|
Aes Sedai. It was a title which inspired fear and hatred throughout most of the world. Very few indeed remained that still held the respect that had once been given to that order, of those who had the ability to channel the One Power. And now here were two young women of Emond's Field who had studied at the White Tower, one who strove to that fearsome title, and another who had achieved it.
"Congratulations, Nynaeve Sedai," Tam said steadily, nodding to the woman.
"Thank you, Master al'Thor," she answered.
The al'Veres repeated the same before turning back to their daughter, all smiles and congratulations, beaming over her hard work and the fact that she was closer then ever to her goal. Yes, she wanted to be Aes Sedai, but if that's what their daughter wanted to be it was commendable that she was working as hard for that as for anything she'd ever wanted in her life.
"Accepted can leave the Tower sometimes, so I decided to come home and share the news in person. Nynaeve just wanted to get away from other Aes Sedai," she smiled. Nynaeve scowled in exasperation and tugged her braid once, hard. Tam stifled a grin at the gesture. Nynaeve, it seemed, was still Nynaeve, even if she wasn't Emond's Field's youngest ever Wisdom anymore.
"Well, I'm glad you're here," Marin said. "I take it your travelling bags are with your horses, hmm?"
"Yes, they are," Egwene said, thinking curiously of the white horse and the black horse, both very well bred, that were also in the stable, as well as the fine saddles that had been taken off of them under Egwene's very gaze, She decided, however, to leave talk of any foreign guests that may be in the Two Rivers for later.
"Good. I'll go get the tea," Marin said. She stood to head for the kitchen, but paused to say, "Well, this is a wonderful coincidence, everyone coming back home for a visit at the same time. If only Mat and Perrin were here, as well."
Nynaeve frowned and said, "We saw some strange horses in the stable. Who else is here?"
"Rand," Tam said contentedly, "And his wife is here with him as well."
Far from the glad reactions he expected, especially from Egwene, shocked and horrified expressions bloomed upon the faces of the two women. Egwene covered her mouth with one of her hands, her eyes widening, and Nynaeve seemed to freeze altogether.
"Rand?!" Egwene gasped, her eyes seeming to swim. "He's alive?"
"Yes," Tam said, a line of disturbance appearing between his eyes.
"Is he... well?" Nynaeve enquired in somewhat strangled voice.
"I am quite well," another voice spoke then, as Rand stepped into the room.
"I thought you were going to sleep off your road weariness," Bran said.
"I am," Rand said, "Selene... heard something, however, and I decided to investigate. Hello, Egwene. Wisdom," he smiled in a most curious manner, eyes narrowing even as his mouth stretched wide in the expression.
"Rand!" Egwene gasped once more, whilst Nynaeve looked sick.
"It has been some time since I have seen you last. We have much to catch up on. I've promised my father that I shall tell him something of my travels. Perhaps you'd like to hear as well," he was all wide eyed innocence now, the look seeming odd on the hard angles of his face. More than odd, Egwene though distantly. Alien.
"That would nice," Egwene whispered aloud, cursing herself for a coward, all the while wondering if he were mad, of how far the taint had gone.
"Good."
"Rand, I didn't expect you would marry. Consider the danger you are in," Nynaeve spoke firmly now, though a vaguely sick look remained upon her face.
"I assure you, Wisdom, my wife can look after herself," he looked as though he were beyond all mortal concerns, as though he knew something that no one else did.
"Be that as it may, you take great chances," the Aes Sedai replied, narrowing her eyes.
"I do not take chances, Nynaeve," Rand whispered, "I ... rationalize. Sometimes, it succeeds. Sometimes, it does not. But I do not take chances."
Nynaeve sniffed and said, "That's not what I remember."
"Many things change, Aes Sedai," he spoke almost mockingly now.
Nynaeve sniffed at him, but Egwene said, "How did you know she is Aes Sedai?"
"She has the manner, even if she doesn't want it," Rand said, drawing attention to the proud, cool stance that Nynaeve maintained even in her irritation. It was different from her old way, it held a subtle regality to it.
"I see," Egwene said, "Just how much do you know about Aes Sedai?"
"Enough," Rand said, smiling at her now.
"Enough for what?" Egwene demanded.
"Just... enough," he spoke now, not of the question, but in a command to stop the line of inquiry. Amazingly, Egwene found herself quieting. Just then, Selene swept into the room, linking her slender arm into Rand's, and eyeing the Tar Valon denizens coldly.
"Hello," her voice was musical and imperious, "I am Selene." She did not smile.
"I am Nynaeve Sedai," the former Wisdom said, almost as coldly.
"I am Egwene," that same young woman spoke even more coldly, eyeing the woman who had become the wife of the man that Egwene still loved, even if a union between them was now impossible for so many reasons. Nynaeve understood that, Egwene mused, even if the circumstances were very different. She loved Lan, but he was Moiraine's Warder, and Moiraine would relinquish him only in death, and considering the nature of the warder bond, perhaps not even then.
"Charming," the woman smiled icily, "You never told me of your old friends, love," she turned to her husband.
"I never thought to do so," he wore a mild look upon his face, "Don't worry, love, there's no reason to."
"We shall see," she spoke frostily.
"No, we sha'n't," he spoke flatly now, "because there is nothing to see, Selene," he ended on a sneer.
"I will judge that for myself," she let go of his arm and faced him completely. The air seemed to crackle around her for a moment, and Egwene gasped as she felt a brilliant aura of saidar about the woman. It was abruptly stifled, like to a candle flame being pinched out, a fire being smothered. It was just gone. Egwene turned to Rand, who's face was frozen stone, and glanced at Nynaeve. The aura about that woman had been stronger than any Aes Sedai alive, including Nynaeve, who was the strongest in more than a thousand years. And there was no doubt that Selene had been cut off from the Source by Rand. Light! How powerful was he?
"You have what you wanted," Rand spoke curiously, "You don't seem to like so much any longer. Are you having second thoughts, finally, old friend?"
"I will always love you. But I doubt that I have ever liked you," she whispered viciously, before turning to glare warningly at Egwene and Nynaeve. She stiffened a moment more, and shot a coolly hateful look at Rand,though, before swiftly departing in an imperious huff.
"That was interesting, lad," Tam said darkly.
"No, it wasn't," Rand said curtly, "It was typical. I can't so much as look at a woman without her breaking out in hives."
"That's the married life," Bran said with a chuckle. Marin shot him a dark look, and Nynaeve sniffed again.
"Indeed," Rand spoke dryly. Tam was still frowning.
"Well," Rand said, "I suppose we can all talk later. I'm going to catch a bit of sleep now."
He rose gracefully, and walked out of the room, nodding once the occupants. Egwene chewed on her lip for a moment as thought debating with herself before standing and running out of the room, after Rand. Tam rose as though to protest, but sat back down a moment later, shaking his head.
***
Egwene caught up with Rand at the stairs, scowling like a thunderstorm at him.
"What do you mean by coming here?" she demanded in a hiss.
"I mean to visit my home," he spoke coldly, as thought to an unwelcome stranger intruding in his private business. Inwardly, she flinched at the implications, but outwardly she was furious.
"Who knows what harm you can do here?" she demanded. "Have you completely loss your senses?"
"No," he mused, a twisted smile spreading across his face. "Not quite yet," a chuckle rumbled from him, deep and echoing.
"You have no idea the stir that you have caused, Rand al'Thor! Moiraine has been in a panic for years over your disappearance! Where did you go?"
"Only Moiraine? I went away so that I could not harm any of you. I told you that I intended to do so. Did you not believe me, Egwene?"
He was regal, and she caught her breath at it, a fierce desire to have him as her own once more rising up in her, even as she knew it could never be. Rand smiled gently, then, his iciness dissipating. One large hand cupped her cheek, and she cast her eyes downwards, loving his touch, though she knew it could be deadly dangerous.
"Don't become close again, my friend. It is far too late, another is given to me now. She is a jealous and dangerous woman, and I cannot always protect you."
She wanted to flare that she did not need his protection, but she could not quite get the words past her lips. He brushed a wisp of her hair from her forehead, and shook her head. Light but she loved him. Before she barely know what was happening, his hand was gone, and then he turned, moving too fast for her to track through her sudden veil of tears.
Gone.
|