Amadine 17, 998 NE (June 25th)
Egwene followed the Accepted through the halls of the White Tower. Tapestries and paintings covered walls as white as the outside of the tower; patterned tiles made the floor. The Accepted's white dress was exactly like hers, except for seven narrow bands of color at hem and cuffs. Egwene frowned, looking at that dress. Since yesterday Nynaeve had worn an Accepted's dress, and she seemed to have no joy of it, nor of the golden ring, a serpent eating its own tail, that marked her level. The few times Egwene had been able to see the Wisdom, Nynaeve's eyes had seemed shadowed, as if she had seen things she wished with all her heart not to have seen.
"In here," the Accepted said curtly, gesturing to a door. Named Pedra, she was a short, wiry woman, a little older than Nynaeve, and with a briskness always in her voice. "You're given this time because it is your first day, but I'll expect you in the scullery when the gong sounds High, and not one moment later."
Egwene curtsied, then stuck out her tongue at the Accepted's retreating back. It might have been only the evening before that Sheriam had finally put her name in the novice book, but already she knew she did not like Pedra. She pushed open the door and went in.
The room was plain and small, with white walls, and there was a young woman, with reddish gold hair spilling around her shoulders, sitting on one of two hard benches. The floor was bare; novices did not get much use of rooms with carpets. Egwene thought the girl was about her own age, but there was a dignity and self-possession about her that made her seem older. The plainly cut novice dress appeared somehow more, on her. Elegant. That was it. There was also a sense of familiarity, though Egwene was certain she had never met the girl.
"My name is Elayne," she said. She tilted her head, studying Egwene. "And you are Egwene. From Emond's Field, in the Two Rivers." She said it as if it had some significance, but went right on anyway. "Someone who has been here a little while is always assigned to a new novice for a few days, to help her find her way. Sit, please."
Egwene took the other bench, facing Elayne. "I thought the Aes Sedai would teach me, now that I'm finally a novice. But all that's happened so far is that Pedra woke me a good two hours before first light and put me to sweeping the halls. She says I have to help wash dishes after dinner, too."
Elayne grimaced. "I hate washing dishes. I never had to—well, that doesn't matter. You will have training. From now on, you will be at training at this hour every day, as a matter of fact. From breakfast until High, then again from dinner to Trine. If you are especially quick or especially slow, they may take you from supper to Full, as well, but that is usually for more chores." Elayne's blue eyes took on a thoughtful expression. "You were born with it, weren't you?" Egwene nodded. "Yes, I thought I felt it. So was I, born with it. Do not be disappointed if you did not know. You will learn to feel the ability in other women. I had the advantage of growing up around an Aes Sedai."
Egwene wanted to ask about that—Who grows up with Aes Sedai?—but Elayne went on.
"And also do not be disappointed if it takes you some time before you can achieve anything. With the One Power, I mean. Even the simplest thing takes a little time. Patience is a virtue that must be learned." Her nose wrinkled. "Sheriam Sedai always says that, and she does her best to make us all learn it, too. Try to run when she says walk, and she'll have you in her study before you can blink."
"I've had a few lessons already," Egwene said, trying to sound modest. She opened herself to saidar—that part of it was easiest now—and felt the warmth suffuse her body. She decided to try the biggest thing she knew how to do. She stretched out her hand, and a glowing sphere the size of an apple formed over it, pure light. Then she tugged on the weave slighty, turning it a soft blue. The color wavered slightly—she still could not manage to hold it steady—but it was there. She smiled triumphantly.
Calmly, Elayne held out her hand, and a ball of light appeared above her palm. Hers was pure white and flickered, too.
After a moment, a faint light, a nimbus of silver-gold, glowed all around Elayne. Egwene gasped, and her ball vanished.
Elayne giggled suddenly, and her light went out, both the sphere and the light around her. "You saw it around me?" she said excitedly. "I saw it around you. Sheriam Sedai said I would, eventually. This was the first time. For you, too?"
Egwene nodded, laughing along with the other girl. "That has to mean something. I like you, Elayne. I think we're going to be friends."
"I think so, too, Egwene. You are from the Two Rivers, from Emond's Field. Do you know a boy named Rand al'Thor?"
"I know him." Abruptly Egwene found herself remembering a tale Rand had told, a tale she had not believed at first, about falling off a wall into a garden and meeting... "You're the Daughter-Heir of Andor," she gasped. A girl with the red-gold hair of Andoran royalty, fated for Rand. Could it be?
"Yes," Elayne said simply. "If Sheriam Sedai as much as heard I'd mentioned it, I think she would have me into her study before I finished talking."
"Everyone talks about being called to Sheriam's study. Even the Accepted. Does she scold so fiercely? She seems kindly to me."
Elayne hesitated, and when she spoke it was slowly, not meeting Egwene's eye. "She keeps a willow switch on her desk. She says if you can't learn to follow the rules in a civilized way, she will teach you another way. There are so many rules for novices, it is very hard not to break some of them," she finished.
"But that's—that's horrible! I'm not a child, and neither are you. I won't be treated as one."
"But we are children. The Aes Sedai, the full sisters, are the grown women. The Accepted are the young women, old enough to be trusted without someone looking over their shoulders every moment. And novices are the children, to be protected and cared for, guided in the way they should go, and punished when they do what they should not. That is the way Sheriam Sedai explains it. No one is going to punish you over your lessons, not unless you try something you've been told not to. It is hard not to try, sometimes; you will find you want to channel as much as you want to breathe. But if you break too many dishes because you are daydreaming when you should be washing, if you're disrespectful to an Accepted, or leave the Tower without permission, or speak to an Aes Sedai before she speaks to you, or… The only thing to do is the best you can. There isn't anything else to do."
"It sounds almost as if they're trying to make us want to leave," Egwene protested.
"They aren't, but then again, they are. Egwene, there are only forty novices in the Tower. Only forty, and no more than seven or eight will become Accepted. That is not enough, Sheriam Sedai says. She says there are not enough Aes Sedai now to do what needs to be done. But the Tower will not… cannot... lower its standards. The Aes Sedai cannot take a woman as a sister if she does not have the ability, and the strength, and the desire. They can't give the ring and the shawl to one who cannot channel the Power well enough, or who will allow herself to be intimidated, or who will turn back when the road turns rough. Training and testing take care of the channeling, and for strength and desire… Well, if you want to go, they will let you. Once you know enough that you won't die of ignorance."
"I suppose," Egwene said slowly, "Sheriam told us some of that. I never thought about there not being enough Aes Sedai, though."
"She has a theory. She says we have culled humankind. You know about culling? Cutting out of the herd those animals that have traits you don't like?" Egwene nodded impatiently; no one could grow up around sheep without knowing about culling the flock. "Sheriam Sedai says that with the Red Ajah hunting down men who could channel for three thousand years, we are culling the ability to channel out of us all. I would not mention this around any Reds, if I were you. Sheriam Sedai has been in more than one shouting match over it, and we are only novices."
"I won't."
Elayne paused, and then said, "Is Rand well?"
Egwene felt a distant stab of jealousy—Elayne was very pretty, just like Moiraine—but over it came a stronger stab of fear. She went over the little she knew of Rand's one meeting with the Daughter-Heir, reassuring herself: Elayne could not possibly know that Rand could channel.
"Egwene?"
"He is as well as he can be." I hope he is, the wool-headed, loveable idiot. "He was riding with some Shienaran soldiers the last I saw him."
"Shienarans! He told me he was a shepherd." She shook her head. "I find myself thinking of him at the oddest times. Elaida thinks he is important in some way. She didn't come right out and say so, but she ordered a search for him, and she was in a fury when she learned he had left Caemlyn."
"Elaida?"
"Elaida Sedai. My mother's councilor. She is Red Ajah, but Mother seems to like her despite that."
Egwene's mouth felt dry. Red Ajah, and interested in Rand. "I—I don't know where he is, now. He left Shienar ahead of us, and I don't think he was going back."
Elayne gave her a level look. "I would not tell Elaida where to find him if I knew, Egwene. He has done no wrong that I know, and I fear she wants to use him in some manner. Anyway, I've not seen her since the day we arrived, with Whitecloaks dogging our trail. They are still camped on the Dragonmount side." Abruptly she bounded to her feet. "Let us talk of happier things. There are two others here who know Rand, and I would like you to meet one of them." She took Egwene's hand and pulled her out of the room.
"Two girls? Rand seems to meet a lot of girls. He's lucky I'm so kind-hearted and forgiving," Egwene said with a huff. I wonder if any of them are like me, wives of Rand. Elayne probably is, it just feels right, somehow.
"Ummm?" Still drawing Egwene down the corridor, Elayne studied her. "Yes. Well. One of them is a lazy chit named Else Grinwell. I don't think she will be here long. She shirks her chores, and she is always sneaking off to watch the Warders practice their swords. She says Rand came to her father's farm, with a friend of his. Mat. It seems they put notions of the world beyond the next village into her head, and she ran away to come be an Aes Sedai."
"Men," Egwene muttered. "I dance a few dances with a nice boy, and Rand goes around looking like a dog with a sore tooth, but he—" She cut off as a man stepped into the hall ahead of them. Beside her, Elayne stopped, too, and her hand tightened on Egwene's.
There was nothing alarming about him, aside from the suddenness of his appearance. He was tall and handsome, short of middle years, with long, dark curling hair, but his shoulders sagged, and there was sadness in his eyes. He made no move toward Egwene and Elayne, only stood looking at them until one of the Accepted appeared at his shoulder.
"You should not be in here," she said to him, not unkindly.
"I wanted to walk." His voice was deep, and as sad as his eyes.
"You can walk out in the garden, where you are supposed to be. The sunshine will be good for you."
The man rumbled a bitter laugh. "With two or three of you watching my every move? You're just afraid I'll find a knife." At the look in the Accepted's eyes, he laughed again. "For myself, woman. For myself. Lead me to your garden, and your watching eyes."
The Accepted touched his arm lightly and led him away.
"Logain," Elayne said when he was gone.
"The false Dragon!" The thought of any man but Rand channeling sent shivers down Egwene's spine. They weren't safe like Rand, that horrid Taint lingered inside them, polluting their mind and soul. She had seen firsthand how dangerous the Taint was. Who knew how far gone a man like Logain was, given he was said to channel in battle. Light and he was right before me!
"He has been gentled, Egwene. He is no more dangerous than any other man, now. But I remember seeing him before, when it took six Aes Sedai to keep him from wielding the Power and destroying us all." She shivered.
Egwene did, too. That was what the Red Ajah would do to Rand, if they found out what he was. And they never could.
"Do they always have to be gentled?" she asked. Elayne stared at her, mouth agape, and she quickly added, "It is just that I'd think the Aes Sedai would find some other way to deal with them. Anaiya and Moiraine Sedai both said the greatest feats of the Age of Legends required men and women working together with the Power. I just thought they'd try to find a way." Nynaeve had seen the results of Moiraine and Rand's circle in the sky the night of the attack, and it had terrified her. That was just a single man and woman.
"Well, do not let any Red sister hear you thinking it aloud. Egwene, they did try. For three hundred years after the White Tower was built, they tried. They gave up because there was nothing to find. Come on. I want you to you to meet Min. She's usually around here somewhere, though I haven't seen her the last few days. Not in the garden where Logain is going, thank the Light."
Min! That's the girl who said I wouldn't marry Rand, that we were not meant to be. Well, Rand proved her wrong, and I'd like to give her a piece of my mind. There was a narrow stream in the garden, with a low stone bridge over it, and a light breeze riffled the water beneath the bridge, while graywings warbled in the trees of the garden. But there was no Min, and nowhere for Egwene to vent her spleen. Oh blast, she cursed inside her mind.
"I guess she is not here today, either. A servant woman said she saw her walking with a tall red-haired man just days ago. I thought to tease her she had moved on from Rand." Elayne pouted, before glancing at Egwene and realizing what she said. "Oh, but I only meant it as teasing. Surely he is yours."
Egwene ground her teeth. That Min is one of his wives, according to Moiraine. She must have taken her. At least he'll have someone else to look out for him besides Moiraine, she thought reluctantly. "He is mine, do not doubt, but he is another woman's also. He is Moiraine Sedai's new Warder. That may very well have been Rand that Min was walking with. They moved ahead of us, of the Amyrlin Seat after the horrid Trolloc attack. I'm sure Moiraine Sedai stopped by the White Tower and dragged him along."
Elayne squealed, her eyes going wide and her hands grasping Egwene's. "Rand is the romantic half-Aiel southern lord who won an Aes Sedai's heart in a duel with her Warder by never giving up? The first chinnar'veren to return to the Westlands in over two thousand years?! I knew it! There is no way he's a shepherd! I heard the Green sisters talking about him in the hallway. They said he tried to take an arrow for the Amyrlin and lead the Warders against the Trollocs, nearly flying in the air, his red and gold hair like a banner in the wind, when he leapt for battle. Did he really?"
Egwene frowned. "Those tales spread here that fast? Light. I did not see, for I was asleep when the attack happened. And they said he truly took an arrow? I had wondered what frightened him so that day. Poor Rand," she sighed. "He can never catch a break. He truly is a shepherd, Elayne, and he was born in the Two Rivers. He is no lord, not really. You must believe me."
"He must be something more than a shepherd to convince a Blue Sister to bond a second Warder, and a shapechanger at that, against all tradition and propriety, and for love, supposedly. The halls have been rocking with the news." Elayne's blue eyes held an inquisitive gleam, and her mouth a grin. "And no lord, not really? Whatever does that mean. You must tell me, I am just ever so curious about Rand," she finished with a small blush.
"You must swear, on your life and your mother's honor, that you will not reveal what I'm about to tell you," Egwene whispered fiercely, getting close to the other girl. Elayne smiled like a cat that caught the mouse and nodded eagerly.
"I, Elayne Trakand, Daughter Heir of Andor, on my mother honor, the honor of Queen Morgase Trakand of Andor, that I will not reveal what you are about to tell me to anyone, so do I swear on the Light and on my hope of rebirth."
Egwene took a deep breath, figuring what she needed to tell Elayne. Could she trust her with the truth? No, not yet. Not just yet. But a truth, she could do, like Moiraine would. Egwene could do this. "There is prophecy about him. Big, important prophecy. Rand, around when he became a chinnar'veren—"
Elayne couldn't help herself, eyes wide with fear. "The books and tales say… they say people only become shapechangers after something traumatic happens. Rand is okay, isn't he?"
"He is, he is now. He wasn't totally okay at first, but he got better quickly. He…" Egwene thought quickly. "He fought a Darkfriend, a male channeler Darkfriend. A madman." It was truth, in a way. An Aes Sedai truth. Elayne gasped and went pale. "The man was trying to capture me, and Rand stood between us, and distracted him so I could get away. Then the fool went and tried to fight the madman with his sword. Rand should have died, but instead he burnt the Darkfriend to death. Rand had shapechanged into the Lord Form of a drake, a fire-breathing snake-lion from the jungles of Shara. And it still wasn't enough to stop him from being hurt, hurt enough that he lost a bunch of memories."
Elayne sniffled, a tear trailing down her cheek. "It's so unfair that Moiraine Sedai made him her Warder instead of letting you have him. He sounds so heroic, so dashing, and you grew up together. It was like you were meant to be! And then she snatched him up." She dashed forward, giving Egwene a bone-crushing hug. "I'm so sorry, Egwene. I know I've just met you, but you must be missing him, are you not? I am so sorry."
"I am, I have been missing him greatly, more than you can know, but, as I was about to tell you,"—Elayne looked sheepish—"around when Rand became chinnar'veren, he was visited by a spirit of the Creator."
Elayne looked worried at that. "Like… like the Children of the Light claim? A great flame of many colors that spoke to him? Light, Rand is a Warder, not a Prophet. Did they visit because Rand is a chinnar'veren?"
"Exactly. The spirit visited Rand, and gave him gifts and revelations. I cannot tell you everything, but one of those was a Foretelling."
Elayne froze then looked strikingly inquisitive. "Eladia had a Foretelling about Rand as well, she told me it, later, in an effort to dissuade me from finding out more about him. 'This I Foretell. Pain and division come to the whole world, and Rand stands at the heart of it,' she had said. But if he is chinnar'veren, he stands at the heart of pain and division to fight it! And now another Foretelling, this one from a spirit? Why do you keep trying to tell me he's just a shepherd?"
" 'Six are the women Rand shall bind to his heart, three lovers, two teachers, one enemy. And with them bound, He shall bring forth an Age of Light,' " Egwene quoted quietly, paraphrasing slightly. It was the truth, Egwene insisted to herself.
Elayne whistled, her eyes wide and color spotting her fair cheeks. "Six? And you and Moiraine are one of them? She is a lover or teacher, yes?" Elayne took a step back and looked at her oddly. "And you're okay with that? That sounds absolutely horrid, having to share a Warder. I'm not sure any Aes Sedai has done such a thing before."
Egwene made to speak, but the crunch of boots on the walk brought them around to look at two young men with their shirts and coats across their arms, leaving sweaty chests bare, and scabbarded swords in their hands. One was the most beautiful man she had ever seen, besides Rand when he was in the so'shan. Tall and slim, but hard, he moved with a cat-like grace. And yet she felt no heat for him, even though he was surely more beautiful than Rand as a man; though she did feel a horrid witch for thinking such a thought. He was like painting, beautiful to look at, but empty. Too pretty, to be honest, though oddly enough he looked vaguely like Rand in so'shan, with a dark countenance. She liked her man's face to be less pretty than her own and Rand looked more regal than pretty when he wore the Lord Form, quite handsome and fierce. You could almost imagine him a king, in the so'shan. The swept back golden antlers, his gorgeous mane of hair shining in the sun, his sharp eyes—stormy blue-gray—even his sharp-toothed smile she found quite fetching. So lost in her thoughts was she that she did not catch what the young men had said, starting back when the tall one was suddenly in front of her, grabbing her hand and speaking. "-is Galad, Egwene al'Vere. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Galad," she said with a bit of surprise. His dark eyes stared back into hers, and she pointedly looked away to the other man, taking another step back and releasing their hands. She wanted to wipe them on her dress, but that would be horribly rude.
"And I am Gawyn,"—the other young man grinned—"since I don't think you heard the first time." Elayne wore a frown. Fool silly girl, allowing a pretty boy to distract you, if Rand saw he would be livid.
"If your duties allow," Galad said, "I would like to see you again, Egwene. We could walk, or if you obtain permission to leave the Tower, we could picnic outside the city."
Egwene frowned. He presumes much. "That… that would be nice I suppose, but I am afraid I will have to decline. I am betrothed, and my heart aches for him." She was uncomfortably aware of the others, Gawyn still with his amused grin, Elayne still with her scowl. She tried to settle herself, to think of Rand. Rand is so lively, and kind, and strong and determined and talented, even in the face of his dark future—to fight the Dark One and all the Forsaken, Egwene thought with a shiver—and the weight Moiraine was putting on his shoulders. King Rand! Bah, he'll always be Rand to me. He chose to be with Egwene, despite what that Min girl said. Rand was hers and she was his. And this Galad was more like a statue than a living man, it was almost a little creepy. She gave a jump, half afraid she had spoken aloud.
Galad frowned, but stepped back respectfully. "If ever you change you mind, let me know, Egwene." Finally taking his eyes from hers, thank the Light, Galad bowed to Elayne. "Sister." Lithe as a blade, he strolled on across the bridge.
"Sister?" Egwene said, surprised. Elayne's scowl had lessened only slightly. "I thought he was your... I mean, the way you're frowning..." She had thought Elayne was jealous, and she still was not sure.
"I am not his sister," Elayne said firmly. "I refuse to be."
"Our father was his father," Gawyn said dryly. "You cannot deny that, unless you want to call Mother a liar, and that, I think, would take more nerve than we have between us."
For the first time Egwene realized that he had the same reddish gold hair as Elayne, though darkened and curled by sweat.
"Min was right," Elayne said. "Galad has not the smallest part of humanity in him. He takes right above mercy, or pity, or... He is no more human than a Trolloc."
Gawyn's grin came back. "I do not know about that. Not from the way he was looking at Egwene, here." He caught her look, and his sister's, and held up his hands as if to fend them off with his sheathed sword. "Besides, he has the best hand with a sword I've ever seen. The Warders only need show him something once, and he's learned it. They sweat me nearly to death to learn half what Galad does without trying."
"And being good with a sword is enough?" Elayne sniffed. "Men! Egwene, as you may have guessed, this disgracefully unclothed lummox is my brother. Gawyn, Egwene knows Rand al'Thor. She is from the same village."
"Is she? Was he really born in the Two Rivers, Egwene?"
Egwene made herself nod calmly. What does he know? "Of course he was. I grew up with him. He is my betrothed."
Elayne perked at that. "Of course," Gawyn said slowly. "Such a strange fellow. A shepherd, he said, though he never looked or acted like any shepherd I ever saw. Strange. I have met all sorts of people, and they've met Rand al'Thor. Some do not even know his name, but the description could not be anyone else, and he's shifted every one of their lives. There was an old farmer who came to Caemlyn just to see Logain, when Logain was brought through on his way here; yet the farmer stayed to stand for Mother when the riots started. Because of a young man off to see the world, who made him think there was more to life than his farm. Rand al'Thor. You could almost think he was ta'veren. Elaida is certainly interested in him. I wonder if meeting him will shift our lives in the Pattern?"
Egwene looked at Elayne and Gawyn. She was sure they could not have a clue that Rand really was ta'veren. She had never really thought about that part of it before; he was Rand, and he had been cursed with the ability to channel. But ta'veren did move people, whether or not they wanted to be moved. And now they three were here, meeting each other in what now merely seemed simple coincidence. "I really do like you," she said abruptly, to Elayne, both the truth and a way to change the conversation. "I want to be your friend."
"And I want to be yours," Elayne said, just as eagerly.
Impulsively, they stood there on the bridge hugging one another.
"Would one of you mind telling me what this is all about?" Gawyn inquired gently.
"You would not understand," his sister said, and the pair of girls caught a fit of the giggles.
Gawyn scratched his head, then shook it. "Well, if it has anything to do with Rand al'Thor, be sure you don't let Elaida hear of it. She has been at me like a Whitecloak Questioner three times since we arrived. I do not think she means him any—" He gave a start; there was a woman crossing the garden, a woman in a red-fringed shawl. " 'Name the Dark One,' " he quoted, " 'and he appears.' I do not need another lecture about wearing my shirt when I'm out of the practice yards. Good morning to you all."
Elaida spared a glance for the departing Gawyn as she came up the bridge. She was a handsome woman rather than beautiful, Egwene thought, but that ageless look marked her as surely as her shawl; only the newest-made sisters lacked it. When her gaze swept over Egwene, pausing only a moment, Egwene suddenly saw a hardness in the Aes Sedai. She had always thought of Moiraine as strong, steel under silk, but Elaida dispensed with the silk.
"Elaida," Elayne said, "this is Egwene. She was born with the seed in her, too. And she has already had some lessons, so she is as far along as I am. Elaida?"
The Aes Sedai's face was blank and unreadable. "In Caemlyn, child, I am councilor to the Queen your mother, but this is the White Tower, and you, a novice."
"I've known you all my life, Elaida," Elayne said incredulously. "You watched me grow up, and made the gardens bloom in winter so I could play."
"Child, there you were the Daughter-Heir. Here you are a novice. You must learn that. You will be great one day, but you must learn!"
"Yes, Aes Sedai."
Egwene was astounded. If someone had snubbed her so before others, she would have been in a fury.
"Now, off with both of you." A gong began to toll, deep and sonorous, and Elaida tilted her head. The sun stood halfway to its pinnacle. "High," Elaida said. "You must hurry, if you do not want further admonishment. And Elayne? See the Mistress of Novices in her study after your chores. A novice does not speak to Aes Sedai unless bidden to. Run, both of you. You will be late. Run!"
They ran, holding their skirts up. Egwene looked at Elayne. Elayne had two spots of color in her cheeks and a determined look on her face.
"I will be Aes Sedai," Elayne said softly, but it sounded like a promise.
"I will be Aes Sedai," she growled. Elayne flashed a quick smile of understanding, and they ran faster.
Tamaz 2, 998 NE (July 8th)
The first week or so beside Elayne was hard work, being a Novice, but the cleaning felt familiar to Egwene, a routine that reminded her of home, just a bit. Dusting and mopping, scrubbing the floor, tending to the kitchens. It was all familiar, though Elayne could not stand it, sometimes. She found working in the kitchen especially disgusting, and despaired every time they were assigned, and Egwene had to hide the giggles that would want to form. Personally, Egwene hated how they treated her like she was an idiot child. She was an innkeeper's daughter, for Light's sake. Her mother taught her how to clean a room, thank you very much!
Then there was her studies in the One Power. Egwene had surprised her teachers with how competent and quick she had been at embracing saidar—only failing about half the time—and her ability to form balls of light with a skill months, if not years, ahead of other incoming Novices. The hours of practice with Rand and Moiraine had paid off. Egwene knew the Five Elements intimately, and the basics of weaving most girls had to spend months on. Aniaya Sedai said it would only bring more suspicion on Moiraine Sedai for teaching her much more than the bare minimum. And this was after she was already in hot water for bonding a second Warder against all tradition, and a ta'veren shapechanger at that. Rumors said the Hall had sent pigeons to the king of Illian, requesting that she return immediately to face the Sitters. Egwene knew better than think that would cause Moiraine Damodred to stop her plans.
But while she was ahead in channeling, in other classes she was right at the beginning with other novices. Learning the Old Tongue, the history of the world since the Breaking, basic etiquette, and other such foundational knowledge for Aes Sedai that Moiraine did not deign to teach her, too busy with Rand. From those classes came the books she got to read and study. Egwene had never seen so many books in the same place until she visited the Great Library and saw the thousand thousand books divided into twelve repositories, three thousand years of writing preserved by the White Tower. Histories, and essays, tales and novels, all of it organized by the Brown Ajah, the Ajah devoted to knowledge and the collection of ancient wisdom, and carefully kept clean and tidy. If things weren't the way there are, she could see herself spending years in there, maybe even becoming a Brown Sister, searching ancient ruins for lost knowledge with Rand as her Warder. It was a nice daydream to have, if foolish.
Right then it was hours past supper, and Elayne and her were free, sitting on the bed in Egwene's room. It had become Elayne's habit, as they shared much of the same schedule for now, and because Nynaeve was busy nearly every night with classes to get her caught up with the other Accepted. Apparently a Wisdom's knowledge was not enough, Egwene thought with a giggle. She had become close to Elayne surprisingly quickly, loving the tales of the palace Elayne told, of courtly love and intrigue, while Egwene's stories of Rand and the Two Rivers, and tales of Fal Dara—appropriately censored—enthralled Elayne, an obvious crush forming. She was now quite certain Elayne was one of the woman Rand would bind. It made Egwene smile rather than frown, somehow.
Elayne was nearly as powerful in the One Power as Egwene, and anything she did not know, she picked up quickly from watching Egwene. This would be yet another woman Rand would love, and in any normal circumstance Elayne would be her bitter enemy, not a fast friend. And yet, all Egwene could feel about the idea was a sense of rightness, that this was how it should be. So tonight she was going to finally finish telling Elayne more about the wives.
"Elayne, you know how I was talking about Rand, when we first met?" Egwene said carefully, smoothing her white Novice dress.
"Yes. You told me the most fascinating, wildest thing I had heard, and then he and my brother interrupted us. Six women, bound to Rand's heart! It sounds like something out of a tale. I have been waiting over a week for you to tell me more, but you insist on telling me stories of your childhood, and Rand instead."
"Yes, well. There is a reason I want to talk with you about it. A reason since I met you, really. Elayne… Moiraine Sedai told me what three of the women would look like."
Elayne frowned, a pretty, pouty look on her face. "You, Moiraine and Min?" she guessed.
Egwene laughed. "No. An Aiel woman. A young woman with short boyish hair, wearing men's clothes, Min. And… and a young woman with the red-gold hair of Andoran Royalty. Hair just like yours."
Elayne froze. "You don't think…"
Egwene took her hand and squeezed. "I do."
Elayne squealed, and took Egwene into a hug, and Egwene embraced her right back. "Oh my! You really think Rand will be my Warder?"
Egwene whispered in Elayne's ear, "I think Rand will be your husband, as well as Warder. I love him, and so does Moiraine, though she won't admit it. He is both our husband. Min will love him, and you will love him, and the Aiel woman and whoever the enemy is, will love him too."
A look of worry grew on Elayne's face as she drew back. "This… this won't change anything between us, will it?" she said nervously. "It's just, I ever so like being your friend, and you are the first girl I've ever met that hasn't tried to use my rank or want me for something and—"
Egwene shook her head fiercely, interrupting Elayne's anxiety. "Moiraine Sedai, for all I have issues with how she has handled Rand, she made a very good point to me early on. The Aiel have a custom, called sister-wives. When two women love the same man, instead of fighting each other, they can choose to become sisters and share their husband together. Moiraine Sedai told me, if the Warders of Green Sisters, if warriors, can handle their woman loving other men, then women should be able to handle sharing a man easily. We will be sister-wives, when Rand bonds you. We will be bound together in something bigger than you even know. And I am glad you will be, out of any, I swear. It feels right." There were tears in Egwene's eyes as she finished, and Elayne was crying as well, with a smile on her face. But I cannot tell you everything, Elayne. There are secrets that aren't able to be said, in the White Tower.
"Oh, Egwene!" was all Elayne could get out, before she sobbed. "I- I'm so sorry. I- I knew I loved him not five m-minutes after I met the fool in the gardens. Is that not ridiculous? But it is true, and I've been so w-worried. When you said he was your betrothed… Oh I'm being silly, forgive me, please! Lini says 'A weeping woman is a bucket with no bottom.' Everything is alright, and I shouldn't be c-crying."
"You aren't being silly, Elayne." Egwene said soothingly, rubbing her back as she spoke. "You aren't being silly in the least. Were you worried I'd find out?" Elayne nodded. "Well, you needn't worry. I had figured you had a crush, when you kept asking for stories of him and sighing."
Elayne blushed, wiping tears away. "So I was that obvious?"
Egwene only laughed and hugged her, and Elayne joined her soon enough. They were still laughing when a disgruntled Nynaeve stomped into Elayne's room, muttering under her breath, ink stains on her fingers, and the two girls could not help giggling at the wicked glare the older woman gave them. Everything between them would be alright, Egwene just knew it.
"What has you two all silly, and tear-stained? Please don't tell me it is men," Nynaeve said dismissively, standing in front of the girls.
Egwene sat more primly, and Elayne turned to Nynaeve and smiled. "I know about Rand, and his wives now."
Nynaeve grimaced, like she always did when Rand came up in conversation, and stared piercingly at Egwene, tugging her braid. Before she could get started, Egwene quickly spoke. "She knows that there was a Foretelling about six women. And that I am certain she is one of them. That is all."
"So you are another member of Rand's harem." Nynaeve said with a sniff. "I should have guessed with how suddenly close you two were. I trust you'll keep some things secret, Egwene?"
Treating me like a child, grumbled Egwene, even as she nodded. "I am no fool, Nynaeve. Some things aren't meant for the White Tower."
"Whatever does that mean?" asked Elayne, wide-eyed and curious.
Egwene groaned, but Nynaeve gave Elayne a long stare. "Nothing for your ears while we are here. And that is final, Elayne. Surely a Daughter-Heir knows that some secrets are deadly?"