What was, what is, and what shall be

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ooc: I'm going to post them over four posts - before, Arch 1, Arch 2, Arch 3 because all together it is quite long and that'll break it up a little. *g*

 

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Girls clad in novice white and servants in their Tower uniforms scurried through the Kitchens, maneuvering around the bent over woman scrubbing the floor. Behind her, the floor shone, the lights from up above reflecting such a glare that one could be blinded. Ahead of her, the floors still shone, they were just severely dimmed. It was obvious that the floors were often lovingly – or begrudgingly – cleaned.

 

Miahna dipped the brush back into the pail of suds beside her. She squeezed out the extra liquid and returned to her chore. She’d been scrubbing the floor since first bell this morning, and would continue until it was all as luminous as the stretch behind her. Though she was long past grumbling aloud, she couldn’t help the string of expletives that were streaming through her head. Blood and bloody ashes, I should’ve been more careful. I’ve got to learn to keep my bloody mouth shut! The woolheaded girl would’ve figured it out on her own anyway…Flaming child… it continued on – an unrelenting string. Do you think you’re Aes Sedai already or something? Bloody scolding her as if you were better – as if you were wearing something other than flaming novice white yourself!

 

She’d changed in her time at the Tower though. No longer did she blame Valeri Sedai, or the other Aes Sedai that sentenced her to punishments and chores. She now blamed herself. The things she did were not their fault; they were hers. They were hers alone to bear, and hers alone to fix. She felt that elusive serenity taking over her features more and more – even if she didn’t experience that same calm mentally.

 

She scrubbed until the tile was immaculate and then moved onto the next, not even needing to move the bucket. Methodically, Miahna made her way across another stretch of floor. Punishments now didn’t really seem like punishments, rather, they were a time for contemplation. She suspected that that’s why the Aes Sedai handed out so many in the first place. Though it was used to break the women, so to speak, it was also a teaching tool. To teach the women in white that every action has a consequence, every word said has another meaning.

 

The Arafellin certainly didn’t think that it would take her until her late twenties to figure that out. She sniffed at herself and shook her head; the bells on the ends of her long braids twinkled dully. She’d tied the braids back so they didn’t trail on the wet floor. The last thing she needed was to finish the floor and have dark hairs strung throughout the white tiles. It was both normal and sad to see the twin braids resting over her shoulders each morning. It was normal because it had always been that way – she’d had the two braids since her hair was long enough to plait. Sad because it was a reminder of what she had left behind. Though she was born Arafellin, that was nothing more than the place of her birth now; she was an initiate of the White Tower and nothing more.

 

Her back ached as she kept scrubbing. She’d never been one to keep her mouth shut, but her decade in the Tower had taught her better than that. It was just that that foolish girl had been breaking a rule. She’d been seriously breaking a rule that seriously shouldn’t be broken. The fool girl had been channeling without supervision. Worse, it had almost severely hurt another woman. Miahna briefly wondered what punishment the Andoran girl had received, but she bit off that train of thought before it left the station. That wasn’t for her to know. She had enough of her own problems.

 

It was twilight by the time she finished. Plunking the brush into the bucket for the last time, Mimi rose to her feet – her knees complaining every step of the way, and stood back to look at her handiwork. The floor did look impressive. Not that it would stay that way for long. Still, it was obvious that she’d labored over it. There would always be another novice when it needed cleaning again and she would be hard pressed to match the gleam that Miahna had achieved.

 

Her dress had changed from white to a dull gray during the scrubbing. It was a small wonder – probably half of the cleaning had been to her dress sliding along the tiles instead of the brush scrubbing. Mimi frowned down at the color as she walked to her room. All she wanted to do was strip off the dress and drop into her bed.

 

“Miahna Telonne.” A voice laden with authority called to her. Exhausted, Mimi pulled herself to a stop and about-faced to find the Mistress of Novices in front of her, complete with her Aes Sedai shawl. Did I forget some part of the floor? the novice worried to herself. Outwardly, she maintained an emotionless face in emulation of the Aes Sedai in front of her.

 

“Good evening Valeri Sedai.” Miahna stated, surprised that her voice sounded as strong as it did.

 

“Miahna Telonne of Arafel, you have been summoned for testing. Follow me now.” The Mistress of Novices turned sharply on her heel and walked back the way Mimi just came. Feeling her stomach drop to her feet, Miahna strode to keep up with the woman. Once again her long legs helped her to maintain an unhurried pace.

 

Valeri continued the formal statements as she walked slightly ahead of the girl in novice white. “If you pass the test, you will be Accepted of the White Tower. Do you want to take this test?” The woman looked at her and Miahna nodded her ascent – not trusting her voice. The Aes Sedai smiled a tiny smile and returned her gaze forward.

 

They walked through the familiar halls, passing classrooms that Miahna had frequented as novice, and then took a turn down. She followed Valeri Sedai as they dropped further and further into the depths of the White Tower. The Aes Sedai never faltered; she kept her serene gaze forward, trusting that Miahna would follow her. And of course she would.

 

A short time later, the pair arrived at large wooden door, the plain face of the door looking out of place in the decadence of the rest of the Tower. Mimi arched an eyebrow at Valeri, but the Mistress of Novices merely opened the massive door and stepped into the room. Curious, Miahna followed.

 

In the room stood a ter’angreal that formed three arches – the feet connecting to a ring that formed the bottom. At each connection, an Aes Sedai sat, the Sister wearing her ceremonial shawl. A green, a blue, and a white. These Aes Sedai faced forward, each woman intent on the ter’angreal. Another Aes Sedai wearing her shawl stood across the room where a small table held three silver chalices filled with water.

 

Valeri motioned for Miahna to step closer to her. The novice followed instruction and found herself face to face with the older woman. She resisted the urge to gulp as the woman spoke. “My child, there are two things that you will not have heard until this moment. First, once you begin this test, you must finish it. If you refuse to continue, you will be given enough silver to live on for one year and be put out of the Tower never to return.” Mimi’s heart felt gave a hefty thump at that. She couldn’t imagine leaving the Tower. She’d given up everything to be here, to become Aes Sedai.

 

“Second, this will test you in more ways than you currently know. It will test your mental and physical capacities, force you to face the fears you know and the fears you hide from yourself. There will be danger and it is real. There have been women who have entered and never returned. When the Arches grew quiet, they were not there. Be steadfast and do not falter, for faltering leads to failure and failure will mean death.” The Aes Sedai looked stern, but Miahna could see tenderness in her eyes as well. How she must feel, constantly testing the young girls that she cared for.

 

“This is your last chance Miahna, you can turn back now; this will only be your first refusal. Many girls cannot face the Arches on their first attempt. You will have two more chances and only on the third will you be put out of the Tower. There is no shame in refusing.”

 

“No, Aes Sedai.” The Arafellin said stubbornly, I’m not some sniveling girl “There won’t be a refusal here tonight.” The Mistress of Novices nodded and together they stepped over to the small table and the Aes Sedai awaiting them.

 

The plump Red shifted her shawl and spoke the formal words with what sounded like many years of practice. “Whom do you bring with you Sister?”

 

Valeri replied just as formally, “One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister.”

 

“Is she ready?”

 

“She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance.”

 

“Does she know her fears?”

 

“She has never faced them, but now is willing.”

 

“Then let her face what she fears.”

 

The Mistress of Novices inclined her head to the Red and taking Miahna by the arm, led the novice over to the first arch. Remembering from class that she was supposed to be clad solely in the Light for the testing, Mimi glanced once at Valeri Sedai and then stripped off her dress and undergarments. No bath, but at least I don’t have to wear that dirty dress anymore. She realized in her awe of the testing she hadn’t even been embarrassed by the stains on her novice whites. Well, it wouldn’t do to worry about it now. Mimi gritted her teeth and awaited Valeri’s last direction.

 

“The first time is for what was,” the Mistress of Novices said monotonously. “The way will come but once. Be steadfast.”

Edited October 14, 2010 by keyholder21

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Miahna came to with a basket of linens in her hands. Wet linens. She was standing in the backyard, facing the clothesline. What was I talking about? she mulled to herself, feeling the tip of a word on her tongue. Ignoring the awkward feeling churning in her gut, the girl pulled a shift from the basket and placed it over the line, water dripping freely from it’s edges on the green grass below.

 

“Mimi,” a lilting voice called from the bellows of the house. “Could you come here darling?” Miahna started at the sound. She hadn’t heard that voice in years…had she? Don’t be ridiculous, she scolded herself, you hear Mother’s voice every day! Hastily throwing the rest of the clothes onto the already full clothesline, Miahna bolted for the little house.

 

Inside, her mother stood at the stove. By the smell of it, she was making some kind of stew. A fresh loaf of bread sat on the table, a piece or two missing. Da sat at the table, bouncing little Nita on his knee as he shoved a piece of hot bread into his mouth. Despite the food, he gave Miahna a wide smile as she stepped into the kitchen. “Therf’s muh grll,” he said, crumbs flying out of his mouth.

 

Mother turned around and good naturedly slapped him on the back with a clean spoon. “Don’t talk with your mouth full!” she warned him. “Mimi, hon, please come help me.” Her dark eyes crinkled at the corners as she, too, gave Miahna a wide smile. “You’re much better with soups than I am.”

 

Though the scene didn’t feel exactly right, Mimi felt warmth spread through her body. Again, she felt like it had been years since she’d viewed a scene like this one. Be steadfast. The words echoed in her skull, leaving her to crease her brow in a slight frown. Where had that come from? What was it regarding? She opened her mouth to ask Mother or Da, but they had retired to the chairs in front of the fireplace, Mother with Nita in her lap and Da watching the two of them, his eyes bright with love. Miahna plunked the spoon into the stew and stirred.

 

Her brothers and sisters soon came down the road, a pack of dark braided heads bobbing up and down, schoolbooks and swords just accessories to the grins on their flushed faces. Mimi and her mother set the table, Miahna once again bothered by the foreign voice in her head telling her to be steadfast. She shook it away and listened intently as Jenelle told the family about her day. After her, the rest of the family shared stories about their days and before long it was time for them to settle down for the night.

 

As Mother put the last of her younger siblings to bed, Mimi sat out on the porch swing, looking at the stars. It was a peaceful night, her fluttering stomach having calmed after the dinner with her family. She hadn’t heard the voice in hours and was starting to think it was in her own head. She leaned against the back of the swing, feeling the breeze caress her ankles.

 

Footsteps sounded and a weight settled in next to her. Miahna looked over and saw her mother smiling at her. She patted her shoulder and Mimi laid her head down. Her mother smoothed back her eldest girl’s bangs and hummed a song that had no words. Miahna thought again that it was the most peaceful night she had ever experienced.

 

Grunting to the left surprised both of the Telonne women. Mimi gasped and her mother stood up rapidly as a snout penetrated the dim light streaming from the windows. Trollocs this far south? Her mother pushed her behind her, blocking the girl from the ugly creatures. The way will come but once. Be steadfast. The words were loud in her ears. Mimi looked around wildly as the Trollocs moved forward. A silver Arch shimmered in the yards, a few feet from the bottom step of the porch.

 

“Run Mimi!” Her mother screamed, launching herself at the group of twisted animals. Miahna felt tears gather in her eyes as she launched herself forward too – away from her mother and toward the Arch. She heard her mother’s screams, heard the filthy creatures tear her mother’s dress as she passed through a blinding light and fell heavily onto the stone floor of the White Tower.

 

Standing up, Miahna wanted nothing more to bury her head in her hands and bawl until she had no liquid left in her. Instead, she walled up the hurt, letting only a few tears fall onto her ashen cheeks. Her mother’s cries had been burned into her memory twice now. Once for the first time she was attacked, and now from the Arch. The Red sister moved forward to overturn the first silver chalice over her head.

 

“The second Arch is for what is. The way will come but once. Be steadfast.”

 

Miahna turned and walked into the glowing Arch. Nothing can be worse than reliving Mother’s attack, can it?

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The streets were bare, and that was odd for this time of day. Miahna brushed an errant strand of hair back from her face and stared up the street at the shining walls of the White Tower. The home of the Aes Sedai. Why am I out here? Looking up at the sky, Mimi could tell that it was well past two – past the time allotted an Accepted to be out of the Tower.

She started to move forward, and then stopped as her hands dropped to her side. The fabric felt odd – scratchier than she remembered. Her gaze traveled from the white walls ahead to her dress. Where she expected white, she found brown. They are going to sentence me to so many chores that I’ll never make it to Aes Sedai she thought, knowing that being out of Accepted bands meant impersonating a Sister and that was a grievous offense. Still, she marched forward with determination – not noticing that all her fingers were bare.

 

Miahna reached the Tower a few minutes later and climbed the steps eagerly. The bustling activity here was welcome after the dead silence of Tar Valon. How odd it had been – almost as if Tar Valon had become deserted over night. Be steadfast. a voice said softly. Miahna looked for the source of the voice, but when it was apparent that no one near her had said anything, she dismissed it as something she’d imagined and moved swiftly toward her room.

 

She rounded the corner and pushed on the very first door, expecting the door to swing open into her room. It didn’t budge. Frowning, the tall Arafellin pushed against the door again, harder this time. It still didn’t move. She tugged at the door handle angrily. It seemed that everything was going to go wrong today.

 

“Can I help you?” A snotty voice said from behind her. Whirling around, Miahna found herself face to face with an irate flaxen haired Accepted. “Why are you trying to break into my room?”

 

“Your room? This is mine!” Miahna declared indignantly. For emphasis, she pushed the door again. It still didn’t budge.

 

The Accepted’s brown eyes flashed with anger, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she turned on her heel and took off in the direction of Valeri Sedai’s office. Oh Bloody ashes! I’m in for it now. She could have at least let me change outfits! Miahna charged after the other woman, her stomach in knots over the punishment she would receive.

 

The Mistress of Novice’s doors were closed, as per usual, and the other Accepted was inside by the time Miahna arrived. She tinkered with the bell on one braid as she waited to be called in. Low murmurs seeped through the door, but nothing easily made out. It was interesting that Valeri hadn’t warded the doors. Then again, who would be interested in the punishment of a foolish Accepted.

 

The golden headed girl opened the door, bobbed a curtsy and left. She eyed Miahna with interest instead of anger as she passed the sitting woman. That was curious. Mimi made her way to the study, her mind furiously trying to figure out a way to describe her attire without lying and without getting her in over her head.

 

She blinked in surprise as she entered the study. The woman behind the desk was not Valeri Sedai, and this was certainly not Valeri’s study. The walls had been stripped and repaneled a darker wood, the comforts of Valeri’s study replaced by unyielding black accoutrements. The woman behind the desk wore a stern mask as she silently watched Miahna enter the room.

 

“Why have you returned child?” The Sister asked coolly, her voice low and controlled as she stood and moved to stand in front of the desk. “We would have found you eventually, but what game do you play by returning after two years and demanding your old room back?”

 

Knitting her brows, the Arafellin repeated the Aes Sedai’s perplexing questions in her head. Returned? Eventually? Two years? Old room? She closed her eyes and then opened them slowly to find the White staring at her, curiousity and disinterest warring in her eyes.

 

“I’m sorry Aes Sedai, but I don’t know what you mean.” Miahna forced herself not to flinch under the White’s gaze. The Sister pursed her lips and embraced the Source.

 

“That is the wrong answer child.” The Mistress of Novices stated in a voice so cold it could have frozen ice. “This was your last chance and needless to say, you squandered it. You will now be taken to the Hall for stilling.” Miahna felt a shield slam between her and the Source. A bubble of Air surrounded her; her screams fell solely on her ears as she was led to the Hall. Be steadfast.

 

The Hall was bursting with Sisters, each one wearing a shawl. The murmur that had permeated the room now fell silent as all eyes snapped to the White and her charge. Miahna recognized a few faces. Some of these women had been her peers when she wore the novice white, or the Accepted banded hem. Their eyes steeled at the recognition, each familiar woman becoming the picture of Aes Sedai serenity. Miahna closed her eyes and willed the scene to be different. It didn’t change.

 

“Miahna Telonne, you have been summoned to the Hall for a stilling. Your crime is a crime against the White Tower itself as you have refused to complete your testing, choosing to run away five times in your stint as Accepted.” The Amyrlin read the charges, her gaze piercing. “What do you say to these accusations?” The bubble receeded as the Aes Sedai awaited her answer. Be steadfast. The way will come but once. A sharp weave of Spirit hovered over Miahna and she knew without a doubt that the words she spoke now would affect the rest of her life.

 

A silver arch shimmered behind the White Sister. The Accepted felt tears fall from her cheeks as she rammed her shoulder into the Mistress of Novices. Miahna screamed as the Spirit weave started to fall. “The Tower is my home!” She shrieked, “It’s my only home now!” She screamed again as a brilliant light flooded her and the stilling weave dissipated.

 

Her scream rang in her eyes and her voice was hoarse as she re-entered the Arches chamber. Valeri stepped forward toward the naked novice. “Miahna, do you wish to go on?” the Mistress of Novices asked softly. Crying, the Arafellin snorted in an attempt at a laugh.

 

“And have done all this for nothing? No. I must go on.”

 

 

“Go then. The third arch is for what will be. Be steadfast; the way will come but once.

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A horse whinnied, breaking Miahna out of her thoughts. She must have been in some kind of trance as they trotted down the wide road. “I’m sorry Bemilda,” she murmured softly to the woman on the horse next to her, “I was momentarily distracted.”

 

“It’s quite all right dear.” The Blue replied, her voice barely louder than the sharp breeze. “I found myself distracted by the commotion ahead as well. Good thing Nellan has scouted ahead for us.” She patted the knee of her Warder; he grunted at her in response. “It appears that a young man has made quite a ruckus. Shall we go see what event has transpired?” It was a rhetorical question of course.

 

Miahna sighed slightly impatiently as she directed her horse to follow Bemilda Sedai. She had been glad when the Blue had agreed to accompany her to Rilanne’s estate to see her family, but the woman had been constantly ‘distracted’ on their trip. Miahna hadn’t exactly needed to wait, as she was now Aes Sedai, but Bemilda was high up in the Ajah and she was to be treated with the respect of her position. Still, Mimi was antsy - the letter had pleaded for immediacy and yet it had already been twice the time necessary and they were just now getting close. The grounds were a mere hour’s ride away.

 

As the trio made their way to the small town, Miahna noticed that the place had had more than a ruckus – it was in shambles. Dragon’s Fangs were drawn on half the doors, windows were busted out and doors busted in, personal belongings lay in the middle of the street and at the center of the town, two large mobs were gathered facing each other. Mimi scanned the faces of the crowd and saw hate in every single one. She marveled at the ability of one man to create so much distrust. The Aes Sedai next to her clucked her tongue in irritation. Be Steadfast. Miahna looked to Bemilda in confusion. Did she just say that to me? Whatever for?

 

The mobs made no notice of the two women and one Warder. They kept staring at each other, neither group moving forward, neither group saying a word. “We might just need a Gray to come and sort this lot out.” Bemilda said softy to Nellan. The Warder nodded. Though Miahna had noticed that he left, he returned with a pigeon and a slip of paper. The Aes Sedai smiled at the warrior before writing her message and sending the bird off. She stared at the crowds for another few minutes before prodding her horse to move.

 

At the edge of the village, a small boy sat huddled against a house. He was digging in a mud puddle with a stick, drawing something and then crossing it out before drawing it again. The travelers made their way over to the child. “Boy,” the Aes Sedai called, waving her hand for him to join them. Reluctantly, the boy attended. “What’s happened here?” Bemilda asked nicely. Nicer than Miahna had ever heard her ask anyone anything.

 

The boy hung his head and blew out a breath. “You-you need to g-go to the Escondon place. Th-that’s where he t-took th-them.” He stammered, eyes staring straight ahead at Miahna’s navy hem. Bemilda patted his hand and gave him a silver Arafellin mark as a thank you before he returned to his mud puddle. Sitting in her saddle, the young Aes Sedai felt her cheek, surprised to find it chilled like the rest of her body. When the child had mentioned that name, it was as if someone had slapped her. Be steadfast, the words echoed in her head again as she processed what the boy had said.

 

“That’s Rilanne’s family estate!” She cried to Bemilda, her dark green eyes wide with terror. She picked up the reins and dug her feet in as if to set off at a breakneck speed. The graying Aes Sedai snapped her fingers to regain Miahna’s attention and then gave her a piercing glare. The Arafellin slumped down and forced her hands to release their grip on the reins.

 

Once Mimi had calmed herself and once again became the picture of serenity, the trio pushed their horses into a gallop toward the Escondon place. Her cloak flapped behind her in the wicked breeze, but she no longer cared. With fear for her family pulsing through her veins she was hot with anticipation and dread. Whomever it was that had abducted those people, he was headed straight for Miahna’s loved ones.

 

They arrived well under an hour later. From the outside, the house looked the same as the Arafellin woman remembered. The dark stone house sat back into the hills, a single road extending from the mouth of the house to the gates that now stood open. The Blue drew up her reins and peered at the wide opening. Miahna looked from the elder Aes Sedai to the house, wondering why they had stopped and itching to move forward.

 

Small shrubs grew along the road, providing not only greenery, but a small barrier for the wildlife. The road itself was wide enough to provide the older Blue and her Warder to ride side-by-side, with Miahna a short distance behind. It belonged in a small city instead of merely providing a way to reach the manor home.

 

Upon reaching the house, Miahna noticed at once that a shroud of silence seemed draped over the building. Normal wildlife sounds drifted to her ears from the nearby forest, but no sound came from inside. Frowning, she stepped up into the house, peering into the darkness. Be steadfast.

 

She stumbled on something large and heavy about halfway down the hall. Squinting to allow more light in her eyes, Mimi gasped as she saw that it was a man, a man with a large pool of blood on the front of his shirt. His eyes stared lifelessly at the ceiling as she skirted around him and found herself in the parlor.

 

Her brother, Rolland sat on a couch. He was facing the doorway, a wild look in his dark eyes. Tessa sat to his right, her youthful face terrified. He held her small arm in a white knuckled grip with his right hand; his left hand held a large lethal looking knife. “Hello sister dear.” He drawled, waving the knife-wielding hand. “Have a seat.”

 

The young Blue moved forward and sat down in an overstuffed armchair. As her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, Miahna realized that there were bodies all over the floor. Henry. Kagan. Rilanne. Cale. Jenelle. Her head cried out in horror as she identified her family members. Where were the Aes Sedai and her Warder?

 

“Now that everyone’s here, I can do what I’ve meant to do for years.” Her youngest brother droned creepily. A silver arch blinked into existence behind him and Mimi felt herself rising from the chair. “Now now sis, I think you’d better sit back down or Tessie here’ll have to go first.” He moved the knife to Tessa’s throat and Miahna’s heart contracted as a large drop of crimson rolled down her sister’s neck. Help me, Tessa mouthed.

 

“I’m sorry Tessa.” Miahna said with anguish, tears falling freely down her cheeks. “I can’t help you.” She moved across the floor, her heart heavy. Rolland started cackling as she hit the bright light of the Arch.

 

“Oh Light, oh Light, oh Light,” Miahna repeated to herself, shaking as the cool water rushed over her naked body. This time she couldn’t stop the sobs; her body trembled as she remembered the children she had raised and then the dead bodies on the floor. “Please tell me it’s not real.” She sobbed to Valeri Sedai. The woman placed a comforting hand on her elbow, but said nothing. “Oh Light, oh Light, oh Light,” Miahna chanted again.

 

Slowly, her sobs ceased. When Mimi lifted her head from her hands, she was surprised to find several more women in the room. Standing a small pace away was the Amyrlin and seven Aes Sedai. Each Sister wore her shawl, and each Sister wore an emotionless mask. Miahna choked back tears and walked to kneel in front of the Amyrlin.

 

The Amyrlin poured the final chalice over Miahna’s head, cool water falling down the Light-clad woman’s body and pooling on the floor under her feet. “You are washed clean of Miahna Telonne of Arafel. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean in heart and soul. You are Miahna Telonne, Accepted of the White Tower.”

 

You are sealed to us, now. Welcome, daughter,” said the Amyrlin. Each of the Aes Sedai broke into a small smile and Miahna felt her heart lift slightly at the connotation that she was ready for this in their eyes too. The Amyrlin handed her chalice to the Red Sister; the Red handed her a great serpent ring. Slipping it onto Miahna’s third finger of her left hand, she leaned forward to kissing the new Accepted’s cheek, and then the other cheek. “Welcome.”

 

“Thank you Mother.” Miahna said tiredly. “Thank you.”