The Dinner Party (Order of the Rose Mission:Cairhein)

[TaeaDawn]

The trip went well, as trips go. Especially as trips for secret organizations comprised entirely of people that neither trusted nor liked one another but whom one person had sent on an errand go. The city of Cairhein had been reached, no problems had surfaced yet, though a certain amount of scathing looks and smart remarks had been exchanged. Aramina was entirely gratfeul to have made it to the city and to an Inn without one of her Sister's doing something she considered completely inappropriate. Amazing enough considering there were three Domani women with them and two of those seemed to be in a tussle over a man. A man Aramina happened to think worlds of and could do better then the two women she had been forced to endure. However Sirayn had entrusted this mission to her and Aramina Sedai was better than that. Her life had been focused into becoming a respectable Green Sister and now her Captain General had put her in charge of this strange group, she wasn't about to balk. She had kept her expression as neutral as ever, avoiding even the small smiles she might have passed on with her Green Sisters had they been alone.

 

The Inn she chose was on the outskirts of Cairhein and as soon as Aramina had cleaned up, she had asked the Innkeeper to have dinner sent to the private dining room for her and the others. She took a seat at the head of the table, waiting for the others to arrive so they could eat a meal together and discuss the next few days. The room has been empty upon her arrival which she appreciated since it gave her time to think about the Sisters and what their strengths were.

 

The possible uprising couldn't be allowed and as their official mission, it seemed appropriate to let the one Grey Sister with them began to work on it. This Ranch that Sirayn had asked them to visit seemed questionable to Aramina, and she had every intention of being the first to visit. Not only did this work need the eye of someone trained in subtley, but it had the potential for danger and a trained Battle Sister would be perhaps safest. And as always, Aramina had her own personal objectives in the city which none knew about. Easily accomplished once they got everything settled, but it occupied her mind as well.

 

The trip had been difficult for Aramina in one way though. Cairhien had been her birthplace and her early education had been in it's Great Game. It was hard to watch her land be torn and occupied by these Aiel. They were not here to fight against that, but Aramina couldn't help but feel for these people.

 

With a sigh she pushed it away from her thoughts. Here and now. Facade and Focus. The mission had to succeed. She was a member of the Order of the Rose and their numbers were not chosen from those who would fail.

 

((Alright ladies... come on in... remember your trip, complaing about the inn, about the stonefaced leader, make suggestions before the others show on how to accomplish our two objectives.... whatever :P))

[Guest Estel]

Estel was not happy. Had not been happy since the beginning of the trip. In fact, she was almost never happy during any trips planned by Sirayn for two reasons. The first, was that it cruelly reminded of her of her weakness that night so long ago- nigh on sixty years- in which the ancient Green had exploited her. She had followed the woman like an idiot sheep- to stupid to know better. 'Blood and bloody ashes, how I'd like to strangle the slut.' Worse, she found herself respecting the woman. How that grated!

 

Second, and perhaps the larger of the two reasons was her comapany. She got along quite well with Serena, her Ajah Sister and a woman instrumental in her choosing the Blue Ajah. Besides, Serena's attentions were focused more closely on her Warder, Thera, and Serena didn't have the wandering eyes or hands that the other two chits had.

 

Besides the two Blue Sisters, there was a Green and a Grey. Estel already had a history with the Grey, Lavinya, dating to before her Bonding of Orion. The Blue held a nearly sixty year grudge against the woman. It had been while she and Orion and not been on speaking terms that here 'beloved' Warder had occupied his 'attentions' elsewhere. That elsewhere had been Lavinya's bed.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena, of the Green, had been appointed by Sirayn as party leader. Like Lavinya, Aramina seemed to ignore the age-old custom that lay between other Aes Sedai and a Warder's Bond. Orion was hers! Damn them both! Flaming whores! She had gone through too much for him already! Why couldn't they just let her and Orion be?

 

With so many 'distractions' for the man at her side, she had suddenly become much possessive. She reeked of jealousy and took every opportunity to cling to her lover. Sometimes she wondered what Serena thought, but that train of mind was soon overpowered by jealousy.

 

Sometimes Estel couldn't help but marvel that Sirayn had kept such a static group together. In her younger years, she had often wished Sirayn would slip, allowing Estel to cast off the chains the woman had so easily bound around her. Any memory of that night left a bitter taste in her mouth.

 

Luckily, her possessiveness, and the other women's lustful looks had not sparked too major a conflict. If only Orion were less of a man. No man could ignore looks like that from a woman, even with a loving, loyal woman on his arm. To the Pit of Doom with those two light-skirts! If only she could get her hands around their necks...

 

She tried to compose herself. Orion was obviously feeling her seething rage and even though her hood was pulled up to hide her face, the two couldn't ignore her eyes as they bored holes through their backs.

 

When they arrived at the inn, she left the door open to her room so that Aramina and Lavinya could see that she left the cot under the bed. It would not be used, and she took satisfaction in the fact that they would know it.

 

Arriving for dinner, nearly hanging off Orion's arm, she ignored the presence of both Lavinya and Aramina.

[Kael]

Orion had been treading softly for the entirety of the trip, and for good reason. Estel had not let him leave her side for it;s entirety, though he had not wished to leave her side even if he had a chance. Aramina had been his student decades ago while she was at the end of her Acceptedhood and her first few months as a Aes Sedai so Orion did not know why she would set off such a reaction from Estel. He knew why with Lavinya though. Estel had never dropped her anger over the small affair they had had together, even if at the time they had not been speaking. But Orion could barely remember Lavinya's face now, and all thoughts of straying from Estel had long died. Still, anger and jeoulosy seemed the prevelant emotions coming through the bond and even after sixty years of being bonded to Estel he still tried to avoid her temper.

 

Orion stretched his shoulder as he rode atop True Blood, Tai Shar. The sixth horse of his name since he had brough the first with him from Shinier. Two he had gotten rid of when they had succumbed to age, the other three had died in varios battles with him. Which only rememded Orion of how old he was.

 

Light he felt old. His hair had turned from black to grey long ago and was now a snow white to match the deepest of Shieneran winters. It had been nearly three decades ago when he had finally shorn his hair to adopt the traditional topknot that he had never felt himself worthy for until then.

 

His age had revealed the one thing he feared for certain. He feared that he was begining to slow and knew that he was begining to lose his ability to protect Estel as well as he could. It would not have been as bad if she was a Green, able to bond someone else younger and more fit to aid him, but she was Blue and Orion was all she could have. He had spent restless nights arguing with himself to ask Estel to release him and find another, but his heart wasn't strong enough and he loved Estel to much to leave her.

 

Orion left his cloak and twin blades in the room he and Estel shared in inn Aramina had chosen for him. He didn't think he would need them for now and they drew attention that they didn't need.

 

Estel was nearly hanging off of his arm as she led them through the inn, to dinner Orion could only assume. He couldn't help teh amusement he fed through the bond at her rather petty way of getting back at the others. He smiled, shook his head, and held Estel's arm tighter as she was his eyes for the moment.

 

 

Orion

[Lavinya]

Lavinya could not help but find morbid satisfaction in the cold way Estel glared at her for the duration of their travel. As far as grudges went, this was one that seemed just as strong and heated as the day it began. It didn't cause Lavinya any great concern, she was quite acustomed to the whispers and the glares surrounding her so-called scandalous affairs. It did amuse her greatly though, to goad and aggravate, remaining calm and serene while the others involved seethed.

 

Overall, Lavinya was in high spirits anyway. She was away from the tower, for a time at least, and though she was not given the position of party leader, as she believed was her due, she was content for the moment to follow. Aramina had proved a reasonable woman thus far, having yet to rub Lavinya the wrong way. For now, her position could be tolerated, especially if she could be convinced that Lavinya's talents as a Gray would be a huge asset to the mission, and should be given free reign.

 

After settling herself in the room she would occupy in the inn, Lavinya made her way down the corridor towards the private dining room, as stately as any queen in her progress. The travel had not been as tiresome as potential allowed, thank the light, and the inn was at least habitable. Taking some time to remove the outward signs of travel had also given her time to order her thoughts, her appearance once again immaculate.

 

She did not miss the point Estel Sedai made so blatantly with her open door, only one bed made up for the stay. A slight smile curved her lips, amazed at how such a pleasureable incident, so long ago, could still have such a hold over the woman. Clearly, she still did not trust her warder entirely. Interesting indeed.

 

Entering the dining room, Lavinya nodded mockingly towards Estel, clinging to Orion's arm as though someone was attempting to wrench him from her grasp. Foolish woman, Orion had gone willingly down that path with her years ago, and while she held no ill feelings towards the now older man, she had no desire to worm her way into his bed again, despite the amusing scandal it would cause.

 

"Aramina Sedai." Lavinya greeted the Green smoothly as she slid into a chair at her right, smoothing her vivid red silk skirts over her thighs under the table. Serena, the other blue in their party was obviously yet to arrive, a woman Lavinya had dealt with before. The way she looked at Lavinya always gave her pause, something admiring in her eyes yet...different, she couldn't put a finger on it. Not entirely unpleasant, just different.

 

Silently Lavinya helped herself to a goblet of wine, pouring from the pitcher on the table. Sitting back, she swirled the blood red liquid before taking a swallow as she waited for the last of the party to join the table. No doubt they would then discuss strategy for the coming days. Light only hoped Aramina would see reason and give Lavinya the freedom to negotiate as she saw fit, a talent that would otherwise largely go to waste. She'd come to far to be thwarted in her plans, her ambitions now.

[SerenaMorrigan]

The ride to Cairhien was more than interesting for Serena. Keeping her eyes on Thera, as not to swirve them over to Lavinya Sedai, was quite a feat in itself. However, the link between her Ajah Sister, Estel Liones, Orion, her Warder, and Lavinya Sedai was entertainment enough. At times Serena was sure that their young group leader, Aramina, might be part of that love triangle as well. Whether or not the Green was involved, it made ones mind wander into possible schemes, plots and scenarios between each person involved with Estel.

 

Letting a small, mischievious smile approach her lips, the deminutive Blue cast a glance at her Gaidin and shook her head. Silently, she wondered if Thera had been paying attention to the looks and the electric-like energy passing between the others. Reaching into her coat pocket she produced a small pipe and tobacco. Packing the pipe as she sat upon River Mists saddle. Saldaean women were known for their horsemanship, and although Serena had never been taught to ride by a Saldaean, the ability must have past itself down through her blood, unlike some of the other traits of Saldaean women.

 

The traffic outside Cairhien began to pick up as they neared the city. Puffing away on her pipe, Serena pursed her lips as she stared into the sad and drawn faces of children and adults alike. Shaking her head, her tilted emerald eyes sparkled as if a fire had been lit behind them. The ravaging of the Cairhienins sparked anger and practically rage beneath her otherwise cool façade. Humans against humans, no matter what the background, was no fight that any of them should be in this close to Tarmon Gaidon.

 

Arriving at the Inn, Serena unpacked the necessary items in silence. Thera was in the room, the two would share it, but no words were passed between them. A rift had been caused between Aes Sedai and Gaidin. The Blue Sister loved her Warder with all of her heart, and not just on a friend to friend basis. However, the two had never spoken of their real care for each other. Serena was unsure that Thera felt the same way about her. Everytime her Gaidin saw a certain Tower Guard, the feelings that would flow through the bond into Serena’s mind, were none other than those of an emptyness, anger and slight jealousy. Certainly, if Thera still had feelings for the man, then she could not feel for Serena the way the Aes Sedai did for Thera.

 

Pushing thoughts into the back of her mind, Serena stood dusted off her pale blue floor length coat and wrapped it around her. The group that Sirayn had elected to be her secret Order of the Rose, had a certain chilly heir about them. “I think I will meet the others in the dining room. You may join if you wish, Thera. Although, I will fill you in on what I heard whether you join or not.†With that, the small Blue sister glided out of the room and headed for the others.

 

Upon arriving to the table, Serena pursed her lips as she noticed that she was not one of the first to arrive. Narrowing her tilted eyes to study each woman in the candlelight, she would be a fool not to notice the shadowy images flickering across the faces of the others. Light, this mission is going to be bloody interesting. At any other time, Serena would have found the love triangle, or square or whatever you wanted to call it, delightful and slightly amusing. Taking her seat, she nodded to Aramina Sedai, to Estel, grateful that her Ajah sister was a part of this plot, then quickly to Lavinya Sedai, merely to express that she had noticed the woman in the room. Her cheeks felt as if they would flush as she met eye to eye with the Gray. As if to hide her childish crush, and embarassment which she felt for having the crush, Serena flashed a sly smile at Lavinya, then reached into her coat pocket for her pipe.

 

Leaning back comfortably in her chair the Saldaean sister emanated relaxation and calm to the outside eye, inside, she was aware and alert. Holding up the lit pipe, she said. "You don't mind, I'm sure." Not a question for permission, merely a statement. Nodding before anyone could reply, she began to puff gently on the stem, and appear as if she were in deep thought.

 

 

Serena Morrigan

Blue Ajah

Bonded to Thera Trakelyn

[TaeaDawn]

As the last of their party arrived, Aramina watched from behind a cooled glass of wine. It was an interesting group that Sirayn had assembled for her to lead. A test? The thought had crossed her mind more than once as Estel's jealousy seemed to grow worse. The fact that Lavinya seemed to be toying with her and was not in fact chasing after Orion was enough to make her want to tear her hair out. The fact that Estel seemed to think her in the same category was almost enough to make her laugh. The two seemed to offset themselves though and so far she had managed to keep her sanity.

 

Of the sisters with her, Serena seemed to be the one who noticed the most around her, not surprising from a Blue Sister. Christine worried her, but Aramina figured she always would, considering her history within the Ajah. She didn't let that show of course. Not even to another Green Sister would she show any distaste for the Sister's earlier leanings. It was Ajah business, and more importantly, it was between her and the Captain General. But it was something she watched for. Alyria seemed quiet but Aramina had never taken the time to get to know her once she had been raised to the Shawl. She had been too busy with her own tasks to get to know every sister personally, though she was sure she knew a great deal about her. She had made sure of that before leaving the Tower.

 

Dinner came and was quickly disbursed among them. The talk was of the road and of trivialities as the servants went about the business of serving the Aes Sedai. Once they had left Aramina put a ward around the room to allow them to talk in privacy. Not that she thought the Innkeeper would betray her trust after years of faithful service, but serving girls had tongues that loved to wag and most had a price that could buy anything. It was Cairhein after all.

 

The thought amused her and she smiled slightly as she took another sip of wine. A small smile, but it was as much as any Sister ever got out of her. "Well Sisters and Warders, we have reached Cairhein without any trouble. Have you any thoughts on our upcoming days?" She asked. Let them think she didn't have her own. Let them think she hadn't already arrived at a course of action. Some might have come to the same conclusions as she had and in the end they would think her a more reasonable leader for 'listening' to their ideas.

 

[Eqwina]

The silence that surrounded the strange party was more than mildly amusing. The very air held a feeling of electricity, and Thera could not help but wonder the story that passed between these people.

 

As they drew closer to Cairhein and the streets began to fill with people Thera reined in closer to her Aes Sedai, and her eyes became more alert. In truth Cairhein was a safe place for Aes Sedai but with the world changing as it was Thera was not going to take chances. Even she could not ignore the signs.

 

How could she love the woman so much and yet have nothing to say? The silence that had surrounded their last few months was torture, but how could she break it now? Silently Thera unpacked her things, and quickly changed out of her travel stained clothes. She sank onto the hard stool by the door and busied herself with sharpening her sword, she did not look up until she heard Serena stand. “I think I will meet the others in the dining room. You may join if you wish, Thera. Although, I will fill you in on what I heard whether you join or not.†Thera resisted the urge to sigh as she sheathed her sword and followed Serena out the door. She was going to break the bloody silence that surrounded her and her bond mate if she had to use force to do it. For an instant that though stirred well hidden emotions within Thera that she quickly squelched. If Serena had noticed she made no outward sign.

 

Thera smirked at Serena’s slight irritation as they entered the room, but her smirk faded when those emotions altered, they felt like fire! Thera’s eyes were daggers as she glared at the Domani Gray. That Bloody woman was a lightskirt! Still shrouded in silence Thera took the chair next to Serena, her deep brown eyes still focused on Lavinya Sedai.

 

Thera Trakelyn

Bonded to Serena Morrigan of The Blue Ajah

[Guest Estel]

"Are we planning on going all at once to this Ranch?" Estel asked dryly, eyebrow raised. She did not touch Orion, but the way her chair was pushed right next to his and how she leaned into him, there was no mistaking that he was hers. Blood and ashes, not Lavinya's, not Aramina's but hers!

 

"Sending even one Aes Sedai will put them on their guard, let alone four with two gaidin besides! It'll be dangerous though, and whoever goes will need someone at their back..." She was sure the other women caught her drift. The way she was trying to play her cards now, very soon dear Aramina might find herself taking orders from either herself or Serena.

[TaeaDawn]

It was not the most subtle attempts at manipulation Aramina had seen. In fact, it was not the most subtle she was sure to encounter from the women in this room before the mission was complete. At the moment though, the others were keeping their thoughts to themselves. Aramina took their reactions in, their silent betrayals of intent and expectation, of hope and fears, of ambition.

 

Aramina knew where her own mind lay in this expedition and there was no chance that she was going to let someone else take a step into the Farm without Aramina in charge of it. Estel's words were true enough though. It would be dangerous to go there. All the better to have a Green Sister in the midst. Two sisters, one warder, and a lot of tension. Not the way she'd prefer to spend the time, however there were demands placed on her for this mission. Her objectives were clear and the safety of their party was one of them.

 

She looked towards Lavinya Sedai who sat silently watching. The Gray sister was calmly collected, though Aramina silently applauded her handling of Estel's jealousy throughout the trip. "As a formidable negotiator, I hope you will take the lead in this opportunity Sirayn has given us." Aramina said to the Sister. "Your skills will be needed with the Cairhein rebels, and I think Serena would be an asset to you as well." She added as she stood up from the table.

 

"In the morning, we will begin our preparations for the completion of our mission. Estel and I will make contact with the woman Sirayn is sure can help us. Once it is done, we will join you with the negotiations among the Cairheinin rebels."

 

It was a troubling thought to her really. Part of her cringed at the thought of being among her countrymen, but she would do what must be done. Estel needed an eye kept on her and Aramina hardly trusted her with Lavinya. She trusted at least that Orion wouldn't allow his bondmate to stab her in the back simply for having worked blades with him in her younger days. A smile almost overtook her at the thought of those days, of the hours under his tutelage and the strength she had gained there.

 

Instead she waited on the others to respond. Lavinya would do well with the negotiations. Serena would truely be an asset and her warder would surely go with them. Aramina would make the purchase and arrangements for any further needs with this woman, and Estel would be at her side to make sure their situation didn't get too dangerous. Not many people were foolish enough to attack two Aes Sedai and a warder.