The Grey Tower

Mirin gave only one sharp rap on the door before striding in. Knocking was a formality for strangers and acquaintances – but not for these two Accepted. She spent nearly as many waking hours in Betrys’ room as her own. It was convenient, perhaps purposefully so, that her best friend and former roommate’s room had been placed directly across the hall.

A few months ago, they had been raised almost simultaneously; Betrys only a few days after Mirin. Those had been some of the longest days of Mirin’s life, spent struggling through the thoughts of the terrifying passage through the arches and the hardships of her new studies. When Betrys had joined her in the Accepted halls, it had been like a ray of sunlight shining through a dark storm.

Accepted classwork was more difficult than a novice's, but far more interesting. Mirin had adjusted well, and now she loved everything that she was learning. She spent most mornings assisting in the infirmary; another hour was spent teaching novices. She also had classes in logic, political history, and law. These were areas in which she had expressed interest as a novice. The rest of her time was her own, for independent study or practice with the One Power. It was wonderful to be relieved of chores!

As she walked through the door, she called out, “Betrys, would you like to practice for the – in the name of the Light, what are you doing?” Her voice rose to almost a shriek. She gaped at the other Accepted.

Actually having a room all to herself had been a wonderful surprise. It was true that Betrys had known the Accepted received a room all of their own, ostensibly to allow them the time and space to work on their weaves and understanding of the One Power without the distraction of needing to deal with the complications of a room-mate. The actual arrival and reality of that being the case, didn't allow her to feel one wit less shocked at it coming to pass all the same.

Betrys had gotten used to the idea of having Mirin in her life.

A familiar presence that could be relied upon to share secrets and spend time in understanding the workings of the latest lesson. It was strange to be so very alone, but it did mean she could actually work on some of the weaves that were linked to the Earth and continue to hone her skill in that area of the One Power. She had to learn the others as well and so Betrys had been spending the morning attempting to weave them all together and create expected and planned results "Less...of water and more of the air..." she murmured to herself, concentrating on the feel and shape of things as she surrendered to the flow of the One Power.

She'd not expected anyone to barge in.

So the rapidly growing plant that she was attempting to shape into a fearsome Trolloc-like creature (guard plants, would be great!) ended up fluffing up like some kind of a leafy bunny and then shed all of them in an explosion of air across the room in that moment of surprise "Mirin! What...what are ya doing?" she gasped.

Mirin nervously spun the Great Serpent ring around her finger. She had worn it every waking moment since the Amyrlin placed it on her hand.

“That plant – I thought I saw – oh, never mind. I’m here for our daily chats of course,” she said. She went to sit on Betrys bed. “It’s been over three months, Betrys, and I come visit every day. I can’t believe that I still surprise you when I come in.” She laughed affectionately.

The Accepted’s room was luxurious compared to the bare room that she had shared with Betrys as a novice. A small, square Taraboner rug woven in faded peach and cream covered the floor. Short lengths of logs burned merrily in the fireplace.

Mirin studied the faint residue of the weaves hanging in the air. It would fade soon, but for now, while it was still fresh, she could see the ghostly afterimage of the weave. It used threads from all five Powers, but was strongest in Earth and Fire. The weave was beyond Mirin's ability - her strength relied on Spirit. Although she could not hope to imitate the weave, she could guess its purpose. “Are you working on something new for your plants, Betrys? That is so interesting! You should show me, if you like.”

Well she'd not planned on scaring Mirin half to death but apparently her Trolloc-themed bush was coming together in something that might be called successful, at least as long as she was prepared to work on broad strokes when it came to the description of what she'd achieved or at least made the attempt to try and achieve with her efforts so far, starting to at least begin to visibly relax Betrys took a deep breath before she replied "That doesn't make it anymore easy for me to handle ya just coming on in like that. I ain't..." she shrugged and moved to sit on the edge of her bed rather that carry on with that conversation.

It wouldn't get her anywhere. Mirin wouldn't ever manage to see anything wrong with coming on in whenever she felt like it "umm if ya like - tell me about ya day instead. I'd like to hear bout that - the weave can wait, right?" she suggested and grinned.

Betrys didn't want to show-off, that sort of thing would never do. She knew already that Mirin had trouble with some of the weaves that she had found easiest and the last thing she wanted to do was end up causing some kind of rift between the two of them as the result. That wouldn't be fair and besides she liked Mirin she was a good friend - one of the few she could really admit to actually enjoying being around as much as they both did "Sides..I'd like to hear about you" she added and grinned.

Mirin smiled. “Alright, I'll talk,” she said, recognizing Betrys’ kindness. “But you know that I love seeing what you’ve been coming up with. So we can talk first, but only if you promise me to show me your new weaves later!” She scooted over on the bed and patted the spot next to her for Betrys to sit.

She embraced saidar. “Look what I learned today,” she said excitedly. She wove Spirit, Water and Air into a weave that appeared to be a simple Healing weave at first – but with the addition of a thin thread of Fire. As she wove, she traded gossip.

“Did you hear about the new novice? I peeked in the Novice Book this morning. Her name is Aikaterine Riatin. I wonder if she is of House Riatin. Isn’t that exciting? No? Betrys, don’t tell me you forgot your political history. House Riatin is one of the strongest noble houses in Cairhien. Perhaps she will be a future Queen!”

Betrys never seemed very interested in the politics of other nations, even though this was a topic that fascinated Mirin endlessly. Mirin sometimes wondered if Betrys only pretended to be disinterested; if so, then Betrys would be playing a very deep game of Daes Dae’mar. But she immediately cast the thought aside – she loved Betrys for her straightforwardness and integrity. The two Accepted were as different as night and day; it was a wonder that they were friends. But there was no one else that Mirin would rather trust in the Tower.

Her weave glimmered in the air. Her face became solemn. “This is for restarting a heart that has stopped,” she said quietly. “It won’t bring the dead back to life, but if you are quick enough, at least it gives the patient a chance. The Healers say that this weave will save one out of ten.”

She continued speaking. Her voice became hard. “Today, I watched another man die. He collapsed at home and his neighbors brought him to the infirmary. But it was too late. This weave could do nothing for him. Betrys, I can’t imagine joining the Yellow. Facing death every day is terrible. Terrible! I would quit working in the infirmary, except that I need to learn what must be learned.”

Her face was impassive and her voice did not tremble. She appeared as calm and collected as the Aes Sedai that the two girls were aspiring to become. However, a careful observer would see that her lips were a touch too tight; her hands, a little too still; and her skin, a shade too pale.

Mirin allowed the weave to wink out of existence and released saidar. Her lips twisted into a forced smile. “Let us speak of something more pleasant,” she said, lightly. “I talk too much. Perhaps you could tell me about your day.” A mischievous glint appeared in Mirin’s eye, and she clasped her hands together. “Yes, tell me about you and that Dedicated. What was his name…Valadin?” She grinned at Betrys, and then winked.

Betrys really didn't need to worry about keeping abreast of the local gossip, not with Mirin as a friend she seemed to be fascinated with the tiniest little bit of speculation happening in the Grey Tower. She honestly found it duller than dishwasher but it was part and parcel of her friends nature and Betrys had no intention of trying to change it anytime soon "Alright, alright...but afterwards. I's like seeing what you learn tae..." she insisted and moved to join her friend as she started to give the demonstration of this latest weave.

"No, I hadn't...does that matter very much? She is still a Novice - right?" this was the exact sort of thing that puzzled her most of all even if it seemed to be so terribly urgent to Mirn and her view of the world "...can she be a Queen and an Aes Sedia?" Betrys questioned softly, part of her attention far more intently focused on what was happening in respect of the weave "I suppose it will work out in the end" she added, not wanting to appear some fool or twit but she couldn't get excited about it. Perhaps if it had been someone from her own home village that would have been different, certainly surprising given the size of their population but Betrys doubted she'd even meet the other girl "Does it actually work?" far more interested in the weave and what it could accomplish.

She frowned as some of it slipped from her immediate under observation as she direction her question at Mirin "...do you, have you thought about the Ajah you'd want tae join?" the softness of her accent adding to the husky quality of the question. It was one that didn't exactly trouble Betrys but it occasionally played on her mind in spite of her best efforts to the contrary.

"umm....Valadin...err, yes, I umm, that is we know each other" she stuttered, her skin flushing even though she did as much as possible to make that stop "Wha-what did ya want tae know?" Betrya finally managed to get out.

"Have the two of you kissed yet?" Mirin asked bluntly, her eyes sparkling with mirth and gladness. Then she blushed. "Oh, what am I saying? Forgive me, Betrys, if I'm intruding. Your personal affairs should be kept...personal. Although you know that you can tell me anything. I love to gossip, but I can still keep a secret."

She turned to ponder Betrys' other question. "I don't know which Ajah is right for me," Mirin said honestly. "Not the Yellows. Not Green, either. If I tried to use a weapon I'd probably hurt myself. Perhaps Grey, or Indigo. Or maybe Blue." She tapped her lips thoughtfully. Choosing an Ajah was one of the biggest decisions of their lives, and Mirin had spent many hours daydreaming about the day she donned the shawl of an Aes Sedai. But the color of the shawl's fringe - that was yet to be decided.

"The duties of a Grey, to travel and mediate peace, are quite attractive. And the Indigo study the endless mysteries of the One Power, which I find exciting. But for what purpose? The Blues seek after causes. As a Blue, I could travel and gather influence for the Grey Tower. And if I have time, still study the Power."

Mirin frowned thoughtfully. "Tarmon Gai'don is approaching. We need to make the right alliances, place the right people on the right thrones, and solidify our position as a Tower as strong as the White Tower or the Black. Compared to the other Towers, we are so few... it is the only way we would survive the Last Battle," she mused. Then she sighed and shook her head.

"I don't know how I will choose," she said. "What about you?"

Betrys turned an even darker shade of red, which until that moment she would have said was impossible to achieve. Yet, here she was slowly and silently wishing that the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Which meant that it was probably a good thing she wasn't Channeling the One Power otherwise she might well have tried out a Weave to make that actually come to pass "NO! I mean...no. Mirin...it's nothing like that. I-I...he is my friend" she admitted eventually. Still seriously upset and embarrassed to have to stutter over her reply like that as she rolled her eyes "I dinnae hae personal affairs with him.." she finally admitted and looked down at her feet.

There had been the Arches but that had been an illusion, right?

"So...it's ummm fine" she murmured. Allowing her friend to carry on her musings regarding the various Ajahs and how they related and appealed to her own person. It was actually pretty useful to hear how Mirin viewed them "Odd...I think Green and Yellow appeal tae me most of all, especially Yellow - although I'm really not sure that I's handle the death side of thing" she paled a little and coughed "I guess the Arches hae been thinking bits and pieces about the past and such" Betrys replied and sighed "I saw some things I never expected and..." she shrugged "I think you'd make an excellent Blue, they'd be fortunate to hae you" it was a sincere and well-meant compliment, once was applied with a smile as well intended to add to the overall effect.

Betrys paused then "I want to decide sometimes and then...I worry about making the wrong choice, you know?" she questioned, sharing some of her worries about the whole thing.

Mirin smiled, pleased at the compliment. "You too, Betrys. I think you will be a fantastic Aes Sedai. Whichever Ajah you choose, they should be proud to have you as well," she replied. She meant every word.

The first time Mirin saw her, she had been sure that the country girl would be unable to keep up with the rigorous lessons of the Tower. Betrys hadn't even known how to read! But Betrys had turned out to be surprisingly intelligent, soaking up information like a dry sponge and learning to read with incredible speed. And, more importantly, Betrys was a hard worker. No matter how often she was knocked down, she climbed back to her feet straightaway. She did not know the meaning of "give up."

"I want to decide sometimes and then...I worry about making the wrong choice, you know?" said Betrys.

Mirin's eyes reflected her friend's worry. "Me too," she admitted. "What if I decide that I don't want to be a Blue anymore? Every Blue sister or brother I've met seems so serious and intense. Honestly, it frightens me. I don't know if I could handle being so...grim. Becoming an Aes Sedai is hard, Betrys! There are so many difficult choices and responsibilities. Sometimes I wish that I could just run away from it all, fall in love with a man, and raise beautiful children with him."

But this last statement was said lightly, in jest. Mirin knew that would never happen. The prestige of becoming an Aes Sedai was too great to leave; and her Cairhienin nature loved the intrigue and politics. The Great Serpent ring gleaming on her finger bound her tightly to the Grey Tower, whether she liked it or not. And after her passage through the three arches, Mirin swore that she would never have a child. She could never imagine going through the pain of losing her daughter again, even if the first time had been an illusion.

Suddenly, she flung herself across the bed to embrace her friend. "Oh, Betrys! If we end up in different Ajahs, I'll miss you so much! Promise me that, whatever happens, we'll still be friends. I know that we won't be able to see each other as often, but I'll come visit, and you will visit me too. Promise?"

She was still a little...surprised that Mirin had even brought it up. Were other people talking about such things? She hadn't thought so, Betrys had been more pleased to have a friend and someone who she could work with on her Earth-based Weaves than any romantic thoughts - alright she'd had some imaginings but that had been all they'd been. After all the Arches had been the closest to anything happening and even then Betrys had...well, that was for another occasion.

Private and personal and not something she'd dreamed of sharing with anyone, especially not Valadin - he would have doubtless laughed at her and that was the last thing she wanted him to ever do, the embarrassment of being rejected for something that wouldn't be was quite bad enough without adding in losing one of her few friends at the same time.

"Thanks Mirin. But I'm hardly anyone that special, just another Sister - I want to help that's all" perhaps the Yellow would make the best fit because of that but...could she cope with death? The loss of her own kin had been hard, a memory she still repressed even now and facing that challenge on a daily basis might prove to much for her to bear "You know that I think the same about you, the Ajah who gets ya will be blessed and fortunate all in one" Betrys insisted with a firm nod.

She was surprised but not disappointed in the hug "I promise Mirin! I promise, besides if you get too serious I'll be around to dunk ya head under water or put a snake in ya bed" she pointed out and winked. Betrys had liked the pranks they'd pulled, something that there was no time for anymore but they remained some of her fondest memories "And you can still fall in love, Mirin...I'm sure there are a few who wouldnae say no to a Bond with romance attached" she added, her friend was after all rather lovely when all was said and done, classically attractive, unlike her own self.