Some people have been wondering what's on Rand's back. Well, I'm going to be mean and not tell. You'll have to figure it out yourself or wait and read further, though there are some clues in previous chapters as to what might be there. Here's the next chapter. Still a ways to go before the end, but I promise you, the end will not be like the first part of this story. There won't be mass death of major characters and other characters going evil. To do that would mean someone'd take me out, and not for dinner. Now let's get this show...story...on the road...or webpage...you know what I mean!

Own nothing, I do not.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass...

What was, what will be, and what is, may still yet fall under the Shadow...

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...

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Rand rolled out his shoulders, smiling for the first time in weeks. "Yes!" he exclaimed happily.

"Feeling better?" Kael asked.

Rand smiled, having become fast friends with the Asha'man. "You try getting nearly tortured to death, then we'll talk."

"Fair enough," the other man said. The gold dragon and silver sword decorated the black collar of his coat. "So we going back to the Aiel?"

Rand nodded. "I want to rest a few days there before I have to play peace-maker with all the kingdoms."

"Swaying the Whitecloaks to follow you won't be easy," Kael said. "They'll kill you if you give them half a chance."

"I'm not that concerned with them," Rand said. "They're a bunch of fanatics who believe using the One Power goes against everything the Creator made. They need to realize that the Creator, real or otherwise, let's us use power to protect those who are unable to fend for themselves."

"Spoken like a true leader," Kael said.

Rand shrugged his shoulders a little and picked up his bag as Sylvanas walked in. "So you are leaving," she said.

"I can't stay here forever," he said. He had grown close to her, and she to him over the weeks he was recovering. "You could always come with me," he suggested. Kael silently slipped out of the room.

"I…I don't know…" she said.

"Well, if you do decide to come, you know where to find me," he said. He bent down slightly and kissed her gently on the lips. He held her face briefly before walking out the door. Kael opened a gateway and the two left.

Sylvanas watched them go, her lips tingling where Rand had kissed her. She reached up to her mouth as she stared after him. She made her way back to her room and into the secret compartment. Moments later she was in Shayol Ghul.

She walked forward several feet and knelt down in front of the throne. "What is it now?" Sam snapped.

"Forgive me Great One," Sylvanas said. "I though you should know that the Dragon is returning to the Aiel Waste."

Sam rose to her feet and walked forward until she was several paces away from Sylvanas. She reached out her hand and blue-white energy formed around her hand. Sam slowly smiled. "The barriers are beginning to weaken." She gave a harsh laugh. "You were a fool to think this could hold me Daniel."

"Daniel Jackson? Mistress?" Sylvanas asked.

Sam looked at her, pulling her hand back. "Come closer." Sylvanas slowly rose to her feet and walked to Sam. She kept her head bowed. Sam tilted her head up. "What do you know of Daniel Jackson?"

"I know he's the one who trained the Dragon Great One."

Sam turned away and began pacing around. "So the Ancients gave you that ability, did they?" she murmured softly. "Myrddraal!"

An Eyeless appeared out of the shadows and knelt down. "What are your orders Great Lady?" he asked.

"Tell the Forsaken that the one who brings me Daniel Jackson will gain favor with me. They are to bring him to me alive. I want the pleasure of killing him myself."

"I live only to serve," he said and faded back into the shadows.

Sam turned and looked at Sylvanas. "As for you my pet," she began. "I have a task for you."

"How may I serve?" Sylvanas asked.

"You will bring the Dragon to me."

"Even though he trusts me, milady, he does not trust me that much," she said. "It would be impossible to bring him here."

"A valid point," Sam said. She remained silent for several long minutes. "Has the Dragon any siblings?"

"No milady. No blood siblings." Sam's face darkened. "He is, however, very close to the Aes Sedai Kira. If I did not know better, they could be brother and sister."

"Excellent," Sam said, a smile forming on her face. "I have an additional assignment for you…"

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"Glad to see you're back on your feet," Daniel said.

"Thanks," Rand said. "How are the Asha'man coming?"

"There's twelve full fledged Asha'man right now; thirteen Soldiers; twenty Dedicated. More recruits are coming in every day," Daniel said. "Kira said the Aes Sedai are freaking out from all the men who are coming for training in channeling."

Rand chuckled. "Well, we will need the help once the Final Battle gets here."

"You're really going to fight…" Daniel paused as several Asha'man passed by. "You're really going to fight Sam?" he asked in a low voice.

"I have to stop her Daniel. She's hurting innocent people. She didn't even recognize who I was." Rand sighed. "She's not the same person she was when you knew her. You didn't see the nightmare she's become."

"I don't think I'd want to see her," Daniel said.

Rand folded his arms and watched the Asha'man training. "She's also got the Forsaken around," he said.

"Are you serious?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah. The woman that grabbed me was Lanfear." He let out a small, humorless laugh. "Kept calling me dear heart too."

"Well, you are the Heir of the Dragon and she was in love with one of your ancestors. Least that's what the history of this place says."

"Great," Rand muttered. "I've a got a woman old enough to be my grandmother Light knows how many times over chasing after me."

"You're a lucky guy," Daniel joked.

"Don't make me hurt you," Rand retorted.

"So, I've been hearing you've been hanging out with Sylvanas a lot," Daniel said after a few minutes of silence.

Rand shrugged. "She's nice. I feel like I can trust her. Her and Kira are the only two Aes Sedai I'll trust."

"Do you love her?"

"I don't know," Rand replied. "It's too early to tell. But I do care about her a lot." He pulled out a watch and glanced at the time. "I've gotta get back to Rhuidean. I'll see you around. And make sure you watch your back. I don't want anyone disappearing like I did..."

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Kira skidded to a halt and darted down an alley, her chest heaving. The rain plastered her hair to her face and she wiped it out of her eyes as she ran. She leapt over a few crates and continued to run, her lungs beginning to burn. She glanced back behind her and tripped over a crack in the cobblestone street.

She hit the ground hard but scrambled back up to her feet and ran into another alley. She stopped just before crashing into a wall and pounded it in frustration. She turned and made to run when a figure blocked the entranceway. Kira pressed herself back against the wall, unable to reach saidar because of a shield.

"Get the hell away from me!" Kira yelled. She tried to move but found herself held in place by flows of Air. A gateway opened and the figure guided Kira through before following. Once through, Kira was released and she all but fell face first onto the stone ground. She pushed herself up and looked around.

"Welcome," a cold voice said.

Kira turned and saw a figure rise from a stone throne. She looked around and her eyes widened even more. "Se…Sylvanas, what the hell are you doing here?"

Sylvanas looked at the ground. "So you know my little spy, do you?" the cold voice said in amusement.

Kira watched the figure come into view and her eyes widened. "Y…you're…"

"In the flesh," Sam said. "How is the dear Dragon? I hope he's fully recovered."

"Why would you want to hurt him? He hasn't done anything to you! He's…" Kira began.

"Enough!" Sam snapped. She grabbed Kira by the throat and brought the Aes Sedai's face close to her own. "You hold the key to my prison."

"What?"

Sam dropped her and walked a few paces away. "It was your father who chained me here when he was Ascended. It took me nearly twenty years to decipher this ancient text," she said, looking at the large stone wall. "At first I thought it said the Dragon's blood was the key, but I was mistaken."

"It was suppose to read the child of the jailor, wasn't it?" Kira asked.

"His blood actually. But since Daniel's blood runs through your veins…" Sam trailed off, grinning wickedly.

"He's your friend!" Kira cried.

"I need no friends," Sam said, a dagger appearing in her hand, the blade black.

"You'd betray your own family just for power?" Kira asked in shock.

Sam grabbed Kira and pressed the blade into Kira's exposed flesh on her arm. "My family is dead," Sam snarled. Kira screamed in pain as Sam finished slicing her arm. The young Aes Sedai was shoved away and Sam lifted the blade to her lips. "The blood of my captor will free me," she whispered and licked some of the blood off. She tossed the dagger to the side and outstretched her arm. The blue-white energy formed around her hand then vanished. She stepped through and began laughing.

"You've betrayed us all Sylvanas. You were a protector of the Light!" Kira yelled at her. "We trusted you! He trusted you!" she shouted. Sylvanas looked away, her face burning with shame.

"Watch your tone," Ishamael snarled, grabbing her throat.

"Release her Ishamael. She still has value to us," Sam said. Sam knelt down in front of Kira and smiled. "You will serve me child."

"Burn in hell!" Kira snapped.

Sam grabbed Kira's arm and pressed her fingers into the wound. Kira screamed in pain. "You will obey every command I give you. You will be my pet." A silver collar appeared in Sam's hand and she fastened it to Kira's neck. Sam put on a matching bracelet and rose to her feet. "Release your shield Sylvanas. She will obey me now."

"What are your orders Mistress?" Ishamael asked.

"We have a world to burn. Sylvanas, go to the Dragon and make sure he suspects nothing. Once you have him distracted we shall attack," Sam said. "All will fall to Shadow," Sam said maliciously.

DUN DUN DUUUUUNNNNN! The Dark One's free to run amok! Amok amok amok amok amok! The Final Battle is drawing near. Fifty bucks say the Jedi beat the Sith...er...wrong story...