The hall was silent. Every breath could be heard, and for a moment, no one moved.Morgase remained seated, staring at Rand, her chin resting on her closed fist, elbow on the armrest of the throne.Rand met her gaze with an intense expression.
— Distrust is choking Caemlyn, — the Queen finally said. — Perhaps all of Andor. Fear... a dark suspicion. Women denounce their neighbors as Friends of the Dark. Men draw the Dragon's Fang on the doors of people they've known for years. I will not become part of that.
— I know what you're doing is to save your daughter. And to be honest, this may truly be the best course. She needs to learn to control her powers or she will be consumed by them. But as a mother, I understand your concern.
— When I took the throne, I swore to bring justice to both nobles and commoners, — Morgase continued. — And I will, even if I'm the last in Andor who remembers what justice means.
— Rand al'Thor, under the Light, do you swear that, as her father, you will care for and protect Helena, and when you can no longer do so, you will send her to Tar Valon?
— I swear it, — Rand said. Then, realizing who he was speaking to, he added, — Your Majesty.
Lord Gareth raised an eyebrow, but Morgase didn't seem to mind.
— And you climbed the garden wall just to get a better look at the false Dragon?
— Yes, Your Majesty.
— Do you intend harm to the throne of Andor? To my daughter? Or to my son?Her tone made it clear the last two would earn him even less mercy than the first.
— I intend no harm to anyone, Your Majesty. Least of all to you and yours.
— I will act in accordance with the laws I created. I grant you your freedom, Rand al'Thor. But I advise you to be more careful about which grounds you trespass in the future. If you're found on Palace grounds again, you won't get off so easily.
— Tallanvor, — Morgase said, — escort my daughter's… guests out of the Palace, and show them every courtesy.
Rand and Helena began to leave the hall. Elayne and Gawyn exchanged a few words outside, then started walking alongside them. Tallanvor seemed surprised as well. The young officer glanced back at the doors as they closed behind them.
— I know I made a mess in there. I'm sorry, — Rand said, looking at Elayne.
— I should be the one apologizing. I should've let you go when it was time, but I pushed you into this chaos.— But there's a silver lining… I gained a daughter as well, — Elayne smiled at Helena.
Snorting beside them, Helena didn't look at her and kept walking.
— I see there's no convincing you otherwise, — Rand said. — So I'll leave you with a way to contact us.
— I'll send a raven with a letter. It'll be yours. You can name it as you wish. Anytime you want to send a message — to anyone — just give her the letter, say the person's name and where they live. She'll find them and deliver it.
— How is that possible? — Elayne asked.
— That's an answer for another time. So… this is where we part.
The escort stopped, and he looked at the large courtyard in front of the Palace, the tall golden gates gleaming in the sunlight.
— If I had told my mother I thought you were handsome, she would've had you locked in a cell, — Elayne said with a dazzling smile. — Mark my words, Rand al'Thor. You are mine, and Helena is my daughter. I'll have you both back when I finish my training.
She then hugged Helena tightly.
— I know I can be possessive about what I consider mine… and yes, you are my daughter, even if you don't like it.— Since the moment I met you, I felt a connection I can't explain. I hope that, in time, you'll accept me.— And if things ever get hard, come find me — here at the Palace or in Tar Valon. I love you, my little Helena.
Helena now hugged Elayne tightly but said nothing.
Pulling Helena closer to his side, Rand walked quickly, crossing the square and entering the streets of the Inner City.
After the scene at the Palace, Rand thought it best to stay out of the spotlight. He finally managed to put some things in order — both at the hotel and at the Ministry of Magic. His influence was growing.
As promised, he had sent the raven to Elayne, along with a few healing potions in case anything happened during her training.Helena, meanwhile, had stayed quiet the whole time, focused on her magical training. They rarely saw each other, but Rand knew she and Elayne were exchanging letters via ravens almost daily.
With spare time, Rand decided to focus on Mat. The goblin cursebreakers were taking turns suppressing the dagger's effects. But it was only a seal — one that had to be reinforced each month, or the corruption would worsen.
Rand still wasn't strong enough to dispel that evil entirely. The spell required would drain one of the Philosopher's Stones in his hand — something he wasn't ready to sacrifice… not yet.
The days passed quickly, and finally, they arrived.
Rand threw open the door to the private lounge — and there they were.
Moiraine met his eyes with a calm gaze, then returned to gently stroking Helena's head, who sat quietly beside her. Nynaeve and Egwene rushed over, laughing as they wrapped him in a tight hug, with Perrin right behind, patting him on the back as if to make sure he was real. Leaning casually against the doorway to the library, Lan observed silently, one boot propped against the frame.
Rand tried to hug the two women and shake Perrin's hand at the same time — a tangle of arms and laughter, made worse by Nynaeve placing a hand on his forehead, checking for fever.
They looked a little worse for wear. Perrin had scrapes on his face and kept his eyes low, something he had never done before.But they were alive — and together again. Emotion swelled in Rand's throat, making it hard to speak.
— I knew you were alive, — Egwene said, clinging to his chest. — I always knew. Always.
— I didn't, — said Nynaeve. Her voice was stern for a moment, but softened with a smile. — You look well, Rand. Not very well-fed… but you're all right, thank the Light.
— Where's Mat? — Nynaeve asked suddenly. — Helena said he was here too.
— Upstairs, — Rand replied. — He's… not doing well.
Nynaeve straightened immediately.
— He's sick? Leave the rats with her. I'll take care of this. Take me to him. Now.
They headed upstairs to the room where Mat was being kept. Rand thought it best to let him sleep — it had been days since he had truly rested.
— And the gleeman? — Perrin asked. — Is he with you?
Rand hesitated.
— Thom… might be dead. I don't think he is. There was a Fade… he stayed behind to distract it so we could escape. I gave him something that could save him, so I still believe he made it. I won't call him dead until I see the body.
The silence that followed was heavy. The laughter faded, and the joy of reunion dimmed, replaced by a quiet weight that followed them up the stairs.