Llewleyn was surprised about two things :

First, he was bewildered that he had managed to land a hit against Visar who had been around in the Yards and in the training much longer than he and who ought to outmatch him at combat. Maybe he had managed to find a blind spot or something. It was the only plausible explanation.

Second, he found it awkward that as soon as he had struck Visar, the man immediately stopped in mid-fight, suddenly lowering his blade, and yelled out a warning toward Veria. Wasn't he supposed to fight back ? Llewelyn didn't know he had managed to deal Visar what could be a lethal blow had they been fighting with real weapons, and just looked at the other trainee in disbelief.

It couldn't be over with so quickly, the spar had to keep on. Llewelyn didn't move toward Veria as Visar had expected him to for she and Byron were still staring each other down, so he didn't see any reason to go help his partner yet. Instead Llewelyn was expecting Visar's next strike, wondering if this stepping down act wasn't just a trick. He glanced at their teacher, Melenis, to see if she could dissipate his doubts.

When Elyan answered that he used to be a thief, Llewelyn visibly jumped on his chair before staring at him in bewilderement. That nice guy Elyan used to be a thief !?!

Then, hearing his explanation, Llewelyn let a sigh of relief. So he wasn't the lawless and ruthless kind of thief, he was the trying-to-survive-by-any-means kind of thief, which made much more sense given what Llewelyn had learned about Elyan's personality since his arrival. Yet, there was nothing to be relieved about : that kind of life must have been incredibly difficult and harsh, it must have left scars in his heart.

"You're right, Elyan. That was another life. Now, look at you ! You're gonna be a Warder, and you'll never feel ashamed about your way of life anymore," he said cheerfully, trying to lighten up the mood.

Yet the mood didn't need lightening as Elyan was moving forward the topic of their discussion on Shera. Llewelyn immediately beamed and began explaining that Shera was a childhood friend of his, a dearest one. "You see, my village is only a day's walk away from Maradon, so many people come and by, and stay the night. Once, there was an Aes Sedai who was headed to the capital who told Shera she could be taught how to channel. So she came here in Tar Valon with that Aes Sedai and her Warder. And I just thought Shera just couldn't be left alone. She can be a real clutz sometimes, but when she starts to dance, she's really beautiful ! Anyway, when the Aes Sedai came by our village, I saw that Warder who was looking really deadly and I thought that Aes Sedai didn't have anything to fear even if she was attacked by a gang of Trollocs, for she had a Warder with her." Llewelyn gulped down his food as he spoke with pep. "Then, when Shera announced she would come here, I decided to come along and be her Warder to protect her just like that other deadly looking one back at the village would protect his own Aes Sedai."

He paused a little as his bright mood was tempered a little. "I know it will take time, though. I mean, it takes at least twenty whole years for a woman to become an Aes Sedai, right ? That clutz would take probably much more time..." Yet his voice was soft and warm even as he was calling the girl names.

He snorted before smiling again : "Aaah ! Whatever ! It'll just give me more time to sharpen my skills, I'll be the best of the Warders by then !"

Fighting in pair meant that at some point either the partnership would hinder the fight as the two of them would want to have more space to dodge or swing their sword, either the partnership could strengthen their individual abilities allowing them to switch between their opponents or to watch the other's back. Llewelyn hoped Byron would understand that and that their teamwork would ensure the later of the two options. Anyway, Llewelyn would try to always have an eye on what was happening with the other pair of fighters as to know when he would be able to land a circumstancial blow.

Visar suddenly launched his attack against Llewelyn with a shout as Veria was facing Byron. Llewelyn saw Visar's lath slashing downward and tried to dodge it by quickly stepping on the left, thus avoiding the full length of the swing, but Visar was already coming with another blow, leaving Llewelyn no other choice but to use his own wooden sword to parry. Llewelyn winced as the full impact reverberated in his flesh, which gave him a hint about Visar's strength greatly outpassing his own. In that case, frontal assault wasn't an option.

Llewelyn tried to disengage by swirling around, which made him move slightly to Visar's right. He then striked at Visar's flank with an upward swing, hoping to land a hit.

As Visar and Sandre were well enough on their own and Elyan didn't need any additional clothing, Llewelyn didn't see any other reason to leave with them and go back to the Yards, and he wanted to stay a little longer with Mariasha Gaidin because she was a very interesting woman. She could probably catch many of her assaillants off guard with that gentle carelessness attitude of her.

Llewelyn just added a comment toward Visar leaving to remind him of going to the infirmary after or before seeing Thera, for the splint wouldn't hold long.

He then sat back on the grass and grabbed some fruit out of the picnic basket and watched the other three as they were preparing to fish, which reminded him of long summer afternoons spent on the Arinelle's bank. He grabbed a tree branch and tried to make his own fishing pole by using the materials Mariasha Gaidin had brought with her, with her permission of course.

"That was a clever idea, Mariasha Gaidin. If we fish enough, maybe we'll be able to feed the whole Yards with our catches tonight !" He thought Edana would probably be able to make a better joke than that, but this measured up his whole talent at pulling jokes. He was better at pulling pranks, though.

During his labour, his thoughts went on the Warder he had met. Again, his curious nature made his timidity go away as he asked : "Mariasha Gaidin, if I may, I would like to know how you met your Aes Sedai. I mean, what kind of thoughts and relationship can make a Warder and an Aes Sedai bond together ?"

In his mind, Dragar's warning about Shera refusing to make him her Warder when she accessed to the Shawl echoed in his head as a doom toll. He was wondering about what kind of feelings other than love would make him want to bond with another Aes Sedai.

Teach me ! And anything is fine with me. Survival of all things...

When Llewelyn entered the kitchens, he could see it was much wider than he had imagined it to be. It could welcome dozens of people at the same time. Behind what seemed to be a serving bar, the cooks and aids were preparing a real feast, which scent filled Llewelyn's mouth with saliva.

Elyan directed himself toward that bar and heckled one of the serving woman, called Alvera. He put an order and that Alvera woman commented about him filling out. What kind of dicussion was that ? Llewelyn hadn't noticed Elyan was particularly thin. He was athletic for sure, but... Llewelyn arched an eyebrow, considering Elyan in his whole, and only now could he see that the man had not much more than skin over his bones. "You should eat more than once a day or you won't be able to put enough muscles to lift a Warder's sword..." he muttered out of pique.

He then noticed he was being stared at, he looked up to the serving woman and discreetly cleared his throat, and said respectfully : "My name is Llewelyn, nice to meet you Ms Alvera. I will be enjoying this kitchen's meals from now on. I will start right now with... erm... anything that could fill up a growing kid's belly. I must admit I am starving." He ended this with a grin as his stomach decided to back up his words with a growl that could be heard over the kitchen's noises.

Alvera grinned in response and served him another plate. Llewelyn then followed Elyan after he added some cheesy lines toward Alvera. It seemed the woman pleased him. Well, she was pretty but much older than Llewelyn. Besides, Shera was holding an impregnable bastion in his heart right now. They sat at one table and began enjoying their meal while talking about various subjects.

Llewelyn couldn't hold his curious nature and finally asked what was bugging him. "What were you doing before coming to the White Tower, Elyan ?", then, he quickly added : "If it's not indiscreet..." He wanted to know more about his roommate, and even though they had met only earlier in the day, he felt close to him in an uncanny sort of feeling.

Llewelyn glanced at Byron after Visar had chosen the other woman as his sparring partner, who - after a closer look - had a little of the agelessness of the Aes Sedai and seemed much too confident to simply be another trainee.

"Well, that leaves the two of us, roommate !" He said cheerfully.

Llewelyn went to the table displaying the training weapons and chose another wooden lath, which he was used to, before standing besides Byron in what seemed to him like a ready stance, waiting for any member of the other party to strike first.

He was hoping it wouldn't make any difference if his opponent was someone he knew instead of a stranger. Somehow, he was sure it would, that he wouldn't be as relentless, or try to aim the weakspots as much as if he didn't know his opponent. It was part of his nature.

(OOC : Sorry, didn't understand Visar and Veria were joining against Llewelyn and Byron, thus the edit to be more logical)

Llewelyn had been comfortably seated in the grass with Mariasha Gaidin and Visar, eating some venison, when everything happened in a rush : Sandre suddenly reached them and started reproaching Visar about some task he had to do, Edana appeared out of nowhere as Elyan was coming dripping wet out of the river...

What in the Light had happened here ?

And before he could try to figure it out past his bewilderement, he was sent by Sandre to accompany Elyan back to the Yards. The mention of his name gave him a jolt. He stood up and glanced at Mariasha Gaidin. "It seems I must leave you to make sure those two get to the Yards, Mariasha Gaidin. I thank you for this feast, may our path cross again."

Llewelyn then turned toward Elyan, scooping the river behind the fellow as he spoke. "Why in Light are you in such a state ? Here of all places..." He pointed at Edana and grinned "But she's right, you know ? Better get a change of clothes quick before you catch a cold..."

Llewelyn grinned while the two were throwing teases to one another. Now, he felt as if this room would be more than a shelter, quite like a new home. He still grinned when he nodded to Edana while following Elyan out of the room to the kitchen.

Down the hallway, Elyan asked a most surprising question : "So, you are from Saldaea, huh? What are the people like there, do they all have your eyes?"

So he was minding Llewelyn's comments about him having saladean features...

Llewelyn swelled with pride for his country while answering Elyan. "Well, yes, it is a distinctive trait of the Saldaean people, as well as reddish hair colour, or bold noses, high cheekbones... They say that because of those features out of the ordinary, the Saldaeans hold a mysterious and attractive kind of beauty." He glanced over at Elyan. Blood and bloody ashes ! How come nobody had noticed before, or had assumed him saldaean by mistake ? Was something wrong with all these people's sight ? It was as plain as the nose on their faces !

"As for what they are like, well, let's say that as a Borderland country, they are proud of their duty in defending against the Blight." He lowered his voice to be only heard by Elyan. "You don't want to mess with a Saldaean girl, though. That's one thing for sure. She'll give you gray hair in no time."

And saying so, he remembered how Shera was mad as a hare in spring thaw when he had pulled a little prank on her. She then made it so he could not sit on his bottoms for about a month or so. He winced in remembrance of the pain inflicted by that holly stick.

Llewelyn kept describing his people on their way to the kitchen, he could go on forever on such a topic, sometimes drifting off the general picture to tell him about some of his own anecdotes.

"You see, there was that time when I fell into a mountain of peppers that had just been picked up on the fields - don't ask me how, you don't want to know - and I finally discovered why those peppers were so famous around the world. It's because they're so bloody hot ! After that, my tongue was swelled for a whole week. Now I do understand why they're famous, but I still don't know why people would eat them."

His non-stop chatter finally came to an end when they arrived at the kitchen.

(OOC : feel free to cut him and insert various questions. While he does know a lot about Saldaea, I don't though...)

Llewelyn had woken up early this morning to have some time to drop by the kitchen before going on the yards for his first lesson. It wasn't hard to wake up before dawn for it was already a daily routine for any peasants who wished to have abundant crops in his fields, and his father was one of those, which resulted in Llewelyn accompanying him when the sun was yet to rise.

He then left the barracks to wander on the yards in search of a lesson that would fit with his newly arrived trainee situation. He soon spotted Visar and Byron preparing to spare with wooden lathes under the watch of a woman, herself handling her way with a giant battleaxe. Another woman was present but she was yet to grab a weapon.

Llewelyn approached them, presented himself to the axe equipped woman, and asked her if he could train along even though it was his very first day.

Didn't want to come late to the training...

Thanks, I'm gonna post in your thread, then !

*laughs with a devilish look in the eyes*

Well, that's why I submitted myself to this prankage in the first place...

Better watch your back Addi, the naive and innocent Addi...

MWAHAHAHA !!!

At Elyan's words, Llewelyn felt a little guilty, he had pushed too far.

He couldn't help but laugh at Edana's remark, though. He could picture a disgruntled Dragar learning about being adopted... A sight to see for sure. And Llewelyn was grateful that Edana had lightened up the mood.

He glanced at her, thinking that she was a woman to fear. Were all the women who wished to be Warders so strong-willed ?

Llewelyn heard Elyan's apology and a prick of guilt made him wince again. "Er... There's no need to apologize, I shouldn't have asked in the first place," he muttered.

But Elyan's smile made his worries fade away, and his stomach decided to answer Elyan's proposition with another loud growl to remind him he was farmished. Llewelyn laid a hand on his belly to try to make it stop and blushed. "The sooner, the better," he whispered.

Hello everyone !

Since I've found myself a bunk in the barracks, I'd guess it'd be time to begin training. Some topics about that are already on their way and I wouldn't want to interrupt. So I'm looking for a Warder/TG that would be willing to supervise me and anyone in my situation, who would be much welcome...

In conclusion : Open roleplay for training under the careful eyes of a mentor wanted...

Still, where should I begin ? Basic movements and fitness ?

You may want to hurry up for Sandre, he won't stay with us much longer, he's gonna be a Tower Guard pretty soon, involving a change of barrack. But I don't think the Yard's too regarding considering timeline... Or you might as well just prank his Tower Guard room but I think the price will be higher regarding Thera (MoT) or Draggar (assistant MoT)

As for ideas, the good old bucket of icy water in the middle of the night might do the trick. Or, since he has mistaken you for a prostitute, you may return him the favor by setting him up in a very embarassing situation, involving blackmail afterward... I wouldn't advise anything involving training under a TG or Warder's watch unless you really want to get a punishment...

Llewelyn considered Visar with his tilted green eyes. So, he was a trainee just like himself, Llewelyn would probably meet him in training or in the barracks numerous times afterwards.

He thought it would be wise to introduce himself and his companion : "My name is Llewelyn, I'm also a trainee at the Yards, and here is Mariasha Gaidin."

Eyeing the seemingly painful wrist of Visar, Llewelyn tried to look for some material on the stands around that could somehow make a splint. He applied the splint made from bits and pieces on Visar's arm.

"Here, this'll do until you get to the infirmary of the yards, where some Aes Sedai will get you patched up."

Noticing their stares on him, he said defensively : "You get to know how to patch an injury up when you're out on the field. You see, if ever the worst case scenario happens, and you're too far from any houses, at least you know how to not die of blood loss. I remember when Master Alen had that..." He noticed he had let his speech drift off. He fidgetted before saying :  "Er... Never mind that."

Turning to Mariasha Gaidin, he designed the splint and said : "This'll hold a while, he might as well be another guest for your picnic. That way, we'll be sure to drop him by the infirmary when we get back to the Tower. What would you say ?"

Me ! Me ! ME !!!!

I wanna be pranked !

I can't be a pranker since my character is male, but since I'm Elyan's roomate, I can't be too far from the target n°1...

Llewelyn immediately saw how troubled and uneasy Elyan seemed about talking of his lineage. But of course, he couldn't have imagined his simple question would ensue such awkwardness.

Parents are part of the identity of someone, by being there to raise their children and give them advices, or, on the contrary by being absent and by such, forcing the children to raise themselves... If Elyan was avoiding talking about his father, then he was probably avoiding thinking about him as well. If his father was linked to painful memories, it would only be a natural reaction, but in the end, he was just running away... And this would hinder him forever in his perception of self.

So, Llewelyn wanted to dig a little further, maybe just to help Elyan face his personnal problems on his own, to give him a little push in the back.

He tried to measure his voice, to be as soft as possible...

"I see... And... Would you like to know about him ? Or to meet him, someday ?"

Then, in a more firm tone : "If so, I would advise you to start looking in Saldaea. Your features match those of my people, and since you say your mother's from Andor..."

The mother is a wilder who's been on the run for quite some time, escaping the Whitecloaks, avoiding towns...

She was married and with a child by the time she was discovered by the Aes Sedai (settled in Saldaea), she had restraints and was far too old to enter the White Tower, given their criterias...

At Edana's comments, Llewelyn tried to take the most ingenuous air. Was he that easy to read ? Somehow he thought he had just been pierced through and now he felt uncomfortable. That's what he'd got for hanging around women. Shera had always that look as well, as though she knew everything he was planning. They probably had a trick of their own.

Light ! Supposedly Aes Sedai were all mighty and omniscient, surely it had something to do with being women in the first place...

"Well, I'll be careful in the mornings then. Thanks for the advice, Edana." Turning his attention toward Elyan, he said in a careful tone : "I was meaning to ask of you Elyan. Are you Saldaean ?"

Well, I was waiting for Visar's answer.

Might as well just force him to come, to repay us...

*feels a bit devilish tonight...*

Yet, I'll let Marisha Gaidin lead the way. I've done enough foolish things for the time being...

A woman suddenly entered the room, presenting herself as Edana Keller. So they were indeed sharing the room with a woman. Llewelyn shook hands with her but was wondering about the meaning of her explanation. Too big ? He pondered over it quite some time with arched eyebrows before realizing what Edana was referring to. He clasped his hands in delight with a surprised "Ha ! I get it !".

Then, he noticed Elyan and Edana talking about the disadvantages of the top bunk. He hadn't thought much about getting that particular bunk. He was told that he was rather motionless when he slept, to the point that he was sometimes shaken awake by his worried mother who thought her son had passed away in his sleep. Still, he will have to watch for that ceiling.

"Did it already happen to someone before, such a bad fall ?"

Well, if it hadn't happen before, maybe Llewelyn would try that as his next prank... Better be careful not to cause injury...

“Why do you ask, were you hoping someone in particular would come to see you?"

Llewelyn couldn't stand Elyan's gaze as he asked this particular question. Should he tell him his reason for wanting to become a Warder ?

He wasn't personnally ashamed, on the contrary, he was proud of such a reason, yet he was aware that probably most of the Trainees here, Elyan included, had come because their lives or honour, or... whatever important depended on it. The love fantasies of a 17 year old boy could seem... inappropriate to such people. Still he disn't want to lie to his newly found roommate.

Llewelyn shook his head before answering with a wide smile : "Well, yes, but... she probably won't come anyway..." He then tried to change subject, hoping this would satisfy Elyan."What is Sir Dragar's usual occupation ? Has he been filling for the Mistress of Arms for a long time ?" He lowered his voice because it wasn't really appropriate to ask. "What kind of reason could make the Mistress of Arms take a leave of absence...?"

"I will be much obliged." answered Llewelyn. Yet he was surprised to hear Elyan say he hadn't had anything to eat the whole day. Was the training so harsh and busy you didn't have any time to gulp anything down until dusk ? Llewelyn shuddered, before following Elyan down the hall.

He was very grateful for Elyan to show him around. He felt lost in darkness, and Elyan was a beacon of light, pointing him the right way. Llewelyn decided to ask his guide some more about what was awaiting down the corner of the way :

"So, what is the training like, really ? And who is in charge of it ? Do the Aes Sedai come to watch sometime ? And the Accepted ? What about the Novices ? And what if..."

He couldn't stop the curiosity that had built inside him to make him ask whatever came to his thoughts right away.

Llewelyn couldn't refuse Mariasha's offer for picnic. It was such a fair day after all, and it gave him an opportunity to get to know a Warder. He glanced at the woman slowly walking by his side, checking the stalls with a glimmer in her eyes. Light ! He could hardly picture her fiercely holding a sword and stricking blows after blows to hordes of Trollocs.

Her light mood finally rubbed on him and he let his worries aside, occupying his mind with the picnic preparations instead.

He was enjoying the walk when he witnessed a cart hurtling along the road, heading toward a helpless soul who had just enough time to hurl himself poorly out of the way. Llewelyn had noticed the lad had dropped a pouch and made haste to retrieve it, with a "I'll let you take care of him..." adressed to Mariasha in a breath.

He managed to get to the pouch prior to some ill-intentioned onlooker and grabbed hold of it. When he straightened up, the lad was already on his feet again, but he didn't seem to be in such a great shape. Llewelyn handled him the pouch.

"Here, don't drop it again, you might really lose it to some thief next time."

He spotted Mariasha by the young man's side. Llewelyn blushed again. In the spur of the action, he had given a Warder an order... Blood and bloody ashes ! He was adding mistakes to his record one after another... He whispered an apology to Mariasha Gaidin.