The Return and the Traitor (Open)

[Nadine]

Laela Allette Open for any and all, but I'd especially like Carra in on this one!

The stables were still, save for the rustling of horses and the occasional novice or stablehand that rushed by. Laela leaned her weight against Garanduin, the closeness in body and mind bringing her a sense of peace before she remembered again where she was. In spite of her remembering, she kept her weight upon her warder, and the man that firmly held her heart. So much had changed since she'd gone out, chasing a man that had tried to take a fellow sister's life. She'd caught the traitor, and had come back with something more.

She dared to step away from Garanduin, her blue eyes taking him in, drinking his form. His short cut, reddish hair was neat, with the tail hanging about the back. Grey eyes regarded her, and with a moment of warmth he spared her, before his gaze hardened again as he began watching the surroundings again. His affection for her was true, but at times it seemed to bring him shame, fears that he would lose toh for bonding with a wetlander Aes Sedai. Although Laela understood the Aiel culture to a degree, she did find herself rather foolishly wanting him, regardless of possible repercussions. She took in his cadin'sor, and she could almost see the muscles rippling below the surface. His face was scarred and rough, but Laela found a beauty to him, and a gentleness when he wished it. She feared she was becoming a foolish girl again.

As if to remind her, she could feel her child stir within her, a brief toss before settling again. She smiled at Garanduin, waiting for his gaze to find hers again. The new family she would be starting with him, though they would likely never marry, it still thrilled her. She only hoped that Kaelyn would take well to the news.

"We've lingered enough," Laela said finally. "Come, I need to find the council, tell them the traitor is awaiting trial, and I need to find my daughter. I'd prefer if you both met sooner rather than later," she explained simply, beginning to lead the way.

Garanduin nodded, and was silent for a moment before moving to catch up to her, and offered her an arm to lean against. Normally, she would be trying to maintain her composure, but with her aching feet, sore back and light head, she was grateful for the help. "Of course. The first sister to my child. I hope that she can accept us, it's been long for her, this will certainly be a surprise."

Laela nodded to him, her heart fluttering like some light blinded foolish girl as she touched him again. "It hasn't been too terribly long, I'm sure nothing has changed too much," she said confidently as she took to the tower halls, searching for a novice to bring her message.

[Carra]

Carraidhin Glaisne I only Keep the M'Hael, The rest of you can...
'Nattering birds, the lot of them.' Carra thought grumpily. The newly appointed Keeper of Chronicles was not entirely pleased by her day, in fact her entire life in the Grey Tower was turned upside-down -again- with her new appointment and she was not entirely happy about it. The Red Keeper Stole was a gift from the M'Hael, as there would not have been one made previously, and it draped just a little off center from her neck as she walked as quickly as she dared around the Tower. While her quarters were more centrally located she missed the anonymity of her previous home in the basement and missed its simplicities. Her predecessor was not one to really fill a room with useless things but Jenna had also years to acquire many things to fill it with. Even with what she left behind, it still did not yet feel like a place of her own, in her new Keeper Office.

It had taken her a few days to realize the amount of paperwork required for the position, of which Carra was thankful to have become a faster reader over the years in the Grey Tower, and few days more what would be important to require the M'Hael's attention and what were to be hers to sign off. An unsurprising amount of recently filed requests had been thrown into her fire and Carra intended to put many more there until they sorted themselves out. Convinced they were doing this to make her life miserable and busy, Carra refused to let them get their way.

The unfortunate side of it was that in order to keep her position she would still need to cater to them and their ridiculous demands. They would never have done this to Jenna, but then the retired Green had earned her way up just as Carra would have to. But the problem Carra found was that she had yet to distinguish some of these ridiculous demands from the inane and the important. She didn't have that hand or the experience with all the information that was now suddenly at her fingertips. Things that she had absolutely no access to being of the Red that now the M'Hael would grant, depending on the request. The Grey Tower's hate against the Red Ajah became a great deal clearer after reading up on a few reports from their kidnapping of the Amyrlin Seat years back before she had even joined the Grey Tower.

How would she have known? No one had told her and Ashes, Carra never would have asked anyway. The clarity put a few things into perspective but it certainly had not changed her resolve. It only made it stronger. Having already weeded out one conspiracy, discovered a few talented individuals for other Ajah's and seeing the Stairs... No. The Pattern had demanded a new Red Ajah and it had taken care of her enough to see that the work she was doing was good work even if Carra still felt weary of the word 'good'.

The Red Haired, Cairhien Red Keeper of Chronicles was the first to arrive to greet the returning Blue. She ignored the look of shock on the Aes Sedai's face, and only casted a second look to the impossibly tall Aielman next to her. Carra, in all her poise and impassive composure, gave a greeting in a cold tone.

"Laela Allette Sedai of the Blue Ajah? I am Carraidhin Glaisne, Keeper of Chronicles. Forgive my tartiness-" Carra wasn't late at all, but light only knew what the woman would feel about not being greeted at the gate. There was no telling with the Blue Ajah. "I was only recently informed of your arrival. Allow me to escort you to the Hall and see that the work you have started is completed. You do have some time before you are required to attend, if you wish. I will need to know of any arrangements you need made so that they are done on time."