Rand awoke with a start. It was still dark, and Min lay sleeping beside him in their tent. That had been Lanfear in his dream. She was alive. He was sure that it was not just a dream. Had she been resurrected like so many of the other Forsaken? Rand knew that he would not be able to fall asleep again. He got out of bed, careful not to disturb Min, and left the tent. Perhaps the cool air would help clear his mind.

He gazed out into the night. There were lights from campfires as far as the eye could see. Egwene had done exactly as he had hoped. It seemed as though every nation was represented here. Except for the Seanchan. Rand had not given up hope on them, but he did not know how he was supposed to bind them to serve him. He remembered something the Daughter of the Nine Moons had spoken to him about. They both shared something. A connection to Mat. Perhaps that—

Rand blinked as the rainbow of colors came into his vision again. He didn't make them vanish immediately this time. He needed Mat with him. Where was he? The vision showed Mat sleeping outside beside a dwindling fire. There was a white haired man with him. Was it Thom? Yes, a gleeman's cloak lay beside him. Only, it looked like there was someone under the cloak, using it as a blanket. Someone small. Rand could not see the person's face, and dispelled the image. It was impossible to figure out Mat's location in the dark. Burn him. Rand hoped Mat would reach him soon. The three ta'veren needed to be together, especially today.

Mat stepped through Grady's gateway, as he'd done once previously that day. Moiraine had insisted on getting clothing in Whitebridge before heading to Rand. Mat couldn't blame her. He had learned from Elayne that there were going to be a lot of important people at this meeting Rand had set up. She might have drawn a few stares showing up wearing Thom's cloak.

They were on a hill overlooking the Field of Merrilor now. The valley was filled with what looked to be hundreds of thousands of tents. He heard Moiraine exhale deeply beside him. He gave her a sidelong glance. Her jaw was knitted determinedly. She had managed to convince him that he could take the time to come here first before going to Caemlyn. Somehow she always managed to get him to do what she wanted him to do, and she had not lost her touch. It was even harder to resist now, because he couldn't avoid thinking of what she'd been through. Several times in the night and in the morning she had casually mentioned that Rand needed Mat to be with him and that the consequences of his absence might be dire. Sometimes she said it to Thom, but Mat was always within earshot. Other times she gazed at Mat unblinkingly after mentioning it. He had finally given in a couple hours before Grady arrived, just to change the subject. She became significantly more relaxed after he agreed to go. He supposed she was right. An hour or so with Rand would not hurt anything.

Moiraine set out immediately toward the tents. She appeared to glide, even though the footing was uneven—Mat had to use his ashandarei to catch his balance on several occasions. He wondered how the seamstress had managed to make a suitable dress for her on such short notice. Perhaps Moiraine had used the One Power to help her. Her dress was of a deep blue silk, and she'd even found a necklace of sapphires. Even more surprising was that she had purchased a piece of red cloth for Mat to wrap around his head and cover his wound. He had not stopped to consider how frightening the wound might look to other people. Mat had considered asking Moiraine where she had found the gold for the material and the necklace. He and Thom hadn't thought to bring any with them for after they got out of the tower.

Grady was catching them up on the details of the meeting as they walked. It was supposed to begin at any moment.

"Pardon me, Moiraine Sedai," Grady said, grimacing slightly, as if worried how she would take his next words. Light, the man had spent less than an hour in her presence, and he already found it natural to defer to her. "But I'm not sure they're going to allow you into the pavilion. The guards were given strict instructions on who to allow in, by both the Lord Dragon and the Amyrlin. I wasn't even allowed within two hundred yards when they were setting it up, and that was yesterday."

Moiraine nodded, her face calm. "We will have to cross that path when we get to it."

"Perhaps if I talk to them I can convince them," suggested Grady, though he seemed doubtful.

Moiraine waved a hand dismissively. "I am not worried. I will see Rand when I see him." It was all Mat could do not to laugh. He would eat his hat if anyone stopped Moiraine from attending this meeting.

She must have heard him coughing, because she looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a questioning look. "It's nothing, Moiraine." Mat waved his hands in front of him and shook his head, though he couldn't keep the smile off his face. She turned around, seemingly satisfied with his answer. Thom walked beside Mat, knuckling his mustaches and trying to hide a smile. Mat was sure Thom was as amused at the idea as he was.

"Do you know what Rand is planning here, Grady?" Moiraine asked.

"He told the Amyrlin that he intends to break the seals," Grady said.

Mat blinked in surprise. Moiraine was nodding slowly in reply. Mat wished he could see her face so he could discern more of her thoughts on the matter. He did not know how he felt about it, himself. He didn't know how sane Rand was, and the idea did sound crazy. Then again, if Rand didn't know how to defeat the Dark One, who did?

They were among the tents now, walking through Perrin's camp. Perrin's wolfhead banner was on display. Moiraine glanced at it curiously.

"I have not even thought to ask what Perrin has been up to. I am assuming that banner has something to do with him?" she said. Grady nodded.

"It seems I have a lot of catching up to do," Moiraine said. She sighed quietly, barely loud enough for Mat to hear. He had not considered how frustrating it must be for Moiraine to have events pass her by.

The closer they got to the pavilion, the thicker the crowd became. Everyone seemed to be craning for a better view. Mat could not understand that. There was nothing to see except a large tent in the distance. Mat tugged at the red cloth around his head. It was going to take some getting used to.

It was becoming slow-going, trying to weave through the crowd. They wouldn't have made any progress at all, were it not for Grady. Most people were well aware by now what a black coat meant and made way for him. Though Mat was not entirely sure that it was just Grady. Now that he thought about it, the four of them did make an odd-looking group. An Asha'man, an Aes Sedai, a gleeman in his patchwork cloak, and Mat, who was probably a funny sight now with the piece of cloth wrapped around his head. He was beginning to sense impatience from Moiraine. She didn't crane her neck—it wouldn't have done her much good anyway as she was a head shorter than most of the people in the crowd—but she did grip her skirts a few times.

They eventually reached the clearing that surrounded the pavilion. There were several soldiers on guard. Most of them were from the Tower, with the Flame of Tar Valon on their chests, but there were others. There were a few Aiel among them, but unfortunately Mat didn't recognize any of them. Getting inside might be difficult.

Mat nodded to Thom. They had agreed that the best chance of getting in would be if it was just Mat and Moiraine. They both ducked under the rope that cordoned off the crowd from the pavilion area. They hadn't gone twenty steps before they were ringed by three soldiers demanding to know their names.

"Mat Cauthon. And this is Moiraine Sedai," Mat indicated Moiraine. He thought he should do the talking, since Moiraine's name would not be on any list they might have.

"Wait here," said one of the soldiers. He trotted toward a table several yards away while the two remaining soldiers eyed them suspiciously. They both had hands hovering over the hilts of their swords. Mat tried to look innocent. Moiraine watched calmly. She somehow made it seem as though she waited because she wanted to, and the soldiers were of no consequence. Mat would never figure out how Aes Sedai did that.

The third soldier came back with a large stack of papers and started rifling through them. He stopped on one of the pages, and peered into Mat's face. Every so often he looked down at the paper and up at Mat again.

"Well?" Mat said impatiently.

"There's a Mat Cauthon on here," the soldier hesitated. "But it doesn't say anything about an eye wound. I wouldn't think that sort of detail would be left out."

"The wound is new," Mat said. He couldn't keep a glare from forming. "I am Mat Cauthon, and if the Dragon Reborn hears you held me out of this, he will be none too pleased."

"Alright," the soldier said. "Alright. But she stays out here. I'm sorry, Aes Sedai, but we have our orders." The man nodded toward Moiraine but did not meet her eyes.

"She's with me," Mat argued. "If you won't let her in, I'll need to speak with whoever is in command here."

The man glared, and looked like he was about to reply in anger, but he suddenly dashed off toward the pavilion, muttering to himself. Mat frowned, confused. The other two soldiers looked confused too. Perhaps it was a ta'veren effect?

"This is proving more... difficult than I expected," Moiraine said.

"We'll work it out," Mat said. "Besides, I bet half the tent is filled with Aes Sedai. The bloody meeting will probably last the night and through the next week. Tarmon Gaidin will be over before they decide whether to agree to Rand's plan." Too late, he realized who he was talking to.

Moiraine looked up and gave him a flat stare. Mat smiled at her. Moiraine shook her head.

"One of these days, Mat, your tongue is going to get you into trouble."

He was about to reply to her, but saw that the soldier was returning. Another man was walking beside him. This new soldier was stout, and older. Mat greeted him respectfully.

"You're Mat Cauthon?" he asked. Mat nodded. "You look the part, from what I've heard of you. And you insist on bringing this Aes Sedai with you?" Mat nodded again and looked at Moiraine. She pursed her lips at being called 'this Aes Sedai,' but said nothing.

"Alright, walk with me," he said. "But I'll have to double check before I let you enter," he warned. He strode off toward the tent. Moiraine and Mat followed at a short distance behind.

"I believe that's Gareth Bryne," she said quietly. "But I have never actually spoken to him before, so I cannot be of much help."

"There will surely be an Aes Sedai inside who recognizes you," Mat replied. "Or you can bully your way in." He smiled at her.

Moiraine gave him another flat stare. "I do not think it would do much good. Look at all of the Aes Sedai on the outside," she gestured toward the crowd. Mat looked out. There hadn't been Aes Sedai from the direction they'd come from, but in the direction she pointed there were dozens. "If 'bullying' worked, they would be inside."

"But you're Moiraine," Mat frowned at her. He couldn't think of a better way to put it. She looked at him as if wondering whether he was trying to make a joke.

"Yes Mat. That is my name," she said dryly.

"Moiraine," he said slowly, trying to find the right words. "You killed two of the Forsaken. You 'died' saving the Dragon Reborn." He lifted his hat to scratch his forehead. "Light, I keep forgetting what you've missed. You should see the other Aes Sedai when they talk about you. They act as if the Light shined out of your every—"

"Wait here," Bryne said to them. They had reached the outside of the pavilion. "I'll have to double check with Siuan if it's alright for both of you to enter."

Moiraine's eyes widening slightly. She grabbed Bryne's arm, halting him. "Did you say Siuan?"

"Yes," Bryne said. "Siuan Sedai." He frowned, looking down at Moiraine's hand. "Shall I go and get her then?" Moiraine looked at him. She seemed to have forgotten she was holding his arm.

"Yes, go ahead," Moiraine nodded absently, releasing him. Mat frowned, wondering what that had been about. Then realization slowly dawned on him. Moiraine had only found out about the Tower splitting shortly before she had fallen through the doorway. She couldn't have known that Siuan lived. Her reaction was still odd though. Mat wondered if Siuan had been more to Moiraine than just her Amyrlin.

A few moments passed, then—

"Let's make this quick, Mat," a familiar, exasperated voice said. Siuan Sanche emerged from the other side of the opening. "I don't want to miss anything. Bryne tells me I'm supposed to decide whether to approve this Aes Sedai you brought with you." Siuan half glanced in Moiraine's direction. "But if she's not on the list we're not supposed to allow her in. That's all there is to it."

"Siuan—," Mat tried to get a word in.

"Just come in by yourself now and I'll see if I can get you a seat up close. The bloody Dragon Reborn will be upset if he learns we tried to keep you out."

"Siuan," Moiraine said beside him. Siuan finally looked at her straight on, and gaped. She lifted a trembling hand to her mouth, and if Mat was not mistaken, her eyes appeared to be welling up with tears.

"How are you alive Moiraine?" Siuan asked.

"I could ask the same of you," Moiraine replied, smiling. She enfolded Siuan in a hug. Her eyes were welling up too. Light! Mat busied himself by adjusting his hat, and then his neck scarf, and then the cloth tied around his head. He was starting to understand why women had to do all of that skirt smoothing. After several long moments they unfolded.

Mat cleared his throat, loudly. Both Aes Sedai turned to stare at him. He nearly flinched.

"Shouldn't this wait until later?" he implored. "We should probably be inside with Rand."

Moiraine nodded. "Yes. We can talk later Siuan. And I will have to ask you how you managed to lose twenty years."

Mat and Moiraine turned from Siuan and entered the pavilion together. There were several hundred chairs set out for people. Each chair was occupied, and there were even people standing in the aisles. He couldn't see much of what was going on in the center of the pavilion. Well, he would just have to remedy that. He started making his way up the aisle by elbowing people out of the way, and received not a few glares in return. But those glares slipped off of people's faces as soon as they saw the red cloth covering his eye. Mat looked back to make sure Moiraine was still with him. She was. Somehow she managed to look regal even while sidling up the crowded aisle with him.

Once they had passed the first few rows of people, Mat started to hear whispers. They followed him and Moiraine up the aisle and became louder the further they got. The whispers soon turned into words that Mat could understand.

"...look."

"...Moiraine."

"...it's Moiraine."

"...she's alive."

Mat looked into the crowd. Some of the people had stood up to get a better look at them. Most of the astonished faces belonged to Aes Sedai. A few had forgotten themselves enough to point. Mat turned to look at Moiraine again. She avoided looking at the crowd and stared straight forward.

"I see what you were saying earlier, Mat," she murmured.

"I need Aes Sedai with me this time when I go to Shayol Ghul. I tried to do it alone last time, and it led to disaster. This time needs to be different. Will no Aes Sedai go with me?" Rand said, looking along the line of Aes Sedai faces on the dais. They were all implacable, save Nynaeve. Concern etched her face. This couldn't be easy for her.

"We can't let you break the seals, Rand," Egwene said. "There has to be a better way." Rand thought he heard whispers coming from the edge of the pavilion, but ignored them.

"It's the only way, Egwene," Rand said. "I am certain of it. They will break of their own accord regardless of what I do. It needs to be done on my time."

"Do not force us to stop you. I know neither of us wants it to come to that."

Rand shook his head sadly. "I won't be stopped in this Egwene. I will break the seals. Even if I have no Aes Sedai with me."

"You'll have me," said Nynaeve from her seat on the dais. Several Aes Sedai gasped. Rand felt relief. She had told him she would go, but she had spent the last month in the White Tower. Nynaeve got up from her chair, pointedly avoiding looking at Egwene, or any of the other Aes Sedai. She stepped down from the dais and came to stand beside him.

"Thank you," he said quietly. Nynaeve smiled.

"I said I would come with you," she said simply. Again Rand heard whispers and movement in the crowd behind him, this time louder. He looked back at the crowd. It looked like someone was trying to force their way through one of the crowded aisles, but he couldn't make out who it was. Egwene's voice made him turn back around.

"Nynaeve," Egwene said firmly. "Please think about this. His so-called plan is to let the Dark One free. How can you support him in this?"

"I trust him," Nynaeve said. "I'm sorry Mother, but I have to do this. I'll serve whatever penance you require after the Last Battle is over."

"You won't be able to serve a penance if he's wrong, Nynaeve," Egwene said.

"Then I suppose my penance will be pretty harsh," Nynaeve dryly. Egwene opened her mouth to respond, but Rand cut her off.

"Will any others join us?" He tried to make eye contact with every Aes Sedai in front of him. "Or will Nynaeve and I be going alone to Shayol Ghul?"

"You will not be alone," said a clear, musical voice from the crowd. Rand felt a jolt of pain. Whoever had spoken sounded remarkably like Moiraine. Rand no longer recited the list of women in his head, but it was still extremely difficult for him to be around Caraline, who was the mirror image of Moiraine. Was he now to have a sound-alike forced upon him as well? Sighing, Rand turned to look for the source of the voice—and felt like he'd been kicked in the stomach. No. Like his stomach had dropped to his feet.

It was Moiraine. It couldn't be Moiraine. Rand had seen her die. But it was her. He couldn't mistake those brown eyes or that bearing. It seemed as though the rest of the crowd blurred and faded away until he could only see her. Maybe I'm dreaming. Dark ringlets framed her face, and her lips were upturned in a slight smile as she looked at him. The only difference he could see was that she no longer wore the blue stone that hung from a chain on her forehead. He wasn't sure that he was not dreaming until he heard Nynaeve gasp beside him. She wasn't alone. There were so many gasps from the Aes Sedai on the dais that it sounded like a gale of wind had passed through the pavilion. Rand had no recollection of crossing the intervening space between himself and Moiraine. Nor of lifting her off of her feet and hugging her to his chest. Feeling foolish, he set her down. He expected her to raise her eyebrows and give him one of her cool stares but, surprisingly, she let out a delighted laugh. He had only heard her laugh twice before.

"The Light illumine you Rand," she said, smiling at him. "It seems you have done well."

"That hasn't always been the case," Rand admitted. "But things are well enough now. Moiraine, I don't know how you're here, or what you've been through, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to stop Lanfear," his voice shook, and he felt overwhelming guilt. Guilt that he'd been trying to hold back since Moiraine had gone.

Moiraine placed a slender hand on his arm, and looked at him with her large dark eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for Rand. The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills." Rand couldn't help but smile at hearing that again. "It happened the way it was meant to happen. If I had to make the same choice again I would."

Rand found himself nodding. What she said didn't change the fact that he should have been able to kill Lanfear... but he thought he would be able to move past it now. Nynaeve stepped up beside him and patted his arm. She smiled at Moiraine. Of all the things Rand least expected to happen today, Moiraine reappearing out of nowhere and Nynaeve being happy to see her would have topped the list. He shook his head in wonder.

"When am I going to get my hug?" Mat's voice said. Rand blinked. His friend was standing not two feet away from him and he hadn't even noticed. Mat was grinning widely. Rand burst into laughter and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Sorry Mat. I was... distracted," he said. For some reason Mat had a piece of red cloth tied around his head that covered his eye. "What happened to you Mat?" he said, indicating the cloth.

Mat hesitated, looking at Moiraine. When she looked at Mat, a look close to tenderness passed across her face so quickly that Rand was sure he imagined it. Mat looked back at him. "That's a long story, Rand. What about your hand?"

"Also a long story," Rand nodded. He did not want to talk about his hand. Perhaps Mat did not want to talk about what had happened to him either.

Egwene sat with outward calm, looking at the small gathering in front of the dais. Most of the crowd of onlookers were beginning to look confused and uncomfortable. Rand appeared to have forgotten that he'd been in the middle of a discussion. A small part of her wanted to go to Moiraine and embrace her as Rand had. They had begun to grow close before Moiraine had fallen through the doorway with Lanfear. She was the first Aes Sedai who had started to see Egwene as an equal.

Another part of her was hurt that Moiraine's first action upon returning was to side with Rand, without so much as talking to her about it. Perhaps if they discussed it, she could change her mind. More people were moving to where Moiraine and Rand were standing now. They were soon joined by Perrin, Faile, Siuan, and Bryne. Many of the Aes Sedai sitting with Egwene seemed to want to join them too so that they could speak with Moiraine. She was considered a legend to most of the Aes Sedai. She had found the Dragon Reborn and killed two of the Forsaken. Returning from the dead would only increase that status. But many of the whispers Egwene overheard were concerning the bracelet on Moiraine's wrist. Was it an angreal? And if so, where had she gotten it? Egwene had a feeling she would be reminded several times over the next few days that angreal belong to the White Tower and are not the property of individual Aes Sedai.

Egwene decided she had given Rand enough time. She needed his attention again, but perhaps they could postpone the meeting so she could have time to talk Moiraine out of supporting him in his decision to break the seals. Egwene nodded to her Keeper.

"Rand al'Thor," Silviana announced, rapping her staff on the floor. "The Amyrlin wishes to speak with you."

Rand looked up from his conversation, appearing surprised at being addressed. Perhaps he had forgotten where he was. He looked at her expectantly.

"I think we should postpone this discussion until tomorrow," Egwene said. "It is not a decision to make lightly."

His lips turned upward. Was he smirking at her? She very nearly sniffed. "I can live with that. Tomorrow morning then," he said, turning away from her.

Now that the meeting was officially over, the nobles started to file out of the pavilion, and the Aes Sedai began to descend from the dais to where Rand and Moiraine were standing. Egwene locked eyes with Moiraine for a moment, but her face was impassive. She wondered what Moiraine thought of her being Amyrlin. It had been Moiraine who had first told her she could channel. She could still hear her voice. You may go far. Perhaps even the Amyrlin Seat, one day, if you study hard and work hard. Had the circumstances been different, she and Moiraine would probably have a friendly conversation about what had transpired since that day. But it was not to be. Moiraine was currently on a path that led to her being in direct opposition to Egwene. She hoped that she could sway her.