A Return To The Light...

[Shoar]

Having rode many days and nights from the Borderlands, Shoar rode slowly towards the gates of Tar Valon, pausing a short distance away to look up at the sacred tower. How long has it been... he thought to himself, since he last rode into the city. 10 years? 15? Too many...

 

The many hard years of suriving in The Blight had taken it's toll on Shoar. His once jet-black hair now had a healthy smattering of grey through it and his body bore many more scars then he had when he last left. He paused in reflection, remembering the happier times he had spent at the Tower, until...

 

Shaking himself, he clicked his tongue at his horse, Spring. Silver, his faithul mount of many, many years had passed on five years prior and he had acquired the spirited mare Spring from Shienar. She was a true-bred warhorse, responding to his every command. When she feels like it, of course he chuckled to himself, as Spring began to trot forward.

 

Shoar dug his heels in slightly and she broke into a canter, sensing her masters apprehension at the gates moving steadily towards them. In short order he was at the Gates of Tar Valon, the entrance to the ciy.

 

He nodded at a guard stationed nearby. Shoar didn't recognise the man, but that was no surprise. I would be surprised if ANY were left whom served under me... he thought to himself. He rode through the gates. The two guards on station said nothing as he rode past. His fancloak was safely stashed away in his saddlebags and his swords appeared to be common travellers swords, not the masterworks they actually were.

 

He stopped once he was inside the gates, Spring pawing the ground nervously as she sensed Shoar's unease. He dismounted and comforted her by stroking her nose, then began leading her through the city, heading to an inn he knew all too well. The Gaidin's Way was not a well known or visited tavern, but it was a place he was always able to call home.

 

Throwing a coin to the boy out the front of the stables nearby, Shoar handed over the reigns to Spring with caution that she likes to kick if not treated properly. The lad bit the coin, nodded and lead Spring into a stall. Shoar turned and then halted before entering the tavern.

 

I will have to say hello to Roshgar... he thought, referring to the owner of the Tavern. But first... I want to visit my tree.

 

Shoar headed towards the White Tower, going down side streets and main roads without even thinking, the path having been burned into his head long ago.

 

As he approached the entrance to the Warders Yards, he was blocked by two guards. "State yer business with the Warders, old man." Shoar stared and said "I only wish to come in and have a look, young masters. I am a travelling swordsman and I have heard stories of the legendary Gaidin, I wish to see them training if I may..." The two young guards took into account Shoar's twin swords and hesitated, eyeing him closer. Finally they nodded and let him through. Once he was past he rolled his eyes. Light take me, I'd have their ears if I were still in charge...

 

He looked around the Yards, taking in a long, deep breath. He HAD missed this, now he had time to think on it. The Yards had been where he had grown up. He glanced over at the bridge, at the small patch of grass by the river known to many Wards as Radzynne's Patch. He smiled affectionately at the thought of his old master... He wondered if they even remembered her now.

 

He turned around and headed for a particular spot in the Yards. He had not come here to reminisce on those things. He passed by a number of young trainees duelling and felt more and more eyes on him. A stranger in the Yards was not something one often saw, especially not one in his early fifties like Shoar. Shoar had already spotted his target, however. A large oak tree, planted in one corner of the Yards.

 

He stopped in front of it and placed his hand on the trunk. This tree is what his mentees had called Shoar's Tree. He had spent a good deal of his time here in it's branches, lost in his thoughts. He circled the trunk, aware that more and more people were looking at him now, until he was hidden behind the trunk of the tree. He grinned and reached out his hands to the nearest branch. In a flash and with a nimbleness that showed he had not lost any of his strenght or agility, he had ascended the tree and taken seat in one of his usual branches.

 

Leaning back, he watched the goings on in the yard, safe in knowing that noone could see him up there. Or so he thought...

 

 

OOC: Well... It's been a while, so apologies if the writing style is a bit rusty. :) The current Chief Of Security (or Captain of the Guard or whatever the title has changed to now ;) Brand Ryota is gonna catch Shoar at this stage, anyone else is free to post impressions of Shoar coming back. ;)

 

Shoar Gaidin

Former Bondholder to Ryell Sedai, Reile Sedai and Nimue Sedai

[bcxanth]

Kopair walked through the yard next to a young boy. He was a new Trainee and had alredy fallen afoul of a prank of some of the older Trainees. The boy had tried to fight them and Kopair had managed to just save him from himself. He was still smarting from the lecture Thera had given him, and still trying to redeem himself in the eyes of both her and Liitha. But that didn't stop Kopair from trying to help out where he could.

 

As the two of them walked through the Yard Kopair's eyes were drawn to an older man walking through the Yard. He felt the guards were right not to challenge him as he had come through the gates. Even to Kopair it was clear the man knew how to use the weapons he carried. Curious as to who he was, Kopair steered the boy toward where he'd seen him walking. They passed close by the tree he knew Aran liked to sit up in so couldn't help but glance up.

 

He shook his head and mumbled something, but did not stop.

 

"What did you say Kopair?" the boy asked as they began to walk away from the tree.

 

"Nothing important," he replied. "Just something reminded me of Aran."

 

"Aran?" he asked. "Who is that?"

 

"He is a man who taught me much, whom I haven't gotten a chance to see since I've been back. But nevermind him for now.  You should know better..."

 

His voice trailed away as Kopair and the boy walked out of earshot of where the man sat in the tree.

[Shoar]

Shoar chuckled and leaned back on his haunches, stretching his arms out. He hadn't realised there was a perfect gap in the branches that allowed people to see him from the ground here. He caught a snatch of the conversation between the youngling and the older man from below.

 

"Nothing important, just something reminded me of Aran." the older one said, while glancing straight up at Shoar. Shoar thought for a second "Aran, Aran... Doesn't ring any bells... Light, I used to know ever name and face here... The two down below wandered off, their voices fading.

 

Shoar sighed and allowed himself to properly sit down with his legs crossed. Easing his scabbards to one side, he unsheathed Cor'Aan, the sword he took from Ryell's father. He stared at it for a time, the light splaying across the darkened blade, the Dragon's Fang etched into the hilt of the sword. He remember how Ryell had told him the sword had been considered cursed and never used, then the first time Shoar had used it to fight... It was in the defense of Ryell...

 

He shook himself out of his revery and sighed again, sheathing the sword. He unsheathed his other blade, Mi'Cue, the one that Ryell had had crafted for him by the finest weaponsmiths in Shienar to go with Cor'Aan. She had had a hand in the crafting of it herself... She had taken up hammer and forge to help in the creation of it. The blade was a lighter colour then Cor'Aan, with the Flame Of Tar'Valon on the hilt to match Cor'Aan.

 

Pulling out a whetstone, he began sharpening the blade, eyeing it in the mid-afternoon light filtering down through the branches of the tree. After a short while he said "When are you going to say something? You've been there for a little while now." and kept sharpening the blade, his concentration on the task at hand.

 

OOC: As far as I know I still have my power-wrought blade... I'm sure the current versions of the Incarnations will let me know if that has changed of course! :)

 

Shoar Gaidin

[Wayfarer]

"I don't know, when were you going to present yourself to the Commander like you should have when you first walked through the inner gates?"

 

As far as Aran was concerned, there were much better ways that he could have spent his time.  But the Commander had insisted that Shoar, who for some obscure reason had decided to come to these grounds only to sit up in a tree and grind his sword, well, swords, be brought to him.  Why, Aran didn't know.  Probably something to do with security of the grounds or somesuch, or maybe just wanting a report from the erstwhile ex-Chief of Security as to what he'd been up to and why he'd bothered to drift back in to Tar Valon after so long.

 

Of course, there was a bit of curiosity on Aran's part, where had Shoar been indeed?  It had been a number of years since Aran had seen the man, though he doubted Shoar would ever have been able to place him.  Then again, if the man was silly enough to cry for attention by seating himself in the middle of a tree where he was barely visible, yet he'd been seen climbing, then there was something decidedly odd about the man.  Maybe too much time in the sun, scrambled the man's brains or somesuch.  Then again, he had been a Warder, and all of them got a little strange in the head given time.

 

"Which would be why I'm here, if you'd be so kind as to get your arse down from your perch then we can take a nice stroll to the Commander's office.  Either that or I start throwing rocks because I am not climbing up there after you.  I have many more important and rewarding things I could be doing, like sitting down.  That means move it, old man.  Don't break too many bones on the way down because I'm not carrying you either."

 

Walking a few feet away from the tree, Aran fetched himself a couple of rocks on the ground before sitting himself down.  He didn't anticipate having to actually use them, but if he had to he'd be pleasantly lob rocks at the man till he came down.  Aran had been perfectly fine meditating, though Brand had called it sleeping on the job.  Nevermind that he wasn't actually on duty, but Shoar had needed fetching so that was that.

 

Maybe Shoar was addled.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Shoar]

Shoar examined the edge of the blade as the man below spoke, eyeing it for any nicks. Satisfied, he picked up the scabbard and sheathed the sword, picking it and it's twin up. He got to his feet, putting one hand on the trunk of the tree and staring at it.

 

"You know, this tree was only a quarter of it's size when it was named Shoar's Tree. By my mentees, of course. Mostly because I spent so much time up here, but the other reason was because I used to make them spend the night up here when they'd misbehaved." he chuckled, catching the first rock that came speeding up from down below.

 

He began tossing the rock up and down, stepping backwards to avoid the second one. "There's also another reason but I can see you're not interested in that." he said as he sidestepped to avoid another and caught the second that had been thrown at him. He stepped off the branch and sailed to the ground, moving his head to avoid another stone. As he landed nimbly, a last stone nicked him on the ear as it sailed past.

 

He paused, reaching up to scratch the area around his eyepatch, then straightened. "Well, well. You do have some skill." "I'm also out of practise..." he thought to himself. "Very well, let's go see this fellow of yours." letting the rocks drop to the ground, he motioned for the younger man to follow.

 

Shoar Gaidin

[Wayfarer]

Aran couldn't say he was particularly impressed by the fact he'd had to motivate the older man to get out of the tree, but he'd managed to restrain himself from braining the man outright at least.  Commander Ryota probably wouldn't have been particularly impressed with him if he'd decided to bring Shoar in over his shoulder rather than by his side.  That and it would require carrying the man, and Aran objected strongly to the notion of exerting more effort on this particular endeavour than was required.

 

He was definitely not carrying a man more than a foot his height, as Aran got to his feet he was reminded of the fact that there was quite a difference in size between them.  Tossing the rocks still in hand aside, he brushed his hands on his breeches and shook his head at Shoar as he gestured for him to follow.  "You don't know where you're going, office is somewhere else now."

 

Walking past Shoar, he gestured for the man to follow in turn.  They got some looks as they walked past a number of trainees, Tower Guard and Warders, some of the latter no doubt recognising him, but if they did they didn't approach.  There would be time for that later, and there were things that needed doing like training and teaching.  Things that other people did that didn't particularly appeal to Aran.  All the running and jumping and the swinging of lathes and various other dangerous activities that weren't particularly conducive to good health.

 

Arriving outside the office, Aran shrugged at the old man who was looking at him.  "I wasn't chasing after you."  Knocking on the door, Aran opened the door as they were called to enter.  Filing in after Shoar, Aran smiled as he reported to the man behind the desk.  "Old and long past his prime ex-Chief of Security Shoar Dumbadaemor accounted for, permission to return to previous activity sir?"

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[silhouette]

“Oh what the… They’re kidding me, right?”

 

These were the words that Brand Ryota, Commander of the Guard muttered to himself when he saw Shoar wander through the yards and climb up a tree while still armed to the teeth. Of all the people they had to go and let in without disposing him of his arms and sending him to a captain or even a lieutenant, it had to be bloody Shoar. “That’s just sweet. I mean, why make me look like in incompetent idiot in front of some Aes Sedai who couldn’t care less when you can make me look like an incompetent fool in front of a former Chief of Security?”

 

Deciding that he was getting nowhere by just talking to himself, he wandered out of his office. Before he could get very far, he realised that the occasion probably demanded that he wore a shirt. He despised such occasions. “You there!” he called out to the nearest trainee. “What would you do to a pair of guards that let a fully armed man walk straight into the yards without asking him what his business is?” The trainee paled considerably as he thought of the options. “Uh… Sir? I’d probably have them cleaning stables for a month, sir.” Brand frowned. That was a lot milder than what he had in mind. “Fine. Get to the gate and tell the guards there they are to report to the stables as soon as their duty is done. Orders from the commander.”

 

The boy scurried off. That only solved part of his problem though. And tempting as it was, he couldn’t exactly send a trainee over to Shoar to tell him to bugger off back to the Blight, where he was no doubt wanted. Instead his eyes settled on Aran, who was sleeping with his back against a tree. He gave Aran’s leg a little kick, waking him up soon enough. “Well what do you know… that actually works.” He mused, letting Aran rant about the abuse he had to suffer from the Staff these days. “Aran. I don’t care, alright? Shut up, and fetch Shoar for me.” He got a blank look from Aran. “Other tree. Fetch.”

 

And with that said, he could safely return to his office, where a nice and clean shirt lay waiting for him. By the time he was settled behind his desk again he was feeling a lot better about the situation. He was Commander these days, and barring a few incidents with a few idiots from time to time, things were fine. He barely even glanced at Aran when the little man barged in after Shoar. “Yes, go back to ‘meditating’ or whatever it is you kids call it these days.” He muttered, focussing on Shoar instead. “Have a seat.” He said, disliking the fact that the man was looking down on him. “And while you’re at it, why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here?”

 

~Brand Ryota

Commander

 

Ooc: Sorry about the hostility, Brand just doesn’t like it when random old dudes make him look like a fool ;) I think he would have been a fairly new blademaster around the time Shoar left, so that’s why he recognises him.

 

[Shoar]

Shoar nodded his head at the smaller man as he walked out the door. "Dumbadaemor ey? I'll have to remember that one..." he chuckled to himself, a twinkle in his eye.

 

Shoar took the seat, glancing around the room as he did so. It had not changed much, all of his personal items had gone, of course, but it was still the same old room he had spent so many years in. While he was glancing around the room, he said "I am here to fulfill an old promise to someone." he said, turning and looking at the man seated on the other side of the desk. "Someone long gone from this world."

 

He leaned forward, clasping his gloved hands together and staring at the current Commander, Brand Ryota Shoar now recognised him as, with his eye. "I made a promise to my first Bondholder, Ryell, to never die. I mean to keep it too. Despite the fact I have been in the Blight, hunting Shadowspawn for the past 13 years does not mean I have surrendered to the Bleakness." He smiled wryly at this. "Ryell would kill me. The loss of three bonds may have been enough to drive me away, but not enough to force me to end my life in the Blight."

 

He leaned back and continued talking "I return to train and to teach, that is all. My principle reason is to return here to train, as my skills have lessened fighting nothing but Trollocs and Fades. They are enough to keep my skills sharp but I lack the finesse I once had. Perhaps it is due to age" he smiled wryly at this "but neverthless, I need to train, to improve, to become as I once was."

 

With his next words, his eye flashed and his forehead creased into a frown. "I also return to teach, to teach younglings what it means to be Gaidin. The name appears to have become something of a mockery, if the reactions of the party from Tar Valon I met during the Kandor Siege was anything to go by." with this he stood and began pacing the room, his voice taking a sharper tone. "The Guards are, to a man, entirely disciplined, skilled and exceptional at their job." He paused at this. "Except the two fellows at the front gate." He turned and folded his arms. "But the respect for Gaidin is gone. Commander, I can remember a time when the title of Gaidin was respected on the same level as that of Tower Guard. From what little I see it is now a symbol of derision, of division between the two groups."

 

"I do not question your methods or your teaching. From what little I have seen, the Guard could not have been left in better hands when I departed. But this disrespect for Gaidin is something I can not and will not stand for. Even if I cannot change the perceptions currently held, even if it is futile, I cannot just stand idly by and do nothing."

 

He sighed and returned to his seat "Maybe I am just a foolish old man. Maybe the loss of my bonds takes a harsher toll on me then I first thought. But I will not stand for some impudent little upstart mocking me and the sacrifice I and many others before me have made. Not someone who has never felt themselves be bonded to another, soul to soul, then to have that soul ripped out and replaced with nothing but emptiness and Shadow." He wilted a little at this, then sat up, firmness and resolve returning to his demeanour. "That is why I have returned. I do not crave my old positions. I do not crave recognition. I am merely here to train and to pass on my knowledge to new generations."

 

He sat back, watching the other man who had kept silent during his tirade. Shoar did not enter the Spring, instead deciding to leave himself open for this discussion.

 

OOC: There ya go ;) He's got his same temperment and he REALLY doesn't like people dismissing Gaidin. Might make for a fiery argument if it works out that way. *l*

 

Shoar Gaidin

Warder

[silhouette]

The urge to stab the man on the other side of the desk in the face was neigh overwhelming. Brand inhaled slowly, and pushed it aside as he always did. If he went and stabbed every single idiotic, thick headed, arrogant, self absorbed whiner in the face, he would be out of Tower Guards to Command within a week. “And you have deducted these things after having been here for… what? Two hours? And meeting with what? Three guards and one warder? Truly, your skills surpass my own by miles.”

 

“You will have to forgive my sarcasm, Shoar, but I find it hard to believe that you’ve seen all these things after returning from the blight so recently. You’ve spent the last decade living in the world that moved on without you. You’ve let it move on, locking yourself in your grief while the White Tower moved on, retaining the need to be protected from the Shadow.” Brand rose from his seat. “While you were off fighting your righteous war against the Shadow, we have been here, fighting ours.”

 

“For the past decade, we have installed a military system that has made Tar Valon stronger. Instead of relying on the individual, we can now rely on the Tower Guard as a whole. Instead of viewing the Tower Guard as a pool of rejects who could not get a bondmate even with the help of the Creator himself, they have become the strong and proud foundation of the army of Tar Valon. And you say that they should be ashamed because they have not felt the bond of an Aes Sedai settle upon their mind?”

 

“There is no shame in this, Shoar. Nor is there shame in leaving the ranks of the Tower Guard to become a Gaidin. The title of Tower Guard holds as much honour as the title of Gaidin. Each of us here live to serve the White Tower, and each of us do so in our own way. If you are to stay here, and teach, and train, and be a worthy asset to the White Tower once more, you have some choices to make. You have to decide whether you wish to remain stuck in your own world, which has not been the same as ours for the past decade, or whether you wish to move forward with us. Become a full Tower Guard, or be bonded again. It is your choice, and I will not limit you in that. What I will ask of you, is that you stay in line. Neither our Tower Guards nor our Gaidin will enjoy hearing your opinions of them. I merely wish to keep the peace in the yards, and I will defend it from any threat, whether that threat comes from the shadow, or from the hearts of men.”

 

~Brand Ryota

Commander

 

Ooc: Sorry for the massive delay, I had to wrestle Brand into submission first.

 

[Shoar]

Shoar leaned back, listening to the younger man’s words. Anger and rage rose up, but the Spring was there to absorb everything, all the emotional energy pouring into that one font of strength he relied on so heavily. He opened a channel into it and let out a slow breath as a feeling of calm descended upon him.

 

Brand rose from his seat and leaned over his desk, looking hard at Shoar. He continued his tirade, Shoar looking impassively back. When the younger man had finished, he sat down, glaring at the older man. Shoar locked eyes with him and began to speak.

 

“I do not wish the Tower’s Military Force to become lessened, nor do I wish the titles of either to hold less of a meaning as the other. All I ask is that there be equality and the sacrifices of one are not mocked by the other. Yes, I will always consider myself a Gaidin. I may not have the grace of the Bond upon my mind at the moment, but I will always consider myself thus.”

 

He leaned forward and said “But at the same time, I respect those who become Tower Guards and ONLY Tower Guards. That is their wish, their decision. You misunderstand me, because I never intended it to be believed I thought them to be the lesser of the two. If I thought that I would not have had any Tower Guard left under me.” He paused, choosing his next words carefully.

 

“Perhaps I was wrong and leapt to a hasty conclusion. Unfortunately the Blight does not tend to be forgiving of someone who takes his time to think on things and snap decisions are often needed. I have carried this with me when returning, I see, and I apologise.”

 

“If it means I am able to train, to study and to teach, I would like to formally apply to be a Tower Guard. I will not stay in the Yards, with your leave. I have lodgings of my own in the city.” Shoar finished, waiting on the younger man’s response. ”Pride of the bloody Tower indeed, Shoar Gaidin, fallen Warder.” he thought bitterly.

 

OOC: The last part was aimed at himself. ;) Considering I’m not the most hated person in the yards I’m gonna make this last post a bit more submissive… I’m still not quite sure how it all happened. O_o

 

Shoar