Awaiting Dishes and Dreams [ATTN MoN]

[Syara]

Syara stared up at the White Tower. The towering building seemed to eclipse everything around her drawing all attention to itself. Syara hesistated to enter, knowing that this for better or for worse would be her home for the rest of life. So Syara stood outside those great doors staring up at the great Tower while the wind whipped through her fiery red hair. Hoping against hope that maybe, just maybe she could channel. Otherwise she would be forced to ask for a job here, mopping floors, washing dirty dishes and dreaming of returning home to find her sister married to a Saldean Lord and her mother living comfortably in a mansion.

 

Taking a deep breath she climbed the steps and entered the Tower. She found herself in a large room with people everywhere being attended by woman in White Dresses with banded hems. These were the Accepted, numerous people had given her advice on what to expect and although some of it was unlikely it did to know some of how things were run. One thing that everyone had told her was to do whatever Aes Sedai said no matter what. She waited patiently until one of the Accepted approached her.

 

"I am here to be tested for the ability to channel."

 

Smiling the Accepted asked her to follow. Turning she lead Syara through a winding maze of corridors and stairs. Eventually they reached a door with a plaque on it reading.

 

Faerzyne Grigory-Mistress of Novices

 

Syara realised the Accepted had already left, turning back to the door she took a deep breathe. Her future would be determined inside this room, her destiny was going to be put in motion as soon as she entered that room. Taking an even deeper breathe Syara straightened her hair and knocked.

[Lavinya]

Countless times Faerzyne Grigory had glanced at the sun already, and before the day had ended, countless more times would be added to that. She sighed softly, and inclined her head a little, causing the little bells attached to her braids to tingle softly. Yet even the bells sounded a bit weary, as if they too suffered from a lack of sleep. The Mistress of Novices stifled a yawn, and turned her attention on the book of Novices again. Everything was recorded in there, after all. Everything that mattered at least. Last night another Accepted had ventured into the rings, and passed through them free of everything she had been before she became who she was now. In her fine handwriting Faerzyne made a note of the raising in the book of Novices. Today the girl would choose her Ajah, and her fate would become truly entwined with that of the Tower. Her choice was no secret to Faerzyne, the way very little that happened among the novices and accepted of the White Tower was a secret to her.

 

She closed the big book after she was done. The book looked a little old, but the preservation wards that were set on it worked well. It seemed as though it would never get full. Faerzyne had once paged through it, and found her own name, as well as that of the Mistress of Novices before her. It was interesting to learn how long some of her sisters had been here, and how long they had taken to get themselves raised. Wistfully Faerzyne peered at the sun again, only to find that it hadn’t moved a bit. The day was still young, and she would be tired and aching by the time it was done. Not that the work of the Mistress of Novices ever truly ended. There were wards on the door to the office that told her people were waiting in front of it. The wards would wake her, even if someone tried to sneak in when the night was at it’s darkest.

 

Just as she thought of the wards, a tingling sensation crept over her skin, telling her that someone was about to knock on her door. Soon enough the sound of knocking followed. The sound of a knock often told her a lot about who wished to enter. This was the hesitant knock of someome who came to her with a request. Faerzyne took a moment to school her expression into something a little less depressing than the look of fatigue she had had. “Enter.†She said, her voice calm and low as usual. The door opened as she channelled a thread of air to it. To whomever entered it might seem as magic. The young woman was dressed in clothing that suggested she was not of the Tower. Yet. Things might change soon. “My name is Faerzyne Sedai. I am the Mistress of Novices at the White Tower. How may I help you?â€

 

~Faerzyne Grigory

Mistress of Novices

[Syara]

Syara watched as the door opened, expecting to see someone holding the door she took a small step back. She let out a small gasp when she saw that the only person in the room was sitting at her desk. For a second she wondered what on earth was going on, and then she remember where she was, and who this person was. Nervously fingering her dress Syara stepped into the room. The door closed behind her as soon as she crossed the threshold.

 

“My name is Faerzyne Sedai. I am the Mistress of Novices at the White Tower. How may I help you?â€

 

My name is Syara Peron, I am from Saldea. I am...I am here to be tested Faerzyne Sedai."

 

That was one thing she had remembered, always address them as Sedai, but never as just Sedai. Apparently that was an insult of some kind, or so one of the many people offering advice had said. Always put their name in front of it she had been told. One thing she had not been told was how she was tested. Looking around nervously she could not see anything that looked vaguely like an instrument that might be used for testing. Maybe it would not be painful after all. Well it probably would be, but she could always hope.

[Lavinya]

Faerzyne gestured to one 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 identified herself as Syara 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 you haven't been tested, child…†She started, deliberately using the word child. She would become accustomed to it before she was raised to Aes Sedai, and Faerzyne saw no point in shielding the girl from what would be her reality during the next twenty years of her life, if she turned out to be worthy of staying. “Well now we shall have to change that.†The girl shook her head, indicating that she had not been tested, or perhaps that she didn’t even know what the test entailed. Faerzyne smiled reassuringly at the young woman, and opened one of the drawers of her desk. There was only one item in the drawer. A gray, clear gem that she had received from the former Mistress of Novices.

 

Slowly she rose from her seat, and walked to the other side of the desk. Though she was by no means the tallest Aes Sedai within the White Tower, she imagined that she must come across as being a giantess to the young woman sitting in the uncomfortable chair. She knelt in front of her, trying to relax the young woman a little. The test would be hard enough as it was without Syara being terrified of her. “Clear your mind completely, and focus on the stone.†She said. The girl did, staring at the stone intently. Time passed, and Faerzyne worried that her arm would cramp up before the girl showed any sign of potential. Just as she thought there would be nothing, a light flickered within the stone. Faerzyne smiled, and rose again. As she walked back to her side of the desk, she imagined she felt the surprise in the eyes of the girl as they settled on her back.

 

“Congratulations, dear. You can learn to channel.â€

[Syara]

“Congratulations, dear. You can learn to channel.â€

 

Syara was stunned for half a second, and then she had to work to stop from leaping around the room shouting. She suspected it would not be very well taken by the Aes Sedai if she did that. So she contented herself with a very broad smile. This was wonderful! No dishes, no cleaning and eventually she would be able to return to make sure her family was looked after. Maybe she could even bring them to the Tower!

 

The Aes Sedai seemed very amused by her reaction. Syara attempted to reschool her features to make her look at least a little less delighted. Failing miserably she decided she may as well find out what happened next.

 

"If I may ask Faerzyne Sedai, what will happen to me now? Also when do you suppose I might be able to visit my family?"

[Lavinya]

The grin that suddenly split the girl's features was amusing. A much better reaction than those girls who shrink into shock and disbelief. It always makes for an awkward beginning.

 

"If I may ask Faerzyne Sedai, what will happen to me now? Also when do you suppose I might be able to visit my family?"Steepling her fingers on the desk, Faerzyne gave Syara a small smile, before reaching for the well used book in her desk drawer. The book was ancient, yet as pristine as it ever was, thanks to the preservation wards keeping it so. She flipped to the most recent page, and dipped her pen in the inkpot on her desk.

 

"What happens now child, is that you become a novice. You will learn how to channel the One Power, and work towards one day becoming Aes Sedai." Faerzyne paused to let her words sink in, her use of the term child most deliberate. She would have to become used to it now she was a novice. "Now, let's make this more official, hmm?" She poised the pen over the page. "If you could kindly tell me your full name, your age, and where you were raised." Faerzyne neatly wrote the information into the volume, a simple weave of air drying the ink before she closed the book and returned it to it's drawer.

 

Rising, she crossed to the cupboard and removed to dressed in novice white, and handed them to Syara. "These are now yours, and you are to take care to keep them clean and well mended at all times." Crossing to the desk she jotted a quick note on a piece of parchment and gave it to a passing servant, with instructions to deliver it with haste.

 

Seating herself once more, she again addressed the still beaming Syara. "I have asked for Aleanda Sedai to come and meet with you. She will be your mentor, and will begin instructing you in your new skill. While we wait for her, I will give you a run-down on life in the tower." Faerzyne briefly outlined all the ruled Syara would need to know, deftly sidestepping any mention of heading home to her family. She would be too busy for thoughts of home now.

 

A timely knock sounded on the door just as Faerzyne concluded her speech about curfew. "Enter." She called, nodding when Aleanda entered and curtsied. "Welcome, Aleanda Sedai. I would like you to meet Syara."

[Robin]

Aleanda was in her room when suddenly someone knocked the door. "Come in," Aleanda said and waited for the person who had knocked to open the door. It was a servant. The White Aes Sedai held up her hand, as she expected to get a letter. When the servant laid the letter in her hand she wove with the other hand the servant away. "Thank you." Aleanda said while she turned around to take place behind her desk. There she opened the letter and read it.

 

With haste Aleanda walked to the Mistress of Novices office as she knew Faerzyne Sedai didn't like to wait and well Aleanda would like this to be done soon as well. She had other things planned this afternoon which she wanted to get done with. When she arrived at the Mistress' office she knocked and opened the door. After walking in the office Aleanda had been a few times when she was still Novice she curtsied. "Welcome, Aleanda Sedai. I would like you to meet Syara." Faerzyne said "I came as fast I could Sister." Aleanda said with her cold emotionless voice. She looked at Syara "Welcome to the Tower."