The crescent moon had risen long ago but the sounds of music and drunken laughter filled the starry night. The shining, white axis around which the world revolved stood watching over Tar Valon, frowning down at those who would squander their money drinking and being merry. It seemed to Estel Sedai that the White Tower frowned upon anything that involved simplicity or pleasure. From its lofty height it scolded her, reminding her that an Aes Sedai’s life should revolve around work and that she had no time for self-pity or sullenness.

 

However, Estel had never been anything close to the perfect Sister she was supposed to be. Actually, she had tried for over fifty years to just be a mediocre Sister. Why was it that everything failed? She could probably count the number of times she had actually succeeded in something she set out to do on her fingers, while her failures… She failed in everything about as many times as humans had failed in trying to fly.

 

“What’s the point in trying anymore?†she asked the dark contents of her mug.

 

The Blue had been sitting at this same table, alone, since the sun had set nigh on three hours ago. A few had tried to join her, but a glimpse of the face underneath the hood she wore dissuaded them. That was just as well, she didn’t want company anyways.

"There once was a lady from the streets of Cairhien,

With a welcoming bosom and long legs that were lean.

She knew how to dance and was considered quite cute,

Those that knew her called her mistress of the flute!

 

With a delightful tongue that could produce a trill,

It was said that many a man had quite the thr..."

 

It was one of the more bawdy songs that the group of Tower Guards roared as they made their way towards the next place they could find that would give them something to drink. Some nights they would spend at one place, but this was a night where they were having an endurance race. Each place they visited they had to have at least one drink, and they'd visited a few places now. With a crescent moon to watch over them and alcohol to keep them happy they were more than willing to wander and go from one place to another. No one would get in their way, not that they wore their crimson cloaks but because no one in their right mind caught the attention of a group of drunks, even happy ones such as themselves.

 

Well, maybe thieves or whores, but neither of those were to be found on the streets in Tar Valon.

 

The place they went into next, Aran couldn't even remember its name. He didn't need to, what he needed to do was get himself a drink which he and his fellow guards proceeded to do quickly. Everyone armed with a mug, they all threw it back as one. To their credit, not a person retched or even gagged. Their professionalism and their commitment to their drinking certainly did itself proud now. As they laughed and joked at each other, as well as tried to decide where to go next, Aran saw someone he hadn't expected to see in a place such as this. Curiosity as always promised to get him into trouble.

 

Getting jeers for his trouble, Aran secured himself another mug while the others moved off. Still, it'd be much easier to approach the woman he had in mind without all the other guards about. Considering what had happened with Rosheen and the woman's subsequent ban from the yards, one Tower Guard might find it hard enough to make her acquaintance let alone ten. Then again, the woman was simply staring into her mug as opposed to attentive to what was about her, one of the reasons Aran thought to approach her to begin with.

 

Making his way over to her in a jaunty manner, he grinned at her as she looked up. "Estel Sedai no? You aren't expecting anyone else are you? I thought I might join you."

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

The man’s voice surprised her and she thanked the Creator that she had downed enough brandy to keep from giving a start. “No, I certainly not expecting anyone.†It would take a fool to take her answer as an invitation. However, this odd man seemed to have gotten a head-start on her in the alcohol department.

 

Something about him tweaked her memory as he sat down beside her. Why did he seem familiar? She knew few Tower Guards on account that she had no need to be around them as she already had a Warder and of course, there was the old ban from the Yards. Just the thought of that bad memory sent her to ordering another mug of brandy.

 

Smiling as he sat down with her, Aran was a little surprised she didn't recognise him. Then again, the day she had seen him she had been fairly overwrought and had gone straight for Orion, she'd had eyes for no one else. Ah well, that didn't matter. "So, what brings you out here to drink alone then? Which, by the way, isn't very healthy, but thats ok because I'm here now." Grinning, he took a sip from his drink before he continued. "So?"

 

Well, that answered her question: the man was both a fool and drunk. The brandy only added more pressure to her already explosive temper. “What does it matter to you why I’m here, boy!†she growled. “The affairs of Aes Sedai are not the business of Tower Guards. My reasons are, and shall remain, my own.â€

 

She almost couldn’t resist patting herself on the back. She hadn’t let anything slip! Serena would be proud! Then again, she doubted the little Saldaean was capable of pride in her. Was anyone even capable of pride in her? They had all abandoned hope for her long ago.

 

Laughing, Aran reached over and poked Estel Sedai's arm. The best ways to get rid of someone's anger were to either get them to laugh or let it out, either way Aran was fairly game. Besides, he had curiosity to satisfy. "Come now, it can't be all that bad. But a person who is drinking Brandy all on their lonesome clearly has something on their mind. And if worst comes to worst, you can always drink until you forget you said anything."

 

Why could she never keep her anger when pain found its way back to her heart? Light, it was so much easier to be angry! “Forget? If it were possible for human beings to forget faults I wouldn’t be here.†Her anger had gone as quick as it came. Now she was bitter and tired. Damn her, but she had said too much to him now, why did she always end up opening up to the most unlikely people?

 

Well, that was the elemental nature of Estel on display right there. One moment angry, next moment sullen. Women were made of water, it was just unfortunate that they alternated between calm seas and raging tempests with equal ease. But then, that was what also made them fun. "Could always try fixing them instead. But then, what do I know of it? What faults do you have then that are so terrible that you're drinking alone?"

 

Anger returned, but it wasn’t the type where she could direct it at others and hide behind it to shield herself from pain. This was directed at herself; bitter anger that refused to let her pass the blame to anyone else as she loved to do. “When you’re as old as me and have tried for a lifetime to fix your faults only to crash and burn when success seems so near, then you can talk to me about fixing my faults.†she bit. “What do you know of failure?†The art of turning a question back on the asker was one of her favourite tactics when avoiding questions she did not want to answer.

 

Aran laughed, self pity was something he had ever rarely allowed himself. It was a waste of time, time better put to other pursuits like drinking excessively and avoiding work. "The day I'm as old as you my problems will most likely be getting to a bucket in time to take a leak and not breaking anything. As to failure? What happens happens for a reason, so nothing is ever really a failure. Or maybe I'm stupidly optimistic. But then what of your failures? You've got lifetimes to fix those, the rest of us only have one. Whats so depressingly terrible that you don't have the time to fix it?"

 

A bitter laugh escaped her. “Depressingly terrible? Hmm... Perhaps the fact that my entire life has been one failure after another. You’d already know that though. My failures rarely manage to remain secret for long. What Tower Guard hasn’t heard of the Aes Sedai who’s been banned from the Yards by the last two Master at Arms’.†Other better, more successful, more skilled, more whatever it was that she didn’t have would probably say she had said too much, but like she had said, it was hardly a secret.

 

Aran chuckled, he should have expected that would come up soon enough. "Ah, Rosheen, yes I'm aware of what happened though I won't be quite so quick to brand you. So what? You've done some stupid things, its not as if they aren't fixable. Even if you can't fix it, trying is often enough. And what of the things you do have? You still have your shawl, Orion, Faerthines, there are plenty of people who are worse off than you."

 

“My Warder?†It was odd that a laugh bitter laugh was all she had to say for the misery her life had been the first few years of her pathetic career. “I’ve got him. Whatever happens I’ve still got him. My son?†The most bitter of laughs could not summerize that mistake. “I haven’t spoke to my son since he left the Tower after Malkier fell. He and I never got along and likely never will.†Oh Light, Faerthines. Any more talk of that particular era in her life would bring tears.

 

“Of course there are people worse off than me. But I’m not exactly sitting, drinking tea with friends chatting over the inconsequential, am I?â€

 

Now there was a further insight, not just into Estel but also her son Faerthines. Faerthines had been... interesting to deal with, and as much as he had tried to hide it he had worn his pains on his sleeve just as the woman before him did now. Aran didn't pity her, pity was an insult and that was the last thing she would have wanted, but he could empathise. "Thats clearly not all of it."

 

The serving woman decidedly to conveniently arrive just then and Estel managed to buy herself a few minutes more of avoiding the question by dragging out taking the coins from her purse. She gained another minute or so by feigning extreme interest in her brandy. However, stalling only worked for so long and this man had the annoying ability to drag answers from her.

 

But what answer could she give? Any talk of her disastrous relationship with her son was liable to leave her in tears. Who was he to go prying into her life anyway? She rarely even talked about Faerthines to Orion!

 

Seeing as she lacked any amount of subtlety, she was as blunt as could be. “None of that is any of your business.â€

 

Aran grinned at her response. "So?" Taking a swig from his mug, he thought about another way to prod. "Why is there no sister drinking with you?" They'd gone through her family, the Tower Guard and Warders, that was pretty much the only thing left that he could think of.

 

“Sisters.†The intense disgust with which she said it made it sound like a curse. “They are sisters only when they want something. I was in no mood to play their games, fight their strings and avoid manipulation.â€

 

In any group, there was always at least one person who was at the bottom of the heap, stigmatised in some way. Aran was beginning to feel that he had perhaps found the sister that was right at the bottom rung. It was a rare day that an Aes Sedai admitted to dancing to someone else's strings, rarer still from a Blue Sister. "Then why do you put up with it?"

 

Estel laughed at the very idea of ‘putting up’ with Serena, Sirayn or any of the others under whose thumbs she longed to escape. “Why do you think I’ve spent nearly my entire career away from the Tower? In the beginning I didn’t ‘put up’ with it. Eventually though, no matter how stubborn you are, you end up ‘putting up’ with it because there’s nothing else to do.â€

 

Aran laughed, despite the look that he was given for it he laughed. And there was the problem right there, she was resigned to it, there was no two ways about it. "Thats a joke. There is always something you can do rather than put up with it. You can always shove back, its whether you're willing to pay the price to do so. Better to stand on both feet of your own choice than to be on your knees because you fear the alternative." Of course, that might not have been how it was at all, but if it wasn't then she would no doubt correct him. Either way he'd learn a bit more.

 

Laughter gone, anger returned. She was always moody, but usually not this bad. Burn the man! If he wouldn’t touch on these topics she wouldn’t be going back and forth between ripping off his head and laughing at his misconceptions.

 

She had done everything she could to resist the strings. It wasn’t as if she had been in any way meek around Sirayn, there was just nothing she could do to slip the collar she had unwittingly fastened around her own neck on a night long ago. How many times had she yelled right into the Green’s face? Blood and ashes! She had even tried to manhandle her! None of it had done any good. Fifty years after swearing in a moment of weakness, Estel was still tied to Sirayn.

 

He didn’t seem to have heard what she had said before. Burn him! She had had enough of his bloody questions! What right did he have to pry into her life? She didn’t even know his name and yet he was asking her questions she either had no answers to and had answers she didn’t want to share.

 

With and indignant sniff, she stood and made her way towards the door.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

 

Estel Liones

Blue Sister

Finishing his mug, Aran lazily got to his feet and followed her out. He could have perhaps been a little quicker because she was making some distance, but it only took a short jog in the street to catch up to her. Not that she seemed to notice him at first, but then maybe she was deliberately ignoring him. Either way he wasn't done yet, and he was fairly certain she wouldn't be able to channel on him now, plus she couldn't come after him sober later on the yards. "So, is this your answer?"

 

“Answer!†she turned on him, her finger pointing straight at his chest. “I don’t owe you any answers! What you ask is personal and I’m not about to go giving my life’s story to men whose names I don’t even know!†If not for the amount of public humiliation she had already brought down on herself, she would have shrieked at him. Instead, she was forced to convey her anger through a hiss.

 

Stepping forward, Aran raised an eyebrow in reproof as he spoke. “Really? Howabout a man who did you a service in the past? Surely you remember do you not?â€

 

“A service?†The brandy had taken its toll on her mind and though she was sober enough to keep from slurring her speech to the point of inaudibility and could still walk in a relatively straight line, her memories were slippery and her moods swung like a child on a swing. “What could you have possibly done for me that I would owe you anything?â€

 

“I remember a stormy day some years ago.†Aran’s usual smiles and grins were absent as he ploughed forward. “I remember an Accepted weeping like the sky outside when she found her promised had been scarred by a fire. Does that jog your memory perhaps?â€

 

Slippery as her mind was, that memory was so deeply burned into her that only the greatest amount of alcohol could keep the pain away. Pain was evident on her face as she struggled to tears at bay. Light, that was the day her entire life had changed. If ever there was a beginning to her downward spiral, it began on that day. However, familiar as he seemed, she still could not place him. “I’ve failed miserably in forgetting that day. But that still doesn’t tell me who you are.â€

 

“Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised, all things considered.†Sympathy was evident on his face and in his voice as Aran continued. “Orion did not find his way to the Tower by himself. Two of us carried him there after we pulled him from the blaze. I didn’t pull him from that blaze so I could then just watch the woman he loves drink herself into a stupor. So start talking.â€

 

Estel’s eyes went wide for a moment. She had known a few of the Tower Guards had brought him back but her mind had always ignored the fact, choosing to skip over it as it wasn’t important at the time. Now it was coming back to bite her. This man had helped save her Warder? Damnit, she hated owing people.

 

“Fine.†Resigned, she motioned them back into the inn. Sitting back down at the table she ordered yet another brandy. Certainty that this would not be her last filled her with an awful sense of foreboding. Burn the man! What did he want?

 

“I’ve spent my entire life under the thumb of everyone else because of my failures. No matter how hard I fought the leash, she wouldn’t let me go. Happy?â€

 

“Not really, no.†Well, it had worked after all, he was now going to learn a bit more about this woman. In fact, he’d learned a lot right there, always under the thumb of people. It was inevitable to have someone who had more power than yourself, but to be under the thumb was a different thing entirely, and in the Tower that fate was probably twice as bad as elsewhere. “So, who holds the leash then as you put it?â€

 

‘You idiot! You light-forsaken, wool-brained idiot! The bloody alcohol’s letting your tongue run! Blood and ashes you fool! If she found out...’

 

And then it hit her. Hit her like a fighter’s punch. How long had she spent trying to find ways to slip Sirayn’s collar? How much of her career had been spent jumping at the diminutive woman’s every command? How much energy had she put into finding a way to create the Green’s downfall? None of it had ever worked. Burn her! She hadn’t even bothered to attempt any of it because she had known they would all end up with her either dead with a rose-stamped dagger in her chest and cast from the Tower.

 

This man gave her a way to bring about- if not her downfall, at least it was a strike back. For the first time since meeting well over fifty years ago, Estel Liones, Sirayn’s pathetic kicked puppy, was going was going to strike back.

 

Immediately she schooled her face to perfect composure, hiding the giddiness underneath. “I trust that any information here will remain... from anonymous sources?â€

 

Aran raised an eyebrow at her, what was this going to be about? A part of him hoped it was in regards to Sirayn, he could use any information he could find when it came to her. But he was dealing with now, and the now that was important was Estel. Depending on the leash, he could be inclined to help her, he certainly didn’t like to see a person like this after all. “Who are you?â€

 

“Who am I?†she reiterated, laughing. “An interesting question when you are the one whom knows my name and I do not know yours. I am simply a fallen Sister, snared by a spider in a moment of weakness. And now I must turn the question back on you; who are you?â€

 

Well, that one seemed to have gone over her head. Then again, she had been drinking rather steadily for awhile now. “No you’re not. I think you’ll find if you think about it, you’re no one. In fact, some would say you’re anonymous.†Smiling, he added. “As to who I am? When I’m not called bastard or lying bastard I’ve been known as Aran.â€

 

Oops. The true meaning of his question hit her. Light, she felt like hitting her! Estel could not help the reddening of her cheeks, though it was hid mostly by her coppery skin tone. ‘I believe a change back on topic is in order...’

 

“Well, Aran, just how many Sisters are you familiar with? I suppose you must know your share of Greens.†Now came the tricky part. Her oaths forbade her to betray Sirayn’s trust and now Estel had to work her way using loopholes and hoping Aran could keep up.

 

Green sisters… Oh, it couldn’t be… The way Estel was talking, either she was drawing it out because she was one to draw things out or she was constrained somehow, most likely oaths. Estel’s abrupt nature led him to rule out the former, oaths then. She was hinting, but what was she trying to communicate? And if it was her… Well, he could always take a stab, and leash holding did tend to suit Sirayn after all. “I know a few, in fact I know this one that is even shorter than me. She’s one handed, a rather… sharp manner. Do you know her?â€

 

Estel’s smile practically gave away her answer before she could get a word out. The sheer coincidence of it amazed her. Was it possible he too had something against the tiny Green. Her brandy now sat forgotten on the table as she restrained the urge to quiver in excitement and expectation. “As a matter of fact I do.â€

 

“That’s interesting.†Aran had hit the jackpot, now he just needed to ensure that she understood that he was following her. How best to put it, he couldn’t refer to Estel directly or ask her outright if that was the one. The fact that she had asked of other sisters was a good enough indication that he was right. “She has always struck me as being somewhat… controlling, some would say she must always have her way no?â€

 

Her grin only grew. He followed her beautifully! “It’s said by many that she keeps her pets’ leashes tight.†Not even she could have missed the reference back to her former metaphors and with the way Aran had kept up with her more vague comments, he couldn’t possibly miss it.

 

There it was, so he was on the right track, she would need to lead him the next step though. Perhaps making clear that he was no pet of Sirayn’s would help. “I’ve met a few of her pets, though perhaps they are discarded now. Corin, Seiaman, if I am right then they have been treated none too gently. It’s a shame, people deserve better. I don’t think I would appreciate being treated that way myself, but then I wouldn’t know.â€

 

“Indeed they do, Aran.†she smiled almost wickedly. “Now, what is it that intrigues you about this... certain Green?†If he was working to bring Sirayn down... Possibilities ran circles through her head like a mutt chasing its tail.

 

“That’s a good question.†Aran paused as he thought on his answer. “What could cause a woman to become so suspicious of those around her? Something done to her? Or perhaps something done by her?†There it was, what could it be?

 

Estel shrugged but took no extra time in replying. Some grudges just couldn’t be dropped. “Likely many things, but I’d be paranoid of others’ unfriendly plots too if I worked, manipulating them into submission.†Hatred entered her voice; deep, long-festering anger.

 

What was she trying to say? That she had to defend herself a lot from the plots of others? Then how did she defend herself? Aran frowned. “Perhaps if I had much to fear of others, I’d try and seek some advantage. Perhaps information, perhaps something else if it could be found.â€

 

Information? A rare thoughtful expression came over Estel as she pondered the true meaning behind his words. Information? There was little she could give that her oaths would allow. Any information would have to be given in the same format as she had used before. Light, but this was going to take all night.

 

“From your height and accent I take it from Cairhien.†she said changing the topic completely to anyone who hadn’t followed the conversation beforehand. “I was there only a few months back, on... Tower business.â€

 

Aran nodded as he wondered what direction their conversation would go in now. Estel seemed rather focused on what she was doing, so he would follow her lead. “Really? There are many things to do in Cairhien, what could the Tower have wished of you there?â€

 

Estel was finding she was smiling far more tonight than she had in a long time. “Have you ever heard of an herb that can paralyze someone and even render a Channler incapable on touching the One Power?†Again, a complete change in topic to the ignorant ear.

 

Now this was interesting, and also dangerous. What Estel was talking about, Aran might look somewhat suspicious in hindsight that he knew what she was speaking of. Then again, it was better to push ahead and get the information now, and if Estel was hinting at what he was thinking, this was an interesting turn of events indeed. "I've heard rumours of such a thing. Named after the appearance of its root if I am not mistaken."

 

“Yes, that is it.†Forkroot. She shivered despite her nearly giddy mood. Light, even an Aes Sedai as foolish and pathetic as she shivered at the name of that foul plant.

 

That would be an interesting edge indeed. In fact, he had a theory he wanted to run by Estel. “You know, in the hands of a single person, if someone had enough of that stuff they could have a lot of power in their hands. Enough to get revenge, or maybe push someone? Is it possible? That someone could do that?â€

 

“I believe they could.†Her smile was, for Estel, quite the wicked smile, quite pleased with herself and how things were turning out. She would die happy if she could see the look on Sirayn’s face as she finally took a fall. The bigger they were... Well, that wasn’t really a very accurate description of the tiny woman... The higher they stood, the further they fell.

 

Light. Forkroot and in quantity, this had been exactly what he had been looking for all along. Something that could be used to twist Sirayn's arm and compel her into doing what was needed. And along the way he would serve Estel's purposes it seemed though he couldn't say he was too unhappy about that. After all, what one sowed eventually one reaped. Smiling at Estel, Aran finished his mug then gestured to hers. "Shall we have another drink?"

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

 

Estel Liones

Blue Sister

The Blue grinned, alcohol was already starting to fog her brain but right now she felt in a very good mood. “Another drink to celebrate!” She called the serving maid over and ordered drinks; another brandy for her and an ale for Aran.

 

 

This had been a most fortunate turn of events, Aran now had the leverage for Sirayn that he had been after and to be honest he would feel just that little better about it from what he had heard from Estel. Even if some of it was wrong, there was at least a sliver of truth in it somewhere. Not that Aran was going to feel bad about what he had planned at all, it was necessary, but it was always nice to have some additional justification. As their new drinks were given to them, Aran took a swig of his before taking the conversation to hopefully safer realms. "So, do you normally come out or is this just a one off?"

 

 

As she tried to answer his question, she wondered why her tongue was so heavy. She set down her mug of brandy, confused as to how the better half of it was missing. Surely she had only taken a small sip? Hmm... maybe he had stolen it. Didn’t matter... She had won!

 

“I haven’t been in many taverns since Faerthines quit the Tower Guard. But I figured tonight it would be nice to escape the Tower and its criticism for a night.” Or at least that was what she tried to say, he she did say was more slurred and harder to understand.

 

 

Aran would have laughed if not for the words that Estel had spoken. He could understand that Faerthines leaving that guard would have affected her deeply, the rift between the pair had never been healed which had been a shame. While he had never experienced the rejection Faerthines had, but he could empathise with it. Still, Estel as she was most likely had her reasons, but the wheel weaved what it willed. All that was left to do when things were done was to forge forward and do the best they could. Maybe he could help her with it... But he didn't want to ruin her mood now. "Ever learn how to toss a dagger?"

She shook her head after another ‘sip’ of brandy that left her mug empty. Unfortunatly the shaking of the head rattled the little brains she had and left her rather dizzy. “‘Fraid not.” Feeling giddy she added something she would definitely regret later. “If I did I never would have lost to Rosheen.”

 

Laughing the loss off as he nudged her arm with his elbow, he pointed over to a spare dagger board. Might do some good to take her mind off all her brooding by giving her something to do, and tossing daggers would be a way for her to vent if nothing else. "Howabout you come and have a go? I'll show you how, give us something to do while we drink and talk, no? Come on."

 

 

 

With a shrug, she stood up rather unsteadily, doubting she would even hit the board throwing knives. Blood and ashes! She’d be lucky if she hit the wall! However stand she did, steadying herself on the chair. “Your throw first or mine?”

 

 

Laughing, Aran shook his head. "I'll go first. I want you to watch very carefully, alright?" Getting a nod, he took up one of the daggers which had a black pommel on it. Taking hold of the dagger by the blade, he showed her how he balanced it. "Look how I hold it like so, all you need to do is flip it at the board like so." Tossing the dagger towards the board, it earned two points, not that they were going to keep score. Handing her a white pommeled dagger, he smiled as she took it from him. "Just as I showed you, don't worry if you don't get it the first time, we have more daggers."

 

 

She raised her eyebrow dubiously but took the dagger anyway. However, trying to throw a dagger and balance it while rather drunk wasn’t exactly the brightest idea. And so, the first time only a yelp and stumbling backwards managed to save her foot. The second time she managed to catch it before it hit the ground, earning her a nasty gash along her palm. Finally the third time she managed to actually chuck the dagger towards the board. The pommel hit the boards with an audible clunk and then another as it hit the ground.

 

 

Aran had barely managed to stiffle a laugh the first time, the second attempt on Estel's part had been a little painful and the third one was probably a little discouraging. On the otherhand he decided to keep giving her the knives, she might get one in out of the next six throws she had. "Well, you've hit the board now. You've just got to sink the blade in. You can do it. Here, take another crack at it." Aran handed her another knife.

 

 

He kept giving her knives and she kept screwing up. She dropped two more knives, cut her hand again, one of the knives was quivering precariously where the edge of the blade had somehow managed to dig into the very edge of the board, another was buried in the wall. As for the rest, the lay in varying distances around her and few were actually aligned with the board.

 

 

The effort was good all things considered. That was to say that Estel had no training at all, was drunk and did not strike Aran was the most co-ordinated sister he had come across. By their powers combined, Estel was severely handicapped. But nevertheless, she had managed to sink one of the daggers in even though it hung a bit precariously. Of course, having cut her hand twice she really needed to have that taken care of. Clapping her on the shoulder, Aran nevertheless complimented her as he moved to pick up the daggers.

 

"See? First go and you managed to sink one. It took me a bit longer than that. If you worked at it you could even get good at it." Picking up the last dagger, he sat them on the table as he continued to say. "And not cut yourself. Speaking of which, we need to get you fixed up, come on."

 

Taking her hand which wasn't bleeding profusely, he led Estel behind the bar and into the kitchen. Knowing most of the innkeepers and publicans in Tar Valon went a long way and he didn't even get a glance as he led the Aes Sedai into the kitchen. Sitting her down at a stool, he found himself a cloth which could easily be converted into a makeshift bandage and ripped it in half.

 

Of course, there was the matter of cleaning the cuts out. The daggers had been used by other people and that meant water simply wouldn't do it in order to be safe. A bottle of spirits came to hand and the reaction it got was a good deal of protest as he held her hand still followed by tears as he began to bandage it up. "Shh, its alright Estel, it'll pass. Here." Aran passed her a spare bit of bandage that he'd ripped clean off it. "Use this."

 

 

Well, at least she could laugh at her own inability- which was ironic considering why she had come. However, despite her quite drunken state, the slices on her hands were starting to sting bad enough to make her wince every time she moved her hands... Surely that was not a tear leaking from her eye! She bit her lips and almost sighed for joy when Aran suggested they clean up the cuts.

 

Unfortunately, if she had thought the cuts had hurt before, it was nothing compared with what happened when the Tower Guard poured alcohol on it. Now, if she had been sober, she would likely have been able to grit her teeth and let only two or three tears escape. This particular night she was not sober and, it would be much to her embarrassment later on, she found herself blubbering like a switched Novice while Aran tried to soothe her.

 

 

The Aes Sedai mask that alot of women often wore wasn't to be found on Estel's face as the tears flowed and the sobs caused her to shudder. Most likely from the pain, but with everything else she had been burying inside, perhaps this washer chance to let that out as well. Either way, it was time to cut her off, she needed to go back to the Tower and back to her bed. She needed to sleep and hopefully wake up feeling alot better in the morning beyond the hangover she was most likely going to inherit. Unless she was one of the lucky few like Aran.

 

Helping her up, he slipped an arm around her waist to make sure she didn't fall. She slipped an arm over his shoulder while she was at it to steady herself, a good idea on her part. Disdaining the common room, he led her out the back into the alleyway. From there it was a good trudge home with a slight bob and weave as Estel's feet betrayed her as they wandered this way and that. Still, they would get to the Tower eventually and then she could go to sleep.

 

Aran

Tower Gaurd

 

Estel

Aes Sedai

Orion walked slowly through the yards, following his map that he had burned into his mind years and years ago. Here his feet were as sure as if he had his sight. He was, bored, in all its unlikelyhood. Estel was out in the city and seeming from the emotions in his head to be in one of her depressing brooding states. Common sense of a man would be to go and spend time with her, but Orion had gone through these since they had been bonded and knew that many times there was little he could do to help until after.

 

That and he was getting the instinct impression from the knot of emotions in his head that she was drinking again. And that was enough to set his petty revenge of leaving her to that drink. If she wasnted to drown her troubles than she would do so alone.

 

"Ah!" Orion flexed his hand as a pain, much like a knife cut into it. Even in his slightly callous mood Orion was not prepared to leave this uninvestigated. He turned straigh to where his mind said that Estel was and set off as quickly as possible.

 

He cursed under his beath for the countless time for being blind as he left the confines of the Warder's Yard. He knew the city somewhat, but not nearly as much as the Yards. He followed the voics and footsteps of the regular traffic in the streets to find his way, always moving towards the direction Estel was.

 

He made it after only a while at a slow run as his ears painted the picture to his mental eye, and his memory placing the image of Estel in front of him not to far off. He ran straight up to her, now more concerned than anything else. The pain had flared tremendously for a moment only a little bit before. "Estel?" Orion reached out a hand and placed it on her arm. "What happened?"

 

 

Orion

And there he was, Estel's Warder. Some would have questioned her choice of Warder due to his blindness, but even if his weapon skills had been diminished he still would have been a good choice. Well, except for this. Still, Aran couldn't begrudge the man for it because it had given him a glimpse into Sirayn that he otherwise wouldn't have had, and furthermore into Estel. Of course, he hadn't bargained on her being such a horrible hand with the knives as well. He'd seen people drunker than her and still able to toss, and none of them had managed to cut themselves repeatedly with the damn things.

 

Keeping his peace until Orion came close, as the man grabbed Estel's other arm he spoke with obvious relief. "About time you got here Orion, she's light but its still a fair way to the Tower." The unconscious way Orion cocked his head at Aran almost caused him to tell Orion not to look at him like that, but Aran managed to stop himself before he let that slip. Instead, he reached over with his free hand and tapped his left hand. "Can you slip that one under her shoulder? Between us we should be able to get her back easy enough."

 

As he did so, Aran decided to forestall questioning by just speaking. "Estel got a bit tipsy, and during a game of dagger tossing she managed to cut herself, twice. Don't worry, I've cleaned the wound out and bandaged it up with clean cloth. I'm more worried about getting her by the gate without being seen, but now that you're here that should be easier. When we get close I'm going to leave you with her and go into the guardhouse. If you give me a minute, then you should be able to walk by without being seen. I'll then help you get her back up to her room."

 

"Estel? This is alright by you isn't it? Come on, start walking again, lets go."

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

The two men were talking but their voices were slightly muffled in Estel’s rather thick brain. Hmm...usually she wasn’t this bad, what had happened? She licked her lips with a sudden craving for brandy. Brandy? Oh... that brandy! Right. Honestly though, she had only had a few, she couldn’t possibly be drunk! Light but she wanted another brandy!

 

But before she could ask for another drink, the two fool men began to walk her down the street, practically carrying her. Damnit she wasn’t drunk! What would the people think if they saw an Aes Sedai being carried to the Tower by a Tower Guard and a Warder? Yeesh, if they were going to carry her, couldn’t they at least walk straight?

 

“Lemme go!” she said, pushing futilely at strong arms. “I’m sotally tober, lemme go!” She glared over at the two men and Orion’s presence suddenly dawned on her. “Howdyou gedhere?” She inspected his face curiously, wondering why his features all of a sudden weren’t quite as familiar as they used to be. Wrinkles and white hair had replaced hard planes and black hair. “You’re old.” she stated matter-of-factly.

 

That was about as much as she got out before her stomach did a spectacular cartwheel and tossed her brandy at the streets.

OOC: Woohoo timelines :p

 

It was getting worse being this close to Estel in her state, the bond carrying her nausea and flipping Orion’s stomach as much as it seemed him. He resisted Estel pushing at his arm, she wouldn’t be able to walk if he and this other man didn’t carry her.

 

“You’re old.” Orion sighed softly. He was getting older even if sometimes he didn’t want to admit it. His black hair had begun to fade and his face had begun to wrinkle. But Estel’s was still as soft as it had been from when he could still see her. He aged, but she didn’t. How long could love hold them together when it was inevitable that he would die many decades, centuries, before her.

 

“I thank you sir for helping her.” Orion took a moment as Estel emptied her stomach onto the streets, “I owe you even if I am not sure who you are.” Orion’s tone inflected a question even if he didn’t require an answer. So far he had treated Estel fine, and the only thing he cared about were threats to his Aes Sedai.

 

 

Orion

Wincing as Estel proceeded to hurl her guts onto the cobblestones with a generous helping of brandy, Aran couldn't help but be relieved at the same time. She'd get the throwing up out of the way now, that meant that she wasn't as likely to puke on the pair of them as they carried her, and if she tried she'd have little to nothing to gift them with. Having been spewed on a few times, and one occasion had someone spew into his mouth while going for the kiss, he was much happier with this being over and done with before he could be marked by stomach acid and brandy along with a few unrecognisable pieces of lunch or whenever Estel had last eaten.

 

It was Orion's words that caught Aran's attention from Estel's heaving. Sir? He didn't even realise who was holding Estel then. That was strange, Orion's hearing had improved tremendously and he had also learned to recognise people by sound alone. Most likely it was the bond, the drunkness that Estel felt was no doubt filtering into Orion, as would the sickness for that matter. Yet another reason that Aran would never bond, he could hold his drunk but women as a general rule couldn't and he didn't want to end up tipsy over three drinks. Still, it was a little surprising nevertheless.

 

"What do you mean sir? Its me Aran, come on lets get her home. Be sure to lift her for a few steps so she doesn't step in her mess." Doing so as the pair fixed their grip on her and leaving, they made their way towards the Tower. It wasn't long before they made it there. Telling Orion to wait for a few minutes, Aran headed on into the guardhouse at the gate and proceeded to strike up a conversation with the guards who were there, keeping their attention firmly away from the gate so that Orion and Estel could pass by unnoticed. Once they were by he could catch up after a couple of minutes and help Orion to take Estel the rest of the way.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

Estel struggled clumsily against the two men as they proceeded to pick her up like a sack of flour. She didn’t know Aran well, after all she had only really “met” him tonight, but Orion was never this... disrespectful. Light, what was wrong with these bloody men? “Lemme go...Ic’n walk m’self, dammi’!” She flailed her limbs, trying to escape but to no avail. Why did men have to be so much bloody stronger than women?

 

After some time of them dragging her though the entire flaming city, they finally arrived back at the White Tower. While Aran went to “distract” the guards, Estel had to put up with the humiliation of Orion trying to “shush” her like some noisy child. When she began to object, he cupped his big hand over her mouth.

 

Indignation filled her. How dare he? Light, she wasn’t even that loud!- or at least she hadn’t thought so in her drunken state. However, now that there was only him carrying her, that left her opposite hand free.

 

Of course, her judgement had never been good, but now Orion was about to bear the full brunt of her drunken stupidity.

 

Slap!

Orion was slightly embaresed that he had failed to recognize Aran, one of the people that had undoubtaly saved his life back when he had lost his sight. But as he thought about it he did feel light headed, woozy much as Estel was. Light damn the woman if she was going to make him feel drunk through the bond! she hiccouphed her way through a lone sentance and Orion clapped on of his hands over her mouth to keep her quiet while Aran went to distract the gaurd, making sure the full brunt of his irritation went across the bond between them.

 

Slap! Orion recoiled and almost lost is hold on Estel as the last thing he had expected came from his drunken lover. He growled in frustration, all pretenses of respect and tolerance gone. He clapped his hand firmer over his mouth and the next time her hand raised to hit him, he caught it in mid slap. "Don't you dare hit me Estel, you have no right to be mad at me at the moment." He had had enough of her drinking her problems away and him being caught in the aftermath.

 

In one move Orion hoisted the lighter Estel over his shoulder and took the steps into the Warder's Yard. The gaurds were well occupied as Orion could hear and he was only marginally imapaired by his slight inebration and the extra weight Estel was putting on him. Damn the woman for doing this to him, she deserved to be paraded to her quarters like this. Perhaps then she would see some sense.

 

 

Orion

An indignant- and far from dignified, though dignity had long been thrown out the window- squawk resulted from Orion’s manhandling her. What in the bloody Pit of Doom did he think he was doing? He was her bloody Warder and she his Aes Sedai, he couldn’t handle her like this in public! If he didn’t put her down… Of course, she tried to convey this to him out loud, though no doubt the Bond gave him a better understanding than her slurred speech that was interrupted periodically by loud hiccups.

 

Seeing that her words were having no effect, she began to fail her arms against his back and her feet against his chest. Any normal man would have been forced to drop the flailing woman but unfortunately- or so she thought then- Orion was a Warder and despite his age was still tougher than most men. And so she received a smack across the bottom that succeeded in shutting her up momentarily as Aran rejoined them.

 

“Gediss ma nawffa me!” –which translates as “Get this man off of me- she implored as Aran approached.

 

Ooc: James, please gag her before she makes more of a fool of herself.

 

Estel Liones

Blue Sister

Piss Drunk

By the time Aran caught up with Orion and Estel, it seemed that things had quickly gotten out of hand. The Blue Sister had clearly caused Orion enough trouble that he had been forced to simply pick her up and carry her towards the White Tower to her quarters. Not that she was making it easy on him by any means, in fact she was struggling with the unco-ordinated flailing of limbs that were the mark of a woman well in her cups. At least she wasn't screaming but Aran definitely felt sorry for Orion who was doing his best to see his Aes Sedai to her room. It was times like these why Aran remembered why didn't end up taking on a bond... Well, this wasn't precisely it, but it was still as good a reason as any. It was bad enough protecting someone from themselves without having them in your head at the same time.

 

As he got close, Estel began speaking again of course in a vague slur that only years of drinking allowed Aran to interpret. If she thought that she was going to secure any help in letting her make a fool of herself she was sorely mistaken. Rubbing his forehead as he followed behind Orion, Aran knew what he was about to do was going to be an exercise in futility but he thought he would give it a shot nevertheless. "Estel, he's taking you to your room. If you promise to come with us and not make a sound, I'll get him to let you down."

 

There was a pause followed by Aran staggering back a step to avoid the palm flung at him along with several imprecations regarding his manhood and lineage. Stepping forward and snagging her wrists in one hand, he locked his grip on them to stop Estel flailing at either of them and with his other hand reached out and quite forcibly held Estel's mouth shut. Rolling his eyes at the muffled shriek of rage that erupted from Estel's nose, Aran spoke to Orion in turn. "Lets get her to her room as quickly as we can before anyone see's us."

 

Doing so took time, doing so without being seen not only took more time but proved to be quite vexing. Nevertheless the sister's room was open before them soon enough and they quickly hustled inside and closed the door behind them. At least Estel had become a little more docile now, that is to say she occasionally took time to breath before she renewed her struggling. Locking the door, Aran looked to Orion as he spoke. "So, how do you propose we put her to bed, and furthermore, make her stay there? She'll also need to drink some water before she goes to sleep or she'll be wretched in the morning."

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

Orion was sick of this as he hefted Estel over his shoulder once again, for the countless time since he had found her drunk and bleeding. Her anger was seeping across the bond and augmenting his and it was not helping the situation. "So, how do you propose we put her to bed, and furthermore, make her stay there? She'll also need to drink some water before she goes to sleep or she'll be wretched in the morning."

 

Orion didn't break stride as he walked through the all too familier mental map of the Tower towards the rooms he shared with Estel. "Ironically Aran, I don't care what she feels like in the morning, even though I will be able to share. Perhaps she will learn to lessen the alcohol intake this time...doubtful but maybe."

 

Orion shouldered his way through to Estel's bedroom door, and with a raging Aes Sedai over his shoulder, flung her rather roughly onto her bed. He didn't need the outraged screams coming from behind him to know how angry she was, the bond was overflowing with indignation and rage. Orion shut the doors behind him and held them against against the onslaught that was Estel that followed.

 

"She'll tire herself out eventually. I don't particulary care what she thinks right now." Orion shifted his stance and leaned back against the door as it almost forced him out of the way. He shoved back and simply smiled one of those irritated, the only thing you can do smile.

 

 

Orion

Rage, humiliation and confusion flooded through her in equal amounts, mixing with the fog of her mind and rendering all forethought, afterthought, duringthought and the rest of what little brain power she laid claim to completely annulled. Being flung on her bed like a sack of potatoes was only the last straw and the only reason she didn’t managed to follow Orion right back out was because she had a spectacular wipe-out in trying to get off her bed.

 

Rubbing her sore bottom, she flung herself at the door, missed and hit the wall. Attempt number to hit the target but she might as well have hit the wall again for all the effect it had. For the hundredth time since Orion had arrived she reached out towards the Source only to have it slip away. Saidar and physical strength having no success, she resorted to one of her favourite tactics: swearing and ordering.

 

“ORION BLOODY MANTIER! WHERE IN THE PIT OF DOOM DID YOU GET THE IDEA TO COMPLETELY FLAMING HUMILIATE ME LIKE THIS! I’LL KISS A BLOOD GOAT ON MOTHER’S DAY BEFORE YOU STEP FOOT IN THIS ROOM AGAIN! YOU HEAR ME YOU BASTARD? WE’RE OVER…”

 

Or at least that’s what she tried to scream at him, only every third word was understandable through the drunken slur. How long her tirade lasted, Estel would never be able to say as her concept of time at that point was as gone as the rest of her mind and she didn’t remember anything past the knives the morning after.

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

 

Estel woke the next morning in a state of extreme excruciation. Her memory of the night before was foggy at best and completely gone at other points. How in the world had she gotten back here? And why in the Light was she slumped against the door? Thinking hurt though and she wasted little time straining her brain for answers that she would never know unless she asked Aran- which she was loathe to do because she had a strong inkling she had made a complete fool of herself last night- or if Orion had shown up. She thought he had but there was something else to that feeling that cast a terrible sense of foreboding. Speaking of Orion, where was he?

 

She prodded the Bond to find him just waking up, obviously in his rooms in the Yards. Why was he down there? Cautiously, she prodded the Bond and felt him snap back more angry than she had felt him in a very long time. What had she done that had infuriated him so? She sent apologetic and questioning tugs at the Bond but he answered only with violent anger. More than ever she wanted to find out what had happened... Or did she? On second though, if she had done something to make Orion this furious with her, what could she have done?

 

Had he been in the room with her, she would have been on her knees begging forgiveness, but as was she did the best she could to communicate her desperate apology through the Bond. His rejection, though, stopped that short and fury rose. Fine if he wanted to be like that... “Oh Light!”

 

She didn’t even have time to make it to the chamber pot before she began dry-heaving, apparently having brought up all her food and alcohol the night before.

 

An hour later found her washed, scrubbed and chewing herbs to fight the waves of nausea and the migraines. With furious scratching, she practically broke her pen in scrawling a few lines of text across a bit of parchment. There was no address except on the envelope which awaited its tenant.

 

I asked your forgiveness but you betrayed that. Stay in your room in the Yards and when I find it in myself to forgive you I’ll come looking for you.

 

Estel practically bit the head off the Accepted she snatched from some other chore to deliver her letter. Positively aglow with rage, she stormed back to her room, all celebratory pride in striking back at Sirayn completely forgotten.