Disclaimer, Do not own WoT.
Chapter 8: Talking in Trees.
As soon as Ruby had cleared the village she put Bella on a fast run. Balancing without a saddle was quite easy, contrary to many others opinions. All it took was to ride with the horse, not on it. Bella ran in a steady rhythm, all Ruby had to do was follow it.
Blood and ashes, a full day ahead of me. Ruby hugged the mare hopping she would speed up. If they kept up at fast run all night... she put the thought out of her head. This was a time for clear thinking. She summoned the flame and void to help find the rhythm of the run. Run Bella! The light help her, Run!
Trees flashed by, Ruby kept her eyes on the ground searching for the faint traces of a trail. If anyone saw her they would have only seen a fast moving blur they would have dismissed. Anger boiled in her as she rode. What she could tell was that when they rode they ran the whole way Taren Ferry. With in two hours she reached the place. Panting she dismounted and collapsed.
Taking a rest she pet Bella and stroked her mane. The horse was looking at her with a bored and upset look. "I'm sorry girl but we need all haste. That... that Aes Sedai woman, who knows what lies she told our friends. You take a brake while I see how to get across. It seems as though they didn't cover there tracks this first leg."
The people of the town gave her no trouble, though she had been expecting some. After asking around she found out where to find the Ferry Dock. Ruby was nervous, she had never been all the way to Taren Ferry before. (The fact that her ride to get there was probably a record had been lost on her.)
She walked up to a house near the river and knocked. She waited. And waited. At this point she thought about using her new attack to blow the door down. Ruby knocked some more, then started to walk back to Bella when she heard voices. They were still a ways off, but with her hearing she hear them.
"Whirlpool never been in the Taren before, I don't understand how it happened."
"Chief, (A/N what else would they be called?) I would assume the man gave you enough to build a new ferry."
"Shut it, not to worry, you all won't be out of a job." Ruby led Bella over to the group.
"Exactly how much did the man give you chief?"
"That is none your business."
"I saw some gold exchanged, not too mention the silver she gave us."
She peeked around a tree. The River made nice background noise. Moiraine and Lan, they crossed the Taren. "Excuse me, have you know where the ferry is?"
"What? Yes I know where the ferry is, somewhere down stream. Why?"
"I needed to get across..."
"If you wait a few days I'm sure we can get you across."
"I need to get across now, I can't wait."
One of the younger men seemed to be giving her a once over. Others just ignored her, if she wouldn't wait why did they care. Then one, about middle age spoke up.
"If you need to get across, there's a spot down south of here, where the river gets shallow enough to wade. It's bit of a shoals, so there's plenty of hidden holes if you don't know it."
Elated, Ruby ran up, hugged and kissed the man once. She then placed both hands on Bella's back and lifted herself onto the horse. They started in the direction that the man had pointed out.
"Bloody ashes Greg, if I'd a know she would do that I would have told her." Said the younger ferryman. 'Greg' just stood there stunned.
Ruby rode along the river searching for the shoals. She was moving slow, looking for any disturbance in the flow of water. At last she saw it near a bend in the river. The water churned and was made slightly foamy. She began giggling, a habit that had recently reared its head.
She jumped down and led Bella into the Taren. Her steps were slow and careful, more then once she barely missed going into a hole. Bella seemed to be having more luck and stayed on the bigger rocks. Once Ruby slipped and only a firm grip to the mare saved her.
When they were across, they both let out a sigh of relief. Bella stamped her hoof as if saying, 'I am not going to do that again'. Ruby walked back toward the town in hopes of picking up the trail. She noticed the ferrymen and waved to them. The one who gave her directions blushed.
Laughing to herself she firmed her resolve and studied the dirt. After remounting Bella she started off to follow. It was getting late when she found what appeared to be a makeshift shelter made from washed down trees and bush. Weary and tired, she tethered Bella and crawled inside the hut for an hour or so of rest.
***Later, same place.
"I think it's best we not stay here, huh old girl?" Bella tossed her head and allowed Ruby to get on before trotting off.
Ruby adjusted her pack until it felt comfortable on her back. She began to notice that someone had begun backtracking and hiding tracks. The problem here was that they forgot to hide the signs that they were hiding signs. (Humor me, please) Ruby began to giggle as she followed at a gallop. I really should stop that, it is a bit unnerving.
Ruby slowed down as the signs were becoming fresher. She parked Bella a little ways away from the road with strict instructions to stay there unless trollocs were within 3 feet. She then decided the best way to get there undetected would be to use the trees.
So she got between two trees and placed one foot on each trunk. She then proceeded to climb until she reached a branch. After that she tree climbed along the branches until she reached a camp. If anyone did hear her, they would assume it was a bird or squirrel.
It was long since the last coal had gone out. She could see everyone from the trees. Snapping off a twig, she tossed it lightly at Mat. He rolled over. Moving to a pine, she plucked off a pinecone and chunked it at the sleeping body. Said person felt that and growled as he woke and looked around expecting to see Lan. When he did not see Lan he mentally shrugged. Another pinecone landed in front of him.
Mat looked up to see Ruby, who was grinning and motioning to wake Perrin. Mat understood this and walked to where Perrin was sleeping. He took only one ruff shake to wake. Mat placed a finger to his lips and pointed up. Perrin looked at Mat like he was crazy and glanced up. His jaw dropped. Why? They had been moving hard for the past two days, and here was Ruby in the tree above them.
Mat scrambled up a tree, followed by Perrin who had a slightly more difficult time.
"About time you two got up here."
"Ruby what are you doing here?"
"I come to take you back."
Both boys answered at the same time. "We can't go back."
Ruby was perched in the branch, and looked sad. "Why not."
"The trollocs attacked Emonds Field because they were looking for us." Mat answered. Perrin looked down. He just remembered when Moiriane told him Ruby's father had died.
"Sorry about your father, Ruby."
"Whatever for?" Perrin looked at her like she had fallen out and hit her head.
"You, your father is dead." Mat cursed himself for not saying something about it. It was their fault Tam was hit by a trolloc blade.
"No he's not, He is perfectly fine." Both nearly fell out at this revelation.
"But we asked Moiraine about you. She said you were mourning the loss of your father."
Ruby spat, in the direction of the Aes Sedai. "She was wrong. I had almost given up hope. But I healed Tam, I think."
"What? You did something an Aes Sedai couldn't. What did you do?"
"Mat, Perrin, you have to promise not to tell anyone else. Only Tam knows." Mat plucks a pecan from the tree over and cracks it before nodding. Perrin thinks for a minute before giving the affirmative. "You see, I am not to sure what it is, but I know it isn't the One Power. I think it has something to do with how you feel. I only used it once before during the trolloc attack, that was a weapon."
Ruby closed her eyes and scrunched up her face. She cleared her mind. And nothing happened. Mat yawned. "This is harder than it looks." Mat reached for another pecan muttering something on how they weren't getting proper food. It hit her like a bull dozer.
Instead of clearing her mind, she let go and thought about every thing she could remember. The power was there, but dormant, as if it had been long unused. She embraced her happiness at being reunited with her friends, her anger at a certain sleeping party. What Mat and Perrin saw was a non- bright rainbow of colors wash over their friend.
"Blood and ashes Ruby."
"What? Did it work?"
"How should we know? I spose' so." Here Mat stuffs his mouth.
After a few moments, Ruby had agreed that she would go with them, for she couldn't change there minds. All three now had a big hate toward Aes Sedai. Ruby used tree-travel to get back to Bella. Mat and Perrin decided that it was only an hour from when the Warder would wake them, so they stayed awake and got ready. Mat stuffed a handful of pecans in his pockets before getting down.
End...
A/N So now Ruby will travel with the group. Alteration to cannon plot: Mat Perrin and Ruby are not afraid of Aes Sedai. They will travel w/her but are not happy about it. I was going to put a fight scene here but I thought it would make Ruby seem too powerful and Bella WAY to smart.
Chapter 8: Talking in Trees.
As soon as Ruby had cleared the village she put Bella on a fast run. Balancing without a saddle was quite easy, contrary to many others opinions. All it took was to ride with the horse, not on it. Bella ran in a steady rhythm, all Ruby had to do was follow it.
Blood and ashes, a full day ahead of me. Ruby hugged the mare hopping she would speed up. If they kept up at fast run all night... she put the thought out of her head. This was a time for clear thinking. She summoned the flame and void to help find the rhythm of the run. Run Bella! The light help her, Run!
Trees flashed by, Ruby kept her eyes on the ground searching for the faint traces of a trail. If anyone saw her they would have only seen a fast moving blur they would have dismissed. Anger boiled in her as she rode. What she could tell was that when they rode they ran the whole way Taren Ferry. With in two hours she reached the place. Panting she dismounted and collapsed.
Taking a rest she pet Bella and stroked her mane. The horse was looking at her with a bored and upset look. "I'm sorry girl but we need all haste. That... that Aes Sedai woman, who knows what lies she told our friends. You take a brake while I see how to get across. It seems as though they didn't cover there tracks this first leg."
The people of the town gave her no trouble, though she had been expecting some. After asking around she found out where to find the Ferry Dock. Ruby was nervous, she had never been all the way to Taren Ferry before. (The fact that her ride to get there was probably a record had been lost on her.)
She walked up to a house near the river and knocked. She waited. And waited. At this point she thought about using her new attack to blow the door down. Ruby knocked some more, then started to walk back to Bella when she heard voices. They were still a ways off, but with her hearing she hear them.
"Whirlpool never been in the Taren before, I don't understand how it happened."
"Chief, (A/N what else would they be called?) I would assume the man gave you enough to build a new ferry."
"Shut it, not to worry, you all won't be out of a job." Ruby led Bella over to the group.
"Exactly how much did the man give you chief?"
"That is none your business."
"I saw some gold exchanged, not too mention the silver she gave us."
She peeked around a tree. The River made nice background noise. Moiraine and Lan, they crossed the Taren. "Excuse me, have you know where the ferry is?"
"What? Yes I know where the ferry is, somewhere down stream. Why?"
"I needed to get across..."
"If you wait a few days I'm sure we can get you across."
"I need to get across now, I can't wait."
One of the younger men seemed to be giving her a once over. Others just ignored her, if she wouldn't wait why did they care. Then one, about middle age spoke up.
"If you need to get across, there's a spot down south of here, where the river gets shallow enough to wade. It's bit of a shoals, so there's plenty of hidden holes if you don't know it."
Elated, Ruby ran up, hugged and kissed the man once. She then placed both hands on Bella's back and lifted herself onto the horse. They started in the direction that the man had pointed out.
"Bloody ashes Greg, if I'd a know she would do that I would have told her." Said the younger ferryman. 'Greg' just stood there stunned.
Ruby rode along the river searching for the shoals. She was moving slow, looking for any disturbance in the flow of water. At last she saw it near a bend in the river. The water churned and was made slightly foamy. She began giggling, a habit that had recently reared its head.
She jumped down and led Bella into the Taren. Her steps were slow and careful, more then once she barely missed going into a hole. Bella seemed to be having more luck and stayed on the bigger rocks. Once Ruby slipped and only a firm grip to the mare saved her.
When they were across, they both let out a sigh of relief. Bella stamped her hoof as if saying, 'I am not going to do that again'. Ruby walked back toward the town in hopes of picking up the trail. She noticed the ferrymen and waved to them. The one who gave her directions blushed.
Laughing to herself she firmed her resolve and studied the dirt. After remounting Bella she started off to follow. It was getting late when she found what appeared to be a makeshift shelter made from washed down trees and bush. Weary and tired, she tethered Bella and crawled inside the hut for an hour or so of rest.
***Later, same place.
"I think it's best we not stay here, huh old girl?" Bella tossed her head and allowed Ruby to get on before trotting off.
Ruby adjusted her pack until it felt comfortable on her back. She began to notice that someone had begun backtracking and hiding tracks. The problem here was that they forgot to hide the signs that they were hiding signs. (Humor me, please) Ruby began to giggle as she followed at a gallop. I really should stop that, it is a bit unnerving.
Ruby slowed down as the signs were becoming fresher. She parked Bella a little ways away from the road with strict instructions to stay there unless trollocs were within 3 feet. She then decided the best way to get there undetected would be to use the trees.
So she got between two trees and placed one foot on each trunk. She then proceeded to climb until she reached a branch. After that she tree climbed along the branches until she reached a camp. If anyone did hear her, they would assume it was a bird or squirrel.
It was long since the last coal had gone out. She could see everyone from the trees. Snapping off a twig, she tossed it lightly at Mat. He rolled over. Moving to a pine, she plucked off a pinecone and chunked it at the sleeping body. Said person felt that and growled as he woke and looked around expecting to see Lan. When he did not see Lan he mentally shrugged. Another pinecone landed in front of him.
Mat looked up to see Ruby, who was grinning and motioning to wake Perrin. Mat understood this and walked to where Perrin was sleeping. He took only one ruff shake to wake. Mat placed a finger to his lips and pointed up. Perrin looked at Mat like he was crazy and glanced up. His jaw dropped. Why? They had been moving hard for the past two days, and here was Ruby in the tree above them.
Mat scrambled up a tree, followed by Perrin who had a slightly more difficult time.
"About time you two got up here."
"Ruby what are you doing here?"
"I come to take you back."
Both boys answered at the same time. "We can't go back."
Ruby was perched in the branch, and looked sad. "Why not."
"The trollocs attacked Emonds Field because they were looking for us." Mat answered. Perrin looked down. He just remembered when Moiriane told him Ruby's father had died.
"Sorry about your father, Ruby."
"Whatever for?" Perrin looked at her like she had fallen out and hit her head.
"You, your father is dead." Mat cursed himself for not saying something about it. It was their fault Tam was hit by a trolloc blade.
"No he's not, He is perfectly fine." Both nearly fell out at this revelation.
"But we asked Moiraine about you. She said you were mourning the loss of your father."
Ruby spat, in the direction of the Aes Sedai. "She was wrong. I had almost given up hope. But I healed Tam, I think."
"What? You did something an Aes Sedai couldn't. What did you do?"
"Mat, Perrin, you have to promise not to tell anyone else. Only Tam knows." Mat plucks a pecan from the tree over and cracks it before nodding. Perrin thinks for a minute before giving the affirmative. "You see, I am not to sure what it is, but I know it isn't the One Power. I think it has something to do with how you feel. I only used it once before during the trolloc attack, that was a weapon."
Ruby closed her eyes and scrunched up her face. She cleared her mind. And nothing happened. Mat yawned. "This is harder than it looks." Mat reached for another pecan muttering something on how they weren't getting proper food. It hit her like a bull dozer.
Instead of clearing her mind, she let go and thought about every thing she could remember. The power was there, but dormant, as if it had been long unused. She embraced her happiness at being reunited with her friends, her anger at a certain sleeping party. What Mat and Perrin saw was a non- bright rainbow of colors wash over their friend.
"Blood and ashes Ruby."
"What? Did it work?"
"How should we know? I spose' so." Here Mat stuffs his mouth.
After a few moments, Ruby had agreed that she would go with them, for she couldn't change there minds. All three now had a big hate toward Aes Sedai. Ruby used tree-travel to get back to Bella. Mat and Perrin decided that it was only an hour from when the Warder would wake them, so they stayed awake and got ready. Mat stuffed a handful of pecans in his pockets before getting down.
End...
A/N So now Ruby will travel with the group. Alteration to cannon plot: Mat Perrin and Ruby are not afraid of Aes Sedai. They will travel w/her but are not happy about it. I was going to put a fight scene here but I thought it would make Ruby seem too powerful and Bella WAY to smart.