Moiraine needs help to protect the Dragon Reborn.

This story takes place after 2x06, and is my version of how I thought what could happen after Episode 6.

Moiraine Damodred, Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah, stood in the ballroom of the Sun Palace in a beautiful blue dress, letting her eyes move over the crowd. The Sun Palace was bursting with life. Everyone celebrated the wedding of Queen Galldrian Riatin and Barthanes Damodred – no, it was King Barthanes now. So many people had been invited, including Moiraine and Rand.

The Cairhien woman knew staying so long in her hometown had been risky, but it had been the only way. Rand needed protection, and in her current situation… She quickly took a sip of her wine to gulp down the thick ball which blocked her throat.

It had been a beautiful wedding. Galldrian and Barthanes were glowing, accepting a thousand congratulations while taking their time to talk to their endless guests. It seemed as if everyone who came from a better house had been invited.

"Would you like to dance, my lady?"

A man pulled Moiraine out of her thoughts. She hadn't noticed him approaching her. He was obviously Cairhien and probably had too much of the wine from the way he was swaying. Yet, the woman of the Blue Ajah placed a polite smile on her lips. "Thank you for the offer, but I don't want to dance."

"Well, we can skip the dance if you like. I know a quiet room which would be perfect-"

"I must decline."

Quickly, Moiraine put her drink aside, grabbed her skirts, and disappeared into the crowd. The mere thought of that man's hands touching her… She shivered and pitied every woman crossing his path. Light, she wanted to get out of there!

That place gave her chills, and not in a good way. Too many people were watching her, analyzing everything she did, wondering what her next move would be. Everyone was playing Daes Dae'mar.

Moiraine moved to the next room. She saw Rand standing in the back of a corner, surrounded by countless women of all ages. The young man from the Two Rivers drew the attention of every lone woman, and he was too polite to tell them to leave him alone.

For a moment, Moiraine thought about helping him but then shook her head. No, she wouldn't interfere. Why shouldn't the boy have some fun before they had to leave? Amused, Moiraine watched a young woman stroking Rand's cheek tenderly, then she moved on. While she was moving, it was hard for people to talk to her, which was a good thing since Moiraine didn't want to talk – at least not to those people.

The Aes Sedai searched for one special guest, who was the reason why she had stayed in Cairhien instead of running. If she was honest, she hadn't thought it would be so hard to find that person among the guests, but the queen had opened the entire ground floor for the party. So, Moiraine had a lot of ground to cover to find the one person she needed to talk to.

Two more small rooms went by, then the Cairhien woman reached another one of the bigger rooms. Sighing, she let her eyes wander over the countless heads, but…

Shocked, she tore her eyes back to a pillar on her left. That was impossible! Again, her eyes searched the crowd around the pillar, but she did it more thoroughly this time. Was she imagining things? She had barely drunk something.

Yet, she was certain she had seen a man with black hair and a Hadori around his forehead. Was Lan in the Sun Palace? But how? How did he get inside? Lan barely used his title to get his way and hated such crowded situations.

She couldn't find him. Cursing, she stormed to the pillar to take a closer look, only to be disappointed again. There was no man with a Hadori.

"You look lost, my lady."

Another man approached Moiraine. She must have drawn his attention with her search for Lan. The man wasn't as drunk as the first one, but still Cairhien.

"Have you seen a man with black hair and a Hadori?"

The man raised his eyebrow. "I doubt a Malkieri would join such a party, my lady. Besides, aren't most of them dead?"

"Answer the question!" Moiraine snapped angrily.

The eyes of the man narrowed at her, obviously trying to decipher which house she belonged to. "I haven't seen such a man."

Moiraine nodded sharply, then ran, feeling the eyes of the man following her. Light, she was losing her mind!

In the next room, she found a dark corner – hidden behind a big pillar – and perfect for what she needed right now. A servant balanced a tray with glasses filled with wine, and Moiraine grabbed a new glass before she disappeared in the dark.

Sighing, she leaned against the cold stone, then took a big gulp to calm her nerves. Her heart was running in her chest, and her hands trembled. She closed her eyes. He isn't here. Lan is in Tar Valon. Alanna brought him to the White Tower, as you requested. He will be Nynaeve's Warder if you see him ever again. Stop being foolish, you idiot!

A tear escaped her eye, rolling over her cheek, which she quickly wiped away. She was an idiot! It had been her decision to push Lan away to save his life. He loved Nynaeve, and she could give him so much more than Moiraine could ever give him. Yet, the mere thought of Lan felt like a stab to her heart. Moiraine took another gulp of the wine, then leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes.

Lan's face appeared before her. She remembered his black hair, which he rarely let down. He used his Hadori to hold his hair together. Yet, she had noticed a few white strands in it lately. Twenty years of traveling and fighting left their mark.

Then there were his beautiful, warm, brown eyes. Whenever he had looked at her, she had seen intelligence, wisdom, kindness, and love in them. Lan was a good person, and not even all those fights he had endured over the years had been able to break him.

Next, Moiraine remembered Lan's face and his features. People often described the man as emotionless – she even had heard the term 'stony-face' once or twice. The Malkieri was a quiet man who rarely shared his thoughts and kept his emotions at bay. But he had emotions. He felt anger, fear, love, and pain like every other human being, and for twenty years, Moiraine had been the lucky woman with whom he shared his emotions.

People often said Lan was cold and distant because he didn't smile often. Moiraine had never understood that. She had seen the man smiling many times during the years. Whenever they met other Warders, he joked with them – no matter if they were training or sitting around a campfire.

The Cairhien woman loved it to see the Malkieri smile. It meant he was happy. His entire face would light up in happiness, and the sight warmed her heart every time. Especially when his smile was directed at her. It made her feel special.

Lan's smile brought her inevitably to his mouth – to his soft lips. Moiraine remembered the feeling of those lips on hers. They hadn't shared many kisses during their years, but when they had been very drunk – which had happened a few times – or hadn't been able to suppress their needs anymore – which didn't happen very often, but it happened – their lips had found each other. Lan was an amazing kisser and the taste of him…

Moiraine dug her nails into the stonewall to keep herself from going too deep. Quickly, she forced her thoughts to move on to Lan's hands. They had calluses from all the training with his sword and seemed rough, but she knew how gentle they could be. Not once had those hands hurt her. Lan had treated her gently, always holding her like she had been something precious. And when his arms were wrapped around her, they created a safety bubble. As long as she was in his arms, Moiraine knew she was safe and could trust him blindly. Lan protected her at any cost.

Her eyes burned, and she quickly took another gulp of the wine. Stop doing this to yourself! Lan is gone! He won't protect you anymore! And after what you did, he will never ever wrap his arms around you again!

Another tear rolled over her cheek, but Moiraine wiped it away. Light, she had to stop! She needed to continue her search and not think about what she had lost! Yet, her heart couldn't be convinced so easily. It was still in pain from the cut she had made by pushing Lan away and longed for him. Yes, she missed him very much – his voice, his scent.

The Aes Sedai took a deep breath to calm herself. It was time to leave that corner. Should anyone find her there… She definitely would be the source of new rumors. And should Anvaere cross her path…

One last time, Moiraine wiped over her face, erasing every trace of her tears, then pulled her shoulders back and lifted her head. Her calm mask was back in place.

Carefully, she left the dark corner and continued her search.

The longer Moiraine searched, the more frustrated she became. How was it possible not to find one specific person who should clearly stand out between all those Cairhien lords and ladies?

Five more men had tried to 'dance' with her, and she had excused herself every time. Once, she even had seen Rand dancing with one of his admirers. Did he know what kind of dance awaited him after that?

"My lady?"

"For the last time, I don't dance!" Moiraine growled.

She swirled around to the owner of the voice, then winced when she recognized the clothes of a servant. Quickly, she swallowed her anger and gave him a friendly smile. "Forgive me. I thought you were… someone else."

"I didn't mean to startle you, my lady. I'm here with a message for you."

"A message?"

"Your presence is requested. If you may follow me?"

Moiraine furrowed her forehead. Someone asked for her presence? Who would want to talk to her? "Requested by who?"

The servant tilted his head apologetically. "Forgive me. I was told to escort you, not to answer questions, my lady."

So, he was sent by someone with power. Who could that be? Well, there was only one way to find out. "Lead the way."

Bowing, the servant turned around and guided her back into the room she had left a few minutes ago. She hoped the person who had sent for her wasn't the man on whose foot she had stomped after he hadn't accepted her 'No'. It had been the only way to keep his wandering hands away from her.

Curious, the woman of the Blue Ajah followed the servant through the crowd. Had it been Barthanes? – Or the queen? Did they want to talk to her? Who else would 'request' her presence?

They walked toward the opposite side of the room, aiming for the right corner close to the big windows. Moiraine let her eyes wander over the crowd, but no one looked familiar or as if they would have an interest in her. Where were they going?

Suddenly, the servant bowed before someone, pulling back her attention on him. In every room, the palace had placed some chaise longues and chairs at the wall so the guests could take a seat, and apparently, someone had taken the opportunity, who was hidden from Moiraine's eyes by two women.

As if those women had felt they were blocking her sight, they stepped aside suddenly, and the Cairhien woman gasped. On one of the chaise longues sat the person she had been searching for all night. The person who had found her first. Moiraine couldn't move.

"Do you need anything else, Mother?" The servant asked.

Siuan Sanche, the Amyrlin Seat, smiled friendly and waved her hand at the man. "This would be all for now. Thank you for your help."

The servant bowed a second time, then turned to Moiraine. "Do you want me to take your glass, my lady?"

Blinking, the Aes Sedai looked at him. "What?"

He pointed at the glass in her hands, which she had clutched without noticing. It was almost empty. "The glass, my lady? Do you wish for me to get you a new glass?"

"No." Quickly, Moiraine handed him the object. She already had more than she usually drank and needed a clear head for her conversation with the Amyrlin. "I don't want another one. Thank you."

The man tilted his head politely, took the glass, and left.

Moiraine took a deep breath, then faced her lover again. Siuan hadn't moved. She sat as still as a statue on that chaise longue, but her smile had faded. The look in her eyes was cold while she watched Moiraine.

Meanwhile, the Cairhien woman couldn't stop herself from taking in her lover. She was as beautiful as ever and looked stunning in the beautiful golden dress she had chosen for the royal wedding. Someone had woven a complicated yet beautiful structure in her hair – it would be a nightmare to untie it.

For a moment, Moiraine wanted to throw herself into Siuan's arms. She wanted to be held by her lover – wanted to forget the Dragon, the Dark One, and the world in her arms. For weeks, she was on her own because she had sent Lan away, and her body longed for contact with someone she trusted.

But they weren't in Tar Valon – not in their secret little hut, where they could shut out the world. This was the celebration of her nephew's wedding. She was the Amyrlin Seat, and Moiraine an exiled Aes Sedai. They had to keep up their scheme.

Trembling, the woman of the Blue Ajah bowed at Siuan. "Mother."

Instead of an answer, the Amyrlin got to her feet, then moved her hands. Envy filled Moiraine when she saw weaves moving around Siuan's hands, and she had to grab the fabric of her dress tightly so she wouldn't reach out her hand. Of course, she recognized the weave for the privacy shield and took a step closer to Siuan.

It was dangerous to create one in a crowded room since anyone could simply cross the line to be within the shield, but they couldn't just ask politely for a separate room to talk in private.

Once the shield was in place, Siuan stepped beside Moiraine, watching the crowd. "You look awful."

"I haven't slept much lately."

It was an understatement. Since the night she had rescued Rand from Lanfear, she didn't have a full night's sleep. Lanfear would kill her instantly in Tel'aranrhiod.

Rand was still visiting Lanfear each night, and since the Forsaken seemed to enjoy his visits even though he had run from her, Moiraine and Rand had decided it was safe for the Aes Sedai to sleep a few hours while the Daughter of the Night was distracted by the Dragon. It was Jhonas' task, the servant of the house Damodred, to wake Moiraine after three hours. The Aes Sedai didn't want to give Lanfear the opportunity to catch her should the Daughter of the Night leave Rand earlier than usual.

Their plan worked for now, but Moiraine was constantly tired. She missed protecting her dreams with Saidar. Everything would be so much easier if she still had access to the One Power.

Siuan snorted. "I bet. It must be exhausting to continue without a Warder by your side."

Shocked, Moiraine turned her head aside. How did Siuan know about Lan's absence? Yes, it had been weeks since she had left him with Alanna, but did they have time to talk to the Amyrlin before she had left to attend the royal wedding?

Their eyes met when the Amyrlin turned her head slightly. "What?" She snorted again at Moiraine's shocked face. "Did you think I didn't know about it? That you're here without your Warder?"

Moiraine gulped. Now, she wished she had asked the servant to bring her another glass of wine. "There was a Myrddraal attack, and he couldn't fight them. Without Verin and Adeleas' help, I would have-"

"Fish guts!" The woman of the Blue Ajah winced at Siuan's outburst. That was not how she had pictured their conversation. "Don't you dare give me this nonsense, Moiraine! There was an attack, and Lan got injured, but we both know that it was YOUR fault when you left Tifan's Well in the middle of the night without a word! Don't place this on Lan! You didn't give the poor man a choice! This cut between you two? – That's on you! YOU did that!"

Moiraine stared at the wall to avoid her lover's eyes. Her words hurt, though they were all true – which was probably the reason why it hurt so much. "I did what I had to do." Her words came out pressed, and she felt her eyes burning.

"You did what you had to do? Pushing the person aside who accompanied you for the last twenty years? Did you have to hurt him that badly?"

"He wouldn't have left if I hadn't," the Cairhien woman whispered.

Siuan leaned in on her, and Moiraine needed all her self-control not to flinch. "You're a fool, Moiraine," she hissed. "Have you ever heard of a person stirring a ship on her own? There is a reason why many people are needed to keep such a wooden thing moving. It's impossible to do it alone."

Sighing, the woman of Tear let her gaze wander over the guests again while the Cairhien woman stayed quiet. What should she say?

"I don't want him to die, Siuan." It was only a whisper, and she couldn't hide the pain from her voice. "He deserves a better life than the one I was offering him. A life filled with love and a loving wife who bears him children. That's what he deserves."

The Amyrlin's face softened, and she turned toward her lover. "And what about him?"

Confused, Moiraine furrowed her forehead, then turned her head slightly so she could meet Siuan's eyes. She didn't understand what the woman wanted of her.

"What does Lan want? Did you ever ask him that? Of course not. You decided for him without even considering to give him a chance to speak. Has he ever mentioned he was unhappy traveling with you? – That he was longing for more?"

Moiraine opened her mouth, but no word crossed her lips. That was ridiculous! She wasn't there to talk about Lan! She had cut him loose, and now, he was free to bond himself to another possible Aes Sedai! "We need to talk about something way more important. I have-"

"And your Warder isn't important?"

"He isn't my Warder anymore," Moiraine responded automatically, pushing a knife into her own heart. "Siuan, can we please-"

"You're a stubborn silverpike, do you know that?" Angrily, Siuan shook her head. "Why Cairhien, Moiraine? Why didn't you hide in another city? This place isn't safe for you."

"I didn't have a choice."

"Everyone has a choice."

Moiraine almost laughed. She had said the exact words to the sailor Bayle Doman only a few weeks ago. And now Siuan threw it back in her face.

"The Dragon is here."

Finally, she had Siuan's full attention. Nervously, the woman of Tear wet her lips. "Here? He is in Cairhien?"

"Even better. I brought him with me." Siuan's eyes found hers. "He stayed at my family's residence, and I convinced my nephew to invite the boy to the wedding."

Anxiously, the Amyrlin let her eyes wander over the crowd. Was she searching for the Dragon Reborn? She knew he was from the Two Rivers, but did she expect to find him among so many people?

"I need your help, Siuan." Surprised, Moiraine's lover faced her again. "I need you to take him somewhere safe. Lanfear, the Daughter of the Night, is free and wants him. She tricked the boy by pretending to be a simple innkeeper, and he fell for her. I freed him, but now, she wants him back. You have to protect him, Siuan."

"He won't follow me," the woman of Tear said. "The boy doesn't know me. It was you who took him out of his village and brought him to the Eye of the World. He trusts you, Moiraine."

A sarcastically laugh escaped Moiraine's lips. "Rand doesn't trust any Aes Sedai."

"But he knows you. If he listens to an Aes Sedai, then it is you."

Moiraine opened her mouth, but suddenly, it seemed her mouth couldn't form words anymore. She had to explain to Siuan why she couldn't protect the Dragon anymore – that she was stilled. But the words didn't want to come.

Frustrated, the Cairhien woman started pulling at her fingers. How could she explain the situation? Siuan needed to know what had happened to her. But what would the Amyrlin do once she knew?

"What is it, pufferfish?"

Moiraine flinched when she felt Siuan's hand on her arm, squeezing it gently. How much had Lan told her? Or had Verin and Adeleas said anything? Her sisters had been on the way to the White Tower when she left them in the middle of the night.

"I can't channel." It wasn't more than a whisper, but it was the best she could do.

She felt Siuan squeezing her arm again. "I know," she responded softly. "I've been told."

So, someone had told her. Well, that made things easier. She didn't have to explain how it happened, and they could focus on Rand. "That's the reason why I need you to protect the Dragon. I can't without Saidar."

"Fishguts!" This time, Siuan's squeeze was stronger. "Who says you need Saidar to protect someone?! Sure, it would be helpful, but it won't stop you from helping! Light, Lan has nothing but a sword, yet he has successfully protected you for over twenty years!"

Another stab to Moiraine's heart. Siuan really knew how to push the right buttons. "Can we please stop talking about Lan?!"

When Siuan's grip loosened, Moiraine knew she had overreacted. She shouldn't have snapped at her lover but couldn't take any more stabs. Thinking about her former Warder hurt, and it wasn't like she could change what she had done. Lan was in the White Tower, and one day, he would become Nynaeve's Warder.

The Aes Sedai took a deep breath to calm herself, then continued, "Rand's protection is important. We can't lose him." When Siuan didn't answer, Moiraine forced herself to look at her. Her lover watched her warily. "Please, Siuan. You know how important he is."

Another minute passed, then the Amyrlin nodded. "Bring him to me. I want to talk to him."

Relieved, Moiraine bowed. "I'll be back as soon as possible."

When she tried to leave, Siuan's hand lunged forward, grabbing Moiraine's left hand. Siuan's thumb moved over the empty spot on Moiraine's middle finger where the golden serpent ring should be. "You don't wear your ring."

The Cairhien woman gulped. "I didn't want to pull unnecessary attention on me."

"Where is it?"

"Safely hidden."

Siuan's eyes moved over Moiraine's body when they caught the thin golden chain around Moiraine's neck, disappearing in the neckline of her dress. Before Moiraine could react, the woman of Tear grabbed the thin jewelry and pulled it out. "Siuan, don't!"

Moiraine tried to hide the ring again, but Siuan didn't let go. Two rings hang around Moiraine's neck. Her golden serpent ring and a signet ring with a crane flying above a lance and crown.

The Amyrlin raised an eyebrow at the signet ring before her lover covered it with her hand. Then she glared at Moiraine and held up the serpent ring. "It belongs on your finger, not around your neck."

Growling, the woman of the Blue Ajah pulled the ring and chain free, letting everything disappear in the neckline of her dress. "If we're honest, I shouldn't even possess one since I can't touch Saidar anymore. And once our sisters find out about me being stilled, they will push you to take the ring from me."

"Moiraine-"Siuan's face softened, but when she reached out her hand to touch the Cairhien woman, the woman stepped back.

"If you excuse me now, I need to search for Rand. Then I will bring him to you."

The Amyrlin sighed, then put her Aes Sedai mask in place. "I'll wait for you here."

Moiraine bowed, then left to search for the boy from the Two Rivers. It was time to hand him over to someone who could actually protect him from Lanfear.

The woman of the Blue Ajah didn't see how the Amyrlin watched her leave or how a man stepped out behind a pillar, joining the woman of Tear.

"Did you hear everything?" Siuan asked without taking her eyes off Moiraine's back.

The man hummed, agreeing.

"Who gave her this other ring she wears around her neck?"

"It's mine."

Surprised, Siuan turned to Lan Mandragoran, Moiraine's Warder. The Malkieri had convinced Alanna and her Warders to find Siuan and told the Amyrlin everything about what Moiraine had done over the past few months. It had been Siuan who had insisted on bringing Lan with her to the wedding, letting him search for Moiraine on her behalf. And it also had been her who placed him behind the pillar while making sure he was included in the privacy shield so he could listen to their conversation.

"Yours?"

"The signet ring of Malkier. I gave it to her – probably a decade ago. Honestly, I forgot she still had it."

"She didn't return it when she sent you away," Siuan said softly. Then her eyes found Moiraine in the crowd easily. "She loves you, Lan."

Lan didn't respond, but Siuan saw from the corner of her eye how his facial muscles moved. She knew how much he longed for his Aes Sedai. It was driving him nuts to be so close to her yet having to hide in the crowd without being allowed to touch her. That silent man loved his bondholder as much as she loved him.

"She isn't doing well," the uncrowned king of Malkier finally admitted. "I watched her drinking at least three glasses of wine."

Siuan nodded. "I smelled the wine on her."

"It's dangerous when she drinks that much. She gets drunk way too easily."

"Anything else?"

When the Warder didn't answer, the Amyrlin faced him. "Lan?" Her Amyrlin voice was audible. "Speak." Lan was clearly gritting his teeth at her command. "Speak, Lan."

"One time, she hid in the dark behind a pillar."

"What was she doing there?"

"Calming herself. I could see something was troubling her, and she tried to control her feelings by drinking more wine."

Siuan's eyes narrowed at him. "Did she see you?"

Lan shook his head. "I kept my distance. But she caught a glimpse of me – only moments before she hid behind that pillar. I disappeared before she could recognize me."

Sighing, the Amyrlin turned her gaze back on her lover, who exited the room at this moment. "Well, it's a good thing we still can get a reaction out of her, even though she shouldn't suppress her feelings with wine." She nodded at the door. "Follow her. Make sure no one bothers her while she searches for the boy."

Lan bowed formally, then left her side. Moiraine had already left the room, but it wouldn't be difficult for the man to find her again. It was easy for him to find her in the crowd.

Siuan lifted the privacy shield with a flick of her wrist and almost winced when a thousand voices crushed over her. For a moment, she was tempted to put the shield back up but didn't. She was the Amyrlin Seat and had to make polite conversations with the guests. If she had to wait for Moiraine and Lan's return, she could see to her duty in the meantime.

The next chapter will be uploaded on Sunday.

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