Chapter Text
As soon as Moiraine tore down the mask on their bond, Lan felt like he could breath properly again for the first time in months. It was astonishing how quickly the rust on his muscles was disappearing while they fell back into their normal routines around each other. How deeply he needed her in the back of his mind to feel whole and functioning? How deep he had wished to get her back just to feel himself again?
But as elated as he felt, he wished Moiraine didn't have to fall back in exactly all their routines at once.
Moraine was as pale as a ghost and yet managed to feel both absolutely smug AND exhausted through the bond. She kept staring to the dragon she sent to the tower in Falme, where Rand was supposed to be. The fact he had barely the time to reach her before her knees buckled, and she managed to keep her stubborn self straight just enough for his arm to catch her midway didn't bother her at all. She just leaned on his shoulder, her clear, exhausted eyes fixed to the city. Serenely detached from her own discomfort, she kept ignoring Lan scrutiny.
He didn't need to ask, he knew it was probably days since her last proper meal, but... when was the last time she actually slept? She was tired before the fight, but the sheer exhaustion he felt through the bond was now extreme. How could she be so perceptive of everything and then ignore her basic needs was inexplicable to him, even after twenty years.
"I'm fine." She had the nerve to answer at the worry she was feeling from him, a satisfied smile on her lips, completely oblivious to her body being completely spent.
"Of course you are. - he sighed - We need to move. Can you let that thing fade for me?" he murmured while nodding to the dragon, caressing lightly her arm, trying to bring her attention back to him.
Moiraine shook her head. He didn't have much hope she would yield, but he had to try.
"Can you stand by yourself?" He murmured again. Moiraine nodded, managing to drag herself away from his body. Lan gave her a moment to adjust on her feet before hurrying around the bodies of the fallen Seanchan soldiers behind them.
A skein of water.
A cloak. It smelled bad but it had no blood on it. It would do, since he let her throw away her jacket earlier.
No food, obviously, but he found another skein of water.
He threw one more look to the cliffs, searching a path his Aes Sedai could walk in her conditions, before backing again to Moiraine side. When he took her cold hand in his she didn't even flinch, still fascinated by the roaring image she created in the sky.
"Tap into my strenght." he rumbled, bringing her fingers to his chest and forcing her hand to open above his heart. As many times before, the suggestion did the trick: Moiraine snapped out of her thoughts, turning abruptly to stare at him with a look of pure horror on her face. Lan would have smiled fondly if he wasn't in a haste to bring her away from the shore.
"I won't"
"You're tired, you're keeping up the weave on the dragon and we need to hike to get away from the beach. Tap."
The dragon above Falme faded so fast he had to smile at her.
"Thank you. But you're still too tired to manage the climb. Take what you need." he pressed gently.
"I don't need anything so I'm not tapping into your strenght. I can manage and you're not my energy backup - she snapped, now her full focus on him - Are you hurt? I didn't check for injuries..." she bristled, her eyes taking in the number of soldier he had to kill before scanning feverishly his body. Lan was prepared to her reaction, and he took a step forward, just enough to block her exam and force her eyes to his.
"I'm perfectly fine, but your body is not and you can't lie, even to yourself. I know you hate it but you really need to take a little of my energies, so we can get both to safety. Please." he reasoned, staring in her eyes. He didn't dare to loosen his grip on her hand until she felt her resolve to channelling again through the bond. Moiraine bit her lips, and a moment later he felt a little energy loss, so tiny he would have missed it without warning.
"Thank-
Lan stopped abruptly when he felt a second wave of power bursting through him, the energy loss he just felt promptly pumped back in his veins. Moiraine even dared to stare serenely at him, the slightest, slightest hint of a smirk in her eyes while she let her healing weave snake his way around him.
"Moiraine..." he sighed in defeat, feeling her power tending to his sore muscles, delving in his arms to close all the scratches and mend any bruise on its path. When he felt a gentle tug on the scars from their latest encounter with the Fades, Lan almost growled, drawing her closer.
"Enough." he breathed, staring intently in her eyes.
"I've been wanting to check Adeleas work since that night." she whispered, almost apologetically, a wave of guilt managing to crash the bond even with her fading energies, the fingers she was still keeping on his chest moving to stroke reverently above his heart.
Stubborn, insufferable, adorable and irreplaceable woman. Lan had to fight back the turmoil of feelings inside him to focus on her reactions, it was almost time. He didn't miss it: he broght his arm around her as soon as he felt her power disappearing, scooping her up in the moment she fainted.
Thank Light for Warder Stamina.
It was going to be quite the hike.