To talk to a Green [Attn: Bella] [Closed]

[Felix]

Felix Kal'Sarak

Felix was lost in thought as he tended to be when he walked around the Tower aimlessly. The day was beautiful and slightly overcast, enough to be pleasant and to allow a gentle breeze through the tower and the surrounding grounds. He had decided to go for a walk around the gardens. It was a place that he barely went, he tended to stick around the channeling yards and the warder yards. He wore his new Sword Pin on his coat as he walked with a bounce in his step. To be Dedicated was such a new thing, so much had changed in the last while for him while so much had stayed the same.

He walked along the path in the Gardens and felt the breeze in his short hair. It was a new feeling for he had only recently cut it off when he became Dedicated to show his dedication to the Grey Tower. As he walked he stopped and smelled the flowers. Being out in the Gardens was such a change it was so peaceful. Most of the Tower smelled fine but anywhere violence was committed smelled horrific. Birds flitted around the trees along the paths, some birds he had never seen in his homeland some he knew well. He knelt by the flowers and hoped to see a bee spreading its nectar. After only a few moments he gave up and proceeded through the Gardens for a specific flower that he was told might grow there, the rose. He had heard of them and seen them in books but never in person.

He walked for a long while, the sun was past high noon when he decided it was time to sit and absorb the ambiance of the Gardens. He was going to enjoy the free time he now had.

OOC: I left it completely open for your character to approach mine in any way you would like.

[Bella]

Miahala spent a lot of time in the gardens.

Since the first day she set foot in the Grey Tower, over a century and a half ago, this had been the case. She loved this place and it brought back many happy memories, of peace and pleasantness, of friends and lovers, of children and kin. Whenever she made her way through them now, she always took pleasure in those memories and was able to do so without retreating into the darker ones.

Now, her trips here had even deeper meaning as she felt the greenery--or the white of winter--provided her with a much-needed link to the humanity in her that was always fleeting. Whenever she felt that the weight of her office, the weight of her very life, was growing too much, she could make her way here and find something to ground her once more.

Today, however, the path she strode was not the solitary one that it usually was. Well, not that she was ever solitary anymore, but her official guard had learned how to keep themselves well enough in the background that she could pretend they weren't there. In fact, they were so good at it that others rarely noticed.

As she came around the corner, she saw a young man sitting there. Large and darkly complected, she thought she recognized something in him. Not that she recognized him but she saw something in his visage that made her think back to Ryne Machera, ages upon ages ago.

"My apologies," she said simply, in a very not Aes Sedai like way, she knew, but she wasn't like most Sisters, was she? "I did not mean to intrude." She respected all members of the Tower and felt that the gardens were where everyone could find their peace and solitude, if they should wish it. Knowing how bizarre it was for an Aes Sedai to apologize, the porcelain of her ageless face shifted in a small smile and light glinted in the blue-green of her Saldean-shaped eyes.

[Felix]

Felix Kal’Sarak

Felix sat for a while on the bench, he enjoyed the peace and serenity that the garden brought. The peace brought thoughts of where his path could take him. His thoughts drifted to what he dreamed of doing in life. He wanted to continue to honor his heritage but wanted to honor his new life as a member of the Grey Tower. His new home.

He could fight for the Tower, for his new family. He was skilled with battle weaves and the sword, both led to prowess in battle. This suggested the Battle Ajah or Green. These talents also could lead him down the rode of the Red, his sniffer abilities would greatly affect his work for the red and marginally help his work for the Green. He had much thought to give to his future.

He sat in quiet contemplation until a woman approached him and apologized. He looked up swiftly at the unexpected arrival and silently berated himself for not listening for any new arrivals. He had some skill with his senses and should have heard the women approach but his mind had been in the clouds.

He studied her face for a moment and gasped silently. He watched her smile slightly at her words to him. Felix hardly registered the words that she spoke. He reeled from the shock of seeing the Amyrlin Seat in the gardens talking to one such as he.

He hastily stood from his seat and bowed a stiff bow. He rose from the bow and said swiftly “How may I serve you Mother?” He paused in thought for a moment then continued. “I was here lost in thought mother, I can leave you too the space if you wish?”

[Bella]

Oh, how Mia longed for the days when such a reaction only came because she was Captain-General of the Green Ajah and made people tremble in fear that she would light them on fire... The deference from fear of being bonked with her staff or strangled with the stole just wasn't the same, to her mind. Still, she was getting used to it...sort of.

"Not at all, child," she said, waving her hand. "The Gardens is a place for everyone and well it should remain. Here are the Dedicated of the Tower as welcome as the Amyrlin Seat, and the latter would not wish to chase you away. Please, sit back down."

Shifting her head, she glanced around to make sure that her guard hadn't melted out of the trees thinking there was an issue. They hadn't, for which she was glad. They were getting less touchy, knowing more and more every day how to deal with their Amyrlin who insisted on not being like the Amyrlins that had come before. "It is a lovely day, is it not?"

[Felix]

Felix stood in shock for a moment after hearing the Amyrlin Seat's words. He always assumed that Aes Sedai and Asha'man especially those with her kind of power would be meaner and more self centered. She replaced his faith in humanity some. He had heard rumor that this Amyrlin Seat was unlike any before her.

He sat with as much grace as he could manage when he was next to one of such station. He was honored to even be in her presence. "It is a lovely day out, not too bright or dim." He said in a quiet tone unsure of what he else should say.

Thoughts drifted through his mind as he sat on the bench. Thoughts of battles in the past and of this legendary woman's role in many of them. She was Green before she took up the stole and rod of office. Now she was one and all, she just may be able to help the dilemma of choice.

He had to word his questions carefully and hope that she would answer and not dismiss him from her presence. He believed that she was kind and would not just dismiss him but people were unpredictable they always have been and always will.

“Mother I am humbled to be in your presence, you are a legend!” minutes passed after this initial outburst, Felix’s face redded in embarrassment.

“I have a question, if I may ask one. I am thinking of going for the Green Ajah when I pass from Dedicated to Asha’man. What made you become Green when you became Aes Sedai?”

[Bella]

Blurting out the word 'legend' as he did made her lips curve slightly upward in amusement, a light flickering through her blue-green eyes as she looked at him where he sat. The blush deepened her amusement, but with decades of well-honed self-control, she was able to keep that much from showing for she did not wish to deepen it.

Mia was warmed by his question. She sat down beside him. "Ah, I have been asked that question many times over the years," she said. "The question that plagues all of those of your level of rank is what Ajah shall they embrace once they are Raised, as it is a choice that you cannot take back. You must be certain.

"Why did I choose the Green... Frankly, I didn't." No one might ever believe that an Aes Sedai would speak frankly about anything, but Mia did. It was easier in life. "The Green chose me. I was what more than one called an impassioned young woman, with a bit of a temper, not unlike many youth.

"What's more, however, I am of the Borderlands. We are a battle-born people. The Green said, come to us and fight back the Shadow with blade and flame. So I answered, and I have never regretted it." She paused and glanced at him sidelong. "Of most Ajahs, I think the Green is among the most that is of an...instinctive calling than a choice."

[Felix]

The breeze and sounds fell to a whisper as the Amyrlin talked of how she was chosen by the Green Ajah. Felix sat quietly and contemplated what he heard. Much of it made sense to him. He was from the borderlands and felt that same urge and drive to do battle against the Shadow. He needed to fight and defend his people. As she finished he lifted his face and looked her in the eyes.

"Mother I understand, I am from Sheinar and am Malkier by blood. I feel the draw to the front-lines, I do not understand why I would doubt that calling. My people are given a sword as a right of passage to manhood, I have mine in my room, it is a constant reminder of my duty. My hadori was the same, I could look at it and feel the generations of warriors before me and I knew I had to follow them." He looked down in thought. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, the air was cool but the conversation was intense for Felix. He was impassioned.

A blue bird flew by their heads and landed on the grass to pick at worms. The trees rustled in the faint breeze. The gardens were peacefully silent as if someone kept others and sound away. A minute passed before Felix continued to speak.

"I have to join the Green, I know my path. I have been pondering this path for a while now, but I needed to just trust my instincts and my heritage. Even my skills, battle weaves come naturally to me, the sword I enjoy. I spend most of my free time in the Warder Yards or Channeling Yards practicing. My body has made the decision for me."

Felix paused briefly to look at the Amyrlin and study her expression. After the pause he continued, "Did you ever doubt that it was the right path? I know it was chosen for you but did you ever long for something else?"

[Bella]

Malkier and Sheinar, she thought. That would explain it. She thought there had been a familiar look about him when she first chanced upon him, but hadn't been able to place it. Her first husband had been of Malkier blood--well over a hundred years ago now--and her second had been proudly Sheinaran. The Golden Eagle of Tarwin's Gap.

Had she ever doubted? It was perhaps the second most commonly asked question.

Mia smiled slightly. "No," she replied easily. "But I have never been like most people. Most do doubt, and it is natural do so, especially when you are young. My daughter is Sheinaran and Saldean, and she chose the Blue. My grandson is primarily of Sheinar, and he chose the Grey. It is not a given that those of our blood must fight the way the Green does. It was just what called most to me.

"If it calls to you, then pursue it. But doubt is not uncommon, or unnatural." She paused wryly. "It just never befell me."

[Felix]

He sat back while he thought about the conversation and gently wiped his forehead of the condensation there. The beauty of the gardens left him in awe. In a place that had so much upheaval and violence for there to be a place of such beauty was marvelous.

The words she spoke drifted in his mind. He could go another path, he could go red and hunt those that abused power. The thought left a sour taste in Felix's mouth. His ability to smell violence would help track killers and abusers but he did not like the idea. The thought of being deep in a battle set his blood racing while following a killer stopped his heart. There was no dishonor in the red it was just not for him.

He was born to lead armies in battle and to fight the Shadow with every weapon available to him.

"Have you ever had a warder, Mother?"

The thought of warders brought a smile to his face, his cheeks reddened. The rumor that Green's were in bed with their warders always made Felix chuckle. He would not mind that too much but he needed brothers and sisters in arms. He had an obligation, no a privilege to fight for his nation and the Tower.

"I hope to take a few warders." the words were a whisper on his lips, he stared off into the trees and flowers deep in thought.

[Bella]

Now that was a slightly less common question, but still not the first time she'd heard it. Then again, when you moved past one hundred and fifty years old, died and come back again... Was it possible for anything to be new?

"I have, yes," she said simply. "Unlike many of my Green compatriots, I have rarely been bonded to more than one at a time." She did not elaborate on that. She knew she was not the easiest of women to deal with once the facade had been breached, or the easiest to protect, and as she did have a habit of being in love with those she bonded... Well, it was just easier.

She considered his question, and the statement after--which she was not entirely sure she heard properly, soft as it was. "Warders are highly useful to a Green. When you regularly wade into a battle, you need someone to watch your back. But it does take a particularly good relationship to be effective. You must know one another to guard each other's back.

"To a Green, the warder is not just to protect you but your duty is to them as well. It is a responsibility not to be taken lightly." She did not abide by her fellows of any Ajah who treated their warders like servants, or worse, like fodder.