A single idea in many forms (Christine)

[Wayfarer]

The trip after Christine had shown she was able to take care of herself for at least a few days had been a little chilly for a couple of days, but after that had relaxed. No longer having to instruct her on everything they saw, they had time to talk about other things. Things such as the extensive drinking and partying Aran partaked in whenever he managed to successfully get out of enough duties. While Christine didn't have such stories to tell of the Tower, she did have stories to tell of before she went to the Tower. As they spoke they learnt of other things about each other.

 

So they passed the time until they reached Fal Moran, capitol of Shienar. The serpent ring on Christine's finger proved quite handy and soon they were quartered with the Aes Sedai. Aran soon got to know the Tower Guard stationed there, as well as a great deal of the soldiery. Between the drinking and dicing he managed to fit in to his daily routine, he became a recognisable and, for the most part, welcome figure in any soldier's mess hall. Except when dice or cards were involved.

 

Not that this meant that his training of Christine was done. In fact, every afternoon was spent running her through various drills. Still leaving his mornings and nights where he wasn't required to be on duty for indulging his vices.

 

Except when Christine joined him on mornings she had free. Those mornings were rather limited, as between the Aes Sedai's eyes and ears, Shienaran ideas on proper behaviour and conduct with women, and the risk of gossip, there was only so much that could be done.

 

Having said that, drinking behind closed doors was perfectly acceptable as long as no one decided to visit.

 

Still, there was another element to Christine's training waiting to be introduced, and so it was one afternoon that they embarked on a new form of training. Form training.

 

"Personally, I hate these things, but you have to learn them. Besides, they look rather flash if you spend long enough on them and other people who have done similar training will recognise it and think you competent."

 

Standing in the courtyard where a number of other soldiers, some from the Tower Guard but for the most part, Shienaran Palace Guard, Aran hefted the lathe he had in his hand and adopted a new stance, and had his sword at his side as if sheathed. "Leopard in the Tree, keep your knees bent, lean forward slightly and both hands on the grip."

 

Drawing his lathe, he swept it before him in the same movement, up and across. "Unfolding the Fan, clear your blade and strike in the same movement, or catch a blow coming your way. When you draw the blade across, use the power from your hips when you do it, same as any decent slash."

 

From there, Aran slipped into a simple guard stance. "Lion on the Hill. Sword is held at shoulder level, ready to attack or defend. You don't move from the position save to keep your opponent infront of you."

 

Letting his lathe lay low, Aran grinned. "They're pretty showy names, but they have a good reason for them. They're meant to allow you to focus the movement. For example, the Lion on the Hill denotes strength in a single position, a Lion doesn't need to move from where he is in the face of other opponents. Unfolding the Fan, one imagines a fan being flicked open quickly and sharply, in the same way one performs the movement. Leopard in the Tree, one is reminded that they are to keep on their toes, ready to strike or leap away if necessary, constant readiness."

 

"Well? Go on, lets see it." Aran grinned as he took a seat on the ground so he could watch Christine's efforts in relative comfort.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Christine]

Aran and Christine had quite enjoyed their trip to Shienar. They no longer fought, and just talked, enjoying the ride and breathing easy without the problems of the tower to bulk them down. Yes, she was still a little annoying at times, and yes, he did try and pull pranks on her, but for the most part, they got along pretty well. It was a lot more relaxing to sit around and laugh than to glare and fight all the time.

 

When they reached Fal Moran, with the approval of Aran, Christine whipped out her Aes Sedai ring, and in no time, they were both in the palace. They parted with smiles as he was taken to the soldiers quarters, and she was whisked off to the Aes Sedai quarters. She would be glad to finally relax, do a little shopping.

 

But never could she get a moments peace. These idiot Aes Sedai decided she needed more training, and every other morning… she was either teaching or learning. Great, just what she wanted to do on vacation. For once in her life, she was excited to see when James came to the front of the Women’s Quarters and asked for her. At least the Aes Sedai had agreed with her that training was important, so she got away every afternoon.

 

"Personally, I hate these things, but you have to learn them. Besides, they look rather flash if you spend long enough on them and other people who have done similar training will recognise it and think you competent." Christine laughed out loud. Like anyone would call her competition. At least… until they saw she could channel.

 

“Then why learn them? He just laughed, and lifted his lathe. There were some soldiers about, and some palace guards, but for the most part, they were ignored. She watched as his knees bent and his sword in one hand, with the lathe in the other.

 

"Leopard in the Tree, keep your knees bent, lean forward slightly and both hands on the grip." She nodded, and he drew the lathe and swept it in front of him, almost in a blur. She stepped back and watched how he moved. "Unfolding the Fan, clear your blade and strike in the same movement, or catch a blow coming your way. When you draw the blade across, use the power from your hips when you do it, same as any decent slash."

 

Seemed simple enough. Just draw the blade quickly, and use her hips to swing it out, as if doing a slash. That she could do easily. He went back into a simple guard stand, just like the one she herself held. "Lion on the Hill. Sword is held at shoulder level, ready to attack or defend. You don't move from the position save to keep your opponent in front of you."

 

He did so, then let his lathe down slowly. He had a grin, and she knew what that meant. She was going to have to do it now. "They're pretty showy names, but they have a good reason for them. They're meant to allow you to focus the movement. For example, the Lion on the Hill denotes strength in a single position, a Lion doesn't need to move from where he is in the face of other opponents. Unfolding the Fan, one imagines a fan being flicked open quickly and sharply, in the same way one performs the movement. Leopard in the Tree, one is reminded that they are to keep on their toes, ready to strike or leap away if necessary, constant readiness."

 

She nodded her head, and he sat down on the ground. "Well? Go on, lets see it." She glared at him as he sat down, and put her hands on her hips. â€Aran, if you think for one minute that you can boss me around…†She glared at him, and he laughed, waving her on to attempt the movement.

 

She adopted the first for as he had, her sword at her side and the lathe ready. She moved into the second form, her blade coming out, and she attempted to use her hips to swing. All she achieved was almost losing her balance, and used air to catch herself. He was muttering a laugh, and she had half a mind to bound and gag him with air. The second attempt was somewhat better, but she didn’t use her hips, so it wasn’t a good slash. The last form she held for a moment, but she was still a little off balance, and had to shift her feet. Now he just had an amused grin on.

 

After a few more tries, she had the first and the last stance down. She could finally get her feet into proper place, and had good balance. But she was still trying the Unfolding of the Fan. She was afraid to show herself weak to any soldier that might be watching, and she continued to try. About the tenth time, she had it, without falling over. She looked at Aran for approval, and he just smiled and nodded. â€Again.†She smiled back, and then went back into her void. After five more attempts and successes, she sheathed her weapons and walked to him, giving him a hand off the ground as he went onto the next lesson.

 

Christine

Aes Sedai

[Wayfarer]

Taking Christine's hand, he allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. Arching his back as he stepped forward, he assumed guard position once more. Letting his lathe tip to the right, he slashed across his body, blade rising then falling during the swing to then find itself in the previous guard position. "Arc of the Moon moves up and down in the same way the moon rises and falls during the night. Can take someone's head clean from its shoulders when done right."

 

Spinning his blade forward while pulling it back, Aran stepped forward as he raised the blade high and brought it down as the lathe reached the end of its revolution, striking an invisible opponent's crown. "A quick blow, The Courtier Taps his Fan is meant to be sharp and quick. You probably won't split a man's head in twain, but you'll crack his skull open."

 

Returning to the Lion on the Hill, Aran stepped forward and thrust downward, where a man's thighs or hips would be. "The Kingfisher Takes a Silverback. The Kingfisher quickly darts its beak in the water and takes the fish in a single, swift movement. Can cripple someone, or finish them even if they don't go down straight away."

 

Repeating the manouvre, Aran pulled his blow and returned to his guard far more quickly. "The Falcon Stoops. Like the Kingfisher Takes a Silverback, except instead of fully committing to the blow, one pulls up from it in the same way that a Falcon pulls up from snatchings its prey. Therein lay the difference between the two. The Kingfisher Takes the Silverback is meant to finish an opponent, whereas The Falcon Stoops is more to wound or deter."

 

"And while we're doing thrusts." Lion on the Hill keeping the lathe at shoulder height, Aran stepped forward and quickly thrust his blade forward at head height, not quite locking his elbow but coming close to it. "The Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose in the same way that one greets an opponent that rushes. It can be used to drive someone back if not to kill them, or take a charging opponent that isn't quick enough to divert your blade, they'll impale themselves with their own momentum."

 

As if his knees suddenly lost their strength, Aran crumpled to the ground and made himself comfortable. "Well? Get to it." He even waved his lathe at her to gesture for her to begin, with his usual impudent grin.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Christine]

Aran arched his back, and, stepping forward, he went back to the same, tedious, guard stance. Would every form relate back to that one? His lathe went to his right, her left, and he slashed the lathe across his body, with a rise and fall to it. Suddenly, the blade was back where it had begun, and he was in guard stance. "Arc of the Moon moves up and down in the same way the moon rises and falls during the night. Can take someone's head clean from its shoulders when done right."

 

Light... if that thing had been a pace longer, her head would be gone. It was so fast... Then the blade moved again, dropping quickly, then returning to the guard position. "A quick blow, The Courtier Taps his Fan is meant to be sharp and quick. You probably won't split a man's head in twain, but you'll crack his skull open."

 

He repeated Lion on the Hill, but this time, it moved downward as he stepped forward. "The Kingfisher Takes a Silverback. The Kingfisher quickly darts its beak in the water and takes the fish in a single, swift movement. Can cripple someone, or finish them even if they don't go down straight away." She nodded, noting the way his feet moved rarely.

 

The next move was faster, and he was back into guard position suddenly. "The Falcon Stoops. Like The Kingfisher Takes a Silverback, except instead of fully committing to the blow, one pulls up from it in the same way that a Falcon pulls up from snatchings its prey. Therein lay the difference between the two. The Kingfisher Takes the Silverback is meant to finish an opponent, whereas The Falcon Stoops is more to wound or deter." There wasnt much difference between the two movements, so how could the reaction be different? In theory, it did not work, but she was certain that in practice, it would become apparant of the differences that matter.

 

"And while we're doing thrusts." He stepped forward, thrusting the lathe at head height, almost straightening his arm out. "The Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose in the same way that one greets an opponent that rushes. It can be used to drive someone back if not to kill them, or take a charging opponent that isn't quick enough to divert your blade, they'll impale themselves with their own momentum."

 

He fell to the ground, and sad back. "Well? Get to it." He swung his lathe at her, and she gave a glared... idiot.

 

She started on the first two. The lathe moved in her, feeling awkward as she stepped. she attempted it again, this time concentrating on her feet, and the lathe almost fell from her hands. Closing her eyes and embrassing the source, she tried it again, the blade rising and falling, until it returned to the original position. It was a bit shaky, but she was proud. After a few more tries, she could do it without error, and the blade was no longer shaky.

 

She went to the second form. She stepped as she twisted the blade and struke an imaginary skull. She nearly dropped the blade, but she didnt think Aran was watching her error. She moved from the basic guard form into this new one, and her hips thrust as she stepped. With each try, it got a little easier, until she was ready to move onto the next. By now, Christine was dripping in sweat.

 

The next movement, she stepped and thrust, this feeling alot more familiar. The lathe was a bit too low, but after a few more tries, she had it properly. She repeated the move quicker, and she saw the difference in the blade in her hand. The step was faster, and the blade whipped more.

 

She did the last movement, her arm thrusting forward, and she locked the elbow, almost dropping the weapon. Trying again, her arm almost fell apart under the weight. Her third attempt was successful, and she tried all the forms one more time, before kicking Aran, telling him to get up.

 

Christine

Aes Sedai

[Wayfarer]

It took him less than a moment to decide on his response. Leaning forward, he used that movement to pivot and sweep with his legs, knocking Christine fair on her backside. Too many women had become far too handy with kicking him, and while he might deign to let it go with some people, his students were not going to pick up the habit.

 

Getting to his feet with a grin on his face, he levelled his lathe at Christine who had a mix of shock and anger on her face. "Bad Accepted. Now watch, this is the final set of forms."

 

Moving into a guard stance, he spun slowly as he went on one foot, pivoting as he slashed slowly through the air as if it were water he moved through. "This we call the Heron Wading in the Rushes. You don't actually use this for fighting, you use it to practice your balance. You'll be practicing this one alot, always actually. You have to constantly work on your balance to keep it."

 

Both feet on the ground once more, Aran levelled a straight slash before him just below chest height. "Parting the Silk is a precise movement, you don't deviate from the straight line just as you take care not to waver as you part silk, or the entire bolt of silk is ruined. You can use it to attack or to parry with equal ease."

 

From the newly assumed guard position, Aran turned his lathe inward and brought it his side as if sheathing a blade. "Folding the Fan, it is done in a single, smooth movement. Much in the same way one unfolds, one returns it to the sheathe so. And now, for something nice and tricky, up you get."

 

Gesturing with the lathe for her to stand infront of him, closely. "Strike me by slashing at me. When our lathes connect, lock lathes with me." She didn't waste anytime but Aran was quick enough to block and as she locked her lathe against his, he shifted the pressure of it as he twisted his lathe, and hers, sending hers sailing out of her hand to the ground.

 

"The Grapevine Twines, when you lock so, you twist and can force a blade out of an opponent's hands that way. You don't need to be stronger than your opponent to do it though that helps, you just need to move the right way."

 

Grinning at her as he stepped back a few paces, he gestured with his lathe to her. "Well, come on, start running through them beginning with the Heron Wading in the Rushes. Once you've got the Grapevine Twines to go, I'll let you practice on me. Go on." Aran as usual sat himself down, letting her get underway.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard