Rahien soon found she was not the only one that had come to see the Amyrlin and any hopes of a quiet word with her were soon shattered. She should have known better if she had thought on really. It had cost her mother days usually to see anyone, especially over something considered more than trivial to the Tower. She soon realised her troubles had only just begun when she was met by a haughty young woman in a white dress that was hemmed with brightly coloured bands along the bottom. The dark-haired beauty took one look at her dishevelled state before telling her that the Amyrlin did not have time to see anyone on a whim. Rahien was told she could wait in the Entrance Hall and if a Sister were so inclined they would see to her and her letter. By the look in her eyes, Rahien knew herself dismissed with those words, as the young woman already turned to the next petitioner, but she was not about to give up that easily.

The Wise Ones had told her to deliver her message to none other but an Aes Sedai, as only they would be able to unravel the shield that had been placed on the message and her only hope lay in the delivery of that message. She had no other place to go, as much as she may resent that fact. Even if she would have to spend the rest of her days as a scullery maid in service of the White Tower, then she would have to accept that fate, or give up and die. Rahien reached out and grabbed the woman’s sleeve and if she had been doing a good job of hiding her disgust, it was ruined now as she quickly jumped back. Rahien would have laughed bitterly if it didn’t hurt so much, because it was a reaction she herself would have given before travelling to the Waste and worse. Every act of hostility she encountered was a bitter reminder of any unfair unkindness she had inflicted upon others. Gritting her teeth, though she would have given anything to be able to just walk away, she fixed the young woman with as much dignity as she could muster. “I am not here to bother you on some trivial quarrel over crops or land, this matter concerns my life and I will not leave until you get an Aes Sedai to hear me out, even if I have to sit here till I die of starvation!.” She had gradually raised her voice and there were more than a few heads that turned their way, curious to see why this beggar woman was making such a fuss. The young woman glanced away uncomfortably, finding it impossible to look at Rahien’s mangled face any longer.

“Oh alright, go sit over there and I will inform an Aes Sedai.” The young woman would probably never know how much courage that had cost Rahien or the measure of relief that flooded through her as she gave in, but she was glad the woman turned away from her promptly, because she did not trust her voice enough right then to thank her for it. From the way the young woman stalked off, it was clear that she was none too happy about having her authority questioned and Rahien wondered if this would come back to haunt her. Compared to everything else, it seemed trivial. Even though the majority of the petitioners were peasants and merchants, the odd noble thrown in for good measure, Rahien became increasingly more aware of the state of her travel-stained clothes. She had left the few gowns in her possession behind, even though the Wise Ones would probably not have made any objections had she taken them. They were just another part of the life she had left behind now and she felt more comfortable in the unattractive rags than a silk gown that would only serve to emphasise what she had lost. Sitting herself down, she pressed her hands to her rumbling stomach, realising she had not eaten since early that morning. She hoped they would not make her wait too long as the insecurity of what was to happen to her next was almost more than she could bear.