A Not-So-Blind Date [Attn: Tia Tomosan]

[Bella]

They were on the horses and beating a hasty retreat. There was no telling what the small mob would do. Some would probably get tired and stop, while others might lose interest. And then there was the chance that some would just run and run until they dropped where they stood, and possibly died of exhaustion.

With no one to tend them, and with broken minds, there was no telling.

It was not, however, Bryn's problem. He and a sole Aes Sedai could not fix this town and its people. All he could assure was that his charge escaped this situation alive and intact, and that was what he intended to do. And thus they encouraged the horses to their best speed, moving across the imperfect terrain, until the crowd was out of sight and out of earshot.

"We can slow," he called, and they let their horses rein down from the breakneck speed, although he would not let them stop for a while yet, but a horse at best speed would quickly outdistance a human by a good measure.

Every nerve in his body felt like a frayed end from just outside the Void, singing with tension and emotional pain. He constantly looked back over his shoulder as they rode onward, but there was still no sight of anyone. "We'll ride as far as we can safely before we stop," he said, taking a slow breath. "Just to make sure they can't catch up to us. Some may not stop."

[Roan]

Tia Sedai

The Gaidin wasn’t the only one on edge. Tia probably looked over her shoulder as much as the Gaidin did, and her unease didn’t go away when he suggested they could slow. She did release her hold on Saidar and took a deep, shaky breath as the pair slowed their horses to a trot and finally a brisk walk.

“I know it might be a stretch to ride straight through to the Citadel, but if we don’t push the horses too much, we probably could. If we do need to stop, I can put up a Ward to warn us if we get company,” Tia explained. She doubted either of them would be able to truly be at ease until they were within the walls of the Citadel.

The idea of stopping for the night did not appeal to her, and given how tense Bryn seemed, she doubted he was fond of the idea either. Looking over to him, she asked, “How are you doing?”

[Bella]

"I'll be a lot better when we're away from here," he said tensely, then cast his glance over at her. "Are you well? You are not hurt, are you?"

After her reply, he gave a single nod as his mind raced. He tried to reel it in so he could think straight, even as his emotions tried to break into the Void and wreak havoc on his thoughts. He refused to let it, at least not while they were still fleeing and had a long ride back to the Citadel...

The Citadel.

"Aes Sedai," he said, formality sliding in when he was in this mental state, "since we know where we are going back to, could you make a Gateway to the Citadel?"

[Roan]

Tia Sedai

A Gateway. Why hadn’t she thought of it? Tia mentally kicked herself, though truth be told, it wasn’t a weave she wanted to rush, so getting some distance between the mob before opening a Gateway was ideal. Still. . . she should have thought of it instead of having to be reminded of it by her Gaidin.

Tia nodded, “I should be able to open a Gateway to the Citadel. I should have thought of it sooner.” She gave him a small, uncertain smile. Pulling Storm up to a halt, she looked around to make sure the mob was nowhere to be seen, and dismounted. Embracing Saidar. Pulling the various threads together, a vertical line appeared and before long, the Gateway opened. She didn’t have a Talent for Gateways, but she managed to create one big enough for the pair and their horses to go through one at a time.

Looking to Bryn, Tia nodded, “Go on through. I will be right behind you.” In the distance, she heard a woman yelling, and knew it was the woman somehow catching up. Her blood ran cold as she looked over her shoulder. She didn’t see the woman or anyone else, but they’d somehow closed distance. She looked back to Bryn and saw concern and doubt etched on his face, “I promise. . .now go!”

Storm stomped a hoof, as if to emphasize the urgency of the moment, but time seemed to slow to a crawl. Tia understood Bryn’s reluctance, but she was glad he managed to overcome it and moved through the Gateway. Looking over her shoulder once more, Tia saw the woman break the tree-line. Light, but she was moving fast, as were the others. The Green didn’t hesitate as she and Storm walked through the Gateway.

A split second later, she was in the courtyard of the Citadel. She could still hear the woman’s screams, and looked over her shoulder as she let the weaves drop. She was amazed how quickly the woman seemed to close distance to the Gateway. The Green was more than relieved when the Gateway snapped shut. Letting go a relieved sigh, Tia looked to Bryn, “That was...too close for comfort.”

[Bella]

Bryn's tone was heavy with meaning as he said, "Yes, it was."

By the time the Green had come through her Gateway and let it close, Bryn was already dismounted and standing in front of it with his sword in hand--just in case he needed to jump back through and defend her. He'd known that she had to go through after him, but it didn't mean every instinct hadn't hated it.

His aid was not needed, however, as she came through and the group was shut behind them. He knew it wouldn't be long before he had to deal with his feelings about what had happened, but duty could distract him for just a little while longer...

"Are you alright?" he asked. "You're not hurt, are you?" He had asked it before but felt compelled to ask again.

[Roan]

Tia Sedai

With the Gateway closed, Tia let go of Saidar and gave the Gaidin a warm smile, “I am unhurt and as fine as I can be after what we experienced.”

Two stable-hands came up, and as Tia handed Storm’s reins to one of them she gave the young girl instructions, “Both horses need to be cooled down before being put away. Make sure they have water. They can eat at the regular time. . .just make sure they’re cooled down properly before putting them up.”

“Of course, Aes Sedai,” the girl replied as she and the other stable-hand walked off with their mounts.

Tia looked to Bryn and nodded towards the main building, and the direction of their quarters at the Citadel, “I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking about retiring to my quarters and having the kitchen deliver a meal and just...decompressing for the evening. Care to join me?”

[Bella]

It took a while for reality and relief to overcome memories and adrenaline. He almost argued with the stable-hand who came up to take his horse, but he managed to stop himself before he let those instincts take over. The girl seemed to eye him a bit warily, almost like one would look at a wolf on a leash, as she took the reins and acknowledged the Aes Sedai's orders.

When Tia spoke to him, it took a moment longer than usual for the words to sink in. He nodded slightly, although didn't reply in words at first, giving himself time to think it through.

Brynmore thought over if it would be wise to put himself in Tia's company after what had just happened. Of course he would not go far, but should he possibly expose her to the tumult of his mind as it would be when the last of the Void wore off? Then again, was it equally wise for him to be alone.

The short war ended and he bowed his head slightly. "I would like that," he said honestly, because he wanted to be around her and not alone, but he'd have to trust his own self-control.

[Roan]

Tia Sedai

The Green Sister watched Bryn closely, seeing a shift in him that she couldn’t quite place. She didn’t know the war waging within him, but given his delay answering her, she worried he would say no to joining her. Tia was surprised how relieved she said when he agreed. As the two started to head to their shared quarters, the Aes Sedai waved over another one of the stable hands and asked the young boy to go tell the Mistress of the Kitchens to send two meals to them.

Tia found herself thinking back to the village and how disturbed the entire population seemed to be. She hesitated before gently reaching for Bryn’s forearm, “As much as I want. . .need to retire to my quarters, we need to tell someone what we saw. The sooner we get help to them, the better.”

Tia looked towards the office for the Commander of the Citadel, “It won’t take long.” She looked back to Bryn, “He’ll make sure word gets back to the Tower so they can dispatch a group of Yellows.” Part of her wondered if her father would be part of the party to attend the village, though it was a fleeting thought as she looked back to Bryn. She made quick work to inform the command staff at the Citadel what they found, not wanting to delay retiring to their quarters any longer than necessary.

Eventually, they made it to their rooms, and once they were behind the closed doors, the Green looked to Bryn, “Is everything ok?”

[Bella]

For a moment, Brynmor regretted his choice to not take some time to himself.

He cast aside that thought a moment later, however, because he reminded himself that a person should not truly be alone all the time. But then again, sometimes he wondered if he should...but no, that was not why he pursued the path of the Gaidin. And this was his Aes Sedai, even if just for this trip.

"I suppose about as alright as one might expect, after seeing what we just saw," Bryn said, picking his words carefully. Even with his realization, he was still cautious about how much he wanted to reveal about his past. "It was a very disturbing encounter. Seeing people in that state of mental...breaking..."

[Roan]

Tia Sedai

Tia let go a soft sigh and found herself nodding slowly, “I would say very disturbing is an understatement of what we saw. It wasn’t a handful of people, but seemingly everyone in the town.” Reaching up, she started undoing the braid that held her hair out of her face.

“What we saw today seems along the same lines of our party experienced in Vaidulo. . .just the condition of the people is different,” she added. It didn’t take her long to undo the braid and she used her fingers to ‘brush out’ her hair, letting it hang loose.

Motioning to the chairs by the fireplace, Tia moved over and sunk into one of them and looked back to Bryn, “I’ve never encountered people so. . .broken. What would cause someone to break in such a way?”