The little group returns to Tifan's Well to give Moiraine and Lan a proper healing.

It felt like an eternity until Adeleas stopped, though Lan was sure it hadn't been that long. The pain was reduced to a dull throb, but his body felt stiff.

"That should do it for now," Verin explained on his left, sighing.

Lan opened his eyes and forced himself into a sitting position. Blood and ashes! His arms trembled like he suddenly was too weak to carry his own weight! Adeleas had to help him, or he would have fallen back on the ground.

Panting, the Malkieri looked at his useless hands. So much for his plan to carry Moiraine after his healing. Apparently, he had completely forgotten how much strength someone lost when he received a healing.

"Let's get them back to Tifan's Well. I don't want to stay here longer than necessary."

The uncrowned king of Malkier looked at the Brown Sister. She had helped Moiraine into a sitting position, but the woman of the Blue Ajah was obviously not in the condition to get back on her feet on her own. Lan saw her hands were trembling, way worse than his.

But when the Malkieri leaned toward the Carihien woman, two gentle hands held him back. Adeleas moved behind him, pressing her body against his back while wrapping her arms around his chest.

"Don't." Her warm breath tickled his ear, and the close contact made him uncomfortable. Light, when would that woman understand he wasn't interested in her?! "You can't help her right now. Focus on your own strength."

"Tomas can you take Mo…?" Verin's eyes found Lan's, and she saw the anger in them. The smart woman seemed to need only a heartbeat to remember the protectiveness of a Warder toward his Aes Sedai because she quickly changed her mind. "Can you help Adeleas with Lan?"

Finally, Moiraine turned her head and looked at Lan. Relief washed over the Malkieri when their eyes locked. She would survive. Verin hadn't healed her completely – just like Adeleas hadn't healed all his injuries – but she would make it back to Tifan's Well to receive the final healing. And was he imagining or did he see worry in her gaze?

Her eyes moved lower, and Lan noticed how the Cairhien woman narrowed her eyes at something. Was she angry? But at what? Was she angry with him because he hadn't been able to win against those Fades? – Because he had been injured? But Moiraine usually knew how hard it was to fight one Myrddraal – and he had to fight against two at once.

Confused, Lan watched as her eyes returned to his face, yet he had the feeling she wasn't looking at him directly. No, Moiraine's focus was on something… beside him. What was he missing?

Adeleas pressed her forehead against the side of Lan's face, and he heard her inhaling deeply. What was that woman doing?

The Malkieri shifted uncomfortably, then noticed the Aes Sedai's facial muscles moving. No, that couldn't be the reason. Yet, it looked like… Moiraine was jealous of Adeleas?! Could it be possible that his smart and strong bondholder was truly jealous of her Green Sister touching him, although it had been her who had refused his touch for months?

The urge to touch Moiraine rolled over the uncrowned king of Malkier and he leaned forward, ignoring Adeleas and his injuries.

"Moiraine…."

But the woman of the Blue Ajah turned her head away, whispering something to Verin, who nodded. Then Tomas blocked Lan's view, grabbing Lan's arm gently. "Easy, my friend."

"Lan," Adeleas said in a reproachful voice when she felt his attempts to reach his Aes Sedai.

"I need…," the Malkieri began, trying to free himself from the Warder and clinging Aes Sedai but wasn't strong enough. "Moiraine…."

Tomas interrupted Lan's protest. "Verin helps her. Now, let us focus on you."

The Malkieri gritted his teeth but stopped fighting. Heavy-heartedly, he watched how his Aes Sedai was led away. No matter how much he wished to carry her – to hold her! – he wasn't strong enough.

Tomas and Adeleas helped Lan on his feet, then steadied him while they all followed Moiraine and Verin.

Groaning, Lan pressed his hand on his chest wound. The little trip back to Tifan's Well and up to his room had been more exhausting than he had imagined. The pain had returned with full force, yet he couldn't think about anything else than about Moiraine.

Verin had brought his bondholder to her own room, not even giving the Malkieri a chance to talk to the Cairhien woman. Why couldn't they be treated in the same room? Why was it necessary to separate them?

"All right. Let's heal you, shall we?"

Smiling, Adeleas closed the door. Shocked, Lan noticed they were alone. Where had Tomas been going? Why hadn't he noticed the old Warder leaving? Because you were lost in your thoughts, you idiot. Now you have to deal with the horny Green Sister. Light, after chasing him for so many months, Adeleas had finally managed to cage him in a room, and there was no one there to stop her!

Warily, Lan watched the Green Sister, who let her eyes wander admiring over his body. Would she force herself on him or accept it when he told her he wasn't interested?

"We need to get rid of your clothes." Blood and ashes! Adeleas' eyes were definitely sparkling with excitement, and she licked her lips like he was a delicious dessert.

"I don't see how this is necessary to heal-"

The Green Sister pressed two fingers against his lips to shut him up. Reflexively, Lan leaned back – trying to avoid the contact – then groaned when his wounds were stretched, and a new wave of pain rolled over him.

"Let me take care of you," Adeleas whispered, pressing her lips on his cheeks.

Before Lan could react, the woman started to undress him. She used the opportunity that he fought with his pain. Her talented fingers quickly untied his belt and arm wrist, then cut open his destroyed tunic with a small dagger she had hidden in her sleeve, revealing his bare chest.

Adeleas hissed when her eyes fell on the fresh wounds. She had mainly taken his pain and stopped the blood loss, but the infected black veins and the ugly cuts were still visible. "Oh, Lan." Her fingers moved over an old scar, but Lan pushed her hand away. He didn't want her to know his body that well. There was only one person who knew every scar and every curve of his body like her own, and that was Moiraine. Not even Nynaeve knew him that well yet, but he definitely didn't want Adeleas that close.

The Green Sister hesitated for a second then tried to push the tunic off his shoulders. Lan's free hand reacted immediately and grabbed her wrist to stop her movement. Surprised, Adeleas looked at him with big eyes. "I honestly don't see why it is necessary to take off my clothes to heal me." He didn't mean to anger her, but she needed to understand that this wasn't an opportunity for her to share Lan's bed. The Malkieri needed her help, yet he would rather wait for Verin if her sister couldn't do it.

The woman before him huffed, then shook her head. "You spend too much time with Moiraine."

Warily, the uncrowned king of Malkier narrowed his eyes at her. What was that supposed to mean? Besides, he hadn't spent much time with his Aes Sedai in the last couple of months – no matter how many times he had tried.

"Since you two have arrived, she shows you the cold shoulder. She ignores you, barely speaks a word to you, and sends you away." Lan did his best not to wince at her hard words, but it was like a slap to the face. He didn't need a reminder of how Moiraine treated him.

Yet, something must have been visible because the face of the Green Sister softened, and she cupped his cheek. "I know you're loyal to her – you're her Warder. But you're allowed to live. And Moiraine isn't interested in you like I am. What has she done to you that you can't allow yourself to give in to your needs?"

What Moiraine had done to him? No, his Aes Sedai wasn't romantically interested in him, which had never bothered him. The love they felt for each other was different yet as strong as anything Lan had ever experienced. His bondholder had always encouraged him to give in to his needs whenever it was necessary, though, unlike Adeleas, she never forced him into bedding someone. And Moiraine knew about his feelings for the Wisdom from the Two Rivers.

Lan took a deep breath. Adeleas would never understand, but maybe she understood clear words. "I apologize if I gave you the false feeling I would be interested or searching for anything more than being a good guest – that wasn't my intention. I don't search for some nightly distraction."

A new wave of pain rolled over the Malkieri and he grimaced. Light, he wouldn't miss that feeling! "All I need right now, is healing," he said through gritted teeth.

The Green Sister sighed, then helped him to take off his boots. Lan wanted to punch something. Blood and ashes! Why couldn't that woman listen? "Adeleas…."

"You're an idiot, Lan Mandragoran." When her hands reached up to open his pants, Lan quickly placed his hand in his lap. Adeleas sighed heavily at his reaction. And then she moved her hands. The Malkieri cursed inwardly but was too slow.

The One Power moved around his wrists, pulling them aside. Blood and ashes! Where was Tomas?! Or Verin?! How long would the Brown Sister need to heal his Aes Sedai?!

"I see why you two are still bonded after so many years. You're as stubborn as Moiraine," Adeleas sighed.

Angrily, Lan watched how she opened his pants and pulled them off. He couldn't stop her! As a man from the Borderlands, he didn't have a problem with nudity, yet he was glad she had left his smallclothes on.

"Do you really think I would try to sleep with you, knowing about your injured condition?"

Instead of an answer, Lan simply looked at Adeleas. Yes, he truly believed that. That woman didn't seem to know the meaning of the word 'No'.

The Green Sister pouted when she saw the Malkieri's gaze. "Now, that hurts." As an answer, Lan looked down at his barely covered body and then back to her with a raised eyebrow. Adeleas rolled her eyes at him. "I need to see all your injuries so I can decide which one I have to heal first and which doesn't need my immediate attention."

Lan's raised eyebrow stayed. He didn't believe that explanation for one second. Moiraine had never undressed him when she healed him in the past. It was probably easier but not the entire truth.

The woman of the Green Ajah sighed heavily, and her eyes moved over Lan's muscles. "Of course, it doesn't mean I can't admire while I help you." Her fingers touched gently Lan's well-trained belly, moving slowly deeper and getting dangerously close to his lap.

The uncrowned king of Malkier stiffened. His hands were still tied with the One Power. There was no escape from her. Light, why couldn't Tomas look after him?! The old Warder knew about the woman's crazy fixation on Lan!

Adeleas smiled when she noticed Lan's reaction, then got up and pressed a kiss on his cheek. "Don't worry. I won't force myself on you… At least, not tonight."

She blinked playfully, and Lan wished he could be relieved, but the tension didn't leave his body. Aes Sedai know how to twist their words. Adeleas had promised not to force herself on him but could still try to seduce him.

"Besides-" the Aes Sedai continued while cutting the fabric off his shoulders. "I will be too weak after the healing to do anything to you." The remains of his tunic fell on the bed, and Adeleas put her dagger away. "Now, let's see how bad it is."

Observative, she took him in, and the Warder saw the grim line around her lips whenever she found a new cut left by a Myrddraal's blade.

"Tomas wasn't joking when he said you took a few hits." Adeleas hissed when she saw the injury on his back, then returned to standing before him. The playful gleam had left her eyes. "All right. I will heal the wounds on your chest and back first, since they are the biggest and most tainted ones, before I attend to the minor cuts. But I can't promise you that my strength will be enough for all your wounds. It's possible that Verin needs to give you a healing, too."

Lan nodded quietly. He felt a new wave of pain building up. Was Moiraine feeling as bad as he was?

Adeleas moved her hands, and in the next moment, the Malkieri could move his hands again. It gave him some hope that the Aes Sedai would truly not try anything.

"The healing will take your strength, too. Don't try to move afterward. It's possible that you will collapse if you try to walk."

The uncrowned king of Malkier knew about the loss of his strength – Moiraine had healed heavy injuries in the past, which left him as weak as a kitten. But not moving? The woman of the Green Ajah didn't know him at all. As soon as possible, he would check on his Aes Sedai.

Luckily, Adeleas took his silence as an agreement and started the healing weave. Lan couldn't see Saidar but felt when it began to work on his injuries. Hopefully, it would be over soon.

Time went by, and Adeleas was still healing Lan's wounds. His chest and back felt better, though he would keep the scars. The woman of the Green Ajah wasn't as good as a healer as an Aes Sedai from the Yellow Ajah, but Lan didn't care. He was used to scars.

It bothered him more that the pain was still there. The poison from the Myrddraals' blades had created some damage.

Suddenly, Adeleas started to tremble. "I can't… I…."

Shocked, the Warder watched how her knees gave in. His hands reached out to grab her and pull her against him, but then, he realized how weak he suddenly was. His own arms were trembling, just from holding the exhausted woman to him. Her eyes were closed, yet he felt her melting against him.

Growling, he placed Adeleas on the bed beside him as gently as possible, then leaned over her, panting. Blood and ashes! The healing had taken a lot of strength from him!

"Lan," the Green Sister moaned, her hands searching for him to pull him closer. She was barely awake.

Aching, the uncrowned king of Malkier ensured to get some distance between them, then his eyes fell on his hand. Adeleas had healed the life-threatening wounds but didn't have the strength for the minor cuts.

Lan decided that it didn't matter. In the morning, he would ask Verin to heal him if she was strong enough. For now, it didn't matter. All he wanted now was to see his Aes Sedai.

But putting on his pants was more complicated than he had imagined. He could barely move, and his arms were still trembling.

A knock at the door interrupted his actions, then Tomas entered. The old Warder immediately noticed Lan's unclothed body, and his eyes moved quickly between Adeleas and Lan. A raised eyebrow asked the question his mouth didn't dare to ask.

"She fell unconscious after healing me. Can you carry her back to her room?" Lan explained.

The uncrowned king of Malkier pushed himself to his feet, then gasped when his vision blurred and the room started to move.

"Lan!"

In the next heartbeat, Tomas stood before him, steadying him so he wouldn't fall. "Sit down. You're weaken by the healing."

"No," Lan panted. "I need to- "

"Don't be silly." Verin's Warder pushed the younger one back on the bed.

Lan cursed inwardly when he realized how easy it was for the old man to handle him. Blood and ashes! He needed to see Moiraine!

Tomas saw the not-healed cut on the Malkieri's hand and hissed. "You're not even fully healed."

"Adeleas didn't have the strength to heal all my injuries. I will ask Verin in the morning." Again, the uncrowned king of Malkier tried to stand up, but his attempt was useless against his friend.

"Don't move. Lay down. Rest. You need to regain your strength."

"Moiraine-"

"She rests, too. You can check on her in the morning." Tomas didn't accept any discussion. Determined, he helped Lan lay down properly, then destroyed the Malkieri's efforts to put his pants back on by removing them and throwing them over a chair.

Angrily, Lan stared at the damn chair which wasn't within his reach. Tomas knew very well how hard it would be for Lan to reach it should he stand up again. Bloody man!

"Rest," the old man ordered while walking to the other side of the bed to pick up the sleeping Aes Sedai. "It was an exhausting night, but you're both safe now. Sleep, my friend."

Annoyed, Lan watched how the old Warder carried out the Green Sister. Everyone seemed to try to keep him from Moiraine. Well, he would prove them all wrong. He WOULD see his bondholder – TONIGHT!

As soon as Tomas was out the door, Lan rolled on his side and swung his feet out of bed. His body protested immensely, though the Malkieri ignored the pain. First, he needed his pants, and then he would find a new tunic before he found his Aes Sedai.

More carefully than the first time, the uncrowned king of Malkier pushed himself on his feet. It was terrible. Anyone who knew the strong Warder would have laughed about him now.

After receiving his healing, Lan has only one thing on his mind. He wants to see his Aes Sedai. Will he be successful?

The next story will be uploaded on Sunday.

I would appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a review.