Look at the eyes on that one [attn. Laurent]

[silhouette]

With a yawn and a stretch, Rosheen decided it was time to get moving. It wasn’t like a great big lump of a man lying next to her was going to move any time soon, not on an off day, and she needed to get some things done. Things she really couldn’t use Vasya’s help with either. It wasn’t something they had discussed yet, but Rosheen just assumed that Vasya would feel the same way about having offspring as she did. “More heartleaf it is.” She muttered, giving the bald man an affectionate kiss on his bare head before walking out of his chambers.

 

The ‘Lay of the Land’ was notorious among the Tower Guard. Owned by none other than Commander Brand Ryota himself, it was an excellent place to go and get a few drinks. It was also an excellent place for a lonely Tower Guard to find some pleasant company, be it male or female. Rosheen couldn’t help but smirk when she thought of that. It was one of the best kept secrets within the yards. In fact, she was fairly sure it was one of the few secrets everyone agreed on keeping. Brand was well-loved, and no one wanted to see him discredited in the eyes of those who commanded him. Besides, the ‘Lay of the Land’ was like a second home for some of the Guards. It would be a crime to let it go to waste because of Aes Sedai morals.

 

The ‘Lay of the Land’ had done well to rid itself of the stigma that often clung to establishments of it’s kind. It was situated, not in the best part of Tar Valon, but not in the worst either. It looked clean on the outside and the inside, and the serving girlsseemed decent enough, though Rosheen knew that some of them had some very special tricks up their sleeves. If one was willing to pay the price for it, that was. Humming softly to herself, she made her way down the streets, ducking into the alley that would lead her to the back of the inn.

 

She knocked three times, as Isabella had instructed her. Instantly the door was opened by one of the serving girls. Gemma, if Rosheen remembered correctly. “Oh, hi.” The girls said, giving Rosheen a radiant smile. “Mistress Isabella said she expected you. Would you care to wait for a moment while I fetch her?” Rosheen shrugged and followed Gemma in. From where she waited she had an excellent view on the inn’s main room, which already had quite a few customers. Some of them she knew, and others of them were completely new to her. Like the young man making eyes at Iris, Hazel and Poppy. Rosheen chuckled softly, looking at the way Hazel had the young man wrapped around her finger. He was going to lose quite a bit of coin, if he kept ogling her like that.

 

~Rosheen

Tower Guard

 

[Winter Mist]

~Laurent~

 

If there was one thing Laurent remembered his father saying, it was “always get the lay of the land.”  Consequently, when he saw a tavern of the same name in one of the side streets, he knocked and entered straightaway.  Tar Valon was one of those must see places, or so he had always believed and on first glance the white walls and grandiose shapes did indeed take the breath away.  Even here, in the lower areas of the city, it was amazing.  Stunned, he walked into The Lay of the Land and looked around inside. 

 

Well, this establishment was certainly living up to the reputations he had heard.  Brown eyes, green eyes, blue eyes … every conceivable shade of eyes greeted him, framed by equally attractive faces.  And their figures...  They were as ripe as harvest-time fruit.  If the serving maids were this pretty here, imagine what the Aes Sedai and the ladies of the White Tower were like!  Laurent nodded to himself, thinking he had indeed made the right choice in coming here.  Adventure, a lovely lady for his arm, and glory all the way to the Borderlands to boot – his name would be in the history book, that much was certain.  His father would be proud of him.  Young (and attractive) mothers would read stories of him to their children.

 

Rational thought fled as his eyes followed a particularly pretty brunette’s wiggling way across the floor.  He could not help himself but to walk over to her and compliment the girl on her … eyes.  Anything else would likely earn him a slap.  Not that he would have minded that.  Oh, no.  Not one bit.  He rubbed at his jaw, testing it to see if it would stand up to the slap, and realised he had not shaved this morning.  Dark stubble peppered his jaw.  At least he had not decided to continue the beard.  He had, for a time, sported a small beard because he thought it made him look dashing.  He had been rather hurt when a girl had told him it looked like someone had daubed honey over his chin and he’d fallen asleep in some tea. 

 

“Excuse me…” He began, his jaw opening slightly as the girl turned around and looked up at him.  Light, she was beautiful.  She took hold of his arm, told him her name, and took the spellbound Laurent to one side where she sat with him.  He was entranced.  Enchanted to the point that he did not see the woman that walked in at first.  It took a second glance, but then the woman that entered deserved a second glance.  Oh, dear.  Was that roving eye of his offending her?  Why were all of the women giving him strange looks all of a sudden?

 

[silhouette]

Rosheen knew she was spotted when the boys head turned her way, and his eyes widened even further. She was a sight to be seen, after all. At five feet and eleven inches she almost towered over every single girl Isabella employed. Add the Mohawk to that, and you had a look that would draw eyes to it no matter where she was. It amused her still. People were so easily distracted. The longer they kept their eyes on her Mohawk, the longer it took them to realise she moved like a well trained warrior, each and every movement well planned and well executed.

 

“Was I ever that young?” she mused aloud. Next to her Gemma giggled. “No doubt you were… and a feisty youngin’ as well, I suspect.” Rosheen turned and grinned at the girl. “I had my wiles.” The boy had seemingly forgotten about Hazel, who was pouting rather prettily at the realisation. “Ah well, let’s see if I can’t get him to fess up why he’s really here.” Rosheen said, getting another giggle out of Gemma. Isabella was nowhere to be seen yet anyway, so she might as well entertain herself for a while.

 

Without as much as a greeting or a comment she took a chair at the young man’s table. His eyes were still a little wide as he made an effort not to look at the red Mohawk that rose above Rosheen’s head. “So… Are you enjoying Tar Valon so far?” she finally asked, leaning back in her chair with a grin. He was obviously not from Tar Valon himself, or he wouldn’t have stared at her quite as much. “What brings you here? Fame and fortune? Desperation? Or just desire?” She winked at Hazel at the last option.

 

~Rosheen Tahn Sakhr

Tower Guard

 

[Winter Mist]

~Laurent~

 

“I think I’m going to have to go with fame and fortune, beautiful lady.”  Laurent smiled his cheekiest grin, the locks of his fringe tumbling over his face that did give him a certain artful charm.  “And it was always a good idea to stay on the side of someone that looked as though she could kill him as soon as look at him.  It would be the first entry in the heroic legend of Laurent: meeting the warrior queen of Tar Valon.  Laurent looked to the girls around him, definitely softer than the crested woman that had spoken to him, and wondered if he was missing out on some sort of joke.  His lower lip jutted. 

 

The girl next to him giggled at every mention of desire.  When he turned his smiling brown eyes back onto her, her face resumed the mask of calm it had been when talking to the tall, commanding woman.  Laurent began to think there was some sort of conspiracy going on that he was not privy to.

 

Women are a maze of brambles in the night.    Laurent could remember his father’s words on his departure from the family home.  True, he was going to seek fame and fortune, but that did not mean he could not enjoy himself in some beautiful company along the way.  He smiled, cleared his throat and then directed a level gaze at the older woman.

 

“I am here to become a Warder of the White Tower, good lady.”  He went on to explain how glamorous it all seemed, spending lots of time in pretty company, getting to fight with a sword, which he was rather good at, to his mind, and seeing parts of the world.  “Oh yes, I am bound eventually for the White Tower.”  He licked his dry lips, wondering what a man had to do for a drink around here.  He felt like a mouse in a maze.

 

[silhouette]

There was very little Rosheen had to do to make people nervous. Those of the warders yards at Tar Valon were well aware of her posture, her demeanour and her wiles, but those who weren’t… They were easily intimidated by a stare from her stormy blue eyes, or a shake of her red Mohawk. If said simple physical attributes didn’t do the trick then others would. A slight tension in her wiry muscles, the slightest hint of movement towards her weaponry. But most of all, strangers seemed to be uncomfortable when she smiled. Not that it was particularly predatory, but Aran had often told her it brought a sense of impending doom with it, for those who didn’t know her well enough.

 

With this in mind, she figured the young man telling her of his ambitions probably felt as if the Dark One himself was waiting right outside of the door. She couldn’t help it though. Light, but she liked the boy already. He had a roguish quality to him that reminded her both of Aran, her near brother, and Ursana, her little brother. That, and the glimmer in his eyes when he mentioned his destination reminded her of herself. Destined for great things or not, there was an eagerness in his eyes that could not be denied. And who was she to even try it.

 

“Well, young one, I think we have gone long enough without proper introductions.” She offered him her hand, hoping he could restrain himself well enough not to kiss it. That would just make him look silly, after all. “My name is Rosheen Tahn Sakhr. I am a Grand Master of Balance, and a Tower Guard of the White Tower. It seems that today is your lucky day, for I can lead you back to the White Tower with ease, if you will but wait until my errand here is done.” She could hear a few of the girls giggle behind her. No doubt they’d keep him well occupied until she was ready to depart. “What do you say? Are you about ready to continue your adventure?”

 

~Rosheen Tahn Sakhr

Grandmaster.

 

[Winter Mist]

~Laurent~

 

Ah, the Wheel did truly weave as the Wheel intended, and it was weaving him for greatness.  Thank you Wheel.  Laurent looked up at the red Mohawk and then to the girls on either side of him.  This was the hardest decision of all: leaving the comfort and adoration of the girls on either side of him, or to go and follow potential destiny and adoration from lots of girls.  And to be accompanied to the White Tower by a Grand Master herself…  Laurent believed he was truly destined for heroism.  It was almost prophetic.

 

His choice was pretty much made for him.  He stood.

 

“Yes,” he replied, attempting to look heroic.  “I’m ready.”  Mother and father would be proud when he sent pictures of himself home to them, depicting his exploits of derring-do.  “Oh, wait.  You said ‘after’ your chores here were done.  Well, well, I can wait, I suppose.  There are some lovely ladies here to help me pass the time in sparkling conversation!”

 

He waited.  He tapped his foot and waited for the fierce-looking woman to conclude her business here.  Laurent thought this must be a high-class establishment indeed to attract the patronage of such a warrior.  He really must remember this place for a quiet drink with the lads when his training got underway.  Laurent waited for a little while until the Grand Master was ready to leave and, at her signal, he followed her out of the door with a lingering look.  He was leaving the behinds behind, and bringing up the rear to his future.