The Aes Sedai have a heated meeting in Fal Dara.

Guest: Thank you for your review. You're very kind. I wouldn't be sad if more people would read my fanfictions, but I'm also happy with those, who are already reading and enjoying it ❤️

When Moiraine awoke in the morning, Siuan was already gone, but Lan informed her about the important stuff. Like rescinding her exile and the Brown Ajah using them as a science project.

The woman of the Blue Ajah growled at his words. Like her Warder, she didn't believe that it was a good idea to rescind her exile. The Blue Ajah would order her home as soon as they would hear about it. And she also didn't like to be studied. But what troubled her the most was that Lan and Siuan hadn't woken her.

No matter how often Lan explained to her that Siuan had simply wanted to check on her, she was angry. Lan already regretted that he had told her about Siuan's visit at all.

The Amyrlin didn't waste much time with her announcement. She sent Alanna again to pick up Moiraine and Lan for the meeting. This time, all Aes Sedai and their Warders were present.

As soon as the announcement was official, the Brown Ajah went into action. Verin tried to separate Moiraine and Lan, but they refused to split up. Luckily, Siuan was able to convince the sister that it was important to keep those two in one place.

But their free days were over. Moiraine had to try to channel in the morning, in the noon, or in the evening. They even woke her in the middle of the night to let her channel. When this didn't work, the Aes Sedai changed the circumstances. With the help of the One Power, they made it as uncomfortable as possible for Moiraine, hoping she would instinctively grab the One Power and help herself. Nothing worked.

In the meantime, they also took a close look at Moiraine and Lan's bond. They wanted to know if it was possible for them to feel something through the bond. They started with tickling Lan with a feather – which was absolutely hilarious for Moiraine, who was watching her annoyed Warder trying not to murder these women. Then they pricked Moiraine with a piece of wood a few times and got no reaction. The Aes Sedai and her Warder couldn't feel anything from each other.

The last idea of the Brown Ajah was the most extreme of all. They used the One Power to hold Lan in place, then they cut his arm with a dagger. Moiraine was immediately on her feet, reaching for the One Power, which she couldn't touch – much to Verin's dissatisfaction – before she tried to stop her sister by pushing her out of the way. The Aes Sedai used the One Power to hold Moiraine in place too and made the same cut on her arm. But except for the fact that both the Aes Sedai and her Warder were in pain now, they still couldn't feel each other.

Verin healed Moiraine and Lan, though the latter ended the experiments and brought his Aes Sedai away from the Brown Ajah and her stupid ideas. After that incident, Siuan declared that the Brown Ajah had to stop hurting the two.

The Aes Sedai healed the injured soldiers, then they prepared for their departure. Egwene and Nynaeve would return to the White Tower to become Novices, and Moiraine and Lan would come too. Siuan wasn't done trying to find a solution to help her pillow friend.

Perrin and Loial decided to help Lord Agelmar. His soldiers Ingtar and Uno would leave to get the Horn of Valere back, which the paddler Padan Fain had stolen, and Perrin and Loial wanted to help.

A day before they would leave Fal Dara, the Aes Sedai met in Siuan's sitting room. Egwene and Nynaeve weren't invited and stayed with Perrin and Loial, while the Warders guarded the sitting room on the outside.

The Aes Sedai sat in a circle, each Ajah kept her distance from the others. Moiraine sat beside her blue sisters, while they all listened to the report of a green sister.

"All of Fal Dara's soldiers are healed now, and Lord Agelmar admitted that he would send his men to bring back the citizens. He didn't say it, but we believe that he would like us to leave sooner rather than later."

Siuan nodded. She got the same feeling from her meetings with Lord Agelmar. "I will assure him that we will leave his city tomorrow. There is nothing else for us to do here. We will take the two young girls, Nynaeve al'Meara and Egwene al'Vere, with us, as well as my Daughter, Moiraine Sedai."

"Forgive me, Mother." Liandrin rose from her seat, and everyone's attention moved to her. "I agree that the two girls have to become Novices. They are already strong channelers without being taught how to use it."

Siuan raised her eyebrow slightly, while she waited for the red sister to continue. She was sure that Liandrin didn't interrupt her for simply agreeing with her. And she wasn't disappointed.

"But I don't understand why we take Moiraine with us. You rescinded her exile, but I don't understand why we keep treating her like an Aes Sedai?"

A collective gasp was heard. Liandrin gave her sisters a moment to whisper, then she continued: "Mother, it is obvious that Moiraine has been stilled by the Dark One. She can't touch the Source anymore. Every sister, who gets stilled loses her title. Why is Moiraine not only allowed to still call herself an Aes Sedai, but is also allowed to return to the White Tower?"

Anaiya, a blue sister, jumped to her feet and glared angrily at Liandrin. "We have no idea what the Dark One did to Moiraine, Liandrin! She needs to be properly examined before the Amyrlin can decide what to do!"

"She was examined, Anaiya.", Liandrin answered coldly "Verin? Could you repeat your results to our sister? It seems as if she has forgotten it."

The sister of the Brown Ajah, who didn't care about the rivalry between the two Ajahs, opened her book and repeated her report. "Moiraine Sedai tried various times to channel. We let her channel in the morning, the noon, the evening, and even in the middle of the night, but not once was she close to touching Saidar. We used the One Power on her, and still, she couldn't grab it to protect herself. Our preliminary report says that Moiraine Sedai shows signs of being completely stilled."

Liandrin smiled sweetly. "Do you hear that, Anaiya? Completely stilled."

"This is the scientific report from the Brown Ajah! Made to gather as much information as possible! But this is the Dark One we're talking about! He…!"

"Verin Sedai." Siuan's gentle voice interrupted Liandrin and Anaiya's verbal fight. "What about the Warder?"

"You mean Lan Mandragoran, Mother?", Verin asked, then she flipped through her pages.

"Yes. You examined him as well, right?"

"We did. No matter what we tried, he can't feel Moiraine. Not her emotions or her pain."

"Another sign that she is stilled.", Liandrin threw in, then Alanna jumped to her feet suddenly.

"Moiraine had masked the bond before she had lost her powers! Of course, the Warder can't feel her!"

"Which brings up the question of why she had masked it in the first place? What did she try to hide that not even her own Warder should know about?"

"This has nothing to do with your previous question, Liandrin!" Alanna was angry. "You're grasping at everything to make Moiraine look bad!"

"She…!"

"Verin Sedai." Again, Siuan's calm voice interrupted the bickering. "Did the Warder feel how his bond with Moiraine broke?"

Moiraine felt how her calm Aes Sedai face was slipping. How long could she sit here, while her sisters were debating about her future? Her fingers were itching. She wanted to leave this room.

"According to Lan Mandragoran, he never felt his bond break."

"How does he describe the current feeling of his bond?"

All eyes moved to Verin, who was flipping through her pages. Finally, she lowered the little book and said: "As if it is still masked. He can feel the bond, but not his Aes Sedai."

Now it was Alanna, who smiled sweetly at Liandrin. "It looks as if Anaiya is right, Liandrin. Whatever is wrong with Moiraine's connection to the One Power, it isn't a simple stilling when Lan is still able to feel the bond."

"And that means-", Siuan added "-that Moiraine Sedai keeps her title, as long as we don't know what truly is going on. Do you understand, Liandrin?"

The red sister looked anything but pleased when she said through gritted teeth: "Yes, Mother."

"Good. Now, I suggest you all sit down again."

Alanna and Anaiya followed Siuan's order, but Liandrin took a step forward. "Mother, there is still the question of what Moiraine is doing in Fal Dara. What was she doing in the Blight? Why did she meet the Dark One alone without her Warder? You exiled her…"

"That's enough, Liandrin!" Surprised, the red sister took a step back, when the Amyrlin raised her voice at her. "This is not Tar Valon and this is also not the Hall of the Tower! Since when do we discuss Aes Sedai business away from the White Tower?!"

The blonde woman bowed her head. She had forgotten herself, but Siuan wasn't done. "It is late, and tomorrow we'll be on our way home! I don't want to discuss…!"

Suddenly, there came a loud crash out of the bedroom of the Amyrlin. Surprised, the women turned silent, carefully listening. It sounded as if something was moving inside. Walking up and down before it slowly moved closer to the door.

Every woman was on her feet now. The Ajahs, which were closer to the bedroom door stepped back into the middle of the circle, while the other side moved closer to them.

Moiraine saw how her sisters embraced Saidar, ready for a fight, while she couldn't help. Alanna stepped casually in front of her. Their eyes met, and the green sister was daring her to protest. So, Moiraine simply sighed heavily, allowing her friend to protect her.

Then hell broke loose. The bedroom exploded in a fiery blast. Fragments of the wall and the door hit the Aes Sedai, who tried to protect themselves with the One Power, but it was no use. Because of the force of the explosion, the ceiling cracked as well and started to fall down, while some Aes Sedai were pulled down to the floor beneath when the floor under their feet gave away.

When the Warders stormed the sitting room, there was no Aes Sedai standing anymore. Fragments were still falling from the ceiling, while the inventory was on fire.

Then more explosions shattered the fortress, and Lan cursed. He didn't know where Nynaeve and the others were. But right now, he couldn't think about them. He had to find Moiraine.

Siuan kneeled on the other side of the room over Leane, who had used her body to shield the Amyrlin from the most damage and was now unconscious.

The other Warders moved determined to their Aes Sedai, but Lan didn't have this luxury. His gaze moved quickly over the room, trying to find the one person he…

"Lan."

Maksim, who knelt beside Alanna, tilted his head aside. Someone was moving behind the Warder. Lan took a step forward and felt how a burden was lifted from his shoulders. Quickly, he ran toward Moiraine, who had pushed herself into an upright position.

She looked shaken and was covered in dust, but alive. The Warder knelt down beside her and checked her for injuries. She seemed fine, but when she turned her head to Alanna, he saw that she had a gash on her temple, which was bleeding pretty badly. Gently, he examined the wound, but Moiraine pushed his hands away.

"Alanna." Light, her voice sounded weak. From the way she was constantly blinking, Lan saw that she wasn't alright and had problems concentrating.

"Maksim and Ihvon help her.", Lan explained, while he examined her wound again. He needed something to stop the bleeding.

When Moiraine tried to crawl to her friend, he cupped her face in his hands. "Could you tell me what in lights name you're doing?"

"She protected me. You have to help them." His Aes Sedai grimaced in pain.

Lan looked at the two Warders beside him. Alanna was buried under fragments, which had fallen from the ceiling. Only her feet were visible, and she wasn't moving. Maksim and Ihvon tried to free her by lifting the pieces one by one.

"If I promise to help them, will you promise me to stay here?"

"The others…" Her gaze moved over the destroyed sitting room, but Lan forced her to look at him again. He knew that it was her first instinct to help the other Aes Sedai. She didn't care that she was hurt.

"Promise me that you don't move, Moiraine." She opened her mouth, and he saw in her eyes that she wanted to argue with him. "I know that you want to help your sisters, but you can't. You are hurt, and you can't channel. Promise me that you don't move."

Finally, she nodded defeated. Lan cut off a piece from his tunic and gave it to her. "Press this on your wound, while I help Maksim and Ihvon." Then he moved to his two friends. "How can I help?"

"She is stuck under the fragments, and if we're not careful she gets hit by them.", Maksim explained.

Lan took a closer look. "What if we lift the fragments at once and pull her out?"

"We'd need your help with that."

"Then let's do it. Ihvon, you and I will lift the fragments. Maksim, you pull Alanna out. On three. One, two, three!"

Lan and Ihvon lifted the heavy fragments, while Maksim pulled out his Aes Sedai. But Alanna's left arm didn't follow the rest of the body.

"Damn it! Her arm is stuck!", Maksim cursed "Lan, you have to lift yours a little bit higher."

Moiraine's Warder did his best, but he couldn't pull it higher. So, Maksim moved to his side and with their joined strength the fragment moved higher. Before Maksim could let go again, the three Warders saw how Alanna's body moved.

"Moiraine!", Lan hissed angrily. So much for her promise to stay where she was!

His stubborn Aes Sedai had grabbed Alanna's legs. She had seen that the men couldn't let go of the stones and pull out her friend simultaneously.

As soon as Alanna was safe, the three men lowered the fragments carefully. While Maksim and Ihvon took care of their Aes Sedai, Lan moved to Moiraine's side again. She hadn't put pressure on her wound and was still losing a lot of blood.

"You'd promised!", Lan growled.

"You needed help. Alanna…"

A roar echoed through the room, which got everyone's attention. Four Trollocs stood at the entrance, swinging their poisonous weapons.

"Lan!", Ihvon yelled, while he took his bow.

Lan cursed and drew his sword. How had the Trollocs been able to enter the fortress? "Have an eye on Moiraine!"

Ihvon stepped between Alanna and Moiraine to protect both women, while Lan and Maksim attacked the Shadowspawn. A few Aes Sedai were back on their feet and used the One Power to attack the creatures as well.

After a few minutes, the Trollocs were dead, but more roars echoed through the corridors. These monsters weren't alone. Only the light knew, how many of them were in the fortress.

"We have to take them somewhere safe.", Lan said. Ihvon pulled the unconscious Alanna in his arms, and Lan turned to Moiraine. "Can you walk?"

Instead of an answer, his Aes Sedai pushed herself onto her feet. She swayed, so he steadied her quickly. "The answer I was looking for was 'Yes' or 'No'."

"Obviously, the answer is 'Yes'.", Moiraine whispered.

"The only thing which is 'obvious' is that you've lost a lot of blood and you're weakened. Let me carry you."

"You can't fight when you carry me."

Lan wanted to protest, but another roar appeared. Closer this time. She was right. Sighing, he grabbed her hand. "Stay close to me."

Maksim took the lead. While the three Warders moved through the corridors, they heard the distant sound of fighting soldiers. Lord Agelmar and his men only had a short moment after their last encounter with the Trollocs.

But Lan was more curious about the Myrddraals. There was always a Myrddraal when a Trolloc appeared. But until now, they hadn't seen one. They made it to the infirmary, which was completely empty.

Since the Aes Sedai had healed everyone, there had been no need for it. After tonight, the beds would be filled again.

"I will go back.", Maksim explained "We need the Aes Sedai if we want to win against these monsters. Will you help me, Lan?"

"What about Alanna?"

Ihvon was already preparing everything to help the green sister. "Ihvon got it covered. There's not much I can do here. I'm of better use out there."

Insecure, Lan exchanged a glance with Moiraine, who nodded at him. "Go. They need your help."

"You're hurt."

"I'll help Ihvon with Alanna. I owe her that much after she protected me from most of the fragments."

This wasn't what he had wanted to hear. "You're hurt.", he repeated.

"This is an infirmary, Lan. I have everything here to take care of my wound."

She was right. But he was still hesitating. He couldn't feel her. Should anything happen to her, he wouldn't know it. On the other hand, she wasn't alone. Ihvon was here and wouldn't leave them.

"Nynaeve and the others are still out there."

Blood and ashes! This woman knew how to manipulate him! He gave her an angry glare, which she returned calmly. Yes, she knew that this was bothering him.

"Ihvon? Can you keep an eye on Moiraine for me?"

"Sure."

Lan couldn't take his eyes off Moiraine. A part of him didn't want to leave her side. She was his Aes Sedai. He needed to protect her. And she already got hurt. But the other part of him wanted to search for Nynaeve.

"Go.", Moiraine said gently and pushed him backward "I'll be alright."

Lan growled, then he stepped forward and pulled her in his arms. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Same goes for you."

The Warder threw a quick look at his brothers. Ihvon worked on Alanna, while Maksim scanned the corridor for Trollocs. Quickly, Lan pressed his lips against Moiraine's forehead before he cupped her cheek with one hand. "I'll be back as soon as possible."

When Moiraine nodded, he finally turned around and left the infirmary.

The next chapter will be uploaded on Wednesday.

Please leave a review, if you have a moment to spare. Reviews are always appreciated ❤️