Sharing news with Moiraine

[agirllost]

[Millitimed to a few weeks ago]

Behrooz is in her head. She's in his. She wanted to believe it was a side-effect, a delusion, but it's real and happening and she can see no way to sever the link. She would laugh if she wasn't so afraid of everyone's reaction to this news.

Elan. Oh God. Elan was here and could still be here and so many people to warn, and Kim knows she should tell everyone she can find but there's only one person she needs to talk to right now.

Moiraine.

She knows that her teacher has answers, will be able to...solve something, anything, because she keeps feeling Behrooz in her mind and old injuries that she'd forgotten but that his body still remembered. Her hand drifts up to touch her neck and she forces it back down.

Elan almost killed Behrooz. Her stomach turns thinking about it and it makes her want to rip something to shreds. She's trying to work on impulse control. But Elan's back and Behrooz is tied to her and if anyone knows how to deal with both situations, it's her teacher.

Kim reaches Moiraine's door and knocks, hoping that she's available.

Comments

[agirllost]

Kim thinks that sounds a lot like peace keeping and activism, but she understands justice.

"I know, I've been trying to figure out a way to tell you," she says and presses her lips together as she thinks. "After I do, we have to warn Shelley and other...people."

She's quiet for a few moments. "Behrooz can sense...the Dark."

[blue_ajah]

She does not look especially surprised to hear that, as it happens, but as soon as Kim mentions Shelley's name Moiraine's regard sharpens very abruptly.

She says nothing yet, but listens in silence.

[agirllost]

Kim doesn't look away but her gaze seems more distant.

"He found Elan -- in the woods, sensed him -- and Elan, he forced him to...use a knife and..." she closes her eyes and suppresses a shudder.

[blue_ajah]

In contrast, Moiraine's eyes are blazing with sudden, rigidly controlled fury.

"Elan Morin Tedronai. Ishamael. The Betrayer of Hope."

Her tone is flat and near-deadly.

"Rarely has his name been more fitting."

[agirllost]

"I didn't want to believe it," she breathes. "I thought he was gone. Behrooz said that he's gone now but if he comes back...I should have told security...."

[blue_ajah]

"Why did you not?"

It is not quite sharp.

Not quite.

[agirllost]

Moiraine asks good questions.

"I just found out and...wanted to talk to you first. Until he woke up I had no idea it wasn't -- " She breathes in and out softly. "He's gone now."

[blue_ajah]

"He has been gone before, and returned before," she replies flatly. "Still, you were right to tell me."

"How far in the woods was Behrooz when this happened, and what was Ishamael doing?"

[agirllost]

"Not very far - it was still woods, not...," she shakes her head. "I don't know. I only know he was here because Behrooz told me."

[blue_ajah]

She sighs.

"Well. I cannot say that this is good news, but perhaps plans may be made accordingly, then, should he decide to return and take further interest in this place."

The tone of her voice holds a deadly promise. Moiraine is silent for a few moments, considering, and then looks closely at Kim once more.

"Behrooz is completely Healed, now?"

[agirllost]

Kim nods, "I hope he never comes back, but if he does...I want to help you," her voice betrays no hesitation and her expression is determined.

"Yes, he's awake and has not even a scar."

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine does not look surprised at either statement.

"It is a benefit that he will experience in the future as well, should he be injured again while the two of you are bonded.

"And among other things that you will discover, you will find that you are stronger now, than you were before."

[agirllost]

"If your Warder was ever hurt...did you feel it?" She wonders how deep the connection goes.

"Stronger physically or stronger in the One Power?"

[blue_ajah]

"It is something that you are aware of, although not to the same extent that he suffers," Moiraine tells her. "Likewise, the connection goes both ways. If you are dizzy, for example, or incapacitated... it has something of an effect."

A pause, as she considers her words, and then,

"The one leads to the other. What you may channel is inborn, of course, but how strong you are-- how much you can stand, how tired you are, things of that nature -- this has an effect on how long you may continue to weave. Do you understand?"

[agirllost]

"I see," she says after a moment. "And if...I got hurt?"

She listens and slowly understands.

"Yes, I just don't know how I'm going to explain this to my fiance," she sighs and tries to still her hands. "I'm guessing this is a problem that doesn't come up a lot."

[blue_ajah]

"The connection goes both ways," she repeats. "He will also be aware -- but that does not mean he will be made unable to help you, should such a thing come to pass."

A very faint smile.

"Lan saved my life more times than I can quickly count, as it happens."

The Aes Sedai hesitates, then adds,

"No, it does not, not all that often. Aes Sedai do not often marry."

[agirllost]

"It's hard for me to believe you ever needed saving, Moiraine." She says seriously. Kim has complete faith in Moiraine, having been saved by her and seeing her save those she loves.

"But it does happen?"

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine looks at the younger woman for several seconds, evidently considering her words carefully. Finally, she says,

"It is kind of you to say that, I think-- but it has occurred, be certain of that. The war that I fight brings many dangers with it."

A pause, and then,

"It is so; in fact, Nynaeve Sedai is married."

[agirllost]

"But you have the One Power. How could..." she's thought that with powers and a degree of control no one could hurt her.

"I've yet to meet her. Does she have a Warder?"

[blue_ajah]

The Aes Sedai's tone is not quite sharp, but it is very crisp, and as direct as her words.

"Do not think for an instant that the ability to wield the One Power makes one immune to dangers, injury, or even death, Kim. The Power itself carries risks with it, not to mention that which might be encountered in war."

A pause.

"I think that you should meet her, and that soon, perhaps. And as it happens, Lan Mandragoran -- Lan Gaidin -- acts as her Warder."

Her tone is perfectly calm, at this last.

[agirllost]

She glances away, slightly ashamed that yes, she did think that the One Power made her mostly immune.

"But if the people I'm fighting...if they can't channel...doesn't that give me an advantage?"

To her other comment, she's silent for a few moments. "She's married to her Warder?"

[blue_ajah]

"She is married to Lan, yes."

Which is not quite exactly the same as what Kim has just asked, but the difference in this case is minimal.

When she continues, her tone is coolly precise as before.

"Kim. Repeat back to me the Three Oaths."

[agirllost]

She looks up, not sure how the Oaths relate.

"First, speak no word that isn't true. Second, make no weapon that will help one man kill another and Thirdly...to never use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn or a last resort to save one's own life or the life of a fellow Aes Sedai or her own Warder." She recites, her voice a little weaker as she reaches the end.

[blue_ajah]

"Almost. Remember that the wording is important-- every single word is vitally important."

She takes a breath, and recites:

"To speak no word that is not true; to make no weapon with which one man may kill another; and never to use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme of defense of her own life, or that of her Warder or another Aes Sedai."

The accent on certain words is faint, but precisely made. Moiraine meets Kim's gaze with her own.

"Certainly you have some advantages, but the Oaths are limitations, as well. That is what they are meant for, in order that people might trust Aes Sedai, knowing of the Oaths. It is a balance -- and there are ways to counter the advantages, too. These are things that you will be studying."

A pause, and there is a touch of something wry in her tone as she adds,

"Along with other matters pertaining to Warders and bonding, now. You are lucky, in a sense, that you are not of my world, and not in formal training at the White Tower, in this case."

[agirllost]

She listens, having heard the Oaths before and some of them she's already broken. Aes Sedai don't exist in her world and she plans to never let anyone outside of those in the bar know about her powers.

"So you can't use the One Power to save people who aren't....Aes Sedai? How - " she takes a breath. "According to that, I couldn't really protect anyone I loved."