The month after the fall of Forsaken Serashada had been busy and stressful time for Arette but it had been a huge relief to know that the threat shadowing the whole Illian was gone now. Channeling was safe again and what channeling they had done. She was proud to be involved in two of the largest projects done with the One Power in the world since the making of the White Tower and Stone of Tear. Mostly the building of sewers was done by the blackcoats but despite no incidents since the start of the work, she could not entirely shake off the fear that one of them could go insane any time.

 

She tried to be present as much as possible and even though Earth was not her strongest suite, she could still do something to help. Only lately she had been so tired from channeling on the chanals, a slow going work that was finally almost at the end, that she had not had the energy to do anything but enjoy her family in the evenings... a pleasure that was dimmed by the fact that she felt like she was neglecting them. Not to mention her position as an advisor to the Queen and dealing with the bloody nobles.

 

Trying to balance having a family and the needs of thousands of people was extremely exhausting. She had a strong sense of duty that was difficult to push back and she had developed a feeling of responsibility for too many things. One woman just didn't have time for it all but she no longer had the others to delegate work to aside from Helena and Kit who were already burdened also. She was worried that she would collapse from it sooner and later and she had accepted with relief the restrictions Con had placed on her. She would have to have free days every week and there was only certain time of channeling she could do per day on projects unless there was pressing need. They had also agreed that she would also spend all the late evenings with the family unless Sofia absolutely needed her. She should have been able to do it herself instead of burdening him. It was kind of like having a Warder except that this time she was actually listening to him, she thought sadly, the pain of loosing Calvin's Bond flashing up once again until she could suppress it.

 

The chanal project had been her doing, hers and the team's comprised of four other Aes Sedai. They had flushed out the awful smelling mud from the bottom of the chanals and the Harbour and set the sluice gates enforced with Air shields to the mouth of each chanal leading to the sea to keep them from getting to the same state again. It did help some but Con's prediction had turned out true, it was not a permanent solution. With a sinking feeling she had realized that the process would have to be repeated again and again every now and then. But the effect it had had on the breathing air of Illian was a miracle and for that end she was willing to toil for the rest of her life... or until a better fix could be found.

 

No use to think on it now, the family time had started and she did want to focus on her daughters now. They had seen far too little of their mother. Rana and Cina chattered happily about their day as they sat on her lap. She just couldn't hold them close enough even though. She knew that they would protest the snuggles soon, they seemed to miss her less than she missed them. Their special moment was interrupted by apologetical Leon who announced that there was a man looking for Con. This Yrean Stavros claimed to be his brother, something that definately got her attention. Matthias and Electra had six sons, Con included, and she had met every single one of them. Yrean was not the name of any of them but there was something very familiar in it....

 

It was unbelievable audacity to come to their home and make such a claim. What on earth could this man want? No other way but go and find out. With a regretful sigh she told the girls that Mama had to go and take care of something and she would be back in a moment. She felt a stab in her heart when they weren't the least perturbed, they had to be really used to her being gone. It definately did not make her mood any dearer for the unwelcomed visitors. She followed Leon to the porch where the man and the woman were kept company by the men gambling there. Everything seemed relaxed enough but all of the people were slightly at their guard, expecting a cue from her.

 

Arette eyed the pair sourly but then she was alerted. She recognised them both from the Yards. Con had never spoken to her of Yrean Stavros so she had assumed that he was a cousin or some more distant relative and the woman had been bonded to a fellow Brown Sister, Raeyn.

 

"Greetings, Yrean." She nodded to him and his companion. "Matalina. I am Arette, Con's wife and I have to confess my surprise at the... hmm... familial relationship you claim, Yrean. Could you please explain this for my benefit?"

 

She was being impolite by not inviting them into the house but that would have signaled that they were welcome. This might be a topic that was better discussed in more private, though. The large dining hall for the militia men would do as she would not let them close to her children until she could be certain of them. "Mayhap we can do it inside. If you will you follow me?"

 

She shook her head firmly at Leon and Bernd who seemed intent on following them. She could handle herself even if both of the visitors were apt with their blades. The men ignored her will and clambered along anyway and since she couldn't exactly start arguing with them there. They positioned themselves casually to her sides and she wondered with frustration what Yrean and Matalina would make of that. It was over protective definately but they had their orders from Con to keep her from any harm.

 

"Please, take seats. Any refreshments or shall we get to the business?"

 

Arette Stavros

Exiled Brown Sister

This was Yearn's family and Cari was more eager to see that her children were safe, she glared at the woman calling her Matalina, she either recognized her which was highly unlikely or someone told her who she was, that was for another time.  This was not a good omen and Cari was almost prompted to take Yearn by the hand and leave.  There was no telling what else these people knew about her if they knew her former name.  But they were invited in and Cari could only follow Yearn in.  It was not something she was comfortable with, but yet she had expected him to be comfortable with her family.  Cari's only family was the children, and he had met two of them before while in Tar Valon.  There would have been no reason not to.

 

Before Yearn could speak, Cari spoke first.  "My name is Cari Namere, this Matalina you speak of has been dead for over nine years and I'd prefer it if she stayed that way."  Cari didn't care if she was being rude and from the look Yearn gave her she was. Cari really didn't want to be here, in a strangers home, she itched to reach for her daggers for comfort instead she clung to Yearn's hand.  She did not feel safe at all.

 

Cari

 

OOC:  sorry for the rude comments lol

Blood and bloody ashes, where be this woman getting that name from?

 

Yrean did not have to look at Cari to know what she was thinking or feeling, no one was supposed to know about Matalina, not about that name anyway. “You be mistaken if you be thinking that be my companions name, she be Cari, and it be good of you to be remembering that.”

 

This be so typical of Con he be no choosing someone simple, he be choosing some one who be knowing Mat.

 

“I be sorry about our tone, but you be taking us by surprise, Con be no telling me he be married. We be needing to start again I be thinking.”

 

Taking a breath, Yrean reached out for Cari’s hand, not for reassurance, or to offer it, she did not need that, but Yrean feared that Cari might erupt into violence, and that was not something he wanted, or needed right now.

 

“I be Con’s brother, we be sharing the same father, mayhaps he be no wanting to bring shame to his father.” Yrean did not care what this woman thought about that, he was not going to let his father’s shame be a burden he had to carry. “I be knowing Con be no liking to talk about it, but I be not one to be allowing matters such as that to be bothering me.” Yrean did not like the haughty manner that this woman seemed to want to display and the way the two men arranged themselves got his back up. As if he would come into a house and threaten the host, Illian had changed a lot since he had last been here, and so it would seem had Con.

 

“I be thinking we be intruding, you be no knowing me, nor be knowing my relationship with Con. We be finding somewhere to stay and be returning at a later time when Con be here, I be thanking you for your gracious welcome Arette, but the shock be affecting you I be thinking.” After flashing the woman his most charming smile, Yrean turned to Cari. “I be thinking we be seeing some of the sights of the city and be finding somewhere to be staying, I be knowing just the place, that be until your children arrive.” Yrean winked at Cari to hint at his real intent, he had no doubt she would know what he meant and he had an idea that he had to distract her from the mention of her former name, the last thing either he or Cari needed was for one of her other personalities to take over and violence to break out.

 

Yrean

 

OOC I'm not ;D

 

OOC: No worries about rudeness *grins* Arette didn't exactly give them a heartfelt welcome either. And from the reservations Con is going to have about Matalina... well, we'll see what happens :P They might not even want to come and live under Con's roof, at least not for any longer than is necessary.

 

Sorry for stealing the initiative from you James but this gets us quicker to the situation where all four will be in the same room.

 

 

IC:

 

The woman Arette had recognised as Matalina looked clearly ill at ease and she held on to Yrean's hand like it was an anchor. The discomfort was quickly explained. Obviously she had taken herself a new identity and did not want to be associated in any way with the old one. Most strange. And had it really been nine years since she had last seen the woman? Time flew on wings. She could kind of understand where Cari was coming from. She wasn't the same woman she had been four years ago and reminders of the White Tower could be painful. She would respect her wish but she could not help but be curious about the why. Maybe Con would know something or further association would reveal.

 

Yrean's words made her frown slightly and she wasn't even utterly certain anymore that Cari and Matalina were the same person. The resemblance was striking so unless they were twin sisters... no use to dwell on it. And Yrean did not like her tone. She might owe him an apology if it turned out that he really was Con's brother but who wouldn't be surprised and slightly suspicious if unknown relative turned out on their doorstep. And right after he had been elevated Lord Stavros and become a fairly important persona in Illian. Maybe the Forsaken on loose and the Black Ajah had made her overly cautious and even a bit paranoid but it had been necessary for survival and she would not rush to embrace anyone who said to be a long lost relative. Not until Con confirmed the story. And if he did, why wouldn't he have told her?

 

He explained on and she should have guessed that he was a half brother. Judging from his age, he was about Con's age so Matthias must have been with Electra by then. Blood and bloody ashes, did Electra know? Yrean certainly had the distinctive family look but... What a mess. She could see how he stared stiff necked at Leon and Bernd and it was evident that he had taken offense for being treated like a suspicious figure. It couldn't be possible for a first meeting to go worse awry. She had just wanted to spend a nice, relaxing evening home with her family, she wanted wail.

 

Instead she plastered a polite, hopefully even a tad warm smile on her face. Aes Sedai were masters of facade and hers bad been trained for two centuries so surely her face would still obey. "Our marriage is fairly recent even if mine and Con's history goes back to the White Tower. And this is a complicated situation indeed. It might be the best if you returned when Con is back. He will surely be home in about three hours." It wasn't a lie even though he should be home in a little over an hour. She just wanted to have a dinner with him and the children and then a moment to sort this all out. And if they would have guests, preparations would have to be made for that too and who else would be making them but her.

 

"I am sorry that the welcome wasn't as warm as you were hoping for", she pointed weakly at Leon and Bernd. "Please know that the arrangement would have been the same no matter who you were if I did not know you. That is my husband's order after everything that has happened in Illian over the past months."

 

"It is a shame that Con wasn't here to receive you himself. But you are welcomed to come back in three hours and I know that everything will get resolved then. Enjoy Illian. I hope that everything else will go smoothly for you." She thought of Rana and Cina and this time the smile was genuine and reflected from her eyes too. She stood to signal that the short and awkward visit was over and as Yrean and Cari left gracefully, she couldn't tell which side was more relieved. Light, such blunders. She let out the breath she had been holding and headed back to their apartment.

 

It seemed that Leon and Bernd were insistent on following her there too and since she wanted nothing but to spend time peacefully with her daughters, she was not going to argue. The girls loved their guard trio so no one would mind. The plays were always more lively when the men were involved and that would be exactly what she needed. She did not want to think but just enjoy.

 

 

***

 

 

Con had a good warning of what was commencing at their home long before he got to the door as the girls were cheering Leon eagerly off the top of their lungs to vanquish the evil Forsaken played by their mother. Leon was armed with a broken shaft of a broom and a lid of a large kettle and he dodged and defended valiantly against the flashy but harmless One Power effects Arette was conjuring. She had gotten quite clever with Illusion weaves thanks to constant demands for shows. She was the first to notice Con standing at the doorway and with a grin at him she made a dramatic lunge at Leon and allowed him to stab on the chest while she collapsed on the ground. The girls jumped off the back of their loyal steed Bernd and dogpiled her in their eagerness to make sure she wasn't really dead.

 

Then the girls realised that their father was home too and the level of noise peaked until Arette managed to make herself heard and told them to quiet down. After Con had been throughoutly hugged and smooched by the pair, the girls were persuaded to go and play in the dining hall. Arette gave her husband her share of embraces and kissing and finally they pulled apart reluctantly.

 

"Mmm... I hope that your day was a good one. Mine just got a whole lot better." She smiled at him and layed an affectionate hand on his scarred cheek. They sat down on a sofa to just enjoy a moment of relative peace and quiet and closeness. Finally she broke the silence with a sigh. "We will likely be getting visitors in a few hours, a man named Yrean and his... well, lady friend named Cari Namere. You might recognise her better as Matalina, though but just don't call her that. She seemed to take offense. Anyway, the man made an interesting claim. Do you have any guesses to what it might be?" She eyed him speculatively and wondered if it really was true and he just had never told her.

 

Arette Stavros

Cari was extremely glad to be gone from there, she pulled at Yearn to go in the direction she wanted.  He wanted to go someplace to rest, she wanted to go see if her children were here.  She wanted to make sure they were safe.  Yearn did agree to go, it was after all a place to rest. 

 

The inn they had chosen was small but it wasn't too bad too look at.  Yearn looked around a bit distraught it seemed the the place had changed since he was gone.  Cari wasn't sure if she was glad or not that he was as out of place as she felt.  But her thoughts soon left her as familiar voices sounded.  "Mommy!" And then there were two kids wrapped around her legs.  She knelt down to hold them.  "This is Yearn, we are going to travel with him a while."  Cari looked up at Yearn.  "This is Kate and Aiden."  She smiled at him and then returned her attentions to the children. 

 

Glen towered over the children.  "Nathan wants to know when you'll be back." 

 

Cari stood up.  "I don't know, not until I'm sure it's safe to return."

 

Glen nodded.  "He thought you would say that." Glen handed Cari a bag.  "He thought you mind need it.  He said he'd counted it and that one of the children would have a note to tell you how many it was suppose to be so I wouldn't steal any.  Which I did not."

 

Cari smiled at him.  "Thank you."

 

"You owe me again Cari.  Or is it a new name now?"

 

Cari shook her head.  "No, it's still Cari, it's my old name they are after."

 

He nodded then left the inn.  He was abrupt man and Cari didn't want Glen around anyway, he was not her favorite person to have brought the children, but he was probably the safest.

 

"Shall we eat before we go back?"

 

Cari

After leaving Con’s house Yrean did not speak for some time, he was puzzled by the reception they had received and Cari being recognised had filled him with trepidation as well. This Arette woman did not know how precariously close she had come to unearthing something that neither he nor Cari wanted to see the light of day. Then there was the matter of his brother not telling his wife about all of his family, Yrean had hoped that their father’s indiscretion would no longer be held against him, but it would seem that Con had still not been able to fully move past that and still blamed. Or partially blamed Yrean for it. “It no be my fault, I be no asking to be born.”

 

Cari looked over at Yrean, not having heard what he was saying, or that he had said something. “What was that Yrean?”

 

Shaking his head, Yrean continued along the streets of his home city, not wanting to discuss his feelings right now. Thankfully Cari’s children had arrived in the city a day or so before them and the reunion toll occupied her enough not to probe Yrean further about his words.

 

“They do be fins looking children Cari, but it be hard to reconcile you with your own children.”

 

All the while he was talking, Yrean kept his gaze on this Glen person, taking an instant dislike to the man who reminded Yrean of something nasty that was usually found on the sole of his boot. Thankfully Cari dismissed the man and then enquired what they were going to do next.

 

“I be thinking it be better if we eat first, who knows what welcome we be getting at Con’s place. Mayhap it be a mistake returning here.” For now Yrean had some hard thinking to do, and so far he was not happy with the direction his thoughts were taking

 

Yrean