You're not alone

Chapter 22 - The Amyrlin Seat

Moiraine and Siuan finally meet, and they have a lot to talk about.

This time, Moiraine couldn't avoid the other Aes Sedai. Alanna used the shortest way to the throne room, and whenever they met another Aes Sedai, she informed her they had found Logain and that everyone should return to the throne room.

When they reached it, the doors stood wide open. Siuan – wearing a regal dress and an elaborate construct in her hair – sat on the Sun Throne and looked furious. A few Aes Sedai were already with her, and everyone turned when Alanna and Moiraine appeared with their Warders. Moiraine recognized Liandrin at the front, but there was also Anaiya, a Blue Sister, and Leane standing beside Siuan.

The Cairhien woman stopped in the middle of the room while Alanna joined the small circle around Siuan. Maksim and Ihvon led Logain before the Amyrlin while Lan stopped a step behind his Aes Sedai.

Siuan's angry eyes moved over the exiled woman, who stood there trembling with her fingers fidgeting. Light, Moiraine wished she could hold Lan's hand, pulling from his strength. But that was impossible for as long as everyone was watching them.

"Well done, Daughter," Siuan congratulated Alanna. "Where did you find the False Dragon?"

"He hadn't even left the building, Mother. He sat in one of those inner courtyards with a servant from the kitchen. I assume he just wished to have a moment in peace."

Siuan raised a doubtful eyebrow. "A moment in peace? It's not like we are hunting him anymore. He can go wherever he wants for as long as two sisters follow him."

More Aes Sedai entered the throne room, passing Moiraine without throwing a glance at her. Awkwardly, she waited while everyone had only eyes for Alanna.

"You say a servant was with him?"

"He kept Logain company until an Aes Sedai arrived," the Green Sister explained. "But it wasn't me who found the False Dragon, Mother. It was Moiraine."

Everyone turned silent, and the woman of the Blue Ajah stopped breathing. What would they do now?

When no one said anything, Alanna broke the circle and stepped beside her Blue Sister. It was creepy when every Aes Sedai in the room turned toward the exiled woman in unison - their faces expressionless. "Moiraine and her Warder had already found Logain when I arrived. It is only thanks to them that he couldn't escape further than the little garden."

"It was pure luck, Mother," Moiraine explained, tilting her head at Siuan. "I didn't know anyone was looking for him."

"Oh, please." Liandrin stepped before Siuan with her back turned to the Amyrlin. "You don't actually think we believe that, do you? You accidentally stumble over the missing False Dragon while everyone looks for him? And then you appear here, presenting him to the Amyrlin like you are the bloody hero?"

The Red Sister faced Siuan while pointing at Moiraine. "You can't actually believe that, Mother. My sisters have been knocked out so Logain could escape. This wasn't Logain's doing. I bet Moiraine took out the guarding sisters with the One Power and brought the False Dragon to the garden so she could be the hero and gain your sympathy, Mother."

"And when did she plan all this, Liandrin?" Siuan wanted to know. "As you may remember, Moiraine arrived yesterday in the middle of the night. She didn't know where Logain was, nor did she have the time to organize something like that."

"She probably sent her lapdog while everyone was sleeping. Wouldn't be the first time, he's sneaking in the shadows."

"Don't you dare speak about my Warder like that, Liandrin!" Moiraine hissed, taking a step forward, but Alanna's quick fingers around her wrist stopped her before she could go further. "We had nothing to do with what happened to those sisters!"