The battle begins, and Moiraine and Lan split up to cover the front and back of the army. Can they hold back the Trollocs?
The camp was in an uproar. Everyone knew about the Shadowspawn and prepared quickly for battle by gathering their weapons and finding their position in the group. Instead of searching for the battle, it had found them.
Lan and Moiraine went straight to the tent from the day before, where Bryon was waiting with the other generals. Even Alanna and her Warders were already there. They all stared at the Blight like they could see the Shadowspawn from there.
The uncrowned king of Malkier didn't wait for them to notice him. He needed information. "Bryon. Any news on the Dark One's army?"
"They use the Blight to hide, but we know they are there. I'd say they wait for the command to attack, or they wait for someone. No matter what it is, we can't surprise them anymore."
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.
But I think he has more important things to do than following me.
The memory of the black-haired woman hit Moiraine, and she swayed. We need you to keep that husband of yours busy. That woman had attacked her because she wanted Lan to be distracted. While he had worried about her, he hadn't been able to focus on the fight against the Shadowspawn.
"Moiraine?" Lan steadied her, brushing a loose lock out of her face. "Are you alright?"
Alanna narrowed her eyes at her friend, then stepped closer like she was ready to use a healing weave if needed.
Moiraine shook her head. The last thing she needed was Lan or Alanna worrying about her and sending her back to Fal Dara because they believed she wasn't strong enough. No. Lan needed to know about the reason why that stranger had attacked her.
Quickly, the Aes Sedai stepped before her Warder. "I just remembered something that woman told me when she attacked me."
Immediately, Lan cupped her face in his hands. "Moiraine. Maybe you should return to Fal Dara. It's not a shame if you're not-"
"She knew who I was."
Confused, Lan furrowed his forehead. "What do you mean with 'she knew'?"
"I didn't give her my name, yet she knew I'm your wife. And she told me that they needed me to keep you busy."
"They? Who are they?"
Moiraine shrugged her shoulder. "I don't know. She didn't say, and I didn't have time to ask." She placed her hand on his chest. "What if this is why they needed you distracted? What if they didn't want you to focus on the fight against the Shadowspawn?"
Lan thought about her words for a heartbeat, then shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Wherever they wanted me to be, I'm here now. That woman didn't succeed in keeping me from the battle."
"Lan-"
But the Malkieri had already turned toward his generals. "We need to act quickly now. Are the men ready?"
"Waiting for you to lead them, my Lord," Bryon said.
"Good. Let's move."
Without another word, the uncrowned king of Malkier left the tent, followed by his generals. Moiraine and Alanna left once the men were gone.
The horses had been prepared, and the generals didn't waste time. Apparently, they all had received their orders yesterday. Lan checked on Mandarb's saddle when Moiraine caught up with him. She couldn't see Aldieb or Alanna's horse, which worried her.
"What is the plan?"
Lan released a heavy sigh, then turned toward her. His eyes were sad and begged her for forgiveness. Fear grabbed Moiraine's heart again, and it suddenly became hard to breathe.
"What did you do?"
"We only have you and Alanna with us. Protecting you two is extremely important so our men have the slightest chance to survive."
"What did you do, Lan?" Moiraine didn't like what he was saying. How did he plan on protecting them? When her Warder stepped toward her, the Aes Sedai stumbled backward. She didn't want to be calmed. She wanted answers.
Nervously, Lan licked his lips. Someone yelled some orders, but Moiraine couldn't focus on them. "You and Alanna stay here, behind the army. You will be able to see and help us, but far away from the actual battle, so no Shadowspawn will be able to touch you."
Moiraine's eyes fell on Mandarb. Mandarb, not Aldieb. Lan would ride into battle while he wanted her to stay behind. "I'll go with you."
"No."
"We fight together."
"You won't go near the battle. We need you alive, Moiraine."
"Bloody bastard!" Angry, the Aes Sedai gave him a push against the chest, which didn't do anything. The man was too big to be moved by her. "I will not stay behind!"
Suddenly, someone grabbed her collar and pulled her away from Lan. Moiraine stumbled but managed to stay on her feet. The hot breath at the back of her neck told her that Mandarb had come to his owner's help.
"Let go of me, Mandarb!"
"Easy, boy," Lan tried to calm his stallion. "Let her go."
Mandarb snorted but obeyed ultimately. Moiraine glared at the four-legged companion, then Lan wrapped her in his arms.
"Don't."
"Moiraine, please. You and Alanna are our biggest chance to win against the Shadowspawn today."
"You tricked me."
"My Lord." Bryon appeared. He must have noticed that Lan was still missing. "The Trollocs leave the Blight. We need you now."
Growling, Lan placed his forehead against Moiraine's. "I'll be there in a moment, Bryon."
"The Trollocs-"
"I heard you, Bryon!"
"Of course, my Lord." The captain-general didn't sound like he was happy with Lan's decision but turned his horse around and left.
Lan grabbed Moiraine's long dark hair to keep her close to him. "I need you to live."
"You're my Warder. We fight together."
"And we still do. We're just not in the same place."
Moiraine wanted to scream and punch him. That was not how they were supposed to fight! They didn't fight in different places!
"Lan." Ihvon appeared in Moiraine's back. "I promise I will protect Moiraine as if she is my bonded Aes Sedai. No harm will come to her while I still have breath in my lungs and arrows in my quiver."
"Thank you, Ihvon."
When the Malkieri released the Cairhien woman, she grabbed his tunic to keep him in place. "I did not agree to this."
"Please, my love," Lan whispered. "There is no other way to ensure our survival."
"You could let me come with you."
"The White Tower won't send other Aes Sedai to help us. This is our only chance to hit the Shadowspawn hard so we can push them back further without losing everyone here. We can't risk losing you."
Moiraine wanted to tell him that he was wrong – that there was another way. But the First Oath tied her tongue. Those men had a better chance of surviving the battle with her and Alanna's help.
Tears filled her eyes. She couldn't lose him! Her body reacted instinctively, and she pressed her lips hard on his. She hadn't intended for it to be a devastating kiss but couldn't stop herself. When they broke apart – both gasping for air – she tightened her grip on his tunic.
"You have no permission to die, a'Lan Mandragoran. Do you hear me?"
A smile appeared on Lan's face, and he gave her a soft kiss. "I hear you, my love. I hear you."
Heavy-heartedly, the Cairhien woman watched how the Malkieri stepped back, then mounted Mandarb and turned him toward the waiting army.
Moiraine tried to follow him, but someone stopped her, intertwining their fingers to keep her from leaving. Alanna had approached her silently. Sadness stood in her eyes. She understood how hard it was for Moiraine to let Lan go.
"Come, sister. Let's find the perfect spot for us to help those men."
Maksim and Ihvon took the lead, searching the area for said spot that would give them a good view and keep them secure at the same time.
Anxiously, the woman of the Blue Ajah watched the Malkieri's back. Standing in the first row before his man, he was easy to spot on Mandarb's back. Bryon was only a step behind him with his horse.
Lan's army waited patiently while more and more Trollocs stepped out of the Blight. How many more were hidden by the rotten trees?
"So, you finally allowed Lan to touch you?"
Blinking, Moiraine turned toward Alanna. "What?" She hadn't listened to Alanna's words. Her attention lay on her Warder.
"You know," the Green Sister responded with a lewd smile on her lips. "Earlier? In your tent?"
"What's about it?"
"Well, it was hard to ignore those cute little noises coming from inside. And I believe… I heard Lan's name quite a few times." Alanna chuckled when Moiraine started to blush. "No need to be embarrassed, sister. I'm glad you finally gave him permission to see to your needs."
Blood and ashes! Moiraine wished the earth would open beneath her and swallow her. She had feared someone could've heard how Lan pleasured her, and of course, Alanna – of all people – had noticed what they had been doing.
"Do you really think this is the right moment to talk about such nonsense?"
Alanna shrugged her shoulder. "Now is as good as any time. Besides, who knows when I will have the chance to tease you like that again?"
"Alanna!" Moiraine hissed angrily. "Focus."
The woman of the Blue Ajah turned her eyes back on Lan, who turned his head toward her at that moment. Even from the distance, she could see him nod. It was time.
Luckily, the Green Sister had seen his sign too. Both women embraced the One Power simultaneously, letting Saidar fill their veins. Their first weave was simple – setting the rotten trees on fire. This way, they hoped to slow down the Shadowspawn so they wouldn't overrun Lan's army. Once they had completed the weave, they used the fires of the camp and sent it toward the Blight.
Sadly, the rotten trees weren't as dry as hoped. The flames barely licked at them before they threatened to die. So, the Aes Sedai had to use more power to let them go up in flames.
Nonetheless, the Trollocs were shocked. Those who stood close to the trees caught fire, and since they were all waiting to step outside of the Blight, the burning Trollocs set their companions on fire as well.
Immediately, Moiraine and Alanna used the additional fire to spread their weave. The plan had been to focus on the first three rows of trees, so the Trollocs would have to come in waves at Lan's army, giving them a chance to regain their strength to fight against the enemy. But what if they could give them a longer break because they took out some of the hidden creatures?
The first wave, who got through the Blight unharmed, threw one glance at the fire behind them, then hurled themselves at Lan's army. The uncrowned king of Malkier lifted his sword in the air, and his men answered with a loud battle cry. Then, they moved toward the ugly creatures in unison.
Moiraine let her weave move from tree to tree. Usually, it was hard to see anything between the trees, but the fires lightened up the darkness whenever a new creature got caught. What if she and Alanna spread the fire over the entire Blight? All Trollocs would burn, and they could turn the trees to ashes. Would they be able to reach the Seven Towers of Malkier? Or at least-
"Moiraine Sedai." Ihvon appeared beside her, touching her shoulder gently. "That's enough."
"They're burning," Moiraine responded. "We can kill them all by setting all those trees on fire. There doesn't have to be a second wave. If we continue-"
"Moiraine, stop!" Alanna's voice cut through Moiraine's words. She seemed pissed. "Let go of Saidar."
"The Trollocs-"
"We have our orders. The plan was to give the army a moment to breathe after the first wave. And that's what they will have. The Shadowspawn needs to reorganize again before they start a second attack. Now, let go."
It was hard, but finally, Moiraine was able to release the One Power. The loss hit her hard, and her feet nearly gave way. Luckily, Ihvon reacted quickly and steadied her.
"Drink this." Alanna offered her a water skin, and Moiraine took a few sips. When she handed it back, the Green Sister continued, "That was foolish."
"I saw an opportunity and-"
"You need your strength. You know very well how the bond works. You're bonded to Lan for over twenty years. The man just started to fight against Trollocs, and you endanger him by almost knocking yourself out."
Moiraine swallowed. The feeling of Saidar had made her careless. If anything happened to her… Lan would be an easy target for the Trollocs. Light! What had she been thinking?! "I forgot myself," she said quietly.
Alanna's face softened, and she squeezed her friend's hand. "You worry about Lan. But you can't lose your head like that. Not now. One wrong step could be Lan's death."
Agreeing, the Cairhien woman nodded. She swore herself not to lose her head like that again. She wouldn't be tempted by Saidar.
Silently, Moiraine watched the fight against the Trollocs. Only a few were left, and Lan and the others who had been in the first row had stepped back to take a break. A few soldiers had died, and their brothers pulled them out of the way so they wouldn't stumble over them. They would be buried later. It was a relief that they had barely lost one while almost all the Trollocs had been killed. It gave Moiraine hope that they could actually win that battle.
Once, she had exchanged a glance with Lan. The feeling of reuniting with him had been so strong that her feet had reacted subconsciously, carrying her toward him. Her escape didn't go unnoticed and was stopped shortly after she had taken a few steps. It had needed both Ihvon and Maksim to carry her back to her former position, and Lan hadn't looked at her since then. Apparently, he knew how dangerous it was to look at each other. Since then, Alanna did her best to give Moiraine unwanted advice on how to pleasure the Malkieri. Moiraine had stopped counting how many times she wished the earth would open to swallow her.
Suddenly, something moved between the smoldering trees, and Moiraine straightened. The second wave was coming. Their enemies had recovered from their previous attack.
"They're coming."
Immediately, Alanna stopped joking and her Warders were back at their sides. "Let's go for round two," the Green Sister sighed.
Anxiously, the woman of the Blue Ajah moved her fingers. This time, they couldn't burn the trees to scare away the Shadowspawn. Besides, the creatures would be more careful now since they knew about the Aes Sedai.
Voices echoed over the field. Lan and his men had noticed the Trollocs and got back in position. Hopefully, the break had been enough to help them against the new wave.
Moiraine prepared herself to embrace Saidar when someone pushed her hard, making her stumble before she went down on her knees.
"Watch out!"
Surprised, Moiraine looked back toward Ihvon. What had gotten into Alanna's-? Her eyes widened when she saw the Fade. The pale creature had its deadly sword in its hands and attacked Ihvon.
"Blood and ashes!"
The Aes Sedai turned her head toward Alanna. Maksim was also fighting against a Myrddraal, protecting a pissed Alanna. The Shadowspawn was well aware of the danger the two Aes Sedai embodied and had worked on a new strategy.
A third Myrddraal appeared behind the other, and Moiraine's vision blurred. The world moved before her eyes. Suddenly, it was night, and she was alone. The camp was gone. Instead, she lay on the ground with a nasty cut on her stomach. A Myrddraal stood over her, holding its sword in its hands with blood dripping from the blade. She tried to reach for the One Power, imagining the bud of a flower, but Saidar didn't come.
"They try to divide our focus."
Alanna's voice brought Moiraine back. Gasping, she tried to blink away the last remnants of her nightmare. Light! That was the worst moment to remember that bloody nightmare!
"Moiraine? Are you alright?" The Green Sister stepped before the Blue, helping her back to her feet.
Moiraine nodded at her sister. "Yes. Let's fight those creatures."
The sound of clashing swords echoed in her back, and Alanna grimaced. "They are clever. They attack us from both sides, knowing it is nearly impossible to cover both." Then she shook her head. "No. You focus on Lan and the army while we take care of the Myrddraals."
"You can't-"
"Lan is your Warder. You can use the One Power if his life is in danger. I can't. But I can use it against those Myrddraals since they fight against my Warders."
Moiraine hated the thought of splitting their focus but knew Alanna was right. Lan and his men needed her help, while Alanna would keep the Fades away from her. Finally, she nodded. "Be careful."
Alanna smiled and winked at her. "Am I not always?"
The Cairhien woman almost rolled her eyes at her friend – almost. When Alanna embraced the One Power to fight alongside her Warders, Moiraine turned her attention to Lan. The second wave of Trollocs had hit the army with full force. She couldn't see the Malkieri among the creatures, but the bond told her he was still alive and unharmed.
More and more Trollocs emerged out of the Blight. The second wave was definitely bigger than the first. It was time to scare those monsters again.
Saidar filled Moiraine's veins. She reached into the earth and easily found the rotten roots of the burned trees. Once she had found the right spot, she completed her weave and turned the earth between the trees into quicksand. This way, no new Trollocs could join the others. It would give the army another break to gather their strength. Hopefully, Lan's men stayed away from the Blight. She wouldn't be able to end the weave fast enough to save the soldiers.
Smiling, Moiraine heard the death screams of their enemies. The quicksand was working. Maybe Lan could push back the Trollocs toward the Blight until they fell into the deathly sand. But how could she inform him about her little trick? He would be mad if she started searching for him. But maybe he-
"Moiraine!"
Alanna's panicked scream made Moiraine swirl around. If her friend was in danger, she would-
A tall creature with pale skin and wrapped in a black cloak stood ten feet from her. It lifted its head, and a cold shiver ran over Moiraine's back when she saw the black eyes and red lips, which moved into an ugly smile. The cloak opened and turned into wings. A Draghkar!