You're not alone

Chapter 25 - The Amyrlin and the Dragon

Siuan wants to have a talk with the Dragon Reborn.

The song of Saidar moving through Moiraine's veins was the sweetest sound she had heard in a very long time. Her tears refused to stop while Lan held her in his arms. All those weeks of being afraid and feeling useless. All her worries and self-doubts were suddenly forgotten. She was an Aes Sedai again! That was all she had wanted those past weeks – well, that and Lan's bond. And now she was able to unmask their bond if he still wanted her.

"Will someone explain to me what just happened?" Siuan's voice pulled Moiraine back to the kitchen. The Amyrlin Seat stood confused beside a basket filled with potatoes, and her eyes moved from Moiraine to Rand and back. How much had she seen? "Who is this boy?"

Rand jumped from his seat when he saw the Amyrlin Seat, slowly backing away from her.

"Don't move!" Siuan ordered, and Rand automatically obeyed. Then her eyes went back to her lover, who still held onto Lan. "What are you doing down here, Moiraine? Lan was supposed to get you to your room."

Slowly, the Cairhien woman let go of the Malkieri, who gave her a quick check-over before he agreed to stand up so she could talk to the furious woman of Tear. Moiraine took a deep breath and wiped her tears away while feeling Lan placing himself beside her with a hand on her shoulder. "This is Rand al'Thor."

Siuan's eyes widened when she recognized the name. "Al'Thor?! But I thought... Lan told me...!"

"Lan didn't know until today, and only because we ran into Rand by accident," Moiraine quickly defended her Warder.

Again, Siuan's eyes moved over the redhead. "By accident? So, this is the boy who found Logain in the inner courtyard?"

"That's where we found them."

The Amyrlin's mouth opened and closed like a fish a few times, then she shook her head. "This isn't the place to discuss this. You all. Throne room. Now!"

Rand threw Moiraine a worried glance, but she simply nodded. "She knows who you are."

"She... knows?!" The voice of the Dragon went higher. "I thought I'm safe with you, Moiraine! And now, you went to the Aes Sedai and told them about me?!"

"Siuan isn't just any Aes Sedai, Rand. She is the Amyrlin Seat."

Rand's eyes widened, and he took another step back. "That's even worse! Or was that your plan all along?! Did you bring her down here to gentle me?!"

The air felt suddenly weird, and Moiraine had the assumption the boy had embraced Saidin again. "She won't gentle you." Carefully, Moiraine stood up and took a step closer toward the shepherd, whose eyes were filled with anger and rage.

Lan stopped her before she could get any closer by grabbing her arm. "Listen to Moiraine, sheepherder. These two are the only Aes Sedai who truly mean no harm to you."

Rand grimaced, then looked at Siuan, who watched him warily. "I don't assume I have a choice not to go with you."

"No," Siuan said simply.

Finally, the Dragon nodded. "I will listen to what you have to say to me, but then I'll leave this place."

Siuan raised a surprised eyebrow at his demanding tone but refused to answer. Instead, she turned around and left the kitchen – expecting everyone to follow her.

The Dragon glared at Moiraine one last time, then grabbed his sword and followed Siuan.

Moiraine released a trembling breath. That could have gone better. Now, she not only owed Lan an explanation but Siuan, too. Could she assuage them? And how would Rand react during his talk with Siuan? Would he attack the Amyrlin Seat with Saidin?