Can Moiraine, Lan, and Rand walk through Cairhien unnoticed? Or will someone recognize them?


Lan almost had to drag Moiraine to join one of the yelling crowds of people. She was certain that the citizens of Cairhien would recognize her. But Lan had a tight grip on her while Rand walked on her other side with his hand on the hilt of his sword. He may seem older, but he was nervous. It wouldn't be easy to escape if the people should find out about Moiraine's presence in their midst.

Soon, another crowd joined them, then a second and a third. All of them were yelling and holding torches in their hands. Lan doubted that any of them knew what they were looking for. They seemed like idiots who followed the crowd because something was happening.

Their journey ended on a big square usually used for the market. Now, a man stood on a platform, organizing the search for Moiraine.

The Aes Sedai recognized him immediately. The same man had told those strong men in her tavern to grab her. Her first instinct was to run, but Lan's grip on her waist and her arm prevented that. This would look too suspicious. No, they had to leave the crowd casually. Walking, not running.

They barely had made a few steps aside when the crowd stopped. Everyone looked expectantly at the man on the platform, waiting for instructions. Moiraine lowered her head, so he couldn't get a clear view of her face. Too close. They were way too close.

"What have you found?" the man on the platform asked.

Someone answered: "Nothing. We searched through every street. We didn't forget any, but we didn't see a woman in blue."

"We even checked on the street of love," someone else mentioned. "But not even there could we find the Damodred woman."

"I bet she is hiding in a secret passage," a third voice said. "She grew up in the Sun Palace. She knows how to escape quickly. Isn't that what they teach those high ladies and lords? How to run when the common folk comes for you?"

The crowd laughed while Lan, Moiraine, and Rand carefully pushed themselves further away from the platform. A few more steps and they would be free.

"SILENCE!" The yell of the man on the platform shocked everyone. The laughter died, and no one moved. "How is it possible that you can't find a woman?! We're scouting the streets up and down, but she has disappeared! Like a ghost! Find her!"

Agreeing, the people nodded and moved quickly. They built new groups and started to walk back to the streets to begin their search again.

Lan saw their chance. While everyone was rebuilding their groups, they could use the confusion to escape.

Suddenly, someone pulled at Moiraine's hood and revealed the frightened brunette. Lan grabbed the wrist of the culprit. It was an old woman who stared angrily at him. "I knew it! She is here! This woman is Moiraine Damodred!"

Lan had a second, then hell broke loose. The people, who finally saw who they had been looking for, stormed forward. Everyone was eager to be the first who would grab Moiraine and bring her to justice. Countless hands grabbed the woman of the Blue Ajah, separating her from Lan and Rand, who fought against the overwhelming force of the people, but it was no use.

The rows closed behind Moiraine while they pushed her further and further toward the platform. She had lost Lan a while ago, and she knew she couldn't do much than to go where the people wanted her to be. It was less painful.

"Why isn't she doing anything?!" Rand asked through gritted teeth. He and Lan forced themselves a way through the crowd. A slow process. Besides, more and more people came running back to the square. Everyone wanted to be a part of the capture of a Damodred. "She could use the One Power to get rid of them!"

"She can't!" Some of the people started to fight back, but one punch from Lan and they sank to the ground. "At the Eye… he did something to her! We assume that she is shielded!" Another punch and Lan's opponent fell to the ground with a broken nose. "We hoped that you could… with Saidin…!"

Surprised, Rand stopped fighting. Moiraine couldn't channel anymore? The Dark One had taken her power? Was this the reason why she had allowed him to leave the Eye of the World? Because she couldn't stop him? But why hadn't she said anything?

Subconsciously, the young man from the two rivers reached for Saidin and shuttered when the sweet feeling moved through his veins. It was pure and intoxicating for a heartbeat, and then the rotten taste of the poison was added, reminding him that it was slowly pulling him toward the madness.

But he wouldn't think of it now. Lan had mentioned the Dark One, a shield, and Saidin, and they had been searching for him, Rand. Could he help Moiraine? But how? What could he do, what a bunch of Aes Sedai couldn't? Or had Moiraine not dared to see her sisters? They wouldn't have declined their help, right? Not one of their own sisters.

It was Rand's advantage that he was taller than the people from Cairhien. This way, he saw how they pulled and pushed the Aes Sedai through the crowd, who did nothing to stop them. How should she stop them without the One Power? Without it, Lan was her only protection, but the crowd had separated them and slowed down the Warder from reaching her.

Suddenly, something caught Rand's eye. There was a gleam on Moiraine's body, as well as weaves – tightly wrapped around every part of her body to hold the gleam in place and tied with countless knots. What was that? He couldn't remember that he had seen them before. Was this gleam the shield Lan had mentioned? And those knots… what would happen if he tried to open them? Could he open them?

Rand moved his hands, and Saidin moved between the people toward the Aes Sedai until it connected with one of the knots. It was tight as a rock. Maybe he could cut the weaves off.

But even this didn't work. His weaves couldn't even scratch the other ones. No, the knots were the solution. But how could he open them when he couldn't cut them off? With gritted teeth, Rand made his weave as thin as a pin and poked into the knot. It was tight, but his weave found a way in. When he couldn't go deeper, he spread his fingers, imagining how Saidin expanded within the knot.

The knot fought against his weave until it finally gave up and disappeared. One down. How many of them would he have to loosen?


Moiraine stood in front of the man, who had stood on the platform before and was now among the crowd. She saw the punch coming, aimed at her stomach, but it was too late for defense. Coughing, she sank to her knees, then the rest of the crowd joined in, beating her up. She made herself as small as possible and protected her head while punches and kicks rained on her. Where was Lan? Where was Rand? She just wanted this to end!


Rand winced when Moiraine disappeared from his sight. This wasn't good! He saw how the people started to punch and kick, and he felt anger swelling in him. Why did they do this? She wasn't even fighting back! She was already on the ground, and still, they didn't stop hurting her.

He drew more of Saidin to him. He couldn't see Moiraine though the glow told him where she was, so he had to feel for those knots. More weaves moved between the people, searching for those knots he had seen.

Sweat ran over his face, but he didn't care. He was focused on his task. His weaves moved over Moiraine's body. Whenever he found one of the knots, his weave turned into a pin and pierced itself into the disturbance while the others kept searching.

Knot after knot fell, though Rand couldn't see it. The boy couldn't say how long he was already standing there. He probably looked like an idiot in others' eyes. Standing there without moving, his eyes locked on the people hurting Moiraine. How many more until this thing was off her?

He felt how he started to tremble. He had never used Saidin for that long before. If he couldn't undo…

Another knot disappeared, and suddenly, the glow faded. Rand felt how Saidin slipped from his grip, and he swayed. What had happened? Why couldn't he use Saidin anymore? He had to help Moiraine! Lan was still punching and shoving his way through the crowd, but still not close to helping her!

Again, Rand tried to grab Saidin, but it slipped through his fingers. He wouldn't be able to touch the source again. At least, not now. He stumbled forward to follow the Warder when something hit him hard.


Moiraine still knelt on the ground. Her body was in pain, and she didn't know how much longer she could bear this. First, Ishamael's torture in Tel'aran'rhiod and now, the people of Cairhien, who wished for her death. When would the pain be over?

Suddenly, her skin tingled, and new life filled her veins. Saidar! She felt Saidar again! Without thinking twice, the woman of the Blue Ajah took a deep breath, grabbed the One Power, and threw it at her tormentor. A wall of air hit them and made the inner circle stumble into the row behind them until they fell to the ground.

Moiraine rose to her feet. Although her body had been in great pain only a moment ago, she didn't feel it. Not with Saidar flowing through her veins, mixed with the anger that swelled in her. She would make them pay for what they had done to her.

"What in lights name…?" The man, who had started this witchhunt, was back on his feet and stared at her with big eyes.

Moiraine lifted her chin and glared at him with hatred. He would regret what he had done. She was Lady Moiraine Damodred. An Aes Sedai from the White Tower. A sister of the Blue Ajah. And this man would learn how to show respect!

She drew at Saidar, and it obeyed her command immediately as if it had never been severed from her. Her fingers wove strings of air when she heard the yell of a man behind her.

Slowly, the citizens got back to their feet, and the bravest ones tried to continue where they had been interrupted. Moiraine finished her weave and used the air as a lash. It hit the yelling man against the chest and threw him right back to the ground. But she wasn't done. Not even close.

She drew more of the One Power. While she swung the lash of air, she wove strings of earth. The ground quaked until she could lift the cobblestones into the air.

Finally, her attackers understood whom they had angered, and fear was written all over their faces. "Aes Sedai! She is an Aes Sedai!"

The news spread like wildfire, but Moiraine didn't care. She wanted them to suffer. They had hunted her through the city just because she had been born into the wrong family. They would regret this day.

Some of the braver men grabbed everything they could get their hands on and threw it at her, but her lash pulled it out of the air, and she responded to their attempts by throwing the cobblestones. Others tried to run for their lives, afraid of her wrath.

Moiraine saw how a group of Whitecloaks arrived on the square. The Children of the Light. Well, she would take care of them if they should attack her as well.

"Moiraine! Stop!"

Vaguely, she heard Lan's voice behind her, but she didn't pay him any attention. Instead, she drew on Saidar again until she could hear her blood rushing in her ears. It felt so good to feel it again – how it filled her, how it moved through her veins, how it made her fingertips tingle. She would never let go of it. Never ever again!

"Moiraine!"

Someone grabbed her arm roughly, and she swirled around. Her lash would…

Lan pushed her arm aside, stepped into her personal space, and cupped her face in his hands, his forehead pressed against hers. His touch felt cold on her heated skin. Why was he so cold?

"Stop, please," the Warder begged, whispering. His eyes were full of pain and fear.

The woman of the Blue Ajah gasped. She had never seen him like this. Lan was never afraid! Who had hurt her Warder? She would make this person pay!

"Let go of Saidar."

Shocked, Moiraine tried to step back, but Lan's grip was too tight. How could he ask that of her? For over a month, she had lived without the One Power. More than once, she had thought about ending her miserable life and hadn't believed she would ever channel again. And now that she had finally had it back, he wanted her to let go of it?

"Moiraine, please. You draw too much. You burn out."

Realization hit the Aes Sedai. Being able to touch the source again had made her reckless. She had forgotten about the danger Saidar contained. That was why Lan's hands felt so cold on her skin. And she also understood his fear. She did this. She caused him pain by playing recklessly with her life.

"I can't," Moiraine whispered, and a silent tear escaped her eyes. "I can't let go."

Lan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close against him, tugging her head under his chin. "That's not true. I know you can do it. Close your eyes. Forget those people. Forget Cairhien. Concentrate on me. On my heartbeat. On my breath. On my touch. On my voice. On my love for you." He pressed a kiss on her hair while she clutched him tightly.

"I love you, Moiraine. You are the strongest person I know. And I know that this is hard for you, but I need you to let go of Saidar. Now."

Moiraine trembled while she tried to clear her head. She blocked out the sounds around her, the screams of the citizens and the yells of the Whitecloaks. They weren't important. Lan, her Warder, her friend, he was important. He was there for her, protecting her from any danger – even from herself.

Her ear was pressed against his chest to hear his heartbeat. Calm and steady. Nothing like her racing heart. She needed to copy his calmness. His even breathing.

"I'm here. Let go."

She was safe. Nothing would happen to her – not while Lan was around. Not while he had her wrapped up in his arms. He was her safe haven. Her home.

Usually, he rubbed soothing circles on her back to calm her, but not this time. This time, he stood as still as possible, pressing her against him, being there for her, holding her while she tried to stop drawing on the One Power.

Moiraine felt how Saidar flowed out of her body and how it took this intoxicating feeling with it. No! She couldn't lose it! Not again! Automatically, she started to pull at it again.

"Let it go, Moiraine. I beg you. Let it go."

"I can't." Tears rolled down her cheeks. She wasn't strong enough to give it up. For over a month, she had been longing for that feeling. She couldn't give it up. It felt too good.

Lan pushed her away, and she couldn't even blame him. He tried to save her with everything he got, and she couldn't even let go of Saidar for him. More tears escaped her eyes. Why couldn't she stop hurting him? He was always by her side, no matter what.

Suddenly, Lan's hands cupped her face again, and then his lips lay on hers, kissing her like he had kissed her in this dark alley. Drawing her attention to what he was doing to her. When she took a step backward, one arm moved around her waist and pulled her back against his body. He wouldn't let her leave.

When her knees became weaker and started to tremble, she grabbed his shoulders, though she felt how he held her upright. Surprisingly, he began to feel warm again, and at the same time, she started to feel cold. Shivers ran over her back, and the trembles became stronger. What was going on with her?

Heavily breathing, Lan ended the kiss. "Good," he whispered, satisfied.

Moiraine's hazy head needed a moment to realize what he had said. What was good? The kiss? No, this couldn't have been it. Light, she was tired. All her energy was gone. But why? Saidar should…

The Aes Sedai gasped. Lan's kiss had distracted her. She had let go of Saidar completely! She could still feel the One Power under her fingertips, but she wasn't drawing at it anymore. And now, her body felt the loss of this sweet, intoxicating feeling heavily. She needed it back!

Moiraine moved her trembling fingers. Just a little bit. She would only draw a little bit to get the feeling back. This wouldn't hurt her. She could handle a small amount.

"No!" Lan grabbed her hand. Worry distorted his beautiful face. "No more channeling tonight!"

"Please, I need to touch it," Moiraine whined.

"It's too much for your body. You can barely stand, Moiraine."

"I can handle it."

"You can't. You haven't slept, you're high on kratom leaves, and exhausted from drawing too much." Lan's eyes focused on something behind her, and within a heartbeat, his calm mask was back in place. "We need to leave. The Whitecloaks are closing in."

Carefully, he released his tight grip on her, but his strong arms didn't let her fall when her knees gave away. He waited a moment and then tried it again.

Moiraine needed two more attempts before she could stand on her feet without sinking to the ground. But she couldn't suppress the trembles. Her body was craving for the One Power!

Lan pulled her toward Rand, who lay on the ground. The panicked crowd had run over him. No one had cared if they were hurting someone. Everyone had thought about his own life.

The woman of the Blue Ajah sank to her knees beside the unconscious boy. She couldn't see an injury, but this didn't mean there was none. Automatically, she reached out her hand to heal him.

"No!" Hissing, Lan grabbed her hand. "No channeling!"

A whimper escaped her lips, but Lan didn't let go of her. He shook Rand's shoulder. "Rand. Rand! Wake up!"

Groaning, the Dragon Reborn gained consciousness. "Blood and ashes, my body feels as if a herd of sheep ran over me." Blinking, his eyes found Moiraine and Lan. "What happened?"

"No time for explanations. Can you walk?"

Lan offered Rand his hand to pull him back to his feet, and the boy took it, thankfully. His eyes moved over the square, and when he saw the Whitecloaks, he froze. "Oh, I see."

"Move."

Quickly, Lan guided Moiraine and Rand away from the Whitecloaks and into the streets of Cairhien.


The next chapter will be uploaded on Sunday.