A Rift Between Sisters [ATTN: Astarte]

[Jenny]

Mirin strode across the grounds towards the infirmary, ignoring stares and whispers. The banded hem of her dress marked her as an Accepted, yet a blue shawl draped over her shoulders and across her arms.

Aria Sedai looked her up and down, and raised a thin eyebrow.

"Congratulations," the Yellow sister said. "I'm not surprised that you joined the Blue."

There seemed to be an insult hidden in Aria's tone, but Mirin did not understand it. She nodded, her expression remaining neutral and polite.

"Thank you, Aria. Where can I find Betrys?"

Aria tilted her head and her eyes narrowed. "I think I saw her heading for the pharmacy. Why?"

Mirin did not answer. She could feel her newly sworn Oaths binding her tongue, preventing her from telling anything but the truth. Instead, she brushed rudely past Aria. As she did so, she felt a thrill of freedom. She would have never dared to be so rude as an Accepted. But today, everything had changed. They were equals, now.

She opened the door to the pharmacy. A familiar scene greeted her. Multi-colored jars of ointment lined the shelves from ceiling to floor. Packets of bandages and wraps stacked by the dozen, packed into every bit of free space. Dried herbs dangled from the ceiling, giving off a musty but pleasant smell. Although the room was crowded, every medicine was neatly arranged and labeled.

And standing there, searching among the cabinets, was her best friend. Betrys had blossomed in the years that they had been Accepted. Now, the young woman carried herself with quiet confidence. She sorted the medications with ease.

Their eyes met and a dreadful silence fell over the room. Mirin was rarely speechless, but all the words that she had rehearsed disappeared from her mind. The pressure of the Oaths on her skin tightened uncomfortably, and the test of the Great Stair stood out fresh in her memory. She felt an urge to run and embrace her friend; but something stopped her. No, it would simply not be proper for an Aes Sedai to seek comfort from an Accepted.

A similar parting had happened several years ago when she had been raised to Accepted a few days before Betrys. It had been resolved easily, and their friendship had not suffered. But the gap between Aes Sedai and Accepted was so much wider - and in the end, Mirin knew that they would always be the divided by Ajah.

She stared expressionlessly at Betrys. Although she had hoped that nothing would change, she was now faced with the truth. She knew, with a sinking feeling, that everything, everything had changed.

[Astarte]

The mornings had been spent lately in studies and helping in the Pharmacy. It made for a lot of long hours and a worn-out Accepted at the end of the day. She loved it all though, especially now that she had been allowed to start actually using her Healing skills on some of the patients - only the most basic aspects though but it was more than enough to make her happy and content.

She was starting to carve out a place for herself here. One that was full of experiments, adventure and the chance to truly learn all about her own person and just what she was capable of being able to achieve - it was a good sensation.

As she was putting the finishing touches to one of the bottles when she finally realized that she was no longer alone "Mirin? I-I...Mirin Sedai...Blur, then? Congratulations - yer happy?" she wasn't sure exactly what to say or how to address her friend. Betrys had felt something like she wanted to reach for more but for the moment she was an Accepted and her best friend wasn't any longer, even when she did finally take that final step the distance wouldn't close - it would remain...it had too, because Betrys couldn't find it in herself to feel a connection towards the Blue Ajah, it wasn't path the Light wanted to walk her down.

She knew that much.

No, her path was another one.

"...I'm happy for ya!" she added, smiling and wanting to sound truly enthused about the whole thing but she didn't know exactly what she wanted to say or how to say it. This was hard and seemingly impossible as well, would Mirin have a better chance?

[Jenny]

Mirin could see in the way that Betrys clutched at her skirts, almost as though she was resisting the urge to curtsy, that her friend could feel the distance as well.

"Yes, I'm -" but her tongue suddenly stuck to the roof of her mouth. Curse this blasted oath! She could not say that she was happy. She could not tell a lie. "-..well. I'm well," she choked out awkwardly.

"I'm happy for ya," added Betrys.

To Mirin's ear, the words sounded hollow. She found a stool and lowered herself gingerly onto it, wincing at the tightness of the oaths. As she moved, she embraced saidar and wove a ward of silence.

"I didn't come here just to chitchat. There's a few things I must tell you," she said. Her voice sunk to a near whisper. "I expect that we won't be able to see each other much from now on. Perhaps I should have told you these things earlier, but what reason did you have to believe me? Now you know that I cannot lie. I will tell you the pure truth."

Mirin took a deep breath. Time seemed to be speeding forward, as though she had started a single pebble rolling that would trigger an avalanche. This had not been approved by her superiors in the Black Ajah, yet this was the only chance she would ever have...

"The Black Ajah exists."

Mirin watched her friend carefully. She trusted Betrys to not lose her head and act rashly. Although she controlled her expression to maintain the appearance of calm, she could feel a bead of sweat trickly down her spine. Perhaps the Black Ajah was watching even now, she thought. If they were, then the two women would both be dead within a week. But this was a risk she had to take, to deliver a warning. A warning to keep both of them safe.

[Astarte]

She could recall when they'd first met each other. Betrys had arrived before Mirin; only a few days had separated that event and then they had been assigned as room-mates, something that had nearly caused serious punishment for the two of them as they had literally fought each other over the cast cultural differences that had immediately existed between the two of them.

Betrys had to admit that the Mistress of the Novices had been incredibly skilled at handling those differences and actually turning that rather difficult beginning into something which had developed into real friendship. Neither Betrys or Mirin could have predicted that happening and she had been seriously pleased to gain that result, especially during her time here.

There had only been days between the two of them becoming Accepted, barely enough time for each woman to get used to their own change of state before the other followed afterwards. Betrys could actually remember that past time with more than a passing amount of warmth and even good humor about how they had sat and planned for the future. Not to mention the promises not to allow things, anything to come between the two of them.

Now the reality was here.

Betrys remained an Accepted.

Mirin was no longer.

There was no way of accurately assessing how long she might remain an Accepted as opposed to a full sister like Mirin but even when that did happen Betrys knew the Blue Ajah would not be calling her to join their ranks "We'll be..." she stopped, the words she'd intended to say something in support of trying to continue their friendship but she stopped. The Black Ajah exists all Betrys could do was blink, unable to accurately think about how to respond for several heartbeats "Mirin? Wha...what are yer talking about?" she questioned, it had to be said. In fact, the urge to shake her friend and see if the common sense might have been knocked out and she could possibly end up knocking it back in instead "Are yer serious?" she asked.

[Jenny]

Mirin smiled thinly. "This isn't a prank, Betrys," she said gently. "Yes, I am serious. I swear to you now that I am not Black Ajah." At least not yet. "I'm telling you this because I want you to know to be careful. They're dangerous, Betrys. Please, stay out of trouble."

With these words, she felt a weight lift from her chest. The warning had been delivered; and the seed had been planted. She hoped that Betrys would listen. If worst came to worst, Mirin would choose to save herself, of course - she was too selfish to do otherwise - but she truly did not want misfortune to befall her friend.

"Now that I am an Aes Sedai," - she clutched at her Shawl as though for confirmation that she had truly been raised - ", you will be raised soon, too, I'm sure. But we will... well, unfortunately we'll grow apart. It is an inevitable consequence of time and distance," And I will stay away so that the eyes of the Black Ajah won't turn on you... ,"- and we won't be as close as we used to be."

Mirin tried to ignore the hurt in Betrys' eyes and hurried on. "But please remember, Betrys. You can trust me. I'll... always be your friend." The oath against lying was stretched to its limit, but every word she spoke was true. She reached for Betrys' hand.

[Astarte]

She really wished that it would be possible for Mirin to take back what had been said. Betrys had never been a woman who had wanted to ferret out secrets or the ancient lost knowledge of the world. Let alone those which were present in the Grey Tower "We promised Mirin...remember, we sat in my room and promised that it wouldnae matter - yer recall that?" she questioned very softly. While she didn't want to be cruel or needlessly unkind, especially given the connection between the two of them.

No matter what happened they were friends, they always would be as far as Betrys was concerned.

Not that it mattered. It seemed that the people she cared the most about were determined to throw her away and it...hurt, far more than she had believed would be the case. After all, Betrys wasn't someone who made friends that easily, not deep and long-lasting (so you thought) ones in any case. Why then was she being pushed away and abandoned? What had she done wrong?

"I'm always yers Mirin. Now, forever, till the breath leaves me body" she murmured softly, looking down "Why...first Valadin and then ya as well. Why am I so bad?" she muttered and shook her head, not really requiring an answer but stating aloud some of the uncertainty which she was experiencing right at the moment.