Part 4 Novices at the Tower

[Iris 0]

Hot Water at the Baths

 

The chime for dinner would be another hour and a half, and when Moiraine had knocked on Siuan's door, there was no answer and all seemed dark and quiet inside. She had amused herself for some time by going to the library, but after an embarrassing incident of attempting to check out the book ”Hearts of Flame,” and being refused by the librarian on the grounds that the subject was "inappropriate" for Novices, she came back to her room hoping for the Tairen girl's company.

 

She had managed to find out where the bath chamber was though, which was useful information. She decided on taking a bath before dinner, not only to pass time but because it would most likely be less crowded. Few people would notice her then, if she somehow managed to look lost looking for soap or towels. She also wanted to bathe in as much privacy as possible. Back at the Sun Palace, the only one who saw her bathe was her personal servant-woman. She had a feeling that bathing at the White Tower would not be such a solitary experience. Just another thing I'll have to get used to. But the thought of getting undressed and bathing in front of all those other girls made her cheeks color.

 

Moiraine tried Siuan's door one last time on the way to the baths, but there was no answer. Just as well, she thought, otherwise what would she do—invite her to come along to bathe? It hardly seemed a thing you invited your friends to do with you. Walking down the length of the hall, she came to a spiral staircase that she descended, until she had gone down about eight stories. Abruptly the sensation of steam and heat hit her face. Echoed voices came from the other side of two large, white marble doors.

 

Moiraine pushed them open and stepped inside the bath chamber, which was an enormous room with extremely high, vaulted ceilings. Everything was made of white marble, accept for the copper tubs which stood in rows down the length of the room. Folded towels sat on shelves against the walls and white robes hung on hooks. At the end of the hall, opposite the entrance, were wrapped bars of soap sitting on shelves. Maids in the livery of the White Tower scurried about, filling and emptying tubs and replacing linens. A few unclothed figures slipped in and out of baths or wrapped themselves in towels and robes. Overall though the place was rather empty, to Moiraine's relief.

 

Moiraine selected a tub that had vacant ones to either side of it. She retrieved a towel and robe, and after draping them on the wooden bar beside the tub, she got a bar of soap. By the time she came back one of the maids had already filled the tub. She placed the soap on the rim, and after a quick glance around, hastily undressed and slid into the hot water. She sighed quietly, feeling like a thousand tensed muscles relaxed and a thousand more frayed nerves smoothed themselves over. She slunk down into the water, obscuring her figure as much as possible, and let her head fall back against the tub. Closing her eyes for several minutes, she started dozing off.

 

“Hello, beautiful,” a voice came from Moiraine's right—an almost masculine sounding voice. Moiraine gasped loudly and sat bolt upright. Realizing that sitting upright relieved more of herself, she abruptly covered her chest with her hands. She turned to see who had spoken, her cheeks a violent shade of crimson. A naked, dark-haired girl slipped into the tub beside her as a maid poured in the water. The girl laughed but then apologized.

 

“Sorry to startle you so,” Myrelle said. “I meant it for a joke.” Her grin indicated that she thought her joke a success.

 

“Light,” Moiraine breathed, slinking back into the water. “I think my heart jumped out of my throat. It's probably floating somewhere in the water.” Myrelle laughed and so did another girl in the tub beside her—Sheriam. Moiraine still felt a bit self-conscious about bathing next to people she knew, but at the moment she felt more relieved than anything else after that scare. “I didn't really think you were a man though,” Moiraine said with a smile.

 

“Too bad,” Myrelle said, lounging in the water. “I thought my imitation wasn't half bad. But you still jumped like you thought I was Warder coming to bathe next to you,” she said with a wry smile.

 

Moiraine chuckled. Sheriam spoke. “Myrelle certainly wouldn't have been scared had she thought a Warder come to bathe next to her. Especially if he called her beautiful. She'd invite him to join her.” Sheriam gave a malicious grin, and Myrelle, who now had spots of color in her cheeks, attempted to splash water at her. A passing maid frowned at the two.

 

Moiraine thought for a moment and then spoke. She knew enough about the White Tower to know the basic characteristics of the Ajahs. “So I suppose you've already chosen the Green Ajah for yourself, Myrelle?”

 

Myrelle cheeks were still trying to return to their normal tan color. “You could say that. Unless something drastic happens to change my mind, which I doubt. Of course, that's if I pass the test for the Shawl. It stills seems a very long way off,” she said with a sigh. Moiraine considered Myrelle, who seemed of an age with her. Sheriam seemed slightly older. Myrelle might be a Novice and Accepted for years yet. Then again, they all could be.

 

“What about you, Sheriam?” Moiraine said to the plump red-head, whose face and shoulders bobbed at the side of her tub. Sheriam shrugged. “I'm not entirely sure yet. I don't think Green though. Maybe Blue. Had I more talent in Healing I would've gone with Yellow.” From what Moiraine had learned, the Yellow Ajah was the only Ajah that was entirely based on pure talent. The others seemed to be groups of Sisters who banded together based more on common motivations, although their had to be talent involved there too.

 

“Well, you don't have to be a Green,” Myrelle said to both Sheriam and Moiraine, “but for the love of the Light don't become a Red.” Myrelle smiled deviously and Sheriam gave a small laugh of agreement. From what Moiraine could tell from this small quip, the two must enjoy smearing the Red Ajah. Moiraine knew about the Red Ajah—women who sought out men who could channel and gentled them. They also never bonded Warders.

 

“You wouldn't dislike them simply for the fact that refuse to bond Warders, would you now, Myrelle?” Moiraine said in jest.

 

Myrelle gave a shrug that was belied by a smile. “It's their choice whether or not they want Warders. But from what I can tell, they tend to find Warders, and men in general, reprehensible.” She added an odd emphasis to the last word.

 

Moiraine considered this emphasis for a moment, then understood. “Oh,” she said, her cheeks turning a bit pink. “Well, why should that really matter though, in terms of the way the other Ajahs feel about them? Isn't that just their personal choice?”

 

“The way they feel about men, or other women, is not what makes the Greens or other Ajahs wary of them,” Myrelle said. She looked down in to her bath water as if lost in thought. “It's something else about them. I can't really put my finger on it. They're...” Myrelle trailed off looking for the right word, but Sheriam spoke for her.

 

“Arrogant?” Sheriam said.

 

“Exactly,” Myrelle agreed.

 

Sheriam continued. “The Reds are the Ajah that is probably the most different from any other Ajah, because they reject the notion of bonding Warders, so they have critics amongst all the Ajahs. Especially the Greens.” Sheriam directed a look at Myrelle, who smiled approvingly. Sheriam went on with a playful roll of her eyes. “To all the other Ajahs, Bonding a Warder is probably the most important step an Aes Sedai takes after reaching the Shawl. Maybe the Reds felt the burn of being put on the defensive for too many years, but for whatever reason, they generally tend be the most self-righteous. Sometimes you get the impression that they think the other Ajahs are odd or misguided, despite the fact that that they clearly hold the minority opinion.”

 

“Greens are usually the only ones who marry their Warders, or bond more than one, but you don't see them getting into a huff like the Reds, even though the other Ajahs think the Greens odd for it.” Myrelle said. “I guess Greens are just naturally good-humored,” Myrelle's dark eyes twinkled. She may have already been fiercely proud of the Green Ajah, but you didn't sense any self-righteousness from her. Her pride was different than arrogance. Moiraine smiled to herself. She really liked Myrelle. Sheriam too. But there was an openness and sincerity about Myrelle that made Moiraine found attractive. A similar vein ran in Siuan, Moiraine thought, but Myrelle had another trait that made her inviting—she was undeniably charming. Moiraine allowed herself a small smile as she relaxed in her bath. Myrelle would probably already have ten Warders lined up and waiting when she tested for the Shawl.

[Iris 0]

“Don't look now,” Sheriam said in a sarcastic whisper that carried over to both Myrelle and Moiraine.

 

Myrelle, who had been relaxing as well, opened her eyes and looked. “Light, speaking of self-righteous Reds. She hasn't even been raised to the Shawl yet but she has enough self-righteousness to suffice the whole Ajah.”

 

Moiraine followed Myrelle's gaze to a woman who walked, or rather stalked, down the middle of the two rows of tubs. Myrelle's gaze moved away again, her eyelids closing, but Moiraine could sense a certain stiffness to her now. Sheriam continued bobbing in her tub, but still eyed the young woman in the Accepted's dress with a wary, sidelong look. The Accepted didn't seem to take in any of her surroundings, but rather stared straight ahead with something of a scowl on her face. Moiraine had the distinct impression that her mind was somewhere other than the bathing chamber, and that somewhere was not a pleasant place, for all her face indicated. The young woman went to the rows of shelves to retrieve a towel and robe.

 

“Elaida,” Myrelle whispered quickly to Moiraine. “She's an Accepted, obviously. She's the strongest woman in the One Power in the whole Tower, according to what everyone says. Couple her personal strength with her allegiance to the Reds, and her head has gotten so big it'd probably eclipse the sun if she stood on top of the Tower.”

 

Moiraine laughed aloud but then quickly schooled her face as Myrelle's face slackened. She could hear water being poured into the vacant tub to her to her left. Moiraine, who had turned her body to face Myrelle, mouthed silently, “She's behind me?”

 

Myrelle nodded and Moiraine made a face. Sheriam bit her lip and turned away, looking like she was trying to suppress a laugh. Myrelle tried to float casually in her tub, but an almost humorous tension hung in the air. Remembering what Moiraine had alluded to about the Reds, Moiraine suddenly felt very conscious of her bare backside, which was turned toward Elaida. She sat facing forward in the tub again. She gave a quick glance over to the dark-haired, woman whose brown eyes seemed to smolder. She still wore a scowl and sat facing forward, apparently lost in thought.

 

Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan was presently stewing in her own juices. That Blue chit Leane had made no secret of her happiness when she mentioned in front of Elaida that Kanika Sedai had just tested two Novices who were the most powerful Aes Sedai the Tower had seen in at least one thousand years. She didn't explicitly say they were more powerful than Elaida, but Leane's knowing smile indicated as much. Of course Elaida knew she shouldn't be thinking of any Aes Sedai as a chit, but Leane was an irritation beyond reason, especially with her unbecoming sense of humor. And she was a Blue. Elaida had a hard time giving her the respect due an Aes Sedai, at least inwardly, considering that Leane's time as an Accepted had briefly overlapped with Elaida's, and the two had always loathed one another.

 

Light, but was it really true? Elaida had dreamed of being the most Powerful Aes Sedai of the Age, and she had even dreamed of being the Amyrlin Seat. She could still be that, but somehow knowing that another woman was more Powerful than she sucked a good deal of the joy out it. And not only one, but two! Two! Elaida's scowl deepened. She had spent the day trying to overhear conversation about these two girls, asking for help with this or that weave so she could lurk inside the room where a handful of Aes Sedai spoke in hushed tones of these two new gems.

 

Since it was the talk on everyone's lips, it wasn't difficult for Elaida to ascertain minimal facts. They were both sixteen and entered as Novices together, although they didn't know one another. One, Siuan Sanche, was the daughter of a poor Tairen fisherman. Elaida seethed. Knowing that a girl of such poor status would be stronger than she was a bitter pill to swallow. Little was known about this girl really. The other was none other than Moiraine Damodred, youngest niece of King Laman of Cairhien. Knowing that a girl was more Powerful than she and of such a noble rank was an equally bitter pill for Elaida, who was from a minor House in Murandy. She couldn't decide which scenario was worse. The only hope she had was that perhaps they would both become Reds. Maybe then she could take them under her wing, and despite how powerful they were, they would always feel indebted to her. But the Red Ajah was small, so the chances of them both becoming Red, or even one of them, was very low. Elaida clenched her draw in frustration, anger boiling up. She reached over to take her bar of soap and realized she had forgotten to get one. That boiling anger spilled over.

 

“Novice!” she barked to the girl in the tub beside her without so much as turning her head to see her. “Get me soap!” Elaida knew all the Accepted, and although she didn't see the face of the girl next to her, she knew she wasn't an Accepted..

 

Moiraine startled. She looked at Myrelle whose eyes were now wide open. Sheriam also looked over. Moiraine hadn't looked at Elaida since that one glance. There was no one in the tub to Elaida's left, but Moiraine didn't know this. Was Elaida talking to her? She looked to Myrelle for help, and Myrelle looked past Moiraine to Elaida, looking very uneasy.

 

“Are you deaf, child?” The woman said in a cutting voice. “I said get me soap!” Moiraine knew now that this Elaida was talking to her, as she felt the woman's voice carry in her direction. She could practically feel the woman's eyes on her. Moiraine's cheeks colored darkly. Being spoken to in such a way was something she had never been subjected to. She felt her own temper being stoked. Novices must show due respect and deference to both Accepted and Aes Sedai.

 

Moiraine stood up and quickly brought her towel around her bare body without so much as one look at this Elaida. Elaida startled inwardly as this girl turned to face in her direction. Every feature of her smacked of a Cairhienin. Moiraine gracefully slid out of the tub, and carried herself with a regal demeanor that mingled with cool haughtiness. The possibility that this girl was one of the two Powerful Novices seemed nearly confirmed as Elaida saw the way this girl carried herself—like she was walking the length of a throne room rather than a bathing chamber. Elaida felt a strong pang of regret that mixed with anger. She had been hasty and snapped, and now this girl would be sure to never let Elaida so much as lift a wing near her, let alone take her under it, if she was in fact the Damodred girl.

 

Elaida's regret and anger came for another reason. This girl was absolutely beautiful, and furthermore, Elaida not only saw the beauty of her face but her entire naked body! Albeit a brief viewing--Cairhienin were known for their modesty. Elaida found it attractive, really. Anger and regret roiled. The girl had returned with the soap and set it down on the rim of Elaida's tub without so much as even an acknowledgment of Elaida's presence. Absolutely inappropriate behavior from a Novice to an Accepted. The girl still held her towel around herself and was about to slip back into her bathwater.

[Iris 0]

“Well?” Elaida said, in a voice both acidic and accusing. “Is that how you show respect to an Accepted, child?” The “child” was tacked on it such a way that it wreaked of condescension.

 

Moiraine looked at Myrelle and Sheriam, who looked both nervous and sympathetic. Moiraine didn't feel nervous, however. Her own temper suddenly flared. She was not a person who walked with a constant storm cloud over her head, like Elaida, but she had a temper that would rear itself suddenly when she was pushed. In addition to possessing a temper, she also possessed the distinctly Cairhieinin trait of showing surprisingly immodest behavior (for a Cairhienin anyway) when thrust into extreme circumstances.

 

Despite the urge Moiraine felt to turn and shout something at this woman, an upbringing in the Sun Palace had at least guaranteed that she master a certain amount of self-control. She slowly turned to face the woman, towel still wrapped around her under her arms, and spoke with a regal voice that oozed with mockery despite its cool chime.

 

“My deepest apologies, Elaida. Forgive me for forgetting to curtsy in due reverence and respect to an Accepted of your standing.” And with that Moiraine opened her towel, lifting a corner of it in each hand, completely exposing her naked body to Elaida while dropping in such a deep curtsy that caused her head to nearly touch the floor. Elaida's jaw dropped, as did Myrelle's and Sheriam's (and a few other girls who happened to be watching). Moiraine rose again after this mocking gesture and gave Elaida a brief stare that was both haughty and cold, after which she tightly wrapped her towel around herself. Moiraine turned her back on Elaida. Spots of color bloomed on her cheeks at the thought of what she had just done, but her temper had not subsided entirely, so she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

 

Elaida clicked her jaw shut. Myrelle and Sheriam still stared wide-eyed at both Moiraine and Elaida. Moiraine looked at no one but was aware of everyone. She lifted her hand for her robe and put it on so that as the towel left her body, the robe had already wrapped around her from the back, leaving nothing to Elaida's viewing.

 

Elaida fumed. This must be the Damodred girl! More Powerful than she, Elaida, would ever be! And she was breathtakingly beautiful! And how dare she pull that mocking stunt to an Accepted, while she a Novice! And all this happened because she, Elaida, had been hasty and temperamental and snapped at the girl to get her a bar of soap! So much was at stake, and she didn't even know it! She had botched it all!! This would haunt her forever!!!

 

“Child,” Elaida said, trying to keep a tremble out of a voice that was already angry, “I hope you like washing pots as much as you like washing that pretty, pale skin of your's.” Moiraine's eyes went wide. Myrelle and Sheriam seemed to shrink into their bathwater. Moiraine's skin may have been pale, but her face was completely red. Light, what a thing to say!, Moiraine thought. Elaida continued. “Report to Laras in the kitchens tonight after dinner. I will see you in Novice class tomorrow.”

 

Moiraine's dark eyes went even wider and her mouth dropped open, but she quickly closed it. Myrelle and Sheriam looked ready to submerge their heads in their water. Moiraine directed her startled stare to Myrelle. Myrelle hadn't told her Elaida taught Novice classes! No matter now. It wasn't Myrelle's fault. Their conversation had been cut short by this detestable woman's presence. Moiraine tied her robe around herself, wrapped her hair in the towel, and walked out like it was the Grand Hall of the Sun. Only it was the bath chamber. And instead of walking to the dais that held her Uncle Laman on the Sun Throne, she was walking to her room to change into her Novice woolens, and then to dinner, and then to this Laras to wash her pots. I will see you in Novice class tomorrow. Moiraine shuddered, feeling a chill as she left the bath chamber.

[Iris 0]

*bump*

[Cerendrallion 32]

Oooh. I've read them all, and I particularly like this chapter A LOT. Probably because of Elaida's appearance, who is my favourite.

 

Lovely. Very nice development. Plus you pretty much have Moiraine's character down.