A Surprise for a New Sister [Attn: Bella] COMPLETE

[Jenny]

It had been a little more than a month since Mirin had been raised. She was just beginning to feel comfortable walking the halls of the Tower without her shawl constantly draped around her shoulders as a reminder that she had truly become an Aes Sedai. The past month had been spent learning at a breakneck pace. Mirin had memorized the history and political intricacies of the Blue Ajah at her usual speed – which was quickly – and had learned the secret weaves just a tad slower. Now, the intensity of her studies lessened. She could sense that her education was nearing completion.

Mirin grew restless. What would be her next steps? She imagined herself traveling the continent, dispensing justice and seeking her cause. She daydreamed of leaving the Tower and visiting Cairhien and her mother. She fantasized of gaining political connections, creating her personal network of spies and informants, and finally using some of the sweet, sweet power and influence that came with being an Aes Sedai.

But when she nervously knocked on Sadira’s door and requested permission to leave the Tower, the woman merely gave her a cursory glance and said, “You should stay.” Then she shooed Mirin out the door. As the Head of the Blue Ajah, Sadira was a busy woman. And as a new, lowly ranked sister, Mirin had no choice but to obey.

Mirin moped for a few hours; and then, she made herself busy. She had not gained the shawl so quickly by being idle. If she could not travel in person, then she would read and travel through books and explore far realms through the eyes of others. If she could not create her eyes-and-ears outside of the Tower, then she would do so within.

-----
Less than a week later, she found two notes slipped under her door. The first was folded in plain white paper. The second bore the seal of the Amyrlin Seat.

She recognized the secret signal in the fold of the paper and opened the first note. Her fingers trembled. It was perhaps the more important of the two. As usual, the words were written in blocky letters, making it impossible to identify the writer. “Accept the surprise,” it said. Mirin stared, puzzled. Then, she carefully burned it and spread its ashes in her fireplace.

Mirin turned the second note over in her hand and traced the seal of the Amyrlin Seat, wondering if this was the surprise. Then, she broke the seal to read the message. It summoned her to the Amyrlin’s office at her earliest convenience. Her confusion grew. What under the Light could the Amyrlin possibly want with a newly raised sister of the Blue?

And so that is how Mirin found herself knocking on the door to the Amyrlin’s study. When the door opened, she swept a deep curtsy.

“Good morning, Mother,” she said respectfully.

[Bella]

Miahala was seated behind the monstrosity of a dark wood desk that seemed a requirement for her new office. She hated it. The daily business of the Tower passed over her and she did not envy her predecessors, when, of course, she had never envied them in the first place; in fact, she had usually just been grateful that it was their lot and not hers.

Well, fooled you...

A knock came at the door, stating to her that her Keeper of the Chronicles--the woman who manned the desk just outside her own office--had sent someone past her. After a quick recollection, she reckoned that it was Mirin Ronaile. After all, when a missive was delivered from the Amyrlin Seat, it was swiftly seen to...or else.

"Enter," she called. The door opened and it was indeed who she had supposed it was, greeting her with the customary words that Mia was coming to loathe. If I did not birth you, you should not call me Mother... But this thought was obviously kept well inside her own head as she smiled faintly and rose. "Greetings, Daughter."

Stepping around her desk, she gestured to a pair of large arm chairs. A tall, statuesque woman, she rather dominated any room that she was in and the pure ivory, ageless veneer of her face out of which stared a pair of sharp, almost predatory blue-green eyes did nothing to dispel that effect. The Blue before her was almost two hands shorter than the Amyrlin, but once seated, the difference was negligible.

"How are you finding life since attaining the shawl, child?" she asked with a bit more kindness and sincerity than her appearance suggested.

[Jenny]

Mirin settled into the chair, adjusting her plain woolen skirts. She caught sight of a loose blue thread and frowned slightly. It had only been three weeks since she visited a seamstress and placed an order for new wardrobe of dresses, but she was impatient for them to arrive.

The Amyrlin spoke first. "How are you finding life since attaining the shawl, child?"

Mirin looked up with a neutral expression.

The last and only time she had spoken to the Amyrlin was a few short weeks ago during her raising ceremony. Their words had been dictated by ceremony. Mirin had spoken those words carefully for fear of a mistake. Now, as her mind raced to evaluate this situation, she weighed her words just as carefully. The raising ceremony had also tested Mirin's ability to remain calm under pressure. As she looked into the piercing eyes of the Amyrlin, she needed every bit of that same calm.

"I have been very busy, Mother," she replied. "But my sisters have been very kind." She felt a shock of thrill as she spoke of the women of her Ajah as her sisters. "I have spent this month learning. I once heard someone say that there was as much to learn after the shawl as before. I don't doubt her now." Mirin smiled wryly at her own words. She did not elaborate on her lessons; the Amyrlin may be of all Ajahs and none, but Miahala was not privy to the secrets of the Blue sisters.

"Thank you for asking," she continued, politely. "I have also been considering my next steps once I finish my lessons. Sadira seems to insist that I stay in the Tower, but I truly hope to serve the world outside, as well."

Her grey eyes glimmered with faint hope. Perhaps the Amyrlin would send her out and away, on a grand adventure worthy of stories.

[Bella]

A light flashed through the Amyrlin's eyes at the mention of "Sadira," because it was hard (if not impossible) for a mother to withhold all warm reactions at the mentions of their children. Sadira was such the striking image of her father, both in her face and in her temperament, and she was growing strongly among the Blue--even having taken on the mantle of First Selector.

"Time will always lure the Aes Sedai out of the Tower in due time, as the Wheel weaves," she said easily. "There is no position within the Grey Tower that one can ascend to that will cease your learning. Always remember that." She paused. They both knew that she had not asked the Tower's latest Sister to her office to "chat." Who chatted with the bloody Amyrlin Seat, after all...

After her pause, she finally continued. She tilted her head slightly in a way that others had described as..."predatory," though it was not (now) intended to be. "I am sure that you are curious as to why I asked you here," she began. "Your name has actually been...noted among your Brothers and Sisters as bright and ambitious. As I am sure you are aware, the Tower is recently without a Mistress of Novices.

"Your name has been put forward as fresh blood to the leading ranks, to steer our young ladies as they come to us. It has been so determined that the role is yours, if you wish to accept." She had always been straightforward, after all, and the colorful fabric hanging from the back of her chair now did not change that.

[Jenny]

Mirin's first instinct was to laugh in the Amyrlin's face. But that would have earned her penance for months. Instead, her smile froze. She stared unblinkingly into the Amyrlin's blue-green eyes. Her throat constricted and her jaw clenched. It took all of her willpower to not leap out of her chair and flee.

Yes, she was bright and ambitious. Yes, she had been one of the few Accepted who actually enjoyed teaching. But to become the Mistress of Novices, to oversee the studies of all the novices and Accepted, to be their disciplinarian, and to be stuck at the Tower for an unforeseeable amount of time.... it was too much for the young sister to comprehend. She was only twenty-three. I am not ready, she thought. And there was so many other things she wanted to do. So many other dreams and adventures...

The Amyrlin's expression was unreadable; Miahala could have been carved from stone. Mirin had to buy time to think. "This is...this is quite a shock," she managed to choke out. Her mind spun in circles.

What would happen if she refused? Accept the surprise, the note had said. Assuming that this was the surprise, then Mirin could not refuse. She had sworn the Dark Oaths on the Oath Rod - and one of these oaths forced her to obey her superiors in service to the Great Lord. Of course, she could attempt to disobey, but the consequences would be unpleasant.

The pieces began to fall into place. Mirin should have seen this coming, as soon as the former Mistress of Novices had stepped down. It made sense, she knew. Who else had the time, or energy, to tend to the learning ranks? First, the woman had to be willing to teach. This requirement already narrowed down the list considerably. Second, she had to have the time. Most sisters were already busy with other duties and projects - why take them away from their work when there was a brand new sister lying around idly? And third, of course the Black Ajah would want one of their own to oversee potential recruits for the Great Lord. No doubt Mirin would be required to report on her students to the Supreme Council...

She licked her lips. Her voice sounded strange as she spoke. Her tone was calm, a drastic difference from the raging storm within.

"It is an honor to have my name put forward. I accept. Light willing, I will do my best to serve the Tower."

Mirin suddenly felt the pressure of the decision lift from her shoulders. Perhaps her oaths had been pressing on her, forcing her to the inevitable conclusion. But another weight settled upon her - the weight of responsibility. She thought of Illyria Sedai and her kind and wise demeanor - and felt very unprepared. How much time did she have before she had to pick up the mantle? She hoped that her predecessor had left notes.

She took a deep breath. "When do I start, Mother?"

[Bella]

As she watched the surprise roll over the young woman's face, just barely constrained but in a most valiant effort and well done compared to how others would handle it, Mia just waited patiently. The woman was, indeed, young and even compared to women who were not channelers, but she was the most available to it and was coming in high recommendation from a select few.

Besides, with such elders in the roles of the flame and the fang as were she and Durent, some young blood flowing into the ranks that would lead the younger generations would be a good thing.

Once the new Blue collected herself enough to reply, Mia was pleased by her decision. She didn't know her well enough to judge past the moment to be certain of how she would do, but from what she had heard, she felt she knew enough to be...cautiously optimistic, and she was pleased the woman had accepted because that was the only way they would know for sure.

"Immediately," Mia replied honestly. "You will have assistance while you learn and come to understand your role, but I don't see any reason to wait to begin... Do you?"

[Jenny]

"No, I don't," said Mirin. Her mind turned to the daunting task ahead of her, and dozens of questions popped into her thoughts. Her brow furrowed.

"Where will I be?" she asked. "Will I be in Illyria's old office? I know the current Accepted quite well, I think, but not the novices. Should I introduce myself to all of the novices? Will I still be able to teach my classes? What are your goals for the learning ranks? Oh, I'm so sorry, Mother. I have many questions. But I don't want to take up too much of your time. Perhaps I should write them down as I think of them and send them to you... or would you like to walk with me to my new office?"

A month ago, she had thought that an Aes Sedai never felt flustered. After all, the sisters hid their emotions so well. But now she knew that was not true. Her face flushed pink.

[Bella]

Miahala listened patiently and allowed the small smile to curve her mouth, though she otherwise restrained a fair amount of inward amusement at the young woman's expense. The Amyrlin Seat remembered all too well when she had been on Mirin's side of the conversation, and she sympathized...and wondered just how funny the one on her side had found it.

"Yes, her old office was that as held by the Mistress of Novices for time immemorial. I used it twice myself," she began simply. "You will meet all the novices in due course, so I wouldn't go out of your way just yet. Learn where everything is in your office first. You may still teach what classes you wish, we have never curbed that."

She paused, "As for the goals... What did you feel the goals were when you were coming up through the ranks?" Her head tilted with a faint glint in her eye. "I doubt they've changed much in the past few months." To that, she offered another pause. "I would walk with you if you like and answer whatever questions I'm able." Truth was, she took any excuse to get out of this bloody room.