The Wheel of Kin: A Daughter's Journey

~You are light, above all else~

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over Elara's room. She lay wrapped in Elayne's arms, both of them breathing in sync, savoring a rare moment of peace.

The door opened quietly, and Moiraine stepped in, her eyes immediately narrowing at the sight of Elara and Elayne nestled together. She cleared her throat loudly, cutting through the serene silence. Both Elara and Elayne stirred, blinking as they adjusted to the interruption.

Moiraine crossed her arms, her voice curt and disapproving as she addressed Elayne. "Can you give Elara and I a moment? Now."

Elara scowled, instantly on guard at her mother's clipped tone. "Mother—" she began, her tone warning.

Elayne, ever the diplomat, was already untangling herself from the covers. "Of course," she said quietly, inclining her head. But as she sat up to leave, Elara reached for her hand, squeezing it gently.

"You really don't have to go," Elara murmured, her gaze warm as she looked up at her.

Elayne smiled, leaning down to press a soft kiss to Elara's cheek. "I'll come back before the council meeting."

They lingered, eyes locked in a silent exchange, a shared resolve glimmering between them. Moiraine cleared her throat again, louder this time, her irritation plain as she added sharply, "You should be going now."

Elara's jaw tightened, and she shot her mother a sideways look, but Elayne only smiled with a gracious nod. She pulled herself from Elara's hand and made her way to the door. With one last glance over her shoulder, she slipped out, leaving Elara and Moiraine alone.

The room was tense, the unspoken words building as Moiraine finally broke the silence.

"Elara," she began, her voice softened but still edged with a mother's insistence, "I hope you know what you're doing."

Elara crossed her arms, leveling a challenging stare at Moiraine. "Are we really doing this now?"

Moiraine's face softened slightly, though her eyes held concern. "Elara, if there is one thing I have learned, it's that the bonds of the heart are powerful but complicated. I only want you to be careful."

"I know," Elara said, her voice gentler now. "But I am capable of making my own choices."

Moiraine gave a small nod, her gaze appraising. After a long pause, she reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from Elara's face. "Very well, then. But don't let your resolve waver. Today, you face allies and skeptics alike—be ready."

Elara nodded, her eyes hardening with resolve. "I am."

Elara took a deep breath, glancing nervously toward the door. "How am I supposed to explain to the entire Tower council what happened with the Forsaken seals?" she asked, her voice wavering.

Moiraine placed a steady hand on her daughter's shoulder, her gaze gentle but filled with the weight of unspoken caution. "There are no easy answers, Elara. Many will have questions, and some will be harsh."

Elara sat down heavily on the edge of her bed, shoulders weighed down as she took in her mother's words. "So I have to tell them everything?" she asked, her voice faint, almost like a child's. "How I was the one who broke them?"

Moiraine nodded gravely, her gaze softening. "Yes. You'll have to explain it all. The sisters of the Tower will want the full truth. But there's much we don't know yet. The repercussions... they may be severe." She paused, then added gently, "We cannot be certain how the Hall will react."

Elara's brow furrowed with worry. "And what did... what did mother say about all of this?"

Moiraine looked away for a moment, her expression unreadable. "I'm not entirely certain what her decision will be. She wears the Amyrlin's mantle heavily these days, especially when it comes to matters that threaten the White Tower itself."