More actual channeling! Miahna thought with glee as Elin explained that they would be working with two more elements – Air and Water. It had been so thrilling in their last class when she’d been able to watch her weaves reshape the stone and light the candle. Who knew a simple task could have felt so good?

She stood up with the rest of the class, the other girls mirroring her own confused expression when Elin announced that they would be having the lesson elsewhere. Were they going to another classroom? She hadn’t had many in the short time that she’d been at the White Tower, but none of her other teachers seemed inclined to move. She put her notebook away as the girls in white followed the Accepted out of the room.

The gaggle of girls made their way down a wide staircase, the white stone dazzling in the mid afternoon sunlight. Soon there was a large glass door in front of them and a beyond that, one of the infamous Tower gardens. Elin pulled the door open and ushered all of the novices past her. She closed the door behind her and moved toward the class, instructing them to stand in a circle around her.

Miahna embraced the Source, reveling a little less in the joyous feeling than she had the day before. She watched as the glow sprung up in rapid succession around her classmates. The Accepted was already shiny with Saidar glow. Suddenly thick strands of brilliant white Air appeared and were deftly woven into a small wall.

Upon suggestion, and permission, from Elin, Miahna took several strands of Air and wove her own wall. She smiled as the wall came together smoothly. Compared the effort it took to shape the stone, this felt like she was working with, well, air. It had required hardly any effort on the Arafellin’s part. Glancing around, Miahna noticed that each of her fellow novices had repeated the weave as well. Elin appeared happy at the successes that were walling the class in.

Water was next. Mimi watched as the Accepted channeled one thin strand of water and knotted it to form a small ball hanging in the air. She flicked the weave slightly and sent it crashing into Miahna’s wall of Air. The ball exploded, droplets raining down on the entire class. Giggling reigned supreme as Elin told them to practice making balls of Water, walls of Air, and practice flinging them. Even Miahna chuckled at the silliness. She’s a good teacher, Miahna thought as she made a wobbly ball of water and threw it at her neighbor’s wall, what a better way to teach us than to have it interactive and fun! From what she’d seen so far, the Arafellin knew there wasn’t enough of that in the Tower.

The water fight continued for a while. Mimi and her neighbor made a contest out of creating a large ball of Water over the other’s head and then that person trying to weave their wall of Air before the ball hit them. Both of them ended up soaked to the bone. The bells at the ends of her braids tinkled as Miahna tried to shake and squeeze out the extra water. She noticed that some of her classmates had preferred to stay dry, but the majority had joined in on the fight. Water balls whizzed back and forth as Elin tried to call them to attention.

Once the class had quieted, water dripping off the hems of many white dresses, the Accepted showed the novices how to extract the water from their clothing and leave their dresses dry. Miahna sighed contentedly as water evaporated and her skin lost that clammy waterlogged feeling. It had been a wonderful stress reliever to have a water fight, but it was even more wonderful to be dry instantaneously. This is a very handy thing to know!

Elin spoke again after the novices had all dried their dresses. “In this lesson, we won’t cover Spirit because most weaves of Spirit are more complex than novices should attempt. That said, I will give you a demonstration of one of my favorite wards.” Miahna watched with the class as the Accepted spun out a variety of shining dark gray threads of Spirit, some thick, some thin, and formed them into a dome around herself. “Girls, this Ward is called, rather unimaginatively, a Spirit Barrier. It will keep any living thing from crossing the barrier until it is untied or cut.” Miahna nodded absently, watching the pulsing threads of Spirit. Though the name is lacking, I can tell that that is an even more useful weave to know.

The bell rang then, and Elin let the barrier dissolve. The class was dismissed, but before she left, Miahna wanted to ask about the drying weave. If it worked on clothes, it could possibly work on other things too. “Accepted Elin?” she called, stopping the Accepted as she moved toward the doors, “will the water weave you showed us for our clothes work on our hair too?” It may have seemed a silly question, but who wanted wet braids slapping them in the back all day?

Choice RP requirement completed.

OOC: I had originally planned this as a homesickness RP, and it just turned out into a chore.

I hope I did this right. Please let me know if I didn’t!

------------------------------------------------

IC:

The barest hint of sun began to filter through the tall windows, golden rays highlighting dust particles that lazily floated around the air. By the direction of the sun and where she was in the tower, it was later in the morning than Miahna had thought. Not that she’d had much time to breathe, let alone think. Tamila Sedai had arrived earlier in the day and plucked her from the hallway. She’d been on her way to study in the library; there was a particularly brutal exam coming up on the history of the White Tower. However, the Green had had other ideas. “I do no forget a face,” the Aes Sedai had said, “and I see by your dress that you do still be novice.” Mimi had been hard pressed not to make a face at that. Some women were novices for 10 years or more – she had only been one for three so far, of course she was still in white! “Come with me child. I have lots to do and very little time to do it in.”

Because I don’t have anything better to do and there aren’t a million servants that could help you. Keeping her grumbling to herself, Miahna followed the Illian-born Sister. A few years in the Tower had altered her personality slightly. She was just as blunt as ever, but now she kept it almost all to herself. A few visits to the Mistress of Novices would do that to a woman. She knew that Valeri Sedai knew Miahna didn’t hurt others feelings on purpose, but that didn’t stop her from fitting the punishment with the crime. The Arafellin rubbed her bottom for a moment in remembrance of her last visit. How humiliating it had been to be turned over Valeri’s knee and spanked as if she were six years old.

Walking through the Tower as if there were a fire, Tamila glided past Sisters, novices, and Accepted alike with barely a notice. She managed a slight nod for most Aes Sedai, though Miahna had no clue how the other women would have been able to tell unless they whipped their head around to follow the Green, which certainly did not happen. She looked like a woman on a mission and, Mimi supposed, she was just that. At least the novice did not have to run to keep up, her height and long legs afforded her to maintain dignity while clipping alongside the Aes Sedai. Come to think of it, how did Tamila Sedai maintain that serenity while practically running everyone else over? It must come with practice. The Arafellin though, stealing a glance at the woman next to her.

They soon arrived at what Miahna could only imagine were the doors to Tamila’s rooms. A beautiful dark wood was engraved with hundreds of tiny swords, each hilt with a different design. Opening them with ease, the Green strode in and walked to a pile in the middle of the floor. The girl in pure white hesitated between waiting to be asked in and following the Aes Sedai who obviously wanted her to do something. Deciding on halfway between the two choices, Miahna stepped over the door frame and walked a few steps into the room before clasping her hands and staring at the scene.

Tamila plucked at one of the dresses in the pile and made a noise with her mouth. “Child,” she beckoned, “I need these clean and repacked by morning. I do no plan to stay here long.” She grabbed a bag and a two hard cases from the side of a beautiful leather wrapped couch and handed them to Miahna. “You have permission to come and go in my apartments as you do need. I will no be here until very very late I believe.” The Aes Sedai seemed to almost grit her teeth as she said that, but Aes Sedai did not do that, so of course she actually did not. She looked from the clothes to the bags and then strode past Mimi toward the open doors.

Before she could stop herself, Miahna blurted out, “Don’t you have other dresses to take…Tamila Sedai?” She managed to add on the honorific at the end, despite the bluntness of her question. The Green stopped just outside the doors and turned back toward the outspoken novice. Her dark eyes flashed for a moment before she smiled a tiny smile.

“You do be lucky I like directness girl. I will forgive your question and rudeness if you do finish those before I return.” With that, the Sister turned on her heel and stalked back down the way they had come; her pace even brisker then before if that was possible. It was very curious indeed.

Of course Mimi hadn’t the time to dwell on the peculiar behavior of Aes Sedai. That would take much more time than she was ever granted. No, she had better get her bottom in gear if she was to finish all of this by morning. Looking at the pile, Miahna considered grabbing a bit and making her way down to the laundry rooms. She knew it wasn’t as proper to carry a load in her arms as it was in a basket, but she did not have a lot of time. Oh Light, if I don’t get it done by morning – whenever she considers morning – I’ll be in trouble for my Bloody mouth anyway, I might as well carry some down and make up the time. Agreeing with her own logic, the novice hefted a pile of dresses, undergarments, and who knew what else in her hands and made her way down to the laundry room.

The tall girl arrived at the laundry room a few moments later. She hadn’t been stopped by anyone on the way, so hopefully that meant she was in the clear. For the pile of clothes in her arms anyway. The rest of the night would tell whether she and her bottom would be making another appearance over Valeri’s knee. Surprisingly, the laundry room was as calm as the Telonne house after her siblings were down for the night. I guess it’s an odd time of day to do laundry? she questioned to herself as she walked over to a semi-secluded corner to begin separating Tamila’s clothing into dresses, undergarments, and extras, and then again into piles by color. It was a rare day that a novice didn’t have any laundry she was assigned, or any dresses of her own to do. Perhaps they are all in the library studying for the exam. Mimi thought petulantly for a half second before shaking herself out it. Thinking that way wasn’t going to get her anywhere. She ripped a piece of paper out of her class notebook and left a note for the clothes to be left alone until she returned. Grabbing a basket, Miahna made her way back to Tamila’s rooms and grabbed another pile.

Once she separated that out too, Miahna set to washing a few dresses at a time and then laying them out to dry. The first four went as smooth as the shaped stone she used as a paperweight. The fifth, however, provided a problem. There was a large brownish stain on the right side of the bodice. Grimacing, Miahna scrubbed some soap into it and laid it off to the side. Stains weren’t new to her, she’d raised five younger siblings – three of them boys – and stains tended to find their way into dresses, breeches, and shirts more often than one could count.

Wiping her hand across her brow, the novice grabbed the next set of dresses and continued on, and then on again. I can’t believe she travels with this many dresses! Mimi thought. Actually, she probably doesn’t…I wonder how long these have been waiting to be cleaned. The novice tsked her herself and kept washing.

Noise in the laundry room waxed and waned until it was perilously close to bedtime. Yawning, Miahna knuckled at her back and realized she hadn’t eaten dinner, nor asked permission of Valeri Sedai to be out of her room past curfew. Looking at the window and then back down to the pile of clothes, the Arafellin realized she would have to risk it. After all, the punishment for being out of bed late would be less than the punishment of being rude to an Aes Sedai, wouldn’t it? I’m trading a chicken for a rooster. she stated to herself, smiling slightly. Whether the smile was from actual amusement or tiredness Mimi didn’t know or care.

The undergarments were a regular joy after the dresses. Miahna carefully washed and laid the Aes Sedai’s delicates to dry before moving back to the stained dresses. Two of the stains came out rather quickly, hardly any elbow grease required. The last, however, was proving to be extra stubborn. The black stain had lightened, but it had also oozed up an inch on the royal blue fabric. Worse, it was silk. Groaning, Miahna checked on the other garments. They were all dry or working on it. This is going to take something special, she thought, tapping her lip in contemplation. Gazing around the laundry room, the Arafellin spotted just what she needed to hopefully get the stain out once and for all. Apparently someone else had the same experience with tough stains. Either that or a servant had left it in here by accident. In any case, it should solve her problem. She applied the barest hit of the liquid to the hem and added a bit of water.

It needed time to set up, so Mimi took those minutes to wash out the tub. A small layer of grime had appeared on around the rim and that would certainly not do. Next, she rinsed and dried the basket she had used to carry the dirty items down. Dust had settled into the little nooks and crannies of the basket and it could easily transfer to her freshly laundered clothes. When she had finished with the basket, Miahna turned back to the stain and scrubbed heartily with a brush. The Light be thanked that it started receding and then finally, with a careful application of added pressure, disappeared all together.

Gathering up the rest of the dry clothing, the novice carefully placed them in baskets and carried them upstairs. She put the formerly stained dress over a dummy in the laundry room to dry and took the straightening tools upstairs. How much easier this would be when she was Aes Sedai and had the ability to use the Power as she saw fit. Then again, why waste Saidar on cleaning a few clothes?

Unsurprisingly, Tamila’s quarters were sparsely decorated. It fit though – every piece seemingly had a reason to be there. A large dark desk sat to the side in the front room, the top bare save for a few sheets of paper and an inkwell. Moving over to the desk, Mimi was pleased that with just a glance down she could see that the pages were empty. She didn’t want to disturb the Green’s desk, but she didn’t have another flat surface. How else could she get it done and packed in the short amount of time she had left? At least with blank pages the Sister wouldn’t think Miahna was spying on her.

Working methodically, Mimi pressed the dresses until the creases looked sharp to the touch. She placed them tenderly in the hard case and folded the undergarments into the bag. Wiping her hand across her brow, she nearly sighed with relief. It was done and with not a moment to spare, it seemed. Weak sunlight caught her by surprise as she latched the hard cases and leaned on the back of a cushioned chair.

Her eyelids flickered closed for a few blissful moments before Mimi jerked herself awake. The last dress! It was still down in the laundry on a dummy. She had to force herself to move, Light but she was tired. She pushed off the chair to get some forward momentum and practically fell into the hall. Tamila Sedai could return at any moment. Chances were she would notice that one dress in so many was missing. Of course it was just as likely that she would and that would null the vocal agreement they had.

Her heart felt like it was going to pop out of her chest, beating at an incredibly fast pace. The noise sounded loud in her ears, and she glanced around as if others could hear it as well. It took every scrap of willpower she contained to not run to the laundry room. It was not proper to run in the Tower unless you were expressly ordered to do so. Unfortunately the Green’s orders hadn’t been that specific. She curtsied –properly- to every Sister she saw, her heart getting louder and faster with every delay. Please oh please let Tamila Sedai arrive later than she, and I, expect.

The novice nearly broke out into a run at the sight of the laundry room, but she managed to sustain the slow walking pace. Once in the room, though, she rushed like she was escaping a Trolloc to the dress dummy. Thankfully the dress was still there and just about dry. The pressing materials were still in the Green’s rooms, so Miahna flung the dress over her shoulder and made her way upstairs – at only a slightly faster pace than she had practiced on the way down.

At the sight of the empty rooms, Mimi almost broke out into tears. She quickly pressed the dress and put it into one of the hard cases. By the time she finished pressing the dress, it had dried. Like the others, Miahna folded it and placed it in one of the hard cases. Wiping her hand across her brow, the novice was unsurprised when it came back covered with sweat. Hastily she wiped it on the side of her dress. She’d had to change clothes anyway, her dress had become marred with travel dust and grime and other things that she had removed from the Green’s dresses.

Though the laundry and packing were finished, the Arafellin girl still needed to retidy Tamila’s desk. She grabbed all of the laundry implements and placed them in the basket. Wiping off the desk, Miahna reapplied the inkwell and sheets of paper. I think that’s how they were positioned. She was so tired that she nearly sat down in the gorgeous chair behind the desk. The plump forest green cushion looked as if it was calling out for her to sit on it. No! Mustn’t sit if not asked, she scolded herself. Walking over to a wall near the doors, Mimi stood as straight as she could manage and waited for the Green to return.

She hadn’t waited long. On the wall opposite where the novice was standing, there was an exquisite tapestry of an Aes Sedai and a Warder engaged in a fight against a sea of Trollocs. Mimi had decided to count the Trollocs depicted. She had barely gotten to twenty before Tamila Sedai pushed open the massive doors and tramped into the room. The Green looked irritated before she noticed the novice and visibly smoothed her features. No matter how many times she saw that, it still amazed Miahna that each of the Aes Sedai could do that.

Tamila looked from the girl in white to the cases and bag on the couch and back again. “Light child! I do no expect you to actually finish!" She walked over to the door and intercepted an Accepted that was walking through the Green quarters, toward the exit. “You!” she exclaimed at the woman, “I do need you to go and tell Valeri Sedai that this novice –“ she paused and looked back at Mimi, gesturing for her name.

“Miahna Telonne Aes Sedai.”

Tamila turned back to the novice. “-Miahna Telonne was in service of me throughout the night and she do need a reprieve of her early morning duties. Tell her I said she do earn it.” The Accepted nodded and with a curtsy to the Green she continued on her way. Mimi saw a momentary look of surprise on the older woman’s face as Tamila gave her message. She understood, she was rather confused – and grateful – herself. She straightened her back a little more and waited to be dismissed.

“Well! What do you be waiting for child?” the Green snapped, waving her hand at the open doors. Miahna jumped slightly at the loud tone and curtsied.

“Thank you Tamila Sedai.” Since the woman liked directness, the Arafellin didn’t add any of the flowery language that appealed to some other Aes Sedai. She left the room and found it equally as difficult to keep a walking pace as she made her way to her rooms. Without the adrenaline of Tamila’s pressing pace, she was lefting feeling hollow and aching. It was way past time for bed.

She walked into the novice quarters in a daze. Low conversations from her fellow novices filled the halls as they made their way to classes or chores, the Library, or elsewhere. Mimi waved halfheartedly at her friends as she made her way to her room. She opened the door and nearly tripped over the doorframe. An idyllic silence fell as she closed the door to her room. Hastily removing her shoes and her dress, Mimi fell onto the bed facefirst. Sleep came fast and hard and it was welcome.

Hello everyone!

So I was looking at the reqs for Miahna and saw that I needed to do a novice life post with at least one other fellow white dress-er, or someone with one of those cool banded hems - anybody(ies) willing?

Yay! Congratulations!

ooc: So glad that we can edit after we post, unlike the old discserver boards. I always seem to forget something!

----

To her credit, or training, the Mistress of Novices merely raised an eyebrow at the novice’s tale. It was full of violence, heartache, and misfortune. Even Corine Sedai had shown more emotion with the tiny frown that had furrowed her brow and tightened her mouth, though she had said nothing more about it than Valeri Sedai had. Miahna's last 5 years had provided her quite a time indeed.

The Aes Sedai reached down into a low drawer in her desk and placed a large, heavy looking book on the table. It made a tremendous thump when it met the desk. Flipping to the back of the book, Valeri Sedai dipped her pen and requested that Miahna state her full name for the record. She did so, and then offered her place of birth and age as requested as well. She watched as the Mistress of Novices scratched the pen across the page, signing the Arafellin’s place as an initiate of the White Tower. Surprisingly, Miahna felt lighter with the sentence than than heavier. Already she was paying back the woman who had saved her life.

After a formal welcome, at least that’s how Valeri Sedai’s voice sounded, the Aes Sedai smiled and asked if Miahna had any questions. Finally, she thought. Mimi felt …lost in the dark, so to speak, as Corine Sedai hadn’t told her anything about what to expect. She’d gleaned a little on the road, but everyone had different notions about Aes Sedai.

“Yes ma’am, I do.” She said carefully. “I hope I am not being too forward, but I do not really know much about Aes Sedai and what goes on, other than the rumors I've heard of course. Therefore, I was wondering, well, what to expect about my life as a n-novice I think you called me. Is that the only step before Aes Sedai or are there more?

More importantly though, can novice’s send out and receive letters? I promised my brothers and sisters that I would keep in touch. They deserve that much. I can’t let them –“ She cut herself off and looked the Sister straight in the eye. She wasn’t ashamed of her feelings for her siblings, of course, but that didn’t mean she needed to shame herself by pleading like a small child. Like Tessa did when she wanted something and she knew the answer would most likely be no. Mimi dropped her eyes and before she knew what she was doing, she had started brushing the dirt off her dress. The dirt floated to the floor in a pale brown cloud and made a moderate sized puddle of dust on the clean floor. Horrified, Miahna stopped her hands and placed them in her lap.

Everything looks good for Mimi. Hopefully after this week I can have 2 more x's :)

This time Miahna arrived at the classroom with at least a few minutes to spare. More than that actually, she thought surveying the mostly empty classroom. Elin stood at the front of the room, a small smile on her face. On the desk in front of her lay an empty folder. I suppose that’s for our assignments. Pulling the paper out of her notebook, she looked it over one more time before slipping it into the folder. There hadn’t been much information about the novice she’d received, but she’d done her best. It was a good thing that Brown sister had been willing to help her. If she hadn’t, Miahna wouldn’t have known where to find the book, let alone where to find the information inside the book. She’d been a good student, but they hadn’t very many books to learn from – it had pretty much all been vocally or hands-on. That library had been very overwhelming. I’ll have to spend some more time there so I don’t have to bother a Sister every time.

The rest of her classmates filed in just as Mimi took her seat. The Accepted began the lesson by weaving a separate thread of each of the elements and asking the novices to shout out which color she saw. Feeling the most confident she had since arriving at the White Tower, Miahna embraced the Source on her first try and watched the light shimmer around each of the other novices as those girls joined her in the bliss of Saidar.

She watched with interest as Elin wove a strand of Earth. Though the majority of the other girls saw the strand as a variation of brown, for Mimi it was a brilliant green – the color of new grass. Fire was, of course, a pulsing red thread. Water was a deep blue – like the babbling brook outside her old home. Air was a bright, almost blinding white. Spirit was a rich gray, as if Elin had pulled down a thin strand from a storm cloud. Apparently all the elements looked different to her. She fiddled with her braid, wondering if that meant anything. She’d have to ask the Accepted at the end of class, as Elin was moving on.

A basket of rocks was passed around until each novice had one. Mimi was almost giddy as Elin instructed them to repeat the weave she had demonstrated. Finally channeling! Repeating the Accepted exactly, she watched with wonder as the jagged pointy rock lifted above her hand and melted until it was round and smooth. She placed it gently on the corner of her desk. If we don’t have to turn this in, I’m going to keep it forever, she ruminated to herself, as it is the first useful thing I’ve done with the One Power.

The ease with which the shaping weaves came to her spurred Miahna on to excitedly grab the candle that was passed out next. She watched as Elin channeled a thread of Fire around the wick of the candle and …tied it into a knot? I would have never thought it would be as simple as tying a shoe’s lacings.

Again as instructed, Mimi wove what the Accepted wove and to her delight her candle popped into flame. It was thrilling to do what you wanted! She snuffed it out with a blue Water thread and the candle gave a satisfying hiss. Relighting the candle, Mimi watched with delight as this time she snuffed it out with a white Air thread. A puff of light gray smoke wafted up toward the ceiling as she did so.

I'm sure I speak for everybody when I say that it's all right! You need to focus on feeling better :).

Thank you for the update though! I remember back when I rped for the first time and how we could go a week or two without hearing from our rping partners.

Thanks!

Miahna frowned slightly as the Accepted repeated what Valeri Sedai had told her upon her first night in the Tower – which was that novices were not permitted to channel without an Accepted or Aes Sedai present. She certainly didn’t want to break rules – rules that made sense anyway - but she was more of a kinesthetic learner. It was as if her body needed to go through the process before she could learn. I wonder if that includes embracing the One Power…. She weighed the possibility of getting in trouble to the ability to embrace Saidar on command as Elin picked up a stack of papers from the desk.

There was a tittering of chatter as the Accepted explained the assignment she handed out. Mimi looked down at the name on her paper and felt herself frown again. These women could never touch the True Source ever again. Despite the fact that she had only touched Saidar a few times in the few days she’d been at the Tower, Miahna knew that she never wanted to not be able to touch the One Power. She would not let that happen to her, even if she had to bother every Aes Sedai and Accepted in the bloody tower to supervise her!

Placing the paper within the notebook provided her, Miahna refocused on the Accepted at the front of the room. There had been a reason for the report after all. So as not to suffer the same fate of the women they would be learning about, Elin was describing a method through which they could test their inner strength. That was a handy technique, but this was the first time Mimi was hearing about the fact that not every Aes Sedai was the same strength. She made a mental note of that before tuning back into the lesson.

“This technique is called pushing and pulling the source.” Mimi snorted as she imagined Saidar as a rope being pulled at each end by some of her brothers and sisters. They used to play tug-of-war in the summer time before, well just Before. She closed her eyes and pictured the rosebud and the sun, going through the procedure she learned the other day. Nothing happened. Gritting her teeth, Miahna tried again, this time picturing her brothers and sisters as flowers next her, as she did at the end of the first lesson. The golden feeling seeped into her like it was filling her from the inside out.

Following Elin’s instructions, Mimi drew in as much of the feeling as she could. It was bliss almost to the point of pain. Reluctantly, she pushed it away. When it disappeared entirely, the novice let loose a small groan of disappointment and pictured those rosebuds again. This time the Source came immediately and when she pushed it away she felt the flow of warmth drain from her body until only a dribble remained. Pulling it back to her with earnest, Miahna felt that incredible touch flood into her again and she couldn’t help but smile at how it felt.

Just to test herself, she fully let go of the One Power and again pictured her row of roses. The Source bloomed into her and she proceeded to play tug-of-war at Elin's request.

Apologies that I didn't make it over here to do this yesterday, but here's the link: http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/51957-to-the-tower-attn-amadine/

I appreciate all of the excitement for my next post :-D

"Reqs for NOVICE: Miahna "Mimi" Telonne"

 

• Novice Quiz - [Complete]

 

• Arrival: Meet MoN - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/51957-to-the-tower-attn-amadine/ - (3973/1000) [ 4 / 4 ] [Complete]

 

• Novice Life - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/52244-give-me-freedomat-least-for-one-day/ - (3064 words) [ 7 / 4 ] [Requirement Complete (string is still going)]

 

• One OP Related RP - Intro to Saidar - [ 4 / 4 ] [Complete]
  * Class 1: - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/51819-intro-to-saidar-lesson-one/ (647 words)- [ 1 / 1 ] [Complete]
  * Class 2: - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/51929-intro-to-saidar-lesson-two/ (546 words) - [ 1 / 1 ] [Complete]
  * Class 3: - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/52022-intro-to-saidar-lesson-three/page__gopid__1637119#entry1637119 (604 words) - [ 1 / 1 ] [Complete]
  * Class 4: - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/52120-intro-to-saidar-final-lesson/page__gopid__1639165 (866 words) - [ 1 / 1 ] [Complete]

 

• Choice RP:
  * [Chore RP Solo Post] - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/52116-a-fateful-meeting/ - (2938 words) / [ 1 / 1 ] [Complete]
  

 

• Three Arches - http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/52342-what-was-what-is-and-what-shall-be/ - (5201 words) - [Complete]

As Miahna stepped into the study, an Aes Sedai behind the desk stood up and smiled at her. She made no remark on the lateness of the evening, nor about the dust slowly falling from the new arrival’s worn dress to the clean floor. The Mistress of Novices acted as if this were a normal house call. It was a tad unnerving and a tad comforting. I suppose she receives a lot of visitors at all hours of day, and probably sees other strange things besides, Miahna thought as she took the seat offered to her.

Valeri Sedai moved to a small table to the side of her desk and began to prepare tea. The blissful smell of Saldaean tea filled the air. Miahna’s stomach rumbled and she remembered that she hadn’t eaten that day. She shifted in the chair, trying to drown out the rumbling. Though it seemed to stretch on forever, her stomach had quieted before the Aes Sedai moved back to her desk with a tea tray.

"Now child, why don't you tell me your name and how you have come to be at the White Tower."

Where to start? Miahna thought tiredly. She licked her lips and began her story with meeting Corine Sedai at Prelaine’s inn. Unlike some others may have, Mimi did not skirt around the issue of her father’s drunkeness and abuse. After all, it happened so why not talk about it? Absentmindedly she fingered the scar in her right eyebrow as she talked about her father beating her into unconsciousness.

“Before she left that next day, Corine Sedai told me that in exchange for her saving my life, I must find my way to the White Tower. She said she had tested me for the ability to channel and found it. She said that I was made for finer things. While it was extremely difficult to leave my brothers and sisters, I owe her a debt that I will never be able to repay.” Miahna reached for the cup that Valeri Sedai had placed in front of her and sighed with near reverence as the warm liquid traveled down her throat.

She took a few more sips before placing the cup down and continuing. “As soon as I saw the children would be safe, I set out to Tar Valon. Rilanne, my brother’s wife, was kind enough to lend me a horse to ride to the city. Once inside, I delivered the horse to a friend of hers, as instructed, and made my way through the streets to the Tower. I do apologize for arriving so late, Aes Sedai. I had trouble finding Rilanne’s friend’s house.”

I'd love to have Miahna involved if you're still okay with novices joining. If it's evolved into an Accepted trip though, that's cool too.

*sniffles* What about me?

Cikara, those sound like excellent characters! It sounds like you've already gone a great deal toward fleshing them out, even if they haven't appeared yet :).

ooc: This is the continuation of the bio that I sent in to get her approved. This extra bit of story is thanks to Elgee and Mystica who with more arm twisting got the rest of the story. Here is the beginning of the story if you'd like to read it. I will warn you, however, that when it converted from Word 2007 to Word 2003 for my computer it got a little messed up with structure and words and that is why it is missing words in a few places. http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/51656-wt-bio-for-mianna-%E2%80%9Cmimi%E2%80%9D-telonne-ccd-by-freelanders/ ...also I don't remember how to make a link in these kind of forms, so apologies for the whole long web addy.

Furthermore, I realize when I said that I would post this 'later today' earlier, I did not say later my time. Sorry bout that folks. Anywho, here it is.

-------------

IC:

It was far past sundown by the time Miahna set out from the inn. Glancing up at the night sky, she grimaced and took off at a jog rather than a walk. She needed to get home and get everyone ready for bed, if they weren’t already. Even if they were asleep already, it was past time for her to be in bed herself. It wasn’t as if she could sleep in.

As she jogged – the new shoes blessedly comfortable on her feet – she thought about her conversation with the Aes Sedai. The woman hadn’t revealed anything about her, but had dragged out nearly everything about Miahna’s present and past. She had told the woman things that she had never exposed to anyone. About how there was a small part of her that wished she could get away, a small part of her that wished her younger brothers and sisters had never been born, a part of her that wished Mother and Da would just pass on so the family could start trying to heal instead of being continuously trapped in the nightmare.

The tiny house lay dark at the bottom of the hill. Those dark thoughts cleared as she thought of her brothers and sisters and how capable and wonderful they were growing up to be. She felt that pulse of a mother’s love through her veins – even if they weren’t hers by birth, they were certainly hers now. She slowed down, walking the rest of the way to calm her fluttering heart.

Stepping carefully onto the porch, Miahna sat on the bench to remove the new shoes. The cool breeze tickled her now bare feet and she sighed contentedly. If only it could always be like this, she thought as stars twinkled brightly high up above. She took a deep breath before standing up and tiptoeing quietly into the dark house.

Miahna was drying a large pot when she saw the carriage making its way down the road. It was an odd occurrence – this was an old farm path that now ended with forest. They never received visitors that weren’t from the town and there certainly weren’t any carriages there. She opened the cupboard with her left hand and put it on the shelf while still staring out the window.

The carriage slowed to stop in front of the house. Miahna stepped out onto the porch. Da was fast asleep on the bench, his feet hanging off the end and a bottle laying empty next to his outstretched hand. She rolled her eyes and hurried off the porch to the side of the house, hoping to intercept the visitors before they saw her drunk father and his makeshift bed.

She rounded the corner and nearly dropped her jaw. Henry stood there, his hand extended up to help a young woman down from the carriage. Her older brother looked well. His face was lit up with color and was no longer the scrawny boy she remembered. He turned her way as the woman stepped lightly onto the ground, brushing off her spotless skirts. His eyes flashed a golden brown in the sun and he smiled widely showing off brilliant white teeth.

“Mimi?” He exclaimed, incredulously. “You were just a slip of a girl when I left. Look at you now! You look just like mother!” He patted the hand of the woman next to him and took a large step toward Miahna, enveloping in a bear hug so powerful that he lifted her off the ground.

Miahna gave into the laugh that bubbled up. It had been been six years since she had seen her eldest brother. His laughter joined hers as he spun her around. That, at least, hadn’t changed. Henry had always had an infectious laugh. The bells at the ends of her dark braids tinkled and she realized with a slight shock that his hair was no longer in braids. In fact, there was no longer enough to pull into a short tail let alone a braid.

Henry put her down with ease, his eyes still merry with laughter. She stared at him as if he were a dream; she’d never expected to see any of her older brothers again. Sure they wrote now and then, but it had been ages since she’d heard from any of them. Miahna and Henry heard a tiny cough behind them and snapped their heads to the right. The young woman stood there, watching the scene with a bemused smile on her face. Feeling awkward under the woman’s gaze, Miahna dropped her arms to her sides and looked to her brother.

“Rilanne,” he said almost fervently, “I’d like you to meet my sister Miahna. Mimi for short.” He walked back over to the woman and took her hand. “Mimi, I’d like you to meet Rilanne, my wife.”

The woman next to Henry laughed a tinkly little laugh at Miahna’s surprised expression. “I knew he should have written to tell you. He wanted to surprise the lot of you instead. Now where are this famous Mother-in-law and all these brothers and sisters I keep hearing about?” She strode forward toward the house, the long red scarf she wore trailing behind her.

Mimi cringed and stepped forward to block Rilanne before she could go around the corner. “Let’s get your bags first. I’d hate for it to turn dark before we had everything inside.” Her new sister nodded thoughtfully and turned back toward the carriage. Miahna shot a look of panic at Henry and, looking confused, he stepped over to her.

After telling Rilanne he was just going to have a quick word with Miahna, Henry took his sister gently by the elbow and led her away from his wife. “What is it?” he asked, confusion heavy in his question.

Miahna watched his face fall into disbelief, despair, anger, and finally worry. She told him about the accidental death of their brother, Piotr, which had led to the attack on their mother, about the death of their youngest sibling that Henry hadn’t even known existed, about Mother’s fall into a drunken stupor every night, about how Da quit after Mother did and gave into the same drunken appetite, about how he was becoming increasingly violent toward her and increasingly ignoring the rest of the kids. She told him everything that she had been holding in for the past five years – everything that the Aes Sedai had drudged up the night before.

Henry pulled her into another hug as she finished, crushing her fiercely against his chest. “Oh Mimi,” he said softly and she felt tears falling from his cheeks into her dark hair.

Though they hadn’t the room, the Telonne children were resourceful and found room for their returned brother and new sister. Rilanne wasn’t nearly as frightened by the family’s depressing secrets as Miahna had expected. To Jenelle’s dismay, her brother’s new wife wasn’t nearly as haughty as the carriage might have suggested – though she wasn’t used to housework, Rilanne strapped on an apron and scrubbed with nary a complaint. With a happily married couple in the house, it almost felt like a normal family again.

Except that neither Henry nor Miahna would let Rilanne help with Mother and Da. When one of them threw their fits, it was the two eldest children in the house that dealt with the problems. Henry now dealt with Da and Miahna was in charge of Mother. It was a horrid, but necessary partnership. And as guilty as Miahna felt to have another person involved, she relished the help.

Moreover, Henry and Rilanne brought money into the house. Rilanne had inherited quite a sum from her grandfather. For the first time in their whole lives, all of the young siblings were to have brand new, never been worn before, clothes. Rilanne had worked out a day to take them all the town and leave Miahna with some peace and quiet around the house. Since they wouldn’t fit in the carriage, Rilanne had agreed to walk with them to town, Kagan and Henry walked on either side of her looking very much and armed escort.

Miahna hummed as she bustled about the kitchen. It was positively packed now that even two more chairs had been added, but it hadn’t felt this homey in a long time. Her humming turned into singing as she realized that she was truly and completely happy for the first time in five years.

“Quit that racket!” Her father boomed from the bedroom. Miahna heard the bed creak as he stood up. She clapped her mouth shut and glared at the doorway from which her father emerged. “Get me another bottle.” He yelled, stumbling toward her.

Reaching into the cupboard, Miahna felt nothing but air. Surprised, she turned around and looked in the empty cupboard. Bloody ashes! she swore to herself and faced her father. “There…isn’t any.” She said, still surprised. There had never not been any bottles in that cupboard. Even before Mother and Da had taken to the bottle there’d always been some in there.

Da’s red rimmed eyes widened and then narrowed again in fury. “How dare you!” He bellowed, swinging his fists toward her. Miahna slid sideways along the counter as his right fist connected with her jaw. She’d managed to avoid the left one, not that that mattered now. Pain blossomed across her face as he hit her again…and again and again. She screamed at him to stop until she was hoarse, but he kept hitting her, melting his rage away as his hands turned red with her Miahna’s blood.

“She’s awake.” An unrecognizable voice said. Twisting her head to the side slowly, Miahna was surprised to find herself in no pain. That was far too real earlier to have been a dream. She opened her eyes to see that she was laying face up on a bed in one of Prelaine’s finer rooms. The Aes Sedai was gazing at her calmly; Henry and Kagan staring at her worriedly.

Her brothers heaved a deep sigh in unison as she sat up. Kagan wrapped her in a gentle hug and when he pulled back, Henry did the same. Corine Sedai stepped through the open door and into the hallway – a small flap of the Warder’s cloak against the doorframe showed why.

Her brothers explained that they had returned from town to find Miahna passed out on the floor, her head resting in a puddle of her own blood. Da had been sitting out on the porch whistling to himself with a towel stained with red wrapped around his hands. After a quick assessment of the situation, Rilanne had gathered the younger kids out of the house and attempted to calm them down. Jenelle related to her Rilanne that there had been an Aes Sedai in town a few days ago and that she might still be at the inn. No one had heard of her leaving anyway.

Henry and Kagan had carried Miahna to the carriage and Kagan had set off toward the inn. Henry and Rilanne followed with the children, who were all waiting downstairs to eagerly hear of their sister’s condition. “What about Mother?” Miahna croaked when they finished, her throat dry with thrist. Her oldest brother handed her a glass of water, though he avoided answering her question. Kagan’s eyes tightened with pain and though she didn’t know how, Mimi knew that Mother was with them no longer. She felt tears threaten and blinked to keep them from falling. She felt guilty at feeling relief among her sadness.

“In return for saving your life, I have a favor to ask of you child.” Corine Sedai had said the next morning on her way out of the inn. “You must find your way to the White Tower within the year for you have the ability to learn to use the One Power and should you stay here it will go to waste. You were made for much finer things.”

That had been almost that entire year ago. There had never been anything as difficult as tearing herself away from her brothers and sisters, but she had known deep inside that this was something she could not pass up. “Promise to write every week.” She had told each and every one of them whilst hugging them goodbye. “Be good for Henry and Rilanne.” Tear stained faced had stared back at her, even Kagan’s eyes watering before he adjusted his face to a stoic mask. They are safe. she thought as the lot of them disappeared from her view. Henry will take care of them.

It had taken a much shorter time to arrive in Tar Valon from Rilanne’s family home than it would have been from the Telonne house. Still, it was well past twilight when Miahna arrived at the gleaming walls of the White Tower. She had spent the last few hours staring at the intimidating beautiful structure. It stuck up into the sky, a giant beacon for women who could use the One Power.

She drew in a deep breath and tredged up the stairs. Even the stairs were a brilliant white – reflecting the light of moon on a clear night. There were very few people in the halls, all women save one man in a Warder’s cloak that swept by her at an aggressive pace. “Excuse me?” she asked a woman in a deep green dress divided for riding. “I was told by Corine Sedai to find a woman called the Mistress of Novices.” The Aes Sedai in green looked toward the open doors and then nodded to herself.

“This do be the way child.” She said in a clipped tone. Miahna felt herself start to bristle at the child comment and forced it down. The woman was helping her so far, best not to ruin it. The Aes Sedai stopped in front of a door that was closer to the front doors than Mimi had expected – not that she had had any idea where the Mistress of Novices would have been – and knocked before poking her head in. “Valeri Sedai? I do have an initiate for you.” A split second later the Aes Sedai removed her head and motioned toward Miahna. “You do be lucky little one, she is still here.” She left the door open slightly and strode between Mimi and the door, walking back the way they came with crisp pace that matched her tone. The light seeping out from the door seemed warm and inviting; Miahna stepped in.

You ladies will be happy to know that I am planning on posting it later today!

Everything looks the bloody same! Miahna grumbled as she rounded a corner somewhat out of breath. While she hadn’t exactly run from the kitchens, she hadn’t exactly walked either. It definitely hadn’t been her finest Aes Sedai imitation. And it’s not as if I can ask just anyone for directions… her thoughts trailed off as she spotted the classroom. Straightening her dress, Miahna walked calmly across the hall and stepped inside. She resisted the urge to wipe her hand across her forehead in relief as the bell rang and the woman wearing a banded dress at the front of the room began speaking. She had made it on time.

Miahna had expected an obvious difference in color - surrounded by the bright white of each novice’s dress the colors on the Accepted hem fairly glittered. However, there was an obvious difference in confidence as well. Though she couldn’t have been more than a few years older than Miahna, if that, the Accepted looked over the class with a poise not unlike Corine Sedai.

Sound boomed into the room. The crisp thunderclap jolted the novices out of idle chatter and they all faced forward as the Accepted began to speak. Mimi opened up the notebook she had been given and began to take notes. While it may have been commonplace for many of the novices in the room, she was still getting used to the idea of this One Power and that she could learn to use it. Channeling, the Mistress of Novices had called it.

It was a rare treat, though from what she had heard this morning it wouldn’t be rare for long, to sit in a class. She had been a good student before, but once her brothers had left and her parents had checked out, she hadn’t had time for anything except taking care of her family. The family that she had left behind…Can’t think about that right now. she thought, shaking her head. At the front of the room, the Accepted shivered slightly as she spoke about the male half of the One Power and how it affected men this day and age. Miahna and the other novices followed suit, shuddering in their chairs. She felt sorry for those men and their families. The very idea that her brothers would have to go through something like that made Miahna nauseous.

In comparison, Saidar sounded wonderful. Closing her eyes as instructed, Miahna drew some deep breaths and tried to focus. The idea that she was a rosebud sounded ridiculous, but obviously this Accepted could channel on demand, so maybe there was something to it. The sounds of the room eventually dropped off as more and more novices became intent on reaching the Source. She felt contentedness. She let the feeling flow over her and attempted to picture exactly what Elin had described.

After five failed tries, Miahna set her jaw. She could do this. She would do this. This time, she put more detail into it. The leaves grew tiny veins in their leaves, the outside damp with morning dew. Clouds overhead parted as sun shined down on her in her rosebud form. She imagined her brothers and sisters next to her, and her needing to show them how to unfurl themselves for the sun. And there it was! For a split second Mimi felt awe. It felt like nothing else she had ever felt. Like warmth straight from the Creator filled her.

Just as instantly it was gone. She let out a sigh at the almost painful absence of that wondrous feeling. When she opened her eyes Elin was smiling encouragingly at her. Mimi curved her lip up in a half smile at her success. Even if it had only been for a brief second, it had happened! Closing her eyes again Miahna repeated her steps.

This time it only took three tries.

Awesome! Thanks guys :).

I may have a post or two up today; it might be tomorrow. We have a lot of family stuff going on today, so I'll see if I can get to it.

I still have to have rp when Miahna meets the MoN - can I still jump in on the class, or should I wait for another?

yay! I can see the boards now! Does that mean I'm good to go?

Handle: keyholder21

Character: Miahna "Mimi" Telonne

Rank: Novice

Last RP'd: er...I haven't yet because this is the first day I've been able to see the boards!

A lovely bio. I agree with Mystica - Tinkers are not a group that I've seen rped very often - it's nice to see them getting a little representation and love.

Fianna sounds like a sweet young girl!

Thanks for posting Elgee, and for CC'ing Mystica.

I ended it here because I couldn't think (at the time) of how she would rip herself away from her dependent siblings and parents. However, if it is something ya'll are interested in, I suppose I could just start with that part of the story when I post about meeting the Mistress of Novices. That should happen shortly after my quiz is approved.

Wholehearted agreement.

Character name (if you need it) is Miahna Telonne.