Nightmares
Disclaimer: Ono is ne báň. Czech. I have translation once more!
A/N: Hello folks! New chapter here! Thought I'd update after getting some rather alarmed reviews about the end of the last chapter…hehe.
Nynaeve:
Nynaeve hurried down the street, fiddling with a small piece of paper. Suddenly she felt a presence beside her. She turned to see Lan.
"I thought I said…" she began angrily, but was cut off by Lan.
"Having fun are you?"
Nynaeve blinked, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about that man."
"Man?"
"The one you were kissing in the middle of the road."
Suddenly Nynaeve understood. "Lan, I-"
"Don't worry. You don't have to explain. I understand perfectly."
Nynaeve's anger boiled up. "Wow, sarcasm. Isn't that too powerful of an emotion for you to be displaying, Mr. Stoic?"
Lan clenched his jaw, and walked off. Nynaeve whirled around to face the wall next to her, and kicked it hard. That was a mistake.
"Ow…" Nynaeve sat down with her back against the wall, clutching her toe. This was all his fault. Why couldn't he just let her explain? His problem was that he had no sense of subtlety. You couldn't just go up to someone, hand them important documents in full sight of everybody, and then walk off. Especially not these particular documents. You needed a cover. Stupid man. Stupid man with his stupid honour and his stupid ring. And even if she had been kissing that man, she was perfectly entitled too. After all, Lan was the one who had given her that ridiculous speech about widow's bloody weeds, and his flaming never-ending war.
Ow. Her foot hurt. She pulled herself upright, and winced all the way back too the inn. Rien greeted her impatiently.
"Have you got them?"
She nodded.
"Let me take them." He demanded.
"No. Z. told me to carry them back."
"Don't be ridiculous, Amber. Let me take them."
"No." Nynaeve snapped, with an air of finality that he couldn't argue.
A few hours later, they left the inn again under the cover of night. Nynaeve led the way, carefully picking through the dark streets. Suddenly she heard Rien mutter something. She turned slowly. Rien stood behind her, and he wasn't alone. Five other men stood next to him, swords drawn.
"I'm sorry, Amber. I can't let you do this," Rien said softly.
She barely had time to duck as he swung his sword towards her. She pulled a knife out of her boot, planting it firmly in his stomach. He swore and doubled over, giving her time to snatch his sword and face the others. Oh dear. This wasn't going to end well.
She began the sequence. Apple Blossoms in the Wind, followed by Cat on Hot Sand. She caught one of the men with Heron Spreads it's Wings, and then blocked his blow with Parting the Silk. It was at times like these when she thanked Twynig mentally.
Wind and Rain became Lighting of Three Prongs. One of the men caught her with Low Wind Rising. She stumbled slightly, but returned with Bundling Straw. She was outnumbered terribly. Now what?
Lan:
These walks had become ritual. He stalked through the forest, trying to make sense of everything that was happening. Nynaeve, spies, everything. He frowned as a familiar noise interrupted his thoughts. Swords? He silently moved closer to the noise. Eventually he came across a small clearing. There were seven people. His eyes widened as he noted that the fight appeared to be six on one. And the one in question wasn't very large, and had a…a feminine build? The moonlight streaked across their faces, and his heart leapt as he recognised it. Nynaeve. She spun, swords clashing on swords. He was on his feet in seconds, running towards the fight.
One of the men swung his sword at her. She was looking the other way, duelling with another man. Lan leaned in and blocked the man's thrust. The man's eyes widened, and he thrust again, this time at Lan. Nynaeve caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye.
"Rien's left side is bad." She muttered, catching one of the men's legs. Lan grunted in response, and began a short sequence of pars towards Rien. The fight was over quickly. The men fell, and Nynaeve slumped against a tree.
"Are you all right?" He slid an arm around her waist to keep her steady. "I guess you've proven you can look after yourself," he supplied. Nynaeve looked up at him wearily.
"I think you should stick to stoicism. You're not so great with the humour." She smiled a small smile. Lan gave a mental sigh of relief, and lowered himself to the ground. Nynaeve followed suit.
"Lan," she began hesitantly, "That man in the street, I-"
"Don't. I really don't mind. I'm sure you had your reasons, and-"
"We were working with him, Lan."
Lan blinked. "What?"
"We were working with him. He had some vital information. The kiss was just a cover."
"So…you're not…"
"No. But if I was, it would be perfectly justified! You gave me the whole bloody talk about not wanting to be with me because it could hurt me. You said I should find someone else."
Lan watched her, silently. It was true. He had said that. But he didn't want her to find someone else. He wanted her to be his. But she never could be.
