Ripple Two: The Infirmiry
written by Firredal Osiellin, Tan’qui al’Taya and Myshella Zaidh

A large room in the Yellow Ajah quarters was prepared with sickbeds lining the walls and filing across the expanse of the floor. Aes Sedai, Asha'man, Dedicated, Accepted, Novices and Soldiers helped those wounded in the battles to lie down. Finally, the combatants earned their rest. The stone floor was white with patterns of avendersora twining across it. The ceiling was high and the walls were carved with details of a golden yellow forest.

As the channelers and servants moved along the rows of wounded, some of those who had fought for the Towers future met for the first time... hearing what had happened in placed they had not been. Some had fought together and spoke of either trauma or triumph... pending on their hearts and experience. Some knew what they could have done better, others were satisfied with their efforts and did not hesitate to brag to the man or woman lying next to them. At times Tower Guards and Trainees shouted in jubilation across the room, ignorant of someone weeping silently in a corner.

Elation blended with sorrow for comrades lost, but in the end, they were those that remained alive.

Firredal waited impatiently on the edge of his cot. His wounds were not serious - they would make a few more scars, if they were not Healed - but with all the wreckage flying around in the battle, Durent Asha'man had insisted that he let the Yellows look him over. Firredal was willing to concede - grudgingly - that this was wise; there was always a risk of damage inside the body, unseen and unsuspected. But burn it, I'd rather be out celebrating with the others!

The young Soldier opened his eyes. He didn't remember anything about the last few hours. But suddenly, like a tower of roaring flames, it came back to him. Tan'qui crawled up to a ball and weeped silently, for he remembered, he remebered how his rage had gotten control of him, how he had burned himself out with his destructive attack, how he was attacked himself, and how he was saved by his beloved. Myshella, how could you ever trust me now, how could I ever trust myself now?! How could I live without the power?!

He opened his eyes once more, to see a face hanging over him, a woman was speaking to him, but he could not hear the words.

Myshella walked in to the Infirmiry quietly not to disturbed the wounded. Walking past the beds she was looking for Tan'qui, her Promised and beloved. Her stomach felt like ice and her eyes burned with heldback tears. She would not cry! Finally she found him, laying in a bed near the corner of the room. His cheeks were wet of tears and his eyes closed. She softly sat down on the bedside, stroking his blonde hair, quietly whispering words of comfort. His eyes opened, yet they did not focus. He didn't reconise her.

"Tan", she said softly, "it's me, Myshella." No response. She could no longer hold back the tears. Slowly they ran down her cheeks before she could wipe them away. She continued stroking Tans hair, silently cursing the name Drelle Tai'Shar. This was her fault.

Upon hearing her voice, the voice of the person he wanted to be with mostly, and wanted to get away from himself as far as possible at the same time, he finally focused his eyes, and saw her face. Still weak from the attacks, he lifted his hand to stroke her cheek.

"My," he said, "what happened? How did you get to be here? Why aren't you gone?" Driving back his tears, he knew he shouldn't be so offensive, but he needed her away, away from himself, for her own protection.

Dax was hearing a faint moaning, someone was still in pain, and suddenly he found out that had opened his eyes. He rolled his eyeballs from left to right, seeing all that he could in his still blurry vision, yet it was not enough, he still could not rotate his head, the healing bones were still very sore, so he needed to stay put. The moaning came from his right, a man ws asking for some pain relievers, yet he could not know who, he could not hear well enough to distinguish the man's identity. Then came a small chatter, two female voices came to see to the man's needs, maybe two of the Yellows, he could hear them muttering "Ball" and "food" to the burdened man, and a promise of tasty food to be brought to him when the Yellows got the chance to fetch them.

So there was to be a ball today, now that was something, this place does deserve the celebration, many lives had been lost, and many more came to meet the challenge, these were bitter times, yet they managed to pull through. Will anyone notice me here? he thought to himself, the infirmary was a very lonely place, and the promise of some good food and company will always be welcome.

Epilogue: Beneath the Surface
~Ripple One: The Grand Hall
~Ripple Two: The Infirmiry
~Ripple Three: The Final Truth
~Ripple Four: A New Council Forms
~Ripple Five: The Ball of Raisings

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