Note: Greetings all. It has been brought to my attention that I may have mixed up the ages in the first couple chapters. I chop it up mainly to the way the characters were written at the time, and how Moiraine constantly refers to them as children. It made them seem a little younger than they were. Regardless, I have taken the new information to heart, and here are the updated ages of the cast so far.
Matt, Rand, Perrin = 19 years old.
Egwene = 17 Years old.
Harry and Nynaeve = 26 years old.
As this is still early in the overall story, hopefully this change in ages won't be too jarring.
Note: I do wish to note that I am simply a fan of the franchise, not a true scholar of Robert Jordan as many good people are. If I do mess things up, I apologize, and am more than willing to go back to fix it.
Part Three - Travelers Found
"Weep for Manetheren-"
"Honey, I love you, but if you start singing that song again I'm going to kick you off your horse." Nynaeve spoke in a sickeningly sweet voice. Loosening her foot in the stirrup for emphasis.
Hadrian quickly shut his mouth, biting off his lyrics. "I'm not that bad am I?"
The dark haired woman shrugged. "My love, you have many, many skills. It just so happens singing is not one of them."
The blacksmith grumbled in his saddle for the next mile. Begrudging his lack of musical talent, and lamenting the loss of the radio. That was until his wife took up the tune. She had a musical lilt to her voice, that bards and gleemen might call plain, but to him, she sounded like an angel.
When she'd finished he trotted his mare over to keep level with his wife. "That was beautiful darling. Why don't you sing more often?"
She sighed, and started quoting her old teacher in a nasally tone. "A Wisdom should be seen as serious and wise. Frivolous acts such as singing are to be kept in private." Her voice returned to normal pitch. "Old lessons are hard to unlearn."
"I understand." He raised a hand before him and cast a Point Me charm. A dim arrow of light alit in his palm, and it was still pointing in the same direction. "My charm says the boys are still heading toward Baerlon. What about your tracking?"
"All the signs I've seen support your estimation. Which is a good thing considering we're only a few hours away from the town. It would be a shame to change directions so suddenly when we have the prospect of a warm bed tonight."
"Oh I agree." Hadrian purred, causing his wife to smile wickedly back at him.
They'd been on the road for days by that point, and they always seemed to just be behind their quarries. If they didn't know any better, it would almost seem like the aes sedai's horses weren't getting tired. Regardless, they made it to the town of Baerlon without any further issues. Those came after the trotted through the gates.
"Hold!" The command came from a man in a bone white cloak, leading a procession of similarly dressed men.
Not wanting to start a confrontation, they acquiesced, moving to the side of the entrance so as not to impede further traffic.
"Can we help you sir?" Hadrian asked politely.
The mystery man moved his horse uncomfortably close to their own. "My name is Aemon Valda. Captain of the Children of the Light. I need to ask you some questions."
"I wasn't aware the Children had the legal standing to question people in this country." Nynaeve put in crossly. She did not appreciate being detained from finding her people.
The man bristled with anger, but nevertheless answered the accusation. "Normally we do not, but the mayor has agreed to house our regiment for the foreseeable future. As he is a devout man, he has no problems with our investigations, as only a dark friend would object to being questioned in the Light."
Seeing his wife bout to go on a tirade, Hadrian interrupted. "My wife meant no offense sir. She was just surprised to see your kind here. What would you like to know?"
"It is good that at least one of you has respect for the Children. What brings you to the city at this time?"
"I'm a blacksmith sir. My wife and I decided to come to stock up on some higher grade metals, and perhaps see if I could expand my business."
"Hm." The white cloaked man considered his words for several seconds, perusing his form, and apparently deciding that he did indeed have the build of a blacksmith.
"Very well then. Have you come across any strange sights on your travels? Aes sedai perhaps?"
"No aes sedai, but there were some animal mutilations in the woods a few days back. I thought it was just a big predator."
"Could be, or perhaps not. I will pass on the information." The white cloak moved his horse away and gestured to the now open street. "Go with the Light."
"Thank you sir." Hadrian bowed, and pulled his wife's reigns after him. They made it three blocks before she exploded on him.
"What in the dark one's name was that Hadrian? You've heard the same stories about those monsters that I have. Innocents tortured into giving false confessions, whole villages put to the torch, innocent girls beheaded for even being suspected of touching the One Power. How could you be even semi-cordial to them?"
He sighed. "Do you think I enjoyed showing that man respect Nynaeve? He and his compatriots were inside the walls, and they were armed. Clearly they have sway with the mayor as they implied. If we were too rude, or aroused suspicion, how long do you think it would be before they arrested us for an, 'interrogation'?"
"You could easily defeat them."
He stared into his wife's eyes. "Are you in such a hurry for me to take lives."
Her gaze softened at once. "I'm… sorry darling. You're right, of course. If I ever implied-"
He raised a hand. "It's alright. Now let's find those kids."
Two hours of searching, magnanimous use of magic and tracking, and a bit of people watching, led to the discovery of a rather large inn. The sign hanging over its door proclaimed it to be the 'Stag and Lion.'
"Well?" Nynaeve asked softly, shielding her husband's hands with her body.
Behind her, Hadrian was casting his Point Me spell one last time. "Perrin, at least, is inside. I can't speak for the others."
The Wisdom of Emonds Field tugged her braid in slight annoyance, but nevertheless said, "If they aren't there then we'll just find them later. Come on." With that, she flicked her braid back over her shoulder, and took off to cross the street. Her amused husband close on her heels.
They expected a crowd of diners, perhaps city watch sitting down for a drink, not dancing. Definitely not dancing.
A band was playing on a slight platform, and everyone in the room was swaying to and fro with partners.
Hadrian pointed to a group of older teenagers in the center. "Found them, and it looks like Egwene is there too."
"Really? I thought she was still in the village." Nynaeve glared at the sight of the seventeen year old slipping from partner to partner on the balls of her feet. "I'll be having a talk with her later."
Her husband was about to say something else, but he noticed a blue dress and black hair amongst the revelers. "My love, why don't you grab a table for all of us. I'll bring them over."
Not waiting for a reply, he slunk forward with the deceptive grace of a former duelist, and dodged dancers left and right until he stood before the aes sedai. Before Moiraine had fully noticed him, he had one hand in her own, and the other on her hip.
"Hello, Ms. Damodred. Fancy finding you here, with all of my wayward villagers as well."
"Mr. Luhan," She didn't miss a beat, and kept moving them both to the rhythm, "I wasn't expecting you here."
"Clearly, now why don't I take those kids off your hands?" He gave the woman a spin and brought her back to him. "Surely a woman such as yourself is hindered by having to travel with so many." Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Nynaeve starting to herd his people off the floor, and over to a cleared table.
"Oh, they're no trouble, and they won't be safe without me. Those trollocs will keep hunting them wherever they are."
Hadrian frowned, hating that the woman could not lie. "Really? And will they really be safe with you? You never answered my inquiry in the caves after all."
"I didn't feel the need to dignify it with a response." Moiraine's eyes started moving now, just noticing that her charges had disappeared from the floor.
"Ah, noticed it have you. My wife is watching them now, and unless you want us to take them away from you here and now," his eyes started to glow with arcane fire, "answer the question. You say you took them for everyones protection. If they continue to follow you, will they be safe from aes sedai."
The noble woman in his arms was starting to get nervous. Much like that night in Emonds Field, she could feel a dip in the air pressure that she associated with his power. "You can't be thinking of trying something now!" She whispered, "There are white cloaks in the city!"
"They couldn't stop me before I got my people out. Answer the question."
Moiraine growled internally. How had this man tracked them down so fast? And how was he still putting her in situations where she was forced to speak the full truth? "Fine then. They'll be safe with me and aes sedai that I trust. That being said, there is the very real chance that others in the order would try to use them, which is why I am taking them with me to the White Tower. To keep them safe."
"You realize that makes no sense right?" The song they'd started on had finished, but they just kept dancing into the next one.
The aes sedai huffed at the arrogance of the man holding her. Curse his strong grip. "The white Tower is the safest place on the continent. It has never fallen to invasion."
"Neither has the Stone of Tear from what I have heard, but that's beside the point. You just said that other aes sedai will try to use them, and your plan is to take my people to the place they all congregate? No. Hell, no. Not in another three turnings of the wheel of time would I allow that." The fire in his eyes diminished, but the glare remained. "You say you're keeping those boys safe by taking them, but what was the reason behind the abduction. Aes sedai do things for their own purposes. Everyone knows that."
'The nerve of this man.' Moiraine thought to herself. 'Trying to dictate what I will or will not do.' Though the more she thought on it, he did make good points. For one, based on the power he displayed, the man could easily overpower her, so angering him further was not in her best interests if she wanted to be an influence on the Dragon. For another, his thoughts on their destination also made sense. She'd chosen the White Tower because it was the most secure place she knew, and the trolloc attack had rattled her. She'd wanted a safe place to guide whoever the chosen one turned out to be, but at the Tower there was always the potential that others would intervene. In hindsight it wasn't a very good goal after all. Even if, in the back of her mind, she'd been thinking about the possible need to cage the Dragon there, should he lose control.
She looked up. "You may have a point about the Tower. But I can't think of anywhere else the Dragon Reborn can be safe."
Hadrian stared at the woman in his arms. "The Dragon Reborn. You think one of those boys is the Dragon?"
Moiraine nodded ecstatically. Years ago, during the Aiel wars, a prophecy was given by a woman I trust. It stated that a child of destiny was born on the snows of Dragonmount. Through years of research and travel I tracked the most likely candidates to your village."
She turned them both mid dance to see the three young men at Nynaeve's table. They were laughing and clinking together mugs of ale.
"One of those three boys is the Dragon Reborn. I took them to find out which, so I can help guide him when the time comes."
All that talk of prophecies and guiding the path of a chosen one, was starting to raise Hadrian's hackles with thoughts of Dumbledore. "What gives you the right to dictate the life of anyone, let alone one of mine."
Moiraine's eyes widened in shock at his words. "Is that what you thought I was doing?" His level stare confirmed his acknowledgment without the necessity of words. "No wonder you were so short with me before." She mused.
After a moment she nodded to herself and spoke clearly, "I am sorry if I gave you that impression, so here, I will speak freely. I do not intend to dictate the Dragon's life. As I said before, I only want to guide him. The prophecies of the Dragon state the tasks and tribulations he will need to undertake before the end of the world, and I would just feel better being there to lend a hand, or sound opinion, rather than leave everything to a nineteen year old boy. If I can aid him I will. If I can offer guidance or counsel I will. But I shall not try to control him."
All at once the blacksmith's glare disappeared, and he smiled. "That is all I needed to hear." He gave her another twirl, and explained, "In my life, I've found that people with power tend to think they have a right to use it on others, free will be damned. I think you may have seen it too in your time. If you truly do not seek to control me or mine, then we have no issues." The song ended, and he held the woman softly to his chest, "but my wife and I will be coming with you. that is non-negotiable."
Moiraine was about to argue when he said, "Before you try to stop us, remember that we've already found you once. We will do so again if necessary. You've seen a very small example of my power. Think of how much safer you'll be with it actively working toward your defense."
"Fine." Moiraine caved. She couldn't come up with a good enough argument to dissuade a man that had traveled for days to track her down. "Let's sit down, my feet hurt from all this dancing."
Her partner nodded, and they moved off the floor to the table full of Emonds Fielders.
"Well?" Nynaeve asked, standing so she was taller than the aes sedai.
"We've come to an understanding darling. We're part of the party now." At her confused look he elaborated. "Moiraine said quite clearly that trollocs will just follow the kids. We can't take them home if they're targets." His eyes moved to the fourth young person in their little group, "Though we could send Egwene back. She is not in danger like the rest."
"Excuse me!" Egwene spoke up at that prospect. "I am not going back. Not when I've already traveled this far."
Nynaeve tried placing a hand on the irritated girls shoulder, but she was brushed off rather rudely. So instead, she tried to reason with her. "Egwene, you're set to attend the university this term. Your parents have already sent the money they saved to make it happen. Are you really going to make them lose so much for nothing?"
The girl scoffed at the insinuation. "I'm not staying for 'nothing'. Moiraine said I can be an aes sedai."
"Did she now?" Hadrian turned to the woman in question. "Funny how that didn't come up in our little chat."
For her part, Moiraine had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. It wasn't that she was hiding her intentions for the girl, she'd just forgotten. Out of the side of her eye, she noticed the look of annoyance on Rand al'Thor's face. That was interesting. He clearly didn't want Egwene to attend the Tower.
"She has the ability to touch the One Power. It's quite strong actually. She must be trained."
"Funny word that, 'must'." The blacksmith mused. "What would you do, had you discovered this fact, and she didn't want to learn at your Tower?"
Moiraine was visibly uncomfortable with where the line of questioning had turned. "She would not have a choice, at first. When a child is found to have the ability, they are immediately taken to the White Tower to begin lessons as a novice. After they attend their trials as Accepted, they have the opportunity to continue or leave."
"And how long does that normally take?"
The sister of the blue ajuh sighed, knowing exactly how the irritable man was likely to take her answer. "Anywhere from five to ten years."
That gave Egwene a start. Clearly she'd thought it would be a bit faster of an education than that.
Hadrian had developed some thoughts off of the noble woman's answers. "So you are saying that your order of bossy women kidnaps young girls if they find them useful, denies them a choice in their future, and takes them away from their families for up to ten years? What if a family relies on that child to help work their lands or train in trades? Is your Tower paying them for loss or income? Do your sisters even explain to the families why they are taking the children?"
Moiraine took a moment to control herself. Hadrian was very much oversimplifying the issue, the Tower was in dire need of numbers, but his allegations were actually spot on. She herself had argued against their methods, but a thousand years of tradition did not just break because one person doesn't like it.
Finally she said, "That's a conversation for another time. Regardless, Egwene must study to become an aes sedai. That is beyond any of our abilities to dispute."
Instead of arguing further, Hadrian turned to glare at the future novice. "Egwene, before you go to bed you will write a letter to your father, explaining what is happening, and once you become an aes sedai, you will pay your parents back the money they're losing on your education. You owe them that much."
Egwene sighed, "Fine."
"Good." He turned to the boys then, "Now tell me everything that happened while you were on the road."
Before anyone could speak, Moiraine stood up and gripped his forearm in her hand. "Mr. Luhan, before you get bogged down with stories, there is someone I would like you to meet."
Not seeing any harm in the act, the blacksmith stood, and followed.
A few moments later they were standing before the bar, and a beautiful woman in trousers, with her hair in a bob cut, was standing across from them.
"Hadrian Luhan, this is Min. She's a seer." Moiraine introduced them.
"Hm." Hadrian mused, "I don't really put a lot of stock in seers."
Moiraine frowned at his brusque dismissal. "I can vouch for her readings Hadrian. She's never been wrong, and she's already read our other travelers."
For her part, Min was just staring at him with wide eyes. "And you are the most interesting of them all." She breathed.
The aes sedai was intrigued. "Oh? Do tell, Min."
The irises on the woman were moving rapidly, as if trying to capture something beyond their field of vision. "I see one man with two lives. Three women dance around you, one of which is your wife. Great things have already happened in your past, and more are yet to come." Her head tilted in puzzlement, "You're going to have a choice soon, weather to trust someone or not. If you want to survive, choose to trust. Also, do not trust the Tower. It's rise is proportional to your destruction."
"That's quite interesting." Moiraine mused.
"It should be, you're one of the three women." Min quipped, a dopey smile alighting on her face.
The aes sedai stilled. "What?"
"You heard me, Moiraine." She leaned in to whisper in the woman's ear so the male could not hear, "The man is quite a catch Moiraine, you're lucky. Though I'd suggest getting on his wife's good side if you want a place at the table."
"Min!" The aes sedai gasped. "That's crazy!"
"You said it yourself Moiraine, the things I see always come to pass."
With that, the seer returned to her duties, pouring drinks for the thirsty patrons.
"Well…" the aes sedai refused to look at the man that had spent the last couple weeks irritating her in one way or another. "That was strange."
"You're the one that brought us." Hadrian commented. "Come on, let's get back."
Later That Night
The couple was lounging on a straw mattress at the inn. They'd already bathed, made love, and basked in the glow of shared relief. Now, they were discussing the things they'd heard at the table.
"What do you think those boys' dreams were about?" Nynaeve asked, resting her chin on his chest.
"I couldn't say, love." Hadrian was trailing his fingers across his wife's back as he contemplated starting round two. "But even in my last life, dreams tended to have meaning. This wouldn't be the first dark lord to use them as a means of influencing people."
Any further discussion was broken by a large crash echoing outside in the hall. There were yells, and grunts, followed by the sound blades crashing together.
Hadrian jumped out of bed, slid into a pair of trousers, and ran into the hall. He was met with the sight of Rand, pressed against the wall, and the Warder, Lan, fighting blade to blade with a very tall being that had no eyes, and very sharp teeth. The former hero was not an expert on the creatures of this world, but he figured in this case he could make a judgement call on looks.
He focused his power and cast a disarming curse followed by a bombarda maxima. The monster suddenly lost its grip on its blade, and found itself shot into the nearest wall hard enough to crush its bones and internal organs. The body slumped to the floor, and Lan stared with wide eyes.
"Please tell me that he was a bad guy." Hadrian mused. "Cause this will be really awkward if he wasn't."
The warrior gave himself a shake, sheathed his weapon, and turned to face him. "That was a myrddraal. A creature of the dark one's design. They tend to serve as captains for the trolloc armies. If he's here then the dark one knows we're here." He pointed to several doors in their hallway, one of which Rand had run into after he had gotten involved. "I'll get the horses ready, please wake the others and get them ready to leave."
Hadrian nodded and the two men separated to complete their tasks.
Getting out of the town from there was rather simple. They packed up, collected the gleeman, who was found in bed with two serving girls, mounted their steeds, and took off running as if the dark one himself was on their heels.
They should have known their escape was too easy, as the moment they left the city walls, they were met with the cavernous roar of trollocs. Thousands of them, with crudely forged weapons and torches raised in menacing intent.
Hadrian was just trying to figure out if he had enough magical juice in him to hold off the force long enough for his friends to escape, when Moiraine spoke up, "I know a place we can hide nearby. It is dangerous, horribly so, but we might just make it there before the trollocs, and they will not follow us inside." She gripped his arm, "I need you to trust me Hadrian, please."
The man thought back to his earlier conversation with Min, and could only nod. He wasn't confident in his abilities against this many foes anyway.
"Where are we going?" He asked.
The aes sedai grimaced, as if the very thought of the place was causing her pain. "Shadar Logoth, the dead city."
