She’d timed her arrival disastrously. The towers and bridges of Tar Valon, which were supposed to be glinting alluringly in the early morning light, were in fact blanketed by a midnight sky adorned with a few wispy clouds. “It’s not my fault that fool of a farmer kept me talking half the day,†Disendra grumbled irritably, “nor is it mine that I fell asleep and the blasted horse spent the evening grazing at the foot of Dragonmount.â€

 

As her first far-reaching venture as a wagoneer, Disendra’s journey to Tar Valon was not going well.

 

Sighing, she moved her wagon further into the city, intent on finding an inn where she could spend the night, before off loading her goods in the morning - late. Unsure of where she was going and distracted by the buildings around her - glorious even at night - Disendra guided her wagon down a street that ended in a vast square. It was not until she was in this square that she realised she had found her way to the White Tower.

 

Pausing, she gazed up the length of the impossibly colossal structure. As a Tairen, she had grown up surrounded by people who would rather pluck out their own eyes than willingly look upon this building. Well, maybe not their own eyes, she amended. But Disendra had never shared her nation’s hatred for the Aes Sedai. She harboured no love for them, to be sure. Ambivalent was probably the best word to describe her feelings.

 

A group of young men strolled merrily through the square, towards the street from which Disendra had just entered it. As they drew closer, one of them spotted Disendra up on her wagon. “Well now, you’re a pretty one, aren’t you?†He smiled and gave her a roguish wink. “Looking to become a novice, are we?â€

 

Disendra glared down at the drunk man. “I really don’t think so. And if I were you, I’d get off home, before one of the Aes Sedai catches you lurking around here sodden with drink.â€

 

It was at that exact moment that another women appeared from behind Disendra’s wagon.

 

Ooc: Right! Aes Sedai to the rescue! If there’s anyone in the area who wants to swoop down and save this poor girl from having to club some men into an early semi-comatose state then feel free to pop up! Also, if you’d be so kind as to tell Disendra she can channel and drag her kicking and screaming (almost) to the MoN, I’d be ever so grateful! Lol.

I'm replying to this in the evening. :D I'll edit it then. :)

 

-Vera

 

(Soft :P Just editing to let you know I may be on later than anticipated tonight for the Reynold/Adela posting. That and so I could heckle you. - James)

(gah James. get off!

 

Vera, you gonna take this hun? Im confused cause i thought i was supposed to crack skulls... welp, no matter, yall just point and ill post :D )

Mid night was nigh, and Cavana knew that she had a class first thing in the morning. It was a good thing that the wine tasting was over, and Cavana bid goodbye to her old friends and the new. A winery had just been opened in Tar Valon by an old friend of hers, and she had been invited, as she had once Healed the man's wife and guided them through a childbirth that almost killed her. It had been a pleasant evening and she had met a few ladies that all had questions, but of course Cavana tried to keep it all to pleasure. She even made one friend of a lady that had a sore ankle and Healed it, later discovering she was a seamstress that had amazing embroidery. After her class the next morning, she would have to stop by and request a bit of decoration for one of her dresses.

 

Pulling her cloak on over her pale yellow dress, she hid her ageless Aes Sedai face behind the hood. It was not that she wanted to be unknown, but that she simply wanted to be undisturbed on her venture back to the tower. She heard voices ahead of her as she hurried her way through the city and spotted a woman with drunken men around her. Bullying would not be allowed with Cavana around. "-if I were you, I’d get off home, before one of the Aes Sedai catches you lurking around here sodden with drink.†A girl with spunk- that was exactly what caught Cavana's attention, but it was the faint sense of another woman that could channel that held her msot of all.

 

"Young men, I suggest you let this woman alone," she said clearly, coming to stand beside the woman. Flashing the hand that held her ring at the woman to let her know who she was, Cavana turned back to the men. "She is quite right on what an Aes Sedai would do... she might pick you up with Air..." with that Cavana lifted the group slowly off the ground. "Or, she might create fire..." and with that, Cavana struggled to create a line of fire between the women and the boys. "Or, she might just be kind enough to let you go..." With that, Cavana put out the fire and let the boys down. "But of course, there is the worst, and that is turn you into the Tower Guards for harassing a woman and attempting to make the streets of Tar Valon dangerous." Using Spirit, she magnified her voice and said, "NOW GO!"

 

The boys went running and the woman beside her looked scared. "Not you, you stay." She let go of the power and set her hood back on her shoulders. "You need to come with me to the tower- now."

 

 

Cavana

 

 

OOC: sorry it took so long, ,there ya go

Disendra climbed down from her wagon with a mix of trepidation and irritability. She had just witnessed what the majority of people in her hometown had been afeared of for the whole of their natural lives - an Aes Sedai channeling the One Power.

 

"I'm sorry Aes Sedai," she replied with what she felt was an approprate level of humility, "but i've got to get my wagon somewhere overnight ready for trading tomorrow. If i've broken some law or anything else, it truly was in ignorance and i'm sure I can clear the matter up if I come by tomorrow."

 

Of course, in reality, Disendra had no intention of returning. If she could get away now, she intended to make sure that she stayed away.

 

The look on the cloaked Aes Sedai's face however, told her that she might as well try and touch the Power herself than get away from an Aes Sedai when she didn't want you to.

 

ooc: sorry it's a bit short, but i'm pushed for time at the moment. Written this at work in my break. I'll make the next one huuuuuuuuge to make up! lol.

ooc: i have class in a few minutes, ill write it during journalism and post it when i get home. btw, remove that siggi, ill make you a new one for this place, because that siggi is 200x400, and you need 100x500 for this one

The woman climbed down from the wagon, looking in shock. "I'm sorry Aes Sedai," the woman’s fakeness made Cavana want to cringe. "but I've got to get my wagon somewhere overnight ready for trading tomorrow. If I've broken some law or anything else, it truly was in ignorance and I'm sure I can clear the matter up if I come by tomorrow." Cavana stared at the woman and said nothing for a moment. “Stay here, child,†She said before turning and walking towards where she had seen the last guard. It took her two minutes to find one and then led him back to the woman.

 

“Take care of this cart. Put the horses in the stable and the goods somewhere in the stable. I shall worry about those in the morning.†Taking the girl by her arm, she began walking towards the tower. The woman struggled to get away, cursing at Cavana and fighting. “Child, listen. You are going to that tower and your things will be taken care of.†She kept fighting Cavana but after a while gave up.

 

Back in the tower, she led the girl up to the Mistress of Novices. The only information she got of the girl was her name was Disendra, and Cavana knew from her accent and appearance she was from Tear. Landing in front of the office she had planned on, she turned the girl to face her. “Listen to me child, you have no choice in the matter. You now belong to the tower. You belonged to the tower the moment you stepped in those walls. Now grow up and accept that, for you shall be grateful in the end.â€

 

Knocking on the door, she got the response she had expected, the door opened. It was often that she was up this late, doing something. “This girl I found in the streets. If she asks on her goods, I will find her in the morning and discuss what to do with them. I leave her in you hands until then.†And with that, Cavana left the girl in another’s hands.

 

 

Cavana

“Listen to me child, you have no choice in the matter. You now belong to the tower. You belonged to the tower the moment you stepped in those walls."

 

Those words filled Disendra with foreboding. What did the Aes Sedai mean? How did she belong to the Tower? Why?

 

Disendra was still fuming from the Aes Sedai's last comment directed at her, "Now grow up and accept that, for you shall be grateful in the end.†Disendra considered herself to be, quite clearly, an adult and she gave short shrift to anyone who proposed otherwise, no matter who they may be. A fact which probably indicated that she actually wasn't as adult as she thought, but Disendra chose to overlook that small detail.

 

Stood before her was yet another Aes Sedai. This one seemed to loom over her, looking down on her with the full weight of the Tower in her eyes. It was this very look of authority and control that prompted Disendra's almost stammered question, "Are-," she cleared her throat, "Are you the Amrylin Seat?" she managed in a near whisper.

Countless times Faerzyne Grigory had glanced at the sun today, and now that it had long since turned to night, she was still cloistered in her office. She sighed softly, and inclined her head a little, causing the little bells attached to her braids to tingle softly. Yet even the bells sounded a bit weary, as if they too suffered from a lack of sleep. The Mistress of Novices stifled a yawn, and turned her attention on the book of Novices again. Everything was recorded in there, after all. Everything that mattered at least. Last night another Accepted had ventured into the rings, and passed through them free of everything she had been before she became who she was now. In her fine handwriting Faerzyne made a note of the raising in the book of Novices. Today the girl would choose her Ajah, and her fate would become truly entwined with that of the Tower. Her choice was no secret to Faerzyne, the way very little that happened among the novices and accepted of the White Tower was a secret to her.

 

She closed the big book after she was done. The book looked a little old, but the preservation wards that were set on it worked well. It seemed as though it would never get full. Faerzyne had once paged through it, and found her own name, as well as that of the Mistress of Novices before her. It was interesting to learn how long some of her sisters had been here, and how long they had taken to get themselves raised. Wistfully Faerzyne peered at the sun again, only to find that it hadn’t moved a bit. The day was still young, and she would be tired and aching by the time it was done. Not that the work of the Mistress of Novices ever truly ended. There were wards on the door to the office that told her people were waiting in front of it. The wards would wake her, even if someone tried to sneak in when the night was at it’s darkest.

 

Just as she thought of the wards, a tingling sensation crept over her skin, telling her that someone was about to knock on her door. Soon enough the sound of knocking followed. The sound of a knock often told her a lot about who wished to enter. This was the hesitant knock of someome who came to her with a request. Faerzyne took a moment to school her expression into something a little less depressing than the look of fatigue she had had. “Enter.†She said, her voice calm and low as usual. The door opened as she channelled a thread of air to it. To whomever entered it might seem as magic. The young woman was dressed in clothing that suggested she was not of the Tower. Yet. Things might change soon.

 

“This girl I found in the streets. If she asks on her goods, I will find her in the morning and discuss what to do with them. I leave her in you hands until then.†Faerzyne leveled a cool gaze at Cavana's departing back, a woman of her age and standing should know to have more respect for the Mistress of Novices. Something she may pursue at another time - for now she had a young woman to deal with.

 

"Are you the Amrylin Seat?" Faerzyne eyed the girl for a moment, before allowing a tiny smile to curve her lips. "No child. I am Faerzyne Grigory, the Mistress of Novices." Faerzyne gestured to one of the chairs in front of her desk. They were uncomfortable, but that was for a purpose. After all, those who spent too much time in them would deserve the discomfort. Those who did not were merely reminded of the fact that they should not misbehave, in order to avoid the discomfort that came with the chairs.

 

The young woman sat down. Faerzyne folded her hands in front of her on the desk, and studied the girl intently for a moment. Not that she could judge if the girl would be worth anything just yet, but at least she would be able to see how nervous the girl was. Those who were most nervous often were the ones who wanted it most.

 

“Tell me, child…†She started, deliberately using the word child. She would become accustomed to it before she was raised to Aes Sedai, and Faerzyne saw no point in shielding the girl from what would be her reality during the next twenty years of her life, if she turned out to be worthy of staying. “Have you been tested?†The girl shook her head, indicating that she had not been tested, or perhaps that she didn’t even know what the test entailed. Faerzyne smiled reassuringly at the young woman, and opened one of the drawers of her desk. There was only one item in the drawer. A gray, clear gem that she had received from the former Mistress of Novices.

 

Slowly she rose from her seat, and walked to the other side of the desk. Though she was by no means the tallest Aes Sedai within the White Tower, she imagined that she must come across as being a giantess to the young woman sitting in the uncomfortable chair. She knelt in front of her, trying to relax the young woman a little. The test would be hard enough as it was without Disendra being terrified of her. “Clear your mind completely, and focus on the stone.†She said. The girl did, staring at the stone intently. Time passed, and Faerzyne worried that her arm would cramp up before the girl showed any sign of potential. Just as she thought there would be nothing, s light flickered within the stone. Faerzyne smiled, and rose again. As she walked back to her side of the desk, she imagined she felt the surprise in the eyes of the girl as they settled on her back.

 

“Congratulations, dear. You can learn to channel.â€

 

Ooc: rp your reaction to finding out you can channel.

 

 

~Faerzyne Grigory

Mistress of Novices

Disendra just stared at the Aes Sedai. Channel? Me? A band of iron seemed to tighten around her chest and, gasping for air, her eyes darted nervously around the room, which suddenly seemed a lot smaller than it did before.

 

"Surely not," she managed, between the gasps, "You've made a mistake...you must have!" One look at the Aes Sedai's face told her there was no mistake. Despite her often stand-offish attitude, Disendra was very much a people person and loved nothing more than teh acceptance of her peers. This news effectively shut her off from that and it was that thought that terrified her more than anything else.

 

"What happens now..." she whispered to herself, "My plans, my family, my home. What do i do?"

 

 

ooc: there we go! sub-standard, but i wanna get this thread wrapped up so i can start my lessons! lol :D

Now that the girl had already been tested, it was time to make her stay at the White tower a fact. Strange enough, the testing didn’t mean that the girl looked any more secure than she had before about her stay at the White Tower. Even though she had to know, somewhere deep down inside of herself that she would be accepted within the White Tower. That she would learn to channel, to the best of her abilities. Still the girl shifted in her seat, as if she couldn’t quite believe that she would be asked to stay. Faerzyne decided to relieve her from the tension that was building. She opened the book of Novices which was still in front of her. She picked up her pen, and prepared to write. “Let’s see about making your stay here a bit more permanent then, shall we?â€

 

She didn’t have to look at the young woman to see that there was a change in the tension that had kept her in it’s thrall. “Can you tell me your full name again?†As the girl replied, she wrote it down in the book. Another life sealed to the Tower, for better and for worse. “And your place of birth and raising?†again she wrote, making Disendra‘s stay more certain with every letter, every curved or straight line. “And finally your age.†She finished with a dot behind the age, which felt as heavy and important as any signature from any high lord or lady. “Welcome to the White Tower.â€

 

 

Faerzyne, MoN

 

Ooc: rp your char’s reaction to being written down in the novice book. oh, and by the way, you can start your other rps before this one is done if you like :)

She finished with a dot behind the age, which felt as heavy and important as any signature from any high lord or lady.

 

That dot, small and insignificant as it was, effectively sealed Disendra's fate. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Disendra straightened her back resolutely. She resigned herself to the fate that the Wheel had put before her and put her plans for life to one side. Inambitious though they may be, they were stil her plans and she intended to take them uo again when the Wheel allowed. But for now, her life, it appeared, was not for her to decide.

 

The usual agate glint returned to her albeit damp eyes and she simply looked at the Mistress of Novices with all the self-assurity she could muster. "Very well," she stated crisply, "I'm yours."

Finally the book was closed again. Faerzyne took a moment to write down the name of the girl’s mentor on a piece of parchment, as well as a summons. The mentor she had selected would be with them soon enough. After she handed the note to a servant that passed in the hallway joined with her office, she returned to the new Novice. With a smile she walked over to one of the many cabinets. She pulled two novice dresses from the cabinet, and handed them to the girl. “These are yours to wear during the years you are a novice. You must tend to them well, mend them when they’re torn, wash them when they’re dirty. For the next years, you will not be allowed to wear anything apart from these dresses.â€

 

She settled behind her desk again, telling the young woman in front of her a little about the rules novices lived by. She went from the curfew to the restriction on venturing into Tar Valon, to the repercussions that would follow if she chose to venture into the yards without a good reason. “But you look like a sensible young woman, so I’m sure I won’t see too much of you here.†A knock on her door told her that the mentor of the girl had arrived. “Enter.†The mentor revealed herself to Faerzyne and Disendra. “I trust that you’ll tell her all she needs to know.†Faerzyne said. Her tone was dismissive. She glanced at the sun, and notice that it had shifted slightly. A while had passed since the young woman had entered her office. A while, but there was still a lot of time left. As the new mentor and mentee pair left her office she sighed, wondering if this day would end any time soon.

 

Faerzyne, MoN

It was almost a surprise when the summons came. It certainly wasn’t the sender that was surprising- she knew Faerzyne, or rather the woman’s switch, rather intimately. The sender didn’t surprise her, but the motive did. She was to be given another mentee? Estel nearly laughed aloud, only the lingering presence of the Novice kept her silent.

 

“Don’t you have something better to do than stand there?†The girl ran away fumbling her curtsy. She might be the lowest of the low, but she still managed to stand just far enough above Novices to make them run. A sort of twisted sense of enjoyment came from knowing she still had at least social class to order around.

 

As she walked the familiar path to Faerzyne’s office, she wondered just who this girl was and what she was like. After the episode with her last mentee...

 

She knocked on the door twice before simply pulling open the door. Her hazel eyes fell immediately upon the girl in the room mainly because she would rather avoid the gaze of Faerzyne. Estel sized up the girl as she stood.

 

Her new mentee was slim as she was though a good half foot shorter. Black hair framed a pretty face which was as readable as a book to any Aes Sedai worth her salt. Though the Blue was worth far less than any amount of salt, even she could read the girl well enough. A bit awed, nervous, the very things she herself had felt while sitting in this office twenty years back.

 

Of course, the new Novice wasn’t the only one with nerves. Estel refused to let any of it show on her face in front of Faerzyne but she was a little worried on how she should approach the girl who would likely expect open arms and strength to lean on. Open arms were ruled out by the shawl she shouldn’t have the right to claim and as for strength... she barely had enough of her own.

 

Burn her! Burn them! Who’s idea had it been to give her another mentee?

 

“Hello, I’m Estel Sedai.†‘If you’re going to try and keep all propriety, she’s going to end up like Aithne.’ She ushered the girl out of the door, shutting out Faerzyne. Damn that woman. “But please just call me Estel.†Her smile was as sincere as she could make it, burn her, she hoped her nervousness wasn’t showing. Knowing her luck, the girl could probably see right through her.

Disendra stood in the corridor looking at Estel. She blinked a few times. One minute the Mistress of Novices is telling me about propierty and how I should behave with Aes Sedai; the next, I have this one asking me to forget all of that. OK, if that's how she wants to play it!

"I'm Disendra, Estel. Disendra Vinyrai. But please do call me Disendra. It reminds me far too much of when I was little and being scolded when people call me by my full name." she smiled sweetly, "At least you're treating me like a person. The Aes Sedai that brought me here barely spoke two civil words to me the whole time!"

 

Following Estel down the corridor, she continued. "I really must admit, Estel, this is all very sudden and unexpected. I'm originally from Tear - so you can probably understand some of my apprehension about all of this. I've been a local trader in Tear for a couple of years now, and this was supposed to be my first long-distance venture. I literally just got here and was looking for a place to stay the night when, bam, here I was in the Tower being told I'm now a novice." She hefted the two dresses that lay over her crossed arms. "To be honest, I guess i'm still very much in shock about it all! But what I really need to know is how this is all going to work."

 

Disendra took a deep breath and looked at Estel expectantly.

 

ooc: Hehe! Please do slap Dizzy down if you want to Estel, although I'd rather try and get these two friendly. Dizzy's gunna be pushing the boundaries until she finds exactly what she can get away with and what she can't. But since you started out quite open and friendly, let's see where we go from there! :D

A smile betrayed the laughter she was dying to release as the girl beside her babbled on. This was so much different from the first meeting with her last mentee; the girl was much different and so was she. Guilt threatened to rise in her. Estel had been anything but warm with Aithne, in fact, she doubted the girl had even thought she cared and for good reason, back then she hadn’t! She had been a piteous wretch- not that she had risen much since then- wallowing in her own misery and self-pity.

 

“Work?†Estel said, quite amused. “Well, for any other Aes Sedai than me- unless of course that Sister asks you not to, or we are in public- you are to curtsy deeply and remain silent until spoken to. You are a child here.†‘As am I, still.’ “You will be given chores and have to attend classes on languages, maths, geography, history, etc., as well as classes dealing with the One Power. You will receive your first of those tomorrow with me.â€

 

They arrived at her room and Estel ushered her in.

 

“This is your room, which you will likely have to share with one or two other Novices. You are expected to keep it clean and tidy,†with a mischievous smile, Estel leaned over and whispered “but I rarely did.†In fact, Estel would be almost disappointed if the girl toed every line.

 

ooc: :shock: Estel finds her cute...oh dear...this could get interesting...and sorry for taking so long...with my lack of energy lately you'd think I had mono...

Disendra looked around the room that Estel had led her to. Well it certainly looks like it needs a clean. I wonder who used it last? Maybe it was Estel? She giggled at the thought.

 

Just to show her mentor that she had been listening, Disendra made a deep curtsy which she carried of beautifully, before rising again. "Thank you Aes Sedai." Then she giggled again and collapsed in laughter on the bed. For some inexplicable reason, she felt truly comfortable with this woman.

 

Her mirth died as she let out a yawn. It had been a long night and tomorrow promised to be longer. "Thanks again, Estel. I'll certainly sleep well tonight!"