Chasing the Darkness

[Sieve]

Perivar nodded with a look of determination plain on his face as Master Kynwric gave him his orders.  At first he felt slighted as if he was being kept out of it.  Suddenly it occurred to him that his task would be an ominous one if things did not go exactly according to plan.  Plans could go to shambles before the first strike was even made.  He felt his nerves on edge as the weight of his assignment bore down on him.  He fed everything into the flame, it was all so distant though he was one with his mount, one with everything around him.

 

Perivar gaped for a moment.  He had no idea what this opening in front of him was except that it had been done with the one power.  Master Kynwric was through and was hurriedly waving them on.  This was no time for questions so he dismounted and led NightDancer through the opening in the air.  As soon as he was through he mounted with his horsebow at the ready, arrow nocked.  He looked in the direction from which came the sound of thumping boots and thundering hooves spinning NightDancer to face the same direction using just the pressure of his legs to guide his warhorse.  He waited patiently for Master Kynwric to give him the order to loose.  Perhaps he could take down a few Trollocs or cause some damage to one of the Myrddraal.  If they came within melee range he would let the bow hang from his saddle's pommel then pickup his sword and singuata, the round buckler with a blade protruding from either end, both top and bottom for piercing attacks.  Perivar waited on the Aes Sedai to see if they would fight mounted or not.

[U4ea]

Loraine twisted threads together, half listening to Kynwric as he assigned orders. Orders rarely lasted long once a sword was bared, but she didn't offer that up. She was pretty sure Perivar knew that already and Kabria... well, Kabria would figure it out pretty quickly. This was the reason women became Greens, after all. She kept the window small, only big enough for one person at a time on a horse to get through. Any bigger and she'd drain herself before she got it closed. She'd be little use if she were too exhausted.

 

She watched Kynwric move through the weave and felt the nearly immediate caution. She closed her eyes a moment, knowing it could only mean they weren't far enough ahead of them for a good set up for this ambush. She cursed, leading her horse through the window and letting the weave dissolve behind her. She dropped the reins immediately and searched for a place where she could see the coming threat. She groaned inwardly, seeing their arrangement. This was going to be difficult, at best. She set to making the weave that would separate the trollocs from their leaders, laying it in the dirt a few paces ahead of them. She turned and nodded to Kabria. "Start the nastiest weave you know and make as many of them as you can hold. As soon as you see a Fade, attack it. If you hesitate, we're dead..."

[Sieve]

Perivar took up a position on the side of the two Aes Sedai.  Naturally he had an urge to stand between them and the threat yet he would do them no good if he blocked their line of sight.  Perivar spoke to the two Aes Sedai as they stood ready "If they get too close to us you will have to pull back to a new position while I buy you some time.  Once you are setup again I will disengage as soon as I can and come back to you."  Perivar looked at each of them to make sure they heard and were in agreement.  The ground seemed to vibrate with the horde that was bearing down on them. 

 

Perivar hoped that it would just be the Trollocs that he had to distract.  They were lazy by nature and would go for the easier kill.  They would attack him before the Aes Sedai as long as he got himself in the way.  He was counting on their bloodlust and their laziness.  If one of the Myrddraal got too close it would be a different matter entirely.  Best case scenario would be that all three Myrddraal died before the Trollocs could reach them though that was too much to ask for. 

 

Perivar scanned the direction from which they would come.  He waited with his bow at the ready, arrow nocked just waiting for a target to come into view.  He would fire as soon as Master Kynwric gave the command or as soon as the Aes Sedai began channeling.  Perivar was weighing the options in his head.  Attempt to slow the Myrddraal or take down a few trollocs.  His arrows would not kill the Myrddraal unless he was able to put the whole quiver into one of them.  The best he could do was hinder one of them though if he loosed true he may be able to put a few Trollocs down.  He was weighing the options in his head as the vanguard of the horde came into view.  He picked a target and drew the arrow's fletching back to his ear waiting for it all to begin.

[Eqwina]

Her blue eyes bulged and Kabria looked at Loraine in surprise. That weave had not been part of her training. Making a careful note she followed the other through the hole. The second closest Fade, after the Trolloc Warders She repeated to herself over and over, hoping that if she wished it enough everything would go as planned.

 

Giving Blade a small pat Kabria dropped his reins and her eyes began to scan for the threat and asses where she would be of the most good. Lives depended on her today, this was no longer practice, it was real.

 

"Start the nastiest weave you know and make as many of them as you can hold. As soon as you see a Fade, attack it. If you hesitate, we're dead..."

 

Her normally full lips were compressed in a thin line but she nodded to Loraine and prepared the most vicious weave she knew. It would death by fire today.. She had not needed those words to know that this could mean death for all of them, for her, for Loraine, for Kynwric and worst of all Perivar. Her heart longed to stand close to him and protect him from every harm, but luckily her training held and Kabria stood her ground. Her eyes focused on the terrain ahead, not the love of her life. Earth and Fire interlaced to make a deadly weave that she held ready to hurl.

 

With the roar of death and the stench of decay they poured towards the four of them. Trying not to see the wolf muzzles and beaks attached to all too human bodies her eyes searched for her target. Not the first, but the second

 

Black cloak hanging still even as it ran towards them, the thin skin stretched like parchment of where his eyes should be, and a malicious smile would be painted in her mind for years, but Kabria did not hesitate.

 

[Sieve]

Perivar spared a glance for Kabria, he was happy to she that she had chosen to remain mounted.  She would be able to fall back or move wherever she needed to go much quicker if she was already mounted.  Not to mention the advantage of a higher point of view.  Mounted as they were they were almost as tall as the Trollocs.  Kabria was closest to him, only a few paces to his left.  Loraine was a few paces to Kabria's left and he thought Kynwric was on Loraine's left though he could not see him with his peripheral vision. 

 

In the void, Perivar could see her lips thinned, she wore a look of determination.  The white pasty eyeless faces, like parchment pulled too tight over their skulls were clearly visible.  Perivar was relieved to see that she that she was not visibly affected.  Calm Aes Sedai serenity, he was not sure that he could have pulled that off facing his first Myrddraal in battle.  Perivar had no idea that this wasn't her first encounter.  He knew very little of their training other than they were taught something of Shadospawn in the Tower.

 

His eyes went back to the Shadowspawn racing down upon them.  It was time, the ambush had been sprung.  He loosed his first arrow not watching to see it thump into the chest of a goat faced Trolloc.  Perivar quickly nocked another arrow and loosed, out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw Kynwric racing toward the leading Myrddraal.  Perivar knocked and loosed again, he was not sure how many more arrows he could loose before they reached his position.  He was determined to send as many arrows into the pack as possible.  Had the Tollocs possessed any intelligence they would have spread out reducing the chance of a poorly aimed arrow from striking an unintended target.

 

If the Myrddraal were not dead before they reached him he would have to distract them allowing the Aes Sedai a chance to fall back and resume their attack from range.  If either the Myrddraal or the Trollocs reached them then they were all doomed.  All these thoughts sat on the outside of the void, they were distant thoughts.  Light send that Loraine, Kabria, and Kynwric could take down their targets quickly. 

[_Kynwric_]

Kynwric waited until all of them were out of the portal and it had snapped back closed before he spurred his horse forward. As he raced toward the leading line of the shadowspawn he picked out his target off to one side, and just as he neared the line he veered towards the fade, giving one passing hack at the creature as he slid from his horse and used it as a shield between himself and the trollocs. As he landed he was unsurprised to see the fade still standing, although the power of horse and blade had bitten into the eyeless' shoulder. Kyn fell quickly into Lion on a Hill and flowed into Arc of the Moon followed closely by Water Flows Downhill and then Tower of Morning. Kyn had managed to do al ittle damage in the opening strokes and he hoped to finish this quickly as he could feel the trollocs beginning to overcome their confusion as he fought.  Swallow Takes Flight ran into Swallow Rides the Air which wound into Soft Rain at Sunset as a feint to leave the fade open to The River Undercuts the Bank. Kyn was almost surprised to see the fade fall to the ground and he knew quick enough to jump back as far and as fast as he could, which unfortunately landed him squarely in the mess of trollocs. He felt a club slam into his arm and as he lurched to one side and steadied himself against the beak faced creature he had bounced off of he slipped into Twisting in the Wind, feeling his sword bite and slip through flesh as he moved, his face, body, arms and hands becoming slick with blood and gore.

[Sieve]

Scanning the field Perivar saw Kynwric heavily engaged.  He saw no sign of the Myrddraal though several Trollocs were near the Warder.  The next closest Myrddraal was on foot, literally.  The Myrddraal was missing a leg though still he made his way towards them.  The Myrddraal's black armored horse, if it could be called a horse was wrything on the ground several paces behind its master.  The furthest Myrddraal staggered as its arm was sheared off by the power. 

 

Perivar returned his gaze to the nearest Trollocs, six of them were within thirty paces.  He only had time to loose one arrow before they would be on them.  The Myrddraal would be done for in moments.  He just had to buy enough time for the Aes Sedai to finish them off and sever the link to the Trollocs. 

 

Perivar dropped the bow so that it hung from the pommel.  He booted Nightdancer who sprung into action as he drew his sword and singuata.  Nightdancer raced toward the center of the Trollocs, in the void he and his warhorse were one.  He was one with his sword and singuata.  One with everything around him.  A heartbeat from reaching the Trollocs Nightdancer valiantly angled his body to the right as he was trained to do.  Perivar held the buckler portion of the singuata close to his body as he leaned to the left bracing for the impact.  Nightdancer's shoulder struck the lower torso of the middle Trolloc sending three of them to the ground.

 

Perivar grunted from the impact as he and Nightdancer stumbled sideways past the downed Trollocs.  His mount was surefooted quickly recovering several strides after passing through the line of Trollocs.  Perivar vaulted from the saddle and rushed the three Trollocs who had fallen.  Perivar and Nightdancer were behind them now so that the Trollocs were forced to face him and not the Aes Sedai.

 

The eagle beaked Trolloc was rising and was disembowled by Parting the Silk.  The beast shrieked as it brought its massive hands to its torso in a vain attempt to keep its innards from spilling to the ground.  Lashing out with the uppermost blade of the singuata, Perivar struck the wolf muzzled Trolloc in a form similar to Kissing the Adder.  He quickly sidestepped as the Trolloc crashed to the ground alongside him.  He quickly danced the forms to keep himself from becoming a pin cushion.  Four Trollocs faced him, some with booted feet other with hooves.  Goat faces, wolf muzzle, and eagle beak all snarling and growling as they came to take him.

 

Perivar danced through The Creeper Embraces the Oak slowly circling, sword and singuata going from high to low deflecting blow while looking for an opportunity.  On the edge of the void he felt the wounds where Trolloc steel had found its way past his guard and armor.  He felt the distant sting, felt blood trickling though it would not be concern unless this went on longer then expected.  He only had to hold out a short while while the Myrddraal died severing the link to the Trollocs.  Just a little longer he thought.  It felt like hours though he knew it had been mere minutes since it all began.

 

Lightning of Three Prongs took one of the goat faced Trollocs in the neck.  He tried to pull it back though the beast clung to it as if it could save itself by doing so.  It slumped to the ground as Perivar let his grip go knowing it would only drag him to the ground.  With only his sword remaining he danced back with The Falling Leaf deflecting more blows from the Trollocs, blows meant to end his life.  The snarling and growls continued though they were distant.  Dandelion in the Wind did in eagle beak so that only goat face and wolf snout were left standing.  Goat face lashed out at his left side losing his hand to The Rose Unfolds.  As he was bringing his sword back he caught a blur from the corner of his eye.  Something struck the nasal piece of his helm, breaking his nose and causing a ringing sound inside his head as everything went black.  His limp body fell first to its knees then crashed forward to lay still on the ground.  The helm had saved him from a mortal wound though the blow had knocked him out.

 

Perivar's eyes flickered open for moment as his head struck the ground, he felt the blood running from his broken nose.  He was face down on the ground.  His helmet lay askance partially blocking his vision.  Through it he saw one of the remaining Trollocs drop in front of him wrything on the ground in pain.  The link had been cut, thank the light he thought.  His eyes held a look of panic as he searched for Kabria though he could not lift his head.  He prayed to the creator that she was unharmed.  It was his last thought as he slipped back into an unconcious state. 

 

 

 

 

[Eqwina]

Once the battle began she had no time to keep her eyes on the others, she was in a one on one battle for the life. The Fade had not died as easily as she’d hoped and in her focus on the one another had appeared with Trollocs in toe.

 

She no longer felt strong enough to weave large rings of fire that ripped the vile creatures from limb to limb. She could no longer lay about with mass destruction. She had to pick each target and make every weave count. Earth was still her strongest element, so every where she saw a Trolloc the ground erupted in a shower of earth, sending them tumbling about like children’s toys. Soon they were too close for her explosions and too near for the fire. A thin whip as long as her body appeared in her hands and she lashed out using the meager training she’d had. All too quickly even that was too much and it was simple weaves of water and air that held them at bay. The horrid distorted faces blocked her companions from her view, obscuring the last Fade as well. She could see Perivar rushing forward foolishly and yet there was nothing she could do for him but pray.

 

Even in the midst of the carnage and death Kabria was able to laugh, thinking of how happy she was that Perivar had pushed her so hard in her fitness training. Without that she didn’t think her knees would still support her weight.

 

Finally a break opened and she could see the pale white skin and unnaturally still cloak. Wiping back both her arms she threw a succession of fire balls that ripped a whole through his chest. He took several Trollocs with them, though the battle had still not fully died. Casting glances at Kynwric and Loraine she could see that they were struggling but still holding there own; she looked to her right expecting to Perivar but all she could see was Nightdancer and no rider.

 

Kabria did not bother to pick her away around the mangled bodies, she didn’t care that her boots squelched in the vile stink, he mind was all on finding Perivar. When she saw him face down on the ground she fell to her knees in the mud with a horrific cry. Crawling the last few steps to his side she fell onto his chest and fumbled with the weaves for delving. She tried to force them into place and almost lost Saidar completely in her struggle. Fatigue was setting in and with his injuries she was not sure that she would be able to heal him as she should. Perhaps with Loraine…. No doubt she would be as tired as Kabria was. Desperately trying to fight back tears she laid her fingertips lightly on his cheeks and wove healing, but she did not stop with that. Kabria could no longer make herself care that it might be her that someday sent him to his death; seeing him lying unconscious was too much to take. Had she done what she should of long since she would have known the second he’d fallen.

 

A burst of awareness and pain surged with in her and for a moment she was frozen, but that was all it took for Perivar’s eyes to pop open and stare at her in wonder.

 

[U4ea]

Loraine took a deep breath as Kyn's horse sped past her, forming weaves quickly and attacking the first Fade she laid eyes on with a savage vengence she could only loose when her warder was in danger. And Light, was he in danger. She saved her curses for later, focusing all of her attention on the Fade, pouding him with a wild collection of weaves. Air Razors, Earth Grenades, blades of Air slicing through as much as she could see. It fell from its horse, eyeless face searching for its attacker. She heard the screams of trollocs and the other Fades through a haze, not letting up on the creature until it was a pummelled mass of smoking robes.

 

She searched for and found Kynwric, threading weaves together to maul the trollocs that seemed to be trying to close around him. She muttered under her breath, wondering how they'd slipped past her weave. Her muttering became full fledged cursing when Kabria left her side and began wading into the trollocs. Her eyes fell on what she assumed was Perivar's lifeless form laying in the dirt under the trollocs and her cursing stopped. There'd be time for the inevitable dress downs, later. She refused to drag these two back to the Tower and she was too tired to dig their graves.

 

She drew her sword, Unfolding the Fan coming as easily as breathing. She moved forward, her eyes pegging a group of trollocs who seemed wild with their sudden lack of leadership. Their wildness would put Kabria and Perivar in danger and she couldn't allow that. She stalked them, smiling slowly at their apparent fear of her. You should be afraid, she thought as she drew close enough to pick her targets and let loose a few gagging weaves. I'm angry and a Green should never be made angry. The thought made her nearly laugh, but she spared a glance for Perivar and Kabria, knowing they'd think her mad if she laughed. She felt Kyn's amusement, though, and knew he understood. Only someone used to seeing a trolloc running around without a leader would see it as funny. It is a shame Perivar had chosen to take a nap and miss it. She grinned, then, swinging her sword into Lion on the Hill and alternating between weaves and sword forms until the trollocs nearest her were crying their life's blood into the dirt. She moved on, not stopping until she'd found what she was looking for.

 

After cutting the trollocs around the huddled boy and girl away, she smiled her most motherly and wrapped a ward around them. "You will be safe as long as you stay within this circle," she said softly, showing them the circle the weave had cut into the dirt around them. "Don't leave it for any reason. Once we have ensured that you are safe, I shall return for you. Do you trust me?"

 

She waited until they nodded, their eyes full of horror. She wasn't sure they did, but she didn't have time to make sure. They couldn't leave their circle, anyway. She'd made sure of that. She moved into the trollocs again, throwing the Riven Earth weave at the feet of a particularly large group and burying them underground. Fatigue started pulling on her and she slowed down, finally making it to Kynwric's side. "I found them and placed them under a ward. Will you stop playing with these beasts and just finish them already so we can find out what's going on?"

[Sieve]

Perivar's arms shot out to his sides and his back arched as he felt as if a bucket of ice cold water had been dumped on him.  His eyes shot open as he felt a bundle of sensations in the back of his mind.  A mixture of concern and love as well as a myriad of others surged through the bond.  Light the bond!  He pushed himself to his knees struggling to remove the helmet that was twisted on his head.  The smashed in nasal piece made it difficult to remove it.  After a few moments of cursing and pulling he finally threw his helmet to the ground.

 

His head still ached from the blow, a dull aching pain.  She had healed him but he knew her skill with healing was only moderate at best.  She could not heal everything so he was left with a dull headache.  He felt his nose that should have been broken.  A smile formed on Kabria's face and he stared at her in amazement.

 

Unbeknownst to him feelings of embarassment from his end shot through the bond.  It was mixed with the unconditional love, pride, and adoration that he held for her but it was there for her to sense.  Her smile turned to a look of puzzlement as she noticed it though he had no idea why.  He became furious with himself, it was not supposed to be like this.

 

Perivar's wits had returned, well somewhat.  From his knees he scanned the area and saw that it was over.  There were still Trollocs in their death throes and the Myrddraal still lashed out blindly or twitched, refusing to die though the links they had were severed.  Perivar saw Loraine Sedai and Master Kynwric talking to two children, one boy and on girl.  At least they had made it he thought, their mission was a success though no thanks to him.

 

Perivar turned his attention back to Kabria.  When his voice came it was a throaty rasp, he was parched and his throat was as dry as dust  "I guess I can hide it no longer can I?"  He nodded then continued.  "I love you more than anything Kabria.  More than my duty to the Tower, more than my duty to fight the Shadow, more than anything at all.  Do not fear, for I will do my duty as I am sworn to do.  I am sworn to you Kabria, you first, it is you that I love more than anything."  It was her who said their love would come second to their duty, could she accept this.  She eyed him thoughtfully though he realized that he had missed the mark.  That was not why she looked at him so or was it.  It was easier trying to understand why the sun shined as it did than trying to figure out women.

 

He shrugged, was it his feelings of embarassment and of him being angry with himself that she was wondering about.  "I am sorry Kabria.  I did not want you to bond me like this.  I wanted it to be because there was no doubt in your mind that I would be the best Warder for you, not as a last resort to save my life.  I am a fool Kabria, but not as big a fool as you think.  I know that is the reason why.  Without the benefits of the bond I would not have survived the healing."  He touched his head the dull ache keeping time in his head.  His skull must have been fractured.

 

Shame flowed through the bond, as hard as he tried to serve her well he could not measure up. "How could you want me for a Warder?"  He waved his arms at what lay around him.  Even the Warder bond would not make him a better fighter.  Sure the benefits of the bond would come in handy though it did not make him more skilled.  "How, knowing that I could not even protect you from this?  Instead of protecting you I became a hindrance.  You know I have wanted this more than anything, but...perhaps..."  He could not finish the thought, his brain had been addled and he did not want to say it.  He would not have been able to speak it aloud anyway, his throat was dry as dust making it extremely difficult to speak.  He felt as if he was about to drub him silly.

 

She still stared at him without comment obviously processing the sensations coming from his side of the bond.  "I do love you Kabria, more than anything.  I am honored to be your Warder if you will still have me."  Perivar knew she would not turn him away but she had to be given the option.  He smiled at her then chuckled which turned into a fit of dry coughing.  When he recovered he added with a hint of a smile "I am not right in the head am I?  I guess that can't be healed."  He paused briefly  "The Light consume me Kabria, are you going to say something?  I can't explain every thought in my foolish head trying to guess what you are wondering about.  It would take far too long for that."  He smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders then began picking at the dry blood on his face.  Light he must have made a ghastly sight.       

[_Kynwric_]

Kynwric walked up behind Perivar and Kabria He had left Loraine deal with the townsfolk they had found, in his experience she was a good bit less frightening to people than he was. "You are presumptuous Perivar Gaidin, the Aes Sedai bonded you because she had no doubt that you are the right Warder for her, just as I have no doubt that you are fit to be her Warder. Now it is up to you to be the best Warder you can be." He gave a slight shake of his head... "And to answer your question, you have not been right in the head since the day you walked into my forms class... good to see you awake though." Kynwric nodded with a smile and then turned to rejoin Loraine.

 

He came up upon the group slowly and softly, figuring that everyone there had had enough of a shock for the rest of their lives, he listened as Loraine spoke to them and got their story.

[Sieve]

Master Kynwric's voice made him look over his shoulder.  The shock must have been plain on his face as he listened to the Warder's words.  He knelt there listening with his mouth agape.  "You are presumptuous Perivar Gaidin, the Aes Sedai bonded you because she had no doubt that you are the right Warder for her, just as I have no doubt that you are fit to be her Warder. Now it is up to you to be the best Warder you can be." He gave a slight shake of his head... "And to answer your question, you have not been right in the head since the day you walked into my forms class... good to see you awake though."  He was speechless, he could only nod to Master Kynwric before the man turned and walked back to Loraine Sedai.

 

Confidence and a hint of pride surged through him as he turned back to face Kabria.  A smile shown on her face and amusement flowed through the bond.  "That is why you didn't answer me.  You let me go on and on blabbering like a light blinded fool."  His words held no anger though he yelled at her.  "You are lucky that I do not have a pillow with me or I would throw it at you."  

 

His mood became serious as his hands went to his belt retrieving his dagger.  Perivar handed it to Kabria hilt first which made her arch an eyebrow though he could feel the uncertainty flowing through the bond.  Kneeling he put his back to her.  "I thought you would like the honors my love.  You almost did it the first day we met though now you can do it under different circumstances."  He chuckled softly at the thought then his mood became serious once again.  "When I became a Tower Guard I lost my place of birth and became sworn to the Tower and its causes.  Now that I am your Warder I am sworn to you and no other.  Go ahead and cut off the belled ends.  No longer will I wear my hair in the belled braids of Arafel.  I am sworn to you and no other." he repeated, once the thought of losing his braids would have made him wince.  He felt closure as the dagger cut through the belled ends of his braids.  He had waited for this moment for what seemed a lifetime.  The wedge between them was as thin as it ever would be.  The last sliver of the wedge was their duty to the White Tower and their service to the light. 

 

It took a few moments, but it suddenly struck him.  Their duty and service to the Light was not a wedge after all, it was a bond, a common cause that they both held dear.  The same passionate cause that had brought them together in the first place.  Love and pride shot through the bond and for the first time he noticed it coming from her end of the bond as well.  Perhaps it had been there all along though his rambling thoughts had masked it.  He turned to face her, his back to the others.  He kissed her forehead gently then held her.  No words needed to be spoken, what flowed through the bond said it all far better than any words could have...

 

When the moment passed he set about retrieving his weapons wiping the Trollocs blood from the blades.  He then walked to Nightdancer grabbing one of the waterskins.  He noticed the pangs of hunger, a result of the healing yet there was nothing to do about that now.  He poured the cool water into his mouth, it was so refreshing that it tasted like a fine wine.  When he had his fill of water he walked back to Kabria, it was past time to find out what was going on.    

[Eqwina]

A kind of wry amusement painted Kabria’s face and she had fought the urge to laugh. She couldn’t say why, but just feeling the glow and the warmth of his undying love made her feel like dancing like a child. She wanted to spread her arms wide and turn in circles until she was too dizzy to stand. Almost every day a man and a woman proclaimed their love for each other and had to trust on blind faith that the other words were true. Up until now his promise had been enough, but there had always been a small voice in the back of her mind that seemed to chant, what if you’re wrong. Now…now she knew with un-doubtable proof that Perivar’s heart was hers.

 

A mixture of wonder and embarrassment? was coming towards her, tangled with the veins of love. Sitting back on her heels she just stared at Perivar babbled on. From over his head she saw Kynwric standing with his arms crossed, grinning. Pinching her mouth shut she didn’t saw a word, just smiled at the torrent that poured from her new warder. As he was speaking about not feeling good enough she wanted to reach out and slap his face, but with someone else’s eyes on her as well she thought better of it.

 

"You are presumptuous Perivar Gaidin, the Aes Sedai bonded you because she had no doubt that you are the right Warder for her, just as I have no doubt that you are fit to be her Warder. Now it is up to you to be the best Warder you can be." He gave a slight shake of his head... "And to answer your question, you have not been right in the head since the day you walked into my forms class... good to see you awake though."

 

A roar of laughter bubbled up in Kabria and she almost fell over before her giggles subsided, but when Perivar’s eyed turned back to her she clammed up and put on her most innocent face. Gaidin were always touchy and she didn’t want to offend her first by laughing too outright.

 

"You are lucky that I do not have a pillow with me or I would throw it at you." 

 

“Never think that I wouldn’t hesitate to return the favor Perivar Gaidin.”

He smiled at her and almost in the same breath his voice became a stony calm and he removed his dagger from his sheath. Eyeing it as she would a hot adder she arched her eyebrow and wondered what Borderland custom this was. "I thought you would like the honors my love.  You almost did it the first day we met though now you can do it under different circumstances." The first day they’d met? Her lips curled down in a frown and she stared pensively at his braids. "When I became a Tower Guard I lost my place of birth and became sworn to the Tower and its causes.  Now that I am your Warder I am sworn to you and no other.  Go ahead and cut off the belled ends.  No longer will I wear my hair in the belled braids of Arafel.  I am sworn to you and no other."

 

Even though she’d suspected its coming Kabria still gasped before recovering and placing her fists on her hips with a glare. “Perivar Gaidin, what foolishness do you speak now? I fell in love with you as you were, bonded you as you were, and now you want me to defile your heritage. I cannot, no I will not” There was a stubborn set to her mouth and then a small twinge in the bond made her look at him in a different way. It seemed that losing his braids meant to him than it did to her keeping them. Somehow it his own foolish overproud way he saw it as his final dedication to her. "The things you make me do” Kabria muttered as she sliced off each braid clean above his ears. “You are wrongheaded and foolish and often you make me want to stomp my feat and rip my hair out by the roots, but I love you and I can think of no better man to stand by my side and no better warrior to have as my warder.” Leaning in she kissed him softly on each cheek and then pressed her fingers to her lips and then to his.

 

When he wrapped her in his arms she forgot all about braids and honor and about Trollocs and the carnage around her. Until he released her only the two of them existed….

Light! She was bonded!!! Kabria marveled as they made their way to where Loraine Sedai was standing with the others

 

[U4ea]

Loraine watched the pair of them, arching her eyebrow as Kynwric left them and returned to her side. She was glad for them, truly, but if reveling in the glow of their love was all their focus they would be dead before they returned to the Tower. She sighed inwardly, trying to listen as the survivors told their stories, hurried and frightened as they may be. "Wait, what did you say?" She asked, focusing on a middle-aged woman before her. "Where did you say these children's parents are?"

 

"They ran away about a half run behind us, my lady," the woman answered, pointing behind the group.

 

"They left their children in the hands of..." Loraine waved her hands at the dead and dying trollocs and Fades around them. "What possessed them...?"

 

"They were afraid, ma'am," another voice answered. This one was a younger man, twenty if she gave him a day. He was covered in dirt and his clothes were ripped. If the stains were any indication, he was either injured or had been standing next to someone who became injured. "Afraid of their children more than the trollocs..."

 

Loraine turned to Kynwric, clamping her lips tightly. "How could...?" She didn't finish. "I'll be back in a minute, see if you can get any information from them that I missed. I need to talk to those kids..."

[_Kynwric_]

Kynwric kept talking to the people while Loraine left off to speak with the children, he didn't really get any more information out of them. He did tell them that it wouldn't be safe to travel back to their town, and that they would be instead heading for Fal Dara. He did what he could and then let them all huddle together, most people simply were not cut out for being face to face with trollocs and fades.

[Sieve]

Perivar walked alongside Kabria as they made their way to where Master Kynwric stood with the former prisoners.  Actually he walked half a step behind so he could watch her and their surroundings all at once.  He eyed the Shadowspawn that littered the ground.  Not all of them were dead.  Some were mortally wounded giving off guttural groans and others were in their death throes.  It was not wise to consider any of them truly dead until days had passed where their lifeless bodies failed to move.

 

Perivar wanted to walk in front of her to make sure the path was clear though somehow he thought she would not have allowed it.  So newly bonded he did not dare anger her or have her think that she had made the wrong decision in bonding him.  For now he would have to carefully feel her out to see what she expected of him until they had time to talk it over.  Whatever the case there would be times when he would have to take certain actions for her safety whether she liked it or not.  Well as long as she did not order him to do otherwise.  That was the rub of the bond.  He knew there would be times when she would command him to do something regardless of what he thought.  She would command and he would obey no matter how much he might disagree with her decision.  That was simply the way of the bond.

 

They reached Master Kynwric and the former prisoners without incident.  He had tried to wipe his face with water to wash away the blood.  Not all of it was his.  No matter how much he wiped his face he knew he was still a gruesome sight with blood caked on his body and armor.  Not all of the blood was Trolloc blood, some of it was his own.  His stomach rumbled loudly.  Regardless of the benefits of the bond, he was hungry, no ravenous.  He felt like he could eat an entire deer or an entire side of beef by himself.

 

Perivar nodded to Master Kynwric then spared a glance for the prisoners before resuming his study of their surroundings.  He would not put it past any of the Trollocs to play possum then rise and strike if an opportunity presented itself.

[U4ea]

~~~*little Wayne's World Time Warp*~~~~

 

 

Loraine leaned back against a rock, having settled the two children in her tent for the night. Their frightened cries and muffled sobs having finally worn them out enought to sleep. They might've been nearly twelve, but the pair of them had been through so much in the last few days that they were entitled to a little display of immaturity. They'd fallen asleep huddled in her cot, so Loraine had gone for some air. She sighed inwardly and closed her eyes. Exhaustion pulled at her and she knew she needed to sleep. It would be a restless one if she didn't get her nerves under control, though.

 

She watched the stars overhead as the camp quietened. Kyn had the watch and she felt him moving around the perimeter of the camp. Kabria and Perivar were most likely celebrating their bond. It was a thought that brought a smile to her lips, fond memories to her thoughts and a modicum of relaxation to her muscles. Tomorrow, they'd leave for Fal Dara, taking the children with them. They'd need to go with them back to the Tower, though if the Fades had been after them with this much intensity, she doubted it would be an easy go.

 

She heard a rustle over her shoulder and turned her smile up at Kynwric as he appeared around the rock. "Hello, stranger. Come here often?"

 

(ooc: move on as fast as you want from here. I didn't feel the need to carry on a conversation with a couple of kids by myself. ;) )

[Eqwina]

As soon as they were afforded the chance..after the kids were settled into their blankets and good nights had been said Kabria led Perivar off to a secluded area of the camp. All of the modesty she used to harbor melted away during their days spent renting the room in Tar Valon and she had no issues putting him through his paces, twice. The whole world was a new experience having him in her head. She could scarcely believe that she’d been so rash and just bonded him without any ceremony or words.

 

But somehow she also knew that this was how their bond had been meant to happen. Here in the Blight..so close to their home and their roots surrounded by friends. The dead mangled bodies, blood and sweat had never been in her dreams, but the rest was perfect.

 

She was content and yet unable to sleep, after she was sure her moving would not wake Perivar she crawled from their blankets and redressed and washed the best she could. Careful not to disturb Loraine and Kynwric she ducked in to check on the children before sitting back down next to Perivar, staring off towards the South and the direction they would head come morning.

 

It would probably be a short trip to Fal Dara with only enough time to gather supplies, but she would savor every moment she had in her home land. To carry with her until she and her warder could return to begin the search for her family.

 

--party on Wayne-- ;)

[Sieve]

((Wayne's World....Party Time!))

 

The feeling of her in the back of his head took some getting used to in normal circumstances.  That night when they were together he had nearly gone out of mind by the burst of emotions that they shared.  Nobody ever explained that part of the bond to him.  To feel her so intensely in his head, their mutual feelings plain as day shocked him to his curling toes.  Light he felt as if his head would explode. 

 

Before the festivities he ate enough for five men, five very large men.  Shortly after the festivities he nodded off.  Even with the benefits of the bond he was exhausted from the healing and the days events.  When he woke she was laying beside him as if she had never left.  He kissed her on the cheek then left their tent to take over the watch from Master Kynwric so he could get some rest.  Master Kynwric insisted that he had the watch covered and told him to return to Kabria.

 

In the morning they broke camp and rode on towards Fal Dara.  He had hoped they would have time to search for Kabria's family but that would have to wait for now.  Duty called, they had to get the children safely to Fal Dara then on to Tar Valon.     

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn was standing watch, letting Kabria and Perivar have the night to experience their bond, he turned around the corner of the rock which Loraine and secreted herself and the kids and heard her speak from her bedroll.

 

"Hello, stranger. Come here often?"

 

He smiled down at her and shook his head. "First time, you?" Almost as soon as he said it he heard movement behind him, from the direction Kabria and Perivar had disappeared. He held a finger up to Loraine just so he could see the boys appearance for himself before speaking to him.

 

"Perivar Gaidin, take yourself back to your Aes Sedai. I have the watch this night." Kyn was insistent on his returning to his bed as well, not giving in.

 

He then turned back to Loraine and stooped down to press a kiss to her lips. "Get some sleep love, it will be a long day tomorrow. I intend to make Fal Dara.

 

Finally when morning came everything was packed away nice and neat and they were ready to go. He set Perivar on to scout and he himself rode slightly behind the Aes Sedai and children, making a backtrack every so often to check on any pursuit. He was gladdened to see the walls of the city rising just as the sun was beginning to disappear. 

[U4ea]

(EXCELLENT!)

 

 

Loraine smiled as Perivar moved away, shaking her head up at her Warder. "I know well what awaits me inside my bedroll, love. I don't think I've thrown that many weaves at once in quite a long time." She closed her eyes and smiled again as he swooped down for a kiss. Was it the newly bonded couple lowering his guard? She wasn't complaining, either way. She sighed as he moved away and nestled into her bedroll.

 

Morning brought the familiar routine of breaking camp along with the familiar routine of getting two children moving in the early morning sunlight. It amazed her how little she forgot and hummed as she set about getting them ready for traveling. Motherhood had fit her like a glove, even if being domestic hadn't. At least her cooking was better, these days...

 

It was a long day in the saddle, but that was probably mostly due to her inability to rest fully the night before. She prayed the walls of Fal Dara would afford her some much needed rest. If she had a Fade to take down, now... She sighed inwardly and shook her head. She doubted she'd get very far without her sword. Even that was doubtful. Pillows danced in her thoughts as they entered the city, even though she knew it would be a while before she saw one.

[Sieve]

Perivar was glad to see the city come into view though there was a hint of worry.  The trouble between Arafel and Shienar was worse now than it had been a few years ago.  Even without the braids there was no doubt that he was Arafellin.  Would they look at him crosswise like the villagers had or would they see a servant of the Tower.  Some may take him for Kabria's Warder though without the color shifting cloak they may not.  He did not think he possessed the deadly grace that Master Kynwric did.  One glance at Master Kynwric was all one would need to name him a Warder.

 

Perivar noticed Kabria's glance in his direction.  She had felt the hint of worry through the bond.  They rode practically knee to knee so his voice was for her ears only.  "With all the trouble between Arafel and Shienar I do not know how welcome I will be in Fal Dara.  It is much worse now than it had been when I left.  I do not want to cause any trouble for us but I will not leave your side.  Perhaps they will see me as a servant of the Tower first and an Arafellin second."

 

Perivar thought of his family.  Their land was the northwest corner of Arafel.  It's westernmost edge was Arafel's border with Kandor but they had been camped with his father's troops on the border of Shienar when he left.  The trouble between Arafel and Shienar had just started brewing then, he hoped his family was well.  If not then there was nothing to do about it.  His duty lay elsewhere.