OOC: Hey! Just so you don't have to go back and look at my bio, Arath is very short- 5'6 and has brown hair and eyes. He doesn't have any distinguishing features other than his shortness. I would really apreciate it if anyone who posts could give me a short physical description of their character, because I don't know any of you. :D

 

IC: It was a long journey, from Caemlyn to Tar Valon, but Arath made it without any difficulties. The hardest part was the walking. Normally it took weeks to get from Caemlyn to Tar Valon, but it took him much longer. He got rides on carts whenever possible, but there were many days that it was necesary to walk on foot. Finally, though, after many days of aching feet, Arath set his eyes on the enormous White Tower, glittering in the sun. He felt a mixture of aprehension and excitement; he was finally going to become a great warrior, however, he feared rejection. The Caemlyn guard had already turned him away because of his -lack of- height, and this was his last chance.

 

Sucking up his nerve, Arath made his way into the city, and fought his way to the center, where the White Tower stood proudly. The town was just like Caemlyn, until he got to the Tower. He had seen an Aes' Sedai once. There was a parade and the Queen was in attendance- from a seat carried by horses, of course. Next to her was her Aes' Sedai advisor; she was extremely intimidating, drawn up tall. She seemed to be a giant in a woman's body, fierce and proud, looking down on the commoners as if they were dirt beneath her feet. And if the stories of Aes' Sedai powers were true, than they were dirt benieth her. Her face was ageless, as all Aes' Sedai, and she wore a serpent ring and fringed shawl. Even though it was swelteringly hot that day, she sweat not a drop.

 

All around him, Arath saw Aes' Sedai, walking, and it was a humbling sight. He knew that any one of these women could crush him with a thought. Once he made it to the home of the Tower Guard, however, there were no Aes' Sedai floating around, and he was much less intimidated. Arath felt the fear of rejection rising inside of him once again, but crushed it down. Finally he would be able to become a warrior and fufill his dream. Unfortunately, standing at the door to the Mistress of Trainee's office, all of these plans were beginning to seem unreal. It was almost like every person, be they man or woman, were huge with bulging muscles.

 

Arath almost turned back before he realized that he had absolutely nothing to loose. If the Mistress laughed in his face, then he would be no worse off than he was before. He had nothing to loose and everything to gain, so he rose a shakey fist and banged on the wooden door.

Thera hummed quietly as she made the short walk from the bathhouse to her office. For once her day seemed to be sunshine and roses as apposed to the usual doom and gloom. Several trainee’s stepped out of her way and bowed as she walked by, but she was too caught in her good mood to notice. A very good thing for many of the boys that she also did not notice the strange stares the smile on her face got.

 

Her mood only dampened slightly when she saw the work that was waiting on her desk. With a rueful sigh Thera tossed her cloak aside and flopped down at her desk. Before the ink was dry on her first report a loud knocking disturbed her solitude; looking up Thera set down her pen. Whoever the lucky trainee at her door was, would be shocked to find their usually harsh mistress in good humor.

 

“Come in.” Thera intoned, her usually gruff voice hidden beneath chimes. The face at the door was not one she recognized. Standing she walked around her desk and motioned the boy in. She motioned him to sit and took the seat next to him, crossing one leg over the other and idly kicking her foot. “What can I do for you son?”

 

Perhaps the young man had heard the rumors about the evil Mistress of Trainees or maybe is was that her smile did not touch her eyes, but either way the young man leaned back from her smile.

 

As he was called in, Arath took a deep breath, and then opened the door. Beyond this door lay everything he dreamed of, yet at the same time everything he feared. His entire life, he had dreamed about becoming a warrior, even as he was taunted and put down. In fact, that only made him more ferverently try to become a great warrior. Arath wanted- no, he needed to prove to everyone (including himself) that he could become a great warrior, even with his handycaps. Arath had managed to set himself on this path with harsh physical training and hand-to-hand training, but he could only go so far without a teacher.

 

First he had applied to the Palace Guard in Caemlyn, but the tall man in charge of the recruits had laughed in his face. After that, the taunting in his home was doubled, and his dreams were crushed. This was Arath's last chance, and if they would train him, then he would gladly pledge his loyalty. However, he refused to drop his metaphorical armor, because the last time he had, he was wounded worse than anything physical. Warily, Arath sat, across from the Mistress of Trainees.

 

“What can I do for you son?”

 

Arath unconsciously leaned away from her... that smile, it was chilling. Her eyes remained hard as steel, and twisted the smile into something intimidating. "I am Arath Talavin," Arath murmered respectfully, "And I wish to train to be a Tower Guard." Here was the moment of truth, the woman in front of him held his fate in her hands... Arath just hoped she didn't shatter it.

More new recruits? Thera new she should be thrilled at the full trainee barracks, but each new face only meant more work for her. Still today was not a day for anger. “So you want to be a Tower Guard do you? Not a warder? Most young men and women who sat in that chair came with grand dreams of guarding the back of one sister not a tower full. “It is well for you that you do not dream too high, well..we are always in need of another good sword.”

 

Thera stood up and strolled over to her side table, instinctually her hand reached for the wine, but instead she poured only water. Perhaps today was for more than just losing anger?

 

“So tell me…Arath was it? She raised a questioning eyebrow and waited for his nod before continuing on. “ Why do you want to be a Tower Guard and what do you think you have to offer? As much as I would like to take in every stray that scratches at my door I simply cannot.” Strange…even in a good humor her words carried bite. Had the bitterness and anger really become ingrained so deep?

 

“So you want to be a Tower Guard do you? Not a warder?" Her voice sounded amused, yet at the same time almost... approving. “It is well for you that you do not dream too high, well..we are always in need of another good sword.” Arath watched, trying not to stare, as the woman poured herself a glass of water. His throat was parched, but he was not brave enough to ask for a glass himself.

 

“So tell me…Arath was it?" He nodded. “Why do you want to be a Tower Guard and what do you think you have to offer? As much as I would like to take in every stray that scratches at my door I simply cannot.” Hearing the bite in her words, Arath nearly flinched back and left the room, but he knew that this was his last chance, and he couldn´t blow it.

 

"I... I can´t say that I am a master of the blade... and I know that I´m not the strongest man... or the tallest..." Arath cut himself off, knowing that he wasn´t going in a good direction. "But, I´ll work harder than any other man in your Yards," Arath declared. "I´ll work twice as hard... and I´ll do whatever you say. I´ll muck out the stables and wash the dishes as long as you train me." Arath couldn´t help but bite his lip nervously as he waited for the Mistress´ reply.

Thera threw back her head and laughed; she laughed so long and so hard that her sides ached and tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. Several minutes passed with Thera gulping air and trying in vain to dry her tears. With a smile still playing on her lips she went over and sat down next to Arath. It was a moment before she spoke; Thera wanted to be very sure that her words held no scorn.

 

“ As much as your offer may tempt me…..there is no need to sell yourself into subservience just to train in the yards. I think we have room for one more. “ Patting him gently on the back Thera walked around her desk and pulled out the trainee roster; still fighting a smile.

 

“One thing I will hold you to, is doing anything I say” So the words were not too harsh Thera smiled, in what she hoped was a kind way.  “ You will do well if you train hard and try your best to follow the rules.”   Writing his name carefully in the book Thera sprinkled it with sand and left it open to dry.

 

“ I will take you on a tour of the yards as soon as we finish here. What experience do you have with weapons? And are their any questions you want to ask me?”

 

Talavin was ready to find a blade and stab himself through his heart when he heard the Mistress of Trainee´s laughter. Once again, he had thrown himself at someone´s feet and been laughed at. Everyone back in Caemlyn was right, there was no way that someone like him could possibly become a warrior! He was weak, puny, and she wouldn´t even take him as a stable hand. Even though he was ready to jump off of the White Tower, Arath had come in half expecting this, and did not feel suprised, but he still wished that she had accepted him. Just as Arath was about to turn around and walk out, Thera sat next to him and patted his back.

 

 

“ As much as your offer may tempt me…..there is no need to sell yourself into subservience just to train in the yards. I think we have room for one more. “ Room... for one more? Arath felt his heart beat at twice the pace  it normally did, and he nearly asked very stupidly who that one person was. This was it, she had accepted him! Even though he was short, and weak, and not nearly as experienced as a real Warder, this woman was going to train him. Arath swore that he would never forget what the Mistress did for him.

 

“One thing I will hold you to, is doing anything I say. You will do well if you train hard and try your best to follow the rules.” Arath nodded, and returned her smile weakly, still a bit stunned from her acceptance. “I will take you on a tour of the yards as soon as we finish here. What experience do you have with weapons? And are their any questions you want to ask me?”

 

"Ummm... I don´t have much experience with blades... other than swinging around sticks as a boy. But I have experience with fighting, I was... not the richest growing up, and so I´m used to working hard and fighting without a weapon. I´m in good shape physically, but I don´t know how good I´m supposed to be... Uhh... No, I don´t have any questions for you, except when do I start?"

Stifling a laugh again Thera only smiled and shook her head ruefully. “Eager to begin are we?” It was not an uncommon feeling, eagerness, she remembered her own well; but it could be a dangerous feeling if not kept in check. “It is well that you are so eager to learn, but keep a tight hold on that emotion. Become too over eager and you could wind up dead.” Accidents happened everyday, if none so catastrophic as death. But even the slightest harm was too great in Thera’s book.

 

“ To answer your question young Arath, your training has already begun. It began the moment your name was signed into my book and will not end until you are the responsibility of a sister or a member of the tower guard… but even then you must remember to be open to learning because none of us can ever know all that there is to know.” Words of wisdom from Thera were few and far between. She had always felt a little silly spouting philosophy, but today it seemed to fit.

 

Gathering the young man up with a gesture she lead him out into the heat of the day. They passed the kitchens and the showers and the barracks, but she paused as she led him into the training grounds. All around them practice swords beat a steady rhythm, aided by the grunts of young men and women as their teachers pushed them hard.

 

Thera had to say his name twice to get Arath moving along again. “Come on boy, you’ll be out here cursing my name soon enough.” As they walked back to her office Thera stopped often to offer praise, or correct a form;  Arath drank it all in with eagerness.

 

OOC: Talk about your impressions of the tour.

 

"To answer your question young Arath, your training has already begun. It began the moment your name was signed into my book and will not end until you are the responsibility of a sister or a member of the tower guard… but even then you must remember to be open to learning because none of us can ever know all that there is to know.”

 

Open to learning? That was certainly not a problem, Arath was willing to do whatever it took to learn what she was willing to teach. Arath was focusing on memorizing the path, for he had always been bad with directions. He nodded to show the Mistress that he understood her when she showed him the barracks and the kitchens, taking special notice of the last one. Arath made a mental note to remember to bring a towel to the showers, as he saw a man dripping wet, his trowsers wrapped around his waist.

 

Finally, Thera led him to the training grounds, and was amazed at what he saw. Arath had never seen a sword before unless it was sheathed on someone's hip, and never had he seen a genuine sword fight. Here, there were countless men and women fighting accompanied by the ringing of blades (or clacking if they were using lathes). He was so entranced by the dances that he almost missed his superior trying to call him.

 

"Come on boy, you’ll be out here cursing my name soon enough.”

 

Cursing her? Arath doubted it, he would be kissing her feet for giving him a chance. As they walked, Thera stopped to praise some of the trainees, or offer advice, and Arath couldn't wait to start. He had worked hard his entire life but never did he have someone there to help him train. Arath could hardly keep his face from showing his excitement, but he managed and waited for the woman to tell him what to do next.

With his name already signed and his tour done, there was really very little left for her to do. Leading him back to her office Thera considered letting him off without his final task, but it would not due to show favoritism to one trainee over another.

 

Arath began to follow her into her office and Thera turned pressing a hand to his chest to stop him.

 

“I am sorry Arath, but there will be no lolling about for you. Your last task is 100 laps around the yard.” she glanced at the fading sun. “ See me when your done, and you best be quick so you can be in bed before first light.” Offering a small encouraging nod Thera turned on her heel and shut her office door with none of her usual ferocity.

 

“I am sorry Arath, but there will be no lolling about for you. Your last task is 100 laps around the yard. See me when your done, and you best be quick so you can be in bed before first light.”

 

Light, one hundred laps? Around the Yards? Arath had a feeling that he was going to be hurting very much, very soon. Still, he had not forgotten that this woman had given him a chance to fulfill his dreams. He had wanted to be a great warrior as long as he could remember, and finally he had a chance to prove himself. He could do a physical challenge, easy... hopefully.

 

Arath began running his one hundred laps around the yards, focused only on his goal. He concentrated only on his breathing, keeping it steady. Also, he synchronized the beat of his feet with the beating of his heart. Beat. Beat. Beat. One lap passed, then another, then another. Soon enough, he was at twenty laps. Arath was feeling alright, he had run further distances before. All he had to do was concentrate only on his breathing, and the beating of his heart. Step, step, step. One foot, then the next, one foot, then the next.

 

On lap number thirty eight, Arath started to feel it: the slow burning in his chest. It was alright though, Arath was not a novice when it came to running, and he appreciated the small burn, feeling the endorphines that accompanied it. Soon enough he passed lap number forty five, and then fifty, and the burn had spread to his abs, and his legs. At lap sixty, his breathing quickened, and he was no longer breathing through his nose. By lap seventy, his heartbeat had sped up, becoming more rapid than his foot steps. By lap eighty, Arath was considering stopping and pretending like he had finished twenty laps.

 

Arath shook the thought out of his mind and continued onto laps eighty one and eighty two. Arath was panting by lap ninety, and his body was screaming at him to stop. He pulled through, however, and it was not until lap ninety eight that he collapsed. Tears prickled at Arath's eyes, he lay on the ground, panting and his heart beat racing. Every inch of his body was in pain, the once pleasant burning had grown into an inferno, raging and attacking his senses.

 

He couldn't help but feel desperation as he panted on the ground, defeated. He had blown his one chance to prove himself, his one chance to fulfill his dream. Arath knew that there was no way someone like him would be able to become a warrior, let alone a great warrior, he should never have pursued his futile dream this far.

 

When he looked back on that one moment, Arath would always think it funny that it was not his dream that pushed him to go further. Arath had landed outside of someone's room, and he could hear the two of them telling jokes. Their laughing... in Arath's mind it morphed from the light hearted laughing of two men telling jokes. That laughing reminded him of everything he experienced in his past. How often had he been in this position? How often had someone knocked him down and stood over him, laughing at his weakness? Arath refused to be weak, he refused to let anyone ever laugh at him again.

 

With this new resolve, Arath pushed through his pain, his exhaustion and his tremors, and trudged ahead. After what seemed like an eternity, Arath completed his hundredth lap. He couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, he had just pushed past his physical limitations. Feeling like he could conquer any challenge, Arath knocked on the Mistress of Trainee's door for the second time that day.