Kathera ran her finger over the old book's text, marveling over how well it had been preserved. It's beautiful. She thought to herself, amazed at the book's rolling script. I want handwriting like that. Ah, how often she wished that while going through the libraries many wonders. And how unlikely for it to happen. Yes, one of her many dreams this year. On top of that list: to be an Aes Sedai. Stiffling a yawn, Kathera glanced idily over the gardens, sitting back more on 'her' bench. The day was quiet, mainly because it was early morning. In fact, the Accepted had to wipe off dew before she could sit down. But the quiet was worth it, exspecialy compared with the Accepteds' quarters. How she longed to be Aes Sedai. And how unlikely it would happen soon. Yes, she knew the one hundred weaves well... but there were still many things to learn. Not history, she knew that very well because of her use of the library, but the One Power. Kathera knew very well that she was far from close to her ultimate goal. Sometimes she wondered how Marian had done it so very, very fast. Her friend had breezed through all the Tower's levels...

Drawing herself away from such thoughts, she focused on her new book. It was a collection of history, and the best she had found so far. Mainly, it was on the topic of the founding of the White Tower. Amazing, how it was still black with perfect print. Telling herself to not dwell on such thoughts, the Accepted began to read. Yes, she had always known the White Tower was for her. Sometimes she wished that it could be her turn to test... but she knew she would not survive. SHe was not ready. If she did live through it... The Accepted knew she would not maintain one shred of serenity. Even now, it was hard. To do it in such conditions? Never. She could only try her best to keep a smooth face, and hope her twinkling eyes would not betray her. Or pent up emotions. It was hard, so very hard. Yet her time would not come soon, and it was best not to worry too much over the matter. Just read, learn, and practice the one hundred weaves. That was all she had to do... for the moment. Stiffling a sigh as an Aes Sedai approached, she curtsied quickly, not sitting down until the sister was far enough away. The curtsying did not irk her anymore, Kathera was used to in completely. Opening her books again, the young Accepted read on through her favorite history topic, the topic the headed her list, even over the Dragon Reborn. Yes, the Dragon was quite interesting... but the White Tower was the one thing she could not resist learning about. Part of the reason she wanted to be Aes Sedai was to learn what other sisters knew, such as the way to ignore cold. The thought brought her to the cold temperature, and the Accepted drew her arms about herself, stilling her chattering teeth. Some people didn't understand why she went out so early, right after breakfast, but the awnser was simple enough. She liked the peace at such a time in the morning, out in the gardens. The dew on the flowers... It was beautiful, and restfull. Things she was in sore need of lately.

ooc - sorry this is short...i'm not one for writing very long replies. :P


Peace. When was the last time he'd had a taste of the thing? Exactly six years ago, before being raised and before leaving the Black Tower. Since then, peace had avoided him. Even in Tar Valon there was no peace, only fear and anger. Fear for the Chosen who was stalking him, and fear for the day he would actually have to carry out his orders to please the Great Lord of the Dark. Why was he staying onto this dreary path? Because he wanted to live. He wanted to live so that someday he might return to the Light and help in eradicating the Shadow forever. But with the look of things, it seemed he was stuck to being what he was for the rest of his damned life. How sad. If only he hadn't been foolish...hadn't been so gullible...

Edeleas suddenly leapt to his feet and threw the goblet he had been drinking from across the room, where it hit the bare wall of the empty classroom he was in with a bang before landing on the floor with an odd clunk. He stood up, picking himself from the floor and went out to go to the grounds. The morning was still early, the breeze the usual calming and cool waft, and he desperately needed to calm down and try to reach peace. Funny how different he was now. He could vaguely remember being carefree and cheerful...but all he was aware now was the ever-present feeling of dread and rage. Rage for a man he had killed long ago for giving him this damned fate... he passed an Accepted sitting on a bench. He was not sure why, but the girl's eyes definitely went round at the sight of him. He sat down on a bench not far from hers.

(Sorry I haven't been on at all. I'l reply later, I promise.)

Smiling slightly as she continued to read, the Accepted's head was drawn up at the sound of footsteps. Not many were awake and about at this area, but perhaps it was another Accepted stealing time for studying... The tower grounds was a favorite place to read for some such as herself. But the sound belonged to the boots of a young Asha'man. Squinting in the morning sunlight, Kathera's eyes went round at the sight of him. Edeleas! How many years ago did she last see him? And he was back... Somehow, she had presumed he was dead and gone.As he drew closer, she curtsied quickly, her book tumbling from her lap and to the ground. Muffling a curse, Kathera picked it up quickly, dusting it's cover and looking quickly for damage. Good. The Browns wouldn't find anything wrong with this book. The Accepteds eyes looked about, searching for her one time friend. Ah... there he was. Edeleas sat on a bench not far from her, looking tired and angery. The last time she had talked to him much she had been a novice, and he probably didn't remeber her. Still. "Good morning, Asha'man Edeleas." Kathera's voice sounded squeaky even to her. Wondering if he would reply, the Accepted looked him over carefully.

This man was different from the carefree one she had known. Edeleas looked haunted... and full of bristling anger. Very different from the young man she had meet so many years ago. How many years was it? Kathera wondered to herself. Ah.... six. Yes, that was long enough for a person to change so very much. And Edeleas had not visited the tower since he left at all that she knew of... this man truely held no resemblance to the person she had known. None at all. Very probable that he wouldn't have a name to match up with her face. So sure that he wouldn't awnser, Kathera returned to her book, a bit disturbed. It was amazing what a person could go through... and how it changed them. In fact, she thought, I think the library has a book on that subject. I think I'll go check it out later. Nodding to herself, she continued to read.

"Good morning, Asha'man Edeleas."

Edeleas did not heed the Accepted who greeted him, as he was still trying to force down his rage. He assumed the Ko'Di, guessing it would help, and he stayed in silence, the emptiness slow in calming him down. But it was working, and that was what's important. And then...his rage receded. Edeleas released the Ko'Di, taking in a deep breath as he tilted back his head to see the sky above. The gentle blue was also calming, and a few moments more, Edeleas felt peaceful. Which was saying something. He had never been peaceful for a very long time. He did not forget the Accepted who greeted him, though, and after yet another moment of silence, he stood up and sat beside her. He stared at her face, searching his pieces for memories. And then a name floated somewhere at the back of his skull. Kathera Galwyn

"Kathera." He said, the name sounding odd. "How...how are you?"

He hoped she would answer, but then, he also wished she won't. His mind was a tumult of overlapping and mixed emotions that it was a wonder he had not exploded yet. It was all right to remember, every now and then, and he would certainly want to keep things straight with Kathera, unlike the mess he had made with the one called Marian Skylas. Still he could not remember her, and to cap it off, he wanted to be wary around the Gray sister. He waited for Kathera's answer. Suddenly he was very much in the mood to talk.

"Kathera." Edeleas now spoke, startling Kathera out of her book. "How...how are you?" The Accepted favored him with a smile, and closed her book. "I am well. And as you can see, I have been raised to Accepted." Even after years with that title, the words had not lost any of the joy that had first been in them. She was rather startled, really, that he remebered her name. Thinking it only polite, as not to keep talking from a different bench, Kathera walked over to him and sat down. "How have your travels over the last six years been, Asha'man Edeleas? I haven't heard much of the world outside these walls." And that was a truth, really. All her attention had lately been on learning the One Power, and reading. Looking down at her book, she traced it title with her fingers. Simply intitled: Founding. Just that had been enough to rouse her curiousity, and she had found it's subject quite remarkable. The beginging of the White Tower. Really, it wasn't... well, a definate sort of book. But it went over the different theories, and really, after starting to read it, she had begun to understand the life of and Aes Sedai better. It spoke of politics between the Ajahs, if only briefly. Some Aes Sedai might have a fit if they saw her with it and knew that a little of such information was in it. From Kathera's impression, Aes Sedai didn't even want the initates of the Tower to understand them perfectly. And probably for a very good reason.

To bad I don't know the reason. she though to herself, and returned her attention to Edeleas, who seemed to be thinking about how to answer her question. Really, it was a simple one. A few words about the happenings her had seen in different countries would be perfect, but the Accepted couldn't help but wonder if he would even give her that much. He seemed colder, harsher.... Not like the person she once knew him to be. Not at all the the young man she had met in the Mess Hall with Marian, when they were both novices.

"I am well. And as you can see, I have been raised to Accepted. How have your travels over the last six years been, Asha'man Edeleas? I haven't heard much of the world outside these walls." the girl replied.

Edeleas tried to smile. Tried to, really. "My travels. Ah...very interesting. Where would you like to start? I've been to Seandar, Rhuidean and Tremalking." In truth, he had never been anywhere near the places, but Edeleas had known too much not to make up an elaborate excuse for his sudden absence. In truth he had been in one place all those years, and that was in the enigmatic continent of Shara, deep in the Citadel, Shibouya, working his way in the shadows for the Great Lord. But Kathera was not to know that, of course. If she should...Edeleas smiled inwardly. He was quite effective dealing with people who peek in their noses in his business.

((ooc - sorry it's short; i'm using a school pc))

(I don't even get time to post at all on school pcs....)

Edeleas tried to smile, he looked like he was having some trouble. Kathera sympthisized with him, there were some days when she felt exactly the same way. "My travels. Ah...very interesting. Where would you like to start? I've been to Seandar, Rhuidean and Tremalking." Even though she knew he wouldn't want to be questioned, Kathera bounced in her seat, hoping for more information. "Oh... I'd love to hear about Tremalking!" Yes... so her voice was filled with enthusiasm. Kathera couldn't help herself, she just wanted to know more about the world, something of what it was really like to be there, not just the descriptions she found in books. Embarassed over her quick response, Kathera looked down at her book, red staining her checks. You've even forgot the 'Asha'man Edeleas'! She scolded herself, and Kathera found her fingers tracing the book's title again. Kathera had always found a sort of reasurance in books, and this was one of those times.

Even in her excitement and embarassment, Kathera couldn't be a bit suprised. Six years, and only three places? Thats about two years in each... Well, it must be some sort of Black Tower buisness. I won't try to dig for an answer... it's not my buisness. That in her mind, she looked back at him, egerly awaiting his answer.

"Hmm, Tremalking." Edeleas replied. It was such a good thing he was a voracious reader - not even his business in Shara had been able to take that away from him. He looked at Kathera, pushed his glasses up on his nose and smiled at her - a small and insignificant smile, but it was a smile nonetheless. "You know of course that the female Choedan Kal stands there. It is immense, I can tell you, and when I saw it I thought it must have been as huge as the White Tower itself! The land is particularly hilly and grassy, you see, but their climate is quite good if one loves the sea. Unfortunately I do not like being sun-darkened, so I was often in the huts. But the people are friendly, albeit a bit sour with the Sea Folk." He answered. Edeleas could not help but admire the way he lied subtly. And to think he was released from the Oaths forever! How very extraordinary indeed!

He looked at the Accepted. She was quite uneasy. He tilted his head sidewards and said, "You don't have to mind calling me with Asha'man, Kathera. I am Edeleas, still am Edeleas, and will always be Edeleas." He said simply.

Hmm, Tremalking." Edeleas replied. He smiled at her, exactly the same smile as before. Must be a bad day for him. "You know of course that the female Choedan Kal stands there. It is immense, I can tell you, and when I saw it I thought it must have been as huge as the White Tower itself! The land is particularly hilly and grassy, you see, but their climate is quite good if one loves the sea. Unfortunately I do not like being sun-darkened, so I was often in the huts. But the people are friendly, albeit a bit sour with the Sea Folk." It sounded just like it did in the books. I want to go there some day. she thought to herself. If it's really like that... I'd love it!

Edeleas' voice brought her back to the present. "You don't have to mind calling me with Asha'man, Kathera. I am Edeleas, still am Edeleas, and will always be Edeleas." Kathera couldn't help but flash a smile at that. Perhaps we'll stay friends, and eerything will turn out fine, just like with Marian. "You cannot change yourself, Edeleas. It is only a title those below you must say to respect you." And it was the truth... Still... I wonder when I started comforting people like that. Must be some effect of going through the arches... Yes, it's hard to chage yourself. But your experiences would do it for you.

Edeleas had a nice idea. He stood up, walked over to Kathera, hands in his pockets. He tried to smile again, but failed dismally. "It has been so long since I saw you, Kathera. And I am glad you still remain to be my friend, unlike others who saw that rank is a wall that breaches through a friendship and never allows it to heal again. I want to do something for you. Are you free? Why don't we go out to the city; I will treat you anything you wish."

((ooc - what say you let's take this to the city? :) ))

((Sounds good! :lol: ))

((Are you going to post there, or should I?))