When Rand said there was a dear friend in need, Thom could feel Moiraine tense again. There should be a travel involved, some travel at least. A proper help to be enacted. It was not that at all, however. Rand went somewhere alone. Not before ordering a tent to be prepared for Moiraine, however.

Thom stayed by her side, feeling her lack of strength, through the time it took for one of the Aiel to get a proper place set up. It was nothing amazing, Thom decided, but not the very bare one he would have anticipated. They didn't need much, he supposed, just a set of bedding and some covering from the elements would be more than enough and something he would think available at such short notice. Not much space inside, probably. The tent they were assigned, however, was a spacey one, much to his surprise.

"I thought about going to get us something to eat," Thom said, looking out and nodding at the passing Aiel Maiden. Then he looked to Moiraine. She nodded faintly, still looking around the tent. "Will you be fine when I'm gone?"

"I doubt anyone would attempt anything worrisome even if Rand haven't ordered his Aiel to protect us at all Times." He was not asking about that and she must have felt his annoyance. "I will be as well as I can be. I will not get worse than I am now."

He nodded, understanding he was not going to get anything more. This had to be enough. Leaving her alone in Cairhien had been unpleasant, to say the least, but just like then he had a solid purpose now, one that was set to benefit her, he preached to himself. He suspected some of the food might be shipped through a Gateway, but there had to be at least one true kitchen tent nearby. Or a place to distribute the food with how dense the tent city was. Years of living on the road helped him locate the slightly different smoke coming up from one part of the camp and soon he came upon what he had been looking for.

He didn't take much, knowing Moiraine would not be up for a large meal. A little more that a full portion, two cups and a sack of clean water, ready to be boiled for tea. He just wished she would be able to eat whatever, after her stomach refused even the tea that morning. All she was able to swallow was a cup of water and even that didn't sit well. He could still feel her discomfort after that try.

At the tent flap he noticed more Aiel women, which could only mean Rand was inside. The boy still had the worst possible timing. Moiraine needed to eat and rest.

"Thom..." Rand said. "I didn't expect you here. I thought you would join Elayne."

"Thom is staying with me, Lord Dragon," Moiraine said with that voice he noticed masked any discomfort or doubt she might feel. "He went to get us something to eat."

"I'm sorry to disturb your rest, Moiraine, but we really should be going. Lan needs some help and I am sure he would be happy to see you instead of any other Aes Sedai I could bring."

"I highly doubt it." Moiraine smiled, but Thom could feel her anxiety and sadness. "I am sure he would much rather see another one."

"Nynaeve has things to do here."

"Moiraine should be eating now. And resting," Thom said, putting the food on a small table by the bed.

He wanted to protest more, but Moiraine put a hand on his arm and stepped to the front.

"I will go, if you want me there," she said to Rand, before turning to Thom. "You should stay, my dearest," she said, smiling. "Get some proper rest."

"No chance," was out of his mouth before she even finished. "Wherever you go, I go."

"Thom is my warder, Rand," Moiraine said before Rand had a moment to ask.

"I see some things have changed."

Moiraine just smiled, then followed Rand out. Thom went after them. He could feel how emotional she was and how her body went into a stressful state of heightened activity. He made sure to go through the gateway close to her to be there if she stumbled and it was a right move to make. This time, however, he was pleased to feel no stomach churning. Whether it was because there was nothing in it or not, she was getting used to this mode of transportation.

The ill feeling came when they entered Lan's command tent. Lan sent everyone out and looked at Rand. At first he seemed not to notice Moiraine and talked about something to Rand. Then he paled.

"Moiraine," he choked out.

"You seem to react pretty normally to this revelation, my friend." Rand laughed. "You should have seen the rest of the gathering present when Moiraine made her grand entrance."

"I can imagine," Lan whispered, still intently looking at Moiraine. "It's good to see you back, Moiraine Sedai. Rand could use your council."

"You're hurt," Moiraine said, with no mention of his words to her. "May I offer healing?"

"I'll be fine, we have a healer in the camp."

The pain he could feel in Moiraine was sharp and deep, but there was also remorse, a deep sadness and guilt. And something closer to fear, if he was not mistaken. Fear gave him a pause. There was nothing to fear now, nothing more than moments ago at Merillor's Field. This feeling came from being around Lan and somehow this made him worried. Why would Moiraine be scared around Lan of all people? And why so much guilt?

Thom had no time to dwell on this, because Lan's inquisition landed on him.

"Merrilin," he said, nodding to him.

Thom nodded back.

"Mandragoran."

"Should I understand that you are now Moiraine Sedai's warder?"

"You should."

"Interesting choice, but not something I am truly surprised to see."

"Thom brought me back." Thom almost burst out laughing. What a delicate way to describe what they went through. All of them. "Thom was then gracious enough to consider filling the position for the time being."

Well, that was another euphemism, to be sure. Aes Sedai and their word twisting. He was well versed with lies and the Game of Houses, but it would take more time to get used to that aspect of his betrothed.

Then you must remember, Merrilin, to make her eat," Lan said after a pause. "And watch her with healing. She has a tendency to overo it."

Thom could only nod. He already knew about the eating and observed enough to suspect her giving too much when helping others, but it was good to be acknowledged as able. Moiraine said nothing and he could feel next to nothing from her right now. It was like she pulled a veil over her feelings even from herself.

He could barely recall the rest of the visit, as he focused entirely on Moiraine and trying to feel as much calm and composure as he could against all the overwhelming feelings he could feel filling the bond. He would gladly offer some advice, but he was hardly a general, nor was he in any way knowledgeable about fighting the Shadow. At least this way he could help in ANY way.

They returned after it was already dark around. He was happy to feel Moiraine virtually unaffected by the travel itself. She was, however, exhausted by the time Rand left them to their own things and Moiraine would have tumbled to the ground as soon as they were alone in their tent, had it not been for Thom holding her up.

"I guess we need to lay down now," she said smiling, obviously trying to ease his tension.

"You shouldn't let yourself get this tired, woman." Thom was in no mood for humour. Then he remembered something Lan told Moiraine just before they left. "Lan asked you to use my strength. What did he mean?" He could see Moiraine wince and knew he needed to push this time until he got his answer. "Moiraine?"

"There is an aspect of the bond he was referring to."

There was so much he had already experienced, but he was not a fool – there was even more he had yet to learn. They would need a good long discussion on everything bond related at some point. Now, however, one thing.

"Moiraine, I need to know. If Lan suggested it, then it must be useful."

"I could…" Thom smiled to encourage her. Pushing this now might be too much and do no good, he could already tell. "I could take some strength from you," she said, but then was fast to add, "but I don't want to. And I don't need it."

"Oh, but you certainly do," he laughed. "You definitely do. Or will at some point. Today, I guess, just getting to rest would have to do. Anyways, it's good to know for the future use. I guess it's something akin to you taking our tiredness during our run from the Two Rivers?" She nodded. "Then feel free to use that whenever you are tired. No need to ask."

Even two years prior, by the Light, even a year ago, those words would have surely gotten stuck in his throat. Now it all felt different somehow. He smiled and helped Moiraine to the bed to sit down and went for the tray still waiting for them on the table. Someone replaced the contents with fresh, still warm bread and new piece of soft cheese. Thom smiled. There were definitely perks involved with being in close circle of the Dragon. He brought the whole tray and sat down beside her. Moiraine reached for the cups and warmed the water, while he put a packet of tea into each of them. He couldn't suppress another smile when she took one of the cups and started drinking.

"You should drink yours before it gets completely cold," she said.

He wasn't a fan of the still steaming liquid like she was, so he usually waited at least a little longer. This time he did as she said and found the tea almost exactly his preferred temperature.

"Thank you."

He suspected they were both learning each other a little more every day. A dark cloud of not knowing if there would be enough days to learn came over his mind, but he pushed that thought away.

"Try to eat," he said after some time. Moiraine had been eyeing the small stack wearily ever since they started with the tea, but had not reached for anything so far. "You need to keep your strength."

He could feel her stomach churning at the very mention of eating, but there was nothing he could do for that besides pushing to get over the initial lump of being unable to swallow. The fact that nothing seemed to taste good anymore certainly didn't help.

Moiraine reached for a chunk of soft cheese, but felt sick to her stomach and put it down. Thom reached with his hand and started moving it in gentle circles over her back. She reached again and pushed through the discomfort. He was happy when she finally managed to swallow it and keep it down. It was with more gentle pushing on his part for her to swallow another crumb and try a bite of bread, but it was clearly too much at this time. Thom grabbed a small basin left by the table before she retched. His hand on her back did nothing to stop her body's reaction this time and he could only hope enough had stayed to nourish her at least a little.

"You can say what you want to say, Thom," said Moiraine, when she was done wiping her mouth with a cloth he handed her. "Berate me to your heart's content."

He had no heart to quarrel now. She was exhausted and physically hurting from trying to eat. He only put the basin away, covered it with a cloth, set the tray on the table and helped Moiraine lay on the bed. Thom eyed the other cot, brought into the space when they were gone, but once again she pulled him down and there was nothing more he needed to know he would not be using it. He recognized well enough by now the slight contentment he managed to bring her with his closeness. Especially when he hummed something settled behind her, cradling her small frame to his chest.

"I'm sorry for Lan's cold welcome," he said, when her body had settled down finally. "I was sure he would welcome you with open arms."

"That makes one of us." Moiraine went rigid in his arms and he knew he had read her problem right. He wondered if he would have to pry more, but she continued on her own. "Do not get cross with him. He has every right to hate me after all I've done to him."

"I doubt you did it against him, wishing him ill."

"I did not."

"He must know that."

"Why would he?" Thom was surprised at how calm she was saying this. "I hurt him even earlier, Thom, treating him... I did things to him without asking, I decided for him. I knew it would be hard on him and he said as much. He did express his feelings on my passing his bond to another and I kept my decision still."

"Moiraine..."

"He has a right enough reason to despise me to my death and twice longer. For treating him like a thing. I would understand him barring me from his presence as soon as this final battle is over."

There it was. He knew the Aes Sedai oaths still held her in their power, so she was telling the full truth as she perceived it. It was a little frightening. She had notsaid she would never do that again and he knew beyond any doubt that she would the same to him if she deemed it necessary.

"I would understand," she said with an even voice, even though he could her heart go faster. "I would deem it reasonable even, if you wanted to be released. After knowing what happened to my previous warder..."

"Did the bond with Lan break or...

"I broke it myself, in a way that would suggest I was dead. It was imperative that Lan felt... that way."

There it was, one of the many feelings he experienced from her when they went to see Lan. Suddenly he knew there was one thing he didn't take into account.

"What happens when a warder loses his Aes Sedai to death?"

"It's like a heart being torn out alive, like dying yourself, losing everything. It's excruciating. You should leave when you still can."

"Does an Aes Sedai feel her warder's pain then?"

"She's dead, so it's not an issue."

An Aes Sedai answer again, saying nothing specific.

"You were not."

"I was not."

He pulled her in a little closer, wanting to be able to erase all that pain from her memory. He knew he couldn't, but maybe, just maybe, he would be able to dim it eventually.

"Sleep, woman," he said. "And let those hands of yours rest. We will not be parting as long as I have a say in this. You are not alone anymore."