The Sun Palace isn't good for Moiraine, and Lan would like to save her but can't.

HaldirPotter: I believe we all need an Alanna in our lives. I really like her in the show, and I can't wait to see what they have in store for her for Season Three. Not all memories from the palace are bad. Soon, Moiraine shows Lan one of her favorite places in the palace. I hope you will like it too. Thank you for reading and your comment.


Moiraine followed Alanna inside once Lan had all their saddle bags. The Green Sister grabbed Moiraine's hand and gave it a quick squeeze, then disappeared through the door. It almost seemed like Alanna wanted to apologize for what would happen inside.

The woman of the Blue Ajah swallowed. Would Siuan already be waiting for them? It was late. She probably had already prepared for the night. There's only one way to find out. Although every cell in her body yelled at her to turn around and run, the Aes Sedai stepped through the door.

The palace was as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. Moiraine was relieved that Galldrian hadn't changed that much. Alanna waited patiently in the middle of the hall while Moiraine's eyes moved carefully over the familiar walls.

"You're late."

Both Aes Sedai swirled around when they heard the harsh voice. The Keeper of the Chronicles, Leane, stood in the corridor, wearing a beautiful blue dress, though it seemed she had hastily thrown it over herself. She only looked at Alanna, not at Moiraine. "Where have you been?"

Alanna bowed formally. "I apologize for the delay. I didn't intend to leave the Amyrlin waiting. We needed longer than I expected."

"Perhaps the next time, we make sure you know the shortest way to your destination. Or we find a Novice who can hold your hand to guide you."

Moiraine winced at Leane's biting words. Light, it wasn't Alanna's fault they had been late! Determined, she stepped beside the Green Sister. "It wasn't Alanna's fault, Leane. I was-"

"The Amyrlin will think about a proper punishment for you, Alanna Sedai."

The Cairhien woman felt like Leane had slapped her in the face. Not only had she interrupted Moiraine rudely, but she also didn't take her eyes off Alanna like Moiraine wasn't even there. Because she isn't allowed to. I was exiled, and my sisters can't talk to me. Yet, Leane's reaction hurt more than she had imagined. They had been good friends back in their times as Accepted, and though Moiraine had mainly been traveling all the time after she had been raised to Aes Sedai, she had liked Leane – especially since she knew the woman was a close friend of Siuan.

"I understand," Alanna said calmly, bowing again. Why wasn't she blaming Moiraine? Why would she accept a punishment for something she had no say in?

Moiraine hoped she could talk to Siuan first tomorrow. She couldn't let Alanna get punished because she and Lan had taken a day off.

Leane nodded. "It's late, sister, and you must be exhausted. Go to bed. The Amyrlin awaits you in the throne room tomorrow morning. Don't be late again!"

For a heartbeat, Leane's eyes flickered to Moiraine. So, the message was for her, too, even though the Keeper of the Chronicles couldn't address Moiraine directly.

"Good night."

"Good night, Leane Sedai."

Without another word, the Keeper of the Chronicles turned around and left. Moiraine watched her leave. Would she tell Siuan that Moiraine had arrived? What would Siuan do? Would she send a message?

"Maksim. Ihvon. Let's go. I'm tired." Even Alanna played her role by ignoring her exiled sister. The trio left Moiraine and Lan behind in the hall. The woman of the Blue Ajah didn't know where Galldrian had gone but was glad he wasn't anywhere near her. She wouldn't mind not seeing him again for the rest of her stay.

"My lady?"

A young girl – a maid – curtsied awkwardly before the Cairhien woman, her eyes locked on the floor. "King Galldrian wishes for me to show you to your room. Would you like to follow me?"

Instead of an answer, Moiraine gave the shy girl a tired nod. She didn't even bother to correct the girl about addressing her as 'my lady'. How many Aes Sedai had accompanied Siuan to Cairhien? Would they all react like Leane?

"This way, my lady."

Quietly, Moiraine and Lan followed the maid to their room.


"This will be yours, my lady."

The maid opened the door of a room, and Moiraine froze. That couldn't be true. It had to be a joke. The maid said something, but Moiraine saw only her lips moving. Her ears were filled with the rushing of her blood, and she felt like a cold hand squeezing her heart.

The gentle touch of a hand on her back brought Moiraine back. This wasn't the past. She had escaped this horror.

"Aren't you feeling well, my lady?"

"It was a long ride, and she is exhausted," Lan explained. The warm sound of his voice beside Moiraine dispelled the ghosts of her past. "This would be all. Good night."

The maid hesitated for a moment, then curtsied and hurried away.

"What is it?"

Again, Moiraine was surprised at how well Lan read her without the bond. But she couldn't talk about it now – not while they stood in the corridor where everyone could hear them. So, she shook her head, forced her feet forward, and entered the room. The Aes Sedai heard her Warder growling in her back but didn't stop.

The room looked different. Moiraine didn't know what she had expected. This place belonged to the house Riatin now. Everything the family Damodred had owned was probably burned to ashes decades ago.

"Moiraine!"

The room had a big and a small bed, a fireplace, a table, and two chairs. Candles on the nightstands and the table lit the room. Otherwise, there was nothing – the room was empty. But Moiraine remembered shelves filled with books and a gigantic wardrobe containing the finest dresses a tailor could make.

"Moiraine!"

Lan turned her around – his anger clearly visible on his face. He didn't like to be ignored. "Talk to me, please."

Where should she start? They were in Cairhien. Worse even, they stayed in the Sun Palace – a place Moiraine hadn't thought she would ever see again from the inside. It felt weird to be invited into the house by Galldrian. This had been her home for many years, and though she had hated those walls and her family, it was hard to accept all that belonged to Galldrian now.

But the worst part was that room. From all the rooms available in that palace, the king had given her that specific room. He knew how to torture her.

"This was my room." Her voice was nothing but a whisper. "Galldrian let his servants prepare my old room. He…." She couldn't continue. It felt like someone had placed a rope around her throat and pulled it tight.

Lan cursed, then wrapped his arms around her. Moiraine's arms did the same with him, and she held him close – pulling from the safety he provided.

"Can't you send her a message to meet you somewhere else? Somewhere outside of Cairhien?" The woman of the Blue Ajah shook her head, and the uncrowned king of Malkier sighed. "Please, Moiraine. There must be another way. I don't like what this place and the people are doing to you."

Instead of an answer, the Aes Sedai snuggled closer against her Warder.

"Fine," Lan growled. "But as soon as you talked to her, we leave this place. We won't stay any longer than necessary."

Her overprotective Warder. Moiraine's heart swelled with love for that incredible man. She wished she could allow him to get her out of that place, but Siuan didn't come alone. She had brought other Aes Sedai with her.

Suddenly, Lan pushed her off him, and she growled, protesting. "It was a long day," he explained softly. "Why don't you prepare yourself for bed while I take care of the fire. It's cold in here."

The Cairhien woman nodded, agreeing, and then they got started.


It was easy for Lan to light a fire, but it would take a few hours before the temperature in the room was bearable. Moiraine washed herself with cold water before putting on her nightgown and slipping under the blanket of the big bed.

"You need to eat something."

The uncrowned king of Malkier threw a bag in the Cairhien woman's lap – Eliza's provisions – while going through their bags. Disgusted, Moiraine placed the bag on her nightstand. She couldn't eat anything. Her stomach was still twisting.

"Perhaps tomorrow."

"No, not tomorrow." Lan had still not changed his clothes and came over to pull a piece of bread out of the bag. He ripped it into two pieces, then handed one half to Moiraine. "Eat."

"You made me eat a lot today. Can't we stop for now?"

"A lot? You ate something, but it wasn't a lot. And it had been breakfast, which happened hours ago. Now, it's time for dinner."

The Aes Sedai pulled the blanket around herself and snuggled deeper into the soft mattress. "I'm not hungry."

"You're rarely hungry. Doesn't change the fact that you need to eat."

When her Warder moved the bread before her nose, Moiraine pressed her face into the pillow.

"Moiraine, please."


He received no answer. Sighing, he placed the bread on the nightstand and started his safety routine. First, the door to the hall, then the one to her balcony. The windows were closed, too, so he became familiar with the room and its inventory while analyzing where someone could hide and where he had the best position should it come to a fight.

"Can you read something to me?"

Her voice sounded so small. When Lan returned to the bed, he saw his Aes Sedai curled up in a ball, making herself as small as possible. She looked so vulnerable that he wanted to pull her into his arms to protect her from the danger waiting outside this room.

"What would you like me to read?"

"Choose something you like. I just want to hear your voice."

Lan went through his bag until he found the book he was currently reading – poetry. They both liked poetries and even though she had given him the choice to choose, he wanted her to like it too.

But before the Warder sat down, he grabbed the torn piece of bread and poked his Aes Sedai with it. She growled when she saw the food.

"I'm not hungry."

"Eat, then I'll read."

"No."

"As you wish." Lan placed the bread and the book on the nightstand, then continued checking the room.

It didn't take long, and Moiraine gave up. "Fine, give me the stupid bread."

Smiling, Lan returned to her side, then handed her the bread, which she eyed in disgust. "Can we agree that I eat half of it?"

"This already is the half of a piece of the bread. I won't accept you eating anything less than that."

Lan received another growl, but she finally grabbed the bread and started chewing. Relieved, he took off his sword, belt, and boots. Otherwise, it wasn't very comfortable to lie down. He sat down on top of the blanket and moved beside his Aes Sedai.

"Take off your clothes and get under the blanket."

"I don't plan to sleep yet."

Luckily, Moiraine didn't argue with him on that. Sighing, she moved closer until she was snuggled up against his side – still nibbling on her bread and with her head on his chest.

Lan ensured the blanket covered her, then moved his hand over her back – up and down in a calming rhythm – and started to read.


It had been a good idea of Moiraine. The reading calmed him. It made him forget the time while he enjoyed her warmth pressed against him at the same time.

After a while, the uncrowned king of Malkier checked on the Cairhien woman. She had fallen asleep, the bread still in her hands. She perhaps had taken two bites of it. Sighing, he took it from her. They had to leave Cairhien as soon as possible. Hopefully, whatever Siuan wanted from her was done by tomorrow, and he could get her away from this terrible city. He was trying to make her eat again, not worsen her condition. And eating something in Cairhien – in the Sun Palace! – would be hard for her.

Tenderly, Lan stroked Moiraine's hair. He remembered the haunted look on her face when they had dismounted the horses. Her big eyes, her pale skin, and the trembling. Light, she had had panic attacks before, but that one… Lan had wanted to grab her, getting her back on Aldieb's back and leaving Alanna, Siuan, and everyone else in this palace behind them. He had been scared Moiraine would lose consciousness.

But of course, his Aes Sedai had to play the brave one and resisted his attempts. Instead of running, she had faced King Galldrian, endured how Leane ignored her, and even forced herself to enter a room she would have loved to forget.

An idea formed in Lan's head while he watched the sleeping woman. What if he wrapped her in that blanket and carried her out of the palace? Everyone was asleep. It would be easy for him to sneak them out of there. Yes, she would disobey an order, and the Amyrlin would be pissed, but he could explain to Siuan that it had been his idea and that Moiraine didn't have a say in it.

Lan licked his lips nervously. His hand moved over Moiraine's back, trembling slightly. Should he risk it?

Suddenly, the woman of the Blue Ajah moved and moaned, "Siuan."

All tension left Lan's body, and he released a heavy sigh. No, he couldn't get her out of the palace. As much as that place hurt Moiraine, it was also her chance to see Siuan again. He couldn't take that from her.

Sighing, the uncrowned king of Malkier started stroking the Cairhien woman's hair again. He wouldn't leave her side while they stayed in that terrible place. And he would think about excuses for her to escape an unwanted conversation. Light, he hated that city!


When Moiraine awoke in the morning, she noticed Lan didn't lie beside her. She was alone in the bed. With half-closed eyes, her hand moved over Lan's side of the bed, but it was cold. He must have left the bed very early. Or had she slept longer than usual? Maybe he checked on Mandarb and Aldieb and didn't want to wake me. I just hope he didn't run into Anvaere.

Blinking, the woman of the Blue Ajah opened her eyes. When she saw a wall instead of the wardrobe Anvaere had put in her room, she was awake instantly. That wasn't her room in Anvaere's house! That was her old room in the Sun Palace! Moiraine would recognize those walls anywhere.

Shocked, she lifted her head. How could that be? How did she come there? Where were Anvaere and Eliza? But more importantly, where was Lan?!

Quickly, Moiraine sat up, then a sound at the fireplace caught her attention. Relieved, she recognized Lan working on the fire. He hadn't left her. Her heartbeat started to slow down, and her memories returned. Alanna, arriving at Anvaere's house, telling her it was time to go to Cairhien to meet Siuan. Galldrian, inviting her into the Sun Palace. The maid, guiding her to her old room. Lan, holding her.

"Good morning."

Lan's voice pulled her out of her memories. He was done with the fire and came over. Moiraine needed one look in his eyes to know he hadn't slept. "You didn't sleep last night."

Sighing, the uncrowned king of Malkier sat beside her. "I couldn't sleep knowing there's danger waiting for you around every corner. You go and see Siuan, and then we'll leave – no matter what her plans for you look like. We won't stay for another night."

Moiraine couldn't help herself and smiled at her overprotective Warder. It was cute how hard he tried to protect her. She crawled over to him until she sat on his lap, then wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You need to sleep, Lan."

"Once we left this city."

"Lan-"

The Warder cupped her face and pulled it down to him, giving her a tender kiss. "Once we left."

Growling, Moiraine pushed him on his back. He hadn't slept, but at least he also hadn't put on his sword and belt after he had left the bed. "At least rest while I get dressed."

"Not a chance. I won't take my eyes off you – not even for a heartbeat."

The Aes Sedai shrieked when Lan pulled her down on him, then switched their places so she lay on her back.

"Lan-"

His mouth swallowed the rest of her protest and turned it into a moan. Light, this man…!

A knock at the door made them both flinch. Lan jumped out of bed and picked up his sword while he went for the door.

The Aes Sedai entangled herself from the blanket – the stupid fabric was somehow stuck around her legs! – then moved to the edge of the bed when her Warder opened the door.

"Are you serious?"

Moiraine released a relieved sigh when she heard Maksim's voice. She had feared the visitor could be Galldrian or one of his spies.

"What can we do for you, Maksim?" Lan asked his brother.

"I came to inform you that the Amyrlin left her room to have breakfast with the king. After that, she will await you in the throne room. It would be good to stand before the doors when she arrives rather than coming late."

For a moment, Lan turned silent, then he tilted his head appreciatively. "Thank you for the information."

Maksim didn't answer, but Moiraine assumed he left since Lan closed the door. Their eyes met across the room. The Amyrlin. It was time to meet Siuan.


The next chapter will be uploaded on Wednesday.

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