You're not alone

Chapter 21 - The False Dragon

Moiraine and Lan meet a familiar face in the Sun Palace.

Moiraine's hands were shaking when she tried to secure a hairpin while standing before the mirror. She would see Siuan again. But this time, she was a different woman. She didn't have Saidar, she had lost the Dragon Reborn, she... she was broken. What would her lover say? It was one thing to hear about the loss of her powers, but to actually see the damage was a different thing.

Lan stepped behind the woman of the Blue Ajah, and she noticed him placing her belt around her belly. She had chosen a beautiful blue dress. Would Siuan like it?

Lan's gentle hands covered hers, helping her with the hairpin.

"I can do it!" Her words were sharp, and she regretted them immediately. Her Warder just tried to help her, and she rewarded him by snapping at him.

"I know," Lan replied calmly, then reached for the next hairpin.

Sighing, Moiraine gave up trying to do it by herself. It wasn't the first time Lan helped her with her clothes and hair. Over the past twenty years, he had done it countless times. He knew which clothes she preferred and how she liked her hair.

But the woman of the Blue Ajah had a bad conscience because of her reaction. "Lan, I-"

"Stop moving."

Automatically, she had turned her head to look at him, but Lan gave her cheek a gentle push so he could continue. "I want-"

"Moiraine." Determined, the uncrowned king of Malkier turned her head back to the mirror when she moved it again.

The Aes Sedai searched his eyes in the reflection, but her Warder was too focused on finishing her hair. If he would only look at her! Lan rarely showed emotion, and now, there were only his eyes left since the bond was gone. His eyes could tell her how deeply she had hurt him by snapping at him, but he avoided her eyes.

"Done."

Moiraine felt Lan stepping back. In the reflection, she saw him reaching for his belt and sword. He actually didn't plan on talking to her!

She faced him and touched his arm gently. Relief washed over her when he didn't pull away from her or winced at her touch. Instead, the uncrowned king of Malkier allowed the Cairhien woman to turn him around.

Calmly, Moiraine stepped into his personal space, finally able to look him in the eye. There was pain in his eyes but also exhaustion and fatigue. This stubborn man needed sleep!

"I didn't mean to snap at you," she whispered softly, letting her hands move over his chest. "Forgive me."

Lan cupped her cheek with his free hand and smiled at her. "She will be blown away by your beauty."

Tears filled Moiraine's eyes. Of course, he knew what worried her – how insecure she was about meeting Siuan again. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

The uncrowned king of Malkier pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry about me."

Automatically, Moiraine's arms moved around Lan, and she felt her body relaxing against him. She pressed her nose into his tunic and inhaled his unique scent, letting it calm her nerves. For a moment, she wished she could freeze time to stay like this forever.

Lan embraced her tightly, then pushed her off him. "Come on. Let's see Siuan so we can leave this place."

Moiraine opened her mouth to tell him she didn't believe they would leave so soon, but Lan cut her off. "We leave. Whatever you two have to talk about, you do it today, and then we'll leave."