Although Lan has told her not to return to the tree, Moiraine starts another attempt. Will she find her way back home this time?
at Adelynn: It is only Moiraine's spirit that moved to this other world. Her real body is still stuck in reality, and you'll find out what happened in reality once she returns. But I like the idea of the other Moiraine in Falme with Lan, trying to convince him they are married. I might write a chapter about that at the end of my story. Thank you for reading and your review ❤️
Moiraine walked as slowly as possible through the corridors and with as much confidence as possible. Lan hadn't forbidden her to leave her room. So, no one should worry that she was walking through the house. Yet, there was a small problem. Everyone who took a second look at her must notice that she wore her riding clothes, not a fine dress.
And she had to be careful not to run into Lan, Alanna, Ihvon, or Maksim. All of them would stop her before she reached the stable.
But Moiraine had luck. No one stopped her or asked her what she was doing, and she also didn't run into one of her friends. She escaped through the kitchen, moving between the servants who didn't seem to recognize her. Had they ever seen her in her riding clothes?
The stable lay shortly behind the house. A big tree grew on the left side of it and was currently used as a training area by Lan and Ihvon. Moiraine cursed when she saw the two men, their chests naked and glistened with sweat. Lan wasn't stupid. He knew the Cairhien woman would try to escape, so he forgot about his documents and took a training session with another Warder. For how long were they already fighting?
Nervously, she threw a glance toward the stable. It was only a few feet away, but both men would notice her. There was nothing a Warder didn't notice, even when he was distracted like they were at the moment. No, she needed another plan.
Searching, she let her eyes wander. Suddenly, a woman left the kitchen with a gigantic basket filled with a big pile of laundry. She was swaying under the weight and couldn't see where she was going. Moiraine smiled. That laundry would help her to reach the stable and avoid Lan's clever eyes.
"I'll help you." She grabbed the underside of the basket while hiding behind the pile. If Lan looked in their direction, he would only see her lower half, though Moiraine hoped the woman's clothes would cover her.
"Oh. Thank you." The woman allowed Moiraine to lead the way for a moment, then realized that the Aes Sedai led her toward the stable. "What are you doing? This is not the path to the well."
"Is it not?" Moiraine asked innocently. She had no idea where the well was and didn't care. Only a few more steps, then she was safe from Lan's and Ihvon's eyes.
"No. We have to go right." The woman tried to guide Moiraine in the correct direction, but the Cairhien woman did her best to work against the woman's efforts. "Stop it. This is not the path."
Sighing, the woman of the Blue Ajah let go of the basket. She had made it. Cursing, the other woman tried to regain her balance. Moiraine explained, "I'm sorry. Maybe I should try something else." She didn't wait for the other woman to find an answer. Quickly, she slipped inside the stable. Time was of the essence.
Luckily, there weren't many horses inside the boxes, and Aldieb was easy to spot. That saved her a lot of time.
"Hello, beautiful," Moiraine greeted the mare, who nudged her as a greeting. "Are you ready for a ride?"
Aldieb snorted, making the Aes Sedai grin. At least the mare wouldn't try to stop her. But first, she had to saddle her.
"It's ridiculous. Why does Lan not ask some of his servants to check on the horses?" Alanna's annoyed voice made Moiraine freeze. That couldn't be true! "They could stop Moiraine as well as we would."
Light, she was coming inside! Quickly, the woman of the Blue Ajah entered Aldieb's box and hid in the furthest corner behind a pile of straw.
"That's not true, and you know it. You healed Moiraine, and now, she can use Saidar again. No servant would be able to stop her if she uses the One Power." Of course, Maksim was with her. Alanna was rarely seen without at least one of her Warders.
"If she uses the One Power, Lan would know it. He can feel her channel through the bond."
"He worries and hopes you can reason with her."
The Green Sister snorted. "I'm not sure anyone can reason with Moiraine. I thought her husband was up for the challenge, but…" A heavy sigh escaped her lips. "Light, it seems like she became even more stubborn since that attack."
"It must be hard for Lan to hear his wife believing this is all not real."
"Hmm," Alanna hummed, agreeing. The pair reached Aldieb's box. "Hello, Aldieb." Again, the mare snorted as a greeting. "I know. You just saw us half an hour ago. But I brought you a carotte." Alanna laughed, and Moiraine heard the mare chewing. Aldieb must have accepted the carotte. "See? It isn't so bad to see us again."
"She probably would rather see Moiraine than us," Maksim said.
"I know. But I can't do anything against that. Lan doesn't want Moiraine to return to that tree. So, we play along and check on you, sweet lady, ensuring your owner doesn't take off without her husband's approval."
The blonde Warder chuckled. "It looks like she already forgot about us. The carotte is way more interesting."
"In that case, we should leave her. She is obviously in the stable and well. Maybe I will pay Moiraine a visit, keeping her company. This way, I wouldn't have to check on Aldieb every half hour."
Moiraine held her breath while Alanna and Maksim left the stable. That was not good. If Alanna went to her room… Light, she had to hurry!
She waited a few more minutes to be safe, then went into action. It wasn't the first time she had to saddle Aldieb in a hurry. The Aes Sedai had lost count of how many times she and Lan had run from Whitecloaks or Shadowspawn. Aldieb and Mandarb had been used to sudden departures. Of course, Lan had often done the saddling, but it didn't mean Moiraine couldn't do it herself.
Soon, Aldieb was ready, and Moiraine led her to the door. This time, she wouldn't be able to sneak around Lan and Ihvon. The Malkieri would see her leaving, but it would take him some time before he could follow her. Hopefully, he couldn't catch up with her before she reached the tree.
The Aes Sedai mounted Aldieb, then took a deep breath. Now or never, she thought. Her mare obeyed as always, carrying her owner out of the stable toward the front of the house.
"No! Moiraine!"
Lan's scream echoed in Moiraine's ears, but she didn't turn around. She couldn't slow down. That stupid tree probably was her way back home!
The streets were crowded, but the people jumped out of the way when they realized Moiraine was in a hurry.
"Moiraine!"
A relieved sigh escaped the Aes Sedai's lips when she heard the Warder had followed her to the street. It would cost him more time to get Mandarb. Every minute he wasted on calling after her was for her a minute closer to her destination.
Hope started to bubble in her heart. She could make it. She could reach the tree before Lan.
Hours later, Moiraine wished she had considered taking some provisions with her, but it would have slowed her. Besides, if the tree was the answer to her problems, she wouldn't be in that world very long anymore.
When the tree finally came into sight, Moiraine couldn't stop herself from smiling. She had made it. Of course, Lan was already following her. She could feel him closing in on her. A bundle of anxiety, fear, and anger in the back of her mind. But he wouldn't make it in time. He was too far away to stop her now.
Carefully, Moiraine dismounted Aldieb, then allowed the mare to eat some grass. She hoped that version of Aldieb was as well-behaved as her own and wouldn't run off once she turned her back on her. The tree was the only possibility to secure the reins, but Moiraine didn't want the mare close to her if that second meeting went like the first one.
Slowly, she approached the damaged wood, her eyes fixed on the space between the healthy and burned part. Was that her way out? Was that tree symbolizing Moiraine? – Two souls in one body? Had Lanfear cut the tree to give the woman of the Blue Ajah a hint? What had happened there?
The tree was only a few steps away when Moiraine's vision blurred, and other images appeared before her eyes. A scene she had seen when they visited the tree before.
It had been hours since she left Fal Dara behind her, yet Moiraine felt no desire to return. Pyra was a beautiful young mare, and although she wasn't Aldieb, Moiraine enjoyed the ride. It felt good to feel the wind in her hair and the sun on her skin. She should ask Lan to ride with her again. Maybe they could take a day in a week where they left Fal Dara and all their worries behind. It would be just them like in the old days.
Moiraine didn't miss the days when they were running around, searching for the Dragon Reborn and sleeping in terrible inns or on the ground. It was nice to finally have a home in Fal Dara. She only wished her husband would slow down sometimes. Without their search for the Dragon Reborn, he focused his attention on saving Malkier. He was so determined to show her his home he sometimes forgot the world around him.
A beautiful big tree caught the Cairhien woman's eye, and she decided it was a good place for letting Pyra eat while she would stretch her legs.
But when she reached the tree, a woman stepped out from behind it. She had long dark hair and was beautiful in every way. It had been a long time since Moiraine had been attracted to another woman, but that one… the Aes Sedai couldn't stop herself from moving closer. Something was… different about that woman. Her appearance was almost magical and drew Moiraine closer.
"Peace favors you, my friend. Do you need help?"
The stranger tilted her head, letting her eyes wander over Pyra. "I like your horse."
Blood and ashes! Even her voice was smooth and felt like silk on Moiraine's skin. She took a deep breath to suppress the upcoming arousal. "Thank you. Her name is Pyra."
"Hm," the woman hummed. "She is beautiful."
"She is new and needs to learn a lot. I worked with her for months, and this is our first ride together." At this moment, Moiraine realized the woman had no horse with her or bags. Surprised, she let her eyes move over the landscape, searching for a nearby village but couldn't find one. "Are you alright? Where is your horse?"
"They are so terribly slow. Never liked them very much for transportation."
Confused, Moiraine furrowed her forehead. Slow? Since when was a horse slow? There was nothing faster than a horse. Was that woman sick?
"Are you injured? Do you need healing? I'm an Aes Sedai. I can heal you if you need help."
Finally, the dark eyes of the stranger looked straight into the Cairhien woman's eyes, and Moiraine shivered. As beautiful as the woman was, as cold were her eyes. A single thought crossed Moiraine's mind. That woman was dangerous.
"You're el'Moiraine ti Damodred Mandragoran, wife of a'Lan Mandragoran."
Moiraine gripped her reins tighter. She hadn't mentioned who she was or where she had come from. How did that woman know her?
"And who are you?"
"Your worst nightmare."
Saidar filled the stranger, more powerful than Moiraine had ever seen. Not even Egwene was that powerful. Quickly, the Aes Sedai wrapped herself in Saidar, placing a shield between the woman and herself. She didn't think about running. Pyra couldn't outrun the woman's attack.
Sadly, Moiraine's shield wasn't strong enough. It shattered into a million pieces. The blast threw the Cairhien woman out of the saddle, making her hit the ground hard. All air was pressed out of Moiraine's lungs, and the world was a blur due to the impact. Her head and back were killing her, but she couldn't stay down. She wouldn't give that stranger an easy target.
Aching, the woman of the Blue Ajah pushed herself on her feet. She wanted to embrace Saidar again, but the stranger was faster. Weaves wrapped around her body, then lifted her in the air and made her fly until her back hit the trunk of the tree.
Pain spread through her body, making it hard to think. Light! Who was that woman?!
"It's a shame," the woman sighed. "You are a pretty little one. Under other circumstances, I would keep you, but you have a role to play still. We need you to keep that husband of yours busy."
"He'll… kill… you."
It was hard to speak since another weave was wrapped around Moiraine's throat, squeezing it slightly.
The stranger smiled. "I'd like to see him try. But I think he has more important things to do than following me."
"He feels… what I… feel."
"Oh, he doesn't feel your pain right now. I placed a small shield over your bond, blocking your pain from reaching him. He doesn't know what I'm doing to you right now." The weaves tightened further, cutting painfully into Moiraine's flesh. "It was nice playing with you. Bye, little one."
Gasping, the woman of the Blue Ajah watched how her opponent prepared another weave. It rotated like a blade, getting faster and faster until there was nothing else seen than a sparkling light. It moved toward Moiraine until it hovered over her head, then the stranger made a down-movement.
The weave cut through the tree, splitting it in half. The sound of the breaking wood was deafening. And then it cut into Moiraine's head.
She screamed. The pain was nothing like she had ever experienced before. She couldn't think, she couldn't do anything. There was nothing but the excruciating pain.
Moiraine noticed she screamed. The memory of Lanfear's attack felt so real, like it had happened to her, and her body just remembered what it had been through.
And then, she felt like someone split her head open, and countless images forced their way into her head. Moiraine and Lan, visiting the Two Rivers. Nynaeve, kidnapped and killed by a Trolloc. Rand and his father, slaughtered in their own house. Egwene, following Moiraine and Lan to Tar Valon. Moiraine's fight with Siuan. Siuan, calling her a Darkfriend. Lan's proposal. Their wedding in Fal Dara. Their first night as husband and wife. Their decision….
Moiraine gave up fighting and simply succumbed to the memories, letting them drown her until everything went dark.
"I told her not to go there!"
"Calm down. She is alive."
"Alive?! She is unconscious! This memory was so powerful it knocked her out! I thought someone was trying to split my head open!"
"She tries to find answers for her situation and believes that tree could give her those."
Something crashed, followed by a curse.
"Lan!"
Blinking, Moiraine opened her eyes. Something was happening, and she needed to know what. Groaning, she realized she was still caught in that other world. When she pushed herself on her arms, she saw Lan walking up and down the room. The man wasn't just angry. He was incredibly mad, and she didn't need to ask why.
Alanna was also in the room with her hands on her hips, glaring at the Malkieri as if he would care about that. And at the wall lay the remains of one of the chairs. Apparently, the uncrowned king of Malkier had thrown the chair to deal with his anger.
"Moiraine."
The Cairhien woman's eyes returned to the Malkieri, who had finally noticed she was awake. He took a few steps toward the bed, then stopped and took a deep breath. Moiraine felt him fighting with his emotions. Relief and anger fought with each other, and he obviously couldn't decide which should win.
Alanna didn't have that problem. She appeared beside Moiraine, glaring at her now. "Finally. It's about damn time you wake up."
"What did I miss?"
"What did you miss? Well-"
"You missed that I told you not to go to that tree again!" Lan snapped angrily. His hands moved like he wished to throw something else.
Aching, Moiraine pushed herself into a sitting position, grimacing when the pain exploded in her head. All those new memories… her head felt heavy with the latest information.
Sighing, Alanna helped her friend, then placed her hands on Moiraine's head. The pain faded, and the Cairhien woman didn't mind that her friend hadn't even asked before healing her. She was simply thankful not to be in pain anymore. Light! She was tired of being in pain!
"Thank you, Alanna."
The Green Sister snorted. "You do remember I belong to the Green Ajah and not the Yellow, right? I can heal you, but I'm not nearly as good as our Yellow Sisters."
"I appreciate your help, my friend."
"Please leave us, Alanna."
Alanna's eyes widened at Lan's plea. "Lan, don't-"
"I'd like to talk to my wife alone."
Moiraine patted her friend's hand when she saw how the woman hesitated. She wanted to de-escalate the situation. "It's alright, Alanna. We'll be fine. Thank you for your help. You should get some rest."
Sighing, the woman from Arafel gave up. "Fine. Call me if you need me." She squeezed Moiraine's hand in sympathy, then left the room, but not without throwing a warning glance at the Warder.
Lan gave Alanna a moment to get away from the door before his eyes found Moiraine again. This time, his emotions were evident. The man was pissed. "What have you been thinking?"
Calmly, the Aes Sedai swung her legs out of bed. She wouldn't have this argument while sitting in a bed. "We needed answers."
"Answers?! That tree doesn't have answers!" It felt strange to hear Lan raising his voice. Usually, there was not much that could make him lose his temper.
"It showed me what happened."
Silence fell over the room. Lan hadn't expected that. "You remember what happened to you?" He was still angry but also calmer.
Moiraine grimaced at his words while walking to the windows. "I saw the attack," she responded evasively.
It was a weak attempt to play with words, and Lan saw right through it. "I see." His anger flared up again. "You didn't go back for answers. You went back to find a way out."
Would she ever be able to convince him about the truth? Or would he always try to bring back his wife? Angrily, the woman of the Blue Ajah crossed her arms before her chest, then faced the Malkieri again. "I told you, I'm not-"
"Stop!" The uncrowned king of Malkier rushed toward her until they stood mere inches apart. "I don't want to hear that anymore. Enough of this nonsense of you being someone else. There is no other reality – no other world you come from. You are who you always have been. My soulmate, who has been by my side for over twenty years."
"I understand this is hard for you. I assure you the situation isn't easy for me either. But I can't pretend to be someone-"
Before Moiraine could finish her sentence, Lan had closed the distance between them. He grabbed her neck and pulled her forward, pressing his lips on hers. It wasn't a gentle kiss. Lan's lips were hard and demanding, yet not painful. Moiraine felt his desperation through the bond. He wanted her to remember. He wanted to remind her about the love they felt for each other.
The kiss felt strange, yet her body reacted immediately to Lan's presence. Her mind came from a different world, but the body belonged to the other Moiraine, who was in love with the Malkieri. Because of her latest trip to the tree, Moiraine remembered their first night together. She remembered kissing him – touching him! They had thoroughly explored each other's bodies, and that body she was stuck in longed for Lan's touch. It wanted his hands caressing her sensitive breasts and his tongue between her-
Embarrassed, Moiraine blushed. Light, she had to stop thinking about that night! It hadn't happened to her!
But she had to realize that her body had melted against Lan's. She needed all her strength not to move her hands, which wanted to move lower to grab his butt.
Luckily, Lan chose to step back at that moment. He seemed disappointed and sad. All his anger had faded. Had he felt her arousal through the bond? Light, she hoped not!
"Tell me you didn't feel a difference – that the kiss felt as always." Lan's feelings already gave her the answer, but Moiraine wanted him to admit that things had changed. That she wasn't the person he used to know.
Growling, the Malkieri closed the distance again, cupping her face in his hands. "It didn't feel the same. But I'm certain it will feel the same again once you stop believing you're a different person. When you realize that someone played with your mind and you return to me, then this…," Lan pressed his lips tenderly on hers. Moiraine's legs became weak. Light, that man could kiss! "Then this will feel like it used to be."
The uncrowned king of Malkier had still not given up on her. Although she insisted that she was from a different world. Although she had attacked him. Although she had run from him. Although she had hurt him countless times with her words. No matter what she did, the man forgave her every single time. He followed her, picked her up, and returned her to their safe house, where she received healing.
But he couldn't be right. That world wasn't hers. Right?