A cold breeze rode the wind across the gentle hills of a village right outside Andor. A couple huddled together in the cold winds. Just outside a local tavern in the ally they muttered to each other. A tall blue eyed boy asked the girl not to go. The beautifully blonde haired girl responded that she must. Tears filled the eyes of the boy.

“But I won’t see you for so long,” said the boy through his tears. The girl reached up and brushed the hair away from his eyes, then stood on her toes and reached up and kissed each eye to make the tears go away.

“Don’t fear my good Will, I will be waiting for you; I will never keep you out of my thoughts,” she said. He looked into her eyes for a good long time and then reached up around the back of his neck and took off his ring. The ring was golden with the picture of a wolf embedded in the top of it. It hung on a golden chain that has been around his neck ever since he was born. Will took it off and looked back into the young girl’s eyes.

“Elena my love I want you to have this. Never take it off, I will come back for it.” As he reached around her neck and clasped it together, the wolf ring started to fall but was caught in mid air by both the boy and the girl. Both held each others hands and the ring, and looked again into each others eyes. At the same time the words came from their mouths and created a frost in the cold air. “I love you,” they both said.

Then Elena reached up and kissed Will, placed her hand over his mouth and said, “Until we meet again my love…..until then.” And she walked off into the night.

Will stood there and just looked on as his love mounted a horse and rode off with the Aei Sedai. Will remained for what seemed like hours without moving. But then, just when the poor boy had almost frozen to death, he took a step forward, then another. His father watched, said that he became a man with each of those steps. He strode into the inn that his father owned, and walked right up into his room with out saying a thing. After he threw on his cloak and packed a few things he headed back downstairs where he was met by his father and his mother.

James Cuthbert took one look at his son and said “just where the Hell do you think you are going. You better not mean to follow her to the White Tower.”

Will shouted back, “Aye Sir, and nobody will stop me from being with her.” Bonnie Cuthbert just started to cry, and begged the Creator for her boy to stay. “Don’t worry mum, all will be fine. I know what I have to do, and I will not fail. It has to be this way…I love her.” Will said to his mother as he hugged her.

“I can tell by that look in your eye you will not be persuaded out of this my son, so if you must go I want you to have something.” James said to his son as he walked over to the counter and lifted up a floor board. Reaching down into the floor he pulled out something long wrapped in a dirty cloth. James walked back over to his son and held it out to him. “This served me well while I was in the Queen’s guard I trust you will find it handy when you become a Warder. That is what you intend on doing is it not?” James said to his son.

“Aye Sir, ‘tis,” Will responded.

“It won’t be easy, boy, there are a lot of men finer then you who fail everyday.” James warned.

“Aye Sir, but none of them were driven by such desire to be with the one they loved. Bruise me, cut me, insult me, beat me, make me bleed… I will not falter in my track for it is all for her.” Will exclaimed as he took the sword and scabbard and snapped it home on the side of his belt. “Now father I will be off, take care of mother. I shall return one day.” Will said and walked out of the inn. After he shut the door behind him, he stopped for a second and looked back inside, into the warm inn he had called home for oh so long. It did not matter though; his heart was in control now. Will whistled into the cold night and Alan his horse strolled up from the back of the inn. Will lead him into the stable, saddled him up and packed away his things. Will mounted Alan and headed off in the direction that his love, Elena had gone. After many days and nights of travel through the snow, Will finally caught up to the Aes Sedai, but still kept his distance from them. Now at least he was able to move with them instead of having to track them. Will seemed to be so focused on Elena that he did not notice the short brown haired Aes Sedai who came up on him. Suddenly he could not move.

“You should be more careful, boy, following Aes Sedai can lead to disaster. And if you ever plan to be her warder you will do no good for her by gawking at her all the time. See look where it has gotten you, now you can’t even move to protect her. Tell you what, for your own good, and so you don’t get that young girl killed, I will let you follow us and I will inform the Tower watch that you are to be trained as a Warder. Now stay out of sight I don’t want the young one distracted by you as well. You are all she talks about.” The Aes Sedai said in a commanding tone.

Smiling, “Aye Ma’am.” Will replied.

The rest of the ride to the tower Will stayed his distance but every now and then, when he got to staring at Elena, the brown haired Aes Sedai let out an awfully loud cough. As the Aes Sedai themselves approached the tower they were let in through the gates. Will waited a little while, still not sure of himself, and then rode up to the tower guards. The first guard looked at Will.

“Ahh you are the one Sara told us about, dismount and you will be taken care of.” said the guard in a ruff voice. Will dismounted Alan, and then one of the other guards took him by the reins and looked at Will.

“All of your things will be placed in your room.” Take time to relax and get ready for you training starts tomorrow. You are lucky, a new session is just beginning tomorrow.”

Months went by, and Will trained day and night. His instructor started to notice that he was out in the field training, even in the darkest hours of the night when he should be asleep. Talk of Will grew in the tower amongst the sisters, especially the novices, as they would talk of anything but their duties. Elena became very interested in this young boy with no name, for she knew only one person stubborn enough to put in that much time, and that was Will, but there was no way that it could be him. He couldn’t be here it was just not possible for a dream like that to come true. But Elena had one of her friends who had just become an Accepted get the boy’s name. Late one night after all the other trainees had gone to their bunks for sleep, Will said goodnight to his instructor and then walked off to begin his practice. Dancing the forms like he has been doing it for years instead of months, the Accepted named Sasha walked up to a bench and watched him for awhile. His movements flowed gracefully, he only stopped once to peel of his sweat soaked shirt. Will’s blonde hair was matted down on his head and his blue eyes shone in the night with pure concentration. With a roll and a tuck he leaped up and slammed his sword home. And then he took notice of the girl watching him.

“Aye there Ma’am, how long have you been watching me?” Will exclaimed.

“Why not very long, may I ask you your name?” Sasha inquired.

“Only if you do me a favor, do you know of the novice Elena?” Will returns with question.

“Yes I do, and since you have given yourself away you must of course be Will. Will, you will be out here tomorrow night right?” Sasha asked.

“If it is what the creator wills, then yes I will be.” Will replied.

“Aye then Will I will have a surprise for you tomorrow night.” Sasha beamed and ran off. Not knowing what to think, Will retired to his barracks for about 3 hours before sunrise when training started again. The morning and the rest of the afternoon went on as normal, then night practice came and once again after break was called, Will remained and practiced. Off by himself with no shirt once again, he danced the sword forms. One form to another, gracefully, never faltering, and never losing concentration. Will was one with his sword….then a cloaked figure stepped in front of him. Still Will did not falter in his forms, one right into the next. The figure reached up and removed the hood from her face. Beautiful blonde hair shone in the moonlight, brilliant blue eyes sparkled and a warm smile came across her face. Then suddenly the boy who could not be distracted, tripped at the sight of her, lost his concentration, the edge of his sword grazed the side of his leg and he just stared right into her eyes from his hobbled position on the ground. “Always playing with sharp things and cutting yourself when I am around, I see.” Elena laughed.

“My dear sweet Elena, you could get in big trouble for being out here.” Will said back to her.

“Yeah and you could get very hurt doing what you are doing, but I doubt anything I say or do will be able to change your mind once it is set.” Elena replied with a gasp.

“No my love, I am set on being your warder.” Will exclaimed.

“Oh really, I think that is my decision not yours, my dear.” Elena said as she kissed Will. “Now go away you stink and you need to shower. I will be watching my love, and thank you, I didn’t want to ask you, because I wanted to see if you would do it on your own. Now I know that it will always be the two of us. I love you, and I will see you again soon.” Elena whispered as she walked away.

Will picked up his sword and checked his wound….wonderful, “Will did you get so excited you cut yourself while you were practicing?” is what everyone is going to say. Will thought to himself.

About 9 years went by and Will became an instructor while waiting for Elena to reach accepted and then Aes Sedai. They saw each other regularly, especially once Elena reached accepted and was able to have more freedom. Many Aes Sedai tried and bond Will for her Warder, but he had none of it. It was even rumored that a few Reds spoke to some Greens, and they mentioned that if they were to take a Warder they would make Will hers. But Will was content on being an instructor until Elena became Aes Sedai. As she got closer, and closer it was apparent that she would choose the Blue Ajah. Finally after 10 years of waiting and training Elena came running out into the practice yard in her with her new Blue shawl on. Will walked right up to her and kneeled. Any channeler could have seen the weaves flow into Will. Elena said not a word but took a hold of Will’s head, and started the weave of bonding. This made them closer than ever: not even their love was able make them as close as this. He found he always knew where she was, and she could protect him and keep him strong. When it was done, he stood up and kissed her. Just then an Aes Sedai walked up. Will glanced at her, she looked familiar. The Brown haired Aes Sedai from 10 years ago looks upon Will.

“Now I trust you will use all that you have learned to protect this young one, and that you will not lose you focus because you are too busy staring at her. Because if anything happens to her I will personally make you wish you never left your village that cold night all those years ago.” And she walked off.

Elena was beaming, and she said to Will “I am to go to Tarabon in Tanchico, I have to met up with some Aes Sedai there. So go pack your things my love.” And the two took off for Tarabon. Little did they know they wouldn’t make it.

After traveling for 2 months of travel, as they rode in a forest, and chatted, suddenly there was a huge burst of light. Will found himself in the middle of the forest with nothing else around him except his horse. He got up and started yelling Elena’s names and searched for her for days. There was no sign of her, just the wolf ring in the middle of the forest. He sat down, exhausted after searching for her for almost 48 hours with no sleep. That’s when he heard it.

In the back of his mind: Young Will, you will not find her here, she has gone from here for awhile, but fear not young one she is not dead. My name is Shadar Mordero and I am a wolf. Now open your eyes. Will opened his eyes and stared into the yellow eyes of the biggest wolf he has ever seen. Once again Will hears the voice in his head. “Will Cuthbert, your female has gone from here, but you can still feel her inside you yes? She is not dead, but you must come with me if you wish to find her. Don’t worry you are not insane; you have a long forgotten ability to communicate with my kind, my former master is come, he will teach you. But for now don’t worry, everything will be ok. “ A man walked up from behind the trees, “Hi my name is Hanzen...”