Gianna was exhausted.  Between private lessons, classes, and lectures; the Aes Sedai had kept her hopping constantly.  They seemed determined to catch Gianna up to the rest of the Novices.  

 

After six months in the Tower, Gianna had still not been able to touch the Source.  The breakthrough there had come at the hands of Cemarillinin Sedai, although Gianna had little love for the stern Green.  Now that she could use saidar at will, the sisters were running her ragged trying to teach her everything she had been left behind on.  

 

Channeling all day for her teachers had left Gianna in a near stupor.  She intended only to change clothes and go back down for supper; but that changed the moment she sat on the bed.  All thoughts of food abandoned her as she laid down, fully clothed.  

 

I will only rest my eyes for a few minutes....

 

Within fifteen minutes, she was mostly asleep and dreaming of confronting her uncle Toram as an Aes Sedai.

 

tap, tap, tap....tap, tap, tap.

 

Sleep had fuzzed her wits, and the dream Gianna was having incorporated the tapping at her door.  She was staring at her uncle Toram, arms crossed and tapping her toe.

 

Again, a little louder.

 

Tap, Tap, Tap.....Tap, Tap, Tap.

 

Dream Gianna frowned down at her foot.  It sure was awful loud for simply tapping the toes.  The tapping continued too, even after she stopped moving her foot.  

 

Awake with a start, Gianna sat up straight and swiveled her head to stare at the door.  The Mistress of Novices was standing in the threshold, gazing down at her with a mixture of impatience and wry amusement.  

 

Gianna jumped to her feet and dropped a curtsy with what sounded very much like a squeak.  A strangled squeak.  She had been in trouble with the Mistress of Novices many times over the last two years, but not often as of late.  What could she have done to bring the woman to her room?

 

Her mind raced as the Mistress of Novices studied her.  Before she could speculate very long, the woman spoke, almost intoning her phrases.

 

"Gianna Riatin, you are summoned to take your test for Acceptance.  You must follow me with haste, and speak to no one in passing."

 

With that, the Mistress of Novices turned on her heel and left the room.  Gianna gulped air and hurried after the Aes Sedai, barely pausing to close the door behind her.

 

The two made a quiet and mostly unnoticed procession through the Tower's halls.  A few other Novices stared after her as they passed, but she ignored the questions in their eyes.  

 

Deep, deep into the Tower they went.  Gianna would doubt that any had been to that level of the basements in a long time, except that she could see no dust in evidence along those stairways and corridors.  Finally they arrived at their destination.  The Mistress of Novices threw open dark and heavy looking double doors, and they entered the chamber.

 

Gianna stared in awe around the room.  There were four sisters present, but her mind dismissed them automatically as her eyes centered on the giant ter'angreal.  Centered in the room, the object of the Power appeared to be three metal arches, placed equidistant in a circle, and tilting inwards so that the tops of them touched.

 

Her breath caught as she stared, and her stomach roiled.  She barely heard when the Mistress of Novices began to speak, and had to force herself to pay attention.

 

"I will now tell you two things that no woman hears until she enters this room. Once you begin, you must continue to the end. Refuse to go on, and no matter your potential, you will be very kindly put out of the Tower with enough silver to support you a year. You will never be allowed back. Second. To seek, to strive, is to know danger. You will know danger here. Some women have entered, and never come out. When the ter’angreal was allowed to grow quiet, they - were - not - there. And they were never seen again. If you will survive, you must be steadfast. Faltering leads to a failure."

 

Drawing a deep breath, the woman continued her speech.  Gianna's hands clenched on her skirts as she listened.

 

"This is your last chance, child. You may turn back now, and you will have only one mark against you. Twice more will you be allowed to come here, and only at the third refusal will you be put out of the Tower. It is no shame to refuse. Many cannot do it their first time here. Now you may speak."

 

Gianna's mouth felt dry, as if it had been stuffed full of cotton.  She stared at the Mistress of Novices for a moment, then at the ter'angreal, and finally swung her gaze back to the Mistress.  The four Aes Sedai and the woman in front of her all had an air of expectancy painting their faces.  Only then did she notice a Blue among the four.  Sighing, she resigned herself to fate.

 

I just wish that one wasn't here to see my failure.  Hardly the way to impress the Ajah I might choose.....

 

She gulped for air, then spoke.  Her voice grated to her own ears as she did what she had dreaded since receiving the summons.

 

"I cannot take the test now, Mistress.  Just looking at it makes me want to sick up."

 

The woman grimaced slightly and took a tiny step back, perhaps in anticipation of Gianna doing just that.  The novice flattened her hands against her stomach and forced down the bile rising in her throat.

 

"I am sorry, but I am not ready.  At least, I am not ready today."

 

The Mistress of Novices only nodded, but Gianna thought she could see disappointment in her eyes.  She turned to the other four women present, and spoke again.

 

"She has refused the test.  Let no one speak of what transpired here today, not even amongst themselves.  Go now, under the Light."

 

With that, the four sisters made towards the heavy doors to leave.  Only the Blue so much as glanced at Gianna, and she could see a smirk on the dour woman's face.  A blush washed over her cheeks as she turned back to the Mistress of Novices.  She was so full of shame.  The woman smiled kindly at her, and guided her towards the door.

 

"It is done, child.  Go now, back to your room and your studies.  You will be summoned again some day, I promise."

 

Gianna nodded, and headed back to her room alone.  The same thoughts ran through her mind over and over as she walked, and stinging tears welled in her eyes.

 

I have failed.  I will never reach Aes Sedai.  I have failed you, father.....

 

She was too engrossed in her own failings to notice two Blue sisters in a side corridor of the Tower, speaking softly.  One was the very Blue who was present at her failed testing.  The two stopped their conversation and stared after her as she passed, steely gazes not flickering an inch.

bumped - welcome back, Claire  ;D

Four years had passed since the night the Mistress of Novices had silently crept into Gianna's room to summon her for her test for Acceptance.  The interim years had been hard on Gianna, for various reasons.  Even though the incident was not to be spoken of outside that dark room deep beneath the Tower, others seemed to know.  Afterward, Gianna always felt as if everyone she met knew that she had refused to go into the ter'angreal.

 

It was a failure...of my strength, my will, my resolve to be Aes Sedai.

 

The other novices seemed to smirk at her in the corridors, people she thought were her friends whispered words to each other behind their hands as she passed... but worst of all were the Aes Sedai.  She so desperately wanted their approval, their help in attaining her goals...but it seemed that backs turned and doors shut just as she approached.  The worst were the Blues.  Ever since that night, the Blues had almost ceased to acknowledge she existed.  Gianna was positive that flame-haired Blue who was at her test had spread the word of her weakness at the testing.

 

Not that I can blame her...the Blues wouldn't want an aspirant who let a weak stomach defeat her wits.

 

And so the years plodded on steadily for Gianna.  She thought little of when she would be summoned again; she doubted they would even let her test again.  The Tower does not need weakness in it's sisters, the foundation of it's very strength.  Most likely she would be put out of the Tower when they finally decided they were wasting their time with her, time that could be better spent with a more promising initiate.

 

As Gianna's world closed in slowly around her, she focused on getting through each day more than anything else.  She cultivated a calmness, a stillness, as she went through the motions of her daily tasks.  Sleep, chores, meals, classes...she lived in a dreamworld where she was the only permanent inhabitant; all others who made appearances in the world only stayed long enough to assign her a task, ask her a question, or teach her a skill that Gianna would quickly master, then never think of again.  She hardly noticed the praise that her instructors gave her; they fell on the deaf ears of one who is disconnected from the real world.  To Gianna, her vision of the future was shattered.  She would never be Aes Sedai, never bring her devious uncle to justice for his crimes, never make a real difference in this world, or any other.  It is doubtful any of the Aes Sedai that knew her realized how close the girl came to simply stepping off the edge of the tower wall where the dovecotes were kept, or drawing in Saidar in a flood to burn ability (and most likely herself) to a crisp. 

 

Well...perhaps one did.

 

It was cold and grey today, the twelfth day of the year.  It was High Chasaline, the Day of Reflection that unfortunately so few people keep the custom of anymore.  Gianna was one of those that observed the holiday, as her father had taught her long ago as a little girl.  She had risen early as per custom.  It was silent in the Novice's quarters; not even the sound of servants disturbed the corridors.  Gianna slipped a crisp white gown over her head; it caught on her shoulders as she pulled it down.  She would have to request larger ones soon; she was growing too broad in the shoulders to wear these much longer.

 

Once Gianna was dressed and had brushed her hair and teeth, she lit a candle and knelt silently next to her bed.  At first she didn't know where to start, but as she closed her eyes and began to pray quietly in the pre-dawn twilight, the words seemed to flow from her without thought.

 

“I repent of the pride I have held secret in my heart all these years.  I repent of my willfulness as a child and as a young woman who should know better.  I repent for my vanity that made me always try to out-do everyone around me, to the point that it directly resulted in my father's death...”

 

At the mention of her father, Gianna's voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes.  She continued on, her voice filled with emotion.

 

“I am sorry, father, to have let you down.  You always said that I tried to move the world around me, when I should be the one moving with it.  I am sorry that I will never be Aes Sedai, never bring your brother to justice...never make up for what I have done.”

 

A clear voice spoke from her doorway:

 

“A noble sentiment, that.  But you will have to forget the part about never being Aes Sedai; we aren't going to let you go that easily, child.”

 

Gianna stumbled to her feet and whirled around to face the doorway, her heart in her throat.  Standing there was Larindhra Sedai, the Mistress of Novices.  She had a strange half smile on her face, and Gianna was sure that she was in trouble for some reason.  However, that thought had the strange effect of calming her.  It was just another day, after all.  Swallowing her fear, Gianna managed an even curtsy to the Red sister.  When she spoke, it was without quaver or hesitance.

 

“Good morning, Larindhra Sedai.  What may I do for you this morning?”

 

The Mistress of Novices snorted softly and waved a dismissive hand at her.  Gianna straightened from her curtsy and waited; Larindhra studied her for a few moments, then seemed to come to some internal decision.  She nodded almost imperceptibly and addressed Gianna in a direct manner.

 

"Gianna Riatin, you are summoned to take your test for Acceptance. You must follow me with haste, and speak to no one in passing."

 

Gianna could not help it; her jaw dropped wide as the Mistress of Novices beckoned her to follow.  She quickly closed her mouth and trailed the Aes Sedai as they made their way out of the Novice quarters.

 

As she walked almost on the Mistress of Novice's heels, Gianna could not help but recall her last fateful trip through these disused corridors.  Servants now scurried in the halls, carrying wood or food up from the basements.  Her legs moved of their own accord, putting one foot in front of the other in almost automatic fashion.  Gianna's mind was a mile away as she walked; she had retreated to her tiny world, thoughts racing.

 

How can this be?  It has been so long since the last time!  I was sure that they were going to put me out of the Tower once they could be sure I wouldn't hurt myself or anyone else with saidar accidentally.  What should I do if I fail again?  Oh, Light, what if there is another Blue this time to see me fail?  Oh father, please give me the strength to pass this test!

 

With a start, Gianna realized they were already to the chamber that contained the ter'angreal.  She had come close to walking right over the Mistress of Novices before the woman could get the heavy doors opened.

 

It was almost an identical scene as the last time Gianna had been here.  The arches were in the same place as she remembered, and three Aes Sedai sat quietly in stools around the object.  Their attentions were completely focused on the ter'angreal.  A fourth Aes Sedai stood next to a table in front of the arches.  Gianna groaned inwardly as she realized it was the very Blue who had been present at her last attempt.

 

She turned to face the Mistress of Novices, who had already shut the double doors tight.  The Aes Sedai took a deep breath, then intoned in a dark alto voice the words that Gianna heard in her dreams almost every night.

 

“I will tell you now two things that no woman hears until she enters this room. Once you begin, you must continue to the end. Refuse to go on, no matter your potential and you will be very kindly put out of the Tower with enough silver to support you for a year, and you will never be allowed back."

 

The Aes Sedai pointed her forefinger at Gianna, and continued:

 

"Second. To seek, to strive, is to know danger. You will know danger here. Some women have entered, and never come out. When the ter'angreal was allowed to grow quiet, they - were - not - there. And they were never seen again. If you will survive, you must be steadfast. Faltering leads to a failure.”

 

The Aes Sedai eyed Gianna once more, she seemed to be more forceful when she spoke again.

 

“This is your last chance, child. You may turn back now, and you will have two marks against you. Once more will you be allowed to come here, and only at the third refusal will you be put out of the Tower. It is no shame to refuse. Many cannot do it their first or second time here. Now you may speak.”

 

These events had replayed themselves in Gianna's mind countless times over the last four years, in waking dreams and her darkest nightmares, and every time Gianna had been unable to stifle the words as she refused to go on.  This is why she was startled when what came out of her mouth was not:

 

"I cannot take the test now, Mistress. Just looking at it makes me want to sick up. I am sorry, but I am not ready.  At least, I am not ready today."

 

But instead:

 

“I accept.  I will take the test.  And I will succeed.”

 

The Mistress of Novices nodded in satisfaction and turned towards the ter'angreal.

 

“Then let us proceed.”

 

OOC: Arches coming next!

The Mistress of Novices directed her toward the table on which there were three silvered cups containing what appeared to be water.  The Blue sister standing beside the table ignored Gianna completely, instead speaking to Larindhra.

 

“Whom do you bring with you, sister?”

 

“One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, sister.”

 

“Is she ready?”

 

“She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance.”

 

“Does she know her fears?”

 

“She has never faced them, but now is willing.”

 

“Then let her face what she fears.”

 

Gianna listened to this exchange, and when it was over, the Mistress of Novices turned back to her. She helped Gianna out of her novice white and her shift, shoes, and stockings.  The test must be taken clad in the light.  She turned Gianna toward the first silvery arc, and spoke quietly, her hands on the novice's shoulders.

 

“The first arch is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”

 

The Cairhienien novice nodded, and walked forward steadily towards the arch.  She had time for one last thought as the silvery light enveloped her.

 

Father, give me your strength!

 

****

 

Gianna looked down at herself in surprise.  She was standing stark naked in her private chambers.  Across the wide oval room was a dressing stand with a dark gown hanging from it.  Next to it was a floor to ceiling mirror.  It was perfect, without flaw or wave in the glass; it had cost her father a fortune to have it made for her thirteenth nameday.

 

She crossed the chamber briskly, her feet relished the cold texture of the stone mosaic that adorned the floor.  She dressed carefully, for today was a very important day.  The shift was followed by a dark blue gown of silk.  It was cut in the severe fashion popular in Cairhien, it was slashed with silver from her waist to her toes, and embroidered upon the neckline were the 5 silver stars of house Riatin.

 

She studied herself in the mirror, admiring the way the hairdressers had piled masses of curls upon her head and interwoven the locks with moonstones on silver chains.  She would have to recommend a raise...

 

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

 

The discordant thought rippled through her consciousness like a rock thrown into a pond.  It made no sense to her, and she soon put it out of her mind as her father knocked and entered the room.  He stopped upon the threshold, beaming at Gianna.  She could not help but grin back, even though she was trying to cultivate an air of maturity tonight.

 

“Oh, my daughter, you are beautiful as the full moon this evening.  All of Cairhien will be eager to meet this radiant young woman you have become.”   

 

Sevile smiled widely down at his daughter, and held his hand out to her.  She crossed the room and took the proffered arm.

 

"Are you ready for your grand entrance, Gianna?" He asked.

 

"Only if you are ready for me to show you up, father." She replied playfully.

 

Her father Sevile was known for extravagance and eloquence at his dinner parties, but Gianna was hosting this event. It was her formal public presentment. Recently 16, Gianna was now old enough to marry and produce an heir to the house Riatin. Light knew that her greying Aunt never would.

 

Gianna and Sevile exited the room and walked arm in arm to the curving staircase that descended to the foyer below. The arrayed guests below burst into a wave of applause at the first sight of them at the top of the stair case. Gianna flashed a smile at them and then her father as they began to slowly descend.   Suddenly, she stopped, a hand to her head as another errant thought flitted across her mind.

 

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

 

Gianna shook her head to clear her mind, but the smile was wiped off of her face as she saw what was at the bottom of the stairs.  A softly glowing arch spanned the width of the stairs, and on the floor below the arch were the canisters containing the Illuminator's display that was to go off.

 

She staggered as it came flooding back to her.  Her father was going to die.  The indoor display was going to malfunction, and burn him alive!  With horror, she realized that Sevile was several steps down the stairs already, within mere feet of the display.  She called out to him, hurrying down the stairs.

 

“Father, wait!”

 

“Come on Gianna,” he replied.  “Your adoring guests await.”

 

Gianna reached out for his arm, pulling him to a stop.  “We can't go down there!”

 

“Whatever are you talking about, my darling?  We have been planning this party for months!  Don't get cold feet now,” he teased.

 

Again, the persistent alien thought raced through her mind.  This time it was louder, and drowned out everything else.

 

The way back will come but once.  Be steadfast.

 

Gianna realized with horror that the arch was not as...solid as before.  It was flickering, faster and faster.  The room whirled around her as she raced forward to it.  Sickly grinning masks of guests leered at her from every side.  Her father tried to catch her arm as she went past him, but she slipped through his grip. 

 

She turned as she reached the arch to face him; watching in horror as he stepped forward after her, only to be caught in a shower of sparks and flame.  The displays!  She had forgotten about them!  Her father is going to die!  A primal howl of rage and sorrow erupted from her throat as she watched Sevile collapse under the barrage of fire.

 

“Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-”

 

Her scream was cut off as she fell forward on her knees onto cool, hard stone.  She looked up and was drenched by a flow of water pouring out of one of the silvered cups.  It was in the hands of the Blue sister, who intones:

 

“You are washed clean of what sin you may have done and of those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul.”

 

Gianna stifled her sobs as the Mistress of Novices helped her to her feet.  She gripped the woman by her forearms and demanded,

 

“Is it real?  How could you do this to someone?!  I left my father to die!  Die all over again, when I could have stopped it!”

 

Larindhra stared at her a moment, then answered softly while extricating herself from Gianna's grip.

 

“Nobody knows for sure, child.  Some think the arches act like a mirror, showing us worlds that might be, could be.  Perhaps in another world your father still lives.”

 

Gianna processed this while the Mistress of Novices led her to the next arch.  The Red sister turned the novice towards her, and spoke softly:

 

“The second arch is for what is. The way will come but once. Be steadfast.”

 

OOC: 2nd arch, coming out hot n toasty--next!

Stumbling slightly, Gianna walked forward.  Again, silvery light enveloped her as she crossed the barrier between the worlds. She shivered.

 

Looking down at herself, Gianna realized with some embarrassment that she was naked.  Luckily, she was in her small room in the Novice quarters.  Light, where was her mind recently?  She couldn't believe she had almost walked out the door in dishabille!  At any rate, she had caught herself in time, and went about getting ready for the day. 

 

Dressed now, she headed out into the Novice's quarters and started to turn towards the Kitchens to break her fast.  About three-quarters of the way down the corridor, three rather new Accepted were gathered together in a tight group, speaking quietly.  None of the three had been raised to the banded dress more than a year, yet Gianna did not miss the looks of contempt as she neared them.  The Accepted did not seem to care to lower their voices as she approached, and Gianna could not help but hear their derisive comments.

 

“Wouldn't go through with it.....”

“Cowardly...”

“Not stronger than the newest Novice in the Tower....”

 

As she listened to them, a thought flitted through her head that she was sure she didn't think herself.

 

The way back will come but once.  Be steadfast.

 

Gianna stopped and stared at the three girls.  They sneered at her and the ugliest of the three demanded:

 

“What are you staring at?  Go on before I tell the Mistress of Novices you are loitering instead of doing what you should be.”

 

Something inside Gianna snapped.  The pain, the isolation, the depression of the last 4 years came to a boil inside her.  She turned angrily towards the three Accepted and began to weave.

 

Expressions of shock painted the faces of the three as Gianna wove something with Spirit and Air, and slammed it above the heads of the girls. She didn't know what it was that she had woven, but she did know that the three could not touch the Source now.   She continued, binding their ankles with Air.  The ugly one looked at her with anger.

 

“So you cannot run.” Gianna explained.

 

Then Gianna wove plugs of Air and roughly shoved them in the girl's mouths.  The ugly one was furious now, and stared daggers at her.

 

“So you cannot scream.” Gianna smiled darkly.

 

Soon all three had tears running down their faces from the blows Gianna rained down on them with Air.  All the frustration of the last four years came out in these few minutes.  Finally Gianna was running out of steam, and whipping the girls was losing its attraction.  She was amazed that nobody had come through the corridor yet and--

 

The way back will come but once.  Be steadfast.

 

Gianna staggered, actually seeing the three Accepted for the first time.  Oh, Light, what had she done?  She used the One Power as a weapon to punish these girls for their stupidity and meanness!  She would be turned out of the Tower for sure now.   Stumbling backwards, Gianna released the girls from their bonds, and then turned and ran.

 

Several minutes later, Gianna came to a halt in her favorite retreat.  She was in one of the great towerhouses that sat upon the wall surrounding the White Tower grounds.  This particular one housed the dovecotes used for sending messages all over the world.  Thankfully, there was nobody else there at the moment.  She didn't want any witnesses for what she was about to do.

 

She stepped quickly through the towerhouse and through the portico door onto the balcony from which the doves were released.  It stretched out over open space, nothing between the balcony and the Tower grounds several hundred feet below.

 

I have completely ruined any chance I had of ever making it to Aes Sedai.  My father is dead, and I will never revenge him now.  The best thing for me is to just end it now.  Perhaps I will find my father in another life.

 

Gianna stepped to the edge of the balcony, and climbed easily onto the blocks that created the retaining wall.  The wind gusted in her face, making the tears in her eyes sting and blind her.  Through her blurred vision, she thought she saw a silvery arch far below the balcony, hovering above the ground below.  She shook her head.  It was just the nonsense fancy of a delirious mind that has nothing left to hope for.  The sort of mind that will grasp for any straw of salvation.  It was time.

 

The way back will come back but once.  Be steadfast.

 

Gianna smiled.  It was time to be steadfast. She held her arms out, and plunged forward off the edge of the balcony.  She felt so light, almost weightless as she plummeted toward the ground.  The last thing she saw was a vision of a ring of light, growing larger as she neared impact.

 

* * * *

 

She collapsed forward on her face, smacking her head on the hard stone floor of the ter'angreal chamber.  Gianna weakly climbed to her hands and knees, and was immediately shaken by yet another torrent of cold water flowing over her from the cup the Blue sister held.  She spoke solemnly as she poured the liquid over Gianna's neck and back.

 

“You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul.”

 

She stepped back and placed the empty cup next to the others on the table.  Lavindhra helped Gianna to her feet, and guided her to the final arch.  Gianna looked at the Red with a mixture of shock and solemnity on her face.

 

“I killed myself, Aes Sedai.  I died, yet I am still here.”

 

The Mistress of Novices seemed startled by her statement, but she quickly was the picture of Aes Sedai serenity again. 

 

“The ter'angreal may show possibilities, what if's, and could be's.  You should learn from that lesson child, and be thankful you are still alive.”

 

Gianna considered this a moment, then nodded uncertainly.  The Red took no notice, but continued on.

 

“The third arch is for what will be. The way back will come but once.  Be steadfast.”

 

OOC: Only one more left!

Silvered light inched across her skin as she passed into the third arch.  Immediately all thought of what had transpired before was wiped from her mind.  She looked down at herself.  She was Aes Sedai.  She was also very naked.

 

Pulling her shawl off the back of a nearby chair, Gianna covered herself.  She then made her way to the armoire and selected an ashen blue silk embroidered with tiny silverleaf vine at the wrists and bodice.  She pulled her shawl back around herself, then made her way downstairs to the common room of the inn.

 

She had tracked her rat of an uncle to Morelle in southern Cairhien.  His bid for power had been denied by the noble families of Cairhien, most notably house Saighan, which had ascended to the Sun Throne instead of Toram.

 

Cairhien should thank the Light for that small miracle, they would have soon learned the meaning of hardship under Toram.

 

Her warder had informed her that Toram was known to be hiding out at the country manor of a minor branch of house Riatin.  Gianna knew the place, vaguely.  It was the seat of her distant cousin, Cranvall Riatin.  Cranvall must be close to 80 years old by now though, and it was unlikely he had any control over Toram's appropriation of his manor.

 

She walked out of the inn to find that her warder had already saddled her horse and was holding his reins.  Gianna smiled at the man who always seemed to anticipate her needs before she even knew them herself.  As she mounted the fiery stallion, he sidestepped and Gianna adjusted the reins--

 

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

 

She almost lost her seat recovering from the loss of concentration that the strange thought had brought.  However within a few moments she had regained her composure and her grip on the horse.  She turned to her warder.

 

“Shall we?”

 

He nodded and led the way on his own stallion.

 

Several miles later, they were within sight of the manor, and her warder recommended they dismount and continue on foot.  Gianna agreed and they tied the horses up in a stand of willow trees.  She gathered her skirts and followed silently in his footsteps as they crept towards the stone house, silent at this dark hour.

 

The way back will come but once.  Be steadfast.

 

Another break in concentration!  Gianna's slippered foot came down on a twig, and it cracked loudly in the silence of the night.  Her warder swung toward her in surprise, then his eyes opened wide as he spotted the danger coming from behind them.

 

“Gianna! Look out!”

 

The ambushers realized they had been spotted; they rushed forwards with weapons in hand.  Gianna immediately embraced the One Power as her warder glided past her, his sword already a blur in his hands.  Gianna wove threads of fire and earth to create fireballs that exploded upon the attackers' chests.  Their howls of pain brought yells from the manor; more of Toram's henchmen would soon be on the way.

 

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

 

She whirled back to the battle and  was shocked at what she saw.  Toram himself was one of the ambushers; he was locked in combat with her warder.  She had confidence in her warder, but she knew Toram was a blademaster.  Before she could act, she saw an arch beyond the battling duo.  It glowed softly in the light, beckoning her.

 

“No!  I will not leave him here to die at the hands of this animal and his dogs!  I have waited too long for this moment!”

 

Toram smiled at her as he danced the forms with her warder.  His smirk was enough to make her blood boil. 

 

“So!  Little Gianna, come to find her dear old uncle.  Well I would love to catch up on old times, darling, but I am afraid I will have to kill your friend here first!”

 

Toram lunged forward in a risky move; Gianna gasped as the blade slid in through the ribs of her warder, her companion.  He looked up at her with a mix of apology and sorrow on his face.  He whispered, “Gianna...” then was gone.  The blood beat in her ears as she prepared to weave--

 

...be steadfast...

 

The almost whispered thought stopped her dead in her tracks.  The arch was almost gone, flickering so dimly as to mimic witchlight in the darkness.  Tears running down her face, Gianna raced towards it, plunging through just as it winked out for good.  Toram's laughter echoed in her ears then faded into nothingness.

 

She tripped forward into the chamber beneath the Tower, and stared in shock at what was around her.  The Amyrlin Seat herself was standing there, wearing her stole and a magnificent gown of white.  Surrounding her were sisters from all of the Ajahs, including the Blue, the three sisters who had been operating the ter'angreal, and the Mistress of Novices.

 

Gianna stepped forward slowly and uncertainly towards the Amyrlin.  The Mistress of Novices nodded at her, and Gianna knelt on the rough stone floor in front of Mother.  In her hands, the Amyrlin held the last of the silvered cups.  She tipped it forward slowly, and water ran over Gianna for what seemed like forever.  Every pore, every hair, every crevice was purified.  She felt like a child being born.

 

The Amyrlin raised Gianna's chin with a cupped hand and spoke to her.

 

“You are washed clean of Gianna Riatin from Cairhien. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean in heart and soul. You are Gianna Riatin, Accepted of the White Tower.”

 

She paused a moment and smiled the most kindly, benevolent smile that Gianna had ever seen.  That smile was hope.

 

“You are sealed to us, now.”

 

The Amyrlin then handed the cup to the Blue sister, and brought her hand out of a pocket in her gown.  In the hand was the Great Serpent ring that Gianna had dreamed about.  That ring was a promise.

 

Mother pulled Gianna to her feet and slipped the ring onto the third finger of her left hand.

 

“Welcome, Daughter.”

 

She kissed first one of Gianna's cheeks, then the other.

 

“Welcome.”

 

Gianna beamed back at the Amyrlin.  That welcome was a new beginning.

 

 

OOC: Hope y'all liked it!

 

Claire

OOC: loved it!

OOC: you had me in tears, you wicked girl! absolutely fabulous.

OOC: Thanks, guys!  It was a lot of fun to write :D