Wheel of Time: Legacies
War in the Blight
by PJ
 
 
Fal Dara
1018 NE (New Era)
 
Moraine al'Thor was awake before the dawn, overseeing final preparations for the invasion of the Blight.  As the first rays of the rising sun peeked over the Spine of the World, Moraine stood upon a small outcropping of rock near the entrance of Tarwin's Gap.  The Aiel girl's heart swelled with pride when she beheld the army of her people gathered below, all of them sworn to rescue her mother, Aviendha al'Thor, from the horrible clutches of Shaidar Haran, the Myrddraal who now led the forces of the Dark.
 
Moraine watched silently from her perch while a tall, well-built Aiel warrior climbed deftly up to the ledge where she crouched.
 
"Everyone is ready, Moraine," reported Jherkar, chief of the Aethan Dor.
 
"Very well," nodded Moraine, raising the horn that hung from a leather strap over her left shoulder.  She set the mouthpiece of the horn against her lips and blew, sounding a loud call that echoed across the assembled Aiel army. With shoufas wrapped around their faces, the Aiel began to march into the wide mouth of Tarwin's Gap.  As Moraine let her horn fall to her slender waist, Jherkar squinted up into the clear sky.
 
"Crows.  They are the eyes of the Shadow."
 
"Let them warn Shaidar, for all the good it will do him," smiled Moraine wolfishly before she started her descent off the ledge in order to join her spear brothers and sisters.
 
 
"An army of Aiel has left Fal Dara.  They're using Tarwin's Gap to enter the Blight," reported the black cloaked Myrddraal.
 
"Your lovely daughter doesn't listen very well, does she?" hissed Shaidar Haran, one pale finger sliding down Aviendha's bare stomach.  Aviendha jerked away from the Myrddraal's cold touch, but the leather straps holding her wrists above her head did not allow her to retreat far.
 
"What do you command?"
 
"Have the Trolloc legions stationed on our side of Tarwin's Gap engage the Aiel.  Assemble all of our remaining forces at the western edge of the Blasted Lands, so they can protect Shayol Ghul if the Aiel break through."
 
"It will be done," bowed the Myrddraal before departing.
 
"Perhaps I should kill you before your daughter arrives?  I can present your corpse to her as a gift," chuckled Shaidar, raising the short whip in his left hand before slashing it across Aviendha's striped back.
 
 
The Trolloc legions attacked at night, slaughtering the pickets set out to guard the sleeping camp.  The screams of men and women jarred Moraine awake within her small tent.  She shot to her feet, wrapping her shoufa around her lovely face, then grabbing her nearby spear before rushing outside into the cool darkness.
 
"The Trollocs are everywhere!" shouted Moderra, her hazel eyes wide with panic.
 
"That just means that there are more Trollocs to kill," snapped Moraine, leading the way to the northern battle line.
 
"Moraine!  Stay back!" warned Jherkar, his bare chest pumping as he rushed to meet the sprinting girl.
 
"I can't hide behind my spear sisters!" retorted Moraine, her gold-green eyes flashing.
 
"I promised your mother that I would protect you!" asserted Jherkar, matching Moraine's pace.
 
"Then guard my back, spear brother!" replied Moraine just before she plunged into the frantic melee.
 
Jherkar cursed under his breath, plunging his spear into a wolf-faced Trolloc who threatened to hack Moraine with a wickedly sharp battle axe.  Moderra and Therava joined their spear sister, slashing and stabbing at the seeming endless Trolloc horde.  Thunder cracked above the battlefield as Wise Ones used the One Power to summon lightning down upon their foes.  Huge swaths of ground exploded beneath the Trollocs, hurling their limp bodies high into the air. Fireballs blossomed within the rear ranks of the Trolloc legions, sending flaming soldiers screaming into their fearful brethen.  The Trolloc attack faltered, which only encouraged the Aiel to fight back with redoubled ferocity. The Trolloc front line crumpled beneath the lethal spears and knives of the Aiel.  Moraine led her spear sisters deep into the Trolloc ranks, her spear never stopping, its long blade dripping with Trolloc blood.  A Myrddraal appeared in front of Moraine, his slim blade a blur of motion as he slashed out at the Aiel girl.  Moraine parried the creature's sword blow, slamming the butt of her spear into his chest.  The Myrddraal did not slow, it lashed out with its right boot, knocking Moraine's feet out from beneath her.  Dazed, Moraine could only watch while the Myrddraal raised its sword in both hands, ready to plunge the blade into her pounding heart.
 
Moderra impaled the Myrddraal's left side with her spear at the same time that Therava flung one of her knives into the creature's narrow throat.  The Myrddraal choked loudly, grasping at the dagger buried to the hilt in its neck. Moraine acted without thought, diving forward, ramming her spear into its chest.  The Myrddraal fell onto its back, writhing in agony, refusing to die. Jherkar appeared from the tumult, raising a captured axe and hacking the Myrddraal's head from its body
 
"They're falling back," observed Jherkar, leaning on the haft of his battle axe while the Trollocs melted back into the concealing night shadows.  Moraine wiped Trolloc blood from her forehead, gazing at the disheveled Aiel camp, and at the numerous Aiel dead littering the parched ground.
 
"We have much to do before dawn," said Moraine, leading her friends towards the waiting wounded.
 
 
Aviendha rested against the cool rock wall, her body still flushed from her latest beating and rape by Shaidar Haran.  Long red bruises ran up and down Aviendha's naked torso, her long legs marred by ugly purple welts and scratches.  Aviendha could still taste the coppery flavor of blood in her mouth from when she had bit her own tongue to stifle her cries of pain.  The Aiel woman's wrists hung limply in the metal shackles above her head.  The metal door to Aviendha's cell screeched open, admitting a mute girl with filthy blonde hair and a stick thin body concealed by a torn, blood stained grey shift.  The girl twisted open a large water bladder, tilting the mouth so Aviendha could drink the stale water that she poured out.  When Aviendha had drunk her fill, the slave girl closed the bladder and offered the naked woman a crust of moldy bread.  Aviendha accepted the crust greedily, her aching belly overriding any fears of the green fungus that grew on the bread's edges.  The slave girl shambled out of the cell, closing the rusting metal door behind her. Aviendha licked a crumb of bread from her cracked lips, the influx of food making her drowsy.  The battered woman's eyes slowly closed as sleep wrapped her within its warm embrace.
 
 
"The Aiel have broken the border legions.  They're heading straight for Shayol Ghul," said the Myrddraal officer.
 
"Burn that Aiel bitch!  I should have killed the little cunt when I had the chance!" fumed Shaidar, crushing the silver goblet in his right hand.
 
"Your orders?"
 
"Are the remaining legions stationed where I told you to place them?"
 
"They are."
 
"Then let the Aiel whore bring her army!  I'll crush it and make her first captivity with me seem a sweet memory!"
 
 
Jherkar sat with legs crossed before the smoldering brazier, his dark brown skin beading with perspiration.  The Aiel chief poured himself a glass of punch from a jug resting in a bucket of chilled water, savoring the sweet liquid with slow, languid swallows.
 
"I was told you would be here," said Moraine, closing and tying the sweat tent flap behind her before discarding her light robe.
 
"Moraine, you should not be here, it is not proper," blushed Jherkar while Moraine sat to his right, pouring herself a cup of punch.
 
"You helped save my life today, I wanted to thank you," grinned Moraine, enjoying the chief's discomfort, her eyes brazenly admiring his nude body.
 
"You are welcome, young Moraine," replied Jherkar.  "I am merely fulfilling my toh to your mother."
 
"Do you think we will reach Shayol Ghul?" asked Moraine, sipping her punch, watching Jherkar intently.
 
"We will.  We took losses in the battle with the Trollocs, but we slaughtered their forces.
The Dark Ones armies are still recovering from Tarmon Gai'don, we will defeat them if they try to block our advance upon Shayol Ghul."
 
"Then if you believe we will win, I will believe it," murmured Moraine, emptying her cup of punch, then setting it down before sidling closer to Jherkar.
 
"Please, Moraine.  You are still a child, and I am a chief of the Aethan Dor."
 
"I feel so alone," whispered Moraine, her small hands sliding up and down Jherkar's strong chest.  "Just love me for tonight.  You promised to take care of me."
 
"Moraine..," protested Jherkar before Moraine stifled his response with her soft lips. Jherkar felt Moraine press her young body over his, her small breasts rubbing over his sweating torso.  Jherkar smelled the rich scent of Moraine's bright red hair, mingled with the scent of her own perspiring body. She grasped Jherkar's soft prick, massaging it with her right hand while she kissed him again, her tongue darting into his mouth, her small nose nuzzling his.
 
Jherkar wrapped his strong arms around Moraine's tiny waist.  He returned the passion of the naked girl's kiss, then pressed his lips against the side of her graceful neck.  Moraine moaned in bliss, tightening her handhold on Jherkar's cock, the member rising into hardness from her deft touch.  Moraine lowered her face onto Jherkar's crotch, folding her lips around the tip of the chief's cock.  She licked the blood-filled head with her small tongue, then let the shaft slide into her throat.  Jherkar groaned with pleasure, he dug his hands into Moraine's thick red hair, slowly pumping his crotch up against Moraine's face.  Moraine ran her tongue all around Jherkar's pole, caressing it, tasting every inch of throbbing meat.  She wrapped the fingers of her left hand around the chief's shivering prick, pumping her hand up and down while she filled her warm mouth with his balls, slurping loudly upon them.  Jherkar groaned louder, a trickle of cum already threatening to escape his member.  Spotting the liquid, Moraine licked the white cream off of Jherkar's cock head before rising up to straddle the naked man's lap.  The young girl lowered herself onto Jherkar's erect spear, moaning in ecstasy as it slipped up through her tender vagina.  When the cock was all the way inside her belly, Moraine leaned forward, wrapping her slim arms around Jherkar's muscled neck as she began pumping her ass up and down slowly.  Jherkar kissed Moraine's panting mouth before fastening his lips over her right breast, enjoying the taste of her sweat on his tongue while he sucked deeply on her young tit, her flesh soft and delicious between his lips.  Moraine's hip thrusts became sharper, more urgent, as her orgasm built up within her pussy.  She crushed Jherkar's face against her breasts when she climaxed, her ass shuddering as her cunt constricted around the chief's thick cock.  Jherkar shoved himself deep into Moraine's vagina, filling her belly with his hot milk.
 
Moraine lay limply over the panting chief, her arms still held around his neck as she gently kissed his mouth again and again.  Jherkar caressed Moraine's smooth back and ass with his right hand, her body slick and warm over his.
 
 
Ugly black clouds churned over Shayol Ghul when the Aiel army finally arrived at its base.
The Trolloc dead lay thick near the mountain's foot, a testament of the Aiel's resolve to storm the home of the Shadow.  Bright blue lightning crackled across the sky as the Aiel charged up the slope of Shayol Ghul in an irresistible wave, their spear blades flashing, their dark faces covered by  shoufas.
 
Shaidar Haran, the Hand of the Dark, emerged upon a battlement near the summit of the mountain, his blood red cloak billowing in the strong wind.  He raised his thin arms, and lightning fell from the sky, exploding within the Aiel ranks, slaying dozens in a single heartbeat.  Shaidar laughed as he wielded the One Power, hurling more and more lances of crackling death upon the approaching horde.  Wise Ones tried to shield the charging warriors, but Shaidar shattered their Air constructs with contemptuous ease, the might of the Dark One Himself suffusing the Myrddraal as he flung another score of bolts down upon the Aiel, the screams of the dying beautiful to his ears.
 
 
The steel door to Aviendha's cell ground open.  The naked Aiel woman blinked her sleep heavy eyelids, her foggy vision clearing to present a black robed figure in front of her.
 
"Who..who are you?" croaked Aviendha as the robed visitor unlocked her wrist manacles.
 
"Your key to freedom," replied the female voice, a wide-sleeved arm slithering around Aviendha's waist, pulling her to her feet.
 
With a trembling right hand, Aviendha grabbed the edge of the stranger's hood, pulling it away.
 
"Moghedien!" gasped Aviendha in shock before the old woman kissed her slack mouth.  Aviendha gagged on Moghedien's unnaturally long tongue as flows of Spirit and Air rushed into her mind.  The Aiel woman relaxed within the crone's embrace, her head lolling over Moghedien's left shoulder while the Forsaken opened a Gateway and stepped through it.
 
 
Shaidar Haran smiled darkly, his arms folded across his chest while whirlwinds of Air slashed across the Aiel, spinning their bodies away from the mountain's face into empty void.  Supremely confident in his power, the Myrddraal did not notice the white robed assassin until an oil black dagger stabbed to the hilt into his back.  Shaidar vomited a stream of black ichor, collapsing onto the battlement, his limbs twitching weakly.  The Myrddraal painfully turned his head to see who had inflicted the mortal wound upon him.
 
"You!  How could you betray our Master like this?"
 
"I serve Him still, far better than you have done," replied the woman, ending the discussion with a serpent quick slash across Shaidar's throat.
 
 
The wind storm ended in an eye blink.  Moraine released the rock she had held in a death grip, brushing stray red hair out of her face while her spear brothers and sisters emerged from their shelters.  Jherkar roared for a charge, and the Aiel followed him, climbing swiftly up the face of Shayol Ghul.  A few Trolloc and Myrddraal sentries appeared, and were quickly dispatched on the march for the summit.  Moraine called for a halt when a red-cloaked body hurled from one of the upper battlements, smashing limply on the jagged rocks below. Moraine ascended to where the body landed, flanked by Jherkar, Moderra, and Therava. 
 
"Shaidar Haran!" breathed Moraine, recognizing the dead body of her former tormenter.
 
"Who could have slain him upon his own battlements?" asked Jherkar, turning the corpse onto its side, revealing the deep stab wound in its back.
 
"We should be grateful, I guess," replied Moraine.  "Now we have to search the mountain's interior for Mother."
 
"Unnecessary," said Moghedien, appearing from an open Gateway bearing the unconscious body of Aviendha.
 
"Mother!" cried Moraine, running to take Aviendha's body from the Forsaken. "Why have you returned her?"
 
"The new Mistress of the Dark gives her to you in exchange for your pledge that you will leave Shayol Ghul now and never return to the Blight," replied Moghedien, smoothing down her black robe.
 
"You fear we will destroy Shayol Ghul and your surviving minions," said Jherkar shrewdly.
 
"You could try, Aiel, but you would fail," snapped Moghedien.  "But the cost of repelling such an assault would be..wasteful.  Will you pledge to withdraw, Moraine al'Thor?"
 
Moraine looked down at her mother, who lay unmoving in her arms.  She brushed a lock of hair away from the woman's face, then looked up coldly at Moghedien.
 
"I pledge that the Aiel army will withdraw and leave the Blight.  We will not return."
 
"Good.  Farewell, daughter of the Dragon Reborn," bowed Moghedien before she slipped through a narrow Gateway.
 
"Moraine?" inquired Jherkar.
 
"Let's go home," sighed the young Aiel girl, allowing Jherkar to carry Aviendha down the slope of Shayol Ghul.
*********************
 
 
Aviendha awoke with a throbbing headache.  She gingerly sat up in her cot, rubbing her right temple gently.  Moraine swiftly rose from her stool, offering her mother a cup of cool water.
 
"How do you feel?"
 
"Better," smiled Aviendha, taking a long drink of water, then setting it down on the ground so she could hug her daughter tightly.  "Thank you."
 
Moraine returned the hug with equal affection, letting go after a time to return to her seat.
 
"I thought I told you not to come after me," admonished Aviendha lightly.
 
"I couldn't leave you in the hands of that monster, I knew what he was capable of," shivered the girl.
 
"He's gone now.  You have proven that you can dance the spears well.  You will make the Aiel a fine spear sister."
 
"Thank you, Mother," smiled Moraine, embracing Aviendha again, happy that they were together and safe.
 
 
"Where are you going?" asked Moraine sharply while Jherkar shouldered a heavily laden travel satchel over his left shoulder.
 
"Returning to my clan.  I have duties to perform."
 
"Why can't you stay in Fal Dara?  Make your warriors part of the sentinel camp!"
 
"That would be selfish.  Good-bye, Moraine al'Thor," said Jherkar, walking to where a group of his spear brothers waited.
 
"Jherkar!" snapped Moraine, grasping his right arm.
 
"Please, we cannot be what you want us to be," smiled Jherkar gently.  "I am a chief, and you are a young Maiden, you have much to learn and do, without me."
 
"Please!" wept Moraine, hugging Jherkar close.
 
"I love you, little desert rose," whispered Jherkar, kissing the top of Moraine's head.  "Shade and spring water, spear sister."
 
"My your flask never fall empty," replied Moraine, pulling away from the tall chief, wiping her moist eyes.
 
Jherkar smiled, then resumed his walk toward his spear brothers.
 
"Shade and spring water," murmured Moraine, turning toward the clustered tents of her clan.
 
The End.