A Momentous Occasion

Novice Zerese Demenia, Written by Nick
Posted on Sun, Aug 22, 2010 20:04 pm

[OOC: Of course not! Glad to finally get a chance to RP with someone else. :)]

From the floor, Zerese bit out an oath for whoever had knocked her to the ground. “Mother’s milk in a cup!” she hissed, rubbing at her backside. Light, but the Tower’s floor tiles were hard! Her anger was as much for herself and her lack of attention as for the girl who had thrown her to the floor. It was silenced instantly by a cool glance—no, this was a glare, and cool missed the mark by half—a cold glare from Eleria Sedai. There was no need for switching or straps for her; she had Zerese firmly in hand without even need for words. Colour bloomed in Zerese’s cheeks as she clambered to her feet, instantly ducking into a curtsey and offering her apologies to Eleria. Well, at least she should have no trouble fitting in here; as fiery as Saldaeans were, respect for Aes Sedai was bred into their bones.

Looking for any excuse not to continue looking into those cold eyes, Zerese busied herself with a quick study of the girl who had run into her. There was no mistaking her as Arafellin; those thin braids worked with a multitude of silver bells could belong to none other. That explained the jingling as they both crashed to the floor. The two of them were of a height, and though there was an odd paleness to the other girl’s face—well, perhaps not odd; she was Arafellin—Zerese could see the fierceness in those dark, liquid eyes. Then again, she was a Borderlander. A timid Borderlander was like a friendly Trolloc.

Well, there was only so long Zerese could study the other girl before appearing odd, so she switched her attentions to smoothing out travel-worn skirts which were, thankfully, in need of smoothing. The red wool—she had given over wearing her silks when she realized that the trip would last more than a few days, though even that was not in particularly good condition anymore—the red wool was of good quality and a very fine cut, or had been, once upon a time, but now it was stained with dirt and had obviously been worn far too long between washes.

She became abruptly aware that Eleria was still glancing coolly at her. At least it was just cool, now. Though she didn’t really know what the Aes Sedai was getting at, Zerese turned to the girl and bobbed a fairly stiff curtsey. “My apologies,” she said. If it sounded a bit forced, well, there it was. Why should she have to apologize? It was the other girl’s fault they had both wound up on the floor. Still, no need to make a scene in front of an Aes Sedai and, presumably, another novice. She was worried enough about her meeting with Candance Sedai without adding a potential penance to her list, and being on the bad side of the first novice she had met since arriving would not be the best idea.

Eleria had transferred that cool glance to the dark-haired Arafellin. If she didn’t understand what it meant, then she knew enough to follow Zerese’s lead, because she also offered a quick apology. Well, there was no more warmth in that than Zerese had given in hers, but she could forgive that. It was an embarrassing situation, after all, for the both of them, and in front of an Aes Sedai, too!

“My name is Zerese Demenia,” she said a bit more cordially, slipping into another curtsey. Better to get used to that now. She would be doing a lot of it in the coming days. No… in the coming years. Oh, Light! That part of it hadn’t sunk in until now. Her days would be a litany of “Yes Aes Sedai” and “No Aes Sedai” and “Your pardon Aes Sedai” until the fateful day when she would be chosen to pass on to Accepted. Only it wouldn’t end then, either! Stop that! she thought, again upbraiding herself. What’s done is done, and this is still a great honour.

The other girl introduced herself as Miranna Aedori, and apparently she hailed from Shol Arbela. “Oh? I’ve always wanted to see the fabled City of Ten Thousand Bells.” Unfortunately, Saldaea and Arafel were about as far from one another as they could be, and she had never had the opportunity to make the trip. “I take it you’re on your way to see the Mistress of Novices as well, then? Perhaps we can make the trip together. Er, since you’re already on the way, that is.” No need to let any possible apprehension slip through. Of course she was not apprehensive to see Candance Sedai! She was excited! This was a momentous day, and nothing would mar that. She just thought it would be nice to share that with someone. She was not afraid!

In reply to Arrivals[show]/[hide]

Miranna was glad to be gone from the stern eye of Koralyn Sedai, even if it meant leaving behind the comforting sight of Issyl Gaidar and her sword. Their trip from Shol Arbela had been...eventful, to say the least, and painful and humiliating if she was to say more. Still vivid in the girl’s mind was the image of the switch floating before her eyes, Koralyn’s smooth hand reaching out to grab it before Miranna felt the sting of it against her flesh.

The Aes Sedai had beat her!

Their trip had been even harder after the night they’d made camp not far off the merchant’s road. Miranna, shocked beyond all belief, had at first been subdued into a meek silence of obedience, but as soon as she woke the next morning, her bottom aflame, she had began to rebel again until the Aes Sedai had bent her over the saddle on the ground and switched her again, right atop the bruises from the night before. She had been offered Healing then, but Miranna’s pride had her refuse and pull herself up into the saddle gingerly, her face a mask of pain for the day that followed.

Yes, she was glad to be free of them, but she was hesitant about what was to come next. She was delaying her footsteps, her strides short and slow as she moved through the corridors of the White Tower to the offices of the Mistress of the Novices. Part of her – Light, all of her! – wanted to run off and find the Training Grounds, to try and hide herself in the anonymity of the trainees there and throw herself into training so she could be as fierce as Issyl, but Koralyn had already told her that they would find her if she was to go and hide in the Training Grounds. They would find her anywhere, she suspected: Koralyn talked as if she could feel Miranna and her apparently ability to use the One Power.

She felt that Koralyn was proving some kind of point to her, by making her go to this Candance Sedai by herself instead of being pushed and pulled down the corridor. Light burn the Aes Sedai, she thought viciously as her feet continued to drag her in the direction that Koralyn had pointed out to her.

She didn’t want to be an Aes Sedai – she wanted to become a Gaidar!

In a fit of irritation, Miranna threw one of her worked braids across her shoulder, the gentle chiming of the silver beads that had been worked into them in Arafellian style comforting and familiar to her. Her large, dark eyes that stood out against her unusually pale skin were fierce and cold with anger, framed by her dark braids that were already slipping past her ear as she strode down the corridor, her arms swinging angrily and her pace now suddenly fast and furious.

Miranna would never admit it, but she was hesitant to meet this Candance Sedai. Koralyn had warned her of how gentle she was being with her compared to how the Mistress of Novices would be. Anyone that would hold the power that Koralyn threatened she would – Light, it sounded like the woman was going to control every decision in her life! – was someone to be feared. Even if Miranna would rather die than tell anyone she was scared of an Aes Sedai. Despite her fear, her anger ensured that her stride was now confident and fast, her skirts swishing out behind her as she began to daydream about how she would sneak off into the Training Grounds to play with the trainee’s swords.

The way she was walking, with her eyes focused only at the end of the corridor where she had been told the offices of the Mistress of Novices lay, it was really no surprise when Miranna barrelled right into another girl who suddenly turned into the corridor, heading in the same direction as Miranna to Candance Sedai’s office. Miranna didn’t even feel the girl until she’d charged right into her, her legs twisting with the girl’s in a way that brought them both crashing to the ground.

Surprised, Miranna felt the breath knocked clean out of her and gave a gasp of shock as her bruised legs – she had refused Healing throughout the entire trip to Tar Valon – were smashed against the tiled floor.

“Oh, Light!” she swore, angry with herself for being so clumsy, and worried she may earn yet another beating for running into someone.

OOC: I hope you don’t mind I jumped in on the intro thread before Jeremy replies :)

Login to post!


Replies to A Momentous Occasion

  • Uncharacteristic Behaviour — Miranna Aedori, Mon, Aug 23, 2010 04:13 am