On Orders from the Captain-General

[Elaira Taravin]

“I... I've missed you as well.”

Elaira waited in the moment that followed, hardly daring to breath, not knowing what to say. So much had gone unsaid between her and Gareth, and the weight of it all was too much to bear. She’d spent years in his company, growing closer, and meeting again had ignited a spark that Elaira hadn’t realized existed.

It seemed as though the weight of the moment was too much for either of them to bear. Gareth turned to follow Ishara, and Elaira let out a surprisingly steady breath. This was fine. There would be other chances with less pressure, they could learn to—

Then, in the middle of the training yard, Gareth closed the distance between them with shocking speed and pulled her into a kiss. Every sensation of the moment burned itself into her mind: his passion, lips, even the scruff of his beard indelibly marked in her memory. It was a blazing reflection of the light of saidar, a force that threatened to sweep her off her feet entirely, leaving nothing behind.

She looked up at him, dazed but smiling, dazzled by his eyes and his hair and...Gareth himself. The man he’d become was so—

“I love you. By the light, how I love you, Elaira!”

Unable to be contained, Gareth accompanied the words by lifting her bodily off the ground and spinning her madly, all the while beaming up at her. Elaira’s heart fluttered, and he pressed his forehead to hers, bring them close once more.

“Come back to me safe, my Ellisande. Promise me that you shall.”

Her breath caught. This was the most wonderful, romantic, idiotic, mortifying moment in her life. Her heart was torn in a million places, but at the forefront of her mind was the fact that the man she loved just whirled an Aes Sedai around in the middle of the White Tower’s grounds like she was a farmgirl.

“Gareth Trakand, you woolheaded fool of a man, set me down this instant.”

The words were sweet, but carried fire behind them, spoken through a smile and gritted teeth. Her eyes must have been blazing fury at the speed with which she found herself once more in the ground.

“If you even think about about trying a stunt like that again in public, I will personally tie you in Air, stuff you in a sack, and bundle you off to the Black Tower, where it’s my hope that you will be out of trouble until the Dragon comes again. Are we clear?”

She huffed our a breath, cheeks flushed. Light, her head was all over the place. She’d never been the picture of Aes Sedai decorum but this?

She turned her head, keenly aware that Ishara had likely seen everything, at least.

“Now, let’s go find your sister before we make even greater fools of ourselves.”

Elaira moved to go, but stopped. Her heart hadn’t stopped hammering. She turned to look at him, the sweetly serious expression replaced by an authentic smile and blazing red cheeks.

“I love you, Gareth.”

The words were out there for both of them, and Elaira could barely contain the glee, fear, and joy they inspired.

“If I didn’t have to leave I’d want nothing more than to spend every waking moment I could manage with you. I will return, and we will continue this discussion more privately, I promise.”

Then she was moving toward Taivin and Ishara, heart lighter than ever.

[Taivin Rashai]

As Kiserai was continuing to behave in an atypical manner for the battle-tested stallion, Taivin was more than a little distracted. His horse, normally of a much surlier temperament when it came to other people, wasn't simply curious about Ishara Sedai. He was allowing actual physical contact.

As such, it took a minute or two for him to fully realize what Ishara Sedai's offer actually meant for him: returning home.

Taivin was admittedly caught off guard by this. Technically speaking, his training here had been completed for some time. But something -apprehension?- had held him back from returning home of his own volition. And so he had stayed on at the Tower, finding various ways to keep busy and earn his keep.

But it would seem the hour of his departure was now imminent. For Taivin had no doubt that his presence on this mission was an order, no matter how it was phrased.

"I must confess I hadn't yet considered my return to Saldaea. I'm not sure how effective a guide I could be outside my homeland, either, as it has been many years since my last tour of the region. But, unless I'm sorely mistaken, I'm not really being given a choice here, am I?"

Not that he was upset about this turn of events. Resigned might be an adequate explanation of his reaction, but surprised definitely was not. Taivin knew that his residence at the Tower was temporary, that it always had been.

"I don't mean to imply any defiance or disinterest, of course. This request is simply...unexpected. But if I know anything about your brother, I'm sure he will do his best to erase any hesitation I may have. Speaking of Gareth…"

He glanced toward that specified individual in time to see Gareth quite literally sweep his paramour off her feet. In the middle of the training yard, no less. Taivin allowed himself a small smile as he watched his friend profess his true feelings. He couldn't see himself ever making such a spectacle, but then, Tai also had yet to experience the phenomenon of falling in love.

His smile, already fleeting, faded completely as his gaze swept upward, to the ominous portents that hovered over his best friend's head. He had not yet managed to imprint upon Gareth the dire nature of the Viewing, despite effort to the contrary. He would have to make another attempt, before they parted ways.

Ishara's barrage of questions returned his attention to the Green Sister and his black stallion.

"Kiserai. He's definitely grown into the name, despite any misgivings I may or may not have at my younger self's high expectations for a newly foaled colt. I admit the idea of spending more time in the saddle is appealing. A sentiment I know Rai will share. He never really took to the city."

[Gareth Trakand]

The light glistened within Elaira’s rose-gold tresses as the corner of her lips curled up into a smile. There was a certain peace within his soul as Gareth felt the warmth of her skin pressed against his. Her gleaming eyes gazed into his, and, for a brief moment, it seemed as if they were the only two people in the world. Their lips met, and a rush of euphoria washed over the man. And words he never knew he needed to express for years, at last, had flown from his lips. Everything he ever wanted was right here in his arms, as she was the light of his life. Gareth couldn’t imagine anything more perfect than this very moment with Elaira... And then reality kicked him in the teeth.

“Gareth Trakand, you woolheaded fool of a man, set me down this instant.”

Gareth’s cheeks flushed red as he set her down with impressive speed. So caught up in his passion was he that the young royal forgot where they were standing. Gaidin Trainees and a few Aes Sedai filled the White Tower’s training yard, all with their eyes seemingly fixated on them. He’d have given anything to be invisible right now or capable of gatewaying a quick escape, but neither would save him from the gossip the act undoubtedly already spurned.

“If you even think about trying a stunt like that again in public, I will personally tie you in Air, stuff you in a sack, and bundle you off to the Black Tower, where it’s my hope that you will be out of trouble until the Dragon comes again. Are we clear?”

Sweat began to bead along his brow as Elaira rightfully chewed him out for being such a ‘woolhead’ as she called him. And as the words flowed from her lips, fear crept over him that she did not feel the same as he did. What if his love was unrequited?! Would his world shatter into a million unfixable pieces?!

“Perfectly so, Milady,” answered Gareth in a soft tone.

His heart already felt as if it was breaking, not because she didn’t have every right to react the way she did towards his behavior in the flaming Training Yard but because it seemed as if his fears were confirmed. So as she suggested they find Ishara, Gareth nodded in agreeance, trying not to let his face look as forlorn as he felt. But just as she turned, taking a step away, Elaira turned back around. Her soft twinkling eyes met his while a warm smile spread across her rosy face, and the words he’d longed to hear escaped her lips.

“I love you, Gareth.”

Immediately Gareth’s face brightened in return, as his heart raced with euphoric joy knowing she loved him in return. He wanted to pick Elaira up again, to kiss her over and over, promise he’d always be hers... But he restrained himself this time around. There would be plenty of time for them to explore these new feelings once she returned without having countless eyes upon them.

“If I didn’t have to leave, I’d want nothing more than to spend every waking moment I could manage with you. I will return, and we will continue this discussion more privately, I promise.”

“And I promise that I shall be here waiting for you,” responded Gareth with a loving smile.

Although he longed to walk with her hand-in-hand over to Ishara and Taivin, Gareth once again restrained himself. After all, he could already feel the smirk on his sister’s face from here over the whole matter and had no desire to give her more fuel to add to the fire. So the quartet met together at last, where he surprisingly escaped taunting comments from Ishara. No doubt she’d wait till they were alone to tease him about today, but he was grateful she did not do so in front of Taivin. He wished them all well upon their journey, hugging each one individually, but before he left, Gareth pulled Taivin to the side and forced the man to swear he’d protect Ishara and Elaira in Gareth’s absence. Taivin reluctantly agreed, trying to warn the man of some impending shadow over his head, but Gareth shook it off. He was far more concerned with the safety of the three of them than he was for himself.

As he made his way back towards the gate, the Prince took one last bittersweet look at his friends. But at that moment, a feeling of absolute dread filled him, as if he was seeing them for the last time. He clasped the hilt of his blade as if ready to fight the very air itself for bringing about such dark thoughts.

“May the light guide them back to me, for I’d lay my life down in a heartbeat for each of them.” He gave them one last distant smiling wave, “Be safe, my friends, and know that I love you.”