Visar's TG Ceremony, attn Sandre, Rasheta Sedai

[Visar Falmaien]

A glorious chilly breeze swept by Visar's face, and he smiled slightly.  Autumn was just around the corner.  Had he really been in Tar Valon for almost two years?  It was hard for him to believe.  He bent back to his task, meticulously and expertly pulling weeds in the gardens, careful to appear he was hard at work in the garden to his warden, Tremmel, who supervised him at all times outside of his cell.  By now, Visar knew with only one glance every single plant that had to go, and he knew most of the names of the plants and flowers that stayed.  Visar was almost done weeding.  Soon it would be midday, and he would be able to take a short breather and eat lunch.  Then, if today went like every other day, he would be back at his chores and his training. 

 

Six months had passed since Visar had been read his sentence.  Six months of being confined to his cell in the keep (ooc: assuming he stays there).  Although every single day seemed to drag on indefinitely, Visar was surprised that such a long time seemed to go by so quickly.  Still, there was the five years of service to the Tower Guard.  And Visar had not been allowed to join the Tower Guard yet.  Frowning over his work, Visar wondered if this was the loophole that would allow the White Tower to keep him imprisoned for the rest of his life.  If they never raised him to Tower Guard, then he would have to stay there.

 

The first two months of imprisonment were the worst, he thought looking back.  At least he had something to do during the day with all of his tasks, weeding, mucking out the stables, carrying heavy loads everywhere.  And he would receive the painful willow switch from Tremmel if he deviated from his chore for the slightest moment.  The nights were the worst, however.  from sunset to just before sunrise, Visar had nothing to do but stare at each stone in his cell.  It had been miserably lonely.

 

Sometimes people visited, and hearing how Sandre was doing made Visar forget about his own loneliness.  But Sandre and the others had their own schedules, and were away from the White Tower for weeks, sometimes months at a time.

 

Things got gradually better as it became clear that Visar was determined to work hard without complaining, and he rarely behaved out of line, certainly never on purpose.  He was allowed more time to train with the others.  After a few weeks, his supervisors had noticed his wistful glances at the training yards, and Visar went from not being allowed to train at all to being able to train for three hours each day. 

 

And after two months, his cell finally had some of the comforts he used to enjoy in his old barracks room.  He had a mattress, and a desk and a chair, and even a wash basin and a pitcher of water when he was thirsty.  But best of all, he was allowed to practice his reading and writing.  In addition to visits from friends, that alone made life more bearable.  He was getting much better.  He could read very well by now, and although he still frequently made spelling mistakes in his handwriting, it was a marked improvement.

 

Visar looked up, startled, as Tremmel's switch tapped him lightly on the shoulder.  He had spaced out, yet one look at his warden's face meant that he was not in trouble.

 

"Rise, Visar.  Come this way." the man said without any further explanation.  Visar looked up at the sky, confused.  It was almost time for lunch, yet they were headed in the wrong direction.  What could he be up to?  Visar wondered.

 

They arrived at a shady glade of trees, with a stone slab in the center.  The sun shone down on the slab.  Normally he would spend hours in his cell thinking about the beauty of such a place, but the first thing Visar noticed were the people there.  He couldn't help but smile as he recognized Sandre, yet he also recognized the Commander of the Tower Guards.  And there was a woman too, an Aes Sedai.  What was her name?  Oh! It's Rasheta Sedai!  With such two distinguished people, this had to be something of great importance.

 

His warden left without a word, leaving Visar alone with the three people.  They looked at him expectantly, but he was unsure as to why he was here.  Was he supposed to say something?  He tried to remember where this was.  Some glade, it had some sort of symbolic importance, but what?  He should know this, but his mind was coming blank at the moment.

 

"Pardon me..." Visar began, feeling like a fish out of water for breaking the serene silence.  "What...what is this?  Why am I here, if I may ask?  H-Have I d-done something wrong?"

 

(ooc: I'll get to the ceremony itself once someone tells Visar that it is the ceremony)

[Sangreal]

Sandre had to suppress a laugh at hearing Visar ask what this was about. Already breaking rules. At a nod from the commander Sandre pulled Visar out of the glade. "Its the Tower Guard ceremony Visar do not tell me you forgot what to do? Only your oaths are suppose to be spoken there and those have to be exact. Any mistake like the one you just made and there are no second chances."

 

Sandre dusted some dirt off Visar's back and didnt ask what the man was doing (What the heck was he doing? Rolling in the dirt?)

 

"One more time Visar, your only shot at this." Sandre then walked back into the glade alone.

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: I think I'll just go through most of the procedure)

 

Oh!  thought Visar, shocked that he did not initially recognize what the procedure was.

 

Visar felt like he could either laugh from the mistake he had just made or cry if he messed up again.  He managed to do neither; he didn't want to embarrass himself more than he already had.  The Tower Guard Ceremony!  So they were going to let me serve in the Guard!  Light!

 

As Sandre went back to his position in the glade, Visar did his best to compose himself.  He had been forced to memorize the ceremony at an early time as a trainee, but it had been a while.  After a few minutes, he figured he knew it as best as he could.  It was now or never.

 

He walked back into the Glade of Remembrance, feeling both nervous and excited.  Sandre was back on his right, and Rasheta Sedai stood at the left.  Visar smiled at her, thankful that she had not openly laughed at him.  He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began.

 

He knelt before the stone, opposite of the commander.  He knew he was unarmed, and would say so.  He felt dirty to come to this place, especially after having been mucking out the stables and weeding in the dirt all morning.  Hopefully it wouldn't matter too much, though.  He did his best to repeat what he had memorized, though he was too nervous to do it without stuttering entirely.

 

"I c-come here unarmed, off-ffering to give myself to the d-defense of those who s-s-serve all."

 

The Commander intoned, "Who would speak for you?"

 

Thankfully, Visar didn't have to answer that one, and he recovered from his stuttering lapse.  Sandre spoke up,"I would speak for him. He is fit."

 

"Who would trust you?" asked the Commander.  Although not too surprised, since she was here, Visar was relieved when Rasheta Sedai gave her affirmation of her trust.

 

"I would trust him." she said.  Visar only hoped that he would do everything possible to deserve that trust.

 

"Who would accept you?" spoke the Commander.

 

"I would." replied Sandre.

 

"Who would witness your oath whose word is beyond question?" asked the leader of the Tower Guard.

 

"I will" said Rasheta Sedai.  It seemed that his friends (he hoped he could consider an Aes Sedai his friend, though Visar was unsure) were behind him.  Now it was Visar's turn to answer questions.

 

"Do you understand that once pledged you are forever bound to a rule of defense? Defense of all Aes Sedai, the defense of the White Tower?"

 

Forever bound?  He hesitated slightly, but he knew what the question meant, and he knew the proper answer.  Thankfully, it was only one word, the better that he would not have to stutter over it."

 

"Yes." he said simply.

 

"Do you understand that once pledged you are forever bound to a rule of obedience? Obedience to your officers, obedience to all Aes Sedai?"

 

Visar nodded.  Obedience was not as hard as he had once thought it was, when he had been foolish in his youth.

 

"Yes." he replied confidently.

 

"Do you understand that once pledged you are forever bound to a rule of commitment? Commitment to serving faithfully, commitment despite any adversity?"

 

"Yes" Visar stated seriously.  He knew what would happen if he ever went astray again.  He would do his duty, and do it as best as he could.

 

"Then give your oath now."  the Commander bade.

 

Visar gulped.  How was he supposed to say this again?  It had been a rather long statement, he remembered.  He kept it close to what he was asked earlier.

 

"I s-swe.."  Visar swallowed, and started again.

 

"I swear by the Light as a Tower Guard: to defend the White Tower and all who call it home."

 

That was the first part, as far as he remembered.  Oh wait!  I have to swear by more than just the Light!  Visar blushed, and continued with the proper start for the next part, hoping no one noticed or cared too much.

 

"I swear by the Light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, as a Tower Guard: to serve faithfully for as long as the White Tower requires me."

 

Only one more part, almost there! he reassured himself, before concluding,

 

"I swear by the Light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, as a Tower Guard: to fight the shadow and uphold the light until my dying day."

 

There was only a short pause, and then the Commander spoke.

 

"We welcome you to the Tower Guard, you that were known once as Vizrid Belar of Tear."

 

They knew his old name by now.  Visar winced slightly at the sound of it.  The name of a selfish child, the name of a thief, the name of a fearful boy who killed.  Yet that was in his past and behind him, and he was on his way towards redeeming himself, at least in the Tower's eyes.

 

Rasheta Sedai walked towards him with the cloak of the Tower Guard.

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Rasheta rose earlier then she would have usually and dressed in her best clothes, she braided her hair and picked up a more formal shawl. The fringe on the shawl was very long and trailed down her legs and if she wasn't careful would have trailed on the ground as well. She had been asked to stand for the young man soon to be a Tower Guard, Visar, she had met him before and while she had heard he had confessed to some crime she believed in him. He looked like he would  be dedicated to his studies and so she was willing to trust him if the rest of the tower was.

 

She went to the the yards and waited with the Tower commander and the ceremony started she was given the crimson cloak of the guard and she waited till she was needed in the ceremony. As soon as she was she stepped forward with a small smile and said quietly

 

"We welcome you as Visar Falmaien of the Tower Guard, our brother in arms. Rise and stand as one among many." 

[Visar Falmaien]

"We welcome you as Visar Falmaien of the Tower Guard, our brother in arms. Rise and stand as one among many."  Rasheta said, as she put on the cloak of a Tower Guardsmen.  Visar could not help smiling back.

 

Sandre also came forward, and presented a sheathed dagger.  Visar blinked.  He swore it looked like the very same dagger he had chosen before.  It was, he realized on closer inspection.  And just as sharp, too, he suspected.

They trust me with sharp steel now?  That's a big step. he thought, though he knew he would dare not use this weapon unless it was for a good cause, or for the Tower's interest.

 

"You came to us unarmed, and as our mark of trust we place this steel in your hand. May you keep it as a symbol of the trust that has been placed in you, and may it serve you well."   Sandre said, and Visar nodded, clutching the sheathed blade close to his heart.  He would not forget.

 

The Commander walked around the stone, and placed his hand on Visar's shoulder.  The ceremony was almost complete.

 

"Spare a moment for those who have come before you and to who you have become, as shall those who follow you."

 

Visar nodded, and turned back to the stone as the three left him alone to his thoughts.

 

He closed his eyes, taking in the scene, taking in everything that had happened to him the last two years or so.  It had been hard work being a trainee, yet he knew he had it in him to be a good man.  To be a good Tower Guardsman, for as long as he needed to do that.  He didn't know what the future had in store for him, but he hoped he would do the right thing no matter what happened to him.

 

After some time passed, Visar looked around, and took a good last look at the place.  Perhaps he would return here, only he would be the man on the right.  Visar stood, and buckled his dagger to his right hip.  He would have to get the full uniform of the Tower Guard later, but he felt every inch a man in that cloak.

 

He knew he would have a long time serving as a Tower Guard, but Visar wouldn't have it any other way.  At long last, he knew he could be a new man here.

 

Visar walked pridefully out of the glade, where Sandre and Rasheta Sedai were waiting for him.  He shot both of them a wide grin.

 

 

 

[Sangreal]

Sandre waited outside. He wasnt sure Visar would get here or survive his past to get here in the first place. When he approached he looked proud and burdened at the same time. However that was the life he had just sworn to. Patting his friend on the shoulder Sandre spoke "Lets get some food in town.. on me. The trainees are moving your stuff though so we should track down some fresh clothes for you and maybe a wash basin or trip to the bathe house."

 

Sandre started towards the bathe house and continued "I checked your shifts... your on a total opposite shift than I am... I also discovered my brother has been here and sneaked through training... you will be paired with him. Try to keep him out of trouble for me ok? However hes a pretty boy so you will never lack for companionship around him."

 

Sandre grinned. (Oooh boy those two are going to get into heaps of trouble...)

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: I guess we can continue the thread to wherever else it goes.)

"Lets get some food in town.. on me. The trainees are moving your stuff though so we should track down some fresh clothes for you and maybe a wash basin or trip to the bathe house."

 

Visar brightened up at the mention of going to town.  How long had it been?!  Yet he instinctively darted back to find his warden.  Was it alright with Tremmel?  The man confided with him quietly, and a deal was struck.

 

Sandre would hold onto Visar's dagger just in case he got drunk.  While it was not complete trust, it was a big step to Visar to be allowed some form of freedom.

 

Tremmel leaving Visar in Sandre's "custody", they headed to the bath house.  Visar could not wait to get his itching, dirty back washed.  While on the way, Sandre told him about who he'd be paired with. His brother...

 

"Try to keep him out of trouble for me ok?"

 

Visar nodded.  He would try, certainly, though he had to meet this Dante first to know exactly what he was dealing with.

 

Visar stopped abrupty, and turned to run back to the glade.  He had forgotten to do something. Before Rasheta left the area, Visar yelled,

"Thank you Rasheta Sedai!"