A Simple Task (Mors & Lavinya)

[Kael]

Orion thanked the boy and closed his hand over the folded note in his hand. He had long since lost his stubborness and gone to other to write out legible notes and letters. He could write still but it was time consuming and never really came out right in the end. It was faster to just ask a trainee to do it for him.

 

Orion made the familier trek towards the small clearing where he met Mors for his lessons, a lathe in one hand and the folded note in his other. He didn't have much time to wait, the soft footsteps making his head turn slightly.

 

Before Mors could say anything Orion held out his hand with the note. "Before we start I have a task for you. This is for a Mistress Reana at the Tower Gate inn. I want you to take it to her for me." Orion gave Mors some rough directions to find the inn and waited for his student to take the paper.

 

Orion

[Zygorn]

Mors had been practicing his forms already, a faint sheen of sweat gleaming on his face as he went through the basics, his sword point moving gracefully, for a trainee. His level of determination had improved after his second meeting with Lavinya Sedai, as she had spurred him to surpass himself. He saw Master Orion approach, and listened to his task.

 

"Of course Master Orion..." He took the note, listening to the directions, and headed from the yard to Tar Valon, which took him near the Tower. His sweat had dimmed a bit, evaporating in the morning air, he looked about alertly, moving as if he had a purpose, though not pompously, as he passed the Tower, he had a faint desire to go inside, and see Lavinya Sedai once more, but he knew that would be excessively foolish and wasteful. Not to mention quite embarrassing were he to be discovered. Sneaking about was not Mors' strongest point.

[Lavinya]

Lavinya smiled a little to herself as she threaded through the tower gardens, making a path towards the warders yards. She had taken a fancy to rearranging the furniture in her room, and while she could have easily used Saidar to move the heavy objects, it seemed such a waste, using something so wonderful for so mundane a task. Besides, the thought of employing a fit young trainee or guard to assist her was a far more enticing prospect.

 

Stepping lightly, her pale silver skirts swishing softly about her legs as she stepped out of the shadows of the garden and into the sunlight. Indeed, it appeared she wouldn't have to go far to find her help today, her smile brightening some as she spied Mors.

 

"It appears this is my lucky day." Lavinya purred, stepping up behind Orion's young trainee, her eyes dancing with mischief as he turned to greet her. "I was looking for a trainee to assist me today, it seems I have found the perfect candidate." She smiled at him warmly, her dimple flashing prettily as she casually tossed her long red curls over her shoulder. "Unless, of course, you are unable to help an Aes Sedai, in her time of need?" She raised her brow, not expecting him to refuse. She saw the way he looked at her, and she had every intention of using it to her own advantage. Besides, watching him move furniture could prove a most entertaining way to pass the day.

[Zygorn]

Mors stopped at the sound of Lavinya's voice, blinking as he turned on his heel... he had a message to deliver for Orion, but he did not say how quickly, or whether or not it was urgent...

 

"I was looking for a trainee to assist me today, it seems I have found the perfect candidate." Mors frowned, knowing she had some difficult chore for him to do... Aes Sedai often did find chores for such things.

 

"Unless, of course, you are unable to help an Aes Sedai, in her time of need?" He eyed her like a Wolf eyes a Lynx. Warily, but also seeking a moment of weakness in which to "strike".

 

"Ah Lavinya Sedai, it is an Honor. Have you come to practice bladesmenship with me?" He grinned at her, after having made sure no one was around to note the cheek in his voice. He held the message loosely in his hand, in obvious sight, so Lavinya would know he had another task.

 

"I was to deliver this message, but Master Orion did not tell me how quickly it must be delivered, and so, I believe I can help you without incurring Master Orion's wrath..." Mors said, watching her reactions intently.

[Lavinya]

"Ah Lavinya Sedai, it is an Honor. Have you come to practice bladesmenship with me?" Lavinya raised a brow, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It seemed the boy had some cheek when he was of earshot of his mentor.

 

"I was to deliver this message, but Master Orion did not tell me how quickly it must be delivered, and so, I believe I can help you without incurring Master Orion's wrath..." Lavinya's jaw tightened slightly. It seemed Mors had yet to learn that Aes Sedai did not tolerate having their requests denied, particularly by uppity young trainees. Still, he hadn't refused, nor would he, if he had any sense.

 

"Excellent." She said with a smile and a gleam in her eye. "Come with me." Turning on her heel, Lavinya led him back inside the tower, along the twisting halls, resplendant with finery, though she barely paid them any heed, accustomed as she was to the grandeur. Eventually the tiles underfoot changed colours to a shimmering gray-silver, indicating they were entering the gray ajah quarters, a few more turns and nods to her sisters and Lavinya halted before the door to her own private chambers.

 

Opening the door she led Mors inside, closing the door behind him with a simple weave of air before issuing instructions. "I need to reorganise the furniture, and I fear I am not strong enough to do so myself." She explained, before pointing to all of the objects she wanted moved in the sitting room, the table and chairs, the heavy wooden desk, the large chest. As she went, she explained where it needed to be moved too, flicking glances to Mors to make sure he was paying attention.

 

"Well now, I will stay and keep you company, of course." She smiled, silently adding that she would also make sure her instructions were followed to the letter. Pretty young lad or no, she still would not tolerate even the slightest straying from her orders.

 

"Now, where shall you start?" She said brightly.

 

~Lavinya

[Zygorn]

As her face changed, he smiled inwardly. Perhaps I am merely a Trainee, Lavinya Sedai, but I have my own will... Mors thought, adding then,And I too, play Daes Dae'mar... My mother taught me well.

 

As she strode away, he grinned, getting a nice view as he followed, matching her stride, remaining a pace or so behind Lavinya's right side. The letter he was to send was in his pocket.

 

As he walked inside the White Tower, his jaw nearly dropped, of course, his eyes merely widened a slight bit, as he was no farmboy. He had seen lavish things in Caemlyn, but it did not compare well to the Tower...

 

And so in silence Mors followed Lavinya, commiting this path for memory. Knowing where Lavinya Sedai stayed could be useful, of course... especially for pranks...

 

As they reached her room, Lavinya spoke.

 

 

"I need to reorganise the furniture, and I fear I am not strong enough to do so myself." Mors nearly groaned. All this? Light, why couldn't she just do it with the Power? Perhaps this is her way of replying to his final comment...

 

"Well now, I will stay and keep you company, of course." Mors grinned wolfishly.

 

"Perhaps you could practice your swordforms and stances while I move the furniture, so that I may better know your skill?" he chuckled softly, then hearing her final question.

 

"Now, where shall you start?" Mors blinked. Where would he start? The bloody woman expected HIM to know where she wanted things?

 

"I am yours to command, Lavinya Sedai, I begin where you say." He smiled, getting out of the maid bit...

[Lavinya]

"Perhaps you could practice your swordforms and stances while I move the furniture, so that I may better know your skill?" Lavinya narrowed her gaze, fixing Mors with a hard stare as she conteplated him. It seemed there was much cheek in this one, when he was away from those who may give him a comeuppance for his behaviour. Amsuing as it may be, he needed to understand that she was Aes Sedai, and he merely a trainee.

 

"You can start with the desk." She said, pointing. "I want it moved over to here." Lavinya continued, moving to indicate the area where she wanted it placed. Fixing him with a stare once more, she paused a moment before replying to his earlier comment. "I suggest you do not presume to give me suggestions on how to spend my time, boy." She told him, hands on hips. Pleased as she may be with the easiness with which he spoke, she wanted him to know that he was inferior, that she called the shots.

 

"Now, get to work. And mind you do not disturb anything on the desk." She added, taking some notes from the desktop and curling her legs under her in one of the more comfortable chairs in the room, idly reading as she let Mors begin to work.

 

~Lavinya

[Zygorn]

"You can start with the desk." She said, and he moved towards it. He prepared to lift it, and looked where she wanted it.

 

"I suggest you do not presume to give me suggestions on how to spend my time, boy."

 

"I was not aware Aes Sedai were so hard handed with their help. Forgive me for being overly friendly, Lavinya Sedai..." Mors abased his tone, sounding wounded yet apologetic. It was mostly a feint, but some of it did cut. Light, would all Aes Sedai be like this? With their Warders?

 

Seeing what was in the way, he contemplated how to move it. He attempted to lift it, seeing if he could lift it above the other things... He could hardly do so. But, it must be done as Lavinya Sedai desired, for he wanted to prove he had a quick mind, and show he could obey when ordered, making him more appealing as a gaidin. Being a mindless drone, would place him at a serious disadvantage in the future.

 

Straining, he hefted the table, his muscles burning as he carried the desk slowly where she desired it, placing it down gingerly down. He turned to Lavinya, looking to her a moment, thinking how beautiful she was, and then remember what she just ordered him to do, and what else she'd need to order. Even the most beautiful Witch was still a Witch.

 

"Lavinya Sedai, this is warm work, may I remove my tunic, or would that be inappropriate? I do not wish to offend." His tone was riddled with politeness, though it held an undertone of defiance, yet it could have been merely imagination. Mors would prove to Lavinya he was worthy of her respect, or he would die trying.

 

"Whenever you are ready for the next order Lavinya Sedai, I am eager to serve..."

[Lavinya]

"Lavinya Sedai, this is warm work, may I remove my tunic, or would that be inappropriate? I do not wish to offend."The boy's tone was reverent enough, though something in his voice made Lavinya look up, studying his features. Just what was he playing at? Not one to turn down the opportunity to ogle a well built young man Lavinya gave her permission, though she averted her gaze as he draped his tunic over the back of a chair. She had more subtlety than that.

 

"Whenever you are ready for the next order Lavinya Sedai, I am eager to serve..."She eyed the placement of the desk with a critical eye, before nodding her approval. "Very well, you can move that chest over there," she pointed with one soft, white hand, "And put it over there, by the wall." Again she indicated with her hand, looking to see if Mors had understood the direction.

 

Noticing he had, she rewarded him with a warm smile before turning back to her notes. Little did he know it was full of books, and likely extraordinarily heavy. There was no way he could move it as it was. A small test, she told herself, to see just what he was made of. Not a cruel joke at all...

 

 

~Lavinya

[Zygorn]

Taking his shirt off with her permission, knowing almost full well that Lavinya would be looking. Not becuase he was arrogant, but because of the way she had spoken when he had seen her while training with Orion. He stepped towards the shelf, making a slight test pull.

 

"Lavinya Sedai, this bookcase is filled. It would take an Ogier to move this..." Mors said, not complaining, simply informing Lavinya of the status of her shelf. He'd be happy to deal with the problem, if she so desired. Of course, he'd rather not go to all the trouble, he would never say so to Lavinya Sedai, lest she think him lazy. There could be nothing worse than a lazy Warder...

 

He turned to Lavinya, taking her form in again as he quietly and patiently awaited her reply as she read.

[Lavinya]

"Lavinya Sedai, this bookcase is filled. It would take an Ogier to move this..." Lavinya looked up as Mors spoke, somewhat irritated that he interrupted, rather than taking some initiative. Not fair of her, but that bothered her nought. "Well then I suggest you do something about it." She said somewhat patronisingly, her eyes flicking over his torso and back to his face, not a hint of emotion showing on her ageless features.

 

Lowering her gaze, Lavinya went back to her reading. "Though I strongly advise you to ensure everything returns to it's rightful place, Mors." She added without looking up. She smiled on the inside. He was proving patient, yet Lavinya discovered a perverse desire to see just how easily she could push him to anger, for nought but her own amusement.

 

"And time is ticking, I expect you to have your work completed in a timely manner." She added the taunt, her face remaining neutral though she didn't look up, wondering how Mors would react.

 

Lavinya

[Zygorn]

"Well then I suggest you do something about it." Was the reply he received. Rather than snap at her, as he would do to most, he kept his cool, and organized the books in neat stack on the desk, not disturbing the order, memorizing how they had been in the shelf. While emptying it, he heard Lavinya speak. Though I strongly advise you to ensure everything returns to it's rightful place, Mors." He grinned.

 

"I already did so, Lavinya Sedai, your books will not be in the improper order when I am finished." He then heaved, straining as he moved the Bookcase, lifting it but a few inches, the sweat beginning to glisten easily on his form as the Trainee struggled to obey the woman who temporarily wielded the power of his Mistress, dominating his actions as any lord did his serfs. As he sat the case down, he wipred his brow, then drying his hands on his shirt, so as to keep the books dry as he refilled them. He smiled, placing them back in almost positively the exact same order as they had been. He felt nearly positive he had, but he often doubted his own handiwork.

 

And time is ticking, I expect you to have your work completed in a timely manner." "Haste makes waste Lavinya Sedai, would you prefer a well done job, or a botched, rushed one? Surely an Aes Sedai would disapproved of a Warder who rushed in his search for dangers, and got his Aes Sedai killed... am I incorrect?"

[Lavinya]

"Haste makes waste Lavinya Sedai, would you prefer a well done job, or a botched, rushed one? Surely an Aes Sedai would disapproved of a Warder who rushed in his search for dangers, and got his Aes Sedai killed... am I incorrect?"Lavinya lowered her papers and silently stared at the trainee, sweat on his brow evidence of his exertions. She needed to remind herself that he was still young, that the Tower had not yet had the time needed to mould him completely to it's image. He was polite, to be sure, but there was an irreverence and lack of formality in his tone that was slowly chafing Lavinya.

 

It was one thing for her to introduce a casualness into a meeting, but quite another for a trainee to take it upon himself to gently smudge the border between propriety and familiarity. Or perhaps her encounters with Corin had changed her far more than she sometimes liked to admit. Why did everything seem so much more complex now? Life was supposed to be simpler, she was supposed to be happier, freer. Instead, she so often felt like a child, caught in a nightmare of her own making, not quite understanding this new world she found herself in, sometimes feeling just a shadow of her former self.

 

"Indeed Mors. Yet it is not the place of a warder to ever question his bondmate." The words were firm, though not harshly given. She realised the situation was one of her own making, and could not bring herself to rebuke any harder. Another change for which she could lay the blame at Corin's feet. Did he realise just how much of an effect their first meeting had on her? Likely not, since he now avoided her as though she was riddled with an uncurable disease. Did she disgust him that much? Was she so unlovely? She sensed Mors' gaze on her, and realised that she had let her mind wander, her features no doubt grown tense with her thoughts. Forcing herself to relax somewhat, she favoured him with a small smile.

 

"But you are young yet, and are proving yourself to be a noble, upstanding young man." Could he see her thoughts, as clearly as Corin had that day? Could he see the broken woman she had become? Or did he too see her as nought but an Aes Sedai, a beautiful bewitching woman, fraught with mystery and power, to be revered and admired, but never truly known? She needed to be alone again, alone with her thoughts.

 

With a brisque wave, she gave Mors another small smile. "I thank you for your work today, but I am afraid I now need to be alone with my work." She lifted the papers in her lap pointedly. "I will be sure to let your mentor know what a help you have been to me today." Light, Orion. Another she had dragged down in the tangled web that had become her life. Was no one able to escape the damage she wrought? "Good day, Mors." Lavinya said in farewell, looking back to her notes to hide her thoughts, as Mors took his leave, looking somewhat bewildered. Could she blame him? She did not know what was wrong with her either, except that the cure and the cause seemed to be one and the same - Corin Danveer.

 

Lavinya

[Zygorn]

Mors had indeed noticed a slight change in her features, something that was supposedly impossible. While not shaken, he was a bit confused. However, he did not let this bother him as he bowed politely, replying. "Until we meet again Lavinya Sedai, I do hope I've not offended you..." He said, politely then bowing out to contemplate her sudden dismissal of himself.

 

He'd recovered his shirt, replacing it before going outside, as he could get in all kinds of trouble if he was noticed, he slunk out of the Tower quickly, thanking the Light that no one had seen him. After exiting the Tower, he moved to deliver the letter he'd been given at the designated locale that Orion had asked of him, before returning to resume practicing himself. Her praise renewed his faith in his path, as he took his training to heart that day. Mors was not going to give up his goal... all part of the Game....