Prologue: Sparks Falling



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- Nynaeve: Elayne, give me the stone ring. I'm going to Tel'aran'rhiod tonight.

- Elayne: Oh? What happened to your ....caution?

- Don't be a goose, Elayne, we can't hide for ever. Now give me the ring - Elayne lifts her chin up and gives her the ring.

[DREAM]


Nynaeve is in the Heart of the Stone, calling Egwene, who doesn't appear. She gets more and more scared, until finally she jumps out of the dream.

- Nynaeve, waking up, staring at the ceiling: She wasn't there. There was nobody.....

- Elayne: Did you check Elaida's study? You just went to sleep....

- No, I ..... I was..... oh Elayne, I'm so tired of being afraid! I've had enough of hiding, but how can I return to Tel'aran'rhiod, knowing what's waiting for me there.... she starts crying and Elayne starts soothing her.

- Elayne: I'll tell you what: I'm coming with you!

- But how....

- You seem to have forgotten the two ter'angreal we recovered in Tear - they also serve as means to enter the Dream.

[DREAM]


They're both into the Heart. Elayne is misty. They discuss it nervously - it must be because of the quality and the way the other ter'angreal works. Elayne starts thinking aloud of why that could be.... After a while they go to Elaida's study - there are half the chairs left, and start browsing docs:

- Still no news of Davram Bashere. Queen Tenobia nad King Easar of Shienar have both written polite, but firm letters saying they won't tolerate anymore White Tower interference in their internal affairs.

- Strange news from Tarabon - invasion of some sort. Elaida scratches angrily not to deliver her anymore of this drivel.

- Joline Masa and Teslin Baradon have been send to Ebu Dar on a mission to Queen Tilin of Altara.

- An order for the demotion of Shemerin to Accepted. They both gasp when reading it: Elayne: I didn't know she could do this! - Nynaeve: It looks she's doing a lot of things previously unthinkable....

- News of Rand crossing the Spine of the world.

They both wake up.

- Nynaeve: Well.... that wasn't so bad.....

- Elayne: Yes.... and both of us being there is actually useful - we could train control in Tel'aran'rhiod without risking ridicule from Egwene or the Wise Ones..... - they both giggle. Then they apologize to each other for their behavior these last days.

[screen doubles] The boat reaches Boandda - the first town in Altara, close to the border with Ghealdan. Most of the refugees go down here. / Rand meets a woman in a small reception room in the palace:

- Rand: Missis Tarsin, I was told you invented this .... huge crossbow that shoots spears a mile far? I saw it in action during the siege?

- Yes, My Lord.... I had built it recently, although nobody seemed to think it'll be of any use.... then the Aiel, I mean the Shaido came, and....

- I was very impressed with it, Ms. Tarsin. Now, I have an idea - I want to gather other inventors like you, and also scholars of all sorts, and bring them together in a sort of....school. I want you all to write...stuff, to invent it, to....preserve all the knowledge you can in one place!

- That is....an incredible idea, my Lord! But... how are you going to do it?

- I'm going to give you one of the empty estates here, and as much gold as you need to run the school. All I want is for you to organize its activities - I know one Mr. Tovere who has brilliant ideas, but is often woolgathering.....

/ Some remain - Nicola, Areina and Marigan, with her two children. They say they feel...safe around the two women. [screen centers on Nynaeve] They tell the captain they're going to Salidar, revealing they're Aes Sedai. Nicola and Areina are impressed - they're both Hunters of the Horn, who ended up chewed up in the chaos in Ghealdan.



  • Scene 15. The shore near Salidar

The boat throws anchor, and they go down - all of them, Nicola Areina and Marigan inclusive.

- Nynaeve: Well, Uno, somewhere nearby there is a village that we need to find quickly. You men are usually good at hacking things down - now you can get to it with all this shrubbery.

While the men start clearing the way, Elayne whispers:

- Have you thought of how we might be received, Nynaeve? A lot has happened since we were last around real Aes Sedai!

- Elayne, we captured two Black Sisters, thwarted their designs in both Tear and Tanchiko, we bring ter'angreal and all this knowledge about Tel'aran'rhiod that no one else has.... I won't be surprised if they cheer us like heroes! [camera switches from their happy faces to frozen grimaces of pain, when they're met with the six Aes Sedai from the Salidar 'Council' + Siuan and Leane; the ter'angeral and the ...pieces of the seal of the Dark One lay on the table between them; Birgitte's silver arrow is also there].

- Sheriam: This is certainly interesting news you're bringing us. And some of it - very disturbing.

- Anaya: I, for one, am VERY intrigued about the possibilities of Tel'aran'rhiod you claim to have discovered!

- Nynaeve: We don't CLAIM anything, we KNOW!

- Sheriam: Has anyone given you permission to speak, Accepted? Then be silent! Yes, all of this is amazing - being able to move around the world, even though a shadow reflection of it, to speak with other persons far away.... If Egwene is really this close to Rand al'Thor, we could actually influence him directly!

- Morvrin: Of course, all this has to be confirmed, first. - Beonin nods, while Nynaeve tugs strongly at her braid.

- Sheriam: You've done very well, children, and now it's time you resumed your studies.....

- Nynaeve, cutting her off: Wait a minute, what about the Black Ajah, and the Seal and the Sad Bracelets we found, and..... - she stops under the withering look of the Aes Sedai.

- Carlinya: The child has a point - I'd like to now, for one, how has Siuan.... forgotten to mention that she sent mere Accepted after the Black Ajah.

- Siuan, tremulously: I.... did what I thought was best at the moment! You have to believe me when I tell you I had no other options, I literally couldn't trust anyone! - Leane snorts ostentatiously - Siuan glares at her: You can't blame me for decisions I took when I had the authority to do it!

- Anaiya: Nevertheless, we were never told that you knew the circumstances of three of the most important of our students! Or the fact that they had a ter'angreal in their possession - I take it this stone ring was with them since they left the Tower?

- Siuan: That was Verin's work, not mine - I'd like very much to question her myself about how she had a ter'angreal no one knew about!

- Leane: Probably you would know if you weren't so taken up with unimportant stuff that led to all our downfall! - Siuan is about to round up on her, but:

- Sheriam: That's enough from both of you! I've warned you about your sulking - you're not children anymore! If you continue barking at each other, we'll be forced to take action! - they both nod sullenly, while Nynaeve watches thoughtfully.- Now, as for the other items..... this Seal, if that's what it is, it's certainly broken now.

- Elayne: I swear it was whole when we found it! And it is a Seal from the Dark One's prison, I've seen others like it! You could ask Moiraine, if you want - she must have some still!

- Beonin: And this..... a'dam.... troubling, really troubling. Still, we've discussed all this, and we've decided that you're not to blame for actions you've taken under orders, or about things you had no control over. You will continue your studies, and you will actually have the chance few Accepted ever have - you'll teach Aes Sedai, about Tel'aran'rhiod. We'll start this night. Now, you have stuff to attend to - Faolain will settle you. - Nynaeve and Elayne curtsy at this clear dismissal and go out.

Min is expecting them outside, with Thom and Juilin and Uno. They greet each other happily, then the men insist on talking to them in private.

- Thom: We've discussed the situation here, and reached some troubling conclusions: all these Aes Sedai here mean to challenge Elaida and the Tower!

- Uno: A bloody foolish idea, if you ask me!

- Thom: not only foolish, but very dangerous. No one has ever succeeded in taking the White Tower with arms, not even Arthur Hawkwing himself, or a number of False Dragons before and after him. These people here are on the right way to the Hangman's noose!

- Juilin: So, we've thought up a plan: We can steal some horses and run away tonight, before anyone's the wiser. We can strike through the wilds towards Tear.....

- Nynaeve: Have you stopped talking rot already? So, you intend to steal some 20 odd horses from Warders? Are you out of your Light-forsaken minds?

- Elayne: Nynaeve, wait a minute. You have to face the facts - the reception we got doesn't speak very optimistically about our intentions. If these Aes Sedai intend to manipulate Rand, then they might be no better for him than Elaida and the Tower!

- Nynaeve: But at least there's no danger they'd gentle him!

- Elayne: you think so? I'm not so sure myself....

- Elayne, they have a lot to gain of supporting him openly, even though they don't see it now. We could make them see it, in time!

- How? By slipping suggestions while we 'Teach' them about Tel'aran'rhiod? They think of us as Accepted, Nynaeve, and no Aes Sedai would even start thinking about what an Accepted is saying!

- Still, what else are we gonna do? - they both eye each other, then nod silently.

- Elayne: Thom, Juilin, Uno - we will stay here, regardless of the danger. We have a reason to. But you don't - if you wish, you could try your plan, and we might even try to cover for you.

- Thom: What? And leave you here in the middle of a heap of dung? You know me better than that, Elayne!

- Juilin: I strongly suspect if I ever show my face in Tear without you, a certain shepherd will cut my head off before I could blink!

Suddenly, Gareth Bryne strides to them:

- Thom Merlin - the last man I expected to see!

- Thom: And you're the last man I expected to see here, genera; Bryne. Has Morgase decided Andor doesn't need you anymore?

- Let's say that... the strategic situation changed considerably. And I remember that you know a lot about strategic situations..... Would you care to discuss that over a game of stones? - the two men eye each other warily, then Thom nods. Bryne turns to Uno: And you - a Shienaran commander this far south. And with the looks of a rider, as well - I've heard Shienarans have the finest heavy cavalry in the world, and I just happen to need someone to teach these louts I'm gathering here how to mount without falling on the other side of the horse. What do you say?

- Uno: Well.... it seems I've nothing better to do at the moment. I accept. - Bryne nods, then strides away.

- Elayne, indignantly: He didn't even say Hi to me!

Nynaeve sees Siuan and Leane coming out of the 'Little tower', eyeing each other with apparent animosity, then - winking at each other, before going away. She purses her lips. Siuan comes straight at her - I need to talk to you, alone! - then drags her to a small room in a house.

- Siuan: Now, I'm very glad you're here, etc. etc., but we need to set up something.

- Nynaeve: Oh? What's that?

- You'll be teaching me and Leane about Tel'aran'rhiod, separately from the others. I just know they'll be bungling about, and I don't want to lose my time with them.

- Is that so? And are you sure you have their permission to learn from us? I was given to understand that you're not Aes Sedai anymore, and your work here is....supplementary?

- (Siuan smile dangerously): Now you listen to me, girl! I may be stilled, but I'm still dangerous. For example, I noticed you forgot to mention you've been posing as full Aes Sedai during all that time away from the Tower. I guess Moiraine couldn't be bothered to reign you in, but these here.... So, we'll meet each night....

- Nynaeve interjects: And I seemed to notice you're apparently fighting with Leane. Apparently, that is. Do you think these here will be overjoyed to learn that you're manipulating them as well as if you were still the Amyrlin? - Siuan gapes at her. - Now, I want to study both of you - I want to know more about stilling.

- You can't. You should know that there were some young women here that thought they could take their revenge on us, helpless as we are now. These young women are now extremely sorry for their actions.

- Are they? Maybe you'll learn soon firsthand how that feels? - they both glare at each other, then:

- Siuan: It seems we've reached an impasse. I propose we exchange services - you'll teach us about Tel'aran'rhiod, and we'll allow you to ... study us.

- Done!


- Light, I hope Moiraine has managed to keep the other one from growing such backbone....

  • Scene 16. Cairhien, night.

Rand is meeting Cairhienin nobles. Lady Colavere and Lord Dobraine are among them. Natael plays his harp nearby.

- Rand: So, Lady Colavere, I understand you've generously agreed to support financially the new school?

- Colavere: It would be a great honor to support such an ambitious and interesting project, my Lord Dragon. You know that Cairhien is already famous with his Great Library, containing scrolls and parchments from before the Breaking. Now with this new school you're opening, our position as world center of knowledge will be confirmed.

- Rand: Very well. I also heard that Oghier stonemasons have come to offer their services?

- Dobraine: Yes, my Lord. There' certainly a lot of work to be done after all the ...unfortunate troubles we've experienced lately. They said they may need to return to Stedding, often, though - they mentioned something called a Great Stump that requires their attention as well....

- Nevertheless, I approve the projects. Tell them they may do as much work as they can, and we'll pay them their usual fees. Now, I've had Aiel groups clear the countryside of bandits, and they report good results already. It's time we start repopulating the farms, both to free the city of refugees, and to ensure Cairhien could finally feed itself, without need of importing food. I want all of you to start doing something about that, in all your respective lands. I'll expect reports about what has been done in 10 days. Also, I've received news that Berelain, the First of Mayene is coming with a small retinue - I want you to welcome her here, because I've a mind to set her as my steward for some time, until the Succession of the Sun Throne is decided. Do I hear objections? - they all nod stonily. Egwene, Moiraine and Aviendha appear in the hall, and Rand dismisses the nobles.

- Rand: Egwene - I haven't seen you in 6 days, ever since you brought me all these interesting news about Masema ravaging countries in my name, while these rebel Aes Sedai are maybe - MAYBE! thinking of supporting me. Are you maybe ready to tell me more about that? Maybe save couple of thousands of lives while at it?

- Egwene: You will know as much as you need to, Rand al'Thor, and as soon as you need to know it. For now, just be assured that they could be convinced to support you.

- Rand, sourly: Of course.

- Moiraine: There are two letters for you, from the White Tower. - She hands them to him.

- Rand, cautiously: It is well you gave me that oath, Moiraine, and that you're proving to keeping to it. Else I might have suspected you in secret dealings with Elaida. How come these letters arrive now, and to you?

- Moiraine: You can reason out how, I think.

- Rand: Yes, I can at that. The Tower has spies in the city, who sent news as soon as they could be sure of it. 10 - 11 days is enough time for a pigeon to reach the Tower, and another to come back, and the spies have been told to give the letters to an Aes Sedai - Moiraine nods approvingly, and Rand grunts. he opens the letters:

The first is from Elaida: - There might be no denial that you are the one prophesized, yet many will try to destroy you for what else you are. This cannot be allowed. Nations are bending knees to you, and the savage Aiel as well, but their power is as dust next to the One Power. The White tower alone can ensure that you will be protected and supported until the time of Tarmon Gai'don comes. An escort of Aes Sedai will come to bring you to the White Tower with the honor and respect you deserve. This I pledge to you.

Rand passes silently the letter to Moiraine, and opens the other one - it is from Alviarin Freidhen:

- With respect, I humbly beg to make myself known to the great Lord Dragon Reborn. Your Light illuminates the world, and breaks indeed bondages old and new, rejuvenating all! Your Radiance warms all peoples, burns old hatreds and incinerates the Shadow.

Yet you must know that this Radiance also inspires jealousy and envy, even among those that walk in the light. Yes, even among those adepts of the Power that should know better that fear or envy you! I warn you humbly of the danger this presents to your great plans, and in the same time assure you that there are here those that are assured of your magnificence, that don't want to steal any of your brilliance for themselves, and are ready to kneel to you, support you and hinder those that seek to hinder you.

In shame I must beg you to keep this missive secret, because there are those, much given to plotting, that endanger your humble servants. even the woman Moiraine, being Cairhienin, and thus spending her entire life plotting, shouldn't see this letter, so , i would beg the great Lord Dragon to burn it as soon as he reads it.

Rand gives this to Moiraine too, scowling. After a while - What do you make of it?

- Egwene: This doesn't sound like Alviarin at all.... I knew her for a cold bitch in the classes I've had with her.

- Moiraine: Yet it is her hand, I'm sure. And according to the Oaths, she can't even write a word she doesn't know to be true. What do YOU make of it?

- Rand: The only explanation is that there's a rift in the Tower, and at the highest level at that. Alviarin is the Keeper of the Chronicles, right? She practically contradicts the air of the other letter point by point. If she were less flowery I would think it's a convoluted scheme to draw me to the Tower, but....

- Aviendha: you're not considering going, are you?

- Rand: I'm not a fool! All I'm gonna do is be aware that the Tower knows all I do here couple of days later. That and make sure this ....escort doesn't come within a mile of where I am. - The women nod. There's a knock and an Aiel announces Mat is back. Rand calls him in and greets him warmly.

- Rand: I heard this reconnaissance turned almost into a war, in which you almost drove away the Andorands.

- Mat, scowling: I swear I didn't try to fight them! It just happened like that....

- Moiraine: Yes, it happened more than 10 times.... You just ran into their forces, didn't you? And besides that, more and more people flock to this...Band of yours.

- Mat: That's none of my doing, I swear to you! It was the soldiers themselves that came up with the fool name, and all I could do was to stop them from calling me Lord Mat of bloody Manetheren!

- Rand smiles: The Band of the Red Hand - Shen an Calhar in the Old Tongue. It WAS the personal elite force of King Aemon that Moiraine told us about.

- Mat, grumbling: Whatever it is, I didn't really invent it. I wonder what Morgase would say if she heard.... or rather, King Gaebril. Rand flinches - What did you say? King Gaebril????

- Oh yes, that's a bit of interesting news: Morgase is dead, and her lover Gaebril claimed the Rose Crown of Andor. - Moiraine starts, and Rand sits heavily in the Sun Throne, the world pans out while Elayne's face appears crying; he thinks Elayne, forgive me! Then another voice: Ilyena, forgive me!

- Moiraine, shaken: Are you certain of this, Mat?

- Mat: As certain as I could be without seeing the body. Well, nobody actually CONFIRMED she was dead, but I can connect the dots - nobody has reported seeing her in the last weeks, and all her actions were reported via Gaebril, or some other clerk of the palace. Supposedly she abdicated, saying some bullshit about 'The times needing a strong male hand' and such. Ha! None in Andor is gonna warm up to the idea of a King! Besides, I told you half an year ago that this Gaebril schemes to kill Elayne - probably he tired of waiting and decided to take a more straight action. Rand, are you all right?

- Rand, angrily: I'm all right. Not Gaebril, Mat, it's Rahvin! This is his true identity, and I've disregarded it in my hope not to show too much attention to the place I grew up in, lest some of them decides to blackmail me the way Padan Fain did!

- Mat: Blood and bloody ashes! This certainly explains a lot.... Well, you get Elayne and you can have a good reason to oust him - most Andorans won't support a man on the throne....

- No, Mat, I'm not gonna wait anymore - I'm gonna bring Rahvin to heal NOW! I'll avenge Elayne's mother if it's the last think I do!

- Egwene: This is madness! You have your hands full with Cairhien, and Sammael to the south! You can't engage in yet another battlefront!

- (coldly) Not a battlefront, a surgical execution! I can be in Caemlyn, in the Royal Palace in less than half an hour! I'm gonna strike at him myself! I wish I had thirteen sisters with me, to shield him and bring him to justice. Just this once, a Forsaken tried and gentled for his crimes in proper order! But.... he'll just have to die however I can do it.

- Moiraine [a flash of Lanfear laughing coldly, with a white bracelet]: Tomorrow, Rand. The morning is wiser than the night.

- Rand: You're right.... I'm too angry to think straight right now.... Tomorrow, then. Leave me now, I need to talk to Natael and Mat. - nobody moves, though.

- Egwene: You don't have thirteen Aes Sedai, Rand, but you have three, quite powerful at that.

- Rand: No! I will do that alone!

- Aviendha: So, are you going to draw a line in the sand and dare him to cross it? I didn't think you were a fool, Rand al'Thor! We helped you in the battle for the city, we can help you tomorrow as well!

- Rand: I ... .don't mean to do this alone. I'll take an Aiel escort. And Moiraine can come, too, if she wishes. It's too dangerous for you. - both Egwene and Aviendha start scowling him about that, until finally he acquiesces to take them too. - Now, please Go! And don't tell anyone about tomorrow! - they finally leave, but when Mat tries to Rand holds him back:

- Not you, I need to talk to you.

- Mat: If you think I'll put my head on the block just because those fool women are tripping over themselves to do it, you may.....

- Shut up and listen! It's time you face what you are, Matrim Cauthon! You've run enough, and you saw for yourself what happens when you try to run from your own destiny. You are ta'veren, and the Wheel doesn't leave a lot of room for ta'veren to move. I learned this lesson already, and I manage now to have some control over my life; Perrin learned it too, apparently. Only you continue denying what you are, and suffering for it. Do you realize that? DO YOU?

- Mat, sullenly: I do. Bloody ta'veren.....

- Good. Now, you gained something in Rhuidean, something you're not talking about, but I've figured it out eventually. Somehow, you've acquired the battlefield experience and knowledge of a seasoned general - the battle for the city prove it, and those battles during the expedition prove it too. I need that knowledge you have, Mat, that and your Band of the Red Hand. Now, here's what I want..... [camera pans out.]


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