Oops sorry about the Tel'aran'rhiod thingy … but there are so many mentions of it throughout the entire story, it'll be hell to change it, so please ignore the error!

Chapter 14: The Sealing of the Bore

Kiara lay in bed, weeping with dry eyes. She had not eaten for two days, and no one could make her. Her tears had long since dried. She was depressed and sick at heart. She would leave for Shayol Ghul with the Hundred Companions. She did not intend to return with them.

Someone knocked on the door thrice. An Aiel entered, bowing. "It is time, Aes Sedai," he said. It was time for Kiara Lisette Eronaile to end her miserable existence.

Asmodean stood in the Pit of Doom, at the heart of Shayol Ghul, with the rest of the Forsaken. The Great Lord of the Dark had called for them, and they had come. He would speak to them soon and give them new orders.

Semirhage stepped close to him and whispered, "Ishamael never touched your precious girl. The mark was an Illusion. Don't you regret spurning her now? You can live on your regret forever—there is a slow poison in her system. She will die today, slowly and most painfully."

Asmodean would have struck out at her if they were not standing in the Great Lord's abode. He could not leave, and neither could he stay. He had to find Kiara, but he could not turn his back on the Great Lord. He was torn, and there was no way out.

The moment Lews Therin, Kiara, the Hundred Companions and the warriors they had brought along stepped through the gateway to Shayol Ghul, Trollocs, Myrddraal and Darkhounds attacked them.

Since Cyrelaide had been destroyed, Kiara had to rely on her own strength to fight. It was enough. Suddenly, pain stabbed through her abdomen. A dim memory flashed through her mind. Semirhage's face as she fed Kiara some bitter liquid.

"The juice of the berinjda fruit for you, Kiara," the Forsaken had said. The juice of the berinjda fruit was a slow-acting poison that only took effect ten days from ingestion. Death would be drawn out over about a quarter of an hour. Her muscles would begin to bleed soon, rendering her unable to move. Her lungs would collapse. After that her brain would haemorrhage and shut down. Finally, her heart would beat so fast it burst. And she would die, feeling her insides being torn apart.

Kiara channelled, cutting herself a path to the entrance to the Pit of Doom. Reliable sources had told them that the thirteen Forsaken were gathered there this day. She remembered the three days she had spent under Compulsion clearly now. Ishamael had never touched her. The mark on her shoulder had been an Illusion. She could even remember seeing it being woven.

She stumbled through the narrow, rocky passageways, her fingers and toes already immobile. They seemed to be burning from the inside. She did not have much time. The end of the passage loomed ahead. Her legs gave way, and she fell onto the rough rock, crying for Asmodean. She had to see him one last time.

Lanfear, Sammael, Be'lal, Demandred and Asmodean looked up in shock when a voice all five of them knew sounded from just outside the chamber they were gathered in. They rushed out.

"Kiara!" they cried in unison when they saw her on the ground, pushing her torso up with both arms. Her face was pale.

"She is poisoned with berinjda," Semirhage said from the archway. "Even the best Restorer cannot save her."

Sammael, Be'lal and Demandred surged forward, but Lanfear held out an arm, stopping them. There were tears shimmering in her eyes, but her voice was steady. "Let her talk to Asmodean."

Asmodean was by Kiara's side in a blink of an eye, holding her as all the muscles in her body stopped functioning. She could still talk, but she had little time left. "Nothing happened …" she murmured weakly.

His grip on her tightened momentarily. "I know. I am sorry."

Kiara smiled as far as the pain would allow her to. Her lungs were starting to bail—her breathing was becoming laboured. "If there comes a way for you to turn back in future, take it," she said.

Asmodean nodded, feeling his heart being torn up like her body was, sharing her pain. In a few minutes, he would lose her. And he knew she did not want to exist simply in tel'aran'rhoid. He would not ask her to do it.

Kiara vaguely felt tears trickling from her eyes. She could barely breathe. She had to get it all out now. "Don't forget me," she whispered. "I love you." She did not hear his reply. Her lungs went under completely, and she could no longer breathe.

Agony exploded in her head. She fixed her eyes on Asmodean's face. I will see you again, someday. Please … remember me …

Her brain shut down, and everything went black as her heartbeat began to accelerate. The last thing she felt was Asmodean's kiss.

Asmodean's expression was blank as he held Kiara close, touching his lips to hers briefly. She was no longer conscious. He felt her heartbeat grow faster and faster until it suddenly stopped. The only woman he had loved, still loved, and would ever love, was dead. He swore that his music would be forever sad.

There was some kind of commotion outside. Asmodean's eyes misted, and he barely noticed Aginor and Balthamel picking their way past to investigate. The weight of the harpcase against his back was his only comfort. Kiara had given it to him.

Then time seemed to stop, and a stillness settled over the entire area. The last thing Asmodean remembered was hugging Kiara closer before the dreamless sleep took him into its depths.

The Bore was sealed.