Haven: Journey's End

Dismounting, Lillian was careful as she viewed her surroundings. The Darkwood was a wood where it was easy to become lost, even for one who knew their way around and Lillian was not such a person. The trees grew tall and remained untamed, only a half light at best pierced the branches to help her see her way. Not that there was a way, everytime she thought she had found a trail it seemed to close up with no warning, the thickets and the shrub growing far too thick for both her and her horse to navigate, and she had no intention of leaving her horse behind. Not with the amount of ground that she would have to travel.

It was not normally a place for her to be, as far as places went the Darkwood was well out of the way of most civilisation. Ever since the disintegration of Almoth centuries earlier, there were only a few city states in the area of which Falme and Katar were foremost. None of them really held any sway in the Darkwood, though a few such as Katar claimed it. There were only settlements along the fringes of the wood, villages and hamlets at best where people eeked out an existance and were usually more than happy to disregard the world around them while they hoped not to be ravaged by the conflicts between Arad Doman and Tarabon over their homeland.

Yet news had spread from them to Katar, and from there she had been able to learn of a strange rumour. That something was within the Darkwood, terrorising the villages, or that there was a plague, that it was the work of Darkfriends or that it was a ghost of some sort, or some strange creature that no one knew. Regardless, it had been something that she had wanted to investigate and help with if she could. After all, it was so far out of the way, what could possibly merit the attention of Darkfriends?

Reaching for the waterskin hanging from her saddle, Lillian took a sip before she stoppered the skin and hung it back up. It had been a long week searching the woods, almost as long as she had spent getting from Katar to the villages that had been affected. It had been a mix of the rumours, and something she didn't understand. Women vanished from their homes at night, sometimes never seen again and other times found outside their homes, consumed with the beginnings of a sickness that caused them to degenerate over the space of week.

Some had seen a strange figure, one that they had taken to calling the Ragman. Always seen from a distance, wearing tattered clothes and never confronting those who saw him. The victims themselves could never seem to remember who the attacker was, if they could even remember what happened at all. It was troubling, but something had to be done and she was here, that was her duty as an Aes Sedai, and the right thing to do.

If only she could find him, even as she surveyed the trees about her once more, there was nothing to be seen. Whether the Ragman even knew she was around, or whether he was avoiding her, she couldn't tell. But she'd find the Ragman and end the problem, one way or ano-

Snap.


Lillian Tremina
Sister of the White Ajah
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What she wouldn't give to be hawking just then. Zalena sighed as she looked around the small village, leading her horse in slowly as the locals came out from behind closed doors and stared at her. She had worn her most casual riding dress but even with the dust and grime of travel, it was still probably better than their best. It was a small village, nothing to stand about it, nothing to comment on it's people, or anything exceptional to stand out. These were the common people who had little and didn't think to want more, or if they did, allowed it to bitter them instead of attempt it. They were the sort of people Zalena could only pity, but never really understand.

She'd been to a lot of places in her time as a Yellow Sister, seen a lot of small villages such as this as she'd moved about, trying to meet more healers and learn their secrets. Sometimes places like this were a wealth of information, but others they were too mistrustful of strangers. She was beginning to fear this might be the latter. But she had come for a reason and she was not easily deterred. Though, in hindsight, she was thinking it might have been better to bring a couple guards along with her. There had been a few cute ones along the way that she was certain she could have paid easily enough to come along and guard her body. They'd seemed fond enough of it at the time.

She pushed the thought away and pushed the hood of her riding cloak back. Best to see if anyone recognized what she was. In a place like this it wasn't likely, but you never knew. Best to get over the reaction now. She needed to get to these people and she needed their trust quickly. She had heard rumors of a disease in the area that no one seemed to be able to cure. She was always looking for that sort of thing too and it was times like this when she had to thank the Creator that she had the strength in healing that she did.

She was walking on the village green when three women came forward. She stopped her horse and waited respectfully for them to speak.

"You look like the other one." A young girl said, peeking behind one of the woman's skirts.

It was enough of a break in the silence that Zalena felt easy enough talking. "My name is Zalena Tesora." She said, nodding her head to the women in a friendly manner. "I'm a healer and I came after hearing about the sickness that you have."

"You came after your friend?" The woman on the left said. She looked suspicious but seemed willing to talk while the others seemed simply suspicious.

"My friend? The girl said one like me?"

"She got a face like yours."

Zalena nodded. "I'd like to speak to her if I can."

The other two nodded and the third lady led her to a house on the outskirts of the village. Behind it was a sickhouse, she could see from the condition and the position to the other houses and businesses. The interior was no less than she expected. it was kept clean but basic. A few beds in different corners but there was a small room off to the side. Probably a storeroom with a little area for remedies they might make here.

The woman went immediately to a bed on the other side. It was close to a window and Zalena was glad that the room had that light at least. As she walked closer though, she recognized the other woman. Lillian Sedai of the White Ajah.

She knelt immediately at the edge of the bed, hearing the words the woman before her said but only in a general way, as she opened herself to the source. She began delving immediately and allowed the focus of those flows to calm her fears at seeing one of her Sisters lying in a place like this.

She could see the sores on her skin without delving, but she felt them all now. Her body was weak, too weak to fight off anything else that might try to harm her now. Unconscious, Zalena was thankful for that small thing. Her internal organs were suffering as well. There was a great strain on them, their condition deteriorating fast. So fast that if she couldn't do something now, she feared for the other woman.

Taking a deep breath she looked at the woman beside her and nodded. "Thank you for your help. I'll see what I can do for her. " She pulled a small pouch out of her bag and handed it to the woman. "Can you brew this for me? Something for the air." She said with a small smile. The woman took it to the other room and Zalena was alone with her sister. The pouch had held herbs that would help clear the air and give a little warmth to the bare room, but it was mostly to get the other out of her hair. She was obvious their version of a healer, but she either knew nothing of the trade, or they had come empty handed in a way to treat this and had given up.

She put a hand on Lillian's forehead as she began. "It's Zalena Tesora." She said in a quiet voice. "I'm here to help you Lillian Sedai." She was abotu to channel again and the last thing she wanted to do was scare the woman if some part of her remained awake. She normally did that before she delved but she had forgotten in her concern for the other.

Finally, she began to work the flows of air, all five elements unlike most of her Sisters who still found her version of healing a bit odd. Her healing was instinctive and as she began to work she felt the vital organs begin to respond again. She felt the sores fading and the illness within her recede.

She didn't know how long she sat with her Sister, but when she was done, she was drained . The other woman was beside her. She held a hand to Zalena and helped her into a rocking chair that had been moved on the other side of the bed. A mug was pressed into her hand and she could smell the citrus in the air from her pouch.

"Now, we simply wait."

Zalena Tesora, Yellow Sister

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"Mmmm."

There was a unique feeling of being genuinely bone-tired as she became aware of herself. There wasn't any pain as such, but there was a deep weakness in her limbs that left her feeling heavier than a big oak and about as mobile. Lifting one of her hands to her face, she rubbed at it out of some ingrained habit as she tried to open her eyes. Entirely too bright, part of her wanted to go back to sleep but for some reason she couldn't. It was as if she were too tired to sleep, a queer feeling but truth be told, she wasn't particularly dwelling on the phenomenon.

Stretching as she pulled her hand away, it was a small room that she found herself in and upon a single bed. Frowning, something didn't feel right. Lifting the covers slightly, she found she was only wearing a shift, that made sense because she had been sleeping but the room wasn't familiar to her. She didn't remember being in a room like this at all, and it was a disquieting feeling about the alien unknown that she did not like at all.

Forcing herself to sit up a little, it was then that she noticed that she wasn't alone. There was a woman nearby sitting on a chair, dozing maybe or outright asleep with needle and thread in her lap. Odd. She didn't recognise the other woman at all, or the room she was in. Maybe it was the other woman's home? Had she stayed the night here?

Slipping off the covers, it took a bit of effort to swing her legs over the side of the bed but at least she didn't need to stand up. There was a little hesitation, but she needed answers so she reached over to the other woman's hand and shook it slightly, rousing her even as she spoke.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude. I . . . where are we? And who are you? I don't remember how I got here."

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Zalena stretched slightly as she heard a small noise. A voice penetrated her foggy mind and she opened her eyes, barely able to withhold a yawn. She looked at the woman before her, eyes racing down the other woman's body to see if there was anything noticeable about her. She didn't look as pale as she had before, but she still didn't have the same look as Zalena knew from the White Tower.

Her mind finally worked their way around her words then and Zalena smiled at her Sister. "It has been some time since we last spoke Lillian Sedai, but I would have thought you'd remember my name better. Zalena Tesora." She added, her smile faded though at the thought of not remembering how she'd got there.

"I was told they found you outside the Darkwood a few days ago. You must have come across something there. Can you tell me anything about it?" She asked, hoping her words would help Lillian remember.

Zalena Tesora

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The woman was kindly enough, but what did she call her? Lillian Sedai? Is that what she had called herself? There was a disturbing blank spot as to what she had done during the time that the woman spoke of, in fact there was nothing to be found at all when she tried to think back. A few days ago, the Darkwood, what was the Darkwood? Frowning in concentration, she tried to think of the day, tried to remember anything about it. Not a glimpse, not a hint, there was just nothing there where there was meant to be something. Several days ago in the Darkwood, she didn't even know where she'd been let alone where she was. Or who the woman was who seemed to know her.

Maybe if she went back further.

The day before, she tried to think about what happened the day before the Darkwood, whatever the Darkwood was. Nothing. Her fingers tightening around the edges of her shift as she went back a day, then another day, the rising fear within her was something she barely managed to keep hold of. She couldn't remember anything, no days before the day that this woman Zalena spoke of, day after day missing, years as well. Were there even years? She didn't know that either, and that made her growing panic even worse.

Shifting back slightly on the bed as she gathered her knees to her with her arms, she realised all of a sudden that she didn't even know who she was. What was her name? Was it Lillian Sedai? She didn't even know? What if it wasn't? Looking up at the woman as the tears began to well and her voice began to choke, she could only brokenly stutter.

"I-I-I do-don't kno-ow. Who a-a-am I?"

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Zalena's eyes went wide as she heard the stammering question. For a moment she looked for the humor, for a laugh or something to tell her that Lillian was joking, but the watery eyes said more than anything to the healer.

Without thought, Zalena got up from the chair and had herself on the bed, her hands taking the Aes Sedai's in her own. Light, how did she get to this? She hadn't noticed any deterioration in the mind when she had delved nor was there any in her healing. Perhaps this was something that went a little deeper. Sometimes the mind shut things out when it needed to catch up to the physical body. Maybe that's all it was.

Or maybe the Ragman had done something irreversible to her.

Zalena pushed it out of her thoughts. There was no such thing as incurable. If the woman was alive, Zalena would cure her. "Alright. Let's just stay calm. I know who you are. You've just been through a tramatic illness. It might take a little while for your brain to catch up." She said, trying to sooth the other. "We just need to keep from getting too upset. Tell me if you can remember anything at all."

Zalena

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"Too upset?!"

She giggled. She couldn't help it even as the tears kept flowing, giggling until she stumbled headlong into hysterical laughter between sobs. She couldn't remember a single piece about her entire life before she had woken up in this room and she should try not to be too upset. If she even did have a life beforehand, she didn't even know that for sure, or that she was who the woman said she was. She had no idea why she was here except she'd been found out by some Darkwood, or something according to this woman, and she couldn't even ascribe anymore veracity to that than what the woman had called her.

And she wasn't meant to be too upset.

She didn't stutter at least as she spoke. "I can't remember anything! I don't know who I am! I don't know who you are! I don't even know where we are! Why can't I remember anything?!"

"What if you're lying to me?!" Ripping her hands away from the other woman, her eyes were wide as she regarded the other woman with a touch of fear as she almost whispered. "What if you're the one who did this to me? How do I know I can trust you? I don't know what happened, I don't know where I am, I don't know who I am and you're the only person here. What did you do to me? Why can't I remember? Why can't I remember?!"

Her hands clasped together so tightly that they were going white, she pulled her knees close to her once more as she began to rock back and forth.
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Her instinct was to pull the other woman into an embrace, to offer comfort and solace. Her training taught her to hold back though and though she had to grip her dress for a moment to keep her hands from reaching out of their own accord, she knew that it was better to hold back. The Aes Sedai was going to have to come around eventually, at least she hoped she would, and then she would be able to comfort. For now, she needed to find a way to gain her trust.

"My name is Zalena. We know one one another. There are others here who met you. They can tell you your name. You came to the village alone a few days before me. You came searching a rumor about the Ragman." She said, filling in details that she hoped might help the woman recall herself. "Would you feel better if I had someone else come in and talk to you? To confirm what little i've told you?" She asked.

Light, she didn't know what to do about this. There had been no noticed trauma to the head, no deterioration that she had seen, but who knew what had happened between the time she had gone out into the Darkwoods and when she had been found. The mind was a tricky thing and memory loss had been known to happen over emotional trauma as well as physical and she had no way to gauge what sort of trauma might make someone of Lillian Sedai's stature forget what she had seen. Light, she wished she knew the White Sister better to gauge her reactions better.

"Please, i'm only here to help. You were very sick when I came and i've done what I can to heal you. I want to help you."

Zalena Tesora, Yellow Sister

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She could hear the woman, Zalena, as she was speaking. She couldn't remember her even though Zalena said they knew one another. Searching for the Ragman, but that wasn't what concerned her. How did she know Zalena? Were they friends or enemies? Were they close or distant? Could she trust what the woman was saying or was it all a deception? Even if she had other people come in and talk to her, what said they weren't in league with the woman who spoke to her now? She had no way of knowing for certain what the case of the matter was.

The woman mentioned wanting to help her. But how? She couldn't bring her memory back, if she could she would have. Unless she wasn't her friend, in which case being without her memory was more preferable for Zalena. But why? She couldn't think of a reason for someone to do such a thing to her. Then again, she had no sense of memory or history to refer to, something that would allow her to understand why Zalena was here, or why someone would have taken her memory from her to begin with. If it was taken from her, she didn't even know that for sure either.

"Leave." The simple word came from her as she stopped rocking. "Please, just leave me be."

If there was something else the woman wanted to say, Zalena didn't as she rose and left her to her own troubles. How could she trust anything anyone had to say when she could know nothing for herself? They could tell her she was this or that and she'd have no way of knowing for certain. Could she then even try and be who she was if she didn't even know what that was and couldn't without certainty?

It was a thought that tormented her until she was able to come to a simple conclusion. If she didn't, then she couldn't do anything. How could she trust that the air she breathed was air? She had to take it on faith.

Not the most reassuring thought, but it was one that allowed her to slip off the bed and look about for a dress . . .