Homecoming (Open)

[Avalonshroud]

“Whoa, Midnight.” Gaea pulled the reins tight and gazed at the city in front of her. Sunlight sparkled on the waters surrounding the island, and the Tower walls stretched high, trying to be a part of the sky itself. Her heart gave a nervous little thump. What will happen when she walked through those gates again? Some sort of penitence, she was sure….on more than one front. She wasn’t sure if she feared the Amyrlin’s wrath, the wrath of the Green Ajah leader, or Yrean’s wrath more. She was sure none of them would be pleased with her.

 

I wonder if they have declared me dead? If that’s the case, then they might well be pleased to see me! She laughed ruefully to herself, knowing that regardless of her reception, she would still owe a penance. One didn’t just up and leave the White Tower without permission, with no word of her whereabouts, then show back up a year and some change later and expect everything to continue on as always before.

 

I just hope they will all understand that I had to….

 

She clucked to her horse, and continued down the short path to the gates of the great Tar Valon. Despite her nervousness, once she crossed the threshold to the city, she felt like she was coming home.

 

Gaea Sedai

Green Aes Sedai

[Guest nephitess]

OOC: Hope you don't mind me welcoming you home. :D if you would rather this post not be here then i have no problems with you having it deleted. :P

 

IC: Walking in the sun Zeveria was taking a much needed breack from her research. Studing ogier steadings was hard when you did not have accsess to one. Maybe one day soon she would be able to visit the one next to the tower. At this time she could only dream. Walking past the front gates Veria spied a Sister walking through leading her horse. By the looks of the bags and the sisters dress, it had been a long journey. Deciding to welcome her home and see if she could be of any help Veria approched the sister.

 

as she bobbed a curtsie, Veria asked...

 

"Welcome home Aes Sedai. I see you have been on a long trip. My name is Accepted Zeveria, can i be of any assistance?"

 

with a smile she awaited the sister's response.

[Avalonshroud]

OOC: I don't mind at all! That's why I put (Open) in the title!

 

IC:

A young voice interrupted Gaea's ruminations and she turned to see a fresh faced girl in an Accepteds dress curtsie to her. It really has been a long time! I used to know at least the face of every Novice and Accepted...Well, at least they still know their manners.

 

She smiled back at the girl and nodded her head. "Yes, Zeveria, was it?" The girl nodded and Gaea handed her Midnights riens. "I have been gone from here a long time. The company up to the Tower would be nice. No matter how long you live here, it still never looses its ability to steal the breath away!"

 

The last thing Gaea wanted was to go into the White Tower completely ignorant of all that has happened and she began to pepper Zeveria with questions. "How far along are you in your studies? Are there many new novices and Accepted? Have you picked an Ajah that you are interested in? Tell me, child, what all has happened and changed in the year I've been away."

 

Gaea Sedai

Green Sister

[Jaydena]

Jaydena sprinkled sand on the report and gazed at the room around her, since Kaylan had left she was now in charge of the Green Eyes and Ears but she was thinking of training someone younger to take it over. She already had far to many duties with Ajah Head duties and Sitter duties added in. On top of which, she was so depressed some of the time that she tended to throw herself into her duties to the point of not sleeping or eating the way she should. She dusted the sand off the missive and folded it carefully, she embraced the source and heated her wax up, dripping the wax onto her pale green paper, she pressed her seal into it, a rose with a sword across it and the Aes Sedai symbol in the middle. She added it to the stack she already had and picked them all up, she picked up her cloak and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. It was green velvet with white rabbit fur around her the hood and lining it. Jade set the wards on her room and walked out of it, she knocked on two doors on the way, leaving messages with her Sitters on things she wanted done and reports from the Eyes and Ears which were not good.

 

Walking away from them she walked up to the stairs of the Tower and left a note with the Keeper for the Amyrlin. When she was finished she headed out to the bird cages with the tubes, to go out to her Eyes and Ears. It was cold and clear outside but the sun shone on the city of Tar Valon. She breathed in the fresh air and finished quickly with the birds. Walking away she was surprised when she realized she hadn't seen her horses in several days. Right then and there she decided to go check up on them and maybe even take a ride. It had been some time since she had had time for horseback riding, and she missed it. She walked toward the stables and headed into the barn, she was greeted warmly by the grooms and as she headed toward her stalls she was shocked when she saw an Accepted talking to a face she remembered well but hadn't seen in a long time. She walked up to her and spoke, "Gaea? It's wonderful to see you again, welcome back to the Tower."

 

Jaydena Sedai

Green Ajah Head and Sitter

[Guest nephitess]

IC: As Zeveria was about to answer some of the Sisters questions, A stately woman entered the stable area. Veria recognised her as a green sister and an important one. AHH, yes, Jaydena Sedai. JAydena Sedai spoted them and saw her green sister. a look of remebrance came upon her face and she said..

 

"Gaea? It's wonderful to see you again, welcome back to the Tower."

 

This took Gaea's attention off Veria as Gaea sedai caught up with her fello battle sister. Veria took the moment and left them to talk with out interruption. Making sure the horse was comfortable and having all Gaea's bags sent to her room, Veria left for her books. they were waiting for her in library.

[Jaydena]

Before Zeveria could answer, they were joined by another woman. Gaea turned, surprised to have been recognized so soon, and saw Jaydena smiling at her. Gaea eyes roamed over the symbols embroidered on Jaydena's clothing that indicated rank, and her heart beat sped up, though her face remained as impassive as ever. She wasn't quite ready to face the Ajah Head yet, but then she wasn't sure she ever would be. The piper must be paid at some point. Might as well get it over with.

 

She was peripherially aware of the young Accepted slipping away discretely and tending to Midnight and made a mental note. She would have to meet up with the girl another time.

 

"Jaydena," Gaea smiled. "It has been a long time. I was just going to come see you after I had my things squared away. I hope my room is still waiting for me?"

 

The two Aes Sedai began walking back to the Tower, trusting the bags to the Accepted. For the sake of appearance, they remained congenial and pleasent. Just a couple of Sister's reminescing after an extended abscence. But each step toward the Tower brought Gaea closer to her penance. She was sure that her explaination would be demanded as soon as they were within closed walls and away from prying eyes.

 

Gaea

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ooc- just so you know Jaydena has a mask over one side of her face where she was burned. *G*

 

Jaydena looked carefully at the woman and wondered where she had been these years, how life had treated her and how she had changed. There was a part of Jaydena that wished she could get out of the Tower more, and a part of that wished she could just run away as this woman had with no notice to anyone and not care. Jade wondered why she was part, she had to know she was going to get a penance for leaving like she with no word, and yet her she was. She winced at the thought of giving that penance and wondered if she should hand it off to Sirayn or if it was her duty. Jade eyed the Accepted out of the corner of her eyes, and saw that she was busy worked with the horses, she blinked her eyes in surprised and arched a brow. She wondered who the young girl was and vowed to talk to the Mistress of Novices about how competent and polite this one was.

 

She focused back when she saw that Gaea had opened her mouth to speak, "Jaydena, it has been a long time. I was just going to come see you after I had my things squared away. I hope my room is still waiting for me?" The Accepted followed them silently with their bags, and Jaydena again checked her face, and reminded herself to ask for her name. "Your rooms are waiting, and cleaned once a month Sister. Your right it has been a very long time and there are going to be many who are surprised you came back. Many of us feared you had run away to the Borderlands. Much has changed since you left but we will talk about that away from curious ears." She arched her eyebrows behind the mask that covered the right side of her face, it hid the horrible burns that had occured after the angreal had been tampered with. Jade wondered what Gaea thought of the mask but pushed the thoughts away and walked with her into the Tower, soon they had reached the Green Ajah Quarters, the Accepted still following them. Several Greens were out in the Hallways and she saw many shocked faces at the person with her. As they reached the Greens rooms she turned back to the Accepted and said, "We will take it from here my child. You are a worthy Accepted, many I ask your name?"

 

Jaydena Sedai

****************************************************************

While Jaydena dismissed the Accepted, Gaea took the opportunity to look around and to surreptiously study the woman standing in front of her. The Green Quarters looked just as she remembered them, yet Jaydena had changed quite a lot. Funny how some things can go on and never notice the passage of time, and yet other things can change so drastically. Around the halls, various Green Sister's, most of them Gaea recognized, poked their heads out of their doors as the whispers of who had just walked in filtered through. The attention made her more than just a little uncomfortable, and she didn't imagine that she would be well liked for a while. She had, in essence, deserted. That was inexcusable to the Green Ajah...regardless of reason. But she was a Green Sister, and she never let the discomfort show on her face.

 

Jaydena was now sporting a mask over half of her face, and Gaea wondered if it was a new fashion trend or what other reason she had. No one else wore one, so Gaea had to assume there was another reason for it. Beyond that most noticable change were other things. The other woman held herself very straight and tightly, almost like she was hyper-aware of the goings on around her. She wore the mantle of Captain-General heavily, though it was obvious that she was competent for the job. Gaea didn't believe for a second that it was an easy position to carry.

 

Once Zeveria was dismissed, Jaydena turned back to Gaea, this time her expression harder. Now it was only the Green Sister's, niceities could be done away with. Gaea squared her shoulders and met her Captain-General's gaze. Regardless of rank, Gaea was still the stronger of the two, though not by much. She would, of course, defer to her Captain-General, but she didn't have to be meek about it.

 

Jaydena crooked a finger, indicating that Gaea was to follow her. At the Captain-General's door, Gaea saw the familiar glow surround Jaydena as she released some weaves placed on her room. Seeing that glow again after so long warmed Gaea's heart once more. Regardless of what came next, she was home. She could meet whatever penance came her way with the dignity and grace befitting an Aes Sedai. She followed Jaydena into her rooms and closed the door behind her, closing out all the whispers and stares of the other Sister's. Then she waited....

 

Gaea

****************************************************************

IC: Stopping outside a set of doors, Jaydena Sedai truned and looked at veria. Having those apprasing eyes on her made her slightly nervous. Veria cleared that thought from her head and curtised.

 

"We will take it from here my child. You are a worthy Accepted, many I ask your name?" Jade replied to her curtsy.

 

"no problem Aes Sedai. My name is Zeveria. If you either of you are in need of something please let me know."

 

"thank you child. you may go."

 

with a last curtsy, Veria turned and left. She was glad to be away from the chill she felt around those two sisters. None of my business today, she thought. She had books callng her from the library. Her break time was over.

 

OOC: thanks for letting me play. have fun.

_________________

Zeveria Agotta

************************************************************

[Avalonshroud]

And waited....

[Jaydena]

Jaydena took note of the name of the Accepted and then motioned for Gaea, the woman followed her down the hallway toward her office. She could already see her sisters peeking out into the hallway and she eyed them sternly and motioned at them to get back into their quarters, this was going to be hard enough on Gaea without the White Tower grapevine, blowing thing out of control. She walked up to the office and embraced the source, her thoughts careful and controlled as she gloried in the feeling of having that power course through her. Even after all these years, it was still amazing to feel. She could smell the scent of horse and sweat on the woman behind her, she could hear things from inside the other rooms that she hadn't heard while walking. Someone was making some very pleasant smelling tea for themselves, something with rosehips and vanilla in it. She pushed her thoughts back to the ward in front of her and removed it from around the office. Jade walked into the room and held the door open for Gaea, she then walked back out into the hallway and looked around for someone to get her some tea, when she didn't find any, she walked back into her office and pulled the rope in the corner.

 

It would bring a Novice or a servant to her office in short order. Jade glanced around the rooms, she had had them redone when she had taken the post, the walls were now a pale green which always made her feel at peace. Gentle roses made a border at the top of the wall, her own artwork hung on one wall. Tapestrys of battles hung through out the room and shelves had been added, on them sat items from previous Captain Generals, daggers, swords, seals, things to remind her that all these women had held this post before her. The great broadsword, a symbol of her rank hung on the wall behind her. She walked toward Gaea and spoke, "I have ordered tea for us my dear, I am sure you are worn out after your trip so I will make this as quick as possible." Just then a knock sounded at the door, she walked over and opened it to find a young novice with a teatray. Nodding she thanked the girl and wondered how they had known she needed tea before she even asked. She walked over and set the tray down, taking a seat behind her large cherrywood desk with it's rose carvings she motioned for the other woman to pour and spoke, "So how have you been Gaea and more importantly where have you been?"

 

Jaydena Mckanthur

[Avalonshroud]

And more importantly, where have you been?

 

Ahh, the moment of truth. The question that Gaea knew she would have to answer, and had dreaded answering. It would not be the first time she had to answer it either. Gaea pondered just how much to reveal, buying time by pouring the tea and looking about the rooms, seeing what Jaydena had done with them, trying to learn as much as she could about the woman to whom she would now answer by studying the objects she surrounded herself with. Gaea had always liked Jaydena when they were Sister's together, and remembered her as being friendly, though completely dedicated to her duty. She may understand Gaea's need, and may even commiserate with her, but she wouldn't forgive the way Gaea took her absence. Well, so be it.

 

"You recall that I came here, to the White Tower, in search of my past and my memories?" Gaea began, handing Jaydena her cup, and then sitting without waiting for an invitation. At Jaydena's nod, Gaea continued, "My plea for help was unable to be met, but it was found out that I could learn to Channel." Jaydena nodded impatiently, this was all old history and she wasn't interested in the stuff that she already knew.

 

"When I took the test to become Accepted, memories started stirring. Horrible, half glimpsed images would plague my dreams, and I would wake up in a cold sweat more mornings than not. I was able to put it to the side and focus on my training, but once I reached the shawl, I didn't have as many demanding distractions. The dreams became worse. I couldn't focus on what I was supposed to be doing here. It was getting dangerous for me to handle to Source. After one particularly nasty nightmare, I decided that I couldn't go on like this and I needed answers. I packed up and left for the only clue that I had as to the whereabouts of my family and my past. I got to Four Kings and found the remains of my families home. Once there, the floodgates opened and I relived what happened. I now know that my family was killed and that I narrowly managed to escape. The tattered images that haunted my dreams were fragments of memory of what really happened. I saw them killed."

 

She paused in her narration to take a sip of tea, not letting the turbulent feelings inside her show in her either voice or her face. She debated on telling the rest, knowing that what she explained thus far didn't cover the amount of time she had been missing...but decided that unless asked, she would let it go. She wasn't quite ready to fully admit all the events that followed the regaining of her memory. She had been foolish to leave without telling anyone and without someone with her, and it had almost cost her everything. She had paid dearly as it was.

 

Deciding on her course of action, she skipped the next few events and finished weakly, "I spent the rest of the time recovering. When I was recovered enough, I came home." The truth, just not ALL of the truth. She sat quitely, waiting to see what her Ajah Head would say.

[Jaydena]

Jaydena waited quietly as the other woman poured the tea and motioned at her for what she wanted. Jade nodded at the honey and then the sugar cubes, holding her fingers up to indicate two cubes. The woman added her requests and then began her cup, as she did this she gazed around the room. She knew the woman was stalling but she wouldn't want to be in her place either. Finally the other woman began to speak, "You recall that I came here, to the White Tower, in search of my past and my memories?" Jaydena nodded as Gaea handed her the cup of tea, she set it on a plate as she waited for the other woman to continue, she added some of the small pasteries set about the plate as the other woman spoke agian, "My plea for help was unable to be met, but it was found out that I could learn to Channel." She nodded quickly, she knew all this as they had been young sisters together. "When I took the test to become Accepted, memories started stirring. Horrible, half glimpsed images would plague my dreams, and I would wake up in a cold sweat more mornings than not. I was able to put it to the side and focus on my training, but once I reached the shawl, I didn't have as many demanding distractions. The dreams became worse. I couldn't focus on what I was supposed to be doing here. It was getting dangerous for me to handle to Source. After one particularly nasty nightmare, I decided that I couldn't go on like this and I needed answers. I packed up and left for the only clue that I had as to the whereabouts of my family and my past. I got to Four Kings and found the remains of my families home. Once there, the floodgates opened and I relived what happened. I now know that my family was killed and that I narrowly managed to escape. The tattered images that haunted my dreams were fragments of memory of what really happened. I saw them killed."

 

Jade blinked her eyes in shock, she didn't often hear stories like this, of course they had woman come to the Tower who had lost everyone, or who had been forced on by a man, or any manner of things. This woman had watched her family killed before her yes, when she was still so young that she couldn't handle the reality. The poor little girl had blocked her memory so she couldn't remember it, only in dreams it seemed. Jade shook her head, she needed to harden her heart, but this story started to sway her, her original idea had been to put her wayward Aes Sedai in Novice whites for a month in the kitchens, scrubbing pots and stirring stew. "I spent the rest of the time recovering. When I was recovered enough, I came home." Jaydena eyed the other woman, she knew an evasion when she saw one but they were all allowed their little secrets and she wouldn't push it unless it became a harm to the ajah sometime in the future. She picked up one of the frosting covered pastries and then spoke, "So I know you must have some idea of what happens when someone leaves the Tower and dosen't leave word. You know you are going to get a penance of some kind, otherwise you wouldn't have that look in your eyes. So I ask you Gaea, if you were in my place, how would you punish me?"

 

Jaydena Mckanthur

[Avalonshroud]

"Thankfully, Jaydena, I am not in your place." Gaea answered with a sly smile. Obviously, her story had touched the other woman, as she had hoped. But rules were still rules. It was part of what had kept the White Tower standing for so long.

 

"Generally, an Aes Sedai doesn't just up and disappear. That is usually Novices and Accepted. So I understand that finding a fitting punishment is difficult. I am sorry for the quandry. I had no intention of being gone as long as I was. But the Wheel weaves as the Wheel will.

 

"For an Accepted, I would put her back in Novice whites until she had proven that she had grown up enough not to do something so foolish again. For a Novice, I would likely assign them the most hated and difficult of tasks until she proved that she had grown up enough not to do something so foolish again. But an Aes Sedai...well, you can't really give something so public, can you? And tell the world that the Aes Sedai are anything other than infallible? Of course, there is the Farm. Or a penance within the Ajah...Perhaps, instead of novices and accepted fetching the things the Sister's need, that job gets relagated to the Sister in disfavor...As we do often with the newest Sister to join our ranks, only more so...."

 

Gaea watched as her Captain General took all this in. It was quite a situation. Gaea didn't think she could remember a time when a full-grown Sister just packed up and left with no word or permission of any kind, so there was no precedence....at least as far as the public was concerned. Sister's came and went all the time. Who could really say if they had left word or not.

 

"I will, of course, accept any punishment that you decide on, Captain General." Gaea said, inclining her head slightly. Though she really hoped strapping wouldn't come up. She didn't want to have to explain the scars....

[Jaydena]

"Thankfully, Jaydena, I am not in your place." Jaydena noted her small smile and nodded, so obviously the woman hadn't been away from the Tower so long that she forgot the subtle dancing and posing they all took part in. She had never much liked it herself, but she could do it with the best of them, and there were times that called for it. She waited silently, for often silence did the work for you and before much longer the other woman began to speak again, "Generally, an Aes Sedai doesn't just up and disappear. That is usually Novices and Accepted. So I understand that finding a fitting punishment is difficult. I am sorry for the quandry. I had no intention of being gone as long as I was. But the Wheel weaves as the Wheel will. For an Accepted, I would put her back in Novice whites until she had proven that she had grown up enough not to do something so foolish again. For a Novice, I would likely assign them the most hated and difficult of tasks until she proved that she had grown up enough not to do something so foolish again. But an Aes Sedai...well, you can't really give something so public, can you? And tell the world that the Aes Sedai are anything other than infallible? Of course, there is the Farm. Or a penance within the Ajah...Perhaps, instead of novices and accepted fetching the things the Sister's need, that job gets relagated to the Sister in disfavor...As we do often with the newest Sister to join our ranks, only more so...."

 

 

She leaned back in her chair and considered Gaea, it was a good way to go, she hadn't been Captain General very long and she had never seen anything like this before. So sadly she wasn't exactly sure how to handle it, but she could bluff and bluster with the best of them and she knew that this called for some sort of penance. "I will, of course, accept any punishment that you decide on, Captain General." Jaydena sipped her tea and silently looked around the room, her thoughts in flux on how she wanted to handle this. She cared for all her sisters and as ajah head that caring had only gotten stronger and more passionate. Jade remembered much about this woman and they had never had any problems with each other in past, in fact she would say they had gotten along very well. She had a good idea how to handle this but she hated doing it to another sister. "Your right my sister, I will not put you in the kitchens scrubbing pots, though we both know that I could do that. I am not going to send you to the farm, our sisters are needed here far to much to risk you being away from the Tower at a time like this. We have already been attacked within these very walls and I will not weaken us furthur."

 

She nodded as though making her final decision and then sat forward, "I won't have your birched, do don't fear that, I understand your reasons and I can even commend them in my own way, though I do think it took you far longer to get back than it should have and that your hiding something from me." She held her hand up before the other woman could speak, "I am not going to press you to reveal where you have been. However I am going to watch you like a hawk for some time, so be aware of that. For punishment, I think you are right and I will let that be your penance. For the next month you will scurry and fetch for any sister that asks you to, of course if I find anyone abusing that there will be harsh punishment for them as well. You will retake your battle classes, just as though you were a recruit, you will sleep in the recruit rooms instead of your spacious quarters. You will not be required to petition the ajah at that time, but I will hold a meeting of the Sitters at the end of the month, they will decide if you should return to the status of full sister." She sat back and waited to see what the other sister would say...

 

Jaydena Mckanthur

[Avalonshroud]

Gaea listened to her punishment passively. It could have been a lot worse. Though, fetching and carrying again like a new recruit.....that didn't sound fun. She knew the other Sister's would be hard on her. She would be in their place. But to have to retake the battle classes? Whatever for? Well, so be it. It was her Ajah Heads decree and she would abide by it.

 

She nodded to other woman. "During the day, will I still have access to my normal rooms, even if by night I am in the recruits quarters? I'm sure I have quite a bit of correspondence to catch up on."

 

Jaydena nodded, "Just so long as you abide the rules of your penenance."

 

"Thank you, Captian General." Gaea stood, "By your leave, it has been a long journey, and I would like to get my things organized and wash up after the trip." Jaydena nodded her consent, and Gaea curtsied as any new Recruit would, then turned to leave. She had unpacking to do, and then had to move some of her belongings to the recruits quarters, and then see about the classes. The long road back hadn't reached its end just yet.