Down Memory Lane (Attn: Cyrain)

[Lih-Lyh]

Coo gives her comfort, courage, and confidence.

 

Running in the hall violated the rules, to be sure. However, some things were definitely worth getting into trouble for. Scarcely tarrying to curtsey to the Mistress of Novices after her dismissal, Saline bounded up the steps three at a time. Harder work than it sounded too, for it had been way easier to tumble down these narrow stairs than zoom up. Though her footfalls treaded heavier onto the marble grooves, her heart felt light and her cheeks suffused with a flame not evident that morning, even though she did her stretches in the chippy frost that blanketed the Yards. In the dark, big startled eyes of the cleaning lady peered from the tapestries and recognised the glowing face rushing toward her person. A dreamy expression, not'all hard to read. Yet the veiny hand spouting that feather duster trembled as though it were summoning strength to ward off a fainting spell. Fragments of memory flashed, brightening as though only an hour passed not a year, and even as her feet drummed into the very spot she could see freckles, hear the noisy tears, and felt Salandrian's dark curls upon her head. As soon as the Altaran had appeared she was gone, shattered by the thump the liveried feather duster-er pronounced. Ssssmited! Crafting a swift apology Saline plunged forward. Nothing could get in her way now, not rules, not even embarrassment. Steadily she got out of sight and was homefree to trapse recklessly across the terrain of the Blue Ajah, never minding that Estel bloody Liones catching her before she took the stairs in all their glorified stretches.

 

Odd how from below the stairs looked straight but as you go along it wound and twisted like the serpents on that tapestry from Jagen Sedai's chamber. Still she sucked in her gut and did her best to keep a good posture, back ramrod, shoulders rolled back, chin out as her legs ignored the burning and did not falter beneath the rainbow hem. Yes, she might be a bit crazy, but in a good way. After a year of separation her dearest friend in the world would be coming back. Try as the Taraboner would to restraint her eagerness and announce it to the Tower, she really wanted to see Rory again.

 

The High rang a tone, its pealing bells recalled to mind the beads she once wore that would chatter whenever she shook her head. There was so much she had changed that she wanted Rory to share, and she almost missed a step, for the Illianer's merry laughter chimed in her ears. At remembrance Saline's heart yearned, soared, and swooped before settling into a brisk trot. Timmons once told her that the only way to wade upstream was to take small steps, and keep moving. Saline kept moving, comparing her previous dumpiness to this less padded body.

 

For almost a decade she had not gone into the library by way of the Novice doors, but considering this was where she flung herself at Rory in a flying tackle the entrance had value. She gave a nervous look of query to the Brown Sister on duty there, who luckily paid the Accepted no mind. In the library Rory had resisted her advances of course, and Saline ended up being knocked to the floor with a book. The Sisters never got The Common Causes of Headaches back. Saline procured it for her own purposes, mostly to read aloud when trying to lull Rory to sleep. Although the book and she were both quite thick, her skull prevailed through long nights of repetition and she knew every word of it.

 

Best not think about bedtime stories. The greatest thing to be said for long summer nights was her tan. Somehow morning runs had given her a golden tan that lasted even during the winter. Before this she burned. Not anymore, and soon Rory would know too.

 

And what she really ought not think was suppressing that desire to show her body to her roommate, the very mention of its presence had brought the tingles to her spine again. No, she would do her utmost to ignore this. Despite her natural slenderness, Rory would be happy Saline had gotten in a shape less round as well, and it would not do if the latter should eat so much in celebration that all the training she had put in with Lyssa cycled the drain. Saline had kept some curves, but their softness hardened to the muscley suet of a guardswoman. Her shape was beautiful how it is, and she intended to keep in shape.

 

In case you hadn't noticed, Saline's thoughts were all scrambled what with Darienna Sedai's good news, and gathering material to prepare for the return of a desperately missed roommate. Because of her preoccupation a curious incident occurred, but she did not think any more of it than she would have. Or rather at him, the man she brushed into. A man in the library, like 'Rome, was rare in the Tower, and such an attractive fellow would have drawn droves were he not also in an obscure section, what with the contrast of his dark hair and sunkissed skin. He may or may not have apologised but she took a shine to his quiet smile. Smiling back she blinked at his bundle for a moment before waving him on rather cheerfully. Delicious as he appeared unless he was an almond cake, she was simply not interested. Going to one of the stools she plopped her pouch down, and claimed her seat.

 

Across the table was where 'Rome had once sat and attracted all the Initiates' attention. Saline was glad to see nobody paid any mind to her, as she retrieved a card from an index drawer, and crept along the shelves matching numbers with titles. There was a great book, the mother of all books on how to make any sort of cake this side of the Spine, it was reputed to be the biggest cake book the Tower, with its super famous inventory, had. She had heard of it across her research for Rossa's Soup Kitchen but did not wish to intrude upon the Blue for recipes. Besides, the idea was to prepare everything herself. For Rory she would brave this monster of a tome and whip up the best almond cake ever baked, or go blind trying.

 

There was but a teensy problem with this plan.

 

The cake book wasn't there. And from what the Brown Sister at the desk said, the Mistress of Novices had issued it months ago. Whatever use Darienna Sedai had for cake recipes Saline did not know, but she was a tad miffed that she had to make do in want of Rory's company and the ideal recipe. A furrow deepened as Saline perused another recipe, this inferior one calling for two sticks of butter. Having no intention of smelting a cake of lard, Saline decided to turn her thoughts into a more positive venue by considering her alternatives. A pie perhaps. It was certainly more healthy, 'specially if she used apples. To make up for the lack of cake they could go out to the juniper and picnic there instead, if the day was nice and Rory was returning after the rains had gone. Yes, a picnic would be grand. She hadn't had a decent picnic since her Mentor Perine Sedai's day out, which was not only ages ago, but also an event organised by somebody else. This would be all Saline's work, to make or break, and there were so many things that needed attending to . . .

 

Setting out a quill she wetted its nib with gusto. How she would jot notes, then compose a rhyme for easy memorisation! There was already a tune to fit the words, proving some measure of truth in 'Rome's observations. When Saline Wastrel cooked her friends were happy, but when Saline hummed he never doubted she was.

[Liitha]

Cyrain had learned the trainee she was to see this morning had ended in the sick quarter, it wasnt her day off, but she didnt intend to stick around and let anyone know she was free of work now. Casualy she walked towards the white tower, she had never loved books overly much, but had learned the libary to be a good place to hide out.

 

She went in not looking at the Aes Sedai behind the desk by the door, you looked you got noticed, and there was always work. She slowly made her way through the book shelves, and then picked up a random book for excuse if needed, before making her way towards her hiding corner.

 

She stoped abruptly as she rounded the corner, someone was sitting there, the bad ligth in this corner ment none ever used it. She made to turn when she senced she had been noticed and stoped to apologise for disturbing