Moiraine, Lan, and Anvaere return back to the house. What will they find?
Occasionally, Lan lost sight of Anvaere, but the oldest Damodred sister always returned when she noticed Lan had fallen behind again. He had slowed down after Moiraine had started to tremble in his arms. Her body was exhausted, and he could only hope she would stay awake until they reached Anvaere's house.
After what felt like an eternity, the stable came into sight. Carefully, the riders approached the house. Everything was quiet. Even the nervous horses had stopped neighing. But was that a good sign or a bad one? Where was Eliza? Was she still asleep, or had she been killed by Trollocs?
Lan heard drunken men in the distance, singing songs and laughing about their jokes. Apparently, there had been no attack on the village. Trollocs wouldn't have let them live if they had followed the Myrddraals.
Was it possible the six Eyeless had been alone? And what had been the purpose of their attack? Rand had killed the Dark One. Why should anyone send those creatures after Moiraine? And who could order the Shadowspawn now that the Dark One was no more?
"I don't hear anything," Anvaere whispered. She held her bow with an arrow nocked in for safety.
The uncrowned king of Malkier had let go of Mandarb's reins, guiding him only with the pressure of his thighs while having his free hand on the hilt of his sword. His eyes scanned their surroundings, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing was moving, and his bad feeling was gone. No, he was sure they had killed all the Eyeless. The danger was over.
Suddenly, the door of the stable opened with a bang, and a shadow exited. It held a bow in its hands. The sharp end of the arrow shimmered in the moonlight and was pointed at the riders.
Anvaere lifted her own bow at the same time when Lan drew his sword. Whoever dared to threaten them would get himself a fight.
"Don't move!" The shadow yelled.
The oldest Damodred sister released a relieved sigh and lowered her bow when she recognized the voice. "Eliza."
"Anvaere?"
Slowly, Lan lowered his sword and felt Moiraine relaxing in his arm. The danger was over, and they all had survived.
"Where have you been?!" Eliza wanted to know. "I was worried sick for you! The horses were out of control, there were three dead bodies in the stable, and you all were gone!" The old woman was clearly close to breaking out in tears.
Anvaere dismounted Aldieb, groaning, and Eliza rushed to her side worriedly. "Are you hurt? Do you need a Healer?"
Smiling, Anvaere hugged the other woman. "A few bruises and my head will probably keep me awake tonight. Did you get hurt?"
"Hurt by what? Except for the horses, there was no living being here."
Lan sheathed his sword, then ensured Moiraine would hold on to the saddle. "Don't let go. I dismount first, and then I help you."
"Understood," Moiraine whispered.
The uncrowned king of Malkier didn't like how weak she sounded. He dismounted, then pulled her down in his arms.
Moiraine's whimper caught Anvaere and Eliza's attention, and the two women joined the Aes Sedai and the Warder.
"What happened to her?" Eliza tried to get a better look at Moiraine, but it was impossible in the dark.
"She fought against a monster and got hurt," the oldest Damodred sister explained, stepping before Lan, who carried the injured woman. "Give her to me. We get her inside."
"Why don't you go with Eliza, my lady? Leave your sister to me."
"You have to take care of the horses, Warder." Anvaere's voice was cold. "You can't do both. Now give me my sister."
Every cell in Lan's body screamed not to let go of Moiraine. He was her Warder! It was up to him to keep her safe! – To take care of her! But Anvaere wasn't a stranger. She was Moiraine's sister and worried about her.
Carefully, he placed Moiraine's feet on the ground. The woman in his arms groaned in pain, and he felt her trembling when he helped her to stand. "She'll need your help."
Anvaere didn't hesitate and placed Moiraine's arm around her neck. Then she moved an arm around her sister's waist to steady her. "Eliza, could you help me?"
"Of course." The old woman came and took Lan's place.
The Warder grimaced when he had to let go of his Aes Sedai. This wasn't right! He should be by her side.
Eliza saw the anger on his face and gave him a sympathetic smile. "We'll get her inside. Don't worry."
Instead of an answer, Lan nodded and watched how the two older women guided Moiraine to the house carefully. His bondholder could barely place one foot in front of the other.
It was Mandarb who pulled him out of his thoughts by nudging his arm. Sighing, Lan grabbed Mandarb's reins. Anvaere was right. He needed to take care of the horses. "Aldieb." He clucked his tongue to pull the mare's attention on him.
Aldieb turned her head to him. She had tried to follow Moiraine, knowing her owner was injured.
"I know. Let's take care of you two so I can check on her. Come."
The mare snorted and turned her head back in Moiraine's direction but followed when Lan took her reins and pulled her to the stable.
Once Lan was done – he placed Aldieb and Mandarb in the same horse box so they could comfort each other – and he had checked on the other horses, too – especially the one which had hurt itself because it had panicked over the presence of the Eyeless – the uncrowned king of Malkier took care of the dead Myrddraals. The horses had been nervous when they had been lurking in the shadows. Now, they were dead, but the horses were still not comfortable around them. So, he piled their bodies behind the stables. He would take care of them tomorrow. After that, he went back to the house.
The three women were in the dining room. Eliza cleaned a cut on Anvaere's arm and lifted her head when Lan entered.
"She refuses to let us check on her," the old woman explained, nodding at Moiraine, who sat in a seat with her legs pulled to her chest. At least, the two women had taken the sword from her. "Perhaps you have more luck."
Anvaere shot daggers at Lan, but he didn't care. He crossed the room and kneeled before his bondholder. Someone had lit the candles, and she looked so damn pale in the dim light. She had closed her eyes, and it looked to Lan like she was breathing through the pain.
Carefully, he cupped her face in his hands, and her eyes opened fluttering. "Hello, beautiful," Lan whispered lovingly.
A sad smile appeared on her lips, and she reached for Lan's face, placing her hand on his cheek. "Do I look so bad that you need to lie now?" The pain was audible in her voice.
"How is the pain?"
"Killing me."
"I would like to check on you."
"I hit the ground a few times. My body won't show the bruises until tomorrow."
She was right, and Lan knew it. He would check on her in the morning. "Any cuts or other injuries I should know about?"
"I don't think so. But I don't know if I would feel a difference right now. All I feel is pain whenever I move a muscle." Lan nodded understanding. "I would like to go to bed now."
"Of course." Carefully, the Warder pulled his Aes Sedai in his arms.
"Is this your definition of checking someone for injuries?" Anvaere asked through gritted teeth.
Eliza threw her a warning look. "Anvaere."
"There isn't much I can do right now. I will check on her in the morning. But for now, I will take her to bed to rest. Good night, my lady. Eliza." Politely, Lan tilted his head.
The oldest Damodred sister opened her mouth to protest, then yelped in pain. Eliza had pressed the fabric on the cut.
"Forgive me. That was clumsy of me." She didn't even try to look remorseful. "Good night, Lan."
Lan fled the room before the two women could start yelling at each other. Light! Why couldn't Anvaere be as nice as Eliza?
When Lan entered, Moiraine's room was cold, so he placed her on a chair and pulled a blanket around her shoulders to warm her. Then he left to start a fire and to heat some water in the teapot. Nynaeve had given him a bundle of new herbs in Fal Dara. One of them suppressed pain, but it tasted awful and made the person sleepy. Precisely what Moiraine needed to get a full night of sleep.
Once the water was hot, he poured her a cup, then returned to her. She hadn't moved an inch – simply holding the blanket together with one hand.
Lan placed the cup on the table and took her hands in his. They were as cold as ice. "How are you?"
"Tired."
He nodded. "The herbs will help against the pain and allow you to sleep."
Moiraine's eyes moved to the steaming cup. "Let me guess. Nynaeve?"
"She helped me to refill our medical bag."
"Of course she did." Lan waited to see if Moiraine would continue, but she didn't. No sharp comment, no insult. She simply sounded tired. He continued to rub her fingers to warm them when she asked quietly, "What did she say when you left Tar Valon?"
Lan froze. They hadn't talked about Nynaeve since they reunited. "She probably cursed me."
Confused, Moiraine turned her head at him, frowning. Probably? Her Warder got back to work on her fingers without looking her in the eye, though he felt her staring at him. "I didn't talk to her. After talking to Siuan, I gathered the horses and left."
Moiraine sighed heavily. "She'll kill me."
"No, she won't."
"You left the White Tower to find me."
"Which was MY decision. I decided to go after you, and it was also me who decided not to talk to her before my departure."
"Oh, Lan." Another heavy sigh. "You've never met the fury of a heartbroken woman."
The uncrowned king of Malkier growled and released her hands. "You should drink your tea." He grabbed the cup, then steadied her head and helped her take a sip.
Moiraine grimaced and pushed the cup away. "Light! This is disgusting!"
"I never said it would be pleasant."
"Yeah. Well, I'd rather take the pain than drink this… whatever that is."
Lan raised an eyebrow at her. "You rather stay awake all night being in constant pain than drinking a cup of tea?"
"Disgusting tea. The point is that it is disgusting."
"You can't move without feeling pain. This will help suppress it and let you sleep."
"I take my chances."
The Warder growled, then got back on his feet. "All right. Stand up."
"What?!"
"Stand up and show me you can endure the pain. Then you don't need to drink the tea."
The woman of the Blue Ajah didn't move. They both knew the pain was killing her. "Lan-"
"Stand up, Moiraine. Prove me I'm wrong – that I'm overprotective."
"This tea is disgusting."
"No one mentioned medicine should taste good."
Moiraine grimaced angrily. She didn't want to drink this tea. But the pain… carefully, she placed her hand on the seat and tried to push herself up. The pain returned with such a force that she couldn't suppress a whimper escaping her lips.
Lan's fingers flinched, and his face darkened when he heard her whimper. His first instinct was to wrap Moiraine in his arms and to ease her pain, but he couldn't. He took deep breaths to stop himself from helping her. This stubborn woman needed to see she couldn't keep going like this!
"Blood and ashes!"
No matter how hard the Aes Sedai tried, she couldn't stand up. She was too weak, and the pain too much. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks, and she let her head hang.
Immediately, Lan was by her side, kneeling before her and pulling her against his chest so she could lean her forehead on his shoulder.
"Foolish woman," he murmured worriedly.
Moiraine grabbed his tunic and held on to him. "Please, Lan. I can't drink that."
The Warder sighed and pressed a kiss on his Aes Sedai's cheek. "I believe you that it is disgusting, but it's necessary."
"Take a sip, and you will know what I mean."
Lan let go of Moiraine and looked at her pale face. She didn't look good. Fighting against the Myrddraal had taken its toll on her. He cupped her cheek and wiped the silent tears away with his thumb. A smile appeared on his lips when he felt Moiraine leaning in on his touch.
The uncrowned king of Malkier leaned in on her and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. The Cairhien woman reacted immediately, tugging at his tunic to pull him closer – she didn't have the strength to actually pull him forward. Lan's fingers moved into her hair, then he broke the kiss.
"Forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive."
Lan chuckled and pulled back, but Moiraine tugged at his tunic. "Don't." She leaned forward, but her lips touched the teacup instead of tasting Lan. Shocked, she tried to pull back after noticing her mistake, but Lan's hand at the back of her head kept her in place. The disgusting tea filled her mouth, and she grimaced. This insufferable man had tricked her!
She saw the apologetic look in Lan's eyes. He hated doing this to her, and she finally understood why he had asked for her forgiveness. The woman of the Blue Ajah was too weak to knock the cup out of Lan's hands, and he knew it.
All she could do was beg him with her eyes to stop, but Lan shook his head. "The quicker you swallow, the sooner it will be over."
Moiraine knew he was right, but… Light! Frustrated, she forced herself to swallow while Lan ensured she would empty the entire cup.
Once it was empty, the uncrowned king of Malkier placed the pottery on the table, then leaned in on her and rewarded her with a kiss. "Forgive me my boldness, but I can't stand aside knowing you're in pain when there is something that can help you."
Moiraine sighed. She felt sick. "If I throw up tonight, it will be your task to clean it up."
Lan smiled. "At your service, my Aes Sedai."
The Cairhien woman hummed content when their lips connected again. She would've continued to replace the disgusting taste of the tea with the taste of Lan if possible but was exhausted. So, she ended the kiss regretfully.
"I'd like to go to bed now," Moiraine whispered, shivering from the warmth Lan's body provided.
"Of course."
The Warder pulled off her boots, then helped her to stand up. Moiraine had thrown a riding dress over her nightgown. It had been the quickest way to follow Lan outside since it didn't have many laces.
Luckily, Lan was trained to help Moiraine out of her clothes. He easily opened the laces, then pulled the dress over her head and threw it over the chair.
The Aes Sedai shivered in her thin nightgown, and her Warder stepped closer to warm her. "What will bring you less pain? If you walk to the bed, or when I carry you?"
Moiraine thought about her walk back to the house with Anvaere and Eliza steadying her. It had been better than sitting on a horse, but each movement had been painful. And then she remembered Lan carrying her upstairs. It hadn't been as bad as the walking.
But the bed wasn't far away. It would be ridiculous to ask Lan to carry her for such a short distance. The woman of the Blue Ajah opened her mouth, then had to grab Lan's tunic when her left leg gave away all of a sudden.
"Moiraine?"
Lan's hands on her hips held her upright. Perhaps it wasn't a bad idea to ask him to carry her. "Could you carry me to the bed?"
The uncrowned king of Malkier nodded and pulled her into his arms tenderly. Moiraine's head felt heavy, and her eyes threatened to close themselves. Blood and ashes! Nynaeve's herbs worked fast!
Carefully, the Malkieri placed the Cairhien woman on the bed and was relieved when she barely whimpered in pain. Nynaeve had warned him that it wouldn't take long for the herbs to take full effect. He tucked Moiraine in so she wouldn't be cold.
"Join me," the Aes Sedai whispered sleepily.
Lan pressed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll stay awake for the rest of the night. Sleep."
Her fingers stroked over his tunic, but she didn't have the strength anymore to grab the fabric. "No, please."
"I'm not leaving, Moiraine." Lan sat beside her, softly brushing a loose lock behind her ear. "I'm here with you. Sleep. You need it."
"I need you."
He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. "You've got me." The woman of the Blue Ajah wasn't convinced. Groaning, she tried to turn on her side. Sighing, Lan pulled her back. "Don't."
"If you'll stay awake, I'll stay awake too."
Lan growled when she continued to fight against him. "Foolish woman. Will you stop?"
"Come to bed."
"Moiraine-"
"Come to bed."
"Fine!"
The Aes Sedai smiled when her Warder stood up, growling, and watched him undress. She was glad he had finally given up since she wasn't sure for how long she could continue fighting against him. She couldn't feel her legs anymore, and the rest of her body would probably follow soon. Lan had been right – Nynaeve's herbs were amazing against the pain but also made her sleepy.
She felt Lan crawling under the blankets, still mumbling something inaudible while placing his muscular body beside her. "Will you sleep now?"
Moiraine hummed contently with her eyes already closed. The scent of Lan surrounded her, giving her a feeling of being home.
"How is the pain?"
"Gone." It was remarkable what that disgusting tea could do.
Suddenly, she felt Lan moving her to lie on her side, then felt his body pressed against her back – spooning her from behind while placing his arm protectively around her. It wasn't a hug, yet she felt her personal safety bubble. She was safe as long as Lan was by her side.
Sleep pulled at Moiraine heavily, and she finally gave up the fight.
The next chapter will be uploaded on Wednesday.
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