Arrival at Hama Valon [att'n ASTARTE & OPEN]

[Katsko]

Rhe'alenya Taremandrin arrived at the gates of Hama Valon in the early morning. The sun had not been up long, but it was full daylight as she passed through the gates on horseback. Where she had flutters of excitement during her journey she now had nervous knots. Now that she was in sight of the Grey Tower Rhe'alenya realized she had no idea what to do from here.I don't even know where to start she thought. Swallowing a dry lump in her throat she heeled her horse, Kisauna, forward and approached the Grey Tower.


As she neared the tower Rhe'alenya dismounted and led Kisauna by the reins. Uncertainly she found a place to hitch Kisauna, gathered the one small pack she brought with her, and made her way into the Tower. Walking through the doors she came to a startling realization. Out loud she said, Light. I don't know anything, do I? She colored at the looks she got from a few passersby and nervously began fingering her long hair. She had spent so much time self educating on Aes Sedai she never did take a moment to study how one gets to be Aes Sedai. All she knew was the order Novice, Accepted, Aes Sedai.


Dusty, tired, and sweaty she continued forward. Spotting a girl wearing the great serpent ring on the third finger of her left hand - she knew enough to recognize this as an indication of an Accepted - Rhe'alenya made her way toward her. As Rhe'alenya approached she overheard another accepted call this girl Betrys. Making a mental note of the name, she drew herself upright and tried to look as confident as she could considering the knots in her stomach and dust on her dress. Hello. I do not mean to eavesdrop, but I overheard your name to be Betrys. I am Rhe'alenya Taremandrin, soon to be a Novice of the Grey Tower. She was sure to make it sound factual, avoiding terms such as 'hoping to be a Novice' I've only just arrived and would ask you to direct me appropriately. Wanting to be commanding, but not to come off as rude, she ended this request with a warm smile.

[Astarte]

Betrys had little time that could be called her own. Since working with developing her studies in Healing and showing at least a basic proficiency in handling those skills, she had been asked more and more often to help out and work with the patients who were in actual need of the services of Healing. She was fairly sure it was a case of a willing and ready hand rather than some special treatment as the result of some unique or extraordinary - which was just fine with Betrys.

It didn't mean that standing to welcome the new arrivals wasn't something she could appreciate being able to do, after all Betrys could remember her own arrival and how nervous she'd been "Rhe'alenya Taremandrin?" it took a while to figure out the sounds in her head so that she was confident in speaking them back to this newcomer.

While Betrys personally thought she sounded a whole lot more comfortable about everything than she had been that didn't make her any less sure that this was probably an act of some kind "You'll be needing to speak to the Mistress of the Novices. Where are you from?" she asked softly, looking her up and down slowly but trying to avoid appearing judgmental "And yer name will be added to the rolls - although how do you know yer be a Novice at all?" she asked, choosing to be direct, much like she was with everyone that she met.

[Katsko]

Heaving a sigh, Rhe'alenya dropped the act. She could tell Betrys was not the sort to put up with nonsense. Still, she partially blamed herself. Burn me she thought you do tend to be overly confident. Aloud she said, in a less commanding voice, I am from Andor. Excuse my assumptions, Betrys. I suppose I've had my heart and mind set on coming to Hama Valon to join the Grey Tower that I feel it is my future to become a Novice of the Tower. The wheel weaves as the will wills, of course.

Rhe'alenya silently hoped Betrys would overlook her initial arrogance and that she did not make a horrible first impression. Her stomach knotted further as she made a mental note to try and be more sincere. At least with the Accepted and Aes Sedai, that is. Um... Could you please tell me where I can find the Mistress of Novices?

[Astarte]

The dropping of whatever act the girl had been putting on certainly improved Betrys' feeling towards her, she had never been the sort to suffer fools gladly and her time at the Grey Tower hadn't altered that from being the case "Well indeed...the Wheel weaves as the Wheel weavess - ain't none of us tae say where it will take us" Betrys was not upset about being able to find herself in agreement with the other woman.

After all, it wasn't particularly difficult as she shared that same personal belief "However, that doesn't prevent us from being able tae take some hold of our destiny" she insisted and smiled very briefly, it was only the merest flicker of a gesture but it would hopefully soften things a little bit more "As for the here and now...I can show yer to the Mistress. Tell me, which part of Andor do ya hail from?" Betrys asked, deciding to look at directing the conversation towards a pleasant direction and she suspected that a recollection of home was a good place "Why did you believe the Grey Tower is the place for yer?" she added. As welcoming as Betrys wanted to be that didn't mean she could simply chose to dismiss the main point.

Did this girl have the ability to actually reach for the One Power or was she simply one of those who imagined more than was really there? Always a good idea to get that covered.

[Katsko]

Walking alongside Betrys as she lead her to the Mistress of Novices, Rhe'alenya decided it best to keep to the truth. She could tell the girl was warming up, if at least slightly, with honesty.I am from Arien. My mother and father are farmers. When coming to Hama Valon I passed along my responsibilities to my younger brother. There isn't much around our farm, but it is home and we get... well, got... into town often for trading.It wasn't until she had to use the past-tense that Rhe'alenya felt the weight of leaving home. How long would she be gone? Would she ever go back? Now stammering she cleared her throat and went on as strongly as her throat would allow. I believe my place to be in the Tower because my mother and I suspect a spark of the Power may be within me. I do not know for sure, but my mother seemed confident and strange things always happened when I really wanted them to. Before leaving home I started a fire on the hearth without touching a thing. I just reached toward it and the flames came to life. I am here to learn if I do have the spark or if I can learn to touch the True Source so I can join the Aes Sedai in being protectors and peace keepers. Her voice became more distant as she spoke. She knew she would be in the Tower for a long time, but she never thought hard on the fact that she would be away from her family and her home. While talking to Betrys, all this was going through her mind and it was almost as though she were listening to somebody else saying her words. Shaking her head she came back to reality. May I ask from where you hail, Betrys? And what brought you to the tower?

[Astarte]

She listened. It was one of her strongest talents, one which was almost always overlooked by others in the first moments of knowing her personally but that didn't make it any less real or effective "Is yer mother possessed of the talent? Or is it more a sensation or impression that she had bout yerself?" Betrys asked, wanting to make certain that she was fully possessed of all the important facts about this girl and the reasons behind her arrival to the Tower. It was a vastly different account than her own story but that didn't make it any less exciting and Betrys was looking forward to seeing how her journey was going to eventually unfold but that was something that only time would end up revealing - so she'd need to wait and see.

"The path to being an Aes Sedai is not an easy one..." she murmured, not denying the girl or the truth she spoke about what had happened it seemed very like she likely had the spark but that didn't mean it would be any easy for her to learn about the One Power and how it affected the world along with all those myriad uses "I be from Andor. A sister discovered me and claimed me for the Tower..." it stated rather bluntly but that was because she didn't feel much like over-sharing with this girl.

They barely knew one another and besides a degree of separation was only to be expected and encouraged "Yer understand that ya'll nae be likely tae go back for some time" she spoke it simply but turned, stopping her walk and looking at the girl steadily.

[Katsko]

Rhe'alenya expected this question, of course, and an answered Betrys. My mother does not have the spark in her. She simply had the impression with the fire. She appreciated the girl's interest in her own story. It made her feel welcome an eased the tension from her sudden realization of being away from home for so long. Curiosity was tickling her mind. Betrys wasn't giving her much about her background, but Rhe'alenya wasn't about to push it with the only person she'd met so far. She stopped walking as the other girl did.

Returning her gaze, Rhe'alenya found that determination she first had about coming to Hama Valon. Of course I do not know the specifics regarding the path to being Aes Sedai, but I am under no impression that it will be an easy one to take. I expect many hard days and nights and many moments of homesickness. I admit it just hit me that I'll be away from my family indefinitely, but if I can make a difference in this world by coming the Tower it is well worth it.

[Astarte]

It wasn't a surprise to learn that Rhe'alenya was alone among her family when it came to the One Power and how it touched their lives. Of course, it made it no less interesting to listen to her describing her answer "She sounds like an observant woman" Betrys commented brightly and nodded along "...did you mother worry about yer being in need of help?" Betrys asked, focusing on the memories of her family, this might well be the last time that Rhe'alenya was able to truly share these recollections of her home and family. She had enjoyed little chance to spend much time in thinking about her original home and family.

"It isnae easy..." she paused, just outside the door to the Mistress of the Novices. Betrys took a moment to consider things, a lot of the explicit details would be kept from her as she progressed her way as one of the future sisters; although it wouldn't make it any less difficult "Ya've the right attitude and all...that will help" Betrys responded.

Betrys knocked then and waited for the sound to allow them entry into the office.

[Jenny]

Mirin fingered the blue fringe of her shawl. Most sisters did not wear their shawls daily; but today was a special occasion. Today marked one month since she had been made Mistress of Novices, and today she would be meeting with the Amyrlin for a monthly report. She chewed her lip as she looked down at the paper on which she was writing notes.

The office was large and spacious, with dark blue wall panels and three tall windows in the back looking over the Tower gardens. Shelves covered another wall. Most were still empty, but Mirin planned on filling it with a collection of her favorite books. Eventually, at least - she wasn't sure when she would find the time. In the middle, facing her work desk, sat two comfortable chairs that were nearly, but not quite, side-by-side.

A familiar voice drifted through the door. Mirin paused in her writing and quickly returned her pen to its ink pot. Why would Betrys want to come see her? She smoothed her face and stood.

"Come in," she called.

[Katsko]

Rhe'alenya appreciated the chance to talk about her family. She did not expect to have much chance of that during her studies in the Grey Tower. Smiling slightly she told Betrys, I can't say my mother had enough time to worry about my being in need of help. We discovered the spark very shortly before my coming here. I feel she was more excited than anything, but you are correct. She has always been an observant woman. I could never get away with being a tricky child with her. She giggled softly at that recollection.

She became silent when Betrys knocked on the door, thinking Here we go and taking a deep breath. From behind the door she heard a voice calling them to come in. Rhe'alenya waited for Betrys to open the door, thinking it best if a strange future - potential she reminded herself - novice whom the Mistress had never met did not come bustling in. When the door opened she admired the large room belonging to the Mistress of Novices. The Mistress herself, she saw, was behind a desk. Clearly this was her office. Rhe'alenya entered slowly beside Betrys and waited for permission to speak.