Well I figured I should give Nephie some kind of competition, otherwise it won't be fair when she wins. :P  So here's mine. :) http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,21739.12.html

What are the requirements for being a Mentor?  Do you just have to be Accepted?  If so I guess I can take advantage of the advancement acceleration and do Dre's Arches.  What do I need to do?

"Oh!" Dre said with a gasp. "Were you born with it?  I've heard that's pretty rare.  Me, I can learn, but I had no idea.  I came here just hoping I could channel, but not knowing for sure."

Dre leaned forward in a conspiratorial air and gestured for Kirsa to move closer. "Did you hear about what happened to the last Amyrlin Seat, Sirayn Simeone?  Apparently she just up and vanished one day without a trace." Dre paused to look around the room for a moment, as if afraid someone might overhear. "Well I heard from one of the cooks in the kitchen that there was a trace. A letter saying she'd run off to be with her true love. And what's even weirder, none of her clothing was taken, and a Tower Guard who was at the gate that night swore he saw her leave without wearing a stitch of clothing!  Don't tell anyone I told you though."

Dre looked out the window at the sun and realized what time it was. She bounded up with a squeak. "Oh, I'm supposed to be in the kitchens soon for chores.  We'd better get going." Stepping over to Kirsa she gave her an excited hug and grinned. "Welcome to the White Tower, and I'm glad you're my roommate.  It might take us a while to find Veria's room, because I haven't been in the Accepted's quarters much. So we should probably be leaving now." Darting to the door she opened it, then paused to smile at Kirsa as she waited for her. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

I didn't realize we could join still being Trainees.  Sign me up then. :)

"I've only been here a couple of weeks.  My mentor took me through learning to touch Saidar, but I haven't had my first classes in using the Power yet. So far it's mostly been about history and theory and boring things like that. But the Aes Sedai seem to think that learning the theory of how the One Power is able to what it does, means you'll have an easier time making it do it."

Dre sat down on the other bed and looked up again at Kirsa sitting across from her. For the first time her hair fell to the side enough to show the vivid scar on Dre's face across the line of her cheek from near her eye down to her chin.

"I came here from a small village in northern Kandor. I left home because I just couldn't fit in there.  What brings you to the White Tower?"

Yeah, that would be helpful. :P

Happy birthday! :)

Kopair sat down on the log next to Veria, putting his arm around her and holding her close to him as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"What is the Spring?" he replied, then paused for a moment. "It can be difficult to explain. I'll try to cover the basics for you, but anything more will require training your Yard mentor will have to go over with you as I'm still learning myself. First you have the Flame and Void, which is all about ridding yourself of all thought and emotion and using that inner emptiness to connect with the world around you.  The Spring is the opposite. It's about accepting those thoughts in emotions, letting them run through you, and with that acceptance are able to harness the energy they bring and control it instead of letting those thoughts and emotions control you."

"Though I'm not sure if even a master of the Spring could possibly master some emotions." Kopair looked down at Veria in his arms, meeting her eyes as she looked up at him, and he smiled. "But then there are some emotions I'd never want to control. Some emotions give you strength just by being there."

Dre smiled and thanked Veria, promising that she'd make sure Kirsa got to the Accepted's room on time. After getting directions to the room for Veria the two of them said goodbye to the Accepted and then set off. Dre lead the way around the grounds, at last arriving where the Novice quarters were located.

As the two girls walked they chatted as Dre filled Kirsa in on Novice life in the Tower, about chores, classes, the rules of behavior, and things like that.

"Don't worry too much though," she said, noticing the worried look on Kirsa's face. "I know it's a great deal to remember, but generally they are pretty understanding for your first day or two."

Finally the pair arrived at the door to their room and Dre stopped.  Swinging the door open with a grand gesture, as if opening the door to a grand ballroom, she smiled.

"And this is our room.  Welcome home Kirsa."

Dre waited until the girl walked into the room, then followed behind and closed the door.

"I know it's not much," she said, gesturing to the bare furnishings, with just a pair of hard cots, a stole, a washstand with a chipped pitcher, and some pegs on the wall for hanging clothes. "It serves it's purpose though. You'll find most nights you're so exhausted that you fall asleep without any problems no matter how lumpy the matress is."

Kopair started for a moment as Liitha talked about things being against the rules.  She must have missed what he said.

"No no," he said hurriedly after she finished talking. "I think you misunderstood me. She does have a mentor, a Tower Guard.  I think she said it was Ursana. So she was in the Yard for a legitimate reason.  Don't worry, I'm not going to let a woman get me kicked out of the Yard, no matter what I feel for her.  We only ever meet when she's training in the Yard, or on Free Days."

Kopair sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes for a second.

"I know what you mean about them being a handful though.  She can certainly have her moments," he said with a grin. "I can't help myself though."

Finishing his food, Kopair dusted the crumbs off his hands and then looked around into the darkness. "So what is the plan for tomorrow?  And I'll take first watch if you want."

Dre took a seat on the leaf covered ground, smoothing her dress nervously, afraid at taking this first step yet also excited. Closing her eyes she did as Estel instructed her, picturing in her mind a perfect rosebud in vivid red and green, with small drops of dew clinging to the petals.

She could feel a light, a warmth of some kind, brushing the petals. She did like she'd been told, imagining herself opening up to that light. At first she felt a thrill as the warmth began to flow into her, but then she lost her concentration and the light went away. She could almost cry from frustration.

"I almost had it. I could feel it there, waiting.  Like light wanting to flow inside of me. But I lost it," Dre finished with a frown.

Ok, by Kin has finally been approved. :)  Oh damn, that means I need to add another character to my sig...

Le sigh...

Woohoo! :)

Dre studied the new girl for a moment, ducking her head so that her haird hid the scar on her face. She hated the idea of new people seeing it. She walked up to Kirsa and gave her a firendly smile and a hug.

"Welcome to the Tower Kirsa," Dre said in her quiet voice. "Like Darienna Sedai, my name is An'Drea Tior, but you can call me Dre. It's a pleasure to meet you, and I'm glad to finally have a roommate. It can get a bit too quiet all by myself sometimes. I can show us all up to our room so you can get settled in, and then Veria can take over from there."

She turned to the Accepted with a curtsey. "If that's ok with you of course Accepted. I just thought she might like to see her new home."

Bragen pulled his sword from the corpse of yet another Aiel, and looked for his next target. The whole street was a mass of confusion, a press of bodies and a deafening noise that made no sense. Another Aiel detached from the throng and moved toward Bragen, thrusting forward with his spear.  Bragen countered it easily with his sword, Parting the Silk meeting the thrust and pushing the spear aside. The blade quickly slashed up in Low Wind Rising and the Aiel barely defelcted it with his buckler. The Aiel, staggered by the force of the blow he blocked, gave a clumsy thrust once more, and Bragen was ready for it. He stepped aside from the spear easily and the Aielman's eyes widened in shock as The Swallow Rides the Air opened his throat.

Bragen stepped aside, letting his latest opponent fall. He watched as nearby an Aielman made short work of two of his former brethren in the Rogues. One of them was his best friend Rael. He'd make the ignorant savage pay. While he was still distracted Bragen launched into the jumping spin attack known as Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind, aiming to take the Aielman's head. He'd pay for daring to place foot on Cairhien soil.

Kopair ate slowly as Liitha talked about the need to keep watch.

"Yes, I've begun to work with the stable master on Rascal's training. He said that he has the potential to be a good warhorse. He said that in a couple of years he should be fully trained." Kopair gave a small laugh. "I used to dream about being some gallant fighter on a tall war horse. And now, who knows?  It could come true?"

Kopair muched away on his food for a little bit longer, thinking about Liitha's last words.  So many thoughts ran through his head, but one thought rose most above all. Veria.

"I've gotten pretty well settle back in.  Met back up with some old friends, and even got myself a new roommate.  I think my training is going well.  I had an... interesting experience a few weeks back. An Accepted named Zevaria was in the Yard. Apparently she decided she wanted some combat training. She's even gotten herself a mentor among the Tower Guard."

Kopair paused for a moment, remembering that day with a smile, before continuing. "I was standing around talking with some friends, and she was running laps.  We couldn't help but notice her, she's," Kopair coughed nervously "very noticeable.  I'm sure you know how some of the guys in the Yard can be. They couldn't help but make comments. She overheard my reply and instead of getting mad, was interested. She asked if I would train her in hand-to-hand combat.  It was an interesting afternoon to say the least."

Kopair fell silent for a few moments, staring into the flames of the campfire, but it was clear he wasn't done speaking. He gathered his thoughts, remembering well the feel of her skin, her body, as they sparred. And then of course what happened next on their date to the Ogier grove.  Finally Kopair spoke again.

"We met a few days later on her free day. We had a date in the Ogier Grove in the city.  I think I've found a new purpose to be in the Yard. I think I want to be her Warder.  I think...  I think I actually may be falling in love with her."

So Mat, has there been a decision on this, or is it still open for applications?

*disguised bump* ;)

I submitted my Kin bio last night. So hopefully she'll be approved soon.

The person above me is a bit scary, and I like it. ;)

Actually I was talking about my Novice girl An'Drea. :P

But I was kidding as well. ;)

Hrm...  What would my character's relationship be with the new Amyrlin?

Can they be third cousins by marriage twice removed? :D

"Ok beautiful, it sounds like a plan to me then," replied Raylin with a smile. Leaning down she wrapped her hands in Jena's hair and pulled her close, kissing her soundly before finally letting her go to catch her breath. "I'll see you tonight, and I promise I'll wear something special for you." With one more quick kiss and a wink, Raylin grabbed her gear and headed off to her barracks. Turning around once more when she got there, she gave a wave to Jena, then vanished inside.

OOC: I talked to Estel last night and she said she's not ready yet for that RP. So for now we can leave this thread as done. If you want to actually RP a date thread for these two, that could be fun. :) But we don't have to.  PM me and let me know.

Raylin smiled Fondly at Jena as she braced herself and took her first shots. She fired all four arrows as Raylin had shown her, showing good reflexes despite her inexperience. The arrows still flew wide of their mark of course, but it was actually a better showing then Jena probably thought it was.  Going to fetch the arrows Raylin jogged back to Jena and began to give her some tips, once again using the excuse of helping her position her grip and aim the bow to wrap her arms around the girl.

She continued to whisper softly her instructions, occaisonally nibbling Jena's ear as she did so. Yet other then a couple of rueful grins on Jena's part she didn't let herself get distracted, and Raylin was proud of her for that.

The next two volleys still missed the target, except for one that glanced off the bottom, but Raylin made sure to praise her on how well her technique was developing.  Finally after another two hours of practice Raylin called things to a halt. She plucked the arrow from the outer ring of the target. Two of them had actually hit and stuck this time, and one had hit but glanced off. Very good for a beginner.

Jogging back to Jena, Taylin slipper her arm around the girl's waist and smiled down at her.

"You've done very good for today. You might not think so, but you did. We can work on it more tonight if you want, or tomorrow morning again. I usually have my mornings free from any duties. But remember, we have a date tonight. But for now, I have my own practice to do with my trainer, and you probably have duties to go about.  Anything you want to ask me before we part?"

OOC: As for the date, we can either wait on that until Estel is ready for her RP with us, or we can start a new date night thread. Either way works with me. :)

Raylin chuckled softly as Jena protested Raylin paying for the drinks. "It was my bet, and I lost it fair dear.  I might not have the fastest horse in the stable, but I can tell when one is built for speed.  I knew you would win.  I just wanted an excuse to take you out tonight," she added with a wink.

"As for the bow, knowing you pull the string back is at least a start." Raylin couldn't help but grin. "We'll start with some basics things, the first being that if you take care of the bow, it will take care of you."

The two spent the next few minutes going over how to keep the string protected, as well as the fletchings on the arrows. Also how to watch our for signs of stress on the bow that could cause breaks. Finally though she felt it was time to move on to actually shooting.

She stood behind Jena and lined her up in front of the target, a bulls-eye on a hay bale at 50 paces. She reached her arms around Jena and took hold of her hands, showing her how to hold the bow, and aim it, whisoering the instructions into her ear. At first she knew Jena was distracted, but Raylin could tell when she finally got hold of herself again and paid attention.

Finally she stepped away. "Alright beautiful, let's see what you can do with your first time."

OOC: I think we can go ahead and continue to use this thread for now. :)  It's still the same chapter so to speak.

IC: Raylin laughed again at Jena's comment, then heeled Raven to a walk as she led the way back toward the Citadel.  Looking beside her at Jena she couldn't help but smile softly at her as she sat atop her horse. It was obvious from the way she rode that she was close with the horse.

"Last one to the front gate buys drinks at the tavern tonight!" she called out suddenly.

Laughing at the startled look on Jena's face she leaned into Raven's neck and dug in, and the horse shot forward as fast as he could. It didn't take Jena long to recover though and soon she was galloping as well. At first Raylin stayed in the lead, but it didn't last long. Soon enough Jena caught up, and then passed. Her horse was a true racer.

In what seemed like no time at all Jena reined her horse short of the gates, a good 10 seconds before Raylin was able to get there.  Grinning, she moved Raven close to the other horse and leaned in to give Jena a kiss.

"I guess drinks are on me tonight beautiful."

The two of them moved into the Citadel and took their horses to the stable, then Jena met Raylin back at the Armory where Raylin helped her pick out a nice short horsebow to use, then the two of them walked to the archery range.

"Now first of all dearest," Raylin said as they prepared, Jena testing the draw of the bow and Raylin sticking 4 arrows point down in the dirt. "Don't be discouraged if you aren't very good to start. It's only natural. The bow can be tricky to figure out, but I know you'll be able to do it. Before we start though, do you have any questions?"