The Blazing Dawn
Chapter 1

a/n:

I'm pretty much writing this for myself because I need more closure then I was left. Sanderson did a great job, but when Robert Jordan died, and they let someone else finish the books for us, the Jordan Estate (I feel) also left us the ability to add on as we will. The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills and all that jazz

Queen Elayne Sedai sat upon the Lion Throne, trying to listen to the lists of incoming taxes and trade from the Steward of Cairhien, but the feeling of Rand in the back of her head growing stronger was beginning to take its toll. He was much closer now. She could feel something close to shock from him. Not shock, no. The queen gave a slight frown, and the Steward before her stopped and asked, Perhaps Her Majesty would like to take a break and resume later this evening?" Her tempers this close to giving birth were not to be trifled with.

She waved her hand, "No, I'm sorry. Please continue, Master Norry." Elayne sighed. She wished these babies would come already, and if Rand Al'Thor wasn't there when it happened, he was going to be very sorry when he ever did see her again! Master Norry continued to drone on, and Elayne maintained the perfect serenity that Aes Sedai were known for.

"There is the matter of a Seanchan spy as well that was found working in the kitchens. Little is know if she was sent from the Empress herself or if-"

Elayne sat up just a bit straighter. "A Seanchan spy? In my kitchens?" she repeated incredulously. With the Dragon's Peace signed, this had to be handled delicately, but Elayne could not help thinking she wouldn't mind if the Aiel had to do a little policing of those people who treated slavery as if it were normal. She had barely dealt with the last Seanchan women left in her care here.

"Have her monitored or followed. If she goes somewhere, I want to know it," Elayne replied, gesturing for some of the extremely weak tea on the table near her. A maid quickly picked up the silver pitcher and poured her a glass. "Thank you," Elayne said, taking the time to smile at the maid. She didn't want people thinking she had such a bad temper all the time. The babies should be coming any day now, and- Elayne smiled a true smile now, and rested her free hand on the swell of her incredibly large stomach. They were kicking.

"Yes, of course, I know someone to put on it. If that's all, Your Majesty?"

Elayne looked up, "Oh, yes. I'm so sorry, Master Norry. I really ought to take a nap." She sighed. This was happening more and more often. Pudding brain, as Lini called it.

Elayne hoisted herself up off the throne and waddled away to do just that. If Rand didn't show up in time, he would find her tongue even more cutting than Nynaeve's used to be.

The clouds rolled over the remains of the blight, casting shadows over the Shienarans and Asha'Man's work. Huge blocks of stone and great poles and lengths of timber moved easily through the afternoon air as the men followed their instructions. Al'Lan Mandragoran sat atop his great war horse, watching the men below. The first thing Nynaeve had put them to work on was the great, hulking beast of a castle that shaded him from behind. Malkier was alive again, and the Dark One sealed away more perfectly than before. And the Blight was practically gone.

Borderlanders one and all had come to help with the rebuilding of Malkier. Nynaeve would- Lan looked around, his eyes scanning the workmen below. She had just been down there. That woman never let the work go unsupervised more than a few hours at best, and that was only if she was called away to the Tower. Lan's stony face changed naught, but he scanned the crowds beneath him for a few more minutes. Finally, he let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding when his eyes came to rest on the beautiful dark locks that were beginning to grow out down the back of a green and blue gown with silvery lining. She was holding a child, its head on her shoulder as she moved through the crowds. She was an excellent Queen and would make a good mother.

Lan never dreamt that he would be able to call himself a husband, much less a father. He did his part in saving the world in Tarmon Gai'don, but if it weren't for Rand being in the Two Rivers, if it wasn't for him and for Nynaeve. "I never thought I'd be truly happy," Lan thought to himself before riding over to the stables. Once he had Mandarb cared for, he began his way down the hill to where the work was being done. There must have been at least a thousand people in this valley. Lan didn't realize he was smiling until the crowd around him began to move out of his way. Bows of respect and the phrase, "The Golden Crane lives again," on the lips of everyone he passed. Yes, al'Lan Mandragoran never thought he would be happy, and here, everything was coming true.

Rand Al'Thor had given him happiness he never thought he would have, and he was in a debt he would never be able to pay back. Lan muttered a silent prayer, "Thank you, Rand."

"Did you hear what my Doomsayer said?" Fortuona repeated, that slow smile spreading over her delicate face. "She said that you two will marry, and marry you will. Or do you say that I lie?" That smile was a sickly sweet threat on her pretty face.

"Never, O Empress, may you live forever," the Seanchan man proclaimed, prostrating himself before Tuon's place on the Crystal Throne. Min sat in a well cushioned chair to the left of her. Mat's raven chair on the other side, a stark contrast to the splendor of the Crystal Throne, remained empty.

"And she will bare a son," Min said softly, pointing to the woman on the other side of the man, who had already prostrated herself long ago.

Fortuona laughed, and Min could feel Rand in her head growing farther away. He had been closer for so long, sometimes farther, but mostly closer, that she had gotten used to the feeling. It was lonely to have him be nothing more than a presence. He must be going to Elayne. She would be having the children soon. If Rand wasn't there soon, even Min couldn't say what would happen to him. Fool sheepherder thinks he can get her pregnant and run off exploring? Aviendha was only a couple months along now, but there was no way he was going to escape a good tongue lashing from all of them at this point. He might be free from his duty to the world, but he had a duty to them. And that was that.

It had been a long few months, and Elayne was about a month overdue at this point. It's like those babies were waiting for him to get back. "Oh, Rand, hurry home," Min tried to urge him in her head. There was no reply back, but she hoped he got the message.

A/N Please review. CCW, always. 3