Qyntaryn sat in the inn, at the same table where she had been all afternoon. Her mind was on so many things that she did not have the energy to do much more than keep half an eye on the two trainees who were doing something that combined flirting and fighting, intervening only when the Accepted, her former mentee, threw a rock at the Siswai. Beyond that, it was a quiet enough evening, and she had plenty of time to stew over the problems at hand and a pot of tea.

Lost in her thoughts as she was, she did not notice Tane coming down the stairs until he spoke to her. "May I join you?"

Her smile to him was genuine; she had come to know him well in the last few days. Arya had been away for so long, and Tane had been her most constant companion, and he was to thank for her life at least three times over. "Of course!" she told him, indicating an empty chair.

"How has your day been?" he asked her.

"It hasn't been bad. Quiet except one episode with an Accepted throwing a rock at a Siswai. Yours?"

"Its been fine, nothing too exciting," he replied with a smile.

"No deadly books then?" It was an ongoing joke they had; the gaidin protected the Brown Sitter from her deadly books, and Qyntaryn faced her deadly reports in the Gray Halls on a daily basis. Before he could answer, though, a new form entered the inn, a man by his build, and covered with a hooded cloak. Qyntaryn felt her skin prickling. There had been too much excitement in the inn of late, and she hadn't the time for it tonight. "Do you know him?" she asked Tane, nodding at the hooded figure.

Tane glanced over and shook his head, and Qyn worried her lip for a moment, but told herself strangers came in all the time and it was nothing to worry about. She put on a smile again. "So how do you occupy yourself when there's nothing exciting going on?"

Tane smiled back at her, "I train mostly. But I have been keeping an eye on things in recent days."

Qyn nodded. "Of course. Which is why it's so quiet." She winked at him and ordered another cup of tea.

Tane chuckled, "Let's hope."

Alainn came gliding into the inn, and waved at Qyn and Tane, then headed for the bar, but Qyntaryn paid her little heed. Instead, she rested her chin on her palm, watching the golden-eyed gaidin intently. "Perhaps it will stay quiet, then. The last time it was quiet, we enjoyed quite a conversation."

He chuckled, "Yes we did."

He wasn't being quite the cheerful and friendly man he had been a few nights previous when they shared a dance, and she had a feeling she knew why. She reached over and patted his arm gently. "Ralyse is still angry with you, then?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. I haven't spoken with her since the other day"

Qyntaryn nodded. "You know, you shouldn't let what she says get to you."

"Mind if I sit?"

Qyn looked up at Alainn and straightened quickly, feeling oddly like a cat caught with a pheasant leg. "Of course not," she replied, a bit too hastily.

Tane did not seem bothered by what the young Brown thought, and answered Qyntaryn's suggestion "I know," before replying to Alainn, "Be my guest."

Alainn smiled, and sat. " So, how have the pair of you been today?"

Tane smiled a bit too, "All right. Oh...that reminds me...I need to run upstairs. Excuse me for just a moment."

Qyn couldn't help it, and her eyes kept sliding back to the hooded figure. "Just fine," she replied, watching Tane leave, perplexed, then looked at Alainn. "And how was your day?"

Alainn nodded, and then looked in the direction Qyn had been. "Who is that?" she asked softly.

Qyntaryn kept one eye discreetly on the hooded figure as she answered. "I don't know, but it makes me nervous. I wish Tane would hurry up and come back..." she trailed off as Tane returned, a package in his hands, and smiled. "Well, name the Dark One."

Alainn smirked slightly. " Oh, come now Qyn, Tane isn't the Dark One, he's only Bonded to her."

Tane laughed, and Qyn did too, coming close to snorting tea out her nose. She struggled for her composure, wondering if that legendary serenity would ever come naturally to her.

Alainn eyed Tane. " What's that?"

Tane looked at Alainn a little too blankly, "Hrmm?"

"What's that you have there?"

Tane blinked, looking entirely too innocent in Qyntaryn's opinion. "Oh this?" he asked, pointing at the package. As if there were something else that Alainn would be asking about. "Something for my thin blooded friend here." He shoved it over in front of Qyntaryn.

"For me?" she asked, her smile perplexed and her confusion real. She untied the strings and lifted a corner of the paper, then looked at Tane with a grin, her laughter filling the inn.

"Well?" Qyntaryn looked over at the sound of Alainn's voice and smiled as she pulled a long, gray coat of Saldaean cut from the package. Thick grey leather lined with thick wool, the garment looked like it belonged on anyone except an Aes Sedai. It was the sentiment, though, that made it special. Tane had remembered a recent night when Qyntaryn had been shivering from the cold night wind; he had remembered that she was from the south where it was much warmer. This far north, the cold sent her shivering, and she wanted nothing more than the warmth of a coastal sun on her face. She swung the coat onto her shoulders and laughed as she snuggled into it. "Thank you!" she said as she leaned down and hugged him tightly, then kissed his cheek.

His arms snaked around her and he gave her a hug in return, chuckling slightly. "You are always cold."

Laughing again, Qyntaryn replied, "I'm sure I won't be now."

"Well, well, what have we here?"

The voice came at almost the same time as a tug on her sleeve, and Alainn's normally pale face seemed all the more so now. Qyntaryn's laughter died, and she felt her blood run a bit cold as the hooded figure from earlier approached. She had forgotten he was even there, and she felt her pulse quicken at the fright. There had simply been too much going on of late for her to not be nervous around strangers. Even more nervous than usual. She pulled the coat tighter around her shoulders, and stood on the edge of embracing saidar, and could sense Alainn doing the same. Tane already had his knives in hand, ready to defend the two Aes Sedai without another thought.

The hooded man looked in Tane's direction. "You planning to need those?"

"I might be."

"I was just admiring that lovely coat you gave the young lady." Qyntaryn frowned a bit; there was something familiar about the figure. She touched Tane's arm softly, her mind reeling. She felt Alainn releasing saidar, and Tane was already returning his knives to his sleeves. The man pushed the hood down, "Though I'm pleased to see that you're taking good care of her when I'm not around Tane."

"Arya," Qyntaryn moved closer to him, staring in disbelief. She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. "I wasn't expecting you back for another week!" She leaned against him, and all the doubts she'd had earlier vanished. Light, of course she loved him, and she could dance with every man in the world, and that wouldn't make a bit of difference. She'd thought that was the case, but it wasn't until now, the flood of joy rushing through her veins upon seeing him again, that she knew it without a doubt.

Arya laughed, hugging her back tightly. "Things went quicker than I expected," he told her, and she settled against him, so insanely happy he was back that he could have said anything at that moment and she wouldn't have cared, just because it was his voice.

"Sorry about that, its been a little dangerous around here recently." Qyntaryn barely even registered the other two at the table.

She continued to Arya him tightly. "I'm so glad you're back," she whispered.

His hand was on her back, rubbing gently, and she sighed a soft, blissful sigh. "So, I see you've properly entertained while I was gone." Confused, she sat again, pulling Arya down beside her. "Tane been good company?" he asked.

Qyntaryn looked sideways at Arya. "Yes, quite good company," she replied, smiling at Tane, who was now conversing with Alainn.

Arya grinned. "Should I be worried then?" he asked, and Qyntaryn felt her smile fading.

"Well, what do you think, Arya?"

Arya took a sip of his ale. "I think if I'd been gone one day longer he'd have proposed to you and I'd be out of luck."

Qyntaryn's eyes widened and she looked at him in disbelief. "Arya! You can't honestly think..." her words were cut short by a kiss that she surrendered too far too quickly by her standards and didn't regret for a second.

"You silly goose, of course not," he said when he pulled away, leaving her blinking and trying to catch her breath again.

Qyn regained her senses and pushed him away. "You come in here after two weeks and start accusing me of... of..." she stuttered and stopped abruptly, not knowing whether to slap him or to apologize profusely.

The door opened again, bringing a strong gust of wind and carrying on the wind what Qyntaryn considered the worst omen of all: Ralyse Sedai, Sitter for the Brown Ajah. Her skirt swirled about her ankles as she set a pace towards Tane, and a bit of Tane and Alainn's conversation drifted to Qyntaryn's ears. "You know, I hope Keath and I weren't that bad."

Ralyse's voice was like a whip cracking. Qyntaryn did not know if her voice was really so harsh, or if it was her dislike of the Brown that colored her perception so, but she flinched inwardly at Ralyse's words. "You were."

Arya slid an arm around her. "Next time Tane should buy you a sense of humor," he commented. Qyntaryn thought about a retort, but said nothing. She folded her hands in her lap and sat very still, her back perfectly straight. "You know I'm just playing with you, love."

She was vaguely aware of Arya in the way she was always aware of him when he was near her. It was the same way she was aware of her hands, or her feet. He was a part of her, and it took no conscious acknowledgement on her part to know he was nearby. Which freed her mind for any number of other things, such as worrying about whether Tane was receving the sharp side of Ralyse's tongue. Truth be known, the soft side of that woman's tongue could carve stone, and the sharp side would shred a person to bits. Qyntaryn leaned absently into Arya, almost forgetting they were arguing a bit.

"Good Evening Ralyse," Tane said, and Qyntaryn felt her heart clench as she waited to see how the red-haired woman would respond.

"Good evening, boy." She was staring down at Tane with all the contempt with which a noble woman might stare at a filthy peasant.

Tane did not respond to the Brown's barb, but stood and stepped around Ralyse to go to the bar. A bit of a smile touched Qyntaryn's lips. Good job, she thought in his direction, silently applauding him for standing up to the woman. Suddenly remembering that Arya was there, she squeezed his hand and forcibly turned her attention back to him. He looked confused, and mouthed silently, 'What's going on?'

Qyntaryn smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek, whispering in his ear as she did, "Tane seems to be standing up for himself for once."

As she pulled away from him, Arya was smiling. "That is new."

Qyntaryn's smile was real. "Yes," she said softly, almost bursting with joy over the situation. She'd been telling him to stand up to Ralyse for days now. She smiled at Arya. "How have you been?" she asked, suddenly realizing she wasn't paying him much mind considering he'd been gone for two weeks.

"Tired mostly, recruiting isn't as much fun as they make it out to be, and that's saying something."

She squeezed his hand. "That bad, hmm?"

"Just boring mostly...and the night company just isn't that good."

Qyntaryn found her gaze drifting back to Tane, and she smiled at him, silently willing him to keep standing up to Ralyse. He seemed to be making quite a good effort of it, though she couldn't hear the conversation from where she was. At least he didn't have the look of a man who was being browbeaten into submission, though Ralyse certainly had the look of a woman who was trying to accomplish just that. A firm pair of fingers on her chin, and Qyntaryn felt her head being turned back to Arya. "Over here love, or I'm going to start thinking I DO need to worry."

She smiled forcibly at him, though her eyes wanted to drift to Tane, and she wanted to strain to hear the conversation. "You don't need to worry at all," she says softly. And it was true, for many reasons, none of which were particularly important.

Arya leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I hope so, because if you went with Tane, you know where that'd leave me."

Her attention was on him completely now, and she was confused. "Where?"

He whispered even more softly. "With Ralyse silly."

"Don't be utterly absurd," she said, rolling her eyes.

Arya grinned that infuriating grin of his. "I know, but it's best to think of the worst case scenario."

She awarded him with a level look. "You would never sleep with Ralyse. You have too much sense for that," She said firmly, and a bit more loudly than she intended to.

Arya had a funny look on his face, as though his ale didn't taste good, but he swallowed it anyway. "Not when I have you."

She snorted. "You wouldn't anyway."

Arya's smile returned. "That's 'cause I've got someone way better."

Qyn smiled back and snuggled into his arms. "You'll always have me, Arya, so don't worry about it."

Arya rubbed her shoulder, and she felt at peace. "So what have you been up to."

Qyn smiled contentedly, thinking she could have stayed right there all night. "Not much really. It seems all the trainees have decided it's spring and are acting accordingly, but other than that."

"You mean they're doing inappropriate things without Aes Sedai consent?"

Qyn laughed merrily at him. As if there would ever be Aes Sedai consent for anything so scandalous. "We have two pairs that are rivaling you and me, and Keath and Alainn."

The door opened again, and Jisandra entered. Qyntaryn came dreadfully close to jerking away from Arya, almost straightening entirely too quickly to be innocent. She forced herself away from him slowly.

Arya glanced over at Alainn, nodding a bit in her direction. "How are those two anyway?"

"They're..." she chewed her lip and frowned a bit. "I think perhaps it's delicate." That was an understatement, surely. Keath and Alainn seemed to have somehow fallen out of love, or perhaps love had become a chore for them.

Arya sighed softly, and kept his arm firmly about her shoulders, despite her efforts to distance herself from him. He was rather touchy about her insistence on propriety. "That's too bad."

Qyntaryn smiled at Tane again, as he stood and moved away from the bar. She was proud of him for walking away from Ralyse, though she was certain it was painful for him. For whatever reason, it seemed Tane loved the woman, though Light alone knew why. Love was something she could understand, though. Particularly love one couldn't have.

Tane approached their table. "Asha'man, might I have a word with you outside?"

Arya blinked and shifted a bit, then acquiesced. "Of course, Tane."

Qyn gave Tane a warm smile, and whispered, "Good job," before he and Arya walked away, vanishing outside of the inn. With Arya gone, she turned her attention back to Alainn, who seemed to have some concerns over a Siswai named Sam...

*~*~*~*

Arya followed Tane out into the street, watching as the other man scanned the area in great detail. Tane's level of caution didn't sit well with him and he began to wonder if there was more to Qyntaryn's comment about people in the inn than he'd originally thought.

"There has been trouble," Tane said softly, once he was satisfied that no one was about.

Arya nodded slowly. "That would certainly explain how jumpy you were earlier."

"Several times in the past week and a half there have been attacks here. Qyn has been here for a couple of those. I have done what I could to keep her safe but I thought you should know as well. It seems our mutual friend from up North" Tane paused to give Arya a look, emphasising his meaning, "is sending hired men here in attempts to kill those of us who were there."

Arya felt his entire body numb for a moment. He tried to speak but found his throat dry. The words came surprisingly calm. "Are any steps being taken to take care of it?"

Tane nodded, a sign which released a bit of pressure on Arya's heart. "I have been spending my days trying to watch the Inn to see if anyone strange has been around. It seems they only come out at night. I just wanted to let you know about it since you were there as well you are most likely in danger too."

Arya nodded, more to himself than anyone else. He found his gaze wandering to the darkened streets, and forced himself to look at Tane again. "Thank-you." He took a deep breath. Tane deserved more than that. Light, the man was doing the job that Arya had sworn to do. He'd promised to protect Qyntaryn and here was another man doing it for him. "And I appreciate that you've done so much to protect Taryn."

Tane nodded again and placed a hand on Arya's shoulder. "I will continue to do what I can."

*~*~*~*

"...Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. The boy has a way of ignoring good advice, it seems." Alainn snorted softly.

Jisandra smiled and said wryly. "The boy, Aes Sedai, has a good head on his shoulders--but usually forgets to use it."

Qyntaryn came dreadfully close to smirking at Jisandra saying that. Much the same could be said for the fiery Saldaean who had been in trouble so often.

Her thoughts were interrupted, though, by Arya pulling her into a firm embrace, so tight she wondered for a moment if she would be able to breathe. "Something I should know?" she asked as lightly as she could while being crushed.

Arya continued to hold her. "Why didn't you tell me about him?" he asked softly.

Qyn looked blankly at him, well, looked at him as well as she could from the bone-crushing embrace, and made a half-hearted attempt to pull away, then gave up and settled against his chest. "About whom?" she asked, genuinely confused, but hoping he wasn't talking about the dancing with Tane.

He whispered the name almost inaudibly in her ear. "Nerdith."

She shivered slightly at even the mention of that man. "I prefer not to think about it," she said softly and he pulled her closer, closing his eyes. Being in his arms again made her feel safe. Having Tane around was always a comfort, but there was a comfort in Arya's presence she couldn't find anywhere else. "I'm sorry, Arya," she whispered quietly.

A moment of silence passed before he spoke, and then with a hesitancy she'd never seen before. "Taryn, I..."

Still curled in his arms she looked up questioningly. What could he be thinking that would possibly bother him like that? It couldn't be good. She knew his feelings about Nerdith, and had no real desire to lose him to such feelings. But all of that went out the window as he leaned down and whispered in her ear. Bonding? She laughed slightly. He couldn't be serious! Seeing it in his eyes, she turned her head into his chest. He couldn't be serious! "We've discussed this, love."

He sat up, pulling back from her to look at her. She could see a fire, an intensity in his eyes." I don't care, Qyn. All those reservations, all that nervousness...damnit Taryn this is more important! I don't want to take any risks this time. I love you too much for that."

Qyntaryn looked around, her suspicions rising. "What did Tane say to you?" But before he could answer she felt the flows of saidar surround them. Alainn, she was warding them. Probably for the best. These sorts of conversations had a habit of getting heated and sometimes embarrassing. Carefully she took the weave from her Sister. Maybe Arya would know, maybe he wouldn't. With any luck he'd think people could hear them and wouldn't say some of the things she feared he might.

"He told me that you'd been attacked, and how he protected you."

She frowned at Tane, tying off the ward. "He had no business worrying you," she started to say, and felt his hand touch her cheek. It was too easy to lean into that touch.

"I'm glad he told me. That man wants us dead. Taryn...I don't want to lose you."

She kissed his palm, hoping to reassure him. Light, why did he have to care so much? Particularly now... "You won't lose me, Arya."

But he was still as resolute as ever. "That's what I want to be sure of."

She had the feeling she wasn't going to get away from this, even if she avoided it for tonight. But at least she could buy sometime to think. She brushed his fingers along his jaw, trying to make him say what he didn't want to. "And how would that ensure anything?"

But he would not be swayed. He took her hand and kissed it. "Because no matter where you are I would know that you were alive. I would know when you were in danger. I'd be able to protect you."

Qyntaryn stared at him intently. He was really serious about this. After all their reservations before, all their discussions about what it would mean. It didn't matter to him now that he thought she was in danger. And there was only one thing she could thing of that might put him off. "And what if I say no?"

He didn't even blink. "Then I will stay by your side every hour of everyday until he is dead."

She shook her head slightly, almost at her own foolishness. She should know better than to try to trip him up like that. "And if I say yes...?" For the first time she began to actually think about it. Could he be right?

Arya smiled softly, one of his beautiful, charming smiles. "Then I will be as close as you need me to be."

She sighed, her eyes scanning the room. It was an interesting idea, more than interesting, almost appealing, despite what it would mean. But still she wasn't sure. Could she really do this? She looked around, her mind racing as her eyes settled on Alainn. Alainn who was the perfect example of why this was a bad idea. Her friend and sister, Alainn had been devastated increasingly about the situation with Keath, and that brought to mind the stark reality that all love eventually failed, and after it did, what would be left with the bond? Her eyes swept to Tane. He was so miserable, trapped really, between loving a woman and wanting to serve her and not knowing how. Could Qyntaryn do that to Arya? Miserable as he was, though, Tane had been the one suggesting that she needed a Warder in the last few nights, and she couldn't help but admit that he was right. And when she'd asked for suggestions... A soft smile crept across her face, the memory returning. Slowly she released the ward. It was time to see if the love of her life was really up to the challenge. "Dance with me," she whispered.

Arya smiled, obviously confused by her request, but rose and gently helped her to her feet, almost immediately taking her into his arms. She ignored everyone else in the room, her eyes focusing on him as he spun her gently out onto the floor. Dancing with him was just as she'd remembered it. She smiled softly. "You know, Lord Arya," she began neutrally, "you dance very well."

"Why thank-you, my Lady Qyntaryn."

He spun her around through the room, sweeping past the table, eventually past Ralyse and Tane. "You know," she whispered. "a wise man suggested recently that I needed a Warder." She paused for effect, then continued, "he said I should choose someone who dances well."

Arya laughed softly, his eyes passing momentarily over Tane. "Sounds like a very wise and intelligent man to me."

Qyntaryn nodded; it was starting to feel more right all the time, and as Arya led her through the dance, her mind finally came to rest on precisely what dancing had to do with bonding. "Some might think a warrior the best choice, but he was right, you know. Someone who knows the Game, someone who fits in as well in a palace as he does on a battlefield." She brushed her hand against Arya's cheek again. Yes, it was starting to feel very right.

He smiled again his eyes sparkling a bit with humour. "Aren't we setting the bar a little high, love?"

Qyntaryn continued talking as if he hadn't spoken. She was trying to be serious here, and he was making jokes...Light, she loved him for that. "Most Aes Sedai ask for obedience from their Warder, for unquestioning loyalty." She paused. "I have your loyalty already, and I won't have it if it is not voluntary. And I don't want obedience, I want you to tell me when I'm wrong."

Again he smiled and laughed. "I think I already do that quite well."

She smiled the decision firming in her mind. He was a very good dancer. "Then I suppose there is only one thing left in our way."

And as if he had read her mind he stopped dancing, taking her hands in his. He raised them to his mouth placing a gently kiss on each and then placed them gently on his head. He was serious this time, and so was she. Qyntaryn massaged his temples for a moment with her thumbs and then began the delicate Spirit weave, one she'd learned but had never used. She let it hover over him, not settling it yet. Tradition still needed to be maintained. "All that's left is to discuss which oaths you will swear to me," she said softly. "And I trust you to choose the right ones."

She saw what he did and it made her heart leap into her throat for a moment. He drew a small knife from his belt, the one he'd gotten in Cairhien and held it between the palms of his hands. His words were soft, meant for her alone despite how many others might be in the room. "I swear under the Light and in the name of my ancestors to protect the woman I love, Qyntaryn Rapsarna, from all harm. I swear to you my heart, my soul, and my sword, until the day I die."

Slowly, with only a hint of hesitation Qyntaryn settled the weave into him, her hands resting on his head for a moment. She removed her hands, and there was nothing and for a moment she felt panic rising in her throat that she'd done something wrong. And then suddenly, he was there. She could feel him, knew where he was without having to see him. But there was more, there was so much more. She could feel his thoughts, his memories, his anger, his pain, his happiness, and most of all his love. She looked at him again. She'd always known how much he loved her, but knowing it and knowing it like this were very different.

Arya inhaled sharply for an instant, going through the same startling experience and then he smiled at her. "There you are," he said softly, as if it was a perfectly normal thing to say.

She opened her mouth to speak to say...no there was nothing that really needed to be said, and the moment might have lasted for eternity had Alainn, with her flair for drama, not chosen that moment to illuminate the inn with a display of skylights. Turning her face up to the images, she giggled like a little girl and leaned into him. It felt almost embarrassing to have been so worried, and more so to have done it in front of all these people. She had to remind herself that they couldn't feel what she did now.

Arya's arms slid around her in a comforting embrace. "See, that's not nearly as bad as we thought it was going to be."

An instant later the outside world came crashing in again. She heard the clapping of hands as Lars shouted "About time!" And the whole room began congratulating them. She smiled at Arya it really wasn't such a bad thing after all...

*~*~*~*

Qyntaryn sighed leaning back into Arya's arms. They sat at a table with students and friends talking. It felt different, and yet still comforting. She knew he would protect her. She knew it in her heart, she could feel it and there was nothing more wonderful than feeling truly safe about that.

They sat there and talked, she and Arya occasionally reacting to each others' thoughts. It was quite disconcerting, but she was slowly adjusting. And then she heard it. Arya was thinking quite loudly, directly at her. Oh Light, she could feel the heat climbing in her neck. He would suggest something like...

"Don't worry love, I don't think like that all the time."

Qyntaryn eyed him suspiciously, but let her humour flow through the bond. The thought occurred to her that she might have to take on a permanent red tint to her skin if this kept up. But even so, Light, she hoped he would never change.