Nightmares

Disclaimer: Það er ekki minn. Icelandic. Random, I know, but I am doing a project on Iceland at school, so I picked it.

A/N: Hey! Well, I went away for the weekend, and kept on thinking, "Does hotel have Internet? Does hotel have Internet?" In the end I was too lazy to actually get up and find out, so yeah. Next chapter is here!

Nynaeve:

Nynaeve set herself down in the large chair, allowing herself to relax. She looked around the room. She had been here innumerable times, and yet still found it's warmth and familiarity as overwhelming as it had been the first time she had come. It was ironic, really, that after years of severe, tough training, they were given such a hospitable, friendly place as their headquarters. The large doors opened slightly, and a young boy who looked like he was in level three scurried into the room.

"Z. will be with you in a second, milady."

"Thank you," she replied, taking a glass of deep red wine from the table next to her. The boy remained, staring at her wide-eyed.

"Milady, is it true what Jaq told me? He said that you don't need to eat or sleep, you just…are." His voice carried a note of awe, and Nynaeve couldn't help but smile.

"I'm afraid not," she replied. "I must eat, or I will die, just like everyone else."

"Oh." The boy looked slightly dejected. "Well is it true that you don't eat meat?"

Nynaeve sighed. She had better things to do than be questioned by this boy. "Yes, that is true."

"Why not?" The boy asked, doubtless wanting an explanation revolving around her supernatural powers, or some such nonsense.

"Have you ever seen a person ripped apart by a Trolloc?" She asked, finally snapping. The boy shook his head.

"Well if you had, it would put you off meat too." The boy paled and scurried out the room. Serves him right. She reached into her belt pouch and pulled out the small vial that Egwene had seen her drink from all that time ago in the Ways. She carefully let a few droplets fall into her wine. She had to be cautious with this particular concoction. Too much of it could kill a person. She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip. She felt a shiver run through her as the mixture began to take effect. It wasn't as good as actual sleep, but it kept her from tiring. After a few more minutes, the doors finally opened, and a man exited, nodding to her. She nodded back, and entered the room. Her turn.

In stark contrast to the comfortable feel of the previous room, Z.'s office was cold and business like. Nynaeve took a seat in front of the desk as Z. looked through some drawers for something. There was already an occupant in the room, and Nynaeve took some time to study her. She looked about ten or eleven, so a level one. Unlike the boy in the other room, she looked confident and prepared. Nynaeve gave a soft smile. She reminded her greatly of herself at that age.

Z. found what her was looking for and looked up. He was a very nondescript man, with light brown hair, dark eyes, medium height, and a seemingly indifferent personality.

"Ah, Amber." The organization had strict rules about equality among the recruits, and so when you first entered training, you were given a colour. This was your new name, used so that you couldn't pull rank on other members. Under no circumstances were you allowed to reveal your true identity to another spy in the organization. Nynaeve's was Amber. She had liked it since she first received it.

"Your new mission," Z. continued, "Is outlined in here. It's difficult, but you're one of the best. I know you can handle it."

"I am gratified beyond measure at your confidence in me, oh noble leader," Nynaeve replied sarcastically. Z. gave a long-suffering sigh.

"It will be necessary, however, to be disguised. This is Jade," he indicated the girl. "She is your daughter. Grey arrives later. You have already worked with him, so you should get along fine. He is your husband, and the three of you are paying a visit to your ill aunt in Tear. The rest of your mission is outlined in here." He handed her a file. "Memorize it. This is very important to many people in very high places. I want no mistakes. Understand?"

Nynaeve nodded. "Good. You may leave now. Take Jade with you. She should be all right. She has been chosen for this because she is top in her classes, and is adept in combat. Teach her some more skills. You may both need them. Dismissed."

Lan:

Moiraine approached quickly, looking more than a little hassled.

"Well, she's gone. There's no doubt about it. I've looked everywhere." Lan nodded shortly, knowing that his worry was noticeable through the bond. Just then the man who had been in Nynaeve's room before exited, walking calmly away from them. Moiraine looked up suddenly at him, eyes narrowing. She crossed the space between them quickly.

"Where is she?" she demanded. The man rolled his eyes.

"I told you, I have no idea."

"You're lying." Moiraine countered.

"Very astute."

"Tell me now."

"No." Moiraine growled.

"Tell me. I promise, Lan here has no qualms about running you through right now." The man's eyebrows quirked.

"You really think I'm afraid of your pet bull?" Moiraine frowned.

"Nynaeve used that exact same term once," she mused softly.

"I'm not surprised," he smirked. "It's an in-joke. Long story. Well, must run. See you soon I hope?" And with that he swept away, hurrying down the street. Moiraine frowned considering.

"Well, I suppose that's it. But that's not all." She turned to face Lan again. "We have had disturbing reports from our eyes and ears at the White Tower. Apparently, that large island we assumed was uninhabited is actually populated."

Lan's eyebrow twitched slightly; a sign that in any other man would be the equivalent of a yell of surprise. "It is?"

"Yes. We have sent scouts out, but they haven't reported back yet." Lan nodded, his thoughts still dwelling on Nynaeve. Perhaps it was for the better. He had said she could get hurt if she spent too much time with him. Perhaps now that chance was gone. He would still miss her, though, he decided. Very much.

OOOOOOO

Nynaeve:

Nynaeve sat cross-legged on her bed, calmly running a brush through her "daughter's" hair some months later. The mission was going splendidly thus far, and they could expect to be finished within the next two or so months. Jade-who was going by the name Pela- had picked up combat skills quickly, and was advancing far beyond her level. As she was being pulled out of her training for this assignment, Nynaeve had been instructed to keep her up to speed. It was all going rather well; there had only been twelve arguments, six books thrown at each other, and four vases.

Nynaeve was going by the name Karien, and her "husband" by the name Rien. They had pulled off their back-story with ease, both being very experienced in this particular field. Now they had just a few more months to go, and Nynaeve was looking forward to returning to her hometown. Of course, she couldn't help her thoughts drifting towards the Two Rivers folk once in a while. Or to Lan. She was shaken out of her thoughts by the arrival of Rien. He hurried in, panting.

"Something is happening at the Stone." He announced. Nynaeve was on her feet at once, Jade- Pela- following close behind. They stopped only to grab their cloaks before hurrying into the street. Things were indeed happening at the Stone. From their inn only a short distance away, they caught the sound of a faint explosion. They exchanged glances, and joined the group of people running towards the Stone. Rien hastily remembered their act, and slid an arm around Nynaeve's shoulders, and held on to Pela's. Nynaeve sent him an enquiring look, and he nodded. Pela, catching the look nodded too.

It didn't take long for them to scale the walls, and drop into the other side. Fierce fighting seemed to be going on. Nynaeve's eye's widened when she caught sight of a group of tall, fair-haired men armed with spears. Aiel? In Tear? Suddenly one of the Aiel approached them.

"You should go inside. It will be safer. Nynaeve and Rien glanced at each other.

"All right." They accepted, moving to enter the Stone. Inside it was better, but not by a long shot. Men ran around with bloody swords, fighting whoever rounded the corner, be it friend or foe. Nynaeve caught sight of a short girl with dark hair and eyes and muttered an oath. Egwene! What under the Light was she doing here? Nynaeve pulled Rien and Pela out of the way before Egwene could catch sight of her. Ashes, what now? It was probably time to act distraught. After all, that was what noble women did when they were caught in the middle of a fight.

Lan:

The fighting had ended, and he, Moiraine and Rhuarc were making the rounds to check that no one was injured. Moiraine left to another room, and he and Rhuarc entered a second door.

"What's in here?" he asked the man in charge. The man saluted smartly before answering.

"A family, sir. They seem fairly normal, a man, his wife, and a little girl. Wife seems distraught." Lan arched an eyebrow.

"The fighting wasn't that bad." The man shrugged.

"Either that or she's a very good actor." Lan nodded, and he and Rhuarc moved into sight of the group. A small girl sat huddled by her parents' feet, watching them warily. The man, tall and average looking, was stroking the back of the woman, whose face was buried in his chest as she sobbed. Her hair was tied up in an intricate braid, and their clothing seemed expensive, so it was safe to say that they were at least minor nobility. Which would explain the woman's unnecessary tears. Nobles tended to exaggerate things. Lan and Rhuarc stepped forward and cleared their thoughts. The man looked up, but the woman continued to sob. The man offered a shaky smile.

"Rien." He said, "My name is Rien. This is my daughter Pela, and my wife." Lan nodded. The woman brought her face out from his chest, but it was still partially obscured by a large handkerchief, which she was sniffing into.

"So, so, sad! So scary!" she wailed. Rien put a consoling arm around her, and patted her back.

"There, there, dear. It's all right. The fighting has stopped now." Lan and Rhuarc exchanged amused and incredulous glances. The woman gave one final sob into the now soaked piece of cloth, and handed it back to the man, who sighed and put it carefully back into his pocket. Her face was now visible. Lan gave a start.

"Nynaeve?" he demanded disbelievingly. She acted as though she hadn't heard a thing. She swooped down on the girl, hugging her.

"Oh, darling! Are you all right?" The girl nodded.

"I'm fine, Mama." The man beamed and hugged his wife tightly. She smiled back, and kissed his cheek.

"Nynaeve?" Lan demanded again. A child? A husband? It had been a few months, not years! Nynaeve looked up questioningly.

"No, Karien. My name is Karien." She insisted. Rhuarc gave him an odd look. Lan stepped forward determinately and grabbed Nynaeve's arm. Rien was on his feet in a second.

"Unhand my wife!" he demanded.

"She's not your wife!" Lan persisted.

"Yeas I am!" Nynaeve-or Karien- interjected furiously, "He's my husband!" Lan gave her a sceptical look. Rhuarc steeped forward.

"I apologise. He is slightly…delusional." Lan blinked at Rhuarc.

"No I'm not, she's Nynaeve, and that's not her husband or her child!" Rhuarc tugged him out the door.

"So sorry." Nynaeve couldn't help smiling as the door closed behind them. Light, but the expression on his face had been hysterical!

Chapter is done. I have planted some lovely seeds here, mainly based on things mentioned before, though…I love mysterious secrets!