And a BIG Welcome To... [Attn: MoT]

[Jehaine]

Irian walked through the Yards, trying to calm himself by heading to a grove he had spotted earlier. He needed to clear his mind somewhat, and being arund nature generally helped calm his mind. So Aeryn could channel... It still felt almost surreal, his Lady, no, his best friend becoming an Aes Sedai. He still wondered how she managed not to erupt five minutes into the conversation, but he had a feeling he'd be able to hear her taking the head off of some unfortunate person regardless of where in Tar Valon he was.

 

The fact was, he needed a job. Sure, he could leech off of the money Aeryn's parents sent her, and she'd end up buying him things regardless of what he'd tell her, but he'd still not really feel comfortable with it. He had two good arms, wasn't sick... He'd feel indebted about getting money and not having to do anything for it in return.

 

That was, until he was approached by one of the Trainees, asking him to spar. The two of them got talking about the Warders, and from him he heard that they were training to protect the Aes Sedai. Irian thought about it... Aeryn was going to be an Aes Sedai eventually, and what better way for him to keep guarding her than to become an official Warder himself?

 

Asking directions, he found himself standing in front of the Mistress of Trainees' office roughly ten minutes later. Knocking on the door -- open to interpretations, of course -- he waited for a reply, hoping that whomever was inside wouldn't end up being scared thinking someone was trying to batter down the door again.

 

 

Irian

Six foot six bouncer

[Eqwina]

There had been nothing typical about her day, and nothing typical about the week she’d had. For Thera life had turned on its head, and been spun around so she hardly knew which direction was up. But after a few weeks of leave she was back at work, and trudging ahead.

 

With her right hand thrust through her wild red curls, she used it to brace her forehead as she read through her thousandth report that morning. Her eyes watered as they tried to focus and she reread the same page five times. The knocks that usually announced a trainee in trouble, or a new arrival that had made her cringe before were now a welcome distraction from the mountain of papers she faced. She’d not realized just how important she was until she’d gone a week and come back to find her office buried with letters and notes in need of correspondence.

 

This time when the knock came, Thera paused a moment to adjust her coat and ran her callused fingers through her hair. Just because she felt like she’d been trampled by a stampede of horses did not mean she had to look like it. When she was satisfied that she looked presentable she used her usual gruff bark to usher the person in.

 

Leaning back in her chair her eyes traveled upwards to meet the eyes of the monstrosity that had walked through her door. “Either you got lost on your way to a side show, or you’re here to train in my yards?” Her tone was flat, but her eyes carried a slight twinkle as they always did when she made a jest. When he didn’t move or speak Thera cleared her throat and motioned to a chair. She often forgot that with her gruff exterior many people did not take her jokes as such. “Well take a seat boy and introduce yourself.”

[Jehaine]

Irian smirked the way he always did when people made jokes about him. He didn't take it personally, and had gotten used to it over time during the few years he had worked in the Inn. Some people needed it to feel more comfortable around him, and as long as they didn't start throwing insults on a regular basis he didn't mind. He turned down the offer for a chair though, sliding it away before sitting on the floor. With his height, he still reached up high enough for Thera to look him in the face.

 

- "I hope you don't mind me sitting on the floor... Some chairs just aren't built for someone of my height and weight."

 

Still smirking, he shrugged before folding his hands in his lap. He briefly scanned the room, not realy loking for something but interested in how it looked anyway, after which he turned back to the Mistress of Trainees awaiting what was supposed to come next. Oh, he had a vague idea of what he could expect -- the Trainee showing him the office had been quite talkative -- but he had the vague impression something had been held back. Oh well, he'd find out sooner or later anyway.

 

- "Anyway, to answer your question... I'm Irian Nerendahl, from Almoth. And even though it's fairly obvious, whom do i have the pleasure of speaking to?"

 

His tone and manner were purely casual, and even though he didn't mean to give the impression he was trying to flirt with her he didn't worry about what would happen if she did. Went with living in an Inn for three years, he supposed.

 

 

Irian

Doesn't mind

[Eqwina]

Thera was never intentionally rude, but so many people were afraid of her that it was refreshing to have someone so cordial in her office. Even if he did smirk like the cat who’d caught the canary.

 

Returning his smirk with a wry smile of her own she watched as he gently pushed the chair aside and set crossed legged on the floor. Running her eyes from him, to the chair and back she realized that perhaps he’d made a smart choice. Still she felt a little silly receiving him from a chair while he sat on the floor. It made her feel as if she were speaking to an over grown child, but her position did not allow for certain things so she remained in her seat.

 

“Welcome Irian, I am Thera Trakelyn, Mistress of Trainee’s but you may call me simply Thera.” She’d never been one for titles, even when the honorific Gaidin had been rightly hers she rarely expected anyone to use it, and often chastised them when they had. Giving him a rarely seen smile, she took a moment to eye him up and down again, slowly thumbing the engagement ring on the left hand. Just because she was about married did not mean she could not look and enjoy.

 

“I take it you have come to train with the Warders, but why? Why do you want to be a warder and how did you come to make your decision? ”

 

Thera Trakelyn

bemused

[Jehaine]

Irian noticed Thera's amusement, and simply assumed it was because she wasn't used to having people sit on the floor. Her thumbing the ring on her finger had not gone unnoticed however, and he made a mental note to keep that in mind during the rest of the conversation. Though he was just being friendly, some husbands tended to become a little paranoid when it came to people being nice to their wives. Knowingly or unknowingly -- probably the first -- Thera had given him something to steer the topic back on track again, which he gladly accepted. Folding his hands, he took a deep breath as he spoke.

 

- "Well... I came here as the bodyguard of Lady Aeryn, who became a Novice less than an hour ago. We're close friends, have been for a few years now and... Well, she'd probably kill me for saying this, but she has a fiery temper and i've been keeping her out of trouble ever since we met. Then i heard Warders were supposed to protect their Aes Sedai and... Well, you do the math."

 

At the end of his explanation, he simply shrugged. He had pretty much said all about why he had wanted to become a Warder just now, and given that he hadn't even considered it once before leaving the Mistress of Novices' office it was still more than he thought it'd be. In all, he was satisfied with it, and waited for what else Thera had wanted to know.

 

 

Irian

Easygoing

[Eqwina]

Thera laughed before she could stop herself, but quickly suppressed her giggles if not her smile as she stared at the behemoth sitting on her floor. “I mean no disrespect, but you cannot know how many times I have heard that story, or its like and for some reason I had expected….something else out of you I suppose.”

 

When Irain said nothing Thera reached into her desk and pulled out her big book of trainee’s. “Same old story or not I suppose your reasons are as good as any for coming.” In a careful hand she printed his name and sanded the page, leaving it open for the ink to dry.

 

“I don’t suppose our beds will be large enough for you, ..no matter, we will find one to fit, but for now a few nights cramped won’t kill you.”

 

“Tell me what experience do you have with weapons? And fighting?”

[Jehaine]

Irian thought for a moment, trying to think of his abilities from a point of view he hadn't before. Sure, he had quite a bit of strength, but soldiering was something he just couldn't see himself do. Not that he'd lack the skill to, it would just end up looking comical if he'd be over a full head taller than the others in the line with him. Still, there was bound to be something...

 

- "Hmm... I've been apprenticed to a woodcutter for a while, but for the past couple of years i've been working as a bouncer. Tossed a Whitecloak seven feet through the air once, i suppose i could do something with that strength of mine."

 

He chuckled at the memory of it, a laugh fueled by the giggle that escaped from Thera earlier. Though it had gotten him in a boatload of trouble back in the day, Aeryn had stuck up for him in turn and the both of them had ended up being scolded. He had appreciated her attempt though.

 

 

Irian

Not built to hold a line

[Eqwina]

Thera’s face split into a smile which she shared with the boy in front of her. “Well that’s not much, but I actually prefer it that way. You’ll move faster than some, not because of your strength but because we won’t have to take the time to unlearn you nasty habits you picked up thinking you knew one end of a sword from another.”

 

Using her finger tips to check if the ink was dry she closed the book and pushed back her chair. “A tour of the yards is all that’s left, until tomorrow of course. You’ll being at first light in the yard, running laps until someone comes to start your lessons.”

 

“Follow me and I will show you around.” Walking past Irian Thera chuckled softly seeing that she came barely to his chest and she was a little above average e height as women grew. She was still laughing quietly as the monster of a boy followed her out into the yards.

 

[Jehaine]

Nodding, Irian stood up as Thera rose from her seat as well, silently thankful that the ceiling was a bit higher than that of the average building. Then again, he had heard that there was an Ogier grove on the grounds somewhere and figured the Aes Sedai must have taken that into account back when they designed the blueprints for the Tower. Oh well, nothing he would complain about anyway.

 

Following the Mistress of Trainees out of her office for a tour of the Yards, he couldn't help but wonder if Aeryn was getting a similar treatment in the White Tower. That Larindhra person sounded like someone that could get under her skin, and he sent a silent prayer to her to mind her tongue during his absence. Oh, right, that reminds me.

 

- "Oh, before i forget, are Trainees allowed into the Tower? Or Warders, for that matter?"

 

While it was true he didn't know a thing about how the Bond worked, he had heard (more like: gotten drilled into him) what House Shainrahien knew about Aes Sedai and their Warders before being sent out as Aeryn's guard, but the simple fact was that he still couldn't quite understand how it worked. Aes Sedai were all-powerful, and they picked a guard for life, that's what he believed it to more or less boil down to anyway.

 

 

Irian

...What are the rules here, anyway?

[Eqwina]

Thera paused and looked over her shoulder with a wry grin. “Thinking about your young lady again so soon?” She laughed and started walking again with a slight shake of her head.

 

“Warders are none of my concern, but yes they are allowed in the Tower. Though I can tell you from experience we most often would avoid it unless with our Aes Sedai. As for you, well you will stay away unless sent on a task by me. For no reason will you enter the Novice Quarters, some do still try and sneak in now and again, but with your size I don’t think I’ll have that issue with you.”

 

“As far as any other rules you need to know. Stay clear of the Aes Sedai and follow the rules your instructors set forth and you will do fine. Oh, we can enter the Tower Library, in fact I encourage it for all my students.”

They approached her office again and Thera stopped outside the door. “Anything else before I send you on your way?”

 

[Jehaine]

Irian sighed deeply, scratching the back of his head as he looked at the White Tower itself. Aeryn was in there somewhere... He just hoped she'd be able to keep her temper in check without him to keep her under control. Well... Not really under control in that sense of the word, more like 'step in before things spiral out of control'. Either way, she'd have to sooner or later, and if he lost the edge he had with her currently, something told him he'd be needing that weapon skill.

 

Oh well, there was always the library though. He liked to read, and maybe he would be able to see her there and talk about how things were working out for her. Or even find out if the Tower was still in one piece.

 

- "Hmm... Not really, unless you'd count pointing me to my room and first class. Which i suppose you were about to do anyway, might i add?"

 

He grinned again, his worries already fading on the background. Things never really bothered him for long, he hardly ever stayed angry past turning around and this would be no different. In the countless years that the Tower had stood there, he supposed it'd be able to survive Aeryn as well...

 

 

Irian

The Tower'll manage ;)

[Eqwina]

Thera could see the gears turning in his head, about seeing his young lady again, but that was why she suggested the Library. After all she knew what it could be like to be separated from someone you cared about.

 

“Your first class won’t be until tomorrow so the rest of the day is yours. I suggest learning you way around so you won’t be late when your training does start. As for your room you are in the second bunk house, just over there.” She pointed to the large white washed building. “Find a room and a bed that will fit you for now, and I will get another sent your way. ”

 

[Jehaine]

Irian looked in the direction Thera had just pointed in, noticing a white building in the distance. He figured that Aes Sedai must have liked the color white a lot to make nearly all the buildings white like that. To his modest opinion, it would have been a pain in the backside to keep it clean, but then again he probably wouldn't have to in the first place.

 

- "Will do, ma'm. I'll try not to be late tomorrow though, but i'm just not used to waking up early anymore these days. I'm guessing it'll take me a few weeks to adjust i hope."

 

The bed wasn't the problem, he was. He had been a bouncer for the past couple of years, meaning that during that time he had gone to bed only after the Inn closed, and didn't wake up until somewhere early... in the afternoon. He assumed they were more punctual here, but he already wasn't looking forward much to the twisting and turning that seemed inevitable the first time he would be going to sleep at what was considered a normal time to people with day jobs.

 

 

Irian

Everything before 11 am is real early