Part 5 Novices at the Tower

[Iris 0]

Personal Admissions

 

Moiraine slipped her head through her white Novice dress and tied the waistband, her mind still turning over what had happened at the baths. She knew she had overstepped boundaries. If Merean Sedai got wind of it she would not be pleased, though she already had a punishment doled out to her from Elaida. Moiraine made a face. What a detestable woman! She really did think very highly of herself. Myrelle's words had been no exaggeration. Moiraine plopped down on the bed, laying back, and sighing deeply. All this had happened, and she had only been in the Tower for two days! This day seemed one of the longest of her life, between Kanika Sedai's test and Siuan's disappearance and now this incident with Elaida. The unpleasant thought that this woman would be one of her teachers came to mind again, leaving a writhing feeling in her stomach. And what had happened to Siuan? Did she think Moiraine odd after her comment about enemies and admirers? Had Moiraine made, and lost, a friend in the course of this day as well?

 

 

[Iris 0]

Elaida sat at the polished wood table, staring at the wall just above her bed. A steaming cup of a tea sat just beneath her face, her hand on the small, delicate handle. It was bitter, to match her mood. A few candles glowed in the room, but the light was rather dim. Her eyes had been reddened from crying, but Light burn her if she let anyone see that. Even if someone did come to her room, they wouldn't notice in this lighting, if she allowed them in at all.

 

An angry scowl marred Elaida's handsome face, an expression she had worn quite often throughout her life. But underneath that anger lay resentment, and even sadness--emotion she was unfortunately very familiar with. She had already decided to skip supper in the Hall that night. She would hunt something up after dinner hour was over, under the pretense that she had been too busy studying to come on time. This was only her first year as an Accepted, but she had only spent three as a Novice, and she had no reason to believe her time in the banded hems and cuffs would be any longer than that.

 

Elaida reflected on her stellar performance as a Novice, but the elation she used to feel was dampened. She had been pushed hard, but always well-petted. Deservedly so, she thought. Growing up, she had always been compared with her older sisters, compared by a shallow mother who was never satisfied. She had never been beautiful or charming enough. Her mother moaned that she would never manage to marry into a Higher House, the way her eldest sister already had and the one after her no doubt would. Her mother had always thought her intelligence useless and her father had been too distant to even notice, let alone take interest. He had been distant from them all, but at least he could have perhaps appreciated her for what she was. What little hope she had though was snuffed out with his death. She had been so thankful when she discovered she could touch the Source. Finally, an escape out of misery and an immersion into a life worthwhile.

 

But how could she have been so na

[MierinSedai 0]

This is awesome! More please! I think you've got Elaida perfect here.

[Iris 0]

*starry eyed* oh joy, feedback!

[Cerendrallion 32]

Loooooooove your Elaida