Finding a Way [Attn: Valadin Manelle]

[Bella]

What he said did not surprise her, because he had indeed said that to her all that time ago...and yet it still did surprise her. Like it had surprised her when he wished to be with her that first time, now it surprised her that he still wished to tie himself to her for the rest of their days, since it was only very, very rarely that a bond was ended by anything but death.

Nykk blushed. She couldn't stop it, and she looked down. Her mind was a whirl of thoughts. Not doubt in what she wished, but just doubt about herself and if he would really be happy tied to her forever in such a way...

Consciously, she told herself to stop thinking about that. He had kept his wish after years. It had not changed, and now he wanted it enough to pursue it; to pursue her. She bit the inside of her lip and took a steeling breath. Lifting her face again, she shifted her body to face him and reached up to touch his cheek. "I wish for that," she said softly. "Are you sure you wish my bond?"

[Sean]

“Yes, I’m certain.”

The words were spoken before any thought could take root. Maybe it was the gentle touch of her hand or the innocence that reflected back when staring into the pools of clear water that were her eyes that dulled the ability reason soundly. It might have been his own foolishness that had drawn him down this path in the first place. Whatever the reason, Valadin understood with absolute clarity that Nykkolaia Zeran would have anything she asked of him in that moment.

Part of Val waited for the enormity of his decision to come bearing down on him. He had expected the gripping dread of binding himself to an Aes Sedai, one of those women who transformed the world with only an utterance to fall heavily upon him, crushing him with doubt of his choice. Learning fear had kept him alive as a slave. It ensured his survival as a Soldier and gave him the caution to be patient as Dedicated. That it would abandon him in the face of love seemed reasonable in an unexpected way, but now wasn’t the time for these concerns.

Valadin could feel his earlier grin widening and wondered if he looked like a fool to her. With a callused hand, knotted by hours of training with the sword, he pressed her palm against his cheek, catching a strand of dark shoulder length hair. Trying to think on when he’d grown tired of spending time in the early of the morning tending to his appearances, Val realized he’d forgotten. It had been such an important ritual for so long; the only thing that was left to his decision since boyhood. Now he woke without a care for his appearances. Is it because of her?

“ Tell me what I must do then, my heart,” he said, voice heavy with emotion.

[Bella]

Her dented heart swelled.

The room had already been little but the two of them. Furniture provided little background nose, and Merik was all but silent. Yet somehow, the world seemed to narrow even further. There was nothing else now. He sat before her. She sat before him. Nothing but the touch of his hand and his words. His promise.

Nykkolaia inhaled slowly. She opened herself to saidar. "Just be," she whispered. Leaning in, she pressed her lips to his.

She formed the threads of Spirit that she had once, long ago, been taught but had never expected to use. All channelers were taught what the weave was, in the expectation they would bond eventually, but Nykk had been convinced she never would. It was a small miracle that she hadn't forgotten it, but it sprung to mind easily as she sought it now.

Laying it over him, the weave settled between them and formed the connection. Within moments, amid a kiss, their bond as Aes Sedai and warder, was formed.

[Sean]

When the gooseflesh on the back of his neck finally settled, Valadin was grateful for the distraction of Nykk’s lips kissing him. It was the only thing that stifled the disquiet roiling his innards when Saidar, the female half of the Power touched him.

As the Weave settled into place Val had expected an existential shift—a change in the world or at least his perspective of it, but that never came. Instead there was only the warm softness of Nykk’s cheek as he traced a line on an unblemished patch. Then he realized that the same softness also existed within him.

Somewhere past the roar of Saidin and the chaotic restlessness of the Fury was an alien tangle of emotions that were familiar yet not of him. It’s her… Val thought as their connection cemented and the prickling along the nape of his neck disappeared. Val became aware of a deep sense of wholeness that sprung from the core of his being and suffused the Bond’s link with potent mixture of happiness, love, and desire. The intimacy of their connection was unlike anything he’d ever known.

Since birth life had continued on without a care from him. Only when in solitude, without another person to care for him did he feel safe. The first encounter with Nykkolaia had raised doubts as to whether she truly believed in them. However much he denied it, Val had always wondered if she truly loved him as she said she did. Now, a part of her would always be with him…it felt as though life had become very simple; beautifully simple.

[Bella]

It felt unlike anything she had ever felt before, but then, she was getting used to that with him. She was his now, and no one else's. And she never could be, ever again. She was sure of it, deep down in her battered spirit.

Nykk broke away from him enough to take a deep breath. She shuddered as she inhaled, and she shuddered as she exhaled. Opening her eyes, she stared at him in wonder. "Oh, my..." she breathed the words, unable to get over the feeling of him now within her mind. A place that had once been entirely alone was no longer, and if she had worried that it would bother her, she would've been wrong.

It was almost a comfortingly feeling. She wasn't alone anymore. Opening her eyes, she sought out his. "Mine," the word was whispered without conscious intent. "Yours."

[Sean]

Valadin studied Nykk with new eyes. Now there was no question what was behind those clear, blue eyes—no need to wonder if regret of him ever worried the poised Blue Sister. Val felt part of his anger, the product of so many years past while having no one to share his isolation begin to wilt in the wake of such intimacy; there was little that would remain secret between them. Every emotion whether weakly or strongly felt would be keenly experienced by them both, the line separating their individuality blurring as time went on. Is that what we wanted? Is that what I wanted?

Hearing Nykk’s breathless words and sensing sincerity in the warmth flowing through the Bond, Valadin knew his answer to be a resounding ‘yes’.

Dumbstruck by the overflowing feelings and the knowledge that this…connection was eternal, he realized that he hadn’t spoken in some time and opened his mouth to say something to break the silence. “I’m…happy—very happy,” he announced.

Unable to manage anything more eloquent Val let himself smile, the kind that only appeared when Nykk was present. Falling back into her bed, reveling in the completeness that his life now possessed there was little need to think about the blood, the Last Battle, or even the sword …with her at his side—and in his heart; everything else was a speck of sand on the farthest ocean shore.

Finally the Creator had decided to make good on a debt long owed. Thank you.