All The Pretty Flowers [Attn: Paks]

[Kenneth]

Taesh

Taesh stood close to the recently repaired fountain in the Garden, he hands stretched out letting the spray of water fall over his palms for a moment. The water washed away some dirt that had built up on the Dedicated from his work. The Atha'an Miere had been working in the Gardens for some time now, after the Seanchan attack. At first it was solely volunteer, something that helped the dark skinned Dedicated feel useful; and also to assist him in rediscovering his sense of peace and merriment. Over time however the volunteer work had become more of an unassigned chore as the Dedicated found himself with more free-time; though the Aes Sedai and Asha'man had not been so subtle in hinting at what he should be spending that time down.

With a quick stretch Taesh leaned forward and let the water from the fountain spray his face, and he imagined for the briefest moment that he was on the deck of the Star Song and the water was from the ocean. The smell was all wrong for ocean water though, so the vision quickly faded and the Atha'an Miere turned back to his work.

The Gardens of the Grey Tower were well kept, though the need to repair other parts of the Tower and Hama Valon took precedence. Taesh considered the Gardens his own personal sanctuary though, and so he did not consider it a sacrifice to spend his efforts and energy there. His eyes focused on the shrubbery he had been previously working with, he had planted the small bushes by hand just moments before, and he seized saidin. By now, the wrestling of will against saidin took no great time, the Dedicated had many chances to, through strength of will, make the torrent of the male half of the One Power submit. Having completely seized the power, Taesh began to weave the Five Powers, each one needed for Plantweaving, and directed the flow of power to the flowering bushes. With the weave he began to strengthen and lengthen the roots in the freshly turned soil, while at the same time giving the energy to the buds, causing the burgeoning flowers to grow and spread their petals in vibrant yellows and oranges. Something that would normally take weeks happened in a matter of moments. As Taesh moved his focus from one plant to the next, it was like a wave of growth, blooming, and color swept from one end of the line of small bushes to the next.

[Roan]

Paks Liard

Paks had gotten a taste of battle, and she wasn’t sure she cared for it. She arrived at the Tower, unceremoniously dumped at the Master of Training’s feet, and signed the books to avoid a cell, but when it came down to it, she didn’t think of herself as a fighter. Oh sure, she fought. . .what choice did she have when she, Fiona and the others thought they would try and rescue an Accepted and Dedicated that Paks didn’t really even know?

Feeling bones crunch under her fist or foot, as she punched and kicked was something the Mayener might never forget. She had started to learn dagger just prior to the arrival of the vile Seanchan, but when she and the others left as a rescue party, she didn’t think to grab a weapon, and thus faced the chaos unarmed. Somehow, she managed not to die, which was more than poor Morgan managed. Natlya. . .Paks couldn’t imagine what the Ji’ was going through with his loss, nor did she know the Ji well enough to offer any support or so she thought.

In the days following the Seanchan attack, reality started to sink in for the Drin. She signed the roster for the Warder Yards. She agreed to train and learn to fight, but what did she know of fighting? At least she hadn’t run away. . .at least she stuck with her comrades and fought the good fight, so to speak. She didn’t enjoy it, but then who would enjoy beating someone until they are either unconscious or dead? Paks was pretty sure if there were those who did enjoy such a thing, she likely wouldn’t want to know them.

Paks signed the Roster, and was a Drin’. . .she was training to be a fighter. To what end? Would she amount to a good Gaidin? Was that where her path would really take her?

All of these thoughts ran through the Drin’s mind as she wandered down the Garden path. She hadn’t spent much time in the Gardens until after the Seanchan attack, but found a serenity there she couldn’t find anywhere else. She wasn’t one to actively seek out serenity. . .a bar with women or men she could have a good time and a few drinks with? Yes. Serenity? Out of character, but she’d been doing a lot of things that were out of character.

As she wandered, the Drin noticed something odd, and stopped in her tracks as one of the shrubs erupted in bright orange and yellow flowers. Next to it, another shrub seemed to grow and erupt with more flowers, and the beauty of the moment had the unlikely Drin’ awestruck. Slowly, she carried on along the path, and saw the man responsible for the growth. Given his uniform, he was a Dedicated, but his face was not familiar to the Mayener.

Paks had been around channelers since she joined the Tower, but she hadn’t really seen them in action until the Seanchan attack. To see such beauty come from it? It was unexpected.

“That. . .I think that is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen,” Paks spoke, but then realized she might be interrupting the man. “Sorry, Dedicated. I did not mean to intrude or interrupt.”

[Kenneth]

Taesh had just finished tying off the weave, something he discovered allowed the plants time to adjust to the new and rapid growth or else they would simply wither once the flow of power ceased, when he heard an unfamiliar voice.

“That. . .I think that is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen”

Taesh turned at that to look at a short haired woman, an aspiring Warder by her uniform, that he had never seen before.

“Sorry, Dedicated. I did not mean to intrude or interrupt” she said.

Taesh only smiled, and stretched again. Continuous Plantweaving was draining for the Dedicated. He had not yet mastered the Talent, not even close, but he was much better at it than when he first stumbled unto the ability. Still, he knew he would not be able to do much more today. No one had ever spoken to Taesh while he worked, and no one had commented directly to the Dedicated on his efforts, so he decided to savor the moment.

"You are not disturbing me," he began. I was just finishing up this section actually. Besides, why make a pretty garden if not to be viewed. It's like a ship at full sail at the top of a mountain, it makes no sense" he told the woman. "And please, none of the Dedicated stuff. Taesh is what you can call me. Son of the Sea will work as well if you are feeling particularly inspired" Taesh laughed.

With a nod of his head Taesh indicated that he wanted the drin to follow him to another part of the Garden. There were some recently transplanted saplings that Taesh wanted to work on before he called today's chores done. "What should I be calling you?" Taesh asked as the walked through the rest of the Garden.

Here and there the Atha'an Miere would look over certain plants, trying to decided where he would begin working later. The Seafolk Dedicated could not give the names of even half of the plants he had worked with, and thankfully Plantweaving didn't require such knowledge. He could tell, however, after developing his skill in the Talent, which plants might not be doing so well and may need just a little help from saidin. Many of the recently transplanted flora were the ones that needed that assistance.

Working in the Gardens had put the Dedicated at ease, so he was feeling slightly playful. "Or, I could guess you name. I bet I could guess your name in no time" Taesh said, with a gleam in his eye. It had been a while since the Atha'an Miere had struck a bargain, and this one would be harmless enough.

[Roan]

Paks Liard

Paks felt herself relax when the Dedicated suggested she drop the titles, and flashed a charismatic smile his way, “Well, Taesh, Son of the Sea, I was just about to tell you my name, but now you have me curious.” She turned and walked with him at his suggestion and scanned the Gardens as they carried on along the path.

The Drin’ couldn’t help herself, though, and before he could answer, replied with sense of awe, “After seeing what happened during the Seanchan attack, I would not have thought such beautiful things could be wrought with the One Power.” She furrowed her brows, “I mean. . .I’ve been Healed, which is beautiful in it’s own way, I guess, but not beautiful in the way you seem to use it.

“Until today, I think I only thought it could be used to damage or Heal. . .not create, nor would I have thought it could be used to create things like flowers and shrubs. I am truly stunned and at a loss for words,” Paks replied. She then laughed at herself, “OK, clearly NOT at a loss for words, but perhaps you know what I mean.”

The woman’s characteristic smirk was back, “Before I rambled on, you were going to attempt to guess my name. I tell you what, Taesh, Son of the Sea. If you guess my name, I will buy you a pint of your favorite beverage, though it will require you enduring a night at a pub with me.”

[Kenneth]

Taesh smiled as Paks rambled. He was glad that he was able to show someone that the One Power was just as powerful for things that were meant to inspire beauty as much as it was for protection and destruction. His own leanings were not towards war and aggression, and it made the Atha'an Miere feel good that someone appreciated his own gifts as much as someone adept as battle weaves.

“Before I rambled on, you were going to attempt to guess my name. I tell you what, Taesh, Son of the Sea. If you guess my name, I will buy you a pint of your favorite beverage, though it will require you enduring a night at a pub with me.”

Taesh laughed, a deep and sincere laugh. "Has no one ever told you, be careful when you enter into a bargain with one of the Seafolk, as you call us? You complimented my flowers, so I will give you a piece of advice. I would win this bargain hands down" Taesh said, a impish grin on his face. "I said I could guess in no time, so there is no time limit on how long I can guess. Besides, I've tried to stuff that comes by the pints, it's not to my tasting."

Taesh finally stopped in front of the recently transplanted saplings that were not faring so well in their new home. Working with trees was a bit different than working with shrubbery and flowers. It required more energy, so Taesh had to be more focused in what he was doing, making sure not to waste energy on what couldn't be saved or didn't need saving. He decided to focus on the root and soil of the of the young trees as he walked around them, and continued to speak to the Drin. "How lucky you are that I am a rarity among the Atha'an Miere, you know we take babies and body parts when people can't keep their end of the bargain." This was just one of the many rumors the Dedicated had heard about his people, and one of the funnier ones at that.

[Roan]

Paks Liard

“As a Mayener, I perhaps should be more careful, but I was intrigued, and my curiosity overrode caution,” Paks replied, still grinning. “I am grateful for your word of caution since it is warning you give freely. I will be more careful when venturing into a bargain with you and yours in the future then,” she added with a flourished bow.

The Drin’ snorted at the warning of snatching babies and body parts, “I am not one to give into myths and legends when I can observe reality with my own eyes. I doubt the people who are responsible for you and your existence could possibly be so villainous. While I might have been naive in seeing if you could guess my name, I am not so naive in reading people. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say you are a kind soul who is soft-spoken unless there is call to be otherwise.” She looked at the saplings as he helped them take root and her smirk turned to more of a warm smile. She wasn’t always a salty smart-arse, after all.

“Oh, and I am known as Paks Liard, though some might call me other names I’m not inclined to answer. If you do not drink what we put in pints, Taesh, Son of the Sea, what do you drink?” she asked with a smirk that was really supposed to be a smile, but she couldn’t help herself.

[Kenneth]

"Water and sweet wines or juices" Taesh supplied to Paks while still looking at the sapling trees. "Excuse me a moment."

The Atha'an Miere opened himself up to the One Power and once again seized saidin. Even though he was already feeling the strain from the days work in the Garden, the heighten clarity of perception was addictive. Still the Dedicated was getting tired, the extensive and complex use of the Talent that he was still learning about and no adept at, was draining.

Combining the Five Powers in a weave that relied most on Water but still utilized Earth, Air, Spirit and even Fire; Taesh directed the weave into the roots of one sapling. Working with the roots he increased the flow of Earth, strengthening and the roots to firmly secure the saplings. He also spread the roots out and down. He had learned from a healer in Hama Valon who specialized in herbs, that roots that were able to spread out got more from the ground and produced healthier plants. He also sent the weave up through the trunk of the tree, strengthen the limbs that had yet to begun to show signs of life. He used Water, Fire and Spirit more this time, to coax some of the dormant buds to life. This time his manipulation of flora through saidin did not produce such a visible display. There was only a shifting of soil as the roots dug in, and a few buds began to appear on the limbs of the tree.

"So tell me Paks Liard, how came your ship to be set at this harbor?" Taesh asked as he moved on to next sapling.

[Roan]

Paks Liard Paks watched Taesh curiously as he worked, and wondered what it was like to wield such power. Part of her almost envied him, but then she recalled what could be done with such power as memories of the Seanchan attack came rushing back. The way Channelers could manipulate the world around them to levy such destruction was as terrifying as it was awe-inspiring. She much preferred how Taesh seemed to work with the One Power, though she was not so naive as to know that there were times when one had to fight.

His question of how she came to be at the Tower was not unexpected. She’d most recently relayed the story to a new Soldier named Alric in true bardic style. Today, though, she was a bit more subdued, “I came to the Tower as the result of what some might call a bad decision, while others might say it was an opportunity not to miss.” She offered a sly smile, “I tend to live for the moment, and take risks others might call foolish, and one such risk saw me before a magistrate. He sent me to the Tower as a form of penance, much to the Master of Training’s grief.”

The Drin leaned against one of the bigger, healthier trees and folded her arms across her chest, “I am perhaps not one of the most eager recruits, but I am here and will try to make the most of it. It is a far cry from life with my troupe of friends and nights spent at inns entertaining those with more coin than they knew what to do with. I do still manage to get to inns on the odd night, though it is not quite the same.” Not that she minded...without the troupe, she could do as she pleased, which was just as well.

[Kenneth]

Taesh tied off the weave, taking a deep breath as he did. He looked over the saplings and smiled tiredly at his work. Though the difference was only slight, the Atha'an Miere felt a lot better about their future in the Garden. It was not much, but it made the Dedicated feel that he was at least contributing in some way to the rebuilding efforts of the Tower and it's city.

The tired smile was still on his face and sparkling his eyes as he turned to Paks. "Perhaps I will go with you on one of these trips to an inn. I did go to one once, and a man too far into his mugs mistook me for a barmaid." Taesh chuckled at the memory of the night he went to celebrate becoming a Dedicated. "It was a memorable night to say the least. His sails seemed to become deflated when he found out my ship had more equipment than he bargained for." At that the Atha'an Miere gave a loud and sincere laugh.

"I was not so reluctant to come" Taesh said once he got himself under control. "My mother and father, they made a bargain with an Asha'man and here I am. I cannot say I am sad though, the Tower has become my ship, you all my clan. I do miss the sea and the power of the waves, and I don't understand this need to be constantly clothed, but then that was a problem on the StarSong as well. Learning to channel however makes this a bargain worth more than I could imagine, and I am no adept yet."

[Roan]

Paks Liard

Paks gave a wry smile, “I suspect few in the Warder Yards are reluctant recruits, though I’ve met my fair share of Novices and Soldiers who feel their lives have been disrupted by being brought here. I can relate to them, to some degree, though for me, the Tower is a bit of a second chance, I guess.” The smile faded, and it was a rare moment when the Drin showed anything other than mirth. She ran a hand through her hair, feeling rather. . .vulnerable in that moment, and didn’t completely understand why.

If it is a second chance, then why are you pissing it away every night in the bottom of an ale mug, you pig-headed fool?

Pushing the rare moment of self-doubt aside, Paks tilted her head as she looked back to Taesh, “What do you intend to do when you are finally raised to Asha’man? Remain here, or return to your ship and family? I know very little of your people, but I know enough to know that life here does not come close to the life and freedom you must feel at sea. Would you stay at the Tower, and give your life and skills to it, or does the sea call to your heart, Taesh?”