Sarena looked up in awe of her surroundings, the White Tower was just as magnificent the first time she laid eyes on it. Riding up to the courtyard she remembered how nervous she was walking up those sweeping steps into the entrance hall.

 

While she was studying she had recieved word that her sister Jillien had sadly died after entering her first duel. Sarena had gone to see the Mistress of Novices to ask if she could return to Ebou Dar to be with her family. With the leave approved Sarena rode as fast as Cha could carry her.

 

Apparently there was nothing anyone could do, the girl she fought was more experienced and ended the duel quite quickly. Her mother had said that Jillien had fought with honor, which gave them a quiet comfort to her passing. Sarena had stayed with her family for a year after which her parents told her to go back to The White Tower to contiue her studies to become an Aes Sedai. She had quietly longed to be back at the Tower, but took her duty to her parents and sisters to be more important at the time.

 

Now Sarena was back to finish what she had started. She had obtained a letter from the Aes Sedai that had found her informing the Mistress of Novices that she had had some direction in controlling saidar while away from the Tower, all she had to do was find the Mistress of Novices or the first Aes Sedai that she sees and hand her the letter....

Larindhra smoothed her pale rose silk dress before entering the common hall, a motherly smile on her face. Apart from checking up on the novices and Accepted, she quite liked to keep her finger on the pulse of what brought people to the Tower. That practiced smile of hers set quite a few nervous country folk at ease, which worked much better to get them to talking about their problems than cold Aes Sedai faces. Some women just never think to use whatever tool works fastest, she thought to herself as a particularly haughty White set what looked like a farmer into such a trembling fit he couldn’t get a word out. She could not do anything about the White, not here in front of outsiders, but a raised eyebrow sufficed to bring an Accepted’s chin down sufficiently. Novices and Accepted knew her well enough not to try airs and graces when she was around, but it seemed another lecture on dignity versus haughtiness was needed.

 

A half-familiar face caught her attention. At first, the dress the girl was wearing threw her off, but it took only a few seconds to picture that face above novice whites; the motherly smile disappeared off her face. She never forgot a novice, especially not one who had deemed family affairs more important than the Tower. Supplicants quaked under the sudden force of her stare, and novices squeaked, though Larindhra took no note. She had no great patience with woman who put anything about the Tower, which this silly child had surely done.

 

Well, maybe she had worked that out of her system and was ready to commit herself to her duties at last. At least the girl had returned by herself, not needing to be hunted down like a runaway.  Carefully blanking her face, she changed direction until she was planted firmly in front of the girl, studying her from top to toe.

 

“So you have returned to us, Sarena. I presume you are here to continue your studies?”

 

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

As a stablehand took Cha away she began smoothing her skirts and fixing her hair, both of which were severly skewed after riding. She then checked that she still had the letter in her purse, then began looking round the Entrance Hall keeping a keen eye out for any Aes Sedai. Sarena noticed a few of them, but she could'nt get to them before they took the other petioners away.

Sarena was too busy looking round at all the people that she didnt notice the Mistress of Novices walk over to her and stand right in front of her sternly looking her up and down.

 

“So you have returned to us, Sarena. I presume you are here to continue your studies?”

Sarena managed to murmer "Yes, Aes Sedai" as she fell to the floor in a deep curtsey she hoped it didnt look too clumsy, Sarena berated herself mentally 'One year out of the Tower and you've already forgotten how to curtsy properly'. Then remembering the letter she dug it out of her purse quickly and handed it to the Mistress of Novices.

 

Sarena stood there for a few minutes as the Mistress of Novices scanned the letter frowning in parts, she then looked up at Sarena and told her to follow her.

 

The entire walk to the Mistress of Novices office Sarena was literly shaking, she knew that there would be some problems ever since she had recieved the letter from Merina Sedai. She had been the one that she went to see once a week for simple lessons in controlling saidar. The Aes Sedai had told her that novices leaving the Tower was certainly frowned upon, but if she truely wanted to become an Aes Sedai then Sarena had to go back to the White Tower and face the music.

 

Finally she realised that she was standing still with her eyes firmly on the ground, waiting for the tirade to begin. Sarena was unsure whether or not her face showed the firmness that shone fiercly in her eyes. Then as if the Mistress of Novices heard her thoughts, she began.   

Sarena’s wobbly attempt at a curtsy showed exactly how nervous she was, as she should have been, of course. Larindhra automatically checked the letter the child handed to her for hidden traps, then broke the seal with a practised flick of her wrists. She vaguely recalled Merina Sedai, a young Brown who had been raised shortly after she herself became Mistress of Novices. From what she could remember, she had reprimanded her as an Accepted for being too soft with the novices in her classes.

 

So she is still taking in strays, is she?  Well, at least she did this child a good service. Speaks well of the child too, if she made the effort to keep up with her studies. Larindhra folded the letter neatly then swept a cool gaze over the trembling novice in front of her. “Well, come along, child.” She swept out of the Hall, along the winding ramps and down several hallways until they reached her office. Opening the door, she let Sarena enter before her, leaving the child standing while she seated herself. Her mouth quirked in a smile that the novice luckily did not see.

 

“Sarena, it speaks well for you that you tried to keep up with your studies while you were away. However, a year is a long time to be away; many bad habits can develop under such circumstances. Habits I will not allow in a novice under my care. I will be keeping a close eye on you in the following weeks to see that you have not forgotten how a novice is supposed to behave. I trust you will strive to be the perfect novice?” Her tone of voice left no doubt about how badly things would go for Sarena if that trust were misplaced.

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

Sarena had hardened herself for the Mistress of Novices lecture. She remembered when she had gotten in trouble for being out of bed with a few other novices after dark, not long after she had first arrived at the White Tower. She had recieved a long lecture and then several weeks of back breaking chores. But the Mistress of Novices did not let loose her berating tone on Sarena, instead it was the same hard voice that she always used.

 

“Sarena, it speaks well for you that you tried to keep up with your studies while you were away. However, a year is a long time to be away; many bad habits can develop under such circumstances. Habits I will not allow in a novice under my care. I will be keeping a close eye on you in the following weeks to see that you have not forgotten how a novice is supposed to behave. I trust you will strive to be the perfect novice?”

 

Sarena answered "Yes, Larindhra Sedai I will try harder that ever.". Sarena's answer recieved a curt nod in reply. Sarena began to relax a little, but not too much as to seem too comfortable with the situation. Being blazen about it was only going to get her into more trouble.

 

Sarena wondered who her mentor would be as she had learned that Telcia Sedai had left the Tower not long after she herself had left for Ebou Dar. She wasn't sure now about her original choice of the Red Ajah. The red sisters she had met were all quite friendly to her, but now having been back to Ebou Dar, back to her old life of mooning over boys and duelling she now couldnt imagine a life without either of those things. She knew she could have both of those things in the Green Ajah and secretly hoped that her new Mentor would be a green.

 

Sarena realized that her mind had been wondering and she took a quick glance up at Larindhra Sedai who's gaze could have chilled the sun. Sarena then asked "Do you know who my new mentor will be ?" The gaze softened a little as Sarena waited for her answer.

 

 

Sarena Asnobar

 

 

OOC- Sorry that its taken so long to reply my family  has been keeping me away from the computer. I hope I can catch up on my posting. :)

OOC:  Sorry Elgee i know u must be really busy with other stuff but ive only got 1 post to go on this raising requiment and i want to finalise it. i dont want to be a pain or nothing just when u can get round to it :-[

i'm soooo sorry, sweetie - will try to finish it tonight *blushes*

OOC: I'm sorry - I forgot that I had already assigned Lor as your mentor. I have edited this post. You can make a new thread where you meet her, or carry on in this thread.

 

IC:

Pleased as she was to hear that the Sarena would be trying hard, she knew that it would take a special effort to help the girl settle back in, and for good this time.  Her Mentor would obviously play a large role in this, and Larindhra was just wondering who to assign to the task, when Sarena brought the matter up herself.

 

Hiding a smile, Larindhra tapped her lips with one finger as she pondered the matter.  One name came to her, a woman who though strict, also had a vast compassion for others. A woman only recently returned to the Tower herself. Maybe the two of them would help each other; killing two birds with one stone had always seemed like an eminently logical procedure to Larindhra.

 

“I have just the Mentor for you Serena,” she replied with a smile. “Her name is Lorraine Sedai. Now that we have sorted that out, why don’t you go settle into your room? I will have one of the servants bring you your old clothes – they have been kept against your return. I expect you to catch up with all the classes you have missed quickly, child. If you need anything, come see me tomorrow morning after breakfast.”

 

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

Sarena wondered as The Mistress of Novices told her that her mentor would be Loraine Sedai. She hoped that her new mentor would be like her last one; exciting, compassionate, but a keen teacher. Sarena didnt want to get a mentor from the Brown Ajah she knew they only thirsted for knowlege not adventure and that was what Sarena thirsted for. As Larindhra Sedai gave her leave she curtsied deeply to the Mistress of Novices and walking down the hallways she wondered how long it would take for her mentor to seek her out. She knew that Aes Sedai didnt like leaving novices unmentored for long and seeing that Sarena had already had one mentor and then left the tower for a time, now she was back they proberly would be harder on her now as ever before.

 

Walking to her newly assigned room, Sarena knew that she was going to be in for some new surprises as far as her training would go. Remembering when she was mentored by Telcia Sedai alot of their casual conversations were about the different roles she could perform being in the Red Ajah, alot of hunting down men that could channel and gentling them. It hadnt worried her then but now sitting back and thinking about it she knew that it was important but it wasnt really what she had her heart set on. She had often questioned her mentor as to why she could be both a Red sister and have a warder at the same time, but she had simply got that not many men even warders found it still uneasy to be around when male channelers were gentled. Also most women who chose the Red Ajah disliked men and used that dislike to fuel her passion for the Reds cause.

 

Now not knowing who her ner mentor really was was eating away at Sarena's resolve she hoped that Loraine Sedai would find her sooner rather than later.

 

 

Sarena Asnobar