Of Stables, Horses and surprises (attn. Selene and Co)

[Mystica]

Carina sat quietly in the main library, elbow deep in a pile of books all covering some part of forest life and was completely oblivion to her surroundings. She loved coming here, loved the quiet and timeless feel of the room. Not exactly a room, though, but more like a dungeon. A fabulous, huge, mysterious dungeon, holding a vast wealth of treasures beyond dreams. Though no bread or water could be bought with this type of treasure. The wealth of this place lay in the knowledge it stored, the history it preserved, the lessons it patiently waited to teach to whoever was willing to stop and take the time. She did love it here so, though she would love it even more if she were allowed to take her books outside, where she could read them under the shadow of a tree, while the wind softly drove away the hottest bites of the sun. Her mind drifted off to those days she had done exactly that and her eyes turned inward. She so dearly missed those days, for novices were hardly ever allowed outside the Tower, and not ever allowed outside Tower grounds. The forest she could see from her room window, beyond the gates of the city, over the river, beckoned her every day and every day it pained her heart just a that much more that she could not answer that call. The White Tower had a very lovely forest itself, out on it’s grounds, but that was strictly off limits to any novice and they were kept so busy that she hardly would have time anyway.

 

A cough brought her out of her ponderings and back to the present. One of the librarians stood at her table, looking down at the girl with a friendly smile, probably hoping this one would end up in the Brown Ajah one day. ‘You asked to be reminded of the time, Child. If you are to help your friend in the stables, you better hurry up and replace these books in their spot.’ Carina quickly started to close the 7 books that were sprayed open before her and arranged them in the order of their location on the shelves from her current position. ‘Thank you, Aes Sedai, I’m afraid I quite lose track once I get caught up in books. I would not forgive myself if Selene ended up doing all that work alone.’ She turned to place the books on the small rolling cart that the Sister had provided her and turned back. ‘Manuela Sedai, do you think it would be possible for me to return if my work at the stables is done? I very much would like to continue reading these books, if I may.’ The Sister smiled and assured Carina that she could come back any time her duties allowed her to do so. ‘In fact, ‘ Manuela added, ‘Follow me.’ And she immediately turned and dissapeared into one of the many corridors made from the bookshelves. ‘Bring the cart, Child’ Carina heard the Sister’s voice calling softly back and she hurriedly turned the cart and followed in the direction the Sister had turned to. They walked all the way to the end of the corridor and arrived at a clearing that had a big table, but only 2 chairs and there were empty shelves along the wall, all very neatly dusted and shiny. ‘Since you desire to read this books again soon, why don’t you put them here on one of these shelves.’ The Sister pointed to the wall and smiled again at Carina. ‘As you are in a hurry at the moment, I will make a list of the books you are studying and enter them in the Book myself. When you return, should you need other books or have no more need of some of the ones you are studying, simply make a new list of the books you are keeping here and give it to the librarian on duty.’ Carina was delighted with this news, as that would save her much time next time she came to read and she thoroughly thanked the Sister and set about placing the books on one of the empty shelves. Manuela already had taken out her notebook and started writing down the list and when she was ready they both returned to the front of the library, where Carina’s name was entered in the Book along with the list of books she was currently studying. She felt quite good, and the aproving smiles she got from the several Brown Sisters around that had witnessed the event, made her feel even better. Only one of them always made her feel queezy. Raeyn Sedai… A shudder went through Carina as she glanced at the old grouch and she hurriedly took her leave of the Aes Sedai and ran all the way up to the stables, hoping Selene would already be there.

 

[Quisalas Selene]

Selene was a trifle late herself.  She'd been late to lunch because she'd gotten caught up in talking to Melianna Accepted about all the possibilities that ter'angreal posed, and when Melianna got talking about ter'angreal, not even a rumbling tummy and pathetic expressions can make the girl take note of the time.  By the time she'd finished her brief lunch, she'd had to run outright to the stables.  She'd only just gotten there and found Carina not arrived yet when she saw that the girl had just left the Tower and was on her way over.  With a big sigh of relief, and then a grin of pure joy, Selene realized she and Carina were outside of the Tower, without an Aes Sedai in sight.

 

The natural inclination to goof off and go have some fun was stamped down quite firmly and instead she waved to Carina and then ducked inside the barn to get a drink and then put an apron on over her Novice whites.  The apron wouldn't do much, her dress would still be dusty and sweaty long before she finished her time in the barn, but at least it would give her something to wipe her hands on so she didn't irreparably stain her clothes.  She came out of the store room holding two pitchforks just as Carina arrived at the stables. 

 

"Doesn't it feel wonderful to be out of the Tower, Carina?  Even if it does mean more hard work, at least this work doesn't include sisters hanging about waiting to scold us."  Selene was even more jubilant than usual and if it hadn't been for the heavy pitchforks, she would have skipped to her roommate's side to give her one of them.  "I wonder if we'll see any boys while we're out here."  She grinned, her eyes lighting with mischief.  While she wasn't as obsessed with boys as Deanne seemed to be, Selene had grown up playing games and being active with her brother's friends far more than her own female friends and her time in the Tower so far had left her longing for the interaction.

 

And it didn't hurt that boys were just plain cute.

[Jehaine]

Melenis bit her lip as she walked into the stables, looking more for Jasine than the horses themselves. Now that she was a full Tower Guard, she figured she needed to call in a favor from the Andoran to learn how to ride a horse properly. Though she did practise on occasion, to say she felt confident about her abilities would be an exaggeration.

 

It was a bit of a surprise to see two pitchfork-wielding Novices there, and for a brief second she considered trying to teach them some forms for the hell of it, but ultimately decided against it. Novices in the Yards without proper Aes Sedai supervision were odd enough as it was without her putting strange ideas into their heads.

 

Not wanting to interrupt their conversation, she just leaned against one of the supports, somewhat amused at the irony that the first person they would see in the Yards would be female. She had come a long way, she realised, from the walled off girl she had been several years ago, and even though her nature remained unchanged she had started to feel she could truly call the Yards her home now.

 

 

Melenis

Looking for Jasine

[Sieve]

Perivar made his way to the stables.  He tried to fill every waking moment with some activity to keep his thoughts from knawing him apart.  He had adjusted to the monotony of guard duty but found it offered him too much time for idle thought.  Something he did not need.  To combat that he spent much of his time in the void so that his thoughts and emotions seemed distant.  He used it so much that it was commonplace to him.  It was not a good habit to form though it got him through the days.

 

Things had been much different since his return.  He thought Kabria being raised would ease matters but it ended up having the opposite effect.  For some reason which he was not privy to she was being kept from him.  Well not exactly from him but he felt that way.  Apparently new Aes Sedai had much to learn or were not allowed to roam as freely as he would have thought.  Kabria assured him that all was well yet she would not discuss the matter further with him.  The only time that he saw her was during her weapons training though those days were few and far between.  It was a miracle that he had been assigned to instruct.  Their meetings were bittersweet.  Constantly fighting the urge to hold her and kiss.  Each moment with her was worth the agonizing days apart though he wished there were more days together than apart.

 

Perivar entered the stables, clouds of dust danced where the sunlight shown through the barn doors.  Perivar stopped rolling the silver marks through his fingers which he had to hand for the stableboys.  He did a double take as he saw two novices wielding pitchforks where the boys should have been.  They both wore aprons over their white dresses though there was no mistaking what they were. 

 

Perivar saw Melenis taking her ease leaning against one of the supports.  With a shake of his head his belled braids jingled as he said out loud "What have we here?  Are they your charges for the day?"  The question was for Melenis though both the novices turned to look at them as if they had not noticed their arrival until he spoke.  Perivar laughed out loud at their looks.  He stood 6' tall and built like a blacksmith, brown eyes with dark brown hair neatly done in twin braids with silver bells at the tips named him an Arafellin.  Melenis leaned with the deadly grace of someone who had been training in the yards for over two years.  He was not sure which one of them was the cause of the stares.

 

"We do not bite girls!"  He said loudly  "I am Perivar Tarigan and this is my friend Melenis Stormgate.  I came to get NightDancer.  He is the glossy black stallion, the warhorse in the fifth stall on the right."  

[Quisalas Selene]

Selene cast a glance back to Carina and raised her eyebrows suggestively.  A boy!  She composed her face and fought the urge to giggle.  She set down her pitchfork outside of one of the stalls and scampered over to the two.  Deference had been beaten into her, sometimes literally, every day of the past two and a half years and Selene dropped into a curtsy before the two without even thinking about what she was doing.  As she bobbed back up she clasped her hands together between her breasts and grinned. "Are you two Warders?" They looked rather young to be warders, but it was better to err on the side of flattery with most people. "My brother's training to be a warder.  I'm Selene."  She offered out her hand first to the lady and then to the Arafellin. 

 

"Is NightDancer your horse?  I like your bells.  I have a horse, that's Rao.  She's my filly." She paused, looking back over her shoulder to the sedate horse that stood in the stall where she'd originally put her feisty young animal. "Well, I guess she's a mare now, she did turn four this year.  Jasine's been training her for me since I can't get out of the Tower very often."

 

She looked back to the pair of them.  "The stable boys are all sick and recovering, so we were assigned to work in the stables." She turned to motion to the other Novice, "That's my roommate, Carina.  She likes animals too."  She looked back. "Do you both like animals?  I just love horses. Do you have a horse?" This last one was asked of Melenis, although she hadn't paused to let either of them answer the previous question.

 

 

Selenessin

Subtle.  Yeah.

[Jehaine]

Melenis gave a small wave as she was being introduced by Perivar. Well, not exactly introduced, as Perivar didn't seem to actually know these Novices, but it was a start. She watched the girl scamper off towards them, and felt a bit surprised as the woman curtsied to them. Between the way the Novices and full Aes Sedai behaved, there was a gap the size of the Spine of the World, making her feel sorry for the young girls locked in the White Tower itself, training to be what was instructing them during most of the day.

 

- "No, not Warders, i'm afraid. We're both Tower Guards though... Think of it as Warders who haven't bonded an Aes Sedai yet."

 

She took the hand Selene offered and shook it, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she moved on to Perivar. She liked to talk, apparently, and most of it seemed to revolve around horses. Melenis wondered whether the girl would see this stable work as an actual chore, or a reward. Still, she perked up when she heard Selene had a brother training in the Yards, and after hearing the name 'Jasine' she managed to make the final link.

 

- "Your brother is called Jasine? Jasine al'Thorin? I was hoping to meet him here for some horsemanship lessons... And no, i'm not yet confident enough to own a horse of my own, but i'll get there eventually."

 

 

Melenis

Can socialise too

[Sieve]

There was something about the girl who scampered over to them dropping into a curtsy that made him smile.  Perivar arched his eyebrow at the curtsy, something that had not been done to him in over 2 years sinec coming here.  The novice rose with a grin on her face then it was as if a damn burst.  He was not sure if she took a breath the entire time.  Light the girl was a chatterbox but in a good way, she seemed full of life.

 

He stored the questions away since it was obvious that he was not going to get a word in.  As she spoke it was easy to make the connection.  Her brother training to be a warder, her name, her philly named Rao.  There was no need to give her brother's name.  Jasine had talked often enough of his sister Selene, he had ridden and even trained her horse in his spare time.

 

Perivar nodded as Melenis responded first then answered the questions that were directed at him.  "Let me see...Melenis already answered the first.  Yes NightDancer is mine, your brother helped me train him.  He was only half-trained when I came here.  Thank you," He said shaking his head making his belled braids jingle.  "most Arafellin men where them.  Yes Jasine has spoken often of you and training your mare.  Yes I am very fond of horses."

 

Perivar turned to face the novice that Selene named as her roommate, Carina.  "A pleasure to meet you Carina."  He smiled offering her a nod.  Turning back to Selene he said with a bigger smile.  "Does she speak, or do you talk for the both of you?"  "So the boys are sick.  Did you volunteer or was this assigned to you?"  Perivar had not expected the distraction from his thoughts but it was welcome.   

[Mystica]

Carina had arrived at the stable and joined a bursting exciting Selene almost popping from the mere thought of meeting one of the boys. Shaking her head and slightly chuckling to herself, Carina took up the pitch fork and set to work, while Selene was chasing away the silence chattering about everything that came to mind, it seemed. Clucking at the horse in the pen she was about to replace the hay in, the animal stepped there where it needed to go so she could do her work. She didn't realise that it was a bit odd that she didn't have to repeat her command, as the horse simply followed her movement and cleared whatever part of it's den she needed to get to next. Working steadily, Carina couldn't help but smile and thinking Selene was very correct. It was really good being outside the Tower for once, and without a Sister constantly on their case to do this or that better.

 

As her roommate continued chattering, Carina moved to the next den following the same routine as before, with an equally obedient horse, when she suddenly became aware of a new presence in the stables. She didn't think much of it, as people did come and go here she imagined, so she just kept on with her work and didn't look up. Then a voice rang out like a rolling drum, obviously a man that. She looked up at Selene, and sure enough, the girl was looking back at her a split second before a huge smile errupted on her face and she marched right off in the direction of two people, standing a little off from where they were working. One man and one woman. Carina kept back a little, knowing what was to come, a smirk welling up in her throat and her eyes glittering slightly as Selene jumped right into the 'let's be friends!!!' mode. She, on the other hand, was not as free with her affections and kept her distance, while still upholding the rules of common decency and politeness. She stood, her hands folded before her, as Selene spewed her waterfall of questions over the two Guards. Then the man saw his chance to get a few words in and addressed her.

 

 

 

Carina inclined her head to both of the Guards, right hand going to her chest, the greeting of rangers in Malkier. Though the man was obviously Arafellin, she did not doubt him to recognise the greeting as would the woman. The Tower didn't train Guards to be ignorant fighters. It was the greeting rangers gave those they considered with high respect.

 

"Greetings, Guardsman Perivar and Guardswoman Melenis. Yes, I do speak, when the occasion calls for it. A fine stallion is your NightDancer, Guardsman. We were assigned this task by one of the Yellow Aes Sedai. Our pleasure to serve, we will ready your horse."

 

Grabbing Selene's arm, Carina turned the girl around, to stop her from oggling up the man in front of them and from starting another waterfall of words.

 

"Why don't you go fetch the Guardman's horse, Selene? I will go and get the riding gear in the meantime." With a wink and a warm smile at her roommate, unseen by the two standing behind her, Carina set off towards the door that opened into the sadle and gear storeroom. Selene was left with no choice but to follow, as Carina had hooked her arm around hers and so effectively carried her along. She let go of Selene halfway down the road, so that they each could go and get to their charges.

[Sieve]

Perivar rose an eyebrow at the greeting Carina gave then returned the bow in the Malkieri tradition.  He had spent the last two and a half years having the Borderland customs beaten out of him so often that it took him by surprise.  The girl did not have the look about her.  Perhaps a book or something she learned at the Tower.

 

While Carina spoke he thought that Selene was going to burst from the effort at not talking over her friend.  He smiled at Melenis as Carina took Selene's arm and turned her towards NightDancer's stall.  It seemed as if the girl wanted to break free and begin a new barrage of questions.  Perivar stepped out of the stable for a moment and returned with something in each hand that he kept behind his back as he waited patiently for the girls to return.   

[Quisalas Selene]

Selene gave the two guards a wave as Carina marched her off to do work and she leaned in close to whisper "He's a bit rough around the edges, but did you see the size of his feet?" She giggled in delight, leaving the innuendo unspoken, and when Carina let her loose she fairly ran to NightDancer's stall and let herself in with a rope to clip to the animal's halter.  She murmured quietly while she was in the stall and when she and the horse came back out the stallion moved willingly enough to her whim.  Selene had a natural air around horses, but it seemed that even with them her regular chatter didn't let up much.

 

She brought the horse over to where Perivar waited and while she was waiting for Carina to return with the tack she rubbed down the horse and plucked the straw from his mane and tail.  "You said my brother helped you train him?  Jasine was always very good with teaching the animals.  I get on with them just fine, but it was more of a friendship and companionship than making them obey and behave.  Jasine was just good at telling horses what he wated done and convincing them it was a good idea to do it.  Rao is so much more settled now than she was when we rode up from Andor.  I'm really proud of how good he's done with her.  For a while there, I was the only one Rao would let near her, she was such a wild little thing when she was a baby." The pause was lengthy, for her, but she hitched a brief sigh and then flashed a bright smile to the two Guards. "She sure has grown up."

 

If there was a note of wistfulness in her voice, the smile was still a genuine one.  As Carina returned with the tack Selene took the bridle from her and address that end of the horse while Carina handled the saddle.  As they worked with the tack, Selene looked up from the horse to Perivar and rose up on her tiptoes as if that would allow her to see behind his broad back.  "What's that you've got there, Guardsman Perivar?"

 

 

Selenessin

Silly Novice

[Sieve]

Perivar smiled when Selene returned, his hands still tucked behind his back.  His attention was on Selene as she spoke while rubbing down NightDancer and picking out stray pieces of straw.  He nodded "Yes he did, Jasine is very knowledgeable and skilled when it comes to horses.  I know he loves to work with horses but I was very fortunate that he agreed to train him.  NightDancer is fully trained now and I couldn't be happier with him.  Rao is a beautiful horse Selene, I know Jasine spent a lot of time with her."  The poor girl probably did not get to spend much time with her horse, if at all.  He couldn't remember seeing any of the novices excersizing their mounts.

 

He watched as Carina returned with the tack.  Selene put the bridle on while Carina took care of the saddle.  Selene could not take the suspense any longer knowing that Perivar was hiding something.  She rose up on tiptoes trying to see behind him.  "What's that you've got there, Guardsman Perivar?"

 

"It is just Perivar"  Growing up he had enough of people bowing and scraping around him.  He had left all that behind and he was happy about it.  "Well I doubted that either of you would take the coin that I usually give to the boys so I have something else for you."  Perivar pulled a beautiful white flower from behind his back handing it to her.  "I would have put it in your hair but I don't want you to get in trouble if an Aes Sedai decided to check on you."  With that he took his right hand from behind his back handing Carina a deep blueish-purple flower that seemed to almost match her eyes.  "Thank you both for seeing to NightDancer."

 

Perivar thought of jumping in the saddle though for some reason he was feeling talkative.  He new very little about novices since Kabria didn't like to talk about it so who better to ask than two novices.  "So what is it like being a novice, I mean what is your typical day or week like?  If you don't mind talking about it of course.  If you don't then I understand."

 

[Jehaine]

Melenis couldn't help but grin when she noticed Perivar offering a flower to one of the Novices. It really looked like Jasine's behaviour was starting to rub off on him as well. However, she was confident that this Selene would be familiar enough with her brother's tricks to be able to step in when things were getting out of hand. That, or she would, lest Perivar found out just how jealous Kabria could be. Not that she'd tell her, of course... It's just that sometimes the Aes Sedai seemed to know everything that went on around them without even trying...

 

Still leaning against the pole, she didn't mix into the group much as the two Novices readied Perivar's horse. She herself did not have enough knowledge of horses to truly feel a connection between one of the animals the way Jasine did, but she supposed that was something that would grow over time. Speaking of... She looked around again to see if Jasine was in the area. When she didn't notice anything, she shrugged, and went over to where Perivar was talking to Selene and Carina to hear what they were talking about. Something about novicehood...

 

 

Melenis

Learning about channeling

[Quisalas Selene]

"Oh, how lovely!" Selene crowed with delight and as she tucked the flower into her hair she leapt up to hug Perivar.  This was the first time a boy had ever given her a flower and in her usual way, Selene repaid mild affection with great affection.  And if the situation provided her with a chance to get all close and snuggly to something as strong and powerful as Perivar, where she would be a fool not to give it all she got. 

 

The man obviously hadn't expected such a boisterous response and he took a step back to brace himself under her weight and balance it. He must not have noticed Melenis approach because he caught his foot against the woman's ashandarei. They went down in a sprawl with Selene on top.  Her arm had still been hooked through the stallion's reins and NightDancer jerked forward at the pressure against his mouth, and then danced sideways at the jumble of motion below him.

 

It must have been the sight of another person on top of his master that sparked the warhorse's well-honed training and he reared up to lash out at Selene and save Perivar from her.

 

Maybe that hug had been a little over the top.

 

 

Selenessin

eep.

[Sieve]

Perivar had turned from Selene to Carina to hand Carina the flower.  He heard the excitement in Selene's voice but had not expected the jumping hug that she tried to give him.  Perivar caught her with his left arm as she clung to him.  Perivar was caught off balance, with all the grace of a lummox he tripped over the haft of Melenis's grounded ashandarei.

 

Perivar and Selene unceremoniously fell to the ground with her landing on top of him.  Unbeknownst to Perivar, Selene's arm was hooked through Nightdancer's reins jerking his head down causing the warhorse to dance sideways.  Seeing Selene jump on his master sending him to the ground the warhorse must have thought his master under attack for Nightdancer reared up with hooves ready to strike out at Selene.

 

Perivar quickly gathered his wits shouting to the warhorse as he pushed Selene off him.  Nightdancer appeared not to hear him as Perivar got to one knee shielding Selene.  Perivar put an arm up over his head in defense realizing that he was going to get struck by the warhorse's hooves.

[Jehaine]

Melenis winced at Perivar's sudden movement. Leaning as she was, she was unable to shift her weight in time to avoid the fellow Tower Guard tripping over her weapon, though she managed to -- somehow -- keep herself from being knocked off of the rail she had been sitting on.

 

Then, the world appeared to go in slow moton as Nightdancer realed up to attack Selene, and Perivar moved to protect the Novice. She wasted little time in jumping off of the rail, hands reaching for the reins as she dove at the warhorse. She managed to catch hold of the leather, using her own momentum to try and pull the warhorse off course. She knew from experience that a horse was heavy, and Perivar would be needing a lot more than a raised arm to protect him if Nightdancer's attack landed.

 

She doubted the horse would be all too happy with a strange person yanking its reins, especially in the middle of an attack, but it couldn't be helped. She'd do what she could to help until Perivar could manage to calm it down, and try to remain out of reach of the hooves to avoid a trip to the infirmary herself.

 

 

Melenis

Rodeo time?

[Mystica]

Carina had just finished fastening the saddle on Nightdancer when Perival produced the flowers. Accepting hers, she inclined her head in thanks and next thing she knew Selene was jumping up at Perival, launching them both on the ground and Nightdancer was rearing on his hind legs, obviously enraged at the sight of his master being under attack.

 

Carina didn't think, but she moved and positioned herself between the warhorse and the two scrambling on the floor. The stallion's eyes flaired and his ears layed flat on his head and Carina started to hum, moving her body along with the horse to keep him blocked from what was happening behind her. The flower lost on the ground and her attention and mind fully focussed on the huge, towering animal in front of her. The humming changed to a low pitched singing as she raised her hands in front of her, palms stretched towards the stallion and she stepped forward, placing herself dangerously under the clawing forelegs. Nightdancer brought the full weight of his body down, his legs pumping furiously on the ground, only several inches to the side of Carina. Steam was blowing through the his nostrils, ears still laid back and head pumping vigorously as if to ward off some force that would keep it down. The singing continued steadily, in the same tone, the same pitch and with the same sounds, though none could say what they meant. It wasn't the ancient language of the Old Tongue. They were just sounds, seemingly meaningless.

 

The novice stepped fearlessly towards the warhorse, her palms still stretched out following the movement of his nose, so that he would breath in the air of her. She did not look as one that was in mortal danger, her posture and movements calm and smooth. Carina's mind didn't register anything other than Nightdancer, her thoughts fully focussed on him, his safety, his well being, his comfort. No fear registered in her and no fear entered her scent. Nightdancer then showed the meaning of his name as he started to dance in place, still stubbornly refusing to calm down but much less agitated as before. Carina placed the flat of her right palm on his chest and, feelig the racing of his heart through the veins and the singing changed to a whispering as she stepped inside the horse's personal space. Her face now right next to his and her mouth whispering those words straight into his ears. Slowely, ever so slowely, his heartbeat calmed down and the jerkingly movements of his head stopped. The ears came back up again and the eyes became clear once more.

 

Carina sighed in relief then, allowing herself to step out of the trance and stepped back a step. Looking Nightdancer in the eyes, she smiled. "Nightdancer indeed. It is not often one comes across a prince of horses, my friend. Thank you for allowing me into your circle." She leaned her forehead on the horse's briefly and then stepped back and turned.

 

The three of them were standing there, staring at her as in disbelief. "I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundries, Guardsman Perivar. I did not mean to command your horse. I'm afraid instinct took over in the heat of the moment. I still need much training on discipline and self controle."

 

Bowing her head, waiting for the berating lecture she was sure she was about to get, Carina still couldn't stop a jab of proud going through her. It felt so very good to connect to the animals again after being locked up in the Tower for so long.

 

 

 

 

[Sieve]

Perivar cursed realizing that they were backed into a corner.  He saw Melenis desperately trying to control Nightdancer to no avail.  At least she was able to grab the reins so that Selene was no longer entangled in them.  He would be able to move Selene away if the opportunity presented itself.  For the moment he couldn't even stand.

 

His eyes went wide as Carina positioned herself between them and Nightdancer.  Light what was she doing, she was going to get hurt.  He was about to grab her to move her out of the way when he heard her humming.  He just stared in amazement as the humming turned to a low pitched singing.  Whatever she was doing Nightdancer was responding.  They were all still in danger yet his warhorse was beginning to settle down.

 

As Carina stepped confidently toward Nightdancer he took the opportunity to help Selene off the floor of the stable guiding her to the stalls on the opposite side which were several paces away.  Perivar scanned her quickly not seeing any signs of serious injury.  He stood by her side in case she had any foolish notions of joining her friend.  His arm was extended in front of her, partially for protection and partially for a barrier in case she decided to move.  If he could have found an empty stall he would have put her in it. 

 

Perivar continued to watch the whole thing unfold.  Forgetting all of his training and his ability to school his features he knew the look of amazement was clear on his face.  When Carina stepped back from Nightdancer he saw that his warhorse was as calm as ever.  It was as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.  He turned to Selene concern and embarassment tinged his voice "Are you alright?  You are not hurt are you.  I'm sorry, I don't know what came over him."  She indicated that she was fine and that Nightdancer did nothing wrong in her eyes.

 

"I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundries, Guardsman Perivar. I did not mean to command your horse. I'm afraid instinct took over in the heat of the moment. I still need much training on discipline and self controle."  Carina's words took him off guard.  Was she serious?  She had just saved them from serious injury or death.  She stood proudly though uncertain if he was going to call her down for her intervention.

 

Perivar walked to Carina taking her hands gently in his so that she knew his words were sincere.  "Thank you Carina, that was a very bold move, you are very brave to step in front of a rearing warhorse like that.  No..." He shook his head "it is I who should be sorry that you had to intervene, Nightdancer should not have reacted so.  I truly do not know what came over him.  Whatever it was that you did I am glad that you did it, we are indebted to you.  I will make sure that the Mistress of Novices hears of your good deeds today."  He nodded then let go of her hands.  Perivar stepped towards Nightdancer watching his mounts eyes on his.  He scrathced Nightdancer's nose and head as the warhorse nuzzled his head against Perivar's chest.  He looked at the others seeing the question plain on their faces.  "Carina, what was it that you did to sooth him?  I have heard of people with such a skill but I have never seen it myself until now."   

 

[Quisalas Selene]

Selene untangled herself from the burly Guardsman and rose to her feet with his help, staring at Carina as she sang.  She could scarcely believe that she wasn't dead beneath the horse's hooves, dying in the same way Mara had died when Selene had been just a girl.  Her mouth was dry and her skin was cold, the flush of adrenaline from near certain doom not yet releasing her.  She had absolutely no idea how long Carina sang, but Selene had been held enthralled by a mix of awe, confusion, and amazement.

 

True to her own form, Selene didn't bother with waiting to see if someone else has something to say before she started talking herself.  Once the spell of Carina's singing had been broken by the girl turning back to them and addressing them herself, Selene gasped out in a hushed but excited whisper. "By the Light, Carina, that was amazing! What did you do to the horse to get him to calm down like that?  When Perivar fell down and I felt the reins jerk on my arm I thought I was done for!" Selene took a step forward, stopped by Perivar's arm without really noticing it.  She nodded that she was fine and followed him as he moved towards her roommate.  She only sort of listened as he spoke, which was unlike her.  Her eyes were wide like saucers and her voice dropped another register to a bare whisper. "Is.. is that a Talent?  Did you use the One Power on him? I haven't been taught any weaves at all to be used on animals, not even the refresh one! How did you do that?"

 

Selene still held her flower in one hand, the delicate petals remarkably whole and uncrushed.  She tucked the flower behind her ear without really even thinking about it.

[Mystica]

She stood looking alternatively at Selene and Perivar, unsure why they were so amazed. This is what Rangers did, after all. Or so she thought, as she had never really seen any of the Rangers do it quite like that before. But they all managed to calm down animals, or they did not get to earn the right to the name Ranger. Her eyes went wide as Perivar said he would mention it to Larindhra Sedai. They all but popped as Selene asked if this was a Talent. I have no Talent, she thought frantically. Light, they're going to think I'm possessed or something. Panick grabbed her and she tried to order her thoughts, trying to find some way to explain it in a logical, reasonable manner that would make them understand the common nature of what she had done. Carina Al'Thor you will stop this lying this instance! Her head visibly jerked backwards at this berating she received from her inner voice. She didn't want to listen to it, she didn't want any Talent. She most definately didn't want to be subjected to any studies and experiments the Mistress of Novices would most surely put her under if this got out!! Calm, Carina. You must remain calm. Breath. The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wants, not as you would have it. Accept that which you can not change. Breath. You are training to be Aes Sedai, you must obtain serenity under all circumstances. Accept what you can not change. Oh Light! Oh blasted, flaming Light!!

 

Perivar's calm composure helped but was somewhat undone by Selene's obvious excitement. She focussed on the Guardsman, drawing from his strength and manner to hold herself up. His eyes bore into hers, though it did not feel like an intrusion, as it usually felt when people did that. His whole posture was one of calm acceptence. Nightdancer stood motionless and completely at ease right behind her. The stallion must have stepped closer, for she felt his breath in the back of her neck. But she did not feel any anxiety or aggitation from him anymore. He was fully back in controle over his emotions. She drew now from both horse and master and managed to get herself under controle again as well.

 

"No Selene, I don't believe this is a Talent. I've grown up with the understanding that this isn't anything out of the ordinary and it certainly isn't anything to do with the One Power."

 

Turning her attention back to Perivar, she thanked him for his kind words.

 

"Thank you, Perivar, for your understanding. But there is no need to trouble the Mistress of Novices with this small incident. I am quite sure she has much more important matters to attend to than to trouble herself with this. As for your question, I am uncertain at this point since I have never been in a similar situation before. I can tell you, however, that my goal was to become a Ranger in Malkier and the Rangers there all have the ability to calm animals." She left out the part where they didn't quite do it the way she had, no need to add to a mystery she was trying to defuse. "Please don't feel too bad about Nightdancer, for he did what he was trained to do which is to protect his owner. He truly felt as though you were under attack." She smiled at the Guardsman then "Maybe it can become part of his training to recognise a tumble from an attack?" Suddenly realising the odacity of her words, she flushed a bright red and clasped her hand over her mouth. Eyes going wide again and all other words thoroughly stopped inside her throat. What in the Creator's name are you saying!! She thought to herself, lowering her head to avoid his eyes.

 

"I um... I'm sure that the skill you speak off must be quite special, but I don't think I possess such an ability. It.... it is well known that animals respond to sounds, after all."

 

still blushing from ear to ear, Carina stood there, head down, clasping her hands together and feeling positively miserable at the lack of propriety she had shown this friendly man. 

 

 

 

 

[Quisalas Selene]

At Carina's assertion that it wasn't one power related and wasn't a Talent, Selene stepped past her friend and to the horse, gently running a hand down his neck and straightening his tack where it had been pulled askew.  She particularly felt bad for jerking his reins like that when he fell - being gentle on the reins was something her Da had instilled in her practically from birth and she understood well how that could bruise a horse's mouth and make them unreasonable and grumpy for days.  She gently ran a finger along the animal's gums where the bit rested and when NightDancer didn't snort or shy away she knew the animal would be fine.

 

She stepped back again and turned to Carina.  "I've been around horses all my life and never seen an animal respond like that.  If it's not a Talent, it's still pretty amazing.  Can all Rangers do that?"  She didn't know whether to be impressed or incredulous, and a fair amount of both were showing through her expressions.  Selene worked hard to try for serenity whenever an Aes Sedai was likely to catch her, but out here in the stables she had abandoned even an attempt at anything but her natural girlish enthusiasm.  She mused as she looked from the Malkeri-trained Andoran to the docile animal. 

 

Selene took up Carina's right hand in both of hers, eyes sparkling. "I've never met a Ranger before, can you teach me to do that too?"

[Jehaine]

While Carina had soothed Nightdancer with her singing, Melenis had used the time to slowly get up so as not to startle the horse any more. She too listened interested at the expanation the Novice gave, though she discarded the idea of singing to her enemies to make them back down almost as soon as she considered it as an option. Still, when Selene started to look into the horse's mouth she culdn't help but look as well, she had practically hung on the reins with all her weight for that one second in which everything seemed to have gone wrong at once, and was feeling a little worried about the warhorse.

 

When she heard the animal was going to be fine however, she sighed in relief. If she had ended up doing irrepairable damage to its teeth it would have taken a while before Nightdancer would have accepted a bit again, and she would have spent the time feeling bad for essentially having been the one to injure Perivar's horse. She leaned back onto the fence however, loosening her right boot to check on her ankle. In the spur of the moment, she hadn't noticed it at the time, but the joint was feeling a bit sensitive so she just wanted to be better safe than sorry.

 

 

Melenis

Not used to wild horses