A journey of sword sisters (Lillian)

[Guest Celes]

They had been traveling for a few hours when Lillian of the White Ajah gave a curt nod with her head and showed them down a small path off the main road. Lyv heeded her horse and followed the Sister whom she would soon no longer call Aes Sedai. They would be Lyv and Lillian, sword sisters traveling south and no longer Aes Sedai and Tower Guard. She had a pack strapped behind he saddle that contained her disguise for the coming weeks.

 

They found a sort of cave entrance and tied the horses down and then quickly changed from the clothing that traveling Tower folk would wear to the bright colored riding skirts and blouses. Lyv smiled as she looked at Lillian who had to her surprise dyed her hair to a color that was very familiar to her own bright red. She had not commented on it so far as Lillian had been wearing a hooded cloak most of the way out of the Tower and when Lyv did notice, she felt it was best not to notice.

 

“Lovely colors,” she finally said as Lillian donned on her new clothes and Lyv nodded at the bright colored hair. They would wear bright shawls in their hair and Lyv had to do away with the braids that she often still wore as a remembrance of her home in Tanchico. They would not look like any culture and they would resemble all cultures, traveling sword sisters who indeed looked very much alike now with similar hair styles and clothing. The deep purple skirts, the long sleeved white blouses and a deep green cloak finished the whole thing. Lyv received a bright green shawl from the Sister and smiled, she brushed a hand through her hair and asked, “You have your weapons concealed well?” but already knew the answer would be “Yes”, of course.

 

They soon went back on the horses when Lyv remembered the two wooden bracelets and put hers on, then handed the other one to Lillian. “This is just to help my memory, Lillian,” she said and hoped the other woman would not mind. They would have to act like sisters, like two women who traveled together all over and who were inseperable and completely adjusted to working together. Lyv had decided she would spend an hour that evening practicing some basic training with Lillian, at least if they could find an inn or barn to sleep in where they could easily sneak out after hours. Their journey had begun.

 

Lyv

sword sister of Lillian

 

[Wayfarer]

Lillian was finding that she was adjusting to Lyv well, at least she felt she was.  In fact, it was quite a relief to find that she didn't have to do all the planning herself.  Lyv had taken the initiative to arrange their disguises amongst other things and Lillian had been more than happy to let Lyv shape their roles.  She'd managed to intuitively understand what Lillian was aiming for when it came to the pair of them, and it was always better to allow someone to make a role their own rather than trying to force one upon them.  That and she'd had enough years of practice at shifting between roles and disguises that she could easily accomodate the woman, and maybe pick up a few tricks along the way.

 

The fine clothing that Lyv had picked suggested a certain vanity about them, yet at the same time it would mark success.  Either they would be seen as highly competent to be able to afford such clothing as mercenaries, or they would be underestimated as spoiled noble girls simply looking for adventure much like Hunters of the Horn, either way it played to their advantage.  The purple, pink, white and green were what she proceeded to slip on even as she secreted a few daggers about her person.  She was no great warrior by any measure, but over the decades she'd learned the value of having a couple such weapons on her person when out in the world.

 

Appreciating the compliment she was given, Lillian thanked Lyv for having picked them out even as she handed a bright green shawl to the woman.  The question about her weapons was easily answered, those that were meant to be hidden were hidden.  Having said that, she was in the process of securing her battle harness at that point, it was easier to have her simple blade poking over her right shoulder than it was to have it flapping about her legs in a loose scabbard hanging from her waist.

 

When they were done, they returned to their horses and packed their saddlebags with the clothing they had she and it was then that Lyv unveiled a last surprise to Lillian.  Taking the bracelet as it was offered to her, Lillian smiled as she saw her swordsister's name upon the bracelet.  Slipping it on, Lillian smiled as she reached over and hugged Lyv.  "Thank you Lyv, I'll be sure not to lose this."  Laughing at the look she got from Lyv as she let the woman go, Lillian stepped over to her horse and quickly swung herself in the saddle.  They had a long way to go and a journey wouldn't complete itself.

 

Having said that, the journey wasn't going to be a silent one.  Once they were on their way, Lillian began with an easy question.  Well, one that easily came to mind.  "I'm curious.  I observed you a bit before approaching you, but how would you describe your fighting style?  It seems more fluid than some of the other styles I've noticed."

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Sister of the White Ajah

[Guest Celes]

It was odd and also nice of Lillian to hug her, Lyv tried not to act too stunned and embraced the other woman. But it was too soon to expect from the guard to already forget she was dealing with an Aes Sedai. Yet, she was not shy and uncomfortable so she allowed the hug and smiled after. They set off traveling and Lyv felt the weight on her wrist as a comfortable feeling now, rather than something that hung down on her arm. She knew it would certainly help in their disguise to be similar in dress and appearance, this detail only added to the whole picture.

 

Lillian had a sharp eye, Lyv soon realized as she not only pointed out a fallen branch some steps ahead that Lyv could cleverly maneuver her stag around, but had also noticed Lyv’s training pattern. It was not often that someone who was not training for years in the Yards noticed that Lyv used the Path of Water style to work through her training, sparring, teaching and even through other aspects of her life. As they had a long trip ahead, she decided to elaborate a bit on the training, rather than stick to a curt reply.

 

“Actually, you have seen that correctly. The training style I use and have been perfecting over the years is called Path of Water, it is actually a lot like a philosophy of fighting.” She paused here and thought of Leah whom she had explained this, wondering what Leah used to compare PoW to again, she shrugged it off and continued, wondering if Lillian could recognize her own training in the Path of Water. Of all Aes Sedai Lyv had met, aside from Fayth Do’vin, this Sister was definitely very flexible and agile of mind.

 

“The idea behind this path is that you use speed, agility and a keen eye on your opponent to come out a winner, studying your opponent rather than chosing blunt force or longthought out tactics might not be the best defense for an army, but PoW students often travel as scouts, in small groups for example. They do not lead armies, nor do they fight armies. I think of myself as a fighter who thinks on the moment, my training can teach me only so much, it cannot tell me what I can expect of someone who is bold, fearful or even plain dangerous.” Lyv smiled, “Also, there is the aspect of how Path of Water students train, by now I am considered a Blademaster and am able to teach others about my path.” She paused, allowing Lillian to ask questions she may have, but her sword sister seemed content to listen first.

 

“We train with water, philosophy and meditation behind the waterfall, fighting one on one in a raging river for example, but we also use the water to clear our head. The other things we do is train our agility and speed, by doing a rope run or climbing roofs and running passed people in broad daylight, careful not to be seen,” she mused for a moment and then added, “There are not many who train in Path of Water, but they are all slender and not particularly broad built, usually fast in run and swim, that is something you have to be as when you train on top of the waterfall, you might topple down once or twice,”

 

Lyv looked down at her arm and saw the scratches from a recent fall. She had allowed the wind to take over her training and had fallen down during a long exercise session that should have ended hours before. The way back to the shore had been hard and Fayth had found the tower guard bruised and beaten by water and stones, Lyv had been forced with bed rest for two days after.“I love it, the freedom of your mind, the total tranquility of moving in the water, water is the best opponent one can train against – agile, fast and unpredictable,” she explained. “Do you think there is something similar to my training philosophy in your own training, Lillian?” She was careful not to add “Sedai,” as it was so easy to add, but so wrong on the way to Tear where Aes Sedai were an unwelcome breed, she had to be careful now to be less conscious of it later.

 

[Wayfarer]

Thinking over what Lyv had said, Lillian pondered over the contrasts and comparisons that could be made between their respective styles.  There were certainly similarities, but the intent behind their training as well as the way they thought about combat was different, creating distinction between the two.  There was also the difference in their skill, Lillian could understand theory and technique well enough but she'd never devoted enough time to it to 'understand' it with her body, to be so well trained that it became an inherent part of her.  Certainly not to the extent that Lyv had at least.

 

"There are some similarities, but it would be easier to simply explain how I fight first."  Lillian smiled as she looked to the road ahead.  "The aim of any form of combat is to defeat an opponent, and the only way to achieve that is through control.  It isn't always who is fastest or who is strongest though those are nice attributes to have.  The person most likely to achieve victory is the person who exerts the most control, who is best able to use their surroundings as well motivate to their strengths and even turn their weaknesses into forms of strength."

 

"For example, I am neither the strongest nor fastest person.  To clash against a person directly would be to defeat myself before I even began to fight.  So instead of moving against an opponent, I move with them.  Hence I practice a good deal of Mayener technique and style because of that very emphasis, learning how to harness an opponent's energy and not only absorb but redirect it against them."

 

Turning back to Lyv, Lillian continued.  "Most people will not take me seriously as an opponent, so that is something else to be used to my advantage when I have to.  An opponent who is overconfident is one who can be quickly overcome in the moment of their weakness.  If a fight is protracted, then I simply have to seek to wear them down and if I can't do that, well, the smartest option is usually to run."

 

Grinning, Lillian turned her gaze to their surroundings again.  "Over the years I've picked up other aspects, Illianer, Cairhienin, Tairen, Shienaran and more, getting a sprinkling from every country I've been in.  If I had to try and explain it simply, I'd simply say I've tried to learn how to control and subdue an opponent as quickly as possible without being injured in the process.  I'm not the most skilled at it, but the power can come in handy in that respect."

 

"The oath specifically proscribes against using the one power as a weapon against people.  I define the use of the power as a weapon as being the use of a weave upon a person intended specifically to harm them.  While I can't do that, I may use the one power to impede, restrain or disarm an opponent as the weave in itself is not a weapon.  A fine distinction, but its one that has saved my life and that of others enough times that I'm glad I make it.  On the otherhand I have to also determine when it is appropriate to do so, and when it won't be misconstrued as a weapon and therefore undermine the reputation of my fellow sisters."

 

"Hence why I'm telling you now.  If I have to use the power in the middle of a battle, I want you to understand why I'm capable of doing it and maintaining my oath and not making the same assumption that Rosheen did about Estel.  I'd also appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else either, I'm not certain all of my sisters would appreciate my interpretation, or the fact that I'm revealing to you the great weakness of the oaths in general."  Finishing her survey of their surroundings, Lillian looked to Lyv as she waited for her assent to keep silence on the particular matter she had let slip.

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Sister of the White Ajah

[Guest Celes]

Lyv had heard stories of Aes Sedai who used Saidar to better themselves during training but it had always been vague stories. She herself, as a trainer of Accepted and Sisters held the rule that none could use the One Power in her training. She was not very comfortable with the idea that Lillian found it so helpful. Although, Lyv had to admit that what she was saying was true, every warrior, excelling in physical strength or excelling in strength of mind had to overcome weaknesses and feed of strengths. Why would an Aes Sedai who wanted to use her training not use the One Power?

 

“It’s ok, I will not tell anyone, who would listen right,” Lyv made it off with a joke. She was still feeling a little odd about the whole thing, especially since their journey had only just begun. What if Lillian wanted to practice her Saidar skills combined with weapon skills and something went wrong? Lyv knew of herbs that could help a cut heal faster or a bruise go down quicker, but she did not know how to help on a very serious wound, the lethal kind were usually picked up by women like Fayth and her Yellow Sisters.

 

They headed off once more and Lyv took in her surroundings, trying to see what was hidden as in her mind she pushed and pulled on the knowledge of what Lillian had told her. Really, it was quite interesting that the Aes Sedai rules were so far for other people, Lyv grinned and found that Lillian caught her gaze. “It is kind of funny,” she commented,” Lillian’s eyes rose questioning, “You know what I mean, Aes Sedai make up the rules to protect themselves and others and then other Aes Sedai break the rules to protect themselves…” it was as if a light went up in Lyv’s eyes and one could see it sparkle in the bright green emeralds.

 

“I see now, that is like your philosophy, your way of life is to improve what is already there, seek out new ways to grow stronger when you are weakened,” Lyv nodded fiercely, “Why fear that which you can learn from,” she mused. They rode on for a few more hours until they finally found a farm where the farmer allowed them his hay barn around the back. His son took care of their horses and for a small coin, they enjoyed supper with him and his family of four. Lyv was tired after the day’s journey, she soon nodded to Lillian to head up to the stable with some blankets the farmer’s wife had provided them with.

 

“You know, if I start to train you, or teach you skills with your weapons, I ask two things,” Lyv said as she put an arm under her head to lie more comfortable. “One, I ask that you do not use the One Power against me in training but that you use your physical strength,” she nodded and then added, “And two, should you cheat best not let me find out,” with that she closed her eyes and tried to sleep. Sleep came slow that night though and it seemed Lillian had not found sleep either, so Lyv asked her, “Lillian, what’s it like living in the White Tower? Is it really hard work of studies and chores all day?” thinking of her Accepted trainees complaining, Lyv wondered about that life. A trainee had to work hard, study and do chores, but their life was based around leaning the skill of weapons handling, they got food and a roof over their head in return. “What drives an Aes Sedai to live in the Tower, Lillian,” Lyv furthered her question.

 

Lyv Tylin

[Wayfarer]

The comment about making oaths for protection only to break the same oaths to protect oneself...  Well, Lillian didn't quite agree with it at all.  It was perhaps a sign of irreverence, but she sometimes wondered whether the oaths had even been necessary and whether they had in fact been more a form of convenience.  That and she knew she had never broken her oaths, she might not have shared the same conception of them as some of her sisters, but she had certainly never knowingly broken her oaths during her life.

 

But Lillian chose not to comment on it at the time, Lyv looked like she was lost in a train of thought and Lillian decided it was better to leave her to it.  She wasn't angry by any means, in fact where Lyv's thoughts had diverted to caused her to begin musing herself.  She did try and constantly improve herself, though she sometimes questioned whether her interpretation of her oaths was necessarily an improvement.  It was necessary, but to have such a need wasn't something she would have called an improvement.  If she had her way, using her powers in such a way would never be necessary to begin with, but that was the world she lived in as opposed to the world she would have liked to dwell within.

 

Getting lodgings at a farm they stopped by near the end of the day, it was relaxing to share a meal with a small family and to eat fresh food rather than trail rations.  The youngest was a girl of three years and seemed to take a shine to Lillian to such an extent she ended up with the girl in her lap as the meal progressed.  It was a tense thing at first, but as they saw Lillian playing with the child as opposed to growling at her, it served to ease rather than heighten the issue of having a pair of sellswords in their home.

 

Having said that, rest was a welcome thing.  Or would have been, except having Lyv lying beside her on the hay made her feel a bit odd.  She didn't mind sleeping alongside people she knew, but she was still getting to know Lyv and it seemed that her swordsister was having problems finding sleep as well.  Chuckling at the rules that she was given about training, Lillian was of two minds about that.  It might be a good thing for Lyv to train against restraints of the One Power, yet at the same time if Lyv ever did face a channeling opponent, chances were they weren't simply going to restrain her or slow her down, they wouldn't be constrained the same way as Lillian.

 

The next questions made Lillian smile though, some people had asked her this before over the years.  It wasn't often it was asked, but it wasn't entirely unfamiliar either.  "At first, survival, even if we don't acknowledge it.  If you don't train enough in the power to learn control, you die painfully.  After you achieve that basic control though...  Its like anyone with a talent, when you find you're good at something you want to become better at it.  And there is the pay off, holding the power is...  Seductive, I've been around for awhile now and I can safely say that there has been no other experience that has ever quite reached it."

 

Turning on the hay, Lillian looked at Lyv as she continued.  "As to the chores and the work...  I've done some of the training you've been put through, and the thing is that your training is difficult yet it is focused in one area.  To become an Aes Sedai though...  We have to learn mathematics, philosophy, literature, disputation, old tongue, science and many other topics along with our ability to channel.  Added to that are constant chores and work that are meant to humble yet often don't and half the time feel like a distraction from other things that could be done in the same time.  Its not that the work doesn't need doing, but when you weigh up writing a paper on the economic relations between Cairhien and Tear with doing dishes and you're always behind on time, you can begin to appreciate the frustration."

 

"As for myself, my years as a Novice and Accepted amount to three decades, sure I have a longer lifespan to go with it, but thats a lot of years spent in the Tower.  By the time a lot of sisters are trained, they've spent so long that most of the people they knew beforehand are either dead or long changed.  Only people who are going to last like you are are your fellow sisters.  It makes it difficult for some sisters to make friends beyond those with a Shawl as a result, knowing that you could meet them as children and outlive them even if they make it to a ripe old age.  Then you'll outlive their children in turn."

 

"Maybe that is another reason that drives Aes Sedai to remain in the Tower, well, no maybe about it.  Once you lose enough people, it can become quite lonely and you can end up feeling that the only people you have left to hold onto are people like yourself."

 

"But thats a decidedly sad turn in conversation."  Smiling, Lillian looked up at the ceiling as she spoke.  "What drove you to take up the sword in the first place?  Its not a path that many women choose to make their own."

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Sister of the White Ajah

[Guest Celes]

Lillian’s story was familiar to Lyv but also had a different ring to it, some things surprised her and the dedication of the Sister was definitely showing. “I can say that my task is not lonely, not as much as yours. There are those who seek to bond an Aes Sedai or who are asked for this honor, they share a bond that makes them never lonely.” Lyv sighed, “But not for me, I think that my task lies elsewhere and while indeed, more women would chose a husband and to start a family, I chose a different kind of family and it has grown on me.”

 

She wondered if Lillian would understand what it was like to be in service to women just like her, maybe as novice or accepted you were a lot like the trainees and tower guards. Alike in status towards Aes Sedai who could pull you on a mission, or just as easily cast you out when they were done. Loneliness was sometimes a bitter and harsh punishment, especially when the crime was dedication to a goal higher than yourself. “I chose this life to escape one where I would be bound by four walls and a husband, I needed to be free and whilst I chose to work for the Tower and dedicate myself to those who can bind me if they chose, I feel free,” that was really what was important to Lyv. Over the years she had found and kept that feeling of freedom and she would never let it go.

 

“We should really get some sleep, but perhaps I am allowed one final question?” Lyv pondered over how to say this and then started, “Are there Aes Sedai who cannot take this pressure of leaving it all behind?” she decided instead of waiting for an answer, to give something of herself to the White. “I have once thought about leaving and I can imagine not everyone is up for the task of being a Servant of the Light all their life, yet when I went back home in Tanchico, I found that my family had moved on without me, things had changed and the grief was greater when I attempted to return than had I never returned at all.” She thought about her sister, who had killed herself in grief over her failed life, as she saw it. How guilty she had felt that she could not have been there for her twin sister Katie, when she needed Lyv the most. It had been one of the reasons never to return a second time to her family, the grief was burnt on the House of Palomar and Lyv could not bear it. “Have you ever wanted to give up and go home yourself?”

 

Lyv Tylin

 

 

[Wayfarer]

It was interesting that Lyv had chosen to be so open with Lillian.  Not that Lyv struck Lillian as a deceitful person, not to those she considered friends, but she hadn't expected such things to be shared with her so openly.  Private pains were usually that, private.  Lyv had chosen to forego that though, maybe to invite an open response from Lillian in turn?  If that had been the intent, she was succeeding.  Trust had to be repaid with trust, otherwise a bridge that could be built was lost and her faith in Lyv so far had proven to be well deserved.

 

But first she would answer the more general question.

 

"There are some.  Some as soon as they are raised, despite tradition, make contact with their families.  Most tend to find that their families, like yours, have moved on though.  Its little wonder, the shortest timespan to be in training is perhaps fifteen years, most average between twenty to twenty five.  Thats more than enough time for a family to move on, for one's siblings to marry and have children of their own.  With the duties incumbent on you from your Ajah and from the Tower, its rare you get enough time to really explore such a thing."

 

Frowning as more personal thoughts came to her, Lillian continued.  "As to myself...  I never had siblings, and both my mother and father were killed in my eighth year as a Novice.  I only had one cousin I knew well, Aviel, she was like a sister to me.  She passed away a little over a decade ago, I know her children and grandchildren as best I can from the occasional visit I make over the years, but I do not know them like one should know family.  Its something I regret, but there is too much to do and never enough time to do it, let alone spend a goodly amount of time with them."

 

"The Tower is my home now, I don't really have anywhere else to go to.  Yet it has never been an issue during my years as a sister, as I said before there is so much to do.  I don't think I could turn my back on it, or maybe I have just never had a strong reason.  If my family had still been alive...  It might have been a different, but questions of what if about such matters are rarely fruitful..."

 

The silence drifted a little, the pair in thought, but Lillian broke it as she bid her companion good night.  The conversation had spent itself and they needed their sleep, the next day would be just as long a haul as those that had come before it.  Tear was still a fair way away, and there was plenty of time for them to talk on the road yet.  But those weren't thoughts that Lillian entertained as she fell asleep, her thoughts...  were.

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Sister of the White Ajah

 

OOC:  Was going to post on F&V but Andular and Cairma both offered so I got this done instead.  I'll start the new thread over the next few days so we can do the whole Lillian getting hurt thing. :)