Chromatic Discussions (Attn: Isla Arkema)

[Daniel]

Nyaine Nyaine enjoyed the sun that was warm on her face and an extra cloak on top of her Accepted woollens protected against the otherwise comparatively chilly temperatures. In her time as a novice, she had discovered that she liked the chores taking her outside way more than those inside. It reminded her of the freedom of her early childhood before her life had been taken over by studying and learning.

Standing in the Tower gardens, she was watching over about half a dozen learning ranks toiling in a flower bed that was in dire need of digging up and having new flowers planted. Her overseeing these chores wasn't something that had originally been intended. After all, Nyaine wasn't very knowledgeable when it came to ornamental plants or gardening in general. But someone had become indisposed at the last minute and Nyaine had had the misfortune of being the first best marginally qualified available with the necessary time free of other obligations. Of course, her plan to meet with Isla would never have been reason enough to worm out of the assignment, so she had not even tried, but instead left a message with a novice telling the Amadician where she might be found.

With her main task of assigning work to her charges done, she didn't have much more to do now and was in fact free to enjoy the other advantage her current location afforded her, namely that of a good view towards to the warder yards where a small number of strapping young fellows were training their martial prowess. Not that she would go out of her way to stare at men, but surely she would have to find herself a Warder some day. When the opportunity presented itself, it wouldn't hurt to investigate. It was such pure logic, she might have been a White.

[Bella]

It was, to Isla's mind, no small miracle that her former roommate still wanted anything to do with her.

After all this time in the Grey Tower, there were many things that had once caused her shamed but did no longer. Or, at least, the shame was considerably tempered by the reality of this place. Once, it had been a nightmare to her senses that she even could channel, but time had changed that.

One thing that time had not eased her feelings about was what she had done to herself, and the positions she had put Nyaine in. She looked back upon that, and felt that shame. And embarrassment. She would not have blamed the other girl in the least if she'd never wanted anything to do with Isla again once she was raised.

But, somehow, that wasn't the case. And they were due to meet again now. Isla had received the note regarding the change of locale and fetched appropriate outerwear. Truth be told, even when cold, she liked to be outside.

The Accepted walked the pathways leading towards the group of learning ranks tending the bed. She watched them for a moment before turning her attention to the other Accepted where she stood. Isla offered a small but warm smile. "Nyaine," she greeted.

[Daniel]

Turning as she heard her name, scowling at first at the thought that one of her charges had come to ask some sort of silly question, Nyaine returned Isla's small smile with one of her own once she recognised her.

“Ah, Isla”, she said, “I'm glad you made it. I apologise for making you come out here. Unfortunately, there was no way for me shirk this.”

While she knew it would be there, the rainbow-coloured hem on Isla's dress was something she hadn't really imagined to see. Nyaine still remembered their discussion about leaving the Tower after having learned the necessities to stay alive. That had been when Isla had first come to Hama Valon. It seemed to Nyaine as if both a lifetime and only a few months had passed since then.

“So, have you given any thought to warders yet?”, she asked casually after turning back to face the sun and availing herself of the view of the men sparring in the distance. “Personally, I don't know if I even want one. It all seems very intimate to me, but then there certainly are advantages. I imagine it helps to have someone around who is trained with weapons. On the other hand, you probably don't have a need for that particular skill in a companion.”

Nyaine glanced at Isla, hoping she hadn't made her uncomfortable by alluding to the past the other woman had gone to great length to hide.

[Bella]

Isla instantly bit the inside of her lip, trying desperately to stop the blush that wanted to rise in her cheeks. She had no idea if she was successful, though, and knew there was little to do but flee...and she wasn't going to run away.

Instead, she kept her expression as passive as she could and glanced casually in the direction of the warders yards--which she now saw their perfect view of. Images of the gardens, a blossom floating on the lake, and a large hands taking hers flashed through her mind and she swallowed hard.

"I haven't given it a lot of thought," she said and in truth, she hadn't...until very recently. She turned back to Nyaine with a small smile. It wasn't even the allusion to her past that had her so riled, though she didn't miss it. "I can defend myself, if need be, yes," she said. She did know how to use a sword. "But I also know that a second sword-hand is better protection than one."

She gestured towards the yards, wanting to move off the topic of her. "It seems that many channelers do take a warder, and many don't. I imagine if you plan to remain in the Tower most of the time, you have less need than if you plan to travel."

[Daniel]

“Those are good arguments,” Nyaine agreed and grinned. It had not eluded her that Isla was attempting to shift the focus of the conversation, which she didn't especially mind, but she couldn't resist picking up on that particular thread one last time: “Of course, by that logic, three or four swords are better than two, say if an Accepted were to choose the Green after being raised.”

It had occurred to Nyaine that the ‘Battle Ajah’ at first glance looked like either the perfect fit for Isla or perhaps the perfect nightmare, being a constant reminder of unwelcome memories. Nyaine couldn't even imagine how that must be. Or could she? Was her situation with the Yellow and still warm yet very body of the Accepted similar? She did have nightmares about it, that much was certain. She pushed the thought aside.

“Even if you don't travel, having someone you can trust absolutely, someone who is on your side whatever may come, that is very valuable indeed.” In the Game of Houses, it most certainly would be. The only people you could usually trust were your family. Sometimes. It wasn't unheard of for relatives to try to outfox each other. Servants were even less trustworthy, being more than likely a primary source of information for one's enemy. Yet a warder bond would probably change that. She smiled at that thought. “The most loyal valet or maid you will ever get could be your Warder.”

[Bella]

That last comment was one that made Isla frown slightly. "I would hardly think of them like that," she said, trying to not sound defensive, although she wasn't sure who she was defending. "I obviously don't have a warder, but I would not think them as servants. It is the Aes Sedai who are called Servants of All, are we not? I think I recall that from our lessons."

Isla paused and let her gaze drift back to the view of the Yards, wondering if Beron was down there practicing just then. The view was good, although she wasn't sure she could recognize anyone from this distance. And what would she do if he was down there? Probably blush again like a moron...

"To have someone you can trust so implicitly, however, would be something amazing," she went on. She believed that she had that once, but she had been wrong.

So very, very wrong.

"If one were to choose Green, then having a small army of warders would be wise," she said, completely oblivious to the implication that her former roommate meant her being a possibility for that Ajah. "I would think a Yellow, however, could do well enough with one. They can travel a great deal, but not necessarily into dangerous situations on purpose like the Greens do."

[Daniel]

Nyaine hadn't really meant to spark a comment on whether or not warders where servants. The relationship portrayed in the stories and from what she had seen here so far was that the warder protected the life of their channeller, like the retainer of a lord or lady.

“I wonder if warders should be relegated to only being the warrior and soldier that defends their bondmate”, Nyaine said matter-of-factly, “it seems natural that this would be their priority, yet why shouldn't a warder also be able to take pride in serving in another capacity, especially if their channeller isn't of the far-travelling variety?”

She looked at Isla and then shrugged, intending to indicate that she expected no answer, but was just giving voice to her stray thoughts on the topic.

“Is the Yellow Ajah the one you are looking to join?” the short Cairhienin inquired with genuine interest, especially because the Healing Ajah was on her own shortlist. “I have to admit, I never thought about the Yellows travelling much, but I suppose there aren't that many people in Hama Valon and the Two Rivers that require Healing.” Was that a point in favour of joining the Yellow or against? Nyaine wasn't quite sure.

[Bella]

Ajah. Now there was a safe topic. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, it is," she said. "I mean... I suppose that would not be the first guess to anyone who knew even the slightest bit of my history, but military such matters...hold far less appeal for me now. I might have earlier thought Green or Blue, but I feel no call.

"But when I learned about how the One Power can be used to heal people...to create rather than destroy... I just felt drawn. And apparently, I have some skill with the weaves..." She realized she'd been speaking rather eagerly and stopped, blushing almost. "And what of you?"

[Daniel]

“I wish I was as certain as it sounds like you are,” Nyaine said, smiling at Isla's enthusiasm. She looked at her charges who were still toiling in the plantless flowerbed, although she wasn't really registering what she was seeing, but was rather thinking about how to best explain her thoughts on the matter of the Ahaj selection. “As far as aptitudes for weaves are concerned, the Yellow would be a good selection for me, too. I also think it is quite a rewarding experience to help someone overcome their injuries or sicknesses. And yet... I have doubts.”

And what were those doubts? That must undoubtedly be what Isla was asking herself after that revelation, so Nyaine might as well elaborate. “Before I knew I was going to be coming here to the Tower and learn to channel, I had it in my mind to become a scholar of some sort. A dream that more than likely would never have manifested itself, given that I would have been married off to some idiot noble, spending my days scheming with and against the rest of Cairhien...” She shook her head as if to rid herself of the tangent she launched on.

“Now, if I were to join the Brown or maybe even the White, I could be that person I imagined in my adolescence, the scholar. And yet...”, Nyaine grinned having arrived at that point of self-doubt again. “Somehow at this point, the Ajahs feel very restrictive and one-dimensional to me and so I find myself quite undecided.”

[Bella]

Self-doubt was something that was very familiar to Isla. The Ajah Question was perhaps the only thing she didn't doubt herself about...

Isla considered her fellow Accepted's quandary, and part of her could understand. Early on in her time at the Grey Tower, the Ajahs had seemed more like intellectual exercises than actual things with purpose and action and lives the be lived. Now she knew better, but that didn't mean she didn't understand what Nyaine meant.

"I don't know if this is a silly question, but have you tried spending time with someone from each Ajah and speaking with them about it? I've been told that most are willing to do so, and help people decide upon their path. Maybe it would feel...like a fuller understanding if you gained more from someone living it?"