Thanks to Verin, Adeleas, and Tomas, our favorite Aes Sedai-Warder pair has been saved but is in desperate need of healing. Will Verin and Adeleas be strong enough? Will Moiraine and Lan be reasonable?

Lan worries about his Aes Sedai and wants to help her.

Quote: "What aren't you telling me?" (Lan)

When the screams of the dying Myrddraal had faded, Moiraine uncovered her ears and sank back on the ground. Safe. Lan and she were safe. Light, how much she missed Saidar! Her Warder got hurt because she hadn't been able to support him without the One Power. She couldn't protect him.

Moiraine's hand automatically found Lan's outstretched arm. Lan. The brave man had done his best to protect her, but even he had his limits. And fighting two Fades at once… the Cairhien woman shivered slightly when she remembered every cut those creatures had left on the Malkieri. Every cut was like a cut to her heart though she couldn't feel his pain any longer.

And when the uncrowned king of Malkier had fallen, she had tried the impossible – she tried to touch the One Power. She had known it was useless, yet there had been that tiny voice in her head that had whispered to her, You have to save him. Saidar has come to you once when you needed it to defend yourself against Elaida. Maybe it comes to you again. You have to try! – For Lan!

But Saidar had been silent. She hadn't been able to touch the source. She hadn't been able to save Lan. Without Verin, Adeleas, and Tomas, her wonderful Warder would be dead. Light, she definitely wasn't worthy of him any longer! Why hadn't he left her?

Suddenly, the Aes Sedai remembered that she was supposed to be cruel to him if she wanted to drive him away. She shouldn't seek contact. It would only bring her Warder closer to her again.

Heavy-heartedly, the woman of the Blue Ajah moved her hand, hoping the Malkieri would think she was disgusted by his touch. Her eyes watched how the man took a painful breath. The poison was rushing through his veins, and the cuts must hurt terribly. Where were Verin and Adeleas?

But when she moved her hand over Lan's, his fingers closed around her skin, holding her in place. He was weakened, but he had enough strength to stop her movement. His eyes had found hers, and she saw the anger shimmering in them.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Blood and ashes! He was mad at her for running away without telling him! So much for her assumption Lan had finally had enough of her after today's outburst. Light, what else did she have to do to make him leave?! She was running out of options, and her heart was already hurting from what she had done to him so far.

Sighing, Moiraine rolled her head to the other side. She couldn't look at him. What should she tell him? Nothing she said would satisfy him. Yet every tiny piece of information could destroy everything she had worked for the last couple of months.

The Cairhien woman's eyes burned, so she closed them before anyone could see her tears. Instead, she ignored the pain spreading from her abdomen and focused on the feeling of Lan's hand under hers.

It was the closest contact they had had within months. Should she really want it, she could probably free herself. But she longed for his touch, in truth. It had been such a long time, and she had felt so alone the past few months. So, the Aes Sedai left her hand in his, wishing she could freeze time just to feel him a little bit longer.

Lan grimaced when Moiraine turned her head away. Why couldn't she talk to him? She still cared about him — he had seen it in her eyes. Yet that stubborn woman refused to include him in her plans. She ran away in the middle of the night. Had she really thought he wouldn't follow her? Did she assume that his outburst was proof that he suddenly didn't care about her anymore?

His eyes moved to their hands. At least she hadn't pulled away from him entirely. Her small hand lay in his, and the Malkieri wished he could hold on to her forever.

"How bad is it?"

Tomas kneeled beside Moiraine, taking in her injury before his eyes moved to Lan. The Malkieri saw how the older Warder narrowed his eyes at the cuts. "Adeleas will heal you."

Groaning, the uncrowned king of Malkier pushed himself to his knees when he saw how Tomas reached out to examine Moiraine.

"Lan," Verin's Warder growled. "Don't move. You're heavily injured."

Lan didn't listen. His entire body was protesting, yet he refused to give up, pushing his body even further.

"Lan."

The uncrowned king of Malkier ignored his friend. Moiraine was his Aes Sedai, and no one else than him would take care of her. Aching, he kept going.

"Lan, stop."

He almost smiled when the Cairhien woman finally noticed him again. How far would she go to stop him? Lan hadn't let go of her hand since he was too afraid it would take another five months before he could touch her. No, he wouldn't let go of her.

"Lan." There was a hint of anger about his stubbornness in Moiraine's voice.

The other Warder growled something that sounded like 'stubborn idiot' while he came over and helped the Malkieri to kneel beside his Aes Sedai. "She is MY Aes Sedai. I take care of her. I don't need your help to look after her."

Tomas sighed, then placed his hand calmingly on Lan's shoulder. "No one doubts that, my friend."

A little bit relieved, the Malkieri relaxed as best as possible. His entire body was aching, yet he refused to lie down again. His eyes fell on Moiraine's bleeding wound, and his worries kicked in again. There hadn't been enough time to examine her wound thoroughly with the two Fades arriving. But now, he could look how bad it was.

Carefully, Lan's cold fingers parted Moiraine's cut tunic to reveal the injury, then started his examination. The skin around the cut was already warm, and the black veins were spreading. The poison!

Suddenly, the Cairhien woman hissed and stiffened. For a moment, the Malkieri thought he had caused her pain, but then he noticed his bondholder pressed her free hand on her stomach. It was the poison that caused her reaction.

Sweat glistened on Moiraine's forehead, and she looked paler than usual in the moonlight. When he cupped her cheek, her skin was even colder than his fingers. Light, she needed an Aes Sedai!

"Where is Verin?" Lan asked in a clipped tone.

"She and Adeleas are on their way down here," Tomas responded calmly.

But Lan wasn't calm. Moiraine needed help! Frustrated, the Warder let go of his Aes Sedai's hand, then pulled her into a sitting position. Moiraine groaned at the movement.

It was Tomas who interfered. "Lan! None of you should move right now! Wait until Verin and Adeleas arrive!"

"Moiraine needs healing! I will carry her to Verin!"

"Don't be stupid! You are heavily injured! You can't carry her!"

Tomas' words were wasted breath. The uncrowned king of Malkier wrapped one arm around Moiraine's waist and placed the other hand under her knees. His body would protest, but that wouldn't stop him.

"Lan!"

The older Warder appeared on Moiraine's other side, trying to take the injured woman from the stubborn man. The Malkieri growled and gave Tomas a push to keep him at a distance. Did he really think Lan would simply hand over his bondholder to another Warder?

"Don't touch her!" A small voice in his head told him he was acting foolish, but he couldn't listen to it in his rage. With his other arm, he tried to pull Moiraine even closer. "Don't you dare touch her! I'm her Warder! I will carry her!"

"Tomas shall help me," the Aes Sedai whispered.

Lan felt like she had used the poisonous blade of the Fade and pushed it right into his heart. He had saved her from being killed! He had fought against TWO Myrddraals so they wouldn't reach her! Yet, she asked for Tomas' help?! What else did he have to do, so she would accept his presence again?!

Luckily, Tomas was smart enough not to try to touch Moiraine again. Instead, he placed his hands at Lan's shoulders to get his attention and used his calmest voice. "No one intends to take her away from you, my friend, or wants to replace you. But I beg you, be reasonable. Listen to your body. You can't carry Moiraine Sedai in your condition. Should you try it anyway, you will hurt both of you. And when I know one thing for sure, then it's that you don't want to hurt her, my friend."

Hurting Moiraine? Of course, Lan didn't want that. All he wanted was to help her – to be there for her. He was her Warder! You're almost as stubborn as she is. Lan sighed. Blood and ashes. What was he doing?

Tomas must have seen the change in the Malkieri because he smiled. "Why don't you stay here and hold on to Moiraine Sedai while we wait for Verin and Adeleas? They'll be here any minute."

Lan's throat felt tight, and he felt the poison pulsing in his veins. His body didn't want him to move, and the position wasn't good for him either, but he didn't want to let go of his bondholder. Finally, he nodded, and Tomas sighed in relief.

"Good. You stay here, and I'll check if I… can see where my Aes Sedai is."

It was obvious that the old Warder had searched for an excuse to give Lan and Moiraine a moment alone, though none of them reacted to it.

The uncrowned king of Malkier waited until Tomas had turned his back on them, then pulled the Cairhien woman close against him – though his body screamed at him – and placed her head under his chin.

A single tear rolled over his cheek when he felt Moiraine melting against him. Five months! For five months, she denied him any close contact! Whenever he had reached out for her, she avoided or ran from him. It was killing him.

When would she understand that they belonged together? That they were in on that mission together? For twenty years, they had been partners. They had searched for the Dragon Reborn, and not once had he mentioned he wished for something else in his life.

The soft touch of Moiraine's hand on his chest pulled Lan out of his thoughts. Her fingers found the cut on his tunic, and she pulled the fabric apart to reveal his chest wound.

Lan didn't need to look to know his wounds looked just like hers. His chest was probably covered with black veins under all that blood. And a voice in his head told him that his condition was worse than Moiraine's since he had taken at least three hits – probably more, but he hadn't been counting. The poison was burning in him while he felt cold at the same time. Yes, Tomas had been right. He wasn't strong enough to carry Moiraine.

Her cold fingers on his skin made him shiver. They were both in desperate need of healing. Sighing, Lan grabbed her wandering hand and brought it to his lips so he could kiss her slender fingers.

Something that bothered him was the absence of her golden serpent ring. A few months ago, Moiraine stopped wearing it, and he had rarely seen it since then. It felt wrong. That ring belonged on her finger, not stuffed away in some kind of box or wherever she placed it to keep it safe.

The woman of the Blue Ajah allowed him to hold her hand for a few seconds, then freed it to put pressure on her own injury.

Lan grimaced but didn't argue. Instead, his free hand moved into her beautiful dark locks to hold her close to him. For as long as Verin and Adeleas hadn't arrived, he would…

Sadly, the woman of the Blue Ajah seemed to regret her weak moment because she tried to break free. Her small hands lay on his stomach, and he felt a slight push like she wanted to move him.

For a heartbeat, the Warder thought about giving his Aes Sedai what she wanted. If she didn't want him to touch her, he should… No! She shuts me out by keeping secrets from me. She is cold and distant and does her best to drive me away. Every time, I have given in and left. I was patient and understanding, though it was never enough. When we're back in Tifan's Well, she will ignore me again. So, for now, she needs to be the one who accepts what I need. I won't let go of her.

Lan's grip tightened on Moiraine – he pretended not to feel her attempts to get rid of him – and he buried his nose in her locks, inhaling her scent. Light, how he missed her! She fit so perfectly in his arms. Sometimes, he was convinced her body was made like a piece of a puzzle, matching perfectly with his. There couldn't be another explanation for how well they fit together.

A whimper escaped the Cairhien woman's lips, and for a second, the Malkieri thought she was in pain. But then he felt her trembling slightly and recognized her silent cries. Moiraine wasn't hurt by his hold on her – she was crying. For some reason, he didn't understand, the stupid woman wanted to keep him at distance, though he had seen the worries about him in her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, her care for him sometimes peeked through the cracks in her wall.

Lan wished Moiraine would finally fill him in and tell him why she pushed him away. Maybe he could help to dispel her fears if he knew what was bothering her. But the Aes Sedai's lips were sealed. She didn't share her thoughts and problems with him any longer.

Longing, the Warder placed his cheek on his bondholder's head. He wouldn't let go until it was truly necessary. Maybe he could carry Moiraine once Adeleas had healed him. Without his injuries, he should be strong enough, right?

"How are they?" Verin had arrived.

"Lan!"

The uncrowned king of Malkier cursed inwardly when he heard the worry in Adeleas' voice and squeezed the woman in his arms carefully. He didn't want her attention. He wanted Moiraine.

"Poisoned," Tomas explained. "Lan took quite a few hits. They will need a first healing before we can return."

"I'll heal Lan," Adeleas announced.

Lan turned his head though he forced his eyes to stay on Verin. He didn't mean to encourage her sister by making her believe he was interested in her. "Please, heal Moiraine first."

"We'll heal you both," Verin promised, pushing her sleeves up. "Give me some room."

The Warder's face darkened. Why was everyone trying to separate him from his Aes Sedai? How could they think he stepped aside when she clearly needed his help? "I won't leave. You can heal her while I hold her."

"Lan…," Tomas started, but Verin kneeled on Moiraine's free side, cupping Lan's cheek.

Immediately, Lan winced. He didn't like to be touched except by a few chosen people. But Verin was insistent. She ensured that his eyes were locked with hers. "We don't want to take Moiraine from you, Lan. We simply need room to work on you both. I promise you, I won't hurt her. And you're within reach should anything happen." When he still hesitated, Verin smiled at him. "Please, Lan. The Myrddraals are dead. Let us heal you so we can return to the house."

"Let Adeleas heal you."

Both Lan and Verin winced when they heard Moiraine's whispered voice. The woman of the Blue Ajah placed her hand on her Warder's belly, and the Malkieri felt her weak attempt at pushing him off her. She didn't have the strength to actually move him, but seeing her try was a stab to his heart. Why didn't she want him close to him?

The sister of the Brown Ajah pulled Lan's attention back on her. Her voice was still calm and gentle. "Tomas will help you to move – just a few steps to the left, that's it. You can watch me the entire time, all right?"

Lan didn't want to agree. But it looked like everyone wanted him to let go of his Aes Sedai. Heavy-heartedly, the Malkieri nodded and released his hold on the injured woman.

Verin jumped in immediately, holding Moiraine close to her chest until Tomas and Adeleas had helped the injured Warder step aside.

Groaning, Lan lay on the ground. His entire body was aching in pain and felt like it was on fire. Adeleas leaned over him, brushing a wet strand of his hair out of his face. "Don't worry, Lan. I'll take good care of you."

Sighing, the uncrowned king of Malkier turned his head aside. Moiraine was also lying, and Verin held her hands over the injury. Lan couldn't see the weaves, but Moiraine grimaced in pain and had a tight grip on the fabric of her skirt. The Warder's fingers itched. He wished he could hold her hand.

"You'll soon feel better," Adeleas cooed, her fingers stroking lovingly over his cheek.

Lan closed his eyes. He didn't want to watch the Green Sister how she used Saidar to heal the worst injuries. Nor did he want to see the others. For a moment, he hoped the pain would pull him into unconsciousness. How much pain could a human being endure before he broke?

When his body started to tingle, the Malkieri knew that Adeleas had started with her treatment. Slowly, the fire in his veins faded, but the pain in his heart stayed.

Next time we return to Tifan's Well for the sisters to continue with their healing of Moiraine and Lan.

The next story will be uploaded on Sunday.

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