A Contemplation of Grey [ATTN: Derren Asha'man]

[Kenneth]

Taesh

Once again Taesh found himself in the Library of the Tower, an area he could be often found in of late. This time however, he was not searching for a book on laws or past treaties. He was instead looking for a particular person. The young Dedicated was worried about something that he did not completely understand. Ever since the Hall of the Tower had made the decision that Accepted and Dedicated who completed their training and past the tests would be given the option of taking the Three Oaths or now, things had become a bit confusing. Members of the Tower fell on each side of the issue, and Taesh had no idea how he should feel or who to agree with. He only knew that the decision had some serious implications for the Tower, and especially for a new Dedicated.

Once Taesh had passed through the Arches, and been awarded the sword pin and the rank of Dedicated, he had begun to give serious thought to the Ajah he would choose, if he was found worthy. Each Ajah had it's own purpose, but the Grey's purpose rang true to who the Atha'an Miere wanted to be. Yet he didn't know how this new decision would affect his desired Ajah. So he went to the Library, in hopes of finding Derren Asha'man again, to ask some questions. He had inquired about the Tower for the whereabouts of the man he had met before as a Soldier, and been told that the Grey could often be found in the Tower's Library.

So it was that Taesh found himself, perusing the territory of tomes, needing answers to questions he barely knew how to ask.

[Bella]

Anyone who said that Derren could be found in the library, if not teaching one of his classes, spoke true. Although the table, chair, and books were different than the last time the young man had found the elder, it was otherwise very similar. This time, Derren was researching even more specific topics to help him on a mission that was upcoming.

The Grey heard footsteps approaching his area and he lifted his head. His eyes fell on the young man he had met here before, and he recognized the new pin alighting on the collar. "Good day to you, Dedicated," he greeted with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

[Kenneth]

Taesh released a breath of relief at having found the very person that he was looking for. He approached the table that the Asha'man was currently researching at with a bright smile on his face. Though the testing that would decide if Taesh would become a an Asha'man was still some time off, the Atha'an Miere had all but decided on the Ajah he would choose. The Grey's mission of mediation and peace, of strength in unity resonated with everything that the dark-skinned Dedicated desired for the world, and his place in it. So Taesh enjoyed every moment of conversation that he could get with any member of his intended Ajah.

"Derren Asha'man," he said, bowing "I hope that I am not disturbing you sir." Derren did not seem the type like other Aes Sedai and Asha'man who despised disturbance. The channeler of the Grey had been very welcoming and forthcoming with the question that Taesh had asked before, and Taesh hoped that he would be again. "I have a question that I would ask you, if you are not busy."

The Atha'an Miere was almost desperate in his need for some direction, and clarity on the issue of the Oaths. In his mind he could make arguments for and against both sides; but could come to no definitive conclusion. So the dark-skinned young man sought the advice of one who was where Taesh hoped to be someday.

[Bella]

Derren waved at the empty chairs opposite him at the table. This young man had been one who practically radiated that his destination was in the Grey Ajah. Of course, things could change...but his showing up seeking Derren out made it seem that he was still on that track, which pleased the Asha'man. He enjoyed speaking with Grey aspirants.

"You're quite welcome here, Dedicated," he assured him. "What is it that I can help you with?"

OOC: This week just ran away from me. Sorry for the delay.

[Kenneth]

Taesh sat down quickly, glad that the Asha'man had time to answer his questions. The Dedicated hoped that the answers he would receive would help to soothe is nerves.

"Thank you. My question, it pertains to the Oaths. Specifically to the decision that the Hall has made, and how that will handled within the Grey. That is, if you can tell me anything Derren Asha'man" Taesh stated. "It just seems that here lately, every since the Hall has allowed Dedicated and Accepted to choose on whether to take the Oaths or not once they are Raised, everything is, choppy. Like a skiff on the sea before a storm, one second up, the next down. All the Accepted and Dedicated seem to be taking sides, some for others against, and others not caring at all. I think I fall in with the last group, the decision doesn't change the direction of the wind as far as I know, but..." Taesh had to gather his thoughts for a moment, trying to find the words that would convey the inner turmoil that was beginning.

"What about the Grey, Asha'man? What if I decided not to take the Oaths and still wanted to join the Grey, would I be welcome? And even if I was welcomed, can any Grey be effective in creating peace, calming the seas, bringing unity, without the Oaths? Would anyone trust us? We bargain with kings and queens for the peace of nations. Atha'an Miere hold to their word at all costs, but I would not be merely Atha'an Miere, I would be an Asha'man, could a leader bargaining on behalf of his people trust my words if he knew that the Oaths were not all but guaranteeing I could not steer him false?"

So passionate was the dark-skinned Seafolk about the purpose of the Grey Ajah and his place in it, that he had no realized he was speaking as if he was already a member of the Ajah of mediators.

[Bella]

Derren noticed, however, but mainly because he was trained to notice. The decades of being in the Grey meant you caught on to the details of a how person spoke, how they looked, the movements of their body and even the flickers of their eyes. You could even tell when a man was lying by their eyes. Obviously he didn't suspect the young man of that, but it did mean he picked up on things.

He leaned back slightly in his seat. The Three Oaths... Quite the upheaval in the Tower, and now a topic on everyone's mind--especially those like this young man, who were facing a new choice at the top of the stairs.

"There have been men and women mediators throughout the ages who managed to be very skilled at what they did without the benefit of the Three Oaths," he began after a thoughtful pause. "The reason the Oaths have been more beneficial to the Grey is that they have been a way to combat the inherent distrust that is too frequently laid at the feet of channelers by those ignorant of the channeler themselves.

"A Grey without the Oaths can still be effective, but will need to work harder to establish the trust necessary to their work." They might even face the distrust of their fellow Ajah members, but he did not add that for he felt sure it would temper in time. Now, it was just the newness of this very controversial move. "Other means will be needed to assure the people you work with that you are worth believing.

"You would still be welcome in the Ajah, but should you choose to not take the Oaths, you would simply need to be prepared for how to work in our missions without them."

[Kenneth]

Taesh looked down at the desk, but his vision was truly focused inward as he contemplated what the Asha'man had just told him. The Atha'an Miere Dedicated really had no clue as to why the Oath's were an option and no longer a requirement, and that was adding to his confusion.

"Do you know why the change was made?" Taesh asked.

He thought that perhaps if he knew the reason why the decision came about. He was a Soldier when it happened, and there wasn't much of a point explaining much to the entry level aspirants of the Tower. Now as a Dedicated the decision was very important to his career as an Asha'man, especially one of the Grey. He wanted to be effective in the Grey's mission, he wanted to use his talents and abilities to bargain for peace across all Nations. He still was not sure if he would be taking the Oaths or not, but the words of Derren Asha'man brought the saidin weaving Seafolk some measure of relief. He at least knew that if he did not take the Oaths he would still be welcome into the Grey.

[Bella]

To that, Derren's mouth curved into the faintest of rueful smiles. "I was not present in the Hall of Sitters when the discussion took place," he replied honestly. As he was an Oathsworn, there was no choice to it. "Thus, I am not privy to all that went into the conversation and it has not all been disclosed to me as such.

"A major contending point did seem to be that the Oaths were a relic of the White Tower. While our Tower here was born of those from both the White and Black Towers, we have existed for nearly two centuries away from them. Times have changed, and thus it was determined that we needed to change with it. We do not need to be bound by the strictures of a place we have grown up and away from."

[Kenneth]

Taesh sat back in his chair, thinking over everything that the Asha'man had just told him. He supposed that it did make some sense to do away with certain things of the predecessors. Even a new Sailmistress, when she got her own ship, would try and find something different than the leader of the ship she had come from. Everyone wanted to leave their mark somehow, Taesh just wasn't sure if the decision of the Hall was the best way to go about it. It seemed to the Atha'an Miere that the decision was causing more harm right now than anything.

"The waves are highest just after the rock hits the sea." he murmured. It was a favorite saying of his mother, whenever she issued an order that caused a stir. It was always followed by "But eventually, the waters will calm."

The Dedicated thought on the saying, and it brought him some measure of peace. His mother was right, no matter how bad the squall, eventually there was peace. Yet before the peace, there was chaos, and the Tower seemed to be in the midst of just such.

"I suppose, even the Grey Tower must go through some high waters," he said, still leaning back in his chair, but address the Derren Asha'man. "being able to touch the One Power doesn't protect us from a bad blow everyone once in awhile I guess." A smile was beginning to creep across the dark-skinned seafarers face once again.

[Bella]

"No, it most assuredly does not," Derren agreed with a faint rueful tinge to his voice and his expression. "But the Grey Tower has been through many such times and it has always survived, and in fact emerged to thrive. I have no doubt that it shall do as such now, we must but hold on in the meantime."

Pausing, he took in the young man before him, wondering if he had ever been as such or if he had truly been born this age. Do not forget the years of temper, he reminded himself, though he would rather have forgotten them.

"Is there anything else you should wish to know that would help ease your mind?" the Asha'man offered.