Gray Ajah Report - November 2011

1) Total: 2 Members, 2 Characters (that would be Active + Inactive)

New: 0 Members, 0 characters

Active: 2 Members, 2 characters

• KeyHolder21 - Freja Peyrodin - NSW Gray Head (not yet rped)
• Elgee - Esther Tremaine - Gray sister - Nov 2011

Inactive (not RPed in past 3 months): 0 Members, 0 characters

MiA (not RPed in past 12 months - bio needs reapproval): 1 Member, 2 characters

• Lavinya - Lavinya Morganen (July 2010)
• Lavinya - Pia Tovisen (July 2010)

Purged (bio must be re-approved):

None

2) RPs done in November 2011

Elgee - Esther Tremaine - Gray sister - July 2011

- http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/61556-a-new-start/page__p__2034762__fromsearch__1#entry2034762

Timeline: 1000 NE (current)

Esther investigates the murder of a potential novice and meets up with an assassin.

3) Ideas & News:

I know I still need to update stickies and stuff. Hope to get a chance to do this while on vacation in NY. It's number two on my list of things to do, behind the Blue ones.

I really am excited for the Ajah head string :). I think it will be really fun and was thinking perhaps we could tie the Warders and the Freelanders into it. Maybe try to get everyone involved. What do you think if we spent December planning? And start in Jan?

Can I post for Freja before that? :/

4) Problems:

ACTIVITY!

Blue Ajah Report November 2011

1) Total: 4 Members, 5 Characters

New: 0 Members, 0 Characters

Active: 1 Members, 2 characters

Kathleen: NSW Black Head Alia Mariadoon (September 2011)

KeyHolder21: Miahna “Mimi” Telonne Sedai

KeyHolder21: Asyndara Ellenios (NPC Ajah Head; not yet rped)

Inactive (not RPed in past 3 months): 3 Members, 3 Characters

Phelix: Gera Mondwin Sedai (April 2011)

Wayward_Fool: Regalia "Ray-ray" Frantelle Sedai (May 2011)

MiA (not RPed in past 12 months - bio needs reapproval): 3 Members, 3 characters

Elyssa: Elyssa Lliet

Miya: Miya Kiyoshi (Feb 2010 - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/43143-at-the-request-of-an-old-friend-atn-alin)

SerenaMorrigan: Serena Morrigan (July 2010)

2) RP's done by Ajah characters during October

KeyHolder21 – Miahna “Mimi” Telonne – Blue Aes Sedai

A. A Day in the Life of a Menagerie Member - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/63208-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-menagerie-member/page__view__findpost__p__1977359

Timeline: 1000 NE (current-ish)

Miahna and Taia (Rasheta’s other Green) save some menagerie members from darkfriends.

3. Ideas & News:

(same as last month)

Kat and I are working on a Yellow/Blue RP. Its got something along the lines of them both going after the same info, perhaps crossing paths in it but not knowing then maybe meeting up in the end or perhaps not, we just think it would be fun.

Still waiting to do the Ajah Heads string.

Rasi and I are discussing a darkfriend hunt with Mimi and her new character Taia. Might try to tie it into the Black Ajah hunt at the Tower led by Mimi (very hush hush )

4. Problems:

Again, activity is low from almost everyone, but the ones who are active are trying to stay so and planning out what we can.

I was out for the beginning of November, trying to do NaNoWriMo. That was a bust though *laughs*, maybe one of these years I’ll do it, but back and we’ll see how December goes. I’m going up to NY for the 17th-29th, so I’m not sure how much posting I’ll be able to do. And then going on my (late) honeymoon the first week of Jan!

The hallway creaked occasionally under footsteps, but was as solid as ever. The faded yellow wallpaper was curling in the corners of other room, though the two set aside for emergencies were clean as clean could be. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, a sunbeam peeking through the curtains caught on some as they wafted around, making a momentarily design in the air. Carys wandered down the hall wiping her hands on the apron she wore, reveling in the quiet. She didn’t remember the shop every being this quiet when she was young, but the old woman informed her that more shops had popped up around the city, ensuring that Wise Women were close at hand when needed, but lowering the amount of traffic for everyone.

Her apron was dotted with the foul smelling herbs and with wet handprints. The man with the broken leg had needed his poultice changed. The old woman was resting upstairs, having dozed off earlier. Carys had scrubbed her hands and replaced the herbs and covering. She’d felt thirteen again, hands and herbs fixing what was broken. She'd offered Healing but the man had refused. It had been an interesting exchange. He wasn't fearful or hateful but had merely declined. “I appreciate the offer Aes Sedai,” he had said with a bowed head, “but I must say no.” She felt that Aes Sedai urge to tell him he needed it, but she had stamped that down and hadn't pressed, seeing the determination mixed with the pain in his eyes. Instead, she had nodded and replaced what was necessary, leaving him to rest as well. Other than Healing, sleep was the best thing he could do.

As she was sleeping, the older woman trusted the former apprentice, and current Aes Sedai, with the shop. It was funny how easy everything about the place came to her. It was a glimpse of what her life would be like without the Great Serpent ring she supposed, though without the thrill of saidar or the training of the Tower. She untied the apron strings and draped it over the back of a chair as she entered the kitchen. It would have been a happy life had she not known anything else, but would not suffice now.

The note the old woman had produced rested in her belt pouch, nestled between a few herbs. The Yellow sat down at the old table and pulled it out. The paper had severe creases where it had been folded, but the ink was still a solid black. The handwriting was tantalizingly familiar, but it was the contents of the message that plagued her currently. The loopy scrawl could be figured out later; the riddle was most pressing. Why would someone urge her here to read a riddle? It was frustrating. She felt tension and irritation through the Bond and frowned curiously. She probed at bundle of emotions that was Elessar, but it didn’t rise into anything else and so she turned her attention back to the note.

Her blue eyes read and reread the note, confused as to the subject and the answer. A loom? What did that have to do with the Yellow Ajah? Sighing, the Aes Sedai scrubbed a hand over her face and closed her eyes.

Carys snapped her eyes open and bolted out of her chair. That was pain. Pain and determination. And weariness. What now? I thought we were past all this?! She made a half moaning half growling sound as she embraced the Source. Sending a weave to the old woman, she explained as she was running that she needed to leave. Her Warder was in immense danger. Throwing open the door, Carys gathered her skirts and started running in his direction. I will make it in time. I will. He can’t die. We’ve been through this before and this will end up the same. We’ll both survive. Ignoring the people gawking at an Aes Sedai running, she bobbed and weaved around them. Aes Sedai decorum was the least of her worries.

Saidar gave her sharper hearing and vision as she veered toward Elessar. At least this close, it was very easy to find him. Toward the Palace, toward Mol Hara square. The Yellow squinted into the sunlight as she ran, the large yellow sphere backlighting the bridges across the square. She ran blindly, knowing that the Gaidin badly needed Healing. The bundle at the back of her head pulsed like a beacon.

An unseen break in the stones sent her sprawling to the ground. Carys released her skirts and threw her hands out in front of her, instinct rather than intellect taking over. Had she been thinking straight, a cushion of Air would have been better and wasted less time. As it was, she took the brunt of the fall on her right wrist and her chin, scraping the latter hard enough to begin bleeding. Dazed, the Yellow lay there for a moment recollecting herself. Her wrist ached; she guessed it was sprained. Red drops spilled from her chin onto the dark gray stone, though not enough to be worrisome. Groaning, she rose slowly to her feet.

The urgency for Elessar was still there, and began flooding back into her as she rose. Taking a few shambling steps at first; Carys began running toward him again a delving weave ready to be placed on the Warder as soon as he was in sight.

She didn’t have to wait much beyond her fall. As the sun dipped below a building, the canal bridges were no longer awash in sunlight and Carys could see her Gaidin stumbling along. Wiping her hands on her torn skirts, the Yellow ran to meet him at the center. She resisted the urge to throw her arms around him, but she did throw the Delve at him. Forcing the Warder to sit on the stone bridge, Carys knelt at his side.

It clicked then. The riddle. As she received results from the Delve, Carys wove a second weave, this one complete with all five elements. To one holding Saidar it would look like a thick rope. She took a second to marvel at how easy it was to add Fire and Earth to the Healing weave. It required a slight change in fit, but altogether wasn’t impossible. Pushing back loose blonde strands from her face, the Yellow forced the weave into Elessar’s shoulder and leg, knitting the bone and muscle back together, praying to the Creator that the new weave worked faster and better than the old. Praying that she hadn’t been wrong, that what she’d created wouldn’t damage him instead.

The Warder grunted at the Healing weave, his eyes snapping wide open to stare at her as she fixed his wounds. Carys felt tears in the corners of her eyes and she realized that in the short time they’d been Bonded, he’d become her closest friend. Her only true friend if she was to be honest with herself. Nowhere else along the way had it seemed important to have someone there.

The weave worked though. It was amazing how it had never been done before. She released the Source and sat back on her heels as she finished Healing him. “What…What happened?”

Mimi already left the city, just fyi. I can link you to it if you want. The killer was found, there were more than enough AS (so she thought *g*) to handle it, so she left town to chase another DF. I briefly mentioned Rayray having stayed in Cairhein, so up to you what you want her to do! :)

Oh yeah, uh, I'm back heh.

From the outside, the shop looked just as she remembered it. Something told her that the inside would look very similar as well. Small wisps of gray smoke popped out of the chimney and sailed upward, disappearing into the blue sky shortly after. The smell of rain hung heavy in the air, though the clouds remained in the distance. Carys took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Anticipation crawled through her skin, but there was some last minute trepidation as well. She turned her head from the small building to glance at her Warder. He was staring at the Palace in the distance, for once not completely on guard. I do believe I would startle him if I said anything. That's not like him. Tactfully, she stood there for another moment as Elessar came back to himself. His posture changed slightly as he was once again aware of where they stood. She felt the change and then began striding forward. I have not come all this way not to enter. Besides, what am I afraid to find?

A small bell atop the door rang as they entered. Carys stared up at it curiously, the noise bringing back memories from her childhood. It was likely that everything here would do that. Though she'd been gone fifty years, it was still merely part of a normal lifetime and thus fairly fresh in her mind. Especially one that had been honed to remember details such as she was. There was an herbal taste to the air and she recognized it almost instantly – blue goatflower. “Someone has a broken bone,” she said softly, half to Elessar, half to herself. A tea kettle sounded from another room, a kitchen at the back, and the Yellow grinned like a small child. Despite her fascination and devotion to Healing, she remembered and nurtured her knowledge of herbs. It was nice to test that every once in awhile. She took a few steps down the hallway and into the front room as the rattling of teacups sounded in the kitchen and an elderly voice called out for them to wait just a moment.

Elessar prowled around the room as Carys sat on a worn couch that looked to have been green at one time, though it had faded to a more beige color. The sun streamed in the window, keeping her pleasantly warm, and she looked around the room. A heavy wave of nostalgia swept over her as her blue eyes scanned the wallpaper, furnishings, and books. Just like the outside, it looked just as she remembered it. It was both difficult and easy to imagine her younger self sitting in the room, though then she would have been observing patients, not waiting on a Wise Woman to attend her. She smiled a soft smile as she recalled the first time one of the Women had allowed her to accompany her to a meeting. It hadn't gone well. She knocked the tea all over the patient...

A small gasp drew Carys's attention to the right. An elderly woman stood in the hallway, carrying a tray with a pot of tea, a black leaf blend, and a few teacups. She crossed the room slowly and set the tray on the table, her eyes still on the Aes Sedai. “I both expected and didn't dare for you to return in my lifetime. Sweet Carys...beg pardon, Carys Sedai I mean no disrespect.” She trailed off and sat in a highbacked chair across from them, her eyes sharp. The Yellow creased her brow, trying to figure out who the woman was.

“My Warder is going to check out the shop,” she stated, though not unkindly. The old woman nodded her assent and leaned forward as if to pour the tea. Elessar slipped out into the area of the shop as Carys sat forward to pour two cups full of the dark tea. “I took no respect Lady, though I am afraid I am remiss with remembering your name. Your face looks incredibly familiar, however.” She walked a cup around to the old woman and sat in the other highbacked chair to the woman's left. Old red velour covered the wood and though the cushion was obviously old, it was comfortable enough to the Aes Sedai. She brought the cup up to her mouth and blew on the hot liquid, the dark brown surface rippling with her breath.

“I am not surprised,” the woman said, taking a sip of her own scalding tea without a care for the temperature. It shook slightly as she lowered it back to the saucer. “I wasn't around much when you were older, but I took care of you frequently when you were but a small thing. You are well known through the community of Wise Women, you know. Healing things that we cannot. I've sent a few onto you at the White Tower; I knew your upbringing would ensure that you take care of them.”

Heavy footfalls came down a set of stairs and into the room. Carys excused herself from the old woman and stood to converse with her Warder. He explained that there was nothing in the shop but the woman and a man with a broken leg sleeping in another room on this floor. Upstairs held more rooms but they were empty and had an air of permanent emptiness. Then, surprisingly, he had excused himself from the shop – perhaps picking up on her need to oh-so-carefully explore the shop and this old woman. She nodded her assent and watched him walk out the door before she turned back.

Later, as Carys stood in the center of what had been her room, she realized who the old woman was and why her voice had been so familiar. She walked back to the stairs and down into the kitchen, a broad smile on her face, having finally solved the mystery. The two sat over a plate of fruit and discussed the past fifty years as the sun shone overhead. Toward the end of their discussion, the Aes Sedai recalled the reason she'd found herself at this particular shop. “I noticed the yellow flowers in the window,” she said casually as she popped a piece of fruit into her mouth, “and I know you have a message for me.” The old woman's eyes lit up with remembrance and she struggled to her feet.

You're welcome :). Just didn't want it to end up that way in the big report!

Erm, Elgs, uh, if Larindhra was last active in Feb wouldn't you/she be considered inactive by Oct?

Sounds good to me - CC'd.

She sounds like a lot of AS in the books *ggls*.

I'll still be around! Just limited!

Multi-colored banners fluttered softly in the breeze, creating a patchwork of color against a blue sky. Carys looked up, shielding her eyes with her hand, to stare at the flags rippling in the wind. The edges of an old memory surfaced as her eyes grazed the banners, but it danced tantalizingly out of reach. Biting her lip, she struggled to remember what she couldn't remember, why did the Gate spark a memory from her young childhood? From what she knew, she hadn't left the city before the Aes Sedai found her in her fourteenth year and carted her off to the Tower.

The wind picked up for a moment then, snapping one of the flags and the Yellow dropped her eyes back down to the horizon. Directly in front of her stood the city in which she’d spent her youth. Despite all the time away, the sights looked familiar. The cobblestones were still a light brown, a layer of dust from who knew where coating the ground and settling on the bottom hems of colorful skirts and dark pants. Dark haired people walked to and fro, most intent on something. Thick mustaches occupied the upper lips of most men; marriage knives nestled in the breasts of most women. Carys shifted in the saddle and brought a hand up to her chest momentarily wondering what it would feel like to have a knife nestled there. What her life would have been like had the Aes Sedai not visited that particular Wise Woman shop.

She closed her eyes and shook her head, golden curls bouncing lightly against her back. It wouldn’t do to think about what might have been. Besides, she wouldn’t trade the feel and ability of Saidar for anything. Glancing at Elessar, she donned the mask of Aes Sedai serenity and they walked forward into the city, dodging the locals. A few gazed up at her, their expression melting from annoyance to apprehension as they noticed her ageless face. She nodded whenever she could, resisting the urge to proclaim to the crowd that she was an Ebou Darian; she’d finally returned home. It hadn’t occurred to her yet that her features denied Altara as her rightful birthplace.

The city felt both comfortable and new. The air smelled fresh; the sound of water lapping against docks, the underside of boats and buildings occupying the shore. Broad streets gave way to pale white buildings that were frequented by men and women wearing expensive clothing and an air of aristocracy. Carys watched a pair of finely dressed women – each with a marriage knife nestled in her bosom – step over a bridge and into a boat, settling their packages in the middle as the canal boat pushed from the wall and proceeded to float down stream. She felt a sense of pride at the canal system and smiled as she stepped over a wide bridge on her gray mare. I don’t have to visit every other city on the continent to know there is no other place like this. Ebou Dar is as much home as Tar Valon.

It was fortunate, and probably designed she assented, that they had entered the city on this side rather than the Rahad. Carys recalled quite a few visits to the poorer section as an apprentice that had left her shaken. It was a difficult life for some, and was made difficult by others. As she and Elessar rode past a bubbling fountain, the Yellow recalled one time in particular in the Rahad, where she’d served a handful of people after a riot had broken out. No one could remember what started, or ended the uprising, but when it was over, eight people had died and seventeen were injured. That had been the first time she’d set a broken bone. She remembered tying white cloth around the arm of the boy, him smiling shyly at her as she did so. She had to have been…eight?

Mol Hara square was ahead, the palace sparkling white in the sun on the far side. The center held the famed statue of Queen Nariene, her expression peaceful; her light gray hand stretching out toward the sea. Carys looked briefly up at the woman as she rode underneath her outstretched arm. She wondered if Nariene was well known in her time, perhaps ruling a stronger Altara than what existed today. Only to be reduced to a single statue. Dragging her eyes away, the Aes Sedai focused her gaze on the Inn up ahead. It will be nice to be out of the saddle, she thought, shifting subconsciously. Despite her love of riding, she was ready to spend more than a day on her own two feet.

A well groomed stableboy appeared seemingly from thin air to take their mounts. The Yellow and her Warder dismounted and nodded to him appreciatively. He began leading the mare and warhorse away, a compatriot sliding open a piece of wall that served as a gate. Carys observed how the gate seemed to melt seamlessly into the wall as the boy pushed it shut. Magnificent architecture that. She turned to Elessar, finding the Warder staring at the Palace behind them. She gave a small smile to his profile and then tapped him on the arm, indicating her desire to enter the Inn. He moved forward to pull open one of the massive double doors and they stepped into a well lit Common Room.

The Innkeeper sidled up to Carys immediately, his sharp eyes noticing her ageless face and Elessar’s deadly grace. He smoothly suggested a pair of rooms for the two of them, noting that there was another Sister in attendance on the same floor. “I can leave her a message to contact you when she returns, if you wish.” The Yellow demurred from the message, though she was curious who else was in the city. I’d rather meet her on my own schedule. Nodding, the Innkeeper dropped the subject and snapped at a young girl behind the bar. “Take this pair to the fourth floor,” he instructed and then excused himself from their presence.

A few moments later, the pair returned to the Common Room. Each had exchanged their travel worn clothes for crisp, new, attire. Pulling out the note, Carys reread it silently to herself before folding it carefully and resealing it in her belt pouch. “We must find the Wise Woman shop at the end of the canal and the beginning of the square,” she said confidently. “It is the shop where I spent much of my youth.” Smiling hesitantly before dropping into Aes Sedai serenity, she strode from the Inn and into the street, her shoulders set purposefully.

ooc: sorrrrry about the wait!!!!!

The light streaming into the cabin gave the impression that it was midday. Briefly, Tensleigh wondered how long she had been asleep. Thoughts flitted through her mind, curious as to what had happened to the camp and the strange Aes Sedai that had attempted to save her. She tried to bite her lip, finding the motion oddly unfamiliar. Her light eyes stayed locked on Viktor's dark pair, however, as he stood up and rushed forward toward her. She struggled to sit up, but to no avail. Her body felt weak. Whole, but weak, and she settled back down into the bed. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she realized that it was his bed, completing the blush as he grabbed her hand and smiled down at her.

Thoughts of her attack and the camp fled as she watched him motionlessly. She was afraid to breathe, terrified that whatever was happening would stop. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it, lips pressing softly against her cool skin. Tensleigh drew in a breath and blinked, searching his face for a sign that would tell her how to take this attention. Her gaze had moved down to their joined hands, hers looking small in his, when he leaned forward to press his lips against her forehead tenderly and briefly – oh so briefly – kiss her.

Giving her no time to react, to reciprocate the kiss, Viktor stepped back quickly and looked at her with concern. Tensleigh felt her heart begin to slow from the frantic beating that had begun at the touch of his lips. Don't fool yourself girl, it's just relief. You are his closest friend and you went through a traumatic ordeal – almost died – and he's glad you are alive. Nothing more. Letting out a breath, she jerked her head to the side and stared at the wall. Her face would betray everything she felt and she couldn't afford to let him see that. She couldn't bear the thought of not seeing him everyday, or worse, that he would look at her with pity. Blinking back tears, Tensleigh gathered her pride and wrapped it around her like a blanket.

Gritting her teeth, she inched her way up the cabinet behind the bed until she was in a sitting position. Someone, she couldn't see who, was handing Viktor a tray of food at the door. The menagerie owner thanked the person and shut the door, turning back to look at her. He practically shoved the tray at her, nearly toppling the food over, and she frowned slightly.

“Eat. Eat. You’ve been healed by an Aes Sedai. You need to get your strength back.” She consented, taking the tray, but her eyes remained on his face. She felt ravenous, especially with food near. The whole in her stomach left her feeling hungry enough to eat the entire camp's worth of food, but her craving for Viktor outweighed the hunger. Tensleigh felt as if she were on a giant ladder, going up three rungs only to drop back down four. Why had his demeanor changed so suddenly?

A fleeting thought almost paralyzed her – did he blame her for what happened? Was he going to kick her off the show? Out of the menagerie? Her hands started shaking slightly and she took a piece of bread off the tray to cover it, mind racing. What would she do? She would lose everything in one fell swoop...

Another touch on her hand quieted her nerves and she turned to stare at Viktor, his fingers curled through hers. His eyes, dark liquid brown, caught her blue when she turned and his leaned in to press his lips against hers again. It wasn't friendly this time, his mouth hard on hers, asking silently for more. Her mouth yielded under his and she kissed him as she had before she'd collapsed, pouring years of pent up feelings into it. Her free hand pushed the tray away and snaked up behind his head, tangling in his dark hair and pulling him to her. Tensleigh felt the butterflies give way to the burning heat of desire.

Viktor broke the kiss shortly after, breathing hard. He leaned back and looked at her, for once his hands not immediately reaching up to smooth his hair. “I should have done that a long time ago.” He said, hand reaching toward hers. She reached her other hand up to her mouth and pressed it against the swollen lips for a moment before she smiled at him. He smiled back, brilliant teeth gleaming in the sun and they stared at each other for a prolonged moment, savoring the culmination of years worth of want.

“I think I've loved you since you first told me about the stars,” she blurted into the quietness, flushing at timing – and feeling – of her statement. Averting her eyes, Tensleigh stared at the tray, the sight reminding her of her hunger. Her stomach growled loudly and she gave a little chuckle, reaching forward with her empty hand to grab a piece of bread.

Tensleigh Annika Maer

In luuuurve

- - -

Groggily, Miahna stared at the ceiling above her. There were several crystals on strings hanging from the top, casting faint rainbows about the room in the waning daylight. Lifting herself up onto an elbow, the Blue shook her head in an attempt to reorient herself with her surroundings. Memories of ripping apart the darkfriends, saving Taia and the young girl had a fuzzy quality to them, almost as if they had occurred months or years ago rather than earlier in the day. It was earlier in that day, right? Staring at the high windows, the Aes Sedai attempted to discern whether she'd slept hours or days, but she couldn't tell.

Her body screamed as she flung her feet over the side and stood up. The weariness in her bones told her that it had been hours rather than days. And reminded her that she was a hundred years old. Good, I would hate to lose that much time. She rubbed a hand over her face and stood, head bumping into one of the crystals. Apparently whoever lived in this cabin was shorter than Mimi's 5 foot 8 inch frame. Frowning at the little thing, the Blue sidestepped and knocked into another one. She would have laughed were she not so tired. But darkfriends did not stop for her to sleep, and there were more of them out there. Always more of them out there. Ducking, the Aes Sedai made her way to the door and stepped out.

Taia, looking healthy and hale sat on a pair of steps with Grisham leaning on a railing to her right. Both sets of eyes snapped to the door as Mimi stepped out and the Green stood. She nodded to Mimi, her face a mask of Aes Sedai serenity but her eyes worried. "I was worried you had been hurt as well, Grisham tells me you are fine though." The Arafellion looked at her friend, realizing that the Green hadn't known she'd Bonded a new Warder. Taia laughed, tossing her head back as she did so. "I shouldn't be surprised you have a warder for protection. He preformed well he tells me." Miahna cocked an eyebrow at Grisham and he cracked a small smile, surprising her. How Taia gets these reactions from men, I've no idea.

Stepping down from the wagon, Miahna smoothed back some dark hair that had come free from her dual braids and looked at her Warder. Her green eyes followed his gaze to the other end of the camp and she saw the young girl she'd Healed walking with a young man. “They both survived Miahna,” Grisham said in his monotone, his eyes shifting back to the cabin she'd just left, seemingly telling her to go back to sleep. Straightening her shawl – why had she brought the damn thing? - and her shoulders, the Blue faced toward the pair instead of her Warder. There were things to do and there would be time to sleep when she was dead.

Taia must have known them, as she walked forward to meet the pair. Body language suggested that they had feelings for one another, but they were not touching. Mimi hid a grin behind her Aes Sedai serenity, they think no one will notice the strings between them if they don't touch? Ah, how young and foolish. The Green must have known something about their relationship as well, for her smile was evident and her teasing in full force. Miahna forced herself not the roll her eyes as Taia asked the man if he'd ever considered becoming a Warder. The girl shifted uncomfortably and looked as if she wanted to slug Taia in the face. I'm actually surprised that has never happened. Oh the favors the ring does for her... The Green grinned then, and turned to her, “it never hurts to ask.” Mimi had to stifle her laughter as the pair walked away, their hands barely not touching and their bodies responding to the other as they maneuvered through the crowd of people.

Miahna "Mimi" Telonne

Blue Aes Sedai

Fixer of what's broke-d

Hey guys, I'm going to go on a (mostly) LoA for the month of November while I attempt NaNoWriMo for the first time. I'll be around on the Social side some and I'll probably post here occasionally for Carys to keep my Warder happy, but other than that I'll be scarce for November. I should be back in full force in December though!

Gray Ajah Report - October 2011

1) Total: 2 Members, 2 Characters (that would be Active + Inactive)

New: 0 Members, 0 characters

Active: 1 Members, 1 character

KeyHolder21 - Freja Peyrodin - NSW Gray Head (not yet rped)

Inactive (not RPed in past 3 months): 1 Members, 1 character

Elgee - Esther Tremaine - Gray sister - July 2011

MiA (not RPed in past 12 months - bio needs reapproval): 1 Member, 2 characters

Lavinya - Lavinya Morganen (July 2010)

Lavinya - Pia Tovisen (July 2010)

Purged (bio must be re-approved):

None

2) RPs done in October 2011

No RPs done by a Gray this month.

3) Ideas & News:

I know I still need to update stickies and stuff. Hope to get a chance to do this while I’m on my (semi)LoA for NaNoWriMo

I really am excited for the Ajah head string :). I think it will be really fun and was thinking perhaps we could tie the Warders and the Freelanders into it. Maybe try to get everyone involved. What do you think if we spent November planning it and started in Dec? Or maybe we need to start in Jan?

4) Problems:

ACTIVITY!

Blue Ajah Report October 2011

1) Total: 4 Members, 5 Characters

New: 0 Members, 0 Characters

Active: 2 Members, 3 characters

Kathleen: NSW Black Head Alia Mariadoon (September 2011)

KeyHolder21: Miahna “Mimi” Telonne Sedai (October 2011)

KeyHolder21: Asyndara Ellenios (NPC Ajah Head; not yet rped)

Inactive (not RPed in past 3 months): 2 Members, 2 Characters

Phelix: Gera Mondwin Sedai (April 2011)

Wayward_Fool: Regalia "Ray-ray" Frantelle Sedai (May 2011)

MiA (not RPed in past 12 months - bio needs reapproval): 3 Members, 3 characters

Elyssa: Elyssa Lliet

Miya: Miya Kiyoshi (Feb 2010 - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/43143-at-the-request-of-an-old-friend-atn-alin)

SerenaMorrigan: Serena Morrigan (July 2010)

2) RP's done by Ajah characters during October

KeyHolder21 – Miahna “Mimi” Telonne – Blue Aes Sedai

A. Green + Blue = Pranks? - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/63424-green-blue-pranks/page__view__findpost__p__1951693

Timeline: 1000 NE (current)

Mimi and Taia (Rasheta Ardashir) reconnect after not seeing each other for years.

B. A Day in the Life of a Menagerie Member - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/63208-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-menagerie-member/page__view__findpost__p__1977359

Timeline: 1000 NE (current-ish) *takes place after Prank string*

3. Ideas & News:

(same as last month)

Kat and I are working on a Yellow/Blue RP. Its got something along the lines of them both going after the same info, perhaps crossing paths in it but not knowing then maybe meeting up in the end or perhaps not, we just think it would be fun.

Still waiting to do the Ajah Heads string.

Rasi and I are discussing a darkfriend hunt with Mimi and her new character Taia. Might try to tie it into the Black Ajah hunt at the Tower led by Mimi (very hush hush )

I’m planning on posting a (mostly)LoA for NaNoWriMo. I’ll be around a tiiiiny bit, but not much. Probably mostly posting with Carys so as to keep Alex (Elessar) happy.

4. Problems:

*steals Kat's problem section* Activity is low from almost everyone, but the ones who are active are trying to stay so and planning out what we can.

Sounds like a quiet one *g*.

CC'd, just be sure to post in third person when you write on the boards, love. We stick to Jordan's style around here . Have fun!

Ooc: Lovely poem, as always :). Fits the tone/temper of an Altaran!

- - - - -

Sunlight streamed in the tiny window, lighting up a narrow strip of nearly threadbare carpet. The afternoon had been a quiet one, surprisingly. Both the Aes Sedai and Warder had been on high alert, full of tension, since Elessar had found someone tailing them from Lugard. But as time drifted by without the man – she was certain it was a man – attacking, the tension slowly melted away. Today, for instance, she had barely paced in the room before settling down to fix a few of her drawings. Now, as the sun changed positions slightly and orange light began to stream in, she was stretched out on the bed, feet dangling off the end. The charcoal stick in her hands had lost inches in length and had blackened the edge of her palm and several fingers.

Feeling her stomach rumble, Carys set her book aside and stood up with difficulty, trying not to get any black flecks on her dress or the bedspread. She washed her hands quickly, smoothed the bodice and skirt of dress and swept downstairs, boots clicking on the wooden steps, to join her Warder for the evening meal. Since they had Bonded, she hadn't spent a meal alone. She hadn't realized how much having company whilst eating could change the meal. For decades she had taken her meals in the Infirmary or in her rooms, preferring to focus on the tasks at hand rather than waste time. Lately, however, she'd come to enjoy having someone to discuss with over dinner. Food wasn't merely about sustaining life, but was a social event. Sharing a meal bridged gaps and built connections that otherwise may not have existed. It was amusing how some so integral to relationships could get lost in the shuffle.

Enough introspection, she jokingly chided to herself as she stepped into the Common Room. The place had begun to fill up, but even if had it been full, Elessar would have been easy to find. No matter that the Bond was like a beacon, the two of them were simply out of place in this small hard luck town. He was sans fancloth – probably left in the saddlebags so as not to draw more undue attention to the pair – but his grace, ability, and agility was obvious in all his movements. The Yellow walked toward him, skirting around several half full tables to sit down across from him.

More people filed in, filling up every chair in the place, before Carys and Elessar received their meal. The serving girl apologized profusely, her eyes widening at Carys' ageless face, but they waved her away with kind words. The food was fairly plain, but hearty, warm, and filling. In the midst of dinner, a visiting gleeman took the stage and awed the hardworking crowd to silence. Somewhere around the middle, Carys noticed that the girl had cleaned their places and refilled their drinks without asking. She smiled softly for a moment and then turned her attention back to the gleeman. He had begun singing a song called “A Dagger in my Heart,” much to the delight of the crowd. She laughed at some of the lyrics, taking pleasure in how exaggerated they were. Others, however, were completely correct. She had known women such as that, remembering back into her childhood. She'd met many ...colorful people when working with the Wise Women. Elessar's comments about Altarans before the gleeman had begun had made the Aes Sedai chuckle to herself. She wondered if he remembered that she was from Altara, Ebou Dar specifically, as he told her of their customs.

Later, after the gleeman had taken a break and then hopped back up on stage for another round, Carys slipped from the Common Room and retired to her room. The quietness of her room compared to the noise downstairs was almost deafening. She readied herself for bed and then stole a glance out the window, peering up at the sky. It was black as black could be. Frowning at the ominous inky darkness of the night sky, the Yellow pulled the curtains fully shut and slipped into the bed.

The next morning felt strange, and off putting. A fog had rolled in, lending a hushed feeling to everyone and every thing. Even the exchange for their room and board for the night was done in silence, and she'd climbed into the saddle without having spoken a word since the evening before. Elessar had looked ...introspective as he'd mounted his warhorse and urged the stallion forward. Less than a day's ride from here, she thought with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Earlier, before she'd left her room, Carys had reread the note that had started this leg of the journey. It wasn't much to go on, but the feeling that she'd been missing something with Healing had always been strong. For decades she'd felt a niggling at the back of her mind and nearly fifty years worth of working it hadn't solved the puzzle yet. It was time for a big clue. Urging her gray mare to follow the warhorse, they marched onward.

The gray fog whisked around the horse's hooves for hours before it finally melted away. Carys looked around at the scenery and felt a strong sense of deja vu that only grew as the pair crept closer to the city.

Did you want us to R & U this Elgs?

The setting sun behind her and to the right cast a barrage of colors against the sky, painting the world in hues of pink and orange. It was a pleasant end to a pleasant day. Earlier, she'd unwrapped the shawl from her shoulders and tucked into one of the empty saddlebags. The weather grew warmer as they rode South, and it took less concentration for her to block it out. Despite the mind affording channelers to disregard extreme temperatures, they still affected the body. Here in Altara, however, the air was comfortable – not hot, nor cold, just the barest hint of a breeze. As the wind ruffled her hair slightly, the Yellow smiled and looked over at her Warder.

He'd been carrying tension in him since Cairhein, and while that had lessened in Andor, it had come back nearly full force in Lugard. She twisted her mouth, studying the expanse of his back that was facing her. He had been riding ahead or behind the entire time, never next to her though often in sight. The amiable feeling that they had created in the Inn's Common Room had stayed with her, but seemed to have left him. He was a curious one, but obviously good at what he did. Had he not, she would have been dead a few times over. What an interesting line to dance around. How much brevity should these situations entail? ….They never discussed this side of the Bond in class. I can appreciate how difficult it would be to describe having someone else' feelings in your head, but navigating the relationship is just as hard if not more. Perhaps I should suggest a class in it to Talina when I return.

A few heartbeats later, Carys nearly jumped in surprise as Elessar rode up beside her and, in a low tone, divulged to her that they were being followed. Her face immediately became a serene mask and she filled herself with Saidar, preferring not to be caught unaware again. Potentially by the same assiliant. A million questions ran through her head, the major one questioning why they were targets, but who could guess the inner workings of a Darkfriend? She'd heard of one particular woman, a Blue, who had spent her life learning the habits and hunting those that were blackhearted, but Carys was very obviously not her. She suggested riding on as before, her words overlapping with her Gaidin suggesting the same. Now that they were aware he was there, the spy no longer had the upper hand. That was now firmly within their court. Until something else went wrong, and then it would all go to Shayol Ghul. Chuckling to herself, the Yellow once again found her situation funny. She had never planned to leave the Infirmary, to leave the Tower. Now, here she was a battle hardened, emotionally scarred Warder, and darkfriends on their heels. “The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills,” she whispered to the trees.

Their pace never changed, but both partners were on alert, ears listening to any sounds that weren't congruent with the woods around them, eyes searching for shapes in the darkness. Eventually, Elessar stopped his stallion and she reined the mare in to stop as well. “I think we should make camp.” He suggested. “The night is closing in.” She nodded, golden curls bouncing and followed him off the road and into the near shrub. He rode a little ahead in among the trees, checked around and then returned a short time later with word of a place where they could make camp. She breathed in a sigh of relief as no attack came while they were setting up the fire. The threat had shrunken, but not replaced her buoyancy, and the Yellow hummed a small tune as she flicked a Thread of Fire onto the wood and watched it blaze with ease.

After tethering the horses, giving them a quick brush and making sure they had something to eat, Elessar walked the perimeter of their small camp-area while Carys prepared some food over a little fire. The Warder soon returned and said he had seen nothing of their pursuer or any other danger. He remained vigilant, however, standing with his back to a tree and staring hard into the night for some time. Carys frowned for a split second, before leaving him to it. Some arguments weren't worth it. He would remain tense anyway, whether she called him to sit or not, best to just leave him be for now.

Roasting some of their meat provisions, the Yellow did call her Warder to sit, if only to eat and drink something before returning to his tree. They ate in silence, the fire crackling and snapping in front of them the only sound interrupting the woodland noises. As she finished her meal, the Aes Sedai cleared her throat and announced to her Warder that their journey thus far reminded her a little of one of Jain Farstrider's stories. Especially eating and sleeping by a fire in the middle of the woods. “Now, whether that makes you or I, Jain, I have no idea.” The shadow had hidden his face by that point, but she thought she saw the ghost of a smile cross his lips. She bid him goodnight and wrapped herself up in the dark cloak, happy for the heavy material.

The night passed without incident. As they broke camp in the morning, Carys pondered how much sleep her Gaidin had received. The tension was still thick in the air, though less so than the previous evening. Perhaps the bright daylight was a problem for their tracker. Curious, she thought, as she readied the horses. Dousing the remains of the fire with a tiny trickle of water, the pair set out, once again sights set on Ebou Dar.

The woods waxed and waned around them, growing dense at places and sparse at others. The Yellow felt compelled once again to take out her notebook and sketch. She watched the Warder ride ahead to scout and decided she would do so, embracing the Source to balance giving the road less of her attention. Her hearing could remain sharper while her eyes were trained to the objects she sketched. The piece of charcoal flew across the page, the drawing a large one. Her hands moved rhythmically and she didn't pay attention to anything until hoofbeats drew her back to the road, to the present. Closing the book without fully looking at the picture, she put it back in her saddlebags and raised her eyebrows to the Warder. He fell in step slightly ahead of her and gave her a look that promised he would share later. She cocked and eyebrow but acquiesced, riding in silence.

Later wasn't all that farther, however, as the Yellow and her Warder rode into a small village. Glancing around, Carys realized that she recognized this town as the one she and her Aes Sedai escorts had stayed in 50 years ago. She recalled one of the Sisters being extremely unhappy with the lack of "appropriate" facilties in the village; it had not changed much. The Inn was still the biggest and best looking building in town, the road still had plenty of ruts, and the people still looked kind but as if they had been ridden hard and put away wet. They rode toward the inn, where there were a few horses tethered out front on a metal pole.

No worries Sel - whenever you have the time :).

It is never ending. Was the thought that echoed through Carys's head as Elessar cried out for her to move. She threw herself to the ground in an instant, her body rushing to follow his command before her head could confuse it. A knife slashed through the air, the deadly blade cutting right where her stomach had been just a heartbeat before. She stared up, trying to find the assailant, blue eyes wide and questioning, but they came up with empty air. Snapping her head to the right, she found Elessar laying on the ground a bit away. He looked at her quickly, assessing the situation and then glanced toward the inky blackness at the back of the alley. She shifted to get a hand underneath herself, when the sound of another knife sliced through the darkness and embedded into the wall right next to the Warder. Biting her tongue, the Aes Sedai tasted blood as she stopped herself from crying out. Distraction was the last thing that he needed at the moment.

She embraced the Source as she stood, Saidar flooding into her in a rush. The darkness became slightly less black and she squinted, attempting to find who was attacking them, but to no avail. The air seemed solid, as if it were a Power wrought darkness rather than natural. Annoyed, the Yellow wove a forbidden weave and readied to send it forward should she need to save her or her Warder. The air seemed to hum with the decisions made in that brief moment. Eyes connecting with the Gaidin's, she gave a brief nod, imperceptible to someone not next to her. The Warder drew a knife from his coat and flung it into the darkness. Carys held her breath and the weave ready.

The Warder's aim struck true as they both heard a man curse loudly in pain, noise resonating from the darkness as, presumably, the knife hit its target. It was followed by the sounds of someone hurriedly scrambling away from the alley, in a heady rush, knocking down anything in his path. With her Power enhanced hearing, the Aes Sedai heard the footsteps continue past the buildings and down the adjacent street. She saw Elessar start to move forward and then stop himself and she let out the breath. Air flooded back into her and she scrubbed a hand over her face, glad the danger was gone for now. The Gaidin walked over to her and whispered that they should move as there could be more than one. She nodded in agreement, heart still hammering in her chest and held Saidar tightly, the sweet feeling growing sharp as she held as much as she could.

The streets offered no more dangers, however, with the two of them making it back to the Inn unscathed and without further events. The night could offer a different story, however, as the Yellow vividly recalled the midnight attack they had received when on the way to the Cairhein farmhouse. Steeling herself, Carys set a series of Wards on their rooms, culminating in a few that would end violently should someone disturb them for more than a moment. Sitting, she took off her shoes and stockings before moving to the center of the bed. Tucking her feet under her, she reflected on the attack. This time there hadn't even been a reason! Though it did have a purpose, and an effect, albeit one different than intended. It did serve to remind the woman that she was Aes Sedai, not a child out on a jaunt about the world. Danger lurked everywhere, and that was tenfold for Aes Sedai. Hence having a protector around the clock. She could not disregard that line of knowledge because she wished it to change. That was foolish and like to get her killed.

At the thought of her protector, Carys turned her attention to the bundle of emotions in her head that was Elessar. The Gaidin was safe and undeniably whole, but he still seemed anxious, and she felt a small piece of the guilt that had ruled his thoughts when they'd first invaded her head. She clicked her tongue, irritated at the events that had resurfaced that. She believed he had begun to heal from past memories. Never forgetting, but finally forgiving himself. If that had to happen by saving her from danger, then so be it. Tonight, however, had served to refresh those thoughts instead. A very somber reaction for both of them. Frowning, the Yellow pondered how to best heal both the Warder, and herself, after these events as she suspected they would occur many more times during their Bonded relationship. Though solemness had a place sometimes, it didn't always. In the long run, a more favorable reaction would be necessary.

Sighing, she finally slipped under the covers as the fire died down. From the bundle in her head, Carys figured that Elessar was asleep, restfulness finally sliding into contentment. She stared up at the ceiling, finally coming to dwell on returning “home.” It would be ...interesting to see the changes. She wondered if any of the Wise Women she knew still existed. She suspected a few were able to channel, as memories of their faces never changing floated through her mind, dredging up other memories from decades ago. Twisting onto her side, the Yellow scanned through memories of the city for another hour before finally closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Morning came early, the sounds of steps outside in the hall worming their way into her dream. She woke to random voices discussing money, Lugard, the menagerie, and various other things as fellow travelers wandered down to the Common Room for food. Yawning, Carys stretched her arms over her head and slipped out of bed. The room was a comfortable temperature for morning, and she felt a smile stretch over her face despite the events of yesterday and the grave thoughts of the previous evening. She dressed quickly and ensured her saddlebags were ready before heading downstairs. Today was the day they set out for Ebou Dar.

Elessar joined her at a table a mere moment later, sitting down heavily across from her. She cocked an eyebrow, mouth full of porridge and returned to her notebook as he said nothing. It seemed food was necessary for the Warder to find his voice. As he ate the breakfast, his tongue loosened and he began to discuss Ebou Dar with her, relating some history to her. She nodded along as he did so, remembering several of the points from when a Wise Woman would prattle at her. They all liked to talk as they worked, which led to interesting discussions. It was an amiable setting and Carys was pleased with both herself and her Warder for that.

They set out after breakfast, paying the Innkeeper with Tar Valon silver and an assurance they would stay there again should they return to Lugard. "Let's hope we find less excitement in Ebou Dar," the Yellow said almost teasingly, as she stepped up into the saddle. The gray mare snorted, perhaps laughing in response and the pair of horses moved briskly toward the road south, Aes Sedai and Warder on their backs.

ooc: Sorry for the wait you two. Hopefully this post makes up for it a little!

---

Clouds of reddish brown dirt were left in their wake as two black stallions raced south, lather beginning to gather on their dark coats. Astride each was a grim faced rider, reins held tightly in their hands, eyes focused on the horizon. Behind one, a color changing cloak flapped in the wind, occasionally blending in with the background. Behind the other, a dark blue cloak also shifted, as well as a pair of dark brown braids with tiny silver bells at the end. The travelers appeared not to notice, or care about, any of the surroundings. There was one purpose, two possible outcomes, and not a moment to lose, so they galloped on.

Noticing her death grip on the reins, the woman relaxed her grip slightly and released a bit of rein. It would not serve any purpose for her to irritate the stallion. They had rode for days and had hours to go still. Shifting in the saddle, the Blue forced her mind to slow down, grabbing the thoughts that tried to flit around and shoving them into a more measured pace. Her mind cooperated, though her heart did not. The bloody thing felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. She knew that Grisham could feel the anxiety in her – for it was rising in him too - but he wisely said nothing. Perhaps he is learning after all...

As she stared out at the horizon, thinking about it for the first time, the Blue realized she could not explain the sudden fear that had appeared in her chest days ago. They had crossed the border into Kandor when a piercing feeling had taken root in her sternum. It had stopped her in her tracks, a crippling sense of dread, leaving Grisham to knot his eyebrows and stare at her with curious worry. She had blinked, feeling the dread settle into her and immediately snapped back into motion – only this time heading south. Giving the bare minimum of words to her Warder, the Aes Sedai had instructed him to head toward Andor as if their lives depended on it.

As they had hit Andor, the feeling had grown heavier, as if it was soaking her very bones. A quick trip to the city had proven that the menagerie, and Taia, had already moved on. Almost as if the other woman was North on a compass, Miahna felt drawn to the South. Grisham found a few men that had worked for the show while it was in Andor and they confirmed the direction. The menagerie had set out toward Murandy. Flaming woman. If you get yourself killed...I swear I will kill you myself. They had set out that same day.

Different movement to her left brought the Blue back to the present. The Gaidin had quickened his stallion slightly, moving ahead to scout the path. Not that there would be much time between what he found and when she arrived there, if he did indeed find something, but she supposed it was better than being ambushed. It was also something normal for the Warder to do, something calming and routine for him as she sped them into unfamiliar territory. Staring at his back for a moment, Miahna realized that she was becoming used to having a Warder again. It was a strange habit to get back into, but as his form became smaller and then disappeared in front of her, she found that she was more comfortable heading toward this danger with someone at her side.

Annoyed at the lack of scenery change, the Aes Sedai embraced Saidar. Colors leapt at her from all around as each Sense improved from holding the One Power. She narrowed her eyes toward the horizon, yearning to see more, but nothing ever changed. The road, hills, trees, remained the same.

Until it didn't.

Grisham galloped back to her, the lather on his stallion thicker. Glancing down, Miahna realized that that was true for Tai'Mahdi as well. A thin layer of white foam had long since appeared on his neck, and was becoming thicker with every long stretch of road. She felt terrified for a moment, so much was relying on these warhorses, but she grasped it firmly and strangled the thought. Do not get ahead of the moment, she scolded herself. She prepared a Healing weave, when the Warder said something. The sound of a human voice startled her – had it really been that long since they had spoken to one another? Looking up, she cocked an eyebrow and stared at him. He yelled it again. “The camp is right over that hill!”

And so it was. As they crested the hill, the capital of Murandy was displayed in all its glory. The menagerie camp appeared small next to the city, but was splayed on a stretch of land to the northwest corner. Miahna sucked in a breath as she saw smoke and the orange of flames licking into the sky. Next to her, Grisham nodded and together they leaned over the necks of the stallions and rode at a neck breaking speed toward the tents. She took another moment to pat Tai'Mahdi's neck and promised some Healing and lots of apples to follow their arrival.

The camp was in chaos as she and Grisham halted their horses and hopped down onto the ground. Ignoring the dark feeling within her, Miahna strode up to the closest person and asked for leader of the menagerie. Surely he would know where Taia was, as the Green was unlikely to travel unnoticed with the group. “The easiest way for her to stick around without inquiring minds would be to become a patron,” she relayed to Grisham as the Warder cast a puzzling glance, “and the owner would know where his or her patrons are.” The woman was hysterical, and pointing around at the fires. She pleaded for Miahna to put them out. Miahna gave her an exasperated look, pulled some water out of the air and dropped it on the fire. She stepped away for the woman could say anything. She needed to find Taia.

They walked up to another person. He was calmer, but still had no idea where the owner was. Miahna forced her face to stay serene as they asked another, and another. Finally someone claimed they saw him head toward a copse of trees to the east, trailing after the Lady Sienna. “That has to be her,” she told Grisham. People were screaming around her and Miahna weighed her choices momentarily. I cannot ignore this any longer, she thought with grim determination. I will fix this and then find Taia.

Calling the attention of those around her with a simple amplifying weave, the Aes Sedai ordered the people to split up into groups. The group on the left would get water to put out the fires, the group in the middle would check for those wounded and take them to a centralized location, those that were animal handlers would go comfort their animals, because they would be more confused and upset than half of the humans and the rest would serve to begin getting everything back in order. As she ended the weave and dismissed them, the groups set out and the tension dropped. Grisham opened his mouth to ask about something when Miahna spotted Taia. Relief washed over her, so strongly that it nearly whited out her vision for a moment. The Green waved toward her and she waved back, careful to keep appearances and not appear too eager on the outside, but bouncing with excitement on the inside. She's fine. She's okay. Why the dread then?

The next moment seemed to go in slow motion. Taia began walking toward Miahna and Grisham when someone stepped into her path. Knitting her brows, the Blue took a few steps to the left and toward the man between her and her friend. As her foot hit the ground on her third step, she saw the glint of a blade and heard Taia scream. Nearly screaming herself, she ran toward the Green. The assilant took off due west and Miahna screamed incoherently at Grisham to go after him. She didn't realize that he'd already took off after the man.

Swearing under her breath, the Blue dropped heavily to her knees next to Taia's unconscious body. Someone was talking to her, but she ignored him. She Delved her quickly, aware of the dark stain that was spreading too fast on the green fabric. The slice was deep and had punctured an organ. Gritting her teeth to keep the tears away, Miahna wove Air, Water, and Spirit together in a thick rope and fed it through the slice into Taia's body. The strands wrapped around the edges of the slice, repairing the flesh as they did so. Several heartbeats later, the Blue sagged in relief as Taia's pale skin was once again whole and unmarred. With a quick kiss on the Green's forehead, Miahna stood up and raced toward her Warder. She knew Taia would have understood. And done the same thing herself.

Mimi found Grisham a moment later, grappling with two large men. One carried a long dagger; the other a sword. Though the Warder had trained for multiple opponents, the man with the sword seemed evenly matched in skill. He and the Gaidin circled each other as the man with the dagger snuck in for a few strikes on Grish's side. Growling in anger, the Blue snatched him up in Air and forced a thick block down his throat, through his esophagus, ribs, lungs, and out. His body crumpled to the ground, blood seeping from the gaping wound. She glanced at the body as it fell and then turned her attention to his partner.

The Warder was holding his own, but the small cuts the dagger had caused were slowing him down. The Darkfriend circled him, a smirk on his face, energy and body hale. Miahna narrowed her eyes and sharpened a thread of Air. She prodded it toward him, blood blossoming on his trousers from said cuts. She called out for him to stop, only to no avail. When another request was denied, not even acknowledged, she wrapped the razor thin piece of Air around him and snapped it taut. Bright red blood dribbled out the corner of his mouth as he collapsed.

Grisham stared at the body and then whipped his head around to stare at her. She felt admiration, surprise, and a little horror through the Bond. He scrubbed a hand over his face, sheathed his sword, and walked toward her, still silent. Miahna mulled over his emotions in her head as they walked back to the center of camp. Weariness began to set in as the adrenaline wore off. Her steps were slower, shorter, as they walked, until eventually she was leaning on the Warder. He supported her easily; she noticed that the horror was gone as soon as she needed help. They would have to talk about that later. They needed to talk about it later, but for now rest was in order.

The camp was well in order as they returned to the center. Wisps of smoke still rose occasionally from a blackened wagon or tent, but there were no more flames. Miahna sighed tiredly as Grisham guided her to the steps of a wagon and she bent to sit. A deep voice rumbled behind them, however, and the Blue stood up. A large man looking a bit worse for wear, introduced himself as Nico. He thanked the Aes Sedai and her Warder for their assistance, but requested that she provide one more act of kindness if she was able. There was a young girl, someone he thought of as a daughter, that was dying in another wagon. “I saw what you did for the Lady Sienna. Please, Aes Sedai, Heal Tensleigh. Irene and I could never have children...she's so young.”

Closing her green eyes and opening them slowly, Miahna nodded tiredly and motioned for him to take her there. Grisham tightened his hand on her upper arm in warning, but she gave him a stern glare and he made no vocal argument. Together they crossed the camp center to find a wagon with a young girl laying on the bed, flesh almost white and chest barely rising. A withered old woman sat in the corner, chewing on her nails. She jumped up as Mimi climbed into the cabin. “Peace old woman,” was all Miahna said. Stepping to the edge of the bed, the Blue drew on the remaining strength she had and Delved the girl. Internal bleeding and pierced lung left her with only another hour at most to live. Gritting her teeth, the Blue once again wove together thick strands of Air, Water, and Spirit to Heal. She laid them on the girl and as she repaired her to full health, the Aes Sedai stumbled backwards, catching herself against the door. “Make sure she has plenty of sleep, and she will be ravenous when she wakes up.” With that, the Blue stepped out of the cabin and nearly fainted with exhaustion in her Warder's arms.

“That's it. I'm commandeering a wagon and you are sleeping.” He told her forcefully, one hand wrapped around her waist and the other holding her arm over his shoulders.

For once she didn't protest.

Miahna Telonne

Blue Aes Sedai

You don't want to get her mad

---

Tensleigh felt pain, and then nothing. Shifting on the bed, blankets soft beneath her, she opened her eyes. The ceiling was a beige color, not the dark blue that she'd painted hers long ago. Perplexed, she shifted her head to the side and looked around. This wasn't her wagon. Her blue eyes blinked rapidly, trying to rid of the blurriness of sleep when they latched onto something, well, someone in the corner. Viktor sat on a stool, dark eyes staring straight at her. He jumped a bit when her eyes connected to his and he stood up, knocking over the stool in the process.

Tensleigh Maer

No longer fatally injured

ooc: I love it; brilliant!

---

It was early morning when she awoke, sunlight streaming in through a gap in the heavy curtains. Rolling over onto her back, Carys rubbed sleep from her eyes and stared up at the ceiling. Despite the rough appearance of the city and the tension in the streets, she had slept peacefully through the night. Probing at the bundle of emotions in her head that was Elessar, she was pleased to find him as equally well rested and content. Throwing the blankets back, the Aes Sedai stepped into the cooler air of the room and readied herself for the day.

She met her Warder in the Common Room and the pair ordered breakfast. They chatted comfortably, discussing the Inn, the sights of Lugard, and some other things. In the early morning, the Common Room was full of people, though all seemed quiet and most were bleary eyed. Merchants by the look of them, traveling through with their wares but had taken part in the bawdy singer of last night. Carys had heard the lyrics up in her room as she had embraced the Source to practice through a few weaves. There was something bothering her about the Healing weave. It had been nagging at her for months now, but she kept getting distracted. As dangerous as Lugard was, the Yellow figured she should take the time to practice it while she could.

A serving girl came around to collect their dishes and with a murmured thank you and an exchange of coin, the Aes Sedai and her Warder set off to see the sights of Lugard. Carys noticed that Elessar carried a little more tension in his shoulders than he had in Caemlyn as they stepped out into the streets. She tightened a shawl around her shoulders – not the ostentatious Yellow shawl that she had back at the Tower, this was a darker and more obscure one – and stepped up beside him. The capital of Andor had afforded her to walk leisurely; Lugard suggested she walk at a clipped pace and within arm's distance of Elessar.

Still, there were sights to see and this could potentially be the only time she was in Murandy. Looking around, Carys noticed broken glass on the road and followed the trail to a few busted store windows. That must be where the fight was yesterday, she mused to herself, noting that the window edges appeared to have marks suggesting they had been broken before. Stepping carefully, the pair left behind the remembrance of the fight to find what else Lugard had to offer. Surely danger and dust cannot be the only memories I will leave this city with.

The best part of the day, she decided later as they reentered the Inn, was the people watching. The Aes Sedai had felt more Brown than Yellow as she'd walked around the city noticing the plethora of accents , clothing and hairstyles. Some she could place and some she couldn't, but it was very interesting to see them all in one place. It could be argued, she supposed, that Tar Valon held just as many different kinds of people, but in the heart of the Aes Sedai's city, no one ever seemed to be enough themselves. Here it felt as if she were watching them in their normal habitat. Okay, Carys, now you really do sound like a Brown. Smiling sheepishly to herself, the Yellow made it a point to pay more attention to the buildings and less to the people. She glanced up at Elessar, but he was looking elsewhere. After Caemlyn, the Yellow felt as if Lugard were missing something.

On the far side of several horse lots, the Yellow and her Warder stopped for something to eat. It was an interesting feature of the city, the bare patches of ground with stables on either side, smack dab in the middle of taverns, inn, and merchant shops. Pointing to a tavern on the far side, Elessar led her to a table just inside the entrance. Carys settled into her chair, glancing around at the patrons as they gave the pair dirty looks. After living in the Tower, it was odd to find that not everyone cared for Aes Sedai. Despite having met several people along the way already, the idea was still something Carys was getting used to. She'd been Raised to respect the Healing Aes Sedai did, and then spent her life within the Shining Walls. There had been talk of how women who could channel were treated in certain parts of the world, but until now, she'd never had to dwell on it. Looking at the Gaidin, she felt more grateful than ever that he had stepped into that alley in Cairhein. Otherwise, she'd have been dead a few times over. And if by some miracle she'd survived this long, Lugard would not have left her alone for long.

The afternoon was more pleasant than the morning. After lunch, the pair had resumed their tour of the city. They perused old buildings and new, Murandian monuments and historical statues. They visited the banks of the river Storn, enjoying the view and the beauty of the running water, and walked along the (decaying) gray outer city walls. Though the city had, perhaps, somewhat less to offer a visitor when it came to splendour than many others, she and Elessar appreciated seeing the sights and in so doing learning some of Lugard’s - and Murandy’s - history. They had also learned that a menagerie had set up on the outskirts of town. It, too, had just left Andor and the rumor was that they had performed for the Queen herself. As she and Elessar walked back to the Inn, Carys considered the possibility that that had been why the Queen was busy while she and Elessar had toured the palace. She grinned a little at that, there's a kid in all of us.

Nothing of note happened in the evening, or in the next day. Having toured the majority of the city, and having plans to attend the menagerie in the evening, the Aes Sedai and her Warder chose to stay at the Inn for the day. Carys curled up with her notebook in a corner of the Common Room – close to the fire. Her blue eyes flickered from the pages to the Room, observing the people and idly listening to their chatter. This time she wasn't paying attention to how they were saying things, but rather what they were saying. It appeared that crime had increased to nearly double in the past month. Biting her lip, she considered this tidbit of information as she fixed a drawing.

The evening came, however, and she tucked away that bit to bring up to the Warder another time. Almost giddy with excitement, Carys bounded up the stairs to her room and changed for the menagerie. She donned a blue dress that matched her eyes perfectly, golden scrollwork along the edges and sweeping across the bosom. She pinned back some of the golden strands atop her head, leaving the rest down to frame her face, and looked in the mirror briefly before she left. She had attended a menagerie once as a small girl, going with one of the Wise Women to aid a sick performer. The Wise Woman had dressed up her nicely, even applying a bow to her hair. That need to dress up had apparently stuck in her subconscious.

The menagerie was easy to find. A crowd of people were in the streets, already, heading toward the lights and sounds. She and Elessar stepped onto the cobblestone path and merged with the group, him careful to buffer her. She smiled up at him briefly before turning her attention, and growing excitement, back to the menagerie. Small children were crying out and pointing toward the tents, which made Carys smile even more. She resisted the urge to clap her hands.

The show did not disappoint, nor did the staff. Recognizing her ageless face, the ushers had provided her and Elessar with excellent seats and service. Tar Valon coins clinked into quite a few hands as the performers, one by one, dazzled the Yellow along with the rest of the crowd. At one point, she looked over to see Elessar's reaction, but his face was hidden by the shadow of the lights. Probing the bundle of emotions in her head, she found him...content and that was good enough for her. Clapping her hands at the end of the act, she laughed along with the crowd as a monkey came out on a tricycle and proceeded to extend his hat for coins – or anything else one may have wanted to throw in.

The lions had been her favorite part, and it appeared it had been for many others as well, based on the applause and the stunned silence that the act had garnered. Depending on what the tamer was doing, she'd received either one or both. Carys had been on the edge of her seat once, sliding back sheepishly as she realized it. Though lions were dangerous, it was obvious that the girl knew them well and spent a lot of time around them. The big cats watched her every move, but their movements seemed to be in sync with hers.

The lions had been the final act. The Yellow through her hands together for firm applause, joining the rest of the crowd. As the ringmaster backed out of the circle, the clapping began to die down, and eventually stop, as the people made their way toward the front of the tent. She and Elessar waited patiently, finally stepping out into the cool night air moments later. Shivering slightly in the cool air, Carys wrapped a dark shawl around her shoulders and turned to look at her Warder. “Well,” she asked, “what did you think?” Her eyes twinkled in the light of lit torches, still dancing from the show.

Sounds good - have fun Poet!

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