Black and White (attn: Mirin/Anyone) COMPLETE

[Marit]

The city of Hama Valon, nestling at the foot of the Grey Tower, was bigger than she had imagined it to be. It was bustling, buzzing as she made her way through its streets, reminding her of Whitebridge on marked day. It was easy to get distracted by all the goods and shops along the way, but she tried to keep her mind on the way ahead, longing to get off the road. Her feet were killing her from the trek up the mountains, even if she'd managed to hitch a ride for parts of the way. The farmer had steered his cart up another road a bit out of the city though, and it had taken her the better part of the evening to get this far. How was it even possible to farm up in these mountains?

If the city was bigger than she'd imagined, so was the great glass pillar towering over it. She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but the Grey Tower certainly dwarfed the Black! This place truly had the right to call itself a Tower. Seeing its grandeur almost made her want to travel to Tar Valon one day, to see the fabled White Tower. But no. She wanted nothing to do with those White Tower witches. She intended to stay as far away from Aes Sedai as she could.

And yet, here she was, at the foot of the Grey Tower, a place crawling with Aes Sedai. And Asha'man, but she didn't mind those at all, especially not now that the male half was clean again. They were the reason she would willingly mingle with Aes Sedai. If the rumors were true, and the two worked alongside each other in this place, then she would give them a fair chance.

They are not the same Aes Sedai, she said to herself as she walked past the gates and towards the Tower, but the thoughts faded at the sight of the glass pillar up close, as did her movement. Light! She'd never seen that much glass in one place. It was a wonder it held, and not broke. It must be similar to Whitebridge. But that had been made in the Age of Legends! And this place couldn't be that old?

Awe struck her for a moment before she managed to tear her eyes away from the Tower again and move her feet towards it. Passing through the open doors and through the most beautiful garden she'd seen, she followed the stream of people into the Inner Tower. Though it was more a trickle than a stream that evening. Still, she wasn't the only one in the main hall, and she felt as lost as almost everyone else looked.


OOC: Anyone want to greet a new arrival and take her to the MoN?

[Jenny]

Adrian shuffled his feet as he loitered around the main hall, waiting for instruction. He was one of the dozen students assigned this evening as guides for visitors to the Tower. It was usually one of his favorite chores, far preferable to weeding the gardens or scrubbing pots, but today the evening crowd moved slowly. He had helped only two people today; one, a diplomat who requested to see the Amyrlin Seat, and two, a scholar who he had guided to the Brown Ajah quarters.

The Dedicated on duty called out his name. "Adrian! Go help that young lady over there."

"Yes sir," said Adrian. He straightened and brushed down his black Soldier's coat while his eyes scanned the hall. Ah, there she was, a sweet-faced light-haired lass. Briefly, he wondered why she was here. Her clothes were clean, but a slightly worn, and her shoes were grey with the dust of travel. Many girls came to the Grey Tower - some in search of refuge, others hoping to be tested for the ability to channel. Only few stayed. He loped across the hall and smiled warmly down at her.

"Welcome to the Grey Tower, miss. Can I help you?"

[Marit]

There were several white-dressed girls in the main hall, some of them with colorful stripes on the hems of the dress, attending to the petitioners around her. As there were quite a lot more petitioners than attendees, she resigned herself to wait, and spent the time watching the people around her. Her mind wandered more than her eyes, making up stories from the way people looked and from what she could pick up from their conversations. The words weren't always easy to pick up, but so many people never realised just how much they spoke with their body. Like that finely dressed nobleman talking as if he owned the place. It was an exaggerated way to hide his insecurity and anxiety. Whatever he was here for, he either really didn't want to be here, or he desperately needed their help. A mix of both, most likely. Others didn't try to hide at all, like that farm woman with three children at her skirts and a fourth in a wrap on her back. The oldest couldn't be more than twelve? Though clearly an early bloomer, that was obvious from this distance. And the mother beamed of pride that her girl would join as a Novice. Same as her.

Her eyes wandered on, and her breath caught as she saw two black-clad men, the elder holling the younger and directing him straight to her. Oh no.. They couldn't have caught up with her already? And here? She'd thought they hadn't bothered at all with her leaving. If they had, she'd been caught and strung up in the Traitor's Tree long before she'd reached Whitebridge, not to mention here. Sense told her these couldn't be Black Tower Asha'man. And even if they were, would they have any authority here? Yes, she should listen to sense, and not the little anxiety that was nagging away, feeding the knot in her stomach, making it grow larger for each step the black-clad man took towards her.

Only when the man was almost next to her did she notice the friendly face that smiled down at her. His mannerism were not of the kind she'd grown used to from those in black. This man, however, his face spoke of well intentions, as did his voice when he spoke.

The knot was fading, but it still left her a little shaken, and it took a moment to gather her thoughts enough remember the folded piece of parchment in the belt pouch. With a smile she lifted her hand telling him to wait, and reached into the pouch to fish out a handful of parchments, shuffling quickly through them to find the right one. [I shouldn't have written so many. It wasn't that hard getting it rightly worded. And I should've gotten rid of all the drafts. There.[/i] Finding the right one, she handed it to the black-clad man with a smile apologizing for the wait.

[kitty]I would like to sign the Novice book. Would you be so kind to take me to the Mistress of Novices? Ci'tanni Shannaran[/kitty]

She hoped she'd gotten the information correct, pieced together from the stories and gossip she'd picked up on the way. And she really had used up too many parchments writing a simple notice like this. This was one of the first drafts, really, which she'd cast aside as too simple. But the more elaborated ones had been just that, too elaborate. Sometimes the simple was the best.

[Jenny]

Adrian watched with surprise as the girl brought out a handful of papers, sorted them, and offered a single slip. He took the paper and smoothed it in his hand.

"To the Mistress of Novices? Certainly. This way please."

He lead her away from the entrance hall and to the stairwell. As they walked up the stairs, he attempted to make conversation, although the girl stayed quiet, merely nodding or shaking her head. She must be very shy, he thought. He glanced at the paper again.

"Your name is Ci'tanni? It is very nice to meet you. My name is Adrian. I'm training here as a Soldier. Where are you from? Er... I'm from Andor. Oh, you too? A lot of girls come here from all over the continent, you know. Most don't stay, but I hope you will."

He smiled at her cheerfully, then suddenly snapped to a salute as a pair of Aes Sedai passed by. And so it went as they climbed the Tower. Adrian kept up a running monologue, interrupted whenever an Aes Sedai or Asha'man passed by.

"Life is hard here, but it's also quite good. Food, shelter, and safety, what more could you ask for? Some run away but those people are idiots who don't know how hard the real world can be. Ah, my legs are killing me. Just one more flight of stairs. We're almost there. Are you nervous, Ci'tanni? Don't be. Mirin Sedai is very reasonable and quite nice. Well, as nice as any Aes Sedai can be. Here we are."

He knocked on the door.

"One moment please," a voice inside called. A minute later, the door swung open and a novice hurried out and fled down the hall, her face and eyes red from crying.

Mirin Sedai appeared at the door. She craned her neck to look up at Adrian, but at the same time seemed to look down her nose at him.

"What is it, Soldier?"

He bowed. "This is Ci'tanni Shannaran from Andor. She would like to sign the Novice Book."

The Aes Sedai turned to look at Ci'tanni and smiled warmly. "Come in, child."

The two women disappeared into the office and the door shut in his face. Adrian sighed and straightened his dark jacket, and then made his way back down to the entrance hall.

-----
The office was large and spacious, with dark blue wall panels and three tall windows in the back looking over the Tower gardens. Shelves covered another wall. Most were still empty, but Mirin planned on filling it with a collection of her favorite books. Eventually, at least - she wasn't sure when she would find the time. In the middle, facing her work desk, sat two comfortable chairs that were nearly, but not quite, side-by-side.

She gestured to one of these chairs.

"You must be tired from your travels, Ci'tanni. Would you like some tea? Please, have a seat and tell me about yourself."

[Marit]

Falling in beside the boy, Kitty felt oddly at ease with him, quite the contrast to her initial reaction when he approached her. The fact that he initiated a conversation as they walked helped greatly. Unlike most people she met, who thought her rude or dumb for not replying back, he actually carried a conversation, looking over at her and picking up her small responses like a nod or a shake of her head. The more subtle and fuller responses seemed to go unnoticed, but that didn't stop her from "talking" back as they walked. Mostly though, it was her thoughts that were brought out in the open, once she realized he didn't understand any of it anyway.

Andor yes. Which part of Andor are you from? Have you seen the Black Tower? No, probably not.

Yes, I think I will stay, and thank you for hoping I will. That really makes me feel welcome.

Nervous? No, not really. Sceptical, though? Yes, certainly. I hope you're right that this Aes Sedai is nice. Can they be nice? I don't trust them.

Though, as they stopped in front of the door and she stood behind Adrian as he knocked on the door, she realized she'd been lying. She was nervous; the knot that appeared in her stomach was not possible to deny or ignore.

The first thing that struck her with the woman answering the door - the Mistress of Novices? - was that she was even shorter than herself. And that her hair was truly black. Her looks, as well as her tone of speaking, named her a Cairhienin. Though Kitty hadn't travelled much, she had met her fair share of travellers from all around while working at The Wayfarer's Rest in Whitebridge. She didn't seem as cold and stoic as the Cairhienin she'd met before, though. But then again, the few weary travellers she'd met were hardly the only mannerism of the whole people.

Pausing her analyze of the woman, Kitty dropped into a respectful curtsy as the Aes Sedai turned to her and invited her inside. Passing Adrian, she mouthed and signed a silent "Thank you", and smiled warmly before walking after the Aes Sedai. She allowed herself a quick look of the room, noticing the near empty shelves, as she followed the woman to the pair of comfortable-looking chairs facing a desk.

Yes please, thank you, she signed in response to the inquiry of tea, offering a nod and polite smile in case the Aes Sedai didn't understand signs, which was most likely. Dipping into another gentle curtsy, she took seat in the chair offered and fished up a small stack of papers from her pouch. Quickly shuffling through them to the correct one, she handed it to the Mistress of Novices, and folded her hands neatly in her lap as she waited for the woman to read it.

[kitty]Dear Mistress of Novices My name is Ci'tanni Shannaran. I hail from the small village Arien in northwestern Andor. My father was a farmer, but more so he could also channel. Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah from the White Tower took him away, Gentled him and killed him when I was very little. My mother re-married another farmer, an abusive man and a drunkard, who brought our family into ruin, until my elder brother brought me to safety, to Whitebridge. We made a life there, and saved up money to help Mother. A year ago an Aes Sedai told me I could channel and wanted to take me to the White Tower. I did not trust enough to go with her due to my Father's fate, so I sought help at the Black Tower instead. They taught me to channel and to unlock some of my potential, but they are too violent for me, too focused on battle. So I come here, to you, hoping I can continue my training here. Ci'tanni Shannaran[/kitty]

[Jenny]

Mirin blinked as the girl handed her a sheet of paper in response. All became clear as she scanned the note. Light, the girl was mute! More surprise colored her expression as she continued reading.

"I am so sorry about your father," she said kindly. "Your mother, too, does not seem to have found very happy circumstances. You sought help at the Black Tower? I'm not surprised that was unsuccessful. The Black Tower trains mostly men. While both men and women draw on the One Power, men channel saidin and women channel saidar. Well, child..."

She looked searchingly at the young woman. There was a kinship between them that she could sense. Yes, the girl certainly had the ability to channel. Not that she doubted the message, but it was always prudent to check.

"You are welcome here. The Grey Tower is quite unlike the Black Tower. Here." She offered Ci'tanni a pen and then gestured to a large book sitting on a nearby ledger. "Sign your name in the Novice Book. At the end there, child. Good. Is there anything you would like to ask me before I send you off to your new room?"

[Marit]

Kitty was a bit surprised to see the reaction on the Aes Sedai's face, to read the look of surprise so clearly. Aes Sedai weren't exactly renowned for showing emotion or the kind, and the few ones she'd met so far had only increased that notion. They weren't as stone-faced as their Warders were, but you couldn't read an Aes Sedai either. Or so stories had it.

The Mistress of Novices wasn't like Kitty had imagined her to be, or Aes Sedai in general to be. The woman was actually, well, human.

The source for the woman's surprise wasn't shocking. It was true that the Black Tower trained mostly men. They hadn't been many girls there, and she'd at times felt like they were some kind of pet project of one of the Asha'man, testing out if women could study alongside the men. Not unlike what they're already doing here. Maybe they'd even picked up the idea from here? She did wonder if the others would last long, in more that one way.

Thank you, Kitty signed and smiled with a nod as the Mistress of Novices welcomed her to the Grey Tower. She took the pen offered and signed her name into the big book with her usual flowing handwriting. Her hand rested in the air above the book as she looked at her own name, a mix of feelings flowing through her. Kinship, restriction, sadness, joy, longing.. She was bound to this place now, for good or for worse.

Shifting her gaze back to the Mistress of Novices, she handed back the pen and shook her head. She had several questions probably, but none that sprung to mind at that instant. Her hands moved to reply, but she let them drop in her lap instead. She doubted the woman would've understood anyway, having gotten no reaction to her signs earlier.

[Jenny]

Mirin tapped her lip thoughtfully. She did not understand the signs that the new novice used. Light, how will her teachers understand her?

"I see that there will have to be some... adjustments to your learning," she said. "I cannot understand your signs. If there is anything you need that would make communication easier, let me know. And if you have any questions at any time, please write me a note and I will respond as soon as I can. My office door is also always open."

Then, her voice sharpened. "Of course, that does not mean you will be given any slack, child. You are, as far as I can tell, of able body and mind. Anyway, let us move on. There are a few things I must tell you."

Her voice took on a droning quality as the familiar words rolled off her tongue. "You have the ability. You have the desire. Your name is in the Novice Book. You will leave behind Ci'tanni of the Black Tower. You will become Ci'tanni, a novice of the Grey Tower. Listen close, because the rules are many and punishment is strict. Starting tomorrow, you will be enrolled in classes, not just pertaining to the One Power but also of writing, mathematics, history, literature, and philosophy. You will be prompt to your lessons and respectful of your teachers. Each morning, a chores list will be posted on the bulletin outside my door... "

The speech went on. Most girls were overwhelmed and retained little of the information, but these rules would be repeated and discipline delivered until they learned to listen.

"I will give you some privacy behind that screen," she continued, gesturing to a wooden screen hiding a corner of the room. "Behind it you will find a several sizes of novice dresses hanging in a small closet. Please remove your dress and belongings and put on a suitable size of dress, and then take a couple extra as changes of clothing. Your belongings will be locked away for safekeeping - and your current dress will be burned. You are leaving behind Ci'tanni of the Black Tower and entering as a novice of the Grey Tower."

[Marit]

The Mistress of Novices confirmed her suspicion that the woman didn't understand her signs. She wasn't sure if any adjustments, as the woman put it, would be necessary. Not as long as Kitty was on the recieving end of the information distribution. At the Aes Sedai's comment if she needed anything to ease the communication barrier, Kitty simply tapped her belt pouch containing a portable inkwell, pen and papers. As long as her teachers could read, she wouldn't have much of a problem. If the teacher couldn't read, however… Well, she would figure something out.

The friendly woman took a back seat as the Mistress of Novices took over, sharp voice droning formalities and seriousness into her head. Kitty nodded along quite solemnly, filing the information in her mind. She doubted the punishments here would be as severe as those in the Black Tower, but she had no doubt this place would be just as strict if not more. And the punishments may be less severe, but not any easier or in any way kind. Just… less brutal. Hopefully.

Ci'tanni of the Black Tower was left behind the moment I walked out of those gates, her mind whispered to her as she walked behind the screen. White. The wall in front of her was filled with white clothes. No colors at all. Her fingers went about methodically as she removed her belt, gently laying it down on the small table so not to disturb the content of her pouch, and on to untying her dress. The fabric folded itself around her ankles, and she stepped clean of it.

Her hands reached for one of the white bolts of cloth, shaking out the dress and holding it up to her frame. Her mouth curved up in a smile as it barely reached halfway down her leg. Too small, she thought and neatly folded it again. The next flowed out on the floor in front of her. Far too long. After a couple of more tries she found a shelf containing dresser that fit her well enough.

Kitty grabbed a pair of extra dresses and laid them on the small table, picking up her own and folding it. "Your current dress will be burned." She paused, her dress hanging half-folded in her arms. Right then and there she wished she had worn her old Black Tower uniform. She wouldn't have minded that being burned. But this dress? It was well worn and even more so from the travel here. But she still liked it. With a sigh she folded it and put in on top of the others.

The belt was tied around her waist, pouch securely attached, and she was on her way out from the screen, dresses in her arms, when the Mistress' voice sounded in her mind again: "Your belongings will be locked away." Shifting one arm to hold the dresses, the other hand went to her pouch as she looked down. Blasted. Would they take that from her? Would they silence her so? Maybe she could get the Mistress of Novices to allow her to keep it.

Stepping out into the Aes Sedai's presence again, Kitty walked back to the chairs and put the small stack of dresses down. Picking up the topmost, her old one, she handed it to the Mistress of Novices. With one hand she lifted the pouch a little, and pointed at it with her other hand while she looked at the woman questioningly.

(OOC: Got a bit carried away..)

[Jenny]

Mirin rummaged around behind her desk. She held up a white belt pouch. Its edges were slightly frayed.

"Here," she said. "You may put what you need into this. Now, please. I need to make sure you are not bringing anything forbidden into the Tower."

When Ci'tanni had finished, Mirin collected the new novice's personal belongings that would not be necessary in the Tower and placed them in a labeled box. It would be locked in vault and be returned if Ci'tanni reached the Shawl - or if she was turned out of the Tower.

"Please place your other dress in the fireplace," she said. When the girl had done so, the Aes Sedai opened herself to the Source and channeled a weave of Air and Fire. Fire, for heat and flames; Air, to quicken the blaze. With a blinding flash of light, the dress disappeared, leaving behind a neat pile of ashes. Mirin released the Source.

"Welcome, child," she said. "Your room will be in the novice quarters, which are in the building to the south of the Tower. Let's see... there is a room on the third floor, fourth door to the right. You will be sharing the room with another novice. Here, let me write down the room number for you."

She handed the note to Ci'tanni. "You must be tired from your travels. Your classes and chores won't start until tomorrow. Rest well. I'm always here to answer any questions you might have."

((OOC: I love it when writers get carried away! <3 Also... third floor, fourth door to the right is right next to Avyra and Seonin (they're in the fifth door) sooo let the novice shenanigans begin!))