Meeting the Head (Atten: reki and Lor)

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Taia knew that it was time, she brushed her hair till it shown bright and then she braided it. Today was the day that Reki would meet the Green Ajah head. It had been awhile since she had to go through this ritual, the last time Jaydena had made her warders smile, they weren't put off by Aes Sedai although Jade had tried to make them a little intimidated. It hadn't worked quite that well though, Taia had already taken them to the Blight, not much would scare a man after that. Taia wondered what the new Head of the Ajah would do, she didn't know her well, not that she'd known Jade well either, Jade had just been the Head longer. Taia sighed and stood, stretched and then picked up a fine dress, put it on and braided her hair.

 

Reki wasn't in the Tower just now she knew he was off training, she would go and get him, she hadn't amused herself on the Warder Yards for awhile. It would annoy Reki and amuse her. She walked through the Tower nodding at other sisters, and accepted the curtsy's of the Novices and Accepted. She took a moment when she got outside to just stand in the sun and enjoy it. She breathed in the air and smiled, she enjoyed being out but she had a mission today. She turned to the path that would take her to the Warders and heard them before she saw them. The cracks of wood on wood, the calls of one man to another correcting a stance here, or an arm position there. It wasn't quite as noisy as it could get in battle but it was good for the boys. She came to the yard and stopped scanning to find Reki, she found him sparring with Rasheta's warder Visar. She winced inwardly, she and Rasheta didn't get along but the Wheel weaves in it's own ways. She made her way toward the two Warders, she paused to watch and Reki cracked his sword against Visar's and then they broke away, before they could start again she called. "Well done warder mine." He straightened up and then bowed to Visar before turning to her.

 

"Come warder you must clean up it is time to meet the Ajah head."

 

Taia Misna

Green Aes Sedai

 

[Rekinu Alasayaar]

As Rekinu sparred in the grounds with Visar, the sun shone down hot already.  Rekinu loved the heat, but not so much the slaps of the training lathe.  He was improving, Visar seemed to hit him less and less every few spars... well, by one or two anyways.  He had been accustomed to pain, hunger and deprivation before joining the Tower, but despite that working as a warder was much harder.  Training every day and night to be prepared against the worst you could imagine, and the Dark One himself imagined far worst.  You had someone else to protect as well.  Idly he felt for that someone in his mind (and received a jab for his lack of attention).  'That woman' he thought irritably, was a very serious one to be bonded to.  She wasn't serious in and of herself, in fact, she loved to dance, or so he had been told, and she definitely loved to flirt... which had, on occasion precipitated a brawl, or two... Rekinu disliked bars still, too rowdy for his taste.  A boyhood in the streets left one desiring quiet.  He felt at home in a bustling city, and could move around mostly unnoticed there, well when he was not wearing his sword he could anyways.  He never could figure her out, they would run out of the tower with no warning, there MIGHT be fighting, but riding hard most of the way, and when returning, she would disappear into that massive tower for weeks on end.  At first Rekinu tried to find a system, but either there was none, or it was a very elaborate one.

 

Well, Rekinu always wanted a simple life, just no more sleeping on the street.  He had that now, though sleeping on the cots in the bunks were not much better, and the beds in the inns were suffocatingly soft, it was nice when the weather was good and they slept outside near the horses around a campfire hidden-

 

Another crack near his head that he had barely deflected brought his thoughts back to the immediate.  He spun forwards, pushing every advantage, the fast clack-clack drowning out the other thoughts other than one: 'thinking too much is going to get you killed one day...'  He was much better at it when outside the tower, inside, he let his mind wander too often.  Less of a need to keep his alert up... but then again, that was false too. He sighed inwardly, the world was a complicated place to live in, unfortunately.

 

They broke away, Rekinu readying for one of Visar's brutal offensive, he could see something cooking in those deep, eyes, and the set of his face.  Rekinu had spent so much time fighting Visar, that he was convinced the man could read what he was about to do, BEFORE he could do it... He was just able to tell that all hell was going to break loose moments before it came.  But before they could engage, he heard Taia's sweet voice;

 

"Well done warder mine" they stopped, and Rekinu bowed to the Blademaster before turning to her.  It had been his favorite thing to hear from her, from the first time she said it.  It did not matter that she probably said it to her warders before him, and being honest, would probably say it to her warders after him, but the way she said it, it WAS for him.

 

"Come warder you must clean up it is time to meet the Ajah head." Rekinu nodded, and followed her back to her rooms.  A while ago he had moved his stuff up to her rooms.  Actually, almost several months had past since he had occupied one of her side rooms for his belongings.  It was mostly where he stored his few good possessions, and his weapons.The tower was massive, and too quiet in most of the towers.  He preferred the Green Halls.  It was noisier, and more populated than some others as they had many warders walking around in groups, or with their Aes Sedai.  Most he knew by sight if not by name and fighting style.

 

When they arrived at Taia's rooms, Rekinu quickly moved into his, where he proceeded to towel off the sweat that remained... Taia made it seem urgent, even though she had an infuriating ability to walk as if she had no care in the world... so there wasn't time for a bath.  He discarded several shirts after finding holes in one place or another, leaving them piled on the floor.  He would have to see about finding someone to mend them... But he found a shirt that had not a single hole in it, and it was miraculously clean too!  Hurriedly he donned some pants, and stomped into his boots.  They were a gift from Taia, but he only wore them when he knew there was to be no fighting.  They were red, and fit his feet so well, he barely realized he wore them.  Reaching into the chest at the end of the bed, he pulled out a box about the length of a mans forearm, and two hand widths wide.  In it were some knickknacks, including a carved rose that took him FOREVER to get right, there were a bunch of bells on strings, and some other items that he ignored.  Pulling out the bells, he returned the box, and strode over to a small mirror by the door.  He quickly fastened bells to his boots and his sleeves, and was busy tying one strand in his hair, when there was a knock.

 

'Enter' he called and she pushed the door open at the same time he got his finger tied in a not.  Standing there, he gave her a blank stare while he started tugging on his hand to free it.  Upon seeing the grin play about the edges of her mouth, he barked a laugh.  "You know," he said, "you have impeccable timing Taia!"

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Taia walked back to her rooms with Rekinu in tow, he would never walk in front of her in the tower and only occasionally walked beside her. This annoyed her something she would have liked to not always appear superior to him. She didn't comment though and he left to find his best clothes and probably take a bath. She went and found someone to speak to the head so that she knew to expect them. She returned to the room, and tapped her foot waiting it seemed that Reki had enough time to bathe and dress. She walked toward his room and knocked he absentmindedly called her to enter. She paused in the doorway just as he got his fingers tied up. She tried to stop her smile but couldn't quite do it. He laughed at her and said,

 

"You know," he said, "you have impeccable timing Taia!"

 

She did laugh then and went to help him get untied. She looked him over still smiling, he looked well and handsome. She had the best warder she really did. Her expression changed to one of consideration. He was still a little young, but he would improve maybe he would become a master someday. She brushed some hair off his forehead and then she said seriously. "You must give all honor to the Ajah head when you meet her. You must be aware as well that only other Green Warders and the other Green Aes Sedai will know who she is. It must remain secret, you cannot play dice with the Tower Guard and talk about this meeting." He nodded and she continued in a softer voice, "I cannot be anything other then an Aes Sedai when we are there. You may find me cooler then you remember me from any other time." She smiled brightly and laughed in her usual way. "But don't worry I am only serious when it comes to this." She turned and motioned him to follow her.

 

"Come now warder mine, we better get this over with." He followed her out of her room and they went down the corridor toward the heads room. She knocked on the door and took a deep breath when it was called that they could enter. She squeezed Reki's hand once assumed her Aes Sedai calm and walked into the room. She nodded to the other woman and made the introductions. "This is my warder Rekinu Alasayaar, we have been bonded for a year now. He continues his training to better serve the tower." With that she stepped back in order to allow the two to chat.

 

Taia Misna

Green Sister

Quiet.

[U4ea]

Amena glared at the door as a knock rang out and took her time calling for whoever was outside to enter. She turned back to the "artifacts" spread out over a side table in the back of the office, not being able to make any sense of what she was seeing. Perhaps Rasheta could shed some light on them, though she was doubtful it was anything made by hands who saw much action working for the Light. The forged pieces were simply too crude...

 

She turned away from them as the footsteps stopped and her eyes settled on Taia and a man she could only assume was her warder. She'd heard the girl had bonded someone, though to be honest, she had no idea where the rumor had originated. She returned the younger Green's nod and turned her attention to the man, instead. Light, when did warders become to young? 

 

This is my warder Rekinu Alasayaar, we have been bonded for a year now. He continues his training to better serve the tower." Taia stepped back and Amena nodded again at the confirmation of his presence. 

 

"Please, Gaidin, relax," she fought off the urge to laugh. "I trust you understand what you've bonded into, whether you did at the time or not. There is no place for discomfort. I am Amena, and, as Taia no doubt advised you, my position here in these halls is a closely guarded secret outside of them." She paused and lifted her hand towards the plush couch Jaydena had a penchant for collecting. Her thoughts in other places, she'd simply not gotten around to replacing the furniture with something more appropriate for an office such as this one. She had to admit it was comfortable, however. Maybe she'd just have the couch moved to her living spaces, instead of removing it completely. 

 

"Please, have a seat and tell me how the two of you came to this place. The way a pair bonds will tell you quite a bit about what they are willing to do on a battle field, after all. Would you care for some mulled wine?" She settled on a chair near the couch, perching on the edge and ignoring the ache in her hip as she did. She waited patiently for the pair to begin, folding her hands calmly in her lap. 

 

 

~Amena

YAY! You made it, Reki! :) 

[Rekinu Alasayaar]

He entered the room, noting a collection of odd things on the table behind the woman standing in the room.  She was tall, well, she appeared to tower, as Rekinu had noticed most Aes Sedai did, and her presence commanded his attention.

 

She looked first to his bonded, as they acknowledged each other, and seemed to communicate volumes in their merely looking at each other.  Rekinu shifted his feet a bit, the bells jingling him, reminding him he was wearing them, and he stopped, firming his resolve to stand at attention.  Would she require a feat to prove his worth?  Was he supposed to know something obscure about the Green Ajah and its history.... If that was the case he was about as sunk as if he tried to take a small boat out into the ocean.  He could remember little about battles he had not been in, much less anything particular about how a green warder was to be different than others.

 

Soon enough, her attention turned to him, and she spoke.  "Please, Gaidin, relax," which didn't help his nerves at all.  He immediately assumed a part of the void to rid himself of the butterflies that twisted in his gut.  He realized how little he had interacted with Aes Sedai other than his bonded.  He was not sure about protocol to others besides obeying without question (as long as it did not contradict anything his bonded had told him). But she continued with a smile in her eyes, which DID help a small amount, if only fractionally.  "I trust you understand what you've bonded into, whether you did at the time or not. There is no place for discomfort. I am Amena, and, as Taia no doubt advised you, my position here in these halls is a closely guarded secret outside of them." She paused for a moment and lifted her hand towards the couch that was set to one side. "Please, have a seat and tell me how the two of you came to this place. The way a pair bonds will tell you quite a bit about what they are willing to do on a battle field, after all. Would you care for some mulled wine?"

 

He stared at her a moment.  She wanted him to explain how he had met Taia.  Hmm... He had not thought about it much, it just had happened, but after a little bit he bowed low to her, ensured that Taia had a seat as well, before following her to the couch, sitting on... the most comfortable thing he had ever sat it.  The one in his room Taia had given him was just a board with maybe two layers of fabric, this seemed to have... clouds on snugged under the fabric.

 

After a little... bounce, he stopped and blushed a tad, ducking his head for a minute before catching himself, he WAS a warder, albeit perhaps lacking in culture...

 

He cleared his throat and began.  "To not bore you about my life, I hail from Arafel, and made my way to the Tower some, 5 winters ago? Maybe more." He shook his head, he didn't even know for sure, training all kinda blended together when you did the same thing day after day, the bruises, the did the same after a while until you were spry enough to avoid most of them.  "I saw Taia my first day at the tower, she was speaking with some other trainees when I passed her to meet the Master-at-Arms.  After some time training, about two years and a half, maybe three ago, Taia had a mission to complete outside the tower.  She requested an escort and I and the late Tower Guard Cetar Puil accompanied her on the mission."

 

He paused, remembering the time spent on the beginning of the mission, carefree, being taught one-on-one by the more serious man, as they traveled looking for... only Taia knew what.  His was a baptism of fire, perhaps not nearly as bad as some people, but dispite being raised on the streets and being used to the cruder part of society, it was plenty hot enough for him.  He usually shied away from the discussion, once he told his commanding officer upon his return from the mission, he never brought it up and avoided answering any questions asked of him by his peers.

 

"She seemed to trust me right from the start, only the creator knows why.  I was untrained in the art of guise, too trusting by far."  He laughed a small, short laugh, "I suppose I still am, can't seem to weed that out of me. Huh, its gotten me my fair share of problems."  Somberly, he continued, "I killed my first darkfriend" he nearly spit the word out, "and lost a mentor." It still shamed him to this day that he had not been good enough, fast enough, trained enough to come to Cetars aid in his moment of greatest need.  He took a breath, and then continued.  'I continue the fight in his name.  After that first excursion, I accompanied Taia a few more times after that, and it just... happened."  He lightened up a little, "I don't even remember very well, she was mad, or something and i had to track her down to keep her safe, and, well, we showed back up at the tower bonded.  It still feels a bit wierd to get a bit of her emotions through my head... not that i can read her any better now than i could without it mind you, but it has helped a couple times, most especially when we were in the Borderlands looking for what was happening to the eyes and ears network up there."

 

Unsure of how detailed he could be on missions, he skirted them, and then talked about some training they had done together, her tossing apples at him with the one power for him to defend himself on all sides from unseen opponents, and the not-as-successful archery practice.

 

When he was done with what he had to say, unsure why he had said so much, he paused, took a gulp of the forgotten mulled wine, and waited, holding his breath.

 

 

Still nervous, Rekinu Alasayaar

[U4ea]

Amena hid her amusement behind a mask of blankness. Light, listening to that boy talk made her feel old. Her eyes slid to Taia briefly and she resisted the urge to shake her head. They both made her feel old. The fact that she was old had little bearing on the matter. 

 

She watched him as he talked, caring little about what he said and more about how he carried himself, where she could see his nerves and where his confidence seemed to shine through. He gave so much away in the way his fingers curled uncomfortably around his glass. She allowed a bit of a tilt in her lips as he finished. "You are very trusting, but lucky for you, your place doesn't seem to have been misplaced in your Aes Sedai." She looked away for a moment, before returning her gaze to look him dead in the eye. "The bond allows for many things to transfer from one person to another and there are many benefits, for both of you. No matter how you feel about her, I trust you understand your job is to keep her alive and her job is to follow the precepts of the Ajah and the Tower. If a man gives his life protecting one of us, it is the will of the Wheel, never doubt that. You dishonor your mentor's memory by cursing yourself for not being strong enough to thwart the Wheel. Use it as a catalyst to get better, to train more, to be the best you can be so that Taia does not share his fate, but do not rob him of the fate the Wheel delivered for him because of your lack in training." 

 

She tilted her head, though didn't let him loose from her gaze. "Being a warder is more than being a friend, or even a lover," she folded her hands in her lap. "It is knowing that keeping her safe means more than anything you've ever promised to do in your entire life, as short as that has been. It means knowing that you aren't even allowed the blessing of death unless there is no other way to achieve her safety, and knowing that by that single action, you've caused her pain and put her at a greater risk than you had while you were breathing." 

 

She stood, moving to a bookcase a few steps away and pulling a drawer free. She crossed back to him and sat down, not in her chair, but right next to him. She handed him a small wooden box with a single hinge on one side and a clasp on the other. "Go on, open it," she said watching his hands take the box. "My first warder was young, like you. I was young, too, eager to prove myself and unhappy to be trapped in the Tower. We were together for years, until I was finally given a task far away from the Tower. We were so happy to be away, so eager to fling our swords at the Dark One and his minions." She looked down at the box, now open and sighed. Inside was a small golden pin, a bell much like the ones Reki wore in his hair. "He was Arafellian, too," she said softly. "He forgot all of the things I just told you. He felt invincible, ready to take on Shayol Ghul on his own. I remember the knot of him in my head to this day, so many jumping emotions all dancing around fighting for attention." 

 

She looked up at him again, her expression going blank again. "He rode straight into an ambush, knowing it was there. He thought he could overpower the darkfriends who waited for us around the corner. They captured him, giving me enough time to get away. I tried to get back to him, tried to save him, but there was never a chance. They spent the night torturing him, carving him up and making him scream. They knew what he was, and that the woman he was bonded to would feel every flash of pain, every anguishing tear. That I would know the minute he died and know how it happened, too. By morning he was gone and so were they. I had enough guardsmen with me to return to the Tower. A few months later, a messenger delivered this bell to me; all that was left of him." 

 

She lifted her eyes to Taia, not allowing the lingering pain to get past her mask. "I avenged him, though it nearly killed me doing it. It took decades to get past it, years I can't even remember because the pain of his loss was so great. I wore this pin to remember not only his passing, but his mistakes and his sacrifice." She looked back to Reki and curled his hand around the bell. "I'm giving it to you so that you learn from it, too. His loss nearly killed me. If he had only listened when I begged him to wait. If he had only stopped to think about why we knew they were waiting for us..." She shook her head. "He was eager to prove himself, as I fear you are, as well. Don't fall into that trap, Gaidin. I've survived it and it's nothing you want to put that woman through." 

 

~Amena

presents! 

[Rekinu Alasayaar]

After he finished, it was Amena's turn to talk.  And talk she did.

 

"You are very trusting, but lucky for you, your place doesn't seem to have been misplaced in your Aes Sedai." She looked away for a moment, before returning her gaze to look him dead in the eye, transfixing him. "The bond allows for many things to transfer from one person to another and there are many benefits, for both of you. No matter how you feel about her, I trust you understand your job is to keep her alive and her job is to follow the precepts of the Ajah and the Tower. If a man gives his life protecting one of us, it is the will of the Wheel, never doubt that. You dishonor your mentor's memory by cursing yourself for not being strong enough to thwart the Wheel. Use it as a catalyst to get better, to train more, to be the best you can be so that Taia does not share his fate, but do not rob him of the fate the Wheel delivered for him because of your lack in training."  She hit a note there.  He rocked back metaphorically, taking in her words, examining them.  Perhaps he was a bit too tough on himself, but he owed Taia to be the best that he could be.

 

She tilted her head, though her gaze became more honed and sharper. "Being a warder is more than being a friend, or even a lover," Rekinu blushed... she didnt think he, that they, 'light', I wouldnt imp... he cut himself off, paying attention to her, she seemed to be doing a little soul searching as she continued. "It is knowing that keeping her safe means more than anything you've ever promised to do in your entire life, as short as that has been. It means knowing that you aren't even allowed the blessing of death unless there is no other way to achieve her safety, and knowing that by that single action, you've caused her pain and put her at a greater risk than you had while you were breathing." He started to nod, but then he paused... he wasnt even allowed to wash his birth-stain away?  That had always been his lifes goal, but that was denied him?  But when she got to the bit about him dieing would put Taia at greater risk stopped him cold.  He could NOT do that, not toTaia.  Oh, he had no notion that she was not older nor wiser, nor that she didnt understand the world around her better than a poor bastards son, but that his death could harm her could not be allowed.  He had never cared for anyone like he did for Taia.  His father was... well, his mother was important to him, but she died so long ago, all he remembered about her was her perfume, and her desire to have a home.  Taia was his sole responsability in life, she was what gave him direction.  Until she came along, he was just going to become a Tower Guard, and go on missions, hopefully to the Blight, to fight the evil of the Shadow.  She gave him a honed purpose.

 

She stood, moving to a bookcase a few steps away and pulling a drawer free. She crossed back to him and sat down, not in her chair, but right next to him. She handed him a small wooden box with a single hinge on one side and a clasp on the other. He held the delicate box in his hands, being extra careful with it, as it seemed important to her.  "Go on, open it," she said.  As he started to undo the clasp, and opened it slowly, she continued.  "My first warder was young, like you. I was young, too, eager to prove myself and unhappy to be trapped in the Tower. We were together for years, until I was finally given a task far away from the Tower. We were so happy to be away, so eager to fling our swords at the Dark One and his minions." Rekinu could understand that, a change in the rutine must have been a welcome relief.  Inside was a small golden pin, a bell much like the silver and bronze ones he wore in his hair. She sighed before continuing.  "He was Arafellian, too," she said softly. "He forgot all of the things I just told you. He felt invincible, ready to take on Shayol Ghul on his own. I remember the knot of him in my head to this day, so many jumping emotions all dancing around fighting for attention." 

 

His heart chilled for a moment.  He could tell where this was going.  There was only one reason why this little bell would be in this box.

 

She looked up at him again, her expression going blank. "He rode straight into an ambush, knowing it was there. He thought he could overpower the darkfriends who waited for us around the corner. They captured him, giving me enough time to get away. I tried to get back to him, tried to save him, but there was never a chance. They spent the night torturing him, carving him up and making him scream. They knew what he was, and that the woman he was bonded to would feel every flash of pain, every anguishing tear. That I would know the minute he died and know how it happened, too. By morning he was gone and so were they. I had enough guardsmen with me to return to the Tower. A few months later, a messenger delivered this bell to me; all that was left of him." 

 

At the mention of the darkfriends, his blood raced.  People like that were people not worth the air they breathed.  To cause such misery on someone for serving the light meant they had no honor, nothing.

 

She lifted her eyes to Taia, He voice had become hard, very hard, almost like a sword or hammer.  "I avenged him, though it nearly killed me doing it. It took decades to get past it, years I can't even remember because the pain of his loss was so great. I wore this pin to remember not only his passing, but his mistakes and his sacrifice." She looked back to him, and curled his hand around the bell he had pulled out of the box to look at.  It was a very intricate piece of work. "I'm giving it to you so that you learn from it, too. His loss nearly killed me. If he had only listened when I begged him to wait. If he had only stopped to think about why we knew they were waiting for us..." She shook her head. "He was eager to prove himself, as I fear you are, as well. Don't fall into that trap, Gaidin. I've survived it and it's nothing you want to put that woman through."

 

He looked deep into her eyes, and he could see the pain there, so often hidden, likely repressed in the recesses of her mind, and for a moment felt the loss of Cetar all over again.  He had felt something only a fraction of her pain, and the first few days, the weight of Cetar's death had almost killed him.  He resolved at that moment.  He slowly removed his best bell, the one his mother had given him so many years ago.  He attempted to polish it a moment before giving up.  Tenderly, he placed it in the box, and closed the lid with a finality that felt more weighty than any other decision he had ever made in his life.  Wordlessly he braided the golden bell in a place of honor behind his left ear, where its jangle would remind him of the oath he was about to swear.

 

He somberly glanced to his Aes Sedai, before smoothly kneeling pro-offering the closed box back to Amena Sedai and spoke.  "I have nothing that could repay you for your words of wisdom, please accept this in replacement of the gift that you have given.  Also, you have my oath that I will do everything within my power that, should anything happen, both of us will make it out alive.  I perhaps am a bit too harsh on myself, and now i will be even more so.  Your Sister will be safe in my care, and I promise now on the honor I have regained in the service of the Light, to reevaluate myself.  I have been a bit... careless in my style thinking that it only mattered if she made it out alive.  But by that thinking I could doom both of us.  I would never have Taia hurt, like you are hurting."  He curled her hands around the box, before returning to his seat in a smooth motion.

[U4ea]

Amena blinked, irritated that the memory she'd kept locked away from everyone for so long would resonate on such a level with this boy that he'd see the pain she still carried. She'd long ago accepted that it was a pain that would never truly go away. It was one of the curses of living so long. She looked down at the box he curled back into her hands, knowing from the location she'd seen him take this bell from that it had come from a place of honor. It was no cheap bell he'd placed in her hands, especially not to the man who had given it to her. She smiled a bit, at that, letting the expression slide through the mask she usually held tightly in place. 

 

She blinked again and turned her attention to Taia. "I would give you the same warning,Sister," she said, her voice hardening. "There are many ways to circumvent those oaths and, as a Green, we excel at doing them. There is often a great chance you take, a very real chance that the gamble you choose to accept will not fall true to your needs. Be aware of it every time he places himself in danger, every time you're standing at his back with a sword in your hand and a weave on your fingers. You must train together from this point forward, to become a union of motion. You must explore the knot in your head and learn each other, for every gasp you don't hear could very well be the last one you feel." 

 

She stood, stiffly moving back to the bookcase and replacing the box with its new occupant. "Have you any questions? Either of you?" She asked before firming up her mask of expressionless indifference and looked back at them. 

 

 

~Amena

[Rekinu Alasayaar]

Standing, the determined Aes Sedai returned to the bookcase, and replaced the sacred box with its new occupant.  At no time in his memory could he recall feeling... like he had a mom.  He all the sudden had another connection in the world to keep him grounded.  His fellow trainees all but Visar, or maybe Torvous, were just accomplices in the cause of protecting the WT.  Taia was... special, he wasnt sure where she fit in, an important part, but no particular location fit.  She was a friend for sure.  Amena all of a sudden was like the mom that had given himself that bell that was now resting in her box.  He made a quick oath, upon the memory of his mother, that he would keep justice at the forefront, and to attempt to die in his old age, as far as the Light willed it.

 

Turning back to them, he face was back to the expressionless Aes Sedai mask, though he thought that he might have caught a glimmer of the pain in her eyes, and recognized the same look Taia showed from time to time when talking about the past.  He know knew what, or better said, WHO Taia was thinking of when she got that look on her face.

 

"Have you any questions? Either of you?" She said, with a firmness to her voice that Rekinu admired.

 

"No." He solemnly replied.  His answers were already had.  He had now firmed his oath to not only ensure his Aes Sedai made it out of everything, but that he would too.

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Taia stayed drinking a tea in the corner of Amena's room. She was not to interfear this was between the Head of the Ajah and Taia's warder. Taia was sure that Reki would have a good showing and that Amena would like him. She had to like him as Taia wasn't giving him up! Taia tried to pull her thoughts away from the thought and focus on what the two were talking about now.

 

"Please, have a seat and tell me how the two of you came to this place. The way a pair bonds will tell you quite a bit about what they are willing to do on a battle field, after all. Would you care for some mulled wine?"

 

Taia winced she remembered thinking when she first met Reki that he would be her's, but he probably shouldn't tell Amena that! She tried to put the worry from her mind because Reki then would worry he was doing something wrong and change whatever he was going to say. She focused on her tea cup for a moment, and missed most of what Reki had said till he mentioned,

 

"well, we showed back up at the tower bonded.  It still feels a bit weird to get a bit of her emotions through my head... not that i can read her any better now than i could without it mind you, but it has helped a couple times, most especially when we were in the Borderlands looking for what was happening to the eyes and ears network up there."

 

Taia actually laughed then, she tried to keep it as quiet as she could, but both of the people in the room glanced at her. She smiled at them both but said nothing. This wasn't her interview even if she had to laugh at somethings occasionally. The two went back to talking, and Taia went back to her thoughts. She wondered what her life would be like without Reki in it, probably a whole lot less exciting. He was still largely a little green for the older members of the Tower, but he had been through a lot in the Borderlands and he had learned a lot while there. She had nearly told him many things she shouldn't, although he probably could guess many of them if he paid close attention to her bond in his head. She was drawn out of her thoughts by Reki presenting a box back to Amena, blinking Taia paid attention again. 

 

"I have nothing that could repay you for your words of wisdom, please accept this in replacement of the gift that you have given.  Also, you have my oath that I will do everything within my power that, should anything happen, both of us will make it out alive.  I perhaps am a bit too harsh on myself, and now i will be even more so.  Your Sister will be safe in my care, and I promise now on the honor I have regained in the service of the Light, to reevaluate myself.  I have been a bit... careless in my style thinking that it only mattered if she made it out alive.  But by that thinking I could doom both of us.  I would never have Taia hurt, like you are hurting."

 

Taia blinked and felt a tear prickle the back of one of her eyes, he had just promised to live instead of to die for her. She had really expected nothing less from him, he had already sworn his life for her's should it come to that when they bonded, but now it all seemed more real. She looked away and prayed to the creator she would not have to lose Reki for a long while yet. Amena glanced at Taia again and Taia just gave her a sad smile. The Ajah head went back to talking, after a moment it was clear that the interview was over. Taia came forward and touched Reki's arm.

 

"come now, it is time to go." She nodded to Amena "Thank you for seeing us Captain General. I believe he will serve well." She smiled at Reki who gave her a smile back. She waited till her Ajah head nodded to her and then she turned and took Reki out of the room. When they returned to there own room she sat down on the couch and sighed deeply.

 

"I hate doing that, I never know if Amena will tease or be serious." Taia smiled "A bit like me really." She laughed and looked up at Reki. "You did well my Warder, did you enjoy the meeting? Is there anything else you need to ask me?"

 

Taia Misna

Green Sister

[U4ea]

Amena watched the pair leave her office and slumped into her chair. Memories were never comfortable when they attacked at strange times, but Light, Reki reminded her so much of...

 

She shoved that thought aside, knowing that time didn't heal wounds, it merely numbed them. She merely covered hers better than some others she'd seen in the Tower. She let her eyes drift to the box on her shelf and took a deep breath. She prayed that he took her advice to heart. He seemed to, but only time would tell. 

 

With a deep grumble, she returned to the collection of odditites on her side table, trying to piece together the puzzle they presented...

 

~Amena

;)