Ways of the Spear [attn; Locke]

[Avyra]

“If you’re here to train, by all means, come train with us,” Terric said in mock friendliness. “But if you’re just here to start trouble, I’d suggest you move along.” The two guards looked at each other, and the first smirked. "Like we would waste the time. Plus, training with the likes of you both would be horrible for image. Have fun playing playing games with a child." They both laughed and swaggered off to go find something more rewarding to spend their time with. Avyra relaxed, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. But she didn't speak, she just watched the ground. Her hands and shoulders shook. She didn't want to let those two see that they got to her. But they were gone now, she was safe. She knew she was safe. Terric was beside her. Safe. No, Avyra didn't feel like it. She knew, deep down, those two were right. She was chasing her own tail, trying to do something she physically couldn't do. It hurt when someone else told her it, though. "They're right," she said softly. "I don't think I'll ever be able to do this."

[Locke]

Terric

He didn’t let himself relax until the men were truly out of sight. The spears hadn’t been danced today. Not all wounds were physical though.

"They're right," Avyra said from behind him, "I don't think I'll ever be able to do this."

“Don’t listen to them,” Terric said, letting the Void reseed. “They don’t know what they were talking about. Neither of them were true warriors. Here, sit with me I want to tell you a story.” He sat on the sand, legs crossed.

He waited for her to join him before he continued. “Back in the Three-fold Land, I had a friend named Zial. He was rather small,” he said this and gestured showing how Zial only came up to his shoulder. “This didn’t stop him. We became Red Shields together. During Choosing Week, the hardest week of selection, when they try to wash out recruits who aren’t worthy, he hung on, not just hung on but in many ways lead and encouraged the rest of us. He is the kind of person you can knock down and he’ll jump back up with a bloody nose and a grin ready for more. He’s the kind of person I’d want by my side in a fight any day. Being a warrior isn’t about being the biggest or the strongest, it’s what’s up here,” he tapped her head, “and in here,” he tapped her chest. “With training you will grow stronger, and you will learn more techniques, but it’s much harder to teach a warrior’s heart and mind.” He fixed her with a stair, grey eyes meeting green. “Zail won’t ever be the best spear fighter, but he thinks quickly and has a mind for tactics. Not every warrior will be able to take out the biggest guy in the training yard, but they do need to know their strengths. You have a major advantage over any of us in the Yards, you have the power. That doesn’t mean you should stop learning how to fight with your hands or with weapons though. Maybe one day some enemy will think you are powerless because you’re shielded. Then you’ll just punch them in the eye.” He said the last part with a wicked grin. “So, yeah, don’t talk yourself down.”

[Avyra]

"Here, sit with me I want to tell you a story.” Terric sat cross legged in the sand, and Avyra followed his lead, though it was obvious that she didn't believe him. She had lost that spark she had held. Terric was seeing the true Avyra now, an insecure little woman who didn't know where she belonged. But she sat across from him, looking up at him as he told his story about a man he had known while in the Three Fold Land. She listened, out of respect, but she still... had no idea if he understood. "I don't know. I still don't know where I belong." She paused. "Mirin Sedai told me I would make a great sister, but I don't see it in myself." She paused. "It would seem I don't fit anywhere in the Tower. I'm not skilled enough or pretty enough to be an Aes Sedai, but I'm not strong or fast enough to be a Warder. Plus, nobody would want a Warder who needs help getting stuff off the top shelf." She paused. "Besides, even if I had the Serpent Ring, nobody would take me seriously. I bet I look like a child from your view." Her voice wasn't hurt, or emotional. It was even in acceptance.

[Locke]

Terric

He had never seen Avyra like this. She looked smaller than ever, knees pulled up to her chest. “I don't know. I still don't know where I belong.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Mirin Sedai told me I would make a great sister, but I don't see it in myself."

Terric frantically searched for something encouraging to say. He couldn’t bear to see his friend like this. Stop, listen to what she says. His sister’s voice.

"It would seem I don't fit anywhere in the Tower. I'm not skilled enough or pretty enough to be an Aes Sedai, but I'm not strong or fast enough to be a Warder. Plus, nobody would want a Warder who needs help getting stuff off the top shelf."

He leaned forward listening, processing. He had yet to see her channel, but he was sure she was pretty enough to be Aes Sedai. If he was honest with himself, he didn’t even think there was a beauty requirement to be Aes Sedai.

"Besides, even if I had the Serpent Ring, nobody would take me seriously. I bet I look like a child from your view."

He reached out and squeezed her shoulder, the gesture was incredibly forward but Wetlanders seemed to be comforted by such. “I think you should ask yourself. Why are you here?” He mentally kicked himself. That came out harsher than he had intended. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. Really why did you decide to come to the tower? Once you know that it can help you know what kind of Aes Sedai you want to be. Then again, maybe this path isn’t for you. If it’s not, there are so many other things out there.” He groaned to himself, afraid he was making her feel worse. “I’m sorry, no I’m not trying to discourage you, I also don’t want to push you down a path you don’t want. Look, let’s go sit by the pond. We can even put our feet in the water.” He almost choked out the last part. He stood offering her a hand and trying to give her his most comforting smile. All the while, cursing himself for a fool.

[Avyra]

She hadn't realized that she had curled up defensively. She would have to stop doing that, but for now she didn't care. Terric reached out with a grip of iron to give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. She knew that, from her talks with him, such a gesture was very, very personal for an Aiel. Avyra finally looked up at him, her green eyes full of emotion that her voice had not shown. “I think you should ask yourself. Why are you here?” He paused, as though realizing some problem she hadn't caught in the wording. “No, I didn’t mean it like that." She didn't know how he thought she had taken it. "Really why did you decide to come to the tower? Once you know that it can help you know what kind of Aes Sedai you want to be. Then again, maybe this path isn’t for you. If it’s not, there are so many other things out there." She knew he was out of his element; he seemed very nervous. “I’m sorry, no I’m not trying to discourage you, I also don’t want to push you down a path you don’t want. Look, let’s go sit by the pond. We can even put our feet in the water.” The suggestion made her blink. The pond? And the water? She remembered what that had done to him the first time, but she didn't argue. If he thought it would make her feel better, she would happily go along. He smiled, looking very uncertain, holding out a hand. She took it, letting him help her to her feet. Or rather, all but lift her small form off the ground. She gave him a smile. "Don't worry. I'm just... confused, that's all." Avyra had begun to think of what Mirin Sedai told her. Her friends, including Terric, weren't without flaws, like herself. And she still liked all of them. She didn't notice the imperfections until she actually started looking. The Mistress of Novices' words kind of made sense now. "All right," she replied. "To the pond it is, if you want. But please don't leave me to eat your dust. We've been over the rules. My legs cannot keep up with you."

[Locke]

Terric

He lifted her into his arms and began walking. As he made his way from the Warder Yards to the Gardens, he did his best to reorganize his thoughts. At one point along their trip, a passing Soldier gave them a questioning look. Terric, gave him an icy stare that said in no uncertain terms, Move along, this is none of your affair.

When they arrived at the pond, Terric set her down and stared suspiciously at the water. It wasn’t as bad as it had been at night, he could at least begin to comprehend the amount of water. Well, he’d suggested this. He unlaced his boots and rolled up his pants. With a deliberate motion, he sat down and put his feet into the water. It was cold and odd. Why did Wetlander’s find this enjoyable?

Once they were both settled, Terric decided to return to his previous point “I guess I’m asking why you came because that’s the only way you can know for sure if this is the right thing for you.” He shrugged, “Anyway, even if you don’t think you’re Aes Sedai material now, that’s the point of training. They are shaping you into a woman who’s ready to wear the Shawl. Do you think I was born a Red Shield? No the man I was during Choosing Week would not have survived most of the things I had to face later in life. So yeah, it’s up to you whether you stay or go,” he paused and looked at her, “but I’ll be sad if you leave.”

[Avyra]

She... hadn't meant that, but she didn't argue. In truth, Avyra didn't mind being carried by Terric. In fact, she enjoyed it. Just being close to him made her feel safe, and, for her at least, one of the safest places she could think of was his arms. Stop it stop it stop it stop it. They didn't speak for the entirety of the walk. Terric seemed to be thinking, and Avyra didn't feel it necessary to speak. She just rested her head on his shoulder, arms around his neck. When they arrived, Terric put her down gently on the ground, then both mentally and physically prepared to put his toes in the water. She settled down beside him, not worrying about her clothes getting dirty; they weren't her Novice whites. “I guess I’m asking why you came because that’s the only way you can know for sure if this is the right thing for you," he began after she was settled. “Anyway, even if you don’t think you’re Aes Sedai material now, that’s the point of training. They are shaping you into a woman who’s ready to wear the Shawl. Do you think I was born a Red Shield? No the man I was during Choosing Week would not have survived most of the things I had to face later in life. So yeah, it’s up to you whether you stay or go." He paused. “But I’ll be sad if you leave.” She looked up at him, meeting his eyes. "I would be sad to go. I've made so many good friends here." She paused, leaning against him, watching the water. "But I'm not sure. The Tower has brought out a side in me I have never seen before. Its made me... I don't know. Insecure might be the right word?" She sighed. "I came here because I have the Spark; I would have died if I hadn't."

[Locke]

Terric

Terric draped an arm around her shoulders, it seemed like the right gesture. She was insecure? She wasn’t the only one. Since coming here, he was never sure if he was doing the right thing, if he was going to make some kind of misstep. No that was wrong, even back home he’d been awkward and insecure. He just hid it behind a mask of competence. There was more to what she was saying though.

"I came here because I have the Spark; I would have died if I hadn't,” she said with a small sigh.

He didn’t truly understand the One Power, didn’t the the Towers try to find everybody who could channel? Well you can’t make decisions until you have enough information. Ask more questions, he told himself. Out loud he asked, “What do you mean you ‘have the Spark’? Why would you have died if you didn’t come here?”

[Avyra]

He put a heavy arm around her, and she was pulled a bit closer to his side. “What do you mean you ‘have the Spark’? Why would you have died if you didn’t come here?” Avyra paused, staring up at him with confusion. He didn't know about the dangers? She thought such a thing was common sense in the Tower. "Channeling without training is dangerous," she explained. "You could accidentally draw too much of the Power at once and burn yourself out, or never be able to touch it again." She paused. "It is basically a death sentence; you'll go insane and die quickly." She looked back over at him. "I don't know what I want to do with myself, so I might as well stay here. At least we're fed consistently."

[Locke]

Terric

As he listened, he watched the sunlight sparkling off of the surface of the pond. Honestly he did not know much about the power. He knew some Wise Ones could channel but that was not something people talked about. Maybe this Spark was the reason some Maidens were pushed so hard to become Wise Ones. He thought he was beginning to understand her. She had not chosen this path, a quirk of bloodlines or fate had chosen it and now she had to live with it.

"I don't know what I want to do with myself, so I might as well stay here. At least we're fed consistently." She seemed resigned.

He said the first thing that came to mind, sure it wouldn’t help, “So you should probably know, free food and not dying are among my top five favorite things.” He didn’t know what had possessed him to say that. He hoped it would cheer her up but he’d likely just put his foot in his mouth. He braced himself for the sand storm.