To Settle Down(attn Rasheta Sedai)

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: this takes place after Visar, Sandre, Dante, and Rasheta have returned from the Borderlands. sry for the time warp)

 

It had been a long year, full of new knowledge and new evils.  But they had survived, if barely.  Visar didn't even notice that he shed a tear when they first sighted the glistening white spike that was the Tower. 

 

Now he was back, and nothing seemed quite the same. He didn't have to wake up every morning thinking that the day would be his last, or that he would shiver to death in the cold, or even burn up from the heat of the Blight.  Things were peaceful at the Tower.  Visar thought almost too peaceful, but it was a pleasant change, all the same.

 

It had been a few days since he had returned to his dutues as a guardsman, yet after all he had been through in the borderlands, just doing the same thing every day, slowly building a reputation for possibly rising in the ranks, didn't seem enough.  He needed a greater purpose than just a career.  Which made him remember her...she had turned the tide that one time, and he felt he owed her something.  He remembered, it seemed like so long ago, that she had once told him she was interested in bonding him.

 

He had dismissed it, politely said he would consider it, and yet now it seemed like a better idea than it had before.  After thinking about it, Visar decided to act on it.  He hoped red tape in the Tower was not too slow.  Visar was intimidated, not for the first time, by the impressive gates leading inside of the Tower.  Big enough to swallow many men whole, and not let them out.  Making his way nervously but purposeful through the halls and stairs, Visar got as close as he dared to the Green Ajah quarters.  They had a certain reputation all of their own.  Handing the small, folded parchment to a novice that hopefully did not have much better to do, Visar asked her to deliver it to Rasheta Sedai.

 

(ooc: his letter, complete with his writing skills)

I humblee asks for a few minuhts of yor tyme, to see if yor offer from a long tyme ago stil holds.  I kan of kourse wayt until you myte chooz such an appropriate tyme, and remain your servant, Visar. p.s., apolojeez for my spelling

 

And now I must wait, Visar told himself as he went back to the barracks at a slow walk.

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Rasheta was trying not to think to much about her trip to the Blight it had been good and both she and Dante had made it back alive so she had something to be grateful for. She was sitting in her room trying to decide what to do with herself today when a novice knocked and handed her a note she told the novice to wait and read the note.

 

I humblee asks for a few minuhts of yor tyme, to see if yor offer from a long tyme ago stil holds.  I kan of kourse wayt until you myte chooz such an appropriate tyme, and remain your servant, Visar. p.s., apolojeez for my spelling

 

Rasheta tried not to smile reading the note. She would have to teach Visar some basic spelling when she got a hold of him. She wrote a return note saying

 

"Visar~

Please come to the Green Ajah halls ask any sister for my room she will tell you. I would love to speak to you when you have a moment."

 

She handed the novice the note back and told her to find Visar quickly.

[Visar Falmaien]

Visar had just closed the door of his room and hung his coat on the door when someone knocked.  Visar opened the door, surprised to see the same novice so far from her comfort zone, clearly a bit out of breath.  She handed Visar a message and departed swiftly, muttering bitterly about the joys of running errands.

 

That was fast! he thought as he opened the message.  He read it with not too much difficulty:

 

"Visar~

Please come to the Green Ajah halls ask any sister for my room she will tell you. I would love to speak to you when you have a moment."

 

Visar blinked.  She was ready to see him so soon?  Well, it was best not to keep an Aes Sedai waiting, he thought, though he did brush his hair and wash his face and hands before he left.  Shrugging back into his coat, he locked the door behind him and marched his way back to the Tower.

 

When he reached the Green quarters, he quickly found a Green sister lounging on a chair, surrounded by three men, one of whom seemed to be her warder, but the others might have been as well, Visar was not sure.  She laughed at something one of them said, and then saw Visar.

 

"Hello there, don't be shy.  What brings you to the Green Ajah?" she inquired pleasantly.

 

"I'm here to see Rasheta Sedai, I was hoping you might tell me where her room is located?"

 

"Rasheta Sedai?" the woman exclaimed, putting on a face of mock disappointment.  "My my, that woman has been busy!"

 

Visar bowed and thanked the Aes Sedai for giving him directions, and found himself in front of the door.  He paused, trying to take in exactly what he was doing.  What am I doing anyway?!  Doubt flooded through him as to whether this was the best decision, yet the fact that he was standing there doing nothing won him over.  He knocked on the door, and entered when he heard Rasheta's voice.

 

He walked inside, his posture upright, rigid, and formal.  He bowed slightly, remembering how Rasheta Sedai had turned the battle and saved his life.  Finding his fists clenched, Visar forced himself to relax and raised the message.

 

"I see you received my message.  Thank you for seeing me, Rasheta Sedai." he said almost shyly, wondering idly how this was going to work.

 

 

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Rasheta waited paitently for Visar to appear, she knew it probably wouldn't be long before he did. The Greens in the hall would probably good naturedly tease him but otherwise his trip to her rooms would be painless. She tried to remember what offer Visar was taking her up on, now that she thought other then bonding her what else had she offered? She frowned in thought, she had gotten back from the Blight with Dante and she couldn't remember much of it, other then the trip to the family lands of Dante and the random fights in the Blight itself. The Blight tended to be like that however, you didn't just walk into the Blight not prepared to fight at least once. She pulled herself out of her thoughts realized someone as at her door. She smiled at Visar as he entered and then he said to her

 

"I see you received my message.  Thank you for seeing me, Rasheta Sedai."

 

She laughed and nodded her head, "Of course I did, it is good to see you. I am glad your time in the blight hasn't damaged you permanently." She studied him for a few moments more and then continued.

 

"I think the reason you are here is because you wish to allow me to bond you? Is that so?" She waited a moment for him to reply and then she asked "Do you know what it means to be bonded to a Sister of the Green Ajah? Are you willing to give your life for mine should I ask it? When the last battle comes are you willing to stand and fight at my side in the front lines." She paused then continued "If you want to think more about this I won't stop you. Dante should be returning soon he can tell you what its like to be bonded if you are not totally sure." She then waited to see what he would reply.

[Visar Falmaien]

"Of course I did, it is good to see you. I am glad your time in the blight hasn't damaged you permanently."

 

"Of course not." he said, though he almost winced.  He vehemently wished he would never return to that horrible place.  Seeing men die around him, and almost dying himself several times...It was not good to dwell on the subject.

"I think the reason you are here is because you wish to allow me to bond you? Is that so?"

 

Her question reminded him of why he was here, and his lead foot stepped back slightly, reflexively retreating from the unknown.  He was afraid of bonding, though he had pondered it over and most of him thought it was a good idea.  He stepped forward again, forcing himself to move a little closer, and nodded as calmly as he could manage.

 

"I think that decision is best for the both of us.  I have considered." he said, using his own words, said what must have been more than a year ago.  He found it strange that he would remember something like that so vividly.

 

"Do you know what it means to be bonded to a Sister of the Green Ajah? Are you willing to give your life for mine should I ask it? When the last battle comes are you willing to stand and fight at my side in the front lines.  If you want to think more about this I won't stop you. Dante should be returning soon he can tell you what its like to be bonded if you are not totally sure."

 

Visar hesitated for a moment, but had an answer ready.

 

"I have thought it over enough, and I agree to that.  I'm merely a little nervous about the process itself, and how things will stand once it...happens.  If I remember my lessons correctly, we will both gain something from this, a sort of emotional bond, though how that works is beyond me.  The ability to tell where we both are, or approximately.  And something about added stamina and strength to the Warder bonded, though I'm sure Dante would know better about that and..."

 

Visar trailed off, and remembered where he was.  He was being bonded in order to protect and serve Rasheta Sedai, not annoy her with thoughtless prattle.

 

"I have decided that I want this bond, Rasheta Sedai.  Not only for myself, though.  What I have I'll give you, as best as I can.  I'm still not too sure why you wanted to bond me, but I'll do my best, and I'm sure we will learn much from each other."  he finished, with a more confident, charming smile.

 

"So, how is this done?" he asked, trying not to betray the fact that he was terrified.  Does it hurt?  Does it feel strange?  What is it like having someone in your head?

 

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Rasheta waited for Visar to reply it didn't take him as long as she would have thought for him to reply. It was good that he had one already in his mind as well, as soon he would be meeting her Ajah head and Jaydena was more harsh on the newly bonded then Rasheta was being. Poor Dante hadn't been overly prepared for Jaydena's questions but he had survived it. Visar would too even if he was as nervous as he looked.

"I have thought it over enough, and I agree to that.  I'm merely a little nervous about the process itself, and how things will stand once it...happens.  If I remember my lessons correctly, we will both gain something from this, a sort of emotional bond, though how that works is beyond me.  The ability to tell where we both are, or approximately.  And something about added stamina and strength to the Warder bonded, though I'm sure Dante would know better about that and..."

 

Rasheta raised her eyebrows at Visar when he was talking he stopped and looked sheepish and she tried not to smile. Poor man she thought. He's so nervous he doesn't know what to do. She didn't speak though she just let him continue s he would. He had to be ready for this and know what it meant to be a warder and to serve his Aes Sedai. He pulled himself together and spoke again.

 

"I have decided that I want this bond, Rasheta Sedai.  Not only for myself, though.  What I have I'll give you, as best as I can.  I'm still not too sure why you wanted to bond me, but I'll do my best, and I'm sure we will learn much from each other."  "So, how is this done?"

 

Rasheta simply looked at Visar for a moment more she could tell even without the bond that he was terrified. "Sit down before you fall down." She told him and then smiled sweetly at him. "First the bond will not hurt you and second." She stood up and walked toward him. "I will try and make it pleasant for you." she hadn't done a bond this way since Adrian but if she didn't she was sure that Visar would bolt from her sight as soon as she laid the first weave on him. She moved slowly toward him and continued speaking, "It will be over quickly I promise and then you may have the run of the Tower, I must insist you meet the head of my Ajah but that can wait a few days till you are more at home here." She nodded over his shoulder and said "that is Dante's room and if you wish to stay as well you may. You and Dante will have to decide who sleeps where though." She added laughing she was standing in front of him now and she put both hands on his face and embraced the power. "Relax." She added before leaning over and giving him a kiss as she did she placed the weaves on him. She felt him flinch but she didn't let him pull away right away. She backed away after it was done and smiled. "There that wasn't so bad was it?" She went back to her chair and sat back down. "Do you want to stay here or still in the barracks and you are now my Warder so if you have any questions about the Ajah or the Tower you may ask now."

[Visar Falmaien]

Visar allowed himself to be led through the procedure.  He forced his mind to be as calm as it could be, but his body shook for a bit.  She soothingly reassured him that it didn't hurt, and after being comfortable for a bit he stopped shaking.  He decided on a focus, and purposefully stared into Rasheta Sedai's eyes, as if they were the only pools of water to save him from the flames of irrational fear.  She started talking about details matter-of-factly, meeting her Ajah head and about living arrangements between himself and Dante.

 

"Relax" she said as she laid her hands on him, and the eyes came much closer, her lips close enough to...

 

And then they kissed, her lips softly brushing against his.  He flinched, some part of him saying that this was strange, this feeling of soothing cool and warm washing over him.

 

And as soon as it had begun, it sort of settled.  It felt very different from what he was used to, he felt more, like he had more feeling somehow.  And yet the extra feelings seemed distinct from himself somehow, as if they were really not his emotions.  Visar looked at Rasheta cautiously as she said with a smile, "There that wasn't so bad was it?"

Visar blinked and nodded.  Bonding certainly wasn't what he had expected, and in the whole it did feel pleasant, almost too much so.  He tried to stand, but found himself light headed and quickly sat back down, at the same time Rasheta Sedai found her own seat.

 

"Do you want to stay here or still in the barracks and you are now my Warder so if you have any questions about the Ajah or the Tower you may ask now."

 

He was now her Warder.  Questions...he must have dozens of them, but he was too overwhelmed with the new sensations of the Bond to think of which ones to ask.

 

"I will ask later once I...once I become accustomed to this."

 

He looked at her, watching him calmly but alertly.  Not quite studying him, but perhaps expecting something from him.  Then he remembered, he had forgot to address her title!

 

"Rasheta Sedai," he added hurriedly, though that seemed not to be the reaction she wanted either.

 

"I...if you'd like, Rasheta." There, maybe being less formal would help?  "I'll stay here.  Shouldn't be too hard to work things out with Dante once I see him.  Should only take me a couple trips to get my things from my room and inform the Commander."

 

He rose slowly, and stood confidently.  He was a Warder now, bound to serve and protect Rasheta Sedai along with Dante.  Although the responsibility seemed like a lot in the moment, he knew he would do his best to serve well and proudly.  She stood as well, again, seeming to expect something else of him.

 

"Is there something I've forgotten?" he asked, slightly confused.

 

 

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Once the bond was in place Rasheta could feel now both the men in her life in her head. It was rather different then she thought it would be. She had only ever had Adrian in the back of her mind and of course she had Dante for the last months but now with two it was rather different. She found herself smiling for unknown reasons. Visar called her Rasheta Sedai and she shook her head he amended his statement quickly and she tried not to laugh. He told her he would wait till he was more accustomed to what was going on before he asked her anything. She nodded her head and he got worried when he asked

 

"Is there something I've forgotten?

 

Rasheta shook her head, "No I should send some servants for your things and get them moved. " She settled in her chair and added. "I'll tell you what I told Dante, my name is Rasheta Ardashir I like my name and Rasheta Sedai is only for Novices and those who need to remember respect. You don't have to call me Rasheta Sedai unless you feel the situation is such that the people around us must be reminded of my status as an Aes Sedai." She smiled brightly, "I don't think you will have to worry about that but you never know." She stood up and went to the door asking another sisters warder if he could possibly find a servent for her. He smiled and bowed, she shook her head warders were an odd bunch and now she had two. She added "In a few days I will take you to meet our Ajah head her name is Jaydena, and you must never for any reason tell anyone not in the Ajah who our head is. That is something I will have to punish you for if you do." She had told dante the same thing. "Now if you like I can tell you generally where Dante is and you can go find him and speak to him about what its like to be bonded to me. I need to get done with some work, but if you don't wish to leave the room yet you can read or do anything else you wish. The choice is yours." She smiled again brightly.

[Visar Falmaien]

Visar started to form a protest at the thought of servants carrying around things from his room, His things.  Why could he not move himself in?  But she quickly changed that topic to other things, including her name and the prospect of meeting the Ajah head, whom he was not supposed to tell anyone who she was.  That should not be too difficult, he hoped.

 

"Now if you like I can tell you generally where Dante is and you can go find him and speak to him about what its like to be bonded to me. I need to get done with some work, but if you don't wish to leave the room yet you can read or do anything else you wish. The choice is yours."

 

Visar considered for a moment.  "Yes, I'll see Dante once I get settled." He hesitated slightly, thinking it would be a little too rude to try to countermand the servant she had already summoned to do his work for him.  He decided on a compromise.  "I think I'll at least help with moving my things, though a servant will mean I don't have to make as many trips, thank you.  I don't have much down there compared to some guardsmen, but some things are better handled by myself." he said with a grin.  The Light forbid anyone mishandle his weapons, let alone touch them without his permission!

 

"I'll be back!" he said hurriedly as he dashed after the warder and the servant.  As he rushed through the halls, the emotions seemed to change slightly.  Or perhaps it was he was the one who was shifting away.  It was an odd but reassuring feeling, to instinctively know that she was still in her room.

 

He wondered how safe she was without either him or Dante around.  Some protector you are starting out to be!  You should have sought out Dante first thing!

 

Cursing himself, Visar allowed the servants to wait, and he double timed back to her room. 

 

"Quick q-question, and s-sorry to int-terrupt!" he stammered.  "Where is Dante?  Is he close by or is he in town somewhere?"