An unexpected re-union (attn: Con)

Arette · May 12, 2006

A wind breezed through a small patch of woods at the edge of farming village in southern Andor plastering the cloak of a woman pulling water from a well to her back. She turned the winch effortlessly until the bucket was at her reach. The muscles on her arms tensed as she raised the bucket over the rim, but a curse escaped her lips as she splashed water on her simple dress. Instinctively she looked around to make sure that the Wisdom wasn't at the hearing range. Such foul language could earn her a mouthwashing with soap or she might escape only with a stern lecture. It still mystified her that the simple village Wisdom coaxed such reaction and respect from her. After all, she was Arette Nenatiar, an Aes Sedai and the former Keeper of the Chronicles. In the days of her height she had commanded the attention of Queens and Kings and a herd of servants and novices had been at her beck and call to fulfill menial tasks like this. In those days she could have also merely willed so and the One Power would have done the deed for her.

Unlike her poor Karana, she still had the One Power at her reach, singing constantly it's siren song at the back of her mind and making her wish to embrace it, to feel it fill her with life. Now she no longer used the Power unless she absolutely had to. At first Willamina had forbid it, but then it had become her own principle too. She had come to realize that the Aes Sedai relied too much on the Power and even when they wielded it, it wasn't for the benefit of the common people as it should have been. They were the Servants of the All, but they did not play the part. Arette believed that she hadn't understood what it truly meant to be a Servant until now, even though she had laboured for her foster family as a child and young woman and later as a novice. Even reaching the shawl had only made her haughtier and more distanced from the real world. Willamina had snapped her out of her delusions of grandeur and self-pity and made her work with her body and soul again as her apprentice. At first Arette had resented it, like she had resented the woman and chores of novicehood. She had accepted her lot only because Telcia insisted on it. But with the months she had come to grudgingly like the woman and then understand her and eventually admire her. Now she gave Willamina nigh the status of her respected mentor Karana. It was truly something for their friendship span back over a century.

But here she was standing idle and reminescing when her precious girls were inside still and soundly asleep. They would wake up soon and need their porridge and bath. She just couldn't help smiling stupidly when she thought of her dolls Rana and Cina. Everything in her had mellowed since they had been born. And even it sounded a cliche even to her own ears, she hadn't known what it meant to love unselfishly and unconditionally until now. If only she had loved their father like that, she thought with sorrow. Light, she wasn't certain if she had even loved Con, when she compared it to this emotion. There had been enough passion to blow off the top of the Dragonmount, but they had been in so very beginning and faced so many obstacles, the largest one being Arette herself and her jealousy and inability to trust him and his feelings for her. No, but now was not the time to think him. He was gone and lost to her forever. And lost to the girls too. They would grow up with uncle Calvin and her and never miss a father. Of course she would tell them about Con if they ever asked and even if they didn't, she would tell them when they were older. Maybe they would find their father then one day... if they just wanted to.

She sighed and was about to go back to the farmhouse, when hoofbeats from the road alerted her. She wondered fearfully who in the Light it could be and embraced Saidar, drinking deep until it filled her to her brims and the edge where sweetness became pain. Calvin it wasn't since the bond told her that he was still faw away with the search party. After the taking of Telcia's children, the whole village had been paranoid about strangers and Arette not the least. She was deeply ashamed of her great thankfulness that her own girls hadn't been taken, but she grieved for her friend for her loss of her children. But Arette had sworn that she would bring them back to her and she intended to keep her vow on her salvation and hope of rebirth. Unlike Telcia, who had lost all hope already, Arette believed that the children were still alive. The Shadow had clearly come for them and only them. There was some bigger game at play here and she would dig to the roots of it. But first she would find out who approached her home and children right now.

Her Saidar enchanced sight soon picked up two riders coming through the forest, their white cloaks rippling in the wind and the golden sunbursts on their chests gleaming. Their gear identified them as Whitecloaks and her heart drummed faster with fear. Dear Light, had they heard of the incident with the Shadowspawn too and come to investigate? In Andor?! Surely they knew then of channeling involvement and had inquisitors with them. Had they come for her and what would happen to her babies if she perished? She wished dearly now that she hadn't sent Calvin away today. He wasn't a Blademaster yet, but he would have given a good match to two Whitecloaks and bought her enough time to subdue them. She forced steel to her knees and thanked the Light for still thinking clearly despite the adrenaline rush on her veins.

There was only two of them, but her Oaths forbid her from using the Power as a weapon unless she was threatened. The Whitecloaks could be a danger, but she knew that she might be able to speak to them and diminish their suspicions. Then she could grab the girls and leave immediately. She would keep her promise to Telcia, but she could wait no longer for her expert to arrive. She had no intention of loosing her life in an unnecessary skirmish such as this was bound to be if it came to that. Arette wove carefully but quickly a Mask of Mirrors around herself and knotted the thread. Fire, Spirit and Air just so and the Whitecloaks would see a dark haired woman with slight white wings on her temples, who looked just like her but with a placable age. The creases and the true signs of her years would make most guess that she was maybe fourty.

The riders were getting closer. They both wore helmets and the other a heavy plate armour and it made her even more nervous that she couldn't see their faces and read their emotions. But nervous was good, she guessed, because that was how genuine countryfolk would react in a situation like this. Though it usually only made Whitecloaks even more certain that there was something going on, because why otherwise people had cause for fear. Oh Light! She prepared to meet them in the middle of the yard, as far away from the house as she could without it seeming odd. When they were three horse lenghts away, she prepared as thick webs of Air as she could muster to trap the soldiers if they made a move on her. She also gave a deep curtsy and wished fervently that her gesture would stop them.

"Is there aught I can help you with good sirs?", she asked with an unfaked tremor in her voice.

Arette Nenatiar

Retired Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah

Former Keeper of the Chronicles

Bonded to Calvin Gaidin

Mother of Karana and Telcina

Wayfarer · May 12, 2006

Riding towards the village, Con found himself wondering about the letter he had received. How Telcia had known to find him.... Well, she did have eyes and ears as all Aes Sedai did. She had told him of her missing children, and how she had many searching yet, she feared it wouldn't be enough. If he could manage it, he was to meet a woman in the village, one who dwelled in a certain farm just outside it. She possibly knew where to find the children, yet she couldn't entrust such a mission to any other.

No matter what colours he wore, Con would ride for Telcia if she asked, and so he had found a way to make it so. As much as it disgusted him to lie, he had managed to spin the story that a kinswoman of his had her children kidnapped, possibly by darkfriends, and he wished to take men with him to investigate. Lord Captain Milah had agreed, and as a leash an inquisitor had been assigned to him, one who rode beside him now as he made his way to the village.

Yet Brandeis was no leash, after so long they had become close companions. The Hand could not object because the there was an inquisitor with him, and Lord Captain Milah knew there would be no issue between the two. Yes, it was a good thing that it was Brandeis with him now. Brandeis and other Children Con was friendly with. It had taken time, but he'd proven himself true to them, and they would prove themselves true now.

Still, there was risk in their venture. Con knew that it was possible that they rode into a trap. Aes Sedai swore to speak no lie, yet that didn't mean they couldn't put it down to paper, or have someone else do it for them. It was that two faced nature to the Aes Sedai amongst many reasons that had led him to leaving the Tower Guard to begin with. That was one of the reasons he'd decided to wear the plate that day. They'd need quite a powerful crossbow or arrow to punch through it.

The farmstead was close, and he could already espie a figure. Clearly female as they got closer, her clothes were of plain colours as well. Perhaps one of Telcia's eyes and ears. Slowing to a canter as they closed, she had come to meet them, performing a deep curtsey. Before Con could say anything, she spoke.

No.

Looking at her face closely, it took him but a moment and his shock paralysed him. Telcia had done this, she'd thought that if he had known it was here he would never have come! Yet there was a part of him that wondered whether that wasn't true. Of all the daggers that twisted inside him, hers was one of the cruelest of all.

It was Brandeis shifting in his saddle to look at him that woke Con from his stupor. Indeed, even she was looking at him strangely, out of fear perhaps, nervousness, who knew. Clearly she did not know it was him that sat before her. Bringing his gauntleted hands to his Basinet, he lifted the helm clear to reveal his face, a face that was coldly flat, disciplined to reveal nothing as he spoke.

"Collect your things, we have work to do."

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

Arette · May 12, 2006

Rising up slowly from her curtsying position, Arette examined the two men before her. The other one had clearly straightened when he heard her speak and became somehow... statue-like would have been the word. The other Whitecloak was looking at him, so obviously he was the leader. Why had he reacted so strangely? There was something odd going on here and she prepared to freeze them any moment now. Then the leader lifted his helm and it was her turn to experience unadulterated shock. Telcia had arranged this! Light, she would have left immediately if she had known who Telcia had sent for. Or maybe not, considering how she had just moment ago lamented loosing him for good. His words shattered any hope of forgiveness, though. If he had any feelings left for her, he kept them carefully under a lid. Nothing had changed since Tar Valon. Except her and... she looked closer at him, some mean soul could have said that she drunk every feature of him, and it was obvious from his being that he had found the self-confidence he had lacked. He also radiated now the same menace the Warders did and Arette guessed that he had grown even better with the blade. And he had grown a beard! It was neatly trimmed, but still a beard. Arette stared at it with consternation.

"Con, you have grown a beard", she stated the obvious in an accusatory tone. "How is a woman supposed to kiss a man with a bush like that?"

She realized that she had been thinking aloud from the reaction of Con's companion. She blushed crimson and was absolutely mortified. She wanted to quickly change the subject and then to fall under the ground.

"I mean... I'm sorry... Please forget that I ever spoke. I.... Con, please..." She drew a deep breath that she wished would calm her jittery nerves. He was smelling of horse and leather and steel and obviously they had been traveling for a few days. But underneath it all was his own scent that she had breathed for so many nights before. Light, what was she thinking?! She shuddered and released Saidar. There was no need for that. She just couldn't believe that Con would harm her. Especially not after he heard about the girls and she intended to tell him as soon as possible that he had become a father.

"Con, there is something that you don't know. We just can not leave before that matter is cleared. I sent you a letter that was returned to me by...", she glanced at his companion and never finished the sentence.

"Can we please speak in private?"

Arette Nenatiar

A former Aes Sedai with her foot in her mouth

Wayfarer · May 12, 2006

Con had thought perhaps that Arette had maybe had a part in arranging the meeting, yet it was clear she didn't. Her old habit, whenever she wasn't focused or whenever she was surprised, she wouldn't realise she was speaking her mind and let the strangest things slip. She had feelings for him? No! That was a stupid mistake to entertain that thought, she'd already made clear exactly where they stood. She couldn't lie, and she'd told him outright that she had never really loved him, he'd been nothing more tha a toy, an amusement.

The dagger twisted just a little deeper at that thought. One of the many things that constantly wore at him, knowing that he had been used. He'd felt... but it didn't matter anymore, she'd torn that piece out of him, knowing that it had all been a lie. He thought his face would break as his jaw clenched, all he could feel was pain, and shame, and anger. That served to frustrate him further because he had thought that after so long it would have dulled, that it was dealt with.

How wrong he'd been.

Apologies came but they were a balm he didn't want, didn't need. Light how he hated that she could still touch him behind his walls. It just me him even angrier with himself, that despite what she'd done, he should have been able to wall her off. Perhaps it was because some pains were too deep, and this was one of the cruelest he felt. At that moment he truly resented Telcia, if there were any other possible way, he would have preferred it. He'd rather have fought an impossible battle than stand in the presence of the woman that had done what she had to him.

Yet Telcia must have had her reasons, there must have been no other way if Telcia asked it of him. She wouldn't have sent him to her unless there was no other hope of finding her children. Which was practically the only reason why he didn't immediately refuse her request to speak privately. Instead he sat there in silence, looking down at her with his eyes as hard like diamonds, thinking even as he watched.

After a time, Con turned to Brandeis and held him the reins and his basinet tentatively. He wasn't about to tell Brandeis to wait, but he would ask. There was another pause, but Brandeis relieved him of the reins and the helm. Leather creaked as Con stepped down from his saddle. As he did so, he looked about, yet he could see no sign of anyone else. Con was still wary, it could just as easily be a trap and Con had little doubt the Tower would use Arette to draw him. And little doubt that Arette would willingly aid them.

Keeping a hand on the pommel of his sword, Con followed Arette as she turned and led the way. He didn't like the idea of entering the house, it was cramped quarters, not ideal for his weapon, yet nevertheless he followed. Hopefully all she wished to do was simply give him news of Telcia, in which case he could understand the need for privacy. He could think of no other reason save for a trap that she would wish to speak to him so.

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

Sam · May 13, 2006

The inquisitor watched the exchange with an air of quiet menace. It was practiced; feigned. On the inside Brandeis was content and even rather enjoying himself. It wouldn't do for the "others" to become aware of is relishment at this change from his normal "duties." After all, he had a reputation and an image to maintain. He sat in a military saddle, staring ahead with polite disinterest.

I did not take long for him to realise something was amiss, at which point his Inquisitor instincts took over. The body spoke as often as the tongue and as most of his 'patients' were often in too much agony--or rendered incapable through other means--to speak, it was just as necessary to learn the lanaguage of their movements.

Brandeis preferred to keep his operations as simple and painless as possible. It took days, even weeks to break down a potential Dark Friend or spy. True, there were many of his fellow inquisitors who entertained such gruesome feats that their victims broke rapidly but it suited Brandeis to chip away slowly. To examine, cross-examine and then re-examine... and so it was that he ascertained nothing over and above the tension between the two. Now, had he both strapped down and given to his tender care...

He looked to Con, then to the woman at whom he was staring; back to Con.Curious. His companion had frozen. Seeming almost suspended in animation, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. Brandeis speared the larger man with a hard look, his eyes narrowing slightly. It was an indisputable fact that six times out of ten the reciever of a stare will instinctively turn to meet their silent accuser. Not so this time. Brandeis was about clear his throat loudly when Con seemed to shake free of his torpor. Interesting

His interest became bemusement as Con tentatively gestured his wishes. Bemusement passed: back to curiousity. He held the reins and helm, his eyes searing into the woman's back as she and Con disappeared from sight. Most interesting!

Arette · May 13, 2006

There was a long, tension filled moment with Con sitting on his saddle staring down at Arette with stony eyes and she arching her neck and staring back at him praying that he would come with her. Now he was as unreadable as ever and the walls were back twice as thick and tall, but there had been a visible reaction to her blurted words. Obviously she could string pluck strings in him; now she would just have to find a way to pluck them in a manner that would produce goodwill, not discord. He followed her a few steps behind, but she saw him watching around unobtrusively from the corner of her eye. She guessed that he was suspecting a trap and sighed quietly. He propably still thought her a pawn of the Tower. But she had had her inner struggle about this matter and she believed that the Tower didn't have the right to retain Con. The manner of his leaving had been so abrupt and insulting, like a thief sneaking off at the night, that it had become a question of pride for the Tower to have him back. They could call it securing the defenses, but all the arrangements had already been done to make any information Con had useless.

Arette stopped at the door. "I will go and retrieve the letter now. Please do not enter before that. You will know why after reading the letter. I sent it to you to Tar Valon since I didn't know that you had... departed. The Tower Guards returned it to me opened." She squirmed slightly, uneasy with the shaming memory. Until then the father of her child had been uncertain to the Tower, poor Calvin being the most popular suspect. She and Con had quit with such a bang after all.

"After that information they thought that you would surely come here and wanted to place a guard around the place. Telcia dissuaded them of that idea, but I'm sure that the Tower has Eyes and Ears close by." She sighed. "The villagers won't come here anymore, not after the show with the kidnappers. So the pidgeons aren't propably flying yet. But at least they are still helping with the search of Telcia's babies. Calvin is with them right now."

"Con, this is no trap. I'm not going to betray you to the Tower and I'm not going to harm you." Well, physically at least she wasn't. How he would take the news was a different matter then. "I will go inside now and you should stay here until you've read the letter."

Before he could argue, Arette opened the door enough for her to enter and closed it quickly behind her. The Whitecloak with Con would find it strange and so would he, but she was not going to let Con to upset the girls. She leaned on the door to draw a few deep calming breaths. She never approaced the babies emotional, even while they were asleep. Awake they picked her mood and got fussy. The letter was in a locked and Warded box beside the crib and as she passed it, she saw that Rana's eyes were wide open. The poor sweetheart must have been waiting for her for a while already as she had kicked her blanket away and her face was now decidedly puckered for a wail. And she was the louder of the girls with good lungs and a piercing cry.

Arette started making faces desperately and cooing calmingly but after a moment of thinking, the child opened her mouth and expressed her unease to the world. Arette was certain that the heart-breaking weeping was audible all the way to Con's companion. You couldn't put an egg back to the shell, so there was nothing else left to be done but to take the baby and quiet her with food. She started unbuttoning her dress with resignation. Once the baby was in a suckling position, she let out few more hickuping cries before settling to fill her belly. Arette smiled down at her and whispered silly non-sense endearments. Con and his Whitecloak friend could go to Pit of Doom for all she cared right now.

Arette Nenatiar

Mommy of hungry Karana and sleeping Telcina

Retired Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah

Wayfarer · May 14, 2006

Entertaining the notion of walking in, Con quickly discarded it. He wanted as little contact with her as he could manage, all she did was make all of his old wounds light up as if they were being put to the torch. Except instead of cauterising them, they were like embers that never entirely went out, occasionally flaring with a new breeze sweeping over them. Still, with Arette inside, he had the chance to think over the letter.

Turning and shrugging at Brandeis who was on the horse to let him know he wasn't sure what was going on either, Con stilled himself, trying to find some peace as he contemplated the letter. A letter opened by the Tower Guard, almost leading to Tower Guard setting up an ambush in this place. That would mean that the letter would need to contain information that was meant for him, something that would draw him to this place. Yet everyone knew that there was an unhealable rift between them, even if they didn't know why. It would have to be something of great enough importance to bring him, despite his feelings toward Arette. What would she have that could bring hi-

The wail that cut through the air snapped Con out of his thoughts as he turned towards the house. Looking to Brandeis he waved at the man to stay where he was and walking to the door, Con was about to let himself in when he realised that he was still wearing his plate mail. Fat chance of making a quiet entry in such gear.

As he hovered indecisively, the cries subsided, making the decision for him. Stepping away from the door, Con tightened then loosened his hands several times to work out his frustration. Clearly the cries of a child. Most likely some woman's from the village, and Arette had taken the role of wetnurse. He wished she would hurry up, he wanted to get the letter over and done with so they could be on their way. Time was wasting, and would probably be wasted further on the letter. Light he wished he was anywhere but where he was.

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

OOC: Wasn't sure if you wanted Con to go in, wasn't completely sure whether the house was just one big room or segmented so I steered clear of it :)

Arette · May 14, 2006

OOC: Yay, an answer! *g* I had forgotten how annoying and exciting it is to wait for another person to post. I'm sorry that I didn't bring in the letter already. I would have edited my post today if it wasn't the Mothers' Day. Kind of appropriate, though. *s*

IC: Over the satisfied noises of the baby suckling Arette could hear the anxious steps of the man in full plate behind the door. She was going to be tied down here for at least half a turn of an hour glass, so it might be the best if she slipped the letter out. It would hopefully give Con enough time to brood and get adjusted to the completely unexpected news. Light, she should have found some way to get the word to him somehow. She cursed Telcia for not telling her that she knew how to reach Con. Or maybe she had known, but just hadn't wanted to admit it to herself. She had anticipated this meeting ever since accepting that she was really going to do the Hall's bidding and raise the children herself - and love it. She had crafted a hundred different scenarios in her head of how he would take the news. And even few where he never found out and they would still live their lives happily ever after, the passion dulling into a fond memory. It was still possible actually. All she would have to do was to imply that the girls were a result of some random tryst. But she couldn't do that. The girls had right to their father one day, if he could come to accept that role, and Con had the right to know. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Her decision made, she retrieved the letter and opened the door enough to hold the it out.

"Now you know why you shouldn't come in, Con." There was a clear warning in her voice. "I'm nursing the baby now and she is calm. If you disturb her, you will not like it. Read the letter and afterwards once you've calmed down... well, maybe we can talk then."

He took the letter without a reply and she could perfectly imagine the look of steaming impatience and annoyance on his face. It sent a shiver through her spine. And even though he was wearing gauntlets, the short touch of their hands gave her a jolt. She snatched her hand back as if it had been burnt and banged the door closed with a little more strenght than was necessary. Rana didn't luckily even blink an eye.

"Well, the dice has been tossed now, love", Arette murmured to the baby in a low voice. "Daddy's going to soon find out about you and Cina and even though he will be a little angry..." Quite an understatement that. "....especially at Mommy, he is going to adore you. He will. He just has to. You will see."

She knew the short and simple words of the letter by heart. They had been extremely hard to write, to find the right extremely business-like tone and the correct words. She had settled for simplicity at the end after hundreds of torn and burnt pieces of parchment.

Con,

Read this letter!

I know that you despise me, but I would not write to you unless I absolutely had to. Sending you this message is the most difficult thing in my whole life and I will spare us both by not beating around the bush.

Six months ago we shared the bed for the last time and I am now pregnant. I have never slept with anyone else but you despite the impression otherwise that I gave you to hurt you. So you will be a father in late Choren.

If you do not believe that I am incapable of lying in spoken or written word, believe that I would not have the audacity to lie to you about a matter of this great importance.

Should you desire to act upon this knowledge, you will find me and Telcia from village of Fernhill in Southern Andor. I understand if I will never hear of you, though. But you had the right to know and now I have fulfilled my duty of telling you.

Arette

There was nothing else to be done but to pray and hope for the best.

Arette Nenatiar

Retired Aes Sedai

Mother of Karana and Telcina

Bonded to Calvin Gaidin

Wayfarer · May 14, 2006

Taking the letter, his gauntlets made opening it difficult yet he managed nevertheless. It only took him a moment to scan the contents, it took much longer for him to read it properly. It took longer yet again to read it once more, and again, and again, and again. His hands were beginning to shake as he did so, from which particular emotion he wasn't sure. He did know that there was one particular emotion that was beginning to come to the fore. Frustration, frustration at being manipulated, pushed, Arette had all of his buttons as it was and now she had another one to push, a child.

Dropping the letter on the verandah, he made his way over to where Brandeis was holding the reins to his horse and his helm. Brandeis must have guessed from the look on Con's face that Con didn't want to talk, because he said nothing, and neither did Con. Taking the saddlebags from the horse, he dropped them on the ground and began peeling his plate off. He felt like he needed to breath, yet he was careful, placing each item away as he took them off until it was completely removed. Putting his white cloak back on, he then proceeded to put the saddlebags on the horse once more.

Brandeis was looking at him as if he were a mad man, there was going to be so much that needed telling. Con wasn't going to lie to Brandeis to begin with, but even if he wanted to, he doubted he could ever have come up with a story to fool the man. Holding up his hands before him, Con spoke as a man under a great deal of strain. Particularly curious because he was always in control of himself as Brandeis knew.

"I do be knowing this be strange, but do be bearing with me. I do be needing just a moment, and then I do be sorting this out. I do be telling you all about this later."

At that, Con turned around and slowly meandered toward the small field that made up the farmstead's property. Just wandering slowly, he entered the field and letting his hand brush the shoots as he walked by, he could feel what was building up inside pushing, shoving, trying to get free. He just needed to get a bit further away, just a bit further. Halfway across the field.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGH!!!!! BLOODY BLOOD BLOOD BLOODY BLOOD AND ASHES!!! FLAMING BASTARD SON OF A WHORESON GOAT!!!!

To say that he roared as he cursed would have been an understatement. If not for the trees, they would have most likely heard him in the village. Swinging his arms and kicking anything and everything, including the ground, the cork had been popped and every bit of rage and anger he had was flowing out. If he had been of a more lucid mind, he might have been able to compare this with his younger days, when patience had not been one of his virtues and his temper had been like his family's. Stavrosi were famous on the Illian docks for such tempers, and it seemed that despite all of his years, all of his hard work and patience, it had still been there all along, underneath the surface.

It was a good five to ten minutes before he was done. Laying one final punch into the ground with a last curse, Con gulped in air as he rolled over onto his backside. He knew what he had to do now, and as much as part of him looked forward to it, most of him was dreading it altogether. Arette had finally won it seemed, when he'd thought that she couldn't get to him any further, that he was free, she proved all too well she had another ace up her sleeve to play.

Worse, she knew she'd gotten at him now. He'd been hoping to make it somewhere deep into the tree line where hopefully the trees would have buffeted the sound from the farm. Or better yet, the village would have been perfect because he would have been out of earshot. But no, she'd won that too.

Getting to his feet, he seemed alot more relaxed as he walked back to the farmstead. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Making his way up to the door, he hesitated for a moment, then knocked softly. Regardless of her, he wanted to see his child.

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

Arette · May 14, 2006

Resisting the temptation to peek at him reading the letter and gauging his reaction, Arette focused all her attention on humming to Rana and rocking her gently. Her concentration broke in few minutes, though to a roaring from their field. It was Con letting out his rage and it really scared her that he had been standing behind their door with such pent up frustration. She hugged the baby closer and kept on humming to get her jitteriness under control. Luckily the horrible sound from outside was over almost as soon as it had started.

Soon footsteps could be heard from the yard, getting closer and Arette knew that Con was ready to come in. He wouldn't do anything stupid with the children around, that she was sure of. But she couldn't guarantee that she wasn't going to do anything stupid; her nerves were such a wreck. She had sat up at some point, but now she stood up slowly to not disturb the baby. He knocked on the door and she paced around anxiously trying to desperately calm herself. "Come in", she finally called tremorously. Light, what would he think of her when he would see her so exposed. She had never had much curves, but motherhood had rounded her. Would he think that she was showing herself to him on purpose? And the white hair... Dear Light... but it was too late to do anything now.

Opening the door softly, Con slipped in and shut it behind him just as quietly. He had no wish to disturb the baby who was feeding at Arette's breast, yet at the same time he wanted to hold the baby. A girl, Arette had said she. Stopping just infront of Arette, he had eyes only for the child who nursed away vigorously. "What do her name be?"

Arette gulped visibly at the sight of him, but he didn't seem to be even noticing her, his eyes locked on the child. She wasn't certain that she was feeling only relief. She had to clear her throat a few times before she could reply his question. "She is Karana Constanzia... Stavros. I gave the girls your last name and... erhm... I've been going by it myself too, because...." But he didn't seem to be hearing her. He mouthed the word "girls" and looked around searchingly. Arette said simply. "Twins, like you and Mia. Telcina Electra is in the crib there still asleep." She wondered if he would see his siblings in the girls. Both, Con and she, had brown eyes and black hair and there was indeed a patch of dark birth hair on top of the heads of both the girls too and their eyes had darkened in the first month after birth. The clearest resemblance to their father was their skin. Arette was pale, but Con had the golden glow of Illianer olive skin.

Turning about, Con slowly walked over to the crib, and sure enough there was a second child in it fast asleep. Telcina Electra Stavros. Reaching down ever so gently, he took her tiny hand within his. As he did so, he couldn't help but feel something new wash over him, and at the back of his mind he could suddenly understand why his father had been so adamant about him never leaving the family in the first place. Now that he had seen the child, fantasies of a life with the children growing up as he raised them came to his mind.

But the smile that had started to form disappeared as Arette appeared in those fantasies, shattering them well and truly. Slipping his hand free softly so as not to wake the child, Con turned and walked back to Arette. Speaking quietly, there was no mistaking the fact that nothing was resolved between the two. "You no be thinking of taking these children with us."

Arette's mouth thinned at his words and her back straightened. Her voice was just as quiet as his when she spoke. "You are TELLING me to leave my children behind? I gave a promise to Telcia to find HER children. No, I swore it by my salvation and rebirth. And I intend to be the one to deliver Jelane and Jamal back to her. And speaking of safety, how much does your whitecloaked friend out there know? You obviously didn't know that I was here, so how many did you bring with you? What have you told them of the situation here?"

There was an audible crack as Con's hands clenched and knuckles popped, but he relaxed as best he could, for the sake of the children. "Our children Arette, our children." Spoken through his teeth, he took a moment to unclench it before continuing. "We be going on a search that do be involving the shadow, and you be wanting to be taking our children with us? Are you insane?"

Holding up a finger to show he wasn't finished, he took another moment before continuing. "The inquisitor out there do be a good friend, do be the men with me. They do be knowing that a kinswoman of mine do be having her children kidnapped, possibly by Darkfriends. They do be knowing that we do be meeting a person here that perhaps be having a lead. They no be knowing of the Tower, and certainly not that you be Aes Sedai. Telcia no be telling me that I be meeting you, and judging from your surprise she do no be telling you either. There do be ten in all, enough to be seeing us out of a tight spot."

Horrible indecision and guilt flashed on Arette's face when Con reminded her of the danger they would face. But at least he included her to the group that would be going. The group which included an inquisitor. An inquisitor! Bile rose to her throat and she clutched the baby closer until she whimpered and she eased her hold immediately.

"Trusted men and friends or not, they are still Whitecloaks. They will suspect something sooner or later. And you will need me, because there is channeling involved. And I'm not even certain that I will be enough... But the babies.... how could I leave them?"

"You be leaving them because I be telling you that you be doing so." Subtlety eluded Con for the moment. "There do be danger in our mission, and no doubt we do be covering a great deal of distance. Too much for them. They do be safer here in this village than with us. As to travelling with those of us that do be wearing the sunburst, it be this simple. Travel with us, or be staying here and be breaking your oath to Telcia."

Living already the pain of the possibility of being apart from the girls in her mind's eye, Arette almost missed Con's bossy words and attitude. Oh yes, he had definately gathered some backbone and nerve during the past year. But this wasn't about who was wearing the pants. She couldn't deny the truth in his words, though. In every single one of them and it galled like salt water on wounds. But it was her decision still and she wasn't going to slip into a submissive role at this fragile stage of affairs.

"The babies are still nursing, they need their mother. And 10 blades should be more than enough to keep us safe."

She was being difficult, naturally. Yet as much as he wanted to keep the children close by, so he could start caching up on all that he had missed, he knew the realities of it. Leaning in close, Con's face was separated from Arette's no more than an inch as he stared her down. "You do be having two choices. Either you be travelling with us, and be leaving the babies with a wetnurse or one of the other mothers of the village. Or, you do be telling me where to be searching, I be riding off and you do be staying here. It would no be the first time you broke faith."

Arette clenched her hands into fists when Con tossed up the choice of a wetnurse as if the girls were simply inconvenient packages to be left behind. His second option handed her a weapon, though. Her satisfaction didn't last for long as he started going into personal attacks. But it was only to be expected and she could hit under the belt too. "I have faith enough, Con dear, and at least I was here doing something and taking care of our children, rather than going to a self-pitying quest of heroism after sneaking off into the night. And you have it all backwards, I don't need you or your help. I don't have to tell you anything."

There was a pause where Con stopped breathing as he absorbed what she said, then he spoke levelly, yet his anger was at the edges of it. "Children that you be hiding from me..... You no be changing at all. No be stupid all your life, you do be a guide, but I be the means to be getting you anywhere. I be going outside, and you do be having until Karana be fed to be deciding. When you do be deciding, your name be Liselle, you be a wetnurse for my kinswoman." Turning away, Con let himself out quietly to let Arette fume. She had no choice, she knew it, and she'd have to decide to do the right thing. That or she'd go nowhere, and if she had any sense left at all, she'd realise his threat wasn't hollow.

Arette & Con

Arette · May 14, 2006

Con's stiff back retreated from her vision and Arette closed her eyes from the pain. Oh Light, it had begun again. They were tearing at each others like a cat and dog. She had thought that she had changed and matured, but obviously he brought the worst out of her. But he had hurt her and her first reaction to the unfamiliar pain had always been to lash back. Where was all that new self-control that Willamina had cultivated in her for all these months? Before she would have blamed this all on Con, but she had grown at least wise enough to realize that it was she, who made the choices, no matter how someone else pulled the strings. And that no matter who had begun the quarrel, it was more important who put an end to it.

So soon she would go and apologise Con and tell him everything that she knew about the kidnap. But first she would have to make the tough decision regarding the girls. The story about the wetnurse just wouldn't hold water if she took Rana and Cina with her. Con was right about them slowing the group down. Light, without the girls she and Calvin would already be north, hot on the trail. The Whitecloaks might allow her to come along because of her oath and leaving her own children behind would be strong enough proof of her faith and determination. And traveling would not do good for the babies. They needed routine and stable environment. Still, she just couldn't leave them behind. The girls needed her and none of the women in the village could offer them the same love and care than she could. But was it worth the risks? Was she really argumenting here for the good of the babies and not herself?

Arette wrecked her mind for the rest of the feeding, wrestling with herself and thinking dozens of elaborate cover stories for why she just absolutely had to have the babies with her and why the Whitecloaks should let her to. However, the only one that they might accept was the truth and that would reveal Con's lie and most likely get her killed. There just was no other option. By the time the movements of Karana's mouth slowed down and she was slowly dozing off, Arette fought against tears. It would kill her to leave them behind. She would feel a little safer about it by leaving Calvin with them. He would protest, but not too hard, because these tiny ladies had already wrapped his heart around their little fingers. Rana slept already but Arette still held on to her, breathing her baby smell and wetting a drool wiping cloth with bitter tears. She had enough pride to keep her weeping quiet, though. Let Con think that Rana wasn't ready yet.

She didn't know how long it took before she got herself under control and felt composed enough to put on a good show to Con. A look to the mirror and she adjusted the illusion to cover her tear stains. Her head and heart ached, but she took every step outside determinedly. Con was sitting at the porch and she lowered herself down to a chair beside his.

"Rana and Cina are both asleep now", Arette started. "That's what we usually call them beside the usual endearments. Rana is the one with more temper and Cina is the calm one, she's like a model baby really. Must be taking after me", she tried to joke lightly with a weak smile. She knew she was being a coward, trying to talk about the babies and not take the wolf by ears.

She sighed and finally looked at him. "I'm sorry, Con, for everything really." Yes, let him mull over that. Aes Sedai never apologized and she the least. "You were wrong about one thing that you said, though. I didn't try to hide the children from you, I just didn't know how to find you. I wasn't on the top of the world anymore with all the strings at my hands. If you meant by that me sending the letter only when I was already so far along...." She begun to speak as much to herself as to Con. "For months I was a mess. There were days when eating or even getting dressed was too difficult for me. Quite pathetic really and I felt very much sorry for myself. It's not much an an excuse, but I had to work things out for myself, before I could even think of anyone else."

"As for the cover story, I can try to be a wet nurse, but I'm not much of an actress. It's also quite a hinderance for not being able to lie. I will also be the haughtiest wet nurse ever. Humbleness is not my greatest virtue, even though I've got some good practice lately. Furthermore, for the role it wouldn't be realistic for me to be allowed to take the children with me." She heaved a trembling sigh. "And they are much safer here: traveling wouldn't do them good and they would be endangered. I will leave Calvin with them and I know that the Wisdom will take good care of them." She was on verge of tears again, so she continued decidedly steadily keeping her gaze at a fixed point in the horizon and monitoring her breathing.

"We should leave tonight, the quicker the better." A clean cut was always preferable to a slow, postponed one. "I will of course share all the details of the kidnap with you and your... fellows, but first you need to tell me what you've told your man there while I was inside. You told him already that he should call me Liselle?" Her mouth twisted at the name. It was nice to be able to put her mind on something else, something trivial like this. "There was actually a Mistress of Novices named that once. So I would rather be called otherwise and pick up a better name myself. I think that Lini would do nicely." A life time ago she had known one Lini, a pleasant servant who had been kind to a scared young woman entering a hostile family before she too had left.

Arette Nenatiar

A retired Brown Sister

Former Keeper of the Chronicles

Mother of Karana and Telcina

Bonded to Calvin Gaidin

Wayfarer · May 15, 2006

Having found himself a seat on the porch, Con took a moment to regain control of himself before waving to Brandeis. Light but what Brandeis must be making of all this, and him having to just sit on his horse and wait. Con was just thankful the man was patient enough, and was willing to give him that sort of trust. The wait seemed interminable, and far longer than it should have taken to feed the child. Was she deliberately making him wait? Or was she really struggling with the decision that much? Or perhaps trying to find a loophole that would leave him with no choice, that was far more likely.

When the door opened to reveal Arette, Con steeled himself even as she walked over and took a seat next to him. Making conversation at first, she then did the strangest thing, apologised. For what, Con couldn't really determine. Everything was a rather general term, and there was alot she could apologise for. If she were really apologising for all of it, then she'd have to do a whole lot better than a simple remark. Unless she thought that was all that it was worth, which just began to agitate him again.

She might not think she had hid the children, she seemed to have plenty of excuses as to why she had never let him know. She could have easily asked Telcia to pass the message to him, Telcia had her eyes and ears and could have found a way, and indeed she had. At least Arette herself realised it wasn't much of an excuse, as it was Con wondered how much he had missed. He hadn't been there for his children's first gasping breaths, hadn't held them close as they slept, ha- He had missed everything up to the point they were at now.

Calvin... Con had never really thought about it since he had split up with Arette, but he suddenly became aware of how thoroughly he disliked the man. Calvin had never entirely thought Con was worthy of her, he was quite sure. If Con were more wishful, he would think that it was Calvin's distrust that had warped Arette through the bond, but Con knew better now. Still, he had no wish to meet the man if he could avoid it. He had little doubt Calvin would draw a blade on him if they ever met, and Calvin would be needed to keep his children safe. Calvin couldn't very well do that with his swordhand, or rather, axehand as he remembered, broken.

Arette's attitude would also cause problems no doubt, but she'd simply have to learn to make do. He wanted to find Telcia's children as soon as possible and be done with her. Except being done with Arette meant being done with his own children. Burn her!

"Nothing, I be waiting here. As to the men, I be bringing them here to be camping for the night. To be doing otherwise would be to be raising suspicion. We be setting off early in the morning, dawn. As to what name you be wanting, be calling yourself the Dark One for all I care."

Standing, he turned his back to her as he walked away, making his way to Brandeis. Taking the reins from the man as well as his Basinet, he asked Brandeis to go and bring the rest of the men to camp in the farmstead. Brandeis was kind enough to do as he asked without questioning it. The man trusted that Con would give him answers soon enough, and that Con's reasons were good.

Trust. Something that the woman sitting on the porch had never had in him. Leading his horse away, he was already planning out where horses would be kept, where his fellow Children would rest, where lookout was to be kept. They would only be there for the night, and in the morning they would be gone, gone in whichever direction Arette gave them to follow.

How he loathed that thought.

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

Sam · May 15, 2006

Brandeis shifted his weight in saddle, his mount responded in a quick precise manner. Turning a full about-face, the Inquisitor and his chosen mode of transport trotted back toward the waiting Children. Con seemed in desperate need of time to himself and Brandeis was in no way prepared to hinder that. Con was comrade, kinsman and friend. The latter perhaps deserving prime position in the list.

To say that Brandeis had become disillusioned by the system would not have been a just claim. He had become disillusioned with his personal part in the greater glory of the light and its children. His conscience found no loophole or rationalisation for his crimes. In the end, the blood of guilty and innocents were on his hands. The fear and animus held against those of his order were well justified. Brandeis considered many of his own brethren to be monsters.

The mainstay of his childhood diet had been tenets. His adolescence spent with catechisms, apophthegms and adages. The very air he breathed was tainted and poisoned by the moral code of the children. His garden, his place of isolation and solitude had become a far too frequent retreat. Con had offered him a new corral from reality: friendship.

The two had never spoken of it and Brandeis hoped it would never come into play. Con Stavros had been a guard to the White Tower, the ink blot on the Light's domination. Brandeis had been responsible for the suffering and ultimate execution of various Aes Sedai. While not agreeing with the tactics, Brandeis hoped Con might at least understand his oath to duty.

The Inquisitor reached the remaining children. The highest ranking amongst them had the audacity to query the whereabouts of the mission's commander. In response, Brandeis narrowed his eyes an almost inperceptible degree but the act enjoined swift and silent obedience as he called his orders. Within moments they were mounted and heading back toward Con and the enigmatic female.

Riding at the head of the column, Brandeis displayed a genuine smile at the discomfort of his fellow Children. Life as an Inquisitor wasn't all bad.

Arette · May 15, 2006

It surprised Arette that Con still hadn't said anything to the other Whitecloak and that he hadn't come asking for an explanation. It eased her fears a little that he had such trust on Con, but it also increased the danger of ever being found out about. When trust was hurt, people usually went to extremes. Whitecloaks were not known for their love of Aes Sedai and now Con was bringing nearly a dozen of them camping to her yard. The thought of being surrounded by potentially hostile soldiers was quite chilling, but they might have found otherwise strange indeed. She gave a disapproving frown at his last impolite remark. So, that was how it was to be. She had hardly expected him to embrace her like a long estranged lover or to find any understanding in him what so ever, but if he wanted to make their future dealing in any way bearable, he could at be civilized. She wasn't going to call him down for that, though, not now or ever. It was what he was expecting and she was determined to prove him wrong about her. She had changed.

It was time to employ some fool-proof Novice technics: speak not until you were spoken to and even then say only what absolutely had to. But it would be bloody hard to carry out by a woman who had gotten used to people jumping when she snapped her fingers. Willamina had made her do the dancing for a while, but these past months were only a scrape of her long life commanding... bossing people around you could have said too. She was going to at least give it a try, because she had no intention to live the rest of her life waiting his miserable visits. They would be at least polite to each others, if nothing else.

But there was some work to be done before dawn. She had to reach Calvin before he came here and have him stay for the night in the village. He would be a give off otherwise... and cause trouble with Con. She sighed and was greatful that the bond told her exactly where he was and that it was some hours riding away. It gave her time to tell Willamina that she was going and have her find a girl to take care of the babies with Calvin and a wet nurse. She wondered if any woman in the village would do that willingly now when they knew who she was. Mayhap they would for the babies. They were innocent after all. But no time to dwell on that now. Rana had to be waked up and fed and then it was time for their all three's favourite moment, a bath. Maybe... No, she wasn't going to invite Con, not this time, because the tension between them would ruin the mood. She wanted to spend her last day with just the girls and store every moment of it for Light only know how long time before she would see them again. And besides, he would be busy with setting up the camp. Unless she postponed the bath... He had lost three months already. Arette had seen him with Jamal and Jelane, so she knew that he could handle babies. So perhaps he could even be allowed to hold the girls.... She realized with annoyance that she had already decided to allow him to come. With an irritated shrug she went inside to go on with their daily routine and to start packing.

The arrival of the Whitecloaks elicited a fearful peek through the curtains from her, but she found it the best idea to just stay inside and let them mind their own business.

****

The girls gurgled happily in their sturdy basket with a handle. When they were awake, they didn't like to be apart, so the basket required some hauling from Arette. But she wasn't going to leave the girls inside alone even for the little while it took her to find Con and ask him to keep an eye on them for a moment. The Whitecloaks setting up the camp eyed her curiously and she instinctively held the basket even closer to her. She tried to ignore them, even through their presence gave her the creeps. She was happy to spot Con alone with the horses. Eyeing the animals suspiciously, she got closer and harrumphed to get his attention.

"Con, could you please take care of the girls for a while. They have been fed and are dry, so you would need to just... be there. I need to go and speak with you-know-who, before he gets here, and arrange few things in the village. I will be back soon." She paused and hesitated, but finally decided to make the offer. "Rana and Cina will be taking their bath then.... I thought that maybe you'd like to be present."

OOC: I'm sorry, Sam, that I haven't included you more in. If you would like to, we could start already another thread set to the next morning when the group is leaving and Arette/Lini will explain what has happened (which could happen the previous evening too, though, if you want to).

I will be emailing James the details so you can NPC me if you want to and move things forward a little quicker. *s*

Wayfarer · May 16, 2006

The rest of the day as soon as the other Children had arrived had gone well. Con measured this by the lack of contact he'd had with Arette, who had proceeded to stay in the house during the entire time. Con had easily enough explained it as the woman wanting a last night with the children, and being uneasy around armed men. That had been accepted easily enough, and it was true anyway. No doubt she was uneasy, she still believed in all the lies that Tar Valon and the White Tower had woven about the Children.

While the others were about a fire that had been started, Con found himself checking on Arestas and Hestias. They were faithful animals, and he'd kept them with him after joining the Children. One of his constants that kept him going, and they had never failed him. He had been finishing up with brushing down Hestias when Arette decided to appear.

Con was quite eager to take the children for a time, though her suggestion about the bath made him cold all over. Did she think she was funny? What he thought of her proposal must have registered on his face, because she quickly handed the basket over and left it at that. Watching her as she walked away, Con looked down to the babies and smiled even as they looked up at him. They seemed rather curious more than anything else, as if everything about them was new. Which it was, such were the wonders of childhood.

Making his way over to the fire where the others were, Con sat down next to Bernd even as the others made jokes about Con the wetnurse. Smiling them off, Con sat down with the basket balanced on his legs. The twins were looking up at him, Rana with her arms jerking about while Cina was more relaxed in comparison, simply watching him.

Holding out his forefingers for both of them, he grinned as Rana immediately reached out and grabbed on. Cina on the otherhand reached out and pushed against the finger rather than trying to grab it. She was gurgling happily though, like it was a game, whereas Rana seemed intent on trying to shift his finger. Indulging in such games, he didn't realise Bernd was with him until the man tapped his shoulder and pointed to the babies.

Smiling, Con took Rana out of the basket and handed her to Bernd. The big man taking the child gently, he held her up close to him as he smiled at her. Rana, entranced by the sight of a new face, decided to investigate by running her hands all over his face. While Bernd held Rana, Con took up Cina who had looked like she was about to cry with Rana missing until Con held her so Cina could see her sister. Bernd had turned Rana about at that stage so Rana in turn could see Cina, the man was always alot more perceptive than he let on. Maybe thats why he was always so quiet.

It wasn't long before others had their curiosity piqued. Leon ended up holding Cina next while Luca took Rana, and so the girls were passed by all of them. Even Brandeis took up one of the girls, though he did so last while Con held the other. He had to admit, he was finding it hard to distinguish between them after having changed hands so, he'd only met them today. More important that was the feelings he was inundated with when he held them. He would have said it was another of Arette's games, another way to push and prod at him, but the twins were a game that he wished to play. It was just... There it was, really.

Bernd wanted to hold one of the babies, so handing him the baby he held, Con watched as he and Brandeis held his children. Not that the pair were aware of it, yet they each had a care for the one they held, all of the Children had as they'd had their turn. Watching the two holding the babies, in particular watching the babies, Con was glad to be able to forget about Arette, at least for the time being.

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

Wayfarer · May 16, 2006