A Graceful Entrance [Attn: Avyra]

[Corellis]

Elaile reined in her grey gelding in the middle of the Grey Tower’s large courtyard and dismounted, shaking out her soft green silk skirts and brushing at a smudge of dust marring the fine fabric. Her thin blonde braids were tangled from her long journey and she took a moment to run her fingers through them before looking around for the stables.

Her horse, Hama, waited patiently by her side as she scanned the broad entry. The sun was directly overhead and the courtyard bustled with activity, but no one gave her a moment’s notice.

Elaile frowned, and tried to get the attention of a woman wearing a white dress with colored bands at the hem.

“Excuse me, can you tell me where….”

The woman didn’t wait for Elaile to finish and barely paused as she waved her in the direction of a shadowed passageway.

Elaile scowled at the woman’s back, and then led Hama into the passageway, his shoes echoing loudly on the hard floor.

Unusual to have such a grand entrance to the stables, she thought.

Just as her eyes started to adjust to the cool, dim interior, the corridor opened into a large, vaulted room and Elaile stopped short but not before bumping into a woman dressed in pure white.

Her eyes widened in shock as she realized she had just walked her horse into the entrance hall of the Grey Tower.

[Avyra]

Avyra found herself studying some more. Classes had finally grown hectic, and she really didn't like dealing with them, but hey, she had to pass them, right? So she really wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on around her as she made her way back to her quarters from the library. That was, until someone larger and stronger plowed right into her. She gave a humph, losing her balance slightly. "Why don't you watch-" She paused, then, actually seeing this new girl. She had... her horse. Yeah. That was a horse. Easily a horse. So classes weren't driving Avyra mad. She couldn't help it, she laughed a touch. "Sorry about that. You must be new. Drin, or Novice?" She paused, walking over to the animal, patting its nose. "You're a pretty boy, aren't you. But you're not supposed to be in here, I don't think. Is how you get in trouble." She paused, looking to the petitioner. "I'll lead you to the stables, then we can find where you need to go. Name's Avyra, by the way. Novice." She held out her hand.

[Corellis]

Elaile shook Avyra's outstretched hand "I'm Elaile Daishar, I've come to join as a Novice. Pleased to meet you."

Realizing that she was practically still treading on the other's toes, Elaile stepped hastily stepped back to give the woman room, and breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn't seemed to attract the attention of a group of Aes Sedai across the room.

That would be a fine introduction to the Grey Tower she thought, being branded the girl daft enough to walk her horse into a building.

She smiled thankfully at Avyra, "I apologize for running into you like that. I'm a little turned around is all...." She willed Hama's shoes to be quieter as she carefully backed him out the way they had come, and shot a nervous glance over her shoulder at the Aes Sedai still chatting in a corner. Only one had turned her head and Elaile quickly pushed Hama out of sight, catching the Aes Sedai's expression of amused shock before she hurried after her horse.

Avyra was right behind her and led her to the stables as promised. They seemed to have escaped further notice and Elaile found herself breathing easily once again as she handed Hama over to a groom.

Hefting her heavy saddlebags over one shoulder, Elaile turned her full attention to Avyra.

"You are a novice here already? Have you been here long? Where are you from?" She paused, realizing she was bombarding the other girl with questions and smiled ruefully "Sorry, I'm not used to being caught off on the wrong-foot. I feel a bit foolish, I expected this all to go a bit differently"

[Avyra]

Thankfully the other Aes Sedai didn't seem to notice, or care about the horse. Actually, Avyra knew they noticed. But they just didn't care. She already knew the way to the stables, and walked the new girl quickly there without explaining anything to her, yet. There would be time for that later. The day was nice, out in the Tower grounds. As usual, it was a bustle of activity, various learning ranks off to chores and class while Aes Sedai and their wolflike Warders hung out in the shade, talking or supervising. Once Hama was situated, Elaile suddenly fired off quite a few questions at Avyra, and the novice raised her hands in a "I surrender" pose with a small laugh. "Yes, I am already a Novice. I've been here about a year. I'm originally from Cairhien." She paused; the friendly smile had not left her delicate features. "No need to apologize. I had just as many questions when I first arrived." She motioned for the other girl to follow. "These are the stables, as you can see. We just passed the general Tower grounds. You, somehow, managed to lead your horse into the main Tower." She shrugged. "Its where all the Novices, Soldiers, Dedicated, and Accepted live and have class."

[Corellis]

Elaile followed Avyra through the grounds, trying to set the location of everything in her head as they went. She was used to navigating the maze-like hallways of the Panarch's Palace, but the Grey Tower would take some getting used to. Her eyebrow lifted slightly at Avyra's mention of being Cairhienen. Elaile had met quite a few Cairhienen ambassadors while living with her grandmother and she found the Game of Houses absolutely fascinating. She wondered if Avyra had grown up playing but knew better than to even hint at the question. If she had, the question would be seen as it's own play in the Game, and if she hadn't....well there was truthfully just no way to ask something like that. Elaile resolved to keep an eye on the girl- she would love to learn more about the Great Game.

When Avyra mentioned the main Tower, Elaile looked back over her shoulder to squint at the large building, shading her pale green eyes from the bright sunlight as she tried to take in the multiple levels.

"You live in there?" she asked with surprise. "Do you all have your own rooms?" She noticed the flow of girls in pure white had dwindled although she still saw Aes Sedai and their Warders strolling the grounds. A few Aes Sedai were giving Avyra stern looks and Elaile suddenly realized she may be keeping the other girl.

"I hope I'm not holding you up?" she asked "I wouldn't want you to be in trouble because of me."

[Avyra]

Avyra couldn't help but smile at the other girl's astonishment. She remembered how she felt when she had entered the Tower for the very first time, and found herself understanding her inner awe. "No, we share rooms. Typically, there's two Novices per room. Accepted get their own quarters, though." She paused, then motioned for her too keep following. "I'll show you to the Mistress of Novices, Mirin Sedai, in a moment. But I'll finish showing you around, first." The small Novice let Elalie down the grounds, showing her most of the Tower. "That's the gardens. Its a popular study spot," she explained. "Many of all ranks come to study, work, or bask in the sun while admiring the lake. It is very beautiful. Sometimes I come down and play my flute." She paused, glancing back at the girl. "Where are you from? Why do you want to train here?"

[Corellis]

Elaile was taken aback by the news that she would be sharing a room with someone. She hadn't shared a room with another since...well she couldn't actually remember a time when she had ever shared a room. Elaile shook her head ruefully, no point in fretting over it now. She had known becoming a Novice would be different than anything she had done before and she just needed to embrace it- no need to show Avyra just how soft she had become since moving into the Panarch's Palace.

With an effort to brighten her mood, and stop thinking about how she would have to get used to sharing a space with a stranger- Elaile said "Do you play in the gardens often? I would love to hear that. I absolutely love hearing others play- maybe because I'm so terrible at it. My singing tutor once said that if he had to listen to me for one more minute he was going to give up teaching and move to the Waste where they don't sing at all."

She shrugged, "So I don't sing, but I do love to listen and dance to music. Is there anywhere we can go to dance here? I suppose there aren't balls, but there must be parties, or a tavern with common music?"

As they paused in the garden, Elaile noticed a young man hurrying past them with a quarterstaff in hand. Her eyes followed him admiringly as he practically ran past the girls, too intent on his destination to notice them.

"I wouldn't mind dancing with him" Elaile winked at Avyra and laughed.

She realized that, caught up in ogling the man she had completely failed to answer Avyra's earlier questions.

"I'm from Tanchico, well I guess originally from the Aiel Waste but my mother and I left there when I was very young. She's an Aes Sedai. She used to be a Sitter here at the Grey Tower and she always said this is where she wanted me to train."

Elaile shrugged, suddenly uncertain of how much to say. "She's not here now, but I'm sure she'll come back when she can." She plastered a bright smile on her face "I'll have to introduce you two when she comes back." She faltered, discomfited by the subject and gestured in the direction the man had disappeared to, "Is that the way to the Warder Yards?"

[Avyra]

When she admitted that she couldn't sing, Avyra couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, that's not a nice thing for your teacher to say. I bet you can sing well, he just wasn't teaching you right." She paused. "I try to get out once every few days and play. If you want, I could help you sing, too. Or I could teach you to play a bit. Who knows?" She paused. "As for parties and balls, I'd say you're out of luck. They don't hold those in the Tower, and Novices aren't allowed to leave to Hama Valon except on official business and accompanied by a higher rank. No fun allowed here." Avyra paused for a moment to watch the tall young man with the quarterstaff run by. Of course, everyone was tall from her angle. But she smiled back to Elaile. He wasn't bad looking, but the small Carihienin already had her eyes on another man. Two, actually, but she knew one did not feel for her. Elaile told her about her mother being a Sitter for the Hall, and she raised both eyebrows. Well, at least Elaile maybe knew what she was getting into. Had Avyra known, she would have not come. Although she had met a few friends, she didn't like what the stress of the Tower had done to her mannerisms and personality. "Yes, the Yards are that way. I enjoy visiting the Yards, when I can. I've done some training, too. Novices and Soldiers can do training with weapons along with the Drin'far'ji."

[Corellis]

Elaile smiled at the other girl's tact, "Truly, I wouldn't torture you by making you listen to my attempts to sing. But I would love to join you if you're playing in the gardens. Maybe if no one else is around I'll take you up on your offer to learn the flute. Have you been playing long?"

Elaile always found herself enthralled by others who had musical abilities, probably because she had none of her own. But she thought it may have more to do with the happy memories she had of the year her mother and she had spent traveling with the Tinkers.

Their conversation about her mother seemed to put them both into a dampened mood and Elaile shifted her saddlebags uncomfortably as they ambled on, leaving the gardens for the cool darkness of a side building. She carefully marked their path, sure from the stories she had heard that she would find herself making her way back to the Mistress of Novices' office at least once during her training. Her mother had talked about the Tower often, when she was home that is, but some of the stories made Elaile more apprehensive than excited to begin her own training.

She often wondered: What if she had been born without the spark, but with the ability to learn, would she have come to the Grey Tower at all?

Elaile had loved her life in Tanchico at the Panarch's Palace. She was constantly meeting ambassadors from other countries and loved the freedom to go anywhere in her bustling city. She gave herself a mental shake- no need in asking what if, her mother had been thrilled that she had the spark inborn, and her fate had been set long ago. Time to focus on the present and stop wondering about other lives.

The small novice had led her expertly through the cool halls, and the two now stood before a broad wooden door. Even from this side Elaile could see how thick the thing was. She bet it was soundproof and shivered at the implications. Glancing quickly towards Avrya, Elaile tried to keep the apprehension out of her voice. "So this is the Mistress of Novices? Any last words of advice?"

[Avyra]

"Even if people are around I'll teach you. There's no need to be embarrassed by learning," she said with a laugh. "I've been playing since I was really little. Its not hard to learn." As they walked, Avyra couldn't help but internally comment on the lovely day. It was warm and sunny, perfect weather. The grass was green and soft, and made her want to roll in it. All in all, they couldn't have wished for better. They entered the main building again, Avyra taking the lead to the Mistress of Novices' office. Mirin Sedai should be in there, she knew, and she would be thrilled to have another Novice. Maybe not thrilled to see Avyra, but that would soon pass. They neared the door and Elaile asked if this was the office. Avyra nodded. "Mhm. Advice? Well, don't climb trees. She hates that. Or steal dogs, she hates that too. Or, better yet, don't mention me at all."