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Chapter 1, Scene 2 Act , Scene 2 • 06/06/2022
Aringill (town)
The Andoran army was weary and confused. They had fought in the last battle outside Tar Valon, the Tower of the Aes Sedai, beneath the shining walls. The Great Coalition had held themselves there in the shadow of Dragonmount as a stand against the Aiel invaders. It was a battle to end all battles, the Aiel outnumbered but fighting as if it were not the case, seeming to have numbers 5 times their strength for the skill and ferocity of their warfare.
They were confused because during the battle the Aiel broke off and withdrew, even seemingly with the upper hand, they pulled their forces back and struck out back toward the Spine of the World. They had killed Laman Damodred it was said, and as soon as this was done, they had stopped fighting, only attacking in defence of their people. The Battle of the Shining Walls seemingly over with the Cairhienin King’s blood spilled on the ground.
There were many rumours as to why they had crossed into Cairhien to sack and pillage the city, why they invaded the world beyond the Wastes they called home. The one that was the most prominent was that Laman Damodred, King of the Cairhienin people, cut down the tree of life, Avendoraldera, to build a throne for himself. The cutting of Avendoraldera, which was a sapling from the original Avendesora, which was sacred to the Aiel, was considered a sin by the Aiel and a betrayal of the water truce that existed with Cairhien. It was decided that Laman had to be executed for his sin, and four Aiel clans poured over the Spine of the World to carry out this execution.
The Armies travelled after the withdrawal of Aiel, down past Cairhien to the Jangai pass, trailing the Aiel spears in their return to the Waste. It was said they did it to push the retreat of the Aiel and make sure it was complete. But from everything that those with eyes to see the battles proper, the Veterans and the borderlanders, they did it only to watch them go, to make sure they left. If the Aiel wanted to keep laying waste to the lands they could have, and no Coalition would have stopped them.
Aringill was located at a main river crossing, being on the Andoran side with its sister town (a notably smaller town dwarfed by Aringill) Maerone being on the Cairhienin side. The river crossing had been the site for the majority of Armies crossing to return to their homelands, the Illianers, the Murandians, even the Children of the Light, or ‘Whitecloaks’ as they were known. As the Armies of Andor, the banners of the White Lion approached the river to cross into homeland it was considered a great celebration amongst the people. Gareth Bryne, Captain General of the Queen’s Guard, promoted in the field when Aranvor Naldwinn fell, was the first of the Andoran troops to set foot back on native soil and the Army cheered thunderously as it happened, finally safe at home. As they crossed the river and formed up outside of Aringill there was much to celebrate and lament, for of the 28,000 troops sent out to fight in the Great Coalition against the Aiel, there were far fewer that returned home.
It was in the fields of Aringill that troops would form up in their respective provinces of Andor and set out to march home.
Nursing a still healing shoulder, his hand missing courtesy of an Aiel Spearman, Valien’s father had tears in his eyes at seeing his home once more. Rolling his shoulder slightly with a wince and standing at the railing of the river ship that ferried him he wiped them clear as he turned to the friend he had made on the long campaign. Tam Al’Thor had one arm wrapped protectively around Kari, the love of his life who in turn had arms wrapped around a red-haired baby of less than a few months. Rand they had named him, and the lad seemed strong already. It was to be at first light the next day that all of the provinces were setting off, for bringing this many troops over the river was going to be a long process.
Tam and Kari were looking forward to the promise of a hot meal and beds to sleep in, especially with a lot more travelling to come down to Emond’s Field, a short reprieve was welcome. He knew that he would probably never see Tam or Kari again, insisting that they share a meal with his family before they headed south to the Two Rivers and their home. They had agreed readily, wanting to meet his family, so it was with smiles the four of them walked off the ship into Aringill.
Valien Falera (youSelysin) moved • 06/07/2022
Val tried not to stare, staring was rude, but it was hard not to. Her dad’s hand was gone. He had promised to come back in one piece. He had promised. Talar squeezed her hand, like her he was fixedly not staring at the stump.
“You’re home, you’re home,” Arlyn crowed, her arms stretched as far around their dad as they could get.
“I am,” he agreed, ruffling her hair with his remaining hand. Val bit her lip, she really needed to stop thinking about that.
“I’ll take your pack,” Talar said, taking it before dad could argue. “Mum’s waiting at home, some sort of important commission.”
And she hadn’t wanted to be there if dad didn’t come home, preferring to mourn in private if it was necessary.
Dad nodded, “I’d better go say hello then.”
“Who are they?” Arlyn said, noticing the couple behind him and the baby in their arms. “Did you get us another sibling? I don’t want to be the youngest anymore.”
Talar snorted and Val laughed.
“That’s not quite how things work Arlyn,” Val said while having a silent argument with Tal. As the oldest it was his responsibility to give her the talk but Tal thought it should be her job since she was a girl.
“Rand is my son,” the strange woman said.
“These are my friends Tam Al’Thor and his wife Kari,” dad said. “I invited them to stay with us before continuing their journey home.” It was a good thing they’d gone to the market before coming to the docks, the sheer volume of people crossing the river was sure to drive prices up.
Arlyn pouted, but brightened a little when Rand babbled at her, and Val smiled. He might be missing a hand but her dad was finally home. Everything was going to be alright.
The narrator continued the scene • 07/12/2022
Even with the joyous cry from Arlyn, Palin could not help but notice the stare from Valien towards his hand. He subconsciously moved it away from her as he caught Arlyn into his arms and ruffled her hair with his remaining hand.
His pack was in Talar’s hands before he knew it and he smiled at all of his children, accepting the explanation as to why Dorele was not there at the docks. He knew her, she would have wanted to mourn in private should he have not walked off the ships or across that bridge with the rest of the army.
“Who are they?” Arlyn in an innocent voice that made Palin chuckle. “Did you get us another sibling? I don’t want to be the youngest anymore.”
He watched as Val laughed, the first show of light on her face since she saw him and he melted, he would always have the softest spot for his eldest daughter and her laugh would always cure any of his hurts.
“Rand is my son,” Kari returned with a smile.
“These are my friends Tam Al’Thor and his wife Kari, I invited them to stay with us before continuing their journey home.”
Arlyn pouted but when Rand started to babble at her smile returned, she had always loved little babies. Val kept her smile as well, but PALIN caught Talar watching him.
“They live down in the Two Rivers, in Emonds Field past the Taren ferryway.” Arlyn’s mouth opened in awe. That was a long distance from their home to the west. Palin chuckled at that, if she thought that the Two Rivers was awe worthy, then she would cease to breathe when he told them where he had been.
“Let us head home. I have missed you all, and your mother dearly, but I am ready to sit on a chair that does not move with the flow of the river!” Tam laughed along with Kari. The vessels they had travelled on felt little more than buoyant rafts, moving with every single ebb and flow. It was a pleasure to be upon solid ground once more.
“Is it still this way…?” Palin hoisted Arlyn up onto his shoulders deftly with his one hand. It had been a long trip home, and even though it was a frustrating thing, he wasn’t going to let what happened to him define him, Tam had worked and worked with Palin to drill him to use the sword at his hip with his non-dominant hand and his persistence showed. He was passable now with a blade, and could use both arms well enough without the hand itself. It was the writing that hampered him, as a Scribe it took a lot more effort to write at the level he used to with his missing hand.
Arlyn pointed down the street laughing and kicked her heels into Palin’s chest, urging him on, with Tam, Kari and a babbling Rand in tow.
Valien Falera (youSelysin) moved • 07/13/2022
With dad back dinner was a much livelier affair than it had been for months. They’d made all of his favourites and even had dessert. Val and Talar were allowed a glass of wine with dinner and even Arlyn was allowed a sip (possibly in the hopes that it would put her to sleep).
Arlyn pestered everyone for stories of far away lands while Val and Talar set up a cot in Val and Arlyn’s room so that their guests could have his room to themselves. They didn’t have a crib anymore, Arlyn’s having been given to their aunt and uncle years ago, so they improvised. It was only for a night anyway.
Arlyn eventually fell asleep on dad’s lap and Talar carried her to bed. Val trailed behind, mum and dad’s attention clearly more on canoodling than telling stories while Kari and Tam settled Rand.
“He came back,” Val whispered to her twin when they were squished together on her bed. No one wanted to deal with Arlyn’s flailing limbs if they didn’t have to.
“Yeah,” Talar agreed. “Things can finally get back to normal now.”
“Maybe,” Val said, biting her lip. “What if he loses his job?”
“Then I’ll get one,” Talar said, “or an apprenticeship, I’m old enough.”
“I’ll do the same,” Val said decisively. She didn’t want to be a seamstress but she knew how to sew and embroider, she could do it.
“I hope everyone else came back,” Val whispered. Theirs wasn’t the only family that had been called on to contribute to the war. Many of their friends had seen their dads march off, or their siblings, a couple had even gone themselves.
“We’ll track everyone down in the morning,” Talar said, turning his head to muffle a yawn in the pillow.
“Yeah,” Val agreed sleepily. Dad would have said something if anyone they knew was dead right? It was just a matter of finding them. “Night.”
“G’night.”
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