Thom was finding his new strength a welcome change that came from the bond. One of several, to be honest, but for now this was something helping with their travel. For once he was not tired, carrying Moiraine to the place where the Gateway was supposed to appear. Moiraine was not able to walk, even if she did a nice try of standing. He could feel her falter a moment before her knees buckled, saving her from the indignity of falling. He scooped her up into his arms instead, saying he would rather go fast and worry about her exercise later. He felt her gratitude somewhere and it spurred him even more forward.

They reached the open space they came to before with time to spare, so Thom took time to rearrange his cloak around Moiraine. She was wearing his socks now, secured on her tiny feet with some ties he had spare in one of his pockets, but he made sure to leave her standing on a dried trunk of a small tree instead of the ground, just to make sure.

"Will you tell me now about this gateways?" she asked, when it was clear they were just waiting. "I guess a lot has happened since…"

He could feel her reaction to the memory, but was fast to squeeze her hand to try and ground her in the present. They were here, out, she was here with them, going back to the normal world. As far as what was now happening could even be considered 'normal'.

"I'm not an expert," he said, making a face. It did the trick – a corner of her mouth rose a little. "There are some weaves, new but old, you would get more understanding from one of your sisters. They allow people to move from place to place in moments."

"Rediscovered from long ago," Moiraine said and he could feel her mind turn to a more scientific approach. "There were a lot of those that fell from popular use either with the Breaking or during the Trolloc Wars. And with new, powerful channelers found lately, there is no saying what else might be rediscovered."

"I seem to recall you starting the trend with some obscure weave able to unmake even a forsaken." And he was so proud of her for that. "And those young talents you mentioned, some of them have been brought to the Tower by you."

Moiraine, he felt, wanted to continue this discussion, but was interrupted by a Gateway forming in the middle of the clearing. She startled, but that was wholly understandable with the first time seeing the reality rip and another place visible in the middle.

"Don't feel embarrassed if you don't feel well, especially the first time," Thom said, standing up with her in his arms. "If you need, just grab onto me tight. It will be over soon and it gets better with time."

He didn't say not to worry he would drop her, this was probably obvious. At least for her. He was finding new advantages of the Bond with almost every move. Even his knee felt a little better and even though he would probably never prance like a youth again, he had no problem carrying his betrothed for as long as was needed, now through the gateway. She almost sicked up, but held her composure when Thom talked to Mat and the Asha'man who got them back. He would have liked to wait a little for her to go back to normal, but it would be better to get her somewhere safe as soon as possible.

"Why Cairhien?" Moiraine asked, when he gave his decision to the man.

"It's the best place to rest and find out what's happening. We've missed some things and they would know where to go next."

He didn't wait and just stepped through the rip to land on the patch, which, by the looks of it, had clearny served as the travelling grounds. One of the boys present clearly recognized him and took off. Soon they were rushed to a well prepared room in the royal palace where several women busied themselves with remaking the bed and opening windows. After he admonished them not to stare at the woman in his arms, that was.

Moiraine was silent since they went through the gateway to Cairhien. It was hard to speak when her throat was clenched to prevent her throwing up. The second time was much easier, Thom was right, but she didn't really manage to recover from the first. She was glad for Thom's strength now. He took over and deposited her on a soft bed. She remembered that kind from Tear. Or maybe from... No, no. Tear it was. But which version? Her mind started going a mile in every blink of an eye, but before she lost her calm, Thom was already by her side.

"They are preparing a bath right now," he said. "You will surely feel much better after a nice, long soak. More like yourself."

"We need to go after Rand," she managed to choke out after a moment. This seemed to be the only fully formed thought in her head. "We need to find out where he is and join them before it is too late."

"Whatever is happening, surely..."

"There is no time for me to indulge now, my dearest. I need to..."

"You will have a long, hot bath, woman," Thom said with a sure voice of no disagreement possible. "After that, you will sleep. I will find out everythig you need to know and we will follow. But no earlier than tomorrow. You can barely see straight, let alone help anyone."

She wanted to protest, to insist, but found herself just nodding instead. He took her up again some time after and deposited on a carved bench by a big, ornate tub she knew from her younger years. Of course they would let her use the royal floor of the building.

"I..." she started, but something held her back. After a while she understood her cairhienin sensibilities suddenly came back. She swallowed and started again, this time remembering this was her warder and, probably more important, her future husband. "I don't think I can get in on my own."

"Do you want me to call one of the maids to help you?"

"No, don't! I mean, I would like you to help, if it's not something you're not averse to."

She could feel him laugh even before he picked her up again and laid her down into the tub.

"Is that alright? He asked, still keeping her upright. "Do you need something for support?"

"I'm almost floating as it is." And she was. The water was full of oils and perfume and she was sure she would have no problem keeping her head above the water. "And I assumed you would be staying with me. Coming in, I mean."

He laughed outright at that. He turned from her before he pulled slowly on the now fully soaked multicolored patched cloak, which left her bare under the water. She expected to feel stripped of her privacy, but nothing like that came.

"I will be close if you need anything. You just need to call on me and I will come to help."

And with that simple message she was left alone. She was unsure how to feel. Part of her was disappointed, scorned even, while another was full of relief and gratitude. She looked to the left, where a hearthy fire was heating the whole room. It was filling her with a warmth even the hot water was unable to.

She woke when the water got tepid. For a moment a panic threatened her thought, but Thom's palm sneaked to find hers on the edge of the tub and she managed to focus on their bond and ground herself. She dug into their connection. He was sitting with his back against the tub where here back also rested. Waiting. She let go and started scrubbing. It was, she had to admit, a good feeling, bringing a normal feeling into her skin. She felt better with each inch of skin the soapy washcloth went over. She put too much force in every move, but it felt good when her skin burned with that. It was a real burn, not just a memory, real or perverted by the Finn. She was finally back in her own skin. She was out of there. This was imperfect, this was real.