Chapter 10. How exciting! Unfortunately, this the last chapter I have written thus far since I've been working on my research paper. But, I am almost done with my paper. Only about 3-4 more pages left so hopefully I'll be done by today so I can focus on this story more.

Anything recognizable belongs to their respective owners.

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Sam sat at the table in the library, engrossed in the book she was reading. Several other books lay strewn about on the tabletop, open to various pages about the Aiel. She closed the book and rubbed her eyes, frustrated that the details and accounts of the Aiel were sketchy and few.

She sighed and pulled another book towards her. She flipped open a few pages then stopped, her eyes wide. The text was in handwriting and a picture of the Stargate was scrawled on the opposite page. She grinned and greedily began to read the page.

"Let's see…" Sam murmured to herself as she read the page. "Here we go," she said and began reading the words aloud:

These are the words of Jessai, Far Dareis Mai of the Shiande clan. Few of my spear-sisters keep books such as this, but I found it wise to do so. Though nothing out of the ordinary happens to the Aiel, I saw something strange today, as did my spear-sisters. While passing through a part of the Three-Fold Land we encountered a strange stone ring. There were many strange markings upon it. We have been ordered to take the Wise Ones out to it to see if they can discover its purpose. For some reason, the ring makes me wary. I believe it to be a tool of the Dark One.

It has been two weeks since we showed the Wise Ones the ring. They seem to be as confused by it as the rest of us. Even the two Aes Sedai that came to the Three-Fold Land are confused by the ring's purpose. Why the Wise Ones are trusting the Aes Sedai I do not know. It is not my place to question the Wise Ones, but I fear for their safety. As I write this they are still studying it… Something is happening…by some force there is now a pool of water standing in the ring…Countless Shadowspawn are spilling out of it…I must go…

Sam reread the two passages before looking at the countless drawings of the Stargate. She glanced up when a familiar figure sat down across from her. "Find anything of interest?" Moiraine asked.

"It seems one of the Aiel knew about the Stargate," Sam said, showing Moiraine the picture. "Which means as soon as I can, I'm heading to the Waste. Would've been helpful if there were directions in here."

"I am glad you found something," Moiraine said.

"One thing troubles me though," Sam said.

"What?"

"How did this get to the Tower? It's clear that the writer didn't bring it here nor did any other Aiel. And there's no mention of two sisters going out to the Waste and coming back," Sam said. "So how did it get here?"

"It was brought here by one of the sisters that went out to the Waste," Moiraine said quietly.

"How do you know that?" Sam demanded.

Moiraine looked at her. "Because I was the sister who brought it here."

"You were one of Aes Sedai that the journal spoke of," Sam realized. "What happened after the Stargate activated? I need to know Moiraine."

"A group of strangely dressed Trollocs came through the ring with silver falcons on their heads. They fired on the Wise Women and the Brown sister first. Despite all the training I had done, I was too shocked to see them wielding the One Power to act. The Maidens that were there leapt into battle and managed to bring some of the Trollocs down, but that was when another Trolloc stepped through the ring."

She stared at the table in front of her. "He had a gold falcon for a head and managed to knock the Maidens back just by raising his hand. The Trollocs grabbed them and held them tightly as the golden one unveiled them. During all this the water left the ring. He seemed happy with the Maidens and walked over to a pedestal that had strange markings on it."

"Where were you during all of this?" Sam asked.

"Hiding behind a rock," Moiraine said bitterly. "I should never have gone into the Waste when I did. I was too young and inexperienced."

"We all make mistakes, no matter who we are," Sam told her. "After this gold Trolloc hit the symbols on the pedestal, did he take the Maidens with him?"

Moiraine nodded. "They left. I took the diary and fled back over the Spine of the World. I stayed in the Tower for several months before I left again...Wait. How did you know the gold Trolloc pressed the symbols on the pedestal?"

"Because that's how you activate the Stargate. And those things weren't Trollocs. They were Jaffa. All except for the gold one. That one was something called a Goa'uld. Think of the Goa'uld as beings that impersonate gods for their own gain. And I bet that the Goa'uld was probably Ra." Sam furrowed her brow as she began thinking. She looked up at Moiraine. "Do you remember what the Maidens looked like? Anything particular about them, that sort of thing?"

Moiraine shook her head. "It was over thirty years ago Samantha." She frowned. "One of the Maidens did stand out. She watched us like a hawk. I knew she didn't trust us," Moiraine said.

"What did she look like?" Sam inquired.

"Like most of the other Maidens. But she had blonde hair. Most of the other Aiel had varying shades of red to dirty blonde," Moiraine answered.

"And hers was pure blonde," Sam stated more than questioned. Moiraine nodded. Sam rubbed her chin in thought, something nagging at the back of her mind. "Well, I'll be heading out at first light," she said.

"I wish you luck," Moiraine said. Sam smiled in thanks and left the library.

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Sorry if it seem short, but you'll just have to deal with it. I will update as soon as I can so bear with me please.