Moiraine is on the run, trying to escape the Whitecloaks. Will she be successful? Does she know the streets better than them?

Moiraine rushed through the streets. She had no specific destination in mind. All she cared about was to get as much distance as possible between herself and the Whitecloak. She had heard him yelling in anger – yelling for his brothers of the Children of the Light. She hadn't looked back.

Her dagger was safely hidden underneath her robe again since the citizens of Cairhien had started to jump out of the way at her sight. A crazy woman running through the streets of Cairhien with a dagger in her hands – a clear signal for her enemies where to find her. So, Moiraine had hidden her dagger and had slowed her steps. Now, she was simply rushing instead of running.

The threat of the Whitecloak was still ringing in her ears. You can't run from us, witch. As soon as you step away from me, I will follow you, and when I catch you, you wish you would have never gone to the White Tower in the first place. Cairhien was her hometown. She knew these streets, even though it had been decades since she had lived there. Those men couldn't know the city better than she did – right?

"The woman over there!"

Moiraine winced when she saw three Whitecloaks ahead of her. They sat on horses, and one of them pointed at a woman in a blue dress. Quickly, she moved right into a small side alley. Blood and ashes! Those bastards used horses to cover more ground! I need to leave Cairhien! They will get me if I stay any longer!

She knew the way back to the stable where she had left her horse. Honestly, she knew a thousand ways back, but she had to be careful. The Whitecloaks looked at every woman wearing a blue dress, and the woman of the Blue Ajah had no doubt they had gotten hints at what to look for from the man she had pushed into the basket full of eggs.

Finally, she was back on one of the more crowded streets and pushed her way through the crowd. This time, the Aes Sedai couldn't hold back. She played a dangerous game with the Children of the Light, and there was no one there to help her should she get captured.

"Over there!"

Moiraine heard the yell in her back and when she looked over her shoulder, she saw two Whitecloaks, trying to force their horses through the crowd. Cursing, she moved into the next side ally.

Five more times, the Aes Sedai had to hide from the Children of the Light. Sometimes, she only saw their backs when they checked on a total stranger, but the men saw her lately, and she could only escape at the last second. It felt like they were closing in on her, leaving her nowhere to go.

And then she ran out of luck. Moiraine was back on a bigger street filled with people and did her best to hide among the citizens, yet it wasn't enough. She saw four Whitecloaks on horses in front of her – luckily, all of them fighting about where to search next – so she turned around. She would take another ally to…

Three more Whitecloaks moved through the crowd, coming from behind. She was surrounded! There was no side ally left to get away from them! Her enemies hadn't seen her yet, but Moiraine knew it was only a matter of time. With fear in her eyes, she watched the men pushing the citizens of Cairhien out of the way who weren't interesting to them. When they saw a woman in a blue dress, the Whitecloak turned around the woman roughly – the shriek of said woman echoed through the street.

Slowly, Moiraine moved aside, away from the people. Her eyes were scanning her surroundings – she considered every door and entrance. Would anyone let me in? What do I do now?

Suddenly, two strong hands grabbed her upper arms from behind and turned her in the other direction. Moiraine couldn't see her attacker since he stayed behind her, but her instincts kicked in. She wouldn't go down without a fight.

The Aes Sedai tried to reach her dagger. She needed a weapon to protect herself. But the grip of her attacker gave her no room to move her arms much. Shocked, she finally realized the man pushed her toward an open stable with three horses in it – the stable belonged to a tavern on her left side. Light! He tries to pull me off the street so no one will see what he does to me!

"Help! Please, help me!" It was a silly attempt, but the woman of the Blue Ajah would do anything to escape this situation.

The man in her back growled at her reaction, then covered her mouth quickly before she could yell for more help. Moiraine tried to pull the hand away. She needed help!

They moved deeper into the stable, and Moiraine's hopes were slowly dying. She wouldn't get out of this place alive! Her angry scream was muffled by the big hand over her mouth.

Her attacker pulled her behind the horses until she faced the wall, yet not even that was enough. No, he made sure she was pressed against the wood – her forehead touching the wall.

A cruel thought crossed Moiraine's mind when she felt his big muscular body pressed against her back. What was he trying to do? Why had he pushed her out of sight? Would he try to…? No, the Whitecloaks were disgusted whenever they laid eyes on an Aes Sedai – let alone touch them. None of them would even consider becoming intimate with an Aes Sedai. He wouldn't – right?

Suddenly, he pressed his body even closer against Moiraine's. The woman of the Blue Ajah felt his left arm pressed against the wall beside hers like he needed to steady himself, and then his hot breath tickled her ear – was he inhaling her smell?! – burying his nose in her locks.

Angrily, Moiraine fought against him again. How could he bury his nose in her hair? Only one man had been allowed to do that, and he wasn't this person. So, the small woman used her entire body to attack her opponent – her hands, feet, elbows – and then tried to push herself away from the wall. It was completely useless! She had dropped the bag with Eliza's spices by now, so she could use both hands.

Yet it wasn't enough. She couldn't really hurt her attacker, and it seemed like he pressed himself closer against her – if that was even possible. And light, her body reacted to him! Shocked, Moiraine noticed how her traitorous body melted against the muscular chest – how it relaxed at the feeling of his strong arms around her like they would keep her safe. What is wrong with me?! This man tries to rape me, and my body gives in to him!

Again, she tried to scream for help, but her voice was still muffled by his hand. She had to get rid of his hand! Angrily, the Aes Sedai grabbed the hand over her mouth, wishing she could free herself from it. Without it, she could yell for help. There had to be someone willing to help! But like the rest of the man, the hand didn't even flinch. He had a tight grip on her, so she scratched her fingernails over the back of his hand.

Suddenly, Moiraine's resistance died slowly. Again, she let her fingertips move over the skin of her attacker, searching for… there it was. A scar on the back of his right hand. Over and over, she traced the line of this scar like it would change its form if she only rubbed long enough over it – it didn't. The scar stayed the same and also didn't disappear. She knew this scar!

Moiraine's eyes widened in shock. No, that's impossible! He isn't here! He can't be here! I left him… he had a task to… I gave him an order! It's impossible for him to be here!

But… the man behind her didn't move anymore. He didn't force himself on her, didn't hurt her, or called for the Children of the Light. All he did was keep her pressed against the wall with his body wrapped around her which suddenly felt like… a cover! Her presumed attacker didn't try to rape her – he tried to shield her from the eyes of the Whitecloaks!

So, the hand on her mouth… it wasn't there to keep her from calling for help. He kept his hand on her mouth so she wouldn't pull the attention of her enemies! Her presumed attacker tried to help her escape from the Children of the Light!

Again, her fingertips traced the scar on the back of the man's hand. A scar she knew so well. A scar she had traced thousands of times – especially in the weeks after he had received it. It had been her fault. She had mistimed a step during their training with the dagger and had sliced the back of his hand. He hadn't even grimaced when it happened. Light, she remembered him insisting on continuing their training although he had been bleeding!

This can't be! I gave him an order! There is no way he could've ignored it! Lan isn't here!

But her body reacted to this man. Moiraine focused on the muscular body behind her. Was there anything she could recognize just by being pressed against him? The measurements seemed to fit. The man behind her was as tall and big as Lan and had a slender figure and muscles. And his arms had the right pressure on her body, too.

Was it possible that her body had known it was safe before her brain had realized it? Had it recognized the familiar bubble of safety she only felt in Lan's arms? But how…?

Confused, she tried to take in the smells around her. Maybe the scent of the stranger would help her body to realize this wasn't Lan. But she couldn't smell anything. Her nose was still overwhelmed by the spices from the peddler.

Finally, the man stepped back. He pulled his hand from her mouth yet pressed it gently against her back to keep her from moving.

Trembling, Moiraine turned her head aside to look at her attacker. He had stepped closer to the entrance of the stable, his eyes scanning the passing people on the street. There was no light in the stable, so the daylight from the street was the only source to see something inside. And it was enough for Moiraine.

Although the woman of the Blue Ajah only saw half of the face, she didn't need more. She would recognize this face anywhere. Lan! Her heart beat faster at his sight while her legs felt like they wanted to give up any second.

"They didn't see us."

Moiraine shivered when she heard his voice. How many times had she tried to remember it over the last couple of weeks? How many times had she wished she could hear his voice one last time?

The uncrowned king of Malkier pulled back his hand, so she could finally turn around to face him. In the meantime, he opened the clasp on his cloak.

Breathless, the Aes Sedai let her eyes wander over him, trying to take him in like he could disappear any second. Would she notice anything different about him? No, it was too dark inside the stable.

When Lan closed the distance between them, he startled Moiraine, and she almost stepped back. Surprised, she noticed he put his cloak around her shoulders and closed the clasp. He was so close. What would he do if she…?

Her hands moved on their own, reaching up for his face, then hesitating like it was possible he wasn't real before she cupped his face. She couldn't suppress a relieved breath escaping her lips. The feeling of his skin under her hands, the familiar jawline and his cheekbones… her thumbs stroked over his cheeks, and she couldn't stop it.

Moiraine's eyes burned from tears building up. He was there! Lan was in Cairhien! Light, she had missed him!

"We can't stay here. It's not safe for you."

She wanted to protest when he grabbed her arms and pulled her hands away from his face. One moment – just one moment longer.

Lan must have seen the panic on her face because he smiled. Had this been a smile on his lips? It wasn't long – maybe just for a second – but she could swear he had smiled for a heartbeat. Then he leaned in on her, and Moiraine felt his warm breath on her forehead.

But suddenly, the uncrowned king of Malkier leaned back without kissing her, releasing a heavy sigh. "We need to get back to the stables." He released her arms and pulled the cloak in place, so it would cover more of her dress. In the end, he pulled up the hood to keep her face hidden.

Moiraine felt like he had punched her in the belly and wanted to cry. Lan had pulled away from her! Never before had he done that! No matter how mad he had been at her! Not even after they had returned to Fal Dara! He had always been close to her, offering comfort!

"Let's go." Lan bent to pick up the bag with Eliza's spices – Moiraine had already forgotten about it and would have left without it – then intertwined their fingers and pulled her back between the people. The Whitecloaks were gone.

The Aes Sedai felt numb. All she could think about was Lan pulling away from her. She hadn't seen his face but had a pretty good imagination of how disgusted he must have looked. Oh, she had hurt him badly. Or was there another reason for his behavior? Had her sisters been able to cut their bond? Was he already bonded to someone else? – To Nynaeve? But the girl couldn't have become an Aes Sedai that quickly.

And if Lan was bonded to someone else, was the reason for him being in Cairhien a simple order? Was this the reason why he had saved her from the Whitecloaks? – Because someone had wanted him to protect her?

Moiraine's eyes were still burning and locked on their hands. She didn't pay attention to where they were going. Lan would know the way. No, she only had eyes for their intertwined fingers. What would Lan do once she was safe again? Would he return to his new Aes Sedai? Could she watch him leave again?

Remember why you did it in the first place, Moiraine, the Aes Sedai scolded herself. You want him to be happy. Nynaeve will love him and keep him safe.

"There we are."

The woman of the Blue Ajah lifted her head when Lan's words reached her brain. Immediately, she recognized the stable where she had left her horse two hours ago. How had Lan known about this place?

"Go inside." Lan let go of her hand and pushed her gently inside. "I'll deal with the owner."

Moiraine's hand felt empty without his. Blood and ashes! This goodbye would be way harder than the last one! Quickly, she went inside to get her horse. She needed to leave Cairhien before the Whitecloaks blocked every gate.

A soft neigh to her left caught Moiraine's attention. A black stallion and a white mare stood together in a horse box, and the mare held her head over the wooden obstacle, greeting Moiraine.

The Aes Sedai froze mid-step. Her eyes lay on the two horses who hadn't been there when she had arrived earlier – she was sure of that. Yet, there was no denial of who these horses were. "Aldieb!"

Overwhelmed, she stumbled toward her beautiful mare, who neighed in response. She had recognized her owner immediately. Moiraine couldn't believe it. She had left Aldieb in front of the Waygate outside of Tar Valon. The mare had known how to find her way back to the White Tower. What was she doing here?

When Moiraine's fingers touched Aldieb's skin, a single tear rolled over her cheek. It felt so good to see her horse. She hadn't lost everything. "Oh, Aldieb." The woman of the Blue Ajah pressed her forehead against Aldieb's. Finally, they were reunited.

"We need to leave."

Lan appeared beside her, and Moiraine looked at him. "How did you-?"

"Not here." The uncrowned king of Malkier opened the horse box. "Do you want to take your horse with you?"

The Cairhien woman looked at him as if he was crazy. "Of course, I take Aldieb with me. I won't leave her behind."

Lan sighed heavily. "Moiraine." He pointed at another box on the other side. "I'm talking about the horse you used to come here."

Moiraine's eyes widened. As soon as she had seen Aldieb, she had completely forgotten about the other horse. "Oh."

"Do you want to take her with you?" Lan asked again. He tried to stay calm, but Moiraine heard the urgency in his voice. He wanted to leave this city.

"Yes, I'll get her." Heavy-hearted, Moiraine released her beautiful mare to gather her horse.

Lan prepared Mandarb and Aldieb, and after a few minutes, they guided the horses out of the stable to the gates – hoping to leave without a fight.

The next chapter will be uploaded on Sunday.

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