Moiraine and Siuan do not always agree with each other. Sometimes, they are just two young jealous women who don't think before they speak.
Relieved, Lan watched how Moiraine's head wound closed, as well as the cracked skin on her knuckles. The pain subsided, and her breathing became more even. The woman of the Blue Ajah grimaced when her friend healed her sprained wrist, then it was over.
The bond was as vivid as ever, and Lan couldn't stop sending his question through the bond. Moiraine hadn't wanted him to bring the Wise Woman back to the tavern, but they had never talked about the possibility of finding an Aes Sedai in Tear. Yet, he hadn't run into any Aes Sedai but into Moiraine's friend – a friend who was willing to use the One Power in Tear to heal his bondholder, knowing very well it was dangerous.
The Cairhien woman locked eyes with him, sending her reassurance through the bond. She wasn't mad at him. Bringing this woman to her had been the right decision. But most importantly, he was relieved he didn't have to worry about her anymore. He didn't want to admit it but wasn't sure if he would've been able to help Moiraine without the Wise Woman or an Aes Sedai.
Moiraine's attention moved on to the woman beside her, and she smiled lovingly at her friend. "Thank you."
"What have you been thinking?!" Siuan looked worse for wear, but her eyes sparkled with anger. She knew the Cairhien woman couldn't have done anything differently, but her exhaustion and worries for her lover turned into anger. "How could you get yourself in such a condition?!"
"We were attacked, Siuan," Moiraine chuckled. "It's not like we had a say in it." Then she pushed herself into a sitting position.
Lan rose when he saw she was struggling. Siuan had healed her, but the healing had pulled at her strength. Moiraine had told him that multiple times. Back in the forest, he had realized what she had meant when he had been barely able to stand on his feet after she had healed his fatal wound. It was the first time since they had bonded that he had been close to death. Never before had he felt so weak after her healing minor injuries.
Moiraine shook her head at her Warder when she noticed what he was doing. She didn't need his help.
Ultimately, it was Siuan who helped her and ensured she was comfortable, so the Malkieri sat down again.
"You need to be careful the next few days, Moiraine. People will start to talk if they see you're suddenly healed."
"We won't stay long anyway."
"Well, you should." Surprised, Moiraine looked at her pillow friend. "You were attacked twice within a few hours. The Trollocs won't search for you, but the Gaidin said some of the Whitecloaks survived the attack. They will definitely search for you, and you know it. So, stay for a few days. Get some rest while they search. Regain your strength. Your body needs it, Moiraine."
When the Cairhien woman opened her mouth to protest, Siuan turned her head toward Lan. "What does the innkeeper know about her condition?"
"I told him she has a troubled stomach due to riding for hours."
Moiraine snorted. "This explanation is more accurate in describing Siuan than me."
She was rewarded with an evil eye from her pillow friend, though the gaze quickly moved on to Alric. The Warder had leaned against the wall during the healing process. Now, he had lowered his head, ineffectively trying to hide his broad smile. Especially since Siuan could feel his amusement over Moiraine's words through the bond.
Finally, Moiraine became aware of the other man in the room and narrowed her eyes at him. "What is he doing here?" Alric was no stranger to her. Having lived in the White Tower for years, she sometimes had moved to the halls where the Warders had been training. Years ago, she and Siuan had fantasized about bonding a Warder, though Moiraine hadn't expected to find one who hadn't gone through the training or hadn't set foot into the White Tower by now.
The Warder straightened and tilted his head respectfully. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Moiraine Sedai."
Siuan sighed, taking Moiraine's hand. She didn't like what was coming now. Better to get it over quickly. "He is my Warder."
The shock on the Cairhien woman's face was visible. With wide eyes, she watched her friend, waiting for her to continue – to tell her it was a joke. But Siuan stayed mum, waiting for the outburst.
"You bonded him?!" She had found a Warder?! Moiraine hadn't even known her pillow friend had been looking for one! When did that happen?!
"Don't you dare look at me like that, Moiraine Damodred!" Siuan's own anger came through. "You bonded HIM without telling me!" She tilted her head toward Lan. "And that was even worse since you left me with the words, "I have unfinished business with the man" and when you returned after a few hours, you had bonded him! You had this plan before you left me, yet you didn't say one word to me!"
Moiraine's mouth opened and closed a few times, but no word crossed her lips. Siuan was right. She hadn't told Siuan about her plan to ask Lan to become her Warder, though she had had multiple opportunities to tell her.
Siuan nodded when she saw her friend had no explanation for that. Calmer, she continued, "When I decided to bond a Warder, you weren't there. I couldn't tell you about it. I wanted to – but I couldn't."
"Oh, Siuan." Regretfully, Moiraine squeezed Siuan's hand, and guilt filled her heart. Her mission to find the Dragon Reborn forced her to travel a lot while Siuan stayed in the White Tower. It was hard to be separated for that long, but they both knew it was necessary. They would be too slow with them both out on the streets – especially with Siuan's dislike for horses. "Forgive me for not being there."
The woman from Tear nodded, then reached up for Moiraine's face and rubbed with her thumb over the now-healed cut on her friend's temple. She could have ended it with that, but her sharp tongue was out of control. "At least Alric went through the proper Warder training at the White Tower and knows how to protect an Aes Sedai."
Immediately, Moiraine's face darkened at her words. "Lan protects me. He may not have the training but has experience in fighting."
"Apparently, not enough since you got hurt and sick."
"This was not his fault! None of us saw the Whitecloaks coming, and we were outnumbered! There was nothing he could have done any differently!"
Siuan sighed and rubbed her temples. A headache was slowly growing. Her Warder stepped closer to the bed when he felt it too. Both women needed rest to calm their rising tempers. "We should leave, Siuan."
Moiraine growled at him, which made him taking a careful step back.
"Alric is right, Moiraine. I need to return to the Tower." When Siuan's pillow friend threw her a questioning look, she sighed heavily. "Cetalia summoned me back. She needs my help in the Tower."
The Cairhien woman wanted to protest, but the woman from Tear cut her off. "I wish I could stay, but I can't. And you need to rest." She turned her head to Lan, whose eyes were focused on the floor. "Can you find another excuse for her unwellness, Gaidin? The innkeeper can not know she is Aes Sedai. And a troubled stomach won't hold for days."
Lan froze. Another excuse for Moiraine's unwellness. Should he tell them about the innkeeper's thoughts? Would Moiraine rip his head off for not correcting the man? But it was an excellent way to give her some rest. Although, that was probably what worried him the most. How was he supposed to keep Moiraine in this room? His Aes Sedai wasn't known to take things easy.
"What is it, Lan?"
He lifted his head, and his eyes met her blue ones. She had felt the uncertainty within him. Blood and ashes! She will find out anyway. And for now, I still have her friend here, who could knock some sense into her should she not listen to me. "The innkeeper has his own… assumption of what is going on with you."
"What does that mean?"
"Does he know she's Aes Sedai?" Siuan asked anxiously.
Lan had no doubt this woman would carry his Aes Sedai out of there if she thought her friend would be in any kind of danger. Light, his throat felt dry! "He thinks you're with child." There. He had said it.
Moiraine's eyes widened in shock. Lan didn't dare to break their eye contact. "What?!" The voice of his Aes Sedai sounded high-pitched. She hadn't expected that.
And neither had her pillow friend. Siuan's eyes were as big as Moiraine's before she turned her head around. "Are you?!"
Alric cleared his voice uncomfortably and walked to the other side of the room, being highly interested in the furniture all of a sudden. Lan wished he could follow him.
"What do you mean 'Are you'?" Moiraine's shock turned into anger again when she faced Siuan. "How can you even think this could be true?!"
"How can't I?!" Frustrated, the woman of Tear threw her hands in the air. "I haven't seen you for a year! I don't know what you're doing while you're on the road!"
"And the first thing that comes to your mind is that I forgot about our mission and decided I need a child in my life?!"
"You have a Warder, Moiraine. It's not uncommon for Aes Sedai to bed their Warders. The lionfish must have something extraordinary that you were so quick in knowing it should be him. Maybe you were impressed by his equipment and fantasized about him using it on you. Perhaps you were both drunk and lonely, and you opened your legs for him. Do you even have Heartleaf with you?"
Moiraine blushed at Siuan's words. She didn't like to talk about this kind of stuff. "Stop this nonsense," she hissed. "I'm not with child, and Lan and I are not bedding each other."
A relieved smile tucked at Siuan's lips for a heartbeat, then she straightened. She would never admit she hadn't liked the thought of Lan and her lover getting romantically involved, though she also knew she could do nothing against it should it happen. Many Aes Sedai bedded their Warders at one point in their relationship. It was rare that nothing ever happened.
The blush on Moiraine's cheeks encouraged the woman of Tear to tease her lover a little bit more. "Does this mean he has not much to offer? With his height, I had expected-"
"Siuan!" Embarrassed, Moiraine hid her burning face in her hands. This was a nightmare! Why was this woman torturing her like that?! "Stop talking about Lan's…! Just stop talking about this whole subject!"
Chuckling, the woman of Tear turned to Lan. "So, she still can't talk about the intimate act between two persons? Has she even seen you naked by now?"
The uncrowned king of Malkier raised an eyebrow. "Did you expect her attitude would change?" He ignored the last question on purpose.
"Well, you're from the Borderlands, right?"
"Yes."
"Aren't the people from the Borderlands more open with intimacy? I heard men and women even share the same bath."
"We do." Which was the only reason why he didn't care that Siuan was talking about the size of his cock as if he weren't in the same room as them.
Moiraine's friend sighed heavily. "I guess such a change will take time."
Moiraine growled at her, then hissed, "I can't believe you think I would bed Lan just because he is my Warder. In all this time since we bonded, I've never…." Suddenly, a thought crossed Moiraine's mind, and her eyes went to Alric's muscular back before they returned to Siuan. Embarrassed, she lowered her voice further, "Did you…?" She couldn't finish the question.
Yet her pillow friend understood what she wanted to know. "Not yet."
"Not…." Moiraine's stomach turned. This was not what she had wanted to hear! "Does this mean you want it to happen?" Light, her cheeks were burning. She didn't want to talk about this stuff, especially not in front of Lan and Alric!
"Oh, my sweet innocent pufferfish." Siuan cupped Moiraine's cheek, smiling at her sadly. "As I said, it is common for Aes Sedai and Warders to bed each other at one point in their relationship. I don't know when it will happen if it takes years of knowing, or if it's something else. But I assume it's inevitable that it will happen. Even for you and Lan." Which was a terrible imagination to the woman of Tear.
The woman of the Blue Ajah wanted to protest. This couldn't be true, right? Lan wasn't interested in her. She was his Aes Sedai, and he was her Warder. But some Aes Sedai wed their bonded partner. Maybe it isn't so absurd to be pregnant. Her eyes found Lan, who watched her attentively, and her embarrassment returned full force. The innkeeper thought she was pregnant with Lan's child! Not just anybody's baby, but Lan's!
"I hope you told the man the truth and stuck to your excuse with a troubled stomach." She would rather have the innkeeper thinking she wasn't doing well with riding than let him believe she bed Lan.
But the uncrowned king of Malkier didn't move a muscle at her words. All he did was stare at her, and Moiraine's stomach turned again. No, no, no. His gaze meant nothing. It was possible he just hadn't heard her. "Lan? Please tell me you corrected him."
When he shook his head, she wanted to strangle him. This bloody idiot! Why hadn't he done anything?! "I didn't. It's a good cover."
"A good cover?!" The Cairhien woman felt like she was choking on her words. This couldn't be true. Maybe she was still sick, and this was all a bloody nightmare!
Siuan raised an eyebrow at Lan, asking for an explanation instead of insulting him. And Lan didn't disappoint her. "If a Whitecloak comes looking for us, he won't search for a pregnant woman. They will be focused on injured newcomers."
Appreciatively, Siuan nodded. "Good thinking, Gaidin. Maybe you do know how to protect your Aes Sedai."
Lan rewarded her with a small smile. It meant a lot to him that this woman acknowledged him trying his best to protect the woman she obviously loved more than a friend.
"Then we leave this place!" Moiraine insisted, but her friend shook her head.
"You're not listening, Moiraine. You need to rest. Stay a few days before you continue your hunt. Your body is exhausted."
"And not just yours." Alric stepped closer to the little group. His eyes were locked on Lan's face. "Your Warder looks tired too."
The two women took a closer look at the Malkieri and realized Alric was right. It was so obvious, yet none of them had seen it. His skin looked pale, and he had dark rings under his eyes.
"Alric, help him to lie down. They both need rest," Siuan ordered when Moiraine attempted to climb out of bed.
Lan protested, but when Alric pulled him to his feet, they almost gave in. It was Alric's strong arm around his waist, which was the reason why he made it to the other side of the bed. And it was also Siuan's Warder who helped his brother to take off his weapons, belts, and boots.
The uncrowned king of Malkier did his best not to collapse on the bed, but the comfort of the mattress welcomed his exhausted body immediately.
Moiraine crawled to him, worry clearly written on her face. "Is it just exhaustion, or did I miss an injury when I healed you?"
Lan took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "I'm a little tired. Give me a few minutes, and then I'm back on my feet."
"You both are idiots," Siuan scolded them. "Close your eyes and get some rest."
"I thought you needed to leave," Lan mumbled, but already with closed eyes.
Sighing, Siuan exchanged a look with her Warder, who nodded. "One more day shouldn't make a difference, and you need someone to watch over you. We'll stay with you and keep an eye on you while you sleep, but in the morning, we have to leave. Or Cetalia will skin me when I return." She pointed at Moiraine. "You. Follow your Warder's example and get some rest."
The woman of the Blue Ajah raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Are you sure that is what you want? There is only one bed here. If I do as you say, you will accuse me of-"
"Come here," Siuan growled. She pushed off her boots, then sat with her back against the head of the bed and opened her arms.
Smiling, Moiraine squeezed Lan's hand – the poor man was already asleep – then snuggled up against Siuan. "Besides," the woman of Tear explained while rubbing her hand up and down Moiraine's spine. "This is a big bed. As long as he stays on his side, and you do the same on your side, there shouldn't be a reason for me to accuse you of anything."
The Cairhien woman yawned instead of an answer. It would have been useless anyway.
The last chapter will be uploaded on Sunday.
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