There was a pleasant wind blowing over the green where three women stood, all feeling a little awkward, and somewhat anxious. All women of different looks, though similar in a few regards, most noticeably of all, was their dark hair held in a single neat braid behind them.

Marin Al'Vere looked at the other two women, Alsbet Luhhan, the Blacksmiths wife, and Natti Cauthon, the horse traders, they looked back at the mayors wife with the same expectant, if not somewhat agitated expression, all held aloft with a good dose of nerves, each of them taking the time to straighten their plain woollen skirts that did not need it, to check their braid, within which a hair had not moved since they braided it earlier in the morning.

It was a peculiar thing to receive a letter in the Two-Rivers, more so to have three arrive at the same time. More surprising yet was the letters contents. All of which were nearly identical in nature, save for the one that Marin received. She softly re-read it to herself, for what would be the tenth time this morning.

Dear Mistress Al'Vere,

I hope this message finds you well, and I do hope everyone else is also well in the Two rivers. First of all, I apologise in the manner of which I am contacting you, not in that of well wishes, but in askance. I have recently taken on a wife, her name is Elayne, and she is the love of my life. However her temperament proves to gain the better of her at times. You have always been like a mother to me, so I have made arrangements to have her sent to you, so that you may teach her how a good wife may act. I wish you luck with her, she can be quite… adamant, about her position, but I am sure you can teach her a measure of humility. I know you will do well with her.

Well Wishes to all,

Rand Al'Thor

P.S. Elayne will most likely bring her sisters along with her in this, so I ask they not be left out either.

The letter from Rand was certainly a pleasant surprise, the request however, quite shocking. The fact he had a wife was a wonderful thing, and perhaps teaching her to adapt to Two Rivers ways would not be a bad thing. Tam took the news in his stride, and somewhat pleased of the development, though, he did seem disappointed Rand would not be returning as well. Alsbet was more than surprised about the Lady Faile being sent for the same teaching, apparently Perrin and she had a lengthy discussion on the matter, and they came to an agreement on her needing to learn more on how behave as a wife should; or so the content of Perrin's letter relayed, along with instructions to ignore her status, and remember that she should be treated as a girl without her hair in a braid. Most shocking of all was for Natti, to find her son doing well enough for himself to send home a wife, who had a maidservant no less! Quite surprising indeed.

However, this was only a beginning. From the North road from Watch hill came six horses and seven riders. The riders appeared all to be women, and it was to be expected in a way, from what Perrin had told them while he was home, Rands Wife, Elayne was a Lady, and servants were expected. Things however became quite clearer as they approached, and then, everything was not quite as clear as originally thought.

Upon one horse were two women, one was a very pretty young woman with hair like spun golden curls, her dress appeared to be made of fine silk, her skirts red, slashed with cream, and the bodice embroidered with roses, her face however was cast like ice as it became apparent her hands were tied to the pommel of her saddle, sitting Behind her was another woman, her hair a shade of red that reminded her of Rand, dressed in a white blouse, and a long brown skirt with a shawl around her shoulders, who appeared to be trying to contain her amusement over the situation.
Flanking them to the left was a woman, a little older than the first two, but no less beautiful, with short dark brown curls, wearing pale rose coloured breeches and a coat, both embroidered, that appeared to be tightly fit. She also appeared to be grinning quite widely. To the right was a woman wearing wide yellow trousers, and a short red coat, her bright blonde hair woven into an intricate braid, a full quiver at her side, and bow in her hands was a strange enough sight as any other, her face was wary of her surroundings, but it too showed a slight grin whenever her eyes passed the first woman, whose hands were tied.

Behind them was a familiar horse, the Lady Faile herself, her deep blue riding dress was of a different cut than they had seen before, with her hair laid along her back, it was strange to see her leaning forward over the pommel of her saddle, until it was clear that her hands were bound around the horses neck using the reins, her face as pristine as still water, her eyes flashing dangerously.

Most surprisingly of all was the last pair of horses. Next to a horse being ridden by a tall woman with a full figure and bright yellow hair, upon a horse which was half black, half white, as if split by a razor, was a dark skinned, young woman, whose head was shaved completely bald, wearing a deep green skirt which appeared to have hundreds of tiny folds, her face; stern, her eyes; afire, tied over her saddle, her hands and feet bound on each side upon the stirrup.

It would appear that there were to be many more surprises to come.