Fanfic:Kanamai's Three Arches

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Kanamai's Three Arches
Author(s)
  • Kanamai Hukini (player)
Character(s)
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First Arch

As Kanamai entered the first of the arches, Aviaine's words, strong and clear at her first step, faded to distant memory, "The first time is for what was. Be steadfast. The way back will come but once." Crystal light hardened into the deep browns and bright yellows of a Borderland forest. Shattered wood from last Winter's frosts snapped crisply under the horses hooves as they marched, tramping a pattern of purpose and cold steel death towards Tarwin's Gap.

Kanamai fingered the hilt of her sword, then reached, one hand still on the reins, to touch Jesam's free hand, holding for a long moment as they rode in silent communication towards the dagger pointed cliffs. Many times past, they had joined in battle, horse to horse and sword backing sword, protecting each other and preferring to die together in combat than be separated. It was stormy calm, heavy as the air before the first bolt of lightning.

Suddenly the air growled with trolloc thunder, errupting on three sides. Massive shapes burst from the shadows, their weapons reaching to take the lives before them. Jesam and Kanamai signalled their horses for battle and teamed head to tail, cicling, defending, slashing, buying their lives with every stroke. It was no more than they had done before. Trollocs held no fear. They fell to the blades of soldiers who trained for this daily. For a moment, the milling trollocs parted, making way for a creature clothed in black, darker than midnight and oozing fear from every pore of his maggot white skin. A Myrddraal. This was the true test of her training. Stubbornly, she pushed the fear to one side, trolloc blood flicking from her sword as she blocked with thrusts and attacked, slicing now at its wrists, and now, arcing for its neck. Jesam swung his blade overhead striking again and again but the creature was slippery, avoiding the sparks he aimed.

It would need two of them to take it down. This was not the first time they had paired against a Myrddraal.

"Look out, Kana," called Jesam, warning her just in time as a trolloc swung its axe. Quickly kneeing Stardust aside, the axe flashed past and Kanamai thrust a Hummingbird stab through its eye.

As she turned to cover Jesam's back from the Myrddraal, a silver Arch appeared in a clearing to the left of the battlefield. "The way back will come but once." The arch called her, drew her and she turned, leaving Jesam to the Myrddraal. Without her sharing the fight, he would surely take the blade.

"Kana," he called desperately, "Don't be afraid! Don't run! We can do it, Kana. Don't leave me to die. Don't let me leave you alone!"

Sobbing uncontrollably and shaking, she rode through the arch, finding herself without horse or sword, weeping on the floor. "It was my fault. I left him. I left him to die!" she cried, quite unaware, as yet, of the Aes Sedai around her.

Second Arch

Kanamai was still trembling from her first experience as Aviaine led her to the second Arch. "The second time is for what is. Be steadfast. The way back will come but once."

Janis and Kanamai walked side by side through the darkening streets of Canluum. They had been joined to each other through the bond for five years now. It had been a happy journey through the years as Novice and Drin. They had laughed and joked together, cared for one another and formed a friendship so close they knew how the other thought and felt, even without a bond. Then, as Accepted an Ji'alantin, they had earned respect from many at the Tower, teaching well and giving themselves to guide newer recruits. They were as close as brother and sister.

Finally the day had come when both were fully raised and Kana had woven the bonding net to slip inside him. Now they were more than close. They were aware of each other all the time. "I will always protect you, my Aes Sedai," he had promised that day, as he had many times before. "And I will never forsake you, my Gaidin," she had answered. The words had been spoken before, but this time the oath rod had sealed them in unbreakable truth.

The pair climbed steadily up the wooden stairs of the Inn they had made their resting place for this part of their journey. Rooms on the sixth floor had seemed more pleasant than those lower to the ground. They were private, quiet from the noise of the street, and the view was refreshing. As they took tea together, sitting in Kanamai's room, they discussed their purpose.

"I hear, from one of my sources in the palace, that there are darkfriend spies sending on sensitive information to aid the enemy and turning people against one another. I intend to free the palace of this threat. Why should the Shadow be allowed to rule and cause such dissent in Kandor?"

"Yes, Kana. If anyone can deal with them ...."

Suddenly, shouts came to them from the room below, followed immediately by smoke wafting its way under the door. The floor became very warm as fire began to comsume the old wooden building. "Quick, move to the window," Kanamai shouted. "I will lower you with air, stay to fight the fire as long as possible and then make a gateway to join you."

"There's no chance of that," he grinned. "Catch me leaving you behind. I'll fight the fire and we can both take the gateway out of here."

Kanamai smiled. How very like him. She began drawing on water weaves to keep the fire from the door. Perhaps she would be able to push it back and save some more lives. As they struggled, coughing and eyes streaming against the smoke, it was obvious the fire was beginning to close in. Oxygen was failing. They would have to leave within seconds. Just as she prepared to make the gateway, Kana noticed a silver Arch standing against the wall. "The way back will come but once..."

"Come with me, Jan, she said, taking his arm and guiding him towards the Arch. "I'll make the gateway here." As she walked the few steps towards the Arch, she formed a gateway to one side of it, opening it into the Threefold Land.

"Go through first, my Gaidin. Go home. Clear the way," she told him. As Jan stepped out of view, she closed the gateway, tears rolling down her cheeks as the bond severed and she walked through the silver Arch alone.

"I promised him I would never forsake him. I had to send him away. I couldn't leave him to die. I don't know where I left him. Will he still be here in the Warder Yards when I go to look for him?" she wept.

"Everything on this side will be exactly as you left it before you went into the Arch," one of the Sisters assured her.

Third Arch

Kanamai felt guilty as she was led towards the third Arch. Where did I leave him? Did he survive? Was he even real?

The third time is for what will be. Be steadfast. The way back will come but once." White light winked out as Kanamai entered the Arch. She stood on fresh green grass, carpeting a hillside dotted with flowers - flowers of memory from childhood dreams. No, it was real. The Golden Crane banner flew from one of the Seven Towers, shining as polished marble under a wide blue sky. Malkier had been recovered. The Towers were restored and the King had returned to call the last of the Malkieri home. It was a time of hard work for many but also a time of great joy. They had taken on the Shadow. The Blight was no more. Where once had been danger, decay and fear, a land inhabited by creatures of the Dark one, now, instead, were rolling green hills, shining lakes and peaceful creatures.

They had come from all over the world, a world broken at Tarmon Gaidon and saved by the Dragon's blood. Men and women of Malkieri descent came, though married to those of other nations, looking for a fresh start in New Malkier. Children laughed and played in the hills, swung in trees that had not housed a Stick for years. They even paddled at the edges of lakes flushed clean from Shadowspawn.

Kanamai had looked for this all her life. People with no drop of Malkieri blood had come as well, swearing allegiance to the King and being granted land and work. It would take every willing one of them to restore Malkier to her former glory. Kanamai reflected with satisfaction on a life given to this purpose. She had defended the world from the Shadow. She had fought and lived. Now it was time to rest and end her days enjoying all she had fought for.

A tall darkhaired man walked up the hill to join her. Rogir had married a Saldaean girl and he laughed as he carried her grandchildren up to meet her. This would be her rest forever. "Kaka," the little one called, holding out his arms and toddling the last few steps to his trusted grandmother. But something had caught her eye.

A silver Arch flickered to the side. "The way back will come but once." Why should she go? This was perfect. There was no more war. Why should she leave them? With a heavy heart, Kanamai turned her back on the little ones. Stepping through the Arch, she sighed and tears began to trickle down her cheeks once more. No, it was not over. It had only just begun. There was no peace yet, no restoration, only the battle before her, the sword, the fight, the death.