Siuan wants to have a talk with the Dragon Reborn.

The song of Saidar moving through Moiraine's veins was the sweetest sound she had heard in a very long time. Her tears refused to stop while Lan held her in his arms. All those weeks of being afraid and feeling useless. All her worries and self-doubts were suddenly forgotten. She was an Aes Sedai again! That was all she had wanted those past weeks – well, that and Lan's bond. And now she was able to unmask their bond if he still wanted her.

"Will someone explain to me what just happened?" Siuan's voice pulled Moiraine back to the kitchen. The Amyrlin Seat stood confused beside a basket filled with potatoes, and her eyes moved from Moiraine to Rand and back. How much had she seen? "Who is this boy?"

Rand jumped from his seat when he saw the Amyrlin Seat, slowly backing away from her.

"Don't move!" Siuan ordered, and Rand automatically obeyed. Then her eyes went back to her lover, who still held onto Lan. "What are you doing down here, Moiraine? Lan was supposed to get you to your room."

Slowly, the Cairhien woman let go of the Malkieri, who gave her a quick check-over before he agreed to stand up so she could talk to the furious woman of Tear. Moiraine took a deep breath and wiped her tears away while feeling Lan placing himself beside her with a hand on her shoulder. "This is Rand al'Thor."

Siuan's eyes widened when she recognized the name. "Al'Thor?! But I thought… Lan told me…!"

"Lan didn't know until today, and only because we ran into Rand by accident," Moiraine quickly defended her Warder.

Again, Siuan's eyes moved over the redhead. "By accident? So, this is the boy who found Logain in the inner courtyard?"

"That's where we found them."

The Amyrlin's mouth opened and closed like a fish a few times, then she shook her head. "This isn't the place to discuss this. You all. Throne room. Now!"

Rand threw Moiraine a worried glance, but she simply nodded. "She knows who you are."

"She… knows?!" The voice of the Dragon went higher. "I thought I'm safe with you, Moiraine! And now, you went to the Aes Sedai and told them about me?!"

"Siuan isn't just any Aes Sedai, Rand. She is the Amyrlin Seat."

Rand's eyes widened, and he took another step back. "That's even worse! Or was that your plan all along?! Did you bring her down here to gentle me?!"

The air felt suddenly weird, and Moiraine had the assumption the boy had embraced Saidin again. "She won't gentle you." Carefully, Moiraine stood up and took a step closer toward the shepherd, whose eyes were filled with anger and rage.

Lan stopped her before she could get any closer by grabbing her arm. "Listen to Moiraine, sheepherder. These two are the only Aes Sedai who truly mean no harm to you."

Rand grimaced, then looked at Siuan, who watched him warily. "I don't assume I have a choice not to go with you."

"No," Siuan said simply.

Finally, the Dragon nodded. "I will listen to what you have to say to me, but then I'll leave this place."

Siuan raised a surprised eyebrow at his demanding tone but refused to answer. Instead, she turned around and left the kitchen – expecting everyone to follow her.

The Dragon glared at Moiraine one last time, then grabbed his sword and followed Siuan.

Moiraine released a trembling breath. That could have gone better. Now, she not only owed Lan an explanation but Siuan, too. Could she assuage them? And how would Rand react during his talk with Siuan? Would he attack the Amyrlin Seat with Saidin?

Suddenly, Lan stepped before her, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Can you walk?" She saw him checking on her.

Smiling, the Cairhien woman placed a hand on his cheek. "Don't worry. I've regained enough strength to walk back."

The uncrowned king of Malkier didn't look convinced but didn't argue with her. Instead, he stepped aside so she could leave the kitchen.

Moiraine was glad she made it out of the heated room without swaying once. Yet, she noticed Lan always walked a step behind her – always ready to catch her if necessary. The cook and the rest of her staff bowed when Moiraine passed them, then the Cairhien woman had already forgotten about them. Her thoughts were focused on the upcoming conversation between her, Lan, the Amyrlin Seat, and the Dragon Reborn. How should they explain the situation to their sisters without revealing Rand's identity?

Surprisingly, no Aes Sedai was present when the little group reached the throne room. Siuan waited until Moiraine and Lan were also inside, then closed the doors with the help of Saidar and placed a privacy shield over them. After that, her eyes bore into Moiraine's. "Now, I'd like to get an explanation, and it's better a good one. This is Rand al'Thor?" Siuan pointed at the boy. "The Dragon Reborn, who fought against the Dark One and died at the Eye of the World?"

Abashed, Rand moved his weight from one foot to the other. "About the dying part… I asked Moiraine to tell everyone I died at the Eye."

"An Aes Sedai can't lie!" Siuan snapped at him.

"I hoped she would find a way. You Aes Sedai know your way around with words."

The Amyrlin Seat gritted her teeth and faced Moiraine again. "You let Lan lie for you?"

"He pulled his own conclusions after finding me at the Eye, and I simply told him Rand was gone." Moiraine threw an apologetic look at Lan, whose facial muscles moved like he was chewing on her words.

Carefully, the Aes Sedai reached out for her Warder's hand. At first, he didn't react at all and stood as stiff as a statue. But then he sighed and squeezed her hand reassuringly. At least he didn't run from her.

"Oh, Moiraine." Sighing, Siuan went for the Sun Throne to sit down. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I thought I have been stilled, Siuan. I barely thought about anything else than how to get Saidar back. And then Logain's attack happened, and I just thought it would be a good idea if an active male channeler checked on me."

"And again, you didn't tell me about the possibility! I thought about ways to help you, and you keep things to yourself! We're together on this ship! You don't stir this ship on your own! You know I'll help you wherever I can, but I need information so I can help!"

"I know."

Siuan shook her head at Moiraine's response, then faced Rand. "So, you're the Dragon Reborn?"

"Sadly."

A glimpse of pity moved over Siuan's face at Rand's answer. "How is your channeling, boy? I didn't see the whole thing, but you broke whatever kept Moiraine from touching the One Power. How often have you used Saidin by now?"

"I try my best not to use it. Men turn mad when they use it too often."

"That's true. But you seem pretty sane to me. So, you either have rarely used Saidin – and then I'm worried how you managed to help Moiraine without killing her – or you can simply hold out longer than expected."

Rand stayed quiet and held Siuan's stare until the Amyrlin Seat sighed. "Anyway, you will have to train with Saidin if you want to become better."

"Why should I want to become better? I defeated the Dark One."

The woman of Tear raised an eyebrow. "Did you? You fought against someone, yet you did neither break nor heal the world. The Shadowspawn still walks the earth and kills every person crossing their way." Siuan and Moiraine exchanged a glance. "Whoever you fought at the Eye of the World, the fight isn't over. You need-"

"I did what you wanted from me! I went with Moiraine to the Eye of the World and defeated the Dark One! I'm done! The rest I leave to the Aes Sedai!"

"You can't escape your fate. You're the Dragon Reborn and-"

"I'm tired of being a spoke in the wheel!"

Again, the air felt weird. Moiraine assumed Rand had touched Saidin again in his anger. "Rand-"

"You're not a spoke boy. You are the water that turns the wheel itself." Siuan faced Rand's anger with complete calmness.

Moiraine wanted to get closer to the Dragon Reborn, but suddenly, Lan's hand lay on her waist, keeping her from moving. When she looked at him, she saw his tensed facial muscles. He didn't like her being close to Rand. Could he feel the weave, too?

Suddenly, a strong wind appeared in the throne room. Siuan didn't have a problem since her hair was braided into the thing on her hair, and stayed calm while Moiraine had to lift her hands to keep her flying hair out of her face.

The Warder stepped before his Aes Sedai, shielding her from whatever Rand tried to do. Meanwhile, Siuan was still completely unaffected by the boy's demonstration. She waited a few more seconds, then sighed. "Are you done, boy, or do you plan to inform everyone in this building about your abilities?"

Slowly, the wind died, and Rand lowered his shoulders. "I don't want to fight anymore." He sounded exhausted.

"I understand that," the Amyrlin said. "You're young. You don't deserve all that. You don't deserve this responsibility lying on your shoulders." She sighed heavily. "But the world needs you. Without you, the Dark One will swallow the land and kill everyone who isn't on his side. Everyone we know and love will die, boy. The Aes Sedai can't stop him. We are the first who will fall against him."

Rand turned to Moiraine for confirmation. The Cairhien woman saw the shepherd didn't want to believe the Amyrlin. He didn't want it all to be true. Sadly, there was no other way, so Moiraine nodded.

"What do you need me to do?" The Dragon asked, his voice sounding defeated.

Siuan seemed relieved. "You need to train your skills with Saidin. It seems like you have a few tricks up your sleeves, but you won't last a minute against the Dark One if you don't learn how to use them properly. I heard you met Logain Ablar, the False Dragon?" Rand nodded. "I will arrange for him to stay in Cairhien. Not in the Sun Palace, but at a safe place where he won't need any Aes Sedai watching him all day. You will be responsible for him – at least on the outside. In truth, we'll make sure he teaches you everything he knows."

The Amyrlin's eyes fell on the heronmarked blade on Rand's back, and she tilted her head pensively. "That sword on your back… can you use it?"

Rand's hand twitched when Siuan mentioned his father's sword, then grimaced. "No, Mother. It belongs to my father. He gave it to me when we left the Two Rivers, but… I never learned to use it."

Moiraine and Siuan's eyes met. "Can Lan teach him how to use the sword?"

When the Cairhien woman nodded, Siuan moved on to Lan. "Will you teach the boy, Lan?" Lan's answer was a short nod.

"Why do you want me to learn how to use a sword?" Rand wanted to know. "I need to fight the Dark One with Saidin, not a blade."

The woman of Tear smiled and stood up. "It is always good to have more than one weapon to defend yourself against an opponent." She flicked her wrist, and in the next second, she held a small knife in her hands, which she had hidden in her sleeve.

Surprised, the young man from the Two Rivers shrugged and took a step back. Obviously, he hadn't expected that.

"No one expects you to be able to use another weapon if you always use the same one." Lovingly, the Amyrlin moved her thumb over the blade. Moiraine recognized the short fishing knife. It once had been a present by Siuan's father. "The people assume that as an Aes Sedai, I can only use the One Power to defend myself."

Suddenly, Siuan pulled back her arm and threw the knife at Rand. Moiraine grabbed Lan's arm in shock while the poor Dragon Reborn simply shrugged. Then he turned his head left. The blade had missed him by an inch and hit the candelabrum beside him.

The boy gulped and faced Siuan again, whose smile had widened. "Most people forget that I haven't always been the Amyrlin Seat. Before I went to the White Tower, I was a fisherman's daughter. I know how to use these small knives and don't hesitate to use them. So…." She embraced Saidar, and a weave of air carried the knife back to her. "…I always have at least one hidden in my clothes. Do you understand now, boy?"

In disbelief, Rand watched how Siuan let the small blade disappear, then nodded. "I understand, Mother."

"Good." Siuan sat down again. "Do you have a place to stay in the city?"

"I'm staying at a tavern currently – at 'The Defender of the Dragonwall'."

"I will send Moiraine and Lan once you can start your training with Logain. Until then, keep your head low. We don't want any unwanted attention. If you need to talk to me, you can contact Moiraine and Lan. They will notify me and arrange a meeting." Rand nodded. "You may leave now." This time, the Dragon Reborn took a deep bow, then left the throne room.

No one spoke until the doors closed behind Rand. Then Siuan sank back into the Sun Throne for a moment before she sat upright in the next heartbeat, grimacing about the discomfort of the throne. "Blood and ashes!"

Moiraine stepped out behind Lan. "Was the knife necessary, Siuan? Did you want him to kill you? He can't control Saidin, and you provoke him by throwing a knife, which missed him by what? – An inch or two?"

"I felt his power too, Moiraine," the Amyrlin sighed. "When he created this wind… light, it was hard to keep my hands from trembling." She held up her hands, which were now clearly trembling. "Even the memory of his power makes me shake like a fish squirming on land."

"Do you think Logain can help him with Saidin?"

"I hope. The man channeled for quite a while before you and our sisters gentled him. He has at least some experience with it, which the boy clearly lacks."

Moiraine licked her lips. Logain was dangerous, and when he placed some foolish ideas in Rand's head… "I will observe Rand's training with Logain."

Siuan's eyes glowed angrily, and Lan growled in Moiraine's back. They both didn't like Moiraine's announcement. "You stay away from Logain," the woman of Tear said coldly. "The man tried to kill you today. I won't give him a second chance."

"Protecting Rand – guiding him – that is the only thing that matters!" The Cairhien woman protested.

"You can't control him." Siuan shook her head. "You just saw what the boy did when I pushed him too far. One wrong step, and he kills us all without even thinking about it. Light, he could go into hiding again, and we would search another twenty years for him. Do you really think we have that much time?"

The Cairhien woman lifted her head arrogantly. "I know how to handle Rand. I traveled with him long enough."

Unimpressed, the Amyrlin Seat raised an eyebrow when she saw Moiraine's noble posture shining through. "Do you, Moiraine? I don't think he will follow wherever we push him. He is young and stubborn like a fish you try to catch with your bare hands – he will always try to escape."

"I can get through to him."

Siuan turned quiet and just watched her lover for a few heartbeats, but the noble posture didn't disappear. "Do you realize you use the word 'I' a lot? I observe Rand's training. I know how to handle him. I traveled with him." The Amyrlin emphasized each time the word 'I', and every time, Moiraine winced slightly until she lowered her gaze.

"You can't do this by yourself." Lan stepped beside his Aes Sedai, and she turned her head to look at her Warder. He seemed calm, but she saw the worry in his eyes. "Allow us to help. We want to help Rand as much as you do."

The woman of the Blue Ajah opened her mouth, but no word crossed her lips. Slowly, Siuan stood up and joined the two. "We are a crew, remember?"

Moiraine's heart beat faster when she saw her lover and Warder closing in on her. She took a step back, but Lan had quick reflexes and caught her arm, pulling her back to him. In the next second, Siuan took hold of Moiraine's free hand. "Don't run, pufferfish. It's just us."

Yet, the Cairhien woman's heart felt like it wanted to explode. She wanted to run! She needed to get out of there!

Siuan smiled softly and cupped her lover's cheek. "Come here." But instead of pulling Moiraine to her, the Amyrlin stepped forward and pressed her lips on Moiraine's.

It was a sweet kiss and calmed the racing heart of the woman of the Blue Ajah. Those were Siuan and Lan! The two people she loved with all her heart and who meant the world to her! There was no need to run from them.

"We're here," the Amyrlin whispered against her lover's lips. "We're here with you. Work with us, love. Don't push us away."

Moiraine gulped, then nodded. Siuan smiled at her victory and rewarded her lover with another kiss. "Let us all think about a plan, and tomorrow, we'll meet again to discuss our ideas."

Lan growled, but the woman of Tear rolled her eyes at him. "Yes, I mean tomorrow. You stay here in the Sun Palace if you like it or not, Lan Mandragoran." She had put her Amyrlin voice back on, accepting no discussion. "And now, Moiraine should get some rest. Do you think you can get her back to her room this time, or shall I send an escort with you so you find the way?"

Siuan's eyes shimmered in amusement. She always liked to tease Lan whenever they saw each other.

"I intended to get her to her room, but she insisted on visiting the kitchen first. Am I supposed to ignore my Aes Sedai's wishes, Mother?"

Luckily, the uncrowned king of Malkier had learned to fight back over the years, knowing very well how much Siuan hated to be called 'Mother'. Like it annoyed her now. The Amyrlin grimaced. "Of course not, Gaidin. But you could have talked her down. She could have visited the kitchen later."

"Rand was on the run. We couldn't wait any longer if we wanted him to help her."

Siuan opened her mouth to respond, then realization hit her, and her eyes widened. "Fish guts! I totally forgot about that!" Her head snapped back to Moiraine. "You can channel again!"

The woman of the Blue Ajah chuckled and nodded. "Yes, Rand found what Logain couldn't see. A bundle of… knots, which he untied."

The Amyrlin bit her lip. Confused, Moiraine furrowed her forehead. What was her lover up to? "What is it?"

Sighing, Siuan said, "You'll probably hate me in a moment, but I would really like to delve you."

Immediately, Moiraine took a step back, only to be pulled back by her Warder and lover. "No!"

"Let me finish. I want to ensure the boy didn't create any damage."

"I can channel again! He helped me!"

"Try to see it from my perspective. I know you trust the boy, but… light, Moiraine! He has no experience in using Saidin, yet heals you from whatever the Dark One did to you on his first attempt. I'm worried what he had done to you that none of us can see."

"She is right," Lan agreed, which earned him an angry glare from his Aes Sedai. "We have no idea what else Rand might have done to you."

"Isn't it enough that I can touch Saidar again?!"

Siuan brushed a loose lock behind Moiraine's ear. "Please, pufferfish. I'll delve you, and then you can rest."

The Cairhien woman sighed. "Promise me that if you delve me now, it will be the last time while we stay here." When Siuan grimaced, Moiraine glared at her. "Siuan!"

"I can't promise that. I don't know what else will happen in the next few days. But I promise you I will delve you for the last time today."

That wasn't what Moiraine had asked for, but she knew her lover wouldn't change her mind, and one look at Lan's face told her he was on Siuan's side. Light, it was annoying how those two teamed up when it came to her well-being! "Fine. One last delving for today."

Smiling, Siuan captured Moiraine's lips in a sweet kiss, then let go of her and prepared the delving weave.

The woman of the Blue Ajah took a deep breath, squeezed Lan's hand tightly, and closed her eyes. One last delving, and then she would return to her room – hopefully escaping her sisters and everyone else who enjoyed torturing her.

The next chapter will be uploaded on Sunday.

I would appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a review.