I will be trying to update once a day at least, just so everyone reading this knows, and I will say if this is going to slow. But I will say this again, I want to know peoples opinions on if I should gender bend Min, Elayne and Aviendha. I'm certainly very tempted with Elayne.

Five years after her father told her the truth, Rana had grown into a determined young woman. She'd braided her hair with some reluctance, though she refused every offer she'd gotten to court. She wasn't interested in any of the boys, and they were still boys, in the village in that way.
There had been some talk by the Womens Council of arranging for her to marry Mat or Perrin but when the trio had found out they'd stormed into one of the meetings together, a united front against the Womens council. It had made the new Wisdom, Nynaeve, laugh, though she'd tried to stifle it.
They seemed almost as determined to find Rana a husband as they were to find her father a new bride, frustrating to be sure, but there was little they could do about that other than duck and dodge as best as they could. And she had the help of her friends at least.
It was the main reason that she hadn't been bothered about waiting until so close to Bel Tine to deliver Tam's apple brandy and apple cider to the Winespring Inn. It was, of course, not the actual reason they had delayed, the winter had been hard, and even the journey to Emond's Field from their farm had turned more treacherous than it ought to be.
She shivered as the wind plastered her cloak to her back, and she drew it around herself as tight as she could with one hand, the other resting on the pommel of her sword. She regretted not bringing a bow, but in truth she was much more proficient with the sword, though she was still skilled with the bow.
The sword was good only for close range, whereas the bow could be used at a distance. It would certainly be reassuring now, with the eerie quiet, the only sound coming from them, the creaking of the axle sounding far too loud in the quiet. And the shadows didn't help.
The sun was weak enough as it was, and the shadows almost seemed to merge with the light.
She glanced over to her father hesitantly, reassuring herself that he was still there, which, she realised a moment later, was silly. Where else would he be? But he caught her eyes and gave a small nod which eased her mind and Rana let her hand slip from the pommel of her sword as she allowed herself to relax.
They walked in silence for a small while longer before she glanced backwards and her eyes widened. A figure on horse black, both horse and rider cloaked in black. She couldn't see a face but she felt it's hatred, and she stumbled backwards, grabbing onto Bela, their mare, as she did, her gaze slipping from the figure as she let out a startled noise.
"Rana, what's wrong? Are you all right."
"A rider in black! Following us father." she stated quickly, her eyes wide."
"Where?" her father lifted his broadblade spear, eyes searching for the rider.
Rana turned to point, "That wa-" she cut herself off, her eyes going wide, "He was there father, I wasn't imagining it... but he's gone. Just gone! A man in a black coat on a black horse."
"I don't doubt you, but where has he gone?"
"I don't know." Rana curled her fingers around the hilt of her sword, "But he was there father."
"I believe you." Tam took off in the direction that Rana had spotted the figure from, "I wouldn't doubt your word. We'll see if we can find hoof prints, even on this ground a horse should leave prints."
Rana hesitated, "It's cloak didn't even move in the wind father." she told him, already knowing that there would be no hoof prints.
"Is that so?" Tam frowned worriedly, his brow wrinkling, "We shall keep an eye out child, and we must hope that it was just a trick of your imagination. There is something in the air though." he shook his head, "Keep your locket tucked out of sight, just in case dear."
Rana nodded, making sure the golden locket was hidden beneath the warm fabric of her red woollen scarf, a gift from Matt and Perrin when she came of age, and they had both declared that no matter what their parents thought, she was a sister to them, not a potential bride. It had been a good day.
She shook away the memories and focused on walking, giving her father a small smile, which he returned.
"It's not too far now lass. I could do with a pipe when we get there." he chuckled, "And I expect you're looking forward to seeing your friends, and avoiding Nynaeve, and Egween too come to that."
Rana groaned, "They both believe that I should be courting Mat or Perrin, and neither of them approve of my sword." and she allowed the chatter to distract her from her worries, from the thoughts of the dark rider and the dark horse, and soon enough they were leaving the Westwood and they were in the village, and she smiled brightly as she saw the children rushing around the cart, whooping and playing despite the weather. Bel Tine could always bring out the best in people, she had discovered, and it made the fear of wolves abate somewhat and allowed the children to play as they pleased.
And it wasn't just the children who had been cheered by the festivities, but the adults too, with shutters thrown back and the spring cleaning being done, after all no woman would allow Bel Tine to come with the cleaning still to be done.
She laughed at the sight of children who had been too slow to run off and play and had gotten caught by their mothers, venting their frustrations on the carpets with wicker beaters. On top of the roofs the goodmen on the houses checked their thatch to see if the winter had done too much damage and they needed fixing.
Tam paused several times to speak to the village men, though Rana paid little attention to that, looking around hopefully for Mat or Perrin, though she knew that they could be anywhere in the village so she'd probably have to search them out later.
She was only distracted from her search when Wit Congar stepped out into the street to block their path, and Rana resisted the urge to groan. The Congars and the Coplins were the worst complainers in the village. Her father took it well enough, keeping calm rather than snapping at the other man for blocking their way.
I have to get this to Bran al'Vere, Wit." he nodded to the barrels in the cart. But Wit didn't budge, and he had a sour look on his face, which, admittedly, was a common expression for him.
"What are we going to do about Nynaeve, al'Thor?" he demanded, "We can't have a Wisdom like that for Emond's Field."
"It's not our place Wit. The Wisdom is women's business." Tam pointed out, sighing heavily.
"Well we'd better do something, al'Thor. She said we'd have a mild Winter. And a good harvest. Now ask her what she hears on the wind and she just scowls at you and stomps off."
And Rana couldn't help but speak up at that, "The way you're talking about her I'm surprised she hasn't given you a hiding." she got a glare for that before the man focused on her father again.
"Nynaeve al'Meara is just too young to be Wisdom, al'Thor. If the Women's Circle won't do something, then the Village Council has to."
And then Daise Congar, his wife marched out of the house, "What business is it of yours Wit?" she roared, clearly about to start on a rant at him.
Rana glanced at her father, her eyes wide as he nodded, bidding them a quick goodbye before they got Bela moving again, intent on avoiding more attempts at matchmaking from the village women, and Rana also hoped to avoid the same, mothers who's sons were a few years older, or women who's nephews were too. It was frustrating and she avoided it as often as she could.
The Winespring Inn stood at the east end of the Green, hard beside the Wagon Bridge. The first floor of the inn was river rock, though the foundation was of older stone some said came from the mountains. The whitewashed second story — where Brandelwyn al'Vere, the innkeeper and Mayor of Emond's Field for the past twenty years, lived in the back with his wife and daughters—jutted out over the lower floor all the way around. Red roof tile, the only such roof in the village, glittered in the weak sunlight, and smoke drifted from three of the inn's dozen tall chimneys.
Soon enough they came to a stop in front of the Inn and Bran walked over to them, greeting them both cheerfully before focusing on her father, as most did, which was why neither of them noticed Mat's arival, and he tugged at Rana's sleeve. She glanced at her father before turning to Matt and grinning brightly as he tugged her away from the men, just in time to avoid Cenn Buie.
"Come on Rana, before they put us to work, or Mistress al'Vere finds you and tries to convince you to start courting." his eyes twinkled and she laughed as they rushed away and hid behind a wall.
"Honestly, I don't know why they always have to target me for such talks. I'm perfectly happy as I am." she declared proudly.
"Of course you are." Mat tugged at her scarf, laughing, "Dav and I caught a big old badger, all grouchy at being pulled out of his den, do you want to come and watch us set it loose on the Green and watch the girls run."
And Rana's grin widened, "I don't see why they're all so afraid.. but it does sound rather fun..." she hesitated, "Though I was going to offer to help father unload the cider."
Mat rolled his eyes at that, "Toting barrels? Burn me Rana, I'd rather play stones with my baby sister. Well, I know of better things than a badger, we have strangers in the Two Rivers. Last evening-"
Rana cut him off before he could finish his scentence. "A man on horseback? With a black horse and a black cloak that doesn't move in the wind."
And just like that the light in Matt''s eyes faded as his voice turned to a whisper, "You saw him too? I thought I was the only one. Don't laugh, Rana, but he scared me."
Rana shivered, "I'm not laughing Mat, he scared me too. It felt as though he hated me. As though he wanted me dead Matt, and then when I looked again he was gone."
Mat nodded, "I don't know about hating but he was scary enough, he was sat on his horse looking at me, just outside of the village. I only looked away for a moment but when I looked back he was gone. That was three days ago and I can hardly stop thinking about him. I keep looking over my shoulder."
"I know how you feel. I told father and he's said he'll keep an eye out, though I think he hopes that I was imagining it."
"You can't have been if we both saw him. At least your father took you seriously. Everyone I've told believes I'm making it up.. I know I've made up my share of stories abut I wouldn't lie about this. He scared me."
"I know... hopefully we're both wrong... perhaps it was just our imaginations making a man on a horse seem darker than he was.
"Ha! Or maybe it was just a chickenthief from Taren Ferry like Dav suggested." Mat snapped bitterly, "We both saw him and neither of us felt right about him. Maybe if we both tell-"
"Mat, " Rana interrupted him. "You are the most mischievous person in the whole village. I don't think that there's anyone here that you haven't pranked. Even when you're nowhere around people instantly blame you. You are my best friend and a love you dearly Mat, but if we both tell them then people will assume you put me up to it for a joke." she pointed out before peering over the wall towards her father, who was looking towards them whilst the Mayor lectured Cenn.
Mat popped up beside her to see what had caught her eye and Tam smiled at them, "Good morning, Matrim." he greeted brightly, hefting one of the brandy casks up onto the side of the cart. "I see you've come to help me and Rana unload the cider. Good lad."
Mat leaped to his feet at that, starting to back away and opening his mouth to argue only to be grabbed by Rana, who have him a playful look, "He has father, you can go inside with Master al'Vere if you want, whilst we deal with the cider."
Tam chuckled, "No need to look so glum Matrim, Rana's stronger than most of the boys in the village, I'm sure you'll make short work of it. I shall meet you inside Bran, Cenn." he walked towards Rana and Mat as Bran and Cenn headed inside, "The faster you do it the better you two, after all the faster you do it the sooner you get to meet the gleeman."
Rana and Matt exchanged shocked and excited looks at that and Matt leaned forward, "A gleeman, here? Really Master al'Thor?"
"Yes Matt," he glanced at Rana, "I shall mention the figure you saw to Bran once we're inside, for now try and enjoy yourselves."
Mat instantly leaned forward, "I saw it too Master al'Thor! Three days ago."
Tam nodded, laying one hand on each of their shoulders, "I'll make sure to warn then. Don't go spreading it around you two. We don't want people to get worried... though I don't like the sound of it I mist admit. Now you both go and unload the carts and then perhaps you can meet the gleeman."
Rana nodded, "Yes father." and with that she span around and headed to the cart, catching Mat's arm as she did and dragging him backwards with her. She would enjoy the company whilst
unloading the cart, and she knew Mat would help. Even if he complained.
"Come on Matt, the faster we get it done the more time we have before I'll have to leave."
Mat groaned but nodded before brightening up, "Perhaps we'll seen Nynaeve and Egwene, that'd be even better than seen a badger, what with the look you get on your face when they both start on you." he teased as they headed towards the in, carrying the casks they'd grabbed.