Missing and extended scenes of Wheel of Time - TV series

3x05 - Story D - Two Malkieri talk

Lan and Melindhra have a talk about Malkier.

Pissed, Lan sat on one of the rocks that were used as a balustrade for the stairs, watching how Rand played with Alsera and the other kids. It had been hours since Moiraine had left their little group, and she hadn't returned yet or had called for Lan through the bond.

Melindhra and Rhuarc had gone hunting at some point, and Lan had decided to keep an eye on the sheepherder even though Moiraine wasn't there. Hopefully, she would appreciate his decision, allowing him to be there for her.

Lan had still no idea what had upset the Cairhien woman during their dinner with the Aiel. Over and over again had he replayed their conversations in his mind, but nothing seemed alarming to him.

Was it because he hadn't stayed by her side? But Moiraine had told him to accept Melindhra's offer to take the seat beside her. No, that couldn't be the problem.

Did Lian say anything inappropriate to the Cairhien woman? Had someone of the Aiel insulted her? But Lian had seemed like a polite woman. Not once had she looked at Moiraine as an enemy, though she was from Cairhien. And Rhuarc had also not said anything.

Should the Malkieri start looking for the Aes Sedai? Every cell in his body wanted to be near her, but he feared she would get angry with him for following her. Sometimes, Moiraine needed some distance – even from him. But how did he know when it was enough? Would she let him know, or did she expect of him that he knew when it was enough? Was there even a perfect moment? Or was it either too early or too late?

Frustrated, the uncrowned king of Malkier growled quietly, rubbing a hand over his face. Why was everything so strange? Why couldn't he and Moiraine return to their usual routine? It seemed like things had been easier before they had traveled to the Two Rivers – before they had found Rand.

Moiraine, where are you?!

"Headache?"

Surprised, the Malkieri turned his head. Melindhra had appeared beside him without him noticing it. Blood and ashes! Aiel could be really quiet!

"I'll be alright."

"Hm." The Aiel woman leaned against another rock, crossing her arms before her chest. Then she tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at Lan. "Is that a phrase you copied from Moiraine Sedai?"

I'll be alright.

Lan chuckled. He hadn't even noticed copying Moiraine's words. Was there more that he had subconsciously copied?

"How was the hunt?" That was probably another thing he had gotten from Moiraine. Changing the subject by asking a question.

Melindhra shrugged her shoulders. "Not bad." Then, she smiled at him. "You should join us next time. You could learn a lot from the Aiel."

"I know how to hunt," Lan explained, turning around and sliding off the rock until his feet touched the stairs.

"You know how to hunt like a Wetlander," the Aiel woman corrected him. "Aiel hunt differently."

That was probably true, but Moiraine had never seemed disappointed with what he had hunted. Surely, Lan didn't need any more practice.

"You're the future king of Malkier." Surprised, Lan looked at her. What was she trying to tell him? "You have the chance of learning the Aiel way while you're here. It's always good to know how other nations live to understand their motives and how to handle them when you have to talk to them."

This time, the Malkieri turned quiet. Learning the Aiel way. He knew Melindhra spoke the truth. Moiraine had always tried to gather information whenever they had to talk to someone they had never met before. Especially, when she had been confronted with kings, queens, high ladies, and high lords.