When you become a Gaidin, there are certain privileges that you are donned with. For one, the cloak. The marvellous ripple effect that it had, with its ability to shift colour to match the landscape was something that -which he had no doubt had amused his Aes Sedai greatly- had fascinated Nerome for lengths at a time when he first garbed himself within it. The second, far more important boon it had endowed him with was the little ball of emotions caught adrift inside his head, changing and flickering at their own accord. Rossa. When they had first Bonded, he had expected that it would take some getting used to. Somehow though, being able to sense where and how his Aes Sedai was fit remarkably well into the rest of his day. It made him secure, stable.

 

Admittedly, it killed off the chance to 'surprise' one another when he had the desire to do so, but he'd rather have her safe. Besides, being able to tell that Rossa Sedai had been occupied all day, bubbling with an unusual amount of energy and warmth, more than intrigued him. It had made training go awry more than once, so that halfway through a sword form he simply stopped and tugged at the little ball demandingly. For those who require subtitles, it went something like this: What're you upto, Rossa?

 

He'd questioned her often, by asking it in his thoughts and emotions several times, but each time was responded to with only a heightened sense of amusement on Rossa's part, so the embarassed Warder decided that he'd take his Aes Sedai's advice, and wait. Thus, when a soft knock announced the entry of another to his quarters, Nerome was more than glad to answer. He restrained himself from calling out his Bondholder's name, seeing as the bond indicated quite clearly that she was still in the Tower, most likely in her rooms, but the wide-eyed Accepted who'd come calling could not help but be slightly alarmed by the generous smile and sparkle that had taken over Nerome Gaidin.

 

Indeed, so great was his pleasure that he did not even observe Mina Darryl to be who she was, simply taking the letter from her with a swift hand and then proceeding to thank her with loud gestures and quick exclamations. In his merriment, he even considered hugging the not-so young Accepted, refraining himself only because the woman was giving signs of suffering from large amounts of shock.  Dismissing her as quickly as he had welcomed her, Nerome relieved the letter of its envelope with care.

 

The familiar cursive, slanting towards the left with all the elegance that trademarked it as Rossa Venye's came into view soon, making the Warder grin widely as he read the invitation. Dinner then? She had even graced him with a time to arrive at, which made him wonder if all the 'busy' had been beside this little affair. It would be nice if it had- he liked feeling loved and special now and then. Realizing that the appointed hour was not very far away, he put down her letter on his table.

 

"Just give me a moment to look the part Aes Sedai, and I'll be there."

 

 

Nerome Seshir

Warder to Rossa Sedai, of the Blue Ajah.

~Rossa~

 

Around her was a state of peaceful chaos.  There was something soothing about spending a day up to her arms in flour and simple pleasure to be had in the manufacture of a dish.  Food was one of the things that was both a necessity and a comfort; how to say it best – a person needs to eat to live, but a good meal restores the soul.  Around her rose the smell of baking bread and roasting chicken, thick herbed gravies and bread sauces, and her favourite smell of all, the sumptuously spiced Altaran fish stew that would give a Tairen housewife’s best recipe a run for its money. 

 

Food (and to a lesser degree, eating) was Rossa’s Cause.  The basic need to feed was inherent in everyone and she had made it her life’s work to try and provide solutions to famine and hunger, and some of the root causes of ill health.  If she could find a way for people to enjoy that, and to somehow improve their quality of life, then she would be happy. 

 

It came down to something more fundamental than that.  A well-fed nation was looked to be a comfortable and rich nation, and while she did not care too much for the omnipresent Daes Dae’mar that permeated the richer classes, Rossa felt that if a nation was at least happy, they would be too busy competing against each other to worry about other concerns, such as dissatisfaction with a ruler.  It made life easier for Tar Valon, too. 

 

Still, she found it therapeutic at least.  Rinsing her hands in a bowl of lukewarm water specifically for washing in, Rossa looked down at her dress and channelled briefly, opening herself to the bloom of Saidar to remove several spots of grease and some flour.  She would have to do her hair manually, but with the time she had saved so far it would not be a problem; she did not have to meet the intended recipient of her letter for another half an hour or so.

 

Looking around the kitchens, Rossa noted that occasionally a novice set to scrub pots or sometimes the kitchen staff themselves looked at her wonderingly, as though they had never seen an Aes Sedai work in such a manual way before.  True, she thought, they probably had not, but she had never been an ordinary person.  If a Sister of the Blue Ajah wanted to cook something, a section of the kitchens would be handed over to her.  Besides, ever since she had made the pie upon being raised to the shawl of a Blue, the kitchens had been like a second home to her. 

 

Light, nearly time already!  Rolling her sleeves back down over her forearms, Rossa looked at the scar on her hand, turning it this way and that.  She contemplated it and what it meant to her for a long time before shrugging and making her way to her quarters.  The staff here would finish up, and she had left it tidy enough for them.

 

She had taken over a small private dining room not far from her own quarters, and left instructions with the kitchens for the meal to be brought to it in three courses; the stew for a starter, then the roasted meats with baked breads and potatoes, all the trimmings and gravy, and then a sweet pie made of apples, some strawberries and fresh cream.  All in all, Rossa was satisfied with her handiwork.