ooc- continued from this thread http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4287

 

IC- Jaydena stood outside Aramina's room and reflected on what was about to happen. Once again she would go before the ajah head and tell her that this person, this Aes Sedai was ready to be raised. Of course the ajah head should have been here but that was fine, she had given up hope of ever being ajah head. She thoughts back Sirayn's second petition and how Mandi had almost denied her the right to be a green. Now Sira was the one leading the ceremony and she was unlikely to deny anyone after her own horrible experience. Jaydena turned as she heard the door being opened and looked the recruit up and down. She wore a nicely cut dark green dress with many different colored green slashes across the bodice. Aramina wore a single rose with green leaves around her neck and her hair had been hooked into a mass of braids and curls.

resting immaculately on the top of her head.

 

Jade nodded in satisfaction as Aramina spoke, "I am ready Jaydena Sedai, for whatever may come." She smiled for she felt closer to this woman after their talk and said, "That's the spirit my dear, keep that in mind and you will make it through this just fine." Turning away she led Aramina toward the Hall of Swords, the place where all ceremonies within their ajah took place. The room was pie shaped like the tower and sat almost in the middle of the Green quarters, The tiles that graced the rest of the quarters had changed, a green background instead of a white, and a white handled sword instead of a green. Jade led the way into the room where the entire ajah waited for Aramina. The only people who weren't there we those out on missions in the field. She instructed the recruit to stand in front of the arc of sisters and took her place next to Sirayn, facing Aramina...

 

Jaydena Sedai

Sitter

Aramina walked beside Jaydena in silence. There was nothing left to say at this point. It was time for her to face the Ajah Head one more time to request admittance, or to be denied the goal she had sought since she walked into the White Tower. Her facade was firmly in place and she was careful to make sure her hands didn't give away her nerves.

 

As she approached the Hall of Swords Jaydena parted from her side, going to stand with Sirayn Sedai. It was a more painful parting than she would have liked, but it reminded her sharply of what was at stake. Not just parting from a single sister, but from the Ajah itself.

 

She was being watched now, every eye on her, weighing her for her worth. Aramina was sure she came our wanting, but such were the times that sometimes you had to accept the weak and hope they came to greatness. At least she hoped it would be that way. Someday, she hoped to look back on her doubts and laugh. Light, if she could just get through this and gain admittance they just might see a side of Aramina sur Dulciena that would surprise the lot of them!

 

She raised her eyes to Sirayn Sedai then, the Captain General, and the woman Aramina most wanted to learn from, most needed to accept her. She nodded her head then in greeting, bowing deeply not for her but for that which she stood, the Green Ajah. With her head bowed, she waited for Sirayn Sedai to swing the axe upon her vulnerable neck, or for a hand that would help guide her through the years.

 

Not for the first time, standing silent and cold in the Hall of Swords, Sirayn contemplated the paintings looking down on her from high above and weighed how much outrage she might cause by removing them. It was only a half serious thought, the Green Ajah lived by its traditions and famous history, but to stand beneath the portrait of Captain Generals long gone was to feel remarkably small. At her diminutive height one would have thought she would be used to it by now. Besides, undoubtedly the likes of Lanfir Leah Marithsen and her starry predecessors had never stood here before her and felt intimidated, and it was they whom she needed to imitate to the best of her ability.

 

Instead she stood, hands clasped, beneath the paintings in full dress uniform. She had always hated dress occasions, but it looked smart on even her hard to flatter form, the striking black broken by only one of her career’s haul of medals: the red shooting star from the campaign that had made and broken her reputation. It felt cold when she touched it, sharp edges and solid planes, a campaign’s worth of memories compressed into one small item. People no longer whispered of that hunt like they had done before. For a new generation, growing up after the great call to arms, it lacked the same immediacy; the rush of images and colours associated with the name. The thought no longer troubled her. Let it pass into myth.

 

Around her the Hall of Swords still stood quiet, filled only with echoes and silence, stirring faintly as a few people joined her. Thus saved from excessive formality Sirayn began to pace, steady methodical steps while she waited for the Ajah to gather round her. Mostly the wonder with which she had once viewed these occasions had dissipated and she no longer marvelled at their strangeness; indeed she felt content as Captain General as she had not in a myriad of other roles. And why not? Her position was secure, she had Green Ajah ritual at her fingertips and she was surrounded by, if not friends, at least people she could rely on to think before speaking. The Wheel wove as the Wheel willed but the Green Ajah would be there to meet whatever came.

 

If all went well today would see the induction of a new member into the Battle Ajah. One who was, despite the coolly unmoved exterior she put forth, rather high in her estimation; a place many had found difficult to reach, but which Aramina sur Dulciena had found with the same effortless skill she applied to everything else before her. It seemed the many cruelties of the Green Ajah initiation system had not poisoned her as they had done others, one of whom might not be too far from this spot right now, and her instructors had recommended her in the most glowing of terms. She would make a fine addition to the Ajah. All in all this ceremony should go without a hitch.

 

Theoretically nobody was put forward for their second petition until they were ready so nobody was ever turned down. She herself had come within an ace of breaking centuries of tradition when her Ajah Head nearly threw her out of her own second petition … but despite her less than ideal behaviour at that point she had had the last laugh over the years. Perhaps fear hid beneath that flawless Cairhienin mask all the same. It was impossible to ever be sure that one’s petition would be accepted and the consequences of failure could be severe. No doubt it was infinitely more comfortable on this side of the trial, judge and executioner all in one, spared the burden of fear and hope.

 

By now the great hall buzzed. Light slid through the huge windows high above her head like a blade and fell across the flagstones before her. People crossed the floor to take their positions in a broad half-moon, smartly dressed in their finery, and for just a moment Sirayn Damodred contemplated the sweep of Green Ajah strength with a devotion so possessive and so intense it twisted at her; if there was a way to protect them from all harm, the soldiers who had come under her command, she would take it without an instant’s hesitation. Of course it was their job to take the blows and some day she would even get used to sending them out to die in her place. Exchanging a nod with her two Banner Captains she took up her place in the heart of the Hall of Swords.

 

A flash of colour heralded the entrance of the recruit and her instructor. Her cool grey gaze lingered just a moment on Jaydena Sedai. The very image of beauty as always, the Banner Captain joined her in a sweep of green skirts, and neither showed so much as a hint of the long and bitter history between them. Immaculately presented, their recruit bowed her dark head; Sirayn inclined hers briefly in greeting. The striking resemblance this one bore to somebody long dead still twisted at her. No amount of time would be enough to communicate all the many meanings to that. But she had to concentrate right now, deal with Aramina for Aramina, not for the shades of a past now sleeping. And Aramina would be hers in time.

 

“Aramina sur Dulciena Aes Sedai.†She gave the other woman her full and formal title as she swung into an old ritual. “What brings you to the Hall of Swords?â€

 

Sirayn Damodred

Retro Head of the Green Ajah

“What brings you to the Hall of Swords?â€

 

It was a simple question and one that she was sure others had known how to answer better. She had failed so completely at her first Petition for the Green Ajah, she just hoped that her second would fair better. In particular she hoped that she had found the equilebruem to speak with Sirayn Sedai without stumbling.

 

She looked at the Sisters surrounding her, taking in the dress uniform and the many metals that sparkled and shone on their chests in pride. Her heart lifted at the thought that she might join them someday, that she might be worthy of them. Jaydena seemed to think so, still it was the woman beside her that she needed to impress.

 

She didn't know if she should take the title she bestowed as a mockery or an honor, but it was always safest to judge the worst. If she meant it in mockery though, she would answer with sincerity. The one thing she found most interesting in the Great Game was that truth and sincereity were often your best allies. Those steeped too heavily in the Game didn't know how to take them.

 

She bowed her head again, this time to give herself a minute to think her words through. "Sirayn Sedai, Sitters, Sisters of the Battle Ajah," She said, including them all in her plea "I stand before you in the Hall of Swords for a simple request, let me be one of you." She said.

 

"I have passed the tests and spoken the oaths but until I walk among you the title Aes Sedai is a mockery to my heart. I have trained in your ways, now let me bleed for you. I want only to be a soldier in this great army as it prepares for the Last Days and the coming darkness."

 

A small enough speech but one she hoped would resonate with them. A short empassioned speeches could often win points when a longer, cooler thought out version would fail. She looked up at Sirayn, wondering which way it would fall today. "I have come to the Hall of Swords because I would be a Battle Sister."

 

Cema stood in the hall waiting alongside the rest, she where one of the younger sisters and still remembered her own petition some decades back, specialy on ocations like this. She had not seen anyone been rejected though on the second petition while she where present, though she prefered to be on the roads so not always was she present to see a new sister raised.

 

Then Jaydena strode in togheter with the new candidate, thoug for an instant she wanted to smile she hid that behind a mask of Aes Sedai serenity. It was a good day always when the green ajah grew in her eyes anyway.

 

Though she had to focus to not let her eyes to stray to the window, she would rather be outside, and preferably in something, anything else then uniform. She kept her composture thoug and focused on the woman who stood infront of them.

 

The words spoken where some she could aprove of, passion and dreams, they where always good stimulators to draw strength from. Thoug some she disagreed with, she knew many wouldnt have an understanding for that thoug, to many where to narrow sigthed.

 

Time would tell thoug, would show the greatness to come. She waited for her elders to speak, keeping quiet and but observing from the sideline, she would stay as such, she kept much to herself on the roads, never leting anyone to close onto her, and she had no intention of drawing any attention to herself causing someone to think she could need any tasks to quiet her down. That was something she had not enjoyed finding out, the shawl didnt mean freedom just one step up in a new hirarchy where the younger sisters had to bend neck to the older, and where strength played a piece as well.

 

It was something the new Aes Sedai would come to learn as well, Cema didnt intend to be here to see it thoug, she had every plan to be out of here by tomorow, 2 months back in the city had been more then enough for her.

*pokes Greenies*

Although being Captain General was by no means full of sparkles and light, in fact from her point of view it had turned out to be more about paperwork and the art of intimidation and fretting while other people went out to fight her battles for her, a raising was always a special occasion for her. To stand here beneath slanting coloured light from the huge stained-glass windows, the rank and responsibility of Ajah Head on her shoulders, was to remember how far she had come; nobody would ever get the upper hand on her again; she was strong now, too much so to rely on anyone ever again. Much like an iceberg part of that strength lay below the surface … and although Aramina sur Dulciena knew it not, some day she too would become part of it, waiting in readiness for the last summons of all.

 

Tarmon Gai’don was ever in the back of her mind and never more strongly than on days like this. Surrounded by the Green Ajah’s might, waiting to welcome a new sister into their ranks, she judged always on who she thought might help her to win the Last Battle. Sweet sentimental virtures like sympathy and a moral compass were useless to her. She needed strong people, who could follow orders without question, but who had initiative and resourceful cunning nevertheless; the type who would not hesitate to do whatever had to be done, who would not give up until the world had ended, regardless of the hardship they came across. Discipline. Intelligence. Dedication. Qualities she needed, qualities she selected as carefully as a jeweller picking gold from the dross, qualities that would win Tarmon Gai’don. Let others worry about the state of their love life or the price of peas in Illian. She had only one concern, the concern of a Captain General, the Last Battle.

 

For that and a multitude of other reasons she would take this particular recruit as a soldier in her Battle Ajah army. Not only because this one reminded her of Jehanine de’Gavrielle, a legend in her own time, although that was good; she had never thought to see the likes of Jehanine again, the same cold mind and iron will, the loyalty and the courage. But because Aramina sur Dulciena would be at her right hand when Tarmon Gai’don came and the Shadow’s war machine rolled toward them to crush the White Tower once and for all. Aramina was not the type to break, nor to disobey her orders, and although she had once and not long ago been greatly offended by Aramina she rather suspected that it would never happen again. Had better not happen again. Even for Aramina her patience had its limits.

 

Soon it would be over. Time for gifts and warm words and congratulations all round. Time for certain spiders to begin spinning other webs. She let the silence draw out nevertheless. Technically she had the right to turn down a recruit, reject them straight out, though that would be not only a tremendous break with tradition but a grave insult to the initiation leader who had declared them ready. Perhaps some day she would have cause to use that right, the Ajah Head’s veto; but it would not be this day. “Aramina sur Dulciena Sedai has spoken.” Level and detached as though she did not know the other woman at all, as though it meant nothing to her. “Who will stand for her?”

 

Sirayn Damodred

Retro Head of the Green Ajah

Jaydena examined the Greens gathered around as she waited for the rest of them to file in. Over the years their ajah head shrunk, not everyone wanted to die or watch their warders die and their friends die, for a purpose that many did not care for. Did the people in distant nation that didn't even believe in a Trolloc, care that her warder had died on a battlefield to protect everyone from Trollocs ruling the earth. No they didn't care and she thought that might be exactly why their numbers dwindled so rapidly over the years. So many people would rather stay in the cushy Tower and deal with other things, not fighting, not dying, not battle. She looked at her fellow Sitters, she didn't know them as well as she liked but she wasn't the same warm person she was so many years ago before life had beaten her down. Looking back at Sirayn she glanced at her smiled with the corner of her mouth, that was all she did to even greet the woman who had once been her best friend and who she loved very deeply.

 

Of course that love would never be returned and she had long ago come to grips with that fact. Finally the Hall filled up and Sirayn spoke, "Aramina sur Dulciena Aes Sedai. What brings you to the Hall of Swords?" Jaydena waited silently for her part in the ritual, as the woman that had led this young warrior throuh her paces, she would speak for her first. Aramina began to speak and Jaydena felt pride in this young woman fill her, "Sirayn Sedai, Sitters, Sisters of the Battle Ajah, I stand before you in the Hall of Swords for a simple request, let me be one of you. I have passed the tests and spoken the oaths but until I walk among you the title Aes Sedai is a mockery to my heart. I have trained in your ways, now let me bleed for you. I want only to be a soldier in this great army as it prepares for the Last Days and the coming darkness. I have come to the Hall of Swords because I would be a Battle Sister." Jaydena almost clapped as she listened to the speech, when she had finished Jade saw Sirayn nod and she waited for the next step. “Aramina sur Dulciena Sedai has spoken. Who will stand for her?” Jaydena stepped forward and turned to speak to the assembled Sisters. "I will speak for Aramina sur Dulciena, she is a canidate to be worthy of. From the very day we denied her, she has strove to be the best, she never questioned and she never faltered, she completed every task I set before her with honor and courage. We would be greatly remiss if we did not accept her into our Halls, we can't afford to lose any more great greens." She stepped back into place and several Sisters stepped forward to speak their pieces. Before long they had reached a vote...

 

Jaydena Sedai

Raisings had been problematic before, not least when a certain person not a million miles removed from Sirayn Damodred had faced the assembled Battle Ajah herself for her shawl, but she had expected that this would go smoothly and indeed it proved to. In general they needed sisters; in specific, though she would not have liked to discuss the reasons why in public, they needed this one. Today’s young recruit had shown much promise -- as a sister, a soldier and a diplomat, the proper Green Ajah skills, to be the guiding light in the storm -- and though she thought her old friend hasty to attach the tag of greatness so early, the conclusion was quite correct.

 

One by one her sisters had their say. In older times she herself would have given her verdict, she had an inclination toward cutting but fair comment on the public stage, but as Ajah Head she did not speak for or against recruits any more -- she merely judged, impassive as a statue, impartial like all Aes Sedai should be. Others spoke their piece now where she stood silent. The testimony given did not pose her any particular difficulty; to nobody’s surprise, and presumably to their recruit’s great relief although as always that Cairhienin composure did not waver, the long-held tradition of never rejecting someone on their second petition would be upheld again today.

 

If there was something she particularly liked about raisings it was the opportunity to grant somebody whom she held in personal respect the shawl they had earned. It took a moment’s calculation to pick her time to intervene, slow enough that everybody had had the chance to speak yet not enough to show doubt in their judgement, until Sirayn finally came forward herself. “Then I welcome you to the Battle Ajah. From this day forth you are one of us and when Tarmon Gai’don comes we will stand together against the Shadow.” Careful and ceremonial, she arranged a green shawl about the other woman’s shoulders, straightened it. Then she smiled. “Hail and well met … sister.”

 

Sirayn Damodred

Retro Head of the Green Ajah

The other women spoke and slowly the women speaking dwindled until they all stood silent. Sirayn called for a vote, asking that anyone who opposed her raising step forward. No one did and Jaydena smiled with victory, she was so proud of Aramina and was anxious to get her installed as full sister. The woman was capable of many things and they needed her within this ajah very badly. Silence reined for a few moment as they all waited to see if anyone would step forward. Finally Sirayn spoke, “Then I welcome you to the Battle Ajah. From this day forth you are one of us and when Tarmon Gai’don comes we will stand together against the Shadow.” Jaydena blinked at the tears that had gathered in her eyes, she loved this ajah and these moments always got to her, in these moments she forgot all the heartache she had suffered. All the loses they had suffered as an ajah, she just remembered that they had added a new sister to their ranks, one who would take the torch up for them one day, and carry it faithfully. When she was brought down, women like this would save the Tower and keep the Tower and the Green Ajah great.

 

Sirayn walked forward and gently placed the green shawl around her shoulders. “Hail and well met … sister.” Sisters moved forward and began to offer their congratulations to the new sisters and also small gifts. It was a tradition to give the new sister gifts. Jade waited for several sisters to offer theirs before she approached the woman she had spent so much time training. She smiled at Aramina and spoke, "I am very proud of you Sister, I have several gifts for you. Welcome to our ajah, I look forward to fighting by your side." The packages in her hands were gaily wrapped in green fabric. She handed them over and waited for Aramina to open them. Inside the other woman would find the key to Rashima's Garden, this also opened the other secret rooms within the quarters as well as their Vault. The next package contained a charm bracelet, each charm was shapped like the Aes Sedai symbol on on each were several names, the names of all the Sisters within the ajah, Aramina's was the newest on the charm, each sister would get a new charm to add to theirs. In this package also lay matching sword shaped hair pins which also doubled as small but lethal weapons. The last package contained a pocket watch, very fine with the initial A and a rose worked into the front cover. The gifts had been wrapped in a large throw blanket with the Aes Sedai symbol that Jaydena had sewn herself. She hugged Aramina and then turned and walked away, bowing her head at her ajah head as she passed...

 

Jaydena Mckanthur

Sister. She had been a sister once, a little sister who had watched coldly as her elder siblings played and went about their lives. Their warmth had never encompassed her and it had never touched her, though they had tried. Her mother had taught her to be reserved and cool, thinking and assessing, not caring and loving as her siblings had been. Sister had never been a word she had thought much on nor would it have held much meaning to her until today.

 

Sister. She had been called sister by others, by the Sisters of other Ajah’s who knew nothing of the Green Ajah and it’s petitions. They didn’t understand that the term was nothing more than a sham and that their words were salt to the festering wound that was her pride. She had earned the title Aes Sedai by training and trial. But she had not been a sister until today.

 

Sister. A green shawl was laid about her shoulders and it was Sirayn’s words that etched themselves into her heart. “Then I welcome you to the Battle Ajah. From this day forth you are one of us and when Tarmon Gai’don comes we will stand together against the Shadow. Hail and well met … sister.”

 

Sister. Truly a Sister of the Green Ajah. She wanted to shout for joy, to cry to Natalie that she was finally a Sister, to dance and drink and celebrate this day, to celebrate that word coming from those lips. But she was Aramina sur Dulciena, Battle Sister. She smiled politely at Sirayn Sedai as the shawl was adjusted by her own hands. “Thank you Sirayn Sedai.” She said, bowing again to the woman’s position.

 

Others came then, congratulations and gifts that she had never expected. When Jaydena came to her side she smiled at the other woman. She had helped Aramina learn what it would take to be a Sister in these halls and there was too much gratitude for her to share with the woman. Perhaps someday she would find a way to repay her for all she had done, but until then, she would have to settle for a thank you. “Thank you Jaydena Aes Sedai.” She said out of respect. “I would be honored to fight at your side.” She took the gifts then and was amazed at the generosity of the woman. The key was something she would have to try out later, to find all the secrets it now gave her access to, but the others were beautiful and unexpected as well. The sword pins were a nice touch and Aramina was already thinking of how to work them into her hair without making them seem to obvious a weapon. The watch was delicately engraved with her initial and the rose on front. A charm bracelet with the names of their Sisters was something she knew she would keep as a treasure. These sisters were hers the day she had come into her own and she would always remember who they were and how they had stood for her. And lastly, the throw that Jaydena gave her with the Aes Sedai symbol on it. The symbol she now felt she had the right to show with pride. “Thank you, for everything.” She whispered in the others ear as she embraced her tightly.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena... Battle Sister!!!