What is…

Alora Sedai took Elekar’s arm and guided her to the next arch. She followed slowly, the pain of losing Ganas again was too recent to recover quickly. They made their way around to the second arch, and Alora gave Elekar a soft hug before continuing the ceremony. "The second time is for what is," she said. "The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Elekar looked at the arch, and swallowed the lump in her throat. She wondered what she would face in this one. Surely, nothing as hurtful as losing Ganas again. Nothing could possibly hurt worse than that. The others were waiting and watching her as she hesitated. She gathered her breath and stepped through the arch. The light surrounded her again…

Elekar listened to the birds chirping in the surrounding trees and smiled to herself. The day was bright, with only a few high clouds. The land was lush with the new blossoms of spring. It was worth the ride out to the woods. She dismounted from her horse, Honey, who’s name matched her coloring perfectly, save for her brown mane and tail. It was a gift from her sister, Bronwyn, a few years earlier. It was the best gift she could have received. Removing a blanket roll from one of Honey’s packs, Elekar patted the mare affectionately.

Elekar let Honey graze as she searched for a spot to rest. She found a nice shady tree and made her way for it. This was a good day for just sitting back and daydreaming. Placing her blanket beneath the tree, she heard a rustling of leaves. Hoping to see a woodland creature, Elekar looked in the direction from where the sound had come. To her surprise, it was Springer, her sister’s horse.

Elekar blinked. What was Bronwyn doing out here alone? she wondered. Father will have her hide! Quickly, Elekar hobbled the two horses and made her way through the woods to find her sister. "Bronwyn?" she shouted as she walked. "Bronwyn?"

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. From where had that thought come? She pushed it away.

Her sister’s faint voice answered her, "Elekar?" Elekar frowned with worry. Bronwyn did not sound well. She hurried to where she thought she had heard her sister’s voice. As she turned from behind a tree she saw her, her sister’s face white with horror. Bronwyn was sitting on her heels, staring into space and tears streaming down her face.

Elekar ran to her. "I am here," she said as she reached for her sister. Bronwyn collapsed into her arms. "Bronwyn, what is wrong? What is it?"

Bronwyn tried to sit up, but hadn’t the strength. "I took mother’s figurine," she whispered. Her dark brown eyes still stared into space. Elekar gasped and looked to her sister’s hands. In her hands she held a small white figurine. Elekar knew it. It was a figurine of a woman holding a small orb in her outstretched hands. Her mother had said she had received it as a gift when she had visited Tar Valon years before. She had told the sisters not to touch her figurine for it had powers that neither of them could handle. Their mother had warned them never to touch it. But that was years ago and their mother had died last winter. Their father had the figurine placed in his stronghold. How had Bronwyn gotten a hold of it?

"I finally figured out why mother had said it was so dangerous," Bronwyn continued to whisper. She sounded very far away.

Elekar held her in her arms. She had never seen her sister in such a manner. She was terrified. "Why, Bronwyn?" she asked her, afraid to hear the answer.

"Because it is a ter’angreal," Bronwyn said breathlessly. "But I do not know what it does."

"A ter’angreal?" Elekar asked in amazement. "Why would mother have a ter’angreal?"

Bronwyn let out a soft laugh as she leaned against her sister. "Elekar, you are so slow. Mother was Aes Sedai. I tried to draw on its power, Elekar. I tried to embrace its power."

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. Why did she keep thinking that? she wondered, then pushed the thought away again.

Elekar shook her sisters shoulders gently, "You don’t know what you are saying. You must have a fever. I will take you back home and put you to bed." She tried to lift her sister, but Bronwyn refused.

"No, Elekar," she said weakly. "I will not make it."

"You are talking nonsense," Elekar said, trying to believe her own words. There had to be a way to fix it. "I will take care of you."

"Elekar," Bronwyn tried to laugh again, but failed. "You are so slow. It is gradually killing me, sister. I cannot release my hold."

"Then let go of it!" Elekar shouted. "Just let go of it!" She was becoming hysterical. She reached for the figurine, but could not pull it free from her sister. "Bronwyn, if it’s killing you, let go of it!" She pulled at the figurine. "Please," she pleaded. "Please let go of it!"

"Elekar," her sister whispered. Elekar turned her face back to her sister’s. Bronwyn’s eyes were hazy, her spirit fading. "Elekar," she whispered again. "You must finish me. I cannot stand the pain. Take my knife and finish me."

Elekar shook her head violently. "No! Never! I will not kill you!"

Bronwyn sobbed softly. "Please, Elekar. The pain. It hurts too much."

"You are my sister! I cannot kill you!" Elekar shouted at her as she rose to her feet with anger. "How can you ask such a thing? You are my sister!"

"Please, please," Bronwyn whispered as she fell upon the forest floor. "The pain."

Elekar went to her sister’s side and put her arms around her. "There must be a way. I will take you to father and he will fix everything." She sobbed into her arms. "Please, don’t make me kill you."

Bronwyn lay still beneath her. "Father would not know a way. Please, I have been in so much pain. I can stand it no longer and I don’t know how much longer it will go on."

Elekar pounded her fist against the ground. "Why!" she shouted. "Why did you touch mother’s figurine?"

"Please, Elekar, please."

Elekar’s lips trembled as tears streamed her face. She could not let her sister continue in pain. Surely, there was something she could do. She looked about her to see how far she was from where she had left the horses. If she hurried, she could have Bronwyn home before nightfall. She noticed a shimmering arch in the nearby trees and gave a start. The arch!

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Elekar rose to her feet and walked slowly to the arch.

"Please, Elekar. Please the pain," Bronwyn said.

"I cannot kill you!" she cried to her. "I’m so sorry, Bronwyn. I cannot!" Her heart felt heavy for what she was leaving her sister to.

"Elekar!!!" Bronwyn suddenly shouted. "Don’t leave me! Please!"

"I’m sorry, Bronwyn. I’m so sorry!" Elekar shouted and began to run. Her sisters shouts drew louder and more fervent. Her stomach twisted in disgust at what she was doing. Sobbing, she ran through the arch. The light enveloped her…

Another Aes Sedai poured cold water over her head when she emerged. Elekar sobbed quietly to herself again. How could she have killed her sister? How could she have left her there to die alone? She stared at the Aes Sedai. Was this really worth it? All this pain. Was it worth becoming Aes Sedai one day?

"You are washed clean of false pride," the Aes Sedai said. "You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul."