Novices Do Grow on Trees [attn; Craig]

[Avyra]

As he pushed her back down, she huffed in reply. In fact, Avyra hadn't realized she had been standing on her toes. It was mostly habit. Which she was, appearently, going to have to break if she wanted to make a convincing Aes Sedai. And it wasn't even a sister who told her off; it was a Gaidin! "I mean, a bit." She paused, her eyes breaking into an amused glow as a soft smile crossed her lips. "But I can tell you this, climbing is incredibly useful when tall people like yourself decide to hide things on the top shelf from us short people. You guys can be mean, sometimes." His superior rank and intimidating stature was not going to stop her from picking on him. Avyra glanced back up at the tree, thinking for a few more moments. "But really, thank you. I still have no idea how to channel whatsoever; I would have probably broken my neck." She paused. "I mean, I think I can channel. I did it once, that's why I'm here, but I've never been able to touch it again." She paused, looking back at him. "I bet you've been here long enough that you're bonded, Ravak Gaidin. What's that like?" She had heard a few stories, but mostly overly dramatic bedtime stories, not even based on true happenings.

[Craig]

Ravak

"What's that like?" It sounded all so innocent a question, coming from Avyra. Rav spread his hands. He thought about chastising her, for assuming that someone had reached the rank of Gaidar or Gaidin meant they had to be bonded. Of course, that admonishment would probably just roll off her back like his previous ones had. But then his first instinct was more guarded.

"That's quite a personal question." His tone was neutral. There was no custom against making such a query, but for him, that choice to bond was very personal. And the bond itself made the relationship between himself and Kaia inherently intimate. He knew where she was, knew how she felt, and the same was true the other way. He didn't sense much emotion from her at the moment; Rav assumed she was either concentrating or clearing her mind. But she was close, not in her office where he had just met her. That piqued his curiosity, but if she sought him out, he would have known before now.

The red-haired Shienaran considered the novice in front of him. "Let me turn that question back at you, Avyra. What do you think the bond between an Aes Sedai and a Warder is for?"

[Avyra]

Oh. Avyra hadn't meant to offend this time, or pry into personal matters. She had assumed, foolishly of course, that the bond felt the same for everything. She just now realized how nieve that assumption was; the Power was different for every individual and therefore so would the bond forged by it. This also proved that she needed to be even more careful with her tongue. But when the conversation went back to her, she didn't have an answer. "What do you think the bond between Aes Sedai and Warder is for?" She didn't have a clue, but she didn't exactly have time to gather her thoughts on the matter. Most people here expected answers quickly. "I... I've never actually thought about it before." For the first time her attitude changed; she almost seemed to shrink a bit as she thought. "I thought it would be fairly similar for everyone, but that's not the case, is it?" She paused, studying the ground for a few moments. She didn't like to be caught off guard like this. "Well, I guess for me... I'd want someone that I liked spending time with. A close friend. Someone to work together with." She paused. "Someone to rely on, but not be completely dependent on. I'd have to get to know them first before I considered any of this." She paused. "But I guess I have a while to go, for sure." She looked back up at him, searching his expression. "Ravak Gaidin," she added hurriedly to the end of her sentence.

[Craig]

Ravak

"I can't say whether the bond is the same for everyone..." Ravak mused, as Avyra watched the ground. Mentally, he congratulated himself. Finally found a way to quell her bluster.

Avyra's answer was much along the same lines as he had heard before. Much along the same lines as I had thought. A good friend. A confidant. Someone to rely on. Someone they knew. "It's a common line of reasoning," was what he finally said. "That is what most people looking for in their bondmate. I've said it to others, but I'll say it to you too. It's the closest connection you'll have with another person. Marriage does not compare. You are literally within one another's minds all of the time. I could point out exactly where Kaia Sedai is at this moment. I can tell you what she is feeling, and how she was feeling earlier. And she can do the same with me."

The red-haired Gaidin scratched at his beard. "I am not bound by the Three Oaths like Asha'man and Aes Sedai, but I can no more lie to my bondmate than she can to me. You can feel deception." A stoic expression settled across his face. "Before you bond, know whom you are going to be with. It is no light decision."

Rav forced himself to relax, making his face lighter. "But as you say, you have a while to go. I would suggest getting to know the Drin'far'ji, if you can. By the time you are raised to the shawl, they may be raised to the fancloak, and you will wish to know as much about your potential Warder as possible, if you can. But-" and once again his tone was hard "-don't think of starting any relationships with one of my initiates. Friendship is one thing; anything else, and you'll have myself and Mirin Sedai to answer to."

Like a rocking horse teetering back and forth, Ravak bobbed back into calmness and friendliness. "As for what the bond between Aes Sedai and Warder is for, you should think on that. I've told you a little of what it means. Think on what it is for. Something to consider tonight, perhaps."

OOC: Rav doesn't really have a follow-up question, although that's not me saying the conversation is over. I'll leave it to you to think how to continue, assuming you desire to.

[Avyra]

(On phone so no formatting because I'm so lazy)
(That's fine, I'll post a reply with Avyra and if I think of something along the way we can continue or call it good; its up to you)

Avyra listened, taking in what he said. So it was true. The Warders could feel their Aes Sedai mentally. That was interesting, but she didn't know if she truly wanted such a bond. She didn't think she could find someone close enough for her to trust, in her head none the less. Who knew everything about her. No secrets. But she hoped she could.

Romantic envolvement was not what she had considered, but then again romance was also confusing for the young novice. She didn't want to even date someone she didn't know very well, much less become romantically attracted to anyone she didn't know. So was romance also friendship for her? She didn't quite know, but she didn't dwell too much on that. After all, she had other things to do, and channeling was hard enough without a relationship to deal with.

And she didn't want this big guy ringing her neck if she fell in love with one of the Drin. Because he looked like he could, and would if he really wanted to.

"Don't worry," she said. "I won't let that happen. I didn't come to the Tower to fall in love, I came here to channel." She paused. "If I do find a Warder, it would be completely chance." However she did want a Warder, regardless. Someone to share an adventure with. "Thank you, Ravak Gaidin. Would it be all right if I came to visit sometimes? Maybe even take a class in the Warder's Yards? I know next to nothing about fighting."

[Craig]

Ravak

Love? Did he mention love? Oh, marriage, of course. If the novice wanted to take that away from his words, let her. That may well keep her far away from distracting relationships, and save a world of discipline to rain down on her head. Plus, if some fool rumour started about he and Kaia... Well, the Red sister would stomp it down, and it fanned attention away from himself and Sinead. So long as the Accepted didn't start believing in rumours too.

"I hope you won't find a Warder by chance." Of course, that would not happen. Bonding required consent, or at least it had since the Trolloc Wars. "We Gaidin work just as hard to become who we are, as much as Aes Sedai or Asha'man. But feel free to come back to me once you actually have that choice to make. I've advised on that before."

"As for training in the Yards, that is an accommodation that can be made. It's rare, but not unusual for novices and soldiers to train the Yards. You can find a collection of classes in the Warder Halls. Just find the appropriate mentor. Do you have a particular weapon in mind?"

Rav frowned a little. "It's possibly a little strange for you to visit without a reason, however. I'm not some private tutor hired by the Tower, nor am I subservient to the Grey Tower. Just remember that before you go falling into some other person's arms or asking the wrong thing." The Gaidin grinned. "Not everyone is as endearing as I."

[Avyra]

A weapon? She hadn't thought of that. She blushed slightly, having given up on her Aes Sedai cool with Ravak the moment she fell out of the tree on top of him.

"I'm not sure. Just some self defense. I do have a knife but using it properly is out of question." She paused. "But regardless, I don't think I'm strong enough to weild most of the weapons you Warders use; some of those swords are longer than I am tall!" It was honestly a little daunting for her. Most of the Warders, even Ravak who had saved her life, were a little scary to someone at her angle. They all looked so stoic and gruff, and when coupled with their usual towering figures they were quite daunting. And training with them to fight...

"Well, no visiting then." Avyra figured such a thing would be out of the question, but she didn't want to seem rude. Or, ruder. "And thank you, you've been quite kind. I'll come by if I ever need help or training."

[Craig]

Ravak

"See that you do, if it's training. If it's help, then you should seek out an Accepted or the Mistress of Novices." Rav made a dismissive gesture with his hands. "I won't be found to be meddling in the affairs of Aes Sedai, but you wouldn't realise that, I guess. Three parts equal, but separate, when it comes to learning and discipline."

He rested his calloused hands on the pommels of his swords. "Also, a dagger can be as deadly a weapon as any other, in the hands of someone who is appropriately skilled. You can also be trained on how to use your body to inflict damage, without the need of any implement. You don't need a sword to be a threat, but then, you will learn that once you start to channel of your own accord." The Shienaran paused, watching carefully. He knew about wilders and the difficulties they had with channel, and how prickly they could be at the mention of a block. Although it was merely speculation that Avyra meant she had a block; she may simply yet be untrained.

"If you are having troubles with the One Power, I'm sure Mirin Sedai could assign you a tutor." This was meddling in the affairs of Aes Sedai, he recognised a little too late, with the words free from his mouth.

[Avyra]

Avyra seemed to realize his mistake, too, and the corners of her mouth curved up in a small, slight smile. "Oh, I'm very untrained in the power." She paused. "And I don't believe I'm allowed to use it as a weapon." She knew it could be dangerous, yes, but she didn't think she was allowed to make it that way unless her own life depended on it.

She watched his hands move to his sword and she raised an eyebrow, saying nothing about the gesture, however. He seemed to do it out of habit, just like her standing on her toes. She wondered for a brief moment about it, but figured it best not to say anything. He probably wouldn't want to tell her, or maybe he had no reasoning behind it.

"I should probably be off; I'm about to start my next class, I think." Avyra paused and smiled, actually dashing up to give him a quick embrace, standing up on her toes a bit before dropping down and stepping back with a wave of her hand. "I've probably said this too much but I can't really say it enough, thank you. I'll try not to let the trees get to me anymore." No promises, though. She was going to climb that bloody tree if it was the last thing she would ever do.

(Meh, you're free to reply or nah, but I can't think of anything else to say)

[Craig]

OOC: No worries. If you want to do something else with Rav or Elia (or Sabine, I guess, probably?), just let me know