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[panfandomsandbox] change is in the wind
She sits at the table near the fireplace, sipping tea and reflecting on what she has learned in recent days.
In the world where she was born, the Dark One is also known as the Lord of the Grave, and is the one who holds power and sway over the dead -- and to an extent, death itself. Fortunately, Moiraine is experienced enough with Milliways to not draw instantaneous conclusions.
(The lessons learned from Anthy Himemiya will remain with her for the rest of her life.)
It had helped that she had seen nothing of intentional evil or the mark of the Shadow as she knows it when she had studied Harrowhark while channeling. It is nonetheless something that requires consideration, in case action of some sort becomes necessary.
The Aes Sedai has much to think about.
In the world where she was born, the Dark One is also known as the Lord of the Grave, and is the one who holds power and sway over the dead -- and to an extent, death itself. Fortunately, Moiraine is experienced enough with Milliways to not draw instantaneous conclusions.
(The lessons learned from Anthy Himemiya will remain with her for the rest of her life.)
It had helped that she had seen nothing of intentional evil or the mark of the Shadow as she knows it when she had studied Harrowhark while channeling. It is nonetheless something that requires consideration, in case action of some sort becomes necessary.
The Aes Sedai has much to think about.
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However, Wei Wuxian is also supposed to be lying dead at the bottom of a cliff, not having tea with a cultivator from another world while the sky explodes above them, so...
A bit weaker than he means, he asks, "Not an actual dragon?"
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"It is a title. Rand al'Thor is the reincarnation of Lews Therin Telamon, who was known as the Dragon, I suspect in part due to the level of power which he was capable of wielding."
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He's mostly over his coughing fit, but his teacup will stay firmly on the table for the remainder of this conversation. Just in case.
"And -- you associate with this person?"
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"And yes; I have done so for years."
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Well, that derailed the conversation quite admirably. Hastily, he casts his mind back to remember what they'd been talking about a moment ago.
-- Right! That's what it was.
"And his path -- was it as difficult as the others? Or did he return to the world fully formed, able to wield the Dragon's power skillfully from the beginning?"
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"No," she says. "His ability to channel was an inborn talent, of course, but he had to grow in strength and learn the ways of its use."
She takes a sip of her tea before adding, with perfect calm,
"And, of course, the fact that the Source he drew upon - saidin, it is called - was tainted with the Shadow presented some difficulty."
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Wei Wuxian had grown used to cultivators looking at him askance, the murmur of wicked tricks on their lips even as they bowed and smiled in greeting. He can appreciate Madam Moiraine's politeness. It shows she does not think so lowly of him, for if she did, he'd be afforded no politeness at all.
But abruptly, he's exhausted by the pretense. All the careful prods and parries. It feels like a cage closing around him after weeks of being so open in his conversations, here in this strange inn.
"Mm," is all he says. And he waits to see if she will say more.
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Then, Moiraine inclines her head to him.
"I believe you know something of what I speak, Master Wei. And I suspect that you know what I have discerned when I channeled just now."
A single, precise beat of silence.
"What I do not know is why. And while you are under no obligation to tell me, I felt that I must ask, because of what I may be able to offer you, because of the cause that I have served for well over twenty years."
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"What you can offer me," he echoes. "Of course. Is that why you wished to share tea with me, Madam Moiraine?"
She would fit in well with Gusu Lan after all, he thinks.
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There is no hesitation in her response, nor does her manner change.
"I was not aware of this when I invited you to join me, nor when I offered you tea. I did not become so until I channeled."
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"And I wonder how long it would have taken you to reach your point, if I had not asked about your associate. Many others speak plainly here. Why not you?"
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"It is a binding oath, which you may think of as a spell cast upon me, and not a matter of preference."
"Have I offended you, Master Wei?"
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(He is so tired.)
"What do you want to do to me?" he asks bluntly.
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The Aes Sedai is studying him carefully, and there is some concern in the dark eyes now.
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He scoffs, casting his gaze to the tea service.
"How could you even tell? There is no resentful energy in the land here. I have sketched talismans and done tricks that would barely entertain a child -- nothing more."
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"By Healing you of what I had perceived as the mark of Shadow that you bear within you," she murmurs.
"But I begin to suspect that I may have misunderstood matters. You are well aware of it, are you not?"
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"Yes." He fixes her with a hard look. "I do not keep it secret. And I do not wish to be healed."
(He thought he'd escaped this. Yet even here, in a place he thought of as refuge -- )
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Surprise fades, leaving neutrality its wake.
In another place, in another time, the Last Battle has been won. The Aes Sedai's duties in the world of her birth are different, now, and her involvement in the day to day has shifted.
(Haven't you done enough?)
Her life in Twin Peaks is more different still.
(There will be time for peace, now.)
She is who she is, and always will be. Her nature will always lead her to stand against the Shadow for so long as iron is hard and stone abides, as the Malkieri put it.
But there are ways upon ways to do so.
"I did not intend to insult you with an offer of assistance. If you prefer to leave, I will not try to stop you. But if you would be willing to tell me more of the skills that you practice, I would still be very interested to learn."
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His chair scrapes back, like the snarl of a wolf, as he gets to his feet. Stiffly, Wei Wuxian gives the most perfunctory of bows to Moiraine, then turns on his heel and walks away.
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Moiraine gives a very small, quiet sigh as he departs.
It seems that matters at Milliways are becoming complicated again. She will wait, and watch, and will see if more than that is required.