#amyrlin

It was one step forward, two steps back with this woman and you were slowly being driven mad. You were close after the attack on the village, comparing techniques in hushed tones. You'd talked through the night a few times before setting off. You'd tried to continue in the vein, making jokes she and her Warder laughed at. That first night on the road, you'd again been up late together, to the point where Lan threatened to sleep and make you both keep watch. You'd leaned into her with your laugh.

Realizing the action, you looked up, feeling quite exposed and just a bit raw. She looked down at you for a long moment and you almost had hope borne within you before she looked away. "Lan's right. We should rest. We do not know when the opportunity will present itself again." And she turned away.

Something inside you cracked and you felt snubbed. Suspecting you'd read the signs wrong, as you were wont to do, you stood and moved to where you slept that night.

That had been three days ago. Moiraine was rushing your small group with all the strength inside her. Lan was more than accommodating. You, being the little Wilder shit that you are, decided to slow her down by continually going missing. You strayed from the path, wandering into the thick of the woods to search the herbs. It never took Moiraine more than a few minutes to find you, due to a tracking Weave placed out of caution. But that just prompted you to wander more. The moment her eyes were off you, you were gone. It was hilarious. She was so freaked out.

The bitch locked you in the inn room she'd gotten you.

You huffed, lifting your leg again. You slammed your sole into the door again, watching your Power follow the movement. The wood rattled, but stayed firm. Growling, you turned to the room, seeing the sturdy pitcher of water by your basin. You lifted it in your hand, slamming it at the window. The pottery shattered against the already cracked window. You kept spinning, flinging your bed against the fall wall. The solid wood didn't even dent the thin wall. Your heart was in your chest, sending your brain into overdrive. You were called Wilder for a reason. You chose the life of not the Aes Sedai. You couldn't stand being trapped. Or stuck. Or unable to leave a specific area. Certainly not with permission. The air was finally thick with your Power's visage. It charged suddenly, ready to shatter the inn, the spell, Light, the town if it would get you out of there right now. The door behind you opened abruptly as you finished your spin to face it.

Moiraine looked appalled by your behavior, wide eyes exploring the room. She looked at you with a firm face, clearly about to scold you, but it didn't last very long because your foot came back up and kicked her in the abdomen. She flew back, into her Warder, and you raced out of the room before either could recover. Your legs were faster than her One Power. You made it into the open, shadowed space, before groaning out a few sighs. Your heart slowed bit by bit. You placed your forehead in the grass, grasping at the dirt beneath. Your hands clasped into fists around the soft ground. You let out another sigh, feeling the ground take your excess Power, agitation floating away right along with it. You were breathing shallowly and quick, but you were breathing again soon enough.

A warm hand encompassed your shoulder and you would have had the sense to jump away if you were trying so desperately not to destroy the town. She pulled you to sit up slowly, holding your face for a long moment. Softening from her critical analysis, she petted the soil from your bangs. She moved her thumb along your chin as she did. "I will share the room with you," she decided in a low tone.

At the mention of the room, that terrible room, you snapped to attention. Fear burrowed itself in your bones, but your gaze was firm.

She smiled gently, laughing at your reaction. "I'll not bind you within if you behave."

You relaxed marginally, diverting your gaze.

The taller woman pulled herself to her feet, hands trailing down your arms to bring your hands together. She pulled you up as well, walking close to you, but not touching. You didn't notice her glancing at you a few times on the way.

You stayed at the doorway of the room, watching the brunette walk in first. The silver in the walls leeched back into the woman quickly. You stepped in cautiously, shutting the door. Together, you put the room back together with ease. She taught you to channel her and work with another witch. It struck with you, never having done it before. The feeling of her Power pressed up against yours, is was heady.

The blue clad Sedai stood behind you, following when you turned away out of instinct, as you reassembled the pitcher, with barely a crack. She held your elbow in awe, staring at the unblemished object. You gave it to her numbly, walking over to the clean bed. The wood mended itself as you sat down, holding you without a squeak.

Moiraine set it on the table with the water basin after inspecting it and came to stand before you. She was shocked at the ease with which you channelled. Not even most Aes Sedai could channel without gestures or words or some sort of direction. "Will you be sleeping in that?" she asked curiously.

You looked at your riding clothes and frowned. "Oh." Standing, you stepped over to your rucksack, pulling out one of the only other clothes you'd brought. It was a small dress with short sleeves that just covered the curve of your shoulder. You moved to step behind the partitioner and Moiraine smiled, removing her coat and hair pin. She sat on the bed and slowly leaned forward to undo her boots, pulling them off with a content groan.

You stepped back out from the partitioner, wearing the cutest little night dress. You gaped at the image of her leaning for her boots. Her long legs were enough of a problem, the shape of her back was outlined perfectly with her stretch. She moved and her back shifted before she sighed again. You turned abruptly to your bag, setting the clothes by the basin. You reached for the washboard provided and the clothes set about cleaning themselves. It was the first time in a week they'd be cleaned, and it was needed, but you doubted they were eager. You started, pulling back as they took autonomy.

Moiraine chuckled low in her throat and you turned to see she was the source of the mist trailing behind the objects.

You sighed, knowing you should have known that, but for some reason, not being as clever as usual. You moved to sit on the opposite side of the bed. "I assume that's your side," you guessed, pointing.

She stood on the other side, pulling her blankets down. Her lips pulled to the side and she laughed for a half second, something she did a lot. "Yes, dear," was her soft answer.

You both slipped in and kept a safe distance apart. After a moment of awkwardness, Moiraine shut her eyes to try to sleep. You turned over, struggling to keep the blankets in the middle of the bed. You shut your eyes as well. "...Moiraine?"

She chuckled again, opening her eyes. "Yes, dear?"

"Do you snore?" you asked in a small voice.

She lost her smile behind you, regarding you closely once more. She moved in to lay closer to you. "No, dear," she answered, laying her head down. Lan complained often of how little noise she makes at times. Even in her sleep. Apparently, she'd scared him during their first trip together and he thought she'd died in her sleep, she was breathing and moving so little. He never questioned her Ajah colour again.

You were almost asleep when she moved closer still, long fingers clasping your hip. You moved your head slightly as if in question. "Hm?" you hummed briefly.

"Shh," she mumbled back, her other hand creeping beneath your side to pull you against her. You slotted together quite perfectly. The taller woman matched you like a puzzle.

You started to pulse, harder than your heartbeat, and a familiar need filled you. Also, entirely too comfortable (completely unrelated to your previous development), you shifted again, rolling back to face her. One arm lay over her shoulder as she seemed content and determined to lay up against you. You relaxed once more, mind drifting off to sleep.

Moiraine interrupted your sleep again with a finger trailing up your neck. You slowly lumbered your eyes back open, fighting the heavy weight on them. She made the work easier by tilting your chin up. You felt the tension in the room as she leveled you with a weighted stare. She looked over every bit of your face, relaxed by exhaustion, kindness within your stubborn stare, and your perfect lips. She leaned in, regretful you'd likely brush this off as a dream if you remembered it at all, but she had to know. Her lips slotted as perfectly as the rest of you had. Your eyes slipped back shut as a wave of comfort and protection waved over you. Moiraine's fingers dug into your hips as she pressed the tiniest bit harder. She pulled back and you immediately dipped off, outside her reach for the next few hours. She would miss you. But as sleep pulled at her as well, she knew it was better for her not to feel it.

*

The next few days of the trip had you wondering if you had dreamt the kiss. Moiraine barely spared a look at you, sending your mind whirling. You had doubts that you hadn't ever had in your life before and it was affecting your magic. That was not okay. You were used to your own messy emotions, you were familiar with how you stumbled over your words or even your own legs at times. You were used to unease in every aspect of your life. Except your magic. You resolved to put any and all emotion regarding the Blue Aes Sedai out of your head. You were going to the Tower for reinforcements and to warn Moiraine's Amyrlin of the army marching on her. Nothing untoward would happen.

You continued like that all the way until you reached the Tower. The sheer height had given you pause. You feared the architecture of the building. That would not be a fun fall.

The brunette held the back of your arms in an attempt at comfort. Lan had already taken the horses and would rejoin them soon. She wanted you up in a safe place before anyone could find you. "It's held for a thousand years and will likely hold for another thousand."

You let out a shaky groan, allowing her to guide you. The two of you moved rather quickly. You were feeling particularly rushed. You'd had half a mind to argue, but she was touching you so much! She guided you from behind. It was barely appropriate, but the halls were oddly empty. You reached a high level soon your fingers grasped at Moiraine's as you traversed the room. You felt how high up you were. Gusts of wind brushed against your Power despite the lack of manifestation. Your legs were stiff as Moiraine pulled you into the bare room. You looked around in hopes of distracting yourself. The room had nothing personal within it. A gold woven frame laid on the wall by the entrance and a chandelier hung above the bed.

"Deep breaths," Moiraine coaxed in another deep tone, her mouth was right by your ear, buried in your hair.

You let out a shaky breath and she seemed to sense she was the cause because she moved away from you. Left under your own power, you nearly collapsed. But you quickly found the bed to brace you.

She moved to a dresser, removing her rings. She undid her hair next, facing you as you came to terms with this new reality. She moved to sit next to you, undoing her clothes and undressing.

You forced your head to the side so you wouldn't stare.

The brunette smirked behind your turned back and changed swiftly so you wouldn't have an excuse not to look at her.

*

Two more days, nothing had happened. No Amyrlin, no romantic anything, no progress. You were losing it again. You'd gotten in more arguments with Moiraine in the past days than you ever argued in your life. You nearly slipped from the building before one of the pair scooped you up. Lan had a bruised rib and a shiner to prove you didn't go down without a fight. Moiraine nearly bound you to the room again, but you'd nearly gone unstable at the mention of it.

She was reaching her wit's end as well. She'd managed to distract you with her formal Aes Sedai outfit for the Seating, but the shock had worn off by the time she returned. Luckily, the "package" she was expecting for you both was arriving soon. Good thing too because you were prepared to bolt the next time she left the room without you. Fully charged, ready to blast through anything.

The brunette was practically giddy as you stepped before the gold object on the wall. It made for a fascinating change. She stood directly behind you, dressed in a white dress with wide sleeves, guiding your hands through the air. "You're going to like Siuan," she commented low in your ear. Your Power kicked into the air, connecting with the frame all too easily. Now that it was open, it took in all the magic you were summoning. You gasped at the sensation and the Blue huffed a laugh into your ear.

You shivered, every bone in your body pushing you to... what had she called it... 'behave'. A deep sigh and a pathway of pure white opened before you both. Unfamiliar, you jolted back. Moiraine was very touchy compared to... well, how not touchy she usually was. She pressed up behind you again, fitting in your little puzzle. The two of you stumbled forward, pushed gently.

"Trust me?" she asked softly just before you crossed the threshold.

"Yeah," you managed to croak out.

Moving was easier now and you passed the blinding light and reappeared on another platform. The wood beneath you quaked and threatened to give way and you looked down at it.

"Shaky little thing, isn't she?" came another voice.

You looked up to see another woman with a loose dress which appeared to wrap under her arms. You felt straight power radiating off her. You nearly stumbled back into the woman behind you, your own magic kicking up again. You tried to keep yourself from pushing out with deep breaths.

She grinned at you cheekily as she stepped closer to her lover. "Very shaky." Both women met in the middle.

You gaped, feeling oddly ashamed of watching them reuniting. If Moiraine was touchy with you, she shared a body with the new woman in the room. You diverted your gaze again. Your mind moved fast as you took in your surroundings. The ground was closer. A part of you relaxed. Three doors to the outside. A humid weight to the air. You were in a tropical part of the map. So far from the cool environment of Tar Valon.

The woman, the Amyrlin Seat, moved to you and you shifted back, bumping into a wall which was left normal as the energy dissipated.

"You need not be frightened," she bade softly.

You refused to look away again. It was too much of a sign of weakness.

Her grin was toothy as she looked you over. "I'm Siuan. You can call me that." Her head tilted sideways, entering right in your space. "Come sit," she bade, walking over to a bed. Moiraine was already seated. She waved you over.

You were cautious even as three drinks were poured. One was handed to you and you sniffed it. Wincing, you could appreciate the head of such a sophisticated society drinking this crap. You looked up at the happy couple with a sideways look. "Why not?" you mumbled before downing it. Your next wince nearly sent you into the WayGate's realm, but you were pleasantly buzzed. "Wow," you groaned, setting the cup down.

Siuan's laugh was throatier, deeper, and it made you shiver more severely than Moiraine pressing behind you. She poured your glass back to full.

You gave her a light glare, earning another laugh. These two were a hoot. You grinned taking another sip, nursing this one.

*

The sun was coming back up over the horizon before your conversation and laughter died out. Moiraine was more relaxed than ever and you sensed she'd been needing this for a time. She laid between you and Siuan, the two of you watching her slowly drift off. You traced your fingers down her hair slowly before looking back at the Amyrlin. She was staring at you.

The woman reached across to tuck your own hair behind your ear. "You're going to fit in with us, well." She smiled at you again.