Sapphira set aside her breakfast plate, and waved the novice that she knew was waiting out of site forward to take it. She slid back in her chair, and before she was standing, her plate was gone, in an efficient flash of white that quickly followed the girl's curtsy. She nodded sharply to herself, Cayana did the Tower proud with these girls, Sapphira knew veyr few of them, for the most part only those she trained. It was a shame, she sometimes thought, that as Amyrlin she had so little time to see the girls, and thy had so little ability to talk to her. MOst of the time, Sapphira thought that that was how it should be. Not today. Today she wanted to see the faces of the initiates, the faces of the women who looked up to her stole. But not to her, for the most part, they knew her only as an icon, little more than the rest of the world saw her as. She made a decision then, and turned her steps to reflect it. Originally she had planned a surprise visit to the Hall of Valor today, but not now. Now she prefered the idea of visiting the novices and Accepted. Rather than going directly there, though, she turned back toward her office. It was a quick walk from the mess halls, her mind immersed in what to do during her visit. Upon arriving at the antechamber of her office, she nodded at Lyla, who turned back to her work when she saw who entered. Sapphira went directly into her office and slipped her stole from her shoulders and hung it over the back of a chair. She did not waste any more time, but turned and left her office, once more nodding at Lyla as she passed.

Sapphira made her way through the halls with her customary smile for Accepted and nod for sisters. She concidered for a moment telling the Accepted to report to the dorms, but changed her mind. Sapphira did not want the meeting to be the result of commands, after all. She did not hurry thorugh the halls, there was no need. The reports of the day would wait until she got back, whether she hurried or not. She made her way out of the Tower itself, and turned onto the path that she knew would lead her to the building that housed the novices and Accepted. Sapphira knew that at one point, there had been three such bildings, built around courtyards, two for novices and one for Accepted. But, when the Towers joined, all three had been demolished. Built in the plce of one of the novice homes, was one much larger building with the same courtyard in the middle. The lower few floors, more convenient, housed larger rooms, and were given to the Accepted. In the upper floors were found smaller rooms, designated for novice use. Not too many years after this building was built, it became obvious that there would ont be enough rooms for the growing Tower, and so roommates for novices were initiated, and had worked quite well since then. That was where Sapphira headed now, to the place that had been her home as novice and Accepted. Sappihra had been a novice in these dormitories for nearly two years before the idea of roommates was agreed upon. The thought made her feel her years- most of the sisters in the Tower had only a vague knowledge of how long before they arrived roommates came into practice. Of course, Sapphira was by no means the oldest, and could only imagine what the oldest had seen. There were even one or two who had seen the days of the Dragon Reborn, and been lucky enough to live through the time. Sapphira shook herself mentally, this was no time for nostalgia, though she was stepping back into her childhood.

Here, most of the people Sapphira saw were novices or Accepted. Many of them appeared surprised at seeing the Amyrlin in this part of the Tower, though many probably thought she had some business with one of her mentees. Sapphira suppressed a smile, she may well not see them today, though she would certainly welcome the presence of someone familiar to forge a link between herself and the others. Sapphira did not expect to see Cayana here either, nor to have to visit her later, unless something unanticipated happened with the initiates. Which was not something she expected, the Accepted knew what was expected of them, as did many of the novices. Sapphira expected that those girls would be able to keep others in check. In all her twenty-five years as Amyrlin, Sapphira had only met one novice brave enough to stand up to her- the only initiate ever- and the girl was being dealt with strongly. Sapphira stepped into the door of the main hall of this building. There was a sudden wave of curtsies ans girls realized who was visiting. Sapphira allowed herself a smile this time, the girls were never idle, but in this place, they had more freedom. It was close to the Tower, but just far enough away to be felt. Cayana's office was in the Tower proper, and Aes Sedai visits, while not rare, did not occur often. Sapphira walked down the hall, to the door that would take her through to the courtyard. It was sun-filled and warm, with a few benches and plants on the edges of the grass. It was neither large nor formal, and rarely used as more than a shortcut. Sapphira had always liked it, but the Light knew she had been here little enough since being raised Aes Sedai. She made her way over to one of the benches and sat. Once her skirts were adjusted to satisfaction, she embraced te Source. Reveling in the sweetness, she chose Air and wrapped a thread around the nearest bench. She brought it over and set it in front of her. From there, she proceeded to collect the rest, and make a circle of them. She hoped that it would be clear to the girls that she wanted company, if not, she would have to do something more. On impulse, before releasing saidar, she opened all the doors from the main halls to the courtyard, hoping to draw curious eyes. THe girls leaving their rooms would hopefully see as well, and come for a visit.

Achlys very much wanted to tear her hair with frustration out of herself. She was so clumsy, and for that she was busy doing punishment every day since she came to the Tower. She wiped a tear from her eye and walked down the hallways plucking her white skirt. She wanted to change, but she could not know where and how to begin. She desperately needed someone to talk to.

She rounded the corner, and she accidentally slipped on the tiled floors. She landed with a hard thud on the floor, and the first thing she saw was a regal woman who looked Cairhienin. She recognized the woman's stole. Squeaking, Achlys got up and curtsied. "I'm sorry, Mother! I'm sorry! I slipped! I'm sorry!"

((Sapphira's not wearing her stole :P))

Sapphira sat waiting, surely someone would come along eventually. She hoped. Even if they did, Sapphira knew that she would have to be the one to initiate conversation, but that did not bother her. As long as someone came along eventually. Finally, someone did, though not in a manner that Sapphira expected. The girl quite literally fell into the courtyard. Sapphira could not see what she tripped over, but when the child stood and recognized Sapphira- either as Aes Sedai or Amyrlin, Sapphira did not know which -she curtsied and apologized several times. Then, Sapphira knew that the girl knew her for Amyrlin, by her title. Sapphira gave her a warm smile, hoping to make her feel more comfortable. "Come here, child, sit with me," she said, holding her smile. Perhaps seeing one girl sitting with her would make it clear to the rest, and she would get more company. When the girl obeyed, and was close enough for Sapphira to see better, Sapphira looked her over. She could not say where the girl was from, though. She had vivid blue eyes that drew Sapphira's attention, but she did not look happy. The fact that she had fallen said that she was most likely new- older novices were rarely clumsy, that resulted in punishment -so perhaps she disliked the Tower. There were certainly many reasons for that, and the girls who hated this place were common, much as Sapphira disliked it. Perhaps her clumsiness had gotten her into trouble, it was at least a possibitlity.

"What is your name, child, and how long have you been in the Tower?" she asked, her voice warm. Sapphira had never had children of her own- Light but that would have been a problem as both Red and Amyrlin -and she saw the Accepted and Aes Sedai as daughters, but women old enough to care for themselves. The novices, she realized just then, were special. They were the children, the ones who needed looking after. And, even though they were not her daughters yet, they still called her mother. Sapphira had never before felt motherly, but talking to this girl was different. Perhaps it was because the girl looked sad, perhaps it was her vivid blue eyes, Sapphira did not know. She was not sure she liked it, though, it was a foreign feeling, and made her slightly uncomfortable. Besides, becoming personally attached to people- especially initiates -was a risky weakness, and she certainly had enough of that with Zekieal. Not to mention her loathing of Rialt. Sapphira shook herself mentally, this novice was just the same as all the others, the lowest rank in the White Tower, learning the basics of saidar, and doing chore after menial chore. Even so, Sapphira could not help but think that this was an example that the way a person is met does a lot to determine what she thought of them. She waited for the girl to answer, hoping that something she said or did would relieve her of this strange feeling. Perhaps someone else coming along would do it, if only someone else would come.

ooc - eek. sorry :look

"What is your name, child, and how long have you been in the Tower?" the Amyrlin asked. Achlys stared up at her ageless face, very much aware she was biting her lower lip like an anxious little girl. She plucked her skirt more vigorously than ever, and she bowed her head for a bit before answering.

"Barely a month, mother." she replied. "I'm Achlys Aldazar, a former...a former...Tinker." somehow the name seemed to be forced out of her throat. Light, how she missed her simple life of color and merriment and peace! But she could not return to those now. Far from it. Maybe in the next life, she could...