Through the Throngs of bodies [At: Jerinia]

[Cleopatra Narisse]

The hour slipped by quickly as Satin put her things away, and mounted all her book on the top of the small desk, nearly covering all the space. She was going to have to rethink that. Maybe she can get permission to place a shelf on the wall somewhere?

 

Smells of food seeped under her door bringing her attention to her stomach, which she had ignored until now. She changed her clothes into the Novice dress and slippers and looked at herself in she small hand mirror. She looked down at the dress and thought to maybe have the waist tucked in just a bit. Though she had never been overly attentive to her feminine side, she still like to look nice.

 

She threw the hand mirror onto the desk where it cracked instantly. She stopped in her steps to peer over her shoulder. Splintered and useless the mirror would have to be thrown out. Well, she'd have to buy one of those now.  She sighed as she yanked open the door.

 

Several Novices were quickly moving through the halls all guided by the aroma's of food, no doubt. She touched the arm of the nearest Novice and asked, "Pardon me, I am needing to seek out my assigned mentor, Jerinia... do you know where I can find her?"

 

The wide eyed Novice looked at her hand and then into her eyes and then looked away quickly. People did that with her, quite often. She had no problems meeting people eye to eye but it seems to unnerve others.

 

"She should be in the Dining room by now."

 

She released the girl and thanked her. She was going to have to learn not to be so... intense.

 

She followed the pack of giggling novices and ended up in a great dining room.

Another Novice came to her and said, "She's there," pointing. Apparently the first novice didn't want to talk to her anymore.

 

She wound her way through the throngs of bodies and made it to the girl, Jerinia. She had her back to her, speaking to a few other girls. She patiently waited to get her attention.

 

Satin sur Amoura

Novice to the WT

[Jehaine]

Jerinia was chatting away with some of her friends when she felt someone tap her on her shoulder. Brushing her red hair out of her face, she turned around to see who it was, and nodded when she was told something by the Novice that had pointed her out to Satin in the dining room. Though the Mayener Novice wouldn't be able to hear it, it was clear they were talking about her from the Novice pointing in her direction. Jerinia smiled before getting up, her height of six feet now starting to become clear, and walked over to the new girl.

 

- "Oh, hi! Larindhra Sedai said she wanted me to Mentor someone, something about turning the tables i believe... Anyway, i'm Jerinia, nice to meet you."

 

Her voice was clear and strong, and she made no effort to hide her enthousiasm about actually getting to Mentor someone. She had become an Accepted only a short while ago, and was still trying to get used to the idea. Completely tossing protocol out of the window, she offered to shake hands, beaming a smile at Satin in the process.

 

 

Jerinia

MoNsbane

[Cleopatra Narisse]

The crowd noise of the hall was both disorienting and annoying. She knew that

she would have to become accustom to the noises. Compared to the time she

spent studying or following birds through a peaceful forest, this was complete

mayhem by comparison.

 

Satin has always seemed to others, more mature because she just didn't display

all the girlish nuances that most carefree, young women afforded. She did, at

times, miss that...

 

Jerinia was a tall girl as she was sure everyone had noticed. She seemed very open and mischievous in nature giving Satin a moment of relief.

This would be someone she could learn from, someone that, perhaps, would

give Satin the courage to trust her surroundings and not be so, intense.

Perhaps.

 

As Jerinia introduced herself to her and just as Satin was about to use her first

curtsy to someone of higher authority to her, out came Jerinia's hand. Satin

quirked her head for a second and slowly let loose of her skirt to take her hand.

The smooth smile she displayed loosened Satin's shoulders a bit as the

handshake was quite firm. Meeting Jerinia in the eye she tried to relax her eyes

as she wanted to really try not to be so intense with her new mentor.

 

"Thank you, Jerinia. I am happy to make your acquaintance and have hopes that

 

we will be a good fit for one another. May I join you at the table?"

 

Satin sur Amoura

Novice of fortune

[Jehaine]

Jerinia looked a bit uneasy at seeing the curtsy, still not being quite used to seeing other Novices (no, just Novices, she was an Accepted now!) bow and curtsy to her like she had to up until a few weeks ago. Though she still had to do her fair share of curtsies to the Aes Sedai, she felt she could actually get her chores done faster now, with 'curtsy time' being cut down by a third. As for being curtsied to, that was something she'd need to get used to one of these days...

 

"Thank you, Jerinia. I am happy to make your acquaintance and have hopes that we will be a good fit for one another. May I join you at the table?"

 

- "Oh sure, go right ahead. I'm sure you'll have a bunch of questions you'd like to ask. I know i did."

 

As the red headed Accepted gestured towards the table, she giggled a bit as memories surfaced of her first days in the White Tower. She managed to get herself into trouble with the first Aes Sedai she had set eyes on, and it was a streak she had yet to break. She did find it kind of odd that, when asking about the Ajahs, most Aes Sedai seemed to be particularly talkative about the other Ajahs to her, but she figured they were just trying to give her a wide range of information. Oh well, she'd piece it together by the time she'd get her shawl... Hopefully.

 

Once the two of them had sat down, she figured she'd might as well start with a little tidbit of information that she had had to learn the hard way. While Satin seemed to have the curtsying mastered already, she didn't want to end up dragging her into the same kind of trouble she had gotten herself into at the time. She was a Mentor now after all...

 

- "Oh, before i forget... I've never been the type to demand curtsies from people, so you don't have to do that with me if you don't want to. You're still going to end up having to curtsy to everyone in sight though, at times even some of the Accepted seem to have forgotten they were Novices once... Basically, when in doubt, curtsy."

 

Ending her little warning with a nod and a wink, she picked some bread from a shelf, offering Satin some before piling some more food on her plate. She needed the energy, what with all the penances she had been sent on!

 

 

Jerinia

Healthy girl

[Cleopatra Narisse]

She sat at the long table with Jerinia and other fresh faced gal. She observed their mannerisms and was able to pinpoint the regions from which they had come, but it was easier to catch the different accents, from the those who sat nearest. Jerinia's accent was borderlander but it was a language just out of reach of her guess.

 

Jerinia offered her some good advice, "Oh, before i forget... I've never been the type to demand curtsies from people, so you don't have to do that with me if you don't want to. You're still going to end up having to curtsy to everyone in sight though, at times even some of the Accepted seem to have forgotten they were Novices once... Basically, when in doubt, curtsy."

 

Satin had a habit of watching the mouth, when people talked, if not staring dead on, into their eyes. She didn't know where that had come from but she was more annoyed about that than blatantly staring.

 

"I will get used to it quickly I suppose. Protocol is ingrained into my upbringing. I have been called boring and I would have to agree." Satin sighed ever so slightly.

 

"Well I shall start by asking, where do you originate from, and how long have you been at the Tower? I am from Mayene. My father was a barrister for our city, prosecuting criminals. I had decided to follow in my father footsteps... well, before I was escorted to the tower, that is." Satin purposefully avoided talking about her mother. Her feelings about her hadn't changed, though there were muted.

 

Satin snagged some brindle cheese as it was passed along along with an apple and what seemed to be a meat pie. It smelled rather good. She listened intently, with more questions forming in her mind.

 

Satin sur Amoura

melding into the tower life

[Jehaine]

Jerinia listened as Satin introduced herself, grinning as she realised their home countries couldn't have been farther apart. Well, if you didn't count Saldaea, anyway. Probably Arad Doman as well. But south-to-north wise, they were the farthest apart anyway. Thinking for a moment about what she knew of Mayene, she decided not to bring it up for always getting it mixed up with Tear. No need to offend the girl... Then again, she asked her about where she came from, so it's all good.

 

- "Me? I'm from Malkier, way up north. Umm... I've been here a few decades, give or take a few years. Arrived here around the time of the Malkieri War, though my mother did the escorting in my case. My father was a soldier at the border fortress where we all lived, i suppose because traveling around is a bit too dangerous that close to the Blight. Your turn again, can you tell me about Mayene? It's a bit hard to tell its customs apart from local Tairen ones at times, and i was hoping you could tell me more about it..."

 

She put some bread in her mouth and chewed, awaiting both the answer and the next set of questions. She was raised never to talk with her mouth full, after all, and believed Satin would see it as a sign that it was her turn to speak again. If not... Well, she'd handle that when it happened.

 

 

Jerinia

Still hungry

[Cleopatra Narisse]

The bread smelled so fresh and warm as she nibbled on it. Jarinia was a very open, talkative gal. Satin was always forthcoming but has an ingrain sense of word usages, and sometimes she lacked the spontaneity, that made life so fun. Her being so sheltered though didn't help Satin learn to express herself more freely.

 

Malkier... she was a little surprised but only let is show in her eyes. Malkier was a distance from Mayene, with Tear as their neighbor,

 

"Mayene is a very self sustaining city-state. Our leader, The First of Mayene, is said to be a direct descendant of our long ago, king Artur Paendrag Tanreall. Though written history as you know is written by the hand of man...." She paused with a knowing nod. The First is ever watchful of Tear, whom we watch closely as our quasi-enemies. Nothing has come to war thankfully, since the bargain." Satin's eyes flashed. She didn't know just how much of Mayene's history of losing Mayenes independence from Tear, with a bargain long ago.

 

"Our main export and riches lie in oilfish, of course. A wealthy state and many lovely homes and estates. Which brings in the criminal elements... Of course, life can be very hard for those without. Our First has devised a "work for pay" whereby any family can work a day or two for pay. Longer if they are skilled.

 

Our customs are peculiar to most. We are not so formal as most nations. We speak openly to each other about politics, wars, and intimacies. Men and women are equal in nearly every area. Our First is trained as a weapon's expert...  Tairen assassins are said, to always slip in and out of our country."

 

Satin stopped suddenly, looking into Jarinia's eyes. "Malkier... how did it fair in the War? It is such a mysterious tale for me. I cannot say I know it well..."

 

The time was moving along, gradually the braziers were being lit and oil lamps on the walls as well. Satin hadn't notice the time until they were lit. She was mildly surprised, but still wanted to hear more.

[Jehaine]

Jerinia lost track of time as she listened to Satin talk about Mayene. She had heard about oilfish, though she still found it hard to imagine a large body of water that could surround something as big as an entire country, but all the water from the river had to go somewhere... right? She made a mental note to visit Mayene one day when she was an Aes Sedai. Maybe Satin would show her around then? Yes, she'd have to ask her about that.

 

- "Hmm... To be honest, i don't know. Novices aren't allowed out of the Tower, and even Accepted can't leave the city without explicit permission so all i've had to go by are rumors. My dad fought in the War, though i haven't heard from him afterwards. I was heading south, and so were a number of other people, but yeah... I've heard the nation's gone, but that can't be right, can it? Countries can't just disappear..."

 

She was feeling a bit uneasy about the subject. So many rumors of her people traveling south, but so little of them returning home. Malkier stopped the Trollocs, they had every year and would have done so for decades to come. Sure, her dad hadn't written her a letter and didn't seem to be answering the ones she had sent north, but he was just busy with the patrols.. right?

 

 

Jerinia

Malkier never fell... did it?

[Cleopatra Narisse]

This is the usual time when most thoughtful and deeply caring women would take to heart and offer kind words or an uplifting message to their counterpart, when someone's future isn't clear. But Satin rarely had this kind of connection with anyone. Her world had consisted of mostly logic, the dastardly criminal and the elements that her Mother seemed drawn to. Nothing that had

trained her or prepared her for that sort of response.

 

Matter of fact is what she knew most. "The City still stands if Malkier are strong and as you say, they are exception fighters." Her eyebrow quirked a smidge as if it were a confimation.

 

Then out of no where she began talking about her mother... someone she had hoped to never acknowledge again. "My mother was a very strong woman but not in the way that would be appreciated unless you has some criminal intent. She is the sole reason I am here today. If there is one reason, abiet small, to thank her for anything in my life, was to have me forcefully taken to the Tower. Now that I am away from my Father's home and in the Tower, I will make the best of it."

 

She turned to Jerinia, "It is my full intention to get to know what this life is about, to the smallest less meaningful things if necessary. I am a thorough gal, if I am anything." She almost smiled. She lowered her eyes, "But the one thing I must learn that is to a personal nature, is how to not be so intense. It is common for people to shy away from me because I am so forward and meet the gazes of others, with such intensity..." a long sigh escaped her. "I am a well practiced student. I need to fit in properly and learn to... have fun. In short, I need help to blend in."

 

Satin sur Amoura

Learning a thing or two

[Jehaine]

Though she didn't quite understand what Satin meant with criminal intent, Jerinia nodded in response,figuring asking on about it would only end up with her Mentee feeling a bit uncomfortable. She hated making people feel uncomfortable, even though she was apparently good at it for some reason. Still, that was only with the Aes Sedai, never with the Novices and Accepted... Well, most Accepted anyway.

 

- "Well yeah, it's good to pay attention to your studies and chores -- especially chores! -- if you want to have any kind of free time here. As the current record holder of penances, i'm speaking from experience here, trust me."

 

Sighing, and shooting her a rueful look to strengthen the point she was trying to make, she tore off a piece of bread to clean her plate, then changed her mind and got some more soup instead. However, the girl obviously needed some kind of advice, the kind that wouldn't land her into boatloads of trouble, so she thought on the answer for a bit longer than usual. That, and she was still chewing on her food.

 

- "Lessee now... What usually helps is when you just be yourself. That way, the people that like you like you for what you are, and you'll not end up slipping from a mask you aren't wearing in the first place. As for the intensity stuff, i may have something to solve that..."

 

Turning her chair to face Satin -- with groaning legs, maybe she should lift the thing next time -- she brushed her hair away from her face, revealing the blue dot that was located on the middle of her forehead. All Malkieri women wore those, or at least they were supposed to anyway, but for now it'd serve a purpose of its own.

 

- "See this? This is called a ki'sain, and basically is a way for Malkieri to show if they're married or not. Anyway, instead of meeting people eye to eye, try talking to me while keeping your eyes focused on my ki'sain. Don't try and force yourself not to be intense, just focus on that point instead of my eyes while talking."

 

She leaned forward slightly, keeping her hair out of her face so the dot would be clearly visible. It felt... odd, as if she were giving Satin the test with the gem to see if she could channel or not. Immediately, the thought came of how she'd look like with a flashing blue dot on her forehead, and she determinedly stomped that thought back where it belonged. She was talking to her Mentee now, plenty of time for giggling later.

 

 

Jerinia

Teaching is serious business! :-*

[Cleopatra Narisse]

Moments after blurting out those most revealing things she realized that this girl, could not know what she meant. She readjusted her self just slightly and said, "My father is one of the Barrister of Mayene... he dealt with many criminals. I was witness to many of the trials and have seen the underbelly of human nature." Typical Satin. Straight forward and no pretty details. She nodded to Jerinia as if outright asking, Do you understand?

 

She was not so surprised to hear that her Mentor had a wealth of life lessons under her belt, with all her penances. But she found a great value in this, and planned to listen well about the mishaps of Jerinia. This would help her in so many ways. Life lessons were prized moments, really.

 

"If it doesn't make you uncomfortable, I would like to hear more about your... mishaps. This will help me in avoiding some of the personality nuances of these particular Aes Sedai and a wider scope for them as well." Satin pondered on what she might talk to Jerinia about that wasn't about their tower life? Aaah. She had one thing and it moved her to one of her first full on smiles.

 

Jerinia showed her the blue gem on her forehead, and began to help Satin in controlling her intensity as a person in the best ways she could. She did as Jerinia said, and began to tell her of her love for song birds by making that blue dot, the actual center of her scrutiny. She would only so often, look Jerinia in the eye and then look back to the dot. It wasn't easy.... she was tempted beyond anything, to look her in the eye.

 

"In my loneliest of days, when father had to leave to another Village or cross into dreaded Tear, I found that the songs of birds soothed me. I missed father so... Mother didn't like the birds in my room and thought me to be silly to want to keep them in my cage. I fed them and they would sit on my finger or shoulder. Mother scared or released most of them, but a few she killed, by accident she said." Satin sighed deeply. "My love for nature is second to the birds but I do know of many plants and their virtues or their dangers."

 

She stopped suddenly and looked into Jerinia's eyes. "How did I do? Did I do it?", a second smile escaped her. A very rare moment for Satin, indeed! 

 

Satin sur Amoura

Apt pupil

[Jehaine]

Jerinia nodded, now fully understanding what Satin had meant. For a moment, she believed the Novice to have hinted at her mother being a criminal herself, though it was a bit of a relief to hear that her initial impression had been quite off. As the subject changed to her mishaps, she winced painfully, shifting her seat uncomfortably. Still, she managed a grin as she started talking.

 

- "Heh, if i told you about all my mishaps we'd be sitting here all week. To be honest... Most of them are just me being either clumsy or unlucky. Like getting a book from the top shelf and accidentally dropping it on an Aes Sedai's toe. Or lead a Trainee from the Yards on a tour through the Novice and Accepted dorms and the Halls of the Green Ajah before getting caught. It's not that i intend to break a rule, but i guess i get carried away easily..."

 

Then it was Satin's turn to talk, all the while letting her focus on the dot on her forehead. It was going quite well actually, she only looked her in the eye a couple of times during her talk about songbirds. when Satin looked her in the eye again asking how she did, Jerinia could only grin in return.

 

- " You did great! Now, the next time you talk to someone, try to focus on an imaginary dot on their forehead, and when you're feeling confident move on to their mouth, or the bridge of their nose. It's not that hard once you get used to it."

 

Winking at her Mintee, the red headed Accepted finished the last of the food on her plate, realising that with all the talking, it would be close to the end of meal time, or third half gong time or whatever it was called. She never could get those names right, but at least she knew what was intended at the different times of day. In her case, there would be a penance waiting for her after dinnertime.

 

- " So... anything else i can help you with?"

 

 

Jerinia

Hopefully helpful

[Cleopatra Narisse]

Satin felt a moment of relief, to know that Jerinia had helped her to calm intensity, while having a conversation with ... well, anyone. So far, she had been fortunate to not meet up directly with any Aes Sedai. Her goal to get through her Novice-hood without incident was a high-set goal but her determination was very strict. She could thank her father for that.

 

The stories that Jerinia told her about her clumsiness, and unlucky moments made for good uses to her. She would be more careful and find the boundaries that she need not cross. It never occurred to her that this intent was anything but about her own preservation. She could care less who she impressed.

 

"I am sorry that you have had to endure such mishaps. Perhaps you could take a little more time when, working your way through your day? I have had a few mishaps myself, slipping into the pond....  all because my attention was not on my goal, whatever it was." Satin's advice was weak and she even believed as she was saying it that Jerinia, full well knew what she really needed to do, though fortune does no smile on us all.

 

"I have high hopes for you Jerinia, I suspect you will be Aes Sedai in no time. Regardless of your.. mishaps." She loosed a small smile that faded as quickly as it came.

 

"As far as needing any more help, then night is upon us and I know my classes are begining in the next day or so. It will be l pleasure to have you teach them. Congratulations on that, as well." She softly touched Jerinia's hand and was somewhat shocked by the expression of doing it, but let it pass.

 

"It is long past my bed time. I am sure I'll have many question in the future." No real thank you escaped her but a simple nod was what she gave.

 

She rose with Jerinia to take her leave.

 

Satin sur Amoura

Break in the Ice

[Jehaine]

Jerinia shook her head to let Satin know that the reason she generally ended up geting into trouble was not trying to do things too fast, but rather something else. Well... sometimes it was due to her wanting to do something too fast, or thinking too lightly about a task, but most of the time it wasn't. As far as she could tell anyway. Yeah.

 

- "Well, that's not really it. It's just that i make decisions that sounds right at the time, and make perfect sense to me, but then turn out to go wrong. It's not that i try to do things too fast, it's just that i end up percieving things differently. Umm... maybe i should explain with an example here."

 

She thought for a moment, trying to find a good example among the far too many penances she had had over the years. She had seen Novices with far less marks than her behind their names get put out of the Tower, so it couldn't be all her fault. It was just that, in her eyes, she was doing the logical thing, following her judgment and common sense. The problem was that not everyone agreed, and it only took one Aes Sedai to have her be sent to the Mistress of Novices again...

 

- "Lessee... Ah yes. One time, a Trainee from the Yards walked into the Tower. I met him, and he wanted to know where everything was so that if the Tower got attacked he'd know what would need the most protecting. Now, in my eyes the area that would need the most protecting would be the Novice and Accepted dorms since they couldn't really be expected to channel themselves to safety yet, so i showed him around there. We later got caught when i showed him the Green Ajah quarters. I mean... how was i supposed to know Trainees weren't allowed in the Tower, and not even Warders can enter the dorms?"

 

She shrugged, sighing as she finished talking about her example. It was almost time now, and she really needed to gt that last piece of parchment copied over before it got too late. She blushed slightly at the praise from her Mentee and smiled warmly as the Novice touched her hand, saying her farewell before leaving. SHe herself left as well, though heading in another direction as the Accepted dorms were up two flights of stairs.

 

 

Jerinia

Preparing for tomorrow

[Cleopatra Narisse]

Satin watched her mentor walk away thinking that she would be a good teacher for her for life lessons. She also knew she couldn't be that much fun to anyone and thought she needed to open herself up to more activities. Perhaps this would be good training, as well.

 

She knew herself too well. Stoic, sodden, unapproachable, and dreary... But she knew that inside her soul she was searching for something to spark her deep interest and fan the flames in those darker places. In there, life was waiting.... but waiting for what? She shook her head slightly as to come out from a trance and started her journey back to her room in the Novice Quarters

 

Satin sur Amoura

Who Am I, really?