Surrender to Serenity [attn: Bella]

[Astarte]

Betrys opened and then closed her mouth. It was a sensible question but she'd not actually really thought about it, she was just seeking out information. In fact, she'd been doing that a lot lately. After Ubriel had suggested she should spend time with the Yellow in the Infirmary it had started her thinking about just what she wanted to be...

Even if that was rather far off in the future. Betrys had also heard about the stories of women who had failed in their efforts to raise up in the ranks and embrace the One Power and all it could be. She'd been told about the Ajahs but they were just abstract concepts and ideas at the moment, concepts that yes, had links to actual women who'd she had seen in the Tower but they weren't real. Instead Betrys had been left with the limited knowledge and many more questions about just what it all meant.

"Both. I's...want tae know what it is to be Green and if that means the Enemy being a big part, I's want tae understand that part as well" did that make sense? Betrys wasn't sure but it was the truth.

OOC - don't worry about it!

[Bella]

What does it mean to choose the path you have chosen? What does it mean to walk the path you have decided to walk upon?

These were questions that Miahala had heard before and become very familiar with. In truth, before she set her feet upon the stones lined with Green, she hadn't looked as far ahead as many of those she spoke to in the years since did. She had been an impassioned young woman who let her heart steer her. Her heart had not steered her wrong, but it was not until she was well on the road that she considered the steps she took.

And now, over a hundred and thirty years after she was raised to the shawl, she'd had a great deal of time to consider where her feet trod.

"It is not easy to be an Aes Sedai of any Ajah," she said after several long moments of consideration, "but nothing in life that is worth having should be easy. We all must work hard for those things that matter most to us, and that is as it should be. The manner of work that each Ajah requires is different, which is why it's a choice that should be considered closely, or followed as a strong calling. Being in the right Ajah will make the burden easier to bear.

"How much a Green makes themselves a direct enemy of the Shadow varies from each Aes Sedai and Asha'man to another, but if you do it right, it will happen on some level. We are the bulwark against the Shadow. We are the Ajah that rests closest to our brothers and sister of battle, the Gaidin and the Gaidar. We train both in weapons and battle weaves so that we might be the best at this that we can be.

"We seek out the Shadow where it hides and make sure that one less--or, better yet, far more than one--resides in the world when the Last Battle comes." She paused before she began sounding like a flyer to advertise the Green, a faint smile again curving her lips. You probably bleed green by now, woman. That errant thought caught her short. The last time she'd seen herself bleed was when...

...well, when her husband's son drove a dagger into her and killed her. There had been a lot of blood then.

It had still been red.

After a moment of her blue-green eyes seeming to lose focus, they zeroed in on Betrys again. "Yes, it is hard to be a Green, but if you feel the calling to be one, it balances out."

[Astarte]

She had heard that.

It was not easy to be an Aes Sedai but then again no-one had come here because they had thought the life was easy, of course at the same time for her at least it had also not been her choice either - how many others shared that particular fact of their arrival as part the history to their time in the Tower. Betrys took the time to listen though.

It was definitely worth it. She had learned a lot from her time here, even though it hadn't been anything like that long. Betrys didn't exactly believe that she was any kind of special but she was determined to learn and that certainly counted for something, right? "Do ya think I's would be good as a Green?" she asked softly, it was an unsure query. She was not confident about being able to serve in that capacity but that didn't mean that she didn't feel an urge to help or at least make the attempt "...what are battle weaves? Do you need to be strong to do that?" Betrys wanted to know these things. They might be important or at least worth learning for future information when the time came for her to decide what to do with her life and choosing the Ajah that would be her family after that finally selection was made.

"I's don't know where I's feel called" she admitted.

[Bella]

Miahala listened in perfect, patient silence as the girl spoke. She asked her question and made her confession, and the Green smiled kindly as she did so. When the girl stopped, Mia tilted her head slightly in thought. "I'm afraid, child, that I cannot tell you if you would make a good Green or not. I don't know you well enough, and I don't know that you know yourself well enough yet to know either.

"Battle weaves are certain weaves and types of weaves that are effective in combat, the most commonly known being lightning or fireballs, or certain creative uses of Air." She paused to let that sink in. "Being strong in the One Power can help in using battle weaves, but it's not required. What is required is that you know what your strengths are, and know how to use them.

"As for not knowing where you're called... That will come in time. You will learn things, talk to people, get to know yourself better, and eventually, you'll know."

[Astarte]

Fireballs? Well Mirin would be jealous if she learned something like that, although to be fair Mirin was usually pretty ticked off when she managed to use a weave involving Fire after only a few attempts, so anything more spectacular would be far, far worse in terms of rising her temper up and making her spend a period of time pacing the room and complaining.

Loudly.

That was however, something Betrys was learning was very much a part of her room mate and therefore probably not something she needed to worry about. Especially as she was not about to worry how her room mate felt. There were far more important things to be concerned with, her lessons, her studies and the dreaded need to hone her skills in managing the endless seemingly reading requirements. Betrys truly hated the reading part, it seemed like someone who had decided to design a form of slow torture just for her - even if she knew that wasn't really the case, or certainly hope not "I's not sure about my strength of lack of it. I's very new here really but...I's want to learn" she admitted, she might not be the most reckless or bold of the Novices but she was determined to do her very best.

"I's suppose so...it seems hard to believe" she admitted softly.

[Bella]

"And it will feel hard to believe until you're finally experiencing it," Mia admitted. "Or, more likely, until you have experienced it. You'll know it once you're beyond it and can look back with reflection." She paused as she heard the Tower bells began ringing the time. "I'm afraid I can't stay and talk any longer as I have to make a meeting, but I wish you the best of luck, child. I'm sure you'll find your way."

OOC: Go ahead and wrap it up with your next post, if you like, or you can just let it end here. Hope Mia was able to provide some insight for Betrys.

[Astarte]

She supposed it was a sensible reply, it didn't actually satisfy the curiosity that she now felt towards the whole idea of choosing an Ajah, let alone the Green in particular but that didn't really mean anything. There was still so much she was still trying to learn about herself and the One Power that making that sort of final decision could only ever be a seriously bad idea and that was the very last thing Betrys wanted or needed in her life right now.

Betrys was managing to make consistent progress in her reading - an act which enabled her to improve her skills and abilities in her other classes but the only one she still loved was Herbcraft, it had helped to ease the sense of loss that had accompanied her in the first place whilst still managing to retain a sense of their purpose here. Not all those who attended the class liked or appreciated the lack of anything involving the One Power but Betrys had always been taught not to rely on any single thing - which she supposed would in concert with believing that being a woman who could Channel meant she could do anything she wanted, whenever she wanted too.

"Thank ya, for tae time, Sedai. I appreciate all ya words and I's pay attention tae them I assure you" she murmured and ducked her head to show the respect she felt. After all, she hadn't needed to say anything too her at all and Betrys was glad she'd been so willing to allow some questions as well. Who knew if that might end up affecting things?

Finding herself nodding as the Sedai turned to leave, Betrys absently rubbed her hands together before moving to return to to her task in tending the gardens, that at least wasn't going to change anytime soon.