Summary: Finally! Chapter seven is up!

Disclaimer: I own my OC and the alternativeness of this plot. Everything else belongs to Robert Jordan.

Author's notes are at the end of the chapter.

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CHAPTER SEVEN- Somnambulism

"I think I sleepwalk," the women lounging in a circle around the tent stared at Loran with varying reactions. Some looked perplexed, unsure of the significance the statement held to Loran; others leaned forward with interest, an eager but guarded expression on their faces. Amys and Bair were among the second group, and it was the white-haired Wise One who spoke first.

"Sleepwalk?"

"Yeah, yeah. You know; when you walked around while you're asleep…," Loran trailed off as he noticed the apprehensive expressions of the Wise Ones and shrank back a little, "People do sleepwalk here, right?"

"Of course they do," retorted a squinty-eyed Wise One, and several amused chuckles sounded from around the tent. Amys and Bair were the only ones whose faces remained stony, though the aged eyes of the latter held a spark of interest and eagerness. Loran suddenly felt that sleepwalking meant something very different to them than it had to him. It was at this moment that the two Wise Ones rose from their cushions and walked toward the tent's entrance. Either unnoticed or ignored by the others, no one made to stop them and the remaining women avidly focused their attention on Loran.

"Most people outgrow such a habit but not to worry, there are a few herbs that will make you sleep so heavily, your body won't even be able to move," a darkened, aging Wise One said suddenly appearing at Loran's side, patting his hand reassuringly. More women crowded around him, giving advice all at once so that their voices garbled together into a mass and only snippets of suggestions could be heard. At the tent opening, one voice came out atop of the cacophony, stating how much good it would do to have a wife to care for him. He broke free of the elderly Wise One's grasp and his enraged voice too became one with the noise. Suddenly, the rusty-haired boy found himself on his back end, in the dirt, outside the tent, a roar of laughter coming from within.

He was intent on giving his harassers a piece of his mind when he noticed Amys and Bair with another unknown Wise One speaking in front of an unfinished well. It looked as if they were having an argument. The unknown woman glanced his way and did a double take, pausing the others, and three sets of piercing eyes fixated themselves on him. It would have been very nice to turn and run the other direction. Loran knew that look from Amys. It always meant another experiment, another joke on his account, or just something bad for him in general. Unfortunately, he was approaching the three Aielwomen before he knew his legs had begun to move.

"You are coming with us," were Amys's only words to Loran as she ducked into a small tent separated from the group of Aiel homes by the half-dug well. The other two followed, ignoring Loran's sputtering protests and indignant gestures toward the tent he had just exited entirely.

"But you-! But I-! Did you hear-?!"

"In here! Now!" The command sounded odd and strangely removed from the white-haired woman's usual voice from behind the cloth walls. He balled his tan hands into fists and stared defiantly at the tent as if it were the source of his irritation.

"No!"

"Do not be a fool!" It happened so fast Loran almost did not realized he'd reacted at all. A single weave of saidar shot out from under the tent. It had been aimed at his legs, intent to drag him into obedience if need be. However, the weave of air was stopped a single pace from its intended target. He hadn't even been aware of making contact with saidin until he paused to look at the weave he had made. It was not a shield, or anything he'd ever seen similar to a barrier, for the weave of saidar did not bounce off or hit it; such would have been the normal effect of a barrier. His weave, made entire of air, consisted of threads stringing themselves through the Wise One's weave and forming a strange knot in the middle. He shifted slightly and was astounded to find not only had he trapped the other's weave, but he could direct it to some extent with the threads wound throughout it. The weave suddenly bucked, as if trying to free itself and he panicked, releasing the knot in the middle. He heard a cry of surprise as his actions caused the other weave to unravel as well, and he rushed toward the tent with a streak of worry jolting through his chest. Entering, he saw Amys picking herself off the ground, Bair and the other glaring at him wholeheartedly.

"I- I didn't mean to do that," he murmured.

"I am perfectly fine, don't sulk like that," Amys replied gruffly, dusting herself off. Loran dropped his sheepish expression at once.

"But why the hell did you do that?!"

"Because you don't know what's good for you- because you're more stubborn than even any Aielman I've known- because you requested our help and you better be grateful!" The brown-eyed boy had never seen Amys convey so much emotion before, much less shout- well, she had shouted at him a lot, but she'd never been this grave- and, truthfully, it scared him a little. He lifted his hands, palms upward, in a gesture of sincerity.

"Do you really think what's wrong with me is that bad?"

"We're not sure," whispered Bair, her eyes bouncing from Amys to Loran warily. Amys inhaled deeply and relieved the young man of her searing gaze, moving towards the back of the tent. She pointed toward a pile of cushions and blankets.

"Sleep," she commanded, not facing anyone in the room. Loran's hands dropped to his side and he leaned forward, not sure he had heard correctly.

"Excuse me?"

"You say you sleep walk. The only way we can confirm what is wrong is for us to see it ourselves," spoke the unknown Wise Woman.

"Melaine," started Bair, glancing at the woman. Melaine shrugged defensively.

"He would have been told anyway. Not everyone feels the need for dramatics, Bair," Melaine took a corked bottle from a chest on the floor as well a jewel-rimmed, porcelain bowl filled with water. She yanked the cork out with her teeth and poured a small amount of some green substance into the water. Rolling her wrist twice to mix the contents, the Wise One pushed the bowl into Loran's hands and gruffly ordered him to drink. He glanced at Bair and Amys for confirmation or at least some kind of hint that this was a smart idea. There was no such reassurance the stony-faced duo. Bracing himself with a deep breath, he brought the bowl to his face and took and gulped down the concoction. For a moment, he felt nothing.

Then suddenly, everything was above him, rapidly fading into black.

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Well that took long enough. It wasn't even half as long as I wanted it to beeee. The delay was caused by a mix of being lazy and actually being busy, but don't worry…this story is NOT on hiatus. In fact, I actually have the next three chapters planned out! Now just to figure out how I'll put it into words… -whew- I was going to make this longer, but got tired of not updating and thought that such a cliff hanger was good enough to wet your appetites once again.

More interaction between Amys and Loran. I love those two, always bickering. If I knew how to develop character relationships better I would do so but alas….hey, that's what this type of stuff is for right? Practice! (I just got done running a freshman orientation and I'm still in motivational mode, weee!) Is it obvious I didn't have my book for this chapter? I have no clue where it is!! (moving home for the summer frustrated!Bri is frustrated)

Here's the list so far of what we know about Loran:

-He can use Saidin and it has no taint. He CANNOT use Saidar but he can sense it like a woman who channels can (I guess it's a bit like being Stilled.)
-He and Rand share a link that sometimes communicates strong emotions or image-versions of thoughts. It can only be felt when the feeling is either very strong, the thought is about them personally, or the thought is directed towards the other intentionally.
-He might be able to go into Tel'Aran'Rhiod
-He CANNOT Travel, create a portal to Travel, nor use a portal created by someone else.-He and angreal/ter'angreal/sa'angreal act negatively when in contact with each other.