Faceing her fears (Rasheta's Arches)

The Mistress of Novices led Rasheta deep into the lower regions of the Tower. She did not have any questions and Rasheta sincerely hoped she knew enough of the rules so she would know what would happen here. She wasn’t too much afraid of her test; she simply wanted to get things over with. She wanted to be Aes Sedai and get back to see her Mother, and her Aunt. Where arch touches ring, an Aes Sedai sat on the floor, concentrating on the silvery construction.

A fourth Aes Sedai stands beside a table on which sits three silvery chalices filled with clear water. All four Aes Sedai and the Mistress of Novices wear their shawls.

The Mistress of Novices told her. “Two things that no woman hears until she enters this room. Once you begin, you must continue to the end. Refuse to go on, no matter your potential, and you will be very kindly put out of the Tower with enough silver to support you a year, and you will never be allowed back. Second: to seek to strive, is to know danger. You will know danger here. Some women have entered and never come out. When the ter’angreal was allowed to grow quiet, they – were - not – there, tthey were never seen again. If you will survive, you must be steadfast. Faltering leads to a failure.”

“This is your last chance, child. You may turn back now, and you will only have a mark against you. Twice more will you be allowed to come here, and only at the third refusal will you be put out of the Tower. It is no shame to refuse. Many cannot do it their first time here. Now you may speak.”

Rasheta took a deep breath but answered. “I am ready to gain my acceptance”

A Green Sister stood before them and she smiled once before speaking.

"Whom do you bring with you, Sister?" The Aes Sedai asked.

The Mistress of Novices replied, "One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister. "

Once again, the Green Sister spoke, "Is she ready?"

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

With a serene face, the Green Sister continued, "Does she know her fears?"

The answer was returned, "She has never faced them, but now is willing. "

Solemnly, the Green finished, "Then let her face what she fears."

Rasheta was instructed. "Remove your clothing, Child."

Rasheta knew this was required, she had to face her fears clothed in nothing but the light. It made her a bit uncomfortable, she wasn’t sure why exactly. As she had worn skintight clothes till she had come to the tower. She realized she was stalling and quickly took the novice dress off and waited. The Mistress of Novices took her arm and led her to the first arch she said:

"The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.” Rasheta nodded and took a deep breath and stepped through the silver archway.

Rasheta blinked her eyes and stared around her, she was home. Bandar Eban where she had grown up looked just the same as it always had. She looked down at her green dress and smiled, it was all so familiar. She wondered where her mother or her aunt was. Aunt Reana hated Rasheta to be out anywhere alone. Thinking of her mother and her aunt seemed to have conjured them up and they appeared talking together and laughing. Imuari eyed Rasheta and said worried. "Rasheta are you alright you look different.” Her mother looked her over again and asked, “Have you come back an Aes Sedai?” Rasheta started in surprise.  She was Aes Sedai, or she would be soon. “I will be a Green Ajah Mother. I came home because I had been away to long.” She didn’t want to admit it but she missed her family as well. Her mother smiled at her and her aunt shook her head. “I am happy to see you, we were worried the Aes Sedai would not let you return.” She turned to Imuari and added, “You should tell her why she is here.” Rasheta narrowed her eyes, something was wrong. Her mother sighed.

"It’s your father Rasheta he is in the house, he isn't doing well the healer is with him now but the sickness will probably take him." Rasheta's eyes got huge and she ran for the house. She ran up the stairs and into her parents’ room. The healer looked up at her and glared

"You should not be in here you need to leave."

"No." Her father said. "I want to talk to her leave healer, I need to talk to my daughter." The woman left, but not before glaring at Rasheta. Rasheta went and sat down next to her father. "Ahhh my daughter I have missed you." Rasheta felt a tear slide down her cheek.

"Father is there nothing the healer can do." He shook his head, "No she has done all she can." Rasheta got an idea then: "What about me I’m an Aes Sedai father, legend says they can do anything." Rasheta's father shook his head. "No my daughter it's too late now. Promise me you will stay with me until the end." Rasheta shook her head. “No father I won’t let you die again. I know I can heal you.” He shook his head and she heard a noise on the stairs. She turned and saw through the open room door another shimmering door not far from where she was now. She heard in her mind the Mistress of Novices. The way will come but once be steadfast. She felt like screaming in anger she had to leave but she didn’t want to. Maybe a little longer, she looked back at her father. “I love you father.” She turned then and ran for the door. She heard her name called but she ignored it and dove through the door. 

Rasheta came out of the first arch with tears in her eyes.

The Green Sister raised one of the three silver chalices sitting on a table near the first arch. She held it high in the air and then poured it over Rashetas head.

The Sister spoke in a crystal clear voice. " 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."

The second arch is for what is. The way will come but once. Be steadfast. Rasheta stepped through her second Arch and looked around herself. She was in the Gardens of the White tower and it appeared she was leaving on a journey. Two Aes Sedai were standing not far from her, giving her thoughtful looks, one of them was a White sister, and the other was a Red. Rasheta wondered what was going on, then the White spoke. "You have denied your chance to become Aes Sedai, Accepted Rasheta and for that you will be put out of the Tower and never allowed back. Gone is the chance for you to become Aes Sedai. You know enough of the power to not kill yourself or others when you use it but you will no longer be trained here." Rasheta was shocked what had she done to be thrown out of the tower? She wanted to be Aes Sedai more then anything else, what could have happened to jeopardize her chances of calling herself Aes Sedai? She opened her mouth but the White wasn't done. "We are going to stay here until you leave the tower grounds and if we have to we will escort you away." Rasheta raised her head and gave the White a proud look. "I know nothing of denying the chance to take my test for Aes Sedai. You must be mistaken." She realized after she said it that she had just told an Aes Sedai that she was lying. She was shocked with herself but she couldn't help it. There was no chance that she would have denied herself the chance to become Aes Sedai, she wanted it more then she could say. The Red spoke then in a cool, but not entirely devoid of emotion, voice. The Red at least seemed to have some sympathy for her. "Child you have denied yourself the right and you have just called an Aes Sedai a lier." The Red shook her head sadly. "If the choice was mine I would give you another chance, however, the Mistress of novices has had her say and nothing short of the Amrylin telling her otherwise will allow you back into the tower." Rasheta nodded slowly and asked "Can I see the Amrylin then?" The Red actually smiled but hid it well, the White looked annoyed. Then Rasheta saw it a shimmering door not far from where she stood, she heard a voice in her head. "The way back will come but once be steadfast." Rasheta eyed the two Aes Sedai, she knew she could prove herself to them and become an Aes Sedai yet she knew she had to go, something pulled her away. She went running for the door. Behind her she heard cries, but she ignored them and ran through the door. Her feet hit the cold cobbles of the arches room and a glass of water was poured over her head. The Aes Sedai with the chalice said: "You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul." Rasheta stood up and took a deep breath the Mistress of Novices walked her to the final arch. Rasheta looked at it reluctantly, the Mistress of Novices said in a quiet voice. "The last time is always the hardest. Be steadfast, you will make it through." Rasheta nodded and stepped through before the Mistress could get the required words out of her mouth. Rasheta was outside the tower, she was looking around wondering where she was when she heard a horsemen approaching. She turned toward the sound and saw one of the recruits from the White Tower approaching her, although he was no longer the young man she had glimpsed the few times she had snuck out to watch the Warders work. He was older and his hair had gray by the temples. He smiled when he saw her and stopped the horse he was riding. "My dear there you are they are looking for you in the palace." She blinked, where was she, whose palace was it, and what sisters? She was an only child and she had never adopted anyone as a sister. She asked "Where am I and who are you?" He looked at her strangely. "You are in the borderlands, you came here with me and some of the Green Ajah a week ago. We are here to fight the blight. You have been my Aes Sedai for the past twenty years. Don't you remember?" He looked concerned now and got down from his horse to look her over. "Have you been too close to the Blight without me? I must get you back to the other Aes Sedai they must delve you to see if you are alright." Rasheta shook her head "I'm fine, I just feel a little strange." He still looked at her concerned but she gave him a smile "Come now show me to the palace and I'll see what my sisters want." He nodded slowly and helped her up into the saddle. He got up behind her and they rode away. She felt content and happy for the first time since her father had died. She leaned back into him and he chuckled "Do you think they would mind if we kept them waiting a little longer." Rasheta laughed then and said. "The Greens are known for being late to meetings." She laughed again and twisted as best she could in the saddle to give her Warder a kiss. He kissed her back for a moment then broke it and got down off the horse, he helped her down and she saw it then a silver door. In her head she heard "The way will come but once be steadfast." She cursed and debated leaving the man who was making her smile and contented. She didn't pull away for a moment and yet she remembered she was here as the next part of being allowed to call herself Aes Sedai, she did want that more then almost anything else. She slipped away from her warder and began to walk toward the silver door. He grabbed her arm and she knocked him away, she had to get through before the door closed. She made a run for the door and fell through it into the arches chamber. The Amyrlin Seat in her seven striped stole stood there, with a sister in a shawl from each Ajah to either side of her. Rasheta walked forward on wobbly legs and kneeled down.The Amyrlin Seat poured the last chalice of cold water over her head and said: “You are washed clean of Rasheta Ardashir of Bandar Eban. 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 Rasheta Ardashir, Accepted of the White Tower.”“You are sealed to us, now. Welcome daughter.” The Amyrlin Seat said. She handed the chalice to one of the other Aes Sedai and produced a Great Serpent ring. She slipped it on to her your left hand’s third finger and pulls her to her feet. “Welcome Daughter.” She said kissing Rasheta's right cheek, and then the other cheek. “Welcome."