Arrival at the Tower

Agony was the way he would have described his lucid moments, if Aran had been disposed to describe them.  Instead he simply experienced it in the moment as he laid in the back of the wagon, a cloak resting over his form and keeping him warm.  Yet there was something different this time as his view of the backs of Raina and the boy were joined by another sight, one caused a ripple of relief to pass through his aches and pains.  The White Tower, he could not see the walls but he could see the Tower.  It meant that their journey was nearing its end, as was the torment that had been with him since he had left Cairhien.

 

Enjoying the sight of the Tower rolling closer, or rather, them rolling closer to the Tower, it wasn't until they had passed through the city gates that the thought occurred to him.  He needed to hide what had happened, or at least minimize how much it was known.  If he was rolled into the yards in the state that he was in, there would be far too many questions and furthermore he'd be mothered in the infirmary.  That was the last thing he needed, especially because it would then allow people to make assumptions about what he had been up to while he had been in Cairhien, and that would lead them further.  No one needed to know what had happened, not what had truly happened, and if he was going to make sure that happened then he was going to have to tough it out for awhile longer.

 

"Raina." It was a pained croak, but it was enough to get her attention as he made his wish known.  "Raina, I need you to go to the White Tower alone, have this wagon placed somewhere out of sight.  I need you to find a Yellow Sister, one in particular and without drawing attention to herself.  I want you to find a Zalena Sedai, if she isn't in the infirmary then she will be in the Yellow Ajah quarters.  Find her and bring her to me, tell her that I am in need of assistance and that she needs to be discreet.  Her and no one else, do you understand me Raina?  Absolutely no one else."

 

 

She hated all of it.  The trip from Cairhein had seemed to take forever and ever stone or bump in the road made her tears well up ever since she had broken Aran's body.  Knowing she had to do it made no difference in the guilt she felt for not being able to get him to the Tower before it had to be done.  She kept telling herself that there was no way she could have made it in time but it didn't help.

 

Aran's groan from the back got her attention and she listened to his words, wishing for once that just one thing since the arrival of the Aiel in Cairhein could be done easily.  She wanted nothing more than to take Aran to the Tower and go looking for her Grand Aunt, but it didn't appear that her desires counted for anything unless Luc was present.  She felt a momentary pang and wished that he could have come with her.

 

Pushing the thought aside she nodded at Aran.  "I'll find her.  Zalena Sedai."   Finding a good place to stop the cart, Raina  had Arden stay close by Aran and ran as much as she could towards the Tower without drawing attention.  There were plenty of people in the streets and one Cairheinin in the streets was no different from another here.

 

Reaching the gates of the Tower, she found a young woman at the front, taking people's names and purposes.  She smiled at the girl in her white gown and took a deep breath.  "I need to speak with Zalena Sedai on an urgent matter."

 

The girl looked her over and nodded.  "Of course.  You can take a seat and we will see what can be done to find her."

 

Raina raised herself up to her full height though the other still towered over her by a fair bit.  "Perhaps you misunderstood.  I have been sent to Zalena Sedai on an urgent matter.  I have no wish to discuss this with you or anyone else and if she comes out to find that I have been sitting waiting while you were busy pretending to be someone important I promise it will be worth more than your feeble hide."

 

The girl actually pulled back from Raina as if she had been slapped, but her eyes were wide and she backed away, moving towards another girl.

 

Raina took a deep breath and waited.  Either she was about to get herself in a lot of trouble for her demands, or they were going to find this Zalena Sedai.

 

It felt like an eternity but less than 10 minutes later the girl came back, pointing to Raina as she did so.  The woman beside her was beautiful with black hair and blue eyes.  Her coloring and features named her Saldean even if her clothing didn't.  "You were asking after me on an urgent matter?" She asked as she came towards Raina.

"Lady Raina Dulcei, Aes Sedai." She said, knowing that titles counted in Tar Valon as much as they did in Cairhein.  "A friend of yours is in need of help and has asked that I come for you.  He is nearby. Will you help?"

 

The Aes Sedai watched her closely.  She had named no names and her own name was not attached to him so there was no way she could know who it was.

 

"If there is one in need of me, please, lead the way."  Raina let out the deep breath as she began walking, but the Aes Sedai wasn't done yet.  "And when this is all over, we will have a talk about the proper way to announce yourself to the White Tower without frightening poor novices at our gates."

 

She groaned, but didn't slow her steps.  When they arrived Arden looked up gratefully.  He'd been as upset with the journey as she had.  She'd have to find a way to reward him in Tar Valon before they made the return journey.  For his help, and for his silence.

 

The Aes Sedai moved past Raina and to the back of the carriage.  Opening it up, her mouth hung open for a second.  "Peace, Aran.  What happened to you?"

 

It was an interminable wait, but soon Zalena was looming over him and with shock as clear on her face as the midday sun that he judged was hanging above.  The question seemed a bit strange though, what had happened to him?  What was he meant to say?  Despite all the turmoil in his mind, there was still enough presence of mind to respond with an equally intelligent answer, even if every word hurt.  "I was savaged by a duck of epic proportions.  I don't suppose you could get to the healing could you?  I hold your curiosity in high esteem, but I've been like this for about a week and I would really like to feel better."

"You say the sweetest things for a man who should be too hurt to talk."  She had already opened herself to the One Power though and as soon as she was in the back of the carriage with him, began the weaves that would tell her how badly he was hurt and what she needed to do for him.

 

Zalena had a fondness for a pretty face and there weren't many in her eyes that managed to take her vice as seriously as she did.  The fact that Aran was one of them meant she liked him pretty well and she hated to see her friends in pain.  Certainly in the sort of pain that had kept him in this state.    The young girl at his side seemed far less certain as she hovered.  "Go take a seat up front. I need a little space."

She did as told and Zalena was able to concentrate.  It wasn't pretty.  The burns were bad and she hated to think what the travel must have been like.  She hoped he had been passed out through most of it, but he was a stubborn thing so it was hard to tell.  The delving showed two breaks in some of the bones and it didn't take much to understand the hovering Lady then.  Light, that took courage.  She'd have to thank her later.  Aran probably hadn't been in the right mind and the least she could do on behalf of her friend was get the girl good and drunk and help her forget the memory.

 

She took a deep breath and thanked the Creator she hadn't been in the infirmary today. She's been reading a book one of the Brown sisters had found and brought to her attention, knowing her love of herbs and healing texts.  She let go of the delving weave and began to pull from all five of the elements, working with the larger breaks to set and heal first.  Bone was mended, and the sinew around it was reconnected as it should be.  Smaller breaks came next.  It felt as if she had been working for ages to correct the bones, but finally she managed to get all the bones reset.

 

There were smaller cuts and scrapes, bruises that had happened as he tried to protect his breaks.  Those were easy enough.  It was the hands that were the problem.  The scarring was already done and there was nothing she could do to fix that.  She shook her head, wondering what sort of story Aran had got himself caught up in, but she wasn't sure she'd ever get the truth about this one.  There was a chance to save his hands, but not yet.  She couldn't ask it of him when he was already so tired.

 

It would have been simple enough to wipe that away to, but the body became tired for a reason and she had no doubt that there was grief  behind this story.  It would be better for him if he needed to sleep it off for a while.

 

Finally done, she opened her eyes and looked back at him.  "I want to get you up to the Tower to keep an eye on you, but somehow I think you have other plans..."

 

The chill finally faded as Zalena's work was done, something for which he was grateful as the aches and pains were simply replaced with an overwhelming tiredness and hunger.  Part of him wanted to sleep right there and then, but there was going to be little chance of that and he knew it.  Her words were pertinent enough, he wasn't ready to return to the Tower grounds just yet.  Maybe not for another day or two, he needed time to heal and he needed a place to go.  He needed long enough so that he could return to the Yards in a condition that would allow for him to be reasonably left alone.

 

Reaching up for her hand, Aran grasped it gently as it was offered.  He was glad to know that his bet on her hadn't been misplaced.  A friend was a friend, even if he only saw her every now and then with everything else he did.  Then, their reasons for meeting had altered over the months and for a good reason, or was it?  He didn't want to think about it, he needed to focus on the moment and the moment meant he needed to convince Zalena that he wasn't to go back to the Tower grounds just yet.  Not yet, not how he was, it couldn't be done now.

 

"Thank you, Lena.  I can't go back there, not yet.  If I go back, there will be a lot of questions asked...  Let us say I have lost people dear to me over the past few weeks and leave it at that?  I need to get to a house on the north side, there are some people there I've known for years and they'll take me in until I'm close enough to health that I can return without having too many questions asked of me.  Please, I need this of you." The last was plaintive, a tone that was virtually alien from Aran.

 

She hated that he had lost anyone and to see how he had managed to come back... she took a deep breath to forestall her anger.  She looked at him and shook her head, then pulled him into an embrace that he probably wouldn't want just now, but she hated the sound of his voice.  "So long as you let me know if you need help before you make it back.  And if you aren't back in three days I will come for you and your friends better hope they've got the Dark One's Luck because i'll come thumping on them."

 

It was a slight exaggeration but she wasn't good at letting people heal on their own.  She preferred to be on hand, with large bowls of soup and cookies as a reward for good behavior.    She pulled back, then looked at the others.  "Do you want to take the carriage or leave it to your....." She left the rest blank for him to fill it in.

 

It felt strange being held by Zalena, another time he could have drawn warmth from it.  Now...  It felt foreign in a way, alien, and he couldn't say for the life of him why.  He needed to go, thats what he needed, to go to the house and get some food and just sleep.  Patting Zalena on the back, she released him and he followed her gaze.  She raised a good point, and he realised that there was a problem with riding the wagon as much as he wanted to.  He would not be able to spare himself this time, he needed to disappear and he couldn't do that if Raina knew where he was.  Perhaps not even Zalena.

 

"You should take them to the Tower, Raina has someone to speak to I think.  I can get to the house from here, never you fear.  I'll come back after a couple of days, or at least send word to you so you know I'm alright."  Grabbing the cloak that he had been using as a blanket, he pulled it on and threw the hood on as he spoke.  "You don't mind giving me a moment to speak with Raina?  I need to ask something of her."

Getting a nod from Zalena, Aran looked over to Raina who was sitting with the lad, whose name he still hadn't learned.  "Raina, need to talk to you for a moment." At that he shifted over to the edge of the wagon and slipped himself over the side, having to hold onto the wagon to maintain his feet.  After a week of having been lying down, it was difficult to maintain his feet in his weak state.  But with Zalena watching, he had little choice but to let go of the wagon and force himself to stay upright, if he didn't he was certain the woman would haul him off herself and damned be his wishes on the matter.

 

They'd parked in an alley it seemed.  Wandering over to the closest wall, Aran leaned against it as Raina walked over to him.  It was easier to maintain his feet that way, and he could focus more on the talking.  Reaching over to her, he laid a hand on her shoulder as he stared at her.  She needed to know certain things, or there would be trouble for both of them, so he spoke quietly.  "Raina, you must know something.  Here, my life in Cairhien is not known.  No one knows of my family, of my ties, none of it.  You must speak of it to no one, tell those that ask that I fought against Aiel, tell them that I lost people close to me.  If Zalena asks, let her know that I lost family.  But I would ask you to keep everything else to yourself.  Not just for my sake, but for yours.  If the Aes Sedai learn of the true depth of your influence, that you had strong ties beyond the Sons of Cairhien, you could be easily seen as a tool.  Tread lightly and seek Aramina out as soon as you can, she will take care of you.  Alright?"

 

Raina listened, but she had been playing the Great Game long enough to know that warning.  She had no intention of talking to any Aes Sedai except her Grand Aunt.  She had wanted Raina well enough herself about the depths the Tower would use her if they could.  She hated to be so cynical, but she would trust in their guidance in this.  "I will not betray you or your family Aran." She said softly.  "After everything else we've been through, they are mine too."  She meant it, though she didn't think he would understand.  She might idolize her Grand Aunt in the White Tower, but she had grown up in a large extended family that added members almost as much through friendship as it did bloodline. "I will keep my peace and do as you ask, though I hope to avoid any prying eyes until I can see my Grand Aunt."

 

She knew he wasn't going to see her to the Tower himself and she realized they were parting way.  She took a deep breath.  "I'm sorry Aran.  It's so wrong that they are gone after they survived so much.  And i'm sorry for what I had to do to you.  But if you ever find your sister again, let her know that though my debt is paid, she still has a friend in Cairhein if she needs it."  It was the least she could do for them.  "Anything else you need from me?  What should I tell my Grand Aunt when I see her?"

What to tell Aramina indeed.  Thinking in silence, Aran couldn't decide and he was too tired for it.  Not just tired in the moment, but tired of it, too much over too long.  He had been so long away from Cairhien that he had forgotten himself, he needed to decide what that was first.  Regardless of his choice, he was fairly certain that things would never, could never be the same again.  One way or another.  "Tell her nothing." At that, Aran turned and slipped away from the alley and onto the streets.  He would need to make a little distance before he stopped, in case Zalena had any intention of keeping an eye on him, or Raina for that matter.

 

Raina watched him walk away, unable to think of anything to say.  She knew that there was more to his relationship with Aramina than either had ever admitted, but to see him walk way... her Grand Aunt deserved more than that.  She wasn't sure if she would be able to keep what had happened a secret from Aramina, nor if she should.  If Aran wanted to go his separate way from the Aes Sedai he'd come to the wrong place with the wrong girl.  She took a deep breath, thinking in the end that she would do what he asked, mostly because it would only hurt Aramina to find he had come and not seen her at all.

 

Zalena watched the girl come up and frowned.  "Where is Aran?"

"He started walking that way." She said, pointing down the street.  Her face turned red at the words that began to flow from the Aes Sedai's lips.  She'd never heard anyone called a flaming goat headed, pig knuckled trolloc lover before, but she wasn't about to ask the Aes Sedai if was proper to say so.

 

Zalena took a deep breath as she began to leash her tongue in.  Men were an endless source of trouble to her.  Women too, but at the moment it was one man that needed her help.  She looked at Raina. "You can get this thing back to where you came?"  She nodded and Zalena smiled.  "Good.  Go back towards the Tower and get yourself a nice room at a the Amyrlin's Glory.  Get yourself settled, then go looking for whoever Aran thinks you need to talk to there.  I'll try to come later and check on you, alright?"

 

The Lady was compliant enough and that gave Zalena the chance to begin the hunt.  Aran couldn't have gotten too far with his current reserve of strength.  She was immediately glad she hadn't wiped the exhaustion from him.  Why was it patients always tried to do the first thing they shouldn't?  She was two blocks down when she started to get worried that someone might have noticed his state and taken advantage of him.  On the third block though she finally spotted her pray and it was only by chance that she had caught it was him.  Sitting back from the road, he had switched his cloak, making the outside  brown instead of the green she had been looking for.

 

She came over and took a seat next to him.  "Well then.  The Lady and her man are on their way so that just leaves us.  Where to now, my friend?"

 

Hearing Zalena's voice, Aran let his head loll back on the wall as he sighed, so much for his attempted break away.  He'd only lasted so long before he'd needed to sit down.  Switching his cloak had helped, but he hadn't been fool enough to think that it was a foolproof plan.  It had been either that or staggering and that would have been even more of a giveaway.  So much for that plan, but he might be able to convince her still.  "You know, your ageless face is going to be betray me.  If you're going to come along, at least switch your visage for one more mundane."

 

Getting a laugh in response, Aran looked to see that Zalena had at least obliged him.  Similar to her face but not quite, it would be enough that no one would look twice.  Pushing onto his feet and clear of the wall, he felt a little wobbly but he'd be fine.  Gesturing for her to follow, he began to lead the way as he said.  "Follow me."

 

 

Aran, Lady Raina Dulcei, & Zalena Sedai