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Moiraine walked the stone halls silently. It was late, the sun had set many hours ago, and the halls were basked in faint, flickering candle light. She was contemplating the four she had lost on the way to the White Tower. Hoping they had somehow made it to the city. If they had not she must leave again and search. This possibility did not irk her as she considered her horse and saddle more of a home than the tower. But she was worried for the four. What if they had gotten themselves into trouble? They most likely had.
....
Liandrin has a hard time sleeping that night. She found herself laying awake in her bed thinking of the color blue. Along with the person who was associated to it. She'd always wondered why they had chosen such apposing colors in the end. Each track made sense for them yes, the Red Ajah called to Liandrin and the Blue Ajah called to Moiraine. However, these colors, in hindsight, did not make sense for the two of them. Red and blue clashed and this did not feel true. There were of course tower politics but she'd always felt drawn to her, never repelled. Never clashing.
Liandrin soon found herself getting up. There was no use in laying under the covers fidgeting. She might as well get some fresh air, and that's precisely how she ran into the one plaguing her thoughts.
....
Moiraine was passing through another endless hallway, this one facing the Northern boarder. She stopped a minute to look out a window placed between to pillars. There was not much to be seen, everything was bathed in darkness. There were steady footsteps to her left, quiet and light but sure. There was only one person who she knew for certain walked like that. But she found herself staying put, despite all the bad they had to talk about. Despite all the spite and cunning between the two of them. Despite the constant mind games and hiding of weaknesses. Despite every logical part of her telling her to leave now. She stayed, leaning against the cold wall, looking into the inky blackness outside the window.
....
The smell of pine and fresh dew filled Liandrin's nose as she stood next to Moiraine. Their unadorned shoulders were almost touching. It had been a long while since she had seen the Blue Ajah without her tell tale coat. Now she realized she was glad of it. Without the barriers of color that their coats brought so eminently she felt dangerously open.
They stood there for a while in silence. Neither wanting to speak and ruin what they had in the moment. Together they stood as the first rays of sun touched the edge of the city. They had edged closer to one another during the hours of silence. Now their shoulders were brushing. One of them, neither could be sure which, yawned. Liandrin took a this moment to turn and look at Moiraine. Wanting to soak in every last moment of silence with the woman. They held each other's gaze for a long moment. Liandrin once again tucked that bothersome stray piece of hair behind Moiraines ear. Her fingers staying dangerously close to the woman's jawline. She was right, without the coats she had little inhibitions.
....
Moiraine searched Liandrin's eyes for some sign of anger or contempt. It shocked her to realize all she found was something akin to adoration. That cold uncaring wall that she thought was permanently in place was absent. All that existed during the day, was gone. Now there were only embers in their wake, warm but not burning. She wanted to feel that warmth.
Maybe it was the sleep deprivation. Maybe it was the way the light had started to creep upon Liandrin's face, highlighting her features. Maybe it was a distant memory claiming her mind. Maybe it was the lack of prominent color preventing her from seeing the lines she was in danger of crossing. But by the light, she did it. She moved a step closer, then another. Liandrin's hand was still a whisper on her jaw. That gave her all the courage she needed to forget that last voice telling her to be sensible.
....
When their lips met Liandrin gasped. She wouldn't have thought Moiraine would make such a bold play. But maybe, like her, her guard was down. Low as the firelight in the darkest corner. She reciprocated and everything felt light. Even better than touching the one power. Maybe it was just Moiraines power mingling with her own that made her skin buzz. Or maybe it was something deeper she had buried after Moiraine left the first time. Whatever the cause, she felt better than she had in a long while.
When they broke apart for air there was a calm familiarness to the air that hadn't been present before. A doorway had open. Neither knew how long it would hold but both hoped it would be a while.
....
That was how their midnight meetings came to be. Each day Moiraine stayed Liandrin became softer. Maybe not in the way she spoke or walked. But in the way her gaze darted to Moiraine before saying something rash. In the way she held space for the Blue Ajah at her side. If anyone else noticed, they said nothing.
Each night they met, rarely speaking. Only seeking solace in each other's company. There was no need for words between them. In the fire flickering halls, in the dead of night, there was only the warmth from the crackling embers of the one power between them. Not enough to burn, just enough to glow.