Zouwie Dean took her place in the carriage of Aes Sedai. The woman was nice and polite and there was no need for more from her to win Zouwie’s sympathy. And it was very good as it was such a long way to the White Tower and something more - a different life. It was a very strange feeling – everything happened so fast and probably for very long time. She was going to study somewhere she wanted and was very happy but she left her lovely people – her family and all her mates from school. She couldn’t understand – Zouwie had strong hopes to soon return home. Time passed day by day on the road and gave the girl clearer notion about her hopes. The understanding came with the long days of the journey and she felt melancholy that she was leaving those closest to her behind. But they weren’t lost. When she stepped in the White Tower she knew she wanted to be there to study and her ambition came to the forefront of her being.

 

The arrival in the city Tar Valon was a wonderful moment - “What a beauty! And the White Tower – so white …” – it was a mess of agreement and dissatisfaction cause the tower had to be white but no other color and really perfect white - “… and so many exquisite!”. She didn’t pay attention to the crowds – it was daily round in Caemlyn, too. But she would like if there was much more silence.

 

The sadness in her eyes didn’t disappear. She was tired, alone and in a new different place – the great town Tar Valon. Of course Zouwie knows the Aes Sedai with whom she was traveling but she was a stranger for the girl. It was hard to speak with her if she wanted to ask something. It was good when the lady told her answers of the most questions in her head. But not all of the answers were comprehensible for the girl.

 

That was – the end of the path. They came in the Tower and after some minutes a door of some room opened in front of them. Inside was two sisters who welcomed Zouwie and her fellow-traveler left her there.

 

Darienna Sedai awaited the arrival of her newest novice. Estel Sedai, who had chosen to take the girl under wing, was there too. Hopefully the combined presence of two Aes Sedai would not be too much for the girl. Her journey had been a long one and doubtless she was very tired. Overwhelming her at this stage would be foolish.

 

The Mistress of Novices smiled encouragingly as the young girl entered her study, the emotional undercurrents flowing beneath were openly worn; it was a hard thing to leave everything you have ever known to learn in a world of strangers, Darienna understood this. That was why there was a Mistress of Novices.

 

“Welcome, my name is Darienna Sedai and this,” pointing to Estel Sedai—who is all that is weak for leaving me stranded for over a month without posting, “is Estel Sedai; she will be taking care of you. She will be your mentor if you prefer such a term. What is your name, and what do you think of Tar Valon so far?”

 

 

Estel sat, glaring at Darienna like a cat hissing at the nearby dog.  If the Blue had had a tail, claws or fur... enough with the cat metaphors.  Anyways, Estel was not a happy Aes Sedai.  Not that she was often a happy Aes Sedai; given to bouts of suicidal depression, violent rages and other decidedly "not happy" moods.  She did have some level of justification, though.  Would any Aes Sedai be happy with being sidled with a third mentee just as the second two were working through the critical stages of their Novitiates (which is a highly amusing word as it sounds like Novice shits)?  Light, she wanted to get away from Tower so badly, but it seemed that Darienna had other ideas- ideas that seemed to include turning straight-as-a-dime hair prematurely grey.

 

Damned Darienna!  Bloody cow!  What she would give to strangle the...

 

The door opened simultaneous to the Blue beginning to grind her teeth, emitting Zouwie Dean.  The girl seemed young even for a Novice.  Estel had been eighteen already when she came to the Tower, Zouwie was fourteen?  Fifteen?  Sixteen?  Surely no more than sixteen.  Blood and ashes, despite being young yet for an Aes Sedai, she suddenly felt the age that was so easy to ignore when one's face didn't change with the decades that passed.

 

Sitting back quietly as Darriena took care of the administrational stuffs, the Domani simply sat back to observe how her mentee would handle this.