Welcome to the Tower (Attn: MoN and Sandrilene)

[SerenaMorrigan]

The morning was crisp and beautiful. The sun hung low in the sky. Not wanting to admit it, Serena's arms were slightly sore from the archery lessons the young soon-to-be novice had been giving her. When the girl wasn't looking Serena would steal a grasp at the muscle between her shoulder blade and spine. Biting down on the inside of her cheek, Serena began to see the towers of Tar Valon in the distance. Nodding to herself, she admitted silently that she would be happy to get back into her rooms for atleast a fortnight.

 

Pointing at the glistening towers before them, she turned to Sandrilene. "That, child, is Tar Valon. You have done well in our travels. I must say, I am quite suprised at your patience with the horses and the pace in which we had to travel at. Most girls your age would have whined and moaned for most of the way." Serena let a smile touch her lips and eyes for a moment before returning her features to cool serenity. "It is not much longer now."

 

As the two rode closer to Tar Valon and onto the sturdy polished bridges, Serena gave Sandrilene a small lesson in White Tower Ettiquette and how to greet the other Aes Sedai and Accepted. "Always curtsy when in the presance of an Aes Sedai and Accepted. Yes, the girls in the white dresses with the bands of colour on the hems." The Blue Sister answered some last minute questions and prepped Sandrilene to meet with the Mistress of Novices.

 

As they arrived at the gates of the White Tower, Serena lead the girl to the stables where she would have to leave her horse with the stablehands. It was always hard to leave one's animal. Atleast, it was to Serena. After patting Current on the nose and giving her some oats, Serena urged Sandry to follow her. "Now, I will be taking you to the offices of the Mistress of Novices, she will most likely ask you a few questions and write your name in the Novice book. She will give you a couple of white dresses, and assign you to a room. Most likely, that will be it." Waiting for Sandrilene to nod, Serena wanted to make sure that Sandry understood.

 

Gliding towards two large wooden doors, Serena raised her hand and knocked loudly. They were bid to "enter", and the Blue pushed the door open gently. "Faerzyne Sedai, may the light favour you." Serena curtsied slightly. It was always odd to her, to curtsy to another Aes Sedai that wasn't the Amyrlin Seat, but she always did so when she was in the presance of the Mistress of Novices. This woman would be responsible for any of her punishments as well, that is, if she was ever in need of a penance.

 

"I bring to you, Sandrilene fa'Toren of Amadicia. I have tested her, and I believe she is fit to be trained in the White Tower."

 

 

Serena Morrigan

Blue Ajah

BOnded to Thera Trakelyn

Mentor of Sandrilene fa'Toren

[Lavinya]

Faerzyne gestured to two of the chairs in front of her desk. They were uncomfortable, but that was for a purpose. After all, those who spent too much time in them would deserve the discomfort. Those who did not were merely reminded of the fact that they should not misbehave, in order to avoid the discomfort that came with the chairs. The young woman, who had been identified as Sandrilene sat down. Faerzyne folded her hands in front of her on the desk, and studied the girl intently for a moment. Not that she could judge if the girl would be worth anything just yet, but at least she would be able to see how nervous the girl was. Those who were most nervous often were the ones who wanted it most.

 

So the girl had already been tested. This meant she had to know, somewhere deep down inside of herself that she would be accepted within the White Tower. That she would learn to channel, to the best of her abilities. Still the girl shifted in her seat, as if she couldn’t quite believe that she would be asked to stay. Faerzyne decided to relieve her from the tension that was building. She opened the book of Novices which was still in front of her. “So you’ve been tested already. How fortunate.†She picked up her pen, and prepared to write. “Let’s see about making your stay here a bit more permanent then, shall we?â€

 

She didn’t have to look at the young woman to see that there was a change in the tension that had kept her in it’s thrall. “Can you tell me your full name again?†As the girl replied, she wrote it down in the book. Another life sealed to the Tower, for better and for worse. “And your place of birth and raising?†again she wrote, making Sandrilene‘s stay more certain with every letter, every curved or straight line. “And finally your age.†She finished with a dot behind the age, which felt as heavy and important as any signature from any high lord or lady. “Welcome to the White Tower.â€

 

Faerzyne Grigory, MoN

 

Ooc: rp your char’s reaction to being written down in the novice book.

[Guest Sandrilene fa Toren]

Sandry had enjoyed the last part of their journey to Tar Valon, though she would never admit it. The weather had been wonderful and she had always loved riding; plus giving archery lessons to Serena had been the dose of normality and humor she needed. As they left their mounts in the stables Sandry watched Serena closely out of the corner of her eye and almost laughed as she noticed Serena stretch her shoulders slightly, but more than she needed to when reaching for something in her saddle bags. Stepping down lightly from Cha’s saddle she patted the mare’s nose lightly and whispered softly in her ear for a moment before grabbing her bow and turning to follow Serena Sedai.

 

She half heard the Aes Sedai’s instructions as she followed her through the tower, her boots padding soundlessly down the halls. One hand held her bow on her shoulder while the other swung easily at her side, her eyes trying to take in everything at once while not appearing to be out of place. It seemed a matter of moments before she stood before the door of the Mistress of Novices, Light what was she doing? As Serena opened the door and introduced her Sandry curtsied slightly, making sure to keep her bow clear of her legs, and tried to school her features to show none of her nerves or fear.

 

Sitting in her chair stiffly she looked up to find the Mistress of Novices watching her. Calming her nerves she met the woman’s gaze with a steady one of her own, focusing on holding on to the image of self-assurance her father and brothers always seem to have in the face of danger. She tightened her jaw a fraction as the Aes Sedai did not release her gaze for a long time; finally the woman seemed satisfied with something and picking up a pen, she began to speak. “So you’ve been tested already. How fortunate. Let’s see about making your stay here a bit more permanent then, shall we?â€

With those words Sandry suddenly felt the weight of what was happening crash down on her, for a moment she struggled to keep her mind from flying back to memories that would undoubtedly lead her to tears.

 

As quickly as it had come, the moment passed and she focused her cold attention once again on what the Mistress of Novices was saying. “Sandrilene fa Toren.†Her voice was crisp, like the voice of the Children of the Light she had heard delivering reports to her father. “And your place of birth and raising?†“Amador in Amadicia.†It was a small lie, she actually was born just outside of the city on her families estate, but what did that little detail matter. “And finally your age.†“Fifteen, Aes Sedai.†She clipped the title a little too harshly and immediately calmed herself; getting upset would not help her at all. Luckily the Mistress of Novices seemed to not notice, or if she did, didn’t seem to care.

 

With a final dot on her paper the Aes Sedai looked up into Sandry’s eyes once again. “Welcome to the White Tower.†It was only pure determination that kept a grimace off of Sandry’s face at the welcome. Light, if there is one place I would have sworn I would never go it was here. Trying to hide her expression for a moment she glanced sideways at Serena then turned to face the Mistress of Novices again finally adding a belated, “Thank you.â€