Memories
Novice Teli Mildune, Written by Tanya
Posted on Thu, Aug 19, 2010 09:40 am
"I like dancing well enough, but dancing with a woman who could and might slit my throat…? Not my idea of fun!" Jondin said, and Teli couldn't help but smile wider.
She nodded at his question, and as they heading out towards the Gardens, Teli took deep, calming breaths, feeling better long before they made it outside. As they made their way out, she made sure to avoid the direction for the Water Garden, not wanting to see it since she had spent so long cleaning it up as penance during her first week as a Novice. It wasn't long before she wasn't really looking at Jondin as a male Channeler, but instead just as another young man. His attention surprised her a little since she wasn't used to positive attention from anyone really except for her brother and Rynn, at least for the past number of years. Other than her roommate and another Novice by the name of Zynel, however, the others here at the White Tower had been at least civil if not nice to her. She was sure it was because of the fact that they didn't know what had happened to her father, but she wasn't exactly ready to tell that to anyone yet….
"It's alright if we don't find Amahli, she might have been rounded up by a Trainee that she owes a favor to." Teli said with a soft laugh, wondering if the Trainee that had gotten them those frogs so many months ago would indeed expect Amahli to show him any attention at the Festival. As they got out outside, Teli closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The tension about the crowd she had been feeling inside was fading quickly. "Thank you, really, for bringing me out here…. I'm not usually comfortable in crowds, even during Festivals back in Caemlyn, but I have to admit I'm not a very good dancer, especially since I only ever danced with my father or Dain." Her smile faded a bit when she mentioned her father, but she tried to not think about him right now. So instead, she thought about dancing with Dain, and her smile came back again.
Dain used to dance with her more often, seeing it as his duty as her older brother to take care of her, and ensure that she enjoyed herself during celebrations. Of course, those dances had become fewer and fewer in the past two years, ever since he had taken a greater interest in Rynn. She had been disappointed at first, but Rynn had always made sure that Dain saved at least one dance for her and Alena. I wonder if he's dancing with Alena tonight…or if his new wife has her all to herself. Teli smiled even wider at that, remembering the letter she had received a few months ago, telling her of the nuptials between her brother and Rynn, a wedding that, by the sounds of it, angered her mother.
"I came here a little before you did. I've been here about six months…the only reason I think I even remember when I came is because I left Caemlyn on my birthday." She said, looking over at him, smiling softly. "I was actually brought here by an Aes Sedai, a Blue, by the name of Manon Sedai. She had been in Caemlyn for reasons of her own, but while she was there she heard…rumors, about a girl that had done something that didn't seem…normal, I guess. She came to my house, to see if I was a channeler, but I wasn't home at the time. I had snuck outside the gates, to a place where my father used to take my siblings and I outside, to teach us how to survive in case we ever decided to travel, and had to spend our nights out of doors. It was calming out there, even if it brought back bad memories, it was better than being at home, with my mother and sister looking at me like they did…. My brother came to find me, since he knew where I would be…. He encouraged me to go with Manon Sedai, since he was sure I'd be happier here at the White Tower." She looked up at Jondin, smiling a little wider. "I've never been to Tear…what is it like?"
OOC: I promise my little Teli is a lot nicer than my fiery Aiel.
In reply to Tell tale Signs[show]/[hide]
As he waited for her to speak he studied her covertly, not wishing to appear to stare. She seemed fine, didn't appear to be hurt or anything but... She looked so shocked, so confused, so lost... Had he shook something loose in her head? Had he hurt her more than he had thought. Light he hoped not. It would be just his luck and all if he had!
Watch where your standing next time you uncoordinated lump! he growled softly at himself, cursing his decision to attend the Festival at all.
He could have stayed in tonight, caught up on his reading or played his harp but no... He could not resist the call of the Festival, oh no. Not he! Not Lord bloody Jondin flaming Kern! He sighed softly, lethargically, wanting to slip away into the floor, wanting to disappear from sight completely. He was always at the fore front of messes like this, no matter where he went in life. The Pattern may had twisted a new thread into his life but he was still as unfortunate as ever, or so it would seem!
"Well at least I am not destined to go mad..." he whispered softly to himself, staring sideways into the crowd. THAT was some sort of relief!
As she began to speak he felt most of the tension drain away, tension he had not realized he had built up. She was fine, not hurt and she was apologizing to him. A strange turn of events... All the Male Novices ever seemed to get from the Female Novices was frosty destain and mistrust, in his experiences any way. The Tower may have been accepting Male Channelers now but, in essence, it was still a Girls Club. They ruled the roost while the men just sat back and watched.
Or maybe its just me. My track record with women has never been good... That thought brought the ghost of a smile to his lips.
He had been engaged once, a long distance ago, before he had left for Illian. He had been destined to marry a Lady of the highest pedigree, the daughter of another High Lord of Tear. It would have tied House Kern and House Brend together for many many years to come, had he not fled and had the woman not preferred the company of her own sex anyway.
Trust me to get stuck with a woman more interested in women than men. How could I have married her when I had known that? It would have all been a lie. He shook his head softly and smiled. The trip to Illian had saved him of that at least. And her.
He smiled softly as she explained what had happened. He knew the feeling all too well. The overwhelming sea of White, mingled with the colors of the Ajah, shot through by Trainees in all shapes and sizes and served with the dark Black of the Asha'man... The place was overwhelming, even for him. He looked around slowly and nodded.
Impressive but indeed scary!
Caemlyn? The woman was Andoran? A delightful turn of events. He could hear it now, as she spoke. He had missed it before, so lost in the quivering of the voice as it was. As she seemed to steady herself it began to come out more and more. He had longed for the tones of Andor the last few weeks. The place had brought him comfort, after that day in Four Meadows.
"A beautiful name indeed!" he smiled placating, hoping to settle her mind. "Andor is quite a lovely place and Caemlyn the most beautiful City of all, or so they say!" he nodded softly. "And having seen it, I could hardly argue. Forgive me for not saying earlier, I was born and raised in Tear!"
"And I'm not a Lady."
He laughed softly, grinning from ear to ear. "Indeed you are not. Noblewomen are the most useless creatures in the world and you, dear Teli Mildune, seem far from useless!" he smiled, hoping she took his compliment well.
She did not seem to hear him as she pushed her way on in the conversation, clearly embarrassed by her exclamation. She was a strange one, this Teli. She was skittish and nervous, a most bewildering trait. He wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her softly, tell her to calm down. He had thought about doing it more than once but, in truth, he feared she would scream and collapse and THAT would not have looked good. She was panicky in a crowd, he could see that. Maybe if he got her outdoors, into the Gardens she might relax. SOMETHING had to give before she broke down or passed out from over exerting her heart!
He tuned back in to what she was saying, having missed the first few seconds. She was looking for somebody, that was a clear. Another young female Novice he supposed by the name. He nodded softly and thought furiously. The name didn't sound familiar. He knew practically no one in the whole Tower, bar Julia of course! When she smiled he felt his breath quicken a little. She was truly quite mad, this young Teli Mildune, but her smile was quite pretty.
He felt himself smiling back, genuinely. "I am afraid I do not know your friend no. But I am more than willing to help you look for her. I fear if I stand still too long that Trainee over by the far wall will ask me to dance!" he nodded his head softly to the far wall, toward a woman of SeaFolk origin wearing the Flame and Chain on her shoulder. "I like dancing well enough, but dancing with a woman who could and might slit my throat...? Not my idea of fun!" he smiled softly at Teli and laughed to indicate he was joking. "Well we could stay here to find your friend or check the Gardens? I would suggest the Gardens as you appear to be in need of some air... " He made his voice soft, kind. He did not want her thinking he was scolding her. "And to answer your question I have been in the Tower maybe two months now... It is hard to track time accurately, I am sure you know yourself!" he nodded, draining the last of the wine from his Goblet and smiling. "Well... Shall we? As we walk you can tell me more about yourself. Like how long you are here and why you came!" he smiled kindly and indicated towards a doorway just ahead.
OOC: I do believe I remember Hyldae. I think it would have been Tain that had played with her. :) Well I am glad to RP with you again too! :)
