Nightmares

A/N: Yes, I know what you're thinking. 'ANOTHER CHAPTER? Wow she has no life!' But I'm bored, so I decided to write some more! Anyway, I'm nearly at the end of EotW (yes, this is the seriously abridged version, in 8, maybe 9 chapters!), and that means one of my favourite Lan/Nynaeve scenes!

Disclaimer: Nope. Not mine.

Nynaeve:

Nynaeve made her way back from her walk outside in the city. The air was cold, but she had needed to think privately. She opened the door to her room and walked in silently. Her pack lay on the floor where she had left it. No. Not where she had left it. That was decidedly odd. She made her way over towards it, and opened it up. She smiled softly. Moiraine finally decided to take action, then. She had left the letter from Anona on top, and now the picture of Anona and herself was on top.

She stood up and moved over to the bed. She should at least make some pretence of sleep, just so if someone came in they would think her sleeping.

xxx

They did indeed leave with the rising sun, and Nynaeve heard more than a few grumbles from the Edmond's Fielders. Ingtar left them after a while, and the weather got warmer and warmer, and the Blight's corruption more and more apparent. She could see the shock on the others faces, and she was reminded of the first time she had been in the Blight. They were also getting hotter, and shedding garments. She had been trained to withstand heat and cold, so she remained unperturbed.

The sun was setting, and Moiraine spoke up,

"There is a place not far off. It will be a good omen for us to camp there." Nynaeve smiled. Malkier. Lan gave Moiraine a flat look, then nodded reluctantly.

When they arrived at a hilltop Moiraine deemed sufficient they dismounted. Nynaeve saw the remains of the seven towers in the distance. Her smile was sad as she looked at them. She forced herself to turn her head and concentrate on setting up camp. Moiraine channelled some sort of thing that caused people to 'see around us' or some such thing. Lan and the boys worked on unloading the horses, and Nynaeve noted with some satisfaction that Lan came near Ru'n very carefully.

"There is some uncontaminated water just ahead." Moiraine informed them.

"Uncontaminated water?" Loial said, disbelievingly, "In the Blight?"

Moiraine smiled, "I have used the Power to… disinfect it, I suppose you could say. You may bathe if you wish." Egwene disappeared to bathe, and a came back a while later, informing Nynaeve that she could go.

Nynaeve made her way carefully through the trees to the small pool that Moiraine had treated. The water sparkled invitingly, and Nynaeve smiled softly. This would be a welcome change from the blasting heat they had endured all day.

Slowly she unbuttoned her dress, pulling it off, and then tugged off her shift. She gently traced the long scar running down the inside of her lower arm. She could still remember the day it had happened. The day that the Trollocs had come to the village where she had been staying with her parents and brother at the time.

She sighed and moved to the water's edge. There was no point in dwelling on the past. She stepped into the water, and allowed herself a little gasp as her toes were met with the icy cold of the pool. She walked in further, until she was waist deep in water. She reached for her braid and loosened her hair. It fell over her shoulders covering her back.

This was unfortunately the moment Lan decided to fetch some water from the pool. He stepped out into the clearing with Rand in tow, and straight into the sight of Nynaeve. Luckily, she had her back turned, but she whirled around the second she heard the noise. Everything happened at once. Rand yelled loudly, Nynaeve screamed, and Lan's eyes widened, and he whirled around so that his back was to Nynaeve.

Nynaeve leapt from the water, quickly gathering her cape around her, and began to yell at them.

Rand's cry had brought everyone else running, and Mat, Perrin and Loial, seeing Nynaeve soaking wet and clutching a cloak around her instantly turned around to join Lan in his 'Look away!' plan. Egwene gasped, and joined in with the berating of Lan and Rand, Moiraine tried her best not to laugh, and Lan continued to will the image of a naked Nynaeve out of his mind.

"No-one told me that you were bathing! It was Lan's idea anyway!" Rand yelled defensively.

"Oh really?" Nynaeve asked, voice dangerous.

"In my defence," Lan turned around, noting thankfully that she had put something on, "I didn't know either."

"You could have thought to ask!"

"Well, I'll do that next time." The second he said it he realised how it must have sounded.

"NEXT TIME!" She shrieked, "THERE WILL BE NO NEXT TIME!"

Lan winced. She may have just blown his eardrums. "No, no, sorry. Slip of the tongue."

Lan:

Nynaeve sniffed and turned on her heel, heading back to the camp, stopping only to pick up her clothes. Egwene followed her, glaring formidably at Lan and Rand. Loial's ears were twitching uncontrollably, and Mat made a choking sound of suppressed laughter.

"You actually walked in on her bathing?" He demanded.

"Yes." Rand said shortly. "We did." Mat guffawed. Lan was still busy trying to forget what he had just seen.

Rand:

When they arrived back at camp, Nynaeve was fully clothed and still glaring. Rand was also trying to forget what he had seen, although for different reasons to Lan's.

Egwene was talking to Moiraine about something regarding the Power, no doubt, and Nynaeve sat with a troubled look on her face. Several timed she opened her mouth as if to say something, only to close it again. She seemed to be battling with herself. Finally she spoke.

"Perhaps," She said slowly and carefully, "When you go to Tar Valon, Egwene, I will come with you. You will need a familiar face, and someone to advise you other than Aes Sedai." Egwene smiled delightedly, and Moiraine's expression was unreadable. The night went on.

When darkness arrived they all rolled over to get some sleep, but for some reason he couldn't. He lay watching the camp. Lan was still awake. So was Nynaeve (A/N: Yay! It's starting! So excited!) Nynaeve watched Lan for a long time, then poured some tea and brought it to him. He reached out with a murmur of thanks, but she did not let go right away.

Nynaeve:

Why was she doing this again? Oh yes. Lan. Love. No! Not love. Like. Like and love? No! Like. Yes. Just like. And love.

She shoved the irritating voice out of her head and faced Lan.

"Angelmar told them the story of the fall of Malkier today. They seem to think you'd make a good king." Why was her voice trembling? Lan watched her intently, but his face seemed to soften.

"I am not a king, Nynaeve. Just a man. A man without as much to his name as even the meanest farmer's croft." Her voice steadied,

"Some women don't ask for land, or gold. Just the man."

"And the man who would ask her to accept so little would not be worthy of her. You are a remarkable woman, as beautiful as the sunrise, as fierce as a warrior. You are a lioness, Wisdom." (A/N: Sob!)

"A Wisdom seldom weds," She paused, trying to focus, when all she really wanted to do was break down in tears, "But if I go to Tar Valon, it may be that I will be something other than a Wisdom."

"Aes Sedai marry as seldom as Wisdoms. Few men can live with so much power in a wife, dimming them with her radiance, whether she wishes to or not."

"Some men are strong enough. I know one such." She gave him a pointed look at this point, willing him to do what she bloody wanted.

"All I have is a sword, and a war I cannot win, but can never stop fighting."

Anger surged through Nynaeve. Why could the woolheaded man not see! "I've told you I care nothing for that. Light, you've made me say more than is proper already. Will you shame me to the point of asking you?"

"I will never shame you." Lan's tone was gentle, but that just made her angrier. "I will hate the man you choose because he is not me, and love him if he makes you smile. No woman deserves the sure knowledge of widow's black as her brideprice, you least of all." He set down the cup and rose. "I must check the horses."

Nynaeve remained kneeling where she was, as the tears that had threatened to spill during the confrontation rolled down her cheeks. I hope Ru'n bites him! She thought viciously, and then realised, that she did not hope that at all, and that only made her cry more.

:Sob sob: I absolutely adore this scene, but I cry every time I read it! I copied most of it word for word, but changed some of it to fit the storyline. Hope you like!