Chapter Thirty-Two: Shadows
Alessia leaned up and stretched her arms above her head. The reality of yesterday's events were still in her head while sighing a little. She looked over and saw Liandrin still asleep. Alessia got out of bed and changed into a clean Accepted dress and brushed her hair. She sat in the chair and fumbled with her hair. Wanting to actually make it look nice today. Once she was done putting the braids into different weaves and directions, she smiled. Looking over her shoulder as the woman in red was still passed out. It was still dawn, of course. She decided she would walk around the city a bit. Slowly walking over to Liandrin and kissed her cheek a few times. Hearing a soft mumble from her wife.
Wandering the city. She wrote on a note and set it aside on the nightstand next to her. Putting her cloak on and the coin purse tucked into her cloak before grabbing the prophecy scrolls. She slowly left her room and made her way down the hall. Knocking on the door.
"Come in." Adeleas voice came as Alessia went inside. She smiled and bowed to the women. Verin was in the office room as well.
"Verin Sedai. Adeleas Sedai." Alessia smiled and handed the scrolls over to the woman in brown.
"How are you feeling dear?" Adeleas asked as Alessia looked around again.
"I am alright. Not as sore anymore. I came to turn these in." Alessia spoke while nodding to the scrolls.
"I heard you did well and got the serpent rings as well." Verin spoke as Alessia frowned. She didn't remember giving the rings to someone since she woke up without them.
"I am glad they made it back to the Tower." Alessia spoke.
"Let us know if you need anything else dear." Adeleas spoke as Alessia bowed again and took her leave. Closing the door behind her while she went to the kitchen to grab a couple fruits to eat. Seeing they need a restock. Alessia decided on a banana and an apple to eat. She would have to head to the vault to collect more coins for the house to stock up. She loved helping out in any way she could. Feeling something crawl on her shoulder as she ignored it. She knew it was the spider. She enjoyed the little creature's company. Seeing Alanna walk into the kitchen to grab a couple apples.
"Looks like we need a restock." Alanna spoke.
"I'm going into the city. I can restock." Alessia spoke as Alanna was handing her coins. Alessia waved her hand. "I'm going to dip into the fortune my father left and restock." Alessia spoke with a smile.
"You've done so much for the Tower dear." Alanna spoke.
"Not enough. I owe the Tower everything for taking me in and teaching me." Alessia spoke as Alanna pulled Alessia into a hug. She returned it before taking her leave. She waved at Alanna before heading out. The sun was up now giving the city a warm temperature. She was humming while her hands were behind her back. Looking around the city as the people were running about doing their daily tasks.
"A coin for a poor lady?" A familiar voice spoke. Alessia turned to look down as saw a woman only slightly older than herself. The woman was taller than her by almost like a foot. She had dark shoulder length hair and very dark eyes. Her skin was very fair. This woman was definitely handsome in her eyes. It intrigued Alessia for some reason.
"Here you are." Alessia spoke as she handed her entire coin purse to the woman who took it and bowed her head. She was humble?
"Lady gives a lot. Too much." The woman spoke as Alessia shook her head.
"You need it more than I do." Alessia spoke softly. This woman's voice sounded so familiar for some reason. It sounded like a child that was being mischievous.
"You are too kind." The woman spoke.
"What's your name?" Alessia asked.
"Lillen. You?" Lillen replied.
"Alessia." She smiled and held out her hand. The woman gave her hand a curious look. Her head tilted before taking it. Alessia's eyes went wide at the contact. She pushed it back and shook her hand.
"It's nice to meet you, Alessia." The woman's words were a little slow but it didn't bother her. Alessia was still curious about this woman.
"I am going to the market to restock the house. Would you like to accompany me?" Alessia asked as Lillen nodded her head.
"I would like to go to the inn first. I'll meet you in an hour?" Lillen asked as Alessia nodded and bowed to the woman.
"Thank you Steward." Alessia spoke as she bowed to the man who gave her a new coin purse. It was rather heavy. She smiled and took her leave. She was wandering around the market area and saw the woman again.
"Hello Lillen." Alessia smiled as the woman was frowning a slight bit. "Why the long face?" She asked.
"They won't let me stay due to my appearance." Lillen spoke. Alessia frowned at this.
"Well, help me pick out some good food and I will help you with that." Alessia spoke. Lillen was smiling now at her. The woman had perfect teeth. It was odd but yet she was still fascinated by this woman.
"What's your favorite color?" Alessia asked.
"Black. Yours?" Lillen asked.
"Blue and red." Alessia smiled while picking out apples and strawberries. Some other fruits. Nuts. She even picked out some meat and had it wrapped.
"I think this will do good for dinner. You should join me and my sisters." Alessia spoke. Lillen was silent but nodded with her head. Smiling still as she held onto Alessia's arm. "Come this way." Alessia leads Lillen over to a clothing stall. "Pick out what you like." Alessia spoke. Lillen shook her head.
"You've done too much already." Lillen spoke while looking down. She was avoiding eye contact?
"Call it a gift. From a friend." Alessia spoke softly. Their eyes met as Alessia felt her heart race at this. Those dark eyes were beautiful.
"You see me as a friend?" Lillen asked.
"Of course!" Alessia replied with a smile. She smiled at the woman and nodded. Picking out a white button up shirt and black pants. Making sure she had a few outfits and shoes. Alessia paid.
"Come on!" Alessia grabbed Lillen's hand to lead her to the house. Seeing Alanna come out.
"Hello Alessia! Who is this?" The woman in green asked while looking at Lillen.
"This is Lillen. I met her today. She's a friend." Alessia smiled as Alanna nodded to the girl.
"You got meat as well? Alessia dear! You are too much!" Alanna chuckled while helping them bring in the food to settle in the kitchen.
"Here Alanna Sedai!" Alessia spoke as she pulled out a small bag of strawberries.
"Yes! Fresh strawberries!" Alanna shouted as Alessia chuckled. It seemed Lillen was keeping her distance.
"She's unusual." Alanna spoke before taking her leave. Alessia shook her head but smiled at Lillen. Holding her hand out for the woman to take it again. Alessia led her into the washroom.
"You can clean up here if you want. I'll get some water." Alessia spoke as she left. Humming softly while she got a few buckets of water and poured it into a tub. Seeing Lillen looking out the window. Hey eyes caught something in her hand. It was a spider.
"I see you found my friend." Alessia spoke softly while watching the spider crawl around on Lillen's hand.
"The bath is ready." Alessia added while setting a new sponge down with soap. She weaved fire threads to warm the water and saw Lillen had undressed.
"Oh! Sorry!" Alessia spoke as she got red faced and turned to give Lillen some privacy. Hearing the water shift and a soft groan.
"Are you an Aes Sedai?" Lillen asked as her words were carefully spoken.
"Not yet. I want to be one someday." Alessia spoke. She left to grab the clothes she got earlier and came back to set them down on a stool with a sheet towel.
"Change of clothes. I'll give you some privacy." Alessia smiled.
"Stay." Lillen spoke as Alessia nodded and sat down near the tub.
"You are kind. Why?" Lillen asked.
"There is already too much hate in the world. I want to prove that love is more powerful if one is willing to open their heart a little." Alessia spoke. She blushed at this before looking to the side.
"Love? What's that like?" Lillen asked as she was looking up to the ceiling. Alessia took the sponge and lathered it with soap before gently grabbing Lillen's arm. The woman jumped a little.
"Sorry. Love is a beautiful thing. It makes someone feel good and special. Like this." She spoke while gently scrubbing Lillen's arm. Watching the sweat and dirt off her skin. Lillen smiled and rinsed her arm off.
"It's a nice feeling. Maybe I'll have love someday." The woman smiled. Alessia blushed at her words. Watching the woman lean forward, Alessia took the advantage of this and washed her back.
The woman was changed into her clean clothes as Alessia brushed her hair. Lillen was humming a song while watching her from the mirror. Liandrin was awake and conversing with Alanna in the other room. It seemed the walls were thicker now since it was rebuilt.
"You're not scared of spiders?" Lillen asked once Alessia set the brush aside and shook her head.
"They are misunderstood creatures." Alessia repeated herself. Still trying to put a finger on where she heard this voice before.
"People say spiders are cowards. They hide in the shadows and strike only when victory is guaranteed." Lillen spoke. Alessia thought for a moment at this.
"What do you think?" Lillen asked.
"I think it's smart. A good way to survive as well." She smiled softly as did Lillen.
"Spiders are not cowards in your mind?" Lillen asked as Alessia shook her head. "Curious." Lillen added as Alessia raised a brow. "Tell me more about this love." Lillen asked while standing up. Alessia smiled at her.
"Love is also something that others do for someone they care about deeply. Like, you would do anything for that person." Alessia spoke while touching her own chin in thought.
"Do you love me?" Lillen asked as Alessia went bright red and jumped back a little. Waving her hands.
"We just met!" She stuttered a little.
"Yet you did things for me that others would not." Lillen spoke. She had a good point there. She felt Lillen touch her forehead with a finger.
"True. Love develops between people. Sometimes." Alessia spoke.
"So, you did things for me from the kindness of your heart?" Lillen asked as Alessia nodded with a soft smile this time.
"I choose you then." Lillen spoke as Alessia raised a brow.
"What do you mean?"
"I want to know more about you. You intrigue me just as I do for you." Lillen spoke.
"Well. We can work from there then!" Alessia chuckled before taking Lillen's hand into her own to lead her out.
"Lessy." Moiraine's voice came. Her blue eyes caught the dark eyes. "Who is this?" Moiraine asked.
"My friend." Alessia spoke before taking her leave. Lillen was following not far behind. Her eyes caught Liandrin's as her breath caught in her throat. More like stolen. They exchanged smiles. Her heart rate always went up every time she saw this woman.
"You have a lesson later. Don't forget alright my flower?" Liandrin spoke as Alessia nodded. Seeing the light blue eyes catch the dark ones and there seemed to be tension between the two. Alessia felt uneasy at this.
"She's joining us for dinner." Alessia spoke.
"The more, the merrier!" Alanna spoke while taking her leave outside.
"Where are you going?" Liandrin asked.
"Walk around the city to know more about Lillen." Alessia spoke. Liandrin came up to her and received a gentle kiss. Alessia smiled and mumbled a little. She blushed knowing that Lillen was watching them with a curious look before smiling as well.
"Stay in the city where it's safe. I have to head somewhere." Liandrin spoke as Alessia nodded. Moiraine had come into the room. Arms crossed.
"You have a lesson Lessy." Moiraine spoke as Alessia nodded.
"Unfortunately you can't watch. But! Come with me." Alessia spoke and took Lillen's hand and led her away to her bedroom. "You can stay here if you want. It's my room but I am more than happy to share it." Alessia spoke. Lillen nodded and sat down on the bed. Seeing the woman was overwhelmed by everything, Alessia walked up to her and hugged her. Lillen was tense but patted her shoulder. Alessia could have sworn that Lillen inhaled her scent. This made her blush.
"Get some rest. There are books if you wish to read. Food in the kitchen. I will be back soon." Alessia spoke as Lillen nodded her head.
"She loves you?" Lillen asked as Alessia looked at her. "The lady in red." She added. Alessia smiled and nodded her head.
"As I do for her." She added. She smiled and waved before taking her leave.
Alessia was outside the gates with Moiraine while working on the cloud dance weave again. She was keeping her distance.
"You're avoiding me." Moiraine spoke as she was leaning over Alessia.
"I needed you." Alessia spoke as she weaved pure air into a ball.
"What are you talking about?" Moiraine asked. Alessia dropped the weave and looked at the woman in blue.
"I was hurt. In pain. Recently kidnapped. Once I was brought back to the house, you left. I wanted to wake up to see you there." Alessia frowned. Crossing her arms as her eyes were starting to water. She felt the older woman pull her into a hug and held her close.
"I'm sorry. I knew Liandrin Sedai would take care of you and I was right. I have no excuse to not be there but doing my duty as a blue ajah." Moiraine spoke softly and kissed Alessia's cheek. She shivered at the touch before sighing.
"You're horrible at this Moiraine." Alessia spoke. Moiraine chuckled and nodded.
"You are right. Even Siuan said that." The woman in blue spoke. "Please understand Alessia. I have duties to perform as an Aes Sedai. We all do. You will as well. Remember once you rise to the shawl, you'll be joining me like we agreed on." Moiraine spoke as Alessia nodded.
"I know." She replied while resting her hands on Moiraine's hips while looking down to the ground. Feeling her chin lifted as she looked into the blue eyes.
"Do not stop and think that I do not love you. I do. Very much. As you can feel my emotions as I can yours. I still want our lives together." Moiraine spoke softly. How this woman was so calm was beyond her. "You don't regret this do you?" Moiraine asked as Alessia looked up and shook her head.
"No. You're still going to be my other wife. You made sure of that." Alessia warned as Moiraine chuckled.
"So, that lady you brought back. Who is she?" Moiraine asked while slowly showing her the weave again.
"Her name is Lillen. I met her on the streets. She intrigued me." Alessia replied while she began to channel.
"Charity project?" Moiraine asked as Alessia scoffed and shook her head.
"No. I actually like her. She seems mysterious but she's kind." Alessia spoke while letting the weave drop. She was practicing channeling more and more of the One's Power to see how much she can hold.
The sun was setting as Alessia felt the sweat on her forehead as she wiped it away and smiled. It seemed Moiraine had not broken a sweat at all.
"Come. It should be about dinner time now." Moiraine spoke while wrapping an arm around Alessia's waist to lead her back to the city.
"I think I can cloud dance someday." Alessia spoke.
"Oh yeah? You think so?" Moiraine asked while raising a brow at her. Alessia nodded her head as they made their way inside the gates of Andor. She leaned against the woman in blue as she felt another kiss on her forehead.
"I love you Moiraine." Alessia spoke while looking at her. They stopped as Moiraine looked down and smiled.
"And I love you Lessy." Moiraine spoke. Alessia smiled and gave the woman a soft kiss before taking her hand to take the lead.
"I got meat from the markets today!" Alessia spoke as she held the door open for Moiraine who walked inside.
"Sounds good. I will be in the study room." Moiraine spoke as Alessia nodded. She walked over to the kitchen area with Adeleas who was already starting dinner.
"Potatoes, carrots, peas, and deer for dinner!" Adeleas spoke as Alessia began to peel the potatoes before cutting them up. She tossed them into the boiling pot over the fire as the smell of cooked dear filled the rooms. Alessia closed her eyes and inhaled. It smelt so good.
"Go get the others and set the table." Adeleas spoke as Alessia nodded her head and dashed from the kitchen. Knocking on Alanna's door since it was the furthest.
"Dinner Alanna Sedai." Alessia bowed with another smile.
"Thank you dear! Come along gents." Alanna spoke. Alessia knocked on Moiraine's door next at the study. She peeked in and saw the woman in blue reading. Alessia let herself in and hugged Moiraine from behind. Feeling her arm gently rubbed before turning around.
"Adeleas Sedai said dinner is about ready." Alessia spoke as Moiraine cupped Alessia's cheek before taking her leave. Humming softly as she let herself into the red room. It seemed Liandrin was not back yet and she frowned. Sighing before knocking on the brown door. Verin opened it and stepped out.
"Dinner?" Verin asked as Alessia nodded her head. "Thank you dear!" Feeling her cheek patted as she watched Verin take her leave. The last room, Alessia knocked on it. Seeing it was dark inside but a single candle lit on the other side of the bed. Alessia walked over and saw Lillen was asleep.
"Lillen." Alessia spoke softly and touched the woman's cheek. 'She's so handsome.' Alessia caught herself thinking. Seeing the large dark eyes open and she sat up. "Sorry. Dinner's about ready if you're hungry." Alessia spoke before she took her leave only to stop. Feeling her hand grabbed as Lillen stood up. Pulling her close.
"To eat sounds good. Thank you." Lillen spoke. Their faces were so close together as Alessia could feel her heart beating.
"I have a present for you." Lillen spoke softly as she pulled a ring off of her finger. Taking Alessia's left hand and placing a rose gold looking band on her index finger. There was a spider engraved on it.
"It's pretty but I cannot accept this." Alessia spoke softly.
"Consider it a gift. My friend." Lillen spoke as Alessia smiled with a nod.
"I gladly accept it then. Thank you."
Who is handsome? Liandrin asked as Alessia took a step back."
'Lillen. I feel like I know her from somewhere.' Alessia replied back Lillen was watching her with a curious look. 'Dinner is ready. Where are you?' Alessia asked before taking her leave. Not knowing her hand was still in Lillen's.
I'll be home soon, my flower. Liandrin replied as Alessia led Lillen into the dinning room.
She pulled a chair out for her new friend before taking her leave into the kitchen. She grabbed the dishes and went back to set the table as Adeleas was putting the food out. Hearing the door open and close as Alessia looked over.
"Liandrin Sedai! Just in time!" Alessia smiled and pulled a chair out for the woman in red. Her Red Queen. She smiled at this nickname before taking her spot between her new friend and Liandrin. Feeling her hand grabbed under the table and squeezed. She couldn't help but look at her wife and smiled again.
"Alessia dear, thank you for restocking the food today and getting meat. I am sure some people here got tired of eating only plant based food." Alanna spoke while hearing chuckles.
"There is nothing wrong with eating plant based food!" Adeleas spoke as Alessia shook her head before digging into her food. She kept looking over at Lillen who was picking at her food.
"Eat. Bring your strength up." Alessia gently nudged Lillen who nodded her head. Her friend didn't seem to be making eye contact most of the time. Still, she was curious. At least she got to see those eyes. She went back to her plate to slowly eat to make sure she savored the taste of the food.
"So, Alessia. Tell us what happened." Alanna spoke as everyone went silent. Alessia looked up and around the room. All eyes on her. Including Lillen who seemed confused.
"When the Cloaks got you." Verin added. Alessia frowned at this.
"Someone hurt you?" Lillen asked. Her tone was different now. Alessia nodded her head lightly. She could have sworn she heard a hiss but shrugged it off.
"He kept telling me to channel for him." Alessia spoke.
"Guess that was his mistake." Liandrin smirked while taking a drink from her cup.
"What do you mean?" Lillen asked while tilting her head to the side to listen to the woman in red.
"She blew the camp up herself." Liandrin spoke.
"She's strong?" Lillen asked as everyone at the table nodded their heads.
"Teach them not to mess with us anymore." Verin added as she finished her plate.
"Must be very strong." Lillen spoke while drinking from her own cup.
"We are proud and honored to have someone as strong as Alessia along with her friends." Alanna spoke.
"Do you have other friends?" Lillen asked as Alessia nodded her head.
"I think they would like to meet you as well someday." Alessia spoke while standing up to clear the table away with dishes. It seemed Liandrin and Moiraine went to the sitting room as Alanna turned in. Verin and Adeleas went back to the study room as Alessia cleaned up.
"You seem to be the one doing the cleaning." Lillen spoke as Alessia only shrugged.
"It's my job to do chores." Alessia spoke.
"So you are an Accepted. Almost an Aes Sedai?"
"Well, I only recently started as an Accepted. Well, it's only been like a year I believe." Alessia explained.
"How strong are you?" She asked.
"I am not sure. I was told that myself and my friends are the strongest the Tower has seen in thousands of years." Alessia spoke as she finished the dishes.
"I am going to rest. Goodnight." Lillen spoke as Alessia nodded.
"Rest well." Alessia added as Lillen tilted her head to look at Alessia with her dark eyes. This made her smile for some rest.
"Thank you." Lillen spoke before taking her leave. Yes the woman seemed awkward and what not but for some reason, Alessia liked her. She walked back through the kitchen to the sitting room.
"It seems your friend is staying the night?" Moiraine asked as Alessia nodded.
"Yes, The inn wouldn't let her get a room. It's odd. But I don't mind sharing my room." Alessia added as she sat down on the couch by Liandrin who was drinking from a glass.
"Always putting others before yourself." Moiraine added.
"Is that a bad thing?" Alessia asked as her finance shook her head.
"No. The Aes Sedai are servants for all. We are supposed to put others before us." Moiraine added. "You will be a wonderful Aes Sedai." The woman in blue spoke.
"That's right Moiraine Sedai. Keep buttering up my wife." Liandrin spoke. Alessia flinched at this and sighed.
"She was avoiding me recently, I apologize giving my fiancé compliments is a bad thing." Moiraine spoke calmly in return. Alessia rubbed her temples at this.
"I took care of her. Where were you?" Liandrin spoke in a low growling like voice. For some reason that made Alessia blush as her body got heated.
"Keep this up, I am sleeping by myself." Alessia spoke. It seemed to make them silent. "I understand Moiraine had things to take care of. We all do. I will be forever grateful for you Liandrin. We talked about this." Alessia spoke while looking at her wife who nodded and took Alessia's hand and kissed it.
"I'm turning in. I hope you join me." Liandrin spoke before she stood up and took her leave. Alessia watched Liandrin leave before feeling the couch sink next to her. She turned to face Moiraine who was watching her closely.
"It's been quite a few days." Alessia spoke softly and sank in her spot. Folding her hands in her lap. She felt the woman in blue pull her onto her lap to hold her close. She leaned against her fiancé and smiled softly.
"For what it's worth. I am grateful for both of you. You're so calm and gentle. Liandrin is fierce and headstrong." Alessia spoke.
"I don't know about that, my Lessy but I will take it." Moiraine spoke while kissing Alessia's cheek. Alessia turned her head in time to meet those soft lips with hers. "Sneaky." Moiraine smiled against her lips. Alessia nodded her head. She leaned against Moiraine again. Soaking up the time she was alone with the woman in blue.
"We should head to bed." Moiraine spoke softly as Alessia nodded her head. "Join my bed?" Moiraine asked as Alessia gave her a look.
"Alright. Only because we haven't spent enough time together but I do have to tell Liandrin." Alessia spoke softly. Hearing light footsteps as Lan came into the room.
"There was a rider. Someone has information." Lan spoke as Alessia raised a brow.
"Dragon." Moiraine whispered into her ear. Alessia nodded.
"Looks like another night." Alessia added as she stood up. Moiraine nodded as she stood up as well. Pulling Alessia close by cupping both cheeks to kiss her deeply. Alessia could feel the love in the kiss and smiled. It made her heart skip beats.
"I'll be back soon, my Lessy. I love you." Moiraine spoke against her lips.
"I love you too, Moiraine. Stay safe in the Light." Alessia spoke while watching the woman in blue take her leave.
Alessia found herself standing out on the patio looking out. The city folk were inside. Some were in taverns as you could hear the drunks shouting and singing in songs. Alessia smiled at the carefree folks of the city before feeling a hand on her lower back. She turned and went back inside. The door was closed and curtains brought over the windows. She got undressed to change into her nightgown as did Liandrin.
"You were very kind to that woman today." Liandrin spoke as Alessia looked at her wife and smiled.
"She seemed to be kind as well. Though, I don't know why. She sounds familiar." Alessia added while she was in thought.
"What do you mean?" Liandrin asked while taking her usual spot on her bed.
"When I was out of it, I had a dream." Alessia spoke.
"You are telling me just now?" Liandrin asked as Alessia gave her wife a look.
"I didn't think it meant anything." Alessia spoke.
"You need to be more careful in what you do in these dreams." Liandrin warned her.
"As if I could get hurt." Alessia spoke while crawling onto the bed and laid down on her back.
"You can. The Forsaken are out now." Liandrin spoke as Alessia sat up really quick. She could have sworn she heard her brain rattle.
"What do you mean?" Alessia asked.
"That's why I left today. We had a meeting."
"We?"
"Yes we."
"Be more specific please." Alessia spoke as Liandrin got up and put up wards around the room so they would not get overheard.
"My flower. The Black Ajah is very real and out there." Liandrin whispered as Alessia's eyes went wide.
"You know how?" Alessia asked.
"I'm the leader." Liandrin spoke. Alessia sighed and fell back down on the bed.
"Of course!" Alessia spoke while rubbing her temples at this.
"How does this relate to my dream?" Alessia asked.
"The Forsaken are known to step into dreams." Liandrin spoke. "Did you see anyone?"
"The shadow figure. Like when I was told about that seer who disappeared." Alessia was trying to figure out how to put it into words.
"Yes. She sang a song." Alessia spoke.
"Alessia. What song?" Liandrin was now getting serious.
"Um. Itsy Bitsy Spider knows how to capture her foes." Alessia spoke.
"Moghedien." Liandrin spoke. Alessia sat back up to look at her wife.
"Are you saying that the spider contacted me in my sleep?" Alessia asked.
"I believe so, yes. You need to be careful my love. If she did for sure, you just entered a world much bigger and even I cannot always protect you." Liandrin spoke. Alessia frowned at this.
"I know the world is a lot bigger than what I have seen. I'm not scared, Liandrin." Alessia spoke while moving closer to her wife and slid her arms around her waist.
"You should be." Liandrin spoke.
"Okay, I am scared but being scared doesn't mean I'm weak and should run away. I'm going to fight for those I love and care about. I will fight to protect you in ways that I can. I know you'll do the same for me." Alessia spoke as Liandrin sighed.
"They are going to use you against me. Or me against you. You need to understand that." Liandrin warned her.
"Let them. It won't falter me. It'll make me fight harder. Nothing they can say or do will turn me against you." Alessia spoke. Liandrin looked into her eyes and cupped her cheek. Caressing it.
"I'm afraid I won't be strong enough for you." Liandrin spoke softly.
"Then I will be strong enough for the both of us." Alessia spoke. Leaning in to kiss Liandrin deeply. Pressing into the kiss to pour her love for this woman into it.
"Is that love?" A voice came. Alessia jumped as saw Lillen coming into the light from the shadows of the corner.
"How did you get in here?" Alessia asked as she moved across Liandrin to stand up. She walked up to Lillen and smiled.
"Softly softly from the shadows." Lillen spoke. Alessia felt the hair on the back of her neck stand as she took a step back.
"What do you want?" Liandrin asked as she stood up as well. Alessia saw Lillen move her hands together in a weird way. Seeing webs between her fingers. Hearing a gasp as she turned and saw Liandrin caught up in spider webs. It had then clicked in her head.
"Moghedien!" Alessia spoke. She was the one in her dreams. The third figure in the seer's vision.
"Ah, Alessia finally caught on." Moghedien spoke as she twisted her hands. Hearing Liandrin groan against the wall.
"Let her go!" Alessia shouted while moving over to her wife. Grabbing the webs and crying out.
"Ah. Ah. Ah." Moghedien spoke as Alessia saw her hands bleeding from touching the webs.
"Please. Let her go." Alessia asked again.
"Why should I do that?" The Spider asked as Alessia frowned.
"Because I love her." Alessia spoke.
"Love is weak." Moghedien spoke.
"Is it though?" Alessia asked.
"Since you were kind, I will let her go." The woman spoke as she let her spider web weave drop. Liandrin gasped for air as Alessia stepped in front of Liandrin.
"Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for her?" Moghedien asked. Alessia nodded her head. "Why?"
"It's what people do for those they love." Alessia spoke. This seemed to have softened up the woman's look.
"I chose you, remember?" Moghedien spoke while her eyes went to Alessia's hand. She raised a brow at the woman. It was the ring she had gotten from earlier.
"I want to know this love you spoke of." Moghedien spoke as she moved closely to Alessia who went rigid in the spot. Feeling the gentle fingers trace across her cheek from the Forsaken.
"What do you want?" Alessia asked.
"You." Moghedien spoke before she smiled and laughed. Slowly backing up as her smile never left.
"Softly softly from the shadows. You can't run from me Alessia of House Solstice." Moghedien spoke. With that, she disappeared in black smoke. Alessia felt something stir inside of her that she had never felt before.
"I should have known!" Liandrin shouted. Alessia could feel her anger as she turned to hug Liandrin tightly.
"What have I done?" Alessia asked while feeling a tear fall down her cheek.
"I do not know but she is not someone to cross. Never have I ever heard a Forsaken take an interest in someone like that. I do not like it." Liandrin spoke as Alessia frowned at this. She had met a Forsaken and lived.
"What do we need to do?" Alessia asked.
"For one. We need to put up wards. Two. Get some rest. For now, she can only reach you in your dreams for now." Liandrin spoke. Alessia nodded her head and sighed. She felt Liandrin heal the wounds on her hands she had gotten from the web.
You can't run from me forever, Alessia.
–Notes–
It seems Alessia is in a bit of trouble! Who knew she was so oblivious! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!