~Rossa~

 

It was apt how things worked sometimes. Rossa had her sketchbook tucked under one arm and her pencils and charcoals in her belt pouch, all ready to work on her art if she was not needed to run errands. She had been assigned to run errands anyway for her former mentor, Aleanda Sedai of the White Ajah, but if the chance arose, Rossa always liked to have something to work on. It also meant she could surreptitiously study the comings and goings without appearing to, when she was not required to stand endlessly, shifting from one foot to the other to ease the cramps that would inevitably tie her calf muscles in painful knots. An initiate did what she was told, however, and Rossa would not be sent to the Mistress of Novices for something so trivial. She should know better by now!

 

And yet it had all begun with the seedling of an idea. Rossa had seen Estel Sedai, obviously with child, and it had given her the notion. The way to secure the proud name of House Venye and restore lustre to it, all with one simple action. A child. Acting as regent until it came of age, Rossa could ensure both of those objectives were fulfilled, and also maintain her dignity as an Aes Sedai. She hoped.

 

Standing outside the door to the Aes Sedai’s study in the White Ajah quarters, Rossa knocked firmly on the wooden surface, waiting to be admitted. By the time she’d rapped the third burst, there came a voice from within, telling her to enter and to close the door quickly behind her. Adjusting the bundle of papers under her arm, Rossa turned the handle and admitted herself into the room. She dropped into a deep curtsy in front of the large desk in front of her, and allowed herself to look around the room. Having been the previous protégé of Aleanda Sedai, Rossa had been in this room a fair bit before circumstances had altered and, on glancing at the possessions, the sparse furnishings and ornaments, she was pleased to note it hadn’t altered much. Her mother had often said, “A tidy room means a tidy mind.” Who was Rossa to go against such wisdom?

 

“Good morning, Aleanda Sedai.” Rossa responded to the White Sister’s greeting in a carefully neutral tone, hoping that she would not pick up on the excitement in her tone with the new idea. Even trained as she had been in Daes Dae’mar for so long, it was hard to keep her Ebou Dari personality contained when she had a notion for fulfilling her goal since her arrival at the White Tower. She’d have to… “I have been told off to run errands for you today.” The sketchbook nearly slipped in her curtsey, and she tucked it further up under her arm.

OOC: Second time I try to write something for this...

 

Aleanda sat behind her desk looking over the letters she had laying on it. There were quite some and some of them brought interesting news. Though others brought nothing but news already known to Aleanda. Again others brought nothing more but questions. There was a little White Ajah Eyes and Ears network, but unlike so many other Aes Sedai from Aleanda's Ajah Aleanda did have some contacts around the world.

 

Aleanda sat back while she tapped with her finger at the corner of her mouth. Having read all these letters and trying to draw a conclusion there was still something wrong, and missing. Suddenly Aleanda was disturbed in her thinking by someone who knocked the door. At Aleeanda's call the door went open and her former Mentee walked in.

 

"Good morning Rossa," Aleanda said when the Novice had closed the door. The young one replied kindly, and Aleanda noticed she was trying to hide some kind of excitement. Though Aleanda was not entirely sure of it, but her face did had something of eagerness, or excitement.

 

"I have been told off to run errands for you today," the girl said and made a curtsey, while, Aleanda saw, something under her arm almost slipped away. The child had been her mentee not too long ago. But due to all the work Aleanda had gotten herself in she had requested another mentor for this child, one that would take good care of her. Which, Aleanda noticed had been a good decision as Sirayn Sedai had done a good job.

 

"Yes. Yes child, you are indeed here to run some errands for me." Aleanda said while she was still looking at Rossa held under her arm. Because it was held so tight under Rossa's arm, and the white of the novice dress was falling over it a little Aleanda could not clearly see what it was, though she did have an idea. "But tell me, what you have brought with you. Are you planning on drawing me before you run the errands?" Aleanda asked, and if she'd would be from the White Ajah she'd frown.

 

Aleanda Sedai

~Rossa~

 

Rossa would have smiled if the expression on the White Sister’s face had not been so stern. It was good that she was taking an interest in her drawings, but the way she had enquired had made her wish she’d not brought the sketchbook with her. Of course she wanted to sketch the elegant White Sister. Of course she wanted to express her esteem of the woman via the medium of portraiture. It did not seem that Rossa would get that chance now, and she had to think carefully to avoid a trip to the Mistress of Novices over a misunderstanding. Maybe when Rossa was raised to the shawl she would be able to use her artistic gifts with impunity, but for now any time spent sketching rather than studying might warrant a telling off.

 

“No, Aes Sedai, I brought it with me in case any sketches were needed. It would be nice to draw my former mentor’s portrait, but there are certainly things that I need to do instead.” And there, she had spoken the truth, hopefully without giving offence to the Aes Sedai. The last thing Rossa needed was more people watching her, not after the time Sirayn Sedai had caught up with her for drawing Estel Sedai in compromising cartoons. Her punishment for that would no doubt start soon. Fancy having to wait for an entire week on the woman! No. That was no way to think about an esteemed sister of the White Tower. Rossa kept her face smooth so no trace of her feelings displayed on her youthful face, and regarded Aleanda Sedai instead.

 

“I could do your portrait when all the chores are done, Aes Sedai.” Oh, Light, she had spoken out of turn. Would Aleanda Sedai pull her up for that? Even white teeth bit her lip, not hard, but enough to remind her not to speak unless spoken to. Instead, she stood there, trying to keep her gaze straight ahead until the White Sister told her what to do.

Aleanda looked away from the Novice to think for a little. This girl had offered to draw a portrait of her. She had no clue if she could draw very well. In the little time Rossa had been her mentee she had never had the time to look at one of her drawings, though she had known this girl drew some pictures. Vaguely she had heard something about some trouble she had gotten herself after she had drawn some... inappropriate drawings. Aleanda was curious to how Rossa would draw her and next to that, Aleanda would love to have a picture of herself.

 

Still Rossa had come here to run some errands, not to draw Aleanda Sedai. Lea really wasn’t sure if she could let the child draw her as that would be a reward for something she shouldn’t have done. The girl should not have brought her sketchbook with her. “You can sketch me, I would love you to, though next time don’t bring your sketchbook until you’re asked to bring it with you, Child.” Aleanda looked at the Child again, knowing that it was a pretty good way of having Novices listen to her. “You came here to work, not to relax, though you’re lucky as I’m very lenient today. I’ll let you sketch me, while we chat a little about Ebou Dar, as I’m interested to know how the Ebou Dari are doing. Or rather, how they were doing when you left.” Aleanda walked towards the chairs seated under her window while she gestured for Rossa to take a seat for herself as well. “Tell me while you sketch me here. But don’t forget you will have to run your errands later.”

 

Aleanda Antori

Aes Sedai of the White Ajah

~Rossa~

 

Opening her sketchbook, Rossa chose a delicately tipped pencil from the packet in her belt pouch and began to draw an oval shape for the beautiful Aes Sedai’s ageless face. Two lines criss-crossed it at the centre, to give the starting point for the symmetry of her features: two eyes, a delicate nose and a pretty mouth, all fixed in a way that definitely summed up an Aes Sedai. Mild imperiousness, a little kindness; those knowing eyes that held far more than the apparent years on her belied and took in so very much. Even as observant as Rossa was, she’d need to do a good job so her former mentor would not be offended. She chatted as she emboldened the strokes to give definition to cheekbones and brow, of her home city and the climate when she had left.

 

“I do not know much of what has happened in the years since I have left since I have no family to write to me with news. In truth, I would indeed love to hear about my home city once more for my own reasons, but being sequestered in the White Tower in my novitiate makes it difficult to know any other details than a generic overview.” More strokes depicted the delicate sweep of her jaw and chin, down to an elegant column of her neck. Moving back to the top of the page, Rossa began to sketch in an outline of the White sister’s hairstyle; the dark strands that fell across her face in spite of the elaborate coiffure in which she wore it. She also drew in the ears, and spent the longest time on the woman’s eyes.

 

“The last things I heard were that the Queen is still very much in place, enjoying her reign and that Aes Sedai are still welcome at the Court of the Tarasin Palace. The outlaying districts will be fought over and some even gone to banditry and feuding, of that I do not doubt. Far be it from me to advise a Queen on how to rule her country, but if she wishes to be more secure in her seat, she would be well advised to look to that problem before too long.” The strokes continued as Rossa moved on to sketch her shoulders and on to the difficult part, the fabric of her dress.

Aleanda watched how the novice started drawing here and listened to the answer she gave on the question asked. It came clear to Aleanda pretty soon that this little one wouldn't have any information to add to everything she already knew about Ebou Dar, yet there could always be something of value in Rossa's words and regarding the position she used to had before the unfortunate accident with her family happened, Aleanda still listened to what was told while she was beign drawn.

 

Aleanda scrabbled notes on the sheet that lay in front of her. Not only about what her former Mentee told her, but also about how it was told and about the choice of words. Aleanda found it all helpfull with defining what kind of emotion people were feeling while talking about certain topics. Now wasn't it all too hard with young children like Rossa and much more difficult with experienced Aes Sedai yet practise was the key to success.

 

What Aleanda noticed and made a mark about, was how Rossa not only objectively gave her a report about what she knew about the situation in her former home country but also shared her view and what she would advice the Queen. The girl had a point here but Aleanda wondered if she had thought over all the aspects of this 'difficulty.'

 

"Yes, yes. The queen has always been a calm and quiet queen if you ask me." Aleanda said. "And if you want me to sit still you can just say so. I'll stop writing then." Aleanda watched Rossa while she said that that wasn't necessary. Peeking at the notes again Aleanda asked the novice if she could elaborate about her personal reasons to want to go back to Ebou Dar, if she wouldn't mind.

 

Aleanda Antori

~Rossa~

 

The pencil depicted the folds of white fabric, elegantly draped over Aleanda Sedai’s shoulders and form, flowing to the floor. It was a lovely style, and suited her former mentor well. Rossa was glad the Aes Sedai shared her view about her homeland and was profoundly grateful that she had not pressed further into the wound that would never truly heal. The wound of her family’s deaths mixed with the sure and certain knowledge that it had been politically motivated on one or many levels would never leave her, just as she knew in herself that she would not rest until she brought their killers to justice. The nagging worries that it was something either her mother or father had done that had brought a revenge killing or that it had been a mere accident Rossa did not entertain. The servants were careful enough to avoid making such silly mistakes as dropping a candle and, at the time of night the fire had started, none of them would have been awake anyway.

 

It was all a matter of perceptions, Rossa thought as her pencil sketched in more detail of the dress. Deft strokes marked buttons and darts, and the simple sleeves that rested on the table gave way to elegant hands. Daes Dae’mar, Rossa reflected once more, was another facet of that perception. Everything could be interpreted as action or inaction, support or disdain. Her parents had probably fallen afoul of one of the more ambitious schemers, one that was not afraid of associating themselves with a little bit of tarnish in order to further their own career. If only it were that simple…

 

“No, Aes Sedai, there is no need for you to be quiet. I can concentrate quite adequately, thank you.”

 

Rossa did not add that she frequently sketched her fellow novices or other initiates or employees of the White Tower as they went about their day-to-day lives, and that doing such required far more concentration. It was akin to picking out the details on a leaf that was swirling around in a fast moving stream, and Rossa had had a lot of practice at it. Trained from practically the cradle, as she had been to spot such things, Rossa was good at it and finding she had a talent with art, she put it to the inevitable good use. She would never let anyone see her drawings though, not after the last time.

 

Taking the Aes Sedai’s silence as an indication Rossa should keep talking about herself, Rossa tried to give some of the reasons she wanted to return to Altara some day. It was harder than she thought, and she had to clear her throat on more than one occasion where unexpected grief still threatened to bubble to the surface.

 

“I would indeed like to return to my homeland when I have reached the shawl and Tower duties do not require me to be here, Aes Sedai.” That answer should please even the strictest Aes Sedai – never let it be said that Rossa Venye lacked courtesy! “I should very much like to see how my family’s name is seen in the court at the Tarasin Palace and whether I would still be welcome. I would like to see whether my home has been rebuilt, and to know if anyone has marked a grave for my parents and siblings.”

 

A tear threatened bulbously from the corner of one mahogany eye and rolled down her cheek to the paper. Before the Aes Sedai could see, Rossa wiped it away with her sleeve, and luckily it had not landed on anywhere she had already drawn on and so did not mark her pristine white novice dress. Had anyone thought to bury her family? Surely the villagers that looked to House Venye would have made sure they had at least a decent ceremony to remember them, and would the Queen have marked their passing in any way? If they were not celebrated because of whatever ploy had claimed their lives, would the Queen have cared that much? They had been friends, once… The thought of them laying there, wreckage and wild animals clambering over them, with no one to remember who they were, who they really were, was unnerving to Rossa and almost enough to make her break.

 

The thought of her mother would not let her.

 

It was still long moments before Rossa felt composed enough to continue with the portrait.

Aleanda looked in the book she had lying around on her desk expecting the novice to go on about her homeland. The book was about Ebou Dar and about those who had ruled from that city over the country. When Rossa remained silent Aleanda coughed and looked at her. Rossa had lost herself for a moment in the sketch but started to talk again.

 

Aleanda could not say anything about this young child than that she had received a perfect training. This woman was destined to become a great Aes Sedai. What the girl said about going back to her homeland only after receiving the shawl was said in a way some Aes Sedai in training could only have said years after they had reached the banded dress. Aleanda believed the classes some Aes Sedai gave to Novices and Accepted were much too... Weak was the word that popped into Lea's head but she wasn't sure if that was the right word. She was happy to see there were still some Aes Sedai around the Tower who were able to teach these children properly.

 

Aleanda noticed some hidden grief in the words Rossa spoke. Aleanda had an ear for emotions in voices. Emotions would appear while people talked and even though people tried to hide these emotions, very often they failed. In conversation knowledge like this would come very useful. This time however Aleanda was not going to use it. She wouldn't want the Novice to be ashamed so Aleanda just wrote something down on her paper and pretended she didn't hear anything that she wasn't supposed to her.

 

However Aleanda felt the responsibility to tell this Novice that she wasn't to make plans about what she would do when she would become Aes Sedai yet, as well as that she would be unpleasantly surprised when she would arrive in Ebou Dar. "Perhaps you should wait a couple more years before you start making plans about your future," Aleanda lifted her head to look at the Novice. "Who knows what might chance your mind and you could regret you told anyone about the plans you made. If you wouldn't have made any plans yet you couldn't have told anyone about them. Besides, you might be a good student, you're not nearly an Aes Sedai yet." Aleanda didn't want to make this sound as an punishment for what the girl had said, but she found that very difficult. Many Novices felt uncomfortable during these conversation with Aleanda.

 

Before Rossa could respond Aleanda went on. "Might you still believe you should be messing with your head and feelings after you're raised by being reminded of the past because you're visiting that city again, no one will stop you. Yet I hope you won't be that silly and you have been brought to senses by then. You will get surprised unpleasantly when you reach Ebou Dar. I can't guarantee that, but little will be as you expect it to be and much will changed after so long. Changes aren't always good and the confrontation will be unpleasant. Life experience will make you see that I'm right." Aleanda paused. While she was talking Rossa stopped sketching to listen to her. Lea wasn't sure if she should've said this and in this way. The girl would learn from this no matter. "Yet I'm not saying you shouldn't be thinking about your past anymore or dream about visiting Ebou Dar. Just remember that as soon as you reach the Shawl, you're an Aes Sedai with responsibilities towards the Tower and not a foolish girl that can dig around in her past anymore."

 

Aleanda was turning slowly in an unpleasant woman she realised. Too much stress. She didn't want to do it this way. She didn't want to talk to a Novice this way. She was slowly losing herself. Inside she sighed. This was a strong Novice who would turn into a good Aes Sedai. Yet she should've waited until she had received the banded dress to tell her this. It wasn't Aleanda's purpose to break this Novice by destroying a dream, a desire. "I'm only telling you this to prepare you for your future. Because I know you can handle this. You're only a child, a young girl but you're tough." Aleanda hoped she had healed some of the wounds this way. "Please go on sketching." Aleanda stared to the door in front of her desk. What was she doing?

 

Aleanda Antori

~Rossa~

 

Again and again the pencil depicted swift lines, each becoming more definite as her confidence grew and she warmed to her subject. It was strangely ironic, having a subject again, but Rossa knew her place in this strange reversal of roles. The Aes Sedai was definitely the higher rank and therefore due Rossa’s deference, rather than she imagined how it would be were they to rely on real-world titles. She took in the other’s words, but she only heard them, rather than listened to them. Of course she would not act on her dreams of righteous vengeance! No. Now was not the time, to put it simply. A meek “Yes, Aes Sedai” issued from her lips, and Rossa continued with the portrait. She gave the picture a few more strokes of her pencil and some smudges were darkened under the woman’s proud chin, and the portrait was finished.

 

Rossa seriously doubted the Aes Sedai knew what was really going through her mind right now. First and foremost Rossa was a realist, and she knew the time was not yet ripe to put her plans into motion. Just as you had to start with the outline of a drawing before filling in details, such was Rossa’s plan. It was on a far larger scale than anyone really realised, that would survive far into the future and, when Rossa made it to a highly respected and well-known Aes Sedai as she planned, there would be support from someone very close to the Altaran throne indeed…

 

The one stumbling block in her plan was an heir to the name of House Venye. The lifetime of an Aes Sedai was greatly increased, but it would not remain durable if she did not have an heir to pass the reins to. Discredit would be thrown at her on one hand for not having a viable line to trace and on the other hand for producing one in violation of Tower law. Oddly, Rossa did not want to try to take on the might of the White Tower, as she knew she would need their backing rather than any jumped up noble. Did she herself fall into that category? No, she reconsidered, she would not because they had eradicated her line and thought she was dead. A ghost, of sorts, as she doubted they knew of her existence. How perfect it was going to be to see the looks on their faces when she revealed herself as the High Seat of House Venye.

 

Aleanda Sedai was looking expectantly at her sketchpad even as she tried to sit still. Rossa cursed herself silently for getting carried away with her thoughts. She had to wait, and watch.

 

“Here, Aes Sedai.” Rossa turned the sketchpad around to show the woman her drawing.