((OOC: Yep, Esther gets to tattle on them, that's how we get to the chore follow-up thread that Jerinia needed to do.  I've been lax on my posting with this cold and all, but here we go!))

OOC: Ok please give me a chance to post here - I'll need to get 4 posts in *makes puppy eyes*  ;D

 

IC:

 

Esther read the note that had been left under her pillow for the hundredth time, wondering if she should attend this … party. She’d been very surprised to receive it, being sure at first that it was left there by mistake. After considerable internal debate about the rules regarding privacy, she had checked under those of her roommates to see who it had actually been intended for, but much to her surprise they also had the same notes.

 

She was rather touched that someone had invited her, but after a while she realised they must have done it out of pity. They probably didn’t want to invite her roommates, yet leave her out. That was quite polite of them, she thought. Mother had always stressed that manners were extremely important, especially for someone like her, who couldn’t depend on a pretty face to make her well liked.

 

She wondered who all had been invited, though of course she didn’t really know the other novices very well. Everyone knew Selene, of course. It was very hard to miss the bubbly girl. Besides, they quite often ran across each other in the Library, where Esther spent most of her free time. The girl never quit talking, though, except when she became engrossed in a book. Esther wasn’t sure she was up to spending a whole evening with the girl, not even taking into account all the other jabbering novices who would most likely also be there. Oh my … Deanne would most likely attend too! She shuddered at that mere thought. No – she would much rather stay in her room, reading that fascinating book about Tieran law that one of the Librarians had allowed her to borrow. It really was frightful, how little rights common Tierans had, as opposed to Tieran nobles!

 

Esther Tremaine

Novice

 

 

 

Selene gasped and looked up as Deanne barged in.  She hopped to her feet and looked to Jerinia as she spoke.  Oh no! She hadn't invited Deanne, and if she told Selene that the invitation hadn't gotten to the girl, Selene had completely forgotten about it.  Selene tried to keep her direct interaction with the prickly novice to a minimum - it was practically the only way she could keep from disliking the girl outright.

 

"Oh, Deanne, I'm so sorry."  Selene had genuinely wanted to invite the girl, even though she hoped and prayed to the Light that the girl would turn it down.  Selene channeled air, the only element she was strong enough to do anything with, and a cup of tea floated to her hand.  She stepped over the various legs sprawled across her floor and over to the girl.  "Here, have some tea.  Please, join us.  We didn't mean to leave you out, when you didn't show up I thought you'd just decided not to come, like Esther did."

 

She winced as she said the name and saw the flash in Deanne's eyes.  She probably shouldn't have mentioned Esther, she and Deanne got on like two wet cats in a sack.  She stepped behind Deanne and put a hand to her lower back, gently urging her forward. "Come in, we were just about to get to the really fun stuff."  From behind Deanne, where the girl wouldn't see her expression, Selene rolled her eyes lightly but gave Jerinia a reassuring smile.  She wouldn't hold the miscommunication against the other novice when it could just as easily be her own fault as well.

 

Selenessin

Channeling Unsupervised

Esther tried to concentrate on her reading, but giggles and squeals from the room next to hers penetrated even the thick Tower walls every so often. This was the reason she avoided most of these silly girls – all they wanted to do was gossip and giggle and moon over the Warders. She would not be at all surprised if Deanne was there already! The girl would not miss a party if Trollocs were storming the walls.

 

Not that Esther believed any of the tales Deanne had told about Trollocs. Twice as tall as a man? Well, she supposed that was true; she had checked some reference books in the Library, just in case. Hideous things, they were, to be sure. She wondered if they could help being evil. Were they born that way, or were they brought up to be cruel? Maybe they could be … oh, she didn’t know … raised by humans to be … normal? Esther made a note in her ever present little book; she would ask one of the Brown Sisters if that possibility had ever been looked into. Anyway, she very much doubted that the silly twit with the bells had ever seen a Trolloc.

 

A piercing whistle made her hand jerk, causing a big ink blob to obscure some of the words she had just written. An oath she’d heard from one of the serving men escaped her lips before she could suppress it. Esther clapped her hand to her mouth, blushing fierily. She would have to report herself to Larindhra Sedai for using language like that! She glared at the wall separating her from Selene’s room. She wasn’t even at the stupid party, but she was still getting into trouble because of it! Wait a bit … was that … channelling she felt??

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Novice

 

Only slightly mollified, Deanne allowed herself to be shepherded into the room, accepting a cup of tea with bad grace. Her mouth tightened at the mention of her annoying room mate.

 

"Oh Esther won't come. She doesn't believe in having a good time. All she cares about is her stupid books and some silly laws no-one has ever even heard of!" Deanne sat down on the nearest available seat which, incidentally, was the one that Selene had only just vacated. "I've no idea why she dislikes me so much!"

 

She sipped her tea and made a face, not bothering to hide the fact she found it far too bitter. Handing it to another novice who she recognised, but couldn't put a face to, she asked them ever so sweetly (or so she thought) to put more honey in it.

 

"You know, Esther made it perfectly clear that she doesn't believe that I've seen a Trolloc! If you've lived in the Borderlands like I have, you're bound to see at least one." She announced, failing to mention that the one she'd seen had been a week dead and had been only brought into Shol Arbela for a Brown Sister to study.

"I've never seen a trolloc, but they have the most fascinating books on them in the library.  What did the one you saw look like, Deanne?"  Selene had managed to relax into her usual chattiness now that it was apparent that Deanne wasn't about to overturn all the food and stomp through it like some ill-tempered monster. "I bet it was all big and fury with nasty fangs, wasn't it?"  Selene was willing to believe that Deanne had met a trolloc.  After all, the girl had to have learned her manners from somewhere.

 

Selene was prideful of her skill with air and since the Mistress of Novices hadn't come crashing through the door when she channeled the cup to her, she assumed that the Aes Sedai must not have been stalking the corridors waiting to catch them at some mischief.  She channeled again, this time having to concentrate a bit more as she pulled the thin pillow from Carina's bed and then dropped it to the floor at her feet so she could sit down on it.

- "Nah, not really furry. They're kind of like men, only eight feet tall and with the jaws of wild animals like boars and bears and stuff. You could see them at times from the fortress walls, back when i visited my dad."

 

Jerinia, perking up when she had heard about Trollocs, chimed it with an explanation of what Shadowspawn looked like. She spoke almost casually about the matter, which wouldn't be all that surprising considering she grew up in one of Malkier's border fortresses. Sometimes, Trollocs really did venture close to the walls every once in a while, it was a common sight actually.

 

- "Now Myrddraal, those can be creepy. One time i saw one looking at me, and even though it was a mile away it felt like it was right next to me. Heh, i had nightmares about it for a week."

 

Giggling at her own antics at the time, she turned her attention back on Deanne and Selene. Selene because she had studied the things, and Deanne because she said she'd spent some time in the Borderlands. Maybe they knew some things she didn't?

 

 

Jerinia

Casual conversation?

OOC: Apologies, I'd thought I'd already replied to this.

 

 

Deanne smirked as she felt Channelling and a pillow floated across the room to Selene. Fine, if she can Channel, so can I! Grinning to herself she drank the last of her tea and embraced the Source concentrating on the Weave she'd learned off by heart. Holding her cup out in front of her she drew on Water, weaving it into the cup she held until it was half full with water.

 

Smiling inwardly at the expressions on peoples faces, she raised the cup to her lips and shrugged nonchalantly "I was thirsty!" She took a sip and instantly found herself forced to hide a grimace at the taste. It tasted like it had been drawn through a warders sock!

 

Deciding that wasn't enough of a display of her talents, Deanne rose and approached the washbasin by the door. She'd seen a class of Apprentices practise this out in the Gardens whilst she'd been raking the paths as a penance. It looked too easy to pass up, so she upended the pitcher of water into the basin and prepared the Weave she'd seen performed. It had looked so easy when the Accepted had done it, the Aes Sedai teaching them had called it Waterspout, but she was finding it hard to force the Fire weaves into place with the Water, still she persevered and had just got the weave going the way she thought it should when the door suddenly flew open. Deanne's head flew around in horror expecting the Mistress of Novices at the very least. The weave promptly collapsed as Deanne's concentration was broken drenching both her and the new arrival in slightly tepid water.....

Esther cocked her head in a reflex action, even though it would be no help in feeling someone channelling. No … whatever she had felt, it was gone now. She frowned in severe disapproval. Novices were not supposed to channel without supervision, and the chances that an Accepted or Aes Sedai would be in the Novice Quarters at this time of night was vanishingly small. Honestly, did they have no brains at all? Anything could go wrong! If she found out whoever was doing it, she would have no option but to report her to Larindhra Sedai. It would be for her own good.

 

Talk about time … it really was late, and she should have been asleep half a candle ago. Would have been, too, if those silly twits weren’t giggling up a storm next door. Huffing slightly, she started to get ready for bed, but just as she was about to undress, it happened again! This time she could clearly feel it was coming from next door. Well, she was not going to stand for this! She was out of her room in a flash, and flung open her neighbour’s door, ready to blast them for being such idiots.

 

Deanne! Of course it would have to be her. The girl simply refused to listen to any warnings! Mouth opening to give the silly chit a piece of her mind, the breath was suddenly knocked out of her by a drenching of tepid water. Spluttering, water dripping down her face and hair, Esther could only glare with helpless rage. She’d done it on purpose, she was sure of it!  Her first instinct was to slap Deanne silly, but after a second’s thought, she decided to go with her original plan. Stiffly, not saying a word, she turned and left, slamming the door closed behind her. Larindhra Sedai was not going to be pleased about this!

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Novice

 

Selene startled to her feet when the door was thrust open and she already had her mouth parted to explain to Larindhra Sedai what was going on when it wasn't Larindhra Sedai at the door.  Esther?  Selene blinked incredulously and then gasped as the water Deanne had been fussing with suddenly drenched the girl. "Oh no!  Esther!" She moved forward to help the girl and tripped over one of the other girls' ankles.  She dropped to her knees and didn't get a chance to stop Esther from running out.

 

We're done for now, Larindhra is going to be so mad!  I knew I shouldn't have let that half-learned chit Deanne try channeling, she never pays attention to her lessons, it's no wonder she'd mess this up!  Selene scowled at the girl before she could school her features and stop herself.  Selene had put so much work into making this evening happen, it hadn't been easy to convince Larindhra Sedai to allow it in the first place and the woman had said that she was only allowing it because she trusted Selene not to misbehave.

 

She sank back to sit on her heels and dropped her face into her hands, listening intently to catch the sound of the returning Esther after tattling on them.  Her voice was low and despondent as she moaned, "We're going to be in so much trouble."

 

 

Selenessin al'Thorin

So much for being the good one

Filled with righteous wrath, Esther marched straight to Larindhra Sedai’s office. Her knock on the door, as usual, was firm and three evenly spaced intervals apart. She barely waited for the called permission before opening the door and stumping in. Her face was as smooth as she could make it, but her mouth pinched and her nostrils flared as she made the Mistress of Novices a precise curtsy.

 

Larindhra’s left eyebrow rose slightly in enquiry, probably at the lateness of the hour as much as the dripping. “Yes, Esther? I presume you have not had some interesting accident with your suds bucket, so what are you doing out of bed at this time of night?”

 

Esther hardly gave Larindhra a chance to speak before bursting out, usual manners momentarily forgotten. “It’s Deanne, Larindhra Sedai. She’s been channelling! Just look at what she did to me!” The right eyebrow, the warning one, rose as well, cautioning Esther that she was dangerously close to overstepping the mark. She bobbed another curtsy, murmuring an apology.

 

“And exactly where were you and Deanne when this happened?”

 

“I was not … “ Esther trailed off as Larindhra gave her The Look. Blushing furiously, she took a deep breath and continued in a more moderate tone. “I was studying, but a few times I was sure I could feel someone channelling close by. Then just now I felt it very strongly, and definitely from next door, so I went to investigate. As I opened their door, Deanne dumped water on me. Using the Power! And I saw Selene holding Saidar too! There was no one supervising them, either.”

 

Larindhra’s face gave nothing away as she stared at Esther for long moments, before speaking. “You became aware of your fellow novices channelling without supervision, and then you came directly to me to report them?”

 

“Yes, Larindhra Sedai.”

 

“You did not … warn them about the dangers, or anything to that effect?”

 

“No, Larindhra Sedai.” Larindhra opened her mouth, but Esther hurriedly piped up again before she could speak. “I always point it out to them when they break rules, honest I do! But they just ignore me and keep on doing it.” 

 

A soft sigh seemed to escape Larindhra’s lips. Esther sighed in echo. She was just as disappointed in her fellow novices as Larindhra seemed to be. A strange expression came over Larindhra’s face, though. Sadness? Disappointment? “I … see,” she finally said, then paused. “Thank you for telling me, Esther. Channelling weaves that are beyond one’s capabilities can, of course, prove quite dangerous.” Now why would Larindhra emphasise that? Esther shrugged her shoulders. They shouldn’t have been channelling anything. It was against the rules.

 

Larindhra’s face became even … sadder, then she rose and motioned Esther to the door. “Well, go get yourself cleaned up and into bed, child. I will take care of matters.” She gave Esther another strange look, almost disapproving. “I would like you to write me a paper, Esther, about whether or not Justice should supersede the Law.”

 

Her face a picture of incomprehension, Esther bobbed another curtsy, then trailed Larindhra all the way to the novice quarters. Her hopes of witnessing the wrath of the Mistress of Novices which she was sure was about to descend on that bunch of giggling twits, was quashed when Larindhra firmly pointed her to her own room. Ears perked for the wails and squeals that were sure to erupt at any time, Esther undressed and slipped into her bed.

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Novice

 

Carina stood oposite the door, between the beds, watching as both Selene and Deanne fumbled around with the One Power, knowing that trouble had arrived. Knowing also that she neither had the authority or the influence to stop either of them. Selene was too much of a happy go lucky and Deanne basically never listened to anything that didn't suit her. Squinting her eyes at Selene when her bed cover got tossed to the floor, Carina wondered how long it would take for them to be found out. In a place full of women that can feel another woman channeling, it was exceedingly foolish to break that rule.

 

Suddenly the door flung open and Esther stood there, fuming like a righteous hero, when a split second later some foul smelling water was poored all over her. That it had also covered Deanne was, to Carina's mind, poetic justice. Selene's attempt to stop Esther came to a sudden halt as she thumbled to her knees and the next moment Esther was gone. Panick errupted in the room, as every girl there started to wail and moan and each would predict a worse faith than the last one.

 

There was no question about it. Larindhra Sedai would be informed and they would all be severely punished. That was a given. She looked down at her roommate and a sting of pain went through her at the desperate look on the girl's face. Carina knew that, more than anything, Selene was regretting her failure to honor the trust the Mistress of Novice had bestowed on her. Deanne, on the other hand, was yet again very busy exclaiming how none of this was her fault, how Selene had started it and how she did not set the bad example and only followed the lead of her hostess.

 

Light, but I really would like some permission to slap that little twit! Carina thought as she moved to console Selene.

 

'Come now, Selene' She spoke softly, yet firmly 'What's done is done and there's no use to wallow in it. We're all in this together,' a stern look at Deanne, warning her to keep quiet which, astonishingly, the girl actually did, 'and we'll face whatever will come together. I'm sure that Larindhra Sedai has had many many experiences and it would be rather odd if this was one of the worst of them.'

 

She sat down on her bed, drawing a sobbing Selene with her, and continued to speak to her softly and evenly.