The Grey Tower

She tried to take in the woman's words, she really did. They were entirely supported by the rational side of Andra's brain. It had been...what? Less than an hour since this had all began? And again, my life takes a sudden swerving turn off the track that had been so clear only moments before...

Suddenly, she felt queasy. The hand that was not in Elia's rose and pressed against her forehead as it felt like the room swam.

Andra swallowed hard and closed her eyes against the emotions that were creeping in. It has only just happened. There is plenty of time to figure it out and fix it. You were set on a path before and that has not changed. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER! Yet the forceful inward voice only helped a little.

She did force her dark eyes open again and focused on Elia. She breathed, although it could hardly be said that she relaxed. She lowered her hand again, but the room remained fuzzy at the edges. "Thank you, Aes Sedai," she managed to say quietly. "This is suddenly a lot to take in."

Her stomach rebelled at the thought of eating or drinking, but she knew the wisdom of the Aes Sedai's words and she nodded. Carefully, she rose and found she could do so without issue. Andra managed a weak smile at what the other woman said. "I have never been of a fainting disposition, Aes Sedai," she said.

Then again, there were many things she wouldn't have thought likely that came to pass...so maybe she wasn't the best judge.

Although things still didn't exactly feel right, she didn't have any difficulty walking. It may have been mere pride alone that made it so, but she refused to need such help from anyone. She always had walked on her own two feet and she was determined that she always would, and so even as she was, that's what she did as they left the room.

"I am sure I'll be fine," she said as they did. She wasn't, in fact, entirely sure of that, but she knew she wouldn't collapse. That much she was sure of.