Sidonie Montreve was not one for this quiet life of sitting behind a counter waiting for the Light knows how long before a customer would show up. It wasn't even her shop anyways! But still she was sitting, resting her chin on her hand and watching the door in front of her, twirling a strand of hair around her other finger. She desperately wanted to get out, to find the admirers she had managed to find in Tar Valon over the past year or so.

 

"Sidonie! Pay attention to the store." Sidonie simply sighed again, replying to her father that she was as her thoughts drifted from this meaningless work. They hadn't had a customer all day what was she still doing here!

 

She reached out for the small mirror that was her most prized possesion, a small hand mirror. She looked into it, adjusting her head this way and that to make sure her hair looked perfect or that the red on her lips had not smudged in any way. "Sidonie! I will not ask you again!"

 

"But what am I doing father! Why can't I just go outside for a little while!" She turned a pouting look to her father, the same she used with all the boys that would instantly let her have her way.

 

Her father shook his head, knowing the look from long years from both her and her mother. "Because the expirience will help you manage your own accountings when you are out of the house and help you bring some money to your houshold other than what your husband will have."

 

Sidonie sniffed and rolled her eyes. The day she worked willingly a day more than necessary would be the day the sun forgot to rise and she would need to find a candle to be able to do her hair and cosmetics. She nearly shuddered at the thought.

 

So Sidonie turned back to the door and began twirling her hair about her finger once again and slowly swinging her foot back and forth. This was so boring!

 

 

Sidonie Montreve

There were other people Aramina could have sent out and about for tasks today, Accepted she could have given a list to, but it had been a day of stiffling reports with mostly no news. Or nothing new enough to merit the reports being sent her way. One dreary dull tale after another of things she already knew. So instead of sending someone else after her things she decided to get out of the Tower and walk among the people in the city. She remembered people telling her to be out more, to enjoy life more, even if she refused to let the memories take life in her heart. The memory of a name would cause tears and she wasn't the sort to allow that. Instead she simply remember that she had been told, once upon a time, to enjoy life more.

 

She picked up a couple items that she had truely needed, then simply walked along, looking for anything that would catch her fancy. And find it she did. The window front was promising and Aramina entered the store, finding a pretty young woman viewing her own reflection. She watched a moment, the girl was so caught up in her own image that she hadn't noticed her arrival. She softly cleared her throat but that did nothing either.

 

She spoke in polite voice that held no warmth. "Excuse me child. Is this your establishment, or do you simply try to adorn it?"

 

((Tee hee hee.. these are the moments I love Aramina :P))

"Excuse me child. Is this your establishment, or do you simply try to adorn it?"

 

Sidonie's lips compressed into a thin line at theis woman's words. What right did she have to come barginng into her shop in the middle of the day and begin insulting her! She was taking her day to watch the shop and be a good daughter. And as to her earlier reluctance, well...that had nothing to do with it. Right now this arrogant person wanted to insult her in and Sidonie was not ready to take that calmly. But still he eyes gazed gungrily at the silk adorning the woman and a face that  even though she was  a woman grown still had a beauty that could place an age to it.  Sidonie could not help but  be a little envious, even if she she followed her mother in her aging she could not hope to acheive that look this woman so casually bore.

 

"Yes this is my shop but I'm busy right  now so you can wait." Sidonie looked back into her mirror with a smug smile, tilting her head this way and that and trying to catch th efew stray whisps of hair to make her profile look perfect. The little bell had only stopped announcing tha tsomeone had walked into the shop before her father he shot a singularly malicious glare at his daughter before turning to  this new customer.

 

His eyes flashed hungrily as he wlooked at the silk of the woman's clothes and the ring flashing on her finger.  He gave a small respectful bow straighening with a welcoming smile on his face. "Be welcome in my humble shop Aes Sedai. Peter Montreve at your service."

 

Only a moment after Sidonie looked away from her mirror as she felt a small hand on her shoulder, her mother's strong profile gazing at the Aes Sedai witha hunger all it's own yet so different then what her father's was.  "Put that down now love." Sidonie looked up defiantly, the rebuttal already forming on her lips. "I said now Sidonie." Sidonie placed the mirror down on the desk and turned her attention to this apparently Aes Sedai.

 

Sidonie

The girl was absolutely unbareable, Aramina thought as she was about to turn and walk out. She was already preparing a nice weave that would shatter the girl's precious mirror, when her father came out. He was a good man and his desire to help was earnest, unlike the girls.

 

She walked through the store viewing the merchandise with him beside her giving his expertise. A few things stuck out and before long Aramina had a number of packages that needed to be delivered to her quarters. She felt the girl's gaze on her, angry as if she had caused her to lose face in something. When Aramina glanced her way she realized it was probably because the girl was no longer staring at her own face and seemed quite perturbed about it.

 

She turned to the owner and smiled as he was finishing up the wrapping. "I suppose your girl will have to do the trick. Come along child. Get my things and bring them quickly. I don't have time to dilly dally." She said, knowing full well the girl would be outraged and her parents wouldn't date tell her no when she was an Aes Sedai who had just spend considerable coin in their store.

Sidonie gaped incredulously at the thought of having to be this woman's...pack mule. Her gaze went from the stern look of her father to the icy cool look and nod in the Aes Sedai's direction of her mother. They couldn't actually expect her to carry a package of goods all the way to the Tower! "Buu.."

 

The words weren't even out of her mouth by the time her father's look turned into a glare and he mouthed the words Now. With a large sniffed she stopped over the the package, picked it up and turned towards the dreadful woman. How in the bloody pit of doom did they expect her to do this!

 

The Aes Sedai with her nose in the clouds simply looked at her, nodded and turned to walk out the door. Sidonie was outraged by this whole indident and her face hid none of her displeasure. Her slippers made audible sounds as they struck the cobblestones. The boys that normally flocked her way when she went outal conviently found other things to do as she stomped down the street.

 

 

Sidonie

It was a humorous reaction for Aramina. The girl was fuming, almost silently, as she trailed behind. She was a beautiful girl, but beauty was something that Aramina found only slightly useful. it wasn't beauty that had Aramina in front of a mirror before she left her rooms or made her dress as she did. Aramina was always concerned about looking appropriate and being dressed and decked out as she should be was about as important to her as breathing.

 

It would be a lie to say that she held no beauty of her own or that she hadn't turned heads when she had chosen to. Like anything, beauty could be a tool and Aramina never left a tool around unused when she could find a purpose for it.

 

The girl behind her thought was something of a mystery though. Most young girls began dreaming of life away from home and though in awe of Aes Sedai and their ways. This one was less than respectful of an Aes Sedai, which was truely why she was scampering around behind her.

 

"Oh, I almost forgot that I had a few more errands to run." Aramina said as she moved towards another store. "Come along child. I don't have all day to wait for you. The package isn't that heavy." She said, as she ducked into a store that carried fine jewelry. She had been there a few times and though she had nothing in mind at the moment, she liked to browse and pick up things that caught her fancy. You could never tell when a small gift might mend fences or might make the difference between an ally and an antagonistic alliance.

 

Besides, she was certain it would frustrate the girl to no end.

Aramina could have screamed in frustration and disgust as this devil of a woman told her they had another store to go to. "Come along child. I don't have all day to wait for you. The package isn't that heavy." Instead she gritted her teeth, determined not to fall to that childlike level that she was sure this Aes Sedai was trying to make her go to.

 

She deliberately went to the opposite side of the store, a small bit of resistance and defiance. That and something there had caught her eye. It only took a minute before Sidonie had put the package she was supposed to be carrying down on the ground, and only a few seconds after that it was forgotten all together.

 

Sidonie took a place in front of the mirror and held the small necklace she had found, turning her head this way and thatas she pushed her hair back. She was smiling at her reflection as she clasped the necklace in place and played with her hair. If only she had had time to put a little paint on her lips. She was humming lightly to herself as she looked around for something that would go with the necklace.

 

 

Sidonie

Aramina was quite happy with the purchases she made as she looked around the store. A new necklace and set of matching earrings with some stones that would work well into her hair for special occassions and a few pieces for gifts.

 

As she looked back she saw the fool child primping in a mirror again. And her things dumped unceremoniously on the counter beside her. Her eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance, but she looked at the girl and decided swfitly on a course of action. A weave of air just so and a swift smack to the bottom got her attention. As the girl looked up in surprise, Aramina's items floated up to her face waiting for the girl to take them.

 

"We still have much to do today Child." She said, her words heavy on the last. "And you have more things to carry."

Sidonie had been silently fuming all day, and even through her simplistic and vain distraction at the shop, she still hated the woman she was helping. She held a pendant up to her neck and tilted her head this way and that, telling herself how much more beautiful she looked in it that that Aes Sedai would. She had gotten through nearly half the shelf when she was interrupted by a sharp swat to her backside.

 

She spun with a mixture of outrage and shock, looking for the person who had touched her. She say noone and her outrage turned to bewilderment. Then who had touched her? She was still looking around for what had happened when that hateful woman spoke to her. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the package of things floating in front of her as if held by a ghost. She was petrified, had it been this ghost that had touched her?

 

We still have much to do today Child. And you have more things to carry." And all at once her attention was divereted. Child? Child?! Sidonie had been silent all the day so far but this one push was too much, even this ghost stalker she had.

 

Stamping her slipper clad foot she folded her hands into fists as her eyes flashed in anger. "I am not a child and I won't be your packmule any more you hateful chit! Now you will apoligize for calling me that!" Sidonie sniffed and glared daggers at the woman, waiting for what she thought she deserved.

 

 

Sidonie

A smile fell across Aramina's lips at the girl's outburst. Her packages floated to the counter and sat there as Aramina's left them to concentrate on the girl before her. "No, not just a child. A willful spoiled brat it would seem." Aramina shook her head. "I might have been willing to part with you if I didn't think you would be such fun, but I'm afraid you've managed to amuse me now."

 

A flow of air wrapped around the girl and she was unable to move. "I think I will call you mule for the rest of the day. I'm quite certain your family will not miss you anytime soon so you can continue to carry my things." She waited then to see if a simple show of force would still the girl's tongue, or bring it forth.

 

A volcano could be called peacful next to Sidonie, the worst of storms throughout the world would be more pleasurable to wade through than the extent of her anger. This was preposterous! That this woman in front of her was able to claim anything against Sidonie was unthinkable, but now she was being forced to act as this woman's mule for the rest of the day! She wouldn't fathom saying no either, her father and mother would both be cross with her if she said no to such a powerful customer and she wasn't willing to do that.

 

Trying to take a step foreward proved equally terrifying as the prospect of her two angry parents, any thoughts of bruises she might recieve was terrible, nut being held by something she couldn't see was far worse. She shrieked in a mix of outrage and terror as she struggled against her invisible bonds. But she was also cowed after her initial outburst, wanting to escape being so restrained.

 

"Fine." She said through gritted teeth, "Where too next milday?" Light did it grate to force those words from her mouth. She had never spoken to anyone thusly, never debased her self given lofty status. The bonds dissapeared and like the good maidservent she would act, she turned to pick up the stack of goods she had left behind. Standing and waiting, her lips compressed into a thin line of irritation and anger only lightly repressed.

 

 

Sidonie

In all honesty, Aramina hadn't planned to do too much more, but the determination in the girl made Aramina want to draw the day out as long as possible. The girl might have a pretty face, but to think there was nothing in the world beyond it was ridiculous. Light, if she's only thought of her mirror's reflection as a girl she'd be long dead, having lived her whole life in a village in Cairhein.

 

Still, she was getting too much pleasure from the days excursion and she decided there was one of two more places she had to go. "Come along like a good mule then." She said, barely containing her smile.

 

A few more shops close by were all that she needed to take in. A couple gifts to keep on hand, some interesting books she had seen, and a new dress ordered in the latest fashion and Aramina had the child walking behind her with very full arms indeed.

 

She had the girl follow her through the White Tower and into her quarters in the Green Ajah's halls. She took a moment to inspect her rooms before turning and letting the girl in. "Come on now, no dilly dallying." She said. "Just set those things on the desk."

 

She ignored the girl for a moment as she stepped further into her room and lit the small fire in her fireplace for a bit of tea. "Would you like a drink?" She asked politely. After all, the girl had been mostly well behaved for the rest of the trip and it was only natural to be nice to someone after you had used them so.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

Admiration, awe, privilege, pride, the feelings that normally accompanied people as they saw the White Tower’s inner workings, the quarters for an Ajah, were replaced by envy, sullenness, and jealousy. Sidonie’s bad mood that had been rising all day was only getting worse as she walked through the lavishly decorated hallways. Why couldn’t she have a house that looked like this! A single wall hanging was worth more than her entire room. It was infuriating!

 

She would demand that he father buy her something like these tapestries, would stomp and scream until the expensiveness of her room matched a fraction of this. She would not be outdone by this wench or these snotty uppity Aes Sedai.

 

Sidonie was only feeling worse as placed the package she had been carrying all day onto the desk that was pointed out to her. She stood, examining her nails and tsking to herself. They looked terrible now! She would have to have them redone now, she was not cut out for lifting and carrying things like this.

 

"Would you like a drink?" Snapped from her reverie Sidonie let a small smile shine through her irritation. She loved tea! And if she couldn’t live like the other side at home, than perhaps she could for a few moments now. “I would love some thank you.” Taking a seat, she pushed her hair back out of her eyes and sat with her hands on her lap, waiting like the lady she wanted to be. “You wouldn’t happen to have a mirror or something, this breeze outside sure is murder to my hair.” She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.

 

Sidonie

“You wouldn’t happen to have a mirror or something, this breeze outside sure is murder to my hair.”

 

Aramina noted the way the girl's eyes took in her surroundings, weighing and pricing the value of the objects around her. The trappings of being Aes Sedai, the prestige and lifestyle seemed to be cathing her. Not that it was a surprise really, but Aramina had made certain long ago that her own quarters were something tasetful and yet expensive, something that spoke of wealth and power and subtletly. Only her private refuge within her quarters held anything that could reflect anything personal on the woman that occupied the quarters. Everything else within was placed for a certain result and Aramina knew she had achieved the desired affect with this one.

 

She offered the girl her tea, then went to her desk and found a small mirror and handed her. Aramina always kept it there to double check her own appearance when she was working and someone came to her door unexpectedly. The last thing Aramina would allow was for someone to catch her looking disheveled or put out.

 

As she handed the mirror to the girl, she took a seat in the high backed green chair next to her and took a sip of her own tea. It was soothing after a long day and she smiled at the girl as she played with a stray piece of hair. The child was pretty to be certain, but there had to be something more than that to her. It was for that reason that Aramina had kept the girl around all day and asked her into her quarters for tea.

 

"You seem quite taken with your own reflection. Perhaps you see nothing else in yourself worth value?" She said, deciding that it would take something blunt to force the girl's attention away from the mirror now that she had it.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

Sidonie was slightly taken aback by the question, and it left her dealing with a mixture of both irritation, anger, and even a little bit of despair. She knew she wasn’t worth much, her mother was not afraid to tell her all she had in the world was her looks because she was teaching her daughter that that was the only real thing she needed or would be valued for.

 

“I don’t see the reason why I should be concerned whether I have anything other than my looks.” This was not easy for Sidonie, talking about this particular subject. She knew she didn’t have much other than her looks going for her and she had always desperately wanted to be more than just a pretty face. “Unlike you I’m not an Aes Sedai who can wave their hands around and have people respect them. I’m just a simple girl who’s best way of getting to a higher station is by using my looks to find some man who wants to marry me and then have his children.”

 

Sidonie was on the verge of tears as her mood swung from jovial if only slightly irritated, to on the verge of despair and self loathing. Why did she have to be nothing to the rest of the world? She wanted to be able to do something other than become a mother and be dominated by some man.

 

“So don’t speak to me of what I have or don’t have, I know perfectly well. I can’t become an Aes Sedai like you so all I can do is look pretty anyways.” Sidonie looked away from Aramina Sedai as she set the mirror on the table in front of her. She wouldn’t cry!

 

Sidonie

It was an interesting reaction and Aramina watched the child carefully. So, there was something else under there, a desire to be more and yet the inability to do so. Aramina stood slowly and took the mirror, placing it back on her desk as she took a small bag out from the top drawer. When she took her seat she emptied the bag onto the table beside her. She found a small blue gem and took it in hand. She held it out for the girl.

 

“Place this gem in the palm of your hand Sidonie.” She said, giving the girl her name for the first time since they had begun their interaction that morning. “I want you to look at it carefully.” Her voice was calm and soothing as she spoke. “Look at the way the light hits it. Look at the colors, the different variations in the form and the cut. Examine this gem with your eyes and with your mind.” She continued speaking though at first the girls emotions seemed they would likely make this a pointless effort. Aramina continued talking though, of the beauty of the gem, of the changes, of the light, until finally she saw the flash of light that she had been hoping for. A small light to be sure, but one that was not caused by anything outside that gem.

 

Aramina leaned forward and closed the girls hand around the gemstone. “A gift from me, for your time today.” She said. “And I hope something that you will remember fondly in times to come. I have one more stop for you to make with me today if you wish it. I believe the Mistress of Novice would like to meet you. We have too few girls in our Tower these days. Would you be one Sidonie? Would you trade the name of Sidonie Montreve for Sidonie Sedai?” She asked.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

Was this really happening? Sidonie's gaze shifted from the gem enclosed in her small fingers to the ageless face of the Aes Sedai who she had hated only moments ago. But now...well she didn't really know what to think. If Aramina Seday was giving her a chance to become something more than a housewife who traded her independance and free will for a little bit of station in life and the security to protect her from want, a thing she loathed with all her heart, she would gladly jump at.

 

"I...uh...I um..." For once Sidonie was at a loss for words and she just gaped back at the Aes Sedai waiting for her response. "I would...I mean...Yes I would love too try...." Wait, how was she to know that she could even become an Aes Sedai, weren't they supposed to be able to channel or something. Weren't they supposed to find that earlier? All she had done was look at a rock, albiet a pretty one that would make a fine earing....

 

"But I don't..I don't understad. You want me to become a Aes Sedai?' She couldn't grasp the idea, maybe she was just fishing for something wrong with what may perhaps be the perfect oppurtunity. "How could I be an Aes Sedai? I'm just some merchants daughter?" Sidonie had been indoctrined since birth that she would rise above that, her mother's wish and drive for all that she did for her child was because of that, but this....this was beyond anything she could have dreamed for.

 

 

Sidonie

Aramina smiled at the girl's confusion. She hadn't been subtle or tried to lead her to the choice in a slow, deliberate way. Light, she didn't think the girl could keep away from the mirror long enough for that. Her reaction was one of surprise and Aramina thought perhaps a bit of hope.

 

"And I was just a village girl with nothing to look forward to but to marry above my place and find a husband with a House that I could one day run. That all changed when a sister gave me a stone." She said. "All you did was look into it, to concentrate, but when you did there was a flicker of light inside it, did you see? That was you. You can channel child. We will get your name in the books today and you will begin training to become an Aes Sedai. The training is long and hard, but you will be able to chose your own future if you prevail. I think you are more than your pretty face Sidonie. Are you willing to find out?"

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

More than just a pretty face...more. Sidonie was sitting on the edge of her chair, hanging on every word coming out of this Aes Sedai's mouth. "I uh...." This was too much, too overwhelming to deal with all at once and Sidonie was having a tough time digesting this new oppurtunity.

 

"Of course I'd be willing to try." And with the words having been forced from her lips Sidonie was finally able to relax and just enjoy the future of being an Aes Sedai, of living in the riches that she had seen when coming to these rooms, to have the power that came with the titles and wealth.

 

And all at once she wanted to be out, to be signing wherever she needed to sign, do whatever she needed to do to become a ward of the White Tower. "Well let's go! Come on, come on!" Sidonie almost bounced her way to the door, almost bolting out of it until she remembered that Aramina Sedai would have to lead her to where they were going, and because of that she would have to wait for her. Hurry up!

 

 

Sidonie

The change in the girl was dynamic and Aramina had to school her face to keep anything more than a polite smile on her face. She had long mastered her facade though and it came to call as easy as breath came to her. She followed the girl to the door and began walking at a slightly faster pace than her normal pace, though she daresay it was still too slow for the child at her side. "The Mistress of Novices will need some information from you before she can set your name in the books. She is strict, but just. Remember that as you sit before her, and anytime you must sit before her. Listen well to the people that instruct you, obey, and above all things, keep youe eyes and ears open to all things." She instructed. "And know that my door is open to you whenever you may need it."

 

With those words, she was at the door to the Mistress of Novices. She knocked politely and when she heard a voice call "Enter" she opened the door and brought the girl into the Mistress of Novice's study. "Greetings Pia Sedai." She said to the Aes Sedai behind the desk. "I believe I have a girl for you."

 

Aramina Sedai

Pia was alone at last, and allowed herself to briefly enjoy the silence of her office. There was always a barrage of people coming and going, novices and accepted, those who wished they could channel, even Aes Sedai and other Tower servants. But for the first time that day Pia was blessedly alone. Turning her attention to the reports she had ignored thus far, a soft sigh escaped her lips as her wards were breached and a knock sounded on the door.

 

"Enter." Pia pushed aside the report resignedly. She would just have to complete it that night when she had no interruptions. Another long night. Pia preferred to be orderly, but she had other duties more pressing than paperwork.

 

A Green sister entered, with a pretty young blonde in tow, and thoughts of her report were replaced with curiosity. She greeted Aramina with a nod. "Aramina Sedai." Her eyes turned to the girl with interest. "A girl for me? She has been tested then?" She did not need to see the nod for confirmation, the nervous excitement in the girl was almost tangible.

 

"Very well. Sit child." Pia used the term deliberately as she waved to a chair. The girl would hear it a lot more from now on, might as well get used to it. Reaching into a drawer, Pia removed the giant tome that contained information on every initiate in the tower. The Book of Novices.

 

"Let us make your stay more permanent." Pia's Illianer accent had long since faded, except on those occasions when she was particularly overwrought. "Please state your name, age, and place of raising." Pia held her pen poised to write.

 

Pia Tovisen

Mistress of Novices

Sidonie sat sullenly, her previous good mood had been squashed by the use of the word Child. She was no child and would not be called as such by any person! She glared openly at the Mistress of Novices, devoid of any self protection that so many girls her age had while sitting in this very chair. She may not be the first girl to be punished immediately after signing her name into the Book of Novices...but in this mood she was certainly on the road to becomming a member of that group.

 

"Sidonie Montreve, 17 name days and I grew up in Andor." It was short and to the point..and said rather snappishly. Sidonie was pounting to herself as her mood swung further southward, going from wanting to lash out to being sad and feeling like she was about to burst into tears. She wasn't a child!! She looked up glaring and tried to bite her tongue so she wouldn't say anything too stupid.

 

 

Sidonie