Continued from HERE

 

Esther knuckled the small of her back as she straightened up from scrubbing their bedroom floor, and glanced over to where her roommate enjoying a much needed nap; it would be time to wake her soon.  She and Kiyi had worked out a system whereby they took turns at this, which at least gave them some respite from the arduous task. A pity they couldn’t do the same for kitchen pots and hallway floors!

 

That was what they had been doing for the past 5 days … or was it six? The days were blurring into one endless routine of scrubbing and sweeping and turning spits. Esther was used to doing at least some hard work, but poor Kiyi … being a noblewoman didn’t prepare one for this kind of hard labour, and Esther was amazed by the grit and determination her roommate was exhibiting.  Who would have thought that such a tiny thing had so much heart?  They had become more comfortable with each other than Esther had thought possible, especially in such a short time.  She thought that with time, they would develop a strong friendship; the Light knew neither of them really fitted in with the giggling gaggle, as they had begun to call the other novices!

 

Her musings were interrupted by door being flung open so hard that it bounced off the wall. Esther’s mouth fell open as a soot covered, sobbing creature stormed in, accompanied by the sound of … bells?

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Novice

 

Sobbing, Deanne stormed down the corridor and, only by demanding directions from a passing novice, did she manage to find her way to her new quarters. Barging in through the door, Deanne cast her bleary tear stained face around the room, spotted an empty bed and flung herself onto it sobbing hysterically disregarding the sooty footprints now smeared across the floor and the soot stains rubbing off on the once pristine bed.

 

"It's just not fair!" She demanded of the figure on the bed "This dress is totally ruined! You, maid...go and fetch me a wash basin or something will you?" Deanne commanded the girl on her knees then dismissed her from thought. The outrage on the woman's face went unnoticed as Deanne twittered on about her dress to the very sleepy looking girl.

 

"Well it looks as if we're going to be room-mates, not for very long though I'm sure. I intend to be Aes Sedai as soon as I can. It's the only way I can get a better life. Marrying a rich man has it's charms of course, but..." she tilted her head on one side as she examined a braid that had become loose "It's a very hit and miss affair. I mean how likely is it that royalty will come into my father's shop?"

 

She produced a handkerchief, dried her eyes and blew her nose theatrically, grimacing at the soot on the  white cloth, then looked with astonishment at the girl still knelt on the floor. "Are you still here?" 

Kiyi shot upright at the unexpected commotion, still half asleep and looking more than a little bleary eyed, to find an unknown young woman storming into the room, sobbing and talking ten to the dozen. As she gathered her wits and actually registered the girl's words, Kiyi's jaw dropped slowly open in amazement.

 

How can one person succeed in being so rude in such a short time? she wondered, wincing a little at the orders being flung at Esther who looked like she was about to explode. The girl said something about being her room mate and Kiyi's face stilled in horror. Her chin lifted and she did something that was rare for her. Even sitting amongst rumpled sheets, she was suddenly every inch the noble woman.

 

"That is Esther," she interjected in a hard tone, looking down her nose at the new arrival. "She's not a maid, she's my room mate. All novices have to keep their own rooms clean. And you would be?"

 

Surely there has to be a mistake? This... creature... can't possibly be assigned to our room!!

Still staring open mouthed, Esther watched as the girl flung herself on a bed and proceeded to babble about her dress, then flung orders at HER.  Who on earth did she think she was?  The nerve!  She got up to give the girl a piece of her mind, but anger always left her lost for words. Her eyebrows shot up when Kiyi suddenly sat up, her bearing regal enough for a queen on her throne. She flashed one brief grin of admiration as Kiyi gave the girl a withering lecture to match any Aes Sedai, but then glowered again at the sooty creature.

 

She could feel the heat suffusing her face as she listened to the whining tirade spewing forth from the poutingly pretty mouth.  She’d never heard such drivel in her life – the girl sounded exactly like one of those empty headed popular girls she’d always hated and avoided. The ones who thought of nothing but their clothes and their hair and which boy would be the best catch.  And it seemed not just anyone would do for THIS one – royalty, indeed? The girl was an idiot!

 

Esther exchanged horrified looks with Kiyi when it dawned on them that this … this … person … was going to be their roommate.  Her anger quickly built to a towering rage as she noticed the sooty marks on her previously spotless bed. HER bed! Esther was usually slow to anger, but this was just too much!

 

“Get off my bed, you … you … trollop!”

 

Esther Tremaine

Novice

 

Deanne was just about to reply to the girl on the bed when the one on the floor, Esther interrupted.

 

"Get off my bed, you … you … trollop!"

 

Deanne's eyes widened in hurt innocence, "Well! There is no need for name calling. How was I to know this was your bed or, for that matter, you were a novice, since you were grubbing on the floor like a common maid? I am certainly not going to be caught doing that!" She stopped and smiled an ingratiating smile. "Surely we are all here to learn to Channel, can't you just...." Deanne waved her hands vaguely trying to indicate some one Channelling.

 

She hopped of the bed and ineffectually flailed at the covers and only succeeded in sending clouds of soot up into the room. Shrugging, she left it as it was and turned to the other girls.

 

"So, since we're all room mates, who do I have the pleasure of addressing?" She asked with her best winning smile. "I am Deanne Heillan. I hail from Shol Arbela, in Arafel." She swung her head making her bells chime in her hair. "Pleased to meet you both!"

 

Aghast at the presumption of the newcomer, and keeping her own temper tightly reigned in, Kiyi smiled placatingly at Esther. They'd just have to make the best of a bad situation. No point starting out on the wrong foot, although it might be too late for that if Esther's face was anything to go by.

 

"I'm sure Deanne didn't mean to make such a mess Esther. She didn't know who the bed belonged to after all. Of course, Deanne will likely wish to clean it up for you since it is her fault just the same?" she ended on a slightly querying note, fixing Deanne with a look that brooked no arguments. For once she wasn't in the mood to worry about her voice and continued without pause, "I'm Kiyissalle Chevra, from Cairhien. Pleased to meet you Deanne, though I'm afraid you won't have any choice about the cleaning. It's part of our chores and training. Not only here in our own room either. The Sisters keep us busy. Very busy."

 

She swung her feet tiredly to the cool tiles and stood, surveying Esther's work for a moment. Her new friend never ceased to amaze, she was so industrious, achieving twice what Kiyi could have in the same time. Pushing the exhaustion aside, she moved to the basin to splash some cool water on her face, hoping it might waken her properly.

 

A thought occured to her and she threw over her shoulder, "Oh and no, we can't just channel. Well, I can't. I wouldn't know how. We have our first lesson soon though. I suspect that channeling would be seen as... well, as cheating."

"Well I'm sure the Aes Sedai don't stoop to scrubbing floors! I don't see why we should." Deanne stopped at the look Kiyiselle gave her "Oh don't look at me like that, I'll clean up Esther's bed, don't you worry." She fixed a smile on her face to show willing. I'll collar the first maid I see, I'm sure I can get someone to do it for me! They will probably be grateful for the work with all this Channelling going on.

 

"Well now that's all sorted...any idea where I can get clean clothes? Mine seem to have disappeared. Although I'd rather not wear those poor excuses for dresses you pair seem to be wearing. I've seen beggar women better dressed" She laughed amusedly then inspected her nails and grimaced at the soot marring her white hands "Oh and where in the Light can I get a bath around here?"

 

She looked up and finally registered the looks the two women were giving her. "What? What did I say?"

With a great effort of will Esther managed not to smack the smug little cow silly.  What did she think this was - a Domani house of pleasure?  Gritting her teeth, she managed to introduce herself in a reasonably polite manner, then tried to ignored the girl, but to no avail. Light, but she chattered!  She’d have to wash her bedding again, for she was sure Deanne wouldn’t do it … if she even knew how. She did take great pleasure in setting Deanne straight about the novice dresses, though.

 

“You will be getting two more pairs of the dress you are wearing, and you will be keeping them clean and washing them yourself.  And you’d best take care of them, for you will be wearing them for the next ten years or so, however long it takes you to get raised to Accepted.” The look of horror on Deanne’s face was reward enough for having had to speak to the woman.

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Novice

 

Unbelievable was the only word that Kiyi could find to describe Deanne's demeanour and attitude. Just where does the girl think she is? She clearly has little concept of the White Tower. There was some satisfaction to imagining the encounters Deane was going to have with various Sisters in the coming months though as Kiyi had a feeling this was one Novice who'd be spending a large amount of time reporting to Larindhra Sedai.

 

Esther spoke up then, explaining about their clothing and Kiyi was hard pressed not to choke on laughter at the look of utter horror on Deanne's face. Well, she'd better reconcile herself to it quickly for it's not about to change.

 

Deciding her own appearance was suitable at last, Kiyi smoothed down her dress, patted her hair and squeezed Esther's hand sympathetically in passing as she made for the door.

 

"I'll see you both later. I must hurry. I have an appointment with Nynaeve Sedai very soon," she threw the comment over her shoulder and made good her escape, hoping that the room would still be in one piece when she returned. She had her doubts on that score.

Deanne stood looking in disgust around the small room that had barely enough space to contain the three of them let alone three beds and assorted furniture. Assorted was the correct word. Nothing matched and what was there was either chipped, stained or so close to falling apart that it looked like a mere breath on the wrong place would make it crumble into dust.

 

She turned to Esther and said in what she hoped to be a friendly tone "Don't worry about these shoddy furnishings. I'll write my Father and get him to send us something decent to use. Then this lot can go on a fire." Deanne smiled sweetly then turned and looked for the mirror. She was horrified to find that what was classed as a mirror here wouldn't have even been allowed anywhere near her parents house. It was cracked and tiny and covered in splodges.

 

"I need to pretty myself up. You don't need the mirror do you Esther?" she eyed the other woman and smiled "after all there's not much you can do now is there?" With that Deanne elbowed Esther aside and bent down to peer into the mirror and repair any damage to her beloved braids.

(OOC: Shared post. Esther = Green, Deanne = Blue, Larindhra = Red :))

 

Something inside Esther snapped. She'd always followed every rule she could hunt down, but this ... was ... enough! Grabbing the bucket of filthy water she had landed next to, Esther hurled it in one fluid motion at Deanne.

 

One minute Deanne was peering into the mirror focussing on ensuring her braids hadn't been too messed about, then next she was gasping and shivering and totally drenched! She rounded on Esther, dirty water and suds dripping off her chin, and slapped the other woman across the face. "How DARE you!" she screeched.

 

Esther clapped her hand to her cheek, staring at Deanne in shock. No-one had ever slapped her before! Fury welled up inside of her, and she sprang at the girl, forcing her to the ground and rubbing her precious braids in the dirty water puddled on the floor. "Take THAT, you ... sow!"

Shoved to the floor under the determined onslaught of Esther, Deanne caught herself a sharp blow on the little stool that served for a chair and let out a deafening yell. She squirmed trying to get a purchase on the slippery floor to try to and get up, but the weight and fury of Esther prevented her from doing anything of the sort. Giving up, she grabbed the woman by the hair and pulled hard. "Get off me, and get your bloody birds nest of a hairstyle away from me! Light knows what is nesting in it!" Deanne yelled. 

 

"At least I don't spend all my time playing with mine! Who cares what my hair looks like? If you spent more time on your lessons and less on primping and preening, maybe you'd also pass a class or two, you brainless harlot!"

 

Larindhra was just about to enter another novice room for one of her frequent inspections when a loud screech, followed rapidly by several more, had her running down the passage. Flinging open the door from behind which the unearthly sounds (and some pungent insults, delivered at the top of rapidly rising and shrill voices) were emanating, she stormed in.

 

She glared furiously at the two girls, but they were too busy flinging insults at each other to even notice her. Eventually she resorted to grabbing each with flows of air to pull them apart.

 

"I have had enough of the two of you! Deanne, give me those bells right now. Don't argue with me, missy!" Another flow of Air with a touch of Fire, delivered to the girl's rump, quickly put an end to any obstinance from that source.

 

Turning to Esther, she blinked at the dishevelled appearance of the girl standing there, cheeks slowly reddening with shame. Deanne is right about one thing, she thought to herself. The girl really does need to take better care of her appearance!

 

"Esther, you have been a model pupil so far, but there is more to being an Aes Sedai than just brains. Light girl, even the Browns take some care with their appearance! Deanne will show you how to take better care of your appearance, since she has obviously had plenty of practise at it."

 

Esther had never felt so mortified in her life. To be found squabbling on the floor like some lowly tavern wench was bad enough, but to be found so by the Mistress of Novices, of all people! It took a few moments for Larindhra's instructions to sink in. Esther almost sicked up, when they did. Slowly her head turned towards Deanne, a look of utter horror suffusing her face.

 

Deanne was stunned at the sudden change in the situation. She found herself hauled to her feet by thin air and was then told in no uncertain terms to remove her beloved bells as punishment. She was about to protest and baulk but a sudden sharp switch to her behind made her rethink that and reluctantly she started to unfasten the bells. The only consolation Deanne received was the look on Esther's face at the ear bashing she received too. Then came Larindrha's order. She was to take Esther's appearance in hand! Deanne all but crowed inside, though she managed to keep her reaction down to a small smirk. Trying to keep the gloating out of her voice but failing, Deanne said "I'm sure I'll be able to do something with Esther, though I don't expect to work miracles."

Larindhra gave Deanne another switch on the bottom for her catty remark. "Just remember, child: I've left you your hair - for now! And Esther, I expect you to follow Deanne's advice." Giving both girls a last warning glare, she swept out of the room.