A/N- Just to make it clear...Rand cannot channel Saidin from the One Power. His connection to it was severed, as it is when you are gentled. It doesn't mean that he can't channel though...
Rand's sword is the only thing that was affected at the Eye of the World. Why? Well, I would tell you but that would ruin the suprise...

This is not a very exciting chapter, but necesarry. It can;t all be fights and battles...though we can only dream...

Rand strolled through the town of Baerlon. Distantly, he remembered when he had thought this town was the biggest and grandest place he had ever seen. This was, of course, before he had been to Caemlyn, Fal Dara and even Shayol Ghul. But Baerlon had changed since he had last been here. Guards patrolled the streets and the roads, some were mercenaries but some were the Queens Guard, dressed in their gleaming armour. The town was tense, a bubble waiting to be popped. He had gotten inside the town easily enough, it seems that everybody was wearing a sword these days.

He sighed softy to himself as he leant against a wall in a small courtyard, the busy market place visible from his vantage point. He was exhausted, his legs were tired and his arms were heavy. The walk from the Tinker camp had been harder than he thought and old fatigues that Rand thought were gone had rushed back to him.

Rand suddenly coughed loudly, his throat making hacking noises as he unclipped his waterskin from his belt, taking a deep gulp from the water there. The liquid cooled his burning throat and Rand sighed in satisfaction.

"You sound like a dying dog, Sheepherder," Remarked a light voice from the other end of the yard. Rand turned his head and grinned.

"There's only one person I know that talks to me like that," Rand remarked, grimacing as he pushed himself off the wall.

Min shrugged. "Somebody needs to deflate your head." She had grown much taller since Rand had last seen her and had filled out. The boy's breeches she wore short cropped hair that never passed her shoulders made her almost seem like a boy from a distance, but once you got close you could see the feminine features lining her dark eyes and the pale skin of her hands.

Rand just shook his head wryly. "My heads is perfectly flat." He told her, taking her by the arm and giving her a short hug.

Min stiffened slightly, but hugged him back and disengaged, smiling slightly. "So, what brings the merchant guard back to little old Baerlon?" She asked as she pulled at his arm, and his tired feet began moving as she led him through the courtyard.

"I'm not a merchant guard anymore Min, Light, I haven't been one for years." Rand said as she led took down a small alley street.

"So what are you now?" Min asked as she approached a small building. Rand said nothing as remembered coming here years ago, when that Aes Sedai had interrupted his meeting. Min had sensed his reluctance and fear of Aes Sedai, she had been there when he had been taken away to be gentled, and had quickly let him leave.

"Is that Aes Sedai still here?" Rand asked Min, who snorted slightly.

"She left a long time ago Rand." She remarked. She gave him an unreadable look as she helped him up the stairs, supporting him whenever his legs couldn't hold him anymore. "I haven't seen you in five years Rand. Things have changed since then."

"I'd noticed," Rand remarked dryly. "Is Baerlon in trouble? I noticed the guards…in fact, I would have had to be very stupid not to notice them."

Min chuckled as she turned the key in the lock, opening the door. The place was cleaner than it had been last time he had been here but it was still quite messy. She led him into a seat and he collapsed gratefully into it, his heart pounding and sweat pouring off his face.

"What happened to you Rand?" Min murmured as she got him a drink of water and some bread to eat.

"It's a long story. First, what's with the guards?" Rand questioned her as she dropped a plate of bread and a glass of water on the table in front of him. She sat down next to him, her eyes serious despite her light voice.

"Things have been tense Rand." She started. "A few years ago, Queen Morgase evicted all of the Whitecloaks out of Andor. Rumours are that they attacked the Daughter-Heir of the throne and her bodyguard."

"I wasn't her bodyguard then." Rand said automatically, taking a large gulp from his drink.

"You're the Daughter-Heirs bodyguard?" Min said, spluttering slightly as she put down her own drink.

Rand nodded impatiently. "So? The Whitecloaks were evicted and…"

"They didn't want to leave, but they had no choice about the legions near Caemlyn. They came here, maybe a hundred leagues east, and set up camp in near the Mountains of mist. They've been patrolling the area, looking for Darkfriends and promoting their rumours that Queen Morgase is a Darkfriend. The Queens Guard came after them a few months ago, told them that they were meant to leave all of Andor, not just Caemlyn. The Whitecloaks refused, and now we have ten thousand men on each side preparing to fight." Min told him. "At the start, some people actually believed the rumours of Morgase, you know, that she was a Darkfriend. But almost a year and a half ago, Andor sent an army up to the Blight and supposedly aided Shienar in stopping another set of Trolloc Wars. A lot of rumours are flying about with that, Some say that Aes Sedai were there, others say that an Andorran Lord fought at Shayol Ghul and was killed and the Queen massed the army as revenge. Some are even saying that the Aiel came from beyond the Spine of the World and fought side by side the nations they had terrorised." Min finished.

"So Tallanvor warned the Queen. And Alanna the Aes Sedai," Rand murmured. "Aviendha and Enaila must have told the Wise Ones if the Aiel were involved."

Min stared at him with her dark eyes and chuckled softly. "Why do I get the feeling that you're all mixed up in this?" She remarked.

"I am Min, Light, I am…or was." Rand chuckled without humour.

"So, tell me of the dramatic adventures of the sheepherder swords-boy, and the grand nations he has seen and the people he has met." Min said, leaning forward on her elbows.

"You're probably won't believe me. Light, half the time I don't believe it myself. But here it is. After I left Baerlon…"

A few hours later, Rand stopped talking and leant back in his chair.

"Light Rand," Min whispered hoarsely. "You have been through a lot. You, a ta'veren…Shayol Ghul…The Green Man…Rand, you must be either cursed or blessed by the Creator himself."

Rand nodded in agreement as Min stood up, getting him another glass of water.

"Did you know about this when your first saw me?" He asked her. "I remember that you could see things about people, was this in any of what you saw about me?"

"I saw glory. I knew that you would do great things, and that someday you would be hailed as a hero, maybe even a King." Min answered, a touch reluctantly. "I also saw pain, fire and death. I'd say that only the second part has happened to you so far."

"Light, I don't want to be a King." Rand muttered. He suddenly focused her with a penetrating look. "What can you see now?"

"Rand, most people only ever have one or two things appear in their lives." Min explained, avoiding his gaze as she passed him another cup and sat down.

"You can see something, can't you?" Rand asked her.

"I see more pain, more death and more fighting." Min answered him truthfully. "And the crown of glory, it has gotten larger and stronger. It isn't over for you Rand, not by a long shot."

Rand nodded slowly and his eyes burned as he fought off weariness. "It can wait then. I'm going home Min…the Whitecloaks haven't been that far south, have they?"

Min nodded. "Usually on patrols mainly." She chuckled suddenly. "Whenever the scrawl the Dragon fang on somebodies door in the southern villagers, the farmers just wash it off and go back to their business. They are a stubborn lot, not budging an inch for the Whitecloaks. The Whitecloaks don't like them, but they have more important things to worry about. I did hear the rumour that the Whitecloaks were seizing peddler vans and merchant trains for their own uses though, and that there was a small camp further south. But nothing bad has been said about the camp."

Rand frowned. "Tam is a good swordsman." He said slowly. "But he is just one man. If the Whitecloaks started harassing Two Rivers, there might be fighting. I can't see the Village Council or the Women's Circle bending over to receive Whitecloaks."

Min said nothing as Rand struggled to his feet. "If you could help me to an Inn, I'll get some rest and leave for Two Rivers tomorrow."

"Nonsense." Min said sharply. "You can stay here, you'll need all of your money just to get a horse."

Rand started to protest, but Min wasn't having any of it and gently but firmly led him out of his seat and into the next room. A small bed with a single mattress occupied and Min shoved him gently down onto it.

"Min, I can't…" Rand started.

"That's my only bed, so don't be surprised to wake and find me next to you." Min said, ignoring him. Her face softened and she eyed Rand with concern, enough to make him stop his protests. "Get some rest Woolhead, you look exhausted. You shouldn't have left the tinkers until you had recovered better."

She closed the door silently and Rand sighed, shrugging himself out of his shirt. It was a bright red shirt, given to him by the Tinkers. He placed his pack down on the ground and undid his belt, sliding his scabbard and placing it down on the ground. Lying down on the bed, he marvelled at how soft it felt as he succumbed to sleep.

In the middle of the night, he awoke to find a warm figure pressed against his back. Moving carefully, he turned around to see the sleeping figure of Min curled up next to him. She was dressed in an oversized boys shirt, and looked so peaceful as she slept there that Rand had to smile. He closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
It wasn't until morning that he awoke again. He stretched his arms and legs, yawning wildly as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He was alone on the bed, but the smell of bacon floated from the other room. He sighed, stretching his arms and feeling very relaxed and refreshed. He put on his shirt and for a moment, stared at the sword that lay innocently in his scabbard. It was a mystery to him, something that had been changed by the Eye of the World. But his old clothes, his pack, everything that he had with him had fallen in and none of them had changed. He could not embrace Saidin, the empty part of his mind still remained empty, but the sword…the sword bought upon the feeling of drawing in Saidin, pure and untainted,and when he touched it with his bare skin…it was like nothing he had ever encountered before.

"Rand? Wake up you big buffoon!" Min yelled from the other room.

Rand snorted in laughter as he strapped the sword to his waist. For a minute, Rand could feel every single particle of the sword, fixed and rigid, and could sense Saidin. It beckoned to him, pure and untainted, intoxicating and sweet, but Rand shoved the feeling out of his mind and quickly let go of his sword. It was no use dwelling on what he had once channelled, he had been gentled and there was no turning back from that.

"That smells good," Rand said approvingly, when he walked into the kitchen as spotted Min gorging herself on a piece of bacon,

Min looked up from her half-eaten bacon and smiled winningly. "Really? Well, the pan has been heated and the meat is fresh. Have fun."

Rand stared at Min for a second, his face blank, before he burst out in laughter. "Light Min, never change." He said, still laughing.

Min seemed to glow under the laugh and her eyes brightened. "Sit down you Woolhead." She said loudly, waving her hand at the chair next to her. "You're my guest, of course I have made you breakfast." She said, scoffing at his ignorance.

Rand sat down as she presented him with his own bacon and he grinned at her. "I haven't had meat in ages." Rand admitted. "Tinkers don't like to eat it, killing animals is also performing violence."

Min said nothing as she watched him wolf down the bacon, an odd smile on her face. Rand noticed and raised a questioning eyebrow between bites. Min flushed, her cheeks suffusing with red and hastily averted her eyes.

"So, you're planning on leaving today?" Min asked him quickly.

Rand nodded. "I have ten silvers in my pack, mostly left-overs from my pay as a Queens Guard." He said. "I figure I could buy a decent horse for that much."

Min snorted. "I don't know of the prices over at Caemlyn of Shienar, but you could buy several horses and the feed for that much here."

Rand gave her a quick grin as he finished his breakfast. "So, what have you been up to? Last night, it was all me, me, me."

"Rand, my life compared to your life is very boring." Min said dryly. "I woke in the mines in the summers, and run errands here the rest of the year."

"Do you get much money?" Rand asked.

Min made a sour face. "Hardly." She sniffed. "But it's enough to live off."

"Here then," Rand said as he pulled out a small bag tied off with a rope. He dropped to the contents on the table, ten shiny silvers clattering together as they lay their, gleaming. Min dropped her mouth at the money but an angry light came into her eyes.

"I don't want your pity," Min said angrily. "I can live very well by myself, thankyou very much Rand."

"Pity? Seven Silvers in the rate of pay for the best inn and breakfast in Caemlyn." Rand told her, grinning slightly at her expression. "So, I'll take these three and you can keep the rest as my payment."

"Did you think I would charge you for this?" Min asked, her tone hurt and her features pained.

Rand flinched. "No!" He said hurriedly. "Light Min, I'm not trying to offend you…I'm just…look, All I was…It's just…"

Min watched him, but her features were more amused than angry. "You're just trying to be nice," She summarised.

Rand nodded, slightly relieved that she had gotten it. "That's it." He confirmed.

Min eyed the coins and with careful hands, took seven of them and placed them in her breast pocket in her breeches. "I do not have so much pride that I will not accept free coin," She said.

"Good. Do you want to come and help me find a quick horse?" Rand asked her.

"I know a person," Min offered as she stood up. She smiled lazily at Rand and beckoned to the door.

"You'll pay me a two silvers from this?" A grizzled man who pointed at a brown horse asked in disbelief. It was a good horse, fast and speedy. Not excellent or great, but it would suit Rand perfectly for the trip home.

"If you do not wish to sell it…" Min trailed off, her hands on her hips.

"No, no!" The man said hurriedly. He smiled greedily. "The horse is yours…for two silvers."

"I trust that a saddle and harness will be included in this deal?" Min asked.

The man looked surprised and had opened his mouth to object, when he noticed Min pulling out the two silvers. They had been quickly spit-shined and polished to produce a better gleaming effect, so they sparkled in the light. "Of course," He managed, his eyes never leaving the coins. "I'll…I'll just go do that now."

As the man left the small stable to get the saddle, Min turned to Rand and smiled smugly.

"Am I good?" She asked him.

"That was amazing." Rand confessed.

"I am very good at haggling." Min said, tossing one of the coins in the air and catching it in her hand. She looked proud of herself.

A few moments later, the horse had been saddled and harnessed.

"Here is your payment," Min said and tossed him the coins.

"Thankyou Lady, have a pleasant day." The man said as he bowed awkwardly. Rand led the horse from the stable, the faint tingles of tiredness creeping into him already.

"Light, I wish I was healed." Rand muttered to himself. He turned to Min and there was an awkward silence between them as they stood at the far end of Baerlon. Behind them were the stables; in front of them was the log wall that surrounded the town and the gate. Two armed guards stood at either side and four more watched every horse and man that came in closely.

"You're going to leave now," Min said.

Rand nodded. "I have my pack, that has everything I belong." He said. He stared into Min's eyes earnestly. "Thankyou Min. It was good to see you again."

Min punched him in the arm quite hard and Rand flinched. But she smiled and hugged him tightly, her arms wrapping around his tall frame. "You take care of yourself," She said as she let go. "What will you do?"

Rand shrugged. "I don't know. I'll help Tam on the farm. I don't really know what I could do,"

"Rand, you've been a shepherd, a merchant guard, a soldier, a traveller, an Aiel, a warder, a Tinker and a Lord. I don't doubt that you will somehow throw yourself into some other mess and become something else." Min said dryly.

"If you're ever near the Two Rivers, come and visit me." Rand said as he hopped onto his horse.

"I will see you again," Min said, and she sounded so certain that Rand wandered if she had Seen something. He waved goodbye and moved the horse to a trot, passing the watchful guards. Once he had past the city gates, he pushed the horse into a gallop and sped forward. If he moved fast enough, he could reach the Two Rivers by nightfall.

Tam al'Thor sat in a comfortable armchair, his head buried into one of his books. Lamps lit the darkened farmhouse as Tam turned another page. Suddenly the sound of an approaching horse appeared and Tam looked up, his hand automatically reaching for a thin and battered sword leaning against his armchair. With the Whitecloaks in the area, it had never been safe to go outside at night, especially if you lived away from the town and on a farm like Tam did.

"Clear off!" Tam yelled angrily as the horse stopped outside. He could here footsteps as somebody walked up towards the door. Locks and bolts stood between the stranger and Tam, who stood with his sword, tense and wary.

"Tam?" Came a voice in surprise.

"Who is it?" Tam asked, his curiosity piped as he struggled to remember where he had heard that voice before. It sounded so familiar…no! It couldn't be!

"It's Rand," Came the voice hesitantly, but Tam was already shrugging of the bolts and locks, and he flung open the door.

It was Rand! But he had gotten so tall! Tam gazed at his son for a moment, before the stocky and greying man laughed loudly, embracing him. Rand returned the embrace, and could almost feel tears come to his eyes as he held his father for minutes. Tam broke apart, his eyes shining from moisture as he led Rand into the house. As Rand sat down, Tam took a close look at him in the light. He was wearing a shiny red shirt, and dark trousers, and both items looked ridiculous. Rand's sword…his sword at one point, hung on his belt. Rand had grown taller as he had grown older, his face had lost all of its chubbiness and had sharpened and hardened. There were scars on his face, one very close to his hairline and the other near his cheek. Tam could see through the undone top buttons of his shirt, and there were scars on his torso as well, one that looked like an old arrow wound and one that looked freshly made. Rand's eyes had changed the most, the disinterest and apathy was mostly gone. Instead, a certain wariness and alertness filled them, as if Rand was expecting an attack at any time and was always ready for it.

"Light, I have missed you son," Tam said quietly.

Rand grimaced at that. Should he let Tam know that he knew about his true parentage? For a moment, Rand hesitated but then he decided not to. He had come home to see Tam and it would be a bad way to start a conversation at this very moment.

"I've missed you too." He said softly.

"How have you been?" Tam asked Rand.

"I'm well. I just rode in from Baerlon, I bought a horse there so I could get here as quick as I could." Rand told him.

Tam smiled but noted the way Rand held himself. "You look exhausted."

"I'm always exhausted these days." Rand admitted. "I was injured recently and spent eight months healing. I still haven't healed properly."

"How were you injured?" Tam asked in concern.

Rand opened his mouth, but the words failed him. Did he want Tam to know everything? Should he hold back?
Tam noticed his hesitation and smiled in understanding. "No need to say anything son. I was the same way when I came back from Illian. Sometimes, what happens out of the Two Rivers should stay out of the Two Rivers. That part of my life was over and I didn't want to reopen old wounds."

Rand nodded mutely as Tam stood up.

"Would you like a drink then?" He asked.

Rand shook his head. "No thanks," he said, finishing the sentence with a yawn.

"I'll make up a bed for you. Tomorrow I was planning on going into town, you can join me if you want to," Tam said.

"I think I will." Rand said.

As Tam made up Rand's old bed, Rand dropped his pack on the floor and undid the straps. A large bundle wrapped around with a dark cloth was the first thing to come out, and he carefully placed in a small section of his wardrobe. Tam noticed but did not say anything as Rand pulled out the hammer.

"Do you think Perrin would like this?" He asked Tam. "It's Heartstone."

"Heartstone?" Tam whistled through his teeth. "Light Rand, I think you should hold onto it. It's bound to be rare. Where did you get it?"

Rand stared at Tam, his gaze strong and penetrative. For a moment, Tam watched his eyes go distant before he shook himself back together.

"Nowhere in particular." Rand replied.

Tam nodded. So it was like that. But he did not mind. For five years, Tam had been alone in his farmhouse. Now his son was back and Tam didn't care what he had done or where he had been, so long as he was back and safe.

As Rand settled down on the newly made bed, Tam hovered at the doorway. "Rand…was it the right thing to do? Did I do wrong to send you away?"

"No." Rand said, his tired voice strong and firm. "It was the right thing to do, and I don't ever regret leaving."

Tam nodded, his conscience slightly lighter as he left the room, blowing out the lamp.