Sahra could feel the butterflies flutter in the bottom of her belly as she approached the Warder's Yard. She had been here a year before so she knew the way and the procedure. But even though she knew that now she was old enough to be enrolled and there was no reason for them to turn her down again, she was nervous. What if she wouldn't be accepted? It would be so embarrassing to go back to the inn after telling Master Gill and Susa and everyone that she was leaving to become a Trainee. They had been so certain that she would come back within few first days, that she couldn't take the harsh training. She balled her hands on fists. She wouldn't go back even if it would kill her. Even the beautiful garden she had to pass through to get to the Yards didn't calm her; she passed through it unseeing focusing only on the barracks she could see among the trees.

 

Her palms were sweaty by the time she crossed the training area but a Tower Guard stopping her offered a welcomed distraction. He asked if she needed any assistance and Sahra was briefly annoyed by looking such a lost puppy and maybe even a clueless and anxious newling. But he was just being nice or maybe just doing his duty so she forced a polite response. No thank you, she was here to meet the Mistress of the Trainees and she knew what she had to do. He appraised her with an entirely new look and when she said that yes, she was getting enrolled, he grinned and welcomed her. The smile was quite contagious and Sahra grinned back before making her goodbyes and getting on her way again.

 

Despite her confident words, she did wander a bit in the halls before finding the right door. She wiped her hands on her thighs through the dress and knocked. She followed the call to enter and was relieved that the Mistress of Trainees was available. Her stomach would have been on knots had she had to wait any longer. "Mistress of Trainees, I am Sahra Covenry and I stood in this very same spot last year." Small red dots appeared on her fair cheeks when she remembered the shame of being rejected even if it was just due to her age. "You told me that I was too young then and bid me to return when I was sixteen if I still wanted to become a Trainee. Now I am old enough and I am still willing to join." Light, she had never been this jittery in her whole life, not even at the office of the Mistress of Novices. At least her voice hadn't tremored. Raising her chin, a gesture she often resorted to, Sahra fixed her gaze between the eyebrows of the Mistress of the Trainees while she waited for the response.

 

Sahra Covenry

Trainee wanna-be

Ginae looked up at the girl standing before her desk and gave a small, polite smile at her words. The tilt of the chin was set at the right angle to be either defiance or determination. Considering she'd just been told the girl had been sent away, she hoped it was determination she was seeing in her. Defiance would be beaten out of her in time, but determination was a trait Ginae admired and willfully cultivated in her trainees.

 

She nodded to the chair in front of her. "Have a seat. Now, perhaps you'll start over again, with your name, and a little about yourself."

 

Ginae, Mistress of Trainees

 

At the words of Mistress of the Trainees Sahra let out a breath she had been holding. She was really being admitted in. She took a seat as asked but arched a well formed eyebrow when called to repeat her name. Maybe this was some kind of an official procedure. "So, my name is Sahra Covenry and I am sixteen years of age. I am a native Tar Valoner and I lost my family when I was two." She could speak about it non-chalantly because she didn't really remember them except from the stories Emma had gathered and told her. Emma and the other ladies of the orphanage and the old man who was the janitor were her parents. "I grew up in the orphanage and lived there since I was 15. After that I started to work in the Traveler's Stay inn and now I am here."

 

"I suppose that you would like to know why I am joining up." Ginae nodded and Sahra attempted a joke with a straight face. "Why for all the pretty boys", she simpered. The look on the face of the Mistress of Trainees was a sight and Sahra was afraid she had crossed the line. She grinned quickly to show she was not serious. "Just kidding. Ahem, but seriously. As a Tar Valoner Aes Sedai and the Warders have been very real to me and not just the stuff of legends but something that is real and achievable. Every child has played lets pretend and dreamed of being either or."

 

"I wanted to originally become an Aes Sedai but I don't have the ability to learn. I was a bit disappointed but hardly devastated because why I wanted to do that was to make a difference in the world. And well, I can't understand what the Aes Sedai do, the channeling and it is a gift from the Light. But sword play is something I can learn and when I become good at it, it is something that is truly mine, an ability I mastered and created. Oh and just for the record, I know that it is heavy work. I have spoken with many Trainees and Tower Guards and I am ready for it." Well, that had been quite a monologue and she hoped she hadn't bored the Mistress. She was a busy woman. "Anything else you wanted to know?", she asked with a bit embarrased smile.

 

Sahra Covenry

Trainee wanna-be

Ginae shook her head lightly at the girl's exuberance. It was always good to start things with some passion, but the girl was practically giddy. Still, another name for the books and if she used half the energy she had displayed so far in her lessons, she just might make a Tower Guard of herself.

 

"Alright, so you want to train with us. You can say that you've talked to Tower Guards and Trainees, but until you actually live this life you won't understand it. It's hard, back breaking, and at times you'll want to throw it all in." She said, trying to drone in the facts. "Now, that's not to say I don't think you can do it. It's tough on everyone but if you're determined and willing then we sign the book and I'll get a mentor to help you through training."

 

Ginae, MoT

Sahra nodded her head eagerly in confirmation that she indeed wanted to train with them. The Mistress of Trainees' comment about not understanding what being a Trainee was like despite hearing so much about it made her frown slightly. The look of worry transformed into a bright smile when Ginae said she wasn't doubting Sahra's ability to pull it off. It was good to be believed in.

 

"I am both determined and willing. Please sign my name on the book." She watched Ginae scribble into the tome in front of her and it seemed so very final with the black and white down on the paper. "So who will be my mentor? What is he... or she like? And is there anything else I need to know?"

Ginae looked at the girl before her. So she knew she needed a mentor. It proved that she really had talked to trainnes at some point or another. She looked the girl over as she tried to think of a good mentor for her. Someone that would bring out her determination but not allow self doubt. That determination seemed to stem from somewhere and she had found that often enough self doubt was the center of it.

 

She rose from her desk as she spoke next. "Come along. I'll take you to your room. You'll be sharing with another trainee. You'll be expected to keep the rooms clean, and inspections have been known to happen at odd times so keep that in mind." She said as they walked. "My door is always open, but your mentor will be your first contact in all things. Use him and his knowledge, use anyone that's willing to teach you. There are a lot of talented people in these Yards, the best in the world. Show an interest and some real determination and they'll be willing to help you along the way."

 

As she arrived at the room she indicated the door that was the young woman's. "Your mentor will be Ursana Tahn Sakhr, though I believe they call him Sana. I'll let him know to expect you on the Grounds tomorrow. In the meantime, get settled in. And welcome to the Yards Sahra. You're a trainee now."

 

Ginae, MoT

A little surprised that Ginae had just ignored her question about the mentor, Sahra followed her nonetheless. She would find out with time and there was no need to be impatient. The news about room mate... She had forgotten that Trainees could have those. Would hers be a male or female? She wished the first since she didn't often get along so great with women. There had been no problems with the other bar maids but she had never really had any girl friends in the orphanage and since she had turned 12 and started becoming a woman the feeling had become even more mutual.

 

She nodded that the yet unnamed mentor would be her primary contact person. A he Ginae had said so that was something at least. She intended to get to know people in the Yards. Contacts were important and she would be taken seriously around here and with time appreciated. As they arrived to the door of the room that would be hers and her room mates, she wondered whether he or she was inside already.

 

The real bomb was the mentor's name. She wasn't sure if she was pleased or just surprised. At least it was someone she knew already but this could put in all kind of kinks into things. Trying to seem nonchalant, she focused on the Mistress of Trainees again. "Thank you. I will do my best." Watching the woman's retreating back she decided to go and find Sana even before tomorrow. It would be a wonderful surprise especially since he didn't know to expect her. But first the room mate... and she was a trainee now! So wonderful.