The Wheel of Kin: A Daughter's Journey

~A Mother's Dilemma~

The moonlight filtered through the narrow window in Elara's chamber, casting silver streaks on the walls. The room was silent save for the faint hum of the shield binding her, the One Power suppressing her movements like invisible chains. She sat on the edge of her bed, her shoulders tense, her mind racing.

A soft knock at the door startled her, and before she could even respond, Siuan Sanche stepped inside, her presence as commanding as ever. The door closed quietly behind her, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other.

"Mother," Elara said, her voice barely above a whisper, a mixture of hope and disbelief.

Siuan crossed the room in swift strides, her face softened with uncharacteristic tenderness. She knelt before Elara, reaching out to gently touch her cheek. "My sweet girl," she murmured, her voice cracking ever so slightly. "I couldn't stay away."

Elara's eyes filled with tears, but her expression remained guarded. "Why are you here? Have the council decided my punishment?"

Siuan flinched at the bitterness in her daughter's tone but said nothing at first. Instead, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and with a deft movement, unraveled the One Power shackles that bound Elara. The sensation of freedom made Elara gasp softly, and before she could react further, Siuan pulled her into a fierce embrace.

Elara hesitated for a heartbeat before collapsing into her mother's arms, her tears spilling freely. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen," she sobbed. "I didn't want this, Mother. I'm sorry."

Siuan held her tightly, resting her chin on Elara's head. "Shh, it's all right, my love. I know you didn't mean for any of this. Light knows I would bear this burden for you if I could."

They stayed like that for a moment, wrapped in each other's warmth, before Siuan pulled back just enough to look into Elara's tear-streaked face. "But you need to be strong now. You must face what comes with courage, even if it feels impossible."

Elara sniffled, wiping her face with trembling hands. "Strong? You think I can be strong when my own mother lets them bind me like a criminal? When you stand by and let them debate whether I should be stilled or exiled?"

Siuan's face fell, her composure cracking. "Elara—"

"Does our bond mean nothing to you?" Elara interrupted, her voice rising in anger and pain. "Are you not my mother? Or am I just another burden for the White Tower to decide the fate of?"

Siuan recoiled as if struck, her hands trembling. "Elara, you are everything to me," she said, her voice breaking.

"Everything?"

"But, I am the Amyrlin Seat. My duty is to the Tower, to the world. If I show favoritism—if I let my love for you cloud my judgment—it could destroy us both."

Elara shook her head, pulling away. "So that's it? Your place within the Tower comes first? As always."

Siuan grabbed her daughter's hands, desperation in her eyes. "It's not about choosing between you and the Tower—it's about protecting you. If I go against the council openly, I'll lose what little influence I have to shield you. Don't you see? I'm doing everything I can."

Elara's eyes filled with fresh tears, but her voice was cold. "It doesn't feel like protection."

Siuan closed her eyes, swallowing hard. "I know," she whispered. "And I'm sorry. But I swear to you my dear, I will find a way to make this right."

Elara looked at her mother, searching her face for answers, for reassurance, for something that would make the crushing weight in her chest lift. But all she saw was the burden Siuan carried, the conflict tearing her apart.

"I don't know if I can forgive you for this," Elara whispered. "Not right now."

Siuan nodded, pain flickering across her face. "You don't have to. Just... hold on, Elara. Please, hold on."

Without another word, Siuan stood and began to weave the One Power, restoring the shackles around Elara. The young woman flinched as they settled into place, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Siuan lingered for a moment, her hand hovering as if she wanted to touch Elara again, but she let it fall to her side. "Light keep you, my love," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Then she turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her, leaving Elara alone with her thoughts and her pain.

A/N

Hiya everyone! So I'm sure everyone has seen the new trailer for season 3 and the new clip of Siuan and the whole fight scene with Liandrin being found out as a dark friend. So I'm just going to give you all a heads up. I'm going to wait to write until the new season is out fully. Everything I'm writing now will basically be build up to the beginning of season three, which I'm guessing and basing things off the books. So that's why I want to wait a bit so that this story fits more with the television show. If that makes sense. Or I can always just write whatever suggestions and one-off stories that you all would like to read. Just let me know in the comments what more you all want from this story or if you want me to write any one-off scenes.