Moiraine did not realize how long she sat there, her thoughts became rampant. In her anxious state she did not realize how her arm heated up, a soft light emerged and left a burn hole on the blanket, as she smelt burning she pulled her hand; seconds away from burning it entirely. Scared, she sat on the floor. She remembered all the things she heard her mom had said about her, her father arguing her mom over the family, their ruling powers, and her.
Her mother saying, "There is something wrong with her Dalresin.", since she was a child. If she cried, as a child her mother would not bat an eye, once she grew a little more it turned to being yelled at. Her thoughts finally focused on the conversation that she was listening to secretly, her father finally confronting his wife about her behavior all because of the way she spoke to Moiraine. Was she the cause for their families problems? She was worrying her dad, bringing more arguments to the house, being nothing more than a burden. Her naive mind knew there were wars, her mother did not have a good reputation in general, but at the time she could not think of any other reason but herself.
She thought of her future, knowing what was coming if she had to be with her uncle, a lot of arguing, headaches, and issues. Her uncle was as heartless as her mother, if not more. She thought of Anevere, how she protected the little one any chance she could, so she would not hear the same things. If she wanted to protect her now, she would be harsher, and ruthless against her family. As her head spun slightly she lay her head on the cupboard beside her, not realizing when she passed out.
Dalresin realized he had not seen Moiraine since she left for her room, and he had seen her leave the palace, so where was Moiraine? He left his advisor early and went into their room. Not seeing the little girl on the bed he turned to leave, but as he turned he spotted her out of the corner of his eye.
"What is she doing there?" He thought to himself as he turned back and looked at her on the floor. He went to her side and touched her arm, then forehead and muttered "Light how long has she had a fever?" He sighed in resignation, everything seemed to be going wrong suddenly. Picking her up and placing her on the bed he noticed the burn hole, immediately realizing it was due to the One power. Moiraine did not wake up in his arms either, he pat her cheek yet there was still no response; she had passed out. The burn mark, exhaustion, her health, he knew he had to send her to control her powers to the bare minimum soon, or it would drive his daughter into deeper problems.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by Moiraine's soft wheezing, he called for a medic who said it was due to anxiety and fear but he too was surprised that it made her pass out. Dalresin pretended to be shocked, but he knew why. The smallest uses of the one power were additionally draining her, but he could not let anyone know.
Anevere came in, took a shower and wandered into her room, finding Moiraine sound asleep, with a cold press on her head and wet cloths on her arms to keep her cool and stop the heat of saidar.
"Mom what is wrong with Moiraine?" Miane shot Anevere a look of annoyance before responding, "Cant you see she's ill, she has a fever. Our first heir is weak." She whispered the last bit but Anevere was not having it, especially having learnt how to answer back by her sister. "Do not talk to sister like that." Her mother raised an eyebrow and glared at her, but despite being young Anevere was as strong headed as Moiraine, she did not back down. And being as naive as she was, she did not hesitate to insult in the process. "Do not call sister weak. Last week you were in the medical building for a cough. Even dad said that was a dumb reason to need to go there."
Her mother eyed the girl angrily when Moiraine began waking up. She coughed a few times and opened her eyes finding Anevere's hand over hers, smiling she squeezed her little sisters hand. She then saw her mother and sat up against the bedrest wrapping an arm around Anevere defensively. Miane eyed her angrily but knew better than to argue with a wilder, one slip up and her head could come clean off.
Anevere watched how her mother retreated while Moiraine leaned her head back sighing. "She is scared of you sister." Anevere commented, while her sister smiled pleased with that fact.
Over the next 3 weeks her uncle and aunt took control of her after her lessons. Moiraine was taught to identify signs of the power, how she had to control her emotions to prevent situations and how to stop using it if it did happen. Whenever she did something wrong, did not understand, she was tired, or something happened outside of the classes, she was yelled at. Exhaustion, fear, anxiety and tears had no place in the sun palace and she figured that out, she would have to use values her father strayed her away from.
By the time she was 12 and a half her fathers aes sedai advisor had also become involved. After the first day he went to Dalresin confused. "Lord Dalresin, I come to speak to you about your daughter." He nodded, asking him to continue. "I do not mean to insult, or put her down, but my lord." He paused unsure of how to continue, "Has Lady Moiraine always behaved like this?"
"I'm sorry, what do you mean by that?" Dalresin raised an eyebrow. "My lord lady Moiraine does not act the same when she is with her mentors. Infront of you, in fact in front of all of us, she behaves like a sweet child. However with them she seems, angrier, she answers back and fights if they say something wrong, she does as is told but something is not sitting right with me."
Dalresin sighed, this is exactly why he did not want Moiraine to go under the reigns of his wife's family. "You already know how Miane's side is, Leonin. I will have a word with her." He paused then continued, "Leonin I have a favor to ask of you." Leonin nodded and Dalresin spoke. "I will need to leave Cairhien for a while, our armies are moving and I must command them. I will keep you in charge, send me letters of what happens. And, please, take care of Moiraine. I have noticed her behavior change, she nearly passes out everyday at dinner while eating. I do not know what they are doing."
He stopped but Leonin understood, being Dalresin's most trusted advisor and to some extent his friend. He bowed and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I will protect her my lord, but there is one thing I can tell you, which I had not said earlier. Moiraine is a strong child, and it is clear that she has understood the long running ruthless roots of the sun palace, that emotions have no place here. You brought a good change to this nation, and Moiraine will follow, I can feel it. But she knows how to manipulate things in her favor, its clear in how she behaves with you versus them. Have faith in her strength."
Dalresin smiled and sighed, he knew his advisor was right. They both bowed, and headed to their quarters. "Where is Moiraine, Anevere? It's time for dinner." Anevere answered while playing with her toys, "She just came home a few minutes ago, she told me she was tired and went to sleep."
He knew it was wiser to let her sleep, but he was leaving the next day and knew Moiraine would be mad if she was not told. He took Anevere with him to the kids room. Calling Moiraine's name softly and woke her up. Moiraine woke up tired and unhappy but then saw her dad and sister, and her anger faded a little.
"I brought fruits, you should eat before going to bed." Dalresin made her sit up in his lap and fed her a piece, grateful she was not fighting it. After some silence he spoke "Sweethearts, I have to tell you something." Moiraine looked at him to continue, "Our armies made a decision to leave Cairhien tomorrow, for a while, and as their king I must go as well."
Now Moiraine was completely awake, "You're leaving and you are telling me now?! Let your advisors go with them. You are leaving me and Anevere alone with mother and uncle?!" Anevere looked slightly scared seeing Moiraine angry. Dalresin rubbed their backs trying to calm them down, "Shh it- its okay I know you dont want to be with them, so I have asked my advisor to take my place for as long as I am gone and-."
Before he could continue Moiraine angrily interrupted, "And how long will that be? How long will you be gone?" "I- I am not sure Moiraine, there is no end to the politics between Cairhien and other nations." He saw how Moiraine's expression slowly changed from anger to sadness and her sisters followed "Moiraine, Anevere, I am sorry. I did not know this decision would be made an evening before our departure or I would have told you sooner. But, I will come back, no matter how or when I will see you again I promise. My advisor Leonin will take care of you, he is one of my friends and deeply believes in you Moiraine. Your abilities to protect this house, to do what is right with no guidance and he will always be there at your side."
Moiraine nodded but did not look him or Anevere in the eye. Dalresin was not liking the silence and looked at Moiraine for her to say something. "Fine. Good luck on your trip." She wanted to be alone and pushed herself off his lap, going back under the blanket. Dalresin looked sadly at Moiraine, he wished he hadn't been the person to hurt her but he had his duties. Anevere looked slightly confused but stayed with her dad. Dalresin thanked Moiraine, even though he knew she did not mean it. Kissed her forehead and left the room with Anevere.
He came back after dinner, after tucking in and putting Anevere to sleep. He glanced at Moiraine, she never hid herself or her emotions from him before. He went up to her to find her awake, she had not slept.
"Moiraine." His soft voice broke her trance, she looked at him and hid away again. "Moiraine, look at me." He pulled Moiraine up, and it hurt him when she fought back. "Moiraine. Enough." Moiraine did not like that tone, it was just a kinder version of her uncles tone, but she stopped fighting. "What do you want?" The way she spoke was off, a year and a half into this training thing and his daughter had changed, but he did not want to push her to talk.
"I will meet you once tomorrow morning before I leave, but keep this." He handed her a little pendant. "I do not know what your uncle or mother has been doing to you Moiraine, but you have changed. You do not talk to me anymore, neither to Anevere. I don't want to push you to talk, but I know something is wrong. That is also why I gave you this. If you ever want to talk to someone, if anything happens during the time I am gone just know I'm right here, in this little pendant."
Moiraine was still a child, she hugged her dad softly and hid her face in his chest, crying softly. He could feel her trembling and sat there silently with her. Once she calmed down he kissed her puffy cheeks and put her to bed, but Moiraine did not let go of him, making him choose to stay the night with his daughters.