Nightmares

Disclaimer: 광산이 아니다. 'Tis Korean. I am hoping that the symbols will show up.

A/N: I promised a longer chapter, but due to severe exam stress, I'm afraid you're going to have to make do with this short one. I've tried to put in some exciting parts, though! Also, I'm shortening the amount of time that passed between the Waste and Tear. For reasons you shall find out shortly…

Nynaeve:

Nynaeve sighed and turned over onto her back, ignoring the sudden rush that came from dangling her head over the edge of the bed.

She adjusted her book so that it was upside down and she could read it from this position. It was one of her favorite books, and she had selected it to help keep her mind off more serious things, but today it just didn't seem to be working. She sighed, and let go of the book, letting it thud to the floor.

She closed her eyes and tried to envision calmness, but an annoying picture of Lan popped into her head. Not good. She opened her eyes with a start, and came eye to eye with a large, unblinking pair of green eyes. She groaned.

"What is it, Della? I've already fed you for the day." The cat mewled, and jumped onto the bed, settling itself on her stomach. Nynaeve closed her eyes again trying to find some peace. But none came.

She pulled herself up with a grimace. She had been eating too much; she was starting to get wider. She pushed Della off her stomach. The cat turned around and gave her a disgruntled look. Nynaeve slipped off her shoes and settled back on the pillows, hoping to get a bit of sleep. She rested one hand carelessly on her stomach. She was definitely getting wider.

Moiraine:

Moiraine was sitting rather comfortably in the center of the hold with the Emond's Fielders, looking over some documents from the Ajah's eyes and ears when Rand entered. He wandered casually over to the carpets where the others sat, poured himself a glass of water, and remarked, almost offhandedly,

"Nynaeve sends her regards."

That got everyone's attention.

"Nynaeve?"

"How? How do you know?"

"Is she here?"

They all chimed in with questions at once, Moiraine no less so.

Rand grinned, putting on an act of nonchalance when he was truly bursting to tell the truth had paid off.

"She wrote a letter! Some guy delivered it, I don't know who, but she said hello to us all!"

"She sent the letter to you?" Mat asked.

Rand frowned. "No, to Lan."

Moiraine arched an eyebrow. To Lan? Interesting.

Lan:

Lan sat on his bed, rereading the letter for what seemed like the hundredth time. He knew the words by heart now, but seeing her handwriting, and being able to smell the little bit of her that clung to the parchment, helped him to remember her.

There was a sudden noise behind him, and he turned around. Moiraine was entering the room.

"I heard from Rand that Nynaeve sent you a letter."

Lan looked up, letting a small amount of annoyance slip into his expression. "I did." He replied evenly.

"And?"

"And what?"

"May I see it?"

Lan clenched his jaw. "It's private."

"Oh. Did she at least have something to say to me?"

"Something about you winning this round, but not the fight."

Moiraine gave a small smile. "I see. How very sweet of her."

Nynaeve:

"How many soldiers!" she shrieked in disbelief.

The messenger winced. "Yes, well, the expedition was…not entirely successful, but we have all of our best scientists working on improving the weaponry and should be relatively ready in at least two months-"

"Two months?" Nynaeve interjected with a look of disbelief on her face.

"Well, we are, Your Highness, taking into account the complexities of the situ-"

"Four weeks at the most."

"Four weeks? I beg your pardon, Highness, but four weeks is just not enough time!"

"Four weeks," Nynaeve said, with a look of finality on her face. "Good day, my lord."

"B-but!"

"I said good day!" The lord sighed and retreated from the council room. Jame arched an eyebrow at her.

"What?" she mouthed. He smiled softly, and shook his head. Nynaeve loved ordering people about. Always had.

Their Uncle adjourned the council meeting, and Nynaeve got up to leave with her brothers.

"Nynaeve?" her Uncle's voice called out. "Could I talk to you for a minute?"

Nynaeve stopped walking, and waited until everyone had left before closing the door with a soft thud. "Yes, Uncle?"

Her Uncle rose and began pacing the room.

"Nynaeve, dear, as you know, we have a small situation on our hands," he began. Nynaeve snorted. Small didn't even begin to cover it. Since she had returned with the documents, events had escalated. Her uncle was worried that they were on the verge of a full scale war.

"There's something I need you to do for me, Nynaeve."

Time passes…

Mat:

Mat sat cross legged on the mat, trying to teach Elayne how to play dice. Normally, it wouldn't be something she approved of, but they were all too bored to think of anything else to do. Lan was sitting off to the side, leaning against the wall and obviously lost in thought. The Aes Sedai who had been sent by the Tower to accompany Elayne to Ebou Dar, Jamera of the Green Ajah, was busy flirting half-heartedly with one of the guards.

A sudden blast of wind blew Elayne's gold hair back as the door was flung open. Lan was on his feet in a second, sword out. The serving girl in the doorway gave a start, and Lan re-sheathed his sword, reluctantly.

"Ah, good Aes Sedai, there is a woman, apparently of your acquaintance who wishes to speak with you," the serving girl announced, eyes cast downward.

"What woman?" Elayne demanded.

"A Lady, Aes Sedai. She is quite spectacular." The girl's eyes lifted, and the people in the room could see they were wide with awe. "Silk dresses and satin slippers, Aes Sedai."

"A Lady? Of my acquaintance, she must be Andorian." Elayne frowned.

"No, Aes Sedai. Not Andorian. Foreign looking though, but not fair like an Andorian. She asked for you by name, Elayne Sedai of the Green Ajah."

"Did she give you her name, perchance?" Elayne inquired, now deeply confused.

"Lady Nynaeve."

Lan's head snapped upward, his face whitening.