claireducky

That's right...come play with us!

Russ. You are teh new hotness. *hugs*

Congrats!

Contempt glittered in Brigita's eyes as she looked down upon Ata. The former Yellow was splayed out naked on the rough cot that filled one corner of the small hut. Bonds of Air spread-eagled her arms and legs wide, pinioning them to the bed so firmly that the woman couldn't move an inch. At first, she had flailed wildly about with her torso, accomplishing nothing except exhausting herself. It was obvious that she was appalled at her exposure, and her inability to cover herself. The shame of being naked was a useful tool in questioning. Sweat rolled off of her body, staining even the thin moth-eaten blanket that she was laying on.

Brigita walked slowly past the bed, coming to stand next to a rickety table with only three legs. Resting atop the table were the spilled contents of Ata's belt pouch and saddle bags. It revealed much, and created many questions, as well. Ata glared daggers at Brigita when her hand brushed a small leather-bound diary.

Seating herself in an even more rickety chair by the bed, Brigita idly riffled through the pages of the diary. Now and then she would glance up from the diary to look at the woman, never betraying her thoughts. Silence was another useful tool. The hut was warded against eavesdropping, so only silence would reach the Warder with Cema outside. When she started to torture Ata, the silence would seem deafening to her Warder, who would feel everything but hear nothing.

A good hour passed in which not a question was asked. Not that Brigita was idle during that time, oh no. Other small flows joined what she was using to bind and shield the woman. Minute weaves of Fire mixed with Air and Water increased the temperature of Ata's skin until the Yellow's face was flushed and now the sweat ran in actual rivulets down the creases of her skin. Brigita would release that weave after about 10 minutes or so, only to renew it after a small break.

Can't have her dying of heat stroke, can we?

Brigita never considered the small voice in her head saying that use of the Power against an initiate was wrong. Her status as Black Ajah quashed that thought almost before it was fully formed. As to the identity of the sister before her, Brigita automatically had started to think of her as nothing more than 'the prisioner'. Prisoners did not have personalities, or rights. Prisoners only did what they were told, or suffered the consequences.

Long experience as a questioner had taught Brigita the most effective weaves to use before and during the inquisiton. It was now time to prepare the prisoner to have a loose tounge when the questions started. Brigita cracked her knuckles in anticipation, and began her onslaught.

Needles of Fire pricked the prisoner's face and scalp, leaving a nest of tiny blisters that appeared almost immediately. The woman flinched and then cried out as the pricks intensified. Whip-thin rails of Air buffetted the prisoner's torso and thighs with stings like a switch. When the front of the woman was striped from breasts to shins, Brigita flipped her over with Air and repeated the buffeting to the woman's backside. Her cries grew to wails as the invisible switch reached the back of her knees. That was a most sensitive area of skin; Brigita again intensified the weave, focusing on that tender area. The wails now were bone-shattering shrieks, albeit muffled by the prisoner's face shoved hard into the mattress.

Without warning, Brigita stopped the flows. She seized the woman roughly with Air again, and flipped her back upright, pinning her into a sitting position on the bed, so that she was facing Brigita. The prisioner's shrieks had faded into muted whimpers interrupted by hiccoughs and sniffs. Brigita grimaced, she could not stand sniveling.

I hope this one has more mettle than she has shown so far....otherwise I might be rather disappointed.

She shifted her chair so that her face was a mere foot away from the prisoner's, and spoke in flat and final tones.

"You will tell me everything I ask. No half-truths or Aes Sedai word twisting will be accepted. I cannot abide liars, and so anything but complete and utter truthfulness will result in more....persuasion. Do I make myself clear?"

The prisoner was silent for long moments, but Brigita thought she detected a shadow of defiance in the woman's eyes. A slow smile curved on her lips as she waited for the prisoner to speak.

Ah, there is something left of the fight in this one after all. Good, it is always much more satisfying when I break them completely in the end.

Brigita peered out cautiously from behind the tree. Were those hoofbeats? She scanned the wide trail leading into the forest. Finally her eyes caught movement as a Warder and Aes Sedai entered the woods. There could be no doubt it was the two Cemarillinin and she sought.

She slowly pulled her head back behind the wide bole of the oak as they approached. Brigita had no wish to alert the Warder's keen senses before time. When she estimated they were within 100 paces, Brigita stepped out from behind the shelter of the tree and channeled.

As soon as saidar was in her grasp, she sent a thick shield of Spirit towards the woman in the saddle, effectively cutting her off from the Source. Smiling with satisfaction, she watched as Cemarillinin stepped out on the other side of the trail and bound the Warder up with flows of Air as hard as steel. Another knot of Air created an effective gag that the man grimaced around.

The Aes Sedai twisted in her saddle frantically, jerking her horse's reins. Purposefully, Brigita wove her own bindings and gag of Air for Ata. The woman's hands froze on the reins.

Looking across the trail at Cema, she nodded and they moved to the horses quickly. Just because they had the two in hand was no reason to dawdle. This was a well traveled road, after all, and they could not risk being seen. She stopped in front of Ata's horse and seized the reins from the woman's stiffened hands. Cema did the same for the Warder, who was staring death at them.

They turned off the trail, moving at an oblique angle to it into the deep of the woods. Brigita maintained her flows on Ata as she also channeled minute amounts of Air and Earth to cover their backtrail.

Disappeared without a trace...so sad.

She held back a giggle as they made their way to the abandoned hut. When they arrived there, the real fun would begin.

Gianna was exhausted.  Between private lessons, classes, and lectures; the Aes Sedai had kept her hopping constantly.  They seemed determined to catch Gianna up to the rest of the Novices.  

After six months in the Tower, Gianna had still not been able to touch the Source.  The breakthrough there had come at the hands of Cemarillinin Sedai, although Gianna had little love for the stern Green.  Now that she could use saidar at will, the sisters were running her ragged trying to teach her everything she had been left behind on.  

Channeling all day for her teachers had left Gianna in a near stupor.  She intended only to change clothes and go back down for supper; but that changed the moment she sat on the bed.  All thoughts of food abandoned her as she laid down, fully clothed.  

I will only rest my eyes for a few minutes....

Within fifteen minutes, she was mostly asleep and dreaming of confronting her uncle Toram as an Aes Sedai.

tap, tap, tap....tap, tap, tap.

Sleep had fuzzed her wits, and the dream Gianna was having incorporated the tapping at her door.  She was staring at her uncle Toram, arms crossed and tapping her toe.

Again, a little louder.

Tap, Tap, Tap.....Tap, Tap, Tap.

Dream Gianna frowned down at her foot.  It sure was awful loud for simply tapping the toes.  The tapping continued too, even after she stopped moving her foot.  

Awake with a start, Gianna sat up straight and swiveled her head to stare at the door.  The Mistress of Novices was standing in the threshold, gazing down at her with a mixture of impatience and wry amusement.  

Gianna jumped to her feet and dropped a curtsy with what sounded very much like a squeak.  A strangled squeak.  She had been in trouble with the Mistress of Novices many times over the last two years, but not often as of late.  What could she have done to bring the woman to her room?

Her mind raced as the Mistress of Novices studied her.  Before she could speculate very long, the woman spoke, almost intoning her phrases.

"Gianna Riatin, you are summoned to take your test for Acceptance.  You must follow me with haste, and speak to no one in passing."

With that, the Mistress of Novices turned on her heel and left the room.  Gianna gulped air and hurried after the Aes Sedai, barely pausing to close the door behind her.

The two made a quiet and mostly unnoticed procession through the Tower's halls.  A few other Novices stared after her as they passed, but she ignored the questions in their eyes.  

Deep, deep into the Tower they went.  Gianna would doubt that any had been to that level of the basements in a long time, except that she could see no dust in evidence along those stairways and corridors.  Finally they arrived at their destination.  The Mistress of Novices threw open dark and heavy looking double doors, and they entered the chamber.

Gianna stared in awe around the room.  There were four sisters present, but her mind dismissed them automatically as her eyes centered on the giant ter'angreal.  Centered in the room, the object of the Power appeared to be three metal arches, placed equidistant in a circle, and tilting inwards so that the tops of them touched.

Her breath caught as she stared, and her stomach roiled.  She barely heard when the Mistress of Novices began to speak, and had to force herself to pay attention.

"I will now tell you two things that no woman hears until she enters this room. Once you begin, you must continue to the end. Refuse to go on, and no matter your potential, you will be very kindly put out of the Tower with enough silver to support you a year. You will never be allowed back. Second. To seek, to strive, is to know danger. You will know danger here. Some women have entered, and never come out. When the ter’angreal was allowed to grow quiet, they - were - not - there. And they were never seen again. If you will survive, you must be steadfast. Faltering leads to a failure."

Drawing a deep breath, the woman continued her speech.  Gianna's hands clenched on her skirts as she listened.

"This is your last chance, child. You may turn back now, and you will have only one mark against you. Twice more will you be allowed to come here, and only at the third refusal will you be put out of the Tower. It is no shame to refuse. Many cannot do it their first time here. Now you may speak."

Gianna's mouth felt dry, as if it had been stuffed full of cotton.  She stared at the Mistress of Novices for a moment, then at the ter'angreal, and finally swung her gaze back to the Mistress.  The four Aes Sedai and the woman in front of her all had an air of expectancy painting their faces.  Only then did she notice a Blue among the four.  Sighing, she resigned herself to fate.

I just wish that one wasn't here to see my failure.  Hardly the way to impress the Ajah I might choose.....

She gulped for air, then spoke.  Her voice grated to her own ears as she did what she had dreaded since receiving the summons.

"I cannot take the test now, Mistress.  Just looking at it makes me want to sick up."

The woman grimaced slightly and took a tiny step back, perhaps in anticipation of Gianna doing just that.  The novice flattened her hands against her stomach and forced down the bile rising in her throat.

"I am sorry, but I am not ready.  At least, I am not ready today."

The Mistress of Novices only nodded, but Gianna thought she could see disappointment in her eyes.  She turned to the other four women present, and spoke again.

"She has refused the test.  Let no one speak of what transpired here today, not even amongst themselves.  Go now, under the Light."

With that, the four sisters made towards the heavy doors to leave.  Only the Blue so much as glanced at Gianna, and she could see a smirk on the dour woman's face.  A blush washed over her cheeks as she turned back to the Mistress of Novices.  She was so full of shame.  The woman smiled kindly at her, and guided her towards the door.

"It is done, child.  Go now, back to your room and your studies.  You will be summoned again some day, I promise."

Gianna nodded, and headed back to her room alone.  The same thoughts ran through her mind over and over as she walked, and stinging tears welled in her eyes.

I have failed.  I will never reach Aes Sedai.  I have failed you, father.....

She was too engrossed in her own failings to notice two Blue sisters in a side corridor of the Tower, speaking softly.  One was the very Blue who was present at her failed testing.  The two stopped their conversation and stared after her as she passed, steely gazes not flickering an inch.

Thanks all!

Brigita drew rein after topping a rise. Braem Wood lay green and deep before her; the sun was just touching the tree tops.

Congratulating herself on making it alive, she clicked to her gelding and rode towards the woods. Now if only she could find Cemarillinin and figure out what she was up to.

It seemed she didn't need to find Cema after all. As she neared the edge of the woods, Cemarillinin walked onto the road, leading her roan. She addressed Brigita curtly, turning them back towards the woods.

"It was about time you came, now come along we dont have any time to waste, we have a trap to set and spring."

So a trap it was to be. She wondered who it was that would be caught in it. Before she could do much more than speculate, Cema made all clear with a few sentences.

"I am sure you want to know what is up, but all you will need to know for now as there isn't much time to explain is that we are gonna finish a job one certain other servant of the dark didn't manage. Our target today is a former yellow and present blue on her way from Ebou Dar to Tar Valon after geting her hands on certain facts down in our hometown that she should have left alone."

Brigita could not control the gasp that escaped her mouth. She knew of only one sister who fit the description. Ata used to be a Yellow, but after she was severed by Caladesh, the impossible had been done. Somebody had Healed her stilling. Now she was of the Blue, another oddity. Although Brigita supposed it did stand to reason that stilling would sever all ties with Tower and Ajah, and by being Healed, Ata had the right to change her ajah.

It was not the target that made her gasp, but the reason. Brigita had dark secrets hidden in Ebou Dar, dating to before she came to the Tower. If any of them were rooted out, it meant not only danger to her, but also to the Black Ajah.

She will die. I will see to that personally....

Since Cemarillinin had called her here, she listened carefully as the other woman laid out her plans. Brigita had suggestions to add once or twice, but for the most part held her peace. She could care less about Cema's reasons for wanting Ata dead, but Brigita planned on finding out every last scrap Ata knew. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation before letting them drop back to her reins.

Oh yes, this will be quite good.

After Gianna told Cemarillinin that the task was impossible, the Aes Sedai went on a tirade of sorts.

"Well, well. What do we see, you ain't all that stupid after all, of course its impossible, just as impossible as grabbing and holding saidar. The rose excersise teaches you to open up and let saidar come to you, to fill you, to bring you life, not for you to go to the sun, a rose cant go to the sun, it's stuck on the ground through its roots, and the sun is high up on the sky, but it can reach down to the rose with it beams."

As the Aes Sedai went on, Gianna began to get angry. It was as if the woman was trying to incite her into doing something.

Stupid?! Who said I was stupid?!

She opened her mouth to speak, and the Aes Sedai continued her speech, rolling right over the top of anything Gianna had to say. Gianna could almost feel the steam coming out of her ears as she listened.

"If you ever tried swiming in a river with much stream then you know it's of no use trying to swim upriver and fight the river, you can not cause you are not strong enough, instead you can surrender to the stream of the river, let it drag you along while you focus your efforts on controlling where you are going, so through surrendering you gain control. In other words child stop trying to fight the source, you can not grasp it and you can not hold it, only open yourself to its power and allow it to come to you, only then will you be able to direct it. Now think on this will you and stop wasting everyone's time, cause if you keep trying to grab the source forget it. It's as impossible as holding that water out in the stone basin and you will never be able to do it, never!"

The Aes Sedai practically shouted the last words at her. With visible effort, she schooled her self to sterness and turned to Gianna.

"Now unless there is something more you may go."

Gianna fumed. She could not believe the woman's attitude. The nerve! Against better judgement, she launched into a tirade of her own.

"You mean to tell me that you had me waste the better part of a DAY staring at that stone basin for nothing? You set me to a task, KNOWING it was impossible? Well, I tell you, Cemarillinin Sedai; I don't like having my time wasted. I came here to learn, not to be yelled at! And all that drivel about swimming and roses going to the sun..Pfft!"

She began to open herself to saidar as she spoke, to prove Cemarillinin had been wasting her time. As she did, her voice continued its increase in volume. By this point, she didn't care that she was yelling at an Aes Sedai.

"If it was as easy as that, just surrendering, I surely would have figured it out long ago. Just watch, you will see it won't wor--"

Gianna cut off with a gasp as the warmth she had surrendered to flooded into her. Saidar filled every nook and cranny inside of her, and the ecstacy of it made every other thought fly out of her head. She looked at Cemarillinin, astonished. The Aes Sedai had a satisfied smile on her face.

Just then, Gianna remembered the tirade she had just launched at the Green, and all thoughts of saidar left her just as quickly as they came. She lost her grip on the source, but the remembered feeling still gave her shivers. She turned to Cemarillinin, shame-faced.

"Very good, child. You have taken the first step on a long journey towards mastery of the Power. However exciting that is, it does not excuse your attitude just now. You will report yourself to the Mistress of Novices at once. Perhaps she can remind you that you are not in your father's mansion anymore."

Nodding, Gianna fled from Cemarillinin's rooms. Tears streamed down her face as she ran towards the Mistress of Novices' study. The MON would surely make her howl for how she acted, but that was not the source of her tears. She had finally touched the Source. She would be Aes Sedai.

She wept for joy, and she ran.

OOC: Cema, thanks so much for helping me with this!

Gianna woke early on the 15th day of Saven, a good hour before First had rung. Today was the Feast of Fools, a feastday celebrated across the nations, and the Cairhienien novice could hardly contain her excitement.

She rolled over on her cot and pulled light linen stockings up to her knees. She also donned a Novice dress of thin wool. Saven is in the middle of the year, and high summer was fast approaching, if not already there. It would not do to be drenched in sweat during the outing to Tar Valon later today.

Gianna quickly washed her face and scrubbed her teeth at the washbasin, and smoothed her chestnut hair over her shoulders with a few pulls of an ivory comb. Finallly ready, she left the room and headed to the Novice kitchens, her step jaunty and purposeful.

Delicious smells pulled at Gianna, but she ignored them. Just outside of the kitchen area was her objective. A scroll of parchment was posted to the wall with a roll of names. All of the women on the list were Accepted or Aes Sedai, and they had signed up last night to play the "Fool" in today's festivities.

On a low table below the list was an inkwell and quill pen. Each Novice participating in the event was to pick a "Fool" from the list, and then indicate their choice by writing their own name next to the Accepted or Aes Sedai's.

Gianna perused the list, noting a few possibilities. Estel of the Blues was one, along with Accepted Taei, Cavana from the Yellows, and Brigita and Evaida of the Greys. She tapped her fingers on the table top as she thought.

Although initiates did not pick an Ajah aspiration until they were Accepted, Gianna had been considering a couple already. The Blues were one, and Gianna had learned much about them in a class specifically about the Ajah. The other was the Grey Ajah. As a child in a noble House, Gianna was well adapted to the studies of law, mediation, and decision making. However she didn't know much else about the Ajah, yet.

Well that narrows it down...I will choose a Grey today.

She looked at the list of Greys again. She knew not much of Brigita, except that the woman always looked angry. Gianna wondered why one like that would sign up for this. She shook her head and considered the other on the list. Evaida always seemed to be a kind person, always with a warm smile for the initiates she saw in the halls.

Her decision made, Gianna dipped the pen in the inkwell, and carefully signed her name next to that of Evaida. She blew softly on the ink to help it dry, then turned towards the Grey's quarters.

Once in the halls of the Greys, Gianna was at a loss where to go next. She had never been to Evaida's quarters before. Before she could wonder too long, a Grey sister appeared, gliding along in that way it seemed only an Aes Sedai could do. Dropping a curtsy, Gianna asked for directions to Evaida's rooms. The Grey sister quirked an eyebrow in amusement at Gianna, and directed her to a door near the end of the hall.

In front of Evaida's door, Gianna was steeling herself to knock when a thought made her pause. Today WAS the Feast of Fools, and if Evaida was to be her Fool, she would have to get used to the idea of sending her on errands and such for the day. Starting off with meekness and curtsies would not do.

With a smile, Gianna knocked firmly on the Aes Sedai's door. Hopefully the woman was not still asleep. She had to know that today would be an early one when she signed up on that list.

Confirming her thoughts, the door opened within moments, revealing Evaida. Gianna smiled up at the woman, silently willing herself not to be meek.

don't curtsy...don't curtsy...don't curtsy!

"Hello, Evaida Sedai. I am Gianna, and I have chosen you to be my Fool today for the Feast. It looks like you are already dressed and ready to go, excellent. I am quite hungry as I know you must be, so if you would accompany me to the kitchens, we can start our day."

As she spoke, the words came easier to her. She had been accustomed to giving orders in her father's house, but the Tower tended to break you of that, quickly. It had taken longer in Gianna's case, but was no less thorough in the end. Speaking so to an Aes Sedai made her want to run away, but she firmed her stance and looked up at Evaida, waiting for a response.

Gianna

OOC: This is an open RP to anyone who wants to join. Part 1 is for the ladies to choose their fools. You can see an RP outline and list of current participants HERE.

Note to Aithne: I also will play Brigita, the Grey/Black NSW who you are paired with. If you need more info about her looks, her Bio can be found HERE.

Once Part 1 has been up a few days, I will start part 2 in a new post.

I just wanted to pop into this thread and offer space on my dedicated server. You would have email addresses, cPanel, as many SQL databases as you need, basically anything you needed. All for free, even!

Let me know if you want to migrate the site to my server and I will be more than happy to get it set up for you.

Claire

Gianna looked up from her hands at the sound of a heavy object being dragged. Cema had brought a large stone basin into her sitting room. It was almost a cauldron, squat and thick. Gianna pursed her lips, wondering where this would lead.

The Aes Sedai went back into her room and brought out a pitcher of water. She poured it into the basin, and the splashing water left a droplet or two on Gianna's face. When the water was poured, Cema set the pitcher aside and looked at Gianna for a moment. Nodding thoughtfully, the Aes Sedai gave her instructions.

"Very well, I have some letters to write, meanwhile I want you to puzzle out how to pick up the water out of this bowl. I don't mean just a handful, I want you to hold all of it in your hands at the same time, so that the bowl is empty. And please child, don't mess up my floor with the water, I don't want stains on it."

She turned away from Gianna, heading into another room of her quarters. After a moment, she popped her head around the corner of the doorway, and added,

"Tell me when you are holding it so I can come see it before you put it back in the bowl. You will go on with this exercise til it's dinner time then you can go for dinner but you will return her afterwards. If you can't get it today then you will return in the morrow. The moment you figure out how to hold all the water in your hands is the moment you will understand how to hold saidar. Feel free to ask me questions if you need but I will not give you the solution."

Then she disappeared behind the doorway again, and Gianna was alone. She turned toward the stone basin, and studied it thoroughly. It appeared to be just what it was, and no more. Desparately, her mind raced for a clue to the puzzle. She would not spend all night trying to figure this out.

There has to be a trick to this....an Aes Sedai's puzzle would never have a straight forward answer...

She tried to think around corners, and logically like a White would do. Perhaps she could remove the water into another container, one light enough she could hold it.

No, I am to hold it in my hands...the water itself, and not another receptacle.

Gianna dismissed that possibility and continued to brainstorm. Hours passed as she sat and stared at the basin.

I could pour it over myself...the fabric would soak it up....no, that won't work...perhaps I could...hmmm.

Finally the Novice could take it no more. She practically stalked into the other room where Cema was bent over a writing desk, working on some letter or such. Frowning, she turned towards Gianna.

"Well, child?"

Gianna took a deep breath. She was stumped, and no matter of time would help.

"I do not know the answer, Cemarillinin Sedai. It is impossible to hold that water, unless I were to drink it all until I bloated up like a waterskin. Which isn't really holding it, anyway...."

She trailed off, abashed and wishing she knew the answer to the Green's puzzle.

"It is impossible."

Gianna

Gianna was about to answer Zeveria's query when the door to their room swung inward soundlessly, revealing another Novice on the threshold.

The two women on the beds swung their eyes towards the door in unison, yet different expressions dawned upon their faces. While Zeveria's face broke into a warm and welcoming smile, Gianna's brow furrowed for a moment before mirroring the Amadacian's smile.

Another roommate? Light, but this room is about to be crowded...

Zeveria rose and headed towards the door. Or rather, she tried to. After a couple of steps, it seemed her knees and feet tangled up and Zeveria ended up in a heap upon the floor, her flailing arms slamming the door shut in the new girl's face.

Gianna hid a smile behind her hand and went to Zeveria. While helping her up, Zeveria managed to still her laughter long enough to speak.

"Gianna, I think you should get the door."

Nodding, Gianna went to the door, and pulled it open quickly. The new girl was standing just on the other side, rubbing her nose where the door had hit it. She put on a smile despite still looking a bit irked.

"What a welcome, hmm?" Gianna laughed and put her arm around the girl. She continued to giggle as she led the newcomer into the room.

"It appears Zeveria is not very twinkle-toed at times. But you ARE welcome, here. I am Gianna, and that is Zeveria."

Zeveria had recovered at this point, and jumped in to the conversation. Gianna looked at her with mirth as their questions overlapped each other.

"What is your name?"

"Are you new to the Tower?"

Gianna

Hehe, Larasha, I think we just railroaded your Novice in high style!

I would leave this according to the normal methods, but this is urgent.

Hopefully I have not wasted half the blasted day trying to track you down.

Be ready to ride hard for Braem Wood before sunset. I shall meet you there in 24 hours.

Do not fail me in this.

C.

Brigita Lechantin's eyes tightened at the corners as she re-read the short note Cemarillinin had left her. After a third reading, she channeled saidar to burn the paper to ashes in her hands. She began packing a small scrip absentmindedly as she reflected on the method of receiving it, not an hour ago....

Brigita Lechantin had tuned out the world around her as she read. In a secluded alcove of the Tower Library, she kneaded her temples and tried to sort out the intricacies of the Fifth Treatise of Falme. As a Grey, she knew much of the details already, but a proposal she was working on touched on many issues that this Treatise pertained to. She meant to know it inside and out.

Sighing, she tossed her head back to stretch her neck; dark ringlets of hair shook from side to side at her waistline. Bending over the text again, she jumped with a start as hands slammed down on the table top in front of her. Brigita looked up into the severe dark eyes of Cemarillinin.

Suppressing a frown, Brigita rose to look the woman in the eyes. She did not like her, and the fact they both were from Ebou Dar did not help matters. Cemarillinin was one of the few women who knew her secret past, and only one of three other Blacks she knew in the Tower. Sisters of the Heart, they were called, although Brigita would be hard pressed to consider the Green a sister of any sort.

What surprised Brigita was her presence here. If she was on secret business, Cemarillinin had ways to leave her messages safely. To risk meeting her openly meant that whatever it was, it must be dire.

Before she could open her mouth, Cemarillinin simply tsked in disgust and placed a sealed parchment envelope upon the open pages in front of Brigita. Without another word, the Green turned heel and practically stalked out of the Library. Brigita had stared after her a moment before placing the envelope in her belt pouch, carefully replacing the text on its shelf, and heading towards her own quarters.

Brigita came back to herself, folding the same shift over and over upon her bed. She shook her head to clear it of a train of thought that would get her nowhere. Obviously the task Cemarillinin wanted her to help in was important, but nothing the woman had written would give her any clue as to what it was.

Done with packing, Brigita headed down to the South Stables and mounted a slab sided gelding. An unlikely looking mount, Valar had carried her far and wide many times. He was not one to win a beauty contest, but his confirmation and staying power were what made him an asset.

Hours later, Brigita was traveling down the Caemlyn road towards Braem Wood. She was nearby the southern edge of the Black Hills now, and the rolling country to the north gave way to glaciated flatness, almost as if the road itself marked a boundry.

The sky was dark, heavy clouds shrouding a fingernail of a moon. Perhaps Cema was simply luring her out here to kill her. She surely had to be traveling the same road as Brigita, after all. Only a madman would try traversing the Black Hills cross country in the middle of the night. For not the last time, Brigita wished she had a Warder. Of course, that would mean finding a Darkfriend to Bond. And all manner of other complications.

Sighing, she settled her dustcloak around her and moved off the road fifty paces or so. She would rest an hour and then continue on. Hopefully she could make Braem Wood by mid-morning.

The night is Black...and so am I.

Brigita Lechantin

Grey/Black Aes Sedai NSW

OOC: Cema, if you will start your post flagging me down as I approach the edge of the woods, we can plan our capture of Ata and Nuit and then get it going!

After slamming the door shut behind her, Gianna simply stared at the woman sitting on the low bed. She had a feeling that this was a new roommate, but she hoped she was mistaken. The solitude of having the room to herself was a blessing at times.

The other young woman took her time straightening her novice dress, smoothing snow white wool down her arm. She looked up at Gianna, chin raising slightly as she spoke.

"Well my name is Zeveria Agotta. I’m from Amadacia, I just got here today. So if you’re going to have a problem, I suggest you talk to the Mistress of Novices. She is the one that put me here."

Gianna nearly gaped at the new Novice. She definitely was confident, wasn't she? Gianna prepared to lay into the new Novice about how she didn't NEED a roommate, when Zeveria spoke up again.

"How about you sit and we can talk. If we are going to room together we should get to know each other, don’t you think?"

The Novice gestured to Gianna's own bed, opposite the one Zeveria was sitting on. She had a soft smile on her face, as if seeing Gianna in such a discomfiture was slightly amusing.

Gianna stalked over to her bed, and sat down heavily. She needed to resign herself to the fact that she was going to have a roommate again. Might as well try to get along with the girl. With a deep breath, she introduced herself, and tried not to sound too haughty as she did so.

"I am Gianna Riatin, from Cairhien. I have been here six months so far."

Gianna winced at that. Six months in the Tower and still could not channel a lick. Tears burned her eyes once more, and she desperately tried to change the subject so that Zeveria would not notice.

"You said you are from Amadacia. I thought channeling was outlawed there, as were Aes Sedai. How did you come to the Tower?"

For a long moment, Cemarillinin Sedai continued to study Gianna upon her threshold. To Gianna, the moment seemed to stretch into an Age before the Aes Sedai finally said, "So I see...well enter then, child."

Gianna dropped another hasty curtsy and entered the Green's rooms, while Cemarillinin closed the door firmly behind her. She scanned her surroundings; it seemed Cemarillinin had rustic tastes in decor. There were animal furs, both on the floor and stretched between pegs on the walls. She wondered if they were all animals the Aes Sedai had hunted herself at one point or another.

Before she could do much more than look around the room, Cemarillinin herded her towards a chair. The Aes Sedai sat opposite, and studied her intently again a moment before asking, "So what seems to be the problem, child? Not listening to your elders obviously isn't it, so tell me what is. And don't bother coming up with any excuses; I have better things to do then to waste my time on foolish girls, so the sooner we can get done with, the better."

Gianna shrunk lower into her chair while Cemarillin talked, if it had been possible, she probably would have melted into a puddle on the floor. The woman's eyes seemed to drive awls into her, pinning her in place.

Her voice cracked when she began to speak, so she cleared her throat and started again.

"I cannot hold saidar, Aes Sedai. I go through the Novice exercises....River Containing the Bank, Rose opening to the Sun, but none of them work for me. At least, I can sense the warmth of saidar in the distance, but when I reach to grab it, it slides through my fingers like grains of sand. May I show you?"

She looked up from her hands at the Aes Sedai, who nodded her consent. Gianna took a deep breath, let it out, then fell into a relaxed pattern of breathing. She imagined herself a river, energy flowing strongly, yet contained by the bank. That meditation led to picturing herself as a rose, petals opening to the sun. A blazingly bright sun, warmth falling on her upturned face.

The warmth increased, radiated towards her. Gianna knew she was poised on the brink of success, and excitement and impatience overtook her calm. Instead of surrendering to it, she strained to reach out and catch hold of the light. But much like trying to catch sunbeams, saidar would not stay in her grasp. Just as quickly the warmth fled, leaving Gianna frustrated to the point of tears.

"You see, Aes Sedai? I cannot grab on to it. That was the closest I have ever come yet....and it still was a failure."

Gianna dropped her head into her hands, elbows propped on her knees. It was hopeless.

Gianna walked stiffly towards her room from the Mistress of Novices study. This was the third time this week she had been sent there, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

Growing up in a royal House, Gianna was used to giving orders, not taking them. It was her habit to raise her head high, not bend it to anybody. That habit was constantly getting her in trouble with the Aes Sedai. Even her own mentor had to call her out more than once for failing to show proper respect.

She reflected over this most recent visit to the Mistress' study.

"You must learn that you are no longer a member of a Great House here, Gianna. Here you are no better than the farmer's daughter, or the butcher's niece. Perhaps it would be prudent to remind you that pride comes before a fall. If I remember rightly, you still have not managed to touch Saidar since your arrival, yes? You would do well to see that your bloodlines or raising do not grant you abilities or status above a woman of the meanest background. Otherwise..."

The Aes Sedai paused, mulling over the best choice of words.

"If you cannot curb your haughty airs, Gianna, there is a possibility you will be asked to leave the Tower. You will never channel on your own, so you are not a danger if we put you out. However the Tower hates to lose an initiate, there are some things we will not tolerate. Continual defiance and arrogance from a Novice are two such things. Do not get sent to me for this again, Gianna."

Gianna had stood there in shock, as a cornered animal might. Even now, her eyes burned with tears as she ran to her room. She would be Aes Sedai. If only she could touch the Source...she could show them her potential....

At least she did not have any roommates to see her tears right now. She reached her door finally, and pushed it open, scrubbing the fallen tears from her cheeks with a snow white sleeve.

When she looked up, she started backward in shock. There on one of the other beds was the form of a young woman, a girl whom Gianna had never seen before. The young lady seemed just as startled by Gianna's entrance as Gianna was by her presence.

She slammed the door behind her, crossed her arms across her chest and demanded, "Who are you, and what are you doing here?!"

Whatever the other woman's response, Gianna had a sinking feeling she knew.

So much for solitude...Light, I hope she can't tell I've been crying!

Gianna

OOC: All yours, Zeveria and Larasha! How about Zeveria and I get introduced and Larasha comes crashing in not much later, and introductions all around again. I think it would be great if you guys notice Gianna's face eventually, and get her to talk about what is wrong. If you can get her to open up about it, the flood gates will be open LOL!

By the way, Gianna is short (being from Cairhien), has mahogany brown hair and blue eyes that always appear slightly wide or startled. She also has quite an arrogant air about her, although that might change soon. ;)

Gianna hiked her skirts up and made her way through the halls, not quite stomping, but close to it.

A small voice inside her head told her that she was very close to flouncing. She pushed it aside angrily. I am NOT flouncing...just walking heavily. Ignoring the incongruity of the thought, she continued on her way to the Green quarters.

Her destination was partly the source of her irritation. The majority was her own misgivings about her abilities. Gianna had not yet touched the True Source, despite near 6 months in the Tower. While she had progressed steadily in other areas of learning, she was falling steadily behind other Novices when it came to saidar.

Gianna's mentor Elyssa had all but washed her hands of teaching her at this point. And Gianna couldn't blame her. The Blue had been working with her every day of those 6 months, with hardly a step forward.

What am I even doing here...I will never be Aes Sedai...

Elyssa had thought that a change of teacher might help Gianna break through. So today she was going to her first lesson with her new teacher, Cemarillinin. She did not know much about the Green sister, except that she was legendary for being a taskmaster and had broken some of the toughest Blocks that wilders could throw at her.

Not that I am one of THEM, of course...

Like many Tower-trained women, Gianna held wilders in disdain. Although she reflected that at least the wilders in the Tower could TOUCH the source, whereas she could not. It was hopeless.

Gianna came out of her reverie to the sound of practice swords smacking together in rhythm. She looked up to realize she was in the Green Ajah quarters already. A couple of Warders were sparring in a common area with bundles of wood lathing. Gianna knew that the practice swords could not cause real harm, but a blow from one would leave a stinging bruise later. She had seen her brothers sparring with them enough as a child in Cairhien.

She continued on past them, lest she be called out by an Aes Sedai for dawdling in the hall.

Elyssa said the third door on the right was Cema's.

Gianna counted off the first and second door, and stopped in front of the third one. The dark wood was carved ornately with roses, thorns, and two crossed swords. The swords were lacquered with enamel, as they were on all of the other doors. Many of the doors differed in the color of enamel. Gianna wondered what it signified.

Before she could do more than raise her hand to knock, the door flew open in front of her. An Aes Sedai stared down at her intimidatingly. Gianna realized her hand was still poised to knock, and pulled it down quickly, her cheeks flushing. She tried to cover her surprise by dropping a quick curtsy.

"I am Gianna, Cemarillinin Sedai. Elyssa Sedai sent me to you for instruction today."

The words tumbled out in a rush as she watched the Aes Sedai size her up with an arched eyebrow. She felt as if those fierce chestnut-colored eyes were boring a hole into her.

Gianna was surprised at her own meekness. Being raised in a royal House meant that arrogance came more naturally than bending her neck an inch. Elyssa had sent her more than once to the Mistress of Novices for failing to show proper respect.

What was it about this raven-haired beauty staring down at her that changed that? Something about this woman had stilled Gianna's haughty nature and immediately replaced it with the courage of a mouse.

As she waited for the Aes Sedai to speak, she could not help but wonder what she had gotten herself into.

Gianna

*dances joyously*

Too bad that you and Cab return so shortly after I kill off my Sedai. Old bones or not, she would have hunted you both down and sat on you to keep you here. Now I just have an ickle novice! Great to see you all back though!

Claire

OOh, old DM chat when Sam was still around. O.o

ICily, who is in charge (IE King or Queen) of Cairhien currently? Are they a PC, TPC, or NPC? And if they are actually played by a person, how do i get in contact with them?

The last time I was around with this character, it was Toram Riatin on the throne.

Thanks!

If your ISP is acting up (as it appears to be doing frequently), I have server space available that I would gladly donate to the Divison. As long as it doesn't take more than 5GB of space that is ;) It comes with 100 GB of bandwidth, which I would hope would be enough for the div site. Also allows unlimited SQL databases and emails, and is equipped with cPanel 10.8.2.

Additionally I know enough of PHP and SQL to help with migrating the databases if needed.

Let me know :)

Claire

And I know the moment's near

and there's nothing you can do

look through a faithless eye

are you afraid to die?

What you leave behind

What you choose to be

And whatever they say

Your soul is unbreakable.

She could not put it off any longer. Her body screamed that time was running out. We all dream of being immortal, and Aes Sedai longevity can lull one into a sense of complacency with your place in the world. But that illusion was quickly unraveling for Claire Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

Claire had known for a long time that her passing would come, and soon...but it was so difficult to force that thought from the abstract into harsh reality. Sighing, Claire rose from her armchair and winced when old bones creaked as she walked.

The oldest Brown in the Tower had prepared for this eventuality, incomprehensible as it might seem. She tottered to her study to complete a few necessary tasks...unpleasant as they were.

A frequent visitor to her study might not recognize it anymore. So often this study was the site of piles upon piles of papers, archaic objects, and other oddments the woman had collected over her almost 300 years of life. Now it seemed at odds with her scatterbrained personality... She had spent the last month carefully organizing the mess as she organized her thoughts regarding her life. The papers were now in neat stacks; worthless ones discarded, and the majority bound into 3 separate volumes.

Again, a frequent visitor might not have recognized it...but Claire had not had many if any visitors the last few years. Dead, fled, or missing, her closest friends in the Tower could no longer comfort her with their presence. Just one more reason Claire viewed her impending doom with sometimes more relief than trepidation.

Claire sat at the desk chair and channeled the lamp alight. As always, the sweetness of saidar left her breathless. She wondered if there would be anything that sweet for her in the next life. If there was a next life. Ah well, might as well speculate about the color of the sky. The former sitter turned her thoughts to the 3 bound volumes in front of her. They represented her life's work, 2 subjects she had strained and toiled over to understand fully. But she had learned that only a fool could hope to completely understand a topic. You could research for years and still not do more than scratch the surface.

Claire carefully pulled a fresh piece of parchment from the drawer. She trimmed the nib of her quill with a pen knife held in shaking hands, and began to write in the flickering lamplight.

This is the Last Will and Testament of Claire al'Windischan, Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah. Being in my right mind and committing this text of my own accord; what follows are my last wishes upon departing this life...

The first volume contained all of her research on ter'angreal, both those in the Tower and others she had encountered in her travels over the years. The words "Ter'angreal: Objects Lost in Time" were worked in golden engraving upon the leather cover. Claire had spent most of her life upon this topic, and accordingly this volume was the largest of the three. It contained all of her research (both the sanctioned and the secret) upon objects of Power over the years.

This volume is my legacy of things past, left to the ownership of the Brown Ajah. I pray that they preserve the text and use it to teach initiates about the objects that lay evident the lost realms of knowledge regarding the Power and its limits.

The second volume was slimmer than the first, but still a sizeable read. It also had gold engraving upon its cover, reading "The Dark One Within". Claire regarded it warily, but with some measure of pride. It had been composed in secret, and contained her philosophy on the topic of Darkfriends, and the potential for evil within us all. It touched on the subject of the Black Ajah, despite the tabu on that topic. Claire had seen too many sisters die to deny its existence, and her own twin being turned in front of her underlined that fact.

This volume I leave as a legacy to the initiates of this tower. I mean it as a warning to never become secure in the people you surround yourself with, and as a reminder that evil lurks around every corner, even within your own heart.

Last of all was a very slim and unadorned volume. She had bound it herself using plain cord and leather to keep the pages together. It was her memoirs, and it had pained her to write them. To relive her life, from its humble beginnings through moments of glory to its sunset years of semi-retirement, made the years feel twice as long upon her soul.

Finally, this volume I leave as a legacy of my life. I will have no other. I never loved a man in my bed, never married or had children. It is as it should be, that my lover was the White Tower, my spouse the Brown Ajah, and knowledge and resarch my children. To put Tower above all is the ultimate responsibility of an Aes Sedai, and I can proudly say that I never failed in that respect. I wish for this volume and my other worldly belongings and investments to pass to Shaneevae Sedai. She is the daughter I never had, and I charge her to try to learn from my mistakes, that she may prosper in the long career she has ahead of her.

Claire paused to read over what she had written thus far, and then bent to complete the document, to write the hardest part.

Upon my passing, I wish to be buried in the Tower graveyard with my sisters that have gone before. I need no tree planted to shade the sun, nor to shelter from rain. I have withstood both in this life and wish to continue of my own accord in the next. The only Shelter I wish will be in the Hand of the Creator.

She looked down at the drying ink, realizing the task was done and the time was at hand. She carefully folded the parchment and sealed it, writing "To Whom It May Concern.." upon the outside. Only one more task left, and it would be done.

The former Sitter traversed the study and entered her bedroom. If she was to go out, she would do it in style. Wearied eyes scanned the dresses in her wardrobe, picking a light brown silk that suited her modesty and held little ostentation in its subtle embroidery. Quavering hands struggled with the double row of pearl buttons along the back, but finally the task was done and she straightened to gaze at her reflection in the mirror. Better, but not perfect.

Claire's hands, weakened though they might be, still remembered how to deftly sweep her hair up into the double knot centered at the back of her head. As always, unruly strands still escaped the knot. Instead of her normal frustration, Claire simply left them there. They were part of her natural self, and she would not change it now...at the end of all things.

Everything achieved, Claire carried the letter with her back into her sitting room, and made herself comfortable in the chair by her fireplace. Old bones chilled easy; she covered herself with a fox blanket that Raeyn had given her upon her raising. She lifted a goblet of fine Andoran wine to her lips and smiled as the bittersweet cordial swirled in her mouth.

Claire drank that goblet of wine, and perhaps two or three (or five or six) more that night. Her emotions ran from sadness to elation, fear to melancholy. Many silent toasts to those who have gone before were said, and even a song was quietly sung, albeit with only partially remembered lyrics.

Claire was the only attendee at her own wake. And as sad as that might seem, it was the only way she would have had it.

As she drifted off into sleep, Claire's hand loosened its grip upon the goblet, which tumbled to the floor. Her fear forgotten, the ancient Brown murmured, "May the Light illumine us all, forever...."

A sigh escaped her perfect lips, her ageless face closed its grey eyes for the last time, and the Sedai Claire al'Windischan of the Brown Ajah knew no more.

OOC: I am taking the plunge, finally...

It has been wonderful posting with you all over the last 5+ Years as Claire, and I look forward to roleplaying with you all as Gianna, my novice. I would ask that everyone respect Claire's last wishes and not make a huge deal of her death. If anybody wishes to continue this thread (finding Claire, a funeral, etc), that is fine, but just keep the "Pomp" to a minimum. ;) And if nobody wishes to continue the thread...well, I don't think Claire would mind a bit.