Heigh-Ho Heigh-Ho to Barelon we go

[Liitha]

ooc continuing from here

 

 

We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig in our mine the whole day through

To dig dig dig dig dig dig dig is what we really like to do

It ain't no trick to get rich quick

If you dig dig dig with a shovel or a pick

 

- From Snow White

 

Liitha met Cara in the stables the next morning, she had got the note on her evening duty and only had 5 hours of sleep due to the need to pack. When Cara had said soon she hadnt antispated it to be this soon, and though happy deep inside she felt sleep deprived.

 

She yawned as she fastened her sadlebags and then the whip to the sadle, she felt cold in the early morning even if the sun was rising it didnt bring any heat just yet. She where in a black uniform pant, but had left the white shirts alone and doned a olive green with some darker green patern instead. She had no idea where they where going and bether a lil to dressed up then to litle.

 

She felt like puting on her cloack but rolled it up instead, she needed to stay awake and feeling a litle cold would help her with that. Even before they where ready to go tough she could feel the sun warming slightly and knew like the past days it would be a hot one today too. She lead the way through the city making sure that the crowd split infront of them and keeping a searching eye out.

 

Only after they where clear of the crowds and outside the city did she setle a litle back in the sadle.

“I am glad you are with me, the journey is always interesting, but even more so when shared with a friend, come on I’ll race you to the trees.” She turned and looked down to Cara, Yazi was no race horse but she nodded and let the rains go, if nothing else it was good to feel the air play with her hair.

 

She reined in behind Cara as they reached the trees, she heard Yazi snort and laughed. "Well that was refreshing. Its a good animal you got there." she felt awake now. Her eyes quickly scaning the area before looking back to Cara, "so care to tell me where we are going?" she smiled as she heard the answer, "A gonna put me to work in the mines or?" she made the joke with a jestfull cheery voice. "So what is to be found in Andors mining city, or is that a secret?"

[WhiteWolf]

“No it is not a secret, or if it is, then no one told me, so I think it is safe to tell you. A long time ago, it is rumoured that Aes Sedai could create Angreal and Ter Angreal’s and produce the most amazing results.” Before Cara could finish, Liitha interrupted her, “why do you not just say we are going to look at books?”

 

Laughing softly, Cara guided her horse through the small patch of trees and led them on the road towards Baerlon. This close, still, to Tar Valon, the ground here was used as common grazing ground, but in the distance a large farm house could be seen, and the country would be much like that for some time. As they made their way along the road, the two women talked, not of anything exciting just normal talk that two people do when they realise there is something more than just friendship between them. The miles passed, and nothing spoilt the morning, the ride was more than pleasant, and the passing miles went unnoticed by Liitha and Cara as they chatted away. Cara did more of the listening than the talking, there really was not a lot she could say about her family, instead she spoke about her training, about some of the incidents, especially the time the Amerlyn had caught fleas from a dog Cara had inadvertently get in her room. That had caused Liitha to laugh for some time, so long in fact that eventually Cara punched Liitha in the arm and waved her ring in front of Liitha’s nose, nearly falling from her horse as she did so. Liitha had to steady her, and that took some of the sting out of Cara’s threat.

 

Their first night they arrived at an Inn just after sundown. The stable hands had gone home for the day so they looked after their own horses before going into the main room of the Inn and enquiring after a room. Thankfully this Inn was well equipped and they were able to get a room, with not only a large double bed, but a bath as well. Cara nearly squealed with delight when she the size of the bath tub, and in no time at all it was filled with piping hot water brought up from the kitchen. When the staff had finished filling the bath, Cara was ready to get undressed and quickly did so. Climbing into the bath Cara called to Liitha and told her to hurry up and get in the bath. She had sprinkled some sweet smelling herbs into the water, and laying her head back, Cara luxuriated in the warmth as it soaked into her muscles.

 

Liitha finally joined Cara in the bath, and Cara made her sit with her back towards her, and started to massage her shoulders and neck. Working her fingers to get the knots and tension out of Liitha’s muscles, every now and then bending forward and kissing the back of Liitha’s neck, or her shoulder blades, giggling at the vocal response from Liitha. “Was this a good idea Liitha, or was this a good idea?”

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

The ride was a plesent one and slowly let her start learning about Caras past. And she had learned where they where going as well as why. Even some old histories from intiate times. Some made her laugh quite hard, and then Cara tried to pull her rank on her to make her shut up, only she almost fell of the horse so that ruined the impression.

 

By the time they got to an inn the sun had setled in the horison and it was dark. They had to tend their horses themself as the stableboys had gone for the day, but she was used to it.

 

Cara seemed deligthed to learn there was bath options there and before too long she found herself setled in a tub. She enjoyed Caras massage, as her own hands trailed up and down the legs of the woman. She leaned back and felt Cara against her back as she twisted her head to kiss her, then taking advantage of the tub beeing so big and twisting her whole body like an eel. Her hands trailing up Cara's sides. She whispered into her ear, "need an evening meel or just feel like retirering for the night" she nibed on the earlobe while waiting for the answer. She had no intention to let Cara slip away from her again, unlike the other nigth she was not drunk now.

 

"we could retire for the night, and eat later" Liitha nodded softly against the neck, then kissed down it and nibled at the point between neck and shoulder. Her nosetip trailing up the troath till her eyes could lock onto Cara's and then she kissed the other deeply though soft, she trailed her arms around the other and lifted her with her as she stood and steped out of the bath. She didnt care they both was soaked as she placed Cara on the bed and kissed her again more hungrily before sliping back, caressing her as she looked into her eyes. "I aint drunk tonight" she grined and knew her eyes where burning with desire as they looked deep into the other womans eyes and she sliped her hands down the body of Cara.

[WhiteWolf]

By the time the two of them were satiated, physically if not mentally, they both looked like they needed a second bath and although Cara was not that keen on bathing in the same water they had used earlier she briefly channelled and soon had the water in the bathtub back up to an acceptable temperature. Once they had bathed, Cara got out first and dried herself off, then when Liitha climbed out, Cara offered to dry her off as well. No one could blame her for taking longer than she really needed to on this task, even though they had just spent the better part of a couple of hours exploring each others bodies, the novelty had not dimmed, and Cara made the most of this opportunity to closely study the tattoos and scars on Liitha’s body. Such a hard, yet feminine body, I fascinated Cara more than she had suspected it would. Eventually Liitha told her she was as dry as she was likely to be, and giggling at this, Cara hung the towel up and channelled to wring the water out of it, then started to get dressed. She had not brought anything out of the ordinary with her, just her normal clothing, although her breeches were leather, not wool, and were a very tight fit. The shirt, she wore outside of her breaches and held her hair back with a lacquered headband. Slipping on her boots, Cara tucked her breaches into them, then took out two turquoise bracelets and placed one around her arm then turned to Liitha and held the other out.

 

“These were given to me by my mother, who got them from her mother, they are a matching pair and have always been in our family. If you would like it, I would like you to wear one.” Cara thought Liitha would appreciate this, but she was still apprehensive in making the offer, she did not want to assume anything, nor did she want to open herself to pain she could not handle.

 

It is a bit late for that is it not Cara?

 

Cara knew it was, she was allowing Liitha to take her places she was totally not prepared for. That did not mean she had not enjoyed this so far, but she had a nagging doubt that all of this was just some fantasy that would not last long, and one morning she would wake, alone, lost and confused.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha trailed a finger over Caras cheek, oh but the time had passed so fast, and though exhausted and somewhat filled for now, she still felt in the back that her hunger was there just not as pressing as before. Looking into the grey eyes made her heart thunder as normal, she had never felt quite like this before.

 

Cara heated the water and they had another bath followed by a dry down by Cara untill she had to ask her to stop as she was quite dry already. She could feel the fingers tracing scars and her tatoo. She smiled, "seeing anything you like".

 

Joke pased between them as they got dressed, she put on a new black set of pants and a brown shirt with offwhite embroideries. Skilled fingers brushed through the hair before loosly braiding it so it would dry without going into a nest of knots.

 

She was just done when she felt a hand on her arm and turned, Cara held out a bracelet. “These were given to me by my mother, who got them from her mother, they are a matching pair and have always been in our family. If you would like it, I would like you to wear one.”

 

Liithas lips broke in a smile, hopefully this ment that Cara felt something similar to herself and this was not something about to end anytime soon. She sliped her arm out and let Cara place the litle leach around her arm, then tugged the Aes Sedai into her arms for a soft kiss. "I must be the luckiest woman in the world." she hugged Cara, and then took her hand. "Should we go get that food now." She lead the way downstairs.

 

It was silent by now only a few guests who hadnt retired and none sober enough to look towards them, they setled into a corner boot and ordered the meal. Her hand rested over Cara's "how much in a rush are you to get to barleon? we could order a botle of wine to top off the evening with." she smiled.

[WhiteWolf]

“Another bottle? After your performance the other day I would have thought you had learned your lesson by now, or were you so taken with the name of that Inn that you want to act it out?”

 

The candle light twinkled off of Cara’s eyes, the ray of light almost seeming to pierce Liitha’s eye, playing over the cornea like moots in sunlight.. Liitha’s obvious pleasure over the bracelet had given Cara a lift, and her mood was once more playful, and happy. Liitha’s face split in a wry grin "Well since you certainly aren’t filling that stomach of yours with food I figured you would have place for some wine" she winked and waited to see how the Aes Sedai responded to the notion of getting drunk, "After all i do owe you for last night"

 

“Owe me Liitha, whatever gives you that notion?”

 

Liitha did not reply straight away, and just as she was about to Cara carried on talking. “Who says I do not like having you in my debt? I am sure I can think of many other things that you could do, or participate in, to pay off that debt. No my dear, you are not getting away with that so lightly.” Smiling at Liitha’s discomfort at her words, Cara called out to the a serving girl and ordered a bottle of wine, but not the spiced wine, as far as she was concerned that spiced wine tasted as bad as any medicine she had ever been fed.

 

The wine soon arrived and Cara reached for the bottle before Liitha could, Cara knew what Liitha was trying to do, and she was not going to drink herself under the table. Liitha would have to deal with her sober, and fully capable of coming up with her own ideas. Once cara had poured a glass for herself, and then one for Liitha, their conversation returned to talk of what Cara hoped to find in Baerlon. But her mind was not fully focused on that, she had removed one of her boots without Liitha noticing and had started moving her foot up Liitha’s leg. The table cloth obscured this, and all you could see was the expression on Liitha’s face as Cara’s foot worked it’s magic on her.

 

There was not a lot that Liitha could do but endure this as best she could, Cara had the reach on her, and there was no way she could respond in kind. The amusement on Cara’s face grew the more Liitha tried to sit still, made even worse by the normal tone of Cara’s conversation. Eventually though, Liitha managed to squirm away, on the pretence of going to the toilet. Cara took this opportunity to finish her drink then make her way back to their room before Liitha could return. Once inside the room, Cara quickly lit the candles and then undressed, pulling back the sheets she climbed into the bed and waited for Liitha to find her.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

The evening was eventfull untill Liitha found herself traped in another one of Cara's plots, it was good there was not alot of peoples around but in the end it went to the extent she excused herself to go to the toilet. Afterall the maids where still around and though she was the one showing signs it wouldnt take a genious to figure out why, nor this close to Tar Valon to recognise Cara as an Aes Sedai.

 

When she arived out in the comon room again Cara was gone, the botle was still on the table where she also left it. She climed the stairs two steps in a time, one glass hardly had much effect. And as she opened the door she froze at the vision infront of her.

 

She raised an eyebrow, then let her eyes roam hungrily over Cara, all her lusts fully back. She steped inside and closed the door behind her locking it. Then kicked of her boots and walked over to the bed, siting down she trailed a finger down the beautifull body. Her breath already raged, "If you only know how you affect me Cara..." it was a soft warm whisper.

 

"I'm suposed to be your escort and am almost to bussy studying you to do what i should be doing." even as she spoke her actions contradicted her objections, her hands sliding over Cara's soft thighs. Then bending down to kiss the Aes Sedai, and she let her thougths fly, it would be something to worry about another time.

[WhiteWolf]

The next morning neither of them were that keen to leave the sanctuary of that bed, but the maids would be up at some point to change the linen, and they were supposed to be on their way to Baerlon, so eventually they emerged from under the covers, Cara waiting until Liitha was nearly out of the bed then pinched her bottom. This got a shriek of pretend out rage from Liitha and a burst of laughter from Cara. “Why me dear, you look like you saw a ghost.”

 

Liitha rubbed at where Cara had pinched her and stuck her tongue out at Cara, who promptly disentangled herself from the bed sheets and pounced on Liitha, sucking on her tongue, her hands pinning Liitha’s behind her back. The kiss lasted for a while, before Cara let Liitha go, “you know, I think we should just stay here, damn the maids.”

 

Sighing in mock frustration, Liitha pushed Cara towards the pile of her clothes and told her to get dressed, there was time for that later. It did not take them long to get dressed and packed and they carried their saddlebags downstairs and ordered some breakfast before resuming their journey. The weather stayed fair that day, but the accommodation that night was not as good as the first, and they spent as little time there as they had to. The third day out was cooler and there was rain in the air. In the middle of the day the visibility got worse as rain clouds moved in and slowed the going.

 

As it got darker it became harder for them to see where they were going, so Liitha suggested they try and find shelter for the night. About half an hour later they came across a barn. It did not have a front to it, but there was a good roof and room to keep their horses. Cara found the ladder up to the hayloft, and was pleasantly pleased to see that once you got past the first few bales, that the rest was dry and would provide good bedding. As Cara was arranging the bedding for the night, Liitha took care of their horses and then brought the saddlebags up to the loft.

 

With there being no front to the barn the wind kept the temperature down, but when Cara commented on this, Liitha replied that she had no need to worry as she would keep her warm. True to her word, once they were in their blankets, Liitha soon had Cara warm and it was not long before they both forgot about the rain outside, for them the world around did not exist, only each others bodies were important.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha lay watching Cara sleep untill she heard a sound outside. Sliping out of the blankets she sliped into her shirt and loosly butoned it, then sliped into her pants. She left the rest and grabed her swords, looking down she saw nothing, she climbed down slowly and checked out the barn. Nothing, she heard something rusteling outside though.

 

She snuk out on her toes, feeling mist dampen her clothes, water dripped down from the roof onto her scalp. She moved slowly with her back to the wall, feeling her shirt soaked, slowly she looked around the corner and saw a pack of stray dogs searching for food.

 

They looked up at her for a moment then went back to food searching. Liitha took a round of the perimiter just to be sure they had no human company before sliping back into the barn. She climbed the ladder and sliped out of her now driping wet clothes. Her feets full of mud, she looked through her bags and found another old but dry shirt to use as a towel, and used some straw to whipe of her feets.

 

All in all it was one of the few events on their trip towards Barleon, in majority they got to sleep more or less through the nights and spend their time with eachother.

 

It was slowly growing into evening again as Barleon came into view and she wondered if they would reach the gates before closing time. She turned her head looking at Cara, she knew she would give her life without flinching for the woman who had stolen her heart. Her hand reaching out and touching Cara's arm with a smile, "we should pick up the pace to be able to get in before they shut the gates tonite." She would need to be alert, it was the feat of Abram today and there was sure to be festiveties and peoples out in the streets. Her cloack was rolled behind her sadle so it wouldnt be in her way, her swords straped on and she had even by now fastened the whip to her belt behind her. Shruging as they grew ever closer she made sure every knife placed was in place, her tower guard dagger even hanging from her belt.

 

There was always someone geting drunk and brawly on feasts, and she would never fogive herself if anything happened to Cara. As they neared the gates she saw the guards preparing to close them, as well the look she got. She was in the void and returned it coldly, luckily Andor knew of Aes Sedai and tower guards for most parts, she saw at least the senior one recognise her dagger and she nodded to him as they sliped past. She could hear the gates close behind them, she sat somewhat relaxed in the sadle but her every muscle was ready to move into motion at any moment, her eyes scaning the crowds as they rode.

 

"Will we be staying at an inn or friends of yours?" she knew Aes Sedai often used the hospitality of merchants, nobles or other of the sort.

[WhiteWolf]

“I do not think we will find any friends of mine here Liitha, and I was hoping that we could stay somewhere not associated with the Tower.” Seeing Liitha’s quizzical expression at this comment, Cara leaned closer to Liitha and lowered her voice. “As much as this is business, I would rather it remained as pleasurable as we can manage.” Cara quickly kissed Liitha’s ear. “There is an Inn, with a very good reputation, called the Stag and Lion, which I believe is on the far side of town, why don’t we see if we can find ourselves a room there?” The blossoming smile on Liitha’s face was all the answer Cara needed. She was just about to speak again, when her gaze caught the bracelet on Liitha’s wrist, twin to the one Cara wore. “You know, that does somehow look like it belongs on you, I am pleased you wore it for me.”

 

It did not take too long for them to traverse the town, thankfully the revellers were not our in force yet, no doubt later on they would be and things here would be much more lively. At the Inn they rode through an arch that lead to the stables, and once there, Liitha quickly dismounted and appeared by the side of Cara’s stirrup and offered her hand to her as Cara was about to dismount. Cara ignored the proffered hand, but thanked Liitha for her kind thought. “You know, I am not some wall flower who needs helping down from a horse, but it was a gallant gesture, my dear.” Cara gave Liitha a peck on the cheek to show there were no hard feelings and that she did appreciate the offer.

 

Once inside the inn, Cara quickly sort out the owner and even though he insisted there were no rooms, Cara and Liitha soon found themselves being escorted upstairs by the owner, who showed them to their room, all the time apologising for the fact there was only one double bed. After learning that Cara would be staying for at least two nights he offered to replace the double bed with two single ones, but Cara would not hear of it, and if he thought this a bit odd he did not show it. It did not take long for the two women to unpack their saddle bags, and once that was out of the way, they washed up, changed their clothes, and made their way down to the bar in search of some food, before they ventured out to see what this festival was all about.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha did her best to play the rolle as guardian, before it always had been about doing her job and litle else, but this time it was difrent. She looked over the table at Cara, she didnt want to do anything puting her friend down. After finishing their meal they ventured out into the streets on Cara's wish, at one of the first merchant wagons she bougth two fresh fruitpais gratined with honey, they where still warm and she shifted hers from hand to hand with a smile.

 

She tried to relax and enjoy the company though her eyes didnt stop scaning their soroundings as such, just doing so less obviously, as well she left more of her weapons back at the inn. To many would have the oposite effect and rather draw a figth then avoid one, apart from her swords all she now wore was hiden knives.

 

She licked honey of her fingers and then whiped a drop off Cara's chin licking it off her finger slowly. "Almost too sweet" she smiled and blinked leting the dual meaning come forth. "So what do you want to do next? Seems there is plenty to see here, even think i heard mentions of a wedding" she smiled to Cara, it was not something she had seen many off as such. She faintly remembered a couple from her childhood, but her duties didnt lead her into such types of festiveties normaly.

 

Just as they stoped for a wagon and steped to the side she saw something on a cart. Making sure all was calm around them she walked the steps over and pointed at a necklace in silver with small 5 small stones on the midle of it and then a thin silver tread going out from the midle one of the stones into a lilac glass stone shaped like a ruby, she paid the price and turned to Cara. "I think this will match your bracelet." she smiled as she held it forth to her friend.

[WhiteWolf]

Cara took the necklace from Liitha, and held it up to the light, sensing that something was not quite right with the piece. Turning it first one way, then the other, Cara was just about to ask Liitha to place it round her neck, when Cara noticed something in the way the light refracted from one part of the stone. Scrutinising it carefully, Cara finally realised what the problem was, the stone had a major flaw in it, difficult to see in the waning light, but once it was recognised then the value of the piece dropped dramatically. Cara ignored Liitha’s questioning gaze and went over to the stall owner who had sold this piece to her friend. Cara asked just how much the necklace was worth, and then explained to the stall owner that the flaw in the stone made it virtually worthless. As she had expected the stall owner attempted to bluff his way out of the situation, but one squeeze of Cara’s hand on the stone in the center of the necklace soon shut him up. Cara offered the remains of the necklace back to the owner; the stone had come apart quite easily. “I think you owe my friend a refund of her money and an apology. Either you are a very bad judge of your merchandise, or you knowingly tried to sell this piece on, which is it?”

 

Cara felt Liitha’s presence behind her, she had drawn closer to Cara as she had realised what Cara had spotted. Sensing the tension in her friend, at the attempted deception, Cara moved her hand behind her and grabbed hold of Liitha’s hand, squeezing it and hoping to convey caution to her friend, they did not need any more attention than was necessary.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

The merchant faced by two peoples, and someone aparently know what they where about soon descided the bether course beeing to return the money, though she found them soon to have new feets to walk on.

 

They hadnt gone far before they found themself outside a smithy where they where throwing horse shoes. She fliped the coins over and got a set of shoes, she split the bunch in two and handed half over to Cara. "No cheating" she winked and twisted her wrist as the first shoe took to the air.

 

Their particular game only contained two other players, jokes came up and she felt herself growing warm inside, she was here enjoying time with the woman she loved. For all she cared she could freeze time and never go back to Tar Valon, she smiled to Cara not bothering to hide the love in her eyes anymore, it was growing dark and her friend looked even bether in the dim light provided by fires.

[WhiteWolf]

Although the smithy was hot when they arrived, it did not get any cooler as the evening wore on. While Liitha played horseshoes with two men, Cara watched for a while, then slipped away and went in search of a stall selling alcohol. If Liitha did not need a good drink, then Cara certainly did, her mouth felt as parched as a stable floor. It did not take her long to find what she was looking for, and soon she was on her way back to the smithy with two large tankards of Dark in her hands.

 

Thankfully Liitha had been too engaged in her game to notice that Cara had disappeared, Cara had the feeling that Liitha was trying to protect her, from what she could not say, but she had noticed the subtle changes in her friend since they had been in Baerlon. Cara smiled at the sweetness of the gesture, but was also a little bit annoyed at the assumption she could not look out for herself. She decided that she would keep a close watch on Liitha and if needed talk to her about this.

 

Liitha turned away from her game just as Cara approached her back. “Where did you get them from?”

 

“Where do you think Liitha, the pie shop of course.” Cara felt like sticking her tongue out, but thought that that would only add credence to Liitha’s thinking that she could not be allowed out on her own. “There is a stall not far away, and I thought that you might need a drink seeing as it is so hot in here.” Cara passed one of the tankards to Liitha, and then took a hefty draught from her own. When she glanced over at Liitha, she could not help but notice her smiling at her. “What is the matter with you?”

 

“I never imagined you with a moustache Cara.”

 

Liitha approached her friend and wiped away the layer of foam that was on the top of her lip. Glancing over to the two men, Cara noticed they were engrossed in their game, so leant in closer to Liitha and kissed her. “Come on Liitha, you mentioned something about a Wedding. Where there is a Wedding there is usually dancing, feel like dancing with me tonight Liitha.” Winking at her, Cara put her hand through Liitha’s arm and dragged her outside.

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha tossed the last shoe of yet another game almost carelessly. She descided she had had the fun which could be found in this tonight. She turned to sugest to Cara that they move on and saw Cara aproaching her with botles in hand. “Where did you get them from?” she was sure there had been no buying options for drink here at the smithy. “Where do you think Liitha, the pie shop of course.” Liitha cursed inside, she had forgoten herself and lost herself in games, she was here on work afterall.

 

“There is a stall not far away, and I thought that you might need a drink seeing as it is so hot in here.” Liitha nodded, but alcohol was the last thing she needed it seemed, she smiled down at Cara though, if she came to mention something she was sure to get a lecture either on how she should not be needed to be made aware of her work, or that there where no dangers here. It was a festivety though and peoples would be drunk, and the one power didnt make the sisters imortal. She would simply just have to be more alert and not forget herself again.

“What is the matter with you?” She shook her head and smiled, “I never imagined you with a moustache Cara.” She moved closer and used her finger to remove the foam off the upperlip of her friend, placing the botle on the barrel behind her friend. “Come on Liitha, you mentioned something about a Wedding. Where there is a Wedding there is usually dancing, feel like dancing with me tonight Liitha.”

 

She smiled and followed Cara out from the smithy, they worked their way towards the midle of Barleon, and had to stop for the crowd as they grew closer, enough for Liitha to pass a coin to a merchant in exchange for a glass of lemonade. Then the crowd opened and they where on their way again, music could be heard and they turned down a sidestreet onto an open place well decorated.

 

Peoples where already singing, playing and laughing, she couls spot the happy couple in the midle. She drained her glass and put it on a table before tugging Cara out onto the dancing area. She never really learned to dance but would need to count on her training that she would keep up, afterall she was used to footwork if not this type exactly. "So you know this dance...I'm afraid .." she swung Cara around, "..we dont dance much of this type in the yard, but I'll try my best." she winked, at least as long as the Aes Sedai was in her arms she was safe.

[WhiteWolf]

Thankfully, in Liitha’s case, Cara was a good dancer, she had excelled at it, and had even enjoyed it, well mostly, having to dance with a male had not been her idea of fun, but it was a means to an end. “I think you can rely on me to keep you from stepping on my toes Liitha.”

 

The song finished and without hardly a pause the next song started up. Cara recognised it straight away, it was a quite raucous dance, and Cara led Liitha through it without too many errors on Liitha’s part. That was how it preceded for the most of the night, the two women dancing and enjoying the total lack of threat, of the feeling of being watched. Later on, they stopped their dancing to find something to eat and drink, all that exercise had given both of them an appetite. They entered the marquee were the food had been laid out on tables, Cara got a plate and soon they had filled it up with their choices. While Cara managed the plate, Liitha went in search of something to drink, keeping Cara in her eye line all the time.

 

When Liitha had the drinks they left the tent and went to a small roped off area where there were some tables and chairs. Cara placed the plate between them and then took one of the mugs from Liitha and sat down. “So what do you expect to find tomorrow Cara?”

 

“There is supposed to be a manor on the outskirts of this town that has a stash of old manuscripts. It is rumoured that one of those manuscripts refers to the Aes Sedai of old, the ones before the breaking. If that is so I would like to know what it says about them, and about the time they lived in.”

 

Seeing the look on Liitha’s face, Cara smiled and reached out to stroke the side of Liitha’s face. “You never know there might be something you will be able to keep your eye on there, I am sure if you tried hard enough you would be able to find something worth watching.” Cara ‘s voice had become heavy with lust towards the end of the sentence, and she leaned in and kissed Liitha full on the mouth, not worrying about any one seeing her.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

“There is supposed to be a manor on the outskirts of this town that has a stash of old manuscripts. It is rumoured that one of those manuscripts refers to the Aes Sedai of old, the ones before the breaking. If that is so I would like to know what it says about them, and about the time they lived in.”

 

Oh well hardly more then she should have expected, mayhaps there would be other books of more interest as well. “You never know there might be something you will be able to keep your eye on there, I am sure if you tried hard enough you would be able to find something worth watching.” Liitha nodded thougthfull and was taken aback when Cara leaned over and kissed her, eyes huridly scaning making sure none was watching before surendering to the kiss, loosing her eyes in the grey pool that was Cara's

 

When the kiss broke a small gasp escaped her lips, "I am sure there is.." her voice was tick as she said so and let her eyes wander hungrily over Cara. She was lost in thougth now, they where alone in this corner of the world and Cara was hers, she moved over and sat down on the bench by Cara, runing a hand up her arm. "We should get out of here before someone interupt" Her eyes dark as she looked again into Cara's now also containing a trickle of posesiveness in them. She wanted her love alone in this night with her, preferably she would have been out in the woods under the light only of the moon.

[WhiteWolf]

Although Cara would have loved to have danced more, it seemed that Liitha had other ideas and recognising the lust in her friend’s eyes, Cara did not have the heart to complain. Instead the two women made their way back to the Inn. When they got there they had to fight through the crowd that was celebrating the closing hours of the festival with much enthusiasm. Liitha virtually had to drag Cara through the crowd; so full was the Inn, but eventually they made the stairs and were on the way to their room. Hardly had Cara entered the room, when Liitha practically pounced on her, and dragged her over to the large bed. Pushing her down onto the sheets, Liitha straddled Cara’s chest, pinning her to the bed. Nuzzling at her ear, Liitha whispered, “I have wanted you all night, and I am in no mood to wait any longer.”

 

“Why my dear, you should have said earlier, you know I like to oblige you” The grin on Cara’s face was soon stopped as Liitha pressed her lips to Cara’s. It was along time before Liitha feel asleep in Cara’s arms, both of them exhausted, but satiated. Cara however did not go to sleep right away; instead she lay there listening to Liitha’s breathing and gently stroking her hair, as she considered how events had unfolded since that fateful ride into the country when they had first met. It has only been a few weeks, yet it feels like we have always been together for a lifetime. To find someone so passionate, and devoted, had to be the luckiest discovery of my life. If only we did not have to keep it secret, why should we not be acknowledged as a couple. Cara sighed in frustration, she knew that whenever they were in the Tower, or the company of Sisters, that she would not be able to acknowledge Liitha, not in the way she wanted to. Eventually Cara managed to find sleep, but it was a sleep full of dreams about what would happen if she and Liitha did acknowledge their relationship in public.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

When liitha woke she could still see the moon when she looked through the window above the bed. Last night had been wonderfull and slowly she found herself pushing bounderies. Cara never really seemed to stop her and she got to feed the hunger those grey eyes created in her. Slowly she ran her hands over Caras arms then gathered them. She was unsure what was passing through her, she pinned the hands over her loves head, her eyes glowing. She could feel her heart racing both from nervousness but also from a new hunger.

 

Cara slept so peacefully, her hand softly started roaming till she found the rigth places, then geting rougher, feeling Cara stir, hearing the reaction. Some voice in her backhead held doubt but she felt almost possesed, she wanted to claim what Cara so far had offered up on her own right. The voice was saying she was out of her field, Cara could if it dismayed her crush her, yet for some reason the thougth of saidar didnt worry Liitha.

 

Hadnt Cara so far given this willingly more and more, this was just the next step, and the hunger ever growing, it was created by Cara herself. Those grey eyes had awoken something inside Liitha that she never knew she had in her. When the sun broke through the window they lay wrapped in eachothers arms. The situation somewhat reversed as she felt Cara stroke her shivering back. Her head burried against the womans troath, her hunger was stilled but yet she knew it had also reached a new level which scared her a litle, and she was unsure where she was heading.

 

---

 

It was with lazy eyes she scaned the sorounding area as they rode towards the mansion. She was content, in time she wished to speak to Cara of this morning, but all in all she was more content and happy then ever before, and how could it be wrong, specialy when Cara so easily could stop her, but didnt cause it seemed the other enjoyed it as much as she did. No it was new ground, but she wherent alone in it, and for that she didnt worry, she trusted Cara, trusted her to know more then herself and to not question herself when with the woman. Cara had been open with her in a new way, and when she put her foot down it was in a way that Liitha could accept more then so maybe felt in a way felt right.

 

She had always felt as she was seeking a destiny that she had had born with her genes, no longer, here and now was all that mathered. She smiled as she drew into a halt infront of the mansion, allowing the stable hands to take away their horses after giving instructions on how to care for the animals. She shadowed Cara inside, keeping quiet, once again she was back in the rolle as a Tower Guard. Here was for Cara to take the lead, anything else would be painting the wrong picture with Cara beeing the Aes Sedai and sure to cause troubles with peoples expecting the Aes Sedai up there on another level.

 

No she was quite happy to be the wolf for the time beeing, she fed her thougths into the flame formed in her head as they came by. As they walked she took care to paint a picture in her head about the lay out of the house.

[WhiteWolf]

Much to Liitha’s amazement, Cara had taken a lot of care with her appearance on this day, she had brought along one of the two dresses she owned for this very occasion. It was a simple cut, with divided skirts for riding. The material was very finely spun wool; obviously it was brown, but not all one colour. Cara had specified to the dressmaker that she wanted as many shades of brown in the dress to try and distract from what as not one of her favourite colours. The sleeves were long, wrist length, and the neck was prim, but not too prim, hinting at enough of a cleavage to offer a distraction and promise of more. Cara had spent the most time on her hair though, washing and drying it, before pinning it up on her head, and making sure that just the right amount of wispy hair hung loose to provide a distraction to the eye. Finally she had her shawl and her boots and gloves, all spotlessly clean warn only occasionally. She applied her make up sparingly, just working on the eyes and the lips; she never used as much powder as some did.

 

When Liitha saw her, Cara could not but help herself smile at her reaction, Liitha’s eyes almost fell out of her head at the apparition in front of her. Cara glided past her, and no one would ever know how many nights she had practiced walking in these damned heels, and whispered to Liitha. “Put your tongue away Liitha, people will only point and stair at you.” Leaving her flustered friend in her wake, and ignoring her protestations of innocence, Cara made her way down to the stables.

 

The door to the house opened slowly, and Cara and Liitha were faced with a servant enquiring as to their names and their business. “I am Cara Ramsey, Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah, my companion goes by the name Liitha, and where ever I go she goes. We have an appointment with the Lord of the house, could you please tell him we are here?”

 

They were shown into a large hallway, with high ceilings gaudily painted and gilded, or at least to Cara’s eyes they were, and the servant asked them to wait there while he went to inform his Lordship he had guests. Lord Camlon had been expecting them and soon arrived to greet them, his enthusiasm on seeing Cara grew to new heights, and this had Liitha’s eyes rolling in her head at the way he fawned over Cara. “I have got the books out that I was told you would be interested in seeing, may I ask what it is exactly that you are looking for Cara Sedai?”

 

You may M’Lord, but I do not know exactly what it is I am looking for. I was told you had some manuscripts and documents that dated to before the Breaking, those are the ones I am interested in. As you may not know, the Brown Ajah is largely responsible for searching out old documents and information to better serve the people of this land.” Whether or not Camlon believed them he gave no indication, merely nodded politely and then asked about Tar Valon and whether Cara knew some of his relatives there. How Cara envied her friend at times like this, as far as Camlon was concerned Liitha was invisible, just as his servants were. Cara hated being the center of attention, part of the reason she very rarely wore anything other than men’s clothing. Eventually they were shown into the library, and the documents and manuscripts were already out on the two tables in the center of the room. Cara walked over to them, and listened to Lord Camlon as he explained that each item was placed in time period, as closely as he could work out. Cara thanked him for that and then started to glance through what was laid out in front of her, circling around the table a couple of times.

 

“Cara Sedai?”

 

Liitha’s voice broke into Cara’s thoughts, reminding her that there were another two people in the room. “I do apologise Lord Camlon, I tend to get distracted around documents, did you say something?”

 

“Only that I am needed in the stables, something about a difficult foaling. If there is anything further that you require during your time here, just pull on one of the bell pulls, and one of the servants will see to you.”

 

Cara thanked Lord Camlon and then returned to perusing the information spread out in front of her.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha kept walking between the rows, reading the backs of the books, she pulled one out and sneesed as she breathed in dust. "Cara I'll take a look outside, there is nothing but dust in here." she hardly got an answer at all from the woman now occupied with her nose in the books. It was so strange seeing her friend like this, and reminded her of who Cara really was.

 

The garden was well tended, and she liked the suns warmth on her face. She saw an aple tree futher down in the garden and walked forward. She reached up and twisted an aple around then heard voices from the other side of the hedge.

 

"..Yes but it would be bether a litle futher down the river, because there is no one living around and it would be in the midle of the night..."

 

"..yes but its the issue of having to haul it futher after we overtake it...and then we have less time unloading the gold..."

 

Liitha sudenly froze, the voice beloned to the lord and someone else.

 

...and if someone spots us while we're hauling it away they could call on guards..

 

The voices was fading as they walked away...Liitha grabed hold on the void, shuting out disturbances as she started sneaking after in the hiding of the hedge, what was they ploting cause it didnt sound legal. After a while she had enough to understand what they where up to and started easing away to go alert Cara of what she stumbled up into.

 

Sudenly she became alert someone was behind her and the familiar sound of something moveing through the air just gave her enough warning to drop and roll. When she came up on her feet again it was with swords in hand looking at a big brute. She could hear more feets aproach. "over here we got a litle rat"

 

Liitha let her sences work, listening and slowly backing towards a tree who would help secure her back as she had others close in on her sides. "This would not be the best idea.." she looked at them with observant eyes, her swords at ready. "..whatever you are up to I think you migth want to reconsider as you should know that the white tower have long arms.." They chuckled, obviously not taking her serious nor having been able to see her herrons, neither of the others had swords.

 

Yet soon she saw the flashings of knives, and then heard the Lord aproach. Explanations soon followed to him and what litle hope she had he would be any smarter soon vanished. Her rapiers made her the bether part of the deal and helped her keep the rhoughers on distance for long. As well they soon grew causious when they discovered she knew how to use her swords. The larger part of injuries was taken by the other side, though she got her nicks as well, facing a group with knifes and random branches they picked up alone made sure of that. She spun away from another and was about to lead into an attack to remove one oponent when pain exploded in the back of her mind and all went black.

[WhiteWolf]

Cara awoke, or rather surfaced through layers of pain, her body aching with the strain that the unusual position she was in, put on her muscles. Slowly Cara tried to straighten her legs and arms, but found she could not move them at all, and the effort of trying, and the lingering remains of the herb she had unwittingly ingested, caused her to black out again. It was much later when Cara regained consciousness, although the pain was still there, her head felt a little clearer and she was able to work out that her hands were tied behind her, as were her ankles, which had been drawn up towards her hands and rope from her bound hands to here ankles prevented her straightening her legs. To her disgust she had also been gagged, but not blindfolded. Slowly, so as not to cause another blackout, Cara tested the strength of her bounds, but found them to be very secure and she had no option but to lay there and wait to find out who had done this to her. She had thought to try and channel her way out of this predicament, but the mere though of trying to channel left her head feeling much worse, she guessed this was something to do with what she had drunk. The last thing she remembered was being offered a cup of tea. For some reason the scene on the delicate cup had stuck in her mind. It was one of pheasants being flushed from the undergrowth. In a way she now realised that could have been seen as a warning, A very cryptic warning, although it was easy to be wise with hind sight.

 

The day wore on and Cara drifted in and out of consciousness, the most annoying thing for her was the spittle that slowly dribbled down her chin. The gag was the cause of this, and Cara found it very annoying, almost like torture itself. As she felt herself growing more clear headed Cara again tested her bounds, but struggle as she did, she did not succeed in loosening them, if anything they felt tighter, almost as if they had tightened themselves. The room had grown fully dark by the time someone entered and approached the bound woman on the bed; slowly they circled the bed and studied the bound form. Cara was far from unattractive, and the voyeur was more than happy to take his time and admire her body, but he also checked her ropes, and the gag, and then flipped her over. The face that greeted her was not the one she expected, it was not Lord Camlon, nor was it any member of staff she recognised. The gag was roughly torn from her mouth, and unseen by her, the flask in the other hand of her tormentor, was raised and forced between her teeth, Cara swallowed involuntarily, and the liquid slid down her throat. She was unconsciousness in a few moments, and when the man was satisfied he let her drop to the bed.

 

He was not finished with her though, his orders were to make her as uncomfortable as possibly, to try and help break her resistance, and so he untied the rope linking her wrists to her ankles, and carried her over to a spot near the window. In the ceiling above them, a large hook was embedded. It was to this hook that Cara’s tormentors threw a length of rope through, one end they attached to the rope at Cara’s wrists. Quickly he started pulling on the free end of the rope, and pulled Cara clear of the floor until she was suspended by her arms with only the balls of her feet touching the floor. As a finishing touch, a rope was passed around her thighs and cinched off, pulling them tightly together. For the first time her tormentor spoke as he was replacing her gag, “sweet dreams, darlin’ until we meet again that is.” Smiling to himself the man walked across the room, closing and locking the floor as he left

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

The ground was moving under her and her head hurt, why, she tried to open her eyes but that made her head spin so she closed them again. Trying to calm herself she instead used her ears and nose, and slowly things came back to her as well.

 

The figth, they hadnt killed her, what had happened to Cara, was she here to, obviously they where going somewhere. Thougths flew fastly through her painfull head. The smell of horse and movement told her she was beeing transported like a potatoe sack over a horseback, futher consentration left her with it actualy beeing Yazi which was calming, though how the horse had come to cooperate, maybe and probably more likely only from recognising her owner.

 

Voices told her she was far from alone, and hovesbeats on the dry earth told here more horses where in the retinue. The litle glimpse she had goten before closing her eyes again told her it was becoming evening, the sun on its way down.

 

She could hear a river, that reminded her of the talk of the mining boat they planed to hijack. Slowly her head felt bether and she carefully opened her eyes leting the dart around to see if anyone could see her. They had tied her quite well to the horse, not more then that she could get loose given time though, undisturbed that was.

 

However she didnt count that as a problem, they should never have put her on Yazi, she could direct the horse to take her to safety but for one thing, did they have Cara too. If that was the case she knew she had to make difrent plans, she would have to think of the Aes Sedai first, her life ment litle in comparason.

 

And then she spoted what she feared most, her friend uncounsious over a horseback. Someone was geting closer and she let her head fall again closing her eyes. She would depend on them making a mistace giving her an option to get them out of this, but first she needed to make sure Cara was fit to be able to escape.

 

They came to an halt and she could through the slits she made with her eyes see a boat. It was drawn close to a cliff and a platform was going out onto it, the horses was lead onto the boat and then she felt her body drawn down of the sadle like a bag.

 

It took her quite some effort to not grunt from pain, but it was vital they still thougth her nocked out. Caried downstairs still in bonds, in a dark litle room. She waited till it was all quiet then shruged, they had cleaned her well for knifes, but not well enough, slowly she wrigled till she managed to free her tiniest knife out of her braid, it took her some time to get hold of it. And then the cuts she earned in her fingertips made it hard to saw the rope binding her arms, the blood as she also cuts her hands and sometimes arms loosing the blade, made the whole prosses slick with dificulty.

 

Yet patience prevailed, and she streached slowly. Step by step she pulled herself up in siting position and waited till the dizyness went away before cuting the ropes on her feets and raising. The next part beeing easier as she pulled one of her hairpins out and picked the locker. Carefully looking out into the dim hallway, then starting her search for Cara, she would kill them all if they had harmed her love.

[WhiteWolf]

Cara regained consciousness, careful to not move or give any indication that she was awake, letting her head clear first, Cara decided to try and work out if there was another person in the room with her. She could not see, so assumed she was wearing a blindfold, and she could feel the gag with her tongue, so knew it was not good trying to shout. Controlling her breathing, Cara strained to hear if there was another person with her. Should I hope it is Liitha, or should I hope she got away?

 

At this moment Cara wanted Liitha to be near, to be able to offer some sort of explanation for the circumstances, or at least to reassure her. The only explanation she could come up with fro her present circumstances was to do with her father, but that was as closely guarded a secret as there could be. Realising that worrying about something she could do nothing about was a waste of her time, Cara decided to see if she could move at all, but found her hands and feet securely tied and now that feeling was returning to her body, she could feel the pain in her wrists where she had rubbed the skin raw against the ropes that held her.

 

Feeling at the ground underneath her, with her bound hands, Cara realized that it was a rough wood she was lying on. So I have been drugged, tied up and I am no longer in the room I was in the house. this was scant information to form an idea of her surroundings, but just then the floor moved beneath her, rolling to her left, then back to her right. For a moment Cara had a horrifying thought that she was on a boat, she dearly hoped she was not as she had only been on one once and had spent all the time throwing up into a bucket. Focusing her mind again, Cara controlled her breathing again, and tried to dislodge the gag or the blindfold, moving her head against the floor in the hope she could move on of them. Unfortunately for Cara, they were both too tight for her to move and all she could do was lie still and wait and see what her fate was to be.

 

Where is Liitha, I need her, I want her, WHERE IS SHE!!!

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha looked into one cabin after another as she went, she was just about to shut another door as she spoted something. Going inside she found quite right sticking out of a sack her swords, diging deeper she found more of her posesions and soon had them all placed at their usual places on her body.

 

Looking around she looked for anything more of use but couldnt see any so she moved on out. Futher down the coridor and around a corner, carefully and quiet, yet to meet anyone. Though finaly she found a door locked, quietly twisting her pin around inside she heard the lock gave a click and the door slid up.

 

She smiled as she saw Cara laying on a bed, no mather she was tied well up. She had found her and she was armed again, it was geting bether. Just then she heard shouts and it didnt take long to figure they must have found out she escaped. Feets could be heard runing and angry voices searching even as she uncut Cara's bonds. Her friend didnt look good, "I do hope you can walk, i dont think i can figth our way out of here and cary you at the same time."

 

The door flew up, and a man came in, he never had a chanse thoug to sound the alarm as she spun and tossed in a sliding motion, her knife standing out of his troath. She looked around and spoted a window. "I think we best try and get out of that one, none to be done about it." Whiping her knife on the dead mans shirt she sheated it up into her sleve again.

 

Turning on Cara she gave the woman a conserned look, "You know how to swim i hope?"