Thanks, guys! Yellow would be great sometime, since I intend Audie to go Yellow. :)

Night was falling swiftly outside Audorienne's window, as was the snow. She stood, hands on hips, with her nose pressed against the cold pane of glass. She had never seen snow before in her life until her first winter at the Tower and the first snowfall of each year still filled her with childlike wonder. Taking a step back from the window, Audi rubbed the frost from her breath with the heel of her hand then pressed her nose to the window again.

A crisp, loud knock sounded on her door. The startled girl jumped back, muttering "Light!" under her breath. "Just a moment," she called louder. Straightening her skirts and wiping the mist from the window again, she strode across the small room to pull open the door.

"Darienna Sedai!" Audorienne exclaimed and dropped into a curtsy. When she came back up, she kept her eyes on the hem of the Mistress of Novices' skirt. "To what do I owe the honour?"

"It is time, child," the Aes Sedai said simply. Time? Oh, Light, time for the test? She barely had time to wonder before Darienna turned to begin down the hall. "Come," the woman said over her shoulder.

Not following never even crossed Audorienne's mind. She fell in line a respectable distance behind the Aes Sedai, her eyes following the bottom of Darienna's dress as it swished down the hall. Down they went, into a part of the Tower Audorienne had never been to.

When Darienna reached a heavy wooden door at the end of a long hallway, she stopped and waited for Audi to catch up. When the girl reached her, the Mistress of Novices ushered her inside. She laid her hand gently on Audorienne's shoulder and led her forward toward a glowing light in the centre of the large room. As they drew closer, she saw the three Aes Sedai seated on the floor around the glowing ter'angreal, the aura of saidar surrounding the Blue, Green and White sisters. A fourth Aes Sedai wrapped in a brown shawl stood beside a small table filled with three chalices.

They drew abreast of the Brown sister and Darienna stopped. She took her hand from Audorienne's shoulder and turned to face the girl. "There are two things I must tell you that no woman hears before entering this room," the Mistress of Novices began. "Once you begin, you must continue to the end. Refuse to continue and, no matter your potential, you will be put out of the Tower with enough silver to see you through a year and never be allowed to return. And secondly, to seek, to strive, is to know danger. You will know danger here tonight. Some have entered and never been seen again. When the ter'angreal was allowed to grow quiet they simply <i>were not there.</i> To survive, you must be steadfast. Faltering leads to failure.

"This is your last chance, child. You may turn back now and you will only have one mark against you. Twice more you will be brought here and only after refusing for a third time will you be put out of the Tower. There is no shame in refusal. Many cannot enter the first time. Now you may speak."

Audorienne closed her mouth with a click when she realized she was gaping. She spread sweating palms on her white skirt and raised her eyes to meet Darienna's gaze. "I am ready."

The Brown sister moved forward slightly and spoke. "Whom do you bring with you, sister?"

"One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, sister," Darienna intoned in a loud, clear voice.

"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 is now willing."

"Then let her face what she fears."

Darienna turned once more to Audorienne. "Please remove your clothes," she said. Audi's cheeks coloured slightly at the request but she hurried to obey. When her clothes were piled on the floor, the Mistress of Novices led Audorienne to the first Arch, between the Blue and White sisters. "The first time is for what was," she said. "The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Audorienne blinked at the light-filled archway then balled her hands into fists and plunged headlong through the light.

For what was...

Audorienne was sixteen and had the world at her disposal. Well, not really. In truth, she was quite limited in her options but that was okay. Things had been hard for the past several years but, finally, something had brought the sparkle back to Jalin's eyes. She didn't know what it was, but she hadn't seen her brother this happy in a long time.

They strolled arm in arm down a street of the Rahad, which was unusually calm today. Jalin plucked a flower from a pot outside someone's doorway and tucked it into his sisters coppery mane.

"Beautiful!" He exclaimed, spinning her around. She shrieked with laughter and batted playfully at his arm.

"What has gotten into you lately?" She asked, breaking free of his grip and continuing down the street.

Her brothers long strides quickly caught up to hers and he slipped his arm through hers again before he spoke. What came out of his mouth was the last thing she expected to hear. "Love."

"Love!" She nearly shouted in her disbelief and stopped dead in her tracks. Audorienne placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, sister," he replied with exaggerated patience. "It's a wonderful thing. You should get yourself a man and find out."

Ugh, she thought. Aloud she responded, "I'd really rather not, thank you kindly."

"Why's that?"

"Because only fools fall in love, brother of mine, and I am no fool."

He chuckled. "You will be someday."

"Doubtful."

He wagged his finger under her nose before he took her by the arm again. "Come now," he said, "why does everything in life have to be so serious? Why can't we indulge in the more pleasant aspects of it from time to time?"

"Because, Jalin, there is too much work to be done to waste time on pleasantries. You won't earn any bread and butter tucking yourself away in some shadowy corner with a foolish girl." The tone in Audorienne's voice took her brother aback. She sounded genuinely disgusted with the concept of love.

"Firstly, she is not foolish and, secondly, she could keep us both for the rest of our lives."

Audorienne barked a laugh. "So you want to be a kept man now?" She pulled her arm away and lengthened her steps to be away from her brother. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she shouted back to him. "Fine, do as you please. I'll have no part of it."

"Audorie..!" Jalin's voice trailed off to something more like the sound of wind rushing down a narrow street. She spun to find her brother surrounded by four men, each with knives at the ready.

"Jalin!" She screamed and threw herself towards the circle of men, but a short man that was almost as wide as he was tall grabbed her by her waist and threw her to the street. By the time she had righted herself, the only sounds that reached her ears were the thudding of flesh on flesh and muffled cries from her twin.

"Audorienne," he called softer and she tried to go to him again but it was then that she saw a glimmer in the corner of her eye. <i>The way will come but once.</i> She wasn't quite sure of the meaning behind those words, but she knew they were important. She took another step towards her brother.

<i>Be steadfast.</i> She hesitated, but her next step was toward the shimmering doorway and away from Jalin. He called her name again and she looked back at him. It was then that the tears came, fat and hot they slid down her cheeks, seeming to sear her flesh. A sob was torn from her throat and she tried to say "I'm sorry," but it came out as more of a croak. At that, she turned and threw herself through the glowing door...and came out the other side, naked on a floor of stone.

Audorienne shivered and curled around herself, her tears still coming freely. A soft whimpering sound took up residence in the back of her throat and she was unsure if she'd ever be able to make any other sound again. Of all things..of <i>all</i> days, she had been forced to relive that one.

The water that splashed down on her head, running into her eyes and open mouth brought her back to the present but she still couldn't stem the flow of her tears. She struggled to her feet as the Brown intoned, "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 water trickling slowly down her back from the ends of her hair made her shiver as she stood as straight as she could. She held her arms straight down at her sides, her hands balled into fists, but the tears still flowed.

"Do you have any questions, child?" Darienna Sedai asked and, even though she did, she drew a deep breath and shook her head. Her questions were between her and the Creator. There was no way this woman could answer them. The woman guided her to the second archway with a hand pressed lightly to her shoulder. "Then come. The second arch is for what is. The way will come but once. Be steadfast."

The second archway glowed as the first had, but this time the girl did not rush headlong into it. She held her head up, despite the tears streaking her face, and walked slowly into the light.

For what is...

It was a fine spring day, nearly all the snow had been melted off by the sun that shone halfway down to its western horizon. Birds tittered to one another among the trees as Audorienne made her way down a winding path. It was one of her free days and she had been enjoying it to it's fullest, but now that it was drawing to a close she had decided to take a walk in the gardens to enjoy the last few rays of the sun.

It was darker among the trees than the rest of the grounds, most things thrown into shadow, and it was from one of those shadows that a man stepped. There was something about him that said this man was not a Warder or a trainee, she was certain of that. And he was not supposed to be here. "Good evening, miss."

She dropped him a small curtsy and skirted to the edge of the path to pass him, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm. "I said, good evening." He repeated. "It's rude to not say the same back. Perhaps I'll have to teach you manners." The man leered at her and a sudden fear gripped her.

"You're not supposed to be here," Audorienne said, trying to pull her arm free but the man had a tight grip on her arm. He pushed her roughly against a tree and his mouth came down roughly on hers. <i>Oh, Light, help me.</i> She thought desperately.

Both of his hands held her arms still now but she struggled with all her might. "Please," she whimpered. "Please, I have to be somewhere. They'll be wondering where I am." She grasped at any excuse that might scare this man into letting her go. <i>The way will come but once.</i>

Audi's head turned quickly from side to side and she saw it. Glimmering a short distance to her left, there was a gateway and she knew in her bones that she had to get to it. "Please!" She cried, struggling harder than ever. But the man just pushed her harder into the tree and growled for her to shut up.

<i>Be steadfast.</i> She knew it was now or never. Lifting her foot, she brought the heel down hard on the inside of his. She had not grown up so near the Rahad without learning how to protect herself. The man yelped and let go of her. It was enough. It had to be enough. She set off at a dead run toward the gateway, but she straightened himself quickly and was after her in a flash. As she dove for the light, he grabbed the hem of her skirt, but her momentum merely made a piece rip away as she flung herself into the shimmering door.

She slid to a stop on the stone floor, cold and naked once more. Her breathing was ragged and hard, but there were no tears this time. She quickly stood up and pushed her hair back out of her face, just in time for cold water to splash down over her again. The voice that rang out was calm and controlled and seemed in sharp contrast to all the emotions roiling inside her. "You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul."

This time, she opened her mouth to speak when the Mistress of Novices asked if she had any questions. "Is it real?" If it was, she desperately wanted a bath after having that man paw at her. If it wasn't..she still desperately wanted to be clean again.

"Many women ask the same thing, child," Darienna Sedai responded, "and all I can say is that I don't know. I know what you're feeling, I know this is hard. But I don't know if what you've experienced, or what countless women before have experienced, is real."

Audorienne had not even realized she had moved with the Mistress of Novices to the third arch, but when the woman stopped speaking, that's where she found herself. She nodded dully, but showed a weak smile. "The third time is for what will be. Be steadfast for the way back will come but once."

This arch glowed as the other two had and, like with the previous one, Audorienne forced herself to walk slowly and calmly into that light.

For what will be...

Ebou Dar was still the rough city that Audorienne had grown up in but that hadn't scared her then and it certainly didn't scare her now. She had been waiting to come back for years, she had missed the smell of salt off the sea, missed the familiar bright dresses sewn up to show bright petticoats with necklines plunging all the way to <i>there.</i> The women of her childhood, strong and mysterious, hot tempered and strong-willed. She had grown up emulating them.

"Audorienne Caelyyn?" Very few knew her as that anymore, she was Audorienne Sedai more often than not now but the name made her turn. The woman who had called to her was not a familiar face, but she plainly recognized Audorienne. "It is you! Oh, Light, but you look just like your brother."

Those words brought a stab of pain. So this woman had known her brother, but that still didn't explain who she was. "I'm sorry," Audi began, "but I don't know your name?" It was barely turned into a question and the woman flushed from her low neckline to her dark hair.

"Oh, I'm sorry! My name is Corenia Maliein. I.."  The dark woman dropped her gaze to the ground for a moment. She seemed to muster her strength and raised her eyes back to Audorienne's. "I loved your brother."

Had Audorienne not  been Aes Sedai, her mouth would have dropped open. This was the woman Jalin and loved, the woman he had died for. She was beautiful with her dark hair and eyes, tall and slender and tanned to just the right shade. It was also blatantly clear that she had the money Jalin had claimed she had. "It's so nice to meet you, Corenia," Audorienne inclined her head to the other woman. "Jalin loved you dearly."

"I know," her voice was soft and sad. "I tried to find you after..after it happened but you had already left the city. I never expected to find you after that. I..Will you please come with me?" Audorienne hesitated and the woman smiled slightly. "I understand if you don't have time. I've heard you're Aes Sedai now and of course whatever you must have to do is more important. I understand."

"I'm actually free at the moment," Audorienne assured her. "Of course I'll come with you." She followed Corenia through the streets of Ebou Dar until they came to a house. It was not a palace, but not far from. It stretched up four stories, was gated on all sides and had beautiful ornamentation. They went in through the front door and Corenia told a servant to bring tea  up to Niene's room before she led Audorienne up two flights of stairs. She pushed open a dark door which opened into what was plainly a girls bedroom.

Corenia crossed to the bed and drew back the curtains to show the inhabitant of the room laying on her soft pink blankets. "This is my daughter, Niene. She is 15 years old."

<i>Fifteen?</i> Audorienne thought, <i>That would make her..Oh, Light.</i> "Jalin's daughter?" She asked softly as she stepped closer to the sleeping girl. Looking at the girl in this new light, she could very clearly tell she was her brother's child. She had his colourings, for the most part. Her hair was a rich auburn and her skin, like Audorienne's own, was pale despite the Ebou Dari sun.

"Yes, Jalin's." Corenia said softly as she touched the girls cheek tenderly. "She's severely ill. I've had doctor after doctor come to examine her but they don't know what can be done. I would never normally ask anything of you after what grief I caused but.." <i>Be steadfast.</i>

The door was cracked open a tiny amount and Audorienne could see the gateway glowing in the hall. <i>No! Not yet! Please, not yet.</i> But she knew it was time. <i>The way will come but once.</i>

"I..I'm sorry, Corenia. Will you excuse me for just a moment?" The look on the woman's face went from hopeful to confused.

"Audorienne Sedai? Please, I don't mean to beg but I don't know what else.." Audorienne backed slowly towards the door, her eyes fixed on the sleeping girl that looked so much like her brother. "Please, Aes Sedai." The pleading in the womans voice made her want to weep, but as the emotions burbled up the back of her throat, she turned a burst through the door. The woman's cry of "Wait!" was cut short as she plunged through the glowing gateway to find her bare feet once again on a stone floor.

More women now filled the large room that the ter'angreal was in. The Amyrlin stood surrounded by a sister of each Ajah and Audorienne went quickly to her and knelt on the cold floor. Cold water doused her once more and the Amyrlin's clear voice said, "You are washed clean of Audorienne Caelyyn of Ebou Dar. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the wold. You come to us washed clean in heart and soul. You are Audorienne Caelyyn, Accepted of the White Tower. You are seal to us now. Welcome, daughter."

The empty chalice in her hands was passed to the Grey sister on her left and instead she held a ring. She gently took Audorienne's left hand and slipped it onto her third finger before pulling her to her feet. Audorienne stole a glance down at the serpent biting it's own tail as the realization of what she had accomplished hit home. "Welcome, daughter," the Amyrlin Seat kissed Audi's right cheek, then her left. "Welcome."

I'm gunna try to get my Arches done asap and as soon as I do I'd be more than happy to become a mentor. Just one for the time being though because, unfortunately, I won't be overly active for a while.