Nightmares

Disclaimer: Dit is nie miene nie. Afrikaans. Felt like something easy that didn't require too much effort. :P

A/N: Next chapter is here! Have fun!

Nynaeve:

Nynaeve twiddled her thumbs absently. It was early in the morning, and she had nothing to do. For the first time in her life, her book seemed uninteresting, and drawing irritating. She sighed and poured herself a cup of tea. She tapped her foot against the floor. She hummed a short tune. She pulled out a knife and tried to see how many times she could hit the same spot on the wall. She concluded that she was bored.

She rose to her feet to take a walk, deciding that anything was better than sitting around doing nothing. She made her way up to the roof of the house, and sat watching the stars and the sleeping city. She found herself gently rubbing the palms of her hands where the scars from the final arch of her Accepted test remained. She sighed irritably. Even this was starting to bore her. Suddenly she saw in the corner of her eye the large pool at the corner of the inn's gardens. She frowned thoughtfully, then began to climb down the roof.

She walked slowly down to the poolside, eye's adapting quickly to the dark. She noticed that there was a single candle illuminating the pool. She slowly unbuttoned her dress and let it fall down to her ankles. She removed her hair from its braid, and took of her rings, until she stood there only in her shift. She stepped into the water, wading in until she was submerged to her waist. Then she ducked under the water, swimming to the other side, and then back again. Lan watched from the shadows.

Nynaeve turned around to swim back. When she got to the edge, her eyes widened. They were silent for a while, just watching each other. Finally Lan spoke.

"You could have said something this afternoon. So I wouldn't have looked like a total idiot." Nynaeve smiled faintly. Lan sat down so he faced her.

"I really couldn't have," she replied softly. "I have things to do, and in order to do those things, I must not be recognised by anyone, or the things won't be done. And they need to be done."

Lan arched a brow. "Could you have been any more vague there?"

"Lan, I really can't give anymore details. Light, why can't you understand that it's for your own good? You say that I could get hurt loving you, you could get ten times as hurt if they knew that you…" She trailed off. "I have already had one person die because of their association with my family. I can't let anyone else get hurt. Especially not you."

Lan growled, exasperated. "Nynaeve, I have no idea what you're talking about. Please. Tell me."

Nynaeve watched him. Light, she couldn't risk him getting hurt, but… she so wanted to tell somebody. Still watching him, she lifted herself out of the pool to sit beside him. Lan resisted the urge to turn his head. Her shift was already to thin to be called opaque, and the water only made it more transparent. Nynaeve didn't seem to notice. She sighed absently.

"I'll tell you."

Moiraine:

Moiraine ran a hand through her hair, and put the papers she was holding down. She gave a small yawn. Light but this was strange. The island that they had believed to be uninhabited for so many years had now shown signs of life. The Tower had sent scouts over to try to find some information, but three weeks had passed now, and still no reply had come. She didn't know what to think.

She rose to her feet and walked over to the window. She could feel Lan through the bond. He was some distance away, and his thoughts were, as usual, almost impossible to determine. But there seemed to be a very fait emotion. It seemed…gold. Love? Surely not. The only person he would feel that towards was Nynaeve, and she was a long way from here. At least they thought so. Rhuarc had mentioned Lan recognising a woman after the attack, but Nynaeve? It was doubtful. Maybe she was just reading the bond wrong. It was possible.

She sighed and returned to her desk. Tonight was going to be a long night.

Nynaeve:

"Do you remember the night in the ways when everyone else was asleep and you and I talked?" She finally asked. Lan nodded. "You asked me what my ring was. I said that it was a family heirloom." He nodded again. "Well, in my defence, it wasn't a really big lie. Just sort of medium sized."

"It's not a family heirloom?" Lan blinked.

"No. It's a symbol of rank."

"Rank? What rank?"

Nynaeve sighed. "I don't suppose you've ever heard of Kalara?"

"I can't say that I have," Lan replied.

"It's a country. Just south of Tremalking."

"Wait, that island? The one that was believed uninhabited?" Lan asked.

"That's the one. Well, it's really a long story, and, well, I wouldn't want to bore you so, um…" She mumbled something that sounded like 'By monkey is sing'. Lan blinked.

"What? Your monkey?"

"Um. No. My uncle. Is the king. Of Kalara."

Lan opened his mouth. Then closed it again. This was the first time that he could remember that he was actually shocked. Nynaeve started talking very fast.

"I would have told you before, but I have to keep it a secret, because of the things I have to do. I…" she was cut short as Lan pulled her towards him, kissing her thoroughly. She tried to push him away, but her efforts came to nothing. Oh well. It wasn't that unpleasant. In fact it felt quite nice.

Lan pushed her over, and she accepted his kisses. He broke away to look at her carefully. She lay still, watching him.

He fiddled with the sleeve of her shift. "I love you."

He said it in such a matter-of-fact manner, that it seemed almost careless, but Nynaeve didn't care. Just the fact alone that he had said it was enough. She reached out and kissed him gently.

"Me too."

xxx

Nynaeve stirred slightly in her bed. She tried to turn over but found that something was in her way. She frowned, eyes still closed. She reached out and prodded the thing. Strangely enough it was warm. She tried to push it, but it didn't budge. She shivered slightly at the cold, and moved closer to the warm thing. Well, as long as it was there, she might as well make use of it. The warm thing wrapped an arm around her. She pulled back immediately. What under the Light was in her bed? It moved! She tried to reach down for the knife that she always carried with her, only to find that it wasn't there. Neither were her clothes. Oh blood and ashes. Now might be a good time to open her eyes.

But, before she got the chance, the warm thing chuckled into her hair. Wait a moment, she knew that chuckle. Suddenly the memories of the previous night came rushing back to her. She could feel her face heating up. The warm thing- Lan- chuckled again. Her eyes snapped open, and she found herself looking up into the icy blue gaze of al'Lan Mandragoran.

"Good morning," he greeted her.

"Ah, yes. Morning. I suppose it might be good."

"Oh, it's definitely good." Lan kissed her softly.

"Nynaeve! Nynaeve, are you awake?" Rien. Oh ashes, how was she going to explain this?

"You never told me why you were here with him," Lan commented softly.

"I'll explain later. Rien? Yes, I'm awake."

"Who are you talking to in there?" Rien asked.

"Myself?" Nynaeve asked hopefully.

"Nynaeve, who's in there?"

Nynaeve gathered the sheet around her, and sat up. "No one Rien." She called.

Lan got to his feet and pulled on the breeches he was wearing the previous day, and made his way to the door. Nynaeve's eyes widened.

"What are you doing?" she demanded. Lan opened the door.

"She'll be out in a few minutes," he informed the startled Rien, then closed the door in his face. Nynaeve couldn't help but smile.

Moiraine:

She angrily paced up and down the room. She could feel him getting closer. He'd better have a very good explanation for this!

The door creaked open and he entered.

"Where exactly have you been?" She demanded immediately.

"Busy." He replied shortly.

"Yes, I felt it! All night! How exactly do you account for it?"

"Moiraine-"

"How do you account for it?"

"Never mind."

"Lan!"

"Nynaeve."

"Nynaeve?"

"Yes."

Moiraine blinked. "Nynaeve's here?"

"Yes." Lan repeated.

"I'm going to see her. She needs to return to the Tower."

Lan watched Moiraine leave. He needed to think.

Whew, it's been a while in the coming, but it's here now! I have been very caught up in all sorts of things, but stuff has calmed down now. I've been working on my other WoT fic, and the problem: To post or not to post! Lol! And to laura sedai, that's no problem. You can go ahead!

Well that's it for now! Hope you like! And don't forget to review!