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He entered, taking a Skimming route rather than Travelling, knowing that he needed time to think of what had happened, to think of his future. Rand stood in the centre of his platform, seeing only the endlessness of Oblivion all around him, drifting beyond time.
***
Egwene stared bitterly at the place where Rand had disappeared. Chewing her bottom lip incessantly, she finally turned away, only to speak to the other occupants of the sitting room.
"I'm going to my room. I don't feel well," her voice was harsh and dull at once, faint traces of bitterness swimming about it.
Marin followed her daughter with worried eyes, but let her go. Lanfear was talking in low tones to her father-in-law, apparently 'getting to know' him, as it were. Nynaeve was grimly expectant, Bran seeming distracted. Egwene's footfalls trailed away quickly enough, all but forgotten to them, if in truth any but her mother had noticed her leave to begin with.
***
Rand halted the Skimming platform with a thought. The moment reminded him of that night seven years ago, in which he had departed from Fal Dara, determined to leave before he could be convinced to stay. His determination was even greater in this matter, his will iron hard and strengthened, but something whispered to him that he was running out of time, that he needed to do this now. And for the sake of what must be done, he would do it. Resolve became darker in a moment, and Rand willed the Skimming platform in another direction.
***
Egwene found the pigeons right were she remembered them dwelling when she had lived in the Inn herself. Cupping her hands about the body of one, she took up the bird and proceeded to her quarters. The door opened with barely a creak, and Egwene slid inside, making for the desk in the far corner. Her mother's words echoed in her head 'Do it for the right reasons...' Well, she was. She was doing it for the right reason; she was doing it for the world. Pulling a sheet of crisp white paper from her travel case, along with a stopper of ink and pen, Egwene set to work.
***
Shayol Ghul was the embodiment of doom, of every old nightmare come to life, its dark and intimidating peak piercing the sky like an ebony dagger. Rand emerged upon the outer rim of the landmark, staring grimly upon the home and the prison of his eternal enemy, of the being he had opposed since the beginning of his existence, since the moment the Wheel begun. And now he would serve the Dark One. Long, determined strides took Rand up to the entrance. The Myrrdraal, Shadar Haran, met him soon enough, tilting its head in silent recognition.
"Take me to your master," Rand commanded.
Haran studied him for a long moment, silent and evaluating. Finally, it nodded and turned to do just that.
***
Egwene chewed on her lip, looking over the letter with eyes that begged to tear up in loathing, and rage, and grief. She would not let them, though. No, she would not.
To the White Tower,
From, Egwene al'Vere, Accepted.
Greetings,
I am writing from Emond's Field in the Two Rivers, to the far edge of Andor, where Manetheren once dwelt. It has come to my attention that a former denizen of the parts, a man called Rand al'Thor, who is visiting, is a man who can channel saidin. He has come home for some time to present his wife, a woman called Selene, who can also channel, but is not Aes Sedai, to his father. The woman's strength in the Power is absolutely incredibly, I doubt that such strength has been since the Age of Legends. That is why I was forced to believe her when she named herself Lanfear, the Daughter of the Night. We know that the Forsaken are free, and the Dark One is breaking loose, though we loathe the fact of it. It is not difficult to believe that this woman would marry this man, who is even stronger than she. Far stronger. For she has called him Lews Therin, and he has answered to the name, stating that he is the Dragon Reborn. He has gone to battle the Forsaken Demandred, who has challenged him to the death, after he brought a message to al'Thor from the Dark One himself, to join the Dark One or the see everything al'Thor loves crumbled into ashes. I implore you, do not disbelieve this letter. It is a matter of dire urgency, and I ask that you send many Reds, as soon as humanly possible, if not faster. This is an hour of most desperate need.
I remain,
Egwene al'Vere
Accepted
***
Rand stood before the Pit of Doom, his shoulders firmed and square, his face hard, but the voice that emerged from that Pit shook him to the core of his being. It exposed every weakness, every fear, every dirty little secret he had ever kept from himself. Even worse, it brought up every pleasure he had ever known, ever ecstasy, brilliant fury and wonder spilling through his soul, threatening to consume him whole.
DRAGON, the Dark One's voice was the essence of power, anger and satisfaction and hatred and grudging respect for his enemy, all in that voice, YOU HAVE COME TO ME, AT LAST. AS IT WAS TOLD IN THE BEGINNING, TO THE WHEEL AND THE CREATOR. ALL THINGS MUST COME TO AN END. ALL PATTERNS MUST UNRAVEL.
"Perhaps," Rand choked out, "I come here not for you, however."
YES, YOU COME FOR YOUR DUTY, FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILD TO BE, FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR WIFE, TO AVOID DESTROYING YOUR FAMILY NOW AS YOU DID BEFORE, IN THE TIME THAT EARNED YOU THE TITLE KINSLAYER. YOU COME TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM THE INSIDE, FROM THE SEANCHAN, AND THE DARKFRIEND'S MINDLESS RAVAGES, AND THE DREADLORD'S GREED, AND THE INFIGHTING OF THE CHOSEN. YOU COME FOR YOUR OWN SENSE OF PURPOSE, FOR THE FACT THAT YOU WISH TO SAVE OTHERS EVEN IF YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF. WE SHALL SEE IF YOU SUCCEED, MY FOE, NOW MY ALLY... The Dark One paused in its monologue, and if it could have been said to express anticipatory glee in that voice as deep as the darkest sea, then it was doing so then. ... NOW MY SERVANT. KNEEL TO ME, AND MAKE YOUR PLEDGE.
Rand took in a deep breath, steadied himself against the irreversible meaning of the moment, and whispered to all those of the Wheel that he would betray now: "Forgive me, though I do not deserve forgiveness."
***
Egwene moved to the window, attaching to the message pigeon the letter, flinging it free into the air, feeling her heart break on the beating of it's wings.
***
"I am yours... Great Lord. For now, and forever."
Rand's heart cried out in agony, he cursed himself, and he cursed the world. A bitter voice, a broken voice, called out in his mind for the final time. Oh Light, forgive me.
The Dark One heard.
THERE IS NO ONE TO HEAR YOU HERE, DRAGON. THE LIGHT NEVER TOUCHED THIS PLACE. THIS PLACE IS MINE.
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