The Grey Tower

A wide smile spread across Rhyka’s face when Suu started to laugh. It hadn’t really been her intention, but it was wonderful to make another person laugh. She remember telling jokes when she was younger, before… Before Derin had hurt her. It was easier to think of both things, now- to remember how she had made her brother howl with fits of laughter, and to remember how Derin had pushed her down, hit her. Time was healing some things, and the knowledge that Derin would pay healed the rest.

But making Suu smile made Rhyka happy in a way that she had not anticipated. Perhaps she could have this, too- have friendships, happiness, and revenge. She used to tell herself not to reach for too much, but now Rhyka was greedy for everything. She did not regret the change.

She had guessed that Suu would not be the type to play pranks, but it was still a disappointment. Rhkya would have liked to have a friend to do such things with. She knew that a bit of silliness would do her a lot of good.

“I think they do want to be Aes Sedai and Asha’man.” Rhyka mused, thoughtful. “I just don’t think they want to work for it.” Rhyka had grown up knowing that hard work was the only way to achieve anything in life, but some people had everything handed to them. People like Derin- nobility. Born into wealth and privilege, without any knowledge of how to handle themselves. “Perhaps the Tower will teach them.”

She smiled, surprised at Suu’s question. “I… don’t know. I haven’t done anything for fun since I’ve come to the Tower.” I haven’t done anything for fun for long before that. She corrected herself, but said nothing. “All I want to do is become Aes Sedai, and I like to learn. But… I used to like to tell jokes, and to explore Caemlyn with my brother.” Rhyka paused, unsure. What did she like? She hardly knew anymore.

Quickly, she diverted the conversation. “Where are you from? Do you like it here, at the Tower?”

Suu thought on the girls words for a moment before replying. "The Tower isn't much different than home, honestly. There are more people, a lot more people, then I am used to. Before I only had to please my tudors and my parents, to learn to be a good Merchant's wife and maybe try to get on the Merchant Council, and now.."

"I spent a lot of time in my mother's Gardens. Her roses were always perfect. There wasn't a lot of.. laughter." She looked to Rhyka with a curious look. "What kinds of jokes? Your life must have been very exciting before coming here." Suu looked a little sad but thoughtful, "I suppose just being here is an adventure for me, not very exciting I suppose."

The way Suu spoke of her past made Rhyka want to wrap her up in a hug, just like she had done with Navane when her sister was little. But Rhyka did not truly understand Suu’s childhood. For all that Rhyka had been rudely dragged into adulthood, she had never had such expectations placed on her. She had been expected only to follow her parents directions, listen to her brother, and report to work when she was old enough. Rhyka couldn’t imagine Suu’s childhood- being forced to learn like that, to meet other people’s expectations instead of her own. She would have refused to learn, just to be obstinate.

“I don’t even remember.” Rhyka said slowly, trying to think back to happier times. “I just liked to make my brother laugh, but that was a long time ago.” She smiled, a weak expression that twisted on her face. “My life wasn’t very exciting. My parents were servants, and I was a serving girl when I was older.” She blinked back tears, thinking of her brother and her sister. “I... left my family for the Tower.”

Rhyka swallowed, not sure how those words had slipped from her mouth. She hadn’t talked of her past to anyone but Lydie Sedai, and she had just met Suu. The other girl didn’t need to hear of her troubles.

“I think the Tower is an adventure.” Rhyka continued on, pretending that she had said nothing. “Perhaps not now, but it will not be too many years until we are Aes Sedai.” She smiled at the thought of it, the freedom and the power. “When we are Aes Sedai, we can do whatever we choose, go wherever we choose.” She bit her lip, suddenly curious. “Do you know what you want to do, when you are Aes Sedai?” For a moment, Rhyka imagine speaking of what she wished to do, as soon as she was Aes Sedai, and had to smoother the smile. The idea of telling another novice of how she wished to murder a man, slowly and painfully, was ridiculous enough to make her want to laugh.

Suu sort of looked a little surprised at Rhyka's words, not realizing that she actually had a choice. An option. Yes, she would get to choose an Ajah but it seemed so far off that it never occured to her to create hew oan goals. Her own... wants.

"I don't know." She said honestly, surprised still. "I honestly never thought of it. I, I think I might like the White or the Grey Ajah. I like to study healing too so maybe the Yellow? But I am not sure. What about you?"

Rhyka smiled at Suu’s answer. She could see the other girl in all the Ajahs she had named, except perhaps the White. Rhyka herself could not imagine being in any of those three Ajahs. She did not have the logic or philosophy for the White, and could not see herself being the sort of mediator that the Gray required. Personally, Rhyka did not understand the Yellow; she would not want to let one single talent define her.

“I think I would like to join the Blue Ajah someday.” Her own words surprised her; Rhyka had hardly thought of Ajahs before now. Becoming Aes Sedai was so far away, and Rhyka’s sight were still set on becoming Accepted. But the Blue… Now that she thought about it, Rhyka couldn’t imagine joining any other Ajah. The Blue stood for justice, something Rhyka had always found to be in short supply. Someday, she would join the Blue, and she would dispense her own justice.

The thought put a beatific smile on her face. “I think we should head in and get some dinner.” Rhyka suggested, bending to pick up her book from the bench. She put a comforting hand on the other girl’s shoulder, and led her from the garden, toward the dining hall. They talked as they walked, and Rhyka was glad to have finally found a friend.