Shore bound - Ellisha Falwein Intro (Attn: MoN)

[Sherper]

Shore bound

Not for the first time – or in fact the tenth that day, Ellisha Falwein eyed the cool blue water of the river Errinin with an expression close to hunger. The water’s silky smooth surfaces were a mere ten feet away, but to her they might as well have been on the other side of the Arith Ocean for all the good it would’ve done. She was held captive as surely as if they had fastened an iron collar around her neck, and she knew she was as helpless as a new born kitten. Two Aes Sedai standing on the ship’s bow watched her with cool expressionless faces, their ageless features betraying nothing of their inner emotions. Their presence made Ellisha scowl again, and she unconsciously fumbled for a spear haft that was no longer there.

 

Irritated, she slumped back against the wooden decks, temper smothering quietly inside.
Her inability to escape had not been from a lack of trying. The first time she tried, she had made it as far as jumping over the side rails before finding herself dangling in mid air – held aloft by an invisible hand. Like a lion cub that had tried crawling away from its mother’s den, she had been deposited back onto the deck, arms folded and face glum. It had taken two more attempts for desperate freedom before Ellisha was finally convinced escape was impossible.

 

Her curiosity always got the better of her.  It had been curiosity that had ended her in this precarious situation in the first place. Ellisha always had more curiosity and had less sense than should befit a woman, was what her mother said. She had swaggered when she should have stepped, growled when she should have curtsied, stuck her nose in Aes Sedai business when she should have stayed locked up in her cabin. Ellisha almost wished she had listened to her mother’s advice now – almost.

 

Sighing, she leaned more heavily against the wooden boards. Retrieving the small emerald stone from one of her coat pockets, she held it up to the light to see. The descending orange sun produced tiny flickers across the gem’s finally cut surfaces, yet she knew it wasn’t just the sun that made it shine. The stone was a reminder – a reminder that she could channel.  

 

The two Aes Sedai were not holding her just for the kicks, they were bringing her to the White Tower to be trained as a novice. Ellisha let out an involuntary groan, to become one of them. Aes Sedai were not exactly detested in the parts of Andor and Cairhien where she grew up, though that is not to say they were much loved either. People who had sense usually kept well away from Aes Sedai and Aes Sedai business, for you never really know what they want until their schemes practically hit you in the face.

 

Pocketing the small gem once again; it didn’t seem to be glowing anymore, Ellisha dusted off her leather vest and stood to go talk to the ship’s captain. At least there was a man she still shared a common tongue with. Despite being only seventeen she had already adopted the manner and style of a sailor. From the way she talked to the way she walked, it was evident she felt very much at home on the swaying decks and cabin of a ship. Brushing away loose strands of dark brown hair, she strode confidently towards the stern where the tiller was housed.

 

The man instantly brightened at the sight of her, his face having been a mirror image of Ellisha’s own mood. Stone cold boredom mixed a dreaded sinking feeling. The Captain had grown on her in the week’s journey. The two Aes Sedai had hired him and his vessel to take them straight to Tar Valon from Aringill, with orders to not stop until they had made port. The man had said he’s been to the city before, saw the white ivory coloured settlement with its pale walls and pristine towers, but had been far from eager to engage in direct dealing with Aes Sedai – with perhaps good reasons.

 

“How are ya, me girl?” the man barked the short greeting as soon as her head poked up from atop the rope ladder. Any other time and she would’ve probably thumped him in the head for calling her a girl. But the Captain was one of the few who still treated her like she was normal – even though he must have known - must know who she really was. What else would two Aes Sedai be doing taking a girl to Tar Valon?

 

Drawing a deep breath, she fought to not let the sudden illness show on her face and smiled as she climbed up to greet him in turn. Light send, she thought to herself, maybe the power in her was so miniscule they’ll just send her back instead. It wasn’t of unheard before, women who had the power yet were not strong enough to channel even a trickle.  Maybe she was one.
“You’re just in time me beauty. You wouldn’t want to miss this.”

 

The voice of the ship captain registered as she climbed the last few steps of the ladder.
“Wouldn’t want to Miss —?” the words caught in her mouth as she turned and saw the shape of a city on the distant horizon. Tar Valon.

 

 She inhaled deeply as Ogier stone works slowly loomed across her field of vision. The stories were true, every building and stone of the ivory coloured city spoke of a beauty and grandeur that could’ve only suited Aes Sedai. Her father had sailed her all the way to Tear once but that had seemed insignificant, dirty compared to the magnificence laid out before her eyes now.

 

The ship docked at the city’s southern port, touching down on the mooring whilst two shirtless dockworkers tied ropes to secure the small wooden vessel. The workers gave stiff bows as soon as they saw the two Aes Sedai disembarked from the vessel, followed by an even stiffer faced Ellisha. Their belongings were unloaded along with the mounts that had accompanied them. Her own possessions being a small sad bundle that contained nothing more than a light change of clothes, and a fishbone dagger given to her as a name day present by one of her brothers.

 

The two Aes Sedai were already mounted when she walked her own horse to the end of the wharf. Their shawls hanging behind their raised hoods, they eyed her with composed serenity as she climbed atop her saddle. Her face contorted into a scowl, she wasn’t going to give the two the satisfaction in knowing they could intimidate her, she matched the two stare for stare as she settled on top of her horse. Light, what has she gotten herself into?

 

Thoughts of Aes Sedai instantly vanished as soon as the party entered the city. Even the streets and inner walls gave off an air of polish and marble white cleanness, which Ellisha was unfamiliar with. An air of excitement rushed past as people jostled one another to clear a path for the two Aes Sedai. Children ran and played everywhere across the streets in plain view. That had never happened in Aringill, but the familiar cry of merchants and shop owners advertising their wares didn’t seem to change no matter what city they were in. The streets practically hummed with activity and the odorous smell of food drifting to her nose, made her wish she could’ve had another bowl of stew that morning.

 

They rode briskly and were soon out of the city proper and into a small clearing which led itself to a pair of polished tower gates. There, she saw as she looked up, was the White Tower itself. Ellisha could’ve never imagined anything to be so colossal, so beautiful so... Majestic was the only other word she could find to describe it.  A pillar like tower that shot right up into the air, it reached the heavens and looked to be holding the sky itself. The centre of Aes Sedai power, the true heart of Tar Valon, The White Tower lives up to its name - and more.

 

Her two escorts dismounted and Ellisha did the same, handing over her horse’s reins to a scruffy haired stable hand who gave her a rueful grin for some odd reason. God the Tower was tall!
Ellisha felt she was going to strain a neck muscle from bending back to look at something so high.

 

“Have you finished gawking yet?”
Ellisha gave a small jump as the harsh voice cracked down like a whip.
“Who the flaming hell are you?” She bellowed recovering from her lapse in concentration to stare up at a tall woman in a white dress. Her mouth was worked in a lopsided sneer that practically oozed contempt as she looked down at her nose at Ellisha.
“Watch your tongue girl; you’re in the presence of an Accepted.” The capital was evident in that title and Elisha wondered if that was meant to impress her. The dress she wore had seven bands of colour sewn around the hem.  

 

“You’ve been summoned to see the Mistress of Novices, come along now.” Ellisha had only time to give a questioning look, before the woman about turned and was walking towards the front of the gates. She also at that moment noticed her two Aes Sedai escorts that had taken her to Tar Valon had gone without a grace.
“Follow.” The other woman said impatiently, and was all but tapping her foot when Ellisha briskly caught up. The woman was head and shoulders taller than Ellisha, and she had longer legs, which forced Ellisha to keep up at almost a jog.

 

 She was led through several winding corridors and hallways, all the while being given the silent treatment by the other woman. Ellisha decided she did not like this… Accepted. If only from her arrogance department alone. Were all women in the White Tower like this? Light, she wondered. Will she be like this?

 

Passing several other white clad women, some who seemed no older than she, they walked deeper and deeper into the centre of the tower. Occasionally passing an Aes Sedai, her presence marked as much as by the way they held themselves as to their ageless faces and coloured shawls. Ellisha saw those who wore white dresses, either with or without the seven strips colour sewn around the hem, all had to curtsy whenever an Aes Sedai walked past. The woman, who Ellisha still didn’t know the name to, did so as a sister wearing a yellow shawl glided towards them. At least she isn’t Aes Sedai yet, Ellisha grinned eyeing the woman who was bent double beside her.  

 

“Are they taking anyone in as novices these days?” the voice startled her, and even more so when Ellisha realised she was the subject. The question wasn’t addressed directly to her however - instead the yellow sister looked to Ellisha’s escort which promptly replied “Yes Aes Sedai,” in a most flustered and breathy manner. Ellisha only gave the yellow sister a hard eyed glare. She had an airy manner that instantly drew on Ellisha’s dislike for the woman.

 

“Defiance and rudeness are not admirable qualities in a novice,” observed the sister, seeing the glare and interpreting it for what it was.  “Courtesy and respect go a long way to making life in the tower… less painful.” The Aes Sedai paused for a moment before adding in the last part, followed by a small twist to her mouth which might have been as a smile but only earned her another of Ellisha’s glares.
She was to act as meek and supple as a lamb was she? Well they might have her in a cage, but she intended to go down fighting. A caged beast still has her fangs to bare.

 

Jaws set in a barely suppressed scowl, Ellisha straightened as she felt herself being measured, weighed and examined ounce for ounce under that piercing Aes Sedai stare. An eternity passed, or at least what felt like an eternity, before the yellow sister let out a small disapproving sigh. Turning, the women gave the two a dismissive gesture.
“See she is brought before the Mistress of Novices without any delay.” And without another word she was gone.  

 

Hurriedly tugging at Ellisha’s coat sleaves, the white clad women gave her an irritated look. 

 

“You’ve kept the Mistress waiting long enough.” The look of barely suppressed arrogance had all together vanished from her face. “At this rate she’ll have both of us serving pennants, so come on!”

 

They rounded a bend through another set of corridors before stopping in front of a stout wooden door. Once again a picture of meek obedience, the woman gave the door a timid knock before gesturing Ellisha to stay where she was. Before she had the chance to ask the other women what was to happen to her, the colourful hem of the other’s snowy white dress had already disappeared around the next corner.  The woman sure was eager to be gone from that place.

 

Ellisha turned and eyed the door quizzically. Tucking both hands her coat pockets, she put on her best passively bored expression before leaning her weight on one foot and waiting. Whoever this Mistress of Novices is, she’ll show this woman that Falweins can’t be tossed around like ordinary people. She was going to be the toughest beef jerkin in the lot, one even Aes Sedai will find a hard time chewing.  The silence stretched on as she waited for whatever was to come. 

 

~Ellisha Falwein

Former Merchant's daughter

Edited October 20, 2013 by Sherper

[Leala Sedai]

The girl sitting in front of Valeri's desk had the look of defiance and anger sprawled across her face.  Her pail brows were knitted in the middle, and her lips were pursed tightly in a pout.  Her arms were folded, shielding her from any further words the Mistress of Novices might speak about her departure today.  The girl..well, she would be a woman outside of the Tower, was glad to be out of the Whtie Tower, as far as her words were concerned.  Valeri could see the sadness in her eyes, though.  That feeling of defeat and rejection.  Clerie had been a novice for seven years, and had plateaued in her power...it was as simple as that.  She was defiant and mischievous, surely, but many Aes Sedai had been as well in their years in the novice whites.  By all accounts, she had been an eager and ready student, though.  She would have made a good Brown.

 

Clerie had already changed into her old clothes, and had the bags she had brought with her on that first day sitting next to her on the floor.  Her golden curls were held up with green ribbons now, instead of white.  Valeri always hated putting girls out of the Tower.  "Here is the promised silver," she said, passing the purse to the girl.  Clerie didn't look up, but took the purse.  "If you spend it wisely, it should last you a year, or until you can find where you wish to stay."

 

The two sat in silence for a time.  Clerie stared into space, pretending this wasn't happening.  A knock on the door snapped her back to reality, though, and her stubborn look faded away, leaving nothing but the sadness.  She let out a shuddering sigh.  "Whatever happens to me, Valeri Sedai, I'll always remember all those times I was sent to your office."  Even though it was a reference to discipline, Clerie smiled.  They both said their farewells, and the former novice let herself out.

 

Valeri held the door open with a flow of Air when she saw who was standing outside.  A girl with an extremely bored expression on her face.  She would almost say that her stance was...practiced?  Well, an unfamiliar girl at her door could only mean one thing.  "Come in, child.  My name is Valeri Sedai, the Mistress of Novices in the White Tower."  She donned a smile, knowing that this would likely be her first interaction with someone who wasn't telling her how difficult life in the Tower would be.  "Take a seat and tell me your name and how it is you came to the Tower.  I was just about to make some tea.  Would you like some?"

[Sherper]

The door swung open of its own accord and Ellisha had to concentrate hard not to show the surprise that had threatened to bubble to the surface. I have to get used to that, she thought. She was in Aes Sedai territory after all, and it would serve her well to remember. Ellisha might be arrogant and full of herself at the most inappropriate of times, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew when there was danger, and her warning sensors were soaring through the roof at the moment.

 

The first thing her eyes took in as she stepped inside the spacious looking office, is the woman in one of those white coloured dresses they all seem to be so fond of. Her face was set in a line and defiance was written plain on her expression; yet there was an undertone of sadness there as well, anger intermingled with regret perhaps.  Those red rimmed eyes surely couldn’t have been from anger alone. The woman stood to leave, just as Ellisha was coming in and didn’t even bother looking up as the new arrival walked past her. She made no attempt to look back, slippered soles making next to no sound as she disappeared around the next corridor.

 

“Come on in, Child.” A voice drifted from within the office and sounded cool, almost motherly of all things, as the office’s other occupant beckoned her to enter. Her eyes took in the figure at a glance; gaze shifting from the fine silky material of the blue patterned dress, to the composed yet relaxed way she was sitting in her chair.“My name is Valeri Sedai,” the woman said as Ellisha hesitated for a moment near the edge of the door frame. “the Mistress of Novices in the White Tower.”

 

She gave Ellisha a smile, and if it hadn’t been for the agelessness of her Aes Sedai features, she could’ve resembled her mother. Ellisha didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, surrounding the Mistress of Novices. From the impression she got the Mistress of Novices was ten foot tall demon with fangs protruding from its deformed head – at the very least. Not a woman who could’ve passed as anyone’s fond aunt.
She was on the brink of returning the woman’s smile, when she remembered where she was and caught herself at the last moment.

 

 “Take a seat and tell me your name and how it is you came to the Tower?” the woman stood and walked around to another - smaller table.  
 “I was about to make some tea. Would you like some?”  

 

Ellisha shook her head as she found her place in one of the seats facing the large wooden desk, which seemed to be the centrepiece of the room. Her mouth clamped shut again, as she was about to follow her earlier refusal with a polite explanation on her preference to coffee. Light, making pleasantries with an Aes Sedai. She was really not feeling herself today. She eyed the other woman suspiciously, thinking perhaps the one power was used to manipulate her reactions. The woman seems to have taken no notice of Ellisha’s hostile stare.

 

Deliberately clearing her throat, she used the brief pause to compose herself and change from her natural Cairhienean accent, which she usually used when she wanted to be pleasant and moderate, to the brisk ‘no non-sense’ Andorian accent which she picked up from her father.

 

“My name is Ellisha Falwein,” she began, all the while gauging the other woman’s expression for any sign of outward reaction. For all the warm kindness that had passed through the other woman’s face earlier, the blue clad Aes Sedai doesn’t seem to show much in terms of her own emotions.

 

“I came to the Tower because I was told I could channel.” Light, does she want to do it though? Every time she tries to push away the idea, a small part of her itches at the possibility of maybe becoming an Aes Sedai. No, that was stupid thinking, she thought to herself. She was riverborn, for light’s sake! She made herself snap back to the task at hand.

 

“I used to help my father with the river trade around Aringill, before I met two of the sisters travelling on our boat who gave me this.” She dug out the small emerald gem from her coat pockets, and held it up so the other woman could see.  The gem stone seemed to pulse once in her hand before returning to its original sheen.

 

Shrugging, she stuffed the stone back into her pocket as she eyed the other woman carefully.  Ellisha propped her right leg over her left and slouched in the chair – or as much as the straight backed wooden seat would’ve allowed, as she waited for a reaction, any reaction. She wished she could see behind the other woman’s expressionless veil, and actually understand what was going. Perhaps get a hint as to what was to what might happen next.

 

~Ellisha Falwein

Former Merchant's daughter

Edited October 17, 2013 by Sherper

[Leala Sedai]

Valeri listened to the girl's rather short tale.  After she explained what had happened, Ellisha threw one leg over the other before deciding that was all that was needed from her.  Truly, that is what Valeri had asked, but girls usually added and embellished at least a little bit.  Although, she had answered another question of hers.  Ellisha had been tested for the ability to channel.  

 

"That's very good, and congratulations," she said, keeping her smile.  "You have been directed to my office to enroll in the White Tower as a novice.  As a novice, you will study history, logic, mathematics, literature, writing, and of course, the One Power.  You will not be allowed to channel unless an Accepted or an Aes Sedai is present to supervise you.  When you are not in class, you will be doing chores, unless it is a given free day.  If you are bidden to run an errand for an Aes Sedai or an Accepted, you must do that errand, with an Aes Sedai holding precedence over the Accepted.  During your stay here, you will be expected to follow the rules given to you, and if you are found breaking any of these rules, you will be sent to me for punishment."  She paused to let this sink in.  It was certainly a lot of information, and it wasn't even all of it.

 

"During your time as a novice and Accepted, I will act as your mentor and counselor as well as a disciplinarian.  If you find yourself at a loss or in need of comfort, being away from home, I will be here to provide that."  She smiled a little wider.  "Now.  If you are willing to accept this, and be willing to work to become Aes Sedai, I will enroll you in the White Tower.  Are you ready to accept this responsibility?"

[Sherper]

The woman sitting across from her held full of surprises, often in unexpected places. She blinked as the Aes Sedai gave her another of her small smiles and congratulated on her ability to channel. Light, she would congratulate her wouldn’t she?

 

“You have been directed to my office to enrol in the White Tower as a Novice.” Ellisha gathered that much already - the two Aes Sedai that had escorted her had made this fact extremely clear. “As a Novice, you will study history, logic, mathematics, literature, writing, and of course – the One Power.” The Mistress of Novices then went over the list of responsibilities, tasks, and restrictions on all those who wished to study in the Tower. Ellisha was sure she has given the speech countless times for however long she held her office. “During your stay here, you will be expected to follow the rules given to you, and if you are found breaking any of these rules, you will be sent to me for punishment.” She nodded, most of the stuff seemed pretty self explanatory.

 

“During your time as a Novice and Accepted, I will act as your mentor and Counsellor as well as disciplinarian.” That took her somewhat by surprise. This woman? As her Disciplinarian? Ha. The woman was not slim or weak looking, but Ellisha had a hard time seeing any sort of discipline being issued by her. But then again, you never really knew a woman’s strength until you saw her swing her arms. And of course… there was the fact that she was Aes Sedai. A small matter.
“If you find yourself at a loss or in need of comfort being away from home, I will be here to provide that.” The woman smiled, and paused for a moment. Ellisha too had to give pause to her thoughts. Essentially the woman was her new mother was she? The thought made her chuckle inside.

 

“Now. If you are willing to accept this, and will be willing to work to become and Aes Sedai, I will enrol you in the White Tower. Are you ready to accept this responsibility?”

 

This was the hard part. Did she really want to go along with this? It did appear she had a choice of some kind, and although the sensible part of her told her to end this thing right then and there, another half somehow hung on to the decision. It was an internal struggle and rightfully so. After a long pause in which she said nothing, she gave the other woman another suspicious glance before averting her gaze once more. However much the Aes Sedai had looked to be like her mother, she was still Aes Sedai – and that meant she could not be tru--
What was she thinking? She’s going to be Aes Sedai for crying out loud! Gritting her teeth, she took the plunge and went for it.

 

“I accept,” she said simply. Uncrossing her legs, and raising her chin in a defiant light. She sat up straight and stared at the other woman straight in the eye. Aes Sedai or no, she was still going to be Ellisha Falwein and nothing in the world was going to change that. “Now, where do I sign up?”

 

 

~Ellisha Falwein
Former Merchant's daughter
 

Edited October 30, 2013 by Sherper

[Leala Sedai]

Valeri watched this girl as she considered the question.  Truly, if she had said no, Valeri would still have pushed for her to enroll.  Channeling was a dangerous thing, and sometimes, there were women who turned her down completely, but they were few and far between.  Ellisha accepted the terms of enrolling in the White Tower, and Valeri saw in her eyes that she would prove to be trouble, probably very soon.  There was a haughtiness in the way she looked at her.  She hoped her first few weeks as a novice would take care of that, but sometimes, it took a bit more work.  At the same time, she had taken the position as Mistress of Novices for a reason.  Not every girl was jumpy and willing to please.

 

"You sign up right here," she said in an even tone.  With that, she stood from her seat and turned to the bookshelf next to her desk.  She reached up and took down an enormous volume, the Book of Novices.  She set the book on her desk, and as she leafed through its pages, she said, "In this book are the names of every novice to enroll in the White Tower since it opened, and today, well will add your name and information as well."  After a moment, she found the first blank entry and dabbed her pen in some ink.  "I will need your full name, place of birth, and your age."  Ellisha had already provided most of this information, but she would have to learn patience as well.

[Sherper]

The Mistress of Novices stood from her high backed chair and glided towards the single book shelf sitting in a corner of the room. It still amazed Ellisha how these Aes Sedai could make a simple act like walking - look so graceful. She could never picture herself being ever so elegant in her life – not in the next ten lives! The woman’s slippered feet made no sound at all as she moved in front of the stacks of books, and produced an old leather bound volume from the shelf.  She gently opened it on her desk and turned through the pages carefully. From the age of the book, Ellisha was surprised the thing hadn’t fallen apart yet.

 

“You sign up right here,” she said, again in that controlled Aes Sedai tone. Ellisha had decided the woman wasn’t being unfriendly towards her – just… Unsettling, that’s all. Aes Sedai usually made ordinary people uneasy, if only for the fact that ordinary people knew so little about Aes Sedai.

 

“In this book are the names of every novice to enrol in the White Tower since it opened, and today, we’ll add your name and information as well.”  Ellisha stared at the open volume on the desk. Since the White Tower opened? She knew the White Tower was old, though not exactly how old. But she assumed ancient wouldn’t even begin to describe how long the Tower had stood. That would partly explain the thickness of the book at least. From every tale she had heard from every peddler and gleeman she ran into, all their stories involved the White Tower being whole and united - standing there whilst nations and kingdoms rose and fell like the passing of the tide.

 

The woman produced a bottle of ink and a pen from one of her drawers, then riffled through the pages until she reached the first blank entry. Thousands of names, dates and information of woman from all over the world - Aes Sedai from ages long past and forgotten; their existence recorded in that one dusty volume. And Ellisha was soon to join them. Ellisha Sedai, did that even sound right? She was day dreaming again she realised, and her thought were interrupted once more by the woman as she began to speak. She asked for her name, place of birth and age, and Ellisha replied in kind.

 

“Ellisha Falwein.” She said crispy. “Born in Aringill, Andor. Aged seventeen.”

 

The woman scribbled the details down in a neat hand before returning the writing instruments back to their original containers. Ellisha sat and waited, hand brushing away imaginary wrinkles from her coat sleaves - a clear sign of irritation if there ever was one from her. She had never fussed over her clothes in the past.

 

She had done it now though. And there was no turning back…  

 

 

~Ellisha Falwein
Novice of the White Tower

Edited October 29, 2013 by Sherper