Rana desperately tried to block out Egwene and Moiraine's discussion, especially the talk of males born with the ability to touch Saidin. Would it drive her insane as it did them? The taint would surely affect her just as it would a man. She noted the sour look on Thom's face the mention of men being gentled. She looked away from Moiraine and Egwene as they talked, shivering slightly when she felt the prickling sensation that she was beginning to realise came when a woman was touching Saidar, and she heard Egwenes excited cry, glancing at her as she declared, "Did you here that Rana, I'm going to be an Aes Sedai!"
And Rana looked away again as Moiraine caught her eyes and stood. "Perhaps we should talk just outside Rana." and Rana stood, ignoring the confused look she was getting as she headed out behind Moiraine, and when they were in the cool chill of the air again she turned to the Aes Sedai. "So Egwene can channel.. and she's off to become an Aes Sedai."
Moiraine nodded, "She can.. and I would test you too if I did not already know that it would be pointless. I can sense something of the power in you but something is blocking it. I have never felt anything quite like it before."
"I would not wish to become an Aes Sedai anyhow." Rana stated quietly, "I believe I know the shape of my fate already."
"Yes... I believe you do. Rana al'Thor. And you do not yet trust me to tell me what you know, do you?"
She shook her head again, "I would be foolish to trust you. You may have saved my fathers life, but that doesn't mean that you don't have your own motives, though I don't believe that they are intentionally harmful." she reached up, fingers curling around her locket absent-mindedly.
"You knew you would be leaving... how?"
"Me and father were already planning on leaving. If it had not been with you I'd have set out on my own." Rana stated confidently, "Though where too I don't know."
Moiraine nodded and her gaze flicked to the locket, "May I see?"
Rana hesitated, "My father always told me to hide it from those who would be able to recognise it's meaning." she admitted. "My mother gave it to him to give to me when I was old enough to understand my heritage."
"I shall not tell a soul other than Lan if that is what you wish." Moiraine held out her hand hopefully, and after a moment Rana carefully undid the locket and let it drop into the Aes Sedai's hand and her gasp was audible as she stared at the sigil. "But this.." she looked up at Rana "Your mother left this for you? Could she have really fled to the Two Rivers.. why?" she shook her head, "But of course no one would think to look there for her... do you know what this means child?"
Rana nodded, "Of course I do. My mother told my father, who told me. She died when I was young." she was proud of that, not a lie but not complete truth either. "Her name was Tigraine Mantear."
"It means that you are royalty.. that you... yes.. yes of course. That is why you were targeted too." Moiraine nodded to herself, "You have a right to the throne of Andor... your death would be... significant to say the least. Your father was right to tell you to hide it. Here are many who would wish harm to you for who your mother is." she handed Rana her locket, "I shall only tell Lan the truth, you have my word on that."
"Thank you." Rana fastened the locket back around her neck quickly and Moiraine led her back inside, where she ate quickly and allowed Moiraine to sooth away her aches and fatigue, falling asleep almost before the other woman had even moved on to Mat.
She was in a room, Rana realised, looking around slowly, there was a fire blazing, and a long table, bare of food or cutlery. She frowned to herself as she looked around, eyes landing on a door, she walked towards it, opening it carefully and gasping, slamming it shut a moment later. For outside of the door was nothingness, a blackness that would consume her. She whirled around, absently realising that her hair was unbraided as it whipped about her head, when she heard a soft voice whispering, "Come now, you cannot hide." it was a soft, crooning voice, "I shall find you, find you all. Come to me and they shall be spared. Run and you shall be hunted, both of you killed. I know it is you, Lews, I may not know who you are now but I feel your soul once more."
Rana was trembling, her eyes wide and her mouth dry as she croaked out, "W-who is this? Who talks to me through my dreams?" and it was a dream, she knew that it was.
"You know me as I know you. I have many names, Ba'alzamon, Ishmael-"
"Elan." she cut him off, before paling. She knew it to be true and yet she did not know how she knew it, "You are Elan Morin Tedronai." she shook her head, hunching in on herself, "If you knew where I was you would have already came for me! You would already have taken me to his prison and spilt my blood! You know that I will never join him."
"I may not yet know where you are, Dragon, but I will find you, and I will be the one to end your life!" The words were like a physical blow and Rana was sent flying into the wall, screaming as she hit it.
"I will not fall to you!" she screamed, "I will not give in to the Darkness! Light protect me but I will not."
Cruel laughter filled the room, "Not yet, young Dragon... but you will. You will fall and my master will win! Better for you to die now, die easy, then there will be less pain for you later, Lews." again the words were like physical blows, and her chest was tight from the pain of it all as what felt like a hand closed around her throat. "I shall show you what shall become of you, as it did him." and suddenly they were no longer in the room, the grip on her throat remained though and she screamed despite it at the sight that met her eyes, a man weeping, the bodies of a golden haired woman and her children. Her chest heaved and she thrashed in the stone grip. "The Light take you Elan!" Tears poured down her cheeks, mirroring those of the man as she sobbed violently, and a hand was on her shoulder, shaking her roughly as she screamed and screamed, her stomach roiling and-
Her eyes shot open as a hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her screams abruptly, and she'd been pulled so that she was sitting, one arm holding her against a firm chest, trapping her arms by her sides, and Moirain was in front of her, hands on her cheeks.
"Rana, Rana you must focus on me, you are awake. Whatever you saw, whatever you dreamed is gone and you are safe!" she could see the others out of the corner of her her eyes, staring at her, huddled as far from her as they could get. And Lan slowly lowered his hand from her mouth as she stared at Moiraine, though he did not move his other arm, keeping her pinned to his chest as Moiraine tried to soothe her.
"I-I..." Rana closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and she could smell vomit, her eyes flicked to the side and sure enough there was sick, she'd been sick in her sleep. "I... it was a dream." her voice shook.
"Yes." Moiraine nodded, "It was a dream, whatever you saw there... you are safe here now." and Rana noticed that Moiraine didn't try to claim it wasn't real. She knew better than that. Then the Aes Sedai stood, "You four wait here, Lan, bring her outside, the air may help." and Moirain headed outside quickly, with Lan following, half carrying half dragging Rana along, and Rana couldn't bring herself to be annoyed by that, she doubted she could stand on her own.
Only when they were outside did Lan release her, and Rana let herself sink to the ground, trembling as she sat there, with Moiraine and Lan looking down at her.