Never Walk Alone (Attn:Bella)

[Alianora]

Liaran Sedai

Liaran sat in one of the blue chairs her sitting room held, Shadow leaning against its side. She stretched out a hand to stroke the dog's neck, grateful to be distracted from her desire to stare at the door to her rooms. She had invited Haeden to come here this evening, and now was waiting to hear the knock that would tell her he'd arrived. As comfortable as she was with the decision they'd come to in New Braem only a few days ago, Liaran couldn't help also feeling just slightly nervous. Shadow moved her head to lay over Liaran's knee, and the Aes Sedai moved her hand from the dog's neck to pet the top of her head.

She wished her nerves would go away. She wanted Haeden as her Warder, knew what that would mean as well as she could when she'd never had one before. They would never again really be separate, after this evening, and it still surprised Liaran that she not only accepted that, but actually wished for it. She did not understand how she could still feel anxious about something she'd chosen, something she wanted. The knock on the door she'd been anticipating distracted Liaran from her thoughts. Shadow raced across the room towards it, and Liaran followed behind. When she opened it, the Aes Sedai was smiling, her nervousness already beginning to fade.

[Bella]

Although a part of him had wanted to throw himself to his knee and pledge his vow the moment they were back on Tower grounds, Haeden had managed to restrain himself. They both had things to catch up on after their time away, and perhaps they each needed just a little more time to ease themselves--to be sure, to be ready.

Well, he knew he hadn't, but good things came to those who waited. He could wait a few days, to make it ideal for them both.

Haeden felt like his skin was vibrating now, though, as he walked into the Halls of the Blue Ajah. Liaran had sent for him, invited him to visit her at her quarters this evening. The day's work was done, and so he felt sure what this had to be about...unless, of course, she'd changed her mind...

That thought made him almost miss a step, but after a very brief panic, he shook it off and kept walking.

He reached her door and knocked. Anxiety jumped around in his stomach and he nearly reached for the Void just to avoid it all, but he knew that he couldn't do that. He wanted to be present in every way for this moment. He wanted to feel it.

The door opened, and she was smiling.

And he was relieved.

He returned the smile and bowed slightly. "Liaran," he said warmly. "You have asked for me, and here I am."

[Alianora]

Liaran Sedai

Liaran's knee nudged Shadow gently to the side and out of Haeden's way. "I'm glad you're here," she told him. "Come in." Once he had, Liaran let the door close behind them and turned to deal with her dog. Shadow was right beside them both, thin tail wagging, clearly hoping for attention. Liaran shook her head, realizing it might have been best to send the dog out earlier. She didn't want anything to distract her from Haeden tonight. However, since she hadn't thought of it, Liaran fixed her eyes on Shadow and pointed towards the dog's favorite spot by the fireplace. "Go lay down," she ordered, and Shadow obeyed, laying on her side on the rug.

She knew from experience that Shadow wasn't likely to move from that spot once she'd settled in it, leaving herself and Haeden free to focus on each other. The last of Liaran's nerves dissolved as she looked up and into his green eyes. She meant to say something, not just stand there staring at him, but Liaran didn't know what to say, how to ask. Stop being silly, she scolded herself. She blinked, but did not look away while she struggled to find the right words. There hardly seemed to be any that were appropriate for the request she needed to make, but the words Liaran finally found were simple. Having barely moved from where she stood before him, the Aes Sedai took a deep breath, then she spoke.

"Will you be my Warder, Haeden?"

Nervousness flooded back into her as soon as she'd asked the question. She knew it wasn't reasonable, they'd already agreed to this.....but there was still that chance, however small, that he could have reconsidered over the few days that had passed. Liaran felt as though she had frozen to the spot where she stood as she waited for Haeden's response.

[Bella]

Haeden liked the dog, but knew that this wasn't really the moment. He'd make it up to her later. For now, this was for Haeden and Liaran.

She stood in front of him, staring up into his eyes. He wanted to say something, wondering if she was nervous in some way, but there was a solemnity to this for him, and it was her place to speak first. There was still a tendril of nerves in his own gut, mixed with a sort of anticipation and excitement.

"Will you be my Warder, Haeden?"

As soon as she asked the question, he smiled. Then he let it fade to the sobriety and formality of what he was about to say and do. He took a step back and drew his sword from his hip, slowly so he didn't startle anyone, and then set it point down in front of him. He lowered himself to one knee, one hand on the hilt as he looked up into her eyes.

"Liaran din Chelai Morning Star, Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah," he said solemnly. "I vow to be your sword and your shield. To come when you say come, and draw when you say draw. Until my last breath, or if you deem me unworthy and release me, I will be your warder." He bowed his head.

[Alianora]

Liaran Sedai

Haeden smiled, and Liaran relaxed, the fear that had frozen her melting away. He would not refuse her. She stepped back as he drew his sword, but her eyes did not leave him, not then and not while he spoke. The formality of his words to her reminded Liaran of just how serious this was for both of them. He was giving her control over his life, even to the point of death, and for a moment, Liaran stood there and stared at him, wondering how it was possible for Haeden to place that much trust in her. He still knelt there before her, and Liaran knew he would not rise until she had placed the weave of Spirit that would bind them together.

She did not hesitate to close the space between them, placing both hands gently on top of Haeden's head. If there were a proper response to the promise he'd just made, Liaran did not know it. The words she spoke instead were far simpler, and for Liaran, more heartfelt, an expression of her feelings towards Haeden that was rare for her.

"I would trust you with my life, Haeden," she said. "There is no one I trust more than you. You could never be unworthy of that." It made her a little sad that he'd thought that, something that had never occurred to her. Liaran would not have even considered agreeing to this without being absolutely certain that their bond would last until death.

With nothing more to be said, Liaran reached for saidar, drawing on endless fine threads of Spirit. Not normally one of her strongest Powers, on this day it seemed to come to her with no resistance at all. She wove them into a thin, incredibly intricate net. To her, it took far too long, but in reality only minutes passed before she completed the weave. It extended from her, and she settled it over Haeden's head. Letting it go, Liaran watched it sink in, and the Aes Sedai held her breath.

[Bella]

Something deep within Haeden Ives that he had never realized had been tense now relaxed, something that he didn't know was broken was now fixed. The moment she spoke of her trust in him, it was like every piece that had been separated now came back together, and he inhaled deeply of his relief.

He remained motionless, waiting for her to form the bond and lay it upon him.

And when she did, he knew in an instant that nothing was ever going to be the same again.

Everything changed,e and yet everything remained the same. It felt as though the world was suddenly keener, sharper. It was bigger and smaller, louder and quieter. And now, she was there. He lifted his head to meet her dark-eyed gaze, and before she could take her hands back, he took one in his free hand and kissed the back of it.

"My Aes Sedai."

[Alianora]

Liaran Sedai

Liaran exhaled, suddenly aware that not all of the emotions she was feeling actually belonged to her. A presence that could only be Haeden rested in the back of her mind, his joy mirroring her own. It was just a little disorienting for her, and for several seconds, Liaran could do nothing but stand there, staring at Haeden with wide, dark eyes. She had not even thought to move her hands from his head before he took one in his free hand to kiss its back.

She smiled at his words, letting the hand that had been laying on Haeden's head drop to her side. He still held the other, and her fingers curled around his, squeezing gently. "My Warder," she responded. Her grip on his hand loosened slightly, but Liaran didn't let go. She did not want to let him go just yet, and the connection they now shared suggested that she would never really have to.

[Bella]

Haeden felt...relief.

He could easily imagine that some warders might feel a little uncertain with the knowledge that their feelings were less private than they had once been, but it didn't concern him. In fact, it comforted him. For a long time, he had felt like he had to keep up some sort of appearance--what they was depending on who he was with.

Now, though, he had Liaran. A bond-mate. Someone not requiring any pretense. He could be himself, and be assured of his place.

The Gaidin could feel that she did not want to let go of his hand, and the feeling warmed him--both because of the feeling itself and the fact that he felt it. He didn't want to let go either, so he didn't. He kept his hand in hers as he rose to his feet, sword still drawn and not held lowered by his side.

He felt like he should say something more but no words came, so he simply smiled, and all his feelings were revealed in that expression.

[Alianora]

Liaran Sedai

Standing in front of Haeden, still holding his hand, Liaran wondered why she'd ever feared this. It wasn't so long ago that she had thought that she would somehow be weaker, lesser, if she ever bonded a Warder, but now that she had Haeden, Liaran knew that wasn't true. She was as independent and capable as she had always been; the only difference was that now she had someone else to work with her and support her, who she trusted without reservation. There were no words to describe the happiness, the sense of complete reassurance, but it seemed as though none were needed between them. When Haeden smiled at her, Liaran smiled back.

He finally rose from the floor, their hands still joined. To Liaran, there seemed to be too much space between them. She took a few steps towards Haeden, eyes briefly flickering towards the sword he still held so she could avoid it. Reaching his side, she let go of his hand so she could wrap her arms around him in a hug. Only yesterday, she would have been reluctant to do so, but their bond now told her that Haeden would not mind.

[Bella]

No, Haeden certainly did not mind. He did not mind at all. Maybe a little beyond just not-minding...

When she took those few steps that separated them, he wasn't entirely sure of her plan--the bond allowed a sense of feelings, not of thoughts--but then she embraced him. His heart jumped a beat or two as he wrapped his free arm around her, holding her close but gently as he returned the hug.

"Liaran," he said softly, his head lowered and just above hers. Practically speaking to her hair, though he knew she'd hear him. He wondered, briefly and idly, if this was what his parents had felt when they bonded, years before his birth. Or if this is what his mother felt when she took Ravak as a warder. If so, maybe he'd been giving the other man too much the cold shoulder.

The world seemed a little more easily understood in that moment, at least some parts of it. He knew the shine would wear off in time, and life would be life as usual again, but for now, he planned to make the most of it.