not_only_wisdom | (no subject)

(no subject)

All right. So the door won't open. Nynaeve has other means of travel at her disposal.

Or rather, Travel.

Which is why she is currently pacing a small square of grass outside, frowning thoughtfully at the ground.

She'll be here for some time, yet.

It's much better than sitting still.

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"Perhaps it is," she replies quietly. "It is quite possible that there are other reasons, as well."

Moiraine takes a sip of tea, focusing on the cup once more and allowing Nynaeve time to find her composure.

"This place is unusual in that it touches on so many worlds... and I have spent quite some time noting the similarities between them."

Nynaeve's hands clutch tightly to her teacup, but she grits her teeth and looks up, breathing carefully.

"Have you, then?"

"I have."

She looks up, and her dark-eyed gaze locks with Nynaeve's.

"The struggle against the Shadow is far-reaching, even touching here... as you yourself have seen."

Nynaeve flexes one hand, ring-and-bracelet angreal clinking softly against the cup. Her own return look at Moiraine is level.

"So I did. And if I am to stay here indefinitely, as it seems I must, doubtless I will see much more of it."

There is a slight pause.

"So it is the same Shadow, then?"

"It is difficult to discern exactly, at times," Moiraine admits, "but the feel is the same, and the battles are often so similar as to be startling."

She shrugs, slightly.

"All things are part of the Pattern, Nynaeve. It is possible that we came to find this place by accident... but I do not believe it."

Nynaeve purses her lips, breathing sharply through her nose.

"The Wheel weaves, I suppose. That is what was coming next, is it not?"

She shakes her head.

"But no, I think you're right. Two bloody ta'veren, and you--"

And the Forsaken.

"There would appear to be no need for me to say it, if you are already aware," Moiraine tells her crisply.

"It's a simple enough explanation."

Mutter.

"And bloody annoying, to boot."

Nynaeve exhales sharply, tugging her braid over her shoulder, settling her hands back around her teacup.

"Do you think it likely, then, that this place--something here might give Rand---might give Rand a chance?"

Not just Rand, of course, but all of them.

Silence, for several seconds, before Moiraine says softly,

"Light willing, it shall be so. There may be something here that was not foreseen, that will tip the balance for him..."

She breaks off her words there, instead taking another sip of tea.

"If you think I'm willing to let him die--"

Nynaeve's brown eyes flash with temper, and her mouth tightens.

"Well, I'm not. And I'll do what I can to that end, you may be certain."

It is exactly the reaction she had expected.

The faintest hint of a smile touches the corners of her lips. After a moment, Moiraine looks up at Nynaeve.

"I am certain of it, as it happens." A pause. "You came after them in the first place, did you not?"

She knows the answer perfectly well. Nynaeve had trailed them to Baerlon-- and as a result, had not been there during the first part of the journey to hear Moiraine tell Rand flatly that she herself would see him destroyed rather than lost to the Dark One.

"All of them. Yes, I did."

She tilts her chin up a little, expression almost composed.

"Someone had to. They were children."

Were.

Everything is different, now. Well, almost everything.

Watching her, Moiraine thinks of just how much the two of them have in common -- things that the other woman may never realize.

None of this shows on her face. She merely inclines her head in silent acknowledgement of Nynaeve's remark.

In the face of acknowledgement, and, indeed, in the face of silence, it is often difficult to hold on to stubborn belligerance.

At this moment Nynaeve does not even try. Instead she nods in return, taking a slow sip of tea.

"They are not, not any longer. And yet I see little need for that to prevent giving them what aid I can."

'I' was almost 'we', a half-formed thought buried half again as quickly.

"I do not disagree," she replies simply.

Nynaeve attempts to disguise the wary look she is giving Moiraine, busying herself with refreshing her cup of tea.

"That should be a benefit to us both, then."

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