PoV Moiraine
"Cadsuane is taking Elaida. She promised the Hall that she will carry out Elaida's sentence and that she intends to 're-educate' Elaida on what it means to be Aes Sedai", Siuan sent suddenly, her sending awash in emotions Moiraine can't parse apart.
Moiraine thought on that news for a few minutes, and recalled her first encounter with Cadsuane and sent, "I might know why she did that, if we assume that Cadsuane is not a Black Sister."
"You do? Tell me!", Siuan sent with impatience.
"When we met, she spoke of age. She made some disparaging remarks about Aes Sedai taboo on discussing ages and said she was getting old, she and the next two strongest Sisters, Meilyn Arganya and Karene Nagashi, who were still alive at the time, are already centuries old, she called the next strongest, Lelaine and Romanda old too. Then she said something about, you, me, and Elaida being the future of Aes Sedai, not exactly in those words and it did not sound that complimentary. It basically boiled down to her saying, since us three are young and probably have two centuries of life ahead of us if we did not get ourselves killed, we are going to be influential in the White Tower and world. I am getting sidetracked! She is generally disappointed in the Aes Sedai we have become, since she got the chance with Elaida, Cadsuane might be really planning to re-educate Elaida on being Aes Sedai. So, if we assume Cadsuane is not Black, she is probably going to break down Elaida into small pieces and rebuild her as she sees an Aes Sedai should be", Moiraine sent, and she couldn't stop herself from feeling a faint sense of pity for Elaida.
Siuan echoed that feeling and sent, "If Cadsuane is a Black Sister, this might be much the same thing, an attempt at 're-education' and then recruitment. Light! I will dedicate few more resources to keep a closer on eye the woman."
Moiraine thought on just how much Siuan does and how much more needs to be done, and sent, "Siuan, I think it's time we start to think seriously about recruiting other Aes Sedai to our cause."
Moiraine felt Siuan's surprise at that, she thought it over a few more minutes and sent, "Why? Recent events only reinforced our ideas about how deep seated Black Ajah might be, why take the risk with approaching other Sisters?"
Moiraine replied honestly, "You do far too much Siuan, and I am growing more and more fearful about how truly alone you at the White Tower, and you not having anybody to watch your back is not helping matters."
Moiraine could feel Siuan bristle a little, but she can feel what Moiraine is feeling and knew Moiraine's concern came from love, so she settled herself down and sent, "There was one man I almost took on as my Warder, Alric. I believe him to be a good man, but I could not extend that last bit of trust required. One of the Green Sisters snapped him up, two years ago. And I agree with you, I do need someone to watch my back and share some of the work. I have the beginnings of plan on how I can acquire it. I will tell you of it once I thought it through more."
Moiraine smiled and sent, "Very well, Siuan."
As Siuan's attention shifted away from her, Moiraine thoughts returned to the Merrilins. She is going to leave the Stedding tomorrow and there are a few things she needed to settle before going.
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Owyn and Cien retreated to their rooms after dinner, Thom Merrilin settled himself into one of the common rooms oversized chair as best as he can, stuffed his pipe with Two Rivers tabac he borrowed from Lan and started to open one of the Ogier sized books provided by their hosts.
The picture all of that painted was a bit ridiculous, Moiraine let her lips quirk in a small smile as she stood and said as Thom was mid-pull on his pipe, "Master Merrilin, we have a sensitive matter to discuss, join me for a walk."
Thom tried very hard to not cough in surprise, but failed, and devolved into a coughing fit, Moiraine is a bit ashamed of it, but she has grown to enjoy prodding Thom Merrilin.
The man finished coughing, shot a glare at her, to which she looked utterly serene and raised an eyebrow, he quickly schooled his expression and answered, "Of course, Moiraine Sedai. Lead the way."
Even though the Ogier are great believers in stopping any sort of work-like activity well before the sun set and eating dinner just after the sun set, they are also voracious readers, even those who have not chosen scholarship as a profession, hence Ogier homes are usually very well lit until deep into the night.
With the light spilling from Ogier homes and from the nearly full moon, Lan, Moiraine and Thom walked in silence for a few minutes.
Moiraine finally started the conversation by saying, "Owyn admitted to channeling for at least three years. That fact raises a question that needs to be asked."
Thom Merrilin gritted his teeth as he understood what Moiraine was talking about, and said roughly, "How mad is he? That's the question you want answered."
Moiraine gave a look towards Lan, having already planned this, Lan stated in a flat voice, "Moiraine asked me to observe Owyn closely, I have done so, while his depression has been smothering his other feelings and reactions, I noticed wild mood swings, especially spikes of rage, he is easily irritable, easily frustrated. I taught him the Flame and the Void to manage his emotions. But even when he is deep in the Void he feels these wild surges of emotion, almost like something is inducing those emotions in him, instead of them originating from his own mind. You are his uncle, you know him better than we do. To help him better we need to know more."
Thom Merrilin's shoulders stooped more, the more Lan spoke, then he finally let a defeated sigh and said, "I observed them too. What is even there to do?"
Moiraine took up the conversation and answered that question, "The madness induced by the Taint on Saidin is almost always unique to the individual. But, there are some general trends to it, heightened irritability, temper, paranoia are common in almost all the victims of the Taint. But, there is more, hearing voices in their head, seeing things that are not there, loss of memories, faulty recollection of events, imagining entirely new memories, speaking in tongues", Moiraine sighed as she continued, "there are so many more. Owyn does not trust me or Lan enough to tell us what variant of madness he is afflicted with. He might tell you, even if he doesn't, you are more familiar with him, you might be able to identify it. Once we identify it, we can make plans on how to manage it."
"Manage it!", Thom exclaimed bitterly, he stopped walking and whirled towards Moiraine, before continuing, with obvious anguish in his voice, "Light Burn Me! Is that so easy for you to say? Is my Oywn's life and sanity a Blacksmith's puzzle for you to solve?"
As Lan stepped up beside her, Moiraine made her eyes go cold, looked Thom in the eye and said, "The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, Thom Merrilin. I am not without sympathy for what happened to Owyn, but my sympathy and sentiments will not help him. Well thought out, deliberate action might."
Thom stared at Moiraine for a long moment, swallowed his first response and asked in a tight voice, "I will do as you ask. If I identify it before you return, what do you suggest I do?"
Moiraine answered immediately, "The victims of the Taint, usually have this unusual faith in the reality their madness creates. Men who hear voices in their heads, can not quite accept that the voice is not real, that voice is a symptom of madness, even though a part of them no doubt knows that does not make any sense, same with the ones who see things that are not there. So be very gentle, understanding and discreet if you want to broach the subject with him. But identification must come first. If you can get him to open up to you on his own, that would be the best outcome."
Thom Merrilin nodded and asked flatly, "Is there anything else?"
Moiraine answered, "No, I will be gone for two to three months. Keep Owyn in the Stedding for as long as you can, encourage him to make friends among the Ogier."
Thom Merrilin answered with a nod and took out his pipe, relit it, turned around and walked away while furiously puffing on his pipe.
