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rwhelmed the lamps； until it hurt to book at her except through slitted eyes。 〃I swear it！ By the Light and my hope of salvation and rebirth； I will！〃 The anger in her voice changed； being deeper if anything。 〃It isn't working。 There is nothing wrong with her to Heal。 She is as perfect as anyone can be。 But she is dying。 Oh； Light； I can feel her slipping away。 Burn Moghedien！ Burn her！ And burn me along with her！〃 She was not giving up； though。 The weaving continued； plex flows weaving into Birgitte。 And the woman lay there； golden braid flung over the side of the bed； the rise and fall of her chest slowing。
〃I can do something that might help；〃 Elayne said slowly。 You were supposed to have permission； but it had not always been so。 Once it had been done almost as often without as with。 There was no reason it should not work on a woman。 Except that she had never heard of it being done to any but men。
〃Linking？〃 Nynaeve did not look away from the woman on the bed； or stop her efforts with the Power。 〃Yes。 You will have to do it … I don't know how … but let me guide。 I do not know half what I am doing right this minute； but I know that I can do it。 You could not Heal a bruise。〃
Elayne's mouth tightened； but she let the remark lie。 〃Not linking。〃 The amount of saidar that Nynaeve had drawn into herself was amazing。 If she could not Heal Birgitte with that； what Elayne could add would not make a difference。 Together； they would be stronger than either apart； but not as strong as if their two strengths were simply added。 Besides； she was not certain that she could link。 She had only been linked once； and an Aes Sedai had done it； to show her what it was like more than how。 〃Stop； Nynaeve。 You said yourself it is not working。 Stop and let me try。 If it doesn't work； you can。。。〃 She could what？ If Healing worked； it worked； if it did not。。。 There was no point in trying again if it failed。
〃Try what？〃 Nynaeve snapped； yet she moved away awkwardly； letting Elayne e close。 The weave of Healing faded； but not the shining nimbus。
Instead of answering； Elayne put one hand on Birgitte's forehead。 Physical contact was as necessary for this as for Healing； and the two times she had watched it done in the Tower； the Aes Sedai had touched the man's forehead。 The flows of Spirit she wove were plex； if not so intricate as Nynaeve's of a moment before。 She barely understood some of what she was doing； and none at all of other parts； yet she had paid close attention； from her hiding place； to how the weave was shaped。 Watched closely because she had built up a stock of stories in her head； made silly romances where there so seldom were any。 After a moment； she sat down on the other bed and let saidar go。
Nynaeve frowned at her； then bent to examine Birgitte。 The unconscious woman's color was perhaps a little better； her breathing a little stronger。 〃What did you do； Elayne？〃 Nynaeve did not take her eyes from Birgitte； but the glow around her faded away slowly。 〃It wasn't Healing。 I think I could do it myself； now； but it was not Healing。〃
〃Will she live？〃 Elayne asked faintly。 There was no visible link between her and Birgitte； no flows； but she could sense the woman's weakness。 A terrible weakness。 She would know the moment Birgitte died； even if she was sleeping； or hundreds of miles away。
〃I do not know。 She isn't fading anymore； but I do not know。〃 Weariness made Nynaeve's voice soft； and pain touched it strongly； as if she shared Birgitte's injury。 Wincing； she rose and unfolded a red…striped blanket to spread over the woman lying there。 〃What did you do？〃
Silence held Elayne long enough for Nynaeve to join her； lowering herself awkwardly onto the bed。 〃Bonding；〃 Elayne said finally。 〃I。。。 bonded her。 As a Warder。〃 The incredulous stare on the other woman's face made her rush on。 〃Healing was doing no good。 I had to do something。 You know the gifts a Warder gets from being bonded。 One is strength； energy。 He can keep going when other men would collapse and die； survive wounds that would kill anyone else。 It was the only thing I could think of。〃
Nynaeve drew a deep breath。 〃Well； it is working better than what I did； at least。 A woman Warder。 I wonder what Lan will think of that？ No reason why she shouldn't be。 If any woman can； it would be her。〃 Wincing； she curled her legs up beneath her； her gaze kept returning to Birgitte。 〃You will have to keep this secret。 If anyone learns that an Accepted has bonded a Warder； whatever the circumstances。。。〃
Elayne shivered。 〃I know；〃 she said simply； and quite fervently。 It was not quite a stilling offense； but any Aes Sedai would very likely make her wish she had been stilled。 〃Nynaeve； what happened？〃
For a long moment she thought the other woman was going to start crying again as her chin quivered and her lips worked。 When she began speaking； her voice was iron； her face a blend of fury and too many tears ever to shed。 She told the tale starkly； almost sketchily； until she came to Moghedien's appearance among the wagons。 That she rendered in painful detail。
〃I should be welted from the neck down；〃 she said bitterly at last； touching a smooth； unmarked arm。 Unmarked or not； she flinched。 〃I don't understand why I am not。 I feel it； but I deserve the welts； for stupid； foolish pride。 For being too afraid to do what I should。 I deserved being hung up like a ham in a smokehouse。 If there was any justice； I would still be dangling there； and Birgitte would not be lying on that bed； with us wondering whether she'll live or not。 If only I knew more。 If only I could have Moghedien's knowledge for five minutes； I could Heal her。 I am sure of it。〃
〃If you were still hanging；〃 Elayne said practically； 〃in a very short while you would be waking up and shielding me。 I don't doubt Moghedien would have seen to it that you were angry enough to channel … she knows us all too well； remember … and I do doubt very much that I would have suspected anything until you had done it。 I do not fancy being carted off to Moghedien； and I cannot believe you do either。〃 The other woman did not look at her。 〃It must have been a link； Nynaeve； like an a'dam。 That is how she made you feel pain without marking you。〃 Nynaeve still sat there in a glowering sulk。 〃Nynaeve； Birgitte is still alive。 You did everything you could for her； and the Light willing； she will live。 It was Moghedien who did this to her； not you。 A soldier who takes blame for his rades who fall in battle is a fool。 You and I are soldiers in a battle； but you are not a fool； so stop behaving like one。〃
Nynaeve did look at her then； a scowl that lasted only a moment before she turned her face pletely away。 〃You don't understand。〃 Her voice sank almost to a whisper。 〃She。。。 was。。。 one of the heroes bound to the Wheel of Time； destined to be born again and again to make legends。 She wasn't born this time； Elayne。 She was ripped out of Tel'aran'rhiod as she stood。 Is she still bound to the Wheel？ Or has she been ripped away from that； too？ Ripped away from what her own courage earned her； because I was so proud； so man…stubborn stupid； that I made her hunt