A Routine Patrol? [Watchers RP]

[Muirenn]

Patrols were definitely one of the worst of the chores assigned.  In Serge's opinion, anyway.  They required so much...effort.  Especially with the bizarre weather recently.  It was much too hot to be tromping about.  Even with that supposed 'trick' to forget about the heat, he could feel a trickle of sweat roll down his ribs.  Wearing wool in this heat.  It was worse than summer in the Perfumed Quarter!  Well, maybe not worse.  Andor didn't have that rather...distinctive...smell of the docks.  But back home no one was as foolish as to wear wool during the dead of summer.  Black wool.

 

He was brought out of his silent misery by one of the others who had quit moving and put a hand out.  Serge looked up and saw what had made the others stop.  A gateway was spinning open, but Serge didn't feel saidin being channeled.  He scratched at his forearm.  This wool itched too.  Or maybe it was the bugs.  He stared as the gateway opened, and nearly a dozen women on horseback came out.  A dozen women.  Through a gateway.  Aes Sedai.  They must be Aes Sedai.  Or agents of the Shadow?  He had never seen an Aes Sedai before, so he had no idea what they were supposed to look like.  But they had appeared from nowhere.  Wasn't that proof enough? 

 

He grasped saidin immediately, hearing a buzz of conversation from the others, and it seemed that someone was shouting orders, but he couldn't make them out over the general din.  He felt others grabbing hold of the True Source as well, and then there was something trying to come between him and the source, sharp, cutting.  He lashed out instictively and it shattered.  He heard cries from the others and a fireball streaked outward, impossible to tell from whom, and exploded in the middle of the Aes Sedai group.  A small knot of men with swords detached themselves from the women and ran at the men from the Black Tower.

 

And then, it was chaos.

 

-Serge Karminov

Dedicated of the Black Tower

[Muirenn]

Muirenn concentrated as she wove the gateway, putting all her limited strength into this one weave. It was well within her abilities to weave, but to make it large enough for mounted sisters to ride through taxed her to the limit. She had nothing left to spare. But as she had been the one to 'discover' this weave, the others felt it only proper that she create the Gateway. And besides that, she had precedence, being the eldest Sitter in the Hall. Well, outside her own Ajah anyway. Inside it was different, and of necessity, she must defer to the Highest, as all Reds did. She was, after all, the equal of the Amyrlin Seat. And Maegan Ryanne did well enough. Young for it, but well enough. Of course, it seemed to her that everyone was too young these days. With Karana gone, she was left as the eldest Aes Sedai, and even those she had been novice and Accepted with were gone. And after her nearly two decade retirement, many of the young sisters were completely unknown to her. And then the weave snapped into place, rotating wider and wider and there was no room for idle reminiscing.

 

The Aes Sedai rode through in a column, with the two Greens and their Warders leading. It was said that you needed little brains to be a Green, only much courage. And those two certainly had that in spades. Going through a Gateway first in an expedition to the Black Tower. Foolish indeed. They should have left it to the Red Ajah. But Muirenn had to stay behind because she was the first to make the weave, and none of the others save Maegan had sufficient precedence to object. And of course, the Highest's...disability...was well known.

 

It took a few minutes for everyone to go through, and by the time the last few were departing, Muirenn began to hear murmurs, and then a few shouts and screams from the other side. But she had no clear view. She could see nothing in a direct line through the Gateway, and even if there had been something to see, the backside of the horses would have obscured it. She chided everyone through quickly and went herself, determined to see what was going on, and to hold the gateway from the other side while the pack animals went through. Small loss if one of them was cut in half.

 

On the other side of the Gateway, halfway across the world from Tar Valon was blood and fire. She could leave now, the Gateway was still open. All it would take was a step back through. Only a step to safety. But she was a Red, a Sister of the Crimson Banner. And she would not abandon her fellows to this madness. Perhaps she had a bit of that courage and stupidity herself. The Gateway had to be allowed to close, and before any of the black-coated men reached it. But it would take time to release the weave safely, moments she was not sure they had. She began as she watched the first of the Warders reach the group of black coats and lose half his torso to a blast of fire.

 

This was madness.

 

-Muirenn Lina Alianin

Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah

Sitter in the Hall

Head of the Black Ajah

[Shaneevae]

The Gateway spun and flashed brightly forcing her to avert her eyes from the intensity. Once again, she questioned her sanity at accepting such missions. That very thought seemed to be first and foremost on her mind quite frequently of late. Being one of the few Browns that actually enjoyed leaving the Tower, most embassies that required a member of each Ajah ended with her being the token Brown. As Ajah head, she could have easily assigned the task to someone else, but the look of stark panic that flashed when she merely presented the idea as a suggestion usually stilled her tongue and had her right in the thick of some confounded mess either the Greens or the Reds had cooked up. This happened to be one of those times and sanctioned by the Hall nonetheless. Sittership had never been her cup of tea and after serving one term; she had stepped down and focused her attention on leading her own Ajah rather than dealing with politics. Politics was certainly not one of her strong points.

 

These men they were preparing to observe were of great interest to the Brown Ajah as a majority of the Brown sisters were in favor of studying these sad creatures in hopes of finding a way to ease their suffering. Shaneevae herself had never held much interest in the topic, but she was a student and a keen observer, which is what she would be doing on this mission. Observing and recording. Quite simple really, but she opened herself to Saidar anyways as the headstrong Greens pushed through the Gateway first, more brawn than brains, but even she was not foolish enough to walk into a hornet’s nest without cloaking herself protectively. What she heard next, chilled her to the marrow. Exchanging a wide-eyed glance with Muirren, Shaneevae hurried through the Gateway expecting the worst and hoping against hope for the best.

 

Hoping for the best quickly dissolved into pure terror as the first thing she saw upon clearing the Gateway was a Warder’s torso fragmented viciously into a gory mess splattering her and others in blood and viscera . The heat from the blast barely registered, but the blood-curdling scream of the Warder’s Aes Sedai registered in her mind fully. Even as she prepared a shield, she thanked the Creator she had never bonded. She flung the shield toward a youth with barely a whisker to his name, but he was too quick and she released the shield before it could snap back and burn her out.

 

Fearing just how out matched she was, covered in specks of blood, her hair falling disheveled around her shoulders, she narrowed her blue-green gaze and did what she did best; she summoned Earth. Channeling great amounts of the element into the ground, she stabled the ground around her party and let the ripple run through the earth knocking most of the approaching men in black from their feet. Immediately, grenades of stone flew toward the men left standing exploding upon contact. Normally such a weave did not instantly kill, but it would hurt and internal damage was next to unavoidable. Hopefully, what she did would weaken their enemy until her party could regroup and those more powerful could unleash a more dangerous element. One she had little talent in; Fire. At the completion of that thought, a fireball hissed from one of the sisters, who, she could not tell, but the fiery missile hit its target sending disembodied limbs flying through the air.

 

Shaneevae could feel tears at the corners of her eyes. This was not the way things were to go. This was not supposed to be happening. Damn and damnation, but this was not what she had planned at all. She was not resolved to die this day, maybe tomorrow, but not today.

 

Shaneevae el'Edware

First Chair

Brown Ajah

[Guest Estel]

Soldier Derryk Thorne has completed all the necessary requirements and I, Isha Talcontar, refer him for promotion.

 

Repressing the urge to bang his head against his desk. Taking out his anger instead by hurling the pen across the room, he muttered darkly as he went to collect it. ‘I don’t remember this much bloody paperwork before...’

 

~Say it~

 

‘Fine. Before... Before Aginor’

 

~What would you do in Dalinar’s shoes~

 

‘Give me something to prove I haven’t broken’

 

~No you wouldn’t~

 

‘GET OUT OF MY BLOODY MIND ’

 

The Voice retreated leaving Isha to once more vent his frustration by chucking his pen at the opposite wall. The poor pen, exhausted by abuse, cracked against the wall and in its death thwarted its purpose as stress-reliever. This scenario would have been hard to imagine a few months previous but had become common since then.

 

Positively vivid, it took a moment for the explosion of saidin to the north-west a few minutes to sink in. Curious, Isha looked out the window, seizing the Source to enhance his vision. From atop the second floor “tower” and hill, he had one of the best views of the Farm grounds and it took only a minute to catch a glimpse of the after-effects of a Fireball. That was no training exercise.

 

He threw himself down the stairs three at a time- a feat considering these stairs were built custom to his seven foot frame. “BOYS!” he screamed upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, unsure if either of his mentees were in. “GET YOUR GOAT-KISSING HIDES OUTSIDE!”

 

About halfway to the battleground- from what he had seen it deserved the name- he realized both the stupidity of running and the throbbing in his groin and upper thighs. Cursing himself, he wove Spirit while holding a Shield of Air.

 

Chaos. Dropping his Gateway, instinct combined Fire and Air into Fireballs that were off his fingers as soon as they were formed. His shield blocked the effects of a nearby Grenade and only Blight-trained reflexes felt him from being crushed underneath the mangled corpse of some poor Dedicated’s mount. Let them say he was broken now

 

Blood and bloody ashes Aes Sedai How in the Pit of Doom did they get here? And why?

 

 

Isha Talcontar

Attack Leader

To-be-Bondmate of Eqwina

[Lavinya]

Finally.Lavinya was more than eager to get moving, and a small amount of relief filled her as the silvery slash opened in the sky. A blast of warm air told her it was no cooler at their destination than it was at Tar Valon, though Lavinya did not allow the heat to touch her. Anywhere that took her far away from her shame was more than welcome. Fool woman, thinking that any man would love her for who she was!

 

A gentle flick of the reins had her following the Greens and their warders through the gateway, to whatever lay beyond. Lavinya had no real care for the mission, other than to do her duty to the tower. What else did she have now, if not duty? She certainly had no honour, no hope, no love. No, there was nothing to bind her to the flame any longer but duty.

 

A soft shriek of disbelief caught in her throat as the warder in front of her exploded. Exploded? Blood and other...bits...had splattered over her, stunning her and causing her eyes to sting. Bile rose in her throat but she forced it down. What was going on? They were supposed to set down away from the tower, were supposed to surprise these male channelers. Not walk into a bloody ambush!

 

Lavinya swiped at her face, trying to clear her vision as she put her heels to her horse. Men, in black coats. Mad men. Chaos had descended as more of them came running, fire and earth was exploding around her. What strength did she have against such weapons? Not for the first time, Lavinya cursed her pitiful strength in Saidar. She did not have the required strengths to be a weapon, but she could adequately make shields, at least. A poor consolation, in her opinion.

 

Pulling sharply on the reins, Lavinya waved with her right hand, towards one of the men in black clothing, having deftly woven a shield. Hurriedly she dropped the weave, as it was severed. How could he do that? She could not see any of the weaves that were resulting in fireballs and explosions, but the effects were clearly visible. She had always assumed that men could not see the weaves of Saidar either, but maybe they were wrong. Though now was hardly the time to contemplate it, as the earth errupted in front of her mount, spooking her mare and causing her to rear up, dumping her rider unceremoniously on the ground below.

 

Anger was Lavinya's driving force as she rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the kick from her horse before it bolted. Another one of those men drew nearer to her, and this time her shield found it's mark, cutting the man off from the source. She had no time to savour the triumph though, before another was upon her. Panic was pounding through her veins now, as she channeled air, thin and sharper than swords, only to have the weave cut time and time again. She was stretched too thin, not having the strength to maintain several weaves at once with much dexterity.

 

Politics be damned...Tweaking the weave of spirit, Lavinya severed the man permanently from the source. She knew the law as well as any other, but this was war, damn it! A weave of air threw dust into the eyes of the man cutting her weaves, yet Lavinya already knew his strength was greater than hers. Her vision was severely hindered, sweat and blood and tears mingling to blind her. Fool! Why had she ridden to this side? She was cut off from the other sisters, and from what she could see they were faring no better than she. If only she could reach them, perhaps she could link...while ever she was alive there was some hope. She would notdie at the hands of a mad man.

 

Wiping at her eyes again, Lavinya tried to run, aimed towards the scream of horse and woman alike. Her skirts that had been so pristine, were now bloody and torn. Pain was ebbing through her shoulder where she had landed from the horse, her arm throbbing and useless for the pain. So close...just a few steps more! Lavinya prepared another shield, readying it for the man that was loosing a fireball at the White sister. And it was gone. Lavinya blinked. The source was gone. "Oh light." Panic was threatening to choke her, until she realised that she had not been stilled, she was just shielded. Still, the thought was terrifying, being held, powerless, by a man in black, a male channeler, who for all she knew was already insane.

 

Before her eyes, the fireball hit the White. Lavinya tried to run to her, tried to channel, but it was all helpless, invisible bonds which may as well have been steel holding her imprisoned, and the source may as well not exist for her. This was not supposed to happen....

 

 

Lavinya Morganen

Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah

[Kael]

The horse beneath him trotted slowly beside the rest of the patrol moving throught he forest alongside the Black Tower. But for once Rion was not bitter for having to go on this patrol as he usually was. He hated them, but in this area they were surrounded by the forest and nature...there were ample oppurunities to find things, ovserve the natural world without the confines of the Black Tower.

 

You're supposed to be watching the soldiers and dedicated around you. The are able to watch themselves, what could go wrong on this? Besides, I'm not the only Ashaman here. Idly Rion muted the voice and played with the band of metal around his finger, bringing a smile as it always did. It had only been a short time since Rion and Jocelyn had been married and the thought never had him stopped smiling, and it seemed his happiness was able to affect his wife's. The small bundle of emotions in the back of his mind glowed with an emotion he knew well.

 

He was blasted out of his thoughts by the familier feel of saidin being grased next to him. His eyes snapped to the scene around him, a slash of light in front of them..but without the feel of Saidin being channeled. It was followed by men flowing through..."No wait!" ....followed by a ball fo flame exploding the first of them. Rion's shout was lost in the din of the starting battle.

 

Fear, panic, disbeleif. This isn't happening, it can't happen! The world had exploded around him. Aes Sedai, Ashaman, Saidin and Saidar. Fire erupted all around him as he hastily grasped the true source. His horse took the feeling with him and reared backwards, Rion falling off the back in a painful heap on his back.

 

He rose quickly a ball of earth flying past his shoulder, his gaze followed and watched a fellow black coated man crumpling into a heap on the ground. I can't..I can't... Boy! Look around you, men are dieing, women are dieing all around you. If you don't act you will die as well. What will happen to Jocelyn then? Can she survive you dieing while you are bonded to her? You must fight. Fear is a weakness. If nothing else work to stop this, stop the bloodshed. You must ignore the bile in your throat, the fear in your heart.

 

Rion rose on shaky legs and looked around him. Fear and awe, a deep seated fascination with death and destrction that ran alongside the disgust and anguish. Weaves formed from pure determination, earth and air to create walls and barriers. Trapping combatants from each other, but from escape as well. He clamped a warder to the ground with a air as he wove a slash of spiriit to cut the fire streaking at his Aes Sedai. He tried to subdue as many Aes Sedai as he could, he was still bound to the duty of the Black Tower, but at the same time he tried just as hard to save them.

 

This isn't happening..this can't be. All Rion had was the fear and anguish pushig the adrenaline through his viens. Defelcting and attacking on the fringe of the battle. Trying his best to intervene and stay out of everything at the same time. You are becoming a man at last boy. A little blood on your conscience will help.

 

 

Rion

[Arath Faringal]

Arath stalked around his assigned patrol route in a foul mood. It had not been a good day so far. A training accident earlier had burned out a Soldier, who had also severely injured another Soldier and a Dedicated in the process. Then he had missed his lunch due to this patrol assignment. He was teaching a pair of new soldiers the route, and was thoroughly bored with it. Add the accursed heat . . . even though he didn't allow it to touch him he knew it was there.

 

As they finished the circuit, he turned to the two soldiers. "And that, is the grand tour of your patrol. Any questions? Didn't think so. Now, if you will just -" He cut off as he felt a surge of Saidin, and heard a blood curdling scream a couple hundred yards away. Teeth grinding, he grasped the icy torrent of Saidin himself. His enchance senses let him hear the clang of metal on metal, the whiny of terrified horses . . . the sound of battle. With a curse, Arath took off at a dead run toward the noises. "Soldiers!" he barked. "Sieze the source and weave shields! Defend your comrades!"

 

In moments they had passed through the trees and he could finally see the scenario. About a dozen women, and maybe a half a dozen men surrounded a gateway, which he couldn't feel. There were already casualties on both sides. Aes Sedai! Light, are they mad attacking us like this? Grabbing one of the Soldiers by the shoulder, he shoved him toward the Farm. "Tell the M'Hael!" he ordered. "The Aes Sedai attack us!"

 

He would have opened a gateway to speed the man's journey, but there was no time. The fireball streaking toward him waited for nobody. Air, fire, and spirit wove together in front of him, deflecting the missile aside. With a wordless growl he charged forward, weaving air, earth, and fire into a tightly coiled dart. With a flick of his hand the missile raced forward, toward one of the warders. The man had incredible luck, as a tremor rippling through the ground knocked him off his feet, letting the missile soar unhindered through the space where his head had been. After passing inches in front of one womans face, the flaming dart burrowed deep into a tree where it exploded, showering the combatants with wood chips, and leaving a gaping hole and a precarious tilt in the once mighty tree.

 

With a grimace of frustration, he pushed on, weaving two short blades of earth and fire into his hands. It didn't seem that his day would be getting better any time soon.

[Guest Estel]

Difficult would have belittled how hard it was for Estel to keep her excitement from her face. The lack of her Warder’s familiar presence set her nerves to jumping at shadows. For over half a century he had been at her side, the voice of sense and reason to balance her blind passion; he was her rock and calm in times like this and now he wasn’t here.

 

‘You stupid, stupid, goat-brained excuse for an Aes Sedai You push away your Warder just before the most important and dangerous mission of your career Idiot You’re in this one alone and it’s all your fault ’

 

She barely internalized a wince as vivid memories of their fight following her drunken escapade with Aran surfaced. It had been two weeks since they had last spoken to each other, agreeing that the best present solution was to “take some time apart”. At that point he had moved into his room in the Yards, leaving her room and bed empty except for herself. When this had come up, her pride had not allowed her to back down and ask him to accompany her. Instead, he received a hastily- yet no less fretted over for the speed with which she wrote it- scrawled note three days before her departure notifying him of her absence and that she would go alone. ‘Idiot.’

 

From her place in the middle, she swivelled her head, once more checking who was all coming. Two Greens, unknown to her, with their Warders practically reclined in their saddles as Muirenn, the detestable old Red, prepared herself to make the Gateway. Behind the two Greens came her rival Lavinya, the very sight of whom set her teeth to grinding. Maegan, she wasn’t exactly sure upon what terms they stood, was at the back. The third Red- ‘Mother’s milk in a cup, two Blues to their three Reds! What in the Light was Sirayn thinking?’- was the only Sister present who was younger than Estel and the Blue knew her only by name: Faile. Serena and Thera were also present, she seemed unable to escape the woman. Damned Sirayn and her “babysitters”. Shaneevae she, again, only knew by reputation but she had been an Accepted and Novice with Eqwina though she had barely the woman since being Raised those many, many years ago.

 

Altogether they made a formidable party. Not just to all outward appearances either, the politics alone of the group would have any Asha’man running in the opposite direction. ‘At least I want be involved in any power struggles- the benefit of being an outcast.’ she thought cynically.

 

A shiver went through the crowd as a vertical slash of silver rotated into a Gateway. Muttering could be heard and glances were exchanged- she received a warning look from Serena. Her sarcastic smile dripped her appreciation.

 

Hardly a minute had passed before screams erupted on the other side of the Gateway. ‘What in the Pit of Doom...’ Having reached the Gateway, she as unsure as to whether to proceed or not without knowing what was on the other side. She was given little choice though as the crowd pushed from behind, forcing her through the Gateway and into chaos.

 

Shock lanced through her as she watched one of the Green’s Warders ripped apart. Fire dealt quick justice and immediately full-fledged war with the One Power was upon them; saidin against saidar, truly a notion to make the bravest army shudder. Blood and entrails filled the air as one of the black-coated men’s horses exploded from the impact of a Fireball. The smell of blood and charred flesh was heavy on the air, causing her stomach to roil.

 

Guiding her gelding with her knees, she lashed out with a club of Air at the nearest black coat. He blocked her, but clumsily. Splitting the weave, she used one flow to distract him while the other made a solid thunk at the base of his neck. Nearby, she watched as another black coat’s head was torn off by the impact of a Fireball, the intensity of the heat cauterized the wound immediately but made the scene no less gruesome. Light, what were the all doing? They needed specimens to study! Dead bodies were useless!

 

She was in the middle of attempting to clobber another black coat when the ripple hit. Her horse went down but she reflexively rolled off her saddle not wanting to repeat her mistake in the Blight when Matthias had died. Luckily for her, she recovered quicker than her opponent and before he knew what was happening he was unconscious.

 

In her search for another opponent, she caught a glimpse of red hair a hundred or so feet to her left. A simple glance was all it took to realize that the red hair was surrounded by a sea of unrelieved black. ‘Blood and ashes!’ The scene from the day of Lyanna’s death replayed instantly in her mind and with a snarl she sharpened her club to a knife and cut the nearest man’s mount out from under him. Unfortunately it didn’t pin him and tears welled behind her eyes as she slit his throat as he recovered. Damn them all for compromising her principals!

 

From the way tears cut tracks through the muck on copper cheeks, Estel knew Lavinya was Sheilded. She had only seconds, not time to club him. Not waiting for her guilt to catch up with her, she slammed an Air Razor through his back and twisted, pouring blood from his heart into his lungs. Thrusting her hand at the disoriented Sister, Estel helped her enemy to her feet.

 

“We’re even, now. Let me hate you in peace.”

 

 

Estel Liones

Blue Sister

To-be-Bondmate of Ged

[Guest Faile1987]

~Ged~

 

There are other worlds beyond this

 

Ged blinked against the singing sun burning down on their group mercilessly. He knew he'd better get some more sleep instead of patrolling in this heat, but recently he had found himself rather incapable of sleeping more than a couple of hours, some nights not at all and last night had been one of the latter ones. He knew he would regret his latest insomnious fit at some time this day. As much as he hated to be haunted by dreams of burning houses and screaming people begging for mercy haunting him whenever he closed his eyes, he found that not sleeping seemed to make it even worse. Not sleeping let the Other as he referred to the voice spooking inside his head, growing bigger and louder and somewhat...controlling...by each time it showed up again, grow stronger and show up more frequent. The last thing he needed on this day.

 

Fool boy, you better listen to me once in a while if you want to keep your head on your shoulders much longer. You- "Go away!", Ged's anger about the Other in his head once more took over and was just barely enough to drive him...it...whatever it was...off somewhere in the background of his being, allowing himself one more victory over the inhuman power whose only strife was to take control over him and the Light alone knew when this strife actually succeeded. Sooner or later. Rather later if he had any say in the matter, but he didn't hope for this kind of hope. He knew a man like him was hopeless in many ways. Too many. And yet he tried. Would always try.

 

Stifling a sigh, he drudged on, gritting his teeth and telling his eyelids to stay open. If it wasn't for the void, Ged knew he wouldn't even have been capable of doing this and yet shrouded in the void as he was, he made himself ignore fatigue rolling over him like a black cloak, granting shade and rest.

 

As soon as he gathered himself thogh, every notion of rest and sleep of all things was rapidly ripped from him when he noticed what was going on at the front of their group. "Blood and Ashes..." He hadn't even seen the white-blue slash in the air before the women were all around them and the world seemed to explode in smoke, screams and fire. He felt the hair on the back of his neck rising and instantly wanted to slap himself. It wasn't burning wood he was smelling, nor were it the screams of the people he had killed ringing in his ears. These were female voices, high-pitched with shock, as well as the hoarse death-screams of his own men, the ones who were fighting all around him, desperately struggling against the sheer overwhelming power of ...Light Aes Sedai - Aes Sedai, the realization dawned on him with a hit, a hit mentally and physcially as an explosion of air and water propelled him back, flinging him flat on his back.

 

His head pounding, Ged struggled to his feet only to be nearly cut down with a salve of blades made of pure air and he didn't even notice having seized Saidin before the blond woman sagged 't to her knees and fell over right before him, blue eyes staring at him blankly from a head servered from its rump. He wanted to be sick. Light, this couldn't be happening. All this death and chaos all around him made him dizzy. How something like this could be possible, totally elapsed his capability to think straight for now.

 

His breath halted when his eyes caught the scene nearby. He could almost feel the air bristling of Saidin and Saidar being channelled and the screams around him seemed to get more fierce and desperate by the minute, the stench of death filling his nose. Yet all of that and even the blonde's dead staring eyes retreated before the man standing just a couple of feet in front of him. One of the Dedicated, Ged knew, but only now as he saw the woman running towards his channel directly at him, Ged recognized him for who he was. "Noy...Light..." He felt himself running, before he even became aware of making his legs move.

 

All of his awareness was suddenly drawn by the dark eyes he was looking into, eyes that watched him with surprise and wonder about what had just happened. Noy´s face was just one or two inches underneath his. Somehow Ged must have stumbled over him as he was hit and brought them both to the ground, ending right on top of his best friend, the man he knew unlike anyone else in the Black Tower. Still, Ged sudenly asked himself if he really knew Noy as well as he thought. He sometimes seemed to know exactly what was on his mind, true, but what he was feeling now was just different. Ged was suddenly aware of Noy´s body under his, himself lying on top on him, pressed against the Amadician´s in a fashion that should have made him blush and jerk away. In fact part of Ged wanted to do just that, push himself up from the ground and Noy he was pinning to the wooden boards underneath them. But something else crept into Ged, an emotion he had never felt before, not to that extend at least. It nearly scared him to death what he was suddenly feeling as he felt the pressure of his own body on Noy´s, as he could hear the other man´s breathing and make out his heartbeat against his, all in a split second, a second without thinkng, just filled with sudden awareness. That second, something happened inside Ged and he wasn´t able to grasp what it was, what seemed to make him act as he did, as though someone had tied invisible puppet´s strings to him. Ged couldn´t think of anything, but what he did in that second. The second he lowered his face to Noy´s and silently kissed him, holding him in a loving embrace.

 

Noy. Light, how could he have forgotten him? Even after having lost his memory after barely surving his fall, he still had managed to scrape some scattered remnants of his memory together. It was painful not to remember so much, not to have the childhood memories, thoughts and visions of loved ones, memories of achievement, success and even sorrow like anyone else had, but he had never thought he would be able to forget this. This first kiss. This very first moment when he had discovered his true emotionala and sexual - Ged swallowed hard, as the mere thought brought up memories too vivid to cope with right now- identity. "Noy...", his voice seemed to died along with the breath in his throat when he saw the weave hit him right in the back, nearly slashing him in half. "NOOOOOYYYYY!!!" He still ran, without feeling his legs at all anymore. He had to get there, had to. He was to late, he knew, he was... Ged didn't feel his body moving as he caught Noy as the dark-haired Dedicated sunk to his knees, clam fingers trying to catch himself on Ged's coat when realization dawned on these light-grey eyes wide with the shock of deaht and realization. "Ged...I thought...you had forgotten me..." Blood spurted out his mouth as the lean Amadician tried to gather breath from penetrated lungs and in one more heartwrenching attempt that ended in a low moan, it was over.

 

Only then he felt tears running freely down his cheeks. Light, how could he...he had forgotten him, the man who had once been so close to him and then...Light, he couldn't bear the thought of what had been as he held Noy's limp body to himself tightly. "I promise I won't forget you again, my love", he whispered sobbing as he pressed a kiss on Noy's dead lips, not caring about the blood that was still on them, before he laid him to the ground gently. "I will be back", he whispered, suddenly feeling drained and empty, feeling as if it had been him who had killed Noy, killed him by forgetting him. But no. No it hadn't been him. It had been that woman and that man by her side. Them.

 

 

There are other worlds beyond this! You know! You know! Remember! Remember what I've taught you, you fool. Now kill them. Go and kill them both.

 

He rose. All cold and fatigue benn ripped from him, banished somewhere beyond the void and the torrent of Saidin raging inside him, trying to brak free. And still he hesitated, cold green eyes fixed on the hazel ones of the woman, the Aes Sedai right in front of him. He knew what to do and still...

 

Remember what I've taught you! FOOL! REMEMBER!! REMEMBER AND KILL!!!!!!!!! KILL!!!!!!!!!!

 

The voice rose to a high-pitched scream making his ears ring as something inside him seemed to snap and suddenly there was nothing else alround him, but Saidin and the Power he knew he had over it. Power he meant to use as he wove fire and earth to strike with deadly missiles at the pair on which his rage was focused.

 

 

~Ged Maevere

Dedicated of the Black Tower

To-be-bondmate of Estel Sedai

[Guest Faile1987]

~Faile~

 

She had known this wouldn't work out according to plan even before Muirenn had even opened the gateway leading them to the area where the building called the Black Tower would be located. Even with knowing that and being more than aware of the risks they would have to take - her work with gentled male channellers had given her more than a vivid insight into what exactly the taint did to those poor, miserable creatures doomed with the ability to channel - Faile had taken this step, had ridden through the gateway to face whatever might wait for them on the other side.

 

Whatever they had thought would wait for them on the other side, no one had expected this. Fire and chaos errupting all around them and screams filling her ears as soon as she had taken a first glimpse on what lay on the other side and unfortunately she realized her mistake too late. Chaos was an understatement. This was pure death awaiting them and as it looked, they would all meet their Creator very soon.

 

Without thinking much, Faile had seized Saidar, trying her best to keep a kind of overview over the situation only to realize that this endeavor was as good as impossible. Smoke and fire everywhere did their share of clouding half of the site of destruction in black-gray nothingness stinging in her eyes. That wasn't what she had expected. Light, David was so different...gentled...Maybe this was the first time she actually realized the difference between a gentled male channeller and one at the height of his powers. One of them. Not pitiful and seeking help at all, their entire intent seemed to be fixed on killing them as soon as possible, an attempt that didn't spare their own numbers either.

 

Tightening her grip on the reins, Faile concentrated on what was at hand. There was no point of trying to find some kind of solution to this. Light, how where they to study men who were about to blast all of them right to the other side of the Pit of Doom? No. No, that wasn't how it worked out. If they wanted death, they would get it. She wasn't afraid. She was not afraid.

 

Seizing Saidar, she used Air and Water, once again being glad for her considerable strength in these elements and did her best to do what was needed right now. She didn't care how many of them she killed. She didn't even see them, didn't hear them, didn't smell the stench of death all around her. She just acted on pure instinct and did what was needed. Killed as many of them as she could.

 

And yet there was one of them who she couldn't ignore. One whose features struck her stunned and staring as he got up, the blood of one of her Sisters still on his fingers. She only caught his features in the glimpse of an eye and froze instantly, unable to move or think at all. She couldn't think of anything else, but of what she had seen, years ago. A vision she had already thought lost and forgotten somewhere in the depths of her memory. Yet the sight of him made everything come up again. The golden curly hair, green emerald eyes, lean figure and pale complexion. Everything came back in a flash, as vivid as if she were there again.

 

“Please leave us alone”, she told the Sisters standing guard next to his cell. Everyone knew that a male channeller mustn´t be underestimated. “I will take good care of him.” They knew that and left her alone. Faile was glad for some privacy with him, yet what she saw shocked her deeply. His condition couldn´t have worsened that badly in only two days that he had been here, but obviously the effects of forkroot tea and the wounds he had taken had weakened him considerably.

 

“Ged? Can you hear me?”, she asked softly as she entered his cell, leaving the door open behind her, knowing that he couldn´t escape anyway. She had to swallow hard when she approached the lifeless form of her brother, sagging in his chains. Light, who had thought this to be necessary? As drugged as he is on Forkroot, there is no reason to…”Ged…”, her voice was a soft whisper, warm and full of commiseration when she channelled to undo his chains. She gasped when she caught him as he fell forward into her arms, his legs too weak to carry him and only a sigh that was half a moan told her he was still alive.

 

It had been all her doing. It had been her who had captured him and brought him to the Tower. To help him as she had promised him. To give him the only help the White Tower had in store for the likes of him. Light, I´m about to gentle my own brother. The little brother I´d lost so long ago only to find him like…like that…Light, help me…

 

Hastily she wiped a tear off her cheek after she had laid him down softly, bedding his head in her lap as she knelt beside him. She didn´t want to do this and yet she had no other choice. The Wheel was cruel sometimes, but that was just because the Wheel was following its own Pattern and didn´t care much about single threads. A bitter perception of destiny and yet it seemed to be so true, however painful it might be. Forgive me, little brother, but I need to do this…I…

 

“…sister?”, his lips moved slowly and speaking obviously caused him pain as his face twisted to a grimace, but it was the calmness in his eyes that startled her most, shocked her most, made her feel guilty at most. There was no feverish glow in them, even though he seemed to be burning out outside as she felt when she was carefully attempting to take care of his wounds. Nobody could tell her that these had been self-inflicted…I told them to leave him be…I told them…”Light, Ged…I didn´t want to hurt you…I…I just…”

 

“…I know…Faile…” it hurt as he spoke her name with so much warmth…understanding…more than she could bear and she had to bite her lip not to burst out crying. She had to be strong. She had to do this. She had to find a way to help him. “I know now. I know that you were only trying to help…so…”, his face twisted in pain when as he coughed, gasping for breath. “They might have beaten me and drugged me up…but they haven´t…you know…gentled me yet…”, he took a deep, rasping breath and it hurt her to see him like that, but the calmness of his eyes, disturbing as it was, never left her when he took her hand into his and she let him do it without flinching back. “Faile…listen…”, his voice already faded again and she was tempted to tell him to stop talking and give him another dose of forkroot so he would slelep and not notice anything anymore, but something inside her knew this might be the last words she ever heard from him and that this was important for him, even though the pain grew more and more unbearable by the second.

 

“I…I need you to do something for me…”, he went on, his gaze never leaving her eyes. Light he must recognize how hard she tried not to cry. “You said..you saidyou´re help me…and I know what you need to do now…” Another fit of coughing held him in it´s grip and he vainly tried to sit up, finally ending up with her halfway dragging him up to let him lean against her. “Ged…you´re hurt…you should sleep…you…”

 

“Do you honestly think I´ll wake up after I fall asleep tonight?”, he asked, the truth that he spoke nearly making her flinch, admitting he was right. Yet she knew he was right. So right, Light, so right....

 

“You know what they will do…you know…”, he suddenly seemed to become so small, almost fragile, looking for help and protection as he spoke on, his voice quivering as he squeezed her hand tightly, “I…I´m afraid, Faile…I…I can´t…I never wanted this…power…this curse…I never…I never wanted to do what I have done and would wish I´d never have been able to channel, but…Light, Faile, I can´t live without it…You know that…You know that they can´t help me…Faile…”, his grip tensed and she was tempted to break the line of their eyes meeting. She just didn´t want to see him looking at her anymore. At her and her guilt. “You are the only person who can help me and you know it..”, he let go of her hand all of a sudden. “You know the only way that won´t leave me…rotting…rotting alive, more dead than living…you…Faile…you have to kill me…now. Please. Please...”

 

She shook her head silently as she got off her horse, already moving towards him. She could do him the favor he asked - would ask, Light would! - now, right now. Short and painless as he was distracted, just as he had granted a quick death to his brothers, it would only take a simple weave to give the same mercy to him, distracted by something only he seemed to see as he was. It would only take one moment. One single moment to do what had to be done. To do what Faile knew she would be begged for sooner or later. Could she really be so cruel and spare him, expose him, her own brother to the fate awaiting him? Her heart seemed to sting with the thought of what his prospects were and part of her wanted nothing more than be done with him right now, once and for all. She never had had a brother. Never known much about her family and never needed anyone. Light, she had to server her cause. Her cause and the Light above all. She was a Sister of the Red Ajah. She had to do her duty. Her hands started to shake harder and she felt close to the brink of an emotional breakdown. Light, she couldn't do this. She couldn't. Not to her own brother. Even though he was one of them. Light...

 

"Ged...", she whispered, feeling tears roll down her cheeks as she fell to her knees realizing she had failed. Failed the White Tower, her cause, herself and Ged. Him most of all and yet she couldn't fulfill her destiny. She just couldn't.

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

We're an illusion to our own

We're an illusion all alone

You built your home

Planted your roots

I'm an intruder

An intrusion..

Kiss me Goodnight - Ayria

 

.:: Keep the Watch... ::.

 

With one last touch of the quarterstaff within her hands than placing it into a customized shieth on the saddle of her horse, Maegan watched carefully as one by one the Aes Sedai, Warders, Tower Guards walked through Muirenn's Gate, holding back her reigns as she waited before going through the gate herself. Maegan was no fighter and her skills were better left to her mind. She would never be a point, as that were what the Green Ajah trained for. The last entered before Maegan felt the draw, the tingling along her skin, the Light. The Power.

 

It could have been her own reserve, or possibly her failing respect for the Tower, but the bitterness of the words For the Tower were left unspoken as she glanced at the sisters from her Heart. The Red Ajah were all that she loved within the Tower, and she hoped that it would all be but a routine visit of observations and a pleasant return. However, the foreboding that she felt the moment she had agreed to contribute to the trip never left her, and the sensation of dread only fed the anticipation to move forward. Eyeing Muirenn, Maegan pushed through on her mount, from the pot into the fire.

 

Power....

 

Saidar raked along her skin, shivers and sensation as the scene unfolded before her fragmented vision through the specticles on her nose. Weave upon invisible weave were thrown back and forth in sucssion against what should never have been viewed as an enemy. What had con so inexcusibly wrong that the Aes Sedai were fighting, dying.. Men, Women... although the numbers appeared small, the consequences were astronomical. Creater guard her, but it was a battle, and the dead was accumulating, and she would be contributing...

 

Shifting in her saddle, Maegan reached for her staff -a rapier within- and pulled it out of the loop of its sheath, and pulling away her glasses as she grasped the One Power. A miriad of weaves started to form around her, unconnected yet ready to be placed and released, tied off without more then a momentarily thought. Threads of Air that split into rings that were then reinforced with spirit, a shield up against possible weaves that carried Earth in its make-up to guard her against melee or other attacks. She would not fall amongst these suicidal beings that have the nerve to call themselves Aes Sedai, or that of the Black Tower. There was no gain in bloodshed. Resolve met, Maegan had no intention of adding to her list of murders.

 

Shield breached, Maegan found herself collaring those that rushed up against her with Air that would passively keep a man, or woman, from breathing easily, rendering them useless. Adding the swift strike of her staff that tumbled them to the ground, she supported her shield with minimal effort, leaving herself on the defense. If there were to be a resolve someone should at least have the energy to escape, or at least be underestimated.

 

 

 

Maegan Ryanne

Sitter / Highest

 

Ooc: Muir, hit me with your best shot.. ;) I'm online all night..

[tismeb4u]

~The birds sing to you in merriment ... are you not pleased with your return so far?~

 

Linten had hoped beyond hope that the heat and boredom of a patrol would have sent the cursed voice in to hiding. But it taunted him relentlessly, pointed out his plans flaws, reminded him of mistakes, and twisted his victories so far. The only benefit to the day it seemed was the fortunate blessing of not having to work directly under that sniveling Aes Sedai worshiping fool Rion. Cold dispassionate eyes cut a sharp glance back across the trail to the group on the opposite side and one man in particular. He had been fortunate enough to meet his little bed warmer and have some fun with mind games and the such. But it still galled him to no end that they had granted the Dragon pin to a coward and traitor such as Rion was in his eyes. It was only a matter of time before his true colors shown out; people would no doubt die, but as long as it was not Linten he would welcome the opportunity to prove to the rest of the ranks in black that Rion was dangerous. His views of the White Tower and it's women would have them all in chains.

 

A tingle floated over his skin stopping him dead in his tracks. No!! It can't be ... I'm safe .... how did they find me? Spinning he found a vertical slash widening next to him and jumped clear of it's edge as the brilliant line cut through the space he had been occupying.

 

~I told you they would come, told you they would find you .... should have killed them when you could. Kill them!!! Kill them now before it is too late!~

 

The voice screamed madly in his head as ice formed in his stomach. He had not felt that sensation over his skin since his trip back from the Borderlands where Isha had abandoned him to. Visions of the cold dark stairway he had hide under as they swept through the Inn looking for the man that could weave; remembered the cold sweat that ran down his back as his skin crawled like a thousand ants racing over his spine. He had promised then that he would never cower from them again. Jumping to his feet two rows where already through the gateway and Saidin could be felt all around him as men with swords detached themselves from the women and began running toward his companions on the opposite side.

 

Opening himself to the torrent of Saidin, it's vile coating oozing over his skin like oil while he fought to keep from being swept away. This was for life; it was for revenge, payback for all the huddling in the dark and the nightmares they had caused him. Filled to the point of pain Linten lashed out at the back of a man galloping toward the line of black coats with a weave of air and fire; watched as his back seemed to open in the middle and then fill with fire. So quick no scream was heard from his lips as the smoldering corpse fell to the ground. He spotted a woman intent on another of his ranks and lashed out with earth and fire causing the ground below her mount to explode tearing flesh from bone on the animal and sending her to the ground hard. A wave of ground hit him knocking him from his feet as an arrow of fire sped through the space his head had been. Fool ... defend yourself or you will find no revenge.

 

The shield of air leaped up in front of him as a rock exploded like a grenade; it's shards deflecting off the thickened surface inches from his fragile flesh. Anger seethed inside and beat harshly on the void but his focus was on blood and it's great thirst. Flows of air pulled another woman from her mount as spike of earth erupted up from under her, impaling her body; their bloody points feeding the thirst in his soul. It was almost like he could feel her die and it pleased him, quelled the hysterical voice in his head slightly. Licking his lips his eyes sought out a second, this time he reached out with a weave of fire, his hand throwing the fire spear toward another but it dissipated before reaching it's target. He tried again with darts of air only to see them unravel before the women. How, how is it possible for her to see the weaves? He sent forth a weave of earth strengthened with spirit to draw up spikes below her feet but that too unraveled before meeting it's focus. This time he had noted the flows of Saidin at work. Who in bloody ashes would ... he didn't need to finish the thought as his eyes found it's source. “Rion!!!!!” spinning to face the man a growl rippled from Linten's throat “I will kill you myself,” but his voice was swallowed as the ground erupted in front of him throwing him into the trees, pain searing through the void as the debris rent open the flesh of his side. Pain crashed against the void's tender surface causing it to bow and threaten to break; strength and determination returned slowly to him from the unwanted voice.

 

~Kill him ..... he helps them, he will see you in chains as their servant .... Kill him .... Kill him now!!

 

Shrill desperation flowed from the voice as Linten slowly reclaimed his feet; the air shield reforming around him as the din of screams and battle continued to fill the area. A slow steady stream of black coats were beginning to pour from the tree's closest to the Black Tower. His opportunity to kill was quickly dissipating. Weaving a thickened ball of air he threw it toward a man with steel in hand charging toward a knot of men in unrelieved black. The ball was not meant for him however as it passed the space in front of his head and struck a tree just behind Rion's; wood splinters and debris showering the Asha'man. His head swiveled to find Linten's emotionless cold jade stare focused on him. Shrugging as if to apologize for the apparent error Linten's focus changed to another witch, but the smirk that had painted his face as he had met Rion's gaze spoke of anything but sorrow. His rank still held him above Linten and therefore untouchable for the time being ... but it would not last forever. Sooner or later the rest would see him as Linten did. See him for the coward he was; his actions this day in defense of the witches would be a start to that dawning.

 

The new intent of his focus seemed distracted as she stared in what appeared shock at one of the black clad men dealing death. Was she scared? Had she never seen blood and death before? Perhaps she could feel her imminent departing from this time, regardless of the reason the distraction offered Linten a chance to remove another of their rank from his nightmares. Readying a weave of earth and air as he had before he lashed out with the air to seize the women. But before the earthen weave could settle to the ground and bring for the the spikes that would empty the light of life in her eyes Linten caught sight of Isha. The man's hard eye seemed focused on him and his brow dark. He obviously saw what Linten was planning and disapproved. I still need him.

 

~No you don't you have me, kill her ... before she can enslave you to a life of misery begging for death.~

 

Shut up!!! ... you are mad ... mad I tell you.

 

~Who is covered in their blood?~

 

Sarcasm lay heavy on the voice as Linten pulled hard at the air flows moments before the spikes darted up from the grounds surface. The women was yanked from her feet and thrown heavily to the ground away from the death dealing earthen points unmoving. His sharpened vision, gifts from the void and Saidin noted the continued rise and fall of her chest. She still lived and with her life hopefully Isha's support and guiding. The urge to watch life's red flow from her body still called to him but he could not take his eyes from Isha's stare.

 

Linten

Future forced bondmate of Faile

Let the Red never forget slavery ;)

[Arath Faringal]

Arath's eyes surveyed the gruesome battle ground between attacks. There were far too many dead. Most of the initial patrol was gone save one Asha'man and a pair of dedicated. The soldier that had come with Arath had just fallen under a warders blade, which was now turned upon him. The fight didn't last long. Not because his skill was greater than the warders, but because of his weapons. Blades of earth and fire sliced cleanly through the other mans sword and took of his head. Moments later he felt a shield pressing down on him, trying to sever his connection with Saidin. Spirit and Fire lashed out at where the flows touched him and he felt the shield jerk away.

 

Turning slightly he saw a woman in a green dress stalking toward him with murder in her eyes. He assumed that the warder had been hers. Sending more fire and spirit spiraling out in front of him to deal with any attacks she may have been throwing at him, he tried to weave his own shield on her only to feel it cut to pieces. The battle raged around the two, neither of them gaining the upper hand. Finally resorting to underhand tactics, Arath sent a flow of air low along the ground, hitting the woman in the knees and knocking her to the ground. Even still she persisted. He felt her shield pressing down on him, forcing him to act quickly. After one more failed attempt to shield her, he raised his hand and wove earth, air, and fire in a small amount and let it fly. The tiny missile burrowed into her chest and she spasmed momentarily in pain. Then it was over.

 

He didn't enjoy killing. But sometimes there just wasn't any way around it. He would mourn the dead later. There was still work to be done. Looking out again at the battle, the situation seemed bleak. Oddly enough, no more Aes Sedai had come through the open gateway, but the ones that were there already had caused serious damage. Far too many men in black coats were down, either gentled or dead. We need to change our training methods, he thought idly before heading back into the thick of things. There was still work to be done.

[Guest Dalinar]

It was a refreshing change to be out of the Tower grounds, away from the acrid smoke of chimney and forge, the clamour and hustle of the Farm. It was a relief to leave behind reams of reports, correspondence, inspections, appointments and a hundred other duties that meant that these days Dalinar found himself sadly lacking in sleep more often than not.

 

But today was different - hot with a vengeance that the Borderlands he grew up in rarely knew, and with a dryness in the air that made you wish for a cool dapple of shade, an even cooler skin of clear water and the chance to just close your eyes for a minute and soak in the warmth of the sun - but nonetheless the M'Hael's spirit was high, a sentiment which he was apparently imparting to his mount, a slightly frisky and proud stud whose coat glowed a deep golden brown in the harsh daylight glare.

 

As he dribbled out a well-practised response to a typical question from one of the patrollers in his group, Dalinar scratched the back of Frisk's neck. The horse whickered softly and dropped his ears in quiet satisfaction as it continued its trek along the worn path in the somewhat parched looking forest undergrowth.

 

It was sometime during his patient explanation that Dalinar lost his train of thought, distracted by a voice on the wind. Muffled though it was by the thick verdant surrounds, there was a strain in it that the forest could not drown out. And the words... the words...

 

"Tell the M'Hael! The Aes Sedai attack us!"

 

Unbidden, saidin had leapt into his grasp, and for a split second he felt himself tinker on the edge of a knife's-blade, wavering between control and oblivion. What had he done? Normally a conscious, calculated effort to take, the Power had sprung into his hands before he even knew he was reaching for it. And the cost had almost been overwhelming.

 

Perhaps responding to the voice, or perhaps to the momentary teeter on a precipice that it sensed from his master, Frisk had already pranced into action. Hooves thudding the dirt with a steady drumbeat, Dalinar guided with his knees digging into Frisk's flanks and hands on the stallion's reins towards the familiar throb of the male of the of the One Power that hailed from the same direction as that distant call.

 

He could sense through the Source, rather than any particular of his five senses, that his patrol group followed closely after only a moment's delay. He raised his voice over the sounds of the groups passage in clear tones, "Who said patrol was boring? But remember, all of you... If this is no drill, then you act to subdue, and defend your life and the lives of your brothers. No more than that!"

 

But Aes Sedai? At the Farm? It seemed so improbable, so unlikely. And yet surely had been bound to happen! Had they rested complacent for too long? Had they taken their isolation from the world too much for granted? Yes, most assuredly. And what price would they pay? What now the repercussions? Light-be-damned, he knew he should have seen this coming, predicted it and worked to prevent it.

 

The bloody battlefield that unfolded before him told him it was far too late. Long before his eyes first found evidence of the bloodshed, his nose caught the odour that bespoke a foul blend of tangy metallic blood and pungent juices and bodily waste spilling forth from body cavities laid open by gaping wounds. Only moments later (or had it been longer and he had not realised?) Frisk leapt over a dead black-coat and into the fray.

 

Oh, Light... Brianna! He nearly choked with the memories. It had been so long since he had seen ageless faces like those before him, both alive and dead, and the shock of the confrontation brought too much back to him at once. None of them truly looked like her, save for the smooth and ceramic features that they all wore. He found a sad irony in the fact that, of any of them, it was those with lifeless eyes and still bodies that reminded him the most of his one-time bond-holder. A bitterness rose in the back of his throat which he vaguely recognised as the taste of tears, even though he could not feel any sorrow while wrapped in the Flame and Void as he was. He was aware of a sting that sprang into his eyes and left a trail down his cheek, but the remorse did not touch his heart. Hollow tears.

 

His silent revery was shortlived, as he felt the sliding edge of a Shield pushing down on his link to saidin. Instinctively he wove the threads to Cut the Flows, and lashed out against the weave being thrust upon him. It slid away, and for the moment at least, did not return.

 

He surveyed quickly, assessing numbers and making decisions. With casualties of war, one had to assess numbers, priorities and then triage appropriately. It wasn't such a change in mindset to examine the scene from a more military point of view. He looked over the Asha'man who skirted the scene next to him.

 

"On my left, you will defend our stand here. Do not fight back, just keep us alive." He turned, "On my right, fight for the Tower. Cut any offensive weave you see." Dalinar gestured before him, slashing simultaneously at a fireball streaking away from an Aes Sedai and another in the opposite direction from an Asha'man, both of them fading from the air without a sound. "Any offensive weave," he said again with heavy emphasis. "The slow ones will get annoyed, the quick ones will catch on. Remember, lads, this is what sets us apart, Black Tower from White. We fight together, for a common cause. For the Dragon and the Last Battle. We will be here for it, with or without Tar Valon."

 

Dalinar beckoned to the nearest man, "You, follow me." The ground rocked alarmingly under the line, and Frisk pranced cautiously sideways to keep his footing. "And if anyone can keep us on solid bloody ground, they can probably expect a promotion once we're all having an ale back at the Inn tonight."

 

The M'Hael dug his heels gently into Frisk's side, edging him forward. "What are we doing?" The man shadowing at his shoulder asked.

 

Already casting about with hasty but functional webs of Delving that lay low to the ground and sank into casualties who were not already too far gone for aid, Dalinar's reply was slightly distracted. "I'm doing what I do best. You're watching my back. I hope you're good at it because I'm going to need that ale tonight." He did not discriminate as he moved amongst the dead, dying and injured. Man or woman, black coat or fancloak he saw them not as friend and foe now, but each one as stupid, foolish, casualties of a war that shouldn't even be being fought.

 

He paused for a moment next to a fallen Soldier whose breath still came steadily and evenly. Just a concussion, enough to give him a cracking headache when he eventually woke and probably blur his vision for a day or two. At least someone was not weaving to kill, or perhaps it had just been lucky. For something this simple the M'Hael didn't even need to touch the man to work Healing on him, and he barely broke Frisk's step before moving on.

 

Dust in the air settled and dried on the single lines marking each of his cheeks, but Dalinar was oblivious. He would remember, and he would cry real tears, later.

 

Dalinarius Traachanshield,

M'Hael.

 

OOC: BTers - Welcome to be part of my patrol group, to notice what they're doing and join them, or get pissed off at them, or whatever you like. Someone who wants to watch my back is welcome to do so or I'll just continue to NPC them.

 

WTers - welcome to confront that group, me, my 'back-watcher', whatever. Dali will be Healing AS and Asha'man alike, so you can react to that as you please.

 

Open to other possibilities of course ;)

 

And can I just say how STOKED I am with the writers in this thread! Such a credit to yourself, your divs and DM. Think there's been a really high standard in all posts and have enjoyed reading the RP so far :D

[bratr]

Bratr had heard the fellow soldiers bewildered shouts. Aes Sedai were attacking. Bratr knew that every able bodied man would be eventually sent anyway so he quickly grabbed his sword and ran for towards the direction the soldier had been pointing. His feet covered the ground at a moderate pace. He didn't rush, he rarely did anything quickly because it exhausted him. Anyway, he knew that a tiered soldier was no soldier at all. Bratr formed the void with some difficulty because thoughts about Aes Sedai and war filled his mind.

 

How did they find us, I thought the farm was supposed to be a hidden location. What do they think they can do? We will be fighting on home turf. It isn't like Aes Sedai to attack at random. They were negotiators, puppeteers. Not warriors, at least thats what he had thought till now. No he still thought so. They don't do thinks without cause. There must be a reason. Somehow they have discovered our position, and they have probably gotten information about our numbers. Those overconfident witches. They must have an insider. I doubt it is an Channeler, but maybe one of the serving staff. The question was whether that person was still here or whether they had left and were among the Aes Sedai.

 

Bratr could now here the sounds of fighting. Metal ringing as it met metal. Screams filled the air. Explosions of fire and earth could be heard and seen as clouds of dust rose up. Bratr kept running till he topped a small rise in the land. He stopped and stood staring down at the battlefield that lay carpeted with bodies. Blood flowed everywhere. Bratr knees buckled and he fell to the ground. He hadn't known what to expect, but this was beyond his wildest nightmares. Never had he seen such a site. So many men and woman dead, all in one spot. Bratr watched in horror as a group of Warders were cut open by blades of Earth and Fire from the ground. The site was gruesome.

 

Bratr forced himself to rise. His feet and fear wanted him to turn and run, but his sense of duty and honor made him move forward. He started out at a walking pace. Soon though adreneline filled him and he drew on Saidan like never before. So much power, Bratr knew he could channel large amounts but he also knew that Aes Sedai had much more skill and experience. Even those who couldn't hold as much as him would be able to kill him. Bratr Drew his sword and took of at a run. He aimed to cut of a warder that was moving towards an Asha'man he didn't recongnize.

 

As he slid in front of the Warder he saw a fleeting look of surprise on the warder's face as he realized how young his opponent was. Then the warder swung a blow that would have killed him if he hadn't raised his sword quickly enough. The blow was quickly supported by another and then another. Bratr realized just how big a mouth full he had bitten off. Bratr panicked and tried to back away. Instead he tripped and fell on his back. The warder moved forward and stabbed downward. Bratr half-closed his eyes and channeled the only thing that came to mind. The Warder burst into flame and his sword fell harmlessly to one side. Bratr breathed out heavily. His chest heaved and he saw that their was blood coming from his finger. Must have been cut by my crosspiece during one of the blows.

[Eqwina]

The day had dawned more beautiful than their filthy task should have allowed. Eqwina sat placidly on her horse, her eyes focused on the gateway, there was only a half a handful of people blocking her view.

 

As the slash began to rotate and open she took this last opportunity to remind herself of why she was here. Most still believed she was pushed into it, since many saw her as expendable but Eqwina had her own reasons. She would do her duty to the tower and if she did not make it back she would not have died a coward. Every sister along knew in her heart the chances of this working were slim, but they all sat straight and proud in their saddles each in her own way, the perfect image of an Aes Sedai. Eqwina hoped she would do her Yellow sister’s proud.She felt that even though she was surrounded by her Sisters, Warder’s and Tower Guards she was fighting her own personal battle here today.

 

Her emerald eyes shone with intensity as the slash opened wide. The Green Sisters and their Warders were the first through, motioning to the two Tower Guards at her heel she straightened to her full height and lead those men through.

 

A scene of confusion and panic met her; they faced a group of men in Black coats. A patrol? All it took was an instant for the life to flood into her.

 

The ground exploded with fire, and the earth reared up to meet her, knocking her from her horse. Stunned for a moment Eqwina watched in horror as the warders charged the Black coated men only to see them be thrown back mangled and in pieces. Her instinct was to heal, but those men were beyond even her help.

The ground still heaved beneath her feet, but with eyes squinted to see through the dust and smoke she formed Fire balls as fast as she could. For all her effort no more than one or two hit home.

 

Tears stained her cheeks and blood and turned her pale yellow silks to brown, all around her sister’s screamed as they fell. Bodies of Tower Guards and Warders lay in pieces across the yard. Eqwina screamed,her eyes welling with more tears. This should not be!! She drew deeper on the One Power until her body quivered, and her head began to tingle. She was not at her strongest when working with Earth but she gathered all her strength and ripples of earth as tall as she was went flying towards the men; But someone countered with a shock that sent her flying. She held onto the source by only a fingernails width,but she held.

 

She was weakened by the blow but she could not just lay back and watch this happen. Preparing a shield she lifted herself from the ground and took short laborious steps back towards the battle.

 

From across the field she saw a man, a Sheineran by his topknot. He filled her vision, he was as large as Trolloc and an Axehandel across the shoulders. She flung her shield at him and was shocked when he deflected her easily. His pale eyes focused on her and Eqwina shivered, every inch of her 4’10” frame shook with fear but she resolved not to allow this man to think of her as an easy target. She stood straight and met his gaze, with the last bit of her strength she struck out blindly with lighting. The glow was so bright she could not see if her lighting hit home.

 

OOC: Ok Isha do your worst :D

[Guest Estel]

The battle was a mess of flying viscera, rock, fire and other debris. Periodically the ground would jump underneath their feet, seemingly of its own accord though whether by the agent of saidar or saidin it was usually impossible to tell, and race up to meet them. Screams were almost constant though punctuate occasionally by the Boom! of various explosions. The scent of burning flesh blood was thick enough to gag a man and from the corner of his remaining eye, Isha saw a Dedicated hunch over to hurl, only to have his head crushed under the weight of a tree trunk, sent flying by a mis-aimed Club of Air. If not for the emotionlessness of the Void, into which he had retreated both for concentration and to rid himself of the Voice, he would have shaken his grizzled head sadly.

 

As it was, Isha spent the better part of the battle with Spirit filling him to his best ability, either with the intent to cut Aes Sedai off from the Power, with which he was having little to no luck, or to cut their Weaves and some of the more dangerous of the Black Tower’s Weaves. Being what they were, it was only natural to fear Aes Sedai but to let that fear control their actions without thought to the monstrous implications of this. For all the Black Tower’s strength, Isha would not bet on their chances in an all-out war with the White Tower. If this was any indication, they might just have doomed themselves.

 

At some point during the battle, the big man caught sight of Linten, in the process of slaughtering one of the Aes Sedai. The boy must have caught his disapproving glare because the fatal Earthen spikes dissipated and rather than being impaled, the Sister flew some twenty feet, away from the danger of being bit by flying debris. Nodding to his mentee who glanced for his approval, Isha worried over the disturbing differences between the Linten he had known and the estranged Linten that had returned with him to the Farm.

 

Despite the thoughts brief existence as it skittered across the surface of the Void, it still managed to be interrupted by a sudden pressure on his connection with saidin. Instinctively, Isha slashed at it with his own Weave of Spirit before setting to the task of finding his assailant, risking being unable to see dangerous flying debris as his peripheral vision was seriously compromised especially on his left side.

 

He finally found her across the field, her eyes furrowed as she concentrated on him. Barely having time to figure out who it was attacking him, a slight increase in the tingling sensation that was plaguing his arms was his only warning to throw himself backwards and out of the way of whatever it was she had thrown at him.

 

The lightning bolt striking the ground basically coincided with his own striking of the ground which had the effect of not only burning his back with its intense heat, but throwing him back into the air. The Asha’man would likely have flown a food thirty to forty feet if that tree hadn’t broken his fall- or rather, hadn’t broken his back. He hit the tree some fifteen feet off the ground. Luckily, the impact immediately shattered his lower spine, instantly rendering his legs and lower back useless. While it wasn’t exactly ideal to be rendered an invalid in the middle of a battle, it was what saved his life. Sliding down the tree, he managed to use his chest and arms to slow his fall enough that it only crushed his senseless legs so the only pain he felt at the fall was the burning in his back and the sting of chunks of bark chafing away his skin.

 

Upon hitting the ground, he used his massive arms to shift himself so he was propped against the tree, facing the battle. Almost immediately he had to defend himself against another attack but his strength in Spirit kept her at bay. In response, he threw all his strength behind a tangle of Fire and Earth strengthened by Spirit, erupting the ground directly before her feet in an explosion of melted earth.

 

 

Isha Talcontar

Briefly Invalid

Bondmate-to-be of the midget

[Lavinya]

“We’re even, now. Let me hate you in peace.”Lavinya climbed clumsily to her feet, dumbfounded at the fact that Estel had saved her life. Estel, the woman who hated her with a passion, for a grievance decades past. Regardless of the who or why, Lavinya knew she would be eternally grateful to the Blue, just as she had been grudgingly thankful for Lavinya's aid that fateful day. The Wheel did not turn without a sick sense of humour.

 

There was little time to relish the moment, as more men in black coats presented themselves. Lavinya was numb as she drew on the source, holding and revelling in the returned joy. It was that moment she determined she would rather die than be stilled. Life without Saidar was no life for her, little comfort that it was. What was life without love? Something she was doomed to ever experience, it would seem.

 

Anger poured through her. This was madness! Aes Sedai and gaidin alike battled mad men, men who were cruel and unrelenting in their battle weaves. She had never faced such real danger. She could well die. Would anyone care? Would anyone even notice she was gone? Who would mourn her passing? No one, she thought bitterly. Damn them if they thought she would go down without a fight! Slinking away from the tower may make her a coward, but she would not curl up and die, not now, not for anyone.

 

Lavinya deftly wove a weave of air once more, a long thin blade, razor sharp. She barely managed to duck as a fireball flew through the air aimed at her head, close enough to singe some of her curls. Instantly she retaliated, the razor of air swinging ruthlessly at the neck of the perpetrator, the force of the blow decapitating the man. An explosion of earth at her feet caused Lavinya to trip as she lurched to the side. She turned to run, only to find her path blocked by a wall of air. She whirled the other way, to find her path blocked again. Desperately she looked for an escape, spying a man in black with his eyes trained on her.

 

A shield flew towards him, but it was a hopeless wish at best. The man was too strong while he held the power, far too strong for Lavinya's pitiful strength. "Shaneevae!" The brown sister was only a few strides away, and Lavinya dashed to her side. "Let us link." Urgency overrode any thoughts of propriety as the words came out a demand rather than a request. The woman was older than her, higher in the chain of power at the White Tower, but they were close in strength. There was no time to discuss who would lead though, as Lavinya yielded and let Shaneevae take charge, holding herself on the verge of the one power for the woman to draw through her. Alone they may not be able to do much, but together they would be far more formidable.

 

 

Lavinya Morganen

Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah

Soon to be bond-mate of Rion

[Kael]

Rion was struggling to keep up with the amount of weaves being thrown around. One moment he was slashing a fireball coming from an Aes Sedai, the next yanking a Gaidin away from a fireball with a thick weave of air. The man's two swords flew from his grasp as he hit the ground next to Rion's feet and was tied firmly to the ground with bonds of air.

 

Too anyone Rion would have blazed with the one power, it almost hurt to have taken this much in. His full streangth, which he was far from a weak channeler, was being tested today. All his power was poured into the shield that he launched at a certain red haired Aes Sedai in his field of vision. That's what made it more of a shock when the shield bent, something resisting it.

 

Rion was shocked to say the least, he had caught the Aes Sedai off gaurd and he was sure that Aes Sedai were naturally weaker, it should have worked? But instead it bent, it fought it's way to try and break the woman from the source, but it shattered back into his face. Realing, Rion turned to more offensive means. Kill her. No! Ropes of air caught the woman and pulled her from her feet, and with a raise of his hand a wall of earth split her from the rest of the Aes Sedai around her. Rion began to move closer, as much to help her as to disable her. She was vulnerable to fire from his comrades now. Her path was blocked twice over with air and now once with earth, she couldn't run but to him.

 

You are just running from Linten. I know he tried to kill me! Rion could not deny that was one of the reasons, to hide behind the earthen wall that he had created from the man who seemed to hate him so unconditionally. He would need to watch closely now. Light it would have been better if the blight had killed that man. That was your thought boy, not mine, remember that.

 

 

Rion

[Arath Faringal]

"I'm doing what I do best. You're watching my back. I hope you're good at it because I'm going to need that ale tonight."

 

Arath followed the M'Hael on foot, fulfilling his new assignment. Shields of air fanned out between the two of them and the combatants, blocking the effects of weaves that couldn't be unraveled fast enough. The press of another shield against him caused Arath to send a thin tendril of spirit out to slash apart the offensive weave. Pausing as Dalinar worked on another soldier, this one bleeding profusely from a jagged wound in his arm, he drew as deeply on Saidin as he could. Multiple weaves of spirit flowed out, each razor sharp, and began to spiral around quickly in a large circle. Hopefully this would cut apart anything approaching them.

 

Another ripple through the ground almost knocked Arath into the M'Hael's horse. Teeth grinding in anger, options raced through his mind. The quakes had to stop. Regretting that he wasn't stronger in earth, he tried to work quickly. Tying off the air shield to free up a little strength, he knelt down and pressed his hand to the ground, sending earth out in a circle around him. A depressingly small circle. Grudgingly, he released a few of his spirit tendrils and poured more strength into the earth. Eventually he achieved acceptable results. A small patch of ground that was constantly moving beneath their feet. The effect only really benefited himself, Dalinar, and a couple of the closer combatants, but it was enough. Using half of his strength to maintain the quake shield, Arath returned his concentration to his spirit weaves, cutting down anything that came too close. It was tiring to weave so many at once, but it had to be done. More and more attacks seemed directed at them, especially when they approached any woman on the ground. The Aes Sedai fought hard to protect their fallen sisters from whatever these madmen had in store for them.

 

Light willing this will end quickly, he thought with a mental sigh. Arath was never one for much drinking, but if he survived this he planned to drown himself in a barrel of ale.

[Shaneevae]

It was a slaughter. They were outnumbered so significantly, that Shaneevae had reasoned this was her day to die, but determination coursed through her blood as she vowed to take as many of the black clad men with her as she possibly could. Having come in pursuit of knowledge, part of her detested the bloodlust that welled within her while the other part relished it. How dare they attack a peaceful party of Aes Sedai like rabid dogs gone too long without a meal. Retribution would be dear if only she were stronger. If only she could pull more of saidar, she would turn that beckoning corner, the one that led to mindless killing. Like an animal trapped she was with no choice but to die or fight. There was no greater danger than a cornered animal.

 

As if the Creator himself had heard her thoughts a voice called out, “Shaneevae! Let us link!” It was Lavinya, the petite Gray was dodging a fireball that hissed through the air when Shaneevae caught her eyes. In no more than a blink, the Brown sister pulled on the power the woman yielded. A young man, no more than a pup in a pack of wild dogs threw a shield toward them. Shaneevae smiled as she pressed back with their combined power until it shattered like a million pieces of broken glass upon their attacker. He stumbled back, the surprise evident on his face.

 

Growling, she wove, fireballs forming at the tips of her fingers and launching to their left and sending another ripple of earth into the ground knocking several men from their feet. Having directed her offense in the wrong direction, the pup threw a wall of earth between her and Lavinya knocking her from her feet, she landed a jagged rock piercing her in her lower back. Crying out, she rolled from the debris and wonder of wonders the link with the Gray sister still held. Scrambling to her feet, ignoring the warm, stickiness that ran down her side, she called out for Lavinya to take cover before throwing up a shield of protection and summoning earth to split the hardened wall he’d placed between her and her sister.

 

Leaping over the debris, she found herself by Lavinya’s side once again. Normally warm eyes narrowed coldly as she prepared to cut the youth from the insanity driving him. He was strong, but with the her sister’s added power and Shaneevae’s experience making short work of trollocs, they might be able to pull the man down……together.

 

Silver threads of spirit snaked around him searching for a weakness, for any breach where they could slide in and sever him from tainted saidin forever. Smooth, gentle work required an easy touch and fine manipulation, an act of finesse rather than the crudeness of the male half of the Source. The silver points danced around him seeking any chink in the shield he wore about him like a cloak of steel, yet it was solid. Furrowing her brow, she pushed harder.

 

Shaneevae Sedai

First Chair

Soon-to-be bondmate of Covai

 

OOC: Rion and Lavi, I wanted to RP out a bit of our linking. I hope I didn't interfere with your personal fight. Rion, feel free to knock Shaneevae around a bit and break our link. Covai will be along shortly to take her down I'm sure.

[bratr]

OOC: I borrowed Linten for a bit, hope you don't mind. It won't effect the story

IC:

Bratr got up and watched his superiors as they disarmed gaidan and shielded Aes Sedai.

Wasn't he supposed to kill those that attacked? What was going on? Who was fighting who?

Bratr saw an Aes Sedai look at him, he felt something striking at his connection to Saidan. Bratr struggled to hold on, the weave of spirit continued to press in. It was taking all his strength to slow the rate at which she was cutting him off. He couldn't move at all. Sweat poured down his face as each second seem to last a day. If he could've he would have thrown the Aes Sedai to break her concentration but he couldn't channel at all for fear of being cut off, forever. Suddenly the pressure relaxed and disapeared. The woman was now concentrating on one of his superiors, Rion if he recognized him right. He watched as his Superior not only defended himself but attacked also.

That is strength, being able to fight and defeat without harming. That was the true power. Though the Aes Sedai may be able to win. The Dedicated, the Asha'man and the rest, they held true power. The power to save everyone, even their enemies. That was the power he wanted.

Rion was straining.

No one woman could do that to him. Where is the second one?

Bratr's eyes fell on a woman that was looking intently at Rion.

Maybe. Well whether it is or isn't the one, I can't do anything about it. She is too strong to sheild. Maybe though I can break her concentration till someone else shows up.

Bratr drew on the source to the limit of his capabilities and then channeled, He tried to wave the earth, all he managed to do was create a small mole hill.

It's to difficult to weave a wave of earth, but maybe I can shake it back and forth.

Bratr channeled again, shaking the ground under the Aes Sedai, at first nothing seemed to be happening but after a few seconds of channeling the ground started to shake. Not much but enough, or so Bratr hoped.

[Guest Faile1987]

~Faile~

 

Death and destruction became a blur behind a veil of tears and dizziness as she submitted herself to her despair. She had never thought that anything like that could be possible. That one day she should fight her own brother just the very moment she found out about his existence. Life just wasn't fair, she realized again, numb and without any anger at all this time. Anger had made way to sadness and despair which had opened the door to resignation. If everything was already planned out and predestined how was she to change anything about what the Wheel intended for her? What was left but submission? What was left but acting as it was expected of you, regardless of personal concerns? This was a cold world, she realized again, the image of the iron-gray eyes of Sirayn Sedai popping up in her head somehow and a faint voice rendered her the words with which she had been told about her lovers demise a long time ago.

 

She closed her eyes. What was the point of seeing all this death and destruction, listening to all these tormented shrieks and death screams? Light, she wished she was somewhere else. Back to the White Tower. Back to her family. To live a life she had always wanted to abandon. To abandon to pursue a dream she had been living in for far too long. A dream that was worth everything, even though it might mean there was nothing for her but this dream. A dream, a cause, a devotion. She was a Red and had sworn to fight for the Light no matter what. She had to get up. Had to leave everything behind. No emotions. No-

 

Pain and Darkness.

 

*******

 

I've dug up miles and miles of sand

Searching for something I can't see

And I've just got bruised and battered hands

And a brand new void inside of me

Complete with walls I did create

From all the earth that I've displaced

A mess that I have made from what

I've just let pile and pile up

I have not been abandoned, no I have not been

Deserted and I have not been forgotten

 

I need you

I need you here

I need you now

I need security somehow

I need you

Like you would not believe

You're the only thing I want

Cause you're everything I need

 

Explore the cave that is my chest

A torch reveals there's nothing left

Your whispers echo off the walls

And you can hear my distant calls

The voice of who I used to be

Screaming out "someone, someone please

Please shine a light into the black

Wade through the depths and bring me back

 

I have not been abandoned, no I have not been

Deserted and I have not been forgotten

 

I need you

I need you here

I need you now

I need security somehow

I need you

Like you would not believe

You're the only thing I want

Cause you're everything I need

 

When my hopes seem to dangle

Somewhere just beyond my reach

You say you've heard my prayers

And read my words there on the beach

 

I need you

I need you here

I need you now

I need security somehow

I need you

Like you would not believe

You're the only thing I want

Cause you're everything I need

 

******

 

Words ccoming unsummoned from nowhere disappearing as quickly as they had come, yet still a dizziness clouded her mind as she opened her eyes halfway only to see one of the black-coated men right above her and she almost heaved a sigh of relief when she recognized that it wasn't Ged. Almost too late though.

 

Idiot!, she cursed herself. Consumed by her own grief and self-pity Faile just hadn't paid attention to her surroundings and so who ever he was had had an easy game with her. A defenseless Aes Sedai, robbed of all her dignity and defense, weeping on the ground. Light, sometimes she was such a foolish child again. She would have flushed with shame if she hadn't known that her only chance lay in playing now. Acting. Acting well.

 

Still feeling dizzy and rather weak, Faile suppressed these outer influences and kept calm to prepare. Saidar came quick and powerful, it's power retaliating her strength and giving her reassurance. Even if she would lose anything, she would not lose Saidar. Foolish boy who had thought himself without need of a shield. An inconsiderance that he would have to pay for in a minute.

 

It only took her a splinter of a second to open her eyes and focus on the man leaning over her, a slimy, arrogant grin on his face before she destoyed his self-confidence by a blow of air knocking him from his feet. She had never thought she would be able to get up that fast before she leapt next to him, holding him down with a shield slammed between him and the One Power. The tainted half. The taint that would force him into submission. Eventually. He wouldn't fool her again. No more of this.

 

Now it was her turn to bend down and press a dagger made of Air against his throat, a blad whose weave was only visible to her and her sisters, but she knew he felt it by the way his eyes bulged. "I guess there's no reason not to kill you on the spot", she hissed at him, but still hesitated. "However you can prolong your life by telling me more about this one of your lot", she said with an icy tone, pointing to Ged's direction managing to keep all emotion from her. She really hoped that this luxury of inquiry wouldn't cost her too dearly. Yet she was ready.

[SerenaMorrigan]

Squinting her eyes from the glare of the sliver slash of the Gateway, Serena watched as the first Aes Sedai stepped through. Gripping her reins, she glanced at Thera and nodded her head. They would be fine. It was not as if Serena had never faced these male channellers before. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wondered if Thera was going to remind her of their bout in Aridhol, where Serena had failed to hold a Shield on one of the madmen. They can’t all be mad! She thought silently. Certainly they all hadn’t been mad in Cairhien.

 

Her last thoughts were cut off by the sound of screams and blood spattering. Wiping a drop of blood from her eyes, the Blue sister frowned and narrowed her tilted emerald eyes as if to see better. As soon as the screams entered her ears, she had grasped onto Saidar. There was no way she would walk into anything without being prepared. Breathing deeply, she attempted to calm herself and keep track of what was going on. Light, one would have to know what actually WAS going on, before being able to keep track of it. Bloody ashes,

 

Her questions were quickly answered as she recognized the garb of the men before them. Orders were being shouted, weaves were being wielded by the Aes Sedai, and carnage ensued. Fireballs and Lightning Bolts, Earth Projectiles, Elemental Blades, Earthquakes. Only one thing reminded her of such chaos, and that was Dumai’s Wells. Only in that battle, there had been more Aes Sedai.

 

How could this have happened? Were they not to have been placed away from the area the male channellers were to be staying? How had they ended up in an ambush? Biting the inside of her cheek, the small Saldaean Blue fought her way through the disorder and chaos. Mud and chunks of Earth flew up at her as she lashed out with the One Power. In no time at all she was knocked out of her saddle. Hitting the hard earth with her back. Wincing, she quickly recovered, determined to focus on the pain later. To her left, she watched Estel Liones assist Lavinya Sedai, an awkward and cynical smile touched her lips as she thought of the irony of that situation; however, that was what the White Tower was supposed to be about wasn’t it? Fighting side by side even if one sister wasn’t incredibly fond of the other? Glancing at the Reds, she wondered if she could do it.

 

Deftly, Serena wove a Shield of Air that blocked the various objects of Earth and Fire being hurtled at her head. Acidic bile rose up in her throat as she watched a Gaidin explode. Ashes spread across her face. Burn me! Ashes of a dead man!! Before the smoke and dust could clear, she began to weave what would turn into a mudslide, before she could finish the ground beneath her began to shake. Her feet wanted to slip right out from under her. “no, this wont work.” Brushing her tiny ivory hand through her short raven black hair, Serena decided on a much personal tactic.

 

Searching, attempting to find the culprit that created the persistent quake, her eyes fell on a group of men standing together. One of which seemed oddly familiar, had she seen him before. One man shouted orders and seemed not to be doing much of anything else…no, make that two of them. Who could honestly tell what man was doing what, when you couldn’t see the blasted flows. A tall, dark haired Andoran stood close to the man barking orders. She lashed out at a young man right in front of them. Weaving as fast as she could. Flows of Water entered his lungs; before he could do anything about it he was spluttering and choking to death. It was sick and unsatisfying, the killing of a young man. However, these madmen had killed so many of her sisters. Lunging forward she revealed one of the five blades she hid on her, from her coat sleeve, and stabbed the drowning man in the chest. Her eyes still on the man that seemed to be in charge, and the Andoran beside him.

 

Locking eyes with the brown haired Andoran, her own emerald eyes alight with a fierce fire behind them, she began to weave again. The Internal Drowning weave seemed to be her best bet, hopefully, he would not know what was occurring until he, like his comrade, was spluttering on the ground, dying. Forcing her hand out, she thickened the threads and seemed to throw them onto the Andoran; if they had been solid they would have pierced his chest. Had she seen something in his eyes?

 

As she waited and attempted her weave, she seemed to stalk him like a lioness ready to pounce on her prey.

 

 

Serena Morrigan

Blue Ajah

Soon to be bonded of Arath

[Arath Faringal]

Arath cut another fireball out of the air while shifting his air shield to catch a grenade blast. But at least he wasn't defending alone now. One of the dedicated that the M'Hael had worked on was in good enough shape to help out. He was maintaining the quake shield now, letting Arath concentrate on any incoming attacks.

 

The reprieve was short-lived however. Not even a minute later the ground jerked beneath his feet again. Looking over at the other man he winced. He was clutching his throat, making a gurgling noise. Maybe he'd been caught by a piece of a grenade? Steadying the ground beneath himself he rushed forward to see if there was anything he could do. He saw the clear liquid pouring from the mans mouth and paused for one fatal second as it registered in his mind. Water?

 

In that moment of hesitation a small woman appeared with a dagger. Without breaking a step she drove it through the man's heart. He died before he hit the ground. The woman's eyes fixed on Arath and he made another near fatal pause. Those eyes . . . where had he seen them before? A sudden heavy pressure in his chest wrenched his attention away from her face. A wave of panic washed over him and he simply reacted. A tangled mess of Saidin flowed out of him, almost weaving itself into something that he threw in her direction. It landed right between them and a sudden blast of light threw them apart.

 

A bright flash of lightning erupted nearby, wiping out a small group of men charging forward. The battle was raging all around him, men dying on both sides to the awesome One Power raging all over Dumai's Wells. His group pressed forward. There was nothing more important than rescuing the Dragon from these Aes Sedai. The battle was fierce, with so many fallen on all sides. His own fire and lightning had cut down many of the enemy, but for every one down, three more took his place. Forcing his way forward his group broke through a line. A woman stood in front of him and he had time only to register the piercing look in her eyes before another glowing blast threw him away, cracking his skull against a large stone.

 

When he came back to his senses, Arath found himself on his hands and knees, his gut twisting in pain as abused lungs forced the water out of themselves. His head spun as the heaves slowly ceased and awareness returned, his memories fading away. His face stung as though burned, and he smelt the crisp fresh scent of lightning. Steadying his breathing, Arath resummoned the void and grasped Saidin once again. Using the rush of strength he felt from the power, he dragged himself to his feet and regained his bearings. A dead man lay in front of him, a puddle of water and blood gathering underneath him. A scorch mark on the ground smoked and steamed. Beyond that, a woman was struggling to her feet, her face as red as his felt, and her hair in static disaray. She glared across the field at him, and something clicked in his memories. Dumai's Wells. Those eyes were the last thing he had seen at Dumai's Wells.

 

Fighting down a surge of anger, Arath tried to maintain his calm. Angry people lost control and made mistakes, which he didn't have room for. He had a score to settle. And this time, he wouldn't lose.