Leala moved her shoulders up and down against the plush chair. It was hard to relax after the day that she had. She had been hunched over a hard wooden chair, taking notes for a very wordy Red. Shifting again, she tried to read her book with her back against the chair and her neck straight. This wasn't quite working. She wanted to find another lesson for her literature class. She was sifting through poems now, but she couldn't pull anything out of them at all. This was simply not working. She would just have to pull out one of her alternate lesson plans that she had made when she first started teaching the class. She let her head drop against the back of the chair and closed her eyes. She had kept an Aes Sedai-like composure until then. But in this moment where she was beyond the point of even relaxing, it was all but impossible.

"May I join you?" a familiar voice asked.

Her gray eyes opened and she saw Gera, an Accepted that she had met when she was a Novice. She had felt like the other woman was trying to take advantage of her at the time, but when she thought about it, the other woman was most likely trying to teach her an important lesson. Gera was one of the older Accepted, looking to be either in her fifties or sixties. She nodded for the other Accepted to join her in a chair next to hers. Leala closed her now useless book and listened to her woes. After listening, she thought that the only way to assess the problem would be to understand what weaves she was working with. "It sounds as though they're feeling over-worked from their other duties. Novices usually enjoy taking classes about the One Power." She remembered that Gera taught a class on more advanced weaves with Water. "Which weaves are you using? Would you like me to observe the class the next time you teach it? Perhaps if I saw their attitudes, I could give some advice."

OOC: Oh, I remember having this conversation with I was a TA alll the tiiiime. xD

Leala's face exhibited the Aes Sedai calm and showed no emotion as she exited the Dining Hall. After becoming an Accepted, it had become rather easy for her to mimic their serenity. It was certainly easier without being pulled into so many directions for chores and whatever else was needed of her. She had just finished teaching a class on the elements of the One Power and had just delivered the bowls and rags used in the lesson. As she opened a door to a new corridor, she began her regular trek to the Library. Recently, she had been wondering what Ajah she would take when she was raised to the shawl. Logically, with the complex emotions and thoughts in each human being, there was something for each Ajah in each initiate of the Tower. The question for her was which was she fit the most. The Red Ajah had a noble mission in finding male channelers and gentling them, or even simply researching the other side of the One Power. It was always wise to know each side of a conflict. The Greens were a popular Ajah because their mission was preparedness in battle for Tarmon Gai'don. The Grays were known for keeping peace, which kept the nations united against the Dark Ones. The Yellows could work closely with any of the other Ajahs because of their strength in Healing. The Blues sought for justice where there was none and finding causes to fight for. She had to admit that in truth, however, she was drawn between the Brown Ajah and the White.

During her time here, she had spent much of her free time in the Library. Even now, she wove through the halls to find it. The huge compendium of ages of knowledge was her shelter. She watched the Browns toiling away, cleansing books of impurities and preserving the world' precious information. The Sisters there seemed to be familiar with her as well. The Whites intrigued her, however. She seemed to be able to think along their lines of logical thoughts in a highly regular basis. She even had their countenance, flushing emotion from her mind. She had always been that way as well. Either Ajah held promises of using her intellect to help the White Tower in its mission.

Leala's graceful white hand reached for the handle of the door leading to her shelter of knowledge. Before she could grasp it to pull it, however, an Aes Sedai addressed her. "Child." Turning around, she came face-to-face with an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah. Not just any Blue, either, this was the Blue Sister who had brought her to the Tower so many years ago. "Ayan Sedai," she said, spreading her banded skirt in a curtsy.

"It is good to see you in the banded dress, child," she said in a pleasant tone.

"Thank you, Aes Sedai."

Without the pleasantry exchanged, Ayan spoke again. "I have a task that I know you are well suited for." Leala lifted her head, signaling that she was listening intently now. "Miahna Sedai of my own Ajah has returned from her excursion and she needs someone to record her doings during her time away."

"I understand, Ayan Sedai. I will see to Miahna Sedai's needs."

"See that you do." She told Leala where to find the room in the Ajah's quarters before the Blue entered the Library. With that, the Accepted made her way back to the White Tower, her new destination in mind.

The Blues' Quarters looked just like the other Ajahs' Quarters in its structure. Each Ajah decorated according to its mission. The Blues made their home in their colors, tapestries and statues depicting scenes of justice being done. She followed the circular hall until she found the door that had been described to her. If the Sister was not there, she would wait for her. Lifting her hand, she knocked. She remembered the day that she had hesitated for a slight moment to knock on the door of Valeri Sedai's office. She felt no hesitation now. This was what the Pattern had in store for her.

It's okay. ^^ Stuff happens.

Hmmm...well, only if you want to, I don't think the Aes Sedai HAS to be a White, I just want to affirm that she'll be going after the White Ajah when she gets raised.

Hooray! *goes to plug in headphones* Music's good for concentration. xD

I like the taking notes bit. The etiquette and such, Leala should already know because she's a noble. ;) And what she doesn't know, she's picking up as she goes along. And I've been kind of stressed for the last couple of days, and I don't think I have enough muse to think of a research topic for her. >.<

Would you like me to start it? :)

Oh, oh!! I had an idea! *flails*

What if Miahna came across something in her jaunt type thing that she was a little confused about. Maybe something that the Darkfriend did and she wasn't sure why. So, Leala pops in with a logical suggestion, and Miahna could help direct her towards the Whites?

Awesome, thanks so much! ^^

Still looks good to me! ^^

Alright, this looks great! Thanks for hashing out pretty much all of it, Christine! xD I'm good for this plan going to Amadine.

Yup, just remember Gera and Leala will have to post six times to get it to count as Accepted reqs. Also, I have a general question that I don't know who can answer, but it came up in whatever is left of my comprehensive thoughts. Exactly how are the stripes put on Accepted's dresses? Are they some sort of bias tape or are they dyed or woven straight onto the dress? I'm asking because when Leala's dress is dyed, it might run through her mind that she may have taken a Novice's dress from the laundry or something if they were just dyed on there. But if they were woven, she'd be like, "I know this is my dress, but what happened to it?!"

Rashi: If Tai isn't feeling well, I wouldn't want to bother her. :( If someone else is willing to help, that'll be fine. Thanks, though. ^^

Keyholder: Hmm...I think the Blue would be a good mentor. :) What kind of situation should we do? Leala likes giving and taking any kind of lesson, and if you want to travel, she would make a good note-taker or something.

It's still opennn... :P

Congrats! Though, your brother seems to be a piece of work... reminds me of Elin's Arches a bit. :tinfoilhat:

Yeah, Tobias is an old character, like Leala. Not as old as she is, and he normally isn't such a...he normally isn't an evil, conniving sort of person. I kind of exaggerated him in this incarnation, but he's just a little NPC.

Oh, no!! xDD I'm not sure what she would think of that, but it would be funny to see her reaction.

Aliena sounds adorable. xD This is turning out to be cute. Which brings to mind, it would be funny if somehow she came to the conclusion to dye Leala's dress, it would run along the lines of "I think I'll dye Accepted Leala's dress, too! Her intended Ajah is White? Less work for me." xD

Saldaea. :) I don't know specifically why, but it's one of my favorites.

*snickers* Leala won't send you off to the MoN. She might even help. In a very indirect sort of way that doesn't give anything away.

I'm waiting for a few replies for a couple of my reqs, it might even be fun if Leala were to work with Gera or something around the time the prank happened. It would most certainly be interesting to see her reaction. xD She might even think it was funny if she found out that Auriane was part of it.

Arms held loosely at her side and her eyes searching the room, Leala watched and waited to see if her students needed any help. She was teaching a small, basic mathematics class this morning. This was the second class, and her students seemed to be adjusting well to her teaching style. She had only been in the striped dress for a few days, and Valeri Sedai charged her specifically for this class. She was happy to find that her body had matured enough to fit the second hand dress well enough without having to worry about her dimensions. She remembered wondering how the two awkward dresses handed to her would last the first few days of being a Novice. Now, the only complaint she had with this dress was that it was a tad too loose at her waist. But if she tucked the fabric under her belt, there was no problem. Whenever she found herself with time to think, she would gingerly trail her fingertips along the stripes representing the seven Ajahs. That night had been the hardest she had faced, but she had made it.

Now she had five students working on their exercises. The class really was basic. This class taught the few innumerate Novices who had only just been enrolled to count, to write, and to understand numbers. There was hardly any hard thinking involved, but she enjoyed reasoning out the lesson and giving these girls information that would not have had otherwise. "M-Miss...er...Accepted Leala?" one of her girls said in a sheepish voice as she raised her hand only half off her desk. Turning, she walked around the table in the front of the room and glided over to the girl. She was a Taraboner and had her brown hair braided into the tiny plaits, but since she was a commoner, her veil only covered her face after her nose. She seemed to be struggling, but this was the first time she had asked for help. She glided over to the girl and sat on the bench next to her, wanting to show her that her job was to help her succeed. "Yes, Areliana?"

"It...it's just that I'm not sure what number this should be..." she said, pointing to a simple equation that asked for the number that came about when one took six away from ten.

Leala nodded and told the girl to wait a moment. Standing, she addressed the class. When she was sure they were all listening, she said, "Take your hands and spread all your fingers out." She did what she had requested as a demonstration. When she was sure that the girls had, she continued. "How many fingers do we have?" she asked. One girl toned in and answered, "Ten." Nodding, Leala said, "Correct." Turning to the board, she took the chalk and wrote the equation on the board. Automatically, the other girls all seemed to pay much more attention. "Taking our ten fingers, curl up one finger..." she said, curling one of her own fingers down and then another before continuing. "Until you have curled in six." She let the girls do so, not wishing to be too detailed so as not to insult their intelligence. After a while, Areliana blinked and looked at her four fingers left. "Four!"

"Very good." Areliana scrolled out the answer to the last equation with a smile on her face.

"When you have finished, place your work on my desk and you may depart to your next class." Leala strode to her position behind her desk. After a few minutes, the girls one by one turned in their papers and left the room. She picked up the papers and tapped the bottoms on the desk to straighten them. Closing the curtains to the windows, she turned toward the board. She took the rag that was folded on her desk and unfolded it to wipe away the remnants of her lecture. And with that, she left the room. She carried the small stack of paper, her notes for the lesson, a pen, and the ink well as she made her way to the Accepted's quarters.

Things had certainly changed since she donned the banded dress and the Amyrlin had placed the ring on her finger. She had her own room now. It was still rather small, but it was big enough for her to work and write and study. The Accepted in the halls were still chatty and giggly, but not nearly so much so as the Novices that had filled the halls when she was in that station. Feeling secure enough not to have to emulate the Aes Sedai, the Accepted felt safe enough to smile and laugh as they saw fit. One smiled and hailed her, waving. Leala smiled, acknowledging her greeting, and nodded. "Good day," she said smoothly before she turned left and entered her quarters. Walking to the small desk, she placed the sheets of paper on the desk and organized them, making sure that her notes were on top.

Looking over her notes, she double checked that everything had been covered in the lesson. The first class had been a learning experience for her as well. She had never taught a class before and speaking to a group of people whose education depended on her made her forget a few things in the first session. So, she had added a few of the forgotten things to today's lessons. She thought that since they had gone from not being able to read or work with numbers, to working simple equations and being able to recognize the numbers, they were doing well. the one thing that still plagued her thoughts was why Valeri Sedai had chosen her to teach the class instead of someone else. Moving from her desk to her bed, she laid back to think on this. Any of her teachers had said how intelligent she was, and how quick her thoughts were when others in the class struggled. She had a lot to offer in knowledge and support for the Tower. She could even update logs of information about her family for the Browns in the Library. But for some reason, the Mistress of Traditional Novices had chosen her to teach such a basic class. From the placid smile on the Aes Sedai's face,she knew there was a deeper meaning that she did not know and she was determined to figure it out.

For a moment, she closed her silver eyes and thought. She tried to put herself in the place of her students. Most of them knew a few of their letters, and their education had been next to nothing. they would need someone who understood their plight, and someone who was sympathetic. But this person would also need to be a good leader and lead the class in the desired direction. An Aes Sedai would be best to... Ah. Her eyes shot open as she reached her desired conclusion. Valeri Sedai wanted to help direct her toward the mentality of an Aes Sedai in a way that did not insult her intelligence. She could tell that her students were intelligent, but that they simply had not been taught. She would have to lower herself to their level of understanding while staying on their level of intelligence as well. She would have to lead these young women, like an Aes Sedai would. A smile played on her lips. Moving her arms, she sat up in her bed and fingered the Great Serpent ring on her third finger of her left hand. Valeri Sedai trusted her to find the purposes of her new responsibilities using her own logical processes. She was Accepted. And now her journey to becoming a Sister would become more difficult. She would need to grow and develop her ways to that of a Sister.

The young woman slid from her bed and took her seat at her desk. She took a pencil to check the papers. She quickly moved through the papers. Instead of correcting wrong answers, she simply marked them with a dot from the pencil next to it to show that the girl would need to rework the equation. Areliana had only missed one, and only by a small amount. she was showing great progress already. She appreciated the fact that her students truly wanted to learn. These Novices wanted to excel in their studies eventually and they were showing the right signs to movement as well. The whole Tower moved as a circle, as the Great Serpent biting its own tail on her ring. She realigned the papers again and moved to the small table. She had a few books that she needed to return. Taking them in her hands, she left her room and said hello to a few other Accepted again. She shifted the books to one side, cupped in her left hand.

When her arm straightened, she felt a small itch on her side. She had received a Healing for the burn on her side and the bruises on her arms that she had acquired in the Arches. However, she still felt a little twinge every now and then. It was a reminder of what she had been through, and reassurance that by the time she would be tested for the shawl, she would be ready.

Arriving at the Great Library, Leala handed the tomes back to the Brown behind the desk. She smiled calmly at the girl. "You'll soon be wanting to join the Browns, then," she said in the calm Aes Sedai tone. Se had met with this Sister each time she came to the Library. Shrugging at the suggestion, she asked if she had any manuals about teaching mathematics, or books on teaching philosophies. She pointed out the section and walked toward the indicated shelves. Sifting through the tomes, she found a good book about teaching philosophies. Moving toward another section, she found a basic mathematics book for lesson plans. She would make this venture count.

Leala has just been raised to Accepted, hoorah! For one of her reqs, I'd like to have her at least interact with a full Sister of the White Ajah. They can travel, or the Sister can awaken in her an awareness of her love for logic and the search for truth. However, it would be nice just to have a Sister who would at least direct her toward the White.

Either way, this should be fun. :) Please reply or PM me, whichever you want.

Leala began to think that perhaps she should enroll in this class. The Game of Houses was certainly different here. But perhaps she would learn it from an Aes Sedai, someone who had more experience in how Daes Dae'mar was played in the White Tower. She finished the piece of cheese and took an apple from where she sat. She was rather thirsty at that. Her energy had been replenished, now she needed nutrition. She was glad that Auriane wanted to join the class. The young Andoran knew much about the Game, but applying it in a teaching setting was different. She had her own style of playing. And at this moment, she knew that she had failed whatever test had been put on her, but she did not want to play at anything with this Accepted around.

The Novice poured herself a drink of the cider. The one bite of apple had only served to remind her of how thirsty she was. Lifted the cup to her mouth, she was careful not to tilt her head back. She set the cup back on the table and took the apple again. She must have put have the cup of cider in her stomach already. First she was working in the sun, in the dirt, and then she was working in a dark and dusty closet, during meal time. She had had worse days before, after staying in the Tower for so long in this position, but her body seemed unusually grateful for this offering. "Thank you for the meal, Accepted," she said, keeping her face straight, but her tone sprinkled with gratitude. She knew that the topic was still on the class, but her mind had moved past that and on to her next duty.

• Choice RP:
  * [Transitions] - The Banded Dress- 1,671 / [ 1 / 1 ] [solo RP, Complete]
  * [Open RP, Free Time] - Oh, Light, Please Don't Remember Me! - 2,972 / [ 6 / 6 ] [Complete]
  * [Turning of the Wheel] - Turning of the Wheel - 1,514 / [1/1] [solo RP, Complete]
  

• Accepted Quiz - [Complete]

• Three Oaths - For the Shawl - 4754 - [Complete]

Thank you, everyone! <3

As part of a line of Novices working in the kitchen, Leala was in charge of drying. Another girl would rinse the dishes, one would scrub until all the impurities were gone, and the first in the line would scrape until all the larger pieces were off the dishes. The girl had been part of the White Tower for a good long while and had grown into a young woman there as well. She wondered what her father would think of her at this point. He was the only one she had bonded with in Caemlyn. Her mother was more preoccupied with training Tobias to take over the family after she was gone. And Tobias never let her forget that no matter how much she tried, she would never amount to anything past being a noble’s wife, being the second born. Her father would encourage her to study and do what she liked, because no matter what she did, she was the one who dictated her identity. It was this advice that had led her to make the decision to enroll in the Tower when the Aes Sedai had come for her.

Feeling the cloth in her hand, she knew that it was too wet to do any more drying. She set it to the side on the counter and walked to the cabinets that held extra drying cloths. Opening the double doors, she peeked in and reached for a clean and dry rag. Before her hand touched the rag in sight, the kitchen door flew open behind her. The chattering girls working with her stopped in mid word and bobbed curtsies. ”Good evening, Valeri Sedai.” Blinking, Leala closed the door and turned toward the kitchen door, finding the Mistress of Novices in her shawl. Hurriedly, Leala repeated the girls’ actions, hoping she hadn’t been to slow in showing her respect. Standing straight again, she noticed that Valeri Sedai was looking straight at her.

“Novice Leala,” she said in a clear tone. “You are to be tested for Acceptance.”

Testing…Just a moment ago, she was worried about the wetness of a dish rag…and now she would go through the Arches. She could always decline. But she knew she was ready. “Of course. I am ready.” The Mistress of Novices turned from the door and left the kitchen, expecting Leala to follow, which she did. Before the door closed behind her, she heard the other Novices gasping and gossiping about her testing.

She followed Valeri Sedai through halls that she had grown accustomed to. Suddenly, the hallways and corridors were unfamiliar, and the Aes Sedai led her down a very long stairwell. She hoped the trip back up was not as terrible as she imagined it. Her stamina had increased during her Novicehood, but she would have to pace herself on the ascent. Her thoughts on this subject faded away when the Aes Sedai finally arrived at a set of double doors. These doors were opened with a weave of Air. Beyond these doors was a domed structure where rested a scene she had been preparing for all these years.

The thing that dominated the room was the large Ter’angreal. Three large white arches rested on a large silver ring. Three Aes Sedai sat where each base met the ring, concentrating on the arches. Each one wore their shawl, a Blue, a Green, and a Yellow. A fourth Sister, a White, also in her shawl, waited at a table with three chalices.

Valeri Sedai spoke again, attracting her attention. “Two things that no woman hears until she enters this room. Once you begin, you must continue to the end. Refuse to go on, no matter your potential and you will be very kindly put out of the Tower with enough silver to support you a year, and you will never be allowed back. Second. To seek, to strive, is to know danger. You will know danger here. Some women have entered, and never come out. When the Ter’angreal was allowed to grow quiet, they – were – not – there. And they were never seen again. If you will survive, you must be steadfast. Faltering leads to failure.”

As the Mistress of Novices went on, a fluttering feeling began churning in Leala’s stomach. She would pass. She would become an Accepted and move on to become Aes Sedai, despite her nerves.

“This is your last chance, child. You can turn back now and have only one mark against you. Twice more will you be allowed to come here, and only at the third refusal will you be put out of the Tower. It is no shame to refuse. Many cannot do it their first time here. Now you may speak.”

Without hesitation, Leala spoke clearly and steadily. “I accept. I will not turn back.”

The White next to the table spoke up and began the ceremony.

“Whom do you bring with you, Sister?”

Valeri Sedai answered, “One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister.”

“Is she ready?”

“She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance.”

“Does she know her fears?”

“She has never faced them, but now is willing.”

“Then let her face what she fears.”

Leala could almost mouth the words as they were spoken. Each Novice knew this ritual. Valeri Sedai asked her to undress, to accept no protection besides the Light. She doffed her Novice white for the last time and set it aside. She felt slightly uncomfortable, but only for a moment. She even untied her white cord from her hair and let it fall along with the dress. Her hair had grown so much that the weight allowed it to sit away from her vision.

She followed the Aes Sedai to the first Arch which glowed with a soft light. “The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”

Leala straightened her back and slipped into the first Arch.

“Blood and bloody ashes, Leala!”

Leala lifted her head and stared straight into the blue eyes of her older brother, Tobias. She sat hunched over a large tome, detailing meetings of other Andoran nobles with the nobles of Cairhien. “Do you need something?”

“No wonder you don’t have a suitor, your nose is always in a bloody book,” her brother said, sitting at the desk across from her. He had a look on his face that she did not like. “Which is why I’ve taken the liberty to help you.”

“I do not wish for your help. I am only fourteen, and—“

“And…you are of marrying age.” A silence hung over the siblings. Her brother’s thin, pale lips were curled in a wicked grin. “At least give Elyan a chance.”

“I suppose I can do that much.” Rising from her chair, she announced that she was going to visit with their father. She walked from the study to her father’s room. He had taken ill a few months ago and had been bedridden for weeks. After the terrible exchange she had just had, she needed some support. She found his chamber and the two talked. He never seemed to mind that she seemed to keep her Daes Dae’mar ways around him, despite their bond. It was how she had been raised, and after a while, it became a part of who she was. They talked until he took her small hand in his larger and weaker hands and gently said that he would sleep. She let him hold her hand as he drifted off. She blew out the candle next to his bed and noticed that it was nearly completely dark in the twilight hours.

She sat in the dark and the silence.

The girl jumped when the door opened. A young man she had never met entered. Leala saw her brother smile at her and leave on the other side. This must have been Elyan.

“Leala…your brother’s told me so much about you,” the young noble said, taking another chair. “My name is…”

“Elyan, yes. My brother has told me nothing of you besides your name, I apologize.”

“I don’t mind telling you about myself…” he said in soft tones, leaning toward her.

“I would not object to that, but I would like to spend time with my father.”

“Ah…but he’s asleep,” he whispered, stroking her cheek. She jerked her head around. “Don’t be afraid…we should get to know each other before we wed, right?”

“I do not object to talking, but I would –“

Before she could say another word, Elyan leaned forward and kissed her. She tried to jump away, but he caught her by the waist. Looking around frantically, she saw a silver arch on the other side of the room. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. With all her might, she pushed against him and tried to free herself, but his arms were too strong. All of a sudden, one of his arms was pulled away. After a moment, she noticed that her father had grabbed his arm and was squeezing with all of his might. Elyan let out a scream and let her go altogether. She jumped from the chair and fled toward the arch. Thank you, father. I’ll never forget this, she thought as she entered the arch and stopped completely.

She found herself back in the domed structure. The water from the first of the chalices was poured down her head. Her eyes stung with tears, but they did not flow. Reality was found and she knew her father was not sick, and she had not been assaulted. Well, she had, but not truly.

“You are washed clean of what sin you may have done and of those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul,” the White intoned.

She stayed silent, waiting for more instructions. Valeri Sedai simply nodded toward the second arch. Leala followed suit and walked toward it. “The second arch is for what is. The way will come but once. Be steadfast.”

Again, Leala straightened her back and walked confidently into the second arch.

The noble girl stood in front of Valeri Sedai’s desk in her office. The last few words she had said, filled her ears, her head, her every thought, but they would not complete their process in her thoughts. “Wh…what?” she asked as the color drained from her face.

“Don’t make this difficult, child.”

“But…I don’t understand. I may not be as strong in the Power as others, but I have such—“

“No. I have discussed this with every Sitter in the Hall to the Amyrlin. You have made progress, but we believe that you have reached a plateau. You do not have the strength in you to reach the rank of Aes Sedai. You will be given enough silver to support you for a year. Although, I’m sure your family will support you more than that.”

If Leala had not been sitting down, she would have fallen to the ground. “I…” For the first time since entering the Tower, she felt her emotions bared to the world. Before she could complete her thoughts, her dress that she had worn to the White Tower that day so many years ago was in her lap with her silver cord on top. Her vision blurred with tears as a pair of servant came in and tried to console her as they nudged her toward the door. “No…no!” she exclaimed as she was half dragged from the place.

“Come now, Mistress, surely you must be happy to be headed back home to your family,” a servant said. Mistress? Home? Family? Tobias.

“No…” she growled. Whipping around partially because of the hands holding her back, she saw the door swing in and out. There was a silver arch right in front of Valeri Sedai’s desk. The way will come but once. Be steadfast. “I must be steadfast,” she said mostly to herself. She pulled against the hands holding her arms. She dropped her old dress in the process. She pulled and pushed until she was finally free. She dashed back into the office, but the Aes Sedai was ready for her.

Weaves of Air held her back. She embraced Saidar and cut the weaves as best she could. There was still some force holding her back, some of it cutting into her skin, but she finally reach the arch and stumbled through.

Leala caught herself and clutched at her chest and her arms, catching her breath as more water was poured onto her head. Looking around, she found Valeri Sedai, her face a perfect Aes Sedai mask, the same as it was in the arch. But this one believed in what she could do. This one knew what was best for her. “You are washed clean of false pride,” the White said. “You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul.”

This time, Valeri Sedai approached her and led her to the third arch, gently by touch of her shoulder. She glanced at her in askance, but Leala simply nodded her head, saying that she was ready for the third arch. “The third time is for what will be. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.”

Leala did not straighten her back the third time. She stroked her arms from the bruises that were forming from the arms and hands and weaves of Air that had assaulted her. But she still walked through.

The One Power filled her with joy and jubilance. She truly felt alive. However, there was a tinge of something beyond it. Before her, her brother stood with his crooked grin gone, replaced by an elated and wild smile. She had woven a thick shield of Air that was struggling to hold its form. Her brother had become a male wilder in her time in the Tower. Two of her Sisters of the Red Ajah flanked her.

“Little sister…give your brother a hug!” he said, spreading his arms wide. With that action, her shield threatened to break, but she still held it.

“Tobias…what have you become?” she asked him.

“What the Pattern has in store for me,” he answered, his countenance falling. The strength of his attack diminished, too. The Red Sisters advanced, weaving threads of all five elements. Leala followed them, keeping the shield up, however. Once the three had reached him, the Red Sisters set to work. As they began their blocks on his power, the noble woman noticed a silver arch beyond her brother. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Moving around the small group, she headed to the arch, ten feet beyond. Suddenly, a bolt of pain found her side. She clutched it, feeling heat and smelling burning skin and cloth. “Sister!” one of the Reds called out. Tobias had attacked her, but reaching this arch was much more important.

Walking through it, she found herself in the domed structure yet again. She lowered her hand from her side. The bruises on her arms were still forming, and the burn on her side still felt hot as if it had not yet festered. In front of her, the Amyrlin Seat stood with her stole draped over her shoulders. Aes Sedai from each Ajah flanked her, each wearing their shawl. The Amyrlin instructed her to kneel before her, which she did.

This time, it was the Amyrlin who let spill the water from the chalice over her head. “You are washed clean of Leala Gymorraine of Caemlyn. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You are Leala Gymorraine, Accepted of the White Tower.” Leala let out a calming breath and smiled.

“You are sealed to us now. Welcome, daughter.” She handed the last chalice to the Gray standing to her side. She held out her hand and showed her a Great Serpent ring. Her ring. The Amyrlin slipped it onto her third finger on her left hand and took her arms gently, helping her to her feet. “Welcome, daughter,” she said again, kissing Leala’s cheek. “Welcome,” placing a kiss on the other cheek.

Leala had passed. She was that much closer to gaining the shawl. She was that much closer to her purpose.

Hooraaaaaay! *dances* I'll get to work on them as soon as possible!

*bump*

Leala watched the exchange between the two women, waiting to see what the Accepted said in the end. She had not expected her friend to blurt out her suspicions, but then again, she could not hold everyone else to her own standards. Riana had not been trained in Daes Dae'mar as she had been. She was sure that she was right. This woman seemed to have a hidden agenda that she did not include in her explanation. However, she was careful not to let her suspicions show on her face. The White Tower certainly had a better place for her than a political tool for her brother back home. When she spoke up about offering the class to the two Novices as well, Leala decided to answer as she took a piece of cheese from the offered plate. "I appreciate the offer of your class, Accepted, but I've been trained in the ways of Daes Dae'mar since birth. Although, if you'd like, I can stay and help some of the other Novices who may not grasp the situation," she offered.

She silently hoped to leave as soon as possible. It seemed like this woman was holding them under some sort of test, as if she was seeing if she could use them later on for her own purposes. She interupted a chore where she was working with a large group of other Novices, then gave them a task that would cut into their free time. Not to mention, she berated them later for not obeying the task word for word after offering them food. While some Aes Sedai and Accepted would certainly take care of them, she made no mention of this, as if she wanted them to divert from the task. However, if Leala had the opportunity to observe the class, she could see her teaching style and decide for herself what her true intentions were.

In an action that she was stil not accustomed to, she took a bite of the cheese as she waited again for her reaction.