Hello, readers! At long last, here is Chapter 2 of "Into the Chambers of Doom." I really hope you appreciate it. I already had it all typed out once, but a stupid power surge made me lose it all. And my computer also crashed, so that kinda prevented me from updating. But, anyway, here it is now. Enjoy! And remember to review! Please?

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Chapter 2 - Talking to a Fade

written by She Who Walks the Night

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Our valiant hero stumbled out of his gateway into... somewhere. Probably Shayol Ghul, but who knows with Rand? Everything was dark. Rand could not see his own hand in front of his nose. Why would he have his hand in front of his nose, you ask? I couldn't tell you. I only write this thing, after all.

Suddenly a torch flared to life, then another and another. Rand discovered that he stood in a dank, stone-gray passage. Shadows still lurked here and there. A seemingly disembodied voice spoke, a voice like the rattling of dead leaves. "Welcome, Dragon," it rasped.

Rand jumped in surprise and turned to see a figure ooze out of a shadow. The unnaturally pale skin and unshifting black cloak marked the thing as a Myrddraal. He could feel its eyeless glare. However, since he started out as dumb as a rock and is about as unfeeling as one--

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A/N: For some odd reason, I can imagine a rock protesting that... Um, please quit giving your computer screen that odd look. The poor thing isn't the warped mind who came up with this fic. You know what, blame yourselves. I may have written this, but you are the one who decided to read it. -.^

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--the Eyeless's stare did not effect him. He just looked back at it for a moment, then said, "Um... who are you?"

"I am called Shaidar Haran," the Fade rasped.

With the help of the ever-present voice of Lews Therin, Rand translated that. "Hand of the Dark? What's that supposed to mean?"

Shaidar Haran shrugged. "I dunno. I'm taller than other Myrddraal, I get my orders directly from the Great Lord, and I have other unique powers."

"Oh," said Rand. "Um... is there any particular reason you came out of that shadow without trying to kill me?"

"Yes," the Fade answered.

"Well, what is it?"

"You are here to retrieve the three women, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Why were they stolen, anyway?"

"I can't tell you that. I'm sure you know, though, that the Great Lord sent Cyndane to steal them. I still don't know how she managed it, or how the Great Lord convinced Moridin to let him borrow Cyndane," Shaidar Haran said, sounding amused, which was rather disturbing to hear.

Rand thought for a moment. Unfortunately, his head did not explode from the effort. "But WHY were they stolen?"

Shaidar Haran shrugged again. "The Great Lord was bored. The Last Battle won't be starting for a while yet, so he wanted some sort of amusement. So he gave orders to steal your trio to lure you here."

"Oh. That makes sense. I think," Rand said uncertainly. "What do I have to do to get them back? I mean, I have people to order around and countries to conquer. I really don't have time for trivial things like this."

"You will have to enter the Chambers of Doom and survive whatever horrors are contained within," Shaidar Haran answered dramatically.

"Hmm, sounds scary," Rand commented, not sounding the least bit impressed.

The Halfman looked exasperated, which is a very odd look for a thing with no eyes. "Come on, this way," he growled. He grabbed Rand and dragged him down the passage.

The Dragon Reborn tried to seize saidin to channel at the Myrddraal to get loose, but he couldn't. There was nothing to seize. In fact, he could not sense the True Source at all. And poor Rand panicked. "There's no Source! I can't channel! I've been gentled! Help!" he wailed.

"Oh, shut up. You haven't been gentled. This is Shayol Ghul, and you can't channel here since there is no True Source here," Shaidar Haran told him, continuing to drag him down the passage.

"But... but... How am I supposed to survive whatever horrors are contained within the Chambers of Whatever-you-called-it if I can't channel?" Rand demanded, but it sounded closer to a whimper.

Shaidar Haran stopped at a door and pulled it open. "That's your problem," he replied. And with that, he shoved the Light's champion through the doorway. The door shut on its own, and the Fade locked it.

The Myrddraal stood there for a few seconds, then grinned, a very frightening expression on a Myrddraal. "How long do you think he'll last?" he asked a passing Trolloc.

"Narg no know. Narg can't tell time or count," answered the Trolloc.

Shaidar Haran smirked, or came as close to smirking as a Myrddraal can. "I give him ten minutes, tops."

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Yeah, yeah, I know, it wasn't all that great. (Feel free to contradict me on that if you want. -.^) Well, review anyway and I'll try to have Chapter 3 up soon.