Chapter Text
Moiraine left the treaty meeting like she was running. Thom had felt enough in their bond to know she didn’t think it had gone badly, but as soon as she got done with the follow up she was feeling frantic.
At one point, she actually grabbed his hand and dragged Thom along. He had no idea where she was going since they didn’t have a tent yet, but the bond was suggesting some version of ‘away’.
Someone stepped into their path.
Thom felt, rather than saw Moiraine nearly jump out of her skin. On the face of it, she was still perfectly calm. “Bloody…” he muttered. He was still getting used to the Warder dignity thing.
“Language.” The woman who had surprised Moiraine declared, with a hint of a smile..
“Oh… hello again Nynaeve.’ Thom muttered.
Moiraine stared.
“You alright dear?” Thom ventured.
Taking what to Thom was a feelable breath, Moiraine turned to Nynaeve. “Can I do something for you Nynaeve?”
“It’s what I can do for you, Moiraine.” Nynaeve countered.
Moiraine definitely felt suspicious. “And what is that?”
“Has anyone looked at you since your” Nynaeve’s mouth made an odd gesture. “Resurrection.”
Moiraine frowned. “You mean medically?”
“Yes. You need a checkup and to get delved.’
Thom watched his wife shake her head.
Nynaeve nodded sharply. “Thought so. I’ll do that for you.”
“I dislike healers," Moiraine folded her arms.
"You need one.' Nynaeve said.
"I have managed without one before "
"Don't be a man about it." Nynaeve ordered.
"I am not some farmer you can order around." Moiraine glowered.
"Do I need to get Thom to take you to a healer because that's what I do when a farmer is being a woolheaded billygoat about his health. I go to the wife."
The Aes Sedai flinched "Thom will not make me do anything I do not want to do"
Nynaeve put her hand on her hips. "Moiraine stop equivocating like I'm not being flaming clear. You're famous and you have possibly a one of a kind pathology. So if not me tell me which Yellow sister you'd prefer because someone is going to check you over whether you like it or not.
Moiraine flinched.
"You do not have enough strength in the power to say no to anyone. You will get cornered by someone as soon as they work up enough nerve to get past the whole resurrection after killing Lanfear bit.. You wont get a say as to who it is, and they may somehow have even less flaming bedside manner than me. "
Moiraine shivered.
"You are interesting."
"I have noticed that."
Nynaeve glared. A few breaths later she said. "If I don't find anything worth being dramatic about I think the rest of them will believe me and leave you alone."
"I see." Moiraine said dully. She felt angry and numb all at once.
“Besides that power drop effect. No one has ever seen it before. We don’t know what it does to the rest of you. For all we know it causes sugar shock or foot pain or some other absurd symptom,:
“And how exactly” Moiraine hissed, “do you plan to deconvolve those symptoms from the fact that I was tortured?”
Thom coughed hard. Moiraine had never phrased it that bluntly before, even to him.
“Do you plan to consider that cause, Nynaeve?” Moiraine demanded.
“Of course I do.’ Nynaeve retorted. “And you need to have that looked at too. That can incapacitate you if you’re too man-stubborn to get it taken care of. ”
Thom tried to grab onto Moiraine’s hand but she shook him off.
"Look I know I haven't given you any reason to feel safe around me," Nynaeve added "But I do not make things any worse for my patients than it needs to be. You might not have everything you want with me, but you’ll have dignity."
Moiraine’s lips pursed. "So you see me as a patient."
"For this." Nynaeve said. “And I take care of my patients.”
Moiraine looked around, slowly and with dignity but Thom could tell with fear. “You will make the others leave me alone?”
“To whatever extent that’s possible.”
Moiraine nodded. "Very well. But do not tell Lan I… - I do not want Lan to know about it."
"No chance of running into him here. I'll even mask the bond while I'm delving you if it will get you to cooperate. I think you're being as woolheaded as he is but I'll do it."
"I would appreciate it, yes."
Nynaeve stuck her tongue into the side of her mouth. "You going to want Thom with you, or just get it done alone?"
Moiraine shifted her weight. "I want Thom there for most of it."
“You want to wear your own dressing gown? Some people are more comfortable in their own clothes.’
Thom hadn't thought what Aes Sedai needed to do to heal required loose clothing, but he had avoided knowing much
“I don’t have my own gown.” Moiraine said. “Or anything of my own really.”
“I’ll get you one. Meet me at my tent. It’s right over there.”