Snip snipe

[Wayfarer]

Blowing a few stray strands away from her face, Lillian clipped another twig clear and tossed it in the basket beside her. It was a warm day if slightly overcast, that was to say that she didn't require a cloak to keep her warm. Not with the work that kept her moving about at least. The gardens needed pruning so that when the spring came they would bloom to their full potential. Of course, that meant that manpower, or rather, novicepower, was required to see the work done. Much like most things that needed doing in the White Tower, it was done on the backs of Novices.

 

Personally, Lillian couldn't be happier about it. She had gloves for her hands unlike when she was scrubbing floors or dishes, and it gave her a sense of peace she had found on the farm but with the yawning hunger for saidar sated. Plus it gave her some relative quiet and peace, solitude away from everyone else. Another effect of being on the farm. Often working on tasks alone, coming back to the White Tower was with everyone around her was... Well, it tested her sometimes. And of course, when she had too much time by herself she yearned for company, but that wasn't now.

 

Finishing with the bush before her, Lillian took up the basket and moved it across to the next bush, the last one for the row in fact. Setting it down beside her, she slowly began snipping away at the bush, working one branch at a time. She'd kept a good pace, maybe when she was done she'd be allowed a quick break, a chance to grab something to eat and drink before beginning another row. Breakfast was all well and good, but that had been some hours ago now.

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Novice of the White Tower

[Wayfarer]

While some went to the Tower gardens for peace and tranquility, Estel did not. Rather, the fallen Blue used it as a place to rage and weep. The privacy of her room had been disturbed by too many people and besides, her private sanctuary in a certain clearing had ever been her getaway since Carise had first brought it to her. Now she made her way back after releasing her fury into the still forest air. It was at this point that she was still half-buried in her own troubles that she stumbled in a certain hole. Yelping in pain, she look down at her twisted ankle which was clear through a bucket of sharp twigs. “What in the bloody Pit of Doom!†Whimpering, she searched around for the culprit. Damnit! There was blood running down her foot!

 

The break had been for only a few minutes, but it had been long enough for her to get some water at least. Lillian was feeling rather upbeat about getting all her work done early when she heard a yelp just about the corner. Raising her skirt, Lillian ran the short distance to find an Aes Sedai she didn't recognise on the ground clutching her foot, and her basket overturned. Oh no.

 

"Aes Sedai, are you alright?" A stupid thing to say but it was also the first thing to come to mind. Clearly the Aes Sedai was not alright, there was blood on the foot that the Aes Sedai was nursing. It didn't look too bad, but painful all the same. Kneeling down next to her, she offered her hands for the Aes Sedai to take. "Here, let me help you up."

 

“All right?†she growled. “All right?!†This time it was definitely closer to a shriek. Just then, her convenient- though usually inconvenient- memory kicked in. Faces came up before her eyes, all with scathing, disparaging looks. ‘Damn dignity.’ She took deep breaths, trying to regain a small amount of Aes Sedai serenity. But no amount of serenity would rid her of her bleeding foot or her anger.

 

â€Here, let me help you up.â€

 

When the girl held out her hand, Estel shoved her back, her stubbornness ever present. “I can get up myself, child.†It was nearly hypocritical for her to call another by that title when she herself was still considered the same by her 'peers'.

 

Falling backside, Lillian winced at both the sharp pain that flared and the realisation that she needed to busy herself immediately. Looking to the overturned basket, she quickly slipped on her gloves and began restoring the twigs to the basket she had placed them in earlier. Busy, busy and the Aes Sedai would ignore her.

 

As if her refusal of aid were an excuse to ignore her, the girl quickly busied herself with continuing her chore. It took part of the small amount of self-control she had to keep outrage from showing on her coppery face. ‘She can’t get off that easily.’

 

Her cold mask barely hid her sneer as she walked over to the girl, stepping straight in front of her. “If you think you won’t escape punishment for injuring an Aes Sedai, girl, you are sadly mistaken.â€

 

The small, annoying truthful, part of her brain told her she was goading the Novice, picking yet another fight for an excuse to let off her constant frustration and anger. However, as usual, she ignored it.

 

Oh Light. Turning back to the Aes Sedai, Lillian curtsied as she thought on her feet. "I am sorry Aes Sedai, I just wished to gather these up before anyone else walked by and was hurt." Keeping her gaze averted slightly downward as always, she kept a smooth face she had learned over the years. With any luck it would see her through yet.

 

“Before someone else was hurt?†Estel repeated dryly. “You have someone hurt now, girl. Might I suggest you worry about the now, rather than the theoretical future.†However, her haughty words didn’t seem to have much of an effect on the girl. Rather than an outlet for her frustration, the girl was building it. “When I was in whites, I would have been on my knees if I had injured an Aes Sedai.†‘...On your knees because the Aes Sedai would have knocked you to the ground.’ Estel didn’t know how she would function without half-truths.

 

There was little choice in the matter if she wanted to avoid any trouble. One thing she had learned from Halvie Sedai, when told to do something it was done if one wanted to avert any further trouble. Dropping to her knees, she bowed her head down as she spoke. "Please, forgive me Aes Sedai, it was an accident."

 

The Blue could have screamed in frustration. The one time she really wanted a fight, the girl would not co-operate! Truly the Creator’s greatest pass-time must have been spiting her! The irony was killing her, when she wanted a fight, she couldn’t get one but when she didn’t, she couldn’t seem to avoid them! There was nothing she wanted more than to slap the girl, just then. Surely there must be some way to provoke her.

 

Just like her moods, she quit her current train of thought and moved to another. “My, my, you are the perfect little Novice aren’t you.†Amusement filled her voice but it was underlined with a trace of mockery. The former was on purpose, the latter a consequence of her purpose. “No doubt a shining example of what every Novice should be. No doubt, feeling awfully lonely with all your peers looking down on the ‘Aes Sedai’s pet’.†When out of options, use the personal attack.

 

Bend like a reed, let it wash over you, its meaningless. She knew what her peers thought of her, and being told what they thought wasn't going to change that. Why was the Aes Sedai pushing her though? It had been an accident, but it was as if she had deliberately tried to hurt her. Still, it was easier to agree than disagree. If she had nothing to fight, maybe the Aes Sedai would leave her be. "Yes, Aes Sedai."

 

‘DAMN YOU GIRL! FIGHT BACK!’ The chit almost reminded her of what happened to her after her fight with Orion.

 

A cruel laugh came on the heels of the acquiescent girl. “And still the perfect Novice.†Mockery could no longer be hidden. “Quite the Aes Sedai you’ll make. A puppet in the hands of the first Sister who tries to pull you strings.†Estel automatically crushed thoughts of her own weakness on a certain night not long ago.

 

A puppet? Lillian began wondering at what point she would be excused for answering back by the Mistress of Novices should it be taken to her. As much as she could bend and let the insults pass over her, she was beginning to a feel an urge to respond in kind, now that it was becoming clear that the Aes Sedai most likely wouldn't stop till she had what she wanted. "Yes, Aes Sedai."

 

“Yes, Aes Sedai. Yes, Aes Sedai.†Estel imitated. The Domani grinned. Had that been a flush of anger she had seen? If she pushed just a little harder... “I almost pity you if a man gets his hands on you with intent on his mind.â€

 

Why bother? It was one thing to let things pass by but it was useless when it wouldn't make a bit of difference. Getting to her feet, she began picking up twigs again as she spoke, showing as much care in her words as she did the way she delicately picked up the twigs so as not to prick herself on the thorns. "It was an accident and I apologised, and I am not going to be your sport. As soon as these are collected I will be happy to report myself to the Mistress of Novices for my error." It was inevitable either way, better to get it over and done with now rather than let her have her fun and then turn her in anyway.

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Novice of the White Tower

 

Estel Liones

Blue Sister

[Guest Estel]

She sighed before she could repress it. “Well, at least there’s a little fire in you girl.†Estel shook her head. “Don’t bother reporting yourself to the Mistress of Novices. Oh, and a word of advice: meekness will only get you so far, when- or if- you’re test true in your Acceptance, you’ve a lot to learn, else Novices will walk right over you.â€

 

It wasn’t until the narcissistic woman turned around to leave that what she had done hit her like a drunk’s fist. The phenomenal realization stopped her in her tracks and only the fact that her back was turned to the Novice kept the girl from seeing the mixed expressions of surprise and wonder on her face.

 

’Did I just try and help the girl? Am I not as cold-hearted as I thought?’

 

ooc: wow...I didn’t see that coming...just when you think you know a character. It’s up to you, you can leave it there or we can keep going.