Mylane grasped to token tightly in her hand as she gathered the garments into her lap. "I probably won't meet the Amyrlin Seat though will I, Valeri Sedai?" Mylane just knew she'd bungle that meeting up. She knew her faults and saying inappropriate things at bad times was one of her worst. I think it would be best if I keep my mouth shut as much as possible here. At least for a while. She reasoned.

“How long does one typically take to gain Accepted? I mean, I don’t want to sound rude but it must be horrid to take too long. When will I learn the rules of the Tower? Am I allowed to wear my locket?” At the last question her hand went to the small silver locket on the silver chain around her neck. She decided then and there that she would keep it on her in some way, should she not be allowed to wear it. Her mother’s face flashed through her mind and her voice whispered, “Remember”. She would do her father proud and she would remember her family. She would make sure she made it to Accepted and then Aes Sedai, if she had to die to achieve it. Her father once said that her fiery passion came from her grandmother, well she would have to remember to give a thankful prayer later.

“When will I start my classes?” Mylane asked, lowering her hand and straightening her back again. I will do you proud, Father. I will make it, I will.

She tried to steady herself and took a deep, slow breath. She knew that her mouth was about to run away with her again so she clamped her lips tightly to make sure she didn't say anything else.

Mylane stared at Valeri. She was awestruck. I get to stay. I don't have to go. She thought, incredulously. She gripped the handkerchief in her hands and took a deep and even breath.

Welcome to Tar Valon Mylane Dadric. Welcome to the White Tower Novice Mylane. At those words, Mylane was rendered dumb.

"Wh-what do I do now, Valeri Sedai?" She whispered her eyes wide with shock. Mylane's mind was blank as she stared at the Mistress of Novices. After a split second her intelligent mind shot back into working order and she mentally shook herself. I can prove myself. I can do this. Mylane placed her fingertips on her lips as she started to smile in wonder.

"Valeri Sedai, are there any honorary titles I should call anyone aside from 'Sedai'?" She asked as the thought skittered across her mind. Her blue eyes sparkled as her sun-kissed skin flushed with excitement. She reached out with unsteady fingers and sipped her tea, noting the delicious flavor.

She reached back and checked her hair as she chewed on her bottom lip nervously. “What will I be allowed to study? Or read? Does it matter that I’m not that good with my numbers?” She asked, softly. She looked around the room, noting colors and styles in her mind, doing her best to catalogue everything she saw. Her eyes fell on the huge book still on the desk and the white clothes next to it. “Are those for me?” She asked in her quiet way.

Mylane looked down at the book and her eyes widened slightly as the itch in her fingers began. What I wouldn't give to read something like that. She thought to herself. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Valeri Sedai...If I stay here..what will become of me?"She asked, her voice still soft and the hesitation clear in it. Her blue eyes shone with a need and she felt it growing inside of her. She didn't know what it was, only that she needed to be here and wanted desperately to belong. Her mind was reeling from all of the things she had seen in the past few days and she suddenly felt very tired. She sat a little straighter and kept her breathing even so her exhaustion wouldn't show as much. Keep calm, Mylane. You can rest when the work is done. She whispered inside her head.

She locked her eyes on the ageless face of the Mistress of Novices and kept her determination strong. This was the one thing in her life that she had truly wanted and she wasn't about to let it slip from her grasp. "Will I be trained or was Alina Sedai wrong about me being able to learn to channel? What if I mess up? I can learn fast and I know how to read and write. I'll work for my keep if I have to." Mylane was beginning to sound depserate, her breath hitching in her chest. She felt her depseration rising and tried to fight it back. "Please, don't make me go! I want to stay and learn. I'm not to old and I know I can be of some use! Please let me stay." Mylane felt her tears rising and felt shame roll over her. She fisted her hands on her skirts to keep them from trembling. "Please, Valeri Sedai, I don't want to go." She whispered as she fought back her tears. Pride had her neck stiff and refusing to let her look away from the older woman. The need in her was finally recognized. She had never felt truly loved or wanted at home and now she had a chance to prove herself, to be something. She refused to back up and give ground, she would stay no matter what it took. No matter what.

Mylane smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from her skirts as she took a breath to begin speaking. She had stared for a moment as the teapot seemed to steam by itself and the Aes Sedai poured her a cup. After staring at it for a moment, Mylane took it in her hands and let the warmth seep into her palms. When she started talking, her voice came out in quiet tones, gentle and soft as silk.

"My name is Mylane Dadric. I celebrated my eighteenth nameday in the spring." She knew she was spouting useless facts but it was something rather than nothing. "My father is a clockmaker, a good one, in Kandor. My mother..my mother is a hard woman. I am the youngest in my family and the only one, besides my dead brother, to leave our village. I met Alina Sedai in my father's shop. I guess she wanted a clock made and heard of father's skill. I have wanted to come to the White Tower for a while, ever since I read about it in one of my books. Alina Sedai tested me by having me stare into her necklace and clear my mind. I don't really remember what she had me do after that. All I remember is the stone sparkling and then she was telling my father I was going with her and to be ready to leave the next morning."

Mylane paused to drink from her tea and then she started again, her voice still soft and gentle.

"My father let me take his horse, Daena, and we had a great dinner that night. My mother...she gave me the only present she has ever given me. She said it has been passed down from mother to daughter in our family for five generations." As she spoke, she raised a hand to touch the locket that rested beneath her dress, next to her skin above her heart. "She said I should not forget my family. We rode for about a week to get here. Alina Sedai said we had to make good time and so her Warders pushed us as far as we could go without breaking the horses. I find the White Tower to be breath taking, beautiful and wonderous. Tar Valon itself is one of the most amazing things I could have ever seen, it surpassed even my biggest dreams."

Mylane looked down at her tea, studying Valeri through her lashes. Elegant and poised, the Aes Sedai seemed to be kind, almost motherly without appearing so. Mylane took in the woman's features, listing where she thought the woman was from. Saldean with that bold nose. The tilt to the eyes and their shape as well. She is pretty though. Mylane thought to herself.

"Valeri Sedai, may I ask a question?" Mylane inquired, soft as always. She brushed her hair back behind her ears with her fingertips, wanting a clear view, the long waves caressing the small of her back.

Mylane stared at the wonders around her. The buildings were marvelous creations that seemed to overwhelm her. Her blue eyes were big as she swiveled this way and that on her horse to try and take it all in. This building seemed to resemble a cat and the one next to it suggested a bird preparing for flight.

Light but there is so much! She thought to herself. She glanced at the Aes Sedai and was abruptly embarassed for her gawking. Alina glanced at her and smiled.

"My first time was much the same as yours. The first fifty times will be breathtaking. Even now I sometimes find this city a wonder." The Aes Sedai said. "Once we get to the Tower, you will be put before the Mistress of Novices. She will decide if your name will be added to those of the other novices or not. You will not be tested as I have already done this, but you must be ready for the hardships of the training. Now, be quiet and try not to gawk so obviously." The Aes Sedai's ageless face was serene when she finished talking and Mylane knew that she would never talk to her like she just had ever again.

Mylane withdrew from the world as she would if she were reading, keeping her thoughts at a distance but she still gawked a little. Mylane itched to take in every bit of Tar Valon that she could, but she controlled herself as best she could. She looked ahead and saw the gleaming beacon that was the White Tower. It stood straight and tall before her, the pale spear that gave strength to women with the Power. If only I had been able to come sooner. She thought to herself. I shall do you proud, father. I will not give up, no matter the hardship.

After they arrived at the stables and parted with their horses, Alina led Mylane into the Tower. Mylane stood straight, her fear showing on her face as she fisted her hands at her sides. They passed ornate wall hangings, tables with ornate vases and beautiful flowers. One thing that struck Mylane was the lack of men. I suppose it is only natural, since there are a lot of women residing here, but it is still a bit odd to not see many men. Mylane followed the graceful, golden haired Aes Sedai and hoped that she didn't look clumsy. Mylane watched the people as they passed from the corner of her eyes. Girls, young women and a few older. Many of the girls wore plain, white dresses and a the young women wore the same except for the bands of colors around the hems. Alina noticed the questioning look on Mylane's face and answered the unspoken question.

"Those that wear white are novices. The ones with the seven colors on the hems are Accepted. You must work hard to attain that band."

Mylane was spoken to no more after those few words, at least until they reached their apparent destination. Alina stopped them at a door that looked darkened with age and welcomed use. Mylane swallowed hard as Alina knocked and a reply was given to enter. The Aes Sedai opened the door and glided inside, her Warders taking a post on either side of the doorway. After taking a steadying breath, Mylane entered the room. The two Aes Sedai inside the room looked at her. Mylane's eyes went to the ageless face of the woman that stood behind the desk.

Tilted, almond shaped, deep blue eyes met Mylane's lighter blues. Dark brown hair pulled into a tight bun didn't detract from the pretty, ageless face. Calm seemed to radiate from the Aes Sedai and it eased a bit of the tension in Mylane's shoulders.

"Sister, this is the girl I tested. Mylane, this is Valeri Sedai, she is the Mistress of Novices." Alina said, she smiled as she nodded to the other Aes Sedai. "I shall leave her to you, Valeri Sedai." And with that, Alina glided from the room, shutting the door with a soft click.

Mylane felt dirty and wished she'd remembered to brush her hair, or at least pull it back with her ribbon. Mylane stood, her hands still fisted by her side, trying not to show how scared she was. She noticed she had started chewing on her bottom lip, a nervous tick, unsure of what to do next.

1) Handle: Serick Kerani

2) Character's full name: Mylane Dadric

3) Character's status (new novice / returning novice, Accepted or Aes Sedai): New Novice

4) Do you see (at least) the boards listed below: Yep, I see them all :) Took me a moment to find the Classroom but I found it.

R&U

Serick danced a few more steps with a Fade before beheading it and cutting its swordhand off. He grounded his blade when the creatures around them began to throw up and clutch their heads and scream out in pain. He straightened and he followed Halen, matching her stride for stride. He looked over at her, her dark green skirts slashed with bright green billowing in the wind as they ran. He knew that their dark hair flaired behind them in matching banners, his was shorter though. He didn't stop moving when the trollocs rushed back in around them, taking advantage of his speed as he attacked those that came to close. He dodged the Stream fo Fire and smiled as she wove another Wave of Fire. He looked at her, pride shining through his dirty face and they moved forward at a fast pace.

He and Ashda cut a wide swath out of the ones who were brave enough to come close. He saw tha tthey didn't have much further til they broke thorugh the ranks and he raised his battlecry once more. "Kerani and the blue doves!! Kandor and the Red Horse!!" His tenor's voice carried the cry over the din and let everyone know that so long as one borderlander was alive the fight would continue as it had for years.

(thanks. I didn't really understand how it was done lol)

Serick Kerani- Asha'man - Strength: 29, Skill: 30, Air: 4, Earth: 9, Fire: 10, Spirit: 5, Water: 5

Serick battled the Fade with every bit of skill he possesed and was awarded with cleanly slicing the shadowspawn's head from its neck. He turned to find that for the moment they were clear. He saw a Trolloc arrow bounce off the Ward that he had woven before he had passed control to Halen. They moved forward at a steady and quite fast pace, as most before them ran from the fires that Halen was weilding. He felt a swelling of pride in knowing that his sister was every bit as dexterous in her weavings as he was. He smiled over at her and turned back to see that a Trolloc had gotten past Halen's Stream of Fire. He darted around a lunge from its sword and with two quick moves, took its hand and opened its stomach. He qanted to empty his stomach but quelled that as much as he could. He looked over at the Aes Sedai floating on the winds, a new one if he could judge from this distance. He caught some of the weaves and saw saidin mixed with her workings and his smile broadened. "They will take me." He whispered. He heard Halen whipser something and barely caught it even with his saidin heightened senses. "We will make it sister." he whispered to her. His blue eyes turned back to the circle they were fighting to and darkened with determintaion. "We will make it." He said louder. "Kerani and the Blue Doves!"He roared. the battle cry lent him strength as he knew that he was fighting for something besides his life. "We will make it." He said again.

Serick linked with his sister and was amazed at the intimate diffrence of saidar. the tranquility of it was astounding. He drew al she could hold and drew everything he could through his angreal and felt like crying. he turned to Ashda and grasped his head and wove the weave for Healing. he released the man's head when the weave was done and turned to the horde of shadowspawn seething around them. They battered at his Ward and trampled one another in their vain attempt to reach them. "Ashda, stand back. You may want to kneel and cover your head. In case you didn't know sister, we are both very powerful in Fire and I feel like playing with it for a while." He said, his grin turning dark. He laced his fingers through hers and wove a very nasty weave of Fire and Air,touching it with Spirit. He released the ward and just as the first rank of Trollocs rushed forward, he 'threw' the weave out ath them. Waves of fire crashed against them,moving away from Serick and Halen in a circle. The wave incinerated the first rank and burned the breath from the second and blasted ranks behind by turning the very air to fire. For over three hundred paces, Trollocs and Fades screamed as the fires burned them to a crisp. Then he wove lightining and deathgates and Blossoms of Fire. Follopwed by Arrows of Fire and another Wave of Fire. Trollocs rushed away from the group of three and Serick roared his rage at them, expanding the Wave of Fire, only to see it fail after 400 paces. He wove a Ward around them that would turn arrows aside, but it drew Fades like moths to a flame. "Ashda and I will take care of them. Halen I'm giving you control." he said and thrust control of their circle at her. "Maybe we should try moving to that circle you mentioned. I'm sure they could use another Aes Sedai and they wouldn't turn me away, not with my angreal." He said as he leaped at a Fade. 

Serick blasted a trolloc out of his way and saw his sister. He stumbled and ran forward as she fell to her knees and screamed his name. tears flowed down his face as he wove a Ward to keep the shadowspawn back, drawing heavily on his angreal to do so. He wrapped his arms around her and stared when his hand met blood on her side. "What happened?! Nevermind. Hold still." He said, his voice moving from outrage to tender love. He wove the weave for Healing,  Spirit,Air and Water, accompanied by Earth and Fire. He settled the weave over the wound and she arched back from him. "I'm sorry that saidin isn't as pleasent as saidar but it works." He said, wiping away the remaining blood to reveal unbroken skin. He drew her up so they were standing. "Shall we link? I've wanted to do so with you for a long time." He said, his voice laden with affection and determination.

Serick dispatched another Trolloc and found himself battilng an Aes Sedai Dreadlord. He qucikly wove lightning, fireballs. he dodged a nasty weave and judged the woman to be notrably weak in the Power but a deft weaver. He wove Fire and Earth just so and raised his hands and Arrows of Fire took her 3 Warders in the chest. He then slammed a Shield between her and the Source and met only light resistance. He breathed a thanks to the Light that he had his angreal and bashed the woman beside her head and left her crumbled on the ground, tying the Shield off in a compicated knot. He wove more Deathgates and they spun off, reaking death and havoc amongst the trollocs. He then wove a weave he had been taught just before the battle, Blossom of Fire. He wove Earth, Air and Fire just so and a disc of flame 30 feet wide erupted amongst the ranks in between him and Halen. To one side he saw a woman hovering up in the air but disregarded her once he saw her battling Dreadlords. He wove lighting to aid her and turned back to his task. Over the din of the battle he heard his sisters voice, laden with pain but filled with determination,"Kerani!Kerani and the Blue Doves!Serick!" Hearing her voice after so long brought tears to his eyes and he roared back,"Kerani and the Blue Doves! Hold to the Light Halen I'm coming!!" He blasted out weaves of Fire and Air and erupted Trollocs heads and exploded limbs, starting to run, not bothering to look back. Halen needed him, that was the only thought in his head as he battled saidin as it roared through him. " I'm coming." He whispered.

Janai wove the weave for Bonding and it settled into him, its intricacy astounding her. She hide her surprise as she felt him in the back of her head, a bundle of emotions and sensations. She was even more surprised when he kissed her. She held onto him and kissed back with everything she had. She clung to his chest after what seemed an eternity, her knees weak and her heart beating a turbulant rythm. She closed her eyes and listened to his heart beat just as fast as hers. "Why did you do that?" She asked, her voice quivering. She looked up at him, her black hair shimmering with the movement. Her hazel eyes caught the light and sparkled. "Not that I didn't like it but I still need to know why." She added, the words tumbling over one another to get out.

Janai moved from her rooms and walked swiftly down the corridors to the stairs and found herself walking along a walkway, open to the air outside. It was a beautifully crated piece of work, the collomns were positioned to let in the breeze and light but would keep out the rain and snow. She was lost on thinking of a weave when she was nearly plowed over by a tall dark haired man. She prided herself in that she didn't jump back or start. She looked at the man in front of her with all the serenity she could muster and decided she liked what she saw. He had deep brown eyes and dark brown hair that hung to his shoulders. He was taller than her by a good bit and the swords on his back seemed more a part of him than his own arms. He had a fluid grace to him that appealed to her largely and she decided that he would make a great addition and a good lover at that. Her lips curved into a wonderful smile and she raised her arms to place her hands on either side of his head. "I'll bond you." She said and embraced saidar. "I'm Janai Elensar Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah. I'll ask formaly. Do you want to be my Warder? Will you pledge under the Light to follow me wherever I may go and lay your life down before mine? Will you keep this Pledge even if it means you die before I do?" She said, he voice calm and strong. She stared into those deep brown eyes and thought,I could fall into those for forever. Her black hair shimmered in the dim light and her hazel eyes sparkled.

Janai glided down the corridors, fingering her new green fringed shawl. "Flaming oaths making me bloody uncomfortable." She mumbled and tossed her dark hair. She moved up the stairs towards the Green Quarters and to find her new room. I ned one of those Warders too She thought as a Yellow Sister went by followed by a man with one of those disconcerting cloaks. Maybe three. Yeah three sounds good to meShe thought and nodded. A small smile played around her lips when she entered the Green Quarters. Sisters bustled everywhere followed by serving men and women carrying their chests and other items. She sighed. And I only have this dress and one other and it's seen better days. She opened a door on the second level and laughed, the musical sound filling the moderately sized room. She moved into the room, closing the door behind her. She went to the most important part of the room and clapped delightedly when she saw the largebed covered in soft, thick blankets and large pillows. She opened the one chest in the room and nodded when she saw it empthy. Other than the bed, her apartments were empty except for two carved chairs and a desk. She embraced saidar and the logs in the fireplace erupted in flames. She wove a ward over her room that would chime when anyone entered and released the saidar. "Now to find a Warder." She murmered.

Janai heeled her grey mare forward. She wove through the crowd with little difficulty but she kept her eyes on the gleaming tower she was heading for. A beautiful sight. Is it worth all this though?She sighed and tried to keep her mind on something besides what she was sacrificing to gain more respect and power in the world. She knew that she would join this so called Green Ajah and she would start eradicating as many Trollocs as possible before the Last Battle came to be.  Her hazel eyes tightened when she thought of those bloody Oaths. “Why we have to take those flaming Oaths is beyond me but if it must be, it must be.” She mumbled as she rode into the stables. She shook her long, wavy black hair out and handed a groom the reigns as she dismounted. “Brush her down and feed her an extra helping of oats, she has carried me far today.” She said, her voice calm. She turned and squared her shoulders as she glided to the Tower. Not much managed to frighten Janai, she had grown up without being afraid, but this Tower made her feel a small ball of ice in her stomach. “Light let this be worth the sacrifices.” She whispered as she took the step that brought her inside the White Tower.

(could my chara Janai join? My brother is letting me borrow her)

Halen hacked and slashed and threw balls of fire and wove blades of air. She was tiring but slowly. She cried out as Deaman fell beneath the blades of three Myddraal taking two with him. She turned and bolts of lightning incinerated the one standing. She knelt by Deaman’s side and closed his liquid brown eyes, now glazed in death. Fire blazed in her eyes as she stood and Ashda began to move like a whirlwind of death. She screamed her rage and waves of flame and lightning tore into the ranks of shadowspawn around her. Tears ran down her face born from sadness and her rage. She gripped Deaman’s blade in her hand and held the power-wrought blade in the other. She tossed Deaman’s sword to Ashda and he caught it and used it to slice thru a Trolloc's leg and then sever his head. Halen looked down at Deaman’s still form and rage filled her face. She began to lay about with the sword and threw fireballs with a renewed vigor. She almost lost the sweetness of saidar from the amount of rage she held inside her but she held onto it with an iron will. Her flowing black hair whipped around her with a gale that tore through the ranks but she took it in stride. She nearly killed a wolf that suddenly appeared at her side but she turned her blade at the last second and took a Trolloc's hand off.

Serick roared his rage and a solid wall of Fire cut through the ranks of shadowspawn in front of him. He took the moment to gain his bearings and tried again to locate Halen. She was closer, it seemed they were carving through the ranks towards each other. He was only vaguely aware of the cuts and blood all over his body, some  was his and some wasn’t.  He held his blade in front of his body and drew as deeply as he could from the angreal  and wove death gates that tore through the ranks of Trollocs. He turned and saw an Asha’man named Gedal cut down an Aes Sedai and stared for a second in disbelief. Gedal was a nice man, he loved children and was a great Healer, why was he doing this? He had known of the  Aes Sedai, she was a Yellow and had Healed a number of Soldiers who had been hurt during training. His rage filled him as it dawned on him that the man must  be a Dreadlord. He wove a weave of particular nastiness and the man was enveloped in a roar of flame and an explosion of rock. He turned when the lifeless corpse and threw himself back into the battle. He hacked and slashed and wove saidin struggling to reach his sister.

Serick ran through the battle, his blade red with blood. He held the Oneness by his fingernails and took a second to gain it fully again. He seized saidin and drew deeply through the small four-pointed star angreal that he wore on a silver chain around his neck. He welcomed the struggle it brought for it let him know that he was still alive. He drew as much as he could and began to throw fireballs and wove razor sharp blades of Air and threw them at the Trollocs rushing a him. He whipped his sword up and blocked a blow from a large hulking Darkfriend and took the man's head off in another smooth blow. His blue eys held a fierceness akin to a wild animal and he moved with a deadly grace that spoke of death. He layde about with both blade and Power alike striving to reach the one thing that meant the most to him in this world, Halen his twin sister and an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah. He ripped open a man's stomach and threw a fireball at a Trolloc. "HALEN!!" He roared and slashed open a Trolloc's maul. All he knew from the odd bond they shared was that she was at the other side of the battle and he had to reach her, for he would rather die with her than alone. He channeled and a Trolloc's head exploded the body fell still jerking and he found himself face to face with a Fade. He bared his teeth in a savage grin and brought his blade up in front of him. "If you seek death Shade then fight me." He growled. The Myddraal snarled and threw itself into the fight. Serick moved his blade easily and smiled again. When he channeled this time, the Shade blew to pieces. He moved faster and cut down a Darkfriend who was crouched over a fallen man. He stopped, stunned as that face triggered his memory. "Karind?" He asked in a hoarse voice and knelt beside the fallen man. He grasped the shoulder of his siter's dead warder and picked up the man's sword. He wipped his blade off and sheathed his sword and stood, holding Karind's slightly curved blade in his hand. He threw himself back into the fight and worked toward his sister. "Kandor and The Red Horse! Kerani and the Blue Doves!!"He roared and layed about him, Trollocs bursting into fire and men falling covered in blood.

Halen threw balls of fire smoothly, her beautiful face twisted in rage. Of her four Warders she had two left and she wanted nothing more than to kill every single one of the Trollocs in her way, was that asking to much? She dodged a blade from a rat faced man and Ashda, her tall dark haired Warder lopped the man's head off. She twisted to the side and threw a ball of fire that engulfed the Darkfriend that was about to stab her other Warder,Deaman, a tall slim blond haired man. Her blue eyes searched among those faces for the one she sought, her Asha'man twin brother. "SERICK!" She screamed and threw another ball of fire. She drew her dagger and slashed open a slim fox-faced woman's arm and then drove the blade through her neck. "Kandor and the Red Horse!! Kerani and The Blue Doves!!" She screamed and threw herself into battle again Ashda and Deaman opening a small circle around her. She slashed with her slim dagger until she picked up a sword from a fallen man. 'You won't need this." She whispered as she stood. the blade had a heron mark and some inner voice said it was Power wrought. She nodded and her face grew grim and she began to lay about with the sword and threw a ball of fire when she thought too. I will not die here. I will not die  here for I am meant ot die in my bed but if I do then blood and bloody ashes I will take some of these Light forsaken pig's trollops with me Her warders nodded as they felt her steely resolve in their heads and laid about with renewed vigour. Halen skewewred a man and threw a fireball at another and moved on before both bodies hit the ground.