Turning by the Dreams ~ Nyssa ~

[Seiaman]

"My duty is to the White Tower and to my Ajah, Seiaman. I do not have time for romances." Seiaman raised her head from her hands and let out a deep sigh. Ever since her return from the trip with Sirayn, she found herself with blossoming emotions within her dark heart. She couldn't understand why or how it was happening - all she knew was that a dark cloud had been removed and she was starting to see her destiny. Is it truly a destiny? Seiaman rose from the floor and tossed a log into the fire - the flames danced around its newly added fuel. Am I just projecting my dreams into reality? What did she do to unravel the dark tendrils from my heart? But she knew Sirayn did not do anything intentional. Seiaman's true feelings from the past resurfaced for a reason - feelings that were buried because of the duty to the bond which she tried yet failed to upkeep - and to her past relationship. Why now? Why not before I returned to the Tower? Before I rejected her and ultimately pushed her away? The memory of Sirayn's initial reaction upon finding Seiaman was alive and well - it brought a sharp stab of pain. "How stupid am I?"

 

Sirayn had turned her away - without even batting an eye. But she knew the woman still cared. What comes around goes around. How could she explain that her feelings found a way through the wall of ice and steel that she had built - and they were for Sirayn. Not Jaydena. Even the woman thought that she was misdirecting her passion - that it was all simply a mistake and that Seiaman must've been drunk. But she knew better. She knew that Sirayn harbored the same deep feelings - why else did she send Corin to spy on her and report her doings, if any, with Jaydena? Why had she saved Seiaman from the Seanchan jail, when she could've simply returned to the Tower and declared the Guard as a prisoner of war? Damn this. She fell back onto the bed and looked up at the plain ceiling. You know your chances, Seiaman. It is slim. She closed her eyes, perhaps a way to win Sirayn's heart would be revealed in her dreams.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The battle raged on, how long Seiaman didn't know. All she knew was that her muscles screamed for oxygen as she fought. They were all dressed the same - black flowing shrouds, their heads covered. Their blades glistened with blood, revealing their recent kill. "Sirayn." She had to get to her - there were too many and surely they would start to overpower the circle. Instinctly, she reached out to the bond - she only met emptiness. With a growl, she grabbed one of the opponents wrists and gave it a good twist until his own blade sliced across his neck. They didn't scream in pain or agony. They just fell to the floor in a lifeless heap. But no matter how hard she tried, they kept closing in on her - determined to cut her down and get to Sirayn. A hot wind gusted through the field - bringing the scent of death and decay to her nostrils.

 

She turned around to kill the next one, they all just came at her one after another. When she realized that they were all still. As if time stopped. She turned around again - nothing moved. Even the blood of those being slaughtered nearby was still in the air. The deafening roar of the battle faded away from her ears. When motion registered at the corner of her eye and she turned to face the only other moving opponent on the battlefield.

 

~ Seiaman Kera

 

Love. For something as utterly pointless, it often turned out to be the perfect tool. Where pain and lust and fear were ineffective, Love was often the thing that could break someone. Shatter them and leave them begging, for more or for mercy. Nyssa didn’t pretend that she understood the way love drove people further and harder than the harshest mule driver. Nor did she question the ‘how’ of this most efficient tool. It worked, and that was what really mattered in the end. When she discovered that the key to turning perhaps the single most important person in the life of a certain Ajah Head was love, she didn’t ponder on the ‘why’ of the matter. She simply focussed on the ways she could use this most powerful of emotions.

 

Night after night she had wandered the dreamscape, watching the unguarded dreams of those whose lives she could influence. So many slept peacefully at night, unaware of the threat that hovered over them. Lanfear had taught her well, and she practised her skills, sharpening them the way a warrior would sharpen his sword. When she was convinced that her skills were well enough to be used within Tar Valon, she started searching for dreams. Some Aes Sedai warded their dreams, but a startling amount did not. It amused her. Had they not learnt about dreamwalking? Had they not seen how lost talents started to resurface? Fools, the lot of them. They didn’t hold her interest for long. She would have plenty of time to watch their dreams, and learn what they chose to hide from the world.

 

Occasionally she would see a dream that was darker than the others. Simple nightmares, in some cases. In others it was not the dream, but the dreamer that was darker. Investigating a single case of such a dark dream, Nyssa had learnt about the secrets of Seiaman Kera. The nameless dreamer had soon given up her secrets, indeed becoming the once lost warder of Sirayn Simeone. Nyssa resisted the urge to reveal herself immediately. It would be so easy, to drive Seiaman insane with a few well placed dreams. The mind was always eager to accept the worst of dreams, and Nyssa could conjure up things that even a dark soul like Seiaman had never imagined before. But would Sirayn feel it, when Nyssa ended the sanity of Seiaman? Or were there better ways to use the Tower Guard, and her obvious love for the Green Ajah Head.

 

These things she had pondered on, night after night as she learnt about the secrets Seiaman kept hidden from the world. The deep despair that came with her love for Sirayn seeped through in her every dream. It was on the fourth night when Nyssa decided to act. Having watched hundreds of battle scenes in the minds of the violent, it was now quite easy to create the scene of the battle where Seiaman found herself as soon as she wandered into the land of her own dreams. Mid battle she entered, fighting not only for her own life, but also for that of the woman she loved. Nyssa stood aside, invisible, guiding her masked soldiers into battle. They weren’t anywhere near as good as Seiaman was. They didn’t have to be. Seiaman’s thoughts were as clear to Nyssa as if they had been spoken aloud.

 

After a few moments, Nyssa froze the dream. Splatters of blood hung in mid-air as Seiaman lashed out to another opponent, only to find him frozen. She turned. The others were frozen as well. A bird hung in mid flight. The first drops of rain that had announced the breaking of a storm stopped, one inches from the Tower Guard’s face. Nyssa entered the dream a bit more firmly, becoming one of the masked warriors. She stepped aside, revealing herself to Seiaman. The eyes of the fierce woman widened. Slowly she circled, keeping the sword in her hand low. She wouldn’t know how to use it even if she had intended to.

 

“All this violence.†She said, her voice low and husky. Only it wasn’t her voice, it was the voice of something far darker, and less human than she was. She had used the voice of the Myrrdraal before, to put terror into the heart of a child. Seiaman was no longer a child, but perhaps even more susceptible to the fear that Fades put into people because of it. “To what end? Will it get you what you want?†Still low and husky, the voice had a mocking quality. “What you need?†she walked closer to Seiaman, not fearing for her own life. She wasn’t corporeal here, after all. Only their minds were here, and when it came to a battle between minds, Seiaman stood no chance. “Will it get you the… love… of a woman who has no more room for you on her life?†it was a whisper now, uttered as she moved behind Seiaman.

 

~Nyssa Deschain

Dreamwalker

 

Seiaman stood still, settled in her defensive stance as she watched the black figure circle her, the sword was low. Too low, in fact, for a decent offensive. She could easily slice through the major arteries that flowed through the neck before the sword could be raised. If it is unexpected. From the example of sheer power to be able to freeze time down to the blood drops, she knew this was a Dreadlord. No one held such power, not even the Amyrlin Seat. Strike them down - before they can get to Sirayn. The figure started to walk out of her vision and Seiaman adjusted her body to keep it in her sight yet not revealing the surprise she held up her sleeve. Kill them all.

 

"All this violence." The voice was not human. But Namander was too long past for her to still be dreaming about Fades and Trollocs. She gave the staff a spin to counter any potential attacks. "To what end? Will it get you what you want?" She glared at the figure, still concealing its identity as it came closer. But the sword didn't move. "Will it get you the," the scent of death drifted on the speaker's breath as it paused, "love... of a woman who has no more room for you on her life?" A surge of rage flooded the Spring as the creature walked behind her and Seiaman gave a sharp pivot of her heels with the staff rising diagonally - the steel tip on the end sliced through the black cloth and cutting deeply into the creature's chest but before it could react, she thrusted the staff through its heart. "You'll never get her, filth." With her free hand, she pulled away the face covering and her eyes widened. "Sirayn." The staff was pulled out of her chest and she caught the woman as she started to fall to the ground. "No." But she was dead.

 

A laugh echoed behind her. Seiaman swiveled around, hatred and rage enveloping her senses as a new creature stepped forward from the frozen surroundings. And she let out a scream as she leapt forward, the staff spinning diagonally. The creature raised its sword but Seiaman dropped to her knees, pushing herself into a pivot as the staff thrusted upward through its chest. She stood up to her feet and pulled the cloth from its face - only to find herself looking down at Sirayn's horrified expression. "Seiaman. Why?" "No..." The body went limp. Something moved at the corner of her eye and she spun around - pulling out one of her small axes from her belt and stretched her arm out as the sharp edge found itself in a throat. Hands went up to her arm, startling familiar. "No." The black cloth slid from the creature's face, forcing Seiaman to look once more at Sirayn. "Sirayn." The body fell to the ground.

 

Motion. She spun around, pulling out her second small axe. Blind rage ripped her insides as she eyed the moving creature. She wanted to kill whoever ... or whatever this was. "Who are you?" She called the Spring to consume the fury, to drown it. Her voice went deadly calm, "What do you want?"

 

~ Seiaman Kera

 

The trick she used on Seiaman was one she hadn’t tried before. She knew it would be effective though. Stuck in that phase where she knew she was dreaming, but was unable to wake up, the many deaths of her beloved would stay with Seiaman until long after she had risen from her sleep. Even better, the knowledge that it was her hand that ended Sirayns’ life time and time again would torment her. Failure had been a steady friend to her in her past after all. Failure to protect her beloved, failure to realise that she would always love Sirayn when the choice to start something wonderful was still in her hands… Deadly failure, which had torn her from Sirayn for good. A steady friend, which showed her all her mistakes in one dream, as she fought and fought against her foes, which turned out to be Sirayn every time they released their dying breath.

 

Nyssa felt none of the blows Seiaman dealt of course. She didn’t have to be in the body of one of her dreamtime warriors to control it. And her tactics worked. Seiaman’s control slipped, if only for a moment. She raged, before controlling herself with one of the petty philosophies Warders and Tower Guards followed so closely. From a distance Nyssa smiled. "Who are you?" she raged. "What do you want?" she said, her voice as calm as the low growl from a caged animal. Nyssa had no doubts about the woman’s ability to intimidate her foes. The foes that didn’t have the same means as she had to their disposal at least. As it was Nyssa wasn’t impressed. It was almost hard to believe that Sirayn would have died for this woman, even though that was some time ago. But what once was could be again. If her plan worked out correctly, Sirayn would once again be willing to give everything for this woman. Even her faith, and her soul.

 

“I am your salvation.†She whispered. The whisper came from the warrior standing behind Seiaman, and not the warrior that she was advancing upon. “I am your only hope to getting what you desire.†The voice was softer now, no longer the voice of a Myrrdraal, but the voice of a soul that had brought as much terror upon Sirayn and Seiaman, if not more. It was the voice of Solin, born from Sirayn, dark star among those of her… faith. If what she had picked up in the dreams of Seiaman and others involved in that situation was correct, hearing his voice would definitely throw her off balance. Which was exactly where Nyssa wanted her.

 

~Nyssa Deschain

_________________

WT - Nyssa Deschain, Gray & Black sister

WY – Rosheen Than Sakhr, TG & Ginae Auvriani, MoT

SG - Nona Doronas, DF

FL - Suraya

 

The creature stopped but the voice came from behind her - Seiaman felt her heart stop as the axes fell to the bloody floor. The jolt of searing heat ripped through her - awakening her from unconsciousness. She was tied down, prevented from doing anything while Sirayn sat in a chair with a chain wrapped around her neck. "Solin?" She couldn't move her head as the red poker came straight for her eye - the pain was blinding. She could feel it twisting inside her eye socket. Seiaman let out a gasp and turned around slowly to face the speaker. "It can't be. You're dead." She dared herself to reach over and pull the fabric away - and she did. And she faced the boy who betrayed his mother. "I saw...." His smile was the same sick smile from when Sirayn had plunged the knife through his heart and his eyes were black. "Everything that you desire." Seiaman shook her head and stumbled away from the boy, "No. I won't." He suddenly collapsed to the floor, a victim of an unseen hand of Death. There would be only one person who would try to use Solin for whatever purpose- and that would be the Dreadlady that enticed him over to the Dark side. "I won't relent. Empty promises are all you can give me, Amiarin." She picked up her axe on the floor next to her and brought the edge to her throat - only to find she couldn't move anymore. "I denied you twice before. And I can deny you once more. You aren't getting Sirayn through me."

 

~ Seiaman Kera

 

ooc: case of mistaken identity *grins* feel free to play with it, as she thinks you're Amiarin.

 

Things got better for Nyssa and worse for Seiaman with every passing second. The fiercer the struggles of the Tower Guard became, the more ensnared in Nyssa’s trap she found herself. Using Solin’s voice and face had been a risk, and the outcome had been unexpected. Unexpected, but not unfortunate. It showed her that Seiaman knew very well who was the guiding hand behind all the suffering she and Sirayn had endured. Nyssa’s mind raced as she thought of ways she could use this new found information. During the seconds she needed to decide, the dream didn’t stand still. She killed the illusion of Solin with the ease of someone far more powerful than she actually was. That was the best part about the dreamworld. She could do things that were far beyond her grasp here. Better yet, there was no one to stop her.

 

When she was ready to proceed again, Seiaman had grabbed her axe, in the faint hope that she could perhaps protect Sirayn by ending her own life. Nyssa laughed as she stepped in behind the Tower Guard, but it wasn’t hear laugh. It was the laugh of Amiarin, the laugh that Seiaman truly feared. If here dreams were anything to go by, she had reason to. Insanity and wrath could be a most intimidating combination, after all. She froze Seiaman to the spot, preventing her from using the axe. “She struggles and struggles.†Her voice was still that of Amiarin. It took her a moment to pluck the right look for the dreadlady out of Seiaman’s mind, but that didn’t really matter. Seiaman couldn’t turn to look at her, so she had a moment or two. “All this proof that fighting will get her nowhere, and yet she still fights.â€

 

She laughed again, becoming the tall, slender, dark eyed and dark haired woman that still haunted the dreams of so many. But the looks didn’t really matter. The most important asset to being Amiarin was right there in her hand. The cane. She used it’s silver wolf head to push the axe away from the other woman’s throat. “Tisk tisk my dear. You can’t kill yourself just yet. We have such… marvellous plans for you.†She walked around Seiaman, not the slightest hint of a limp in her gait. She wasn’t Amiarin, after all, even if the other woman wished to believe it. She moved until her face was mere inches away from Seiaman’s. “Do you really think you’d still be alive if I really was the witch you refer to?â€

 

It would give Seiaman something to ponder over as Nyssa stepped back a few paces. She leant on the wolfhead cane. “This Amiarin you speak of… she was also a channeller, was she not?†she asked, knowing full well that her appearance would cause even more confusion. “Ah, the lovely White Tower.†She turned her back on Seiaman for a moment, gazing at the tower that slowly appeared in front of them. “Such a lovely thing. Such fierce chains it has to bind it’s creatures. It will not allow freedom, it will not allow love. It won’t even allow life. Even if Solin appeared on Sirayn’s doorstep right now, she would have no right to kill him. Not unless he confessed to being turned to the Dark, which he never would in public.†She turned back to Seiaman. “And yet here you are, obeying it’s every order. Pining for a woman who is not even allowed to love you.†She stood in front of the other woman, eager to see how she would react to her words. If words weren’t enough to get her thinking in the right direction, Nyssa would have to show her more.

 

~Nyssa Deschain

 

ooc: ack, I thought amiarin was an Aes Sedai. had to change the post a bit, sorry if it's a bit vague.

 

ooc: no worries

 

ic: Seiaman struggled against the invisible bonds - attempting to will her hand closer to deliver the edge of the ax into her throat. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move an inch. The woman spoke into her ear and she tried to ignore the poisonous words. I must be dreaming. This is a dream, Seiaman. Wake up. She closed her eye and imagined herself lying in her bed, in the Tower Guard barracks. Even a small hope arose that someone would enter her room and wake her up. But she knew that'd be unlikely. No one visited Seiaman anymore. She felt a cold touch on her hand and her eye opened, the wolf head filled her vision. Fury rose within as she thought of different ways to brutally murder the filth that attempted to coax her into the Dark realms.

 

The woman walked smoothly around Seiaman, bringing her face mere inches away. Too smoothly. She had a limp. Her eyebrows burrowed into a frown as the woman's words confirmed her suspecions. "Do you really think you'd still be alive if I really was the witch you refer to?" This was not Amiarin. A twinkle of pure amusement passed through the woman's gaze as she stepped away and turned around. The White Tower materalized before them and Seiaman's gaze went from the woman's back to the Tower. If she thought that this may not be a dream, that notion was crushed now. She only knew valuely of the dreamworld, as what was mentioned by the Wolfkin during her stay - she overheard a group of Aes Sedai referring it to as Tel'aran'rhiod. But that was all she knew.

 

The woman spoke of the Tower and of the duty it instilled into those who resided there. Seiaman surpressed the small agreement she held - that the Tower expected its servants to abide by its laws of how life should be. In the space of a few seconds, Seiaman brought her attention back to the matter - who was this person and what did they want? She had nothing to offer except a way to Sirayn Simeone. It surely would not be for her fighting skills and Seiaman knew she would never betray Sirayn, with or without a bond. The woman turned around and said the very words that she never wanted to hear. She's wrong. Sirayn does love me. She loved Losyn. She loved Solin and Lyssa. But a fleeting emotion of despair and hopelessness passed through the Spring of spending a life without the woman who now held her heart. With a sudden glare at the woman, her menancing words were low, "Say what you will to me but nothing will make me betray the Creator, the White Tower, and Sirayn. Even if she is not allowed to love me now, she will when she goes to live with the Creator." She spat at the woman, the spit landing on her thigh. "I hope you fail miserably at your task so the Dark One sees what filth you are. And that you suffer in the pits of fire and hell."

 

~ Seiaman Kera

 

Finally Seiaman started to show the signs that she realised she was dreaming. Nyssa, in her Amiarin shape, smiled slightly. It had taken her long enough. Soon realisation would come that her waking was also controlled by Nyssa. Seiaman’s rant would have been impressive, if Nyssa hadn’t known the truth behind it already. The Tower Guard’s heart was as dark as her own, perhaps even darker. After all, her own darkness had been there since birth, a steady wickedness that had only grown a little since she was a child. Still ambitious. Still devious. But never filled with the hatred and desire that fuelled Seiaman’s turning.

 

“Fire and hell.†She repeated, turning her back to Seiaman for a moment. The change in her physique was no more than a shimmering, as if the air tightened around her for a moment. Yet things about her changed. Significant things. When she turned again Seiaman found herself staring in the face of the other competitor for Sirayn’s attention. Dreams were not the only thing Nyssa learnt from. Gossip from the yards made it’s way to her ear on a regular basis. The fight she had had with the Tower Guard named Corin had been talked about a lot. “Do you find that thought comforting? That those who hurt you and died are now tucked away safely in hell, forever consumed by flames? Corin’s mouth curved into a grin far more wicked than the young man had ever worn in life. “That they can’t hurt you anymore?â€

 

She threw her head back now, and laughed. “Pitiful creature. Do you really think the creator still wants you? Do you think he’ll welcome you into his arms when you die? You, the failure that you are? Doing wrong wherever you go? The creator despises your kind. He will cast you down into the same flames that consumes all your foes. Let’s face it, deary. You’re lost.†She turned again to look at the White Tower. A deep shadow covered it, seemingly coming from the inside. When she spoke again her voice was contemplative. “If we can not control Sirayn, we will destroy her. She’s too much of a liability as she is now, still convinced that the Creator will have her in the end. Yet to lose her would be a shame. She has so much darkness in her soul. Perhaps even more than you, Seiaman.â€

 

“Without your aide, Sirayn will die. But she will not accept it now, saying that the Tower, holds her heart.†The Tower, which darkened from the inside now, as shown in the dreams of many. Nyssa had always been fond of symbolism, and this was truly the clearest symbol she could think of. The tower was being consumed from the inside. The best part about that was that not the Black Ajah stood at the centre of that betrayal. No, the Light’s own creatures were far more proficient at destroying that which they loved the most. They only needed a bit of guidance here and there.

 

“Do nothing…†she started, looking at the still frozen Seiaman, “And Sirayn will die. You will wake up one morning, and hear the songs of grief and loss coming from the Tower. Betray me, run to Sirayn and tell her what you have heard here, and I will butcher her in front of you. She will know that it was your choice to see her slain.†She knew that as it was, Seiaman was prone to do the second thing she suggested. The woman still needed some convincing. “Join me, and do as your dark heart tells you to, and Sirayn will live. And if you work with me, She will not only live, she will also be free. Free to return your love. Your own precious creator, who is said to be the father of all love, denies you that one thing. Is my lord truly so evil, if he only wishes to give you that which you need?â€

 

ooc: Sorry for the delay. I hope you like the post

 

 

The creature before her transformed once more - this time in front of her. She steeled herself against whatever it was turning into - she would not falter. She could not give in. The creature turned around and her eye narrowed at the sight of Corin. This is not Corin, she is merely wearing his skin, Seiaman. She struggled to control her rising anger against the boy, to push their feud out of her thoughts. She knew what this creature was trying to do - or at least she thought she did. An image of Sirayn passed through her memory, one of their pleasant memories - it was a useful tool to calming herself down. Seiaman felt her resolve toughening against the coming words.

 

Only she felt it getting weaker as the Dark creature taunted her - voicing the very words she did not want to hear. The Creator doesn't want you. She shook her head and closed her eye, willing herself to go deaf but it was too late. The words leeched into her walls and started to spread its poison. "The Creator despises your kind." "No." Her voice was merely a whisper, "Not true." But deep inside, a thought bubbled up. It must be true. Why else would all this be happening? He won't even shield me from this poison. She couldn't believe this was happening, the mere fact that all that she has done was for a supreme being ultimately never cared for her. That never wanted her. All her life, she kept telling herself that she was serving the Light and Creator, the White Tower and Sirayn - that she would be rewarded upon Lady Death's visit. Now, she realized that she never once did she feel fulfilled and complete. Never once did she feel the touch of the Creator upon her heart. He refused her death once, refused her entrance through the Gates. There was no other reason why she was still alive.

 

But your mother. Why would He let you see your mother in a vision? She let out a scoff. The voice interrupted her thoughts. "You're lost." Her walls collapsed as she looked towards the ground. A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. He has abandoned me. The creature's words came into her attentions and she half listened. All that I have done. She now knew it was all for nothing. Everything she has done for others - was for naught. "Join me, and do as your dark heart tells you to," caught her attention and she raised her head to face the woman, "and Sirayn will live." Seiaman narrowed her eye as the creature continued to lay out the conditions. Sirayn. She met the creature's gaze with her own. If under the hand of the Creator, I am an unwanted disgrace, Seiaman didn't finish the thought.

 

"Release me. Please." A moment passed before she felt the air flow freely around her once more. Dropping her arm and sheathing her axe, she didn't move an inch. "The word of the Creator is also that he only wishes to give me which I need. You know that is a lie." Another moment passed, it seemed to go by so slowly. I love her. And I will have her as she will have me. "And so do I." A fleeting emotion passed through the creature's eyes - she didn't know what. Triumph? Success? Seiaman crossed her arms over her chest. "How do I know your promises are not empty? That His promises are not empty?" A small smile graced the creature's lips, still as Solin. Seiaman turned away and looked up at the darkening Tower. "You say the Creator lies. They say the Dark Lord lies. Prove your words to me. If you want me ... if you want Sirayn ... prove to me that the Dark Lord only wishes to give me what I truly need."

 

~ Seiaman

 

The plea for release was not quite as pitiful as Nyssa would have liked, but it would do for now. The woman in front of her was broken, even if she didn’t realize it yet. Broken, and therefore a tool for her to use. Not to get what she wanted… not yet. She didn’t think Sirayn would be turned towards her side all that easily. No, she preferred to see this as a drop. Cumulative strain on the Green sister, which would eventually lead to her succumbing to the Black Ajah. To the Great Lord of the Dark… if one chose to believe in such things. Nyssa had seen things and felt things, but she wasn’t quite convinced it was more than a cheap parlor trick though. Eventually she would see. They would all see. But not yet. First things first. Seiaman had to swear an oath.

 

The other woman stood frozen. Only her lips moved as she spoke. Her voice was bland. Dispassionate. Detached. The message was clear enough though. Seiaman had lost her faith in the creator. For a moment Nyssa smiled, thinking of how so many still hung on to their faith. Even the Amyrlin Seat clung to it with a vicious hope. Fools. If there truly was a creator, he had long since lost his interest in the world. If one wished to get a better life, one would have to work for it. All praying ever did was wear dresses and breeches from spending too much time on the knees in the dust. She shifted slightly, regarding Seiaman sideways as the warrior asked for proof. She smiled again. Proof she would get. It had been arranged.

 

Another benefit of knowing someone’s dreams was that you know, often long before the dreamer did, what the desires of the dreamer were. Most of Seiaman’s dreams had been centered on Sirayn as of late, which was how Nyssa found her. Yet in these dreams, Nyssa had felt the hatred this woman still felt for her tormentors. Some were dead, and some were missing. Despite that, it wouldn’t be hard for her to believe that Nyssa had in fact found one of those tormentors, and left her dead on the floor of the small chamber Seiaman called home. With a smile she thought of the tormented look on the face of the dead woman in Seiaman’s room. She had been no more than a lowly servant, but with the illusion anchored around the body, she looked exactly like Amiarin.

 

“Wake then.†She said, her voice sounding as much like her own as she had allowed it to sound all night. “Wake then, and find the Great Lord’s gift to you. His promise. When you return here, a night from now, we pray for your sake as well as Sirayn’s that you will be ready to return such a promise to us.†By the time the last word was uttered, Nyssa had vanished and the world around Seiaman turned dark. “Wake…†this last word accompanied Seiaman back to the real world.

 

Ooc: Well, I guess this is where Seia finds a dead ‘Amiarin’ in her room

_________________

WT - Nyssa Deschain, Gray & Black sister

WY – Rosheen Than Sakhr, TG & Ginae Auvriani, MoT

SG - Nona Doronas, DF

FL - Suraya

[Seiaman]

Mere seconds passed between her demand of proof and the woman's reaction. "Wake then." She found the surroundings slowly fading away and a distant body beginning to stir. "Wake then, and find the Great Lord's gift to you. His promise." The creature turned into a blur as everything else did, the only thing that was still true as life was her voice speaking in her mind. "When you return here, a night from now, we pray for your sake as well as Sirayn's that you will be ready to return such a promise to us." The woman vanished and everything went dark - Seiaman's eye slowly opened to greet the pre-dawn darkness in her room. "Wake."

 

She jolted up in a sitting position, her shirt soaked through by sweat. Her vision adjusted quickly in the dark as she scanned her room for anything out of place - when she saw a figure on the floor before her door. Slowly, she stepped out of the bed and reached over to her flint, clashing them together as a spark caught onto the candle wick. Find the Great Lord's gift to you. Picking up the candle, she walked over to the figure - the candlelight slowly illuminating the rest of the way but the figure did not move. She knelt besides it and turned it over to see the face.

 

The candle dropped to the ground, the flame quickly extinguished. The face brought a powerful jolt of pain from her memories as she slowly stepped away. "Amiarin." A flood of relief and regret surged through her - relief that the woman was dead, knowing that Sirayn was safe from the vengeful grasps of the filth - and regret that it was not her who had brought death unto the one person who had ruined everything. This is what I truly wanted. Revenge... She knelt back down and examined the woman's facial features - even pulling back the skirt up to the knee to feel the scar that had ruined the woman's knee. Revenge for destroying the bond. Her eyes began to water as her hands tightened its hold around the already-dead woman's neck. Revenge for making everything the way it was now.

 

Seiaman released her grasp and stepped away from the body, sitting on the edge of her bed - her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. But only one stood up amongst the sea. I will have Sirayn. I will get her back. She rose up and started to change, choosing her earth-tone colors a bit darker than usual. Seiaman, what if this is a mistake? She let out a scoff - "A mistake." Her voice was quiet. "All the Creator has done was to ensure my misery. If I cannot get Sirayn under the Creator's Hand, I will get her under the Great Lord." And for the first time in her life, she felt a shimmer of hope. "I will win her." She pulled the body underneath her bed and set out to begin her day of training with a renewed look on life.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The sun had barely fell when Seiaman was already in her quarters, sitting back on her leather chair - the only comfort she had allowed herself since her return. The training and her Guard duty had helped time pass quickly - Seiaman already knew what she wanted to do. She knew that if she could not win Sirayn's heart under the guidance of the Great Lord - then all was lost. No matter who gets in my way. She had a feeling that Corin would be a great hinderance to her plans - but she was going to bank on her many years spent with the one person who could stop him. A small smile came onto her lips, "Sirayn."

 

But one thing was sure in her mind - the creature who sought her oath in the Dark side, she had to know what she ... or he wanted. Yes, it was obviously that Sirayn was the desired person - but for what purpose? The thought had occured to her mind that the woman may not have meant for Seiaman to be the primary source of conviction for Sirayn to turn - but a tool. Well, she wants to use me. I want to know how she intends on doing that. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, willing sleep to overtake her.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Seiaman strolled the lands of the Dreams - completey unaware of what she was doing or what she was waiting for. The usual nightmares came and went - Sirayn's death; Jaydena killing Sirayn; the battle of Dumai's Wells where she held the staff that protruded Sirayn's stomach while her poor Gaidin was being murdered. Everything went still in the battle and Seiaman turned around before she remembered. Everyone had disappeared except for one figure slowly approaching. "What name do I call you, m'Lady?"

 

~ Seiaman Kera

~ Turned

[silhouette]

The day had passed slowly as Nyssa had stayed mostly to herself, in her chambers. Small tasks that could easily be completed were done, but other than that she passed the day in an almost meditative silence. One thing, and one thing alone occupied her mind as she went through the motions all Aes Sedai went through. The turning of Seiaman Kera. A small smile played on her lips. Even if the Tower Guard could not aide her in turning Sirayn, it would be a grand thing. A thing that said to Sirayn ‘look at your precious former Gaidin, and see how far the Great Lord of the Dark reaches.’ Not that Nyssa believed all that much in Great Lord or Creator, but she would work in His name, as long as she could do things her way. The turning of Seiaman had happened very much in her way.

 

Nyssa didn’t particularly believe in forceful turnings. It was only when someone truly believed that the path of the Great Lord was the path for them to take that they became useful to the Dark. To her. Those who were turned forcefully always resisted their bonds. Nyssa did not, and she was sure that Seiaman would not either. Something about the woman spoke of a hopelessness that could only be filled by taking a new, darker path. The Aes Sedai was convinced that, had she not taken the time to turn Seiaman now, the Guard would still have joined the cause of the Great Lord. The Creator had nothing more to offer to her, after all.

 

Night fell swiftly and suddenly, as if it was as eager as she was to visit the world of Dreams once more. As if it yearned to see Seiaman turn. Nyssa smiled and shook her head. Nonsense, of course. The night cared not for Creator or Great Lord. The night merely was, allowing itself to be used for many purposes. Nyssa reclined on her bed, easily slipping into Tel’Aran’Rhiod. She located Seiaman with ease, and urged the woman to step into the dream she had prepared for her. At first nothing changed from the regular dreams the warrior had. When Nyssa felt the woman was ready to leave behind all that the Creator had given her, she slowed the dream to a crawl, finally stopping it until only she and Seiaman moved.

 

She walked forward slowly, garbed in the cloak she wore when called to a meeting of the Supreme council. A plain black mask covered her face, with openings only for her eyes and mouth. Her dark eyes took Seiaman in, from the look of quiet acceptance to the determined set of her shoulders. She smiled , even though she knew it was hidden by the mask. “Call me Hope.†She said, appreciating the irony of her alias. Of course she had never had any intention to tell the freshly turned woman about her true identity. Trust no one was a decree more Friends of the Dark should live by, if they valued their lives. She walked forward, taking Seiaman’s hand in hers. She hadn’t bothered to take a different form, so she found herself looking down at the Tower Guard. “Now tell me, is your heart filled with darkness? Can you swear on your life and that of your beloved Sirayn that you will serve the Great Lord of the Dark the way He desires?â€

 

Ooc: Sorry for the delay

:oops:

[Seiaman]

Seiaman looked at the creature - garbed in black and veiled for secrecy. A moment passed in silence as Seiaman gave last thought to what she was about to do. If she could not win Sirayn by serving the Creator - she would accomplish her goals by serving the Great Lord. How this would happen, she wasn't sure; but she was desperate to convince the woman that her words were not empty. "My heart is as dark as tar, my Lady Hope." How odd that name was but it suited the occasion. She indeed hoped that this would cave the walls surrounding Sirayn's heart. "I do swear upon my life that I will serve the Great Lord of the Dark in any way He desires. I shall obey and serve His commands and I shall shed my blood so that He can live." She would not swear to serve this creature - she was as much a tool as Seiaman was. "I shun the Creator from my heart and my life. I welcome the Great Lord to take His rightful place."

 

Seiaman was quiet for a moment - letting the fact that she had abandoned the ways of the Creator and welcomed the Dark One in her life. She had thought that she might've had a twinge of regret - but there were none. The edges of her mouth curved up in a smirk. "Now if I may ask, my Lady - what would you have me do in terms of Sirayn?"

 

~ Seiaman Kera

Now a Servant of the Dark One