Heh. We're ancient!

Souvan! Haven't seen you in years, bud. Jon'atha here from way back.

Last I knew, way back when, you'd hooked up with Janet, whose DM handle I can't seem to recall. I probably still have a photo lying around. You still together?

The young man stared at the weapons on the wall, but whipped his head back around as the voice of the Mistress of Trainees rose demandingly. "The sword!" He blinked, realizing he had answered the wrong one of her questions. "I mean... I wanted to train with the sword." He had spent time during his journey to Tar Valon pondering the sorts of weapons he would feel most comfortable with once it came to it, but he hadn't expected to make any sort of actual decision right away. "I've never actually used a weapon. I mean, I played sticks with my friends when I was younger..." He felt his cheeks warm a little at talking about when he was a little boy to the Mistress of Trainees. "But I've never used a real weapon. I've never had to."

He straightened and tried to act braver than he had so far, trying to show the woman he wasn't a scared little rabbit, now that he was here in the Warder Yard. "I'd like to learn about all weapons, but the ones that have interested me most so far are the sword and bow. Perhaps..." his voice faltered briefly at a flash in the Mistress's eyes. "Perhaps the katana, and the crossbow. For grace and reach with the sword, and the ability to pierce armor at mid-range with the crossbow."

Who had given her the idea that the Accepted had latched onto him? They had only just met. Surely she hadn't thought that highly of a little country buffoon.

The young man tried to look brave... he had read the books, he had a good idea what a Mistress of Trainees was supposed to be like, but he also knew that right now he must look like a kitten who had just turned a corner and bumped into a dog. He had seen a flash of the flames and daggers. He really wasn't used to... but no, life was obviously going to be different from the way it had been growing up back home. Entirely different.

"Yes," He managed to force out. "There's nowhere else I'm meant to be." He sounded braver than he felt, but he knew there was much more he could be saying, more he should say. Grand things, impressive things, an empassioned speech... but nothing came to mind under that hard gaze. Not unfriendly, but... serious... accustomed to... to dangerous situations, he realized. He still wasn't used to it, though, and he looked uncomfortable.

Toromin cleared his throat, taking the offered seat and trying desperately but in vain to banish the flush from his face. How could she have whittled down to the truth so quickly?

"Toromin Doanshar... ma'am." He still didn't know what title he should give, if any. He blinked in surprise when the Warder propped her feet on the desk. Perhaps she wasn't as bad as he'd thought at first. She didn't have flames shooting from her ears or daggers from her eyes. "I've come from Whitebridge. To be a Warder." Light, he was tripping over himself again. Where was his practiced speech now? He couldn't begin to remember it.

"The day hasn't really been so strange, ma'am... just the whole journey from home. I did accidentally knock down the Accepted..." His face flushed again at her widened smirk, despite his attempt to keep it at bay. "I hope she doesn't get into trouble for getting her dress dirty. I know they're supposed to take care of them."

He suddenly remembered parts of what he had meant to say upon meeting the Mast-- Mistress of Trainees, and sat up straighter in his chair, everything coming out in a jumble and not in the order he had intended. "I'm here with my father's permission, if not his blessing. I'm sixteen, old enough to make my own life decisions." He faltered for the briefest moment, but continued right on. "I've studied the Aes Sedai and the White Tower, and the Warders, and their place in the world... and..." He faltered again for a moment, trying to find the words that teased him from the edge of his tongue. "If there's one thing I aim to do with my life, it's to protect the Aes Sedai and the White Tower, from their enemies." He gave up on anything else he was planning to say, remembering little else even of what he had said to the Warder who had met him at the gate. "The world needs the Aes Sedai, and they could use protection from the world. I'm here to... to be a sword and shield against the Dark."

He settled back slightly into his chair, not having realized he was sitting on the edge, and looked positively mortified. I can't believe I blabbered on like that. I must look like an utter idiot, and she's the Mistress of Trainees!

(Continued in "Fresh Meat!" in the Warders Yard.)

Gasp! He grew hair?!

Perhaps those Rogaine with Monoxidil commercials aren't all bunk after all. ;D

Poor Emp, he looks so sad and pathetic knocking on the door and pleading.

I think he's just got a thing for Novices. ;D

Toromin's wide eyes conveyed concern for his reputation and the Accepted's. Though the Guard's wink and grin suggested they weren't in immediate trouble, the warnings were still there. "Oh, no, ma'am. It was quite innocent. We bumped into each other on the street, literally, and she showed me to the Tower here." He paused to think for the briefest of instants. "I'm sure the... display of affection was merely... an accidental emotional outburst."

He clamped his mouth shut before he could say anything about "girls". He realized he hadn't even considered the idea that there could be female Tower Guards, or possibly even female Warders! The books he had read said they were traditionally male, but that in no way inhibited the possibility of exceptions. Women could certainly be as dangerous, he noted, with a glance at her weapons.

He was suddenly swept over with a surprised feeling of... it could only be called relief. She hadn't laughed at him and sent him running back into the streets! Not yet, anyway. Perhaps the Mistress of Trainees would... (Thera... he tried to commit the name to memory)... but at least he had his foot in the door.

He bowed and tried to still his emotions, relaxing his facial muscles. "Thank you, ma'am." He cut short the realization that she hadn't given her name yet. Perhaps that's the way things were here. "It would be my honor to see the Mistress of Trainees."

Toromin stared after the fleeting Accepted with a look of wonder on his face. She kissed me. Me! But we've just met... It isn't proper, but... I think I could get used to it. He blushed momentarily.

At the Tower Guard's address, the young man straightened with a surprised jerk, wondering if he should give some sort of salute, but not knowing any. All he could think was Don't stare, and don't babble. "Toromin Doanshar..." Wait, she didn't ask my name. "Sorry..." I didn't actually need to apologize. Now I'm babbling! Come on, I prepared for this!

He took a deep breath. "My name is Toromin Doanshar. I've studied the Aes Sedai and learned about their place in the world. I believe we would be much worse off without them, but I know there are people... and non-people... trying to hurt them." Where was I going with this again? Now I can't remember the rest... well, nothing for it, then. "I've come to Tar Valon to become a Warder, to protect the Aes Sedai from their enemies, and the enemies of the Light."

This was the moment of truth. He would be rejected, and crushed, or his life would be changed forever. If he was actually sent away, he wasn't so sure anymore just how well he could stand his ground as he'd planned. These Tower Guards looked quite serious, and dangerous, but he was determined, and it shown in his eyes more than the intimidation.

Toromin looked surprised for a moment. No friends at all? I wasn't the most popular kid around back home, but I did have friends. His face turned what he thought was formal and dignified. "Kabria, I would be honored to be your friend. As long as I don't make your other three jealous." He grinned and held out his hand to shake hers, thinking for a moment on how much they might see of each other in the future, and realizing he hadn't even told her yet what it was he was in Tar Valon for.

A grin sprouted across Toromin's face, at Kabria's smile and at the fresh smell of bread. He could feel his stomach making extra room at that smell, and his heart at that smile. He tried not to show his surprise on his face at her mention of "drivel" at the Tower. Surely she wasn't suggesting that the White Tower was anything less than the greatest, most magnificent and mysterious place in the world! It just wouldn't make any sense. For certain, it was... it had to be.

It would be impolite to acknowledge the comment, of course, so he certainly didn't. "Mostly hard bread and dried meat at little campfires along the road... but this place smells wonderful." He looked around and took a deep intoxicating breath, and despite the quick breakfast he'd hurried through hardly two hours before, his stomach rumbled, causing his eyes to take on a slight look of embarassment that didn't dent his grin. He tried not to laugh, but a little one squeezed its way out anyway.

He took a quick inventory of his feelings, and most of them were quite unfamiliar to him. "I still feel like I've been rude to you somehow... missed some sort of polite custom you're supposed to do when you meet someone new, but I can't figure out what." That was probably more matter-of-fact than he should have been, but he felt she should know he was trying to be polite, even if he knew he was failing miserably. A quick subject change should help mitigate his shame, though. "How long have you been at the White Tower?" A fair amount of respect and awe could be heard in his mention of the Tower. The esteem he held for the Tower and the Aes Sedai was quite high, indeed.

"Wait..." Her hand felt warm and soft in his, he thought, though he tried not to get any more distracted. "Kabria." He'd never heard a name quite like that before. I wonder where she's from. "I'm sorry. I've been quite rude. I must have gotten lost in..." your eyes? "thought." He shifted the light pack on his back before it could fall down his arm. "I apologize. I'm on my way to the Tower, actually, but I don't have to get there any time soon." Truly, nobody even knew he was coming. He could even wait for days, if the silver pennies in his coin pouch were enough to hold out. He didn't have any idea what things cost here in Tar Valon, though it was sure to be more than at home.

She's probably irritated with me. Light, she probably doesn't even like me. All I've done is knock her over and make her mad. And she's an Accepted, and I'm nothing! He knew she was in charge of the situation, and of herself. Women always were when it came down to it, and Aes Sedai -- or those training to be -- more than any others. He didn't want to stop talking to her, though, if he could help it. "Is there a place where we could talk a little? If you want to, that is. Unless there's somewhere else you have to be."

He kicked himself inside again, though not showing it on his face. She probably wouldn't want to talk, or do anything besides change her dirtied clothes, which were all his fault. His eyes turned a little sad with the disappointment of what he imagined to be the most likely outcome of his first meeting in Tar Valon. Not really an enemy, but probably not a friend.

He had a bad habit of second guessing people, though fortunately for him, he was usually wrong.

*loves on Ali!*

Don't know how you've been able to do it for so long, volunteering so much time at DM with two kids, a husband, and web design work. I'm tired just thinking about it!

You're amazing, gal. ;D

The young man closed his gaping mouth and unconsciously took a step back from the woman's angry glare. "Toromin Doanshar... from Whitebridge." Light, she didn't need to know that... wouldn't care about it. Look at that hair... it was so strange. And the tattoos... he'd never seen a woman with tattoos before, only men. And usually not the sort of men his parents would want him talking to. "I'm..." here to become a Warder? No... "I'm awfully sorry, miss..." Accepted? Was there a title for that? An honorific? He knew there was one for an Aes Sedai, but he didn't remember reading about one for Accepted, or for Novices. Or Warders, now that he thought about it. 'Miss' would have to do for now. "Some... somebody pushed me. I didn't mean to knock you down."

He shifted slightly on his feet as he spoke, wishing to be somewhere else. Her face had turned red back there. She looked furious. She was probably nearly ready to hit him! Or use the Power on him... He tried to take another step back at the frightening thought, but found that his heel was against the seamstress shop's wall. He blinked in surprise and, after the briefest of instants, mentally kicked himself for being five kinds of idiot.

Finally remembering himself, he dipped a very polite and modest bow at the waist, trying to speak before she could respond as he would expect to the way he had been behaving. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Accepted." It was hard to play the proper non-country-oaf under that gaze. He hadn't had much opportunity to practice. "I... I am very sorry for knocking you over. It was entirely my fault, or the person behind me. It was very poor timing. I should have been able to catch myself, but you were right there..." Light, now he was blubbering.

He tried to cover it up. "Are you hurt?" He hoped she wouldn't stay angry with him. He was very unaccustomed to anyone being angry with him.

The person above me has a very pretty name, and the person above she is allowing a single unrestrained celebrity to conjure unfair bias.

Everything happened so fast...

Blinking in shock, Toromin blurted out a stunned "Oh my gosh...", trying to help the woman back to her feet while glancing behind him to see who might have shoved him so harshly.  When he turned back to apologize, his eyes met his victim's, and words escaped him like swallows frightened into flight.

Numerous things flew through across his mind in an instant. My apologies, miss... Are you alright?... Can I help you in any way?... Did you drop anything?... I hope I didn't hurt you... Can I make it up to you?... I wonder what it would be like to kiss you...

The unexpected last thought brought a flush to his cheeks, but still nothing made it as far as his lips. He took in her face, her skin, her strange hair, and a little of her tattoos without looking away from her eyes, until he realized he was looking into a lady's eyes. Fierce eyes, focused on him with fiery indignation.

He turned his face down with an abashed grimace, hoping it looked like an apologetic smile, and for the first time saw the multi-hued hem of her dress. Wait... he knew what that was... he had read about it a number of times... but that means...

His head jerked up again in shock, his mouth still trying to find his tongue. An Accepted?

Oh, please do! The more the merrier, I should think.

Now that I've waded in, I'm eager to make friends and have fun.

Okay, I finally ran completely out of excuses and justifications for putting it off. My first RP post is up in Tar Valon, "New Shield for the Flame".

I didn't see a note anywhere saying it was required that the first post be in the Warder Yard, so I started him off just outside the city, to give people a chance to get to know him a little and see if anyone wanted to bump into him before he gets sequestered away in the training grounds for the next few years. *laugh*

OOC: First RP post evar! It'll take a couple of posts for Toro to make it to the Tower Grounds. If anyone happens to be along the streets of Tar Valon and feels like bumping into him, please do! Just be gentle, he's shy. :) Otherwise, he'll go it alone. 16, male, blonde hair, blue eyes, still a little short at this point. Bio link is in the signature! And, if I mess something up, do let me know. I'm entirely new at this. ;D

<hr>

The sounds and smells of breakfast filled the inn's common room like water... a heavy, joyous cloud of heaven that slid a giddy grin across a young man's slightly dirty face as he entered with several other men from outside. Light... it had been almost a week since his last hearty cooked meal at a table, since the little stop two days outside Caemlyn.

There had been another chance at an inn near the crossing of that river... he couldn't remember the name now. The one that split off from the Erinin... he should remember. He'd been looking at maps nearly every day since he left home more than twenty days ago. Luan, that was the river. The inn, though... that name he wouldn't be able to remember off a map, and he tried not to think too hard on it besides. A foul business there the day before his travel group passed by... a merchant killed... had hurried them over the bridge and along the road no matter how good a table and song had sounded.

"Toromin! Come on, lad. Get over!"

The boy, for he really was more boy than man still in any eyes but his own, blinked and made way for the table his friend had beckoned him to.

"Turtle's fallen asleep on his feet," another companion laughed, "or maybe he's missin' his momma, so far from home." That one was not a friend, nor was his buddy, now elbowing the laughing man in the ribs and joining in the fun making.

Toromin's cheeks burned. Where that nickname had come from, he hadn't the slightest idea, but merely by the person it came from, he did not like it. Borhin, one of a group of four merchant's guards, and the largest and loudest among them... and Deck, his quieter but no less imposing and uncouth companion.

"Hey, at least he knows who his momma is, Bor," the man sitting beside the boy bantered, lifting a mug of hot spiced wine and enjoying a long swallow. Kurtam was not the most muscular of the merchant's guards, but he was a much more likeable fellow than any of the others. He was the only friend Toromin had now, and soon even he would be lost as the merchant train and boy parted ways once they reached the big city, Tar Valon.

The larger fellow scoffed angrily and stood to his feet, but Kurtam merely shook his head, not quite meeting the man's gaze. "Don't you remember leaving home the first time? It's a big, wide world out there waiting for him."

Kurtam was smiling slightly to himself, but Borhin landed back in his seat with a thud, and a sarcastic grin that suggested he knew he'd traded words with the other man far too many times to try to rile him into a fight. "Waiting to chew him up... and spit him out," he growled, lifting a piece of meat and biting hard into it.

Toromin took his seat beside his friend and tried to still the unfamiliar emotions roiling through him. How could people behave like that, speak like that, treat people like that? He had always been raised to respect others. Teasing and name calling were quite frowned upon in his family, and fights were unheard of. No fewer than four times on this trip had he seen scuffles break out between men in various merchant trains. Fights! Is this what the world was really like? Is this what he had to look forward to in his new life? What he had chosen?

<hr>

"Don't let him get to you, piper," Kurtam mumbled lightly over a hot roll. Another nickname... but Kurtam was friendly, so this one wasn't so bad, even if it gave the slight impression of being called a little boy.

"Thanks, Kurt." Toromin felt the sawdust under his shoes as he looked around the room, taking it all in with a few glances... wooden chairs and tables, a different color wood from the kind he most often saw at home; stone and mortar walls, with two fireplaces built into the northwest side, glowing aflame in an attempt to make everyone forget about the cold outside. Just as his eyes turned to the archway leading to the kitchens, a pretty young woman not much older than he walked out with a plate and mug and a smile, looking at him with amusement out of the corner of her eye as she placed the food and drink in front of him and bustled away. "Thank you," he murmured, leaning back shyly and feeling his cheeks flush again.

"Eat quick," the man beside him nodded for effect, "Jarond's eager to get into the city."

The merchant Kurtam was working for and Toromin traveling with hadn't joined them in the common room, he noticed, taking two large bites and trying to chew them both at once. Perhaps he had taken some persuasion even to stop where they did. Alindaer was one of the small villages outside Tar Valon. They were almost there. A short ride to the Alindaer bridge spanning the west fork of the Erinin, an hour crossing it, and they'd be inside the Shining Walls. Light, a bridge two miles from end to end didn't even sound possible, but he was going to see it, as soon as they were done and gone.

Eat quickly he did, filled with excitement at the nearness of his destination, and not a small measure of fear, as well. Fear of the unknown, of a future that seemed with each passing day to become less and less likely to be the stuff of stories he had envisioned. A Warder of the White Tower, he reminded himself, easing the fear to make way for excitement. It wasn't guaranteed, but he knew. He was determined. If they sent him away, said he wasn't worthy... well... he would just have to park himself at the gates and refuse to leave until they changed their minds, carried him away, or he died of starvation. He was determined.

He had been traveling with Jarond and his guards since leaving Whitebridge more than two weeks hence, his first time away from home that he could remember, but he had been learning about the Warders and the White Tower for months in preparation for this day. Well, not entirely in preparation for actually becoming a Warder, that had been a more recent decision. But he knew it was his destiny, right down to his bones. The world needed the Aes Sedai, but there were those who would seek to harm them, to destroy them. He would be there to help protect them, so they could help everyone else.

<hr>

They were back on the wagons and horses and coming up on the bridge to the city before Toromin knew it, and he was secretly disappointed that he hadn't seen the pretty girl at the inn again. He hadn't known many girls back home. He wondered if he would be able to meet girls while training to be a Warder...

All other thoughts were swept away like dust over a threshold as the bridge and city came into view. He had known it was supposed to be white, but... Light, the whole city shone like a great, glittering pearl or opal. The walls concealed much, but the bridge gleamed, too, with shimmering stone lacework, and the Tower... the White Tower itself arrested the boy's gaze with an iron grip as it stabbed into the sky with authority and presence.

He wasn't worthy. He knew it now. He didn't belong here. Not a simple boy from Whitebridge. This was a city for kings and sages, poets and-- A loud crack and shouted curse broke the spell that had been cast on him, and Toromin turned back to see what had caused it. A wagon had lost its wheel a short distance behind them, and possibly broken an axle. He felt a twinge of guilt at his own relief that it had not happened in front of them, to delay their crossing of the bridge.

The bridge guards gave them little trouble. Jardon apparently even knew the captain by name. The crossing itself gave him plenty of time to gawk and stare at the walls and Tower, as well as the sundry people and wagons of every shape and hue making way across the bridge in one direction or the other. They were three quarters of the way across before he had the nerve to try to look down over the side of the bridge. Riverboats and fishing vessels rode the currents beneath him. Far beneath him. His eyes darted back up to the city and he was not sorely tempted to look down again.

<hr>

Once they were through the gate into the city itself, the team moved off to the side and Toromin dropped to the ground, reaching back up to take down his pack. Fear and excitement, excitement and fear. He tried to keep them under control, but he knew his knees were shaking.

"Toro," Kurtam grasped his forearm with a reassuring grin, "may you find what you're looking for. You'll be alright here. The Aes Sedai and their army of guards make sure not a thief or cutpurse skulks the city, much less anything worse." Toromin nodded appreciatively, but the older man continued before he could think of anything to say in response, "If it doesn't work out, we're heading on to Maradon and Bandar Eban if you want to try to catch us up."

Toromin grinned and shook his head, "Thanks, Kurt. For being a friend." It felt good to have a backup plan, but he was sure he wouldn't need it. Mostly sure.

"Kurtam!" Deck hollered from the saddle as the team lurched back into motion, and he clapped the boy on the shoulder with a "See you" before mounting back on his own horse and joining the pack.

Toromin stood staring after them for a long moment. It was over far too quickly. Couldn't there have been a longer good-bye? A day, perhaps, or even an hour? He was alone now. Home may as well be on the other side of the world. He shaded his eyes from the glare reflected off the walls and ground and roofs. The city was going to take some getting used to. If that was even possible.

The pale stone ground felt full of energy under his feet with the rumblings of wheels and feet and hooves. It would probably take another hour to get to the Tower, but at least he couldn't get lost on the way.  It must be visible from every street and alleyway.

Trepidation kept his pace slow, but determination kept his feet moving. A Warder, for the Aes Sedai. Light, what had he gotten himself into?

bungee

Oooh, that last line brought a funny Cameron Diaz scene from Charlie's Angels crashing into my mind. *laugh*

I have a new Warder character. Bio approved and cross-checked.

I haven't yet written my first post. *looks at the ground and kicks a rock* Busy life and all that. You know?

*lurks!*

*still shy about RPing*

Welcome to the RP! I just posted your bio up and as soon as it is approved I will send you a welcome letter and you can being your warders training. Come down and say hello and introduce yourself down on the warders boards. We love new people. -Crystal

Just your friendly neighborhood *poke*. 8)