The Grey Tower

The day was well and truly under way once Riahana left the office of the Mistress of Training. She and her family had only arrived at the Tower late the previous afternoon. She admitted to Gareth that a big part of her wanted to leave the settling in to him and the children and find Miahala last night, but patience was one of a Warder's most effective weapons, and one she forced herself to put to good use.

Now that the Gaidar had checked in, though, her time was her own, and she was on a mission to find the woman who had so long been the Matriarch to her family. Perhaps it would have made sense for her to see if Mia was in residence in the halls of the Green Ajah, but instinct drove Riahana to the Gardens. She nodded to a Drin'far'ji who was sweeping one of the many paths as she walked towards one of the lakes. A majestic Weeping Willow was near the shore of the lake, and it had always been one of Riahana's favorite spots in the Gardens.

There was no reason to think her Great Grandmother would be by the tree or lake, but walking around the massive willow gave Riahana time to reflect. She had no idea what she might say. . .what can you say, really? She paused at the shore of the lake, listening to the song birds and watching one lazy could drift across a crystal blue sky. The moment's pause helped center the Gaidar...who hadn't realized how nervous she felt. It all seemed silly, really, but perhaps not so silly after all. It wasn't every day someone returned to the land of the living.

Riahana turned and left the lake and massive willow behind as she continued walking along one of the many paths in the Garden.

OOC: Hmm...a little open ended for you, hope you don't mind!

Although it wasn't the same tree, it seemed that the line of Sha'hal had an affinity for trees in the gardens of the Tower. Mia had her favored, after all, because it brought back memories of Darien. (The Sha'hal-Jolstraer line being the one that would eventually give birth to the great granddaughter she was about to surprise herself by chancing upon.)

She had been beneath this tree, again reflecting upon her life, death, and life. The path before her that she needed to traverse was still unclear, but she had never had the gift of Foretelling. Even her Dreams had long been quiet, and she sought out her new direction. She would find it, she was sure, but it took time. After her reflection, she had left "her" tree and made her slow return back inside the Tower's halls, but she wouldn't get very far.

Ahead of her on the path was a familiar face. Mia stopped and then a faint, but warm smile curved her lips. "Riahana," she said, the look in her eyes soft.

Riahana looked up when she heard her name, and stopped in her tracks as she gave a big smile, "Memme! It's true...you're really back!" She closed the distance between her and her great grandmother, pausing just at arm's length, "I wasn't sure what to believe when the messenger found us in Duron. I know the Wheel spins as it may, but I...I couldn't understand....HOW!" She gave a soft laugh and shook her head, "I do not sound like the Gaidar I am, but more like a fresh recruit newly joined to the yards."

"I'm not sure...I don't...I....heh...I clearly have no idea where to start, other than saying that I am more than thrilled the news given to us was true. I have missed you...our family has missed you. I've sent word back home to mother and father, though I don't know that they can make the journey. I haven't heard a reply yet," the Gaidar said. "I am sorry! I am throwing a thousand and one things at you all at once, again like a raw recruit," she finished with a soft laugh.

[ooc: Ear worm: Blame it on the Genes tuned to Blame it on the Rain]

Reaching out, Miahala took both of the girl's hands in hers. She wasn't truly a girl any longer, but anyone younger than a century seemed young to Mia. Her smile was the warmest and most genuine she'd had in a long time now as she gently squeezed the hands in hers. Mia had loved all of her children, but those of her line who had remained in or come to the Tower, she felt she shared an extra kinship with, and Ria was among them.

"It is allowed," she said gently. "It's been a shocking thing. Perhaps more shocking for those around me than for myself, although that was shock enough. I would tell you of it if I knew, but the truth is I don't know what happened. I just know that I am here, and I'm most glad to see you, child."

((OOC: You're evil... ))

Riahana could not smile a more genuine smile as she listened to Miahala, "Gareth said the Wheel works in mysterious ways and was not yet done with you." She hesitated for a moment and the smile became a smirk, "Hmm...I have much to tell of what's happened since....well, since we watched you leave the Tower for what I thought was the last time." She wasn't about to deliver news that her Memme was now a great GREAT grandmother. Not just yet.

"I do not know if you recall a conversation we once had about whether I should consider bonding with a Green, Blue or Indigo, but the Wheel thought a different direction all together would be best, and I bonded with Asha'man Gareth Tomosan of the Yellow," Ria admitted as her smirk grew a bit. "And we married many years ago...on the family farm in Saldea," she added. There was more, yes, but she thought it best to let that sink in first.

"As you saw, I am overjoyed at your return, though understand it as much as you," she said as she squeezed her great grandmother's hands.

((OOC: Yes, yes I am. But you're stuck with me! And...Me and Ria alike are trying not to bombard with too much information all at once...so sorry if this post isn't all that great!))

The Wheel really did continue to turn, continue to weaving... It took lives gone and returned them to the fray, and forged new tapestries from the threads left behind. Her smile could not help but grow. "The Yellows are quite a noble pursuit. I think I met him once, a rather large fellow, as I recall." Then she paused and eyed her great granddaughter. "You are married some years then, and you are a Sha'hal." Humor sparked in those blue-green eyes. "How many children?"

((OOC: S'all good. ))

Riahana's smirk grew as her own blue eyes held the spark of a proud mother, "As always, right to the point. Just two...twins, though I am sure I could have my very own army running around given our Sha'hal line. Mother and Father I think were hoping for more." She paused and shrugged, "But...two, and twins at that, kept us on our toes and was challenging enough with the life we lead."

Nodding back towards the living quarters, Ria continued, "Tia and Einion would love to meet you, and Gareth knows the influence you had on me back in the day. He would welcome the chance to get more acquainted with you." While she didn't have the ageless look of an Aes Sedai, Ria did look good for her forty years. Staying in prime shape as a Gaidar helped, though genetics played a role as well. A faint scar along her right cheek and faint wrinkles around her eyes gave away the passage of time to those who knew to look. The wrinkles were more pronounced when she grinned, which she did as she started to boast of her children, "They are nearly as old as I when I first stepped foot here, and I am curious to see where the Wheel may take them. Tia...I suspect will either follow in your footsteps or mine, depending on whether she has the spark, or not. Einion...Gareth says he sees Brown written all over the boy."

"And as eager as I am for you to meet my family, there is a part of me that is selfish and wants to monopolize all of your time. Not very Warderly of me, I'm sure, but a second chance to spend time with my Memme? Who could blame me?" Ria smirked.

((OOC: She won't monopolize your time, promise. She will let you meet the grands...eventually. LOL))

Despite the years, Mia found her great granddaughter's enthusiasm refreshing and it warmed the chill in her heart that seemed to have taken up permanent residence. "Dear Ria," the Green said, releasing the girl's hands so they could turn and start walking along the path, just meandering to keep from being a roadblock. "There will be time enough, now, for all. I will happily meet your Gareth, and I'm excited to meet your children. But there is time enough for that after you and I have our time. Here, now, I am not Aes Sedai and you are not Gaidar. We are simply family." She smiled.

((OOC: No worries, lol.))

Looking along the path they walked, Ria gave a soft laugh, "I was always grateful for the times we shared when I was a Warder in training. . .the breaks from the formality that comes with Tower life. As much as I cherish the life I now lead, the formality of life here can get overbearing. . .especially for a Drin'far'ji." She smirked and gave a bit of a shrug, "But when I would visit you for tea. . .it was always simply family. I was luckier than many of my peers."

The Warder looked to Miahala, "I know you said you do not understand why or how you returned. Now that you are back. . .do you know what you might do?"

The Green too recalled those times fondly. Their positions had been different, but the relief at those moments to relax and be informal were no less enjoyed by the elder woman than the younger. And now the young woman beside her was a mother herself. Miahala had once joked to Caden that children were like living calendars that marked off the passing years, and it was as true now as before; just also a reminder of several of the pages having been pulled out when she wasn't looking.

"For now, in truth, I'm just trying to get my feet under me again," she admitted. "I will return to my work with the Green Ajah after that, though. It is where I have always been and always meant to be. Perhaps return to the world and help its causes. Things seem to be ever more unhinged and in need of aid." Normally when an Aes Sedai went out into the world, particularly a Green, she had a bondmate; could Mia even contemplate doing so again? She had outlived four by now... But thoughts for later. "And you? What are your plans for you and Gareth?"