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whatintheeverlovinghell · 9 days ago

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The Pattern of an Age - 2

Part 2

Moiraine x reader (for now)

Part 1 - Part 2

Synopsis:

You were light, free, a force of nature, undeterred by the harshness of the world. A beautiful flower, with fierce thorns. A powerful woman that would help change the tides of this war. Someone Moraine could simply not overlook

Rating: mature (will change as the story goes)

WC: 3,8k

Warnings: Fighting, Injuries

Your gaze seemed to be drawn to the Aes Sedai. She was riding up front, alongside her warder, hair cascading down her back, swaying in the wind. That same breeze would sometimes carry her voice back to your ears and would send shivers down your spine.

You were entranced. So much so that you never saw the low branches blocking the path. You yelped loudly when the branches hit your face. You moved frantically trying to shoo them away but ended up with a bunch of leaves in your mouth. You were coughing and spitting while your companions, having seen the trees but choosing not to warn you, laughed loudly.

Upfront, Moiraine had stopped her horse and turned around the second she had heard your distress. She was at your side now, a ghost of a smile hovering on her lips.

You could feel yourself getting red but you didn’t know if it was because of your fit of coughing or embarrassment.

« You should be more alert. These woods can be far more dangerous than those stray branches. » she said before returning to the front of their little caravan.

« You know, there are other ways to get the lady’s attention. » Leffy said, still trying to hold back his laughter.

You rolled your eyes at your friend and signalled your horse to pick up the pace. « I’ll go ahead to do a reconnaissance of the pass. » you said before setting off.

«You spoke to her last night. » Lan said to the Aes sedai when you were out of earshot.

Moiraine turned with a confused expression. « You followed me? »

« You masked the bond. » he stated knowingly.

« It was simply a matter of privacy. »

« Of course. » they stayed silent for a moment.

« What did she say? »

« She was confused, afraid. »

« As expected. »

Lan could feel the unease in Moiraine. He knew that the mission meant everything to her but he had a feeling that there was something more at play.

« She’s special. »

« She will be a very powerful channeler and we need… »

«This is not what I mean,Moiraine. » but before she could answer, the distressed cry of your horse pierced the otherwise quiet forest. One look between the two and they were off towards you.

Trollocs. Of course there would be Trollocs in this area, you thought as you were ejected from your horse and landed harshly on the ground. You quickly unsheathed your two swords and took a defensive stance. Your horse had run off in the direction of the rest of your group, leaving you alone with a dozen beasts.

You took a deep breath and readied yourself for battle. Your movements were fluid, almost automatic. Fighting was second nature. It came as easily as breathing. It was like a dance, a deadly one, but one that you knew oh so well. But the sheer amount of enemies was simply too much, even for the most experienced swordsman. You were surrounded, winded by the efforts, but standing tall. A loud screeching interrupted the short moment of reprieve. A long, Katana looking sword had pierced the heart of one of the Trollocs, which fell to the ground, revealing the Aes Sedai’s companion. He quickly joined you in the middle of this deadly circle, his back to yours, and adopting a similar stance to yours.

“Let’s see what you are made of, my lady.” He said. You could hear the smirk in his tone.

“ Let’s drop the formalities on the battlefield shall we?” You answered, charging the closest opponent. You found that your fighting styles were oddly in tune with one another. He seemed to anticipate each of your movements and you his own, akin to a rehearsed choreography. Together, you were a formidable force which quickly worked through the beasts, leaving their bodies bloodied and unmoving.

The last of them had just fallen when your group reached you, Moiraine at the head with your horse by her side. Her features were etched with worry as she scanned her companion and you, looking for any signs of injuries.

“ The blood is not our own.” The man said as he walked towards the Aes Sedai and whispered something before taking the bridle of your horse.

“I just realized that I don’t know the name of the man who saved my life.” You said as he handed you the bridle to your horse.

“ Lan Mandragoran” He answered. “Where did you learn to fight like this?”

“My mentor, he was an old warrior from a distant land.” You said, your expression sobering. Talking about this man always made you feel uneasy. He had died fighting to save you and you still blamed yourself for it.

“You have impressive technique, a bit sloppy still.” He said, mounting his horse.

“Excuse me?” you said loudly. “How many did you kill again?” You asked with a cocky smile.

“Well you had a good start on me.” Moiraine watched from the side. She could feel the fondness in Lan’s heart, and it surely did not help her case.

The whole ordeal had slowled them down drastically and when they reached the doors of the city, they had closed for the night. It became clear that they would have to camp outside.

Your group settled at the edge of the wall, far enough to the doors that they would go unnoticed by the passerby. You offered to do the first round of watch while the rest of your group would catch a bit of shuteye. You stayed by the fire, a dagger twirling between your fingers. Your conversation with the Aes Sedai was heavy in your thoughts. And as if your thoughts had summoned the woman, she sat next to you.

It was odd how comfortable you felt when she was near. Silence didn’t feel heavy, instead, it was like a strange calmness had settled within you.

« Tell me about this power. » You said after a moment.

Her gaze didn’t leave the dancing flames. « The One Power comes from the True Source, the driving force of creation, the force the Creator made to turn the Wheel of Time. Saidin, the male half of the True Source, and saidar, the female half, work against each other, and at the same time together to provide that force. Saidin is fouled by the touch of the Dark One, like water with a thin slick of rancid oil floating on top. The water is still pure, but it cannot be touched without touching the foulness. Only saidar is still safe to be used… »

You watched as a weave of orange power left the fire to wrap itself around her hand, descending her arm and dancing around her form.

« The True Source cannot be used up, any more than the river can be used up by the wheel of the mill. The Source is the river; the Aes Sedai, the waterwheel. »

Surely, you had heard bout the power the Aes Sedai wheeled, but now it made much more sense. Still, it was a lot to hear in one go. Moiraine’s gaze left the flames to settle on you. « You know, it is a strange thing that at your age, the Power has not yet consumed you. »

This statement pulled you out of your thoughts. « What does this mean? »

« Do you know what happens to untrained channellers, Y/N? » You stayed silent.

« We don’t exactly know how, but eventually, if they fail to cope with their abilities, they die under mysterious circonstances. » She said, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. « So, forgive me for wondering how you are still alive. »

« I do not know what to answer you. » You said. « All my life I have been fighting. Surrounded by battle and sorrow. I’ve been close to death more times than I can count. »

The more you thought about your life, what you went through, the injuries you withstood, the sickness you prevailed over, the more you thought that maybe, it was not sheer luck which had saved you again and again.

Moiraine seemed to understand your turmoil, watching the realization cross your features. « If I come with you, will you show me how to harvest this power? »

She took your hand in hers. The same warmth seeping in your skin. The weave of power travelled her arm and crossed your intertwined fingers to reach you. You closed your eyes, focusing on the weave, feeling its heat, letting it feed of your energy. What you cousin’t see, was how the weave got brighter, wilder, growing in strength and size. Moiraine’s eyes were wide, watching you tape into your power. Her hand squeezed yours, making sure that you stayed grounded. Your own eyes opened, meeting her mesmerizing blues. You had somehow moved closer to the woman. A few inches separating the two of you.

« I will show you everything I can. » She said.

You nodded, unable to form a complete sentence. Your proximity rendering you powerless. You could have sworn you saw her eyes flash to your lips but the movement was so fleeting that you brushed it aside.

Your trance was broken by a rustling in the woods near. You jumped up, sword unsheathed and ready. Your body shielding the woman from the intruder. You relaxed at the sight of the warder. Moiraine recognized the subtle smirk on his lips and rolled her eyes at the man.

« Forgive me for interrupting. »

« It’s alright. » You said getting up. « I’ll go check on the horses. » You sent one last look her way before leaving the two alone.

Lan waited until you were far enough before taking your spot on the log. « Don’t even start. » Moiriane said, turning back towards the flames.

« She will follow us won’t she. »

« Yes, we leave at dawn. »

« Will you bring her to the White Tower? »

That was the question that occupied Moiraine’s mind. The situation at the Tower was more tense with every passing day. Her eyes and ears in the capital had reported a shift in power, one which could threaten the balance The Amelyn Seat was working so hard to keep. The Red Ajah was growing in power and their voices echoed louder in the tower. The arrival of a new, powerful channeller, one pure of the tower’s influence, would cause quite the stir. You could be seen as a threat, a danger to the Aes Sedai. Or, they could take you, use you as a weapon in the name of the cause, but with no regards for you. If she revealed you to the Tower, she could not protect you.

« Will you speak to Siuan? » Lan asked when he saw that no answer would come to his earlier question.

« Eventually, » She said, still deep in her thoughts. « For now I will keep her hidden, until we know more. »

« Get some rest Lan, we have a long journey ahead. » She said before retreating to her sleeping area.

Your farewells were more emotional than you would’ve liked. You were all reunited in front of the city doors. Your group was turning back around to head to Falme while your new companions and yourself would head towards the mountains.

You should not have been surprised, these men were your family, leaving them without knowing if you would ever see them again would be undeniably hard. They knew that too, so they tried to make it brief, a real soldier’s goodbye as they called it. But every embrace and every word of encouragement felt like a dagger twisting in your gut.

The last one standing was Leffy. He was looking at you with pride. This was the beginning of your own journey and he was proud of the woman you had become. Today, he would not show how much your departure was affecting him, no, because he wanted you to remember how proud he was of his little sister.

You hugged him a little tighter than the rest, trying to hold back your tears. Right before letting go, he leaned in your ear. “We will see each other again. In the meantime, trust your instinct, and follow your heart.” He said, sending a look towards the Aes Sedai and back to you.

You sent him a weird look but brushed it off. You watched the group of soldiers walk away, not one turning around for one last look. They had to stay strong, the wheel kept on spinning and another chapter had begun.

You knew that this journey would be drastically different from the one you had been on your whole life. Life on the road with a bunch of rowdy soldiers could not compare to what you were experiencing with the Aes Sedai and her warder. The silence was the most off putting thing for you. You were used to the constant chatter of your comrades. They had become a comforting buzz at the back of your mind, a reminder that you were never alone. In the first few days, you had come to the realization that those two didn’t exchange words often. The nature of their bond was still a mystery to you but you were fairly certain that they couldn’t actually speak through it.

You and Lan rode side by side, behind Moiraine who led the way. You were like guards keeping an eye on their queen. In a way you supposed, he was her guard, and by extension, so were you. It was only on the third day that more than 3 words were exchanged between you and the warrior. He had caught you staring intensely at the back of her head, as if you stared hard enough, she would tell you all you wanted to know.

“She will come around.” He simply said. His voice broke you from your trance-like state.

“I just wish I knew more about what is at stake here.” You sighed.

“All in due time.” His response frustrated you.

“Is it a requirement for Aes Sedai and their warders to speak in obscure riddles and ominous phrases?”

For the first time in days, laughter echoed on the path. “You’re a fiery one. Good, but you have to control that attitude, it shows when you fight.”

You gasped indignantly. “ Ok sir, if your wisdom and knowledge is so superior, then why don’t you show me what you know.” You say, sarcasm dripping from your lips. But Lan either chose to ignore it or simply did not perceive it.

From this day, as soon as Moiraine had selected a place for the night. Lan would pull you aside, sword in hand, and test your abilities. This was the sole reason why you were not growing mad. The Aes Sedai had not spoken to you more than three times ever since your departure from the city. She was always whispering to the warder or writing letters to god knows who. She had not honores her promise, and there was nothing you hated more than someone who did not hold true to their word.

Unbeknownst to you, Moiraine's incessant letters and her prolonged silence was all in your best interest. The time had come where she would have to report back to the tower, to the Amelyn seat, but she knew the kind of reaction your arrival would stir in the hall. She truly was at a crossroads as to what to do. It was unlike her to care so much about a woman she had just met. She usually did not hesitate, willing to do anything in the name of her task. She knew that having another powerful channeler at the tower would be a great aid, but she knew the cost you would have to pay.

She would be lying if she said her unwillingness to teach you wasn’t directly linked. The less you knew, the easier it would be to hide your true nature, but she was not blind to your growing impatience. She wasn’t surprised when you stormed her way one night after your training session with Lan. The warder had left to hunt, giving you the perfect opportunity for a long overdue conversation with the older woman.

“This is not what we had settled on when I said I would come with you.” You said with determination in your voice, but you were met with silence. Her eyes had not left the fire. You had yet to learn the dichotomy of Moiraine, but even you could tell that something was troubling the Aes Sedai. Unfortunately for the older woman, your anger had had time to simmer and reach a level where your concern for the Blue was far less than your need for action.

“Moiraine.” You said louder. But still silence prevailed. The longer she ignored you, the more you could feel your grip slipping. You didn’t lose control of your emotions often. But at this instant, with your future so uncertain, you simply lost it.

“Answer me!” Your voice boomed in the woods, and a wave of energy followed, like the deadly echoes of your plea.

The older woman's movements were fast and precise. She conjured a shield for herself and sent a weave your way. You couldn’t dodge, and the weave hit you right in the chest. It felt like the wind was knocked out of you, leaving a hole in you. You couldn’t quite explain it, this emptiness. It was almost painful, like something vital had been ripped out. You fell to your knees in front of her, your breath ragged and eyes pleading. The sight stirred something deep in the Aes Sedai who stood before you. Her hand made contact with your chin, tilting it so you were looking up at her.

“You will not get what you’re seeking if you behave like this.”She said, her voice carrying the same iciness as her blue eyes. You slumbed at her feet, giving up the fight against this restricting force. A moment passed, charged with electricity. She released the shield, allowing you to finally breathe in the power you were so unfamiliar with. She sat back down before you.

“Sit down.” You got up from your knees and sat next to her. “Tell me, how does it feel? Describe it to me?”

It was hard to put words to the feeling. It didn’t compare to anything you had ever experienced. It felt right, euphoric like the most exhilarating feeling, the sweetest release. Your body still tingled from your small display. You locked eyes with her, and understood that you did not need to answer, she knew the feeling very well herself. “This power, it flows within us, if you close your eyes and will yourself to surrender to it, you will see the true extent of this force.”

You did just that. You weren’t one to stay calm. Meditation has never been your strong suit. But with her beside you, you allowed your senses to be at ease and focus on what is within. You could feel it, shining within you, like a burning sun. It was calling to you, beckoning you closer. It’s light felt so right, but something in your mind kept you at bay. Just like the sun, its heat could mend, but also burn. Around you, the wind had picked up and the fire had grown in intensity. The closer you let yourself come, the stronger the elements around you were.

Moiraine was still by your side, watching, monitoring, making sure you didn’t lose yourself to the power. She knew you were a powerful one. But she was still shocked as to the extent of power you could reach. The ground shook under your feet. You were close now, closer than you should be. Gone was the outside world, the only thing remaining was the pull of this power.

Moiraine called your name once. But you were too far now. She called you again, more urgently this time. The rumbling of the earth intensified, and with it, Moiraine’s panic. In an attempt at pulling you out, she grabbed your thigh and shook, your name escaping her lips in an almost desperate cry.

But the pull was too strong. You were drowning, slowly sinking further in this addictive murkiness. But through it all, you felt it, a warmth, something which brought clarity back to your mind and shattered the pull.

When your eyes opened, she was right beside you. Her hand was on your cheek, her face real close to yours. Your body was still vibrating with euphoria and her eyes were so beautiful. You leaned in, and she didn’t push you back. There was barely an inch separating your lips.

Her eyes closed, a shaky breath escaping her. Slowly, as if she was scared to end this moment, she pulled back, her hand slipping from your face. You couldn’t move just yet, trapped in the moment, body oh so heavy from the exertion.

“I… There is a message I need to deliver.” She said before retreating.

The next few days were a lot brighter. You kept training with the warder. Learning the art of the sword through the eyes of a lone warrior. Lan was the perfect opponent. You didn’t have to hold back, he parried your every move and challenged you, pushing you to use your knowledge and technique instead of brute strength.

At night, Moiraine would pull you aside, showing you weaves and help you get in touch with your power. You kept the moment you shared between yourself, never bringing it up, but the air between the two of you was still electric. The way she looked at you, cold, powerful and with this element of curiosity, like she wanted to pick you apart.

And you, you only wanted one thing, and it was to please her. You wanted her to be proud. You wanted to see that smile that she so rarely let free. You gravitated towards her and she, unbeknownst to you, found it harder and harder to fight the pull.

Moiraine knew that she could not keep you a secret indefinitely. You were bound to be discovered. But she would do anything to push this moment back as far as she could. This task proved to be harder than expected when Moiraine heard of a group of Aes Sedai in the area.

She had hoped their paths would not cross, but the wheel weaves as it will and at the end of a stormy afternoon, they were stopped by familiar faces. Red and Green flanked the pathway and one woman stood tall in the middle of the road.

Moiraine’s expression told you she knew exactly who this severe looking woman was. Her red tunic was muddy and an unsettling smile was stretched across her face.

“Moiraine Sedai, where have you been?”

#moraine damodred #moiraine sedai #wot on prime #wheel of time #lan mandragoran #aes sedai #wot s3 spoilers #moiraine x siuan #moiraine x reader #moiraine and lan

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whatintheeverlovinghell · 26 days ago

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The Pattern of an Age

Chapter 1

Moiraine x reader (for now)

Synopsis:

Rating: mature (will change as the story goes)

Warnings: Fighting, Injuries

She saw you in a small village near Falme. A bright young woman, too old to be the Dragon but too fierce to overlook. The Aes Sedai could feel the One Power was strong with her, but it wasn’t the thing that made you deadly no. You were brought into this world by a mother too weak to claim this role and a father who lost his life during the war. His comrades in arms, upon learning your fate, had taken you under their wing when you were only a girl. They had given you a home, a family, a purpose. They had trained you, showed you the art of battle and ingrained into you the integrity, selflessness and honor of a true warrior.

She felt it the moment she saw you, this pull that left her stunned. She cursed the bond she had with Lan the moment she met his curious gaze. Of course he had felt it too, but unlike Moiraine, he knew the true origin of her feeling. At night, in the comfort of their inn, he had tried to pry, but he was met with a wall. Moiraine had a task, a mission that she would put above everything else, especially herself.

That night, she had inquired about the reason for a group of soldiers this far from the capital, and had learned of the presence of Whitecloacks in the area. They had been terrorizing the village and a group of passing soldiers had stayed in order to protect the villagers. She would learn later that the decision was your own and due to your stubbornness, everyone had stayed to help you.

It was known that throughout the land, some were not as enthusiastic about having Aes sedais travel their roads and walk around their villages. The threat of the Dark One wasn’t the only one looming over their heads. Some villagers, driven by the fear of the Whitecloaks, had given away her location in exchange for their family members held hostage for questioning.

The attack was swift. They had invaded the village at night, breaking into houses and burning everything in their wake. Your group had separated into two. Two of you were helping in the evacuation of the village while the rest were fighting off the Whitecloaks. You were ushering a small family out of a burning house when you felt a surge of power. Something raw and powerful coming from the plaza.

In the middle of the raging battle you saw her. This woman dressed in blue, moving in an hypnotizing way, with the elements following at her fingertips. Soldiers were flying around, and the ones who got too close were dealt with by a man who danced the sword like you had never seen before. They seemed to move in perfect harmony, anticipating every movement they each made and completing each other in a way that seemed all too natural.

But none had seen the man that had only just entered the square, spear in hand. He had stayed far enough to gage the battle and readied his spear. You do not know how you had crossed the distance so quickly, but you knew that your actions were driven by a need to protect her at all cost, even if it meant your life.

The pain was all-encompassing. An intense flash that travelled through you, siphoning every ounce of strength you had. The spear had hit your abdomen and you were left standing in the square, believing that these would certainly be your last few breaths.

She did not know how she missed his presence. She had turned at the last second, just in time to see the spear hit you. The man, too much of a coward to join the fight, had scrambled away as soon as the weapon was launched. Before hitting the ground, you had turned your head just enough in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the woman you had just saved. Upon meeting her gaze, you felt something click. She was beautiful, truly mesmerizing, and you were glad that she would be your last vision before the dark.

Moiraine did not let your fall down. She caught your unconscious form before you hit the ground and lowered you down gently. She could feel her anger grow, a feeling she didn’t normally allow much space in her mind, but somehow, with you in her arms, she could not control the flux of emotions. It was a matter of seconds before she had freed the square from any remaining White Cloak in a fury of lightning.

The rest of your group had gathered in the square in the meantime, and a grim atmosphere had settled over the space at the sight of your limp form. The Aes Sedai had gone to her knees at your side, her eyes were glossy but she did not know why. She didn’t know you and yet, she couldn't help the way your fate was affecting her. You stirred faintly, your eyes opening slowly. Your eyelids were so heavy, and yet you refused to be taken away from this world before learning the name of this mysterious woman.

“Will you allow me the grace of telling me your name?” Your voice was weak and Moiraine had to lean close to decipher your words.

“Hang on darling, I will tell you once this is all over.” She said, one hand on the spear, ready to pull it out. You felt the initial movement, but unconsciousness claimed you before the blinding pain could.

You could hear voices. They sounded far away, muffled by the blur encompassing your mind. It took a moment for you to register the fact that you were indeed alive. That you had survived this wound which you were sure would be the cause of your downfall.

You opened your eyes and were met with the starry night sky. You could feel the heat of a burning fire nearby and the smell of something roasting. The voices cleared up and you recognized your companion, Leffy. He was like an older brother, annoying but oh so protective of you. It was the second voice that you didn’t recognize. It belonged to a woman, her tone was soft and deep, there was something almost regal to the way she uttered every word. You were so caught up with her voice that you failed to notice her words.

« The healing went well, it is normal that she has not yet awakened, her injury was significant. »

« Can she travel? »

« She will be weak, but she should be able to, yes. » There was some reluctance in her voice, as if she was about to refuse, but refrained from doing so.

Your friend seemed to notice this too. « What is it? »

« Does she know? » her voice lowered « Is she aware that she can touch the Source. »

« I do not think so, it has only happened once, we were fighting a group of trollocs on the road and I had been hurt quite badly. »

You barely remembered that day. They had come out of nowhere. Your group was travelling with merchants, escorting them to the next city when they attacked. You had tried to protect them but you were outnumbered and weak for your travels. You were fighting one of the beasts when you heard Leffy yell behind you. One look at his bloodied figure and you had lost it. The next thing you knew, you were waking up in his arms, in the middle of the road, surrounded by trollocs corpses.

Leffy, who had been on the brink of death mere seconds before, was cradling you in his arms with a baffled expression. No one had mentioned this day again, prefering to shove those memories far away in their minds.

« She needs to understand this power. » her tone was solemn. « It could consume her »

Your friend stayed silent. Deep down he knew the Aes Sedai was right. But he still couldn’t fully trust this strange woman and her quiet companion.

« I knew this day would come, she was always destined for more than this life. But in the end, it will be her choice. »

This was all too much for you. You could feel your body shutting down, weakened by the healing process.

The slow rhythmic movement of a horse walking stirred you awake. Strong arms kept you sitting upright on the horse and you soon recognized the person sitting behind you. “ You gave us quite the scare.”

“ I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me really. “ You said, still confused about everything that happened. You straightened yourself, not needing as much support from your friend. You looked up and just up ahead, you saw the silhouette of the woman in blue, riding beside a man harboring a long sword. “ Who are they?”

“An Aes Sedai and her warder.” He said with a gruff voice. Something was clearly bothering him. “ We don’t know much else but their names.”

“Pretty far from the White Tower, aren’t they.”

“Indeed, and they refuse to say the reason for their presence here.” Leffy said. He was a gentle man, but earning his trust was a hard thing to achieve. His instincts had kept their little band alive for thirty years, so the fact that the man felt uneasy with their new company said a lot. “ They’re travelling with us to the next city and then we’ll part ways there.”

You knew, from what you had heard, that this was not the end of it but didn’t push, preferring to dig a little on your own. The group stopped for the night at an inn close to a little river. It was peaceful. Everyone was inside drinking and eating but you needed to be alone for a moment. There was a little path that led to the side of the river. It was dark, but your eyes were used to it. You felt her before seeing her, the energy around her was crackling. She was facing the water, her hands seemed to move and light was dancing around her fingers. You stopped in your tracks, far enough to believe she had not noticed you yet. Her blue dress seemed almost black in the dark, and her hair was cascading down her back, swaying with the breeze. You watched her for a moment, simply trying to commemorate each detail to memory.

“ I never got the chance to thank you for what you did.” her voice startled you. She had known of your presence for a while now, waiting to see what you would do, but got impatient herself. “ Come, sit.”

Your legs moved before you realised. You took a seat next to her on the fallen three and looked ahead. You weren’t shy, but somehow, the perspective of locking gaze with this mysterious, powerful woman was petrifying. Your eyes shifted to her hands. A weave of shimmering light was dancing in her palm, its movements hypnotizing you almost. “Few can see the weaves, only those who have touched The One Power can.”

“Is this why you want me to leave with you?” She froze, the weave going still in her hands. She didn't answer, simply looking ahead at the running water.

“Close your eyes.” It did not sound like a simple request. You listened, finding it quite odd how you trusted this woman you barely knew. « Tell me what you feel. »

You paused, willing your body to relax, and be in tune with the nature around you. « I can feel the breeze on my skin, it’s fresh and smells like leaves and wet earth. »

She hummed next to you. « What else. »

« The sound of the water, it’s almost like… » you took a deep breath, concentrating on the water. « Like it’s whispering to me. »

The more you listened, the more you could hear distinct sounds. A horse galloping, man shouting, swords colliding. The noise was getting louder and louder, to the point where you were completely engulfed in this vision. Your breathing was getting ragged and your heartbeat thumping in your chest.

You felt something graze your hand and violently flinched away, your eyes snapping open and meeting concerned blue ones.

« I don’t… »

« You have to… » you cut her off, anxiety and sometimes akin to anger sparking within you.

« I, don't have to do anything. » you said standing up. « I don’t know anything about you! Not even your name. »

Your outburst didn’t faze her, she simply waited a moment for you to calm down. Seeing as your attitude would not help you get answers, you sat back down.

“Moiraine, My name is Moiraine.” she said after a moment. “ I understand. How fast all this is unfurling. But Y\N you need to understand that a war is brewing, and no one will be safe.”

Her statement shook you to the core. One moment you were protecting a small village from Whitecloaks, and the next you were sitting with an Aes Sedai after escaping the grasp of death and coming to terms with the fact that your fate might very well be intertwined with this woman with piercing blue eyes.

“I.. I need to think.” This was all you could answer for now. You could see in Moiraine's face that she wanted to say more, maybe try to convince you further, but she stayed silent. Instead, her hand reached between you two and laid gingerly on top of yours. The first touch sent a spark through you that almost made you flinch away, but then, you felt the warmth of her skin on yours, pulling you in and grounding you somehow. This strange feeling made you look up to meet her intense gaze. If you could’ve seen your expression, you would have found your puzzled expression quite comical.

The same feeling was present in her eyes but she scolded the expression off of her features. Moiraine could not let herself get distracted by something as frivolous as attraction. The moment was short lived, as she stood up abruptly and turned towards the Inn. “I can show you, but you will have to make a decision soon enough. We will part in the next city, whether you follow or not.”

She left you alone by the water, alone with the weight of this decision and the last whispers of the river.

#moiraine sedai #moraine damodred #moraine x reader #moiraine x siuan #lan mandragoran #wheel of time #wot s3 #wot on prime

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