A Calling [Attn: Lugh]

The World outside the Grey Tower is a vast place.
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Bella
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Re: A Calling [Attn: Lugh]

Post by Bella » July 24th, 2019, 11:29 pm

Isla was exhausted, and she felt Beron's exhaustion atop that. She soldiered on, however, because that's what was needed.

Once all the women were awake and close by, she began to talk. They did not have supplies for them since much of their things had run off with the horses. In truth, the Yellow had no intended to lose their horses too but things had just not worked out on that score. It was what it was, however, so they sat to speak.

"My name is Isla Arkema Sedai--" she began.

"As in Commander Arkema?!" one woman exclaimed.

Isla stifled a wince at her own choice of words. "Unfortunately, yes. He is my father, but given that I am Aes Sedai and just liberated you all from his camp, it's safe to say that we are not on speaking terms any longer in this life."

The women had looked shocked but now settled, if still a little wary.

"I have come from a place called the Grey Tower. Unlike the White or Black Towers, we have both men and women who can channel, and men and women as our warriors. It is a place where we all live and work together for the betterment of the world. It does sounds very idealized, but it is our ideals.

"I don't know if any of you can channel or not, but you are all free to come back with use to the Tower. I will form a Gateway and we can go through one at a time, since it won't be a very large Gateway. It's not my best skill--"

"What is?" one woman interrupted.

"Pardon?"

"What is your best skill?" the woman clarified.

"I am a Healer," Isla replied with a faint smile. "If you wish to come to the Grey Tower with us, we can promise that you will be given a place to sleep, healing, food, and a chance to wash up. Regardless of whether you choose to stay with us. If you have nowhere else to go, you can be tested as a channeler, possibly become a Gaidin, or live in the city of Hama Valon.

"If you do not wish to come at all, that is your choice. But we must return, so I cannot promise much of any aid for those who choose to go their own ways from here on out. Ultimately, the choice belongs to each of you."

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Lugh
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Re: A Calling [Attn: Lugh]

Post by Lugh » July 30th, 2019, 4:37 pm

Beron Beron tensed as the revelation of Isla's father rippled through the women. It was met with shock and outcries, and a flurry of other questions that she handled with her usual grace. Beron had moved closer to her all the same, and he only took his hand off the hilt of his blade when it became apparent anger would not turn into violence.

"I can't believe it. His own Daughter, and he still had the nerve to call us Darkfriends.. How could he do that to a woman when he..."

"Did you know? Did you know he was here? How did you come to fight him, to save us?" asked the eldest woman among those gathered. She was tough, her skin loose and grey and Beron noticed the deference many of the women afforded her. But to have survived questionning, to have survived the scars on her arms and legs, Beron knew this was likely a Wisdom of some variety,

"We don't have time for this," he growled in frustration. Even now there could be scouts in the woods, and he would not leave Isla to explore the woods a final time. The Gateway would strain her, and they could not afford a fight once they began. Isla placed her arm on his, the bond filled with weary patience. She understood these women's questions more than he did, and he felt her touch calm him.

"We are here, whether through the Wheel's will, or simply luck. Isla Sedai has been working against the Whitecloaks for awhile now, and that brought us to you. But you must decide, will you stay or will you come. Hama Valon can welcome you all," he said, this time a little softer and with less anger in his voice.
Peyton Peyton was as shocked as the rest of them when she heard the fact it was the Commander's own daughter that had rescued them. And she had no illusions that she had been rescued. Whether she had confessed before the men had enjoyed her, or after was a matter of if the Questioner had grown more impatient than the soldiers guarding her.

And she had seen the two of them fight, bleed and sacrifice to save them. Thinking of her family, of how they had been so powerless to stop the Children of Light from seizing her; how none of the men had been able to stand up for their wifes, sisters or nieces filled her with anger.

"I will come with you, I will be tested. If I can learn, if I can help those around me I would like to," she said as she stepped forward. She had no idea if she would be able to learn to be an Aes Sedai, but she had seen the strength of the warrior. He had fought well, and she found herself wondering about that as well, "Is it true that women fight among the men at the Grey Tower? I had heard of such from passing merchants, but we usually passed that off as a gleeman's tale."

[/character] Beron [/character]
Beron smiled as the blonde woman came forward. She had a spine, he would give her that. And what was more, he could sense that she was frustrated with being unable to protect those around her. She clearly saw troubles in her world, and was hoping for tools to fix them.

Laughing, he looked at Isla and when she nodded slightly, he replied to her question. "Maybe in the Southlands that seems strange. But in the Borderlands, women fight alongside the men as often as not. My own mother and sister were trained in the bow and sword, and I would pit them against many southern men. But to answer your question, yes in the Grey Tower women may wear the Warders cloak as freely as any man."

"I was trained by many fine women, in fact I have had the honour of crossing blades with a heron marked swordswoman in training," Beron said, pausing as that fact once more caused a gasp. Even the quietest of farms had heard of heron marked Blademasters, and if the tales about them grew in the telling, that would serve them now.

"But it's not just that, there are Inns and shops that need workers. We have kitchens and gardens, fine farmland looking for hands. You are welcome, and I swear by the Light that we protect our own," Beron finished as many of the women chattered amongst themselves.

Shortly after that, the women packed what little they had, quickly lining up and ready for the Gateway.
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Bella
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Re: A Calling [Attn: Lugh]

Post by Bella » August 1st, 2019, 6:21 pm

I don't know if I can do this, Isla said, feeling a flash of self-doubt that she hadn't felt in such pronounced measures in some time. She had grown a lot since that day in that village, when her entire life had changed and her soul had been re-colored. She remembered all of that now, though, and pushed the feeling away.

"Stand back a little," she instructed softly. "Once the Gateway opens, my Gaidin will go through first and make sure it is safe on the other side, then you will go through one at a time but quickly. Do you understand?" They all nodded, if most of them doing so hesitantly.

With that, she wasted no more time. She strode to the middle of the clearing and took a deep breath, summoning every shred of energy in her body. She opened herself to Saidar and let it flow through her, then she wove the Gateway. It was more like an infant of a portal, but they'd all be able to fit through...even if Beron might have to stoop a little.

"Move quickly," she whispered to Beron. She knew her abilities were limited, but she would not let herself fail before they were all on the other side.

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Lugh
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Re: A Calling [Attn: Lugh]

Post by Lugh » August 6th, 2019, 5:34 pm

Beron Beron could feel Isla's doubt, but he knew she would push through it. When she told him to move fast, he nodded and bared a slim dagger into one hand. After the ambush, he would no longer assume a Gateway was safe, even if it was being made to the Grey Tower.

The telltale silver slash appeared in the air, and he waited for it to rotate and set into the Gateway. As soon as it was stable, he dashed through, rolling into a tumble as the height of the Gateway was not enough to run straight into it.

On the other side he came up, and laughed as he startled the Dedicated and Accepted who were overseeing the Travelling Grounds for the Day. "You, Dedicated. Go to the Infirmary, let the Yellow's know we have malnourished and injured women coming," Beron said, his bearing letting them know he was a Gaidin, even if he wore no fancloak.

"Accepted, if you could help me gather the women? They might like help from you better than a strange man, and Isla Sedai said the need for speed was great," Beron said , his attention already turning towards the Gateway. As the women began to move through the Gateway, he offered assitance as needed, even carrying the grandmother once she had crossed the silver slash. He deposited her near the shade of a tree, and when he spied a Novice idly sweeping, sent the young Tairen women to aiding the matron.

After that, he helped as he could, getting the women ready to move and keeping the line going. Hang in there Isla. You can do this, and soon you can rest, he thought to himself, proud of his partner.
Peyton Peyton gasped with several of the others as a silver slash appeared in the air. She could see the courtyard of a great building through the Gateway and was surprised when Beron, the Warder tumbled gracefully through the Gateway.

Once he had determined it was safe, he motioned for the women to begin moving. Peyton could see the tension and worry in the way he moved, and she flushed a little when she realized she had been staring. It was a combination of hero worship and attraction, but she definitely envied Isla Sedai as she watched the Gaidin move.

Shaking the thoughts from her head, and cursing herself as a milkbrained fool, she helped the more hurt women through the Gateway, and once the Grandmother was through, Peyton easily moved through the Gateway. Awe and shock hit her at once, she had heard of the fabled Grey Tower of course, but to stand here, to see it shining in the skyline took her breath away.
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Bella
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Re: A Calling [Attn: Lugh]

Post by Bella » August 12th, 2019, 9:06 pm

It seemed to take no less than a superhuman effort to hold the Gateway open long enough for all the women to pass through, but she did it. Only through Beron's strength was she able to, but when the last woman had made her way through, Isla hurried through and collapsed onto the other side.

Again, it was only her warder that kept her from collapsing entirely.

Isla sagged in his arms after he had caught her before she hit the ground, and she burrowed into him with utter exhaustion. "We made it," she murmured before passing out...

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Re: A Calling [Attn: Lugh]

Post by Lugh » August 17th, 2019, 4:55 pm

Beron Beron caught Isla as she collapsed, and he heard her mutter "We made it," before passing out. He knew the fatigue that channeling caused, and he cradled her in strong arms.

Looking down at her, he realized he had grown to respect her strength, fortitude and determination; but with their night together fresh in his mind he knew he loved her bone deep as well. Spying the women milling about nervously, and seeing the confused look on many of the Grey Tower denizens, Beron was torn. He knew Isla needed him, but on the same token he knew she would likely not want to see the work undone.

Sighing, he kissed her forehead softly and called over an Accepted. "Isla Sedai has over extended herself, she was forced to channel to the last of her strength. Please take her to our quarters, and ask Gareth Ashaman if he has a moment to check on her," he said gently, smiling as the Accepted nodded. Invisible hands took the weight from his hands, and he knew Isla would be likely carried on Air.

After she left, he straightened his stained clothes and with practiced ease fell into Cat Crosses the Courtyard . It lent him a confidence and bearing he wasn't currently feeling. and he noticed the Dedicated and Soldiers stood a little straighter recognizing a Gaidin.

"Ladies. On behalf of Isla Sedai, I welcome you to the Grey Tower. There will be Novices here shortly to help with your fatigue and wounds. I know we had to leave in a hurry, but those who wish to stay and be tested are welcome. If some of you think you may be interested in serving as Gaidin, I can escort you to the Mistress of Arms. Those who are uncomfortable here, I will personally lodge in the city. You will have all the aid Isla Sedai and myself can give you, so take a chance to think and rest. If we can arrange letters to family, I will do so," Beron said, pausing when several of the women began to cry and hug him. Knowing they had enough, he returned their need for comfort, and was grateful when Novices began to be paired with all the women.

Once those seeking refuge had been dealt with, and the few who had elected to stay in the city had been given letters of credit from Beron, he turned weary legs and body to his quarters with Isla.
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