Facing the Storm (Melianna's Arches)

Melianna lay fast asleep in her bed. She had scrubbed so many pots today, she thought her hands would never un-wrinkle.  A firm knock came from the door, a knock that she was only partly aware of. The knock came again.

 

“Yes, Laras, all the pots are clean.” She mumbled as she rolled over to face the wall. The knock came once again, followed by a firm voice. “Melianna! Open the door.” That woke her up very fast. It was not Laras. It sounded like Darienna. She quickly threw the sheets off and ran to the door in her shift. She opened the door an attempted a curtsey, but in a shift, it was difficult to do right.

 

“It is time, child.” She said calmly, ignoring the shift.

 

“What? It can’t be First Bell yet! I haven’t been asleep for more than an hour.” Melianna said groggily, running the sleep from her eyes.

 

“No, child. It is time. Dress and follow me.” She said with a touch of impatience in her voice.

 

It clicked now. She was to be tested now. She hadn’t expected it to be so soon. “Yes, Darienna Sedai. Right away.” She replied politely and quickly threw on her crumpled novice dress that had been worn for pot scrubbing. More than one streak of black grease ran across the front. She would have washed it tomorrow, but if she passed, she would have new ones and her old ones would get washed anyways. No point in dirtying another one.

 

Meli followed the Mistress of Novices far down into the Tower. She had been in this part before, when she had first met Shaneevae Sedai in her lab, but they were already long past it. They entered a large room with very large stone doors. They looked like they could weigh tons! Three Sisters saw on the cold dark stone floor around a silvery oval, with three different arches around it. She nearly screamed in delight! Her heart rate pulsed faster and faster, her hands shook. She was going to actually use a ter’angreal! Darienna looked at her as if she was scared, which she must think Meli was. Excited was closer. Thrilled was closer still. Exuberant was closest.

 

She looked closer at the three Sisters around the ter’angreal. She knew two of them. One was Shaneevae Sedai of the Brown Ajah, who taught her about ter’angreal. The other was Suzaku Sedai of the White Ajah, who she briefly met the day she discovered her clan. The other Aes Sedai was a Yellow that she had seen once in passing, but nothing more. Her eyes went to he other side of the room, where there was a table with 3 pitchers of water on it. Behind it was another Aes Sedai, this one of the Green. This one looked older than the others, with eyes looking ready to burst with her wisdom from over the ages.

 

Darienna speaking broke her out of her studying trance. . "There are two things I must tell you that no woman hears before entering this room," the Mistress of Novices began. "Once you begin, you must continue to the end. Refuse to continue and, no matter your potential, you will be put out of the Tower with enough silver to see you through a year and never be allowed to return. And secondly, to seek, to strive, is to know danger. You will know danger here tonight. Some have entered and never been seen again. When the ter'angreal was allowed to grow quiet they simply were not there. To survive, you must be steadfast. Faltering leads to failure.”

 

"This is your last chance, child. You may turn back now and you will only have one mark against you. Twice more you will be brought here and only after refusing for a third time will you be put out of the Tower. There is no shame in refusal. Many cannot enter the first time. Now you may speak."

 

Melianna nodded and said firmly, “I am ready.”

 

Then suddenly, the Green Sister boomed out with a very commanding voice. "Whom do you bring with you, Sister?"

 

"One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, sister," Darienna replied back in a loud, clear voice.

 

"Is she ready?"

 

"She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance."

 

"Does she know her fears?"

 

"She has never faced them, but is now willing."

 

"Then let her face what she fears."

 

 

The Mistress of Novice returned her focus to Melianna. “Please remove your clothes, as you must be clad in the Light for this.” Melianna undressed with no hesitation. She was frankly used to it. Things would happen when you were the only woman on a ship on a two week voyage. Her cloths lay in a heap on the floor, worse than what they had been in her room. Darienna led her over to the arch between the Yellow and Suzaku. "The first time is for what was," she said. "The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

 

 

Melianna did not hesitate. She walked confidently with long strides into the light than now filled her vision, filled her mind.

 

For what was…

 

 

Melianna swung from a rope on her Father’s ship. It was a perfect day for sailing. The sun was shining brightly, the wind was blowing southerly to the sea, and the birds sang as they flew alongside the ship, to give it luck. She swung down to the deck and landed with a thump. She was barely fourteen, her naming day being only a few weeks behind her.  It was then her Father had given her a special set of prized silver bells, that she now wore everywhere she went. She shook her hair around to let them jingle and then let out a merry laugh. She went down under the deck to find her Father, who was most likely in his rooms reading about Birgitte and Gaidal Cain. He had hardly put the book down after he found a copy in Aringill. She skipped across the floor to his rooms at the back of the ship. She opened the gilded doorknob and peeked inside. She was right. He was reading. And he hadn’t noticed her either. She snuck quietly toward his chair, with its back to her. She was a foot away from scaring her Father when the door flew open.

 

“Cap’n! There’s a storm! A bad one. Come quick.” Yelled the scruffy looking deckhand who often eyed her legs. Her father spun his chair around and slammed the book shut.

 

“I’m coming.” He responded with concern in his voice. He ran out the door and his footsteps faded as he ran. And he still didn’t notice her! But a storm? It was clear and glass when she was just out there. How could a storm be hitting them now? Of course, things were unpredictable in the Fingers of the Dragon, so you never knew. She ran up the stairs at the front end of the ship. She could tell it was a bad storm just by the feel of the hull.

 

The wind howled and tore at the sails. Waves beat at the front and sides with the ferocity of lions. Rain and hair fell like hammers on the deck. She had never seen hail that big before. Suddenly, the ship jerked forward, leaning with the tip completely submerged. The ship hit something, something big and hard. The front shot back up and the ship ended up sailing sideways, but lower. The ship was sinking. Sinking while it was pushed downstream. The hull and the stern caught the bank and a rock in the middle of the river and the ship suddenly tipped. It was now horizontal. Melianna fell drastically and was caught by a railing. She heard shouts, screaming and swearing from all around her as sailors fell either into the water or onto the railing as she had. Then she saw her Father, head caught around a rope and in the water. He struggled to get to the ship, to get the deadly noose from around his neck that threatened to kill him. The rope was attached to the ship still and the current was pulling him down.

 

“Melianna,” her father hoarsly yelled out. Cut the rope, cut the rope!” She noticed she still had her belt knife on her. She reached for it. The way will come but once. What? She unsheathed her knife. Be steadfast. She saw the door, shining on a rail not three steps away, but in the wrong direction. Her Father was the other way. She looked at him, and took a step away, balancing on the rail.

 

“Melianna, please. Help me” he yelled, gasping for air.

 

Another step.

 

“Melianna….” He yelled and was pulled under. He popped back up and screamed again “Melianna!”

 

She took the last step and fell through the gateway and landed on the stone floor. She was panting, wet on her hands and knees. Icy water sprayed down her head and back. She was even colder now. She stood up and faced the Green, not shedding a tear. She held them back as hard as she could and kept her face calm. Aes Sedai did not cry! The Green pronounced, "You are washed clean of what sin you may have done and of those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul."

 

"Do you have any questions, child?" Darienna Sedai asked. Melianna shook her head and resumed her serenity. She may not look affected by reliving that moment that nearly took her Father away, but inside, she wept. The woman guided her to the second archway with a hand pressed lightly to her shoulder. "Then come. The second arch is for what is. The way will come but once. Be steadfast."

 

She faced the second arch as she had the first two. She entered the arch between Suzaku and Shaneevae with that confident long stride. The light filled her vision and mind once more.

 

For what is…

 

 

Melianna couldn’t see very well. She had so many towels bundled in her arms that they blocked her vision quite well. She strode along the corridor in her novice white, often bumping into servants and other Novices, sometimes missing them. Nothing was out of place today really, until she bumped unto someone. Someone rather unpleasant.

 

“Ouch! Hey, watch where you’re going, you half-breed.” shouted a woman in front of her. Melianna turned to look sideways. It was Sial. The stocky little Cairheinin was glaring at her with the heat of the sun. “You are such a fool, you savage.” Sial shouted again. The corridor was empty now.

 

“What do you mean?” Melianna inquired with a touch of sorrow to her voice.

 

“Oh stop playing the innocent. The whole tower knows you are a half breed. You are only half civilized. Your other half comes from those savages floating on rafts all the time.”

 

“They are not savages!” Melianna screamed back with more than a hint of sorrow now.

 

“Yes, they are. And you are one of them. You should have never come here. The White Tower wants the best, and you are the worst. Go home, you freak.” Sial’s words cut her to the bone. She wanted to punch her, but she couldn’t. She was afraid of Sial. She turned to run away, but a glimmer caught her eye. The way will come but once. She turned back, and saw the silver arch right behind Sial. Sial was blocking the way. Be steadfast. She turned and dropped her towels on the stone floor. She stood indignantly with her fists balled up by her side. She glared at the woman. Sial’s eyes widened as Melianna broke into a dead run towards her, but stood her ground and glared back harder than ever. She was in arms reach of Sial now. She extended her arms and pushed the small woman to the side and continued running through the shining door.

 

Melianna flew out of the door and tumbled on the floor as she landed. Icy water soaked through her long dark hair and ran down her face. "You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul." She felt exhausted., but there were still no tears. “I’m ready” she said as she collected herself off of the stone floor. She was lead over to the third arch. "The third time is for what will be. Be steadfast for the way back will come but once." Darienna told her as she faced the last shining door. Shaneevae and the Yellow on either side paid no attention to her, just to the ter’angreal. Confident stride followed confident stride as she entered the last shining doorway. The doorway to determine her Acceptance. No turning back.

 

For what will be…

 

The docks were muddy as usual. The smell of salt hung heavily across the entire city. Tear was nice enough, just not this part of it. But Melianna wasn’t here to sight-see. It was only a few months since she had been raised to Aes Sedai, and she left as soon as she could. She had planned on this for a while. Her luck was running with her, for in the docks was a tall Sea Folk Raker. And if what she heard was true, it was from the Western side. That was the Rossaine’s territory. Her clan’s territory. A dark woman stood at the bottom of the gangplank, clad in a very bright yellow blouse with matching baggy trousers. They look very comfortable and cool in the summer heat of Tear. She, herself, was wearing a pale blue dress in the Taraboner cut. She had a dress from every nation and city. The styles were so diverse, and she like to experiment, but Tarabon’s cut caught her eye. But no veil, that would drive her insane. She approached the woman and showed her the tattoo on her hand.

 

“How is it that you carry the clan markings, but wear the clothes of the shore-bound? I don’t remember ever seeing you before.” The woman in yellow said with a confused look.

 

‘My name is Melianna Hollmen, but the name I received at birth is Tsunami dur Northwave. I am of the Rossaine clan. I was born with a shore-bound father, so my Mother sent me to him at a young age. I never knew my Mother, but I wish to return to my people, to learn of them and to meet my family.” Melianna explained.

 

“Dur Northwave? Hmm.” The woman pondered. “Follow me.” The yellow clad woman led her up the gangplank. “Gale! Zephyr! Come down here” the woman shouted up to the riggings. Two smaller women adeptly scaled down the ropes and landed near them. “Yes, Breeze? What do you need?” asked the smaller of the two women. Clad in a light bright green, she looked smaller than most Cairheinin. “Who is this?” asked the larger of the two, clad in a deep purple.

 

“This…is our sister.” Said the yellow clad woman, apparently named Breeze, with awe and shock in her deep, strong voice.

 

“What? I have no sisters other than Zepher and yourself.” That must be Gale. “Impossible to have a sister among the shorebound”, Said the purple clad one, Zephyr.

 

“Not long ago, when Mother decided to live her last years on Tremalking, she told me a story. A story of when she was young and unmarried. She had gotten drunk and taken bed with a shorebound. When she found out she was with child, she scrambled to find that man. She could not have bore the shame of having a half child. Never before had that happened. It would have disgraced the name dur Northwave. So she sent her daughter by River to a place called Arafel, way up the Erinin. Her name was Tsunami.” As she told the story, the others became very emotional. Breeze continued. “Mother soon after found a husband and had us. She had wanted all her children to have names taken after the wind, but she made her firstborn from the water, so show the difference. To prove that she was not from us. Tsunami, the child she ran from. This is that girl, our eldest sister, who grew up shorebound. She has returned to us. She wishes to meet Mother.”

 

Melianna suddenly had six arms all embracing her as their long lost sister. Tears ran down her face. She had sisters. She had a mother. She would meet her mother! Nothing could ruin this moment. The way will come but once. No, not that!

 

Zephyr started saying that they would go to Tremalking as soon as the Sailmistress said so and about how much catching up they would need and all the customs Tsunami would have to learn. Be steadfast. The shining doorway was at the top of the gangplank, calling to her. She looked to her new found sisters, then looked o the doorway.

 

“Umm, one minute please.” She said as she left the embraces of her siblings.

 

“Where are you going? Stay with us.” Gale said.

 

“Sorry, I must go, now” Meli said starting for the door. Breeze went to grab her, but she channeled her hand away with a shield of air. She ran. Just in front of the door, she stopped and looked back to her sisters. They looked heartbroken. She built their hopes up so high, and then shattered them into pieces, never to be fixed again. No tears. She walked through the door.

 

She stepped out of the doorway to see the Amyrlin Seat, with a Sister from each Ajah in a semicircle around her. Kathana Trevaleaer, the Amyrlin Seat, stood with the third chalice in hand. The some of the other Sisters around she had seen or met before. Estel of the Blue, Maegan of the Red, Jaydena of the Green, Miri of the Gray. Raeyn she had seen in passing. The White and Yellow she did not know. She knelt before the Amyrlin as she poured the chilling water over her and spoke. "You are washed clean of Melianna Hollmen of Shol Arbela. You are washed clean of Tsunami dur Northwave of the Rossaine. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean in heart and soul. You are Melianna Tsunami Hollmen, Accepted of the White Tower. You are seal to us now. Welcome, daughter." She passed the chalice to Darienna and was given a ring from Miri. The Great Serpent Ring of the Aes Sedai, a serpent biting its own tail. The Amyrlin slid it onto Melianna’s slender third finger and kissed her cheeks. “Welcome home, daughter.” The rest of the Sisters did the same in turn, including the ones operation the ter’angreal, which she found she had not enjoyed as much as she expected. She made made it. She was accepted. She would be Aes Sedai. She ran her fingers over the ring.

 

After the rest had left, Melianna hung behind, as did Darienna.

 

“You are very strong, child. You did not cry once. You either do not know fear, or you are a White in the making.” The Mistress said. Melianna looked at her. She ran and put her arms around the Gray and started to weep uncontrollably. The Gray patted her back and rubbed her shoulders in a very comforting way. Hours passed.