The Wheel Turned

Chapter Four: Death of a Sister

"Wake up!" The voice echoed so loudly, Alessia jumped up from her sleep. Her breathing was abnormal as she looked around the tent. No one was inside but her. The sun was already in the sky as she calmed her breathing down. Standing up as she headed out of the tent. Looking around the camp. Her eyes trailed everywhere. There were dead birds all over the camp. Not birds. Bats. She frowned. There were hushed voices as Alessia looked at Moiraine who was speaking to Lan in a hushed voice. The fire had barely started. No one was on guard. Alessia's eyes then caught Moiraine's. Watching the woman in blue walk up to her. Arms reached as she touched Alessia's shoulders.
"You look as if you saw a ghost." Moiraine spoke softly. Alessia gulped as she shook her head.
"She had a nightmare." Lan spoke. Her blue eyes met Lan's dark brown ones as Moiraine touched Alessia's chin to force her to meet her eyes.
"Did you see something in your dreams?" Moiraine asked as Alessia nodded her head lightly. "What did you see? Dreams have power." She spoke. Alessia's eyes trailed around camp again. Her eyes caught Lillen's this time. 'Was it real?' She had thought. The staring between the two was intense.
"Alessia?" Moiraine asked as Alessia's attention snapped back to the blue ajah.

"I..I dreamt of the camp. I was alone in it." Alessia started to speak as Lan held his hand up.
"Not here." He spoke. They looked around the camp as all eyes were watching them. As if something was amiss.
"Let's get this place cleaned up." Moiraine spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. The man in the cage passed out. Alanna had a shield on him. Alessia began to help clean the camp up with the others as she felt her hand grabbed and led away from the camp. Following down a pathway that leads away by the river. There was a waterfall nearby that drowned out their sound.
"Tell me. What did you dream about?" Moiraine then asked. Alessia nodded her head again lightly. Her eyes watching Moiraine's blue ones.
"I came into the camp. The bats fell dead in mid air all around." Alessia spoke.
"Did you see anyone?" Moiraine asked.
"There was a man. Eyes like embers." Alessia replied.
"Did he speak to you? Say anything?" Moiraine asked as well.
"Moghedien. Was all he said. Then there was a shadow of spiders crawling all over the ground towards him. That was all I saw." Alessia spoke. For some reason she kept Lillen out of her dream. She was afraid to say anything else.
"Why would he say a Forsaken's name?" Lan asked.
"What's a Forsaken?" Alessia asked while looking at Moiraine.
"A Forsaken is also known as a Chosen. Thousands of years ago when the Dark One was rising, he chose thirteen strongest of his followers who were supposed to live forever and rule the world for him. They lead armies in the War of Power. The one you heard is known as Spider in common tongue." Moiraine explained.
"But why would he say that in my dream?" Alessia asked while frowning still.
"I do not know. Maybe she has some sort of connection with you that we do not know of. But if the Dark One is appearing in your dreams then they must have been born again into this world." Moiraine added as Lan was looking around. Making sure they weren't overheard.
"Born again?" Alessia asked. She didn't understand.
"A long time ago, they were sealed away with the Dark One. Then a male Dragon Reborn broke a seal that wasn't fully done and released his strongest lieutenant. In the Last Battle, all the Forsaken were killed. Because they no longer had access to the Dark One's power, they were reborn. This is much worse than I thought." Moiraine spoke.
"I still don't understand, Moiraine." Alessia spoke while looking at her feet.
"When you become a Novice at the Tower, you will have history lessons about them." Moiraine spoke as Alessia nodded her head. She understood what Moiraine was saying, what she did not understand was how they would return now of all time.
"We should head back to camp." Lan spoke.

Moiraine took the lead back to camp as most of the dead bats were taken care of. It seemed quicker for the Aes Sedai to burn the bats instead of gathering them all up. It was smart. Though, the smell of the dead animals was strong in the air.
"We move out after breakfast." Alanna shouted as she was shielding the man.
"I know you have much to learn, but if you would like. I want to teach you some things. Weaves." Moiraine spoke. This made Alessia smile as she nodded her head quickly.
"Yes! I would love that." She spoke. This also seemed to have made Moiraine smile. "I need a bath." Alessia then spoke. Hearing a soft chuckle as Moiraine nodded her head.
"Go ahead and wash up. You can eat along the way." Moiraine spoke as Alessia bowed to her before turning on her heels. She went back into the camp and grabbed a change of clothes and a sponge and soap from her bag. Taking her leave from the tent as her eyes caught Lanfear, Liandrin, and Lillen were all three speaking together in a hushed voice. They stopped as they spotted Alessia walking past them. Her eyes caught the light blue ones.
"Going somewhere?" Liandrin asked.
"I uh. To bathe." She spoke before she turned away and quickly left. Going back down the path way from earlier. She stopped by a deeper end of the small river as she began to undress. Constantly looking around to make sure she was alone. She slowly went into the water and gasped. It was cold! Holding onto the sponge and soap tightly. Bending her knees as she swam a little in the water. Ducking her head under to wet her hair. She felt relaxed as she closed her eyes. Listening to the river as the current was pushing against her. It was not strong enough as she planted her feet in the bottom.
"You seemed relaxed." A voice spoke as her eyes opened. She looked up and saw Liandrin in the water as well. She blushed when she saw the woman naked and turned to look away. Giving the woman privacy.
"You're alright?" Liandrin asked as Alessia nodded her head quickly. Her cheeks burning as her back was towards the woman. "Hmm?" She asked as Alessia saw the woman move in front of her now.
"Yes." Was all she could say. Her arms were crossing over her chest.
"You know. That day. We all got a taste of how strong you are." Liandrin was starting a conversation. Alessia just stayed right where she was. "You knocked us out for a good moment. There are many of us who are strong, but you." The woman spoke as she touched Alessia's cheek with a single finger. Tracing it down her jawline. She could feel her heartbeat rather fast. Something was clawing at her sides. She had no idea what she was feeling and it was new to her.
"Why didn't you take me then? Four years ago?" Alessia asked.
"Because we could not sense the Power inside of you at the time." A new voice spoke. Alessia looked over and saw Lillen smirking at her. Her cheeks were now so red, it was starting to hurt. Lillen was fully dressed but she slowly walked towards the edge of the river and sat down on a rock.
"You alright? You are red as a rose." Liandrin spoke.
"I came to bathe in private." Alessia spoke softly.
"Never seen a naked woman before?" Liandrin asked. 'Oh she's teasing!' Alessia thought as she shook her head. "Very well, we shall leave you to it then." Liandrin gave her a small smile with a wink before she turned and left the water. Alessia quickly turned again. The woman in red grabbed a towel and left. Lillen followed her. Alessia slowly sunk into the water. Letting the sound drown out. She used the soap to wash her hair and then her body rather quickly. She finished quickly and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around her as she grabbed her clothes and quickly made her way back to the tent.