Moiraine's thoughts were spinning, while she practically stormed back to her room. How could she convince these children that they had no choice? None of them had. The wheel was turning and it would keep turning if they like the outcome or not.

One of the Emond's Fielder was the Dragon. She was sure of that. As sure as she was that Mat wasn't the Dragon. But who was it? Egwene? Or was it Nynaeve? But the Wisdom was too old no matter how powerful she was. And Lan liked the girl. Light, for Lan's sake she really hoped that Nynaeve wasn't the Dragon. He deserved it to be happy.

`You're wrong about everything. You murder these children and call it heroism.´

Moiraine shivered unvolunteered when she remembered the words of Machin Shin. `No! I won't kill them! This can't be their faith!´

The woman of the Blue Ajah had reached the door of the room Lady Amalisa had given her, but then she turned around suddenly. She wouldn't find the answers in there. No, she needed to talk to Min again. Maybe when she…

Before she was able to take three steps, Lan blocked her way. Confused, Moiraine tried to move past him, but her Warder simply moved with her. Always staying in front of her. Always blocking the corridor.

The Aes Sedai growled angrily, while her Warder stayed as calm as ever. His face didn't give away what he was thinking. Even his feelings through the bond were as calm as a pond, which was even more frustrating to Moiraine since her feelings were a mess at the moment. "Get out of the way, Lan!"

"Where do you wanna go?"

"I need to see Min!"

Confused, Lan furrowed his forehead. He knew the seer, though it had been mostly Moiraine, who had talked to her in the past. "You've been there, and she knows nothing. You've told me that. What could she possibly tell you now that she hasn't told you before?"

"I was too gentle with her! She knows who the Dragon is! Or at least she will know as soon as she is actually trying to…!" When Lan took a step forward, Moiraine made one backward. She knew her Warder, and his strategies to calm her down. "Get out of the way!"

"You want to force her to get your answer? Moiraine, that isn't you."

"I have no choice! If I don't do it… Stop!"

But Lan didn't listen. Slowly, he put one foot in front of the other, while Moiraine moved away from him. She tried to pass him one last time, only to be blocked by him again. `Well, screw him! I can use another corridor!´

The woman of the Blue Ajah turned and stormed off. She knew this fortress well enough to find another way outside. She would talk to Min again!

Lan sighed heavily in disapproval then he caught up with her. His fingers closed around her elbow and when he gently pulled her back, she actually tried to punch him in the face. The Warder ducked and threw his Aes Sedai over his shoulder. "Did you really think this would've worked?"

"Put me down!" Lan chuckled on his way to her door. He had to admit that it had been a good attempt of her, but useless against him.

Back in her room, he closed the door behind him before he put her back on her feet. Then he stepped back until he was blocking the door and crossed his arms. Of course, his Aes Sedai reacted just like he had expected her to. She tried to open the door and when she couldn't do it, she tried to move him instead by pushing him out of the way.

Lan had a hard time trying not to smile at her. It was just as cute as her attempt to punch him in the face. Useless, but cute.

A frustrated scream escaped Moiraine's lips when she realized that she wasn't able to move Lan. This stubborn, insufferable man! She took a quick round through the room, but the blocked door was the only way back to the corridor. Of course, there was the balcony, but she wasn't stupid. Moiraine positioned herself in front of the bed and glared at Lan, who watched her every move with his stoic face. Although… that wasn't entirely true. There was this amusement in his eyes, which told her that he was enjoying this situation more than he should.

`You think you can stop me, Warder? Well, let's see what you will do when I use Saidar.´

Moiraine embraced the One Power then she made the air around Lan's body move. Since he was a man, he couldn't see her weaves but felt the joy through the bond when she touched the One Power. "Get out of the way, Lan! Get out of the way or I will make you!"

The Aes Sedai watched her Warder, who was clearly feeling how the air moved around him, but he didn't even flinch a muscle. No sign of fear. No sign of insecurity. Calmly, he returned her look, knowing that she would never use the One Power to hurt him.

Another frustrated scream and Moiraine let go of Saidar. Usually, she was able to keep her calm. Over the years, she had perfected her calm Aes Sedai face. Hiding her true thoughts and feelings behind a stoic mask. But this situation… the knowledge of being at the end of her long journey… to bring the Dragon Reborn, who was practically a child, to fight against the Dark One at the Eye of the World… to risk it to kill the other children…

`Light! What am I gonna do?!´

Lan watched how Moiraine walked back and forth, while she was trying to calm herself. There was so much weight on her shoulders. All the decisions she had to make. All those plans, while everyone was watching her like the White Tower, and especially the Red Sisters. Siuan was the only one, who knew what Moiraine and Lan had been doing all these years. There was no one else they could talk to. No one else, who could join them on their search for the Dragon Reborn, while they were fighting against the Shadowspawn.

`You can't protect her. You'll watch her die.´

Angrily, Lan gritted his teeth. The words of Machin Shin were still hunting him. He knew that he shouldn't listen to them. That those words were meant to make him feel uneasy, but he couldn't forget them. He had sworn to protect Moiraine with his life. He gladly would give his life for hers without hesitation.

`I won't let her die. I will stay by her side when we go into the Blight and I will make sure that she stays away from the fight. Maybe she can run away with the others, who aren't the Dragon.´

"What?"

Surprised, Lan blinked. Moiraine stood in front of him, and he hadn't noticed her approach. He had been caught up in his thoughts so he had shut out everything around him. His stoic mask was out of place and had shown his anger openly on his face. Quickly, he tried to regain his composure, but Moiraine cupped his face in her hands to hold his gaze.

His Aes Sedai was still far away from being calm – a fact he noticed by checking their bond – but at least her face showed no anger anymore. Instead, she was worried now. Worried about him since she had felt his own anger.

"What is bothering you?"

Sighing, Lan covered her hands with his own then he turned his head and pressed soft kisses on her palm. Then on her wrist, where he could feel her pulse. Her strong and steady, beating pulse. No, he wouldn't watch her die.

"Lan."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You don't want to talk about what?"

`You can't protect her. You'll watch her die.´

No, she was already carrying so much weight on her shoulders. He wouldn't add his worries to it. "I can handle it on my own."

"What are you talking about? What can you handle? What is bothering you? Did I say something? Or someone else? Or was it some kind of action? Talk to me, Lan."

Lan realized she wouldn't give up until he gave her some kind of information. Sighing, he answered: "Machin Shin."

Pain moved over Moiraine's beautiful face, then she stepped closer to him, her eyes locked on his chest. "What did it say?" Her voice sounded pressed, and Lan thought that he heard it tremble a bit.

"It doesn't matter. It will never happen."

"Let me help."

"What did it say to you?" Lan nodded when he saw how Moiraine flinched at his words. So, he hadn't been the only one, who had thought about the words of the Black Wind. She had been affected as well, and though she had told everyone to forget about Machin Shin's poisonous words, it seemed as if she also wasn't able to put it behind her.

"It…", Moiraine tried to say, but then no more words came out of her mouth. Apparently, the first oath kept her from lying to him. "I don't…"

Softly, Lan pressed his lips against her forehead. "Don't bother. You keep thinking about it as well. I know it. All you need to know about what Machin Shin said to me is that I will prevent it."

Frustrated, the Aes Sedai released the face of her Warder. Instead, she put her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him. Her head fit perfectly under his chin, and when Lan embraced her as well, Moiraine felt how the tension left her body. Light, how much she had needed this. To be safe in Lan's arms, knowing that he was by her side. When she had hugged him in the Ways, it had been way too short. Also, Moiraine had felt uncomfortable with the Emond's Fielder being close by. She didn't like to look weak in front of others. Well, in front of others except for Lan and Siuan.

`Light, give me strength.´

"Before you, I had nothing to live for… and nothing to die for. You… have given me both."

A smile appeared on Moiraine's lips, while Lan's love warmed her. Her strong Lan. Once again, she wondered how she had been so lucky to find him all those years ago. He was her companion, her confidant, but most importantly her friend. She wouldn't have come this far without him. Instead, she probably would be dead by now. And here she was, going to leave him behind.

The Aes Sedai turned her head away when she felt sadness washing over her. She couldn't let him see. `Don't think about it. You need to distract him or he will know what you're planning. If he finds out, he will never stay behind.´

When her mask was back in place, and she was even able to place a smile back on her lips, she faced him again and asked: "Aren't there goodbyes you need to make in this city before we go?"

For a moment, it looked as if Lan wanted to say something. Had he noticed the sadness in her? Did he feel that she couldn't breathe freely because her chest felt so tight? What would she do? She couldn't lie. Or would he believe her cover story she had forced herself to think about to have an explanation for her sadness?

When Lan nodded, Moiraine was relieved. Smiling, she watched how he moved to the door. Her fingers itched when her Warder passed her. For a heartbeat, she thought about hugging him. She wanted to feel safe again — just one last time. But Lan would know immediately that something was off if she would do this. No, she had to let him go to ensure his survival.

`I can't hug him, but I can at least give him my approval. Maybe it will help him to finally see what's in front of him.´

"I like her, you know." Immediately, Lan stopped in his movement, though he didn't turn around. By the way, he tilted his head, she knew that he was listening. Waiting for her to be more precise. To explain herself. "The Wisdom."

Moiraine felt Lan's amusement through the bond. He understood what she was trying to tell him. Then he opened the door and was gone.

`Light, what am I doing?´ The Aes Sedai concentrated on her breathing. Inhale and exhale. Deep breaths. `I have to wait. The Dragon will save his friends. He will come to me. No one else has to die. Lan doesn't have to die. But I have to mask our bond or he will follow me.´

But she had to wait. If she would mask the bond now, Lan would be standing at her door again in no time. `Focus on the mission. Make your preparations. Be strong.´

When Moiraine heard the knock at her door, she felt relieved.

It had been hours since Lan had left her to make his goodbyes. And there was no denial in who had accompanied him there. For hours, her Warder had been happy, because he had a good time visiting his friends. But for a while now, he wasn't just happy anymore. He was heavily aroused, and Moiraine wished she could finally mask the bond. The problem was, she couldn't mask it too early since she needed to know that Lan was still occupied with the Wisdom. As soon as their bond was masked, she wouldn't be able to feel him anymore, and then she would risk running into his arms when she would try to leave Fal Dara with the Dragon Reborn. She couldn't let that happen.

So, the Aes Sedai lay on her bed, being aroused by Lan's feelings, while cursing through her gritted teeth. This was the worst night ever!

The knock on her door saved her from her misery. While taking a deep breath, the woman of the Blue Ajah put her Aes Sedai mask back in place. Then she opened the door… and held her breath as soon as she saw who was standing in front of her. It wasn't Egwene. It was Rand! And the poor boy didn't look good. He looked as if he had gone through hell. Had he even slept? When he started to nod slowly, Moiraine wanted to scream. `Not him! Light, please don't let him be the Dragon!´

"It's me." Blood and ashes! She really had hoped that Egwene would be the Dragon. It would have been so much easier. She was a strong channeler. But Rand… he was a man! She couldn't teach him how to use Saidin. Only a man could teach him, but every man who touched the One Power turned mad just like Logain had done. And it would happen to Rand too.

Moiraine felt herself nodding then she asked: "How do you know?"

"I can channel. I channeled in the Ways when the Trolloc found us."

"This doesn't mean…"

But Rand didn't let her finish. "I went to this bartender of yours. She confirmed it."

`Damn you, Min! Why didn't you tell me the truth?! I shouldn't have been so gentle with you!´

"You said…", Rand gulped, while he was trying to find the right words "… you said that… you would take all of us to the Eye of the World. But… now that you know that it is… me…"

With hopeful eyes, the young sheepherder looked at Moiraine. It was just like she had hoped it would happen. Rand had finally accepted who he truly was in order to save his friends. And now he wanted to hear from her that they would survive. That she wouldn't take them to the Eye of the World.

`His friends don't know about it. They don't know that he is the Dragon. That he will sacrifice himself for them. Well, that's good. We have to leave immediately, while everyone is still asleep.´

"I want you to return to your room. Grab your coat, your bow, and quiver, grab everything you will need for this journey. But remember that you have to carry it. We have to walk to reach our destination, and it's at least a full day's walk."

"When do we leave?"

"Now. We can't waste any more time. Meet me at the stables. Make sure that no one sees you. Don't tell anyone where you're going. Not your friends. Not the Ogier. No word to anyone. Do you understand?" Rand nodded then he grabbed the hilt of his sword and left.

Moiraine couldn't move for a moment, while her thoughts were spinning. Rand was the Dragon Reborn. For twenty years she had been searching for this baby. She had talked to so many women. Had seen so many children. And now, her search had found its end. It wasn't a prophecy anymore. Not a vision anymore of a dead Aes Sedai. But her mission wasn't over yet. There was one last thing she had to do.

The woman of the Blue Ajah closed her door then she gathered her own things quickly. Water, some food, and her knife. She placed the sa'angreal in her pocket. In the end, she put on her coat and took one last look at the room. As soon as Lan would see the empty room, he would know what she had done. The empty room and their bond masked…

For the last time, Moiraine dove into the bond to feel Lan's happiness. To feel his calm and strong presence. She would never feel him again. Never feel his presence in her mind again. The place where he belonged. He would be gone forever.

A single tear rolled down her cheek, and Moiraine closed her eyes when she finally did the most painful thing to herself. Masking her bond in the knowledge it would be forever.

`Forgive me, old friend. Maybe we'll meet again in our next life. I really hope you will be happy with her. Goodbye, Lan.´