spotted a large person a head taller than most. Ruby walked over calling out to him.
"Master Luhhan! Have you seen Perrin?" He turns and sends a questioning look at the girl.
"Did you not know? Mistress Moiriane left during the night with him, Mat, and Egwene."
Shock went through her system. She muttered a thank you before turning her heel. She did not trust the woman. Hmmm. They have had at least one day ahead. Well, I will catch up, if she thinks she can separate me from my friends... Ruby marched back to the inn. As she entered she made a beeline for her father.
"Pardon, but I need to speak to my father in private." Tam nodded and excused himself from his conversation with Cenn and Barn. They walked over to the stairs. A cat began rubbing her legs, but she kicked it away. She never liked cats.
"What is, Ruby?"
"Have you told anyone about the...um... glowing?"
"No and I don't plan too. Is that all?"
"Nope, I just found out Moiriane Sedai took Mat and Perrin with her as she left. I mean to follow them, if I can get them back I will, but I don't plan on leaving them alone with her." Tam seemed lost in thought for a moment. He closed his eyes for a moment." I see, well, take Bella, when are you leaving?"
"As soon as I can. Maybe within the hour." Tams eyes took on a hard look as spoke in a no nonsense tone.
"I understand your wish to remain with your friends, but before you leave I want you to take my old sword. I will perform all the forms I know and I expect you to watch. Your memory is the best I have ever seen. Practice what you see, I have a feeling you may need it."
She nodded; a feeling of awe seemed stuck. Her father was a blade master. She knew it. Ruby hugged him then turned and began gathering supplies.
***25 minutes later.
Ruby was in the stable readying Bella, she had ridden her bareback before and didn't see a reason to saddle her now. She had packed a change of skirts generously supplied by Mistress al'Vere. Also some food and a bed roll. She attached her long bow to her pack and walked Bella out to where Tam was waiting.
She sat on the ground and nodded for him to begin. Tam took a stance that she remembered he had used the other night. Ruby had her eyes trained on her father, as he seemed to whirl and disappear. He flowed like water from one form to the next, first a slightly hesitant then with confidence as unused skill came forth. As sudden as it started it stopped. He walked calmly over and handed her the blade.
Taking it, Ruby climbed onto the horse and started off. In her mind she was going through everything Tam had just showed her. That witch was in for a surprise when she found her.
End...