Aiel, Pipes, and Massage

[Kaitlin 22]

This is an alternate universe kind of thing! I wanted Thom to be in Rhuidean. It is for Marie! I write it as I go. No editing. No changing. No plot in mind. I don't know what will happen. It is best not to read this. I warn you!

 

--

 

Thom stopped alongside an unknown tent. Lantern light cast dim shadows against the thin walls, granting him an exceptional view of a slender young woman inside, the shadows of her wavy hair trailing down to brush against the figure reclining below her. The woman was unclothed, and Thom suspected she may be one of the younger Wise Ones from the length of her hair. Not many Aiel women had hair as long.

 

He told himself he would appreciate the view for only a moment more, the soft musical tones of her voice as she murmured warmly to her companion reminded him of a harp he played not too many years before. It was a beautiful voice, and the small, rhythmic movements the woman made as she spoke were as graceful as a dancer's.

 

He hadn't taken two steps away before stopping up short again and staring back at the tent. Musical voice. Slender frame. Youthful bosom and wavy hair. It had to be Moiraine Sedai. But how could she be doing this practically out in the open, with anyone in the newly occupied city able to see and hear her just walking by?

 

Torn by curiosity, a feeling of unease, and something more he didn't wish to name he casually took out his pipe and stood with the tent just in the periphery of his vision. There was a little fire here he could light his tabac with, though dim enough that he felt certain he could see anyone else wandering up this way. The sounds inside the tent began to grow more intimate, the hushed quality not doing much to hide from anyone what the two were doing within, even if they couldn't clearly be seen. Most of Thom wanted the pipesmoke to warn them. The infernal woman could do something with the One Power, could perform some of the same trickery he knew she'd used the other times he innocently tried to glean information from her occasional nighttime talks with Rand. Those times he could press his ear to the gaps of a flimsy door or hover right next to the tent flap openings (when Lan was not about) and hear only absolute silence. It had to be One Power business.

 

Why didn't she do something like that now? Perhaps she knew others would find her, perhaps she was expecting another? The tent was reasonably far away from the others.

 

He did his best not to watch as the figures became more animated inside, puffing furiously at his now lit pipe. He cleared his throat roughly, hoping that would catch the blasted woman's attention. It was beyond him why it should matter. He should let them alone, Moiraine and whatever bloody man she was with. It would serve her. them. right to be caught by the bloody peddlers or the Aiel. There was no bodyguard outside. That meant she must be with Lan.

 

Thom coughed loudly. Those two were oblivious. Dragkhar could fall down on them out of the Light Forsaken sky and they wouldn't know. It was inexcusably unprofessional for a Warder. Not that it matters to an old gleeman, he thought.

 

He was so caught up in not listening to the foolishness going on between an Aes Sedai and her fool Warder that he was completely unprepared for the sudden light warmth of a body near to him, a cool hand suddenly touching at the inside of his elbow. Thom bit back a curse and looked down, two knives in his opposite hand before his mind caught up with his instincts. Next to him was Moiraine, large brown eyes expressionless and huge in the dim light as she regarded him. Regarded him while being fully clothed. With noise continuing from the tent nearby.

 

"My campfire is an unusual location for a nighttime smoke, Master Gleeman, though you are always welcome."

 

Thom could now see Lan hulking around nearby, looking like monolith to skulking out there beyond the firelight. Moiraine seemingly had no notion of what was happening in her tent, or that anyone was inside at all, if this was indeed her campfire. "Moiraine Sedai, pardon me, but I wished to speak with you about a matter of some importance and did not dream of disturbing you." He inclined his head toward the tent.

 

A subtle reddening of Moiraine's cheeks appeared, evident even in poor light. "You were waiting on the wrong individual, I assure you. An apprentice is perhaps learning to kneed the muscles of another's back, I think. An Aiel practice she should be doing elsewhere."

 

Thom leaned away from the pretty Aes Sedai, studying the brightening blush that slowly but steadily seemed to be creeping down to the neck of her dress. He felt himself blush a little in sympathy, although he could not control the twitch of his mustache. Lan loomed closer to Thom. If a shadow could look irritated it would move about in the same way. Thom's blades, safely back up his sleeves, felt coolly reassuring to his skin. The light from inside the tent suddenly blinked out, all sounds coming to an abrupt halt.

 

"Forgive me, Moiraine, I will not trouble you any more tonight." Thom gave her his best bow, moving smoothly despite the stiffness of his bad leg, and moved away from her before bodily harm or a rush of affectionate sympathy (he did not know which was worse) overwhelmed him.

 

"You came to me. Speak to me now and do not let it wait," Moiraine's voice stopped trailed after him, and he realized as he stopped that he was a fool to mistake some other woman's voice, especially the girl Egwene's (he realized with chagrin), for this sweet music the little woman spoke.

 

He turned back to her. She was unreadable, her posture relaxed. He thought about asking whether she would like muscle kneeding demonstrated. He put out his pipe and quickly decided what subject he should pretend to have come to her about. It wouldn't be so bad spending a few moments with the woman. At least until she could enter her tent again.

[Vertex 23]

Poorpoor Thommies Does Kitt like making him suffer? I loves the story even though nobody actually got laid. But that's ok, sometimes there needs to be Thommies feeling foolish too.

[Marie 73]

And then?

[Kaitlin 22]

... mysterious things happened.

[Marie 73]

And then?

[Kaitlin 22]

Nine months later...

[Marie 73]

And then?

[Kaitlin 22]

I will have one cheeseburger value meal.

[jan 14]

I just started reading this story since I was bored (in office). Then I realized there's no guarantee it's office safe. So I'm keeping it for later!

[Sam 19]

interesting

[Vertex 23]

I think it's office safe...if you are allowed to read fantasy fanfics in your office. Somehow that seems worse than a lot of other things on the Internet.