Moiraine could not recognize what time of day it was. Truth to be told, she was barely able to hold her eyes open long enough to decide it was still day.

"Close your eyes." Lan's voice was a welcome distraction amidst the pain that was taking over her whole body. "Try to sleep." He must have known she was close enough to dropping down but still fighting for any semblance of control.

"How far?"

She knew it was a foolish question. They were far enough from any place that had a stable Aes Sedai presence that it was unlikely they will reach any of her sisters in time. The black, burning substance was making its way around her body. Lan, in his well tried knowledge and preparation, tied her injured hand so that the inflammation would not take over her so easily. This was not usually done, it was much better to just ride for it. This time they knew there was no Aes Sedai in the immediate vicinity, so he had to take that precaution.

It was a silly wound, really and she should have never sustained it. Lan did his job admirably and blocked every single blade or arrow heading their way from the band of Whitecloaks that ambushed them moments after she decimated a small group of Trollocs. IT was her own clumsiness that provoked the wound. The tainted blade was sticking up from the side of one of the creatures. She passed by it, but tripped and scratched herself, catching her balance. It was Lan who had to tell her that she even did hurt herself. Small cut to her hand, barely able to draw blood. Much less than she might have sustained when faced with a cluster of men, hungry for proving they could catch or kill another witch and as such show off their skill. She delved and cured Lan before he saw the trickle of blood from her hand. Then he looked closer when she stumbled. It was late by that time, her whole hand painted with darkening veins.

Now she was drifting in and out of consciousness, aware that her momentary lack of concentration might get both of them killed.

"We will get you to your sister soon, don't worry."

There was worry for her in his heart. Good man, always thinking about her before anything else. He didn't allow her to take the bond off at the beginning and soon she was too weak to do it. She should have done it by force when she was still strong enough.

"We will get there in time, Moiraine," Lan's voice barely broke through the haze in her mind. "Close your eyes, don't try to channel or stay awake."

The next thing she remembered was hitting something with her whole body. She must have hurt, but the only thing she could discern was the overwhelming feeling of cold. Then being hoisted up and thrown face down over something moving.

"Keep fighting it, Moiraine…"

She was doing everything she could, but she couldn't do much.

#

The feeling after healing was hard to mistake for anything else. The slight ache, the deep weariness and desire to eat were the telltale signs she identified even before opening her eyes was a possibility.

There was someone moving in the room. The bed under her back was firm but not lumpy. A nice inn in some backwater town perhaps? She reached for Lan out of habit. He was out. Lan was out and she couldn't rouse him. Her heart beat faster and she tried to get up, but a hand on her arm prevented that.

"Easy, sister," a voice said. A familiar one, but Moiraine was still too muddled to place it. "Stay down. Your warder would be fine and so would you. Just let it heal." No she was able to recognize the patient voice of Anaiya and immediately relaxed, following her advice. "Setagana is with Lan, making sure he lacks for nothing, but good rest would take care of all his maladies. You, sister, on the other hand, managed to get yourself into a situation. I was able to heal you, but you need to rest and replenish your energy. The tainted blade didn't cut you deep, but you've let it fester for a long time."

Moiraine managed to open her eyes and the unremarkable face that greeted her with a warm smile was like a balm to her aching soul and body. Anaiya reached for a cup and helped her drink some cool water. A balm on her battered body for sure.

"How is Lan?" she managed to crack out.

Naiya's forehead crinkled in worry and she put her hand on Moiraine's cheek. The great serpent ring was pleasantly cool on her skin.

"You're not hot," Anaiya said. "But the memory loss is rather worrisome. I will have to keep an eye on you for a little while longer, it seems."

"I feel healed." Moiraine looked at her hand, where a thin, pink scar was barely discernible. "There is no remnant of the taint." She had to close her eyes again to rest a little.

"You've got some talent for healing, I know, but you've got no experience. The taint from a trolloc's blade sometimes stays in the blood even ater an Aes Sedai healing. It can kill one eventually. One Power is not all-powerful." There was a moment of fear in Moiraine's heart, but Anaiya was fast to reassure her. "Do not worry, though, I don't think this would happen to you. I would be happier if there was a yellow sister to see to you, but you have only me here and I think I did a good enough job."

"I lack for nothing, sister," Moiraine said, trying to force smile onto her face. "We lack for nothing," she added.

"Good, you remember you have a warder, then. He will be fine, although he ran a horse to collapse and carried you here when the other one was too exhausted to carry you on its back. You chose well for yourself there." The older sister sounded proud. "Tower training is well and good, but not a prerequisite. This man will serve you well."

"Lan and I serve together."

"Good, child," Anaiya said politely. "This is a good attitude to have."

Then Moiraine understood a piece she went over earlier.

"The horses…" she forced from her still parched mouth. "You said Lan carried me here. What happened to our horses?"

"You will have to ask Setagana, he was to make sure the one that survived got taken care of and the dead one buried."

Moiraine's throat constricted. Anaiya was not a fan of horses, she would not know. Cat Dancer was a long time ally and Aldieb… Moiraine wanted to cry. She has enjoyed her for mere months and was just getting really used to her soft, beautiful gaits as well as surprising efficiency.

"I will leave you for now and get something for us to eat."

Anaiya patted her hand before leaving and Moiraine knew she was left with a perfect opportunity to let go of keeping her emotions inside for a moment.

"Aldieb, what have I done to you…"