Drabbles of life after 2 (Wheel of Time fanfiction)

WoTtober 2024 #4 SilverPike

A/N: Takes place at the same outing as #2 Gem. Caraline and Tear

They were resting their horses by the wiver, when Moiraine finally remembered it was probably it was probably a sight not unlike what Siuan grew up seeing every single morning.

"Something serious on your min?" Caraline asked. "You seem to be far away with your thoughts."

"My..." It hurt to even try to define the connection. "My dearest friend was born and raised in Tear," she said eventually. IT was so much easier to explain the relationship to Thom, in the darkness of their shared bed, than to anyone else in the world. Siuan had been a dear friend, but so much more. "We talked about travelling here together. She was supposed to show me her home."

"Then what's stopping you?"

"She didn't make it through the Last Battle." Moiraine crouched down to touch the water. It was easier not to avoid Caraline's gaze. "IT feels wrong to be here now without her."

"I hope you will find other reasons to come here in the future."

Suddenly, before Moiraine managed even to thing about what to answer, her horse jerked back and she had to step back after it to get it settled and under control again. Only after doing that did she realise there was something silvery gathered just by the bank, in the shallows, making a ruckus. IT must have been what spooked the animal.

"What is that?" She had never seen anything like it, even though she had been to Tear not once before. "Looks dangerous."

"Oh, it certainly can be." Caraline took a stuffed bun from her saddlebag and threw it far into the river. "A school of silverpike is never a pleasant encounter. Thankfully they usually keep far from the banks and do not attack people. Perhaps your friend mentioned them."

"She did, many times." The memory made Moiraine smile. "And now I can see how her metaphors were accurate at that times."

"And they are pretty delicious. I have to make sure we have them for supper before you leave."

Caraline changed the topic with swiftness and slick efficiency worthy of the High Seat of House Damodred, but Moiraine settled on something different from earlier. Did Caraline just invite her to visit again?