Here's another chapter! We're drawing ever nearer to the Final Battle between Sam and Rand. But until I get the rest of this story written, enjoy what I have so far.

Not mine.

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...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Pardon the interruption," an Asha'man said, poking his head through the door. "But the prisoner would like to see you before she's sent to the White Tower."

Rand nodded. It had been decided by several of the highest ranking Asha'man that Sylvanas would be stilled. Rand had ordered that she be taken to the White Tower and to have the Aes Sedai still her. He rose to his feet and walked down to the dungeons. He stood in front of the bars and looked at Sylvanas. Three days had passed since the release of the Dark One.

"What is it traitor?" he asked coldly.

Sylvanas looked up at him with tear stained eyes. "I…I'm sorry…" she whispered. "I am so sorry…"

"Sorry?" he asked in disbelief. "You betrayed us all. You found a way to free the Dark One. You gave the Dark One Kira. I should kill you right now!"

"So why don't you?" she asked.

"I don't have time for this," he said and turned to leave.

"It's because you care about me, don't you?" she demanded.

He whirled around and stalked to the bars. "Maybe I did once. But now…" he said, shaking his head, "now I don't know. I trusted you and you betrayed me."

"Rand…I was trying to warn you," she said.

"Why? So you could watch me suffer?" he questioned, glaring at her.

"No! I…I didn't want to see you get hurt. I…" she trailed off, wiping her eyes. "I…I love you," she said.

"You don't betray people you love to their enemy," he said.

"I know…and it may not mean much to you, but I am sorry. I just…I wanted you to know that…especially considering I won't see you again," she said.

Rand looked at her and the ice around his heart began to melt. "It still doesn't make what you did right."

"Nothing ever will," she said. "If I could go back in time and stop all this, I would in a heart beat." She looked at him. "Hurting you was the last thing I wanted to do Rand," she said softly.

"But you did," he said. "And it stung even more because I…Light…I care about you," he confessed.

She walked to the bars of the door and tentatively held his hand. "I wish I could go back in time and change everything," she said.

"So do I. Then I wouldn't have to face my…the Dark One."

"She's your mother, isn't she?" Sylvanas asked.

"Yeah. She was once."

"She isn't now?"

Rand shook his head. "She cares nothing for life, only power. That's not the person everyone described my mother as."

"I understand." She remained silent for several long minutes. "So what happens to me now? Are you going to hand me over to the Aes Sedai?"

"Eventually. We're going to Caemlyn first to meet with several rulers first."

"I wish you luck," Sylvanas said.

Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising

"You're asking me to follow the Dragon who, according to rumors, is the son of the Dark One? Do you take me for a fool?" an old man in white robes with a sunburst demanded, glaring at Elayne and Egwene. Several other rulers, men and women, joined in with their protests.

"Just because we share blood does not mean we share the same morals. I will fight the Dark One till my last breath," Rand said.

"You could be telling lies. My spies say you are in love with a spy of the Dark One," the man in white snapped.

"Pedron," Elayne began.

"Pedron Niall is correct. My sources say the same thing," another ruler said.

"I'm not siding with him!" a king shouted. Everyone began shouting over each other. Rand sighed and rubbed his forehead. As the noise grew to a crescendo he slammed his fist on the table and broke it in half without using saidin. Everyone fell silent and turned to him.

Rand rose to his feet and began walking away. He paused at the door, glanced back at the group, and shook his head before leaving. Daniel rose to his feet and hurried out after Rand.

"You all right?" Daniel asked.

"I will be once I'm back home," Rand answered.

"That may be a while," Daniel said. "Defeating the Dark One…"

"Isn't my problem anymore," Rand cut in. "I am sick and tired of playing peacemaker and hero to a bunch of morons and pricks who can't appreciate the fact that I'm willing to fight my own mother just to keep them safe. I've been beaten, whipped, near death, and bruised and battered beyond all reckoning. I'm tired of it. I'm going back to Earth to live out the rest of my life in peace and happiness. If they don't like it, tell them to grow the hell up!"

"Running away from your duty won't change what you have to do," Daniel said.

"Give that damn mantra a rest! You're not my father."

"You're right. He'd never run from his duties," Daniel said.

"Guess that proves I'm not him," Rand said and began walking away.

"Running never solves anything Rand," Daniel said.

"I don't care anymore Daniel. All I want is a hot shower and to be able to sit on a couch and watch TV. Sure it sounds selfish, but I don't care anymore. If the way these rulers act is any sign of their people, then this world is already lost. And good riddance," Rand muttered and walked away.

"Understandable," Daniel murmured.

Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising Dragon Rising

Rand finished shoving his clothes into a bag and slung it on his shoulder. "So you are leaving," Sylvanas said from the doorway, two Asha'man close by.

"If these people can't understand what I'm trying to do then let them fend for themselves. I'm sick and tired of trying to help them," Rand said.

"So you'll just run back to Earth where you won't have to face any challenges. I thought you better than a coward," she said.

"This isn't my home," Rand began.

"But it's mine," Sylvanas said. "Were you just going to leave me here? I've betrayed the Dark One Rand. She'll kill me."

"Then come with me to Earth. You'll be safe there," Rand said.

"It won't matter where we run to Rand! She will hunt us down as she conquers the galaxy. If you don't stop her here and now, all is lost. But what's more, I won't run away from a battle just because it'll be hard."

Rand sat down on the bed and bowed his head, his shoulders slumped forward. "I can't kill her Sylvanas."

"Then banish her. Save her even! She still loves you. Use that against her," Sylvanas said, resting her hands on his shoulders. He looked up at her and they slowly kissed. One of the Asha'man guards closed the door to give the two some privacy.

So? Good? Bad? Ugly? Review!