"I am the Tower"

Accepted Mina Daryl

 

Emeralds are gorgeous, I love 'em! And Sapphires, oh my! They can bring a glow to any face...

 

If one was to swoop into the outmost layer of Saline's waking consciousness, the observer would be bombarded with exclaimations of this skein. Neither highminded nor sophisticated, the observer would probably concede. Yet, like all things in life, this dastardly boring sing-song tune of notes and praises served a purpose. From this repetition other thoughts, mostly the everyday worries of a young woman laden by her courseload, were entirely blocked out. But one worry refused to go. It persisted, nagging for all its worth.

 

Although Saline could not banish her reality, she continued to list jewels and precious stones, only repeating when she could not think up any more. She had been trying this mind trick ever since she embarked on a crusade to eradicate all silliness from her person, to stay any rash action until the need for a decision, and the situation itself went away. There would be no more tantrums seemingly over small things that were really a manifestation of her insecurities, no dishing out sarcasm when she was cut so that her misery would have company. Enough hurting others, doing so didn't make her feel any better. The time for a change was now. To her amazement, so seldom did she think positively that she simply could not let go, until the lists formed and took occupation, so dull that the chatter elsewhere fell silent.

 

Last moon's topic was flowers. It was an assignment from Vera Sedai that agitated the Taraboner to such obsessive heights. Her advisor's garden enforced a recent lecture on pigments, colouring the Accepted's world into hycianths and siam roses. Today she deliberately shook the fragrances from the clutches of her mind to think on gems, until Saline was enthralled by sheer beauty and lustre.

 

Well, whatever that worked, right?

 

Or not. The warm afternoon crowded in, connecting sensations despite her rallying herself. Her focus was fading. It had scattered the moment that girl interrupted her ruminations at Amethyst, although she could see the Accepted was busy... Somebody wanted to see her... somebody important.

 

Darienna Sedai.

 

“Do you know why?” She blurted, asking of the Novice, a little pucker between her brow as she hastily stowed the gems to the backburner. "Er, Merissa?" Recalling the name with her face, hoping it was the right name.

“New students.” Came the reply, no longer so far away as she gripped the Novice's arm, then released it, relieved on many levels. It had to be the right name.

“Excellent!” The pucker relaxed. Not in any trouble with the Mistress of Novices, then. Past transgresses forgotten once more, she stepped quickly after Merissa.

 

“We are taking the longer way to Darienna Sedai’s office.” She remarked trying not to worry when they reached the Blue quarters. Darienna Sedai had been a Grey, but she no longer slept in the Sisters' rooms, or did she? At anyrate Darienna certainly did not reside with the Blues, and it would not do to keep somebody like the Mistress of Novices waiting.

"Indeed not, ma'am! One more Mentor for the pick up." Dimpled the other. Oh, right, right, students, a plural form of student. Well, that was rare, more than one new Novice in a day, could they be sisters, travelling companions? She'll see when they get to Darienna's study, no point in speculating. Slightly disorientated if not silly she chastised herself for not paying attention, and was content to follow as Merissa did the loop around the corridors and down the stairs. “Lead on, Merissa.” This was most approvingly.

 

Tune in my head. A desperate reminder as she caught glimpses of other Mentor, then Estel Sedai came smack into view, a spirited, willowy presence. Curtseying as low to the Blue Sister as the other initiate, she lifted her eyes from the rainbow hem and like some inquisitive bird, looked at the tall Domani. Estel was a gem, pretty as topaz, and versatile, too. One moment she'd be teaching and punishing, the other pranking with the Novices. Hyper aware of her position Saline did not speak, she was accompanied by an Aes Sedai, and about to meet another Aes Sedai.

 

Darienna seemed, akin to all Aes Sedai, hard as diamonds. But it was her gaze that did it for Saline.  She wanted to reveal everything unclean she had ever considered doing, 'specially that daydream of releasing rats in Jagen's chambers. One bright stare tended to affect her that way. Hawk’s eyes, she decided as she squared her shoulders, and stood up straighter as the Mistress of Novices addressed to Estel Sedai and herself.

 

"I am glad that Merise was able to find you both. These twins have just been tested and found to be able to channel. I'm going to allot them the same room, but I would like them to have different mentors."

 

Merise? Rising from her curtsey, Saline flushed, her head of curls swivelling to the new Novices instead. They were both strangely quiet, whether that was a twin thing, or Darienna's effect on people Saline didn't know. Not many would talk unasked in Darienna’s presence, and certainly not to interrupt. Idly comparing their features, curious brown eyes darted back and forth between the twin in the dress to the twin in boy's clothes. Mindboggling that the same hair on the first could look so messy on the latter. Which girl she would have the privilege of mentoring?

 

In her head she repeated their names several times, committing Lucrecia and Tirzah to longterm memory. So Tirzah had been assigned to her. The Taraboner wore a half smile at the expression on Tirzah's face when she collected the Novice dress. Unhappiness emanated from her charge, oozing out of her body language, the downcast defeat in her lovely almond eyes. She was clearly uncomfortable, and her face showed the discomfort. Saline saw past the discontent, however. She saw somebody special, somebody proud who had to bend her head to the Aes Sedai's wishes. Little faults in her presentation did not matter. Besides, she might have dressed to distinguish herself from her twin so the others could tell them apart.

 

Tirzah was special because she could learn how to channel, and was Saline's responsibility, most of all. Her students were an inspiration to her, not quite on the same level as her Advisor Vera Sedai perhaps, but on the human level. Thanks to the discovery of her ability to touch Saidar, Aurora escaped the poorhouses of Rahad, where she was born into illiteracy and crime, and now read books quicker than Saline, which was saying a lot. Seeing Aurora studying in the library happier than a Tairen in the fishmarket cheered her, too.

 

How terrible in contrast were the days of her novitiate back then, and now that she reflect upon it, how much she had fussed and cried over something that could be broken into nothing. Could her troubles pale into insignificence in the future as well? One could but hope.

 

She wondered how they came here, and why. Had an Aes Sedai snagged them? Did they come for a new opportunity? Or were they fleeing from financial troubles? It was good that they would be rooming together, since Tirzah probably didn’t want to be away from her twin. What if the one twin could channel, and the other could not? That would have been tragic. Were all twins like that?

 

Tirzah, she was a sort of gem. One that she could learn from. 'Everything I learn about horses I learn from the horses themselves.' Timmons had told her in the garden the other day. Only Timmons wasn’t a gem: Timmons was Timmons.

 

Outside Darienna Sedai's office, she watched her charge fold the Novice whites she would soon change into warmly. "So, what is it that you are thinking, Tirzah?"

 

OOC: Apologies for the lateness.

When hazel eyes caught sight of dear Saline Westrel, an automatic smirk cut across copper facial features.  It was very difficult indeed to decide whether she should be friendle or furious with the child; child being only a handful of years younger than her but the lack of a shawl around her shoulders made for a far greater distance than even their proximity of age could make up for.  Saline had been her been in the next room over when they were Novices and as much of a friend as Estel was capable of keeping.  Even as a Novice, the Domani Blue had the unfortunate tendency to push everyone away- violently and with brilliant curses to speed them on their way.  The speed, at least in comparison to Saline, with which Estel earned first the Ring and then the Shawl created a chasm between the two that even recent events, which will not even be thought of in the presence of gossiping Novice tongues, could not fully amend.

 

Being summoned to Darienna wasn't exactly suprising- nor particularly welcome.  There was only two reasons the Mistress of Novices would want to see her, and the escapade with Rory was becoming less and less likely to ever be discovered.  This new student would be Estel's fourth mentee.  her fourth current mentee in fact!  Whatever the woman's motives, Darienna was driving her up the wall just as much as her students.  Dre had obvious issues and was incapable of getting along with Megain.  Zouwie was... well, Zouwie.  'Light help me,' the Blue nearly whined aloud 'what's the crazy wench got for me now?'

 

It really didn't occur to Estel why exactly Saline was in their happy little party.  Surely the Accepted had done something stupid and gotten caught at it?  At least, that was the general reason for Accepted, especially ones connected with Rory, to be sent to Darienna.  It wasn't until the twin pair of faces stared back at her with a certain level of resentment that the Blue understood.  Twins!  Yikes!  'Just when I thought I had enough students.'  Light, she wanted to either groan or slap the idiot woman.  What in bloody hell was she supposed to do with another mentee!

 

On the bright side, the girl was easily distinguishable from her twin.  Estel could just see it now, mistaking her mentee for the one who was apparantly to be Saline's student.  Another blow to her abysmal reputation!  Oh joy!

 

"Lucrecia?"  The more feminine of the pair nodded.  "I suppose that makes me your mentor then."  'I will not sigh... I will not sigh... I will not...'  "I'm Estel.  Come.  Follow."

 

Repressing several nasty gestures on her way out, the Blue pictured what it would have been like to have a twin.  Another Estel...  A pair of hell-raising, plan-wrecking, headache-inducing, swearing Domani idiots running around the Tower.  Or maybe her twin could have gone into the Tower Guard!  What would it be like to Bond one's own twin?  Between fabled "twin sense" and the Warders Bond... would the two persons be entirely identicial in every way?  Light help the world... two Estels?  Would the world, let alone the White Tower, be able to handle that?

 

"So then, Lucrecia, you're from Saldaea, I presume?"  A nod.  "Tell me.  How did both you and your sister end up here, in the Tower, and both test positive for the ability to channel.  I'm not sure the White Tower's ever seen a pair of Novice twins.  Should I be worried?"  Estel allowed the amused smile to break through her weak composure.  It wouldn't do for another mentee to take offence at everything she said.

The prospect of parting with Tirzah so soon after their testing did not sit so well with Lucrecia. In a way it killed the excitement she had at finding she could channel. She wanted some more time alone with her twin so they could talk, but between the named Mistress of Novices and this woman who came in to sweep her away, there was barely a chance to say goodbye.

 

"I'll see you later, Tir," Lucrecia said softly as her sister made her way out, carrying the white dresses tightly in her arms. Lucrecia folded her arms over her chest, her dresses looped over one. She followed out the older woman, the Aes Sedai, her lips pursed thoughtfully. She could see Tirzah later; right now she had other matters to take care of.

 

"Tell me.  How did both you and your sister end up here, in the Tower, and both test positive for the ability to channel.  I'm not sure the White Tower's ever seen a pair of Novice twins.  Should I be worried?"

 

The young Saldaean had been watching this woman carefully since she had come in. Calculating; measuring.

"Worried? I am not a trouble maker, Aes Sedai." A half lie, that, but then, Lucrecia couldn't see herself causing unnecessary trouble. Unnecessary was the key word, though. "Though if I may," she added--her voice was deep and outspoken, and it showed she was unused to asking permission for things--"You seem a bit troubled already. If you don't want to train me, that's fine--I'll learn on my own."