Darienna couldn't help it, she laughed as the question that she was asked sank in.  It wasn't that it was a bad question, indeed, it was quite a pertinent question all things considered.  It was just that no one that had come before her had ever thought to ask that question on their first meeting.  If Merilaine was asking, it was because she had a suspicion of what the answer would be.  Or perhaps she had seen one of the Novices scrubbing away, after all, the work needed doing and while they could have paid for servants to do so, it was character building to have the Novices do the work.

Not that that had sat so well with Darienna when she had been one of the ones doing the scrubbing herself, but there was truth to it nevertheless.  Some people needed to learn, others who knew did not need to forget.  No matter what powers they might have as Aes Sedai, they always had to remember that there was a more humble side to it, that they could do even the most basic tasks.  Not that it always worked, indeed, there were some girls who felt that once they were done as Accepted, it meant they were above such things from that point.

Some Mistress of Novices in the past might have let that be, but not Darienna.  Besides, it was also useful for spending the energies of their Novices, by the end of the day they were usually too tired to get up to too much mischief.  Idle hands were a dangerous things, and they made sure as best as they could that Novices were never allowed to be idle for long.  Plus it saved money on servants, money that could then be invested elsewhere, like sheafs of paper and ink and everything else that Darienna seemed to get stuck budgeting for.  A pain, but it needed doing after all.

"You are the first person who has ever had the gumption to ask me that, Merilaine.  The answer to that would be that Novices, such as yourself, or charged with that task as well as many others.  But, come, we shall arrange for you to meet your mentor."

Walking to the door, Darienna opened it to a pleasant surprise, Marian was still there as she watched over the other two girls.  That was nice of her to do so, and probably prudent as well.  As Marian looked to her, Darienna let Merilaine step outside as she spoke.  "Could you escort Merilaine to her new mentor, Zeveria Sedai?  Thank you."

"You."  Pointing to the smaller of the two girls still waiting, Darienna crooked a finger.  "In you come."

Watching Merilaine leave with Marian while the girl entered her office, Darienna smiled slightly before shutting the door.

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

OOC:  All good, Zeveria will post next and take over :)

Bzzzzzz

Wincing as the tears began, Darienna was patient as the girl spoke between her sobs.  There was something about that sort of behaviour that really irked Darienna, though perhaps it was just her.  When she had been a Novice, and later Accepted, she'd taken what came her way on the chin when she was caught out.  Tears and weasaling out of trouble once it had found you was just shameful, not to mention completely unecessary because now that Melianna was caught and Darienna knew what she'd been up to, there was no weasaling out of it for her.

Having said that, once the girl was done, Darienna was definitely done with the sobbing.  She was trying to have her breakfast, and weeping was not part of her morning ritual.  It was a sharp reproof that she chose to issue.  "Melianna, cease that detestable boohooing this instant or Creator me I will give you something to really cry about."

That got the girl's attention.  "I know exactly what you were doing, and you are far from innocent.  Now be silent, eat your breakfast and do not speak again.  We will wait for the rest of the people who were at the party to make their appearance, whom I shall call over as they come in.  Once they are here, we will discuss last night and not before."

"Now have your porridge, its getting cold."  At that, Darienna took a bite of her toast as she ended the discussion.  What she had to say about last night, she would say before all of them and that was that.

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

It wasn't unusual to be stopped in the hall by this person or that for a word.  Indeed, there were a fair number who were more than comfortable to approach Rasputin within the Fortress, people who knew him well enough to know that he was not all consumed by his title or ambition.  The majority of these people were of the Aurani, or had been members before he had been forced to ask some of them to leave in order to keep the peace.  A thing that was now no longer necessary with Aginor's death, the Aurani were now Rasputin's to command with the majority deciding to remain under his leadership.  Not unexpected since most of them had served him before he and his followers had been given to Aginor by Demandred to begin with.

Those who had left, well, most of them had been newer recruits to the order.  People whom Rasputin had disapproved of and shunted to the side as much as possible.  Crazies who were too greedily ambitious or simply to self absorbed or insane.  Osan`gar's sickness of the mind had been catching with Aginor who had listened to Rasputin's counsel less and less, relying more on his fellow Chosen.  It had been his doom in the end.  When Aginor had been attacked and he needed anyone who could help, Rasputin and the core of the Order had remained where they were, the Fortress.

Things had been in flux somewhat since then, Rasputin had derived his authority from the Nae`blis and later Aginor, and now with both gone he continued on because he remained unchallenged.  But it was a precarious thing in case someone wished to make a move on the position, and why the portal room was now heavily guarded all the time, to ensure that they knew for certain who came and to be able to turn aside any party that was too large.  There would be no coup like the Black Ajah once attempted several centuries ago, there would be no change, the Fortress would stand as it always had and the Shadow's Peace would prevail.

But, his thoughts had drifted.  The reason for that was because the man who spoke to him was not known to him, and because of the stone that was presented.  Obsidian.  Folding his arms within the arms of his robe, Rasputin calmly spoke.  "Follow me, and not a word until then."

It was a good ten minutes before they reached his office.  A simple room with only the light above illuminating it, the main centrepiece was the large mahogany table with but a single chair before it and a single chair behind.  Gesturing for the man to take a seat as he closed the door behind them, Rasputin went to his own seat and made himself comfortable before sitting the rock on the table between them.  There was no need to hide his words now, the room was proofed against eavesdropping both of the power and the mundane nature.

"You are Duram's agent.  Who are you and why has he sent you here?"

Rasputin Felar

M`aeshadar

Barely catching the woman around the waist in time as she swayed from the effort, Luc bit his tongue rather than rage at her.  There was no point, it wasn't her he hated and it wasn't her fault that she didn't understand, could never understand.  Scooping the woman's legs up with his other arm, at least they weren't far from the bed.  Taking the few necessary steps to reach it, Luc laid her down gently so her head was propped up by the pillows.  It was a difficult transition to see her as someone who had collaborated and bent knee to someone who was simply ignorant and didn't understand because her own country was in ruins, but it made it easier to see her.  Fool woman.

Allowing her the chance to recover her wits, Luc waited until she was lucid and his inner turmoil had calmed before he spoke.  "That is all you have to say?  That your own pain is greater than anyone elses so we Cairhienin should just set aside our swords and just let the Aiel kill us one by one because we aren't as wounded as you?  Because we don't have Shadowspawn on our borders, we just aren't noble like your people, that we're misguided, that the crimes committed against us are somehow less because they were committed by men instead of trollocs?"

"The crimes are all the worse for it.  Shadowspawn can't help what they are, evil as they are that is just what they are.  Aiel are human, or at least look like it, they have a choice in what they do and that is what they chose.  And while you can say they saved us from the Shaido, they chased the Shaido into our lands to begin with and the only reason they didn't finish what the Shaido started is because the Dragon ordered them to.  When our lords spoke against the Aiel here, the Dragon refused to listen and he will not listen because he is not here."

"We never acceded to the Aiel presence, we were forced to it.  They are not our friends and they haven't been for nearly a quarter of a century since they butchered our people over a tree.  After the First Aiel War, we never went after them seeking revenge, our people rebuilt their lives as best they could only to have it ruined once more.  You would have us do the same thing twice?  No.  We will not live on the whim of those who hate us, we will either live as Cairhienin or die us such, not as thralls to our enemies."

Reaching for the glass of water that had been left for the woman, Luc handed it to her as he added.  "But this talk is pointless, it will all be over soon.  The day shall see this fight settled once and for all."

Looking up as the door to his cell was unbarred, Marden Veniso stood as several men of black and silver entered.  The clink of manacles accompanying them, he considered the possibility of stealing one of their weapons as they stood around him.  He had done so every other time they had come for him, the chance to win his freedom by the blade was the only one he had and he knew it.  Manacles fastened to his wrists and ankles, they were not unknown to him.  He'd worn manacles ever since his imprisonment, and he'd known their iron kiss when he had been prisoner to the Aes Sedai, they were no less comfortable for that.

Uttering not a word as he was instructed to walk, Marden knew that the trial was nothing more than a sham.  He was held by soldiers loyal to the Queen, a Queen whose friend was the one who had accused him.  Arette Nenatiar, once the Keeper of Chronicles, she had been there when he had been sentenced once before.  Condemned for being who he was, what he was, stripped of the thing that made him different.  Left to rot in the earth, the only difference this time would be that it would not be his liberty that he lost, but his life.

It was tantalising, the thought that it could all end so easily.  An end to the torment of living a half life, an end to all his worries and responsibilities, an end to all pain, all easily granted by the hangman's noose.  He wanted it so badly, he'd spent enough nights looking upon his own blades wondering if perhaps that would be the night he would give himself peace.  A hangman's noose held no fears for him, only promises.

But he couldn't do it.  Not yet.

Stopping and turning to the right as instructed, he moved as he was directed to the seat reserved for him and he sat down before viewing those who were within the room while the guard filed outside and closed the doors behind them.  Some members of the Band of the Red Hand were there, obvious by the red on their arms, the Queen, a serving woman providing glasses of water, Asha'man Faringail.  No sooner had he done so, the doors opened and admitted two more.  One he knew to have once been the Commander of the Tower Guard, the other once Keeper of Chronicles.  A woman who had presided over the moment that had seen his life split in twain.

Silent as she took her place and made her speech, her words were but the mouthings of formality, a polite nod towards justice when this was nothing of a sort.  It was a travesty, a mocking illusion where the outcome had already been decided and was just a balm to soothe those whose conscience might twinge and for others to feel entirely self righteous.  So they could say that the one they hated was tried and found guilty, nevermind that he had been found guilty before this trial was ever convened.

A travesty.

Looking to the woman whose face escaped time's touch, Marden's voice was like gravel as he answered with a deeply honed hate.  "Piss on your sham you manipulative witch, you know exactly what happened.  I escaped your bloody hole, your prison.  I hacked all three of your witches into an unrecognisable mess and I won my freedom even while my fellows died on your Tower Guard's swords and escaped the city while the city guard were told to hunt for a Darkfriend that looked like me.  Now I am here in a trial that is just a show and I'll hang because you've already decided it.  Burn you and all your kind in the Pit of Doom."

Marden Veniso

Ti jenn aman sha misain ye

"I don't wear the garb of murderers and savages."  The flat tone was one that came easily to Luc when his lineage was ever made a topic.  It was one thing to speak of it with his grandfather, or the family retainers, but not to someone beyond them.  Just because he had their height, their hair and their eyes, it did not mean he had their bloodlust and savagery.  He would not be them, he was Cairhienin in heart and mind.  "And no, you are not allowed to leave.  It seems they were right, you've given over to them.  You'll not be free to go to them and tell of the escape and who aided."

“You may not wear their “rags”, but it’s your own blood that you’re spilling.”  The much taller, stronger and uninjured man gave her a dark look that reminded Ali that she was shorter, weaker and her cheekbone was aching so bad she had half a mind to just cut it off and be done with it.  Perhaps goading him wasn’t such a good idea.  “I wouldn’t have had anything to tell if you’d just let me stay.”  Damnit...now she was pouting.

"Instead you would have raised an alarm, or if you'd kept silent they would have blamed you and said you were part of it, fool woman."  Luc was less than impressed by the pout, but then he wasn't impressed much to begin with.  Collaboraters and those who bent knee to the Aiel were a disgrace.  It was no different to bending knee to a Trolloc, they reaved and ravaged their way through the lands of their neighbours with lies and self righteous to try and justify it.  "And they are not mine.  I am Cairhienin, not a barbarian."

“Everything about you says differently.” she couldn’t help it.  The man was so indoctrinated and blind that he didn’t see the culture, nor even any scrap of humanity in the relatives he was so intent on hating.  “You hate them just as much as they hate you, but while they try to keep the peace in your own damn—” another break to let her jaw rest “—city, you work to disturb it!  How many of your own countrymen will die because you couldn’t bend your pride and obvious hate—” he tried to speak but she cut him off savagely with a slashing moment from her hand; she was not done her rant yet “—enough to let everybody just go about their lives.  You’re no bloody better than they are."

“But that’s not why I’m here and why I’m wearing these.” Ali gestured to her garb savagely as if trying to protect her decision with the violence with which she moved.  “I became Gai’shain to repay a debt, not to be the tool of either nation.”

"Peace?"  Luc barked a short laugh, it wasn't pretty.  "The only peace they bring is on the end of their spears for those who do not bend to their law.  We have our own laws, or own ways, yet it is their spears that walk the streets and strike down our own without justice.  It is not just to slay a thief when you can catch him.  The practice of the Amadicians with taking the hands of thieves is barbaric and all know it for that, yet the Aiel kill people for the same crime on our streets and you say that we should just live our lives, blind to this?  Maybe its because you are a foreigner that you are so blind to it, it is so easy for you avert your eyes and simply say that everything would be well if we all gave up who we are, if we just ignore that those who hate us hold the power of life and death over us.  You know nothing."

“Nothing do I-AAAH!”  Mother’s milk in a flaming cup!  She was going to kill the man who hit her when she found him.  “How are you any different if you’re killing them?  They kill you, you kill them.  Where’s the difference?  Only more of you are dying!  And besides, it is a hopeless cause!  There is an Aiel for every two Cairhien.  Half of those Aiel are siswai’aman, trained warriors and among the best the world has to offer.  How many trained warriors do you have, bastard of Alneau?  A thousand or two trained retainers who’ve seen nothing street brawls and training lathes, a rabble of assassins and murderers and walk-ins who’ve seen a dozen bar fights who don’t know one end of their sword from the other.  What else do you do with the thieves you catch except throw them in jail and then kill them?”

She paused again, glaring and impatiently waiting for her jaw to stop driving nails into her skull.  “I was a thiefcatcher before all this started, boy.” Ali emphasised the derogatory to try and make him see his stupidity.  “I don’t agree with killing off those good-for-nothings in the Foregate, but all of you are self-righteous idiots killing the murderers!  I’m not here to fight, I’m here to pay my debt and get on with my life!  If you keep this pointless war up, boy, you’ll have no life to get on with.”

Luc was both quiet and still as the woman finished speaking.  He would not let his tongue run loose on him, he would choose his words with care instead.  This woman was a foreigner, she did not understand and didn't want to.  When he chose to break his silence, he did so quietly.  "There is no life left to live if it is not our own.  Our people live in fear every day that the Aiel spears may turn on them, and rightly so.  You seek to excuse their hatred with our own, but we did not invade their lands.  We did not raze their settlements, we did not rape their women, we did not turn against those that we had once called friend."

"They did.  Our King cut down a tree, yet it was his people who suffered for it.  They ravaged our nation, once perhaps the most powerful of the Westlands, its most trusted allies marched on their lands and destroyed and pillaged all before them.  My grandfather lost every single one of his children and his wife in the first war, including my mother when I was born."

Taking a moment to catch the emotion that threatened to surface at the thought of his mother, and how he had been conceived and how it was his birth that had killed her, he continued.  "The Aiel not once spoke of why they were there.  They simply killed, and they killed in Tear and in Andor and finally at Shining Walls they got what they wanted and left as they had come, fat on the blood they had spilt.  That is their justice.  Now they come a second time, they chased off the Shaido but then took the city for themselves, and they took their fifth from everyone.  Not just from those of wealth, but also from those who had but meager means.  That was after the Aiel had killed every child of my grandfather's second wife, my uncles yet they were like brothers."

"Nearly everyone in my family for the past three generations has been murdered by Aiel, my grandfather and myself are all that are left.  They might have claim to being great fighters, but their hands aren't only stained with the blood of soldiers.  They kill innocents with as much ease, of course, if the innocent dies because of a fire they set instead of on their spear, thats different, isn't it?  Light, even the thieves and cutthroats of our city resist them and were the first to do so.  The scum of our society, the lowest of the low, those who should have been the first to turn coward and run from the city, go elsewhere to ply their trades.  Yet they stayed, they took up arms against some of the finest fighters known, and you don't question why even they will fight?"

Normally Luc's gaze was easy going, but now his eyes were like hard sapphires.  "The Aiel walk our streets and there is no life left for us if we do not reclaim Cairhien for ourselves.  To live under the threat of the Aiel spear is to not live, and I will not desert my people and flee and just leave them to the mercy of the Aiel while they murder more of ours in our own streets.  They will not do so freely, those of us that can will challenge them at every turn and fight, and fight, and fight until our people can call their home theirs or until the last of us who fight are dead.  That is our commitment, maybe you don't understand that being a foreign thiefcatcher who drifts from place to place, but this is my home and I can still fight for it and for those who have died."

"Come on, Jacqui."

Laughing at the response she got, Suzette Marachain leaned on her walking staff as she waited for her daughters to catch up.  Jacqui was doing well enough though life beyond the city was beyond her and it was only now that she was beginning to really appreciate how different it was.  One could understand the city streets, learn them up and down and sideways, but out here where there was simply trees, plains and the wind on your back, it was a different matter.  She was handling it well enough, but Chloe was only ten and she wasn't used to walking so far every day.  Not that she didn't try, but it was still a good deal to ask from her to keep the pace they had.

With nothing but their backpacks, supplies and sticks to help them as they traveled, they had set out from Foregate in Cairhien to the south until they'd found the hills.  Perhaps a place for them to find some solace, a place for them to find what they were looking for.  It would be a different life, at least for as long as they were able to enjoy it.  No tranquility ever lasted, that was a simple rule that Suzette had known her entire life, but the secret was to take what could be taken for all that it was worth.  If it meant giving up the city, well, one would always take what they wanted and pay for it.

"Mother, is that smoke?"

Frowning, Suzette looked to where Jacqui was pointing and narrowed her eyes.  It was only a wisp at their distance, but it was smoke alright.  Where there was smoke, there were people and where there were people, there was food and supplies or at the very least someone to point them in the right direction.  Setting off with Jacqui in tow, it was a good half hour of walking under autumn touched trees that they found a farmstead.  Of red brick rather than cobbled stone, Suzette was surprised to see a building like that so far out.  Maybe whoever lived there had been a mason who had retired from the city as they had.

"Shall we go and see who is there?"

Turning to Jacqui, Suzette shook her head.  "No, we will not go and see who is there.  I will go and see who is there, you will stay right here with Chloe and wait for me to return or call for you."

A pair of pouts was not the answer that Suzette had expected, but they had been over it before.  At any of these places, Jacqui was always to stay back and wait.  While she'd like to believe that they couldn't run into any trouble, there was no knowing what sort of people lived out in the back end of the country.  Some were wonderful, but others were not and she wasn't willing to endanger her own daughter so.  At least if she got into trouble, Jacqui wouldn't be caught up right in the middle of it.

Stepping from the line of trees as her daughter hid herself behind one, Suzette was wary as she approached the farmstead.  There was no knowing who was there until she got to the door, and she hoped that it didn't prove to be someone untrustworthy.  Once already she'd been accosted by someone who had thought she was alone, Jacqui had been following along that time when she wasn't meant to.  Suzette had thoroughly yelled at her for not doing what she was told, though truth be told she was a touch proud, even if Jacqui had disobeyed.  Meanwhile Chloe had been sour about not being able to see it, naturally.

Walking up to the front door, she knocked firmly then took a few steps back and waited, her staff resting against her shoulder as she held onto it with her right hand.

Normally, Darienna wasn't to be found waiting at the northern dock of Tar Valon.  In fact, it wasn't often that she was found in the city at all as she was usually busy with her work or using her spare time to get her own projects and exercise done.  There were so many hours in the day after all, it came down to what was more important and in the end, her work as the Mistress of Novices was and it required her to be on hand in case she was required at any day of the week.

But, she was here nevertheless because she'd been asked to ahead of time and it had been good to go into the city for at least a little while.  It had changed since she had ventured out a couple of months earlier, not much, but enough that it was noticable.  Or maybe it was simply because the trip was a novelty, light how her life had changed.  Once she was an ambassador in Mayene, she'd traveled, and now her life was contained within the inner walls of Tar Valon.

Not that she regretted it.  She might have missed some of her old life, but being the Mistress of Novices was rewarding in its own way.  After all, one could complain about what went before all they wanted, but if they didn't make an active attempt to change things when they could it was as much their fault for doing nothing.

But such thoughts were stilled as a ship, or rather a boat, came into dock.  Yet there was no Marian or her Warder to be seen, something rather odd in itself.  If she'd disembarked then there was going to be words to be had about not having sent word ahead of time.

One of those who disembarked, a young girl, curtsied and introduced herself.  Darienna sighed inwardly in relief, that meant that Marian was about.  A brief exchange revealed that something had happened, but it couldn't have been an emergency because otherwise an explanation would have followed.  There was little to do but wait in that case, since she wanted to see Marian.

"Then we will wait for them."

It was a little under ten minutes before Marian and her warder made their appearance.  Nodding at the greeting she was offered, Darienna returned her own before they began making their way back to the White Tower.  In the meantime, she decided she might ask the new Novice a couple of questions.  "I don't believe I caught where you are from, Daenerys.  Also, what can you tell me about yourself?"

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

Waiting patiently as Miya wrote her letter and assisting her with the spelling where it was needed, Darienna was happy to do so.  There were many frustrating aspects to being a teacher, let alone the Mistress of Novices, and it was something you didn't do simply for a larger stipend or authority.  It was this moment, watching a student understanding something you had spent so long teaching them and putting it to use.  That feeling of success, it was an addictive thing that helped bring Darienna back to it again and again.  It was more rewarding than her previous work had been, at least, as far as she was concerned.

The letter done and handed over to her, Darienna scanned over it quickly and was pleased.  Not a single mistake, the writing was not that of a scholar but it was legible and it had come a long way from six months ago when Miya could only trace letters and was still grappling with the concept of them.  She'd been tempted to give her a trace sheet after she wrote it to tidy it up, but it was better for Miya's parents to see how far she had come.  They would then be able to see her improvement with each new letter that Miya sent.

Setting the letter aside on her table, Darienna turned to Miya with a smile.  "You've done well, there are no mistakes in there.  Your writing is legible, and with time that will improve as well.  For now, I think we are done.  Go and take the time left over for this class for yourself, be it to catch up on other work or to simply relax for awhile, I'll make sure this is sent before the end of the day.  We'll resume again tomorrow."

Chuckling at the look that she got, Darienna made a shooing gesture as she said.  "Go on now, before I change my mind and find something else for you to do."

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

Toast.

Darienna was quite partial to toast, more so than porridge.  Porridge was all well and good, but toast was easy and quick to put down so that one could get on with the business of the day.  A bit of butter, a bit of honey, it was enough with three cups of tea to allow her to get to her mid morning break.  A simple meal, and usually her bit of time in the day before it began for her to relax and then orientate herself for the day's work.  It was a habit that served her well more often than not, and she liked having that time to herself.

Not this morning though, no, this morning was a different matter altogether.  An Accepted and a number of Novices, all of them out of bed and about after curfew, having a party no less.  Well, most, another trio had been up elsewhere up to mischief as well, attempting to break into her office.  Those three had forfeited the right to doors on their rooms for the next month as a result, since they were unwilling to value the privacy of others.  Now she simply had the girls from the party to deal with.  It had been far easier to let them think they had gotten away with it, or stew over whether they had been found out.  Either way, it was going to make it easier for her to make her point this morning.

Seated at a table by herself near the entrance to the Dining Hall, she simply enjoyed her meal in silence as she waited for the first of those who had been up after hours to enter the Hall.  As each turned up, she would wait for them to get their meal then call them over.  Once they were all seated at her table, then she would proceed to speak to them all about last night's events.  The Accepted Teresa along with Novices Kalinde, Kirsa, Megain, Melianna, Miya and Sial.

The first had just arrived, Darienna waited until the girl retrieved her meal before calling her over.

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

OOC:  RP each of you entering and taking a seat at Darienna's table, once you're all amassed, or we've waited long enough, I'll take us forward :)

Smiling as she listened to the answers that Kirjava gave as much as at the startled look she had received, she made note of what was said.  Though she had to admit, she almost laughed at the second fact.  It wasn't that it was a bad thing to say, it was more the earnest nature in which it had been proclaimed that really got Darienna.  An endearing thing, and it helped her make her decision about who she was going to have mentor the girl.  It wasn't a certain thing in Darienna's mind, but there was the potential and if it didn't work out, she could simply assign a new mentor.  Disruptive for the student if it came to that, but she doubted it would.

There was no fifth fact, Darienna wasn't surprised as some people weren't so good at thinking on the spot when they were sideblinded with unexpected questions.  Some people needed a bit of guidance was all, and from the way that the girl was worrying the ring on her pinky finger, she knew exactly what to ask about.  "Its alright, four facts is good.  Perhaps for your fifth, you would tell me about the ring you are wearing?  I don't think I have seen one with that device upon it before."

"And after you've told me about your ring, perhaps you have other questions for me?  Then once those are answered, I shall escort you to your mentor.  She will be there for you so you have someone to turn to, though she is by no means the only one you may turn to.  My door is always open to those who wish to talk, and you will find others who will also listen to you if you wish to speak to them.  The mentor in particular is responsible for you though, to make sure you settle in well and adjust as best as possible."

"But first."  Darienna's smile grew a touch broader.  "Tell me about that ring."

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

Shaking her head as she filled in the ledger, Darienna was quick to respond to Merilaine's comment that she might have shared too much.  "Merilaine, I'm going to be responsible for you for anywhere between the next fifteen to thirty years, I prefer to find out now that you have headaches rather than you suffering nobly for a couple of years before I find out.  I prefer honesty from my charges so long as its honesty rather than wrongheaded pride under the guise of truth.  One day you might become an Aes Sedai, we have an oath of truth to bind us, but Novices and Accepted are both expected to emulate and embrace the same virtues."

Finishing with the ledger, Darienna set her quill aside as she looked up at Merilaine.  She'd only spoken of one of the two topics that the girl had raised, the other being that she didn't want to be in the Tower.  She certainly wouldn't be the first, or the last to come to the Tower with that opinion.  "As for not wanting to be here, there is nothing wrong with that feeling.  You've just had to leave your home and any dreams you had behind you.  The only people I've known to come to the Tower and have no regrets about it are those who were unhappy to begin with, for those who had good lives before, its not nearly so easy."

"Having said that."  Darienna got to her feet and gestured for Merilaine to do the same.  Stepping around her table, she studied her to get her measurement as she continued speaking.  "We do not always get a choice in what we want, sometimes our paths are woven for us.  You have a gift that very few women of your generation possess, and it is dangerous in its own right.  If your ability is only small, we will teach you enough that you do not harm yourself or those around you with your gift and you shall be able to return home and resume your life."

"But if your ability is great enough to become an Aes Sedai, then you will be capable of many things.  You will be able to heal the sick and wounded far better than any wisdom and within the space of a moment.  You'll be able to command the elements, from simple things like turning tainted water pure or lighting a fire without flint to splitting the sky with lightning.  Stay here."

Disappearing into a sideroom, Darienna kept talking as she could be heard shuffling about in there.  "Maybe that isn't what you want, maybe your dreams are more modest and there is nothing wrong with that.  But, for now at least, the first thing we shall do is ensure you don't harm others with your gift that has been unlocked.  Those who don't have control of their powers can manifest them wildly by mistake, if you're in a rage you might accidentally set a house alight, or fling someone a couple of dozen feet away with air, and that is assuming that when you manifest it is that simple."

Returning with Novice dresses on her arm, she handed them to the girl as she spoke sympathetically.  "Its a lot to take in now.  All of it will become clear in time as you settle in and engage your studies, but what we do here is for your own good and everyone elses.  Its not particularly fair, but by the time you are done, regardless of how far you go in your studies, you are going to have had an opportunity that very very few can claim, whether noble or common in birth."

"Now, what we will do is I will send you on your way to your mentor, who will be responsible for making sure that you settle in and to be there to ask for help.  Not that you can't approach me or others, but she will be assigned specifically to you nevertheless.  Before I do that, are there any questions you would like to ask?"

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

Knock Knock

"Come in!"

Setting aside her quill with a certain amount of relief, whoever it was that was knocking on her door had given her an excuse to take a break.  Reaching to the drawer on her left and withdrawing a pipe and some tabac as the door opened to reveal Marian and a trio of girls in tow.  Light help her, Darienna wondered whether all Marian did was find people to be trained at the White Tower, there didn't seem to be a single trip the woman made where she didn't bring one prospective hopeful back with her.  Andoran from their looks and their clothes, young too.

But there were three of them, that posed a problem.  Darienna had learned over the years that, despite her best efforts, girls that arrived together tended to band together and cede their individual intelligence in favour of doing very silly things.  Even as Marian told her that they'd all been tested true, Darienna nodded as she finished stuffing the tabac in the pipe.  She would begin with the pale skinned one with the black braid and the blue eyes.  "Thank you for bringing these three to me.  Could you take those two to sit on the benches outside?  I'll deal with them one at a time I think."

"Of course.  You two, come with me."

Watching as Marian led the two out, she waited until the door was closed before putting the pipe in her mouth.  A moment later, the tabac ignited and she began to puff away pleasantly.  Marian was definitely a good sister, without fail she would find ways for Darienna to be able to take a break for at least awhile everytime she visited the office.  After all, even a Mistress of Novices needed a smoke break every now and then.

Looking up at the girl, she gestured to one of the two seats on the other side of the table as she spoke.  "Take a seat.  I am Darienna Sedai, the Mistress of Novices.  The Mistress of Novices oversees the education of all students within the White Tower, which shall shortly be yourself.  I will need your name, age, and where you hail from so I can record it in this ledger here."

Reaching to her left and dragging the great book across, Darienna began leafing through it to find the page for new entries as she continued.  "While you are at it, I would also like you to tell me a bit about yourself.  Just whatever comes to mind that you would like to share.  Also, are you alright?  You seem a touch discomforted, beyond that of other students I have had in my office for the first time."

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

There was Annais' heartfelt words, the same feeling behind them that gave Mia hope and were the reason she had decided to stay.  She'd come close to leaving after Sirayn's disappearance, so close to believing her brother was right.  That the Tower had not been worthy of his sword, and that she was ready to accept that it wasn't worthy of her sword either.  Individual sisters were different, there were plenty that Mia liked and had confidence in, but the Tower itself was a different matter.  Too many things had been done, and it had become worse and worse.  Annais represented for her a chance that things might turn around, that her years of service might not have been wasted, a hope that she planned to hold onto.

The question of whether she would be there for Brent, now that was a question she had come to terms with when she had been with Annais at the Black Tower.  As much as she would like to be, that was something that never could be.  She would if she could, but there would be no chance for her to do that, not really anyway.  She was of the White Tower, to be there for Brent would only sabotage him.  Knowing it was a painful thing, but she accepted it nevertheless.  That and there was a practical consideration before that, one that she was loathe to admit but there it was.  "I can only be there for one person at a time."

"I think that he needs you more. You could go with him to the Black Tower for a while."

Looking sharply at Annais, Mia was surprised that the other woman didn't catch what she was saying.  Then again, Annais' more subtle senses shut down around those she liked, or so she'd noticed.  It was one of the more endearing traits that helped sustain her faith, even if it made her question whether the woman was all there sometimes.  Perhaps it would be easier to just come out and say it rather than to just keep hinting.  Not that it would be of much use to either of them for now, but all the same.

"To be there for him would be to harm him at the Black Tower.  Besides, I made my choice awhile ago, even if you seem too obtuse to see it.  I am here for you, that is my commitment now.  I will not serve a sixth Amyrlin."

Mia Stavros

Tower Guard

Consciousness came with light and a dull throb at her forehead.  Wincing even as her vision began to return to normal, Mia recognised the woman looming over her.  The reason she'd felt so angry, then she'd ended up on the ground it seemed and a pillow behind her head?  A spell it seemed, they came rarely because she usually had a better handle of her emotions.  It was one of the reasons that she had chosen the path she had, ordering her emotions helped her avoid those moments were she lost consciousness.  She hadn't had such a moment in years, and any who knew of it would have long forgotten it, and now Annais had seen it.  Perfect.

Speaking of whom, the woman was speaking.  Sorry, yet she wasn't.  No simple accepting that she'd done something wrong, no, it was Mia's fault as well for being overprotective.  Just a simple assumption, and while there might have been some truth to it, Mia wasn't about to go down that path in her thoughts.  Besides, there was much more to it than a simple bit of personal feeling in regards to Brent, though that wasn't simple either.  Refusing to take the tea that was offered to her, Mia spoke instead.

"You just don't get it do you?"  More tired than angry, Mia forced herself to sit up and shuffled over to the nearest seat so she could lay back on it at least.  Annais was so frustrating, it would have been so much easier if she hadn't cared to begin with.  "I've served five Amyrlins, you know that?  Kathana, Karana, Lanfir, Sirayn and now you.  Five.  Each one of you testing my resolve when it comes to the Tower, each for different reasons but tested all the same."

"Kathana wasn't proactive enough, Karana almost broke the Hall, Lanfir favoured her own Ajah too much, Sirayn was dangerous to everyone around her and now you.  Do you have any idea how frustrating you are?  You have a head on your shoulders, you can listen to people rather than just Aes Sedai, you have the potential to be the sort of Mother that a lot of us would like to see.  But you make such stupid mistakes, you dropped your guard in the Black Tower, you risked the worst possible scandal that could easily destroy any authority you have and undo Brent as well.  You make rash decisions, you don't think before you act and any good you do will go up in a flash if you keep tempting fate."

Easing herself against the chair more, light she felt weak at that moment, she looked up to Annais as she spoke plainly.  "I've served five Amyrlins, one of whom almost took me for their Gaidar, I will not serve a sixth.  You're it, either you work out or I leave this Tower and this city, put my back to it and travel elsewhere.  Faith can only be broken so many times and I don't have the will to keep doing this.  This Tower has so much promise, it can do so many good things, and you have the chance to do these things.  You can't do it if you're undermined, authority destroyed or even stripped of your stole, and I won't wait to see if another Amyrlin can take up the mantle."

Raising a hand to her forehead, she could still feel the vein there where it had risen but that wasn't why.  She couldn't believe she had just spoken those words, she had resolved to keep her counsel and see what happened.  A fine commitment she had followed through with there.  Closing her eyes for a moment as she gathered herself, her hand trailed the side of her face as she opened her eyes again.  "There it is, I suppose.  Its you or I leave now, and you wonder I get worked up over something like this?  Before I even get to thoughts of Brent, thats what is there."

Mia Stavros

Tower Guard

It was as Lyssa approached Ursana that Aran took the opportunity to slip away from the gathering group as the attention was focused on her.  Not that he was leaving, he just had something in mind to arrange and it only took a brief moment.  After all, the musicians were already preparing themselves, performers rarely needed encouragement to perform.  Performing meant that people noticed them, and a performer craved attention first and foremost.  That and a silver mark could go a long way.

Rejoining the group with an innocent smile on his face as the music began, a simple melody to let those within know that they were about to begin the dances, people answered in pairs as they took to the cleared area within the common room.  A perfect opportunity to cut in and propose an idea.  "There's this quaint tradition I've heard of in some places.  When a boy becomes a man and he has a party such as this, all the ladies owe him at least a twirl on the dance floor, no?"

"I don't suppose any of you ladies would care to honour such a tradition with the Tower Guard's newest and finest?"

Aran

Tower Guard

Chuckling kindly, Darienna slowed slightly to allow Kirjava to walk abreast as they entered the Tower proper.  The basics, they were always good to know, she was surprised that Marian had said little but then, Marian usually had more on her mind.  "You come here to learn how to be an Aes Sedai, the One Power is but one part of your education.  You will also learn court manner, you will study mathematics and science as much as you learn of the old tongue and dozens of other disciplines.  Along the way over the years, your strengths and weaknesses will become apparent, your weaknesses will be remedied and your strengths sharpened until you are ready to take on the shawl and join the Sisterhood, should you have it in you."

Taking a deep draw from her pipe as she lapsed into silence, Darienna exhaled contentedly as they reached the first of several flights of stairs that led to her office.  Beginning the ascent, she branched out from the topic of learning to that of the One Power.  "As to the One Power, it is driving force of creation, it keeps the wheel moving so that the wheel continues to spin our existance.  People like us, we can harness that power and use it to achieve many things, both good and bad.  You may learn to harness lightning as a weapon as easily as you may learn how to mend someone's broken bones in but a moment."

"The One Power is split in two, saidin is the male half and the other half that we use, saidar, is the feminine aspect of the One Power.  It is then divided into five elements; Air, Earth, Fire, Spirit and Water.  We can summon them in the form of different threads that we can then work into weaves, the same way that one might make a quilt except that instead of a needle, your will shapes the threads.  But you will learn more of that when you learn how to find saidar with you and embrace it."

Cresting the last flight of stairs, it wasn't far to her office and it was notable for the two benches that sat either side of the door for those who came to see her to wait.  Opening the door, Darienna ushered the girl in and closed it behind them as she told Kirjava to take one of the two seats before her table.  She didn't need to study the girl, she'd already had that opportunity so she simply asked her to wait while she disappeared in a side room, the sound of her rummaging through drawers clearly audible.

It was a minute before Darienna re-emerged with Novice dresses to fit.  Handing them to the girl, Darienna sat on the edge of the table near the girl as she smiled.  "Now, all I need to do is figure out what to do with you.  Each Novice is assigned a mentor, someone to help them settle into the Tower and its life, but I haven't quite put my finger on who to assign to you yet."

"Of the top of your head, tell me five things about yourself, you have thirty seconds."

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

Sorry mate, I would but I'm committed to too many threads atm.

It would be unreasonable if the expectation was for the person doing the test to come up with the perfect answer.  The point of it is not to show spectacular skills and dazzling insight, though it might happen.  The point is to put the sister on the spot.

Maybe without the same level of world shaking ramifications.

"Yes, actually."

Lillian was surprised by the accuracy of the question until she looked more closely at Miya.  No, Miya was not possessed of some supernatural gift for clairvoyance, it was simply her homeland.  Smiling, Lillian decided to give what news she could.  "The worst of the season is done, Trolloc attacks are lessening and the border stands as strong as before.  You needn't worry about that, and furthermore it looks like it shall remain that way for years to come.  I have to say, out of the Borderland nations, Arafel is probably my favourite with Kandor running a close second.  The others are still fine places, don't get me wrong, but there is that certain something that is different."

As for Sial, it was good to know that she was treating her roommate well enough.  Some people didn't react well to having to share a room with another, Lillian was one of those people unless it was someone she knew well beforehand.  Her obsessive compulsive need for order and structure in her quarters was known to put people off, but she couldn't help it.  She could be anywhere else and it was fine, but her quarters in the White Tower were pristine.  Everything had its place and was assigned so accordingly.

In fact, that would probably be a good place to go to talk, if Miya didn't mind taking a break from her work.  It would also allow her to get changed and get something for them to eat, perhaps sit down and talk for awhile in more comfort than this.  "I'm glad to know Sial is treating you well, and if you wouldn't mind I'd like to know you a bit better.  If you want, you can come with me to my quarters and we can sit down, share a light meal and talk.  I can leave a message here for Sial to come and join us once she has done her chores."

"Unless you do not want to be taken away from your study, which is fair enough.  What are you working on by the way?"

Lillian Tremina

Sister of the White Ajah

The question of the pain was an expected one, but one that Darienna had an answer for at least.  Might not have exactly been the one that Miya would want, but it was true nevertheless.  She just hoped that Miya might be able to draw comfort from it.  "Not for a time, it will last but it will also fade.  Not forgotten, and it should not be forgotten because it is something dear to the heart, but the pain will pass."

No quick release from it for Miya, but it was inevitable at least, if she allowed it to be.  Distance and remaining busy would help take care of it, it was one of the reasons that Novices were assigned so many chores.  Not only was it to try and teach humility, though that was limited in its effeciveness she sometimes felt, it was also to ensure that by the end of the day they were too tired to get up to too much trouble.  Too tired to get up to trouble, too tired to dwell on thoughts too much, tired enough to simply drop off to sleep and start again the next day all over again.

"It is good that you want to be Aes Sedai for yourself, and for others.  Its a painful choice, like most choices we have to give up something so that we can have something else.  Most choices aren't as cruel as this one, but there it is all the same.  But, you know, maybe you should tell your family that."

That got a look.  "I'm serious.  Your family mean a lot to you, they should know that.  That it is hard for you to be here when you wish to be home, amongst your family whom you've known all your life.  They should know that you struggle with it, for them that means that you haven't forgotten them and that they are dear to your heart.  You can tell them why you make the choice to stay, why it is difficult for you, what it means to you and what you feel it means you give up and sacrifice.  There is no reason to hide these things from them, is there?"

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices

"Punished?"

Sial in trouble?  Lillian was surprised, not that she didn't see Sial getting up to mischief, but getting caught twice in one day was unusual indeed.  She would have to talk to Sial, but that would have to wait until Sial's punishment was done.  She couldn't go and disrupt a punishment without undermining the person who administered it.  Frustrating, but it had been eight months, she could manage a few more hours or however long it was until Sial was done and returned to her quarters.

In the meantime, it seemed that Sial had gained a roommate, why hadn't Darienna mentioned it?  Must have slipped her mind, but now was the time to remedy the ignorance.  That and introduce herself, it was rather rude of her not to introduce herself.  But finding another girl living in Sial's room, after Sial having the room to herself for so long she had been caught ten kinds of off guard.  And she did look like a girl, light she was so young, not much younger than Sial but still she was young.

"Sorry, I've forgotten my manners.  My name is Lillian Sedai, I am Sial's mentor and I've just returned from my travels.  I'd hoped to catch Sial out and surprise her, but it will have to wait until she has done her penance clearly.  I didn't realise that she had gained a roommate in my absence."

Walking over to the girl, she sat herself on the closest bed as she smiled slightly at the girl.  "So, what is your name and how long have you been at the Tower now?  What is living my student like?  She hasn't been giving you any trouble I hope?"

Lillian Tremina

Sister of the White Ajah

Standing as Miya finished with a stiffled sob, Darienna quickly made her way around her table to the spare seat that was next to the girl and sat down beside her.  Miya didn't react to the arm Darienna put around her shoulders except to look at the floor, and Darienna knew why now.  She knew why Miya had finally splurged, because the girl had been bottling it up all the time, her loneliness.  It wasn't that she was alone, but she was lonely for those whom she had left behind, sick for her home and all her loved ones that she had left behind.  Darienna had erred in thinking that Miya had already overcome such trouble, making the assumption that because it had been so long that Miya must have opened up to someone else.

"Don't look at the floor, I'm up here."  Using a free hand to reach under the girl's chin to tilt her gaze up, Darienna smiled reassuringly.  "You'd think you were the only one to realise these things, there's no shame in it.  Light Miya, every woman in this tower has had the same fears as you.  The things that we leave behind, they aren't easy things to give up.  To know that we aren't going to live the lives that we once had planned. . ."

Her smile becoming a touch wistful, Darienna decided to draw on something a touch more personal.  "I'm not going to say I know exactly what its like for you.  For me, I left behind a mother, a few friends and a life as a maid.  It was perhaps easier for me in that respect than others who left behind large loving families, but it is difficult for everyone, and everyone does need to talk about it at some stage."

"There would be something wrong if you didn't miss your family, the White Tower isn't your home yet and when it does become home, it won't be the same.  It won't replace what you had, it is different and new and takes a lot to adjust to.  But you don't have to be alone, you have your roommate, you have me, you have Rory Sedai and Zalena Sedai, you have Lillian Sedai, and there will be others there to be there for you.  You might feel like you're just scrubbing pans and washing floors and that it will take forever to make any progress, but there is a reason for that."

"People are wont to say that taking the first step is the hardest.  Truth be told, thats a lie.  Its hard to make a decision, a commitment, but when the goal seems so far away it is more difficult to hold to what you've decided than the decision itself.  But we have all done it, and I know you can as well.  You have what it takes, if you didn't then I wouldn't be making the same effort.  I'd teach you still, I'd make sure you wouldn't hurt yourself with the power and that would be that.  But you do have it in you, and I've been a Mistress of Novices long enough to know that."

Squeezing the girl's arm reassuringly, Darienna added.  "But, do you want this?  It will take you more years than you expected, though maybe not as long as a decade.  But you can become an Aes Sedai, you will learn how to fling fire, call lightning, heal the sick and do many more things, more than you would have ever been able to do in your previous life.  Not that it was any less valuable a life for that, but you know what I mean.  You have a future that few women could hope for ahead of you, but look within yourself.  What do you feel?"

Darienna Ceradin

Mistress of Novices