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[Jaime Jai'melar]

Chapter 1: Two different worlds, One Destiny


"Have you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"Laman's niece, the young lady with the pretty doll face -"

"You mean the young lady Moiraine Damodred?"

"Yes, that's the one. I heard from a reliable source that a party was held for her last night."

"A party? What with all this happening? Civil war! The nerve of that crazy man! A king alright! A fool king!"

"Hush, Govein! I heard she's being sent today to Tar Valon as a Novice and to become an Aes Sedai."

"What?! It's bad enough that his uncle is the king and she - a Damodred - then she'll be an Aes Sedai as well?!"

A soldier clasped the last speaker's shoulder. A man with sun-burnt skin due to endless practice of the art of the sword and by the looks of him - Andoran by birth. The soldier was tall, but not to tall to look like an Aiel, and for one he has brown eyes not the infamous light colored eyes of the accursed Aiel - they say Cairhien holds a special trading system with the Aiel. His hair was of brown color with shades of gray at the temples. At the touch of his hands on the young man talking, the boy stopped and almost gasped. Pudgy face turning white. But one look at the soldier, erased all fears of him being a Cairhienin.

"Looks like you had an ugly perception of this so-called Aes Sedai, boy." The soldier asked the young man.

"Oh yes I have! And I'm not a boy. I have a name. Govien!" Answered by the young man.

"If I wish to call you boy, there's nothing you can do." The soldier said.

"You! You have the nerve to walk on us Andoran soldier! If you keep on calling me boy, I'll have you hauling nets instead of playing with your sword!" Govien said with a sneer.

"Ah! A Tairen, by the accent and the . . . manners, I'd say." The soldier said, dismissing the sneer that accompanied Govien's arrogance.

"Yes I am! And I -"

"And you better keep your mouth shut Tairen. You are in Cairhien and in here, Aes Sedai are feared and somewhat respected. A sharp tongue and a harsh word could kill you as sure as Birgitte Silverbow's arrow aimed at your heart. Keep low, avoid notice or else you'll find yourself dead. It's bad that you're too loud to let everyone know your perception about Aes Sedai. But leave the Lady Moiraine Damodred out of it. Take heed if you want to live. Remember, Cairhien is the city of Daes Dae'mar and the Damodreds rule Cairhien." With that, the soldier tapped the shoulder of Govien and left him gaping like a lout.

Looking around, Govien noticed the common room. No one seemed to look at him or even hear him. But if the man is right - he better keep himself low or else he'll find himself dead. Taking his things and saying a quick word with the one he had been talking with, he went outside and inhaled the smell that was Cairhien. Walking along the street of Cairhien, he noticed a grand procession of two carriages, one with golden scroll-work lining the doors being pulled by two strong chestnut-colored stallion. The other was of elegant white-washed colored carriage with silver lining on the end and slashed with red, green, and white; probably the house color of some lord. The second carriage with the colors were being pulled by two black stallions with strong legs. Govien smiled - the horses are not bad, but nothing beats Tairen stock.

With a smirk, Govien entered a small alley, whistling and flipping his coin from time to time. He'd been doing this for quite a while when suddenly three ruffians blocked his way and another group on his back. Times are bad now with the war that's wrecking Cairhien. But Govien hadn't thought that it would almost lead to ruffians attacking simple commoners like him - a traveler. Taking out his belt knife - it would do - he tried to block the attackers' moves towards him. But they are too fast and too many for just one man. Suddenly a man grabbed his neck and slid a knife on his back with some words.

"This is for the Lady Damodred. You stepped a foot where you're not supposed too. You should've listened to the soldier . . . boy." The voice said from behind.

The voice, it's familiar.

The man loosen his hold on him and Govien started to fall down on his knees. With the last will and strength he has, he tried to look on the man who owns the voice. With blurry eyes slowly fading into darkness, one thought came into his mind. The soldier is a Damodred's. Fool me. Burn my bloody tongue.

"Bu-burn you s-soldier! I'll have your hide for fishguts! I-I . . ." and darkness enveloped him.

Picking up his knife, the soldier said, "You should have watched your silly tongue Tairen. You should have."

-----------------------------------

"I don't want to go to Tar Valon! Let go of me you silly old man or I'll feed your silly beard to a school of silverpike!"

"Owwwwwwwww! You silly fisherman's daughter! I'll gut you and I'll feed you to those silverpike you're talking about!" shouted by the bearded man hauling the young woman by the scruff of her neck.

"NO!" shouted by the young woman indignantly.

"Oh yes I will! Unless you get a gripped on yourself and allow us to haul you - bring you - to a ship headed for Tar Valon!" The bearded man was almost shouting and fighting for his breath as the young woman keeps on fighting him.

"No! Why would I go to Tar Valon?! I am no Aes Sedai! Let go of me!" the woman kept on fighting but suddenly was cut short when a pointed spear almost hit her right in her face.

Looking up, the young woman, blue eyed and of average height stared - glared - at the lord pointing a spear on her face with a nasty frown that brooked no nonsense. A High Lord, by the look of himself - the air of arrogance emanating from him - and by the way he dressed. When the High Lord was sure that the young woman would stop squealing, he spoke with spears pointing at the woman.

"You can channel woman. And according to tradition, every woman who can channel should be - immediately - carried to Tar Valon to train and to become an Aes Sedai. A tradition that had gone on between Tear and Tar Valon for thousands of years. You will be brought to a ship headed for Tar Valon now." The High Lord said too smoothly for the young woman's taste.

"I . . . I need to say good bye to my father. He'd be sad if I won't be able to." The woman answered, with a touch of sadness in her voice.

"There will be no need for that. You cannot talk to anyone else, best that you go on now. You may see him after your training, and if you still wish to see him after-wards." The High Lord answered.

"You can't . . . do . . . that . . . to . . . me!" The woman said in between breaths as she tried to free herself from the iron-like grip of the silly man holding her.

Sneering at her and giving her a look that tells her how dirty she is because of her ability to channel, the High Lord answered, "Oh. But I am." With a swish of his cloak, the High Lord walked and left the woman shouting with curses in-between tears.

"I . . . h-how? My father . . . I -" the young woman said, crying while she desperately looked around for signs of her father, when suddenly, a woman touched her shoulders, staring at her.

The woman - at first glance - is young. But her eyes hold a lot of years in them. A woman who, anyone, couldn't put an age to her. A woman, who can hide her true age because of that face. A woman with an ageless face. An Aes Sedai.

"What's your name child?" The Aes Sedai asked.

The young woman, full of tears and anger at the same time for being hauled like a woman with a deadly sickness glared at the Aes Sedai with her blue eyes. She just stared at the Aes Sedai and she planned to let the woman get irked because of her refusal to answer. But one look from the Aes Sedai, a look as cold as ice and as strong as the strongest of all the readers in Tear - Mother Guenna - the young woman swallowed and she slowly found herself saying her name.

"Siuan . . . Siuan Sanche." The young woman answered, meekly.

"Siuan Sanche. What a nice name." The Aes Sedai said with a soft smile. "I am Verin Mathwin. You can call me Verin Sedai. And we will be traveling together to Tar Valon. You have potential child. And you can do great things. Why! That temper of yours. Someday, you can become an Amyrlin. We just have to smooth that rough side of your tongue. Oh yes! Merean Sedai - she's the Mistress of Novices - can straighten and smooth that out of you. You were born with the spark. Who would've thought that a fisherman's daughter could have such ability? Well, even beggars can become Amyrlin - had become Amyrlins before. And with that personality of yours. You could become great. Oh yes."

The Aes Sedai seemed to be lost in her own thoughts leaving Siuan gaping at her in utter disbelief. Light! She's really going to Tar Valon and nothing she can do would change the High Lords' mind. And Siuan doubts if this Aes Sedai would let her go.

If I try to run and jump for the water, she'll just bloody haul me back here in the ship and maybe she'll tie me up and gag me all the way to Tar Valon. I wouldn't want that to happen! I would bloody risk sailing on a boat with holes in it than anger an Aes Sedai. Burn me! Burn those bloody High Lords!

As if being able to read her mind, Verin Sedai looked at her and as if shocked at seeing her gaping at her still, waved a hand and said "What are you still doing here girl? Go, get yourself fixed and if the light willing in just a few days we'll be in Tar Valon. Oh yes, such ability."

"Pardon Verin Sedai. I . . . pardon." Siuan said, sweating despite the cold wind brushing her face as the ship bearing them heads for Tar Valon.

"Best, you go on child." Verin Sedai just said, burrying herself to the little notebook she'd been holding and immersing herself once more to mundane ideas Siuan cannot seem to fathom what.

-----------------------------

Tar Valon, a city within a city. Her tutors had told her that the world revolves around the pattern and that the pattern revolves around Tar Valon. For her, it sounded absurd, but as she took her first step towards the bridges that connects the island of Tar Valon, she came to understand. Tar Valon is way better than Caemlyn - now that Tigraine is missing. And her half-brother, Taringail, left only with a son - Galadedrid. Too much fighting had been wrecking Cairhien, and even Andor. Houses fight for the throne of Andor and her half-brother looking for a woman to secure the throne. If her observations are right, Morgase of House Trakand would be the next queen of Andor. And if the fighting won't stop - her uncle Laman would die. Too much fighting because of her uncle's wrong decisions. Shaking her head, she tried to remember that in a few hours she will be leaving behind all ties that her name entails. In Tar Valon - in the White Tower - she will only be Moiraine Damodred, the novice. Not Lady Moiraine of House Damodred.

She had been thinking about the wars that had been leaving Cairhien and Andor alike - including other countries fighting one another - in ruins. She was born in the Sun Palace, she grew up there, she learned her lessons in history, algorithms, old tongue and such the same way that she grew up learning the secrets and complexity of Daes Dae'mar, the Game of Houses. To be ignorant of the Game of Houses is like being vincible to deadly attacks from other houses. To be ignorant about the Game, is like letting your enemy get the better of you. Growing up in the Sun Palace, taught her that much. Growing up in the Sun Palace, made her an expert in playing the Game.

She had been in such thoughts when suddenly, looking up, she noticed that she is now entering the gates of the White Tower. Ahead of her, is a plump woman, wearing brown wool and beside her a man carrying her books and a sword. That deadly gait of the man and the ageless face of the plump woman could only mean one thing - Aes Sedai and her warder. One look at them made Moiraine smile. They are with a young woman - a woman who can channel perhaps, with a sulky but determined look on her face. A pretty woman with a strong blue-eyed stare for anyone who looked at her for long. Moiraine had been watching the young woman, assessing her. The woman - whoever she is - is of average height but a hand taller than her which made her frown a little. The woman was fair-skinned with black hair and blue eyes. A very odd combination. If Moiraine would be describing the woman it would be pretty.

As if becoming aware that someone was looking at her, the young woman turned her head and looked out. Searching the crowd for that pair of eyes that seem to weigh her and measure her. And as their eyes met, Moiraine's heart almost skipped a beat. Those blue eyes, they held some sense of power there. Some strength. Look too much and anyone could drown in those sea-blue eyes of hers. As if wanting to relieve the tension, Moiraine smiled. And when she smiled, the blue-eyed, young woman was taken aback and blushed. As if embarrassed, the woman looked ahead of her and the Aes Sedai, never looking or even glancing at her again - an action or resolution of the woman which annoyed Moiraine for no apparent reason.

Why don't you look again blue-eyed? Why? And why am I bothering about it?

Giving herself a shake, Moiraine started to focus her attention to the thing at hand. Her entrance to the White Tower as a novice. Excitement fills her very core and amusement mingled with wonder at the woman she just saw. She intends to know the woman's name before the day ends. Oh yes I will. I, Moiraine Damodred, had spoken.




...




TBC

Edited by Jaime Jai'melar, 18 February 2011 - 03:23 AM.

[Anna]

i love moiraine and suian stories i was going to comment on your moiraine/perrin story and tell you that its really good and you should do a moiraine/suian. and now you're already doing it! dreams do come true , anyways im really looking forward to this fan fic, thanks for writing

[Jaime Jai'melar]

Chapter 2: The first encounter


Dong. Dong. Dong.

The first toll of the bell in the Tower sounded in the early hours of dawn. Being a fisherman's daughter, Siuan was used to waking up long before the sun rise. But today of all days made her find it really hard to rouse herself. She had spent the whole night crying her heart out as the old witch - She's Merean Sedai fool! - Merean Sedai let her watch how they burn her old things with the use of Saidar, the female half of the One Power. They had called it, severing all ties that bind you to your old self. Sounds like a lousy reason for Siuan but one look at Merean Sedai's watchful stare made her think otherwise.

Nevertheless, what happened yesterday had made her miss home more than she did on her way to the White Tower. She had promised herself that no drop of tear would leave her eyes until she comes back to her father. But one look at how they burned her old clothes made her realized that what she is, and what she will be, will prevent her to go back to her father. That moment, she came to realize that from the moment she had stepped on the tower had been the point of no return for her life. She cried her heart out, making her tears drown her whole self, hoping that after-wards she would be able to start anew. And today would be the start of everything new for her. Siuan Sanche, a fisherman's daughter, would be one of the most remembered Aes Sedai for all time and this she vows.

Forcing herself to move, Siuan headed straight to a mirror hanging above the sink. Washing her face, readying herself for the morning chores assigned to her, she looked at the mirror. Blue eyes on a wet face stared at her. She smiled, the prospect of learning made her feel elated and excited. After her morning chores, women with bands of seven different colors at the hem would be teaching her lessons and Aes Sedai as well. Much as she denies it, Siuan hungers for new knowledge and opportunities to learn. The people in their village thought her smart and witty but with a sharp tongue. Well, for one, sharp tongue is something that makes her as Siuan Sanche. A boyish woman who loves to fight with young men who think that their muscles could get the better for them. Being smart and quick witted, Siuan can almost defeat them. Although, being tough than most made her face Mother Guenna more than the other girls and boys in their village combined.

Donning on a clean, white dress which marks her as a novice, Siuan opened the door of her room and looked from left to right. It seems like the servants of the White Tower had made their cleaning in the middle of the night when no Novice and even Accepted are expected to roam around the tower. Lamps light the hallway of the whole novice floor. One look at both ends of the hallway told Siuan that she's the first Novice to be awoken by the first toll of the tower's bell. She was about to step out when the door to her left suddenly opened and out came a small woman with dark eyes which match the dark wavy length of the little woman's hair. One look at the small woman, Siuan remembered who she is if not by name at least by face.

"You?" Siuan suddenly said.

"Me? What about me?" The small woman said, walking towards her with a frown. Once the woman was facing her, Siuan noticed that she's a hand taller than this dark-haired woman and that the woman was pale-skinned.

"You are the one looking at me at the entrance gate of the tower. Why are you watching me?" Siuan asked.

"Looking at you? Watching you? I am not watching you, woman." The small woman answered with a slight irritation from her voice.

"I have a name. Don't you call me woman as if you're my liege lady." Siuan spat.

"Well. I also have a name you see. I am Moiraine Damodred. And I don't need to become your liege lady." The small woman named Moiraine answered.

"Oh. Damodred? As in, Lady Moiraine of House Damodred in Cairhien?" Siuan's eyes bulged when she heard the name Damodred.

Giving a sigh, Moiraine answered, "Yes. But don't worry. In here I am Moiraine Damodred, a novice. Not a lady."

Siuan stared at the small, pale-skinned woman, not seeming to hear whatever the other intends to say or is saying at the moment. A Damodred? Damodred?! Light and one flaming fishguts! Damodreds are worst than the High Lords of Tear combined! What in the light does she wants with me?! Damodreds and their silly game of houses or Daes De . . . whatever! Fishguts!

"What's your name?" Moiraine asked her.

"Why are you watching me? What do you need from me huh?!" Siuan's voice quivered - a sign of uneasiness for her.

"Well, for one, I need nothing from you. Second, you are black-haired. Lastly, you are blue-eyed. Being black-haired and blue-eyed at the same time is an odd combination. Something I seldom see." Moiraine answered, counting with her fingers as she laid out the points or reasons of why she's looking at her. After doing so, Moiraine raised her left brow. "Aren't you going to tell me your name?"

Shaking her head and looking from left to right, Siuan took a step back and without answering Moiraine's question of asking her name, she walked straight at the end of the hallway never glancing at the little woman.

Damodred?! Light!

She had been walking too fast, briskly, when suddenly Moiraine tried to touch her hand. A fleeting touch that made her heart skip a beat. Getting annoyed, she rounded on the little woman with a nasty glare.

"Now. What do you want?!" Siuan asked, her voice apparently on edge.

"Your name. I gave my name. Aren't you going to say what your name is? It is considered a rude thing if you won't be saying your name to someone who had just made herself be known to you." Moiraine answered.

"Well. I am rude!" Siuan said and without a backward glance, started to walk faster this time.

Running, the woman tried to keep up with her, and once Moiraine was abreast of her - she tripped Siuan, making the taller woman fall down with a nasty thud on the floor.

"You! How could you do that to me huh?! You . . .!" Siuan tried to say something but was cut short when she saw the Mistress of Novices staring at the two of them with a very cold stare that says they're in big trouble now.

"Moiraine Damodred! Siuan Sanche! Into my room! Now!" Merean Sedai said in a sharp and brisk voice, and without waiting for any reply, opened the door to the room of the Mistress of Novices and entered.

"Now, you just brought us in trouble Siuan Sanche." Moiraine said to her with a touch of annoyance in her voice.

--------------------------------

"This is your first day in the tower children. And it is normal to miss on some rules. Yes? That I understand. More often than not, novices on their first day in the tower tend to take a wrong foot at the most odd places all at the same time." Merean Sedai said while pacing the whole span of her room. The Mistress of Novices' room is simple and comfortable. It could make you forget that you are there to be punished because of whatever silly thing you did.

"But I expected more from you Siuan Sanche, being a fisherman's daughter and I know raised well. I thought that would make you remember good manners. They say, High Lords of Tear have great pride on themselves but the commoners - more. I never thought that you would be putting yourself into trouble at the early hours of the morning." Merean Sedai said while she faced them on the other side of her table.

"I didn't mean to cause trouble Merean Sedai. It's her, she tripped me and -" Siuan was cut off by the Aes Sedai's "Silence!"

"Speak when you are told to speak, and only then child." Merean Sedai said. Looking at the woman standing on Siuan's left, the Aes Sedai spoke.

"And most of all, I expected more from you Moiraine Damodred. I saw what you did. You tripped Siuan Sanche. How could you possibly resolve yourself into something as trifle and childish as that? I expected more from you, being raised in the Sun Palace, I thought you have some sense in you. Am I wrong to think that way?" Merean Sedai asked.

"I'm sorry Merean Sedai. I forgot myself." Moiraine said humbly. Humbly?! How could a lady be so humble as that? Siuan could not believe that such meekness is present to someone born to become a lady, much more a lord.

"I only wanted to know her name and she won't tell me. I'm trying to gain friends Aes Sedai. I'm alone, had always been alone. And she was the first novice I saw and . . . pardon, Aes Sedai." Moiraine said with bowed head, never looking at her or the Aes Sedai.

Giving Moiraine Damodred a comforting look, Merean Sedai soothed her hair. "I know, I understand. But do not force yourself into someone who - apparently - is not ready to mingle. Siuan Sanche here, have things she need to think about and things she need to focus herself into. Things she need to reflect with. I know, growing up in the Sun Palace, you tend to get whatever you wish. But remember, you are now in the Tower and such actions could get you punished and could make you scrub pots from sunrise to sunset. And I wouldn't want my novices to get involved in too much chores." The last one was for both of them, Siuan was sure of that.

"No, I wouldn't want that. But much as I detest punishing the two of you, I have to." The Aes Sedai said.

"Moiraine Damodred and Siuan Sanche, both of you would be scrubbing pots starting from the second toll of the bell until the last Aes Sedai had taken her supper this evening. To be a minute late in the kitchen would mean another day of scrubbing pots for you. And while you're at it, make sure that you will - both of you - be able to do your other chores as well, and to attend classes. Failure to do so would mean additional punishment for both of you. Yes, both of you Moiraine." Merean Sedai said with a tight lip. "Off with you now."

As they curtsied and headed for the door, Merean Sedai added, "Oh. And while you're at it, try to become friends as well. Sort out what went wrong there and I expect you to be able to put an end in that silliness of yours. Now go."

----------------------------------

"No use crying over a sinking boat. A sinking boat is a lost cause." Siuan said, sighing to herself. Looking sideways, she saw the small woman - Moiraine Damodred. Light! Damodred - looking at her.

"Sorry." They said almost at the same time.

Scratching her cheek, Siuan tried to smile and for the first time since yesterday, Moiraine smiled at her as well. Now that face had made my heart feels like I just swam a mile without stopping or as if I am being chased by silverpikes! "Stop that." She said and started walking in the direction headed towards the kitchen.

"Stop what?" Moiraine asked while trying to keep up with her long strides.

"With smiling." Siuan said, slowing her pace.

"What's wrong with smiling?" Moiraine asked, smiling wider.

"It makes me feel uncomfortable." Siuan answered without changing her stride.

"Well, you smiled first." Moiraine said, still trying to keep up with Siuan's slow pace but long strides.

"And that doesn't mean you should smile as well." Siuan answered again.

"But I feel like smiling as well. Is something wrong with that?" Moiraine asked incredulously.

"Are you like that?" Siuan said, slowing her pace and shortening her strides

"Like what?" Moiraine asked again.

"You keep on asking questions." Siuan said, stopping and letting Moiraine walk a little ahead of her. Looking at Moiraine, arms crossed, she waited.

"Well, for one, are you also like that? What did I do to you? To be that rude and harsh?" Moiraine asked back.

Because you're a lady. And Nobles irk me! Siuan wanted to shout that, but she just couldn't. One look at this Moiraine Damodred, and she knows that this woman is far from what other nobles' attitude are. She had a feeling that this woman is gentle, sweet and loving.

Light! What am I thinking?!

Shaking her head, Siuan said, "Sorry. I . . . I'm not used with nobles talking to me as if they find my company inviting. And you, a Damodred. Well, what do you expect? I know nothing of how to receive a noble much more talk to one. That's why it made me feel uneasy being near you."

"Is that so?" Moiraine said, sadness slowly becoming evident in her face. "I guess I'd be going."

"Wait!" Siuan grabbed Moiraine's hand and looked at the woman straight in the eyes. Such beautiful eyes, one could drown in them forever. "I'm sorry, I am just a fisherman's daughter and I don't know how to mingle with the likes of you. I didn't mean to offend. I . . . I wish I haven't. I'm sorry Moiraine."

Smiling at Siuan, Moiraine touched the hand touching her right hand and said. "No, I understand. I didn't know you're a Tairen, not until I heard you speak. I know how Tairens' think about the High Lords of Tear. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have flaunted my name like that. I like you, and that's one of the reason why I was looking at you yesterday. I like you."

"You? Like me?" Siuan asked, somewhat flabbergasted.

"Yes, as a friend. I like you to be my friend. If you'll have me for one Siuan." Moiraine said with that warm smile again.

Such pretty face. Pretty-doll faced woman. Light! Blushing, Siuan tried to speak.

"Yes, friends. It's nice knowing you Moiraine." Siuan said, giving Moiraine one of her smiles. Light! You are getting out of your head Siuan! Why would a lady like you as more than a friend?! And WHY WOULD YOU ask or even EXPECT for SOMETHING like that?! Silly!

They were in that predicament when the second toll of the tower bell rang again. Walking faster than they did a while ago, they headed straight into the kitchen, knowing that a busy day lay ahead for them - for the two of them.





...




TBC

Edited by Jaime Jai'melar, 18 February 2011 - 04:49 PM.

[Jaime Jai'melar]

Chapter 3: Snow



The days seem to pass by for Siuan and Moiraine. Their first encounter - ugly it may seem, even awkward - had been the turning point of their lives in the tower. Beneath their bickering and differences during that first encounter, they still turned out to be the best of friends. Novice life in the tower was never easy, a lot of Accepted and Aes Sedai attest to that and having a companion - a friend - had made life a little more fair for the two of them. Days became weeks and weeks turned to months but their friendship never wavered. Soon enough, winter arrived. It was the first time for Siuan to actually see snow. She had been skeptic about snow long before she arrived at the tower. She thought snows and blizzards are peddlers and gleemen tales; things out of children stories. Even at first, when Moiraine told her what a snow looks like and feels like she had been somewhat skeptic and unbelieving. Things from gleemen tales do not come true that easily! But then, as the months pass them by, Siuan came to realize that if the One Power is real despite being something short of only a gleeman's tale, then snow could be real.

Her life at the tower had always been full of surprises that Siuan thought a simple snow wouldn't make her look like a child going out at sea to fish for the first time. But then, shock had enveloped her when one morning she woke up to find snow lining her windowsill. She was so entranced by what she saw that she couldn't help herself. She looked into it and saw the whole city of Tar Valon covered with snow. Picking up her white woolen cloak to cover herself, she rushed outside and knocked on Moiraine's door.

"Moiraine, open up." Siuan said a little loudly but not too loud to wake everyone up. "Moiraine?"

"Coming." Moiraine answered which made Siuan smile. That sweet voice never failed to make her smile.

Without even bothering to cover herself properly, Moiraine opened her door. Scratching her eyes out, with her hair disheveled and wearing nothing but her shift, Moiraine made Siuan looked stunned. Eyes wide and mouth hanging open, Siuan looked at Moiraine. She had never seen Moiraine in her shift like that. Never! Cairhienin propriety prevented Moiraine to let people see her even in her shift, and Siuan was not an exemption. Until now. Looking at Siuan, Moiraine's face suddenly turned into a bemused look.

"What's wrong Siuan? It's too early. Siuan?" The last part was somewhat interjected firmly by Moiraine.

Looking at what Siuan was staring at, Moiraine blushed as if seeing herself for the first time. Unable to control herself, she slammed the door right at Siuan's face. Light! Siuan had no right to ogle - ogle - at her like that! No right! Siuan could just tell her outright that she's just in her shift! And yet Siuan just stared like some . . . well, thinking about how Siuan ogled at her made her smile and blush at the same time. That woman could really sometimes forget herself when she's with Moiraine. Well, Moiraine tends to forget herself when she's with Siuan as well.

Shaking her head, she hastily grabbed her cloak, white like Siuan's, and brushed her hair briefly, and once she's ready - opened her door again to meet a Siuan rubbing her nose fiercely with water in her eyes.

"Oh no! Siuan, did I hurt you? I'm sorry I didn't mean. I -" Moiraine didn't know what to do. Trying to grasp Siuan's hand that's rubbing her nose, she checked it.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. This is what I deserve for . . ." Whatever Siuan was about to say was left into inaudible sound when she just harrumphed.

"Siuan?" Moiraine asked.

"I'm fine Moiraine. Don't worry." Siuan said smiling.

This woman never failed to make my heart skip a beat every time she smiles. Oh Siuan! Don't smile too much please? Don't.

Try as hard as she could, Moiraine couldn't get hold of a logical reason of why Siuan's smile could make her heart dance a funny jig. As if unable to control herself from holding Siuan's face, she just peered at Siuan as if searching for any additional bruise that she might have inflicted to Siuan.

"Um . . . Moiraine, you could stop now. I'm fine now, really I am, no need to peer like I'm a fish being sold out to market for a high price." Siuan said, somewhat stumbling through her words and blushing.

"Oh yes. Yes." Moiraine said, hastily removing her hands on her Siuan's face making the other blush more furiously.

Silence.

"Hey." Siuan said, trying to break the ice.

"Yes?" Moiraine asked, giving Siuan a shy smile.

"Snow." Siuan just said, still trying to cover her incessant blushing.

"What Siuan?" Moiraine asked, confused.

"I mean, snow. The snow. Outside." Siuan is continuously blushing and stumbling through her words and at the same time pointing at the huge windows of the Novice quarters.

Looking at the windows Siuan are pointing out, Moiraine's face broke into a smile.

"Snow! Wow! I didn't notice it last night when I slept. I was too tired to even notice." Looking at Siuan, her eyes turned to slits. "Don't tell me, you've known this all along and you kept it from me. You promised that I would be able to see your reaction on how the snow affected you and yet you had waited until just now? Siuan."

"No! No! I just woke up. I felt the cold wind and the cold walls surrounding me as if I am touching ice with my bare skin. And then I woke up and I saw that. Snow. I stared like a lout there Moiraine, but after a few seconds - mind you! Just a few seconds! - I grabbed my cloak and knocked at your door." Giving Moiraine a look, she added, "Now! What are you giggling at?"

"You." Moiraine said in between stifled laughter.

"Me? What about me?" Siuan asked, wondering.

"Your reaction." Moiraine said, laughing openly with tears in her eyes.

"My reaction? About the snow?" Siuan said, her eyes turning to furious slits, added, "Fine! Laugh all you want Moiraine Damodred! Laugh!"

As if finding Siuan's reaction as funny as something could get, Moiraine continuously laughed.

"I said STOP LAUGHING! Moiraine?!" Siuan said, getting mad and frustrated by the second.

"I . . . sorry but I can't . . . you were so defensive Siuan. I am not mad actually but you were -" Moiraine stopped short when she saw Siuan walking, leaving her alone. Touching her left cheek when something wet touched it made her draw the conclusion that she just made Siuan cry. Siuan never cried, not even when they're being switched by Merean Sedai because of something they had done wrong. Siuan who never shed one tear in front of every novice when the Accepted Elaida made fun of her when she couldn't understand one word from the old tongue before.

Light! What did you just do Moiraine?

Following Siuan, Moiraine tried to quicken and lengthen her strides, but Siuan was a hand taller than her with longer strides. No matter how hard she tries to reach Siuan in time, she just couldn't. The woman seem to walk faster when she sensed that Moiraine was following her.

"Siuan." Moiraine tried calling her but Siuan wouldn't just look at her and stop, instead, she lengthen her strides more making it difficult for Moiraine to catch up. She's afraid to run just so she could reach Siuan, she's afraid that if she does, Siuan would run as well. She cannot make herself run. They'll be making so much noise if it will come to that.

"Siuan!" Moiraine called Siuan again, a little louder and firmer.

As if trying her patience, Siuan ran. Bemused and shocked, Moiraine followed suit. Light! Please don't let any Aes Sedai or even Accepted see me running, following Siuan or else another switching from Merean Sedai would surely touch me! These words keep ringing in Moiraine's head that she almost slammed herself to Siuan when the other abruptly stopped running. Looking around her, she saw that they were able to head straight to the courtyard without meeting anyone. Luck!

"Siuan?" Moiraine called again, this time softer and with a touch of regret in it for what she did.

Siuan's back was turned to Moiraine, never moving an inch, her head bowed while tears are streaming down her face. She had received insults since she was still a child. People tend to tease her and make fun of her. Until she came to the tower some could really make her feel small like Elaida for one. But she was never hurt by anyone the way Moiraine just did. It's lousy, lame, to cry because Moiraine laughed at her. No matter that the reason was not the snow, it still touched a nerve when Moiraine laughed.

"Being a fisherman's daughter was never easy Moiraine." Siuan said, trying to calm herself with her back turned. "It was never easy. I could never get a proper education, women of my age should have. With that privilege being denied to me, people tend to belittle me. That's why I always show them that I could prevent myself from crying. I promised myself that they could never make me feel so small by making me cry. I promised that much Moiraine. Even when Elaida made me look like a fool when she made me explain what that accursed old tongue means I didn't cry, instead, I studied harder, I doubled my efforts to make her eat every insult I received from her."

"Siuan?" Moiraine said, almost in a whisper. She couldn't find the exact words to say. She had hurt Siuan - she who had promise to never hurt the other. Tears started to fall down Moiraine's face.

"I promised to myself I would never cry. But I . . ." Siuan broke down and sat on the edge of one of the stone bench surrounding the fountain with a woman balancing a flame in her hand and hugged herself while crying.

As if unable to help herself, Moiraine sat beside Siuan and hugged her while crying as well.

"I'm sorry Siuan. I didn't mean to. I didn't. Believe me." Moiraine said in between tears.

"Light! I promised myself to not cry. I know you didn't mean to Moiraine. But that reaction of yours. I couldn't help but feel so small. I couldn't . . . I -" Siuan's words were left hanging on the air when she noticed Moiraine crying as well.

"Why are you crying Moiraine?" Siuan asked.

"Because I made you cry and I couldn't bear that. I'm sorry Siuan." Hugging Siuan tighter to herself, Moiraine buried her face in Siuan's neck stifling her cries.

"I . . . Moiraine. Please stop. I was the one who was supposed to cry, not you." Siuan said, unable to control her smile despite the fact that Moiraine just laughed at her and made her cry.

"Sorry." Moiraine said, wiping her tears away.

"You're such a cry-baby Moiraine." Siuan teasingly said.

"Yes, I am Siuan when it comes to you, I am a cry-baby. I cannot stop myself from getting hurt whenever you're hurt too." Moiraine said in between her deep breaths.

"Moiraine." Siuan said, somewhat taken aback. Tears sliding down her cheeks again.

"What? What did I say? Siuan, please stop crying. I'm really sorry. Please?" Moiraine said, cupping Siuan's face, she added, "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Nah! I am fine. It's just that I also happen to cry a lot when you're around. Whether it is good or bad, touchy or not, you always make me cry. But it's alright. I could cry if it's for you Moiraine." Siuan said trying to smile while wiping her tears away.

"You do?" Moiraine asked her eyes widening. Siuan would if it's for me? ME?

"Yes. You're worth every tear Moiraine." Siuan said, smiling openly.

"Siuan!" Moiraine almost cried out loud and as if taking Siuan for a surprise, hugged the woman tight to the point of throwing herself at Siuan. Siuan was taken off-guard that she lost her balance thus making them both fall down in the fountain of icy-cold water.

Pushing themselves out of the cold water, Siuan grabbed hold of Moiraine's hand, scared that the woman would shook to death because of the cold water. "Moiraine! What do you . . . t-think you're doing huh?" She said in between chattering of teeth.

"Sorry Siuan." Looking at the two of them and their funny predicament, Moiraine laughed again, "We're so wet Siuan, they could just say that we fought each other until we fell down the fountain."

"Not if we channel this water out." Siuan said with a mischievous grin. Without waiting for a reply from Moiraine, she channeled the water out of their hair and cloaks, after which she let it fall in the fountain with a loud splash.

"If you were seen Siuan!" Moiraine said.

"No one's looking Moiraine." Siuan said, offering her hand to Moiraine and walking back towards the inner part of the tower.

"No one's looking, but someone could've sensed you channeling Siuan." Moiraine said, shaking her head. Siuan really had the habit of breaking rules and bringing her in to be punished as well.

"I was careful." Siuan answered back.

"Careful?" Moiraine paused when they entered a hallway with a servant adding light to some of the lamps, when the servant passed by, she added, "You were as careful as a newborn babe crawling towards the edge of his mother's bed! If you were caught -"

"But I'm not. And that settles it Moiraine. Stop worrying over something that you shouldn't really. Stop worrying about a school of silverpike when you're catching a boat-full of fish. Besides, you would still be freezing cold with that water dripping over you. And that could definitely get us into trouble." Siuan interjected with a smile.

"I'm not saying anything anymore Siuan." Moiraine said smiling, as if seeing Siuan shivering - channeling the water out of their hair and clothes didn't save them from the extreme cold - added, "Hey, I'll make tea for both of us. Come on. It's our rest day, and after tea we could do advance studies for our lectures and then we could try practicing the weaves we should be showing Verin Sedai next week or we -"

"Oh! Moiraine, stop that!" Siuan said grimacing as she heard every plan about studying that Moiraine is laying out to her.

" - or we could just spend the whole day together Siuan." Moiraine said with a smile which deepened when she saw Siuan stopping at her tracks. As if understanding what happened to Siuan, she grabbed hold Siuan's hand and said, "Come on, we have the whole day to be together and stop looking like you were just hit in the head Siuan, alright?"

Walking towards her room, the two of them were giggling long before they reach the stairs leading to the novice quarters. Spending the whole day with you Moiraine? That's a dream come true more than seeing snows or even channeling Saidar. Yes it is even better than that. Holding Moiraine tighter, Siuan's smile broadened as she let herself follow Moiraine back to her room. Excitement rushing through her veins for what awaits them.




...




TBC

Edited by Jaime Jai'melar, 25 February 2011 - 02:17 AM.

[Jaime Jai'melar]

Chapter 4: A Winter's Kiss


"ACHOOO!"

Siuan had been sneezing for the past three hours. How can she possibly be able to anticipate what Moiraine just did, pushing her into the fountain making them both wet and cold -Burn this bloody winter!- not to mention freezing? Burn this bloody nose! Rubbing her nose for the hundredth time, she diverted her look to Moiraine. The woman had been rummaging in her things for the past ten minutes for something she want to show to Siuan. Looking around Moiraine's room, Siuan noticed something - Moiraine had the knack of making things organized as they could possibly get, thus making her cramp novice room look big and inviting for - You stop that Siuan! - she told herself as a thought popped in her head. Shaking her head ruefully Siuan tried to make her mind think about a different thing. Think of something nice, something white, like snow, the clouds, the walls of Moiraine's room, Moiraine's novice dress, the shift and her silky, white skin - Now! Stop it!

"Huh? What should I stop Siuan?" Moiraine asked with her round and dark eyes filled with questions and wonder.

Bloody mouth of a dimwitted fish!

"Ah. Ah. Nothing Moiraine, I had just been thinking about something and I . . . " Siuan couldn't make herself say what she was thinking about and just ended her sentence in a forced laugh.

"Siuan . . ." Moiraine said, looking at her askance.

"Y-yes?" Siuan asked trying to force a smile in her nervous face.

"You can't keep secrets from me, you know that right? And even if you could, you won't. Am I correct?" Moiraine said, straightening herself and her white dress, walked towards Siuan and sat beside her.

"O-of course . . . of course I won't." Siuan answered, one look at Moiraine's triumphant face, she hastily added, "But still, there are things that are too hard to say or even admit especially to a friend."

"Admit? Admit what Siuan?" Moiraine said, trying her best not to look as if she's forcing or goading Siuan to tell her what she was thinking.

"Some things." was all Siuan said.

"Things. It means, you're keeping things from me. And not just a thing, you said 'things' Siuan. I thought I am your friend?" Moiraine asked.

"Yes you are Moiraine! But -" Siuan exasperatedly.

"Then you can tell me everything." Moiraine said with a satisfied smile.

"B-but . . ." Siuan stammered.

"No buts Siuan. I wouldn't hear of it. Now tell me." Moiraine said with a mischievous grin.

"You're a bully! You could make me feel like we're playing words here! Like we're always involved with Daes bloody Dae'mar!" Siuan said, sulkily.

"You know I'm not. And you know you're the bully, not me. Why you always get to Sheriam's nerves, even Myrelle's and they're Accepted. You tend to get your way around those two." Moiraine said, with amusement in her voice.

"Well, they don't have the backbone to stand up for what they should be doing in the first place." Scoffed Siuan.

"Sheriam's a Saldean. And they are known with their temper and they are very good with knives. Myrelle's Altaran and Altarans do not easily let go of their pride. And Siuan, they are both Accepted and we are novices but you can twist them around like puppets. A real Aes Sedai indeed, and a real bully." Moiraine said, smiling widely.

"Correction, Myrelle just turned Accepted a few days back. And the last time I bullied my way through her - if that is what you call it Moiraine - was when she's still a novice like us. And I know what's a Saldean and an Altaran, thank you very much." Siuan said with a raised eyebrow.

"What about Sheriam then?" Moiraine said, smiling while shaking her head.

"What about her?" Siuan asked.

"You bullied your way with her to get what you want. A free time to do mischievous things." Moiraine said, laughing.

"Well . . . is it my fault if she doesn't have the nerve to stand up with what she must do? Saldean or no, she just couldn't." Siuan said laughing, and adding in jest, "But then, I can't make Leane bend down, no matter what I do. And I totally admire her for that. Totally."

Abruptly, Moiraine's laughter faded and her smile slightly slid off. Being as observant as she was, Siuan saw that momentary slip.

"Moiraine?" Siuan said, smiling and making her eyes into slits added, "Do you have anything against Leane?"

"Not entirely." Was all Moiraine said.

"Not entirely? But still, yes?" Siuan asked with curiosity lining her face.

"Siuan." Moiraine said trying to look pissed off with Siuan. Well, I am pissed off! Why do you have to include that Domani woman about?!

"Yes?" Siuan said, smiling.

"Do you like Leane?" Moiraine asked.

"Like her? Who wouldn't like her Moiraine?" Siuan asked.

"Well . . . what do you like about her?" Moiraine continued to ask.

"Like about her . . . um, she's tall for one, I like her height. No, not just like, I love it. And her skin color, copper-skinned. And she's slender and -" Siuan said.

"No she's not slender, she's thin as a reed." Moiraine interjected angrily.

"Whoa! What's wrong with you Moiraine? Why are you mad all of a sudden? Are you sick? Should I call an Aes Sedai?" Siuan asked, worry creasing her forehead as she tried to touch Moiraine's skin.

"I'm fine alright? I am." Moiraine answered, gruffly.

"Now! What's wrong with you, really?" Siuan said, clutching both of Moiraine's arms.

"Nothing. Why don't you just go to that Domani Accepted and try spending your whole free time with her since you like her so much." Moiraine answered, removing Siuan's hands on her arms.

"You're jealous." Siuan said, staring straight at Moiraine - looking at nothing else, but Moiraine.

"So what?" Moiraine said, angrily.

"Why would you be?" Siuan asked, with just a hint of a smile.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Moiraine asked Siuan back.

"Because you're my best friend, and Leane's just a friend." Siuan answered looking at nothing but Moiraine.

"But you said you like her. Like her, even love her." Moiraine said.

"No. I didn't say I love her, what I said is that I love her height." Siuan answered.

"So, you're implying that my height is something you would never come to love as well, since I am small?" Moiraine answered back, the heat on her eyes - evident.

"I didn't say I don't love you or even your height Moiraine! For light's sake, you're my best friend." Siuan said exasperatedly.

"And I hate you for seeing me as something short of being just a best friend! I hate you! Why do you have to look at that lanky chit of a woman? When I am here in front of you! Why do you have to pine for her and admire her when you wouldn't do so for me?! Why do I have a feeling that no matter how good I could get you wouldn't look twice at me the way I want you too! Why do you have to be such an insensitive wo-" Moiraine shouted at Siuan, when she was cut short.

Siuan's kissing her! Thoroughly kissing her! Everything happened so fast that she wasn't able to brace herself with what's about to come. She was so driven by her frustration at how Siuan admires Leane that she just let herself out. Being a noblewoman she had learned to rein her emotions as good as an Aes Sedai could. But whenever Siuan's around, she always bungled her way. I love you Siuan.

Light! It feels good! Siuan's lips taste like honey, and the way she kisses Moiraine makes the other forget what they were fighting about. Moiraine had always dreamed about what it would feel like to be kissed by Siuan. Her dreams had made her woke up in the middle of the night sweating and flushing furiously. Now, no more dreams for me. No more. Clutching Siuan's hair, pulling Siuan towards her, she kissed the woman back. Opening herself to Siuan, letting the woman explore her and taste her. The ecstasy that Siuan's kiss is giving her, made her moan and catch her breath. Moiraine lost track of how long they savored the taste of each others lips. When at long last they parted, both of them breathing real hard.

"Moiraine, I am not crazy for her. Never. And I'm sorry if I don't admire you. I don't." Siuan said, cupping Moiraine's face in her hands, blue eyes looking intently at those dark eyes of hers. "I just don't admire you Moiraine. I . . . "

"Y-you . . ." Moiraine said, breathing raggedly as if she had ran a mile without stopping.

"I love you Moiraine Damodred. I love you more than a friend. More than what's proper." Siuan said, closing her eyes, fearing that at the moment she opens them, Moiraine would look at her accusingly.

"Open your eyes Siuan, and say that again, straight to my face." Moiraine whispered, fearing that Siuan would hear in her voice the fear and excitement of what she had just heard from the woman.

Opening her eyes, Moiraine admired Siuan's blue eyes. Eyes that had never failed to make her catch her breath, eyes that tell a thousand things to her - things she could not understand but loved, eyes that had become her solace and source of strength. Eyes that made her love without inhibitions, for the first time in her life.

"Moiraine, I love you. I love you so much." Siuan said, brushing Moiraine's cheek.

"Siuan, oh Siuan! I love yo-"

Whatever she's about to say to Siuan was stopped short when her door opened with a loud crash. Looking at the intruder, her eyes became wide with shock. Merean Sedai was standing at the doorway, wearing her shawl and a calm, set face.

"Moiraine Damodred, you are summoned by the Tower to take the test that will determine if you are fit to become Accepted."

Stunned silence.




...




TBC

Edited by Jaime Jai'melar, 25 February 2011 - 02:33 AM.

[Olivia]

I've been really busy lately so I've been waiting until I had plenty of spare time to plonk myself down and read your fanfiction. And your story did not disappoint! I enjoyed the read. It's fun to explore how they might have met and the kind of things they could have gotten up to as novices, and you did a decent job interpreting their characters.

Yay for Verin's small appearance! I like that she was the one who "discovered" Siuan. I also liked the references to how Accepted Elaida bullied them. And I really liked Siuan's reaction to snow, I've often wondered what that must have been like for her as a Tairen to see snow for the first time, especially since I myself come from a place where it doesn't snow. And I liked their first kiss.

"Bloody mouth of a dimwitted fish!" That line got a chuckle out of me. Siuan's language is always hilarious. I'm looking forward to the rest of your story! Keep up the good work.

[Jaime Jai'melar]

Chapter 5: Summoned by the ring


Summoned for a testing.

Moiraine cannot seem to comprehend what Merean Sedai just said. She will be tested for the ring and become an Accepted for just a span of one year? That's impossible! No one in the history of the tower had ever been an Accepted in just a span of one year! Much even less! Oh yes, she knows what would happen once she's there, the Aes Sedai had told her that much. But knowing and actually being there are two different things. Casting Siuan a side-way glance, she noticed that the woman was awestruck and unbelieving of what she had just heard. And one look at Siuan made her worry for herself more and more. As if sensing her fear of what lays ahead of her, Siuan smiled and tried to touch her arm in a very comforting way.

"You can do it Moiraine, you'd be an Accepted soon! That would be great right? Accepted and that sinuous ring on your finger. That's the best gift one novice could receive in just a year of rigorous study." Siuan said, reassuringly.

Too reassuringly Siuan, you're making me nervous.

"You think so?" was all Moiraine was able to asked.

Siuan was about to answer when Merean Sedai spoke.

"The Amyrlin Seat wouldn't allow you to take the test if she sees that you're not ready. It is unusual for a novice to be tested for the ring with just a span of one year like Siuan said. But then, there are changes coming to our midst and we must learn to ride with those changes child. You better get ready and wear your novice white. No matter that you are to be tested and it was announced in haste; it would still be improper for you to attend the testing with just your shift on."

Blushing, Moiraine gave a curtsy and headed for her closet while Merean Sedai continued with her litany.

"Siuan, let's leave Moiraine in peace while she readies herself for the testing. Come! I won't allow dallying from you child. And from you too Moiraine, better make it quick."

Busying herself from rummaging for a clean Novice dress, Moiraine heard a ruffle of clothes, shuffling of feet and a door clicking before making herself sigh and hug herself in fear of what lays ahead. She yearns for Siuan's comforting hug once more, for the last time, she wanted to be hugged by Siuan. Sighing, she continued looking for a Novice dress and readied
herself for the task that awaits her.

-----------------------------

Looking back at the closed door of Moiraine's room, Siuan gave a sigh. How could something as good as knowing that Moiraine liked her too could be so sweet and fleeting at the same time? It was good to know that Moiraine had feelings for her too, but why does Merean Sedai have to be so wicked as to take away the chance to be with Moiraine the way she wanted to for even just a few more years. As if knowing what's running from her mind, Merean Sedai spoke.

"What are you still doing there, dallying? Haven't I made myself clear back there that I hate novices who dally? Much more Accepted?" Merean Sedai said in a firm voice.

"Merean Sedai I -" Siuan stopped short. What did Merean Sedai said? Accepted? Could it be that the Aes Sedai had just missed on something or is she trying to get Siuan a clue of something else. You and your bloody moments with Moiraine! You're starting to think that everything that a person says - especially an Aes Sedai - had some twists in it! Merean Sedai could just have had a slip of the tongue, something that says even Accepted should tread carefully around her. But.

The incredulous stare from her seem to make Merean Sedai smile.

"You are a smart woman Siuan. You see things that other people - even Aes Sedai - would normally miss or even take for granted. And by the look on your face, you haven't missed one bit of what I really mean to say." Merean Sedai said, and further on, added, "Yes, you seem to understand what I said perfectly. Now, if you would hurry?"

"I . . . Merean Sedai. I don't understand, you are mistaken, I . . ." Siuan said, looking at anything but the Aes Sedai.

"What is it that you don't understand child?" the Aes Sedai asked.

"Why? How? I don't get it? Why did you . . ." Siuan said, trying to sound confused and making the Aes Sedai say what she's got to hear, outright.

Squinting at her, the Aes Sedai placed her hands on her hips and said in a very firm voice that brooked no nonsense from Siuan, "Now! I don't want you playing word games with me child! I want you to get yourself ready as well, and wait for me until I call for you to be tested!"

"T-tested Merean Sedai?" Siuan said, eyes widening in shock at knowing that what she had thought from the moment the Aes Sedai had let it slipped was true.

"Siuan Sanche!" Merean Sedai said in a stern voice.

"Y-yes Merean Sedai, I will go now Aes Sedai." and without a further glance, offered a curtsy and went straight to her room, locking herself and cursing for the thousand feelings running amok her very system. Knees giving away, she slowly slide down her door, clutching herself.

They would both be tested for the ring, she and Moiraine. Which means they could still be the way they used to be with no rank or position barring them from one another. Laughing despite herself, she shook her head. How could she possibly think of such things when something as important as the testing awaits her? Being in love seems to make her mind go cloudy and slow in terms of thinking.

In love.

How could she possibly be in love with a woman? That's just absurd. Yes, she's boyish and even rough at the side but she had never considered herself to be in love with someone like her - a woman! No matter how rough she could get, and no matter how tough she becomes, Siuan Sanche doesn't allow herself to fall easily for someone like Moiraine. A lady and a woman - not to mention someone aspiring to become an Aes Sedai. Like you.

Despite staying in the tower for a year now, she's still having a hard time driving the real things she do there into her system. It's as if, she had been living in a magical world - a world that only come true in dreams. And to top it all off, she had a friend like Moiraine. A friend - yes, that's it for now, a friend. If they'll ever see this through, then maybe they can properly talk about it and sort things out between them. That little woman had really made her world go upside down with back flips to boot! She had never thought that a peasant like her could be as intimate as she could get with a noble - a lady! - a niece of the king of a rich country. Such relationships are being looked down by Tairen, and being so downright impossible, Siuan had prevented from dreaming such extravagant dreams.

"But then, dreams do come true." Siuan said to herself. "And Moiraine is a living proof of that."

Smiling, Siuan opened her closet and started to look for a clean novice white dress. Despite the fact that she would be tested soon after Moiraine, she still feels a type of fulfillment for knowing that somehow Moiraine reciprocates what she felt. After this, they would be spending a lot of time together. But what if I don't pass the test? What if I fail to go back, would there be still enough time for us to be together? Less chance that it would come to that Siuan! Get a bloody grip on yourself!

Frowning, Siuan suddenly felt something else, the euphoria that had overwhelmed her because of what had just happened between the two of them made her coping mechanism to cover up something that she should be feeling jumpy - the testing. Feeling cold and clammy, she tried to reorganize her thoughts for the test, but it seems like her motor movements, her deft fingers seem to move on their own accord. She is shaking! The fear of the upcoming test had suddenly dawned on her, as if hitting her by a cudgel! With shaking legs, Siuan tried to calm herself by sitting at the edge of her bed. She feared that if she would try to stand, her knees would definitely give her away.

"Oh light! How could things possibly go as fast as it could possibly get? Oh light! I am not ready, am I?" Siuan asked herself, worry starting to eat her whole heart out.

The Amyrlin Seat wouldn't allow you to take the test if she sees that you're not ready.

"Oh, of course, the Amyrlin knows what to do! She knows my capacity more than I do! Oh yes! That's it! It's as if I don't know that I cannot do it, not yet, not now." Siuan tried to reason out on the white-washed wall of her cramped room.

Siuan, you could always say 'no' for the first time. Sheriam did. It's no shame saying to Merean Sedai that you can't do it yet, not now. A little voice said in Siuan's head.

But then, if I would be saying no, I have to live with the fact that I had been a coward because of some test. Be it a test for becoming an Accepted. One more thing, if I say no, if I will back down, then maybe I am not fit to become an Aes Sedai at all. Shaking her head at that thought, Siuan frowned. No! I will not back down! I need to do this and I need to pass the test, no matter what it may cost me, I will pass it! May the light drown me and leave me hanging to dry like a fish at noon if I will not do this!

Squaring her shoulder as if she's ready to be in a fight, Siuan opened her door and saw Merean Sedai already waiting for her outside. One look at her questioning face, the Aes Sedai said "The test for the ring had begun Siuan, Moiraine is downstairs finishing the test. After the whole process, you would be next. Follow me child."

And off they go, heading straight to where the test for becoming an Accepted is being held. Downstairs. Walking along the deserted corridors and hallways leading to the testing place, made her hair stand on the back of her head. And as Siuan took the first step towards the winding staircase leading to the area where she will be tested, she uttered a prayer. Light! Please, let me see this through. I try to be strong, but I am slowly cringing from the inside because of fear. Light! Cover me with your power and help me see this through. Mother.





...




TBC

Edited by Jaime Jai'melar, 26 February 2011 - 02:00 PM.

[Jaime Jai'melar]

Chapter 6: A Test of Acceptance

Moiraine feels like she's being measured by the inch and weighed by the ounce of her whole being as she tried to remove all the stitches that cover her entire body. They say that once you go to the test you should do it without anything to protect you - nothing but the light. I had been taught this for my entire days as novice here but then, nothing saved me from this feeling! Light! Why can't I just do it with my clothes on? I could definitely use some decent shift in here, even just a shift. Shaking her head, Moiraine removed her shift, making her as bare like the day she was born. Turning and facing the Aes Sedai surrounding the three ter'angreal she took three deep breaths. Looking around for a sign of Merean Sedai, she took one wary step through. The Aes Sedai was nowhere to be found, instead, Sierin Vayu took her place. The stern faced Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah, pushed her gently towards an Aes Sedai she had never seen but belongs to the Yellow Ajah because of the yellow shawl draped around her shoulders standing beside a table with three large silver chalices. When she was almost nearing the Yellow sister, Sierin Sedai clasp her bare shoulder.

"Child, you can still say no, put the test off for another year. It wouldn't be a shame to refuse on your first try. A lot of Accepted and Aes Sedai had said no in their first try." The Aes Sedai said, looking intently at her.

Put the test off? Why, I would, gladly. But no, I am a Damodred and I would show them all that the Amyrlin had not been wrong to suggest that I should take the test. Be that I would be put away from Siuan, I would wait for her. But for now, I will do this. I'll be damned but I won't back down!

"No Aes Sedai, I would do it." Moiraine said with the firmness of someone who had set her path on her mind long before she entered the place.

"Excellent." Sierin Sedai said. "Now, let me tell you two important things that no novice or woman of the tower had ever heard until they come into this point in time. Once you begin the test, you must see it to the very end. To refuse at any point, to back down, will mean that you will be put out of the Tower just as if you had refused to begin for the third time. Next thing to keep in mind is that to seek, strive, and yearn for knowledge is to know danger." The Aes Sedai sounded as if every woman of the tower who had become Aes Sedai had memorized that speech. Moiraine started to wonder if she'll be needing to memorize that line as well once she becomes Aes Sedai when suddenly, the Aes Sedai's voice brought her to the present.

"Some women had entered and never came out. When the ter'angreal was allowed to go quiet, those women who failed to come out were - as the word failed implied - never seen. If you want to survive, you must be steadfast. To feel weak, to falter . . . well, need I say more child?" Rounding on Moiraine, the Aes Sedai added, "Now that you've heard what really happens here, you will be given one last chance to refuse. Refuse now and it will only be your first. You can still be allowed two tries. It is not a shame to say no. There is no shame to feel fear child. Now what? Choose."

Looking around the whole room, Moiraine remembered Sheriam. The woman refused in her first time. Moiraine heard her telling Leane that she did. Not that she gossips like some silly tavern woman. She just heard that coming from Sheriam. Shaking her head, she focused on the matter at hand. They never came out? Moiraine thought, trying to make herself stop from shaking. Aes Sedai calm. "I want to be Aes Sedai, Sierin Sedai. I accept."

"Then we will continue." The Aes Sedai said, nodding, and heading straight towards the Yellow sister. Moiraine was rooted to the spot, she cannot seem to make her feet work. As if sensing that she's not following, the Aes Sedai looked at her.

"Are you deciding to refuse now child? Knowing that it could mean being put out of the tower now?" The Aes Sedai asked.

I cannot refuse now. Not now that I had given my ascent on the matter. Willing herself to move, Moiraine took a step forward, schooling herself and hoping that somehow she looked determined. Nodding again, Sierin Sedai continued walking on. Once they had reached the Yellow sister, Moiraine knows that she cannot stop.

There is no turning back now. The light help me.

"Whom do you bring with you, Sister?" The Yellow sister intoned.

"One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister" Sierin Vayu answered.

"Is she ready?"

"She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her pains, gain Acceptance."

"Does she know her fears?"

"She has never faced them, but now is willing."

"Then let her face what she fears."

Rounding on Moiraine and looking at her eyes in an intent manner, Sierin Vayu said, "The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Nodding, Moiraine took one last look at the three Aes Sedai looking intently at the three ter'angreal, and taking one deep breath, took a step through the arch. Light welcomed her and swallowed her whole being.

---------------------------------------

"Moiraine, child?" A man's voice said from the tall trees blocking her view of the whole courtyard. Walking through the trees, Moiraine tread carefully around the brambles, preventing dried, sharp twigs, from destroying her white silk gown lined with silver lining at the end. Frowning at her dress, Moiraine suddenly had a feeling that this shouldn't be what she was wearing in the first place.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

"Moiraine, my child, what are you doing there? Come here." The man's deep melodious voice called her again.

Looking where the voice was coming she saw her father, Dalresin Damodred, a handsome man with average height even for a Carhienin. Her father had gray lining his temples and he's wearing a dark blue coat slashed with their house color. Seeing his father had made Moiraine's heart yearn for him, as if she haven't seen him for years now. Walking towards him, she noticed a woman with flowing black hair as dark as a raven and as beautiful as she was. The woman was smiling at her -pretty, despite of being sick - the paled face woman seem to be calling Moiraine towards her. Stretching out her hand, the woman waited for Moiraine to walk towards her.

Tears started to fall down Moiraine's eyes, "Mother?"

"My daughter, come to me please? I missed you so much. It's been so long since I last saw you." Smiling, she touched Moiraine's face, wiping the tear that had ruthlessly lined it. "Why are you crying?"

"Because you're here with me again mother." Moiraine said, clutching her mother's frail arms.

"I had always been with you daughter. In your mind, heart and soul. The same that you had always been in mine. Now, hush. Do not cry. I am still here, although I feel like I don't have much time anymore. I think, mother is not as strong as she used to sweetheart." Her mother smiled, smiles that never touched the eyes.

"Mother, please don't say such words." Moiraine said, when suddenly a voice popped out in her mind.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Looking where the voice came from, Moiraine saw an oval shaped arch filled with light. One look at that arch, Moiraine felt a tugging of her whole mind and body, urging her to move towards it. Loosening her grip from her mother's arms, she started to walk towards the arch when suddenly, she heard her mother's voice cry out in pain.

"Aaaaaah! It hurts! Light! Dalresin, Moiraine, help me. It hurts!"

"My wife! Don't! Please hold on!" Looking at Moiraine, Dalresin grabbed hold of her hand and tried to pull her back towards her mother, saying, "Child, your mother needs you. We need you. Please don't leave."

Removing her father's grip on her, she shook her head. "I'm sorry father but I - I have to go."

"Go? Where? Your mother needs you. Surely, there's nowhere in this world that you need to be but here. Daughter, my child, please."

"No father. I'm sorry. But I . . . I need to go." Tears are streaming down her face now. "Please tell mother that I love her so much and that I will try to do something for her, I promise, I'll ask for help . . . I . . ."

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast

Looking at her father and at the arch, she pulled herself free and run towards the arch, trying to drown her mother's voice of pain and her father's shout of plea.

"Moiraine!"

I'm sorry, I cannot stay father. I'm sorry for failing you mother. I'm sorry. I . . .

-----------------------------------

"I'm sorry. I cannot stay. I have to go, I . . ." Moiraine said, covering her mouth, hoping that somehow she could stifle the tears that are streaming down her face. One look at the whole place, she remembered where she was. And one look at the whole place made her remember every last bit she had encountered in her first test. While crying, cold water seem to drip down her head, looking at the Yellow sister, she tried to control her sobbing.

"You are washed clean," The Yellow sister said, "of what sin you may have done, and of those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul."

Oh light! Can it possibly be so? Can water just wash away what I did to my parents? Leaving my mother to die? Leaving my father helpless? Moiraine cried, while trying to speak.

"My mother, I saw her again. Weak though she may be, but I saw her . . ." Moiraine said, trying to form words, "I . . .oh Light! I was able to h-hug her again. Feel her touch, hear her voice. Nothing could be worthier than that, nothing . . . I . . ."

"I remember what an Aes Sedai told me once when I was being tested, 'There is a price on becoming an Aes Sedai.' Always." Sierin Sedai intoned with a touch of strength in it, as if trying to give some to Moiraine.

"Was it real? Or did I just dreamed it?" Moiraine asked. Knowing the answer for what it is all worth.

"Every woman who had done and gone through the test always asks the same thing. The answer is no one knows child. Even the Browns who seem to garner all types of knowledge cannot give us the reassurance that it was real or it was all just a dream. Some Whites and Browns said that maybe, just maybe, those who weren't able to come out had found a better place, a place where they could be happy at long last. Life will never be fair, and in that arch, everything could be fair. Everything could be as you wish it child. As you well know now. I, for one, think that whatever you found there, depending on how you want to believe it, could be your reality. It's how you see your life that makes it all a difference. Always. But one thing is for sure; the danger it entails is real."

Giving Moiraine one look, Sierin Sedai asked, "Are you ready?"

Calming herself, squaring her shoulders, she nodded. Sierin helped her walk towards the next arch.

"The second is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Light! Whatever happens next, it couldn't be as worse like what I just experienced! No it could not! Taking a deep breath she let the light consume her whole being.

-------------------------------

Knock. Knock. Knock.


A knock on her white-washed door broke Moiraine's reverie about what happened to her the whole day. Walking towards the door, she opened it and was shocked to see Sheriam, looking disheveled and red-eyed. Now, Sheriam is not the type of woman who would cry like that; she's a Saldean for Light's sake! There must be some grave thing that could cause her to cry like that. Accepted are expected to have a reign on their emotions more than anyone in the whole trainees of the tower.

"Sheriam, what can I do for you?" Moiraine asked with diffidence. Much as she loath it, novices are expected to offer some kind of respect for Accepted women, a respect close to Aes Sedai.

"Moiraine, have you seen Siuan?" Sheriam asked.

"Siuan? Wha -" Moiraine schooled herself. She need not show Sheriam that she tend to feel worried every time Siuan is concerned. She loved the woman so much - that she knows now and anything that could bring danger to Siuan could make her worry and maybe loose herself. "No, I did not. Why?"

"She haven't been anywhere that we could find. Do you know where she is?" Sheriam asked again.

"Well, she had a chore of looking out for the horse of Merean Sedai. A nasty chore since she hates horses." Moiraine said.

"Oh well, we looked there, but she's nowhere to be found. We looked here last, hoping that she's here. Do you know where she could possibly go?" Sheriam asked.

"What? I . . . I don't know." Moiraine said, worry creasing her forehead. Where could Siuan possibly go?

"Well, it would be no reason to fret over her absence. You might have gone somewhere else to do some chores but . . ." Sheriam said, biting her lower lip - Now, that's not an Accepted attitude - she added, "Better that you come with me and see for yourself."

Without waiting for Moiraine's reply, Sheriam headed straight towards the stairs. Following suit, Moiraine started to ask a question regarding Siuan but all Sheriam gave her was that she have to see for herself and maybe she could think of some place where they could find Siuan. By the way Sheriam say those words make Moiraine filled with worry.

Why do I have a bad feeling that I wouldn't like what I'll see?

They were already nearing the stable and one look at it made Moiraine's stomach turn into ice. The saddle of Merean Sedai's horse Pepper, lie as if left there with no regard. No, it can't be, Siuan is not like that. She won't leave an Aes Sedai's things like that - askew. No. There's something wrong. Looking around, she couldn't find any sign of Siuan.

"We saw that lying there as if it was left in haste. As if something bad happened to Siuan. Do you know where she could have run off and leave that there?" Sheriam asked.

"Siuan wouldn't run away!" Moiraine shouted but caught herself. One look at Sheriam made her wish that she didn't blurt it out like that. "I'm sorry Accepted, I forget myself."

"Well for -" whatever Sheriam is about to say was cut out short when Shanel Sedai walked in there midst. Her green dress slashed with yellow to indicate her Ajah. One cold look at Sheriam and a pitiful look at Moiraine made both the novice and Accepted hastily offer a curtsy.

"Off with you Sheriam. Go." Shanel Sedai said.

With one worried look at Moiraine, Sheriam offered one last curtsy and headed straight into the opposite direction. Once Sheriam was out of earshot and could no longer be seen, the Aes Sedai focused her attention to Moiraine.

"Child, I know that you are Siuan's closest friend, yes?" The Aes Sedai asked.

"Yes Aes Sedai" Moiraine answered.

"Well, no wonder, she was looking for you. Come on child. We don't have much time." Shanel Sedai said, adding, "Rather, she doesn't have enough time left."

"What do you mean Aes Sedai?" Moiraine said, her heart jumping out of her heart because of fear of what she may found out or even hear.

"Later. Come now child. Walk faster." Shanel Sedai said, making her strides faster and longer thus, forcing Moiraine to walk and almost run to keep up.

Once they reach a room on one of the floors which Aes Sedai offered to those who asked for healing, Moiraine's heart actually froze and her breath caught. Siuan was lying there with a black steel of a knife pierced at her left lower portion of the chest. If Moiraine was not mistaken, Siuan's lung was pierced by that deadly blade. Running towards the sleeping Siuan with a frown on her head and sweat beading her whole face, Moiraine started to cry.

"We cannot do anything else, the only thing left is that she would survive for you to see her, but later . . . child, we're sorry for you and your friend." The Aes Sedai said, a touch of pity in her voice could be heard. Touching her shoulder, the Aes Sedai added, "Talk to her, we can give you both that much." Leaving her alone to talk with Siuan, the Aes Sedai closed the door behind the two of them.

"Siuan?" Moiraine asked, slightly touching her friend's face.

As if hearing her voice, Siuan suddenly had the strength to open her eyes, one look at Moiraine she smiled, "Moiraine. You're here? Funny huh? How I hated horses that much that I grumble so much, thus, I wasn't able to see a grayman doing her dirty job. She's so ordinary Moiraine . . . so . . . ordinary . . . I haven't notice . . . I . . ."

"Siuan, hush now, please? Don't talk too much." Moiraine said in between in her tears.

"Yes . . . argh! It hurts a lot Moiraine, could you please remove it huh? For me?" Siuan asked.

"I think I can but I . . . I could heal that, I have a talent with healing . . . I . . ." Moiraine said in between tears. Light! I know I can heal her! But fool! The Yellow Ajah can't do anything for her. That was steel forged at Shayol Ghul itself!

"You are beautiful Moiraine." Siuan said, as if the fever dream is already taking her over. A sign of loosing hold of life.

"Siuan, please?" Moiraine said. Light! I can do it! I know!

"I had, always . . . yes . . . always . . . admire you, love you." Siuan said, trying to smile but instead she grimaced.

"Don't force yourself to talk please Siuan." Moiraine said.

"I love you . . . Moiraine . . . love you so . . ." Siuan said, heaving as if every word brings her excessive pain.

"I love you too Siuan." Moiraine said in return, wiping the sweat off of Siuan's face.

"Please stay with me here." Siuan said.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

That voice again. I heard it before, but where? Looking around, she saw in one of the walls an arch with shimmering light in it. Removing her hold on Siuan's hand, she stood up and started to walk towards it.

"Mo? Moiraine . . . where are you going? Please? Don't go. Don't leave me. Moiraine." Siuan said in between deep breaths that hurt. "Oh light! It hurts. I can't take it anymore, Moiraine, please remove it? Or else, kill me. Please. It hurts."

Raising her head to look at Moiraine, Siuan added, "Burn it! Where . . . oh Light! It hurts . . . where are you going Moiraine? I love you, please don't leave me. Stay."

Sobbing like a child, Moiraine shook her head. "I cannot Siuan, I love you so much. I love you with all my heart and soul. But I cannot stay. I just can't. Forgive me Siuan."

"Oh! I forgive you Moiraine, but please? Don't go? Moiraine? . . . Moiraine!" Siuan's voice could be heard as Moiraine continuously sob as she took a step toward the arch, letting the light coming from it to totally consume her.

---------------------------------

Stumbling out of the arch, Moiraine hugged herself as tears rain down her face. "Forgive me Siuan. I cannot stay. I . . ."

"You are wash clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us, washed clean in heart and soul." The Yellow sister said. One look at the Yellow sister made her remember everything that happened. But most importantly, the yellow sister was the one who brought her to Siuan in the ter'angreal. Shanel Sedai.

As Shanel Sedai turned away, Sierin Vayu, took hold of her and said, "One more child, one more. Just one more and it is done."

Nodding and following the Aes Sedai, Moiraine tried to stifle her sobs. Light! Siuan! I will never do that to you! Never! Facing her, the Aes Sedai said, "The third is for what will be. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Forcing her feet to take that one last step that would help her become an Accepted, she allowed the light to cover her and begin the last test.

--------------------------------------

"The Hall, awaits for you Sister." Merean Sedai, the Mistress of Novices in her days up to now, said to her.

"Thank you Sister." Moiraine answered. Donning her shawl towards her own shoulder, Moiraine walked out of the Blue Ajah quarters and headed straight for a meeting in the Hall of the tower. They are planning on some action regarding the Dragon Reborn. With a shiver, Moiraine tried to school her face. She had worn the shawl for a hundred years now, and she had been a Sitter for the Blue Ajah for about thirty years now. It was never easy being a Sitter, but the news that the Dragon was truly reborn made things harder for them all. Especially now that the Red Ajah seem to be more persistent in gentling the man. Their hatred for all men, especially for those who channel, seem to go beyond their proper minds. Don't they know that gentling the Dragon Reborn before the end of the Last Battle would only lead to their destruction as well? Better that they try to guide him, but first, they must earn his trust. The Aes Sedai had been culling the ability to channel from men to provide him a comfort at all. No, this should be taken into mind in the proper way, and the Dragon must be guided in ways that wouldn't leave him suspicious of them all. There are too much dissension for her to allow another between the tower and the Dragon. Squaring her shoulders, and schooling her face into Aes Sedai calmness, she entered the Hall of the Tower.

After a few discussions about what they should do. After departing, Moiraine headed straight to her room. I need rest, a good rest would help me think better. She was almost reaching her room when she heard a commotion. Walking towards the noise, down at the lower floors it seemed, she grabbed the hand of the first novice she could see.

"Child, what's all the commotion? Well! Speak!" Moiraine said in a stern voice.

Curtsying, the novice said, "The Amyrlin Seat was deposed. And half of the people in the tower, the warders, even the servants are fighting. Some are trying to keep the Amyrlin safe. Some are trying to keep her in the dungeons Aes Sedai."

Without paying too much attention at the novice's other rumbles, Moiraine headed straight towards the dungeon.

Light! Siuan! What happened to you? Why did they depose you?! No! They could not let that happen without proper trial!

"Siuan!" Moiraine shouted in between her steps down the tower's dungeon.

"Mother?! Siuan!" Moiraine keeps on shouting. Oh light! Answer me Siuan! Please?

Moiraine almost run when suddenly she stopped short. Standing in front of her was Elaida, an Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah. Smirking at her, the woman touched her face. Slapping the hand of the Red Sitter from her face, she said, "What's happening in here Elaida? What's going on? How could you put the Amyrlin Seat in the dungeon?! Have you lost your mind?! She is the Amyrlin Seat!"

"Was." Elaida said, with a smile she added, "The Amyrlin Seat? She's no Amyrlin! How could she allow such a monster, a creature of the Dark One to roam free?! He would cause us another breaking Blue! And if he won't be put under custody of the Red Ajah - the Red Ajah! - he could possibly go insane long before he fight in the Last Battle! But what did Siuan Sanche do?! She had given the custody to you! To the Blue Ajah! It only shows that ties as strong as what you both share could even surpass everything, even the safety of the whole world. You and that woman could get too damned selfish at times, Blue."

"How could you?!" Moiraine tried to channel but then she was taken off guard when she saw that she was blocked from the source!

"See? Pride could get into you sometimes, Blue." Elaida said with a smirk.

"She's of the Damodred's blood. They tend to have such pride Elaida." An Aes Sedai of the White Ajah said. Alviarin is her name.

"Release her, White." Elaida said in a soft voice, and added, "Come, you can see her one last time. But try not to make any nasty move. One wrong move and you could end up like her." Walking down the dark dungeon, she wearily followed Elaida while Alviarin brought up the rear.

One look at Siuan, naked and lying on the floor with nothing but bruises on her delicate skin, Moiraine's whole well-being started to shatter into tiny little pieces. No! It can't be!

"How could you?! Every one is entitled to a trial before being put into these dungeons Elaida! Is that how little you could be?!" Moiraine asked, shouting, without taking her eyes away from the woman who, despite their rank in the tower and the distance it could possibly provide as division between them, she never ceases to love. She tried to control her features, but her eyes are suddenly filled with tears.

"Feel pain inside?" Elaida asked, in almost a whisper.

"I . . ." Moiraine tried to say in between welling of tears, when suddenly, she looked at the other side of the dungeon, an arch is gleaming, inviting her.

"You?" Elaida said with a smile that says she's enjoying how Moiraine cried.

"I will let you pay for this Elaida, someday I will let you!" Moiraine said with words full of contempt and disgust while at the same time turning her back to Siuan and tears running down her face. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Forgive me Siuan, forgive me. I cannot do anything. I know I can. But I had this feeling that I must go somewhere else. I love you, but I know I cannot stay, never. Not now. Not in this time. But somewhere. And somehow I know, within that arch, lies the reality for me. Not this, forgive me.

Walking towards the arch, she could hear Elaida's angry words towards her.

"Is that how you would repay the woman who had made you become a Blue Sitter?! Is that how a Blue should act?! Ha! If I had known! I would never had wasted my efforts in defeating people like you and Siuan. Cowards!" Elaida shouted. "Moiraine?! Come back here! Moiraine!!!"

Letting the shout of Elaida and the pain of leaving the woman she love behind drown her, she entered the arch - letting its light to welcome her one last time, bringing her back to reality.

"Oh Light! Is that all that is meant for me?! To leave her and everyone I love, to let them die without me doing something for them?! Tell me! Oh Light! Is that the price I have to pay to become an Aes Sedai?! IS THAT IT?!" Moiraine said as she stumbled out of the ter'angreal. Looking around, she noticed the Amyrlin Seat - Tamra Ospenya - being offered the last of the silver chalices and at least one representative of every Ajah. Walking towards her, the Amyrlin washed her with the water from the silver chalice.

"You are washed clean of Moiraine Damodred from Cairhien. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul. You are Moiraine Damodred, Accepted of the White Tower. You are sealed to us now."

After saying the words used for the ritual, the Amyrlin handed the empty chalice to one of the Aes Sedai and produced a gold ring shaped in a snake biting its own tail. As if waiting for something, the Amyrlin paused. That's when Moiraine remembered to offer her left hand, and as she did so, the Amyrlin smiled. Sliding the ring towards her middle finger, the Amyrlin said, "Welcome, Daughter." Kissing one cheek then the other, "Welcome."

Looking straight at her eyes, the Amyrlin said, "You are tired, weak, and sleepy because the test had surely drain you of your energy, just like every woman who passed the test. You can go back to your room in the Accepted's quarters and reflect about what just happened. And rest, of course Daughter. But first, wear a clean Accepted dress first."

One of the Aes Sedai, a green she's not familiar with, offered her the Accepted dress. Gave not offered - Aes Sedai don't expect you to think that they are offering something from someone much more an Accepted, they give and you are expected to accept no matter what the consequence would be. Uttering her thanks, she donned the Banded dress. As the she wear the dress for the first time, Moiraine couldn't help but smile. As if the Amyrlin could feel her joy, the woman smiled.

"I know how fulfilling it is to wear that for the first time. It's like wearing the best dress for a feast fit for a king. But you better hurry Daughter. There are a lot of things you need to attend to. Go."

Offering them all a curtsy, Moiraine headed out. Once the door was locked, she ran up the stairs and headed for the Novice's quarters hoping to see Siuan. One look at the door of her friend's old room, she frowned. Locked? From the outside? Like hers? Could it be? Smiling, Moiraine headed straight to the Accepted quarters where she met Sheriam and Myrelle, including Alanna - a dark haired beauty from Arafel.

"Moiraine!" Myrelle said, hugging her friend as if she wasn't able to be with her for more than a year not just two weeks.

"Welcome!" Sheriam said, patting her back like an old friend.

"Oh! Welcome!" Alanna said, offering her hand but hugging Moiraine when she tried to reach for it.

Laughing, Alanna said, "Oh! It's good for you to be here! Now we could spend some time talking together."

"Alanna," a cool and brisk voice said, looking around, they saw a tall, slender woman, with copper skin that walks gracefully even for an Accepted.

"Oh, Leane! Look who is here! Moiraine!" Alanna said.

"I see her Alanna." Leane said without removing her eyes from Moiraine, and added, "It's good for you to be here Moiraine."

"Thank you." Moiraine said. No matter that Siuan said she loves Moiraine. No matter that Siuan kissed her - Now! Don't think about that! - she still find it very uncomfortable to talk to this tall woman because of her height.

Smiling, Leane hugged her. "It's good to have you here Moiraine. Now, we could become friends."

Smiling as well, and feeling warm of heart, Moiraine thought that Leane is tall but kind. And besides, she's not as nasty as Elaida. As if thinking about the woman could bring her right into the scene, the woman's voice sounded.

"So, one of the nasty prankster was able to pass the test?" Elaida said in a not so friendly voice.

"What do you want Elaida?" Myrelle said, in a heated voice.

"Not you, that I'm sure of." Elaida answered coolly.

"What do you mean by one of the pranksters?" Moiraine asked.

"Well, for one, I heard Merean Sedai saying to Shanel Sedai that Siuan would be taking the test as well, after you. So maybe now . . . she's going and failing through the test." Elaida said, smiling broadly for feeling superior because the others don't have an inkling that Siuan was about to take the test as well.

"Really?" Myrelle answered.

"How could you gossip Elaida? You're an Accepted!" Sheriam answered in a scandalized voice.

"Oh stop pretending Sheriam! You know that you gossip more than half of the Accepted here," Elaida said with no regard on Sheriam's angry face, "Besides, I am sure, I just heard it. I didn't mean to pry and meddle with other people's business. You may or may not believe. I don't care. Bye! I have wasted enough time with you than was necessary."

Without any backward glance at them, Elaida headed straight to her own room and closed the door. If it is true that Siuan is in for the test as well, then the Light willing, please protect her. One look at her friends' worried face, she felt the cold ice that seemed to had gripped her while doing the test - this time, not for herself, but for the woman she oh so love.





...




TBC

[Olivia]

Wow, how do you write so fast?

Yay, Moiraine's test. I like that she was a Blue Sitter in the last one, she'd make a good Sitter if it weren't for her wanderlust - I think she'd get bored having to stay in the Tower instead of going out adventuring.

I have a question - why did you shorten their time as novices to one year instead of three like in the book? And why is Elaida still an Accepted, she was an Aes Sedai by the time Moiraine and Siuan became Accepted. No big deal, I was just curious.

Looking forward to next chapter and Siuan's test.

[Jaime Jai'melar]

 Olivia, on 27 February 2011 - 12:42 AM, said:

Wow, how do you write so fast?

Yay, Moiraine's test. I like that she was a Blue Sitter in the last one, she'd make a good Sitter if it weren't for her wanderlust - I think she'd get bored having to stay in the Tower instead of going out adventuring.

I have a question - why did you shorten their time as novices to one year instead of three like in the book? And why is Elaida still an Accepted, she was an Aes Sedai by the time Moiraine and Siuan became Accepted. No big deal, I was just curious.

Looking forward to next chapter and Siuan's test.

Um, because I had forgotten that they became novices for more than two years. And just wait about Elaida

[Erika Sedai]

Wow you are fast!

[~Romanda~]

I am curious about some of the differences too. It isn't often that we get to read AUs, so it can be fun~

It was Merean's horse that Siuan was looking after, and then she was attacked. I love the subtle reference to BA dealings. :>

[Jaime Jai'melar]

Chapter 7: A test of bravery in a School of Silverpikes


The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

"Steadfast? About what?" Looking through the very edge of the fingers of the dragon a mile short near the sea of storms, Siuan stretched her arms for the first time since she had been hauling the nets for fishing long before dawn broke. Her father had told her that they must be done with this before the hustle and bustle of the busy buyers in the streets of the Maule. Frowning at what she had been thinking, Siuan raked her wet fingers on her hair. She had a feeling that she must be steadfast. But about what? She cannot seem to remember what she must be steadfast about, try as she might, she just couldn't.

Burn this bloody thoughts! As slippery as a silverpike caught in a bloody net!

A firm clasp in her shoulder had made her gasp and hastily turned around to face her father, gentle faced but with a grim expression at that very moment. Flashing her best smile at her father, she tried to throw in a hearty laugh. Shaking his head, the graying man sighed.

"How many times do I have to tell you to watch your tongue Siuan?" The graying man asked. Blue eyes like hers looking intently as if trying to drive the words home - boring into her skull.

"Oh. That father?" Siuan said trying to wiggle a way out. She really had a rough tongue, years of helping her father to fish at the fingers of the dragon had not helped in smoothing that out and she guess nothing would ever do so. She's not born for being and acting like a lady or a decent woman. Oh no! She likes being what she is, a woman of the sea. Oh how she even dreams of being with the Sea Folks sailing through the sea of storms. She once voiced it out to her father but to no avail. Her father just shook his head, gave a sigh and said, "Sometimes, I think I shouldn't have allowed you to come with me to be a fisherman's apprentice if there's such. If your mother had been alive, she would be dragging you back to our house doing woman works. And I bet you would -"

"I wouldn't like that father. You know I wouldn't." Siuan butted in with a scowl in her face.

"I know child. But then, your mother is such a sweet woman, and if she's alive, why I know . . . she'll look exactly like you." Her father said with a sad smile.

Siuan hates it when her father becomes so emotional over her mother's death. Her mother died long before she could even take her first breath. They said her mother was training to become a reader like Mother Guenna with promising abilities but then she suddenly became pregnant and somehow became off-balanced with whatever she's doing. They said that her mother was really made to become a wife and a mother not a reader, but then, her mother had been a strong-willed woman and tried to do her job even though she's with child. And then, one time, two nights before her mother gave birth to her, a child broke out with a deadly fever that even Mother Guenna couldn't heal. Everyone had given up on the young child but not her mother. Being strong-willed as Siuan, she went to the child's house and despite being with child, tried all her knowledge and skills just to heal the child. Next morning, the child was well and nothing seem amiss. Everyone was so happy, even Mother Guenna, but when evening arrived her mother broke down with fever and it seems that both the child and the woman would die but when morning came, a shrill cry of a newborn babe could be heard within the quiet street of the Maule and Siuan Sanche was born, while the woman who gave her life died leaving nothing but a perfect resemblance of what she used to be when she's still alive.

Touching her father's cheeks, she smiled. "I love you father. And we will always be together."

"You know we can't daughter. Someday, I will die, and I wouldn't want you to be left alone. I want you to find the man for you and live a happy and contented life." Her father said with a smile.

"Oh! Father! I wouldn't want that. Not yet. And we will always be together." Siuan said with a streak of stubbornness in her voice.

"Now, Siuan, don't be like that. It is a part of life. Accept it, father wouldn't always be there for you. There will come a time that I must leave you. And I -"

"No father. You're all I ever had. I cannot allow that." Siuan said.

"Learn to live with something you cannot change Siuan. Fight the pattern and you'll only live a life of sadness and regret. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart and soul. Don't ever back down, for if you do, you will never know what your life could have been or would have been if you continued fighting. You are Siuan Sanche, and a Sanche never show weakness. You hear me?"

"Yes father." Siuan said meekly.

"Good then. Now I want you to go and bring this to Mother Guenna and -"

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Sanche! How are you, you bloody fishmonger?!" An old drunkard walked towards their boat with a sharp knife in his right hand.

"What do you want Gadriel?" Her father asked with a stern voice, barring Siuan, protecting her.

"Well . . . nothing! I just want to see your beautiful daughter there, right Siuan?"

Glancing at her, her father said in hurried whispers, "Whatever you see, don't intervene Siuan. I want you to give your word that you wouldn't. If you love father, you will listen. If I said run, you run alright? Run as fast as your feet could carry you. Run straight towards Mother Guenna's house and don't look back."

"But father?" The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

"Just do what I say!" Her father said in a harsh whisper.

Looking scared, she nodded.

"What are you . . . whispering at huh?! Sanche!" The drunkard shouted.

"It's none of your business Gadriel." Her father said in a cool voice.

"Oh yes? I tell you what . . . it is my business!" The drunkard said and with quick strides went straight to Siuan's father, slashing him, attacking him straight at his left lung.

"Ugh!"

"Father!"

"No Siuan! Run! For the love of Light . . . RUN!" Her father shouted in between dying breaths.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Out of the corner of her eye, Siuan saw an arch with swirling light enveloping its entire shape. Looking back at the murderer and her dying father shouting for her to run, fear started to envelop her and as if of their own accord, her feet started to head straight to the archway a hundred spans ahead of her. Running and without looking back, Siuan with tears streaming down her face bolted toward the opening of the archway, letting its swirling light envelop her whole being.

-----------------------------------------

"I promised you father. I wouldn't leave you. I . . . oh light! What have I done?! What have I done?!" Siuan shouted at herself, crying. She cannot help herself and she wailed like a child. She had never cried like this before, cried as if she's a newborn babe taking her first breath. She had been at this sad state when a hand clasp her shoulder, looking at the owner of the hand, she seem to try to grasp the ageless face looking at her with sympathy and understanding. Merean Sedai, the Mistress of Novices, was looking at her and suddenly everything seem to fill her with recognition and memory of what is happening at that very moment.

"You will be tested for the ring Siuan Sanche. You know the protocols, a smart woman, a woman who doesn't need to be told twice yes?" Merean Sedai said.

"Yes Merean Sedai." Siuan answered meekly.

"But still, tradition dictates that you must be informed of what will happen within this huge chamber. And I warn you child, once you know what happens to women here you can no longer turn your back. Saying no to the testing would mean being put out of the tower forever. Now, are you sure you want to continue? You can still say no. And it would only be considered as your first out of three tries."

"I will continue Merean Sedai." Siuan said.

"Then we will begin." Merean Sedai answered, adjusting her blue shawl. "These rings represent your worst fears and a lot of women who entered those never came back. No one knows what happens there for those women who chose to stay. Maybe, just maybe, they had seen a better life than what they have here. Who knows? But then, you are made of tougher stuffs child. I know that. And I pray that we will not fail in choosing you, that you will not fail us - worse, yourself."

"I won't Merean Sedai. I will become Aes Sedai, and I need to get through this if I want to be one." Siuan said with the stubbornness that marked her as Siuan Sanche.

"Then, we will proceed." Merean Sedai said. "You know the tradition. Get going child. We don't have the time in the world."

Giving her ascent, Siuan headed straight to untying and removing every stitch in her body, leaving nothing but her skin to cover herself. After carefully placing her white novice dress in a neat heap, she walked to where Merean Sedai awaits her and a woman from the Green Ajah by the color of her shawl was beside the other, standing in front of a table with three silver goblets - chalices - filled with water, something that would be poured over her after each test if her memory serves her right.

"Whom do you bring with you, Sister?" The Green sister intoned.

"One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister" Merean Sedai answered.

"Is she ready?"

"She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her pains, gain Acceptance."

"Does she know her fears?"

"She has never faced them, but now is willing."

"Then let her face what she fears."

Rounding on Siuan and looking at her blue eyes in an intent manner, Merean Sedai said, "The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

"Siuan? Child are you alright? Can stand?" Merean Sedai's voice broke her reverie.

Wiping away her tears, helping herself up and looking straight at the Aes Sedai, Siuan nodded.

"Aren't you going to ask . . . " Merean Sedai started to say but stopped mid-rift when she saw Siuan shaking her head.

"It's alright Aes Sedai. What I saw there was painful, but nothing I can't handle. This . . ." Looking around the testing area and the Aes Sedai watching and at the same time concentrating on the three rings, " . . . this is real. What happened back there is a fear I had learned to face. Nothing more."

"Child, it's alright to . . . oh well, you are really made of strong stuffs child. You . . . shock me. Well, then let's continue." Merean Sedai said.

When she was able to stand straight, or rather, as straight as she could - cold water dripped down her head. "You are washed clean," The Green sister said, "of what sin you may have done, and of those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul."

Closing her eyes as the water was being splashed down her whole being, Siuan could not help but let a tear fall. No matter how hard she convince herself, she cannot shy away from what just happened there. Leaving her father to face his doom - be it untrue - left her shaken and almost at the end of her sanity. She needs to keep reminding herself that it's just a figment of her darkest fears that the blasted ter'angreal had conjured.

Looking at Merean Sedai she started moving towards the next arch.

"The second is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." The Aes Sedai said, and without a backward glance, Siuan let the light of the arch envelop her for the second time.

-------------------------

"What is that Moiraine?" Siuan said, looking out at her window, trying to catch a piece of that white thing gliding slowly down the whole of Tar Valon.

Walking towards her, Moiraine hugged her back. Moiraine's soft and pretty hands encircling her little waist. Tiptoeing in order for the other to reach her ear, Moiraine whispered, "It is snow Siuan."

"Really?" Siuan said, her eyes wide-eyed at the little white thing resting on her palm.

"Yes." Moiraine whispered, more intimately this time.

She was so enthralled by what she's seeing that she almost forgot what her Moiraine is doing to her. Touching her waist with both Moiraine's bare hands. Caressing her exposed belly, tracing upward, towards her full and rich breast. Sighing, she dismissed the snow and rounded on Moiraine.

Cupping Moiraine's face, she said in a dry and hoarse voice, "I love you Moiraine."

"I love you too Siuan." Smiling, Moiraine traced her fingers on Siuan's collar bone, making the other feel a tingling sensation down her spine.

"Moiraine." Siuan whispered, encircling her arms on Moiraine's little and delicate frame and slowly crossing the distance from their lips when suddenly Moiraine pressed a finger on her lips.

"We need to attend to Gitara Sedai's needs now. She won't tolerate Accepted being late for their class. Come on Siuan." Moiraine said with a smile.

"You naughty lady." Siuan said, snatching a slight kiss on Moiraine's lips before grabbing her shift and her new set of Accepted banded white dress.

"I know." Moiraine said with a giggle. "I'll be waiting for you outside, alright Siuan?"

"Uh-uh." Siuan said in a muffled voice as she wears her shift and banded white dress.

"I love you Siuan." Moiraine said.

"I love you too Moiraine." Siuan said with a smile. "You go ahead and tell Gitara Sedai that I'll try to catch up. I'll just fix myself."

"Alright then. I'll wait for you at the Aes Sedai's." Moiraine answered, leaving her alone in her room.

Smiling and looking at the mirror, Siuan cannot believe that Moiraine loves her too. Things happened too fast. What happened too fast?

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

As if trying to rack her brains about what was popping into her mind, Siuan suddenly felt the tower gave a violent shake. Grabbing hold of the side of her bed, Siuan spun around, trying to head straight to her door. One thought was running in her mind at those moments. Moiraine! Light, she's out there! Something bad could happen to her!

Consistent shaking of the whole tower made it impossible for her to get to the door as soon as she can. Grabbing hold of almost everything and at the same time dodging the falling debris, she hastily and forcefully opened her door. Looking around, she could see dead faces everywhere. Sheriam's bloody face with bright green eyes was hit by something - not debris - something that only the One Power could do. Whipping her head from one direction to another, she tried to scan the people out there. Accepted gasping for air, trying to hold on for dear life. Steadying her gait while searching for Moiraine, she saw a huge boulder and debris pinning down an Accepted with pale complexion. One look at those feet sent cold shivers down Siuan's spine.

"Moiraine!" Siuan shouted and she ran straight toward her lover.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

"Si . . .Siuan." Moiraine said, in between dying breaths. "I tried, I was walking towards the stares when suddenly the earth . . . it shook, as if I am a die inside a dice cup. Ra . . . rat . . . rattling." Moiraine forced the words out, smiling.

"Shhh. Shhh. Don't talk too much, alright? I'll call for help. Just keep your eyes open, understood?!" Siuan said, her voice shaking as well as her hands as she tries to fix Moiraine's disheveled hair. She's about to ask for help when suddenly Moiraine grabbed her hand.

"You are beautiful Siuan. Beautiful with ice cold blue eyes that could emit warmth at the most odd moments. I love you." Moiraine said, smiling.

"And I love you too Moiraine, now, let go of my hand and I will call for help."

"Yes . . . yes, you will call for help." Moiraine said, slowly closing her eyes.

"No! Don't close your eyes Moiraine. Don't!" Siuan said, grabbing her lover's bloodied yet pretty face.

"I . . . love . . ." Moiraine said but whatever she's saying was overpowered by a little but strong voice shouting in Siuan's head.

The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Looking to where the voice came from, Siuan saw an arch filled with white light this time. Calling her, beckoning her to come and leave everything behind. Leave Moiraine behind? Never!

"Yes . . . never. I will never stop loving you Siuan."

"And I too." Siuan said, tears streaming down her face. Looking at Moiraine and darting a glance at the arch. Siuan cried.

"Siuan? Don't . . . please? Don't cry. You should go and . . . do . . . what you must." Moiraine said in between dying breaths.

"No!"

"Y-yes." Moiraine said, pushing her away. "Go."

"I love you Moiraine." Siuan said, slowly straightening herself, pulling herself away from the woman she loves and towards the arch.

"And I love you too, you will do great." With those last word, Moiraine closed her eyes, ceasing to breathe forever.

"Light! NOOOOOOOO!" Siuan shouted as the light of the arch consumed her.

--------------------------

"Oh light! No! I cannot do that to her! I cannot allow myself to just stand there and let her die! Never!" Siuan said, pounding the tiled floor of the chamber with her fist as tears streams down her face. "Light, no. No."

"You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to us, washed clean in heart and soul." The Green Aes Sedai intoned as she pour the contents of the second chalice in Siuan's head.

"Come child, one last time and it would be over. You will soon earn the ring." Merean Sedai said, helping her up.

With tears in her eyes, she faced the Aes Sedai and with a nod, allowed the Aes Sedai to continue the test. "The third is for what will be. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Squaring her shoulders and trying to stand straight. She allowed the light of the last arch to consume her whole being for the last time.

--------------------------

"Mother, the hall awaits you." Looking around she saw Lelaine Akashi - her keeper - with her blue stole draped on her shoulders.

Giving one last glance at the box that she had set a ward into to prevent prying hands from knowing what that contains, she nodded at Lelaine and allowed the first woman to walk ahead of her.

"The Hall is very erratic Mother." Lelaine Akashi said out of nowhere.

"The Hall had always been erratic daughter." Siuan said in her cold and unyielding voice. "They had always been in need of a hand that could reign them in the direction they should take without them knowing you're doing it. I tell you, before the meeting ends, we will be having a unanimous decision about this false dragon. Another false dragon in just a span of three months? I think I better reprimand the Red this time. It seems like they hadn't been doing their job. What do you think daughter?"

"I don't know mother. It had been a long while since the Reds had faced something as deadly like false dragons. Male channelers sprouting like fungus at autumn. The Light alone knows what's happening to the world. One would say that maybe the Last Battle is approaching." Lelaine said with a slight break in her cool voice.

"Deadly? False dragons should never be a total threat in the tower daughter. We had always dealt with these male channelers and false dragons for three thousand years. And if you are right about one thing - that this is just another false dragon, then nothing unusual will happen once we had secured this young man. But then, what if the pattern demands a dragon? What if . . ." Siuan said, her voice fading as she was immersed in deep thoughts. What if this time, the young man is no longer just another false dragon? What if he is the Dragon Reborn? Two within three months? That is very unusual. They had been culling the ability of channeling from the male half for almost three thousand years and finding false dragons who can channel in just a span of three months is not a mere coincidence. There is a pattern in what's happening, and try as she might from seeing it in a different way, she just couldn't. Siuan Sanche, the Amyrlin Seat, the Watcher of the Seals, the Flame of Tar Valon had never been wrong with her observations, she had never left a puzzle unsolved. This time, she had a feeling that the war against the shadow is about to take place again. The Last Battle is coming.

"Mother?" Lelaine said trying to bring Siuan back to what's at hand.

"Yes dau -" Whatever Siuan was about to say was left as it is when a blast - like a volcano erupting - shook the very foundation of the Tower. That blast couldn't be caused by an ordinary thing, and by the strength of its impact, it is not caused by Saidar but something else. Whipping around, she froze at what she saw. A man with a face cursed by the Creator itself was walking towards her, a man with a face emitting flames in its sockets and mouth. Laughing the man continued to walk towards her, amidst the shouts of the servants and Aes Sedai dying around her. When they were a foot away from one another, the man spoke in a voice that could bore holes of pain in her head.

"YOU . . . ARE . . . NOTHING. A MERE PAWN THAT THE GREAT LORD WILL USE IN ORDER FOR HIM TO DEFEAT YOUR PRECIOUS DRAGON. YOU AND THOSE WHO SERVE THE LIGHT WILL SUFFER IN OUR HANDS FOR ETERNITY! DO YOU HEAR ME! I, ISHAMAEL, HAD SPOKEN!" The man said, laughing.

"The forsaken are bound -" Siuan tried saying the litany she was taught when she was still a child, one hundred years ago.

"WERE BOUND PAWN. BEFORE THIS AGE ENDS, YOU WILL FEEL THE GREAT LORD'S WRATH AND POWER, YOU AND EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS THE DRAGON! MARK MY WORDS." The man said again in a voice of deep evil and madness.

Walking towards her, Ishamael laughed. Siuan tried to back away. Looking behind her, she saw a silver arch clothed with shining light. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.

Smiling at Ishamael, Siuan said in a cold, unyielding voice. "This is a dream. A figment of my darkest fears. The forsaken are bound in Shayol Ghul, and forever they will be bound. Ishamael, you say? Well, YOU ARE BOUND TOGETHER WITH OTHER FORSAKEN BY THE DRAGON WITH THE AID OF THE CREATOR! You will not win. NEVER!" And with that final words, Siuan was enveloped by the white light of the arch.

-----------------------------

"The Dark One and all the forsaken are bound in Shayol Ghul," Siuan said, gasping for breath, clutching her chest, "bound by the Creator at the moment of creation! I will not be a pawn!"

"Of course, you will not be. The Chosen are bound, like they said." Merean Sedai commented - almost in a whisper.

"Cho . . ." Siuan asked in a confused state. She must be hearing it wrong, no. She's just tired because of the testing. She tried to calm her nerves as she tried to forget what she just saw. No, she will keep that last one to herself. She wouldn't tell it to anybody, not a living soul, even Moiraine. Anyone who finds out what the last test was would surely have her stilled with being a darkfriend as its ground.

Looking around, she saw Tamra Ospenya - the Amyrlin Seat - walking towards her, holding the last chalice that would wash her of her last sin, if anyone could call it a sin. "You are washed clean of Siuan Sanche from Tear. You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul. You are Siuan Sanche, Accepted of the White Tower. You are sealed to us now."

After saying the words used for the ritual, the Amyrlin handed the empty chalice to one of the Aes Sedai and produced a gold ring shaped in a snake biting its own tail. As if that will be her cue, Siuan offered her left hand to the Amyrlin Seat, with a wide smile covering her entire face. As the Amyrlin Seat slip the golden ring in her middle finger, all memories of her test seems to evaporate that instant. And as the Amyrlin touched both her shoulders to lean and offer her a slight peck on both cheeks saying, "Welcome Daughter," Siuan felt as if, whatever happened on the other side of those arches is worth what she just received now, the ring and the truth that where she is right now is reality enough for her.

Looking straight at her eyes, the Amyrlin said, "You're tired, weak, and sleepy because the testing had surely drain you of your energy, strong-willed as you are daughter." Daughter, no longer a child, bu a daughter, "You should go back to your room in the Accepted's quarters and reflect about what just happened. And rest, of course Daughter. You can now wear your clean Accepted dress."

One of the Aes Sedai, a Red she's not really familiar with - Pevara, handed her the banded white dress of an Accepted. Uttering her thanks, she donned the Banded dress. As she wear the dress for the first time, Siuan couldn't help but smile. Sensing her joy, the Amyrlin spoke.

"I know how fulfilling it is to wear that for the first time, especially the ring. It's like wearing the best dress for a feast fit for a king and the finest jewelry in the world. But you better hurry Daughter. There are a lot of things you need to attend to. Go, rest and reflect."

"Yes mother." Offering a curtsy to the Amyrlin Seat and for every Aes Sedai still there, Siuan headed straight towards the huge door that would lead her back straight to the Accepted quarters. Once the door had closed behind her, she grabbed the edge of her dress and run headstrong towards wherever Moiraine is waiting. With a smile on her face and the serpent ring shining in the dim lighted corridors, Siuan ran as fast as a deer running wild in an open field. There is still another matter left at hand, another thing that needs smoothing - her relationship with her best friend, Moiraine Damodred.




...



TBC

[Jaime Jai'melar]

I had been busy. School stuffs. Studying is a difficult job and I am not being paid for my efforts.


Oh well, I feel great that you liked my stories.

[Aleyna]

Wow, you did a wonderful job! Momo and Siuan are so adorable!
Loved it!