When he woke Dhurc remembered his dream and he remembered Daeann. When Wise Ones all said to hurry you did not question why and he rose immediately gathering his things. Not that he carried much or had he needed much in the months he had spent here in the Aes Sedai's city. As he left the Gholam Inn there was a light misty rain falling. This is why the Aiel called this place the wetlands. Water fell from the sky and until he had come across the Spine he had never seen the like in his life. Dhurc had also never seen water that one could not step across and the first sight of a wetlander's river had been rather frightening.

Moving as only an Aiel could Dhurc moved rapidly away from Tar Valon headed back to the Spine. Aiel can cover more ground in a day then a man on a horse. He camped each night near running water. The sound alone almost was enough to keep him awake at night. Still he managed to sleep and again the Wise Ones came to him in his dreams telling him to hurry. Each morning he rose and began his trip anew.

Within just less then three days Dhurc found himself crossing the Jangai pass on his way to Rhuidean. He was making good time and he found himself glad to be back in the Three Fold land. The air here was not as moist as it was in the wetlands and to him it felt as if it was easier to breathe. Yes it was good to be home.

Traveling thought the Three Fold land took longer then the three days it had taken him to get to the pass. Rhuidean was much farther away from the Jangai Pass but an experienced Aiel could move quickly. Each night the Wise Ones came to him in his dreams to harry him to his destination mush like they had done when he had been run out of the Three Fold land all those months ago.

Finally he topped a rise and there laid Rhuidean laid out before him. Off to the side not within the confines of Rhuidean itself lay the tents of the Wise Ones. Already he could see five white algode blouses emerging from the tents. Time to meet his fate and he moved in their direction. In his dreams the night before the Wise Ones informed him that he was to enter Rhuidean to become Clan Chief. He was surprised but he didn't question it. If the Wise Ones knew something then who was he to question it.

As he came closer he dropped the shoufa to his shoulders and approached bareheaded for all to see. He recognized only one of the Wise Ones, a woman named Daeann who was from his own clan as well. She is pretty he thought and then wondered just where that thought had come from. As he stopped before the five women it was back to business and he spoke the words, "By right of blood, I ask leave to enter Rhuidean, for the honor of our ancestors and the memory of what was." Each woman stood before him and studied him closely then the first one spoke, "I answer yes." The each of the others also gave their approval one by one.

"Yes"

"Yes"

"Yes"

"Yes"

Dhurc laid each of his weapons at their feet. His spears, buckler, bow and knife. He also left his water bags and food. As he removed his weapons he was instructed on where he was to go and to speak to no one. Then the first Wise One said, "He is pledged to Rhuidean." The others responded, "Rhuidean belongs to the dead." Perhaps not anymore since the Car'a'carn came but this was the ritual and they weren't about to change it just yet. The Wise Ones continued, "He may not speak to the living until he returns. The dead do not speak to the living. We do not see him, until he stands among the living once more." Then each drew her shawl across her eyes, "Be gone from among the living, do not hunt us with memories of what is lost. Speak not of what the dead see."

Dhurc turned and headed to the city. The Car'a'carn may have transformed Rhuidean by bringing water forth but the Aiel still used to glass columns to test for Clan Chiefs. It was one thing to now know what one saw there but it was still another to experience it first hand. Now he would get his chance to see with his own eyes. Rhuidean lay before him as did his fate. The Wise Ones were fighting a different fight of one to keep the Aiel as Aiel as possible but perhaps unfortunately Rand al'Thor brought change to everything. He hoped that the Wise Ones succeed in keeping the ways of the Aiel as whole as possible.

As he entered the city he saw many Aiel but it seemed that most once they saw him without his weapons knew what was happening. They turned their back or looked elsewhere as if he was not there. No one spoke to him as he moved closer to his destination it was against honor to break the rules so he wouldn't speak to anyone even if they spoke to him. The Aiel were making this place their own. he thought briefly. Then before him was the glass columns and he stopped a moment to look at them. Somehow inside of all this glass he would learn things about the Aiel. Many men before him had never returned from this place. Even knowing now what was revealed inside of the columns he was unsure if he would be able to come out the other side. But then again, it mattered not if he did and another would come take his place if he didn't. Life is but a dream from which we all must wake before we can dream again. And with that thought he stepped into the columns.

Time inside the columns meant nothing. All Dhurc could see was what his ancestors had seen. From his ancestors at the time from the Breaking to times during the Age of Legends going back further in time with each step. When he emerged days later he wore the mark of the Aiel clan chief on his left forearm, the glittering red and gold dragon. It seemed as if he had been born with it instead of having just been placed there by his trip through the glass columns. Dhurc now knew in more detail then he thought was possible what had happened to the Aiel. It was so hard to believe that they had all been followers of the Way of the Leaf even after seeing it for himself.

Turning he headed back out of Rhuidean. I was late afternoon and now the Aiel who saw him didn't turn away, but instead watched him leave in silence. As he moved out of the city he noticed he had gathered others who were followed him. Each of them was Daryne Aiel and he was now their clan chief. The same five Wise Ones emerged from their tents and stood waiting for him. He stopped in front of the women and Daeann said, "I see you Dhurc, Clan Chief of the Daryne Aiel. May you find water and shade this day." She had the slightest hint of a smile on her face.

Dhurc answered, "I see you Wise Ones," he looked at each in turn, "may you find shade and water this day." Daeann then said, "Show them" and he then uncovered his left forearm holding it up for all to see. It seemed most of his clan was in attendance. Daeann said, "Behold, the Daryne have a new chief." Spears drumming on bucklers thundered on the mountainside. The one of the other Wise Ones handed him a water skin, which he took a long drink. Then Daeann said, "Come, there is shade and water for the Clan Chief of the Daryne." Dhurc nodded and followed the Wise Ones into their tent.

His pack lay close by and he reached over deftly pulling an object from it. He looked down and studied the bracelet in his hands. It was beautifully worked gold with sapphires and amber alternated around it. It wasn't too wide to be gaudy or too thin to break easily. A jeweler in Tar Valon had made this and Dhurc had gotten it because he thought it was pretty. The jeweler had made a hard bargain but in the end both felt they had gotten that it was worth. Now he found himself contemplate giving this to a woman he also thought of as pretty. He wanted this to be a regard gift but would she accept it or reject it? He wanted to let her know that he was interested but he didn't want to be too forward.

Sighing to himself he rolled over and called over one of the gai'shain asking them to find Daeann and let her know that he wished to speak to her. The white robe man moved off to do as he had asked. There was no way to find out but to give it to her. He knew the Wise Ones would see him married and the sooner then better in their eyes. But he wanted to at least try and have some say in who it was. He liked the coppery haired woman and he thought she would make a good wife. But the woman was the one who was to choose and he wanted to show he was interested if she was.

Suddenly there was a shift in the air about him and he turned to find Daeann standing there with an amused look on her face. "You wanted to speak with me Dhurc?" He blinked and then said, "Yes, but I was planning on coming to you Daeann." She smirked well I thought it was time to come talk to you about marriage." Dhurc blinked again then said, "Please sit." She dropped to the cushions and adjusted her skirts. Before he could say a word she started, "the Wise Ones feel that there are several good choices for you in the camp here. We want to know if there is any you would be interested in." He still held the bracelet in his hand and Daeann saw it. "Perhaps there is someone who has worked to catch your eye. Who is this woman?"

Looking back into his hand at the bracelet he considered what he was about to do. But never let it be said that an Aiel backed away from anything important. He handed it over to Daeann and said softly, "It is for you." She looked it over closely and then back at him, "It is beautiful." She put it on and then turned to him, "I accept your regard gift." Then she did something which surprised him, she touched his face softly with her hand and said, "I have watched you since before you were taken gai'shain and then when you came back I had no time to attract your interest before Ferda had that dream that you needed to go across the wall and into the wetlands. You were gone a long time and I was afraid you would have forgotten me. Then we needed a new clan chief and the Wise Ones all wanted you and that is why you were told each night in the dream to hurry. I have liked you since I first saw you in the sweat tent and I'm glad to see that you still remember our ways after those months in the wetlands. I was afraid you would pick up the wetlanders habit of a man asking a woman for marriage." The she smiled and dropped her hand on top of his.

Aiel could make stone seem soft and as he listened to Daeann speak to him he was more then surprised at what she said even if to anyone but another Aiel he was stone. He didn't even think she had hardly noticed him before. Then before he could speak she gave his hand a squeeze and rose smoothing her skirts. "I have my duties to attend to Dhurc, clan chief of the Daryne. I will consider your regard gift." And with a swirl of skirts she was gone and he was left sitting in the tent in wonder. He really didn't think he'd ever understand women.

Turning back towards Rhuidean he really didn't notice the people or the time. His thoughts were on a certain Wise One instead.

One morning, sometime later Dhurc emerged from his tent to find Daeann standing there waiting on him. She said nothing only smiled and laid a bridal wreath at his feet. He smiled at her and accepted.

There was a large wedding held, Aiel style for the Clan Chief and his wife. The whole clan took part and there was much celebrating by all. When the ceremony was over Dhurc found that his own family had taken care of providing a roof for them. As he carried her to the door of the roof he gently set her down. Smiling he asked, "Roofmistress, I ask leave to enter your roof" Daeann turned very serious for a moment before smiling and answering, "You may always find shade beneath my roof." She reached up and gently touched his face, "You will always be the shade of my heart." Reaching up and taking her hand in his they both entered to begin their lives together.