Shades of Gray - Attn: Phaedra (repost)

[Guest Celes]

~Rossa~

 

It was a pleasure to see the various art materials set out before her. Rossa’s room was turning somewhat into a studio, with some canvasses carefully stored in a cupboard for those that wanted something larger than a sketch, jars of inks and oil paints for those that wanted something more colourful and the box of charcoals, her favourites, on a shelf by the window. Not long raised to the shawl, her new quarters were already beginning to feel like home, and Rossa was adjusting to life in the Blue Ajah well. Those, along with her sketchbook, would accompany her today on a visit to the library. Phaedra Sedai of the Gray Ajah had enquired about getting a sketch done and Rossa was of a mind to flex her artistic fingers and polish her skills again. It had been a while since she had sketched anyone.

 

Dark blue silk cut in an Ebou Dari style adorned Rossa as she made her way through the corridors of the White Tower towards the library. It was easy to gain a sense of perspective after studying art for a short time, inexplicably logical when applied to buildings but when applied to people it gained a whole new measure. You started looking for reasons behind a pair of sad eyes, or a way of sitting, and with a little digging you could find out a lot about a person. It was simple observation, no myth or mystery, and it was a useful skill to have. Sirayn had encouraged it in Rossa on more than one occasion after the incident with Estel and, together with the political knowledge instilled from birth it had developed into a tool Rossa wanted as honed as possible.

 

She had chosen the library as a meeting place to draw the Gray Sister, as there were plenty of quiet corners where Rossa could work undisturbed. The preliminary sketches could be done here; the majority of the work could be finished off in Rossa’s own rooms, but also if the subject having their portrait sketched had a wish to go elsewhere for a background, it was a fairly central location. The gardens, one of the lesson rooms, even the subject’s own quarters – everywhere was easily accessible from here. She opened the door with one hand, still faintly amused that novices and accepted curtsied to her as she passed now, and made her way to the furthest corner still lit by large windows. Sunlight streamed in, lighting on the shelves and spines of books, and gave enough light not to cast dark shadows. Rossa was pleased about that. If Phaedra wanted to stay here, the conditions were ideal for it.

 

A table lay just to her left where Rossa set her box of charcoals and her sketchpad. She opened it to a clean page and wrote the date in one corner in her best handwriting, and then proceeded to lay the charcoals out, making sure they were within reach and ready to go. Drawing a chair over to what seemed to be a good place, Rossa then fetched another one that was sat almost directly opposite, and waited for the Aes Sedai to arrive.

 

***

 

OOC: My apologies for the late reply! But I hope you don't mind and can still continue with me.  :)

 

IC:

Phaedra let a sigh of slight pain escape from her lips as Farrah pulled on the strings of dark hair she held firmly in her hand. She pulled an ivory comb down the Gray Sister's back and nudged Phaedra as the Gray winced. "It cannot truly hurt so much Sister," she said and smiled in the small mirror that stood on her dresser. Phaedra had obliged to Farrah's work after her servant had found out today was the big day for the portrait. Rossa Sedai would do a painting of Phaedra this morning and Farrah had convinced the Gray to dress her and do her hair for her so as to make sure she would look her best. Phaedra said she did not care for appearances and would rather spend her time reading, when Farrah had smothered those words saying that the Gray would end up painted from the back reading a book if she would not pay a little more attention to what she would look like. "You need a portrait in the Hall of the Gray quarters and you need to look your best," Farrah had said and Phaedra grunted that after she was gone, she would love to be remembered as the Sedai with the book, rather than the Sedai with the smiling painting. She liked the art of painting and drawing and could enjoy staring at a painting and pondering over the beauty of each strand that the painter flows over the canvas. However, to be the subject herself meant sitting up, waiting patiently and most of all, not being able to work. But she knew that Farrah was right and it was better to hear it from her trusted servant, than from her friend Finella Sedai who would definitely use other ways to persuade Phaedra.

 

"Almost there," Farrah said as she combed the strands down the sides of Phaedra's face who had to constrain herself not to push them back over her shoulders. "Right, last bit and then we're off to pick out a dress and a necklace," Farrah continued calmly and Phaedra shot her an angry glance in the mirror. "My dear friend I am already late," she wondered about complaining about the hair and the way Farrah had spent almost half an hour on combing it, but thought against it and bit her tongue. She brushed off her deep gray skirts and checked black longsleeved shirt, then nodded, "A necklace could bring out the line of the dress, but then I must go, no change of dress neccessary. Rossa Sedai must already be in the Library by now!" Farrah had already moved towards a small wooden box and taken out a thin silver necklace with two rings entwined on it. "You have not worn this since we left Cairhien, I think it suits very well with the dress though," and Phaedra nodded. Then moved out of the room to find Rossa, the Blue whom she had asked to paint her after hearing from Finella what great art work the Blue Sister had already created. "A great way to make contact with this Blue Sister," she had said with one of her famous smiles. "Phaedra, you must have your portrait done by her - if ever you will for I know you will say that you do not care about outward appearances," and Phaedra had only to look over her friends shoulder to find Farrah nodding fiercely in agreement. Yes, a portrait she would have to have made, as these two important people in her life, her closest friends had convinced her without allowing a single utter of fuss.

 

Phaedra entered the library feeling a little self conscious, she greeted a Brown Sister and soon found Rossa Sedai behind a large book cupboard. "Good morning to you Rossa Sedai, I hope I have not kept you waiting and maybe we should reschedule?" she felt a little flutter in her stomach and berated herself for being so odd about this. "I do like the spot you chose," she said and nodded approvingly at the law books that filled the shelves behind Rossa. "I happen to take a great interest in law and would not mind that being reflected in the painting, of course if that suits the artist," she felt better already and less nervous. "Right, shall I take a seat?"

 

Phaedra Eskarne

Gray Sitter

[Winter Mist]

~Rossa~

 

Rossa smiled.  “Yes, Phaedra Sedai.  I chose this particular place especially with you in mind.  There is no need to reschedule, please, be seated and I’ll get ready for the preliminary sketches.”  Gesturing for the Gray Sister to be seated, Rossa made her way around to her easel and placed the sketchbook at a blank page on it.  Her charcoals were on a little stand off to one side, their lengths in different thicknesses arranged in order.  The way the sunlight was glinting off the embossed spines, flashing gold brilliance around the woman’s dark-haired heat.  An aurora of browns and shiny golds settled into a halo around her, and Rossa thought it was a rather apt image – the very picture of justice. 

 

The initial strokes depicted a vague outline, more of a shape really, along with the base lines that would form the bookcase in the background and the spines of the books around Phaedra’s head.  Then Rossa went onto the figure itself and drew in the lines where her eyes sat, calmly radiating a sense of assurance and peaceful authority, and the nose and elegant cheekbones.  She was a lovely subject to draw, full of grace and fair of face. 

 

“Thank you for sitting so still, Phaedra Sedai.”  Rossa straightened to work some of the kinks from her back and laid one of the charcoals down on the side table.  “It does help no end, you know?”  She cast her mind back to other people that had sat for her in the past and winced.  There were some that could not sit still to save their life.  The best ones knew how much value there was in a well-done portrait, and so sat as still as possible, but the ones full of grandeur and haughtiness had wanted pictures where they were standing, or posing with something, and had needed frequent rest breaks because their bodies were seizing up.  Rossa smiled; glad to have got one of the better ones.

 

Not wanting to pry into the Ajah affairs of another, Rossa chose a neutral topic, one that was close to her own heart.  “What do you think of the menu they have this week?”

 

[Guest Celes]

In silent contemplation, Phaedra stared at the titles of two books that bounded together as one title. She was trying to think up if she had read the books, they were on law history in counties in Andor. Phaedra wondered in herself what counties would be mentioned and if these laws would still be in place, it might be interesting to take these books with her after this session was over – for further reading.

 

She was shaken up by the words from Rossa Sedai, the Blue was asking her about this week’s menu and Phaedra chuckled inwardly. Yes, she did not know the Blue well, in fact had only met with her once before to discuss a meeting for the painting she was now starting on. But to choose this subject for an opening topic of conversation showed a great class, that Phaedra could appreciate.

 

The other woman could have asked her something about her Ajah, about a project she might have heard of Phaedra’s involvement but instead she chose a subject even a novice could discuss. It was safe and yet it said a lot about the person who chose it and Phaedra looked thoughtful as she let her mind work over that passed evenings dinner. She had eaten alone in her quarters, bent over a letter that she had received from an old student in Cairhien.

 

“I did not much care for last night’s lamb meat, but I did like the sweet potatoes and of course, our cook makes the best honey cakes,” she did not dare smile too much or Rossa would have to ask her to sit still. Actually, she had just chosen a position she could hold for hours and to have to move meant risking an uncomfortable post for at least another hour. She continued in a murmur, “Novices take a particular liking in those honey cakes, must be the sweetness that keeps them up and running.”

 

Phaedra tried to fain an interest in the tastes of novices but to be honest, she found them usually too young, too headstrong and still too easily tempted with things like honey cakes to bear a real interest in advanced studies. Once more grown up, they often understood better what life was about and Phaedra could relate better. For now, she decided not to stress the subject and as her mind wandered, her face kept perfectly still for Rossa to draw.

 

Phaedra

[Winter Mist]

~Rossa~

 

She smiled.  Last night’s lamb had been a little on the tough side.  It was an interesting comment she made about honey cakes being ideal food for novices.  They were.  They provided energy and were enough of a treat to look forward to that it provided some measure of encouragement.  Bolder lines, more confident now, flew across the page while Rossa defined Phaedra Sedai’s eyes and put in her sweeping hairstyle.  The portrait was already beginning to take shape.  Rossa ventured a little more conversation as she started to work on the woman’s nose.

 

“Forgive me for talking about food, Phaedra Sedai, but I have always found it fascinating.  I was originally of noble birth before I came to the White Tower and ever since then I have had an interest in it.  I am Blue Ajah, and food, or rather matters relating to food, are my Cause.”  Rossa recalled the first time she had chosen her personal cause.  The overriding desire behind it had been to ensure that none of the people her family would look after had starved in harsh times, and it had evolved from a way to win a popularity contest at Court into a rule she lived her life by.

 

“Think about it.  Food is an important subject to a lot of people because they need it to survive.  There would certainly be a decrease in the number of fights breaking out or despondent villagers or farmers turning to banditry were there enough food.  It is certainly not the only reason for turning to such violent activities, but if you had a starving family to feed, would you not do all you could?”

 

“So food has always meant a lot to me.  I was privileged and never went to bed hungry, but there are those that do that every single day.”  More lines appeared on the smooth forehead, filling the shadows in under her eyes and giving the portrait a bit of depth.  It was beginning to resemble a person.  “I want to learn about food preservation techniques and hope to teach it to those that are in need of it.  I do apologise though, for getting a little carried away.”  She looked up over the canvas at her subject, who sat patiently holding the pose.  “It means a lot to me.”

 

[Guest Celes]

Sisters of the Blue Ajah chose a Cause, a personal Cause that they fought for, studied and dedicated their life to even. She admired this in the Blues, as the Grays had a similar yet also different approach to their work. They were less free in choice of where to go in their ‘Cause’ as a Gray could become a Clerk, a Mediator, act in Law or Advice on matters of state and law. She did not see this as exactly the same thing as the Cause which ranged much further. But to the odd Gray, it could be very personal what once chose.

 

“Actually,” Phaedra commented, “as a Judge in Cairhien I have found many cases where food is the main issue, once you strip it down to the bare essentials I mean,” she smiled and added, “One cannot eat the gold one receives for a piece of land that grows the vegetables or the grains that feed the herd.” She found it interesting that Rossa had chosen such a Cause and wondered if she could ask more about it, without seeming nosey at all. Maybe an example from her days in Cairhien could trigger a memory of Rossa’s, to share your own stories often meant to receive a bit of that sharing from the other woman.

 

“Back then I remembering having a case where two young women fought over a cow they had inherited from their parents. They could not for the life of them decide who would have the cow and take care of it and if they would take it to the slaughter.” Phaedra noticed a spark of interest in the paintress’ face and continued, trying not to move too much as she spoke. “The youngest wanted to take the cow to slaughter and be done with it, having the meat to divide was easier she felt, but the elder of the two wanted to care for the animal, it was not too old and would still give milk. She even talked about it having young which would provide more food for the future,” Phaedra pondered for a moment about the outcome of the trial.

 

“In the end, the younger daughter was promised a monthly fee and a few litres of milk each weak. And the elder sister had to agree to take the cow to slaughter and divide the meat if the animal had not bred within a year of sentencing,” Phaedra smiled lightly and nodded once. “Yes, that was one of my better days as exactly one year after a short note was delivered to my office saying that the cow had had two calves, one for each sister who could breed them for more milk and meat. The mother cow gave enough milk to sell some at market for a few months, which paid for their combined legal cost.”

 

She remembered the case and also that the note was stuck safely in her journal, the type of notes she kept to remind herself why she lived for this work and her duty. “So I could agree very well that food was of great importance in that case too,” Phaedra finally closed her eyes for a brief moment and then tried to find the position she had assumed earlier again, calm and pensive as Rossa’s hand moved over the canvas. She was curious to see the outcome, but decided not to ask for a peek just yet, it was nice sitting and talking calmly like this. A nice change of pace for today.

 

 

 

[Winter Mist]

~Rossa~

 

The Gray’s story was a definite understanding of her own Cause, Rossa thought.  She was grateful that out of the few times she chose to confide her choice of her future, someone had instantly understood what that actually meant.    Adding more depth to the woman’s eyes where knowledge sparked at a topic that truly interested her, Rossa considered opening up further.  There were few she confided in, and she had nearly chosen the Gray Ajah over the Blue, after all.  Nodding to herself at the various points in Phaedra’s story, Rossa switched to work on the woman’s elegant neck and shoulders.  The sketch she would turn into the great painted portrait would take some time to complete, but once the preliminaries were done it would not take long to finish.

 

“I can see how food has affected us more than we realise.  And yet so many people still seem to take it for granted.”  This was a personal annoyance of hers, that the nobility were so free with setting their table full of expensive delicacies and surplus.  It was also that they did nothing for the poorer people under their care when giving them better food, or the means to make or grow better food.  Could they not see they would increase the popularity with the commons by doing that?  She shook her head and voiced her complaint to the Gray sister. 

 

“I realise there are some that do give charitably every week, but far too many people are starving through wastage or ignorance.”  The strokes became a trifle harder as her irritation surged through the charcoal.  “That is what I am working towards.  I would consider myself content if I could spread word throughout the higher classes to care better for those effectively that run their lands.  I would be happier if everyone had access to well-maintained storehouses that were kept as vermin free as possible.  Hygiene is not the most interesting subject in the world, this I realise, but it is important.”

 

“It has other ramifications as well.”  Rossa took an appraising step back to consider her work.  There would not be too much more needed, only the work on the folds of cloth of Phaedra’s dress, or the way the shadows played on her hands.  She also wanted to put the titles of the legal books on the shelves behind her into the portrait to give a dimension of justice.  Well, an augmented sense of justice anyway – the woman radiated it.  She continued to voice her line of thought.

 

“If there is better nutrition and the populace generally has better health and hygiene, then it stands to reason that the Wisdoms and Wise Women of the world could concentrate on improving other areas of the lives of their villages and villagers.  Also, on a larger scale, there could be a decrease of those petitioning the Yellow Ajah for Healing.  It would mean they could concentrate on developing other areas of healing, and perhaps looking for weaves lost through age or poorly preserved texts.”  She nodded again, as though agreeing with an inner point, and smiled as she looked over the canvas.  “Don’t you think?”

 

[Guest Celes]

It was easy to sit perfectly still when listening to someone talk about her passion and explain such clear terms where this passion came from. Although, Rossa Sedai did not specify why she chose this Cause it was clear to the Gray that this woman had thought well on it and took great satisfaction from learning about nutrition, food and helping those who needed it. Phaedra found that studying law and reading long drafts of law pieces that she had to edit could prove to be boring. The mind could not process more than a hundred pages in one study when forced and Phaedra’s headaches were proof that even that was difficult. However, she found that because she believed in her work, it was enough to keep going and often did more than the required work for it saved lives and helped people, even those she never met. Would Rossa Sedai ever see the men and women she helped by studying the effects of clean water and better food?

 

The Blue Sister's ideas on hygienic were very interesting and Phaedra realized that she was fortunate to have lived in the High Court home in Cairhien where servants kept everything clean, helped her to the best food the city could offer and did so without fault. She had been fortunate to have grown up in a clean house, with good food and in the Tower too, she had found nothing less. The Yellow Ajah, yes they would probably have less work on helping the poor and old from the odd disease caused by mall nutrition or vitamin shortages. When not drinking clean water, eating fruit and vegetables they got sick and a Yellow’s Healing could take quite along time for a poor old sick man to get well. “I agree, Sister that it is difficult for us to help the sick and expect that to solve the problem. I am sure that the Yellows would aid in cleaning the water, showing the foods that kept one healthy rather than to cure those that got sick from not knowing about or simply not having the fruits and vegetables that keep them fit.

 

She looked pensive for a while and noticed that the Blue was moving back a step from her work, looking over the canvas with a frown and then stepping back to work on it some more. Phaedra was intrigued what the painting would look like, but moreover she was intrigued by this woman’s passion. “Tell me Sister, do you often venture out into the world to see the outcome of your work?” Phaedra asked and wondered how people reacted who had so little, to hearing an Aes Sedai tell them they could work longer, stay healthy and fit if they just changed from the easy accessible food to the clean water well and the better nutrition. It took more work, more of their time that would not be spent on the work that brought in their daily earnings, but it would prolong their lives and it would keep heir children healthy too. Yet, Phaedra knew from experience that a fortunate and healthy person weighed these things different on the balance of life than a person who had to come by the scraps life tossed them. There was just not a real choice for them but to survive.

 

 

[Winter Mist]

~Rossa~

 

“I have to say, Sister that I have not often ventured into the world as yet.  I have not long been raised to the Shawl and I am trying to learn as much as I can about the White Tower and its protocols and procedures, and so on, before I go to research my Cause a little more.”  It was almost instinctive to capitalise ‘cause’ in her mind.  It was the cause to her rather than a cause.  She surveyed the original sketch a final time and was happy with it, and so the charcoals were put back on the small tray.

 

The light was turning slightly orange when Rossa straightened and rubbed at the small of her back to relieve some of the stiffness.  The bell would ring for the meal soon and she needed something to eat to stave off a faint feeling she had just noticed now that her concentration had reached its culmination.  Smiling at Phaedra Sedai, Rossa lifted the canvas from the easel and turned it around to show the Gray Sister her work.  She hoped she liked it.

 

 

 

[Guest Celes]

As Rossa Sedai rose from her seat, Phaedra could hear her stomach rumble lightly. She had not eaten much all day and judging from the change in light, it would soon be evening. Time for dinner perhaps, she thought as Rossa turned the canvas around to show the result. Phaedra’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at it, she could not believe in the few hours she had sat there, Rossa had been able to capture such a person with her charcoal.

 

“Is that me?” she stumbled, then rose and touched a streak with her finger, feeling the charcoal and wondering where such a talent came from. “It’s beautiful, and that is odd to say seeing as it is a picture of me, but you do have a great gift Rossa,” Phaedra said and thanked the Blue Sister again. She asked if the Blue could provide her with a frame that fit the canvas, she would have to find a way to repay the Sister for the work she had done.

 

As they both departed from the library, Phaedra realized she was feeling very calm and happy. She was as relaxed as if she had just taken a nap under a tree in springtime. It was soothing to sit so calm for hours and not be able to move, nor have the want to move. “Thanks again,” she said with a light smile, one that barely showed but felt comfortable to use and then they each took their own path back to their quarters. Yes, she needed to find a way to repay Rossa for her beautiful work.

 

Phaedra Eskarne