Molding the Clay (Rasheta's Initiation)

[Jaydena]

Jaydena turned back to Rasheta as they walked through the doors and then spoke, "I think actually that we will go see your new quarters first, then we will tour the Ajah. That way you know where to go when we are finished." She nodded and then strode to the end of the quarters, her long legs eating up the space in front of her. The tiles her feet landed on where white with green borders and green handled swords inlaid on them. Along the white and green walls were tapestries and paintings of famous battles and Sisters of the Ajah. She stopped in front of a door and opened it, inside were several recruits who were bringing Rasheta's things in from her Accepted room. Jade motioned the women from the room and then turned to Rasheta, "Well it isn't much but hopefully you will not be here long, I have high hopes for you. First we will go on the tour, then we will do Battleweaves, and the other things you need to be a Green. Next when you are ready you will be able to choose one Sister to do your Midnight vigil with. That night you will spend in contemplation of what it means to be Green. You will form your answers for the next day. At dawn you will go before the assembled Ajah members and they will either accept you or deny you entrance based on your answers. If you are denied you will continue training and then will go again before the ajah. The other intiates will move your things after we finish the tour, for they need to meet you as well, if anything is missing please let me know and I will take care of it. Although that has never happened before there is a first time for everything."

 

She glanced around the room to see if everything was in order, the room was much smaller than the Aes Sedai rooms she would move into when she was raised. The walls were white and bare, she had a fireplace with a screen and a supply of wood which would be replaced by the servants each day. A wardrobe for her clothes as well as a clothes rack were against one wall. A thick rug was laid on the floor to keep her feet warm, and a washstand with pitcher and bowl was on a small table nearby. Her Aes Sedai rooms would have a Master bedroom with it's own bath, enough rooms for several warders and a community bathroom, a dining room, kitchen, office, and living room that were all combined. It was basically like having your own house within the ajah quarters. Many Warders actually lived within the quarters to protect their Aes Sedai, though there were some that didn't. In fact she had personally had some that lived with her and some that didn't. It did lack a certain amount of privacy but it also was an added protection and these days the Tower wasn't exactly safe. Jade turned back after she made sure it was clean and in order and spoke again, "Do you have any questions before we begin Rasheta?"

 

Jaydena Mckanthur

Head of the Green

Sitter for the Greens

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Rasheta followed Jaydena through the doors of her office thinking about what she could do to sway the Greens to liking her. She would of course work hard and try to keep her temper. Sometimes the temper was the worst part of her character. She almost sighed thinking about it but kept it to herself. Jaydena spoke to her as they walked.

 

"I think actually that we will go see your new quarters first, then we will tour the Ajah. That way you know where to go when we are finished."

 

She nodded her head but didn't say anything. She was sure the new quarters would be better then the Novice or Accepted halls, well she was almost sure. She assumed the Green Ajah did this to make sure all the Accepted who wanted to be Greens really truely wanted it. She couldn't fault them they were the battle Ajah.

 

They came to Rasheta's new room and some of the recruits were already moving her things, there wasn't much as she hadn't come to the tower with to much. She did pick up her mothers ring and slip it on to her finger and gave the recruits a look daring them to say anything to her about it. She listened as Jaydena spoke of what she was going to be doing and she nodded her head again when Jaydena was finished. Rasheta looked around her room and smiled to herself it was a little nicer then her eariler quarters and she liked it. She jumped a little when Jaydena spoke again.

 

"Do you have any questions before we begin Rasheta?"

 

Again Rasheta shook her head. "No Jaydena I do not. I am ready to do what must be done and will follow you wherever you lead me."

 

 

 

[Jaydena]

"No Jaydena I do not. I am ready to do what must be done and will follow you wherever you lead me." Jaydena nodded and wondered how this one was taking the blow so well. She didn't think that she had ever seen anyone take it with this much courage and lack of concern. Did the girl know what was in store for her, she thought. It wasn't a case of her being less that intelligent, she knew you couldn't be stupid and get raised to the Shawl, the Tower culled those ones out pretty fast. It also wasn't a case of her being foolish, she could tell the girl was anything but that. Perhaps she had been through worse things in her life and this seemed like nothing was all she could figure. Gazing at Rasheta she finally spoke, "Well then let us begin this tour so we can get you on the road to being a full fledged Sister of the Battle Ajah, please follow me." Jaydena opened the door to the room and led the way out of the room. She walked down the Hall and began speaking as they entered another room, "This is the Green Ajah Vault, probably one of the most sacred areas of our Ajah."

 

She led the way into the main sunken seating area, around the deep seated couchs were glass walls. Inside the walls were cubbys, inside each cubby was a portrait of the deceased or missing battle sister and a few of her prized posessions, including pictures of her gaidin. Leading back into the hallways were large portraits of Sisters, she had painted quite a few of them herself. Turning she spoke, "The Vault is a place were we come in contemplation of those we have lost in this battle against the Shadow. Sisters of the Battle Ajah rarely die in their sleep. We will all die and if we are lucky we will do so fighting for the greater good such as these women did. When we die we earn a place within the Vault." She nodded respectfully and led the way out of the room and to the next area. Into the large room with it's high ceilings. "This is the Hall of Swords Rasheta, your second petition will take place here. We hold ajah meetings here and have large gatherings in this Hall." She led the way out of the domed from and toward the first Sisters door. Knocking on it she waited for the woman to open it. When she had she said, "This is Rasheta Ardashir, she is not yet Green but she is sealed to us." Stepping back she waited for the two to converse... 

 

Jaydena Mckanthur

Head of the Greens

Sitter for the Greens

[U4ea]

Oriella heard the knock and smiled, though she was far too old to rush to open the door. After living as long as she had, seeing as much death as she'd seen, and dealt with new Aes Sedai as much as she had... there was truly nothing to rush about. She felt a little bad about keeping the girl waiting, knowing she must be dancing on the other side of the door. It had been long ago, but she remembered when this day came for her. She paused by the mirror to check that her long blond hair was still artfully arranged around her face. The spring green gown complemented her dancing eyes and she nodded in approval of her reflection before continuing towards the door.

 

She reached the door and pulled it open, her face still wearing it's usual smile. Her eyes met the girl behind Jaydena's while the introduction was made. "This is Rasheta Ardashir, she is not yet Green but she is sealed to us."

 

"Be welcome, Rasheta," Oriella said, her thoughts already sizing the girl up. She appeared simple enough, cowed and downtrodden, as they all did. But there was a spark in the depths of those green eyes and Oriella refused to put that down to simple anger. This was much more complex and it made her curious. "It is always a pleasure to meet a new Sister who's appearance masks what is inside." She arched her eyebrow and let her smile change slightly. "I am quite looking forward to finding out what's under this exterior and I'm sure I'm not alone, there." Only the truly old could get away with the boldness of that statement, but Oriella had earned the right, both with the streaks in her hair and the successful campaigns she'd led. If anyone could find a soldier in a pair of eyes it was her. What kind of soldier would this girl be, though?

[Rasheta Ardashir]

OOC: Okay so this is early history for me so when I speak of a recruit I want to bond its not Gaidon *G* My warder ends up being killed in the borderlands ;) I hope it all makes sense to as its now 3am and i'm writing this up...soooo if it doesn't let me know and i'll go back in and change it. :)

 

 

IC: Jaydena was stareing at Rasheta for a long moment. Rasheta had an idea that her lack of emotion was making Jaydena wonder. This must be the normal way for the Greens to "welcome" new members of the Ajah, and Rasheta's lack of concern was probably not something encountered much. Rasheta almost allowed herself to smile but she did not. Ever since her time in the arches she had been less of a smiling member of the tower. She buried most if not all her emotions and she could be as cold as any White. She only allowed herself to show emotion around her soon to be warder. She had loved him with all her heart for over a year now and no matter what mood she was in he always made her smile. She pulled herself back to the present as Jaydena said

 

"Well then let us begin this tour so we can get you on the road to being a full fledged Sister of the Battle Ajah, please follow me."

 

Rasheta nodded and listened as Jaydena spoke of the Green Ajah vault. Rasheta looked around the room and felt saddness for the Green sisters who had lost there lives fighting for the good of the tower. She knew in some fights it was hopeless but the Greens would go anyway. She knew given the chance she wouldn't hesitate either she would fight and die bravely, one did not run from battle they faced it with bravery. She bowed her head to the room in general paying her small respects to those who had passed into the hands of the creator and then followed Jaydena out to the Hall of Swords where she was told she would give her second petition. She nodded her head to Jaydena but didn't speak. It was easier to listen at times like this, one of her Brown teachers had always told her that to listen was to learn more then to speak and learn nothing.

 

Rasheta was led next to a door and a sister answered it. Rasheta did her best to appear humble and serene at the same time. Jaydena said that Rasheta was not a full member of the Ajah but was sealed to them. A touch of anger flashed in Rasheta's eyes before she smothered it. She would be a Green and to be angry at not being referred as one yet would not help her. She wasn't sure if the sister who answered the door noticed her flash of anger if she did she didn't say anything about it. She simply said

 

"I am quite looking forward to finding out what's under this exterior and I'm sure I'm not alone, there."

 

Rasheta allowed herself a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, although she tried to make it be so, to the sister. She didn't curtsy as a Novice would but she did bow her head in respect to the woman before her. "Thank you, for the welcome." She didn't know what to say to the sisters comment about finding out what she was like under the exterior so she added.

 

"I think there is little that is impressive about what is under my outer appearance." She shrugged and added to that "Besides possibly my stubborness." She nodded to the sister again and asked as humblly as she could.

 

"What should I call you Aes Sedai?"

[U4ea]

Oriella let herself smile, stubborness, indeed. "I am Oriella," she laughed with a nod. She'd left the honorific AND her last name off the introduction for a reason. First names really worked better for most of them, anyway. She only wanted to see her last name under the portrait in the Vault, anyway. That is, when she decided to come back and check on her Sisters after she died. She grinned, thinking of it. "And we shall see about what's inside, Rasheta, never fear. It all comes out with the wash." She grinned again. "Stop by for a drink sometime and we'll discuss it."

 

She nodded to the girl and then Jade, smiling slightly. "Good day to you, Jaydena. And you, Rasheta. May your day look only up from here, my dear. Simply remember that there's not a sister in these Quarters who has not stood where you are standing now and sooner than you think, you'll be on this side of the door. I trust this experience will engrain itself in your bones so that you will be able to offer the same empathy you shall receive this day. We are all here for the same reason, after all." She smiled and stepped back, waiting for them to pass before closing the door and returning to her missives.

[Jaydena]

Jaydena watched the blond woman with her green eyes as she welcomed the girl and began to speak, "Be welcome, Rasheta, It is always a pleasure to meet a new Sister who's appearance masks what is inside." Jade almost laughed out loud at that one, her fellow Sitter had always been a fierce one.  "I am quite looking forward to finding out what's under this exterior and I'm sure I'm not alone, there." Rasheta smiled softly at the comment though Jade noticed that the smile didn't reach her eyes and the girl hadn't yet learned how to mask all her emotions. There were still some flashes of anger in her eyes from time to time. "Thank you, for the welcome. I think there is little that is impressive about what is under my outer appearance. Besides possibly my stubborness." Jade smiled at that one and remembered back to her own tour, she too had been stubborn but it hadn't taken long for that to be beaten out of. The Greens back then had seemed like a harder group of women and she had come back many days from her battle weaves, so tired that she had been unable to do anything but lay down on her bed fully clothed and fall asleep. They had taken her through the paces, teaching her diplomacy, etiquette, sword forms, how to snare a warder that would do her in good stead.

 

She turned back as Rasheta spoke again, "What should I call you Aes Sedai?"  Jaydena glanced over at Oriella Sedai and smiled at her as the other woman answered Rasheta, she had seen the amusement flash into her eyes at Rasheta's answer. "I am Oriella, And we shall see about what's inside, Rasheta, never fear. It all comes out with the wash. Stop by for a drink sometime and we'll discuss it." Jade laughed out right and winked at her fellow Sitter, the other woman and her had shared many a drink after the long Hall sessions they went too.  "Good day to you, Jaydena. And you, Rasheta. May your day look only up from here, my dear. Simply remember that there's not a sister in these Quarters who has not stood where you are standing now and sooner than you think, you'll be on this side of the door. I trust this experience will engrain itself in your bones so that you will be able to offer the same empathy you shall receive this day. We are all here for the same reason, after all." Jaydena nodded to the woman, waited as Rasheta said her goodbyes and then headed to the next door. She knocked and waited for the Sister to open the door and then spoke, "Hello Sister, this is Rasheta Ardashir, she is not yet Green but she is bound to us." She nodded to the Sister that had opened the door and waited for the two to speak...

 

Jaydena Sedai

 

ooc- Sorry for the wait ladies, I thought I posted on this. *sighs*

[Rasheta Ardashir]

"I am Oriella,"

 

Rasheta nodded to the sister, who then continued speaking about Rasheta's temperment and what would show when she was pushed. Rasheta didn't speak but she did try and not wince. She had been pushed in both the arches and as an Accepted, or Novice and she knew that she was simply strong and stubborn. She would not give up if she wanted something. That more then anything had saved her within the arches. If she had not been so sure she would be Aes Sedai she would never have made it out. She was a little surprised when it appeared Oriella was waiting for something. Rasheta hadn't heard the last things that Oriella had said. That was unfortunate but no one had to know she had no idea what the sister had been talking about. She bowed her head to the Aes Sedai and said.

 

"Thank you for the talk Oriella, it has been a pleasure meeting you." the door closed and Jaydena took her to the next room. The door opened and Jaydena again said that Rasheta was not one of them but was sealed to them. Rasheta tried not to let her annoyance at this statement show but it was getting hard. This was only the second time she had heard it. By the time she was through the Ajah she was sure she was going to be grinding her teeth to keep from showing how much not being considered part of the Ajah was angering her.

 

Rasheta nodded to the sister however, and said. "My name is Rasheta what do I call you?" 

[Jaydena]

Brid thumped her wooden leg on the floor as she looked through the journals she had written when she traveled the country, fighting for the Greens instead of sitting on her ever widening rump. She wouldn't even be in the rooms except for Jaydena, their blasted Ajah Head, had commanded it and having been Ajah Head herself, she knew you didn't mess with your Captain General. Glaring at the journals as she read about taking down two trollocs at once and then living it up, happy to be alive and dancing in the inns afterwards. She threw the cover closed on her journal and hobbled over to the case with her swords, she picked one up and ran her hands along it. Still as sharp as ever and it would remain that way, for the odds of her ever using it again were slim to none. She caressed the hilt of the sword and then put it back into the case. Her wooden peg thumped on the floor as she walked over to the mirror and hooked her long white hair up onto her head. It wouldn't be long before she died and returned to the Creater, and it couldn't come soon enough. She had lived a life filled with Battles and had given all for her Ajah and the Tower and now all she wanted to do was die on the Battle Field. Of course Jaydena wouldn't allow anything like that to happen, oh light now, how dare a Green Sister die anywhere but in her bed. The woman was naive if she thought she would stand by and let it happen. Just like nearly every woman in the Greens who had given her life for the cause, she intended to do the same. She had plans to sneak away and lose herself in the Borderlands and it wouldn't be long before she escaped and made good on those plans.

 

No Green deserved to die in a bed, Light what was the woman thinking, in a bed of all things. She wanted to go down with as many Trollocs as she could take, screaming in the face of death, and covered in their foul blood, she wanted to be swimming in their blood when she was done. Brid would leave the world a better place if she did that, and a few Trollocs and Fades less wouldn't hurt the world any.  Rubbing at her wooden leg which still hurt her after all these years, she walked over to the door when a knock sounded at it. About time, she thought, these young Aes Sedai have no concept of being punctual or of respect for that matter, in my day we got these girls out on the training field in a few minutes, this whole tour thing was a waste of time in her opinion, weaves lots of weaves, is what saved your life on the Battle field, that and a well trained horse, sharp weapon, and a quick warder.[/i] She opened the door with a jerk and glared at the girl on the other side of it, and then turned her attention to their Ajah Head.

 

"Hello Sister, this is Rasheta Ardashir, she is not yet Green but she is bound to us." Brid nodded and then turned to look at Rasheta as the girl spoke, and girl she was, she was older than this woman's great great grandma. "My name is Rasheta what do I call you?" She arched her grizzled eyebrows at Rasheta and then spoke, "Yes child I know that, Jaydena just said that. Are you slow in the head or just hard of hearing?" She glanced back at Jade and saw the woman shake her head affectionally at her. Light when did they start shaking their head at me like I am some old biddy they need to humor, "Let's get this over with already, I need to go die in my bed as Jaydena wishes me to. Your a new Green, you will die and hopefully on the battlefield, unlike me, who has to die in her bed thanks to Jaydena, you want warders and that's why your becoming a Green. Get over it girl, warders are nothing but trouble, they die on you and take a piece of your soul with them. You want to fight and kill Trollocs, leave the world bathed in a glow of your glory, I have heard it all in my time. Just fight the best you can, stay true to what this ajah means, and don't rely only on your Sisters or your Warders. You are the only one who can make sure you live until you have White in your hair like me, and hopefully you will get to die on the battlefield." She glared at Jaydena again and then continued, "A sword that is sharp and lots of training, practice in Battle weaves until your eyes bleed and you may survive your first Battle. Do you have any questions, she stood tall and looked down her nose at the two of them.

 

Brid Rivalyn (NSW Ex Ajah Head and Sitter)

NSWed by Jaydena

 

[Rasheta Ardashir]

"Let's get this over with already, I need to go die in my bed as Jaydena wishes me to. Your a new Green, you will die and hopefully on the battlefield, unlike me, who has to die in her bed thanks to Jaydena, you want warders and that's why your becoming a Green. Get over it girl, warders are nothing but trouble; they die on you and take a piece of your soul with them. You want to fight and kill Trollocs, leave the world bathed in a glow of your glory, I have heard it all in my time. Just fight the best you can, stay true to what this ajah means, and don't rely only on your Sisters or your Warders. You are the only one who can make sure you live until you have White in your hair like me, and hopefully you will get to die on the battlefield."

 

Rasheta almost smiled at the bluntness of this sister, she felt like she liked her already. She wanted to fight one of the reasons she had joined the Ajah, another of course was the Warders but that could of course wait till she was through with all the entry level things she was required to do. She lifted her head and nodded to the sister, she still didn’t know the womans name as she had not been told. She added

 

“Thank you Aes Sedai, I will keep your words in mind. Have no fear that I will let the Green Ajah down I stand ready to fight you can have no fear of that.” She didn’t speak about her desire to have a warder but then again the sister had already figured out that was one of the reasons for her choice of Ajah. The Warders were good comrades in arms they watched your back, hopefully, and allowed you to live longer and fight longer. She suddenly felt sorry for the sister in front of her adding. “I am sorry you are confined to your bed sister, someday maybe you will be allowed to return to the battle field and die in a true warrior fashion.” She nodded her head in as deep respect as she could to the white haired sister in front of her and then added.

 

“I have no questions I only am here to learn.” She turned her attention back to Jaydena “I am ready for the next if this sister has nothing else to say.”

 

 

Rasheta Ardashir

Green Sister

[Jaydena]

Brid glared at the girl with one eye and waited for her to react, if the girl acted like she was some old crackpot grumbling about times gone she was going to take one of these swords to her. Finally Rasheta spoke, “Thank you Aes Sedai, I will keep your words in mind. Have no fear that I will let the Green Ajah down I stand ready to fight you can have no fear of that. I am sorry you are confined to your bed sister, someday maybe you will be allowed to return to the battle field and die in a true warrior fashion.” Brid growled and was about to speak when the girl turned away from her spoke to Jaydena instead. Such disrespect, she didn't even wait to see if I am done talking, she thought. Rasheta began speaking to Jaydena as though she weren't even there, “I have no questions I only am here to learn. I am ready for the next if this sister has nothing else to say.”

 

Taking her cane off the wall where it was hanging in a rack, she thumped it against the doorjam by Rasheta and spoke in a very cold and deceptive voice, "My girl, I wasn't done yet. I am not confined to my bed by choice. Our Ajah Head." She sneered over at Jaydena and then continued, "She doesn't feel that I should be allowed to die with honor as other Greens have done, I should die on a feather matress, but then she is the Ajah Head so I must listen. You would do well to learn some respect my girl, I am your elder, and I have been the Ajah Head of this grand Ajah before. You could learn a lot from me if you weren't so flighty and arrogant." With a humph she scowled at Jaydena and at Rasheta and then yanking her cane out of the door she put it under her arm and shut the door in their faces. She grimaced and walked away to go write some more missives...

 

Brid

NSW

[Jaydena]

Jaydena watched the two woman and tried hard not to smile at the continued barbs from Brid, she refused to let this great woman die bloody on the battlefield and that angered her greatly. As Rasheta turned away and basically ignored Brid at the end of their conversation she almost winced and wondered how Brid would react. The woman was a former ajah head and sitter and didn't take disrespect of any kind well. Though she was sure Rasheta had meant well, she was sure that Brid would not take that slight well. She raised her eyebrows at Brid as the other woman thumped a cane at Rasheta and tried not to smile at Brid's words,  "My girl, I wasn't done yet. I am not confined to my bed by choice. Our Ajah Head. She doesn't feel that I should be allowed to die with honor as other Greens have done, I should die on a feather matress, but then she is the Ajah Head so I must listen. You would do well to learn some respect my girl, I am your elder, and I have been the Ajah Head of this grand Ajah before. You could learn a lot from me if you weren't so flighty and arrogant." The woman stuck the cane behind her arm like a sword and shut the door. Jade turned to Rasheta and smiled, "Brid is quite the character and we love her dearly. If you will follow me." She chuckled under her breath and walked Rasheta to the next door. As they walked from door to door, talking to all the different woman of the Greens, she wondered if she was wrong in making Brid stay in the Tower. Was it so wrong that she wanted someone to die in the Tower and not fall into the piles of Trolloc body parts. She shook her head and then focused on her duties. Her feet hurt by the time they reached her own quarters and she opened the door and spoke, "This is my quarters Rasheta, you may come to my door at any time, any hour of the day or night. Please remember that. You can go about your business my dear, I will meet you at the Battle Weaves field tomorrow bright and early at sunrise. You can ask any Green if you don't know where it is. I will be in the Green Tea room which we walked by at dinner time. My table is open if you would like to have dinner with me Sister. Do you have any questions?"

 

Jaydena Mckanthur