Thom watched Moiraine since the very morning. She felt distant and wrong, even though their bond was young and he didn't have anything to compare, really. Moiraine seemed completely calm and collected once they've arrived at the pavilion where, according to the man leading them, everyone was gathered.

The rest of the important leaders came in not long before and raised voices could be heard. He could feel Moiraine channel and those voices got gradually louder and clearer. He waited for her decision, resting without any move, ready to take any direction. Those were people she knew at one time, even though a lot has happened in her time away. He had some ideas, but remembered his place.

Egwene was fighting with Rand when Moiraine finally decided to cease channelling and go in, interfere. He slipped in quietly after her, trying to stay as unnoticed as possible. It wasn't really hard, considering every single eye was focused on her.

He's not seen Rand for quite a time and one look at him made Thom gasp. The boy has grown, visibly. Has changed in more ways than one. Manned up. In moments, though, after he noticed Moiraine, he almost reverted to the young, easygoing boy from Two Rivers Thom first saw.

The silence was deafening, especially after all the ruckus that had been happening only a moment earlier. Thom moved to a better watch point, his bond in fierce agreement with his own sentiment, both wanting to scout the place and ensure Moiraine's safety.

Nobody but him moved. Until, that is, Rand got out of his initial shock. The boy, man, Thom corrected himself in his thoughts, moved like in a daze towards Moiraine and reached his hands to her face. Thom felt a strange wave of possessiveness and instinct to protect. It was Rand, he reminded himself. Even in his Dragon Reborn persona, he would not do anything to hurt a woman, much less Moiraine, whom he idolised for months.

"By my mother's grave, Moiraine," the boy said. "How?"

When Rand fell to his knees in front of Moiraine, Thom smiled to himself. He would have probably done the same when he saw her floating I that mist, but it was neither time nor place then. When Moiraine said something about the Wheel weaving as it willed, Thom chuckled to himself and could feel that humour bouncing back from Moiraine. His woman used the same phrase he remembered her by. This must have been more than well ingrained in her very being. Thom, in the meantime, surveyed the tent again. Shock on everyone's faces was gradually giving way to a question of how was she back.

When someone asked about Moiraine, Thom didn't manage to locate the voice before its words were cut short. In the middle of some unpleasant insinuation nonetheless. Was it still possible that anyone could not have heard about Moiraine, the most important guide of the Dragon Reborn? One that gave her life to save his?

Rand talked with her like he actually wanted something, like she was a queen. This made her heart swell with something warm. This was far from her half brother, who would probably want to assert and cement some kind of superiority. There was a chance for that if he ever saw one. But Moiraine… Her emotion reminded Thom what he himself felt when visiting Owen a long time ago.

"You haven't changed, have you?"

Rand said it obviously with a good natured tone, wanting to say a compliment. Thom, however, felt Moiraine freeze at that. This hurt her, he realised. Her channelling ability, something she admitted to. But as soon as the feeling came, it got pushed aside. Far enough back, that not even a trace was left.

Thom looked over those present again and caught Perrin looking at him. That boy, another one forced to grow up far too much in too short a time. Another one that did admirably, especially under the pressure of the situation he got himself into. Perrin looked to him, then to Moiraine, who sneaked a look to him from time to time, but knew without a fault where to look. Thom felt the boy's question coming, but he would answer it later. For now he just winked to him and continued his watch.

Moiraine put Rand back at his rightful place and declared her allegiance in one well rounded sentence. She mentioned kneeling, but then, Thom wanted to laugh at that, she did nothing of the sort. Oh, there was still inside her that Moiraine he'd met. The Dragon, once back up, towering over her small frame, smiled and squeezed her hand, prompting a wave of pride in her body. Then he moved aside like he still didn't recognize his superiority. Moved, giving her entrance further into the pavilion.

Egwene stepped forward, before anyone else could make a move. Clever girl, Thom thought, stating her importance in the pecking order fast. This was the girl who actually followed Moiraine, one who put herself into the hands she felt would teach and advance her. Someone who looked up to Moiraine. She went far, but it was Moiraine who saw that potential and set her on the right track. And, according to Mat, Moiraine kept being one of the girl's mentors as best she could until the very time of her demise, just like she did with Rand.

"Moiraine," Egwene spoke and Thom could feel his betrothed tense again with uncertainty. "The White Tower welcomes you back with open arms."

Thom released a breath he didn't even know he was holding. They both did. He could hear Moiraine speak with a tinge of amusement. The Blue Ajah was famous for their informant network but this time he did the gathering to get her all she needed to know before the Summit. The warrant issued for Elaida was not officially voided, but such a welcome from the present Amyrlin should lay it to rest for the future.

Moiraine went by Perrin, who sniffed and his eyes went wide. Thom was curious what that was about, but Moiraine just squeezed the boy's arm and went to the Borderlands rulers. It would not do to make them wait, really. All of them, he knew, met het at one time or another. Being an Aes Sedai, a Damodred royalty to boot and finally having the Malkieri heir as her Warder must have left an impression even if her being alone would not. But while the awe and deference she was given was real, there was also familiarity and closeness he didn't expect. Those were allies if not friends and Moiraine was really happy to see them.

Thom made another sweep with his eyes through the crowd and he caught Darlin's thoughtful face. This made sense with all the reservations he had about the document and that Moiraine would probably end up as his opponent once again.

Moiraine hesitated and Thom could see why. Nynaeve stood there, almost as a part of the Borderlander group, more than likely representing Malkier in this discussion. Thom could feel his betrothed freeze. They were rare, he knew, those moments when Moiraine didn't know how to proceed. She told him this very morning that Nynaeve might be angry with her and rightly so.

Before Thom could reach Moiraine to offer comfort and support, Nynaeve moved to envelop her in a tight embrace. Moiraine's shock surprised him, but even more wild was the relief and warmth as she returned the embrace and patted the younger woman on the back, like if she was comforting a child. This was a beautiful scene. Golden as a tale. Even Perrin looked shocked with the exchange, with the change that happened in Nynaeve. When the two finally broke the physical connection there were tears to be wiped from her eyes. Moiraine practically promised never to tell Lan about it, but Thom promised no such thing and he hoped they would get to sit together and he would have a chance to spill that tale when this was all over.

He felt an almost physical pang when Galad stepped up and put the document on a table before Moiraine. Fear morphing to love. Galad favoured his father's looks, but then he was nothing like Taringail in acts. Thom fought his urge to go to Moiraine now. She had it all in hand and it would not do to sabotage her like that, suggesting she couldn't cope without a man. She started dishing out her opinion to all present. Cited Karaethon Cycle like she's just been reading it moments before. And even though she spoke barely above whisper, every single word seemed to resonate through the pavilion. That little fight Darling picked with her? Elayne's questions and anything needed to settle the Peace Treaty? Moiraine stood there, not with an answer to every question, but setting in motion a discussion that brought every little detail together towards a common goal.

She did not interfere for most of the discussion, just stood there, in the centre, with a small smile, letting everything to unfold in the right way. Had it not been for her, he might have wanted to add his advice into the mix. Moiraine, however, kept him falling into her eyes right up to the moment she interceded, making Rand rethink his leading the troops, at which time he could feel her steel herself for what was to come.

Thom knew something about the seals, who didn't by now. He was not prepared, however, for what was said and then decided. Whether it was Rand or Egwene, what did that matter? His life was not tied to them. It was tied to the woman, who stood between all the warring factions, offering subtle guidance rather than pushing her own ideas outwardly. Content to watch and listen, her mind occupied but just resting on the outside.

They both felt a pang of pride when Elayne pushed to be recognized and for her role to be defined. She too has bloomed, he had to admit, beyond her years. The times certainly required this, her situation as well, but he was sure the very noticeable bump of a child carried under her heart must have pushed for this as well. There was a moment when his mind went wondering. How would Moiraine look expecting? He shook himself back to the matter at hand, especially when Moiraine looked at him with curiosity.

The Dragon's Peace was being signed.

"It is done," Moiraine said as Rand picked up the document. "You will have peace."

"We must survive first."

Yes, Thom decided, this was the real challenge now.