Pia sighed in deep contentment as she sat waiting for her class. She was outside in the gardens, enjoying the fresh breeze and warm sunlight on her face. It didn't take long for the girls to begin to show, having no doubt noticed the note pinned to the classroom door. Most of them looked flushed, she noticed with some amusement, as though they had been running late only to discover the class had moved all the way outside. No doubt there had been some discreet running from these Accepted. As each girl arrived Pia greeted them warmly and had them sit on one of the several marble benches that ran alongside a serene pond. When the last straggler had panted her way over to the group, Pia began to speak.

 

"No doubt you are wondering why I have brought you all out here for today's lesson. Let's just say that things are likely to get a trifle messy today, and I have no desire to set you all to cleaning - channelling will be exhausting enough, I think. Now," she smiled widely, “The first weave I’ll show you is a raincloud. First you’ll find the moisture in the air with threads of Water,” Pia stood and smoothed her already pristine skirts, then channelled to demonstrate. “And thicken it so it isn’t vapour any more, but pure water, and gather it with Air and Spirit. That’s how a cloud usually forms.” Pia motioned with her hands and pulled the threads together in a mound that hovered just above her outstretched palm as she continued speaking. “You’ll then use Fire to release the moisture in the form of rain.” Pia made sure all her pupils were watching attentively, then sank threads of Fire into the cloud and smiled as cold drops of rain spattered onto her hand. The cloud was about a foot in diameter and hovered over her palm. Pia used a hint of air to send the small cloud to rain on lightly over the feet of the nearest Accepted before letting the weave go. “You have to be careful with this weave, and not just because you’ll get soaked, but because forcing rain will affect the weather of this area for a long time. This weave should not be used on a large scale as results could be devastating to everyone. Affecting weather causes nasty side effects you have no control over when your weaving is through.” Pia paused and shrugged, “That’s why I made a tiny cloud of my own instead of causing one of those monsters overhead to rain. Practise this weave please. Keep your weaving small and remember to try to keep your clothes partly dry at least. We wont be returning inside for quite some time and it’s needless for you to catch a cold.” Pia waved at the girls to get moving then watched with a critical eye as each began her weaving, pausing to give guidance as needed.

 

”The next weave I’ll be teaching is creating fog. Watch closely! I weave Water and Air into the atmosphere around me, making it thin and spread out,” Pia channelled thin threads of Water and Air for a short distance around her, “and add a tiny amount of Fire to warm it, creating fog.” Pia did so neatly and delicately. Fire was not one of her strong points but she had spent many evenings as accepted and a full sister practising to at least increase her skill where her strength lacked. “The amount of fog can be easily altered, like this.” Pia drew in her threads of Fire until the edges of the fog cooled back to vapour, and contracted the fog around her. “I’d like you to practise this weave please. Again, remember to keep your weaves small and easily manageable.”

 

After some time in the misty fog, Pia moved the lesson along. “Next I’ll show you how to Weave the Winds.” Pia walked to a large maple tree and indicated that the girls should follow. “Watch carefully.” Pia embraced the Source and channelled a great deal of Air. The amount of Air was not that difficult to channel as Air was one of her strongest elements, like with most Aes Sedai, but the weave was intricately woven together with Water threads as well. Pia called a great gust of wind which swished leaves off the tree and made them dance round the group. “It takes strength in Air to make strong winds. You may not have that strength at the moment or perhaps will never have that strength. When you practise, don’t make it any stronger than I just did lest you hurt yourself.” Pia smiled at the Accepted and watched attentively from amidst swirling leaves as they practised Weaving the Winds, ready to step in at the first sign of trouble. “We’ll be moving onto more Air weaves now. The first one we’ll tackle is Bridge of Air.”

 

Pia strode back towards the pond. “This is where we’ll be practising. I’ll help dry out your dresses at the end of the lesson if you’re soaked.” Pia grinned at the wary looks that met her. "Did I not say today could get messy? This weave uses entirely Air.” As she spoke, Pia spun out several thick threads and began to lay them into a simple pattern. “Everyone does this weave differently. You have to find a way that comes the easiest to you.” Pia completed the weave and laid it into place across the pond. “Care to try?” When no one was brave enough to step forward, Pia stepped calmly on the glowing strands of saidar and walked across the Bridge to the other side of the pond. The edges of her long skirts glided on the face of the water as the bridge was built very low, but her shoes did not get a drop of water on them. Pia stepped off lightly and let the weave drop. “Your turn. Try bridging one corner of the pond or if you feel like risking it, make it all the way cross, but just remember you will all have to walk on your own Bridge to see if it holds.” Pia's eyes twinkled with amusement as she stepped aside to let the girls spread out around the pond. Pia remembered failing in the weave miserably when she had been Accepted. She had planned on proving to herself that she could do it. That she would do it. And ended up falling into the pond in the middle of winter and had to spend weeks in the infirmary to rid her of the fever. She shook her head at the memory. Some things you just had to learn the hard way, Sirayn Sedai had told her, refusing what she saw as unnecessary healing.

 

When Pia had witnessed each girl successfully cross the pond and had dried the dresses of those unfortunate enough to have slipped through, she gathered the girls to her once more to instruct the final weave for the day. “The final weave we’ll be covering today is Air Shield. This is a very flexible weave. For instance it can be used to block a punch,” Pia flung a small shield of air on top of Regalia's face and threw a punch at her. Her fist never hit Regalia, but the girl reacted by drawing back. No doubt the girl had a guilty conscience again and had fully expected Pia to connect. “It can be used to block an arrow, a fireball, a collapsing house if you’re strong enough- and so on. The weave is adaptable and can be done in many ways but this is the basic framework.” Pia wove a large shield such as she would have used against a mounted opponent and allowed the Accepteds to examine it. Pia showed its worth by giving it several firm kicks with one slippered foot. “Let’s see you all practise this.” Pia said "To make you really try, you will pair up and create a shield, which your partner will then try to punch you through. Be careful though, I do not want to see any bleeding noses or black eyes."

 

Having satisfied herself that all the girls could at least shield themselves minimally - and after healing the broken knuckle of a rather too enthusiastic girl - Pia dismissed the class. “That is all for today. Keep practising and I will see you again next week.”

 

 

Pia Tovisen, Mistress of Novices

 

Kathleen had given herself plenty of time to get to Pia Sedai's class but as she got to the door she saw the note that said the class would be held in the gardens. Kathleen tried not to let the panic set in too far but she hated being late and when she didn't see any of her classmates her first thought was that they must already be at the gardens. She knew Accepteds were to carry themselves with pride and dignity and to in a manner suitable for their position  but she had to get to the gardens before the class started. She walked as quickly as she could and even found her self running through halls when there were Aes Sedai or Novices to see her.  Thankfully she arrived at the garden before the class started and she even had managed to not be the last. She was a little embarrassed at the state she arrived in, but she pulled her self together as she made her way to the marble bench.

 

This class the weaves where getting more challenging and Kathleen really felt it. The first was a simple rain cloud and after watching Pia do it, and listening to her explain it Kathleen gave it a try. She figured it would be easier to do if she started with a small one and she found she had very little trouble with it. It did take her a minute to figure out how to gather the vapor into the cloud but when she did figure it out it went very smoothly. She had the small rain cloud and gently wove fire into until it released the rain. Since the cloud was so small she managed to only wet her hand.

 

Next they moved on to fog. Kathleen watched closely, and again she tried to keep it as small as she could. She wove the Water and Air just like Pia had explained but when she added the fire it didn't seem to do anything. She tried a few more times and the after a few attempts at increasing the weaves she began to see fog.

 

Thankfully when they were done of that Pia moved them out of the area and Kathleen was able to see clearly again. She was glad this next one was only Air; she was good with air, if not very practiced. She did have to try it a couple of time to get the hang of it and be able to blow the leaves but when she did catch on it came very easily and she managed to twist the leaves around quite high and wide but they the wind wasn't as strong as the Gray's had been.

 

Next was the bridge of Air. When Kathleen saw what they had to do, her face must of turned white. It certainly didn't help that the Mistress of Novices had said that everyone does this weave differently and you have to find the way that works for you. Kathleen watched with extra intent and tried to follow the weave as the Aes Sedai made her bridge. When she asked for someone to walk the bridge Kathleen wasn't the only one to not step forward. It wasn't that she didn't trust the Aes Sedai's bridge, for her it was that blasted fear of everyones eyes on her. When no one stepped forward Pia walked it herself. Kathleen found it hard to believe that someone could walk on Air, but then again in another time she would have thought it impossible to make a bridge of Air.

 

When it was time to practice she felt very confident in her ability with Air but very nervous about how she would weave the intricate design. She tried to copy exactly what Pia Sedai had done and the small bridge she made looked sturdy, so Kathleen stepped up onto it. She got both her feet on and when she stepped forward her foot went through the weave and she followed it straight down into the water. Not only had she fallen, but she had been the first to fall. She was so embarrassed that she hardly even noticed being soaking wet. She got out as quickly as she could, her Accepted dress soaking and sticking to her and she peeled her soaking hair off her face and wrung it out as much as she could before she determinedly tried to build a bridge again. She tried about a half dozen more times, changing each little flaw she had made and trying different weaves, falling time and time again, until she finally managed to make a bridge she could cross. When she crossed the bridge with out falling she made another one in the same way to make sure she remembered how to do it.

 

As she kept falling she began to let go of the embarrassment and focused more on the determination to get it right. No one was laughing or pointing, they were all focused on their own bridges and Kathleen began to feel silly for being so self conscious in the first place. She had always tried to make a point of not being noticed and she knew she didn't want everyone watching her, but because of that she had been letting herself feel that people were always watching her and judging her. It was hard not to feel like that at the White Tower, with the Aes Sedai always seeming to know just exactly what you have been up to, but the more she really thought about it the more she realized that the only one watching her so closely was herself. Everyone else was worried about themselves or people who are directly affecting them. Just because you are in the same room does not mean that everyone was looking at you. How often did she really pay attention to each individual student?

 

As Kathleen dried off with some help from Pia she smiled at much she had learned. Next it was time to practice the Air Shield. She paired up and let the other Accepted go first. She had wanted to do it first so she knew what to expect, but the girl had asked and it was only polite to agree. Kathleen watched the girl make her shield and thankfully it was done right, Kathleen had two brothers, she knew how to punch, but she didn't want to hurt the girl. When the girl was ready Kathleen swung, not trying to punch to hard. She felt the sting of contact when her hand hit the shield and the girl let out a little squeal as Kathleen's fist stopped a few inches from her face. The shield had worked, and when the girl realized it she began to beam. Kathleen copied the weave and inspected it before she let the girl punch. She was confident it would do its job but as the fist got closer Kathleen put her hands up took a step back. Sure enough the shield held and the girl was rubbing her hand. She must have tried to hit it hard enough to break it. Kathleen was pleased it was strong enough to hold through a full out punch.

 

Kathleen was glad the class was over, no more falling into the pond or having people try to punch her, but all she could think about on her way out of the gardens is how much worse it would be next class.

As Amadine approached the classroom for her next Advanced Saidar lesson she found a small handwritten note pinned to the door.

 

Class will be held in the Water Garden today

 

Amadine was pleased she had arrived early; it would mean she could get to the garden still without being too late for class. As she made her way outside she wondered what reason Pia Sedai could possibly have for moving the lesson out of doors.

 

Once Amadine found her way to the Water Garden she was pleased to see that she was only the second Accepted arrive. Pia Sedai bade her to sit on one of the white marble benches array in a semi circle at the edge of the clearing.

 

Once the rest of the students arrive Pia Sedai began the lesson, and it was soon obvious as to why they were outside. The Mistress of Novices showed the gathered Accepted how to use a weave of Water, Air and Spirit to pull together a small raincloud, and then using fire she released the moisture from the cloud in a small shower of rain.

 

Moving to an area with no other Accepted too close by Amadine began the weave, before her eyes she watched as a small cloud attempted to form, the wisps of cloud dissipating before she could gather them to bind together. Letting go of Saidar she sighed. In an attempt to not get wet the cloud she had attempted was far too small. Beginning again she pulled together a cloud in front of her about half a pace across. This time the threads of Spirit and Air held the moisture together and the small thread of Fire she fed into the cloud caused a shower of fat raindrops to fall, splashing her slippers before she could step back. Ama allowed the weaves to dissipate, laughed and clapped her hands together. Suddenly she realised what she was doing and dropped her hands to her side and recomposed her face before retaking her seat on the marble bench.

 

Next Pia Sedai explained and demonstrated to the Accepted how to use Air and Water to thin the atmosphere around her and then to heat it slightly with Fire to create fog. Moving back to the still damp area she had worked in before she gathered up the moisture in the air around her and heated, a little at a time and then, oops! Too much! A thick fog engulfed her head and she could barely see her hands to continue to weave. She allowed the heat to disperse and slowly the fog thinned and disappeared. Again she took her seat by Kathleen and waited.

 

Next was the Weaving of the Winds. Using flows of Air to create a breeze; with Pia Sedais warning to keep the flows small lest they hurt themselves, Ama moved apart from the group again. Though her strength is the One Power was not particularly strong she was becoming quite adept at controlling her flows. Weaving large threads of Air in the intricate pattern Pia Sedai had shown them with small touches of Water here and there. Amadine released the weave and a small gust of wind whipped her reddish hair about her face and swirled the leaves about her feet in a small whirlwind. Pleased with her accomplishment she again took her seat.

 

Amadine gasped as she watched Pia Sedai step out onto what would have appeared to a person who could not channel thin air. Of course, holding Saidar Amadine could see the threads of air that the Mistress of Novices had woven together; she continued to the other side of the pond and then instructed the Accepted to attempt the weave. She smiled and said she would help them to dry off if they needed it.

 

Ama stepped up to the edge of the pond and began to weave. It looked different from Pia Sedais, as she had said it would, Ama lightly tossed a small pebble out to the middle of her bridge and was pleased to see it held the pebble. She allowed the weave to dissipate and began again. This time once the Air Bridge was in place she nudged the bridge with her foot, it felt solid enough. She stepped up onto the edge, and it held. She took a hesitant step forward, then another, shuffling another step she realised she was standing on her bridge over the middle of the pond, she grinned and for a split second lost concentration; the bridge of Air disappeared, Amadine scrabbled at Saidar to recreate it but she was already falling, with a great splash she found herself standing back up, spluttering. Her face burned as she saw one of the other Accepted giggle behind her hand. Amadine set her jaw and made her way up and out of the water. This time when she wove the bridge she did not allow anything to distract her and she crossed it, still dripping, back to side where she had began. She stood at the edge of the pond and used threads of Water to draw the moisture out of her hair and clothing; it pooled around her feet and flowed back into the pond. Smoothing her hair with her hands she took her seat next to Kathleen again.

 

Amadine paired up with Regalia to practise the Air Shield. They were both able to stop the blows they attempted to rain on each other, though for a few of them it had been a close call. Ama flinched as hard punches from Regalia stopped short against the shield a mere half inch from her nose.

 

When they had all showed they could manage the weave adequately Pia Sedai called them all back together and dismissed the class until the following week.