Chapter 43 - Some Tea

Summary

Galad Damodred and Perrin Aybara traverse the bloody battlefield, discussing the Asha'man's claimed freedom from the taint and the necessity of accepting Aes Sedai Healing. They discover a wounded Child of the Light named Jerum Nus beneath Trolloc corpses and carry him to healers where an unnamed Wise One partially closes his wound. Perrin offers Galad immediate Traveling to Andor in exchange for an oath of military command until the Last Battle, a proposal Galad accepts after witnessing his compassion. Meanwhile, Alliandre, Faile, and Berelain cut bandages near the camp, with Faile and Alliandre analyzing Berelain's political motivations regarding Perrin. When Galad arrives at their clearing, Berelain's attention shifts entirely to him, leading to an awkward but charming exchange over tea that leaves Alliandre pleased with the developing distraction for both the Whitecloaks and her own political concerns.

Characters

• Galad Damodred / Galad (Lord Captain Commander) — Walks the battlefield with Perrin and accepts Aes Sedai Healing for his men, then discovers a wounded Child of the Light named Jerum Nus beneath Trolloc corpses. He swears an oath to accept Perrin as military commander until the Last Battle after witnessing his compassion, later arriving at a bandage-making clearing where he instantly captures Berelain's attention with a clumsy but earnest offer of tea.
• Perrin Aybara / Perrin — Traverses the aftermath of battle alongside Galad and helps carry a dying youth to healers before offering the Whitecloak commander immediate Traveling to Andor in exchange for military command. He acknowledges ta'veren influence drawing them together, then rests with Faile while Alliandre observes his reunion.
• Jerum Nus — Lies trapped beneath a pile of Trollocs after the battle until Perrin and Galad discover him and carry him to a circle of channelers. He receives partial Healing from an unnamed Wise One, survives his wounds, and clings to Perrin's arm in delirious relief.
• Alliandre — Sits with Faile and Berelain cutting bandages while analyzing their strained political truce and Berelain's calculated approach to romance. She receives two teacups from a distracted Galad Damodred and quietly pockets a blue silk shirt before returning to Perrin and Faile.
• Faile — Cuts bandages alongside Alliandre while discussing Berelain's political motivations regarding Perrin, then sits with her husband after the battlefield cleanup concludes. She accepts his exhaustion and rests beside him as Alliandre departs.
• Berelain (Lady First) — Cuts bandages while insisting to Faile and Alliandre that she pursued Perrin for sport rather than love, then shifts her focus entirely to Galad Damodred upon his arrival. She accepts tea from him with distracted fascination, effectively abandoning her previous political calculations regarding the Whitecloak commander.