Hannah sighed, and rolled over, pulling her blankets more tightly around her. As she drifted off, she heard the campfire crackle, and her horse snort as it slept on its feet. What am I doing out here? she thought, but could tell herself why, because she was suddenly asleep.

She was walking with her father through the Shienaran woods. Of course, her father was carrying his big bow, and she her little one. He never left home without his- never. But today it would hopefully have a different purpose than self-defense. Sheltered on the east by the Spine of the World, and the north the Mountains of Dhoom, there was only a spring breeze. Hannah squeezed the hand that she was holding, feeling the thick swordsman's calluses, as he gripped her hand in a gentle but firm grip. My father, she thought happily. Her father smiled down at her, and she grinned back, thinking that it was the best day of her young life- today was her fifth birthday, and they were out to get a deer in celebration! And she was thrilled, because he was finally putting her mother behind him, even though she had died four years ago. The pair walked silently through the woods, both as comfortable there as in front of the fireplace, but alert, too.

Suddenly her father saw a quick movement in the bushes on his side, so within seconds had dropped Hannah's hand, and brought up his bow to track it. Twang! went the bowstring, and Hannah grinned even wider. Father had gotten a deer! In her excitement to get to where he father was kneeling by it, she forgot to be quiet, and the crunching of the leaves that she was running through filled the air. Her father brought his head up quickly, then saw that it was only her. Then she saw his face darken. When she was close to him, he told her sharply, "Never, ever, make that much noise in the woods. Do you want Trollocs to hear us?"

"I'm sorry, Father," she said, trying to sound admonished, but then burst out, "But I'm so excited. You got a deer!" He looked at her little face, then let his melt. Holding her close, he whispered, "I love you."

Hannah rolled over again, as she heard the horse stop. Sleepily, she wondered, "Is this telling me what I'm doing out here in the middle of the woods?" Then sleep claimed her again.

Hannah was inside the little cabin that they lived in, stirring the soup which was to be their supper, reading at the same time, while Father was out chopping wood, which was normally her chore. Normally she thought, and winced. Normally it was her chore, but she had been reading, instead of chopping. Normally she would have chopped the wood and cooked, but when Father got home, he had been mad, and told her to start cooking with what wood there already was chopped, and he would take out his anger on the rest. He had slammed the door was a "Have that soup nearly ready when I get back, or you will pay for it with your hide!" Hannah still made so many mistakes that her father was forced to take his belt to her, and she didn't blame him one bit. Like this time. She tasted the soup, and it was almost ready. Then he should be coming in any minute.

Hannah turned back to her book, which was about the interpretation of dreams, also known as the Aes Sedai talent of Dreaming. Of course, it was something that she could never do, but it was interesting reading. She had had a dream last night, about her father. It showed him, standing with an axe in his hands, screaming her name. She just couldn't figure out what it meant. Maybe, she thought humorously, It's going to be what he does next time I do something, and he just snaps!

Then she did hear screaming, from outside. Hannah just let go of the spoon and the book simultaneously, and didn't care that the book fell into the big soup kettle. She rushed outside, and stared. It was her father screaming, laying about himself with the chopping maul, trying the kill the three Trollocs before they killed him. As she watched, one Trolloc dropped to the ground, clutching its stomach. But her father was near to going down, too. He might die, she thought, numbly. My father might die. With that she ran back into the house, and grabbed her bow, nearly as big as her father's, along with her quiver.

When she got back outside, she nearly shrieked. Another Trolloc had gone down, but her father was on his knees. One more Trolloc had also appeared, and was setting fire to the cabin. Ducking behind the door, she slid an arrow on. Straightening up, she smoothly drew the fletching to her cheek, and shot at the one that was hammering blows on her father. It hit it in the eye, and it fell, clutching the eye with an arrow protruding. Then she concentrated on the one that was striking flint together, realizing that she would have to step out into the open to get a clear shot on it. The arrow stuck out of its armor and heart, just as it managed to ignite the whole northern wall of the house. Did it light the side closest to Shayol Ghul on purpose? she wondered, as she rushed to her father, knowing that there was nothing she could do about the cabin.

Hannah rushed to cradle her father in her arms, getting all of his blood on her clothes. He was breathing weakly, covered in many shallow lacerations. He opened his eyes when he felt her touch him, and managed to force out, "They were . . .blades from . . .the forge under Shayol Ghul . . ." Hannah started to shake, when she realized the implication of that statement. "I love you, Father," she said, struggling not to burst out in tears. "I love you, daughter of mine," he said with his last breath, then went limp. Hannah gave up all effort at not crying, kneeling there by the ashes of their home, and her father's limp body in her arms.

Hannah woke up to find tears soaking her pillows. She had made herself forget that awful day. But it still hurt, since it was only two years gone. Orphaned at the age of twelve, she thought ironically. Well, the Light only knows that I have a good reason to hate Trollocs . . .

Hannah was applying for a position as a maid at Fal Dara. She couldn't very well live out in the woods by herself, but needed some sort of income. At Fal Dara, she would have room and board, plus her wage. It sounded like a fair deal to her.

She was interviewed by the Lady Amalisa herself, Lord Agelmar's sister. "You are a trifle young for what I had in mind," the lady told Hannah, eying her in the black dress of mourning that she wore. "But with your story, I can't very well set you out in the cold, not a slip of a girl like you."

"Pardon me, Lady Amalisa, but I do not want to have this position out of pity. I would rather be out in the cold than that."

Amalisa looked taken aback, which was not a common expression on her face. Then she sighed, and said, "Child, you can have a position in the kitchen for the time being, but from your attitude, you'll either move up quickly, or be kicked out within the week. But mind," she admonished, "I will not help you if you get into trouble with that little temper of yours. But," she continued, "Seeing as you're so young, and your father was a true Borderman, who raised you as one, I will see to it that you get a proper education."

Proper education? Hannah thought to herself. We'll see what a "proper education" means! She had been reading The Karaethon Cycle at age six, after all. But she curtsied deeply, if a little clumsily, and was dismissed to join another maid who would show her to her rooms, and teach her her duties.

Hannah woke up smiling this time, remembering the fine row that she and the Lady Amalisa had had, first about the level of education that she had acquired out in the hinterlands (Lady Amalisa had called it awesome), and then about her temper when she got mad because Lady Amalisa got mad at her for not telling originally. After that particular episode, Hannah had advanced in the local hierarchy, just as the lady had predicted, becoming one of Lady's Amalisa's personal maids. . .

Her main tasks were to help entertain the Lady Amalisa, usually by reading out loud (by far the more easy and pleasant task) and talking with her and the other maids (the much more onerous task).

She had still had the dreams that told the future, however vaguely. Then, one night, she found herself in a strange place. Hannah had appeared at a tall, slim white tower, on an island. With a start, she realized where she was- Tar Valon! On realizing that, she suddenly was wearing a pure white dress. But how had she gotten there? And with this dress on?

Then a fragment of the book that she had been reading on the faithful day that her father had died came back to her. Some Dreamers may be able to access Tel'aran'rhoid, meaning the World of Dreams in the Old Tongue. It is a direct copy of the real world, observable, but nothing changed there will be changed in our world. Except for one thing: if something occurs, and one is scratched, those scratches will exist when that one awakens. Therefore, if one dies whilst in Tel'aran'rhoid, they will also be dead here . . .

Uh oh, thought Hannah, remembering that, and without really knowing what she was doing, "stepped" out of Tel'aran'rhoid.

The next morning, Hannah went to Lady Amalisa, and curtsying deeply, told her that she thought she was a Dreamer. A surprised look came to her face, and then Amalisa smiled. "Child, you have an amazing ability to surprise me!" she said, laughing. "You, a Dreamer!" she almost doubled over, while Hannah stood calmly in front of her. "Well, I suppose that means that you want to go to the White Tower to become an Aes Sedai," Amalisa said, drying her tears.

"Yes, ma'am," said Hannah. "I have enough money from the two years I have worked here at Fal Dara to get there."

"Child, we'll miss you," said the lady. "Are you sure you don't want to stay?" she asked hopefully.

"Thank you for all that you've done for me, Lady Amalisa," said Hannah, "But I need to go. I want to learn more."

"Yes, that was always you. Always reading, learning. You'll have trouble with your temper there," she warned. "Well, I'll give you your wages for the next two months, and you can take whatever you need, whether it is a horse, or supplies. I suppose you'll want to go soon?"

This time Hannah curtsied as deeply as she could go. "Thank you, and yes, I do want to leave as soon as possible." Then Amalisa hugged her tightly.

This time Hannah woke up, and sat up. After that, I have to be a Dreamer, she thought ruefully. At least I got my question answered! Then she sighed. Goodbye Father, welcome Mistress of Novices. Goodbye Hannah Swayne of Shienar, welcome Hannah Swayne of the White Tower. Goodbye Shienar, welcome Tar Valon. Goodbye ignorance, welcome knowledge. With that statement, she could go to sleep, satisfied with what she was going to do with her life.