vatheon | And the last of the Ta'veren arrives;

Entry tags:

And the last of the Ta'veren arrives;

Who: The Two Rivers boys - Rand, Mat, Perrin
Where: At the Coral
When: Noonish.
Style: Prose works o/
Status: CLOSED

Rand is very certain that he hadn't traveled. Or fallen asleep. This wasn't the Tel'aran'rhiod, because his brown cloak - coat might actually be far more accurate - didn't change when he tried. And he still had the Dragon Sword, Callandor, and still sensed the Source, so....

"It can't be His doing, the time for tricks is over..." Even if Moridin had claimed that he didn't pull him that time, this... this was a new place. Licking his lips once, he placed saltwater. Could explain the watery look to the sky, but...

Rand shifts, deciding to allow his need for answers pull anyone close.

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Very true. Luck enough to win an impossible game, determination enough to to halt the Whitecloaks, and enough One Power to destroy an army.

"The right hand falters and the left hand strays." It's said like he's quoting something, and the slightest bit of a sheepish look. "Its none of your faults, I didn't react in time and neither did he." Well. Not quite true. Lews had reacted in time, Rand didn't want him in control...

But Mat's eye - or rather the lack of his eye - is far more important than a settled problem.

Rand takes a step closer - and yes, he can tell. Eyelids sit differently without an eye behind them.

"And you won't get it healed, of course." Still wearing that medallion. "I can help, without the power - " And sort of.. choking off, looking rather distracted.

Rand, it's saying things like that that make people question your sanity. Perrin can't help wondering, he who? but he dismisses it in light of the more concerning remark.

"Without the Power?" he repeats. Getting Mat better help for that eye would be good, but somehow this doesn't sound much like something Mat would like any more than being healed with the Power.

That really really isn't reassuring, Rand! He who? His bodyguard maybe? What he says after that draws Mat's attention more. He perks up a bit and pushes his hat back down. "How?"

Without the Power sounds much better than with the Power, especially if it makes sense. He can't remember ever treating a wound like this at all, even with his memories. And because of how he looks now and that abrupt end... "Rand, are you alright?"

Just him from 3000 years ago. No big deal.

Regardless of whether they can tell or not, Rand Seized saidin, in case that would help him.

Nope. On the plus side, he's not feeling ill, which is the new normal. Releasing it for now.

"I can't feel them. Even if Andor was too far away, I was connected. Even if I shoved Alanna away, I was still aware...." He can't feel his women, okay? It's... distressing.

Alanna? Perrin remembers how she had known about Rand and where to find him, and Rand's talking as though it goes both ways. It's beginning to sound an awful lot like bonding, but Alanna is only one woman, and Perrin doubts Rand would be much distressed over her.

"Feel who, Rand?"

He's going to hope the answer makes sense, and this isn't another symptom of his friend's insanity.

It probably was bonding. Makes the most sense. Andor...

Mat blinks and rubs the back of his head. This really really doesn't sound like Rand's completely sane.

Was he talking about Elayne? She was pregnant - did Rand even know about that? Mat knows Rand's the father, even though Elayne never declared it. He said 'them' though... Yeah, waiting for an answer to Perrin's question instead of just repeating it.

"Min, Aviendha, Elayne. Can't feel them." Perrin would be right; Rand doesn't care so much about Alanna - Partially because she'd up and vanished, mostly because he hadn't consented to bonding her in the first place.

But yeah. Rand is a Warder four times now. Well. Three times, and then he bonded Min.

"I was with Min. Aviendha; she was off doing Wise One things. Elayne, Andor. Far Madding can't dull it, this isn't an absence, like if they'd been... It's like I never bonded..." He's not happy with this.

There it is, 'bonded,' like a final confirmation. Rand is bonded to four different women? Perrin isn't certain how that must feel, but losing it definitely has Rand distressed. If Perrin were able to sense Faile that way... he would probably be worried, too. He would be worried anyway.

"We're in an entirely different world, Rand. That must be the reason." He hasn't even been able to enter the wolf dream, here. "If they were all right when you left them, then they still must be. Time isn't passing back home."

Mat sighs and shifts. Blood and ashes, he'd been about to look southward for her again! "I'm not sure if Perrin's right about why you can't feel them, but Elayne was fine last time I saw her." Pregnant too. "I'm sure they'll all be alright when we get back."

Light, he both wishes he could feel how Tuon is doing and wishes he would never be able to feel how she's doing. Feeling how she's doing would be a relief (he'd know she's alright when they're apart), but it'd involve him being touched by Weaves and...even if Tuon was the one bonding him...He'll never feel comfortable with that. Blood and bloody ashes, losing it would make him even more uncomfortable! Not to mention worried out of his mind about her.

"And people don't all come from the flaming same time. I remember catching up with Perrin, and he doesn't even remember being back in Andor." He's not quite sure he absolutely believes that 'future' and 'past' thing though. Even though it makes sense.

"Different... But... " He's .. trying to think about that.

"It... can't be like a portal stone, there's no way to do that without an Aes Sedai, or wanting to go. Or near one of the stones. For time as well..." Just.. really stunned.

"I was in Far Madding, but I don't know how well we can compare. We've been out of contact for so long."

It's a little concerning to Perrin that a channeler like Rand, the Dragon Reborn, finds this whole thing just as puzzling as the rest of them. It was a slim hope, but nevertheless he thought Rand might have known of a ter'angreal or Talent which could transport people like this. Portal stones had been the closest thing Perrin could think of, but Rand is saying this is nothing like it.

Far Madding... Perrin can't remember seeing Rand there, but as much as he Travels it wouldn't help much to place him.

"Why don't we go somewhere we can talk at length?" he suggests. Instead of standing around the plaza where anyone could see or overhear them.

...Well, there goes any hope at all that Rand being here meant if they found the Portal Stone they'd be able to go home. Now it seems they well and truly are stuck here.

Far Madding...It's not much help at all, really. But...if anything, it'd change how long Rand had to wait before the Last Battle. It didn't matter much.

Mat nods. "Lead the way, Perrin." He's only been here for a night after all.

That's just because he'd been nowhere near a twisted red stone doorway.

It is absolutely no help. Something Rand is aware of. "That sounds wise." And just... Looking between the two. Where to?

"Right." Perrin nods at the expectant looks and leads the way down into the lower district and to the hotel he's been staying at-- and which should be familiar to Mat from his one night in Vatheon.

He stops at the desk to ask for some wine to be sent up before gesturing his friends to follow him upstairs.

It better be some good wine! He follows Perrin upstairs with a hand on the left wall.

Maybe they should get somewhere else to stay, now that all three of them are here.

That might be a good idea, although Rand usually doesn't drink. Both ideas would be good; if anyone could come, out of any time...

Rand's balefireing could be undone. This inn - hotel - probably housed other people. They shouldn't stay there.

As much as they have to talk about, they're going to need some kind of drink.

Perrin reaches his room and unlocks it to let them in. He stays back a moment, watching them enter with a thoughtful expression. When it was just him, he could get away with this sort of disconnected life, observing and getting his bearings. But his friends tend to attract more attention, and get into trouble.

Moreover, getting out of here isn't looking like a simple matter even for the Dragon Reborn. They could be here for some time. New lodgings might be best.

Maybe they'll even need to ask for more.

Mat claims a chair, collapsing into it and taking off his hat. He doesn't try to attract attention or get in trouble! It just...happens. A lot. It's not his bloody fault.

If their combined ta'veren-ness and Mat's luck can't get them out within a few days...They'll likely be here for a while. Living away from other residents of this place would be nice too, in case one of the Forsaken arrives.

Possibly.

Rand doesn't just attract attention, he draws it, a bit like if the Dark One was a moth and he was a candle. or maybe a bonfire. Either works.

Rand finds a seat near a low table, studying all the things with quiet curiosity. It looks closer to things from the Age of Legends, from before the fall to shadow, than things from current Two Rivers.

"There's quite a lot to catch up on, I am not quite sure where to begin.."

Perrin closes the door behind him and takes a seat with them.

Where to begin... He and Mat have had a little time to catch up (twice from Mat's perspective), and there is one thing he thinks ought to come up sooner rather than later.

"Why not with some good news?" he suggests, looking to Mat.

Really Perrin? Starting with that? Mat sighs and pointedly doesn't look at Rand. He smiles though. "Moiraine's alive and well. I lost my eye to bring her back."

Now to wait to see what Rand's reaction to that is... "Oh, and Moiraine and Thom want to get married."

Mat, if you wanted the best reaction you could get, you should have waited until he was drinking some of that incoming wine or something.

Fortunately Rand doesn't have anything in his hand or mouth, otherwise his blank staring might have come with a choked cough or fumble to catch something dropped.

"Moiraine is aliv- Moiraine and Thom - " Let him think a bit on that and focus on something more - well, other than he doesn't have to keep her name atop the list. Definitely relieved. "They fell into that doorway - does this mean there's another unaccounted for?"

Why, Mat, did you want to start with that marriage of yours? Probably best to wait for the wine on that; since Perrin doesn't know either, you might even get two spit-takes.

Rand's reaction, lack of choking or no, still makes Perrin smile. Hearing footsteps outside the hall well before the knock comes, he quietly gets up to answer the door and obtain their wine. He'll let Mat handle Rand's question, he knows more about both the incident and the rescue anyway.

Maybe later. When he thinks they're drunk enough to forget about it. Or at least not tease him about it. Light! Was it that hard to believe? Moiraine had been shocked too.

Mat smiles a little too. All three of them were surprised about Moiraine and Thom! The answer dampens his smile a bit, but it's still there. "Maybe. Moiraine said the Snakes and Foxes told her that they killed Lanfear by draining her too fast." And now they have wine! They'll definitely need it soon, if they don't already.

"... Then it's possible. The grave doesn't stop Him, when they are involved." Ah, wine.

Rand isn't sure what will happen if he drinks that, but he'll look for cups for the three of them anyway. Oh, there's cups. Don't mind him using saidin to carry two - he only has one hand, after all, and holding two against his chest and one in his hand is awkward for passing things about. That or stacking them.

"Graendal and Semirhage are out of the Pattern, at least."

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assuming there are chairs with backs

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