What happened to Moiraine while Lan had searched for Rand?

After Lan had left their room and Moiraine had locked the door behind him, she grabbed the remaining leaves of the kratom tree and pushed them into a small pouch. The pouch had a leather cord attached, so she could pull it over her head and hide it between her breasts. No one would find it there.

As soon as the pouch and its content were safely hidden, she walked to the window to keep an eye on the street. She saw how her Warder left the tavern and disappeared in the shadows. How much she wished she could go with him. Instead, she was damned to stay in this room, waiting for his return.

It didn't take long, and she was bored. Now that the night was falling over Cairhien, the streets became emptier by the minute, and nothing interesting happened while her thoughts kept running. The Aes Sedai decided to move a little. Maybe the movement would calm her thoughts.

But it only became worse. Up and down she walked through the small room, and it seemed to encourage her thoughts to run wild. There was no end to it.

Annoyed, the woman of the Blue Ajah grabbed one of her books and started to read. But she couldn't concentrate on the words. She had read her books more than once by now. The words blurred in front of her eyes. This wasn't helping either.

This tavern has a library. It's not big, but I could take a look. Maybe I can calm my brain with something new.

Moiraine opened the door and took a look outside. The hall was empty. Guilty, she hesitated to close the door behind her. She had promised Lan to lock the door and not to let anyone in. But she hadn't promised not to leave the room. Don't be foolish. You won't be gone for hours. You take a look at the books in the library, and then you return. When Lan returns, you will already be back in your room with a locked door.

Determined, the woman of the Blue Ajah closed the door behind her. The library was at the end of this hall. She didn't even have to go to the common room, which meant she wouldn't meet anyone. This wouldn't take long.

A loud crack pulled Moiraine out of her thoughts, and she realized that she had lost herself in going through the different book titles in the library. So much for her plan to simply grab a book and return to her room immediately.

Sighing, she placed the book in her hands back on the shelf, then grabbed the three books she had chosen earlier. This was more than enough to keep her awake until Lan would return.

She stepped back into the hall. How long would Lan need? Would he wait all night for this man who could be Rand? Would he even return tonight? How often would she have to take one of the kratom leaves? She couldn't go to sleep without knowing Lan was by her side – watching over her sleep and waking her before Ishamael would kill her in Tel'aran'rhiod.

"There she is!"

Surprised, Moiraine lifted her head and froze. In front of her door stood a large group, both men and women, who didn't look friendly. Her door was broken – probably the reason for the loud crack she had heard before – and she was sure more people were in the room.

A woman pointed with her finger at the woman of the Blue Ajah. "That's her! The description fits perfectly!"

A man – Moiraine guessed he must be around Lan's age – stepped out of her room, and his angry gaze moved over her body. Who were those people?

The man nudged the arms of two big men with muscular arms, who looked as if they could break her bones if they hugged her. "Grab her! She is a Damodred!"

A gasp escaped Moiraine's lips. The books fell out of her hands and dropped to the floor. How had they found out about her? The two men stomped over to her. She wouldn't wait to find out what those people wanted to do to her.

Moiraine swirled around and ran to the back stairs. She had to get out of here! "Don't let her escape!"

She didn't bother to look back. Looking back would cost her time. Precious time, which she needed to escape. Downstairs, she ran to the common room, but another man stepped into the hall and blocked her way.

"She is here!" he yelled while Moiraine heard the heavy footsteps of the other guys coming down the stairs behind her.

The only way left was the kitchen. Without thinking twice, she ran through the tight space, moving around the cook and her helpers and out through the back door.

The alley behind the tavern was dark. No lantern hung here to light the way. Moiraine turned left and ran as fast as she could. Soon, the crowd would storm out of the tavern and be on her heels.

She stepped out of the dark alley. Two men and a woman stood in front of the tavern, moving their heads in search of her. It was the woman who saw her first. Her high-pitched voice echoed through the street. "Here! I found her!"

Cursing, Moiraine fled. She had to find Lan. Hopefully, he was still waiting at 'The Defender of the Dragonwall'. He would know how to escape the crowd. But what if he wasn't there? What if he was already on his way back to their tavern? She couldn't run forever. These people would catch her eventually.

"Don't let her escape, you idiots!" The woman was still yelling. "Grab her before the soldier returns!"

So, they knew about Lan. For how long had they been watching them?! It had been a mistake to come back to Cairhien!

"Death all Damodreds!" She stumbled when the cry of the angry crowd moved through the streets. Soon everyone in the city would know about her return. More and more voices fell into the chorus, which rang in Moiraine's ears. "Death all Damodreds! Death all Damodreds! Death all Damodreds!"

Moiraine ran.

After a while, the Aes Sedai couldn't say how many streets she had crossed. She had used every dark passage she could find to lose her pursuers. They weren't the only ones who knew their way around Cairhien. But no matter how many streets she took, the chorus closed in on her. They were everywhere!

Moiraine was already out of breath but didn't dare to stop. She had to hide somewhere! 'The Defender of the Dragonwall' was too far away. She would never make it. But where? Who would help her? She had no friends in Cairhien. No one, who would take in a Damodred.

Panting, Moiraine turned left into another dark alley and nearly collided with a couple. In the last second, she was able to avoid a collision while she stumbled deeper into the alley. The couple didn't even realize that they had almost been interrupted by her. The man had the woman pressed against the wall. Their mouths were kissing each other hungrily. The woman ripped at the man's tunic while his hands moved over her curves.

Quickly, the woman of the Blue Ajah turned around. She didn't need to see more of that. Then she almost bumped into the next couple. However, they were already past the simple kissing part. Again, the woman was pressed against the wall. The man nibbled on her throat tenderly with his hand between her legs. Moans of pleasure came out of the woman, whose hands moved through the hair of the man.

Moiraine threw a look down the alley and finally realized where she was. This was the place where lonely men found some pleasure in the arms of a woman – or between her legs. And Moiraine saw many couples having fun in the dark.

She had never been here before. There had never been a reason for her to come here, and now that she was here, she felt her skin crawl. She wanted to leave! But maybe, this place was the perfect hiding spot. Her pursuer wouldn't assume her here, would they? A lady would never go to such a place. Right?

The woman of the Blue Ajah walked deeper into the alley while she tried not to look too closely at what was happening around her. Although, she couldn't ignore the moans, the whispers, or the sound of a body slamming into another.

Suddenly, she saw the glow of torches on the other side of the alley, and the crowd's chorus was getting louder. "Death all Damodreds!" They were closing in on her!

Shocked, she stumbled backward. She needed to hide! Someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside. It was one of the disgusting men. His cock was buried deep inside the woman who lay beneath him. "Why don't you join us, love?"

Disgusted, Moiraine freed herself. How dare he ask her such a question? He laughed at her shocked face, and the woman joined in. Moiraine stumbled in the other direction. She couldn't hide here. Not between those people.

But then she had to stop again. There was a glow of the torches on the other side of the alley as well, and the chorus reached her ears. They had surrounded her!

Someone grabbed her arm and pulled her into another side alley, which was filled with fucking people just like the other one. The stranger pushed her against the wall and pressed his lips on hers.

Moiraine didn't hesitate and slapped the man hard in the face. She wasn't one of those… Her eyes widened when she recognized Lan, who rubbed his cheek.

Silent tears ran down Moiraine's cheeks while she gently cupped his face in her hands and stroked his skin. "Forgive me. I didn't… I didn't know…."

"Death all Damodreds! Death all Damodreds!" Her pursuers had reached the alley. They didn't even shy away from the filthiest places in Cairhien.

Moiraine felt how panic tightened her throat. There was no way to run!

Suddenly, Lan grabbed her wrists with one hand and pressed them against the wall above her head. "What-?" But he didn't let her finish the question. Instead, he pressed his lips on hers again and pulled her stiff body close to him. His free hand moved over her back. From her shoulders down to her lower back and… then back to her shoulders.

Confused, Moiraine tried to concentrate on what her Warder was doing. Yes, one of his hands pressed her hands against the wall, but his free hand kept stroking her back up and down, never touching her anywhere else. As if it was meant to calm her. His cloak surrounded them both since her body was pressed tightly against him. They must look like every other couple in this alley to everyone who would pass them.

Her pulse calmed while she focused on what Lan was doing. The tightening around her throat loosened, and she could breathe more easily.

Lan opened his eyes and looked directly at her. He felt her panic fading. Without the bond, he couldn't send her his plea to trust him, to play along, but he felt that she slowly understood what he was doing. She stopped struggling against his grip and even started to return his kisses. Carefully, as if she wasn't sure what to do. It felt unnatural. Their relationship had never been romantic. Although they had seen each other naked many times now and had slept in the same bed – snuggled up to each other countless times – there had never been more than touching the other and never in inappropriate places. They hadn't even shared a kiss before. A real kiss on the lips. They weren't like Alanna and her Warders. They had never felt the urge to bed one another.

"Death all Damodreds!" Moiraine stiffened when the crowd passed their alley. From the corner of her eyes, she saw the glow of their torches. They were out for blood.

Her Warder felt the tension and his kisses became more demanding. This way, she had to concentrate on him.

Finally, the crowd had passed them, and the alley was dark again, though they still heard the chorus moving through the streets. Lan ended the kiss and leaned his forehead against Moiraine's. She was breathing heavily.

"Are you hurt?" he whispered softly while he pulled down her arms gently.

"No." But she was trembling. Lan took a step back, and Moiraine immediately followed. Her fingers gripped his tunic, and she hid her face in it. She needed his strength.

The uncrowned king of Malkier took off his cloak and placed it around Moiraine's slim shoulders. "What are you doing?"

"They know what you look like. We need to hide you if we want to find a way through them," Lan explained and pulled his hood over her head.

"Lan, they-"

"I'll get you back to our room. They will give up soon if they can't find you on the streets."

"They know about the tavern." Lan froze at her words. This wasn't what he had expected. "They found me there. And they know about you, too. We can't go back there."

Angrily, Lan gnashed his teeth. This trap was well planned.

"You can hide in my room." Moiraine flinched when Rand's voice appeared in the dark. She hadn't noticed the boy, who had hidden at a house entrance during Moiraine and Lan's heated kiss.

"Rand." It was him. There was no doubt about it. He looked strange without his hair. He looked older, more like a man than a boy.

"Hello, Moiraine."

"There'll be time to talk, but now we have to get out of here," Lan announced grimly. "We have to get off the streets."

Rand nodded. "We have to find a way to avoid them, then we should be safe in my room."

But Lan shook his head. "We can't avoid them. They search for anyone who looks suspicious. Anyone who seems to hide something – who doesn't want to be seen. No, we need to hide in plain sight. Among them."

The Warder wrapped his arm around his Aes Sedai's waist and pulled her close against him. His other hand grabbed her arm. This way, it shouldn't be easy to separate her from him. "Stay close to me. Both of you."

Rand opened his mouth to say something but then closed it again and followed Lan and Moiraine, who left the alley. He doubted it would be that easy.

The next chapter will be uploaded on Wednesday.