Red Herring

[Wayfarer]

It was a quiet walk towards the Novice and Accepted quarters. Maegan Sedai didn't offer anything as she escorted Lillian to her room and Lillian was thankful for that. All she wanted was to be alone, to try and understand how she had lost and think on how little she seemed to have improved. No matter how long she had trained, no matter that she threw every part of herself into it, she still came off second best. She hadn't even landed a blow on Maegan Sedai, the same as when she had fought Nerome the second time. Just useless.

 

Her room up the end of the hall, Lillian led the way wondering why Maegan Sedai had offered to escort her. Did she want to enquire more about her like some other sisters did? A discussion on propriety? Not that she could think of a rule she had broken while they had been in the Yard, but it was possible. To talk about the Red Ajah and why Lillian should join it? Some of the sisters were apt to trying to recruit for their Ajahs. Yet as frazzled as she was from her defeat she couldn't find an answer to any of the questions that she asked herself, all of them rooted in the why of Maegan's escort.

 

Reaching the door to her room, she already knew that if she was to maintain a sense of decorum she would have to show courtesy like she had been shown. Nevermind that she wanted to just go inside, lock her door, close the curtains and curl up on her bed. But, that wasn't what was going to happen and as she reached for the door handle, she turned to Maegan Sedai with her eyes averted downward as she spoke. "Thank you Maegan Sedai, would you like a glass of water?"

 

With any luck, she would say no.

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Accepted of the White Tower

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

It had been a good spar, one that had challenged more than the selected knowledge that Aran had taught her, but also played ont he years of study in politics, tactices and strategies. She had simply read her opponent without questioning her own abilities. Without the doubt of failure she processed to best the child at a game that would have otherwise put them on even grounds. However, the child wore a heart of glass on her sleeve and as muddy as it was to read it was easily broken.

 

"No, Lillian. I am quite fine, thank you. A little tired, but i suspect that it is of no surprise to you."

 

She wanedered the room a little with a calm curiosity. Not looking for something but observing all that was in the room. Everythign in it's place with a place for everything. It tickled at a memory of her mother, a woman that could never find a room clean enough. She took a seat on the bed opposite Lillian's. She did not motion for Lillian to sit, but made the first move in the conversation. "Tell me about yourself, Lillian. How did you come to be at the Tower, and Why stay as an Accepted?"

 

Closing the door behind Maegan Sedai, Lillian followed quietly. Saying nothing as Maegan sat on the bed opposite her own, she managed to repress the twitch in her fingers to fix it. That could be done after Maegan Sedai had left, in the meantime she was being asked a question. Keeping her eyes lowered out of the deference that Aes Sedai were due, Lillian answered softly. "I was tested in the Panarch's court, Maegan Sedai. From Tarabon I traveled to Arad Doman and then to Tar Valon with a merchant caravan. I stay because it is expected and because I wish to learn more of the power."

 

Maegan smiled softly at the girls words. "Expected. Ah yes, it is always expected for girls that reach the banded dress to then reach the Shawl. High expectations, very high." She paused in her slight rambling, as everything she said had a purpose and an end that will create a result. Maegan noted how the girls hands were clasped. "My name is Maegan. I never cared for formality unless it is needed, and here it is not. Tell me a story, Lillian. The first that comes to mind. It can be anything you wish it to be."

 

Unclasping her hands as she look directly into Maegan Sedai's eyes, Lillian turned away as she went to grab the nearest chair. Bringing it over so she could sit near the Aes Sedai, she took her seat as she thought of a story. What was Maegan trying to glean from her? There had to be a reason to Maegan enquiring for a story. What was Lillian willing to reveal? She couldn't think of a story which wouldn't reveal her intentions to either inform or to hinder, so Lillian decided it was perhaps better to be forward as she folded her right leg over her left and rested her hands on its knee. "What would you wish to learn from it?"

 

Maegan smiled then, one that was warm but did not quite reach the eyes behind the specticles. The child had a quick mind, but was also delicate with the words that was spoken. Lillian could be very much a surprise to any one that she would wish to fool, if she so chose to do so. Could it be possible that her first initial reading from the girl was wrong. Interesting indeed. "What ever you may wish to teach me without concequences or of it leaving the door of this room."

 

Lillian's face remained neutral as she listened to the words that Maegan had to offer. Why was the Aes Sedai before her fishing? Could it be like the first moment she met Aramina who sought to learn more of her mentor? Was there an agenda such as steering her towards the Red Ajah? There was little time to consider such questions, so more time was needed and also an attempt to better divine the intentions of the woman who sat before her. It wasn't only a matter of asking the right questions, it was also a matter of asking them in the right manner. "Perhaps if I had a better understanding of what you might wish to learn, I might better be able to inform." Lillian steered clear of the word 'teach', formality aside or not she did not wish to skirt with impudence without knowing the Aes Sedai better.

 

The walls within the child were thick and full of suspision. Whether the girl trusted the Aes Sedai in front of her, or people in general, it was clear the girl would not play Maegans game without a guide. Depending on how one may look at this conversation one coudl say that Lillian was a pupil that wished only to please the teacher. But the roles have been reversed and yet the pupil was still in control. how was a pupil to teach a teacher without a formally written agenda. The questions in Maegans mind raced behind her thoughts. Wishing to stear clear of the girls defeat in the yard, Maegan contemplated for a mere second before speaking. "If an Aes Sedai thought that she could never learn from an Accepted or even a Novice, than she has dearly lost a better lesson than any book could tell. A simple fable would be good. One of light and dark. Preferable not something you you have read out of a book. Trust me when I say that I have most definately have already read it."

 

 

 

Maegan Ryanne

Highest

 

Lillian Tremina

Accepted

[Wayfarer]

Refraining from the urge to frown, Lillian tried to think of something that would be appropriate. Hopefully something with as little meaning as possible as it would perhaps force the Aes Sedai to speak more openly. It was enough that Maegan had found Lillian to be wanting with a lathe, it was another thing to then give away too much with little knowledge as to the why. It was midway in thought that it suddenly occured to her, there was a distinct problem with the request Maegan had made. A simple fable yet one which was not to be found in a book, yet most to all simple fables were recorded in books. "If you have read nearly every fable that has ever been committed to word, then I doubt I have anything to offer which you do not already know." It was impossible to teach someone who already knew it all. Well, except for the fact that a telling would reveal some aspect of herself. As it was she revealed that she was wary, on the otherhand she revealed nothing as to the why.

 

Her eyebrow raised in a slight warning, Maegan looked to the girl with the smile still on her lips. The child was far to cautious and withdrawn. "If you fear that I may find your story lacking, than you are mistaken. I merely wish to be entertained for a small moment. Fables are a wonderful way to pass the time."

 

The eyebrow spoke volumes to Lillian along with the words, she would have to speak and that would be the end of it. But, one had come to mind that she could speak of that could keep Maegan entertained. "During a cold winter, a man saw a rat on the verge of freezing to death. Taking pity, the man decided to warm the rat. As it warmed, it bit the man and fled, the man later took sick and died."

 

Maegan sat on the bed with her smile. The thought on the fable, but was not all together dissapointed. A child of the Great Game, it would seem she had found in the girl. There was no way for Maegan to have the girl reveal anything without a direct question. The girl did not disappoint her. "Tell me, Lillian. Why did you wish to pick up the Sword?"

 

There it was, the reason that Maegan had followed Lillian back to her room. If she were not so constrained by other considerations, it might have been easy to say that she was following in the footsteps of her mentor, or to say she was aspiring to the Green Ajah. Of course, both of those things were incorrect, she was not following in the footsteps of her mentor or aspiring to any Ajah. All that was left was a simple answer to the simple question, which would undoubtedly lead to further questions that would require answers which were not so simple, not only to understand but to give. "I wish to know how to defend myself if I am bereft of the One Power. Would that be the same reason for your interest? Or would there be another reason?"

 

The smile from Maegan's face fled with Lillian's answer. "Than tell me a story of failure, of fear and of pride."

 

There it was, and in that question Lillian understood her mistake. She hadn't been able to help it, but the mistake had been committed all the same. The luxury of not having people study her so closely on the yards, except perhaps for Rosheen but she trusted Rosheen to do so for her own best interest as her mentor. The Aes Sedai sitting before her on the otherhand she did not understand the motivation for. Lying was an option, but Lillian disdained it. She suspected it would not work with the way Maegan had been prying, and it could always come back to haunt her. So, she was left with a very simple option. "No."

 

Brushing off her skirts, Maegan stood from her seat, holding out a hand that would cause Lillian to pause from standing as well. "Listen carefully, Lillian, and listen well. You are far from the first that learns the need of survival, and you will not be the last. But when you doubt yourself you will fail every time that you pick up a sword."

 

Maegan walked to the doorway, grasping the latch in her smaller hands but did not open the door. She had nothing to gain in this conversation, and wished not for the girl to feel indebted to her in any form. However.. Maegan turned to othe girl and gave her a friendly smile, one that did touch her eyes. "Try telling that story, one day. Maybe not to me, but take great care. Not all ears will listen to what you may have the need to say." As if nodding to herself, she waited for a moment to see if Lillian had anything more to say.

 

Retaining her seat as Maegan spoke of failure, Lillian made sure to control her face as she listened though she could not help but avert her eyes again. There was truth in that, but if it were a simple case of realising the problem then it would no longer be one. Standing as Maegan walked to the door, the last appeal that Maegan made to her was... difficult. There were things that could have been said, but now was not appropriate. She did not have the measure of the woman before her yet, and until she did she could not talk. Instead, Lillian bowed her head in acknowledgement. A moment later the door opened and Lillian did not look up until she heard it close.

 

Walking over and locking the door, she replaced the chair and smoothed the spare bed before sitting at her own. Stripping her boots and putting them where they were meant to be, it wasn't until she laid down on her bed that she allowed things she had shunted aside while Maegan had been there to come back. Things that made Lillian curl up as she drifted between her thoughts, oblivious to everything else.

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Accepted of the White Tower

 

Maegan Ryanne

Highest