Chapter Text
The Pattern has a way of making things happen. Its design is unpredictable and sometimes, almost laughable, and cruel. It happened a long time ago. Years in a far away village. Thom had no inkling that his life would take a turn in another direction when he came across a mysterious woman in a tavern he’s supposed to perform to.
There was something about her that captivated his interest and attention. The way she moved, her eyes appraising everything and everyone in the room, it was as if she’s cataloguing everything for threat. She had sat there alone and never touched the ale that was served to her. He took the stage and sang and not once did the woman’s eyes wavered from his throughout the song.
It was an instant connection. Light…he never connected with someone that fast and that strong before. His feet moved on their own and approached the woman who was already waiting for him. “Donations for the Gleeman”, she spoke. Well…he knew right then and there that he wanted to hear her voice all day long if he could. It was like a music playing in his ears and he craved for more.
“I hope you liked the performance”, he said.
“I did. You’re very good at what you do, Gleeman”, she responded.
“Thom Merrilin”, he offered his hand in the hopes of knowing what her hand felt like.
“Alys”, she said as she accepted his offered hand, and his brain was quick to put it together.
A Cairheinin woman. It’s a side effect of his profession. He can tell so easily which a person is from. The woman…her demeanor, the way she spoke, her dress, she’s from Cairhein. “You’re a long way from Cairhein, Alys”, he noted to which surprised her.
“I never told you that”,
“Professional hazard. What brings you to this humble village?” he pressed.
There was that indecision in her eyes, but she was quick to mask it which rather impressed him. “I was travelling with a companion, and we got separated. I was waiting for him to meet me here”, she answered.
“Husband?”
The woman laughed. She had a beautiful smile, he thought. Somehow, he felt the desire to always want to elicit laughter from her. “Is that your way of determining whether you should spend your time here with me?”
“Hey, I do not want to step on anyone’s toes. You did not answer my question, Alys”,
“I have no husband, Thom”, she answered.
And that’s that. They spent the entire night talking about everything though he has gotten nowhere in actually getting to know personal things about Alys. One thing led to another, and they found themselves entangled with each other on his rented room at the tavern.
He had decided the next morning that he would follow her anywhere she goes, that he would strive to give her everything her heart desires but that was quickly shattered when he discovered the truth about her.
She’s an Aes Sedai.
The Pattern is cruel. The one woman he fell for in a long time turned out to be the kind of woman he loathes. He should have known. The way she dodged certain topics, questions. He thought it was just the Cairheinin in her, but it was her trying to work around words because of her oath.
Her secret was revealed when she was forced to use the One Power when bandits came to try and loot the tavern. He saw the regret and guilt in her eyes as soon as she saw him watching her. That’s when she had revealed her true identity to him.
Moiraine Sedai, but knowing she’s from Cairhein, her real name rang through his ears. She’s Moiraine Damodred, the Lady Moiraine Damodred. No wonder she’s so good in pretending. She grew up in Daes Dae’mar.
After a few hurtful words, mostly coming from his part, they parted ways when her Warder arrived and the two departed the village.
The moment she left; he regretted his outburst. What does it matter if she’s an Aes Sedai? She could have had turned her back when the bandits arrived. She could have run and left those poor people to die but she did not. She knew that it would reveal herself as an Aes Sedai if she decided to help and still, she did it anyway.
He wanted to follow her, but she’s long gone. Years later, he had not come across the Aes Sedai again. He has hoped that in his travels, he would see her again but there had not been any sign of her since that day. Well…until now.
It Bel Tine in Emond’s Field.
Thom was only there for a night and in the morning, he planned to keep travelling north, maybe east. He could not go south since Logain had started that war in Ghealdan. There had been sightings of Trollocs in the west so those two are his only options.
It was in the middle of the night when the door of the Winespring Inn. His hand immediately landed on the hilt of his knife, ready to fight if need be. A man came in, face covered by the hood of his cloak.
“Name yourself, stranger”, the Wisdom demanded.
The man removed the hood and Thom almost stopped breathing. “Lan Mandragoran. This is Moiraine”, he said.
Thom’s eyes immediately landed on the woman approaching the inn. There is no mistaking it. It’s her. Moiraine Damodred. Moiraine Sedai. It’s really her. After years of wanting to see her again, the time has finally come.
Of course, he did not notice him sitting there. Her eyes were elsewhere. She asked for a room for her and her Warder before carefully but subtly gazed upon five children in the room. She was there for them, he realized. Why else would she be in a town like Emond’s Field?
He hid from Moiraine and watched her from a far. She’s up to something and unlike all those years ago, a lot has changed in her. Her eyes are colder. She never smiled, and she’s always using the bond between her and her Warder to communicate with each other. She was not the woman he met in that tavern all those years ago. That begs him the question, what happened to her?
In the morning, he found her walking along the woods without her Warder in tow. It’s unusual for an Aes Sedai to wander off on her own without her Warder. She could have instructed him to go elsewhere, to do another job. That leaves her in a vulnerable position, however. There is no one to protect her in case of an attack. It’s not that she cannot protect herself. He had seen her use her power, but an Aes Sedai has a Warder for a reason.
“Are you going to follow me all day, Gleeman?” Moiraine suddenly spoke.
It has been years since he last heard her voice…since she last addressed him. He’s a bundle of mixed emotions.
“Just waiting for the right time to talk”, he showed himself.
She stared at her in a calculating gaze, and he felt as if she’s dissecting every inch of him with just her eyes. It’s unnerving and a little bit annoying. “Timing was never an issue to you before”, she muttered.
“Well…that did not end well when it comes to you that day, did it?” her face remained blank. “What are you doing here in Emond’s Field? Aes Sedai rarely goes this far from Tar Valon”, he asked.
She took a few steps and he followed. Despite her natural beauty, he can see the weariness on her face that was not there years ago. Whatever it is that she’s doing, it’s taking its toll on her.
“I heard so much about Bel Tine in this town. The way they celebrated the souls of their loved ones, lighting up lanterns to guide their souls. I have never seen it before”, she said.
It was not an answer. She’s doing Daes Dae’Mar on him. An Aes Sedai and a princess from the Sun Court, what a combination for a woman.
“So, you and your Warder are here for the festivities? I am old but not a fool”,
She smiled then. “You’re never a fool, Thom Merrilin”,
She remembered his name. Why would he think otherwise? Perhaps, it was because of those times he tried to convince himself that she had only used and duped him that night in the tavern, that it meant nothing for her, that he was just some pawn for her to play with when in reality, he knew that it was not the case. She may have lied to him, but he soon realized the reason why. It was a different part of the world. They were in a place where Aes Sedai were not welcomed. Revealing who she was then would put her in danger. He only wished he realized that sooner before he said those words to her.
“Tell it to me straight. Should I hold on to my daggers tonight?” he asked.
He can just tell that something big is about to happen and Moiraine will be right in the middle of it. If she cannot tell him the purpose of her coming to town, she can at least warn him of any possible danger.
“You should. It’s going to be a long night”, she answered.
They looked at each other for a moment and understood what she meant. It was more than just a warning. It was enough for him to be on alert for the rest of the night.
He still performed at the inn while keeping his eyes on any incoming danger. Since Moiraine and Lan are still inside the inn, silently talking with each other, he figured that the danger is far enough to finish a song.
It was like that night when he first saw her. He sings. She watches. They stared at each other’s eyes all throughout the song and he felt…elated. It was such a high and once their gazes parted from each other, the coming down from it was torturous.
Then, screaming rang outside the inn. Moiraine turned to her Warder as the man drew out his sword. This is what she was referring to.
He helped as best he could. He ushered women and children to safety, gave instructions not to venture outside or try and do anything heroic. When he came out, he saw Moiraine enveloped by the One Power. As Lan fought off the Trollocs coming her way.
It was a beautiful thing to see. She’s one of the most powerful Aes Sedai there is, and he had seen tons of them. The way she commanded the elements around her, fire, air, even lightning. It was frightening and at the same time, marvelous.
He took action and started fighting as well. He sliced and swung his daggers, letting some of them fly. He lost track of how many he had killed but it seems like they just keep coming. When he turned around, it was just in time he saw a knife flying straight towards Moiraine.
“No”, he muttered but it’s too late.
He’s too far to run to her. There is nothing I can do. He watched as the knife hit her just above her chest. She stumbled backwards before her Warder caught her in his arms. Thom felt like he is running out of air. Moiraine is hurt. It’s all he could think about.
Then, the bloody woman pulled out the knife from her flesh and got up. She swayed a little but held on and faced the army of Trollocs before her. Thom was in awe of her strength. That was no ordinary blow and yet, she remained standing, ready to fight. Moiraine summoned the One Power with all her might and started hurling bricks at the monsters until they are no more.
She did it. She killed the monsters and then, she fell on her knees and onto the ground before Lan could get to her to catch her.
This time, Thom ran towards them too. Lan lifted his head from her and frowned at him. “I only want to help, Warder”, Thom stated.
Lan groaned. “At the stables, the bag on my horse, it has some medicinal herbs I used to treat wounds. Also, some water, she lost a lot of strength using that much of the One Power”, the Warder instructed.
“I’ll be right back”, Thom agreed.