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“You two are having an affair behind my back?,” Moiraine said with a teasing smile, approaching the stables with Nynaeve at her side. Siuan, startled by their sudden appearance behind her, dropped the bundle of blankets and the small sack of carrots she’d been carrying. Moiraine crouched to help her gather them, her smile never faltering.“Carrots only?” she said, handing a handful to Siuan. “Surely your friend would prefer something sweeter.”
Siuan smiled fully. There was a joy in Moiraine's voice that warmed her, she could feel through the bond Moiraine’s genuine amusement at the unlikely bond between her wife and that stubborn and asocial horse. With the last carrots in hand, Siuan helped Moiraine to her feet and leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek. “Piranha doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth,” she said lightly. “He prefers vegetables. Especially carrots.”
As Siuan moved to lay the blankets over Aldieb and Piranha and offered the surprise treat, Moiraine and Nynaeve exchanged a glance. Half astonished, half amused that Siuan knew so much about the aloof beast was enough to pull a soft chuckle from both. Siuan turned with mock severity, though her lips twitched with humor. “That’s enough, both of you. You're making this into something it’s not.”
Moiraine stepped up behind her, wrapped her arms around her waist, and grinned with fond. “Forgive me, love,” she said, resting her chin on Siuan’s shoulder. “I simply never imagined you’d form a friendship with a horse and that you’d sneak out of a warm bed on a cold morning to wrap him in blankets instead of warming me.” Siuan leaned into her, kissed her temple, and whispered mischievously, “It was only for a moment. I was planning to come back and wake my cuddly otter the way she prefers.” Then she looked sidelong at Nynaeve and added, mockingly disappointed, “…but now that you’ve brought Nynaeve, I suppose that will have to wait.”
Moiraine flushed, and Siuan gave her a playful wink. “You two are a wonder. All those years of acting so stern, so devoid of affection, and now you can’t keep your hands off one another.” Moiraine and Siuan exchanged a glance and laughed softly. Siuan pulled her close, arm around her waist. The three women stood in companionable silence as the horses munched contentedly, Aldieb with her sugar bucket, Piranha with his fresh carrots. From time to time, Siuan would reach out and pat Piranha’s neck, and the horse, normally so grumpy, would soften, even letting out a pleased whinny.
Nynaeve tilted her head at that. “Siuan… your talent for reading people and treating them as they need seems to extend beyond just people.” Moiraine raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. “I hadn’t considered it before… but yes. It does seem your talents stretch to other species.”
Siuan scowled, though there was laughter in her eyes. “Are you two quite done?”
“I think,” Nynaeve said, a glint of mischief in her eye, “you should take this friendship to the next level.” Moiraine and Siuan looked at Nynaeve, waiting for her to elaborate. “What exactly do you mean?” Siuan asked, clearly dreading the answer. “You’re afraid of riding and Piranha hates being ridden. Maybe the two of you should try to work through your troubles together.”
Siuan’s face fell into a scowl of dismay, and Piranha looked no more pleased by the suggestion. Moiraine couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped her lips, until both Piranha and Siuan shot her identical looks of indignation. “I don’t know…” Siuan muttered. The last time she’d been on a horse had been out of necessity, not choice, and she hadn’t missed it for a moment. Moiraine stepped close and placed a gentle kiss between Siuan’s brows. “It might be… an interesting dynamic. And Piranha might feel safer trying it with the one person he trusts.” She said.
Siuan looked uncertainly at the horse, who returned her gaze with equal unease. “Yes… I suppose we could try,” she said at last, her voice unsure. She placed a hand on Piranha’s neck. “If it helps him get over his discomfort with being ridden… I want to help.” The two of them stared at one another, horse and woman, neither looking entirely convinced.
“And he might help you get over your fear of riding,” Nynaeve added cheerfully. Both turned to glare at her. But then, Piranha looked back at Siuan with what could only be described as affection, as if he understood. As if he accepted.
“Well… I don’t know what to do,” Siuan admitted. “You’ll need to saddle him,” Moiraine said, already moving toward the tack room. “Perhaps Aldieb’s pad will fit him.” She returned with a large cloth pad and approached Piranha, but the horse shied back, eyes widening, gaze darting to Siuan. Moiraine paused, pad in hand, and looked to her wife. “Perhaps he’d let you do it, love.”
Siuan blinked, then nodded slowly. “Oh, yes, yes… that might be better.” She took the pad from Moiraine and approached Piranha cautiously. But again, the horse shied away, and she stopped. “Hmm… I think Piranha might be better off without a pad.”
Moiraine arched a brow. “Of course, love. But it might be… difficult for you to ride without one.” Piranha snorted and frowned at Moiraine, then turned to Siuan with a look of reluctant warmth. He shifted, presenting his side. Taking this as permission, Siuan quickly placed the pad on his back. Both of them looked miserably awkward about it, but kept their gazes locked in mutual encouragement.
Nynaeve was beginning to look uneasy at the strange energy radiating from this exchange. Moiraine handed Siuan a bridle, and Siuan began fastening it with an apologetic expression, whispering to the horse as she did it. When all was ready, Moiraine moved closer, preparing to instruct.
From the back, Lan appeared beside Nynaeve, soundless. “What’s going on?” he asked, voice low so as not to disturb the pair. Nynaeve leaned toward him, eyes still locked on the surreal scene. “Siuan is going to ride Piranha.” Lan blinked, a surprised huff escaping him. He quickly stifled it when Moiraine shot him a warning look. He mimed sealing his lips with his fingers.
“All right, love,” Moiraine said gently. “There are no stirrups, so you’ll need to use my hands for a boost, take the reins and move your leg across.” Siuan exhaled. She truly didn’t want to do this, but if it helped her friend open up, she would. Piranha, it seemed, shared the thought, and stood still as Moiraine laced her fingers and helped Siuan up. With great difficulty she mounted, and once up there she and the horse felt like fools.
Moiraine stepped back toward Nynaeve and Lan, her expression part grimace, part pride. “Gently nudge him with your heel, love, that should get him moving.” Siuan glanced over, then did as she was told, somewhat clumsily. Piranha hesitated, then began to walk, awkward, uncertain, but moving. The three watched as Siuan and Piranha made their slow, strange procession across the field, rigid, unsure, but together.
Moiraine and Nynaeve didn’t take their eyes off Siuan, both silently watching, concern flickering across their faces at the consequences of what they had just encouraged. Lan, too, stood gazing toward the horizon, arms folded, his expression one of surprised contemplation. “I never thought I’d see Siuan ride Piranha,” he murmured. Moiraine gave a guilty smile, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Nor did I.”
All seemed calm, until quite suddenly, the three of them saw, in the distance, Piranha jolt. In the blink of an eye, Siuan was thrown high into the air and came down tto the ground. Without a word, all three rushed forward, heartbeats pounding, the bond full with a shared burst of worry and adrenaline. They reached the pair quickly, only to stop short at what they found.
Siuan and Piranha were kneeling side by side in the grass. Siuan clung to the horse’s neck, whispering softly as she stroked his mane, and Piranha had laid his head upon Siuan’s shoulder, letting out low, remorseful whinnies that carried all the sorrow in the world. The three stood frozen, speechless at the sight.
“No, no, I know, I know… it was my fault too. I shouldn’t have listened to them,” Siuan repeated gently, patting the horse in consolation as he nudged at her with his muzzle, seeking forgiveness. His whole posture radiated guilt and worry. Siuan rose slowly, brushing dirt from her robes. “See? I’m fine. It was just a little fall,” she said, but the horse didn’t seem convinced, his ears still low.
Moiraine could feel it through the bond, Siuan’s overflowing affection, her deep ache of guilt, her love for the creature who had just thrown her up in the air. She stepped forward again and hugged Piranha, firm and warm. “All is well,” she murmured. She gave him a few more reassuring pats, then looked into his eyes with a resolute tone.
“We’re not doing that again, all right? What do you think?” The beast hesitated, uncertain at first. But slowly his expression softened and his stance lightened. Siuan smiled and pulled a carrot from her pocket, offering it with open affection. Piranha nibbled it happily, and Siuan chuckled as she scratched behind his ears.
Moiraine stepped in behind her and wrapped her arms around Siuan’s waist. “Are you alright, love? Do you need healing?” Siuan leaned back into her, letting herself rest fully in Moiraine’s embrace. “No, truly, it’s nothing.” Through the bond, Siuan could feel Moiraine’s concern thrumming full of worry, afraid she’d just traumatized her beloved wife. Siuan caught one of Moiraine’s hands, and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I promise, it’s nothing, my little cichlid.”
Moiraine smiled, her shoulders easing as relief settled in. Then Siuan turned to glance at Lan and Nynaeve. “And the two of you, stop laughing. Piranha and I will have our revenge on Nynaeve eventually.” The horse gave a sharp whinny, almost as if in agreement. The sound made all of them laugh again. And together, they stood watching as Piranha continued to eat his carrots contentedly, the morning filled with peace.