Drabbles of life after

Day 3 PENANCE

WoTtober #3 PENANCE

A/N: Well, I needed some slight fluff somewhere in there. Maybe this is too light, but hey, those are just drabbles 😉

"Maigan was adamant you need to appear before the sitters, daughter. And I concur, to be perfectly honest."

Moraine took a deep breath. Listening to Cadsuane had always put her on edge and even more now that the woman has been raised to the Amylin Seat. Because of that detail she was now standing meekly in this study, allowing anything that came her way.

"Did they say why they need me?" Cadsuane lifted one surprised eyebrow. "Mother." Moraine added the honorific after a moment, hoping it might soften the tone of her outburst.

"That's probably why, daughter." Moiraine wasn't sure, but there might have been a small fleeting smile on the Amyrlin's face. "You HAVE fled the Tower early and avoided at least some of your sitters' designs for you."

Moraine gulped. She had no strength to waste on the sitters and their squabbles, not anymore. There was, however, no way of getting out of this meeting. Not one she could think of.

"I will await their call, mother." And after that she just walked out and headed to her own room in the Blue's quarters, Thom trailing quietly behind her.

#

He could feel her apprehension when she waited to be called. Proposed a nap, but she was too anxious to even try laying down. That was why, when the summons finally came, carried by some novice, he refused to stay and accompanied her to the hall. Then he stood outside with some of the other warders.

He could feel her emotions flare up then quieten before the door opened and she emerged, looking no worse for wear. He fell in step after her like a good Warder, then caught her when she faltered far from other's sight. She was drained from emotions.

"What is it? "he asked, fearing there was something terrible she wasn't telling him. "What happened? What did they decide on?" He knew, because she had told him, about what might await her, but he needed to know what they settled on. "What is it going to be?"

"Penance!' she said with a gravely voice. "A week of penance for my intractability through the years." His blood chilled. If they ever put a hand on Moiraine, he would... But she was laughing now. "A week in the kitchens, Thom."

He was lost. True, he did not know the White Tower, so he didn't know how bad it was. "Is this... hard?"

"I'm to report to Laras in the morning, so we'll see about hardships. Those will be long days, if I remember the woman right."

"So why are you this happy?"

"Because as far as penance goes, this is not even a slap on the wrist, my dearest." She gave him a light peck on the lips. "I guess methods can be excused when the results are worth it."