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Mat: The town's just up there. Would it not be a good idea to head inside some walls?
Moiraine: Walls won't stop Trollocs. The only thing they fear is deep water.
Mat: No wonder they smell like piss.
They dismount and approach a man.
Master Hightower: Well, you've woken me then.
Moiraine: We need to cross the Taren, immediately.
Hightower: Of course, mistress. Of course. My son will be here soon, and then we can...
Moiraine offers him coin.
Moiraine: Twice that when we're safely on the other side.
There's a roar in the distance. Master Hightower has not moved.
Moiraine: Have I not made myself clear?
Hightower: You're not the type of woman that hears no often?
Moiraine: I am not.
Lan: Come. Quickly now.
They all move onto the ferry with their horses, and the begin to cross. As they are midway across the Taren river, the Trolloc army reaches the dock. One of the Trollocs falls into the river; it screams and struggles in the water until it finally sinks, and does not rise. The other Trollocs move back. A fade on horseback moves to the front and watches them.
The ferry reaches the other side of the river. The fade screams.
Hightower: What-what are they?
Moiraine: Servants of the Dark. The rider's a Fade. A Fade can force a Trolloc to do most things, but they won't cross that river. Come, we'll take you safely to the next town.
Hightower: What? No. No! My family!
Lan: There's no going back now, master.
Hightower: My son is on his way already. He'll be there in a moment. You have to help me! We can't leave him!
Moiraine: If you go back, you'll give them a way to follow us. I can't allow it.
Lan severs the ferry's rope, and the rope splashes into the water. The ferry drifts away from the dock. Moiraine channels, creating a whirlpool around the ferry.
Hightower: No. No! It's the only way to get my son across! The Whitecloaks are right. You Aes Sedai, you're monsters!
Lan: Stop!
Egwene: Don't!
Hightower jumps into the river and swims toward the ferry. He clings to it as it sinks into the whirlpool.
Egwene: We need to help him. He's...
Perrin: He's gone.
Moiraine: This will slow them, not stop them. We can lose them before they reach another crossing, but we need to move fast.
Egwene: Come on.
Perrin: Come on. Let's go.
Scene 6: Camp[]
Daylight. The party continues on horseback.
Lan: We've lost them.
Moiraine: Come, we'll find a place to rest while we can. Be careful, everyone. There are things more dangerous than Trollocs in this world.
They've made camp. Moiraine tens to the horses. She channels, and a tired horse stands up. Lan approaches her.
Moiraine: They need their strength.
Lan: So do you.
Mat: Just imagine if Nynaeve was here. She'd spend every waking moment disagreeing with the Aes Sedai. She'd make Moiraine's life utter misery.
Egwene: I saw it. Nynaeve get taken. One of those things just picked her up and tossed her away like she was nothing.
Perrin: Something that quick, I promise you, she didn't feel a thing.
Rand: We need a plan. You saw what Moiraine did to the ferryman. What happens to us if we step out of line?
Egwene: What happens if she's right?
Mat: If one of us is the, uh... the Dragon Reborn? The most powerful channeler that ever lived?
Egwene: Moiraine said the Trollocs came for us. And when we left, they did follow us.
Rand: Come on. Who even knows what the truth is? They say the last Dragon broke the world, but the next one will save it.
Mat: Well, I heard the Dragon's gonna have wings. Looking around at you lot, I don't see a feather.
Moiraine: Forget what you've heard about the Dragon. For she or he will be all of those things and none of them. Now sleep. You're going to need it. We leave at first light.
Scene 7: In the night[]
As the group sleeps, Moiraine quietly walks over to Egwene and gently wakes her.
Moiraine: It's all right.
Rand watches them leave together.
Scene 8: Channeling[]
Moiraine: Come. Sit.
Egwene: Are you going to kill us, like you did that ferryman?
Moiraine: What do you know of the Three Oaths?
Egwene: Uh... they're the promises made by the Aes Sedai to end Artur Hawkwing's siege of the White Tower.
Moiraine: And what are they?
Egwene: To not kill, to not lie.
Moiraine: Exact verbiage. Words are important, and how we use them is important.
Egwene: I don't know.
Moiraine: One, to speak no word that is not true. Two, to make no weapon with which one person may kill another. Three, never to use the One Power as a weapon, except in the last extreme defense of her life or the life of her Warder or another Aes Sedai. These oaths are bound by the One Power itself. It's not that we do not break them, it's that we cannot break them. I did not kill that ferryman. He wasted his own life on a foolish cause.
Egwene: He was just trying to get to his family.
Moiraine: If I had allowed him to take his ferry and cross the river, what would have happened?
Egwene: The Trollocs would have killed him.
Moiraine: Yes. And then?
Egwene: Followed us.
Moiraine: Exactly. The Power inside you is the smallest part of your strength. It's your mind and how you use it that will mean much more in the battles to come.
Egwene: The Power inside me?
Moiraine: What do you call it? This skill that Wisdoms have to predict the weather?
Egwene: They listen to the wind.
Moiraine: You see, women all over the world have different names for it. But it's the same thing. It's the same thing for all of us. One thing. One Power. And women like you and I, we are lucky enough to be able to touch it.
Egwene: I'm no Aes Sedai.
Moiraine: But you could be. Touching the Source will come to you whether you want it to or not. Look at the stone. Look at its surface. It's clear and opaque, like the water of a river. Imagine yourself floating in that river. As the water moves, let it take you. No thoughts. Just let yourself drift. Clear your mind of everything. There are no woods. There is no hunger, no exhaustion. There is only the stone and the sound of rushing water. Let it take you. Surrender. Let yourself drift. Drift.
Egwene: [gasps] I thought... I-I thought I felt something, but...
Moiraine: Those first two, those were mine. That last, that was yours and yours alone. You don't listen to the wind, Egwene. It's the wind that listens to you.
Scene 9: Egwene's return[]
Egwene walks back to camp. Rand is now sleeping outside. She lies down next to him. He wakes.
Egwene: Sorry. I...
Rand: It's all right. I just, uh... I-I came out here to be alone. Egwene, I...
Egwene: It's all right. I understand.
She leaves.
Scene 10: Fire[]
Perrin sits by the fire, staring into the flames. He checks the wound on his leg.
Perrin: (flashback) Laila!
Laila: (flashback) Perrin!
Egwene: Perrin.
Perrin: Are you all right?
Egwene sits beside him.
Perrin: Do you think we'll ever go back?
Egwene: Home? No.
Scene 11[]
The dream[]
Rand wakes. He coughs and chokes and, gagging, pulls something from his throat. It's a bat. He leans back, breathing heavily. In the forest before him, he sees a man with burned skin and fiery eyes.
Rand wakes, startled. It's morning. He looks around, and sees the bat. He quickly backs away and joins his friends, only to fnd more dead bats on the ground.
Rand: No. How did...
Egwene: You saw them, too.
Rand: But it was a dream. Did you do this? Did you put this in our dreams?!
Moiraine: Who saw this? Who? All of you? What did you see?
Mats: Bats. Their necks just snapped. Right in midair. Like someone had them in their hands. I could feel the crack.
Moiraine: Was there anyone in your dream? Did anyone speak to you?
Perrin: There was a man. Eyes like embers. He didn't say anything though.
Moiraine: If this happens again, you tell me straight away. Dreams have power. More than you know.
Rand: What does that mean?
Moiraine: Come. The horses are rested.
Rand: No, no, no. No!
Rand: Where are we going?!
Moiraine: East. To the river crossing at Whitebridge.
Rand: And then?
Moiraine: And then to the White Tower. I've told you this.
Rand: And then what?! Why should we trust you?! There's a place for Egwene, maybe. But what does a man do at the White Tower? Other than become an errand boy for the Aes Sedai.
Moiraine: Go where you will then.
Rand: See, how come I don't believe you'd actually let me do that?
Moiraine: I've run out of patience. And time.
Lan: Hah!
Mat: Well... you got a reaction out of her. Happy?
Egwene: Suit yourself.
Rand: One conversation, one conversation and you're on her side now? What did she promise you last night? That you're the one? Come on, do you really think she's any better than what's chasing us?!
Egwene: Of course I do! Those monsters killed Nynaeve and Laila and half the people we've ever loved. Moiraine has done nothing but protect us, try to keep us safe. Don't you see how pale she's getting, how weak? She's using the One Power to keep our strength up at the cost of her own. And she does it, even with you being the stubborn bastard you are. If I were her, I'd leave you behind, too.
Rand: You already did.
Mat: Don't be an ass.
Mat: We've got each other. That's it. You're right. You're right about Moiraine. She's not doing any of this for our benefit. She's got a reason she's keeping us all alive. And, soon as that reason's gone, we're as good as dead. Till then, the lady does shoot fireballs, so let's try... [grunts] and stay on her good side. Coming?
Whitecloak encounter[]
The group is back together, traveling through the woods. Lan rides back to them.
Lan: Hyah! Whitecloaks.
Moiraine: Do not speak unless spoken to. And try to answer any question as truthfully as you can. Do not mention the White Tower or Aes Sedai. I am a lady from a fallen house. You are under my care.
Bornhald: Good afternoon. If you would be so kind as to dismount your horses. Are you headed to Whitebridge?
Moiraine: Yes, sir. I have a sister in the city who we... hope will let us stay.
Bornhald: It's a dangerous time to be on the road. War in the south. The Aes Sedai heading in force from the White Tower.
Moiraine: Wars and witches don't concern us, sir. We are just hoping to find a safe place to settle for the night, before the light fades.
Bornhald: Best be on your way then.
Moiraine and Lan turn back to their horses. Valda clinks his collection of Great Serpent rings.
Bornhald: I'm sorry. If you would indulge here a moment longer, we have... one of the Questioners with us today. He will be thorough... but brief.
Valda: All those who seek passage through our land must be properly... questioned.
Lan: This isn't your land.
Valda: Children of the Light hold sway wherever men walk in the Light. Where did you say you were from?
Lan: I didn't. But I am from the Borderlands, where men know how to keep their hands to themselves, lest they lose them.
Valda: [chuckles softly] Search the horses. They say the White Tower dispatched eight Sisters to deal with Logain's army to the south. They can't help but get their fingers in others' business. And those others usually end up dead.
Moiraine: [gasps] I... Sorry, sir. I have a wound. The pain, it... It's not healing well.
Bornhald: What happened to you?
Moiraine: You wouldn't believe me if I told you. It was a monster, sir. Eight feet tall, with a... with a mouth like a boar. It, uh... A group of them overtook the village we were in.
Bornhald: Trollocs this far south. The Dark One's eye is truly upon us. What was the name of the town where you came from?
Moiraine: Taren Ferry. There were many people hurt there. Perhaps you can help them.
Bornhald: Mm. We Children try to steer clear of the Aes Sedai where we can. When you get to Whitebridge, find one. Only one of those women can heal this wound.
Moiraine: Light be with you.
Whitecloak: All clear, sir.
Valda: The Light is always with you. It needs no instruction. I will not forget your faces should we meet again. Sir, I will take a contingent of Questioners south.
Bornhald: The woman said the Trollocs went west.
Valda: You are meant for battle. We Questioners have a... higher purpose.
Scene 12: Traveling[]
Egwene: You said you couldn't break the Three Oaths.
Moiraine: I can't.
Egwene: You did today.
Moiraine: [chuckles softly] I did?
Egwene: That Whitecloak, you lied to him. You can heal that wound.
Moiraine: We can only heal others, not ourselves. It's why we usually travel together.
Egwene: And you have a sister in Whitebridge?
Moiraine: All Aes Sedai are my sisters. We will always tell the truth. It just may not be the truth you think you hear. So listen carefully.
While traveling, Mat looks around at the others. He begins to sing a song.
Mat: ♪ We walk the footsteps of our fathers ♪ ♪ The trail blazed by our mothers ♪
Mat/Egwene: ♪ They bought the land with their blood ♪
Mat: It's just a song. No idea who Manetheren is, anyway.
Moiraine: In the Old Tongue, "Manetheren" means "Mountain Home." Used to be the name of the place you now call the Two Rivers. During the Trolloc Wars, the army of Manetheren was small but strong. A thorn in the Dark One's hand. So he sent the entirety of his forces to destroy it. But when this massive host arrived, the women and men of the Mountain Home stood before it, the shallowest bend of the river at their backs, ready to fight. Their king, Aemon, like in the song, had sent messages to the neighbors they'd fought for in the past, and they were promised aid if they could hold for three days. And somehow, they did. Against that monstrous host, they held. For an hour. Then a second. Then a third. For three days, they fought. And though the land became a butcher's yard, no Trolloc crossed the river. But on the third night, no help had come. So they fought on, alone. For six days. For nine. And on the tenth day, they knew. They knew no help was coming. From the city, Queen Eldrene organized her people to take the children and find refuge in the mountain keeps. Though many of them went not to safety but to join the army fighting for their home. Not a step of ground was given up until it was soaked in blood. But on the 13th day... ...the army of Manetheren was gone. Queen Eldrene felt her husband die. Driven by grief, she reached out and she hurled the One Power at the Trolloc army. A hurricane of fire washed across the land. The Dark One's host ran like beasts, but they were not fast enough, for the flames caught them, consumed them. But Eldrene had drawn more of the One Power than any woman could ever hope to wield, and it burnt her right through, from the inside out. But the children and their minders, hidden in the mountains, had been saved. There was nothing left of their farms, their villages or their great city. But they returned, and they held the land that was theirs. That is why the song says, "Weep." "Weep." Weep for Manetheren. Weep for what is lost forever. The old blood runs deep in you. Remember that. You'll need it in the days to come.
The group arrives at ruins.
Lan: We can rest here the night. I haven't seen sign of Trollocs for days.
Moiraine: Perhaps it's how close we're skirting Shadar Logoth. Is that purposeful? [quietly] It is too dangerous in the shadowed city. We cannot go there.
Lan: That Whitecloak-- you think he's the one who killed the others?
Moiraine: Did you not see my sisters' rings? Seven now. He's not the only one who met a face he'll remember today.
Lan: Rest. And, tomorrow, we'll figure out where to find a Sister who can heal you.
Scene 13: Rand & Egwene[]
Egwene: Do you want to talk about it?
Rand: About what?
Egwene: [scoffs] Come on, Rand.
Rand: What do you want? You want me to just go back to the way everything was?
Egwene: No. I...
Rand: Because we can't. You made your decision.
Egwene: You get it, right? I'm not going to be Nynaeve's apprentice, because she's dead. And so is Laila. And... and here we are, in the middle of nowhere, being chased by the monsters that killed them, and you won't even look at me. And I just want you to look at me. And not hate me. I don't need anything more than that.
Rand: I could never hate you.
Scene 14: Perrin & the wolves[]
Perrin collects water from a stream. There's howling in the distance. Perrin walks back and winces at the injury on his leg. He sits on a fallen tree and checks the injury. He suddenly looks up to see five wolves standing nearby, looking at him. The bark and growl and Perrin stands. There's growling behind him and he turns to see five more wolves there. One of the wolves walks up to him and licks his exposed wound. All the wolves run off.
Scene 15[]
Camp[]
Egwene: Is she going to be all right?
Lan: She needs sleep. You all do.
Moiraine continues wheezing.
Chase[]
Egwene wakes in the night. She sees a Fade. It screams.
Lan: We have to move. Up. Up. Wake up. Hurry. They found us. Moiraine. You have to wake up, Moiraine.
The group gets on their horses. Lan carries Moiraine and hands her to Perrin.
Lan: Carry her! She can't move. We need to get her out of here. Ride!
Perrin: Where?
Lan: East. To the fallen city of Shadar Logoth. Go! Now!
The group rides, as an army of Trollocs run through the forest after them.
The horses abruptly stop and resist advancing. Bela rears.
Lan: Whoa. Easy, now.
Rand: What's happening?
Lan: Easy, now.
Egwene: I don't know. She just stopped.
Perrin: Steady. Steady.
Egwene: Bela, come on.
Rand: What is that?
Before them is a massive wall. It's cracked from top to bottom, so they have a way to pass through.
Perrin: Wait, look! The Trollocs. Why are they all just standing there?
The turn to see the Trollocs stopping behind them, also resisting an advance.
Lan: Come. The Trollocs won't follow us inside. Hah!
The group slowly walk their horses forward.
Shadar Logoth[]
The group walks through horses through the quiet ruins.
Perrin: Listen. There's no birds. There's no bugs. There's nothing.
They dismount at one of the buildings. Lan takes Moiraine from Perrin.
Perrin: She's barely breathing.
Lan: Yeah.
They enter a large chamber
Lan: We'll stay here. She needs to be kept warm. Oh, Moiraine.
Egwene: Shadar Logoth. Sounds like the Old Tongue.
Lan: It means "Shadow's Waiting." But it was once called Aridhol. During the Trolloc Wars, it was the richest, most powerful city in the world. But when the world needed them most, they built their wall with no gate, locked themselves inside and let the other nations of man burn. It was the people of this city who promised Manetheren aid. And they were the ones who let them die. When the Trolloc Wars ended, the survivors came here, to find food, shelter. When they knocked, no one answered. When they finally broke through the wall, there was no one inside. It is said that evil itself grew from the city's heart and consumed everyone and everything that lived. Ever since, the city has been abandoned. Not even Trollocs will step foot behind these walls.
Mat: Couple of things. Um, one, that's... more words than you've said all day. Probably ever. And, two, why in Light's name did you bring us here?
Lan: Touch nothing. Eat only the food you brought.
Rand walks back out of the chamber.
Scene 16: Rand & Egwene[]
Rand leaves the chamber. He walks up another building and out onto a landing overlooking the city. Egwene walks up beside him. He takes her hand.
Scene 17: Perrin & Mat[]
Inside the chamber, Perrin sits against a pillar. Mat joins him. He holds a dagger.
Mat: You should have this. Laila made it. She always said she didn't make weapons; she made tools. And that I'd probably use it a thousand times for... chopping apples or whittling wood before I ever needed it to... defend myself. But to keep it sharp... [sniffs] keep it clean, so that if I ever... did need it... [exhales] it'd be ready. A tool though, still. To save my life... or the life of someone that I loved. And she thought that would probably be you. Since she seemed to think if... you ever got into any trouble, it would... probably be my fault. Although, to be perfectly honest, can't see how anyone could reasonably blame me for any of this.
Perrin: Thank you. The girls are gonna be fine. My parents will be over at yours, checking on them. Rand's and Egwene's, too.
Mat: [chuckles softly] [whispers] I know.
Scene 18: Shadar Logoth[]
That night. On the empty streets, there's a soft whistling.
The group sleeps in the chamber. A rush of whispering voices wakes Mat. Mat goes outside. The horses neigh, agitated.
Mat walks down the street. He sees a shadow pass, like someone moving, and he walks toward it. He enters a room. There's a pile of old wood on the floor, and metal box among in. Mat opens it to find a ruby-hilted dagger.
Outside, the horses neigh and screech. A blackness touches one of the horses. Egwene and Perrin outside the chamber.
Egwene: [gasps] What is that?
Rand joins them. The horse collapses to sand. The other horses run.
Egwene: No! No, wait!
Inside the chamber, Moiraine starts to wake.
Lan: It's all right. I'm here.
Moiraine: Where are we?
Lan doesn't say.
Lan: You've killed us all.
Outside, the darkness spreads over a statue. It rises up the stairs toward Egwene, Perrin, and Rand, and they move into the street to avoid it.
Egwene: What in Light's name?
The darkness separates Rand from Perrin and Egwene. Mat runs up on Rand's side.
Mat: [panting] Let's get out of here.
Egwene: Go! I'll find you.
Mat: Come on! Rand, let's go! Let's go.
They all run. The darkness follows them.
Egwene: There!
Lan carries Moiraine from the chamber. His and Moiraine's horses have returned.
Mat and Rand run.
Mat: Which way?
Rand: I don't know!
Mat: Here! Come on!
Perrin and Egwene run through a stairwell.
Lan gets him and Moiraine on horseback. Moiraine looks up at the darkness spreading over the buildings.
Lan: Hyah! Come on! Hyah!
Mat: Look!
Mat and Rand run to a locked gate.
Rand: Hoist me up.
Mat: Why don't you hoist me up?
Rand: Come on.
Mat: Ow. [grunts]
Mat hoists Rand up and he gets over the gate. He tries to open the gate.
Mat: Hurry. Hurry! [grunts] Hurry!
Lan and Moiraine on horseback flee the city. Moiraine's horse follows them.
Lan: Hyah! Hyah. Hyah!
Egwene and Perrin emerge from the stairs on top of the city's wall. Looking over the city, all the surfaces are being covered with the darkness.
On the city wall, the darkness gets closer to Egwene and Perrin. They're backed against the edge, overlooking a river.
Mat and Rand crouch through a small opening in the wall toward a grate. Rand kicks at the grate.
Egwene and Perrin get up on the edge of the wall.
Egwene: You ready?
Rand kicks down the grate and he and Mat get through, escaping the city.
Egwene takes Perrin's hand and they jump into the river.
Lan and Moiraine ride out of another crack in the city's walls.
Mat and Rand turn to look back at the grated opening they got through. The darkness spreads out around the opening on the wall, but then recedes back into the city.
Mat: Let's go.
Rand: We-we can't leave without them.
Mat: Pretty sure we can.
Mat tugs Rand over to the water's edge to a large piece of driftwood.
Lan slows, looking at Moiraine who is again unconscious. He dismounts and lays her down in the forest.
Egwene and Perrin swim across the river, away from the city. Once on the opposite shore, they call out.
Egwene: Rand?!
Perrin: Mat!
Mat and Rand use the driftwood to swim across the river. They apparently do no hear them.
Egwene: Rand!
Perrin: Mat!
Lan gets Moiraine to drink some water and he sighs. Suddenly a blade is at his throat.
Nynaeve: If you don't take me to them right now, I'll slit your throat.