It was a clear spring day. But even spring was still fairly cold this far up north. Aeveryn had been certain, growing up on the foothills of the mountains of mist she was used to cold winters and chilly springs, but being up in the borderlands in the middle of winter had taught her, that either she had grown soft in her time at the white tower, or the winters were much colder that far up north.

 

As soon as spring had set in she was riding back home, or rather the white tower. She did actually miss being there. It was strange. She had been there so long, she thought she could no longer stand the sight of it at some point. But the opposite was true. She was taken with the longing to return. She could count the people she was fond of using the fingers on one hand. Still, she missed them dearly. But there was another reason. Not for the first time she felt she needed a warder. Not just someone to watch her back. She was looking for someone she could trust. Someone that had strong arms and big, skilled fingers. Well, that was more than just secondary. Trust was the main point, usefulness the second point on her list, and that he obeyed, the third. Her cause ruled her life, and serving the white tower. There was no room for more. There was no time. And besides, differently to some other women, she had no interest in more.

 

Men had their uses. And apparently men had a better sense of orientation. She was certain, back when she had been younger, she had been able to rely on her sense of direction, but now she was getting regularly lost. In fact, she realized, she was lost now. Erring around for a while she was growing slowly irritated that she had chosen the wrong road. Getting lost was such a waste of vital time. And mood was just about to match the temperature, when she was finally spotting people up ahead.

 

Maybe they could show her the way?

 

Riding a little faster to catch up with them, she realized one was a young man, the other a young woman. Judging from the looks they were brother and sister. Initially her eyes just scanned them briefly. But somehow her gaze was torn back to the boy a second time, and then a third. Aeveryn had never been fond with men. Her only real encounter with the opposite sex had ended with her complete humiliation and with numbing pain and the desire to die. Men were cruel biest in her conviction. Not that she hated them. She just prefered to stay clear of their kind most the time. Nerome once had scratched at that certainty, and maybe he had saved her from becoming a red.

 

But this boy… She really was too old to be taken with such foolishness, but there was something about the features of this young man that caught her interest. Worse, looking at him made her heart jump and pulse race. Unconsciously she smoothed her dark, bluish grey riding habit. At fist she did not understand what was going on. But when she realized she was rather stunned. And confused. But then on the other hand, this young fellow was a rather handsome young guy. Different to most of the other men she had seen his face looked cultivated, almost a little soft, and maybe a tinge feminine. Well, thinking about it, he could have been a pretty girl. That thought made her grin.

 

But the grin faded as she drew in next to him. He was handsome. In fact the expression on his face took her breath away. Still, soothing a few curls of hair out her face the wind had loosened, it was her to talk first.

 

“May the light be with you. I am Aeveryn. I am on my way to Cairhien. I somehow managed to loose my way. Do you know how to get there? Can you give me directions?”

 

Again her eyes came to rest on his face. He was not what she would have called perfection. But his face was different and unique. And something made her want to sit there all day and admire him. No, this boy was not perfection. But he was the first she thought was interesting.

The dusty path had led them away from home several weeks before, so far away that the house was a pleasant memory of comfort and warmth, and the largest inn with the greatest number of customers could not be seen, smelled or heard. So far away the borders had been crossed, and inn after inn had welcomed and bid adieu, and strangers had to be met of slightly foreign accents, when they were in need of direction. Lucky for them that Rakim Behen had chosen to be stern with them learning the map of the world, for the latter half of their otherwise eventful journey was a rare occurrence. Between the two of them, and one large map they had taken from the house, they were secure. They had chosen the most well trodden trails, so that there was little risk of danger. Another caution they had taken was that Tirzah had dressed to look a little older than she looked, roughing her hair out wilder than usual and keeping her clothes thick. Appearances could make all the difference.

 

They had paused for a short break, straying off the main road for a few hours while they let their horses slacken speed, and take rest. She came quickly, her horse’s hooves reaching them much before she herself did. As the gap between them closed, Tirzah allowed herself a quick glance. And was surprised. The woman beside them was the wearer of a charming face, with pale skin and blue eyes framed by flaxen hair. The woman beside them was…a Lady. Blinking, she took in the rich material of the woman’s clothing and wondered. What was a woman such as the likes of her doing out on the open road? And that too, without an escort? Every robber’s eye would gleam upon seeing a bundle of wealth such as her. Turning to Cia, she exchanged a quick glance and nodded slightly. Obviously, the woman was lost.

 

At the same time they steadied their horses so that the gallop had become an easy trot, and the Lady was beside them. She was about to nod politely and leave the talking to Lucrecia, when she noticed the strange way the woman was eyeing her. The lashes would flutter slightly, and then blue eyes would study her face fleetingly, before hastily moving back to the road. Puzzled, she looked towards Cia again, who shook her head. Turning back, she tried again to greet the woman, when she suddenly understood.

 

The lady was…admiring her.

 

Realization came in torrents, bursting through the polite façade and splashing onto Tirzah’s face as she evenly stared back. She was not one for swooning after men or fancying women because of her questionable gender, but this was much too good to just let go of. Amusement danced in Tirzah’s eyes for a few seconds, before she chained it down and waited expectantly for the woman to talk first. Once the introduction came, she felt like laughing yet again. A woman on the way to Cairhien, here in the middle of nowhere? Hah. Flashing her most charming smile, from the corner of her eye she saw Cia sigh, and felt the laughter within her bubble once more. “I don’t understand what a pretty lady such as yourself is doing in these parts, Aeveryn, but we do indeed know the road to Cairhien.” Glancing at Cia from the side, she continued again. “And we will help you, no doubt about it.”

 

Tirzah

Before the Tower

To not make the impression she was staring at the lad, Aeveryn pretended to study the road in between what she considered fleeting glances. There was a quality to his face… it was so special, so intriguing. For a moment she contemplated if any of the other sisters would disapprove if she was to buy this lad some garments. He was much too good looking to walk around in the clothes he currently wore. He deserved better. Silk. Velvet. Ribbons and lace.

 

Yes, what a lovely idea. She’d get him some silk pants, of pink colour and a white shirt. The shirt would be of masculine cut, but adorned with enough lace and ruffles to accent his pretty, somewhat feminine face. Somehow, that thought made her skin prickle. She would have clothes tailored to suit his looks. Masculine, and yet decidedly feminine. A rather interesting concept.

 

His smile made her attention snap back to him. And his words nearly made her blush. Or did she? Her cheeks did feel as if heat was rising. She had thought the tower had prepared her for all eventualities. But then at no time had anyone called her pretty. Her arches and the test with the one hundred weaves had been full of cruel situations, but in none had she been complimented. In fact, she could not remember one situation in the last thirty years where anyone had implied she was good looking.

 

But then, she had been so meagre, it was really no surprise. Most likely she had been so thin, people had just not seen her.

 

Still, his words confused her. For a moment she was wondering if he was mocking her. Aeveryn had to resort to novice exercises to get her senses to calm. Lowering her head to not make the impression she was staring, well she feared she had made that impression already, she pretended to study their horses. But all she really noticed was the outlines of his thighs showing off through the trousers he wore. She decided to have the pink pants cut rather tightly. Maybe they could have them made from material they usually used for women’s stockings? Yes, she was growing warm to the idea more and more.

 

Just then her horse slipped a little and twisted to regain footing, making her nearly slip from her saddle. Silently she cursed herself. The light burn her, she was no silly novice any more! Ogling a stranger that could have been her son! She should have been ashamed. But then something else occurred to her. No, she really was no novice any more. And there was no law or custom that forbade… Really, there was nothing wrong with it as long as she kept the matter decent. She tore her eyes away from the youngster and scanned the horizon. A tumble in the hey? Was that what she wanted?

 

The thought had the effect on her as if she had been thrown into icy water.

 

Well, maybe she shouldn’t try to run, before she had learned to walk.

 

“Many thanks for your kind words, young master. But I hope you are not the kind of lad that thinks any kind of woman is helpless and lost without a man at her side.” She nearly rolled her eyes remembering that she indeed was lost. “But quite clearly your own good looks have taken to your head, or is it customary in the region you are from that you do not introduce yourself to strangers, even once they have given you their name?”

 

Aeveryn softened her words by smiling. This was not the white tower. And this was not a novice. Really, she was not irritated at all and in fact just curious to learn his name. 

 

“Or was it my fault?” She lifted one of her brows teasingly. “Has my appearance made you loose your composure?”

 

She felt like giggling. She felt like a novice planning a prank. 

 

Tirzah blinked. And then curved her lips into another smile. She had been mistaken about the lady. While those blue eyes held every inch of the hesitant admiration, they also sparkled occasionally through the dust, teasing and coaxing all at once. Tirzah reckoned if she really was a lad, she’d have swooned and kneeled just as much as Lady Aeveryn desired. However, she was not. She was Tirzah. She dressed and danced like a young boy yes, but her own eyes held all the laughter bubbling and fizzing since epiphany had come, like a cool breeze promising a day of splendid rain. While Aeveryn bore little semblance to the Saldaean rains, she was pretty splendid. Oh yes.

 

Upon hearing Aeveryn’s last question, Tirzah’s eyebrows screamed out to rise and giveaway the surprise she felt, but determined Tirzah Behen did not succumb. She laughed softly and bowed her head as was due for an adolescent and his modest nature, pretending to hide the otherwise nonexistent blush that lit her cheeks. Coughing as if unable to speak, she cleared her throat and looked up from her strands only slightly to speak. “And what if that were true, my lady?” Letting the stirring silence hold for a few seconds, she congratulated herself: impeccable tone; rich and hesitant, soft and modest. She would use it in the future, Tirzah thought, nodding mentally to herself. When she deemed the quiet to have endured long enough, she straightened. Hastily rubbing her cheeks as if to hide the nonexistent blush yet again, Tirzah set off into more typical banter, motioning to Lucrecia as she began the pleasantries.

 

“A thousand pardons for the missing introductions, Aeveryn. I was caught off guard. This charming woman here is Lucrecia, my sister and as our faces might’ve caused you to suspect, my twin.” Grinning at that, she paused and smiled at Cia, who looked as if she was struggling between giggles and disapproval. Turning back to face the wooed to be, she bowed her head slightly. “I am Tirzah, and your honoured companion for as long as you please.” Sudden impulse sparking through her veins. Smoothly lowering herself, and she took one slender hand clutching the reins. Gently, she brushed her lips against the white of the hand. Gently, she let the hand slip. Gently, she rose to face her Lady again.

 

Not so gently, the mischief in her eyes glimmered.

 

~Tirzah

Twin to Lucrecia

Grinning Gender Bender. :P

It was just a fairly normal, if maybe elaborate way for a greeting.  Aevy was remotely aware that his sister was watching her with barely concealed amusement. But she could not help it. As this young man kissed her hand, as his breath caressed she skin of her hand, a pleasant shower ran down her spine. It was not as good as holding Saidar, but it was a delight in its own way.

 

Aeveryn realized this was the first time she was really feeling a woman. Maybe the silk on her skin, maybe the delicate dresses, maybe her slowly transforming appearance should have given her that certainty before. Well she had known it. But somehow this was different.

 

Somehow the way Tirzah’s sister was turning her eyes was making her feel he was just playing some game with her.  Probably a boy looking like him had a dozen girls a day to toy with? But that thought did not turn Aevy off. Rather, she found it amusing. Maybe she would tell him a little later how old she really was? Imagining his face hearing that made her giggle.

 

“Master Tirzah, I fear the gentle caress of your lips has left me all weak. Even my head feels all dizzy. I think we should take an early rest for today.” The sun was still a fair but up, but not that high. But where they were there was no town and no village. Only one barn stood a little down to one side.

 

Seeing that Aevy  smiled with feigned innocence. I’ll doubt we will be able to find better for tonight.” Then she added rather cheekily. “Oh, I remember how my brothers and I used to jump around in hay as children. Those days had been fun. Wouldn’t you enjoy a tumble in the hay with me, Tirzah?”