Lan learns the hard way that ignoring an injury is never a good idea.
The closer they came to Falme, the slower Moiraine became. All her instincts screamed at her to turn around. She had Saidar back. She could help Lan. In the past, they had always fought their battles together. Because of the bond, she knew Lan was still alive. Pissed and in pain but alive.
Falme came in sight, and the Aes Sedai brought Aldieb to a halt. The way was clear. No Whitecloaks camping in front of the city or nearby to question them. Rand, Perrin, and Loial stopped their horses beside her. The blacksmith threw a nervous look at Moiraine. "What now?"
Moiraine hesitated. She should keep going. The way was clear, and Falme in reach. The bond was unmasked, and Lan would find her, wouldn't he?
"We shouldn't have left," Rand mumbled angrily. "This is the second time I've left Thom behind. The last time, he had fought against a Fade to give me and Mat time to escape. And now, he did it again but fighting against Whitecloaks this time. I should've helped him."
"The gleeman can take care of himself." The Aes Sedai noticed her voice sounded calmer than she felt. The boys probably must call her being cold about the unknown fate of Thom and Lan. Little did they know how much she truly worried. Her stomach was a twisted mess, and she felt sick.
"It warms my heart to hear you trust me to survive an attack of Whitecloaks, Moiraine Sedai."
Startled, Moiraine swirled around. Thom appeared behind them and guided his horse beside hers. His right cheek had a red tone as if he had received a punch in the face. The woman of the Blue Ajah couldn't help herself but let her eyes move searchingly over the land. Where was Lan? If the gleeman had escaped, why wasn't Lan with him?
"He fought against the last Whitecloak when he insisted I should leave," Thom explained apologetically and drew her eyes back to him. "I tried to help him, but… no matter what I tried, I was always in the way." Moiraine didn't know how much Thom could read in her eyes, but he reached out his hand as if to comfort her, only to stop inches before he would actually touch her and pulled it back. "He'll be fine."
The woman of Cairhien wanted to believe him. And yet, she dove into her bond with her Warder, searching for new injuries or signs which would tell her he needed help. Surprised, she almost flinched. He was angry! What had angered him? It couldn't have been an insult from the Whitecloak. He never got angry when people insulted him.
"Moiraine Sedai." Loial pulled her out of her thoughts. The big Ogier nodded at something behind them, and she turned her head again.
Relief rolled over her when her eyes found Lan on Mandarb. He had made it! "Ride!" Lan's shout reached them, and at the same time, they saw the five Whitecloaks following him.
This time, no one hesitated. If they hurried, they could reach Falme before the Children of the Light could start another fight.
The riders pushed the horses to their limits, but they made it. When the Whitecloaks noticed they wouldn't catch them in time, they slowed down. Something held them back from coming too close to the city. The companions also slowed down before they entered the streets of Falme. The citizens jumped out of the way, cursing them, while others pointed at Loial – who knew when they had seen an Ogier for the last time.
"They don't follow us," Perrin stated, panting, looking at the Whitecloaks who kept their distance though they watched them with visible hate in their eyes. "Why don't they follow us?"
"I don't care as long as they stay away," Thom said, dismounting his horse. "But we should walk now. The people are already staring at us."
No one complained. They didn't mean to pull too much attention. Slowly, they led the horses deeper into the city, out of sight from the Whitecloaks, searching for a place to stay for the night.
"What in light's name…?" Shocked, Rand watched how two women passed them. They wore silver bracelets, which were connected to two collars, placed around the necks of two other women. "What is that?"
Perrin was also shocked and couldn't take his eyes off the women. The boys had never seen anything like it before.
"Seanchan!" Thom growled. "Apparently, it wasn't just a rumor. They crossed the ocean and took over Falme."
"Moiraine." Lan stepped beside his Aes Sedai. Luckily, Thom and Rand shielded her from the Seanchan.
Sighing, the woman of the Blue Ajah pulled the golden ring off her finger. "Lately, there are more places where I need to hide who I am than years ago." She stepped in front of Lan and handed him the piece of jewelry while watching the people around them. He pressed his lips against her forehead while hiding the ring behind his belt.
Moiraine furrowed her forehead when she noticed how warm his skin felt. And not just his face. His whole body seemed to produce an unnatural warmth! "Lan?" She lifted her head to look at his face. He was still sweating, his cheeks had a red blush, and his eyes seemed glazy. Was it possible he had…? "Do you have a fever?"
"We need to find a place to hide. I want to get off the streets."
He ignored her question on purpose. Light, he didn't even look at her! Determined, Moiraine reached up to place her hands on either side of his face, but Lan made a quick retreat. Sadly, this one step was enough to make him sway, and his vision blurred. He was definitely sick.
Moiraine's hand touched his forehead, and she hissed. "You're burning up!"
"I'm…." But the Warder couldn't finish his sentence. His feet gave away, and he sank to his knees.
"Lan!" Alarmed, Moiraine wrapped her arms around him to keep him upright. There was no strength left in his body. His sweaty head lay on her shoulder, his breaths going heavily.
"We must… you…."
"Hush." Gently, she rubbed soothing circles on his back. He had pushed himself too far.
Thom appeared beside her. "What's wrong with him?"
"He has a fever. Can you find a place where we can stay for a while?"
The gleeman nodded. "Rand?" He handed the reins of his horse to the young man. "I'll be back. Stay with them." He pointed at the Aes Sedai and the sick Warder, then left.
Rand, Perrin, and Loial moved closer. They hadn't seen the Warder like this before. Especially the men from the Two Rivers had thought nothing could actually slow down or weaken the strong Warder.
"I can… keep moving." Lan's words were clipped while he tried to get back on his feet, but Moiraine held on to him.
"Don't be silly. You're sick, Lan."
"Need to… protect you."
A smile appeared on Moiraine's lips when she felt his free arm moving around her waist to pull her close. But since he had no strength left, it felt like a gentle pressure on her back. "You protected me. We're in Falme. You did well, my Warder." The last words she had whispered in his ear while sending her love through the bond. "Now allow us to help you for a change."
"I… don't…." A new wave of pain moved through Lan's body, and he stiffened. Even Moiraine had to hold her breath when she felt it. Please hurry, gleeman.
Soon, Thom returned with good news. He had found a man who rented his guesthouse to travelers. It was nearby, and there was even a little barn for the horses.
Since Moiraine couldn't carry Lan and the Warder could barely stand on his feet, it was Perrin who put Lan's arm around his shoulders and helped him to get to the guesthouse.
The gleeman ensured the owner didn't see Lan's condition so he wouldn't change his mind. No one liked to take in sick people. Meanwhile, Rand and Loial took care of the horses, and Moiraine and Perrin brought Lan inside.
The guesthouse had a big common room which was also the bedroom with four single beds. A separate room contained the bathroom with a bathtub.
"Let's put him in bed." Moiraine pointed at the nearest bed, and Perrin led the Malkieri, who could barely move his injured leg.
Panting, the Warder sat down and allowed Moiraine to take off his sword before the Aes Sedai and the blacksmith helped him to lie down. "Can you help him?" the young man asked the woman.
"Yes." Moiraine had no time to explain what she would do. Her hands fought with Lan's boots, then pulled down his pants. She needed to heal this damn injury!
"Are you certain you should do that?" Surprised, Moiraine looked at Perrin. The poor boy had lowered his head to the floor with blushed cheeks. Sometimes she forgot how young these boys were.
"He is injured, Perrin," she explained calmly while removing the soaked bandage. When her eyes fell on the wound, she hissed. The wound was infected! No wonder he had caught a fever!
"This doesn't look good." The man from the Two Rivers sounded as if he would vomit any second.
Moiraine murmured: "And it feels even worse." Then she opened herself to Saidar.
"No!" Lan's hand lunged forward and grabbed her wrist.
Moiraine grimaced when he forcefully pulled her close, away from his leg. She felt his anger, but his glazy eyes couldn't show it. Light, she even doubted he realized he was hurting her.
"Please, let go of me, Lan."
"No channeling!"
"Enough with your excuses. We're safe for the moment, and I'm rested. I will heal you now."
"The Seanchan!" Suddenly, Moiraine paled. Because of Lan's sickness and her worries, she had pushed the memory of the Seanchan to the back of her mind. Lan was right. She couldn't channel – not here. Not with all those women in town who could feel the use of Saidar.
"Blood and ashes!" Thom and Rand had entered the guesthouse. "This explains his condition."
Lan relaxed when he saw the shock on Moiraine's face, and his grip loosened. No channeling. This morning, he had hoped his Aes Sedai could heal him, and then the Whitecloaks had ruined everything. Then he had hoped she could heal him as soon as they were safe in Falme, and now the sight of the Seanchan had destroyed his hopes. They couldn't risk it, and he saw in Moiraine's eyes the realization. She wouldn't be able to help him.
"What are you waiting for?" Thom asked, confused. "Don't you want to heal him?"
Tears built up in Moiraine's eyes, and her throat felt like she had swallowed a rock. "I can't." Her voice sounded choking. She felt so helpless. Carefully, she moved closer to her Warder until she could place her free hand on his cheek – light, he was burning up! – and caressed his skin softly with slow movements of her thumb. Lan was sick and injured, and she could do nothing to help him!
Lan pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, sending his approval through the bond. He would fight this fever.
"What do you mean?" Thom seemed confused. "I've seen you wielding the One Power. I've seen you healing him in Cairhien. What's different now?"
"Some women of the Seanchan can feel the use of Saidar. They can't know I'm an Aes Sedai nor that I can use the One Power. It would be fatal." Exhausted, Lan closed his eyes, and Moiraine immediately checked on their bond to ensure he was still alive. She had to do something! She couldn't let him suffer like this! "We have some herbs left. Maybe I can ease his pain a little and do something against the fever, but…." Her voice sounded desperate when she admitted: "I'm not a Wisdom."
Right now, she would do anything to get the Wisdom of the Two Rivers to Falme. She would know what to do. The stubborn young woman could save Lan's life.
Thom seemed like the only one who understood Moiraine's feelings. Sighing, he turned to the boys. "I think it's best to give those two a break. How about we take a walk through the city? We could search for food, herbs, and some information about your missing girlfriend."
The boys threw one glance at the Aes Sedai and the Warder and nodded. They were of no help here. They mumbled something about 'being back soon' and 'finding some herbs' while leaving the guesthouse.
When they were gone, the gleeman stepped beside Moiraine, placed his hand on her shoulder, and squeezed it gently. "He is strong. He can fight this fever." The woman nodded, never taking her eyes off Lan's sweaty face. "I don't know much about herbs, but I guess cleaning the injury with water would be a good start. I will ask someone in the city for the right herbs against fever and an infection."
"Thank you."
Moiraine waited until Thom had also left them, then rested her head on Lan's stomach. He breathed heavily, and because of the bond, she knew he was drifting between sleep and being awake. His body was in pain, yet he couldn't give in to sleep – afraid of leaving her unprotected. Her thumb caressed his cheek one last time, then Moiraine got back on her feet. She had work to do.
The woman of the Blue Ajah took off her cloak and pulled up her sleeves before she left Lan's side to get a bucket of clean water. There was one in the bathroom and a sponge too. When she returned to her Warder, she saw him forcing his eyes open. He had felt her absence.
"I have to clean your wound," Moiraine declared, kneeling beside him. Lan gave her a low growl, though she didn't know if this was an approval or denial. She decided to take it as approval and started with her task.
Blood and ashes! Her own leg felt like she would attack it with a knife! Lan hissed, his fingers grabbed the linen, and his body became stiff. His pain was almost unbearable. The Aes Sedai tried to work as quickly as possible while, at the same time, being gentle but thorough.
She remembered he had told her he had cleaned the wound, but Moiraine wondered what he had used to clean it. What had caused this quick infection? Lan said he had received the injury from a Whitecloak in front of Barthanes' house. He couldn't clean it while we were in Cairhien, and after that, we had been on the run, riding for hours. The first opportunity to clean it had been… the pond! The pond where he washed my hair before he took his own bath!
"You should have told me about your injury at the pond," Moiraine said quietly.
"You… would've… wanted… to heal… me." Lan had gnashed his teeth.
"At least, I could've channeled you clean water. It's a simple weave, and it would have helped."
"Thought… have more… time."
They hadn't known about Rand's plan with the Portal Stones. They both had assumed it would take them weeks to get to Falme. None of them had thought they would already be in the city today.
Sighing, Moiraine dropped the sponge into the bucket. She had cleaned the wound as best as possible. Now, she had to get the herbs to prepare an ointment.
But when she opened Lan's medical bag, panic washed over her. She knew all those plants and herbs, but which would help Lan? Which plant could heal an infection or would depress the fever? In all those years, she never had to learn those things. She healed people with the One Power, not with herbs. Lan was the one who had learned how to use them, not her.
Tears built up in her eyes, blurring her vision. Where was Nynaeve? She could heal Lan in no time.
"Moiraine." Lan's weak voice made her turn her head. Her Warder fought to push himself into an upright position.
Quickly, she took the bag and walked back to him. "Don't move." The woman of the Blue Ajah tried to push him back down, but Lan grabbed her arms. "You… panicked."
Moiraine cursed inwardly when she realized she had been the reason for him to move. He had felt her panic through the bond and wanted to fight against the threat now – protect her from the danger. Her brave and sweet Warder. "Don't worry. There's no danger."
His glazy eyes moved over her face, and he saw the tears in her eyes. "Why… did you… panic?"
A quiet chuckle crossed Moiraine's lips. Lan would laugh about her foolishness. "I…." Her eyes fell on the herbs in Lan's lap, and all her strength left her body. She sank to her knees beside him, and a silent tear rolled over her cheek. "I don't know which herbs I need to use."
The Aes Sedai felt the question in their bond. Lan didn't understand why this upset her – why she had panicked over it. "We need to depress your fever and need an ointment for your injury. But I have no idea which herbs will help you." Desperately, she hid her face in her hands. "I have Saidar back, but I'm as useless as I was when I couldn't touch it. You need the help of a Wisdom – you need Nynaeve – and not me."
Lan grabbed her hands gently and pulled them away from her face to look at her. He smiled at her, then cupped her face with one hand. "I need… you both."
"Nynaeve-"
"Isn't here." The Warder placed Moiraine's hand on his medical bag. "I'll help you."
And he did. The uncrowned king of Malkier showed the woman of the Blue Ajah which herbs she needed to use. He described the required amount and explained every step. Moiraine listened carefully and followed all his instructions.
First, she made the ointment for the wound while heating some water for tea. The ointment felt cool on Lan's heated skin, and she was surprised at how quickly the pain faded. It wasn't gone, but not as bad as before. After that, she prepared a cup of tea for him. It would depress the fever and allow him to sleep while she wrapped a fresh bandage around his leg.
"Join me." Lan was lying on his back again, his eyes barely open.
Gently, Moiraine took off his Hadori so it wouldn't press itself into his skin. While she had prepared everything, he had pulled a leather cord through her ring to tie it around his neck again. In the end, she had helped him because he couldn't tie the knot and hid her ring under his tunic. "You need to rest. Don't worry about me."
"I need you."
She pressed a kiss on his forehead. "I'm here. Sleep."
Sleepily, his fingers searched for her hand. There was no strength in him when he tried to pull her hand to his chest. "Please."
"I made quite a mess preparing this ointment. I have to clean up before the others return."
"Then join me."
Moiraine smiled and pulled the blanket over him. "Sleep. Heal." She got back on her feet, only to sit down again. The room swayed dangerously, and her vision blurred. Blood and ashes! She hadn't expected that!
"Moiraine…." Lan's hand reached out to her. If he could, he would get up again, but the herbs in the tea prevented that. He couldn't move anymore.
"I'll be all right." Her head felt hazy, but she started a second attempt to stand up. This time, it was even worse than the first one. She sank to her knees, breathing heavily, while she held onto the bed. This wasn't good.
"Join me." Lan's hand covered hers, and the woman of the Blue Ajah realized she couldn't stand up. The herbs were stronger than she had expected and affected her. Sighing, she pulled off her boots, then climbed into bed with Lan.
He was uncomfortably warm due to the fever, but it didn't stop Moiraine from resting her head on his shoulder, her forehead and nose nestled against his throat. The Aes Sedai pulled the blanket over both of them, then placed her arm protectively over his stomach. She didn't care what Thom or the others would think when they returned. She wouldn't leave Lan's side.
Lan pressed a kiss on her hair, and then she felt him giving in to sleep. He needed it. Hopefully, the ointment and the herbs would help him to heal. They would need his strength – whether it was a fight against the Seanchan or the Whitecloaks. Moiraine could only hope Rand would sit still until Lan was back on his feet before he tried to do something stupid.
The Aes Sedai felt sleep pulling at her as well, and she stopped fighting against it.
The next chapter will be uploaded on Sunday.
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