Sorry it has taken so long I went on a brief holiday.

Note: The character Dirk's real name is Kye. So either appellation refers to him.

Disclaimer: All profits to RJ

Chapter 17: A Healing Hand

Dirk knew something was different even before he saw her. Those who knew him were acting differently. Many were hanging around him as if anticipating something. It had to do with Kea; after all he was nothing to these people.

Seeing her gave it away immediately. She was still wearing white but the coloured bands on the bottom of her dress shouted her change in station like a beacon. More than that though was her manner of walk, it was straighter more confident. Her whole bearing had become distinctly more Aes Sedai like. Dirk could think of no other way to describe it. She was moving her hands as well. More than she did normally as if to draw attention to them and the new ring on the longest finger of her hand. So she was accepted now.

He nodded to her as she neared him and he saw her tense as she became aware of his closeness. That was new, and unlike the new bearing of confidence, he didn't like it. Why would she be wary of him?

"Greetings Accepted," he said respectfully but with a smile.

Her eyes almost popped out of her head and her mouth screwed itself up in a delightful look of confusion. But true to her training she got herself back under control and gave him the slightest of curtseys.

"I am glad to see you Dirk," she said her voice sweet but underneath it lay a layer of tension.

Dirk glared around at the people watching around them. He growled at them and some wiser ones moved off, some stayed, their loss. He began to mentally note their names as Kea continued.

"I was tested last night. Now I should be free to study quicker and hopefully I will be able to become Aes Sedai soon."

He had not been paying much attention to her. He wanted others to leave. If he was forced to make them private by leaving it would brook questions, but wasn't making them leave going to do that too? What was Kea saying… a test? That rang a bell.

"Got the answers right, I see," he remarked lightly.

"I got the only one that mattered right," Kea responded and he heard the tense edge flare to life, like a fire, that had just received another load of fuel. So it was this 'test' that had changed things. He would need to talk to her, but not in front of these eaves droppers. While he was thinking of how to surreptitiously get them some privacy Kea went right on talking.

"I think I have found an Aes Sedai who can help you?"

That jerked him out of his little plans and put a stop to any thoughts of this ethereal testing. "What do you mean help me?"

"Well these Yellow Sisters are known for their abilities with healing. One of them came to me last night. I was a little upset and she was kind. She offered me healing but I didn't need any. She said she had only wanted to be sure. We got to talking about healing and she said she was very good at mending the mind. You know people whose minds have been damaged by a fall or by something horrific they have seen. I asked around afterwards and it seems she is the best. You know after I told you about what I saw when I read your cloak I told Seaine and Turanna Sedai and now lots of people know enough to be sure you used to be a Warder. They want you to know what you did because there has never been a case like yours before. This Revoir Sedai is meant to be an expert."

"That do be a lot to tell a man in one charge," remarked Dirk startled and trying not to show it. But in some ways he felt they shared one mind, it was difficult to hide how he was feeling from Kea.

"You said you might be interested in solving your memory problem. You know it was something to do with the Tower. We know your Aes Sedai was Brown, you wanted to find out about her. Maybe this Revoir Sedai truly can help us. I would like to have been the one to do something for you for once."

"You do something for me every day just by breathing," Dirk assured her and to his horror he heard a distinct softness enter his tone. Worse Kea blushed which removed any hope of her having not noted his tone.

Trying to recover his ground he attempted to explain. "Since that first time I have just always felt the need to keep you safe. That was why I fought that day and why I protected you, took off that collar and brought you here. I think it is because I used to be a Warder, I just have to keep Aes Sedai safe."

"I'm not…"

"You do be as good as!" he snapped cutting her off. Even as he realised he had stricken her silent he apologised. "I do be sorry. I will see your Revoir Sedai. It is true; I would like to know more. I do be thankful to you Kea for arranging it, truly." She seemed pleased but as she said her good byes and swept away as regal as a queen of Aes Sedai, he could still feel that tensing of her muscles. Something had changed, and not for the better.

"Greetings Revoir Sedai, I am Dirk Steadysteel, I believe you were expecting me."

"I was, come in Dirk."

As he stepped into the room Dirk could not keep the shock from his face. His Warder's cloak was there carefully arranged over the back of a chair. How had she laid her hands on it? He knew it was his by the small silver clasp that it carried at the neck. He said nothing however, he was not a fool.

The Aes Sedai was quite old; at least Dirk guessed that she was. Her face had the ageless quality of all Aes Sedai. She wore her shawl with its Yellow fringe, even here in her own rooms. Though he didn't know why that should have surprised him, it was not unusual for Sisters to wear their shawls in the Tower any more. Any more… what did he mean any more… he had never known it any other way… had he? Maybe he didn't need this, maybe his mind was unsealing itself, remembering naturally. Given the choice he felt that that would be better.

"Kea, the Accepted, tells me you do not remember being a Warder but that you think you were one." Her tones were professional and clipped, as if she were checking off points on a list. He could not help disliking it. She was very different from Kea. He wondered if his old Aes Sedai had been this way.

"I do not, but I do be thinking as she said."

"Why?"

"My cloak, my sword, Kea's readings," he explained. He felt wary, how much could he trust these Aes Sedai, Kea had been uneasy with him this morning, had they forced her into arranging this? Is that why she had been uncomfortable because she knew they wanted something from him? He shook his head, he was being extremely paranoid. Kea had trusted him; he needed to offer her the same cutesy after all she was trying to help him. He had asked for this, he had to help this woman and tell her what she needed to know. She was a Sister; she would not lead him wrong. After all she couldn't lie.

"What did Kea learn about you?"

"What she had already told you," he responded flatly. Even if it had been Kea he did not like the idea of these women all getting together where he could not hear and discussing him.

"She was unsurprisingly quite reticent with the details. After all she had just been tested and it takes time to get over that."

"Really?" he had not been able to stop himself blurting that out. A foolish mistake of a younger man he cursed himself inwardly. That was why Kea had been odd, the test had harmed or disturbed her it hadn't been him at all!

"You know your old name?"

"Yes, Kea heard it, it was Kye." He didn't know why he had chosen to lie and keep Paula out of this. He only knew he didn't want this woman to know everything. He could not shake his dislike of her; he could not bring himself to trust her, yet.

"Your Aes Sedai?"

"Only her Ajah and that she had a bent back, a stoop or a hunch, I do not be knowing."

"How long?" asked Revoir, each question was said in an authoritative and yet disinterested voice. She seemed to speak from along her nose talking down to him even as she seemed to look down at him. That was impossible as he was taller and yet she managed it effortlessly. He did not like the voice or the feeling, but she sounded totally assured and that had to be good.

"It's been something over four years since I remember anything."

"Aha! Really," these words were drawn out as if she were no longer wasting any thought on talk but was pondering furiously.

"Are you recovering at all? Any sign whatsoever?"

"Well… not really"

"What is not really Kye?" the question was snapped at him like a whip.

He had not been addressed by that name since Paula had done it.

"Well there do be times when places or people have felt familiar. When I did find my sword and cloak… I do not know it was as if I recognised them. I knew they were mine."

"Really?" Revoir Sedai's voice was now interested. Her eyes now met his, rather than looking at his body or the piece of parchment upon which she scribbled notes.

"Well I think I can begin," she announced. Dirk tensed not really knowing how to prepare or for what he was preparing.

The Aes Sedai moved towards him and reached out with both her hands, placing each on a different side of his temple. As the fingers touched him he felt a sudden freezing sensation go through him. It hurt! He bit down on his cry not wanting to distract the healer from whatever she was doing. She could have warned him though he thought to himself. But no sooner did the thought arrive than it was pushed aside and forgotten.

Memories of Jiro and finding Kea were racing through his head: memories of Caemlyn and opening the box. So many memories he could not keep track of them names and faces of people he didn't know raced through his mind. It didn't feel like healing, he felt like he was being run ragged. Still that just showed how little he really knew about the Power. Kea had started to have lessons in Healing and told him that, though it healed the body, it was uncomfortable, as the strength for it was drawn from the person healed. That must be what was happening to him now. She was helping his memory resurface, but pulling the strength from him. He wished he could see the weaves but as well wish he could see without light.

Then just as he was feeling this might not have been a good idea something spiked. He saw her; she stood slightly stooped over a high desk. Two guttering candles marked the desks corners. On it was laid a large book, written in some ancient tongue. He looked at it but did not try to read, that was not what he was here for. Reading was for Aes Sedai, he was here to protect, even here, even within the Tower. He saw the picture though and he knew what she was researching. It was the visor, always that strange visor, with the blue quartz over the eye slit.

"Dirk?"

"Yes? What is it Aes Sedai?" he replied picking himself up from the floor.

"I think that might be enough for one day" replied Revoir Sedai kindly. "You collapsed."

"I did?" Dirk shook his head as if to clear it and tried to remember all that had just occurred but his fall seemed to have shaken him, he could barely remember any of their conversation. Still some progress had been made.

"Thank you Aes Sedai" he said with a bow the lady in the yellow-fringed shawl. "I hope that you can heal my mind, given enough time. But even if you do not be able to, thank you for trying."

"My pleasure Gaidin," Revoir replied with a warm smile. Touching the hilt of his sword he turned and left. He felt relieved it was good to know a woman he trusted so completely was helping him heal. He did not think he had ever felt as safe as in her healing hands.