An Hour of Free Time (Attn: Taylin)

[Steven]

Keiran was exhausted. The days had been filled with classes and chores. His mind being filled and stretched and then filled some more with all variety of things from histories to traditions, and from One Power weaves to sword forms. Despite the aches in muscles and the almost constant pounding in his head from too little sleep, Keiran was happier than he had ever been. For a moment, he felt a stab of guilt for feeling that way. He still hadn't seen Kaci since coming to the Tower but he was sure that she would be feeling the same way. Their new lives were nothing like they were back in Caemlyn, dull and boring.

Earlier that morning during Keiran's chore time, he was ask to help with making loaves of bread in the Kitchens. Instead of helping though, Keiran was left to figure it out on his own. He had seen bread dough before, had seen Marta knead it and roll it into a loaf. Really, how hard could it be? There were overly large wooden bowls filled with flour, pitchers of milk, some eggs, and a few smaller bowls with some ingredients he was unfamiliar with. He tasted one of the unknown ingredients, and realizing it was salt he thought to himself, "Who eats salty bread?" Keiran proceeded to mix the milk and flour together into a thick dough that looked about right. He rolled all of the dough out into decent sized loaves, and was rather proud of himself when he placed them carefully into the ovens. The cook came back by shortly after, took one glance at the ingredients left on the table, and started to throw anything that was within arms reach. The 'bread' came out of the oven flat and charred. Keiran couldn't hide his embarassment, turning nearly as red as a jar of strawberry jam.

Keiran felt the pang of shame from that mishap through the rest of his day, souring his mood. When it came time for an hour of free time after dinner he grabbed his Lute and stalked out into the Gardens. Keiran loved any time he was able to find to spend in the Gardens. It always felt like stepping into a tiny glimpse of perfection. The peaceful drone of the Ter'angreal fed waterfall and the songlike chirp of birds that had flown over the battlements to take up residence was a welcome escape.

A tree nearby caught Keiran's eye. It had a perfect hole in which Keiran put his foot to climb up on a sturdy branch hanging out over the lazy river meandering down the lengths of the Garden. Keiran smiled as he looked around. It was beautiful. He only wished Kaci could see it. He strummed a few notes on the Lute, making sure it was still in tune. Satisfied that he heard no dissonance in the strings, he began to strum Kaci's favorite tune. His fingers deftly plucked each string, slowly building the chorus. Keiran closed his eyes to hear Kaci's voice sing the words. He began to hum along.

[Kevin]

Taylin could feel the sun before stepping out into it, the warm fragrance of earth and plants assailed her senses. Sounds of people in quiet conversation, and birds talking over it all. It was nice to be outside, to be away from things for a while. She had studying to do, but the day was so nice it had called to her. She resisted it no more than one could a sirens call; and thus she found herself among fluted columns on the terrace to the garden.

Her blond hair stirred in stray warm winds, but her naturally tan skin seemed to bath in the sun's light, her sleeves on her Accepted's dressed pulled up high and pinned. Even form a distance her figure was evident, and yet, she seemed to dismiss it. She'd finally had her break down, and was building herself back, better than before; stronger.

Stepping onto the path she paused to removed her slippers, carrying them in her left hand and walking on the grass. She stopped now and again, looking at flowers, staring at people in their own worlds. Worlds within worlds, that was what this place seemed to circulate around.

She could hear water from the garden pond, and just behind it, the sounds of an instrument. Turning, she made her way toward the sound, finding instead a large tree. This was where the sound came from but.. she frowned looking up in the tree.

"Was the ground so bad?" She eyed the boy with mistrust, and perhaps a hint of fear. She made no motion to get nearer him, instead taking a seat in the shade. She had embraced saidar without realizing it, creating a warm breeze. The glow faded from her with the Power.

"You're not bad with that thing. I wouldn't mind if you kept playing." Taylin seemed like she was unused to reaching out to people, much less being in a friendly way. Picking a flower from nearby she stuck it in her hair, and stretched her legs out before her.

She finally looked at him in the face, from where he was in the tree. Her eyes were blue, with her high cheek bones, sharp chin, and undeniable beauty; even if in a somehow predacious caste. "I am Taylin by the way."

The woman seemed cold, and yet it was like ice trying to be fire, trying to come out of a shell they found natural and comfortable. "And you are?" Her warm, and rich voice seemed only slightly clipped by precise annunciation.

[Steven]

Keiran startled at the voice that pulled him from his thoughts of Kaci. He had the feeling of fading goosebumps though he hadn't noticed it at first. The Accepted who spoke must have channeled, if only briefly. It would like time to get used to that feeling, but Keiran silently admonished himself to me more mindful.

The girl, if she could still be called that, had hair and eyes that reminded him of Kaci, though her face was more exotic. Murandian? No, she was too composed for a Murandian. She didn't have the speech of an Illianer, but the Tower would be likely to change that, nor did she have the hardened look of a Tairen. That left Far Madding. She didn't seem to have the natural confidence of a noblewoman or a merchant's daughter, but she was refined and poised, and their was no mistaking her beauty. It was unlikely, but possible, that Keiran was wrong in his assessment.

Keiran held his Lute in one hand, and grabbed the thick branch with the other before swinging down, his boots padding softly on the thick grass. He straightened, propped the Lute up against the tree and walked over to the Accepted sitting in the shade. He could make out more of her features now that he was close. Her light hair was long, falling well below her shoulders. Her eyes resembling smooth round sapphires. Her other features were just as pleasant, she may even give Kaci competition among them men back in the Royal Court.

Keiran bowed lavishly, in exuberant and over-dramatic fashion. He had a wide grin and never let his eyes stray from hers. "Good evening, Taylin. Thank you for the compliment. I am L--", he very nearly used his title for the third time this week. Luckily, he'd had plenty of practice lately, so he didn't let the embarrassment show on his face. Clearing his throat, "Keiran. I'm a Soldier, a fairly new one." He immediately wished he had those words back. He silently groaned to himself, still keeping his playful grin without fail. She knew he was a Soldier from his clothes, just as he knew her as Accepted from her dress. He felt foolish.

He sat on the grass in front of her, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees. "I haven't played since I wrote my name in the book, and I thought it would be relaxing. This isn't even my Lute, I left that with my sister in Hama Valon until I am allowed to leave the Tower to get it. Luckily I made friends with a Dedicated who plays, he let me borrow this one."

"I'm from Caemlyn. I guessed that you're from Far Madding, am I right?" He flashed his teeth at Taylin in a goofy smile.

[Kevin]

As opposed to the boy's charm as she was, she had to admit he came across as easily likable. She watched as he dismounted the tree, lute in hand. She assessed his physical appearance, but said nothing about it, although it was nice. When he took a place near her in the grass she steeled her backbone, refusing to shy away.

She'd still not grown comfortable being around any man, but she had to get passed that; to make an effort. So she did not move, nor did she smile, she simply listened to him with a thoughtful look, and an interested expression.

"I figured you would be rather new, no one has yelled at you for climbing the trees in the gardens yet." She smiled at that, a small flash of a memory, of a time playing in weather like this, a time long gone. It made her happy though, and that was the feeling she held onto.

Listening to him introduce himself, her smile was Cheshire in nature. "Noble were you? Don't worry, with time we all become our real selves, fulfilling our potential and all." She played with the grass, tucking her hair behind one ear.

His next question seemed strange, she was bound to the Tower, Serpent Ring and all. But then she remembered being new, and being amazed at all of the different nationalities in one place, doing amazing feats.

"I was born in Far Madding, but my grandparents were Domani. It matters almost as little as titles now. This is home, for better or worse."

Taylin looked at him, resting a cheek on her knee. "Did you come to find out if you could become Asha'man and got lucky, or were you found? A wilder perhaps?"

[Steven]

Keiran cocked his head and pursed his lips in thought. He supposed she was right, in everything. He was trained from nearly birth to analyze the people around him. You wouldn't talk to a Tairen in the same way as an Andoran. Not if you wanted them to like you anyway. The nuances of catering speech and manners to the one you were engaging was not something he imagined he could soon forget. At that, it might as well be as easy to stop breathing. Still, she made a good point. At least as far as other initiates of the Tower go. We are all here to become the same thing. He smiled at that. Still, he was pleased with himself for guessing right. It was a game, in it's own way. Some called it the Game of Houses, but Keiran just preferred to think of it as fun.

"A funny story, that. A delegation from the Tower was staying in our home in Caemlyn. One of the Asha'man there took a liking to asking me questions. I suppose he tested me without telling me what he was doing. Before they all left, he informed my Grandmother that he was taking me to the Tower to be trained. He said I would channel with or without their aid so they had no choice but to send me to the Tower. Honestly, I thought there was going to be a War in the courtyard that day." He laughed out loud at the memory. Kaci almost attacked a group of Aes Sedai, Asha'man, and their Warders. All because she thought she would be protecting him. Light, I miss you Kaci!

He returned his attention to Taylin. "What about you, Taylin? What's your story?"

[Kevin]

Taylin was quiet for a moment, looking up and recalling what felt like eons ago. Her cold facade dropped, and she was just a woman, talking about ordinary things.

"My mother and father owned an inn in Far Madding, within the good part of the city. My mother was a force, that woman. But everyone loved her, or at the least respected her. As was proper my father saw to the kitchens and help, but mother ran things. She put my sister and I through private tutors after my father died. She wanted us to grow above our station in life." Taylin paused, smiling. "I guess she got her wish."

Folding her legs over one another she seemed to look through Keiran instead of at him. "I was working the bar late one night when a man and woman came in, certainly of nobility. Looked out of place from the start, but the man deferred to the woman, which seemed proper enough, so I paid them little mind, or the questions the woman asked me.

Like you, I had no choice. With the Towers help I could live, without it, well I wouldn't like the odds. I was on my way as quickly as mother could pack my things. Now, here I am. My younger sister is to be wed soon, although I do wish she'd wait until I have the Shawl and can attend. But, as our lives must go on, so should theirs."

"How is the Soldiers barracks looking, any promising competition for you?" She jested ever so slightly that it was hard to believe she'd made a joke, if a bad one.

[Steven]

Keiran laughed with her question. "I read a lot of books, so in history and culture, not really. But...I am truly awful with a weapon. I watched my sister learn all the time, but theory and action are very different. I think I could make a successful battle plan, but I wouldn't be able to actually fight in it!" He laughed again, this time at himself.

"I love channeling though. I would like to think I'm good at it, but there is so much to learn. Actually, I wish I could skip everything else and just practice with Saidin all day. I don't think I'm one of the strongest, but I'm still the newest. One of my teachers said that we grow in Power differently than women. One day we can just channel a lot more of Saidin than we could before." He shrugged, he hadn't felt it happen yet but was eagerly awaiting when it did. "I don't really like learning weapons, but the other day I was in the Channeling Yard with one of the Dedicated when I saw two Asha'man summon flaming swords out of thin air. I REALLY want to learn that. Then maybe learning sword forms would be more exciting."

Keiran thought of Kaci's face when the day finally came that he asked to practice with her. She would laugh at him, until he summoned a flaming sword to hand. Oh how fun that would be!

"Oh, and you know. I really think your Mother has gotten more than her wish. You're going to be Aes Sedai! There isn't any station to rise to above that. Unless...do you want to be Amyrlin?" Keiran laughed, but then wondered if that was an appropriate question. He glanced around quickly to see if any full sisters were around to hear.

[Kevin]

Taylin smiled at the youth. She had been as eager to learn once resigned to the fact this was her new life. She let him talk, and smiled at hi story. She wasn't much of a fighter unless forced, but strategics were a different issue. Perhaps the two had something in common after all.

"I know the Power is addictive, and always makes you want more. But, with the work we do, it is an addiction I think we all suffer from, and only more so the more we grow. Though, I doubt calling it an addiction would go well with very few people. I can admit to it, to the want of saidar. I'd like a chance to link with a male to see how saidin differs, but that may have to wait until after I attain the Shawl."

Taylin seemed more at ease now, as they spoke. Her guard less, though she did turn at every noise and inspect each passer-by. When he asked his last question however she was so quick to answer she didn't have time to be a Lady.

"I wouldn't want that bloody Seat if they paid me. Dealing with a tower full of men and women, all with strong personalities; ruling a city and dealing with the Hall? No thank you. I just want to do what is right, use what I have been given to be able to help bring the good to balance all of the bad around us."

[Steven]

Keiran burst out in a laugh at Taylin's sudden change in demeanor. He couldn't blame her though. "I know exactly what you mean. I'm glad my sister and I are the youngest in our family. I don't want the burden or the headache that comes with the job of leading a Great House. Though, I guess being Asha'man would have even more pressure. Like you said, at least I'll have the freedom to make the difference that I want to make."

Keiran thought about Kaci again. Picturing the pair of them traveling throughout the world, snuffing out Evil, protecting those who are unwilling or unable to protect themselves. It was what they had always dreamed of. Just not in this way, Keiran could never have imagined coming to the Tower to become Asha'man. Never.

"I know what you mean about the addictive properties of the One Power, too. The first time I seized Saidin, I held too much of it for too long. I passed out for an entire day. Letting go of the Power is always so...depressing. Like the color drains out of everything around, and life becomes so much more uninteresting. Asha'man Phillips told me all I need to know to keep me from holding on to too much for too long again. Could you imagine losing the ability to channel? Once you've touched it...life would never be the same without it." Phil had given him a book, though it was more of a journal really. It was an account of an Asha'man who was addicted to the power so much, he actually burned the ability right out of himself. Unlike severing, it wasn't something that could be healed. So Phil made sure that Keiran understood, and he did. A cold shiver worked its way down his spine at the thought.

"So what is this you said about linking? I haven't heard of that before." Keiran couldn't hide his curiosity. If she didn't tell him, he would find a book, or ask Asha'man Phil.

[Kevin]

Taylin watched the young man, slightly confused as to if he was laughing at her, or her answers. She decided the man just seemed good spirited. She wondered about this woman he'd left his things with in the city, more so since she had been coming to terms with the age of a Channeler.


"The woman you speak of, the one with whom you left your Lute in the city, is she a romantic interest? Perhaps a wife even? I've wondered myself what would happen should I fall for a non-channeler. They will live a short life, in comparison to those we will. It is hard to get close to someone knowing this, but it is harder to be isolated." She spoke on the subject, as if isolation was no foreign concept to her.


Taylin paused, letting the sun shine down on them, the shade of the tree the only thing keeping them from squinting into the light. "To link is to combine both half of the Power, saidin and saidar. It is how the most amazing of feats are accomplished. It would also be something I have never tried before."