Dante's Tower Guard Ceremony (Attn Lor)

[Sangreal]

Sandre was quite surprised he was going to act as his own brother's Tower Guard at the ceremony. He was told a few days in advance and since then had been watching his brother train. Sandre was not the type to make exceptions even for family when lives were at stake. However Dante as it turned out was a better fighter than Sandre himself was when he was raised. A better smith as well much to Sandre's disappointment. By comparison they looked like brothers only in the face. Sandres large build and height towered over Dante with his athletic build. Sandre was called handsome while Dante... well Sandre was appreciative that Dante would at least, with all the charisma he had, deflect the advances of his fellow female trainees and more than one Tower Guard who should know better... not that he could talk.

 

When the day came he was to pick up Loraine Sedai in the Green quarters. He had never been in the Tower before and stepped lightly hoping to not be seen. However with his size that was a bit difficult. Some of the Warders eyed him with their usual distrust yet some he had sparred with every so often. Upon reaching the door he knocked and waited for her to answer. When the door opened he greeted her. "Greetings Loraine Sedai. Its nice to see you again. Im here to keep you company on the way to the grove."

 

****

 

Dante waited patiently in his room for high noon. He had managed to remain a faceless ghost in training and knew that his day to be raised was here. He was told where to go which was kind of a surprise since he figured he would have someone pick him up. He paced the hallways outside the room and kept reaching for the place where his scimitar would be when he felt the weight of it was not there. He had been wearing it so long now he felt exposed with out it. Calmly he recited the words in his head and gave smiles to those who passed by. He was perspiring already even though he had only been walking and the heat wasnt that bad. As soon as it was time he stepped out and headed towards the grove. He had managed to regain control of his nerves but did not seem to hear the trainees that greeted him. One firmly planted herself in his path until he acknowledged her but he didnt even hear the words out of his mouth. She smiled though so he must have said something good.

 

Upon stepping into the grove his eyes went wide to see his brother standing there. (He knew I was here...) Dante thought. While it was unsettling to see the monster of a man he knew Sandre would not consent to give his own brother steel and start him on a life that might kill him unless he was ready. Strangely that was all he needed to regain his confidence.

[U4ea]

"Greetings Loraine Sedai. Its nice to see you again. Im here to keep you company on the way to the grove." Loraine smiled at the young man on the other side of the door, reaching for her shawl from the peg nearby before leaving the room.

 

"Sandre, if my memory serves," she said softly, closing the door behind her. "It is indeed a pleasure to see you again. I trust that cloak isn't weighing too heavily on you these days? I don't know many men in your place who don't become the object of some Accepted's wandering eye, either..."

 

~Loraine

[Sangreal]

Wandering eyes. He hadnt noticed. "If what I hear is correct I am pretty much oblivious to wandering eyes or any sort of subtle hints or innuendo." He shook his head and thought of Edana who had shot more than one woman a sharp look for supposedly looking at him.

 

"Besides that. I already have someone I am crazy about." He offered up his arm though he towered over her... he towered over most people though. As she took it he smiled and they continued down the hall. "Any jealous Warders I should worry about for this?"

[U4ea]

Loraine couldn't stop her smile as he mentioned having his eye on someone. Was she a trainee, then? She slipped her arm through his, allowing him to lead her down the steps she knew well enough she could go up and down them blindfolded and backwards. His posture fairly screamed "noble," but she'd learned long ago that once people walked through the gates here, bloodlines meant less than nothing.

 

"Any jealous Warders I should worry about for this?" She laughed at that, shaking her head. Kynwric had only shown signs of jealousy one time, and even then she'd wondered if it were that or just disgust at the decision he believed she'd made. She shook those unpleasant thoughts away. This was a day for happy things, after all. She was thoroughly enjoying being asked to help out with these ceremonies. "I have a warder, yes," she said turning her eyes back to the Guard holding her arm. "I doubt Kynwric would feel the need to be jealous of this little trip. He'd probably be more irritated if you hadn't offered assistance, now that I think about it."

 

She waited for his reaction to that admission. Kynwric struck different people differently, so there was no telling how many times he'd beat this man into the ground as a trainee. She smiled, anyway, knowing that, if nothing else, the Guardsmen respected her warder. That was what truly mattered when it came right down to it.

 

~Loraine

[Sangreal]

Sandre knew the man but only gave a nod. His mind wandering to the task ahead and scanning for threats to the Aes Sedai at his arm. It was instinctual now when someone needed protection. When they went outside he stopped when an armored and armed stranger approached them and kept Loraine behind him. The man was only seeking directions to Thera's office but still...

 

***

 

As Dante kneeled before the stone slab where so many others had kneeled before him he sensed something tense in the air as they waited for the words that would start the ceremony.

 

Dante: "I come here unarmed, offering to give myself to the defence of those who serve all."

 

Commander Mia: "Who would speak for you?"

 

Sandre: "I would speak for him, he is fit."

 

Commander Mia: "Who would trust you?"

 

Loraine: "I would trust him."

 

Commander Mia: "Who would accept you?"

 

Sandre: "I would."

 

Commander Mia: "Who would witness your oath whose word is beyond question?"

 

Loraine: "I will"

 

Commander Mia: "Do you understand that once pledged you are forever bound to a rule of defence? Defence of all Aes Sedai, the defence of the White Tower?"

 

Dante: "Yes"

 

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

 

Dante: "Yes"

 

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

 

Dante: "Yes"

 

Commander Mia: "Then give your oath now."

 

Dante: "I swear by the light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, as a Tower Guard to defend the White Tower and all who call it home."

 

"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."

 

"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."

 

Commander Mia: "We welcome you to the Tower Guard, you that were known once as Dante Kaldun of Andor."

 

The Aes Sedai Loraine then stepped forward and placed the cloak on his shoulders and fixed the clasp before stepping back.

 

Commander Mia: "We welcome you as Dante Kaldun of the Tower Guard, our brother in arms. Rise and stand as one among many."

 

Sandre then presented him with a steel dagger as he rose slowly to his feet.

 

Commander Mia: "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."

 

The Commander then walked around the stone slab and placed her hand on Dante's shoulder

 

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

 

Sandre gave him a look in the eyes as he passed and left the glade. Dante expected anger but it was pride that crossed his face and a smile. (So there was no need for me to hide from him this whole time.) He had heard that Sandre was leaving to the Borderlands today and sure enough as soon as he left the glade Dante saw he was heading for his horse. As the Aes Sedai passed he gave her his grin that had won more than one heart though his intentions were simply friendly.

 

He wasnt sure how much thought he was supposed to give being here. He didnt think as far ahead or behind as his brothers so simply snapped a salute and left.

[U4ea]

Loraine bit off the urge to laugh as Sandre's demeanor became much more formal. She hadn't spent much time in the Yards, lately, so how would he know she could more than take care of herself? She smiled at the stranger as he wandered away, though Sandre seemed more determined than ever to get where they were going.

 

Loraine stood in her usual place, taking in the trainee kneeling by the slab. He was much like Sandre, nearly identical, in fact. Was that why Sandre's jaw tensed? She pondered the relation, finally deciding on brothers, based on the stiffness of both their expressions, and the hint of fear in Dante's eyes. No one was that afraid of her on sight!

 

"Who would trust you?"

 

Loraine smiled and answered honestly. "I would."

 

"Who would witness your oath whose word is beyond question?"

 

Again, it was her turn. "I will."

 

She listened to the determined note in his voice and smiled again. Thera was turning out some good ones! A little naive, perhaps, but that wouldn't last much longer. When it was time, she spread the cloak over his shoulders and slipped the clasp closed before stepping back again. The ceremony ended, and she smiled, nodding approvingly at Dante before turning and disappearing back into the glade. Alone this time, but she appreciated the solitude for what it was. It was rare she heard the quiet much these days...

 

~Loraine

[Sangreal]

As he exited the glade it seemed that in a matter of moments the yards had changed. Though it was only his role on them that had. He watched as the Aes Sedai went off alone and Sandre rode off with his group towards the borderlands.

 

(So much to do now. This is only the begining.)

 

He still had to move his stuff, check his schedule, find out where he would be posted.

 

However with his usual grin he turned towards the gate... he also had to celebrate of course...