Reds and Blacks (open/Jagen)

[Arie]

 

There was nostalgia in the heights of the White Tower looming above the rising city of Tar Valon. A sight that for a near generation she was left walking with half a mind to escape and the half to stay and hide within its.. protective walls. Protective became relative over the years and when she was finally able to done the Red Ajah shawl, she abandoned all demands of her upon joining her Ajah and simply left. Not in the first year. Not the second year. But once she felt she had learned what she wanted from her Ajah and maintained enough income to ensure that she would be able to return when needed, there was little to keep her there. 

 

Carraidhin Glass, Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah, instead took her time to shed her shawl and disappear into the world with her ring slipped into a small pocket in her leathers and simply walked the world in the shadows. The underbelly of the world, and took that time to learn and relearn the secrets whispered behind the light of polite company. And when her contacts were solidified, she moved into Cairhien and proceeded to selectively murder her entire father's line. Crooks, liars, and murder's that they were. Carraidhin was not fond of loose threads and knowing that that particular thread was left to tug and entwine made the independence important to see her task through. 

 

Of course it took yet another generation to see that through. Not that it would ever come back to her. Aes Sedai do not murder. Women who study the crafts that she died, however... 

 

Naturally, after that she needed to disappear once the last head foamed. So she did. And the world was blissful as she sat upon her horse picking at Children of the Light, sending a boy or two to the White Tower, and then the train of young girls she came across. "An Aes Sedai" that tested them and sent them to the Tower. There were untold numbers of those. That she traveled on occasion with a 'hired hand' as a 'presumed warder' made it simpler. No name. Any name.

 

Then the letter came. 

 

It was unfortunate that the Highest was meticulous with her notes. Or at least the one that sent her the letter which insisted she return to the White Tower. Bond an Asha'man, or whatever it was that the Tower demanded. Though she had hoarded her own funding over the years, her father had been quite rich, the threat of removal from the Tower Coffers was enough for Carraidhin to take it seriously. So she returned. 

 

How many years had it been since she seen the White Tower? Riding up the answer was simple in the back of her mind. The dark gray leathers with the red dress overcoat that had slits up the sides to allow for easy riding, her red curls long and braided down well past her waist. Carraidhin was less then thrilled to return. "Not enough." she muttered to herself as she worked her way up the stairs to the Red Ajah halls in hopes that her room was still... her room. "Not nearly bloody enough." She muttered even quieter.

 

Ooc: No, Carra is not aware of the Black Ajah existence. She does, however, feel that good people do bad things, and bad people can do good things. Labels mean little to her in this regard. Haha.. it was just a title idea.

[Jagen Sedai]

Jagen lowered her hands slowly from Tesarene's temples, watching the fellow Red carefully. The sister gasped and shuddered, and for a moment looked dizzy.

"I feel... like I was hit with a brick." Tesarene rubbed her head as she leaned back, and her eyes slowly widened. "I can feel him more strongly, now. Yes." She nodded to herself. "Very curious. And... odd." She looked queasy, but soon she looked like she was working on a puzzle in her head. "So this is what it is like to be ... double Bonded."

 

Jagen relaxed. It felt odd for her too, to suddenly have the bundle of emotions that was Aslan gone from her mind. She let out a breath, sure she felt better. Alone, perhaps, but now she could examine her own feelings without the knot in the back of her mind. "Indeed."

The two sat for a time in silence, sipping their tea. The Sitter's was unsweetened and strong in flavor, and she was grateful it tasted good. After some time Tesarene nodded again. "I will take care of him, Jagen, while you do what you must." The Sitter only nodded. Tesarene took another sip of her tea, then excused herself.

 

Jagen only relaxed fully after the other Red was gone. Finally, she was free of that damnable man. It wasn't that he was necessarily that bad, but she resented him from the moment he bonded her, simply because of how that bond had worked. But she had bonded him back, and managed to transfer both to Tesarene. After telling Aslan what was going on, of course; he had to pass his half to the other Red, as well.

 

The Sitter took a bath, and after put on a white dress slashed with red to attend to dinner. She rarely took dinner in her room, as she liked to know what was going on inside and outside of the Tower on a daily basis. Meals were an ideal time to talk with her sisters. As she entered the hallway and pulled shut the door, she looked up in time to see an almost unfamiliar face heading toward her. It made the Sitter blink.

"Carraidhin?" she asked, her tone surprised. Jagen made sure when she had entered the Ajah long ago to learn the face and name of every sister, and all those who came after. But she could not recall anything else about her, not in this moment, at least. "Your name is Carraidhin, yes?"

 

******************************************

 

By chance how old is Carraidhin? Jagen is 190, and was raised when Kathana was Amyrlin. I couldn't find a current age in your bio.

Edited March 4, 2018 by Jagen Sedai

[Arie]

"Yes." She replied. 

 

A glance over the other Red, and she was Red for no other would be dressed so audaciously in their colors, regardless of the formal shawl or not. There was a small tinged regret with her return that she too would have to consciously remind herself to wear some of her Ajah Color as well. If not for the freedom she had to do as she needed, another Ajah who was less demanding to be on display would have been preferable. Though, Red was her home. At least, as far as one could call a home. 

 

What, of course, stood out to her the most was not the woman's red hair but the braids. The unmistakable braids and gauzy fabric around her face. Carraidhin didn't have to pull up her notes to remember who this was. A sitter and one who traveled for extensive periods of time like her. They crossed paths a few times, though rarely in official circles.

 

"Are things well within the Tower, Jagen?" She asked, though her tone inquisitive she was mostly gauging just what this woman thought of her return. Whether she assumed Carra was asking after the Tower, the Ajah or perhaps the world relating to the Ajah. Doing so while trying to remember just where she last saw her. Not Cairhien. Andor, perhaps?

 

 

 

[Jagen Sedai]

I corrected Jagen's age, btw; she is 190, not 210.

 

Jagen folded her hands in front of her, one over the other, standing thoughtfully as she regarded Carraidhin. She was not prepared to receive a visitor in her quarters. Yet she would not pass up the opportunity to talk to a fellow Red, especially one she hardly knew. Jagen wanted to know everyone who walked their quarters.

 

"It seems lunch will have to wait," she replied, "as that question can be answered a dozen different ways. Perhaps two dozen." She thought for a moment, overlooking Carraidhin, then nodded. It was obvious she had just arrived, and not from a short trip, Jagen would have guessed; no, she had Tesarene keeping her appraised of the comings and goings of their Ajah sisters. "Come visit me in my rooms; I will take lunch there. I suspect you'd like to eat yourself, having just journeyed. In that case, we may have lunch together." From the Sitter, the invite was not optional.

 

And while usually it would be up to the invited sister to find a servant to tell them to bring food for two to her quarters, the Sitter added, "Of course, take a bit of time to settle. By the time you arrive, food should have as well." That would give Carraidhin time to truly settle, wash up and change if she wanted to, but more importantly, it would give Jagen some time to prepare for her unexpected guest.

 

It was not a servant she located next, but a sister, and she told her to find a servant for those food trays; she hardly cared Anthea would know she was meeting with someone, as nothing unusual was going on. Jagen then headed back to her rooms without another word.

 

In truth her sitting room was as neat as it ever was, but she marked with a small strip of cloth at least two open books and closed them up; one recorded events during the Breaking of the World--supposedly; most of that knowledge was most likely generations old--and the other was on the Ten Nations. The Sitter also rolled up a few maps and tied them, as well. She channeled to open the curtains of her window and was not surprised to hear the clicking of a beak; Blackwing's large eyes had opened when she did so, and the great horned owl fluttered as if angry. With several black spots giving him quite a heavily mottled appearance, she was a favorite of all the pets she had had before. He turned his head all the way around, tucking it into his feathers, determined to be back to his rest. She almost chuckled, thinking of how he wouldn't be getting any rest while Jagen chatted with Carraidhin.

 

The food did arrive first, luckily; a servant brought the two trays and curtsied deep before departing. Jagen barely poured tea for herself when the knock came. Perfect timing. She smoothed her red and white skirts. "Come in."

 

 

 

Edited March 4, 2018 by Jagen Sedai

[Arie]

Carraidhin could not help the smile on her face, though it never did reach her eyes in a sparkle that one might show if feeling joy. This woman liked power. She liked to wield it like a wand and have things simply done. "Very well, Jagen." She said to the other Red with her polite and soft voice. Inclining her head and walked off. Leaving her to fuss over her own now best laid plans while Carraidhin went off to see if there was even a mattress left on her unused bed. Let her learnt he hard way that no amount of deference would have her come to heel. She simply had not earned it yet.

 

The door to her quarters was both clean, but unused. Pushing open the door it did creak and stick as if it had not been open in a while. Understandably, since not all rooms required constant cleaning if one was not there to live within it. Walking in, the room was bare of personal affects - Carraidhin had none - and every piece of furniture was covered in tarps to protect it from the staining of dust over time. She did notice that the dust did not have years of build up, only months which meant that the Tower had at least sent in clerks or novices to see that it was at least some what cared for. Even knowing that she felt thankful for the forethought to ensure that she did not leave anything behind she didn't want disturbed or found. Her small armory of weapons would have to be brought back in subtly. 

 

She closed the door and made a mental note of the time, so that she may send a simple decline to the other Red about her silly lunch at a respectable hour, and then proceed to undress from her usual travel garb, unbraid her hair, and remove at least a few of the blades hidden around her body. They were her security, but in the Tower they were less a security then her own voice. Provided that after this time she was considered to have one. Maegan was exceptionally strong and she could already tell that Jagen was close to the Highest in strength, then part of what Carraidhin her strength was how she could blend. She never wanted to stand out, nor would she never try. That is unless she became the pet project of a bored Sitter. 

 

There was an audible sigh, as she pulled on a more suitable set of clothes. Still with the grey suit leathers that clung tight to her skin, a more suitable red overdress to ensure that she followed tradition within the hall. However, she left her shawl packed. It had a tear or two that needed mending and Carraidhin intended to become more familiar with the younger generations then try and get alone with the older one.

 

A quick summon and a novice came to her door.

 

"Please go inform Jagen Sedai, that I, Carraidhin Sedai, kindly decline her invitation to a meal." The novices face turned pale, and she stuttered. Carraidhin turned to her, her face smooth and ageless without emotion or infliction. "That is all you need to know. Go, do as you are told." The novice curtsied but there was a shake there too. Carraidhin frowned as the girl left. Really. Just how miserable was this Sitter?

 

 

Ooc: careful. That post was a little more... godmodding then it should have been. but I am willing to roll with it if you are. Obviously, she's a little short on information now that Maegan isn't Head. But its something for her to learn!

Edited March 5, 2018 by Arie

[Jagen Sedai]

ooc: I was thinking I shoudln't have done the knock at the end.  >_> I meant to go back and edit that out, but had a project occupying my time after. On the OP, Just to clarify though, Jagen is above Maegan in strength (and actually I'm having a possible adjustment of her score, but that is not resolved, yet), yet Maegan's potency is stronger.

 

***

 

Jagen frowned slightly when it was a novice who entered and curtsied. Now why did Carraidhin deny her? Wondering what the other Red could have been hiding, or what business could possibly have been more pressing, she waved her hand at the novice to come in.

 

"Yes, Carraidhin must have much to do, and she probably wishes to rest. Nonetheless--what is your name girl?" She answered, and Jagen only went on, "Take this tray to Carraidhin Sedai; it would be a shame to waste the food. If she declines it, then take it back to the kitchens. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Jagen Sedai." She bobbed a deep curtsy, took the tray, and nearly ran out with it.

 

The Sitter sat back in her chair, annoyed. Carraidhin should not have denied her, even if she was tired, or whatever the sister's excuse was. But as her stomach growled, she began to eat her food; since she was already here, there was little to do except eat. She would not go after Carraidhin quite yet, if that's the way it was going to be.

 

****

 

>_> I'm... not quite sure where to go beyond that. But if you want Carraidhin to run into Jagen later, it's fine... probably just have her walking down a hallway or... can simply go to her room, if you wish.

Edited March 5, 2018 by Jagen Sedai

[Arie]

.::'And, for the love of the Light, do NOT make an enemy of the first Red that you meet.'::.

 

Carra scowled deeply at the letter she had found. It was neatly folded and set in the top drawer of the desk, given to her as is proper furnishing for any Aes Sedai. She had only found it because she had sat down with her food and wondered if there was still parchment left within it. There was. Along with a sealed letter from Maegan that probably annoyed her the most. So, the Highest was in Cairhien and wasn't expected back for a time. Long enough that the letter was older than the dust on her desk that she had cleaned away with a little air. The open windows bringing in fresh air while other active weaves took dust out. A novice could have cleaned this place with her hands, but it was a healthy stretch for her to use the One Power to clean and at least let others be aware that the room was no longer unoccupied. 

 

She scowled deeper at her half eaten plate. It wasn't food she was used to, it was better. Though she was starving, she was neither underfed nor ravenous to squalled away a decent meal. Letting the worst of the dust escape the room, she let the weave fade before letting go of Saidar entirely and crumpled up the letter from Maegan. Lighting its contents into a flame of a candle on her desk and letting it smolder away in the copper pot beside it. It had been a very long time since she followed the rules of the Tower. Even in the close court circles when she crossed paths with other Aes Sedai, only on occasion did she walk with her Shawl, she followed more the courtly rules then the rules laid out as tradition within the Tower.

 

She did not need a lesson in how they were done, but she disliked greatly at the reminder that while she remained within the Tower she should at least observe them with satisfactory obedience. Which meant.

 

Carraidhin picked up her the cold, mostly half-eaten plate of food and walked herself out of her room and to the door of the Sitter. Sitters each had their own quarters that was separate from those given to them as Aes Sedai. The highest alone kept her own room unless she was also a Sitter. It wasn't uncommon, but rare enough that Carraidhin noted that Maegan's name was on neither Sitter's doors. A soft knock, Carraidhin waited to see if the Sitter would only grant her audience.

 

The door opened with Carraidhin standing there. "It would seem that my room has settled enough, and I wish to take upon Jagen's offer for a meal, albeit a little late. I will not be offended should she decline, as is her right."

 

[Jagen Sedai]

When the door opened, a servant answered it. She bowed appropriately to the Red. At Carraidhin's comments, she looked uncertain back into the apartments of Jagen Sedai.

"Come in, Carraidhin," came the older sister's voice. It was less friendly than last time, but neither did it hold anything negative; her tone was business.

 

Jagen was finished with her meal already and rolling up a short note. The servant waited patiently until Jagen handed it to her. She curtsied again to them both and quickly left. The Sitter moved from her desk and gestured for Carraidhin to join her at a small table that held a tea tray, three chairs surrounding it. She already had tea in one cup.

 

"Some years ago when I was at a village," she began, hands in her lap on her white, red-slashed skirts, "I met a young girl who had a broken leg. Her mother asked if I could Heal her. It was unfortunate I have little in the way of Healing ability, but that is besides the point. The girl, her leg was injured, her mother told me, by a bear trap. The mother, she was so upset she almost wanted me to take action, somehow, against the man responsible. Her village had not done enough to appease her." She paused briefly, her eyes watching her owl, perched by the window and watching Carraidhin warily. "What she told me later was that she had seen the trapper coming out of the woods just the day before, yet she let her daughter out to play in the woods anyway." She finally picked up her tea and sipped it. "The mother had no one to blame but herself. She knew the danger, and let her daughter wander anyway."

 

Setting down the cup, she finally made eye contact with the other sister. "One who has been gone so long from the Tower should not wander without knowing what is unseen." A brief pause. "We have a lot to talk about. I'm assume you know of the Black Tower, yes?"

[Arie]

"You like your stories. I suspect you speak such things to tell lessons to others. Parables, I believe they are called." Carraidhin took a seat where she was directed and settled her plate. Her hair falling over her shoulder in long unrestricted curls. A striking difference to the red braids of the Red before her. Control and dominance. That is what Jagen seemed to represent. Carraidhin represented something much darker, more wild, among her sisters. Much of which she intended to keep to herself. Slit her own throat if need be. "I always found more forthright stories to be more useful than ones made up to teach. Even children know they are being played once they understand the game." Her eyes met the other Red, almost as a dare. They may be different in strength, even some in age, but their experiences differed drastically and Carra would much rather play the game of a viper with teeth than with one that thought it had teeth.

 

"I have come across the information on the Black Tower in my travels. They bothered me little, as it meant they were learning to care for their own and not at the expense of the Tower finances. So long as they are no longer burning down villages at random, I see no harm in them." She sipped her tea, though waited to drink her own after seeing Jagen sip hers. Old habits. 

 

"What, pray tell, has the Highest and the Ajah in all her glory decided we must do about them. They do vastly outnumber our own ranks."

 

 

[Jagen Sedai]

Jagen did not comment or even react to Carraidhin's parable comment. As long as the other sister understood the point of the story, that was all that mattered. Her story was meant to be a lesson, the other sister knew that. The Sitter would have been disappointed with any other result other than the one Carraidhin gave.

 

"When you first heard of the Black Tower, it was before the taint was cleansed, yes? Or was it after? Myself, I am curious when you came to this conclusion, and if the taint, or its absence, changed your initial judgement?" Her answer would be curious indeed. Jagen had returned to the Tower the moment rumors were confirmed the so-called Black Tower existed. She was ready to march with her sisters to take them down, until she had spoke with her fellow sisters.

 

"Phaedra si Artema Dematre is the Highest as of quite recently. Many of our more influential sisters have stepped down from their official positions to take to the front lines, as it were." Or wherever some of them had gone; either way, few remained in the Tower and had willingly given up their seats. Jagen wondered how many of them had done so in protest of where their Ajah was headed. But she had not asked such things; it would not have been appropriate.

"It has been discussed and decided to bond Asha'man as Warders." She took a sip of her tea, recalling Aslan. "But since the proclamation went out, other Ajahs have expressed such interest. This is where we must make our move. Under Phaedra's approval, I am gathering sisters--mainly Reds, but also others--to form a party to approach the Black Tower formally. We will tell them exactly why we are there; to bond them, and move forward together."