That morning, the tension in the air could have been sliced in two with a sword. Armour was prepared and polished. Swords were sharpened. Goodbyes were said…
"Nynaeve," Land started as he buckled on his armour, and placed his helm with the Malkieri half-moon crest on his head, "if I do not survive this battle, I have one request for you"
Nynaeve looked up at her husband, with a worried look on her face. "What?" Lan undid a chain from around his neck and handed her a gold locket.
"Safeguard this for me. Keep it with you. With this at your neck, my ring on your hand and the memories you have in your heart, I will never be away from you. Ever." Nynaeve looked up at him, and kissed him fondly on the lips. "Al'Lan Mandragoran, my dear husband, you are my one true love, and I need not worry about you not returning, because you will return!" With that Lan nodded, and as he turned, she could have sworn that he was crying. He turned back to her, and as he turned, tears rolled down his face unashamedly"
"Nynaeve, I love you." And with that, he left to join the student who he had trained for this day.
"Deina, I beg this from you, please do not get involved with the battle." Davram fingered the hilt of his sword awkwardly. "I will not command you, that has never been my way, but for once please do as I ask." Deina ni Ghaline t'Bashere looked at her husband, and nodded. "I understand why you ask this of me, Davram"
"Deina, I would ask of you to return back to Saldaea." Deina started to stand but Davram stopped her. "Saldaea is without a ruler, and if I die, I would ask you to ready the country for Zar…Faile. She will need to be strong, as will you"
"Davram, I wish to make this clear to you now. If you are found amongst the dead, then I will swiftly be joining you by my own hand. Is that clear?" Deina looked stern, but her eyes showed worry. Davram knelt down in front of her and held both her hands.
"My love, my wife, my very soul, I understand, but please prepare the country for Faile"
"For you, Davram, anything."
"I do not like you doing this, Toy"
"Blood and bloody ashes, Tuon, please stop calling me that!" Mat slammed the shaft of his ashanderai into the floor stones. "Just listen to me"
Tuon sat down in a chair. "Explain it to me again, Mat. I still do not understand why you blindly follow Rand al'Thor"
"Tuon, Rand has been my best friend since we were babies. He has been there for me, and I will be there for him, and when this battle commences, he will need me and Shen al Calhar to watch his back and see that he does not stab his foot with his sword! But there is something else, which goes deeper, stronger that blood ties, than ties of friendship. I cannot explain it, but it is something that has to be done"
Tuon nodded. "I understand a little, Mat, but not entirely"
"Do not worry about it, Tuon. I have made sure that, if anything does happen to me, you will be looked after. Arrangements are standing. But trust me, I am coming back from this one"
Tuon pulled out a small knife from behind her belt and toyed with it. Mat was shocked. He recognised it instantly. That knife had threatened him many times. It was the marriage knife of Tylin Quintara. "You will return, Toy. You will"
Mat never understood this woman, but he loved her more than he had any other. Without another word, he picked up his ashanderai and checked that his foxhead medallion was around his neck. "I will return. Thus is our treaty written, thus is agreement made," he added just before he left for what could be the final time.
"If you die, at least I will not have to wash any more of your smallclothes, Gareth Bryne." Siuan Sanche looked up at the stern figure that was strapping on two swords. "But please try and come back"
"Why, would you miss me, Siuan?" Gareth smiled, looking at her.
"No, I would feel that my vow would be unfulfilled." She scowled, thinking of a dozen different phrases she had picked up from the Tairen docks when she was a child which she could say to him at that precise moment.
Gareth got up, and placed a hand on Siuan's shoulder. "Siuan Sanche, I release you from your vow, your debt was repaid to me long ago. The only reason I kept you doing what you thought was right was because…" he kissed her suddenly. Then she broke it, and Gareth got up, and left the tent. "Siuan, I mean that." He said with a smile, and although Siuan was sad about the upcoming deaths that would occur in the next few hours, she was happy that for once, Gareth Bryne had reciprocated her feelings.
Rand sat in a chair, two of his six children on his lap, the other four playing on the floor by his feet. In two chairs opposite him were Aviendha and Elayne.
"Elayne, Aviendha, you know the Prophecies of the Dragon as well as I do. Today could be the day that I lose my life to save the world. But if that happens, can I ask you both a question?" They nodded. "Will you promise me that you will live your lives to the fullest, and that you do not mourn me for the rest of your life. Let our children know who I was, what I was like. Let them not live in fear over their parentage. Aviendha, finish your training to become a Wise One. Teach the Aiel the truth of what they were, whom they served. Teach them their heritage. If they wish to leave then let them. Let them serve the Aes Sedai again if they wish.
Elayne, continue to rule Andor to the best of your ability. Acknowledge that you are Aes Sedai, and do not be afraid to say to any potential suitors that you were the life of the Dragon Reborn. If you wish to marry again when you are older, and I am gone, then please, my love, do so"
"Rand"
"Elayne, just do it please"
"As you wish Rand. But, please, do not die of you do not need to"
"I will not try to if I can help it Elayne." Rand laughed a little at this. It had been a long time since he had laughed, and it lifted him up a little inside, "but promise me that you will only get involved in Tarmon Gai'don when it comes to sealing the Bore"
"I promise. I have arranged the circle. Logain, Nynaeve, Damer, Egwene, Moiraine, Aviendha, Cadsuane, myself, and five men that Logain handpicked himself. Everyone in that circle is more than above average in the Power. It will all go according to plan. I promise. Now, your men need you. Go"
With that, Rand kissed each of his children on the forehead, and then kissed their mothers. "I love you both."
With that, he left to talk to his men. To rally them on to victory. Or death.