Missing and extended scenes of Wheel of Time - TV series

3x08 - Story B - Changes (Part 2)

Chapter 2 - Realization

Moiraine is still struggling with her emotions.

Moiraine sat in the bathtub, staring at the ceiling, but she wasn't seeing anything. She and Lan had ridden all day until they had reached the closest city. It was then that Moiraine had realized that they were heading toward Cairhien. As soon as they got back on their horses, she would change their direction. She didn't wish to go to Cairhien.

But she wasn't thinking about Cairhien right now. No. Her thoughts were back in the Hall of the Tower, replaying the events over and over in her head.

The vote is concluded. Our sisters have spoken. She who is raised to the Seat, she who is no longer of one Ajah but all. Siuan Sanche.

Siuan. The new Amyrlin Seat.

Their plan had worked. Ten years of planning and traveling. Ten years of searching. Ten years of keeping the most dangerous secret from their fellow Sisters. It was everything they had wanted, and yet...

Tears burned in Moiraine's eyes, and she felt that stabbing pain in her chest again. She knew she should be thrilled about their victory, but her heart felt nothing more than sadness.

Even during her Novice days, the woman of the Blue Ajah had never had many friends. And then, Siuan had found a way into her heart, letting Moiraine believe that one day they would live a happy life, far away from the White Tower, Aes Sedai, and the Amyrlin Seat. But today's events had changed everything.

There was a certain... lifestyle that Amyrlins lived by once they were raised to the seat. Apart from the fact that they no longer belonged to one Ajah but all, Amyrlins dedicated their lives to the seat. It was expected that the leading Aes Sedai would stay neutral and have no favorites among the Aes Sedai. Siuan would have to act as if Moiraine was a simple woman beneath her.

But that wasn't so bad. Moiraine didn't care if Siuan had to ignore her and had to act coldly toward her if others were listening. No. The worst part of becoming the Amyrlin Seat was that Siuan shouldn't fall in love with someone, let alone another Aes Sedai. The White Tower wanted their leaders focused.

A tear rolled over Moiraine's cheek, and she hugged herself. No matter how hard the past ten years had been, she and Siuan had always made up for the lost time. And sometimes, the Tairen woman had found a reason to leave Tar Valon and join Moiraine and Lan to have a fun night together. That was over now.

Even when Moiraine returned to her home, she couldn't just knock at Siuan's door anymore. From now on, the Tairen woman was surrounded by guards who would protect her and follow her every move. Privacy was a luxury an Amyrlin barely had.

And then, there would be the new Keeper of the Chronicles. Whoever Siuan chose in the end, that woman would decide if someone was worthy to disturb the powerful Amyrlin. Moiraine doubted there was a single Sister in that Tower who would wave her inside the Amyrlin's office without questioning her properly. Her Sisters didn't like her very much, and it didn't help that she was rarely in the Tower.

Light! Why hadn't she used her time with Siuan more often? Why hadn't she returned more often to the Tower?

Moiraine and Siuan had talked about the changes that would come if the Tairen woman won the vote. They knew they would rarely see each other and that it would be hard to find an opportunity to meet without anyone suspecting Siuan of not playing by the rules.

Although the Cairhien woman had known all of that, it was now that she finally understood the prize they were about to pay.

Their relationship was over. No matter what they had imagined, there was no way for the Amyrlin to sneak away for a private meeting when everyone was watching her.