Chapter Fourteen
"Sharina!" Nynaeve yelled for the aged woman who was also her close friend and confidant. Nynaeve had been ill for the last few days and no one could understand what was wrong with her. The tent flap opened, and Nynaeve thought that it would be Sharina. But it was her husband instead.
"My heart, what is wrong, are you ill?"
"Lan, you worry too much. I feel a bit sick, that is all. Sharina was supposed to be bringing me something. I told her what herbs to use and how to prepare them, but…"
"She has been told to stay outside. Mat is here, and he is asking for an urgent favour."
"Send him in please, and Lan, I know I do not say it that often, but I love you." Lan stared at her, and smiled. It was then that he is façade of being a hunter of all things to do with the Shadow fell, and the side of him that he kept hidden from most people was revealed. The loving caring husband, that cherished his wife in every way, and would do anything for her.
Mat walked in, and Nynaeve could tell that whatever it was that he was going to ask her, it was urgent.
"Nynaeve, I have the Lord Commander of the Light waiting outside this tent, asking to make an agreement with you. No-one else, only you."
"The Lord commander of the Light? Who is that now?"
"Galadedrihd Damodred. The man that nearly killed Perrin just now." Nynaeve could tell that Mat was desperate. "Nynaeve, the Whitecloaks have over one hundred and fifty thousand men under their banner. If you can get Damodred to side with us, and not act as an independent force in this war, then it would help us a lot, Light it would!"
Nynaeve nodded. "Send him in." Mat exited, and Galad entered.
"It is nice seeing you again, Nynaeve. A lot of things have changed, but it is still nice." Galad said.
"You have also changed, Galad. Lord Commander of the Light. Leader of the Children of the Light. You were also ready to kill one of my friends earlier on this day. You ask for an agreement. What is the agreement?"
Galad sat down on a high-backed wooden chair. "The Children of the Light are willing to create a pact with the forces of the Dragon for the duration of this war. That much is agreed on, and I am sure that you will agree to this. We will hold this pact, if you can assure us that there will be no hostilities towards us while this pact holds." Nynaeve nodded. "You have my word, as long as you can guarantee the same." Galad replied that he could. "Also, and the Children do not know about this yet, I am willing to maintain this truce after this war has ended, but on several conditions." Nynaeve thought that he was not in any position to make comments like this, but she nodded and said, "Which are?"
"We will vacate all territory controlled by Rand al'Thor, for I know of the pact of New Manetheren. I know that the Seanchan control half of this world, and al'Thor the other half. I know that you were there, and that you signed it. But we want complete control of Amadicia. We want all control handed over to us by either the Seanchan or al'Thor, whichever controls it. It will become a country governed by the Children, and the Children will create the laws. Do you agree?"
Nynaeve stood up and approached Galad. Her chain with her wedding ring had slipped out of her dress and Galad noticed it.
"So you now have a husband. I must say that he is brave taking a Tar Valon wit…an Aes Sedai for a wife. Once I believed that we could have been married, before I found my calling. Now we are separated by a chasm."
"Galad, I will need time to think on your proposition. I will summon you when I have reached an agreement. Is that acceptable?"
Galad nodded and kissed her on the cheek. "It is, Nynaeve Sedai. Maybe after this war has finished, we could talk like old friends should do."
"Maybe." She said as Galad walked out of the tent. Sharina walked in now, holding a flask of steaming liquid.
"It is about time that you finished talking to him, Nynaeve. I have been waiting in the cold for a long time."
"I am sorry, Sharina, but I need your advice. How old were you, when you entered the Tower in Exile?"
"I had long ago stopped counting, but I have grandchildren the same age as the Amyrlin."
"Sharina, what I am about to tell you must not be told to anyone else." She tried to weave a flow of spirit around the tent to prevent eavesdropping, but the weaves slipped from her just before they settled into place. She tried twice more, then stared at Sharina. She wove the flow that Nynaeve had been trying to make around the tent.
"What is it that ails you, Nynaeve?" Sharina looked worried.
"Sharina, I think that I am carrying Lan's child."