The hallways were more cramped, Naridin noticed. It seemed he wasn’t the only one moving to a permanent room that day, or maybe they were all changing rooms. People bustled by, some less hurried then the rest. The Aielman found it difficult to look around. It was a habit of his to try and glance at everybody from under his half-closed lids, but even he was finding it difficult, with all people around him. The slender Aiel avoided bumping into anyone, dodging with graceful ease careless ones who didn’t have a mind to keep their eyes on were they were going. All of them carried bundles of different sizes, but none so large as a sack. Naridin himself carried in one hand his belongings wrapped in a brown cloth, while the other hand remained in his pocket. So many of them…And all of them can do this channeling? What can they do, I wonder…? It would be interesting for him too see. If the Power could make water well from the ground in the Three-fold Land and make things appear out of thin air, what else could it do? He had not thought of it that way before, and the idea intrigued him. Not much could fascinate him, but when something did, it sometimes became an obsession. Perhaps saidin was less scary than he thought, after all. Perhaps he could enjoy his stay in the Tower rather than be held there by his fear of channeling himself to death.

Naridin came to halt when he found the door he was looking for. He pulled out his hand from his pocket, along with a key, and opened it. The room was plain, with white walls and nothing but what was really needed--a bed to sleep on and a place to keep their belongings. It suited him well; he had no need--or liking--for ornaments. There were no belongings, so that meant his only roommate was still not there. Edeleas al’Kuar had told him the man’s name. Zaide al’Karne. Naridin hoped he wasn’t Cairhienen.

It wouldn’t take long for him to settle in. His ‘belongings’ were little, since they had burned all his clothing, including his shoufa and Aiel shoes. He had winced at that, it was like being stripped of his being Aiel. Suddenly, he wished his dagger was still hanging from his belt. In wetlander clothing, sitting on a wetlander bed, he hardly felt the same. This is certainly a great change. He had expected that when he decided to cross the Dragonwall, but learning to channel was not one of them. Sighing, he placed everthing--which was mostly a set of uniforms--in one of the closets and took the small book he borrowed from the library with him as he lay on his back on one of the lower beds. The things were still softer than what he was accustomed to, but his would be comfortable enough. Opening the small, blue book, he reclined with his back on the pillow, stretching his long legs on the bed as he faced the door, waiting. Surely, no enemy of his was lurking in the Tower (he hardly knew anybody, being new), but if there was, they wouldn’t go through the door. Still, Naridin watched the door as guardedly as he would anything else, masking his wariness with a lounge and succeeding. His eyes drifted to the page and he let himself slacken a bit by reading. Books on wetland trees were nice.

(OOC- what is the soldier uniform 0.o?)

Kamiel walked nervously down the hallways of the Black Tower, his eyes jumping from man to man, Asha'man to dedicated to soldier. His father had been in the Black Tower when he was younger and had ran away before his testing as Asha'man. He had always known that he had favoured his father in terms of looks and was worried that someone might foolishly take him for his father or worse yet, abuse him from some wrong doings his father may have commited. He was no stranger to the usage of saidin. His father had drilled it into him as soon as he had found his capability of grasping the source, constant work with the power night and day, his father trying to help him train so that he wouldn't ever find it necessary to go to the Towers. He was of a different mind than his father, which was how he now found himself here.

His hands where free of burden as he made his way towards his room, hoping he didn't get lost. All of his earthly possesions had been lost during that fatefull shipwreak that had luckily reunited him with Tanya, and had sent him on his way to the Black Tower. Finally, the slender man from Andor found the right hallway where his room was to be found. Finding the right door, he inserted the small key he had been given and found himself in a small room, furnished in a simple fashion, everything there serving a purpose. A bed, a cabinet, a washstand. The basic necessities. It finally struck home that another man was in the room, reposed on the long bed. Noticing that he was an Aiel, Kamiel was surprised, knowing that they where a rather reclusive people that seldom, if ever, travelled over the Dragonwall. Still, he had had the occasional dealings with them when he lived briefly in near the blight. "May you find water and shade," he said in a pleasant tone, extending his hand to the wary looking man. "I'm Kamiel Al'Tarrant. You could say that I'm from Andor, but I haven't really stayed in any country long enough to claim allegience to it."

ooc - the soldier uniform is the high-collared andorran coat, without the sword and dragon pin. You basically wear black coat, black pants and black boots. ^^

Naridin lifted his gray eyes from his book as soon as the lock on the door clicked. In came a slender man with blonde hair, one without any possesions, he noticed. He had expected this one to be Zaide, but when the man introduced himself, Naridin started to doubt himself. Did I hear Edeleas Asha'man wrong? No, not likely. Perhaps he's new. The thought came with relief that the man was not a treekiller.

"I see you, Kamiel al'Tarrant." Naridin said in response to his roomate's Aiel greeting. He closed his book and made a finger a bookmark so he could take Kamiel's hand, giving it a firm shake, as wetlanders do. "I am Naridin from the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel."

After his introduction, the soldier leaned back on his pillow to continue his reading, but thought twice about it and turned to his roommate instead. Something he had said caught Naridin's interest. "You have travelled far, then? Have you been to the ocean?" In the Three-fold land, there was no body of water bigger what wetlanders might call puddles or ponds, so seeing large waters intruiged and frightened him at the same time. Naridin had already seen rivers and ponds during his journey to Tar Valon, but not the ocean yet. Someday, he wished to do so. For now, talking with someone who had seen it might entertain him enough.

The aiel took Kamiel's hand and introduced himself as Naridin, from the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel. The nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel ? Those names or titles, or whatever they where had no effect what so ever on Kamiel. Trying to fully make out and understand Aiel customs and societies was almost as easy as being raised from being a commoner to becoming Emperor of the Seanchan. Which is of course impossible , Kamiel thought.

Naridin had lain back on the bed, reposed as if to commence reading again, but instead he posed Kamiel a question. "You have travelled far, then? Have you been to the ocean?"
"When I was younger," Kamiel began, "my parents travelled almost constantly, dragging me along. In a way, I guess it was beneficial, I got to see the world and learn about many different subjects. And the ocean... ah yes, the ocean. A place I know all to well." Kamiel droned off, remembering that aiel where most often afraid of large bodies of water and treasured water dearly, considering they lived in the blight. "The ocean, she has many moods. One minute, her surface calm and sparkling and smooth, and the next, angry, and raging; her surface wracked by waves. It was on a voyage across the ocean from Seanchan that I found Tanya again, a girl that I loved. It was on the same voyage that I lost her again. Fortunatly, she managed to survive. She was spared, and given mercy from the sea. She is a novice at the tower right now." Kamiel gave Naridin a sad smile, the aiel was probably upset at Kamiel for taking about water in such a negative way. Even if it was a huge storm...

"When I was younger," Kamiel began, "my parents travelled almost constantly, dragging me along. In a way, I guess it was beneficial, I got to see the world and learn about many different subjects. And the ocean... ah yes, the ocean. A place I know all to well." Kamiel droned off. "The ocean, she has many moods. One minute, her surface calm and sparkling and smooth, and the next, angry, and raging; her surface wracked by waves. It was on a voyage across the ocean from Seanchan that I found Tanya again, a girl that I loved. It was on the same voyage that I lost her again. Fortunatly, she managed to survive. She was spared, and given mercy from the sea. She is a novice at the tower right now."

Naridin listened intently, especially when it came to the ocean. He had read of raging storms in stories of adventurers, and Kamiel's descritptions did not stray from what he had read. Although the ocean seemed frightening, it still interested the Aiel. The ocean sounded like the Three-fold Land, or what wetlanders called the Waste, and Naridin thought it was rightly named. It was harsh and tested one's strength to live, but it was only so the people living in it could be stronger. The same could be said of the ocean, only it was entirely water. The Aiel couldn't possible imagine living in so much water, with nothing but a ship to hold onto, but he respected the ocean's harshness as much as the desert's.

Kamiel's story deviated from the ocean, though, and went to a girl. Someone he loved, Kamiel said. Someone he lost and regained. Naridin was strongly reminded of his own Sehluile, whom he travelled with, who could channel as well. But unlike Kamiel, Naridin had lost her and will not find her again. He would never be able to confess his feelings, not to someone who was dead. The soldier's eyes drifted from Kamiel, losing their glow of childish interest in his roommate's stories. He would not show sadness, but his eyes might betray him.

"So she is in the White Tower." Naridin smiled sadly, despite himself. "A good thing she is. But if she decides to channel too much of the One Power, I tell you, stop her. Give her a good spanking, if need be." The soldier opened his book and ran his eyes over the page instead.

(ooc--edited. :look)

((OOC: Sorry I'm late...but better late than never, right?))

Zaide walked through the hallways of the Black Tower quickly. The soldiers had changed rooms. Again. How long have I been here? He was truly not sure, but he did know it had been quite a while. Longer than most people were soldiers. Zaide blamed extra time at this level on the fact that it had taken him so long to decide that his future did, in fact, lie in the Tower. That he would one day be Asha'man, only then had he really started working toward anything, perhaps someday soon Edeleas would call him to his test. Best not to think of that, though, best to just think about now and not be disappointed. Now he had to find his new room. He was a little late getting back, he had been doing chores rather longer than usual today, and he was glad to finally be done. He stepped out of the Tower itself, and into the grounds, going quickly, it was cold now. Winter, really and truly. There was a blanket of snow on the ground, and Zaide could not wait until it melted in the spring. He jogged through the cold grounds, most people were inside by now, except for the few unfortunate enough to be kept out with whatever duties they had. It did not take him long to get to the barracks, and he entered them quickly. He paused a moment to think where he had been told to go. Only for a moment though. Even in the barracks, and even in the evening, an idle soldier could be sent on some errand. He quickly moved off in the direction he would find his new room.

As he walked, he wondered who his new roommates would be. Soldiers, of course, but would they be anyone he knew? Probably not, Zaide had been here for quite a while, but he could not make any claim to know many people. He stayed to himself most of the time, he was quiet by nature, and soldier life had certainly not done anything to make him any more social. It did not take him long to find his room, and he opened the door without knocking. It was his room, after all, he had every right to be in it. He stopped at the door and looked at the others who were currently there. There was one man who was clearly much taller than Zaide, something he rarely saw, with short blonde hair and gray eyes. And Aielman, for sure, no one else had that look, Zaide had never met one, but he had no doubt. The other man looked to be a few inches shorter than himself, with longer dark blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked Andoran, but Zaide felt no kinship just because a man appeared to be from the same country as he once was. Zaide only surveyed them for a moment before putting his things on one of the emtpy beds. He seemed to recall that he would have only two roommates, that was a nice surprise, certainly better than the four. But that only meant, of course, that another man could well be coming along fairly soon. Well, when it happened, it happened, there was nothing Zaide could do about that.

He climbed up to his bed before saying anything to his new roommates, and settled against the wall. "I'm Zaide al'Karne," he told them simply. He wished he had a book, books made time go by faster, and they took away the obligation of conversation. Besides, he liked to read, it was certainly a better way of passing the time than several other things Zaide could think of. Like chores. Even after all the years he had spent in the Tower, Zaide still could not get used to chores, he hated them. Not that he was new to them, he had had to work on the farm before coming here, but he had hated it then too. Dedicated had fewer chores. He shook that thought off, there was no point in dreaming about Dedicated. There were more than enough things to do now, as a soldier. Classes, chores, Power training, and whatever Edeleas- or anyone else for that matter -decided that the initiates sworn to the Great Lord needed to do. Yes, being a soldier certainly kept him busy enough. He could never want for anything to do. He shifted on his bed until he was lying on his stomach, much easier to see the rest of the room from up here if he was not sitting up. Not that there was much to see. This room was exactly as he had expected, exactly like the rest of the soldier rooms. There were, however, new people this time, and that changed everything. New people to get used to, new people to get to know, and to come to tolerate, or maybe even become friends. Not that expected that last, but perhaps. He let his mind wander as he waited to see whether either of his roommates would say anything.

Sloane tucked at his black coat. It felt strange on him. Black coat and black pants. And he wouldn't wear any other colour in... years. He didn't know how long his training would last, or what would happen after it. He would become Asha'man... That thought felt strange too, and distant. Asha'man. He could channel. He really hadn't gotten used to that thought yet. But he would have to, and soon. He was already a Soldier. There was no turning back.

He fiddled with the small key in his hand and adjusted his bundle of possessions on his shoulder. There wasn't much in it, they hadn't had much possessions left when they ran away. Their father had taken care of it. He had started to create a hate towards his father, similar to the one he had towards his older brother. They had both left him and Lalaine alone when they should have cared for them. Now it was just him and Lalaine. No, now it was just him.

That thought made his mood match his new clothes. He wouldn't be with Lalaine anymore, not in the way he was used to. Lalaine would be close, but yet so far. She would be in the White Tower, training to be an Aes Sedai, while he was here in the Black Tower. Sloane knew that they would meet each other, but they wouldn't be living together as such anymore. That would need a lot to get used to, even more than the idea of being able to channel or becoming Asha'man. Sloane could not take care of her and protect her anymore, not in the way he was used to. Nothing would be the way he was used to anymore.

Sloane shook his head and opened the door in front of him. It was his new room. He stepped in and closed the door behind him, his eyes scanning the room. A very tall man with blond hair was sitting on a bed with a book in his hands, another man with the black Soldier's uniform and brown was sitting on another bed, and then there was a third Soldier with longer blond hair. Sloane nodded to each, hoping that they wouldn't be too intolerable. Sloane knew he had a bad temper, and living with three other men would surely not do his temper any good. "Good day all. I'm Sloane Dalsarre, your new roommate," he said, waiting for a reaction.

(OOC- could I possibly have condensed it more? 0.0' )

After Kamiel had told Naridin about his Tanya, the Aiel man responded with
"So she is in the White Tower. A good thing she is. But if she decides to channel too much of the One Power, I tell you, stop her. Well that would make sense Kamiel thought. If you drew to much Saidin as well, you could burn yourself out or kill yourself. Naridin continued..."Give her a good spanking, if need be." Kamiels eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he stared at the other man, who had gone back to reading his book. It seemed that he was dead serious! Kamiel shook his head, trying to pretend that nothing had been said. Nothing at all.

Silence filled the room as Naridin sat reading and Kamiel sat looking around and trying to pass the time; twiddling his thumbs and the like. The door opened again with a creak and in came another man, who introduced himself as Zaide Al'Karne, before dumping his stuff on the bed and sitting down himself. Again, silence. Long, akward silence.... Kamiel thought he might have dozed off when the door opened a third time, letting in a man with short brown hair. "Good day all." He announced. "I'm Sloane Dalsarre, your new roommate." Kamiel jumped up, the oppresive silence killing him. This man seems likeable enough . "Kamiel", he said offering his hand. "Kamiel Al'Tarrant."

The longer-haired blond Soldier was the first to jump up and greet him. Sloane was quite relieved that someone found him interesting. "Kamiel", the man said, offering his hand. "Kamiel Al'Tarrant." Sloane took his hand and shook it firmly, smiling. "Nice to meet you, Kamiel."

He glanced at the other Soldiers a bit nervously. He had no idea what to expect from them. The very tall man seemed content with his book, and the other Soldier still sitting didn't seem too social to Sloane. And these three I have to live with. It was certainly going to be different than living with Lalaine and their father. Well, at least he didn't have a drunk man to worry about here. His father could rot to death as far as Sloane was concerned. He had been alive when they had left... A shame, that.

"So..." he said awkwardly, trying to think of something to say. He wished Lalaine was there. She was not as bad as most Domani women with their clinging dresses and swaying walk, but she could have handled the situation better than Sloane. "How long have you all been here?" he asked, hoping that it would spark an answer from the other two as well. "I just left my horse in the stables," he said with a small smile, and waited again.

(OOC: Long posts are overrated. :look :look )

Neither of Zaide's roommates returned his greeting, so a silence lengthened. It did not bother Zaide, he preferred quiet most of the time, after all. After several minutes, the door opened once again, and a man with short brown hair, a few inches shorter than Zaide, stepped in. He announced he was Sloane Dalsarre, their new roommate. Immediately, one of his other roommates jumped up, apparently eager for something to say. He introduced himself as Kameil al'Tarrant. Well, now he only needed to know the name of the other man in the room. After a moment, the silence apparently got to the new man. He tried to start a conversation, but did not seem so sure at first. He quickly recovered, though, and asked how long they had been in the Tower, saying that he had only just arrived. Is that a good thing, or bad? Zaide could not help but wonder, it either meant that the man would hate it here, or he would love it. The only thing was, Zaide was not sure which was the bad, and which was the good, it all depended upon how he chose to act on how he felt. It did get Zaide wondering, though, how long had his other roommates been here? Zaide thought he would probably be the one who had been here the longest, but there was no gaurantee, just because Zaide did not know them did not mean that they had not been here quite a while.

"I'm Zaide al'Karne," he began, before answering. "I've been here..." he stopped for a moment, how long had it been? He had to count, but soon had it figured out, "almost twelve years now." Zaide thought about it again. Yes, that was right. It had not seemed like that long, not really. Of course, there had been several years where the only thing he wanted was out of this place, anywhere, as long as it meant away from here, and not back to that farm in Andor. Now, he had become used to the life here- or as close as possible. Still, it did not seem like twelve years. As he thought about it, though, he realized that perhaps it did. There were many memories. He lost some of his concentration on the man who just arrived as he thought about them, somewhat amazed that such an offhand question could make him so nostalgic. He was only a soldier, after all, it was supposed to be the oldest Browns and perhaps Dieb Cha who became nostaligic and dreamy! There was a lot, though. His meeting with Soraya soon after they had both arrived, he had only seen her once since. Swearing his Oaths to the Great Lord, while Eithne had still been prevalent in the Tower. He had learned recently that something had happened, he did not know what, though. Aes Sedai could be closed as clams about anything they did not want someone to know, even someone living in the Towers.

He stopped himself there. If he let himself keep thinking about everything that had happened to him in the Tower, he would be here another twelve years. He returned his focus to his roommates. The tall man, the Aiel, still had not spoken. Well, if he was content in silence, Zaide was content to let him stay that way. He understood, after all, that someone would rather listen than speak. Would rather sit in silence than have conversations going on around him. He looked back at Sloane. So far, the man seemed nice enough, and eager to get to know the others in the room. Kamiel, judging by his quick response to the man's arrival, simply wanted something other than silence. Oh wonderful, Zaide could not help but think with a small sigh. If he really wanted conversation that much, Zaide did not doubt that he could achieve it, but he also did not doubt that Zaide would be one forced to talk eventually. Oh well, he had decided that he wanted to get to know his roommates, right? Well, getting to know them required talking, which would certainly be easier with someone who, unlike Zaide, actually liked to talk.

((OOC: Whoah. :look Sorry I'm late. :P ))

It had only been a few minutes of reading when the door opened again, but Naridin was very much distracted with his book. It was an irritating habit of his, one his sister would often yell at him for. He sometimes neglected to listen to his surroundings when he was submerged in a book, and if he did hear anything, it simply entered one ear and exited through the other, not even understood properly. Atleast it happened only every so often, when he wanted distraction.

"I'm Zaide al'Karne." Nothing else. The words hardly passed through his mind. Oh. Another roommate. And it was back to reading again.

The door opened a third time, but Naridin spared the new comer a very quick glance before returning to his book. It was very uncharacteristic of him to not observe new people, but Naridin wasn't one to enjoy conversations--silence suited him just fine. He simply listened as of the moment, and from what he heared, the book was more interesting than anything.

"So...How long have you all been here?" came a question. Naridin waited if someone would actually answer before lowering his book. "I just left my horse in the stables." That produced a slight smirk that quickly disappeared. Naridin was not one to dislike someone just because he rides a horse, but the idea of riding brought a flicker of distaste.

"I'm Zaide al'Karne. I've been here...almost twelve years now." A long time, the Aiel thought, as he finally raised his head. The man who spoke seemed...silent. Too tall to be a Cairhienen, with dark hair. The only thing he could tell from the man's appeareance was that he was probably answering because he had nothing else to do.

"I've arrived yesterday." he answered, fully aware that he seemed to have piped into the conversation. But it did not seem rude to him, so Naridin went on. "Oh, and my name is Naridin," he added, glancing at the two new comers.

(OOC: I was waiting for Kamiel, but he doesn't seem to be active anymore...)

"I'm Zaide al'Karne," the brown-haired Soldier said, and Sloane turned to him a bit gratefully. Finally I caught their attention. "I've been here..." the man paused for a while to think, "almost twelve years now." Sloane felt his jaw drop, but he snapped it shut quickly. Twelve years? Twelve bloody years! And he wasn't even a Dedicated yet. Light! Sloane hadn't known much about the Towers when they came to Tar Valon, and he certainly hadn't known a thing about training in the Black Tower, but twelve years... Sloane could be middle-aged before he became an Asha'man! It was possible that he would wear black for decades before he reached his goal. Light! So much could happen in decades. And he would be trapped here, in the Black Tower.

"I've arrived yesterday." The voice brought Sloane back to reality, and he turned his attention to the very tall man who had spoken. Oh, good, I'm not the only one new. He didn't know how he could have managed if they all had been more experienced than he was. He was used to being the strong protector, not the helpless newcomer. It seemed that he would have to get used to a lot of new things. "Oh, and my name is Naridin," the man continued.

Sloane nodded to them in turn. "Zaide, Naridin, nice to meet you. Twelve years, huh," he said. "At least someone has some experience." He walked to the remaining bed and let his bundle drop there. "Do you think you are going to be raised anytime soon, Zaide?" He itched to know how long it would take. Twenty years? Thirty? And then another set before being raised to Asha'man. He wondered if being raised to Aes Sedai took as long. It probably did. Hopefully, at least. Sloane wasn't sure if he could cope if Lalaine was raised to Aes Sedai and left the White Tower while Sloane was still training. He shook himself mentally. It's going to take years before I have to think things like that. Decades. Light!

((Sorry I'm late. Yeah, Kamiel told me he's moving, and he doubts he'll be back))

Zaide watched his roommates' faces as he mentioned how long he had been here. He read nothing on the Aielman's face, but from what Zaide had heard, they were impossible to see through. It was easy to see Sloane's reaction, though, his jaw dropped, and quickly snapped shut. Apparently he had not realized that it would take him a while before he was one of the fabled Asha'man, if he ever achieved that rank, that was. Then again, Zaide would never have guessed it would take that long soon after he arrived, either. When he arrived, Zaide would probably have sworn up and down that he would not stay in this prison for more than three months, he had been a very different man then. The Tower had changed him significantly, as had turning his soul over to the Great Lord. The other man joined the conversation then, saying that he had only arrived yesterday, and that his name was Naridin. Zaide did not say anything, but wondered what the tall man's thoughts about Zaide's time here were. Before he had much time to think, Sloane added something more to the conversation, focusing back on Zaide's significantly longer time here than the other men. He wanted to know whether Zaide thought he would be raised anytime soon, and Zaide thought he looked a little eager. Perhaps he wanted to be reassured that it was strange to take twelve years, or that it would not take much longer.

Zaide thought for a moment how to best answer, wondering whether he should tell Sloane what Zaide thought he wanted to hear, or be more blunt. He made a decision quickly, and spoke. "I don't really know. Some men get raised in just a few years, six or seven, I've heard of some men taking as many as twenty. Hopefully it won't be that long for me, but I'll wait as long as they make me, I guess." As he finished, Zaide realized how radically different that was compared to his first few years here. Zaide had had his mind made up that he would never be Asha'man, and that he would get out of the Tower as soon as possible. In the time since, he had changed his mind. He would one day be Asha'man. That was mostly his own decision, but he knew that some part of it also came from the fact that suggestions had come through the Shadow of how convenient it would be to have another Asha'man sworn to the Great Lord. Suggestions in the Shadow, Zaide knew, were to be taken as commands, and it was a logical suggestion anyway, there was much of the Great Lord's work to be done in this place, Zaide could only imagine how much there must be for an Asha'man. That was still a very long way off, though. Even if he was raised to Dedicated soon, he was sure his raising to Asha'man would not come quickly either. Zaide was not particularly strong in the Power, which helped for a quick raising. He was not really weak, but training did not come as easily for him as for some others, and that meant more time added on. He could wait though, he could. He had to, and so he would do it. Perhaps the fact that the Master of Soldiers was also strong in the Shadow would help speed his raisings. Maybe, hopefully, but even then it would not be by much, that would be too obvious, and too risky.

Sloane nodded to them in turn. "Zaide, Naridin, nice to meet you. Twelve years, huh," he said. "At least someone has some experience. Do you think you are going to be raised anytime soon, Zaide?"

Naridin thought curiously if he would get anything from someone who was in the Tower longer. Knowledge was always welcome, but Zaide simply did not look like the type to talk. And the Aiel knew that talking with someone like that would seem like a inquery--not at all enjoyable and very boring. Not a very appealing experience, as much as it is if he spoke with someone who talked too much.

"I don't really know. Some men get raised in just a few years, six or seven, I've heard of some men taking as many as twenty. Hopefully it won't be that long for me, but I'll wait as long as they make me, I guess."

A patient man, this Zaide. Twelve years cooped up in the Black Tower seemed long enough. And twenty? Naridin supposed it would take him that amount of time before he would be raised, with his attitude. If he would be raised. Naridin mentally sighed. Honestly, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to be an Asha'man. Thinking of the future seemed useless. Most of the time, things don't happen the way people expect, anyway. Trying to plan for it all, for him, is a waste of time. He was there to learn what had to, and the rest...would unfold itself. That sounded very feckless of him, but when had he ever thought of anything other than what he would do for the day, anyway?

"Hurrying the mule won't make it walk faster. Twenty years, eh? It probably isn't so bad." Naridin muttered, noticing the look on Sloane's face.

"I don't really know. Some men get raised in just a few years, six or seven, I've heard of some men taking as many as twenty. Hopefully it won't be that long for me, but I'll wait as long as they make me, I guess." Six or seven. Sloane was quite sure that he wouldn't be raised in six or seven years, if that was the minimum time. It will probably take twenty for me, he thought glumly. After all, how could he know? He had never channeled before, so he didn't know if he was strong or a quick learner; he didn't know what life was going to be like in the Black Tower and if he would like it here; he didn't even know what it would take to become a Dedicated. For all he knew, it could take anything from six to twenty years to become Dedicated for him. And another one before becoming Asha'man. That was not a reassuring thought. He had never been so unsure about his future before.

"Hurrying the mule won't make it walk faster. Twenty years, eh? It probably isn't so bad." Sloane looked at the tall Soldier with slight disbelief. Isn't so bad? If it took twenty years to become Dedicated, and another twenty to become Asha'man, he would be... almost sixty when he was raised! Fourty years of endless training in the Black Tower... Light!

"I sincerely hope it won't take that long," he said. "Time will tell." He sighed. Twenty years. No, he would do anything to get raised sooner. He would just have to find out what he would have to do. He tried to shake the thoughts of raisings out of his head. He didn't think about it now. There was more important things to take care of first.

He looked around the plain room. "Life is surely going to be different here. I've never shared a room with so many people before," he said conversationally. He didn't want to stop the conversation now that he had gotten everyone involved. "And Tar Valon is more beautiful than anything I've ever seen back in Arad Doman. Where are you all from?"

((Sorry, forgot it was my turn :look))

Zaide watched his roommates' faces as he told them how long he thought it could take. Again, Naridin took it in silently, and said that it probably was not so bad. Well, that depended upon the opinions and disposition of the soldier, Zaide thought, but for some, perhaps it was not so bad. The last few years has not been too terrible for Zaide, though his first few certainly had been. Sloane, however, still did not like the idea of spending a long time in training. He only said that he hoped it would not take that long, though. He went on quickly to the differences of life here and where he had come from. Apparently Arad Doman, and he asked where the rest of them were from as well. "I'm from Caemlyn. Well, close to Caemlyn, anyway, I actually lived on a farm. Just me and my parents, I never shared a room with anyone before coming here." The thought of the farm did not make him happy, though. Zaide knew that thoughts of home were comforting for some people, he was not one of those people. Time in the Tower had changed his opinion on many things- the Light and the Shadow, the Tower itself just to name a few -but it had not altered his opinion of his home in Andor at all. He still avoided even thinking about it. Of course, that was easier now, twelve years since he had seen it. His day was occupied with too many other things for him to think too much of that place.

He waited for Naridin to answer, to confirm that he was, in fact, Aiel. Zaide assumed that was where the man was from, but there was no gaurante, after all, someone could look very unlike where they came from. Just because Sloane and Zaide were not exceptions to their homelands did not mean that their tall companion was the same. As he waited, Zaide's mind wandered. How different would his life have been if he were from someplace else. If he had had a different family. Perhaps he would not be sworn to the Great Lord now. Maybe he would not have spent the first years of his time here hating this place. Maybe he would not be able to channel at all, and would have had to live out a normal life. There were so many other possibilities. Just looking around the Tower was enough to confirm that to anyone, some people hated it here, some loved it. There were some who were haughty enough to be kings, while others were humble as could be. All because of where they grew up, and what station they had held. What life they had trained for before they learned that they could channel, and their hopes and dreams were dashed, or replaced. Then there were the people training to become Gaidin, who, for the most part, chose this life, and yet they were all different as well, from what Zaide knew. He realized that he had drifted, and shook himself back to the present. It had only been a moment, but still, Zaide thought he should at least be here mentally for this conversation. "So, you've just gotten here, what do you two think so far? If you'd asked me within my first few years I wouldn't have been able to tell you which I hated more, my home in Andor or this place." He gave a small grin at the end, how his opinions had changed.

He realized as he grinned what an unknown expression that was to him, even naturally as it had come, it felt strange. Zaide was having one of the few real conversations he had ever had in twelve years as a soldier. He was not sure whether it was pathetic and sad that he did not even know what a real grin was, or was it a good thing that he finally enjoyed the company of people? He did not expect this joy of company to last much after this conversation was over, but perhaps it meant that he would finally make a few friends in his new roommates. Maybe, in the future, rather than being ignored and buring himself in a book when these two men talked, he could be included. He did not want to get to hopeful, it was only a trivial conversation, after all, but Zaide could not help some small hope. Which was also, he thought, strange. He had never realized before just then that he had any real desire for relationships with other people. Oh, he was not against talking, he would do it, but usually for him it was a chore. Perhaps he could change that. Just a little, he still did not like people, a few moments with new soldiers could not change that, but maybe now he would be more open to people. Or maybe he would continue being as he had for twelve years, he would have to see later. Right now, he was wondering again, and had to bring himself back to reality once more. Why was focusing so difficult today?

Naridin had to stop himself from chuckling at the way Sloane reacted to his statement. The fellow soldier didn't seem to like the idea of staying at the Tower long. Wetlanders are hasty sometimes. The Aiel glanced at his book and tried to remember which part of the page he was reading. It took him a few moments, but he found the last familiar sentence at the center of the page. He was going to have to shift his attention to it from time to time, since he wasn't really interested in having a conversation right then. He had read a few more lines before someone spoke up.

"And Tar Valon is more beautiful than anything I've ever seen back in Arad Doman. Where are you all from?" Sloane asked again.

Beautiful? Naridin hadn't noticed. He hadn't gone out since he came to the Tower just the other day, and he didn't have the time to admire it when he came. How could he, when all he wanted at that time was to get to the Towers no matter what? Naridin doubted that Tar Valon would look beautiful in the rain, never mind him wishing before that he could see it rain. All he could see then were shadows cast by the pale sunlight, and the gray curtain that the rain seemed to place on the world. The Aiel realised he had been staring at his book without reading for a moment too long and brought himself back to the present. Zaide had answered Sloane's question, but he only caught the last part about not sharing a room before.

"I lived in the Three-fold Land, or the Aiel Waste, a few months ago. Cold Rocks Hold, to be exact. We didn't have rooms like the ones here, most of the 'walls' are curtains. But I had one part of the house to myself." He paused for a while, then added with mild amusement, "Although, with how often my sister barges in, it's almost the same thing as sharing my space with her." Remembering his troublesome sister made him miss the Hold. He thought he could stop remembering them; it made it harder to accept that he couldn't come back with his honor (or theirs) intact. Pushing the memory away, he glanced at Zaide.

"So, you've just gotten here, what do you two think so far? If you'd asked me within my first few years I wouldn't have been able to tell you which I hated more, my home in Andor or this place." A grin followed, and Naridin forced himself not to stare. It looked natural enough, and it was small, but somehow, it seemed foreign on the soldier's face. Zaide did not look any less human than himself or his father, but it seemed...strange. Perhaps it was one of those days when Naridin could 'sense' what a person was like, although not exactly. And...he hated his home? Naridin was not about to ask.

"I haven't talked to enough of the people here to really have a clear opinion." he answered instead. He wouldn't comment on the chairs, or the bed, or the bloody burning of his shoufa. He couldn't. Those were wetlander customs, and he was not about to complain when he expected wetlanders who came to the Three-fold Land to respect theirs. The people told of what a place was like. "But the Asha'man who invited me to the Tower seemed alright. There are treekillers everywhere, but nobody has tried to stab me yet, so that's pleasant enough."

((OOC: Forgive me if I'm wrong about the Aiel houses, haven't got time to research on that.))

"I'm from Caemlyn. Well, close to Caemlyn, anyway, I actually lived on a farm. Just me and my parents, I never shared a room with anyone before coming here." The only child, eh? Sloane couldn't help but wonder if he had been happy. He didn't know what any of his roommates had gone through in the past, and he found himself wondering if they had experienced anything like Sloane had. Was I happy? Sometimes, yes. Before mother died. Before his brother left. When his father had passed out. When he had trained with his grandfather. Yes, he had been happy. But not all the time. He had to admit that the times he had been miserable were more numerous when the times he had been happy. At least he still had Lalaine. Whatever the Black Tower had to offer could not be any worse than living with his father. The thought brought some comfort.

Sloane was curious about his roommate's past, but he kept his mouth shut. He didn't think anyone would be happy if someone started prying about their childhood just after meeting them for the first time. He certainly wasn't ready to share his life story with them. "I lived in the Three-fold Land, or the Aiel Waste, a few months ago." Sloane could feel his jaw drop again, but this time he was quicker to snap it shut. He's Aiel? He looked at Naridin carefully. Yes, that explained the height. Sloane didn't know much about the Aiel, to him they were people who lived somewhere far away. He had never thought he would actually meet one, let alone share a room with. He tried to recall everything he knew about the Aiel, but he had to admit that it wasn't much. "Cold Rocks Hold, to be exact. We didn't have rooms like the ones here, most of the 'walls' are curtains. But I had one part of the house to myself." Sloane tried to imagine what his house had looked like. He didn't succeed that well. Walls made of curtains? "Although, with how often my sister barges in, it's almost the same thing as sharing my space with her."

Sloane smiled a bit to himself. It seems I'm not the only one who has a sister. He wondered if Naridin's sister was training in the White Tower too. You never knew. "So, you've just gotten here, what do you two think so far?" Zaide asked. "If you'd asked me within my first few years I wouldn't have been able to tell you which I hated more, my home in Andor or this place." Okay, he wasn't happy. Sloane wondered what had made him hate his home. It's none of my business. Zaide could tell them if he wanted to. At the moment, more important was why he had hated the Black Tower. Sloane didn't know what his life was going to be like, but if Zaide had hated it, it couldn't be too peachy.

"I haven't talked to enough of the people here to really have a clear opinion." Sloane had to agree with Naridin. He didn't even have a hazy opinion, he had no opinion. Naridin had been in the Black Tower a bit longer than Sloane though. "But the Asha'man who invited me to the Tower seemed alright. There are treekillers everywhere, but nobody has tried to stab me yet, so that's pleasant enough." Treekillers? Stab him? Sloane let his confusion show, but he didn't ask. It's probably an Aiel thing. Sloane certainly didn't want anyone to stab him. He shrugged it off, but made a mental note to ask about it later.

"I don't know what to think. I'm looking forward to training, I guess, and classes. I'll have to see what it all is going to be like first before I can say if I like it or not. I hope I will like it, if I in fact have to stay here for years to come." He hoped that it would be decades. Light, let it be less than decades! "From what I've heard, the rules are quite strict here. I don't know how well I'll cope with that," he continued. "Do you know if we're allowed to meet novices?" he added as an afterthought. He was sure that they couldn't forbid Soldiers to meet novices, but he had to make sure. If he couldn't meet Lalaine... Then he certainly wasn't going to like the Black Tower.

Zaide listened as Naridin answered Sloane's question, and his own. He was from the Waste, so Zaide decided he must be getting better at telling nationalities- when he arrived her he certainly would not have been able to. He also noticed Sloane's surprised expression when the Aiel made his nationality known. Naridin said that so far the Tower was not too bad, there were a lot of Treekillers, though. Zaide knew he had heard that word in a class before, but the term was lost on him, ah well, he would either learn eventually, or it would not be important to him. Sloane said he did not know what to think just yet, but was interested in knowing whether they were allowed to meet with the novices. Zaide wondered whether the other man thought all women were like Domanis, if that was what he hoped, he had a hard lesson coming. He said nothing, though, what Sloane did during his few spare minutes was his own business, and Zaide did not want to get involved. Though he could answer the man's question, at least. "Well, it's not really forbidden, strictly speaking. We're allowed to be in classes with them, or eat with them, but being with them outside of that is definately not encouraged." As he said that, though, Zaide thought of all the times he had talked to the novices outside of classes or meals. "Of course, that doesn't mean that you can't ever talk to them. Just meet them in the gardens, for the most part no one gets into trouble for that." Zaide doubted that if there was someone Sloane really wanted to see that he would find a way.

Zaide wondered whether he should give the new men some small bit of advice. Naridin did not seem to mind the prospect of spending years as a soldier, but Sloane clearly did not like it. Zaide doubted that he would have listened to anyone giving him advice on his second day here, but these two were clearly not at all the same sort of person as he had been. In the end, he decided to tell them what it had taken him years to learn. "If I could give you one bit of advice, it would be this: don't spend your time worrying over when and how you're going to get out of this place. I spent years planning to run away, obviously it didn't get me anywhere. Runaways get caught. Always. If you really don't want to be Asha'man, they'll only keep you until you can control the Power, after that you can go, though don't expect them to tell you that. If you want to be Asha'man, work hard and train hard, from what I've seen, it helps speed raisings." He fell silent after that little speech. Combined with what he had said about meeting with women, Zaide was fairly sure he had never said that many words in a row since arriving here. He hoped he had not wasted his breath, that at least one of them would catch something. He could not help but wonder again what it was about these men that made him so open. Perhaps these were the people that he was supposed to lead to the Shadow, just as a fellow soldier had done for him years ago.

That thought got Zaide thinking. What better opportunity to work people toward the Shadow than living with them? He could not believe he had not thought of it before. Then again, before this, he had rarely spoken to his roommates. He leaned back against the wall, and wondered just how he should go about that. Now that he had thought of it, Zaide figured he should at least give it a try. He would have to be careful, though, oh so careful. If either of these men got an suspiciouns about him before they were turned to favor the Great Lord Zaide would be lucky to see that day's sun set. Well, no point in planning it out now. These men were friendly to him, becoming suddenly silent and unresponsive would not help him in his newest quest. He waited to see what Naridin and Sloane would say or ask next, having run out of questions himself. It was already clear to Zaide that Sloane would be the one to initiate most of their conversations. The man was easily more talkative than Zaide or Naridin, and so far he had kept Zaide interested. He still wished he had a book, but he did not need one just now, he could get one later. Or perhaps he could convince Naridin to let him borrow whatever it was he was reading. That would wait until later, though.

(OOC: Sorry it took so freaking long... I've been really busy)

"Well, it's not really forbidden, strictly speaking." Good. At least they couldn't take Lalaine away from him. He wouldn't let anyone do that. "We're allowed to be in classes with them, or eat with them, but being with them outside of that is definately not encouraged." Sloane grinned a bit. He would find a way to meet Lalaine, he was sure of that. If it wasn't really forbidden. "Of course, that doesn't mean that you can't ever talk to them. Just meet them in the gardens, for the most part no one gets into trouble for that." Sloane grinned again. It seems Zaide is no stranger to novices. It really was useful to have a more experience Soldier to talk to. He had so much to learn, and Zaide didn't seem to hate answering questions. Sloane had thought of him as a quiet man, but it seemed that he was wrong. He enjoyed the conversation. It wouldn't have been very enjoyable if he had had to spend his years in the Tower with people he couldn't talk to. He already knew something about them, and in his opinion, they were getting along fine. Maybe living with other men won't be so uncomfortable after all. They could make friends, even. Time would tell.

"If I could give you one bit of advice, it would be this: don't spend your time worrying over when and how you're going to get out of this place." Sloane listened to Zaide carefully. The Light knew that Sloane needed every bit of advice he could get. "I spent years planning to run away, obviously it didn't get me anywhere. Runaways get caught. Always." Sloane would not have a problem with that. He would train in the Black Tower as long as Lalaine trained in the White. He still wasn't quite comfortable with the idea that he could channel, but he was going to train. He wanted to know what he could accomplish with this... gift. Yes, he did want to be Asha'man. "If you really don't want to be Asha'man, they'll only keep you until you can control the Power, after that you can go, though don't expect them to tell you that. If you want to be Asha'man, work hard and train hard, from what I've seen, it helps speed raisings." Word hard and train hard. I will. Anything that would keep him from spending decades before raised.

Sloane thought of all that as Zaide fell silent. He would have to speak with Lalaine. If it was true that Sloane could leave after he had learned to control the Power, the same surely applied to Lalaine. He would have to ask her if she wanted to become Aes Sedai. Sloane wanted to become Asha'man, in a way. But Lalaine was all he had at the moment. Sloane shook himself mentally. There was no need thinking about such things yet. He had just come to the Black Tower. He didn't even know what life was going to be like here! He wouldn't be leaving anytime soon, that was for sure.

"Thank you, Zaide, I appreciate your advice," he said finally. He really did. "Word hard and train hard, that's what I'll do." Yes. "Do we have training all day long, or do we have free time too? I'm sorry if I sound stupid, but I really don't know how things work around here," he added.