Ooc – this thread takes place 20 years before the forums own time. Rialt is 149 years old and is not the Mahdi al’Tain yet, the former M’Hael remains and he is the Rei al’N’Dore al’Mordero. I’m going to write this first part as a bit of a narrative, and then ill switch over to first person. --- Will show the switch. And aside note: I intend to move this out of the library, so that’s why its not posted there...and i don't know where else to put this..so its gonna go in here :P



After much though, and after much consideration, Rialt had finally come to a conclusion within himself. The revelation had come from a few different aspects, but they all lent to the same outcome. It had been that a Gaidin lay in the infirmary, clinging to life by a hair, until Rialt got ahold of him. He had been bonded to a green, Khalayn Sedai, and they had been so for nearly forty years. She had been advising a man in Amadicia, and had needed to go in under cover. Still those people were wary of channelers and often murdered any they found who used the Source. She had left, and Almasdair, her warder, had gone with her, posing as her husband. Things had apparently gone very wrong though, because Rialt had been attending to a Recruit who had broken his leg, when a gateway opened, admitting an Asha’man dressed in the Amadician style. He was going to say something about how dangerous it was to do so, but he fell silent when he saw the scene.

It was one of the few Asha’man who dared live near the city. He came in carrying an unconscious Khalayn and dragging Almasdair. Shock ripped through him and he grabbed one of the Yellow Accepted to heal the recruit he had been attending to and motioned for the Asha’man to put her on the pallet in front of him. He delved quickly to see what ailed the woman, there was no serious physical injury that he could see, and then it dawned on him that she was bleeding internally, but not seriously. He wove the appropriate thread to heal her and turned to the Warder, who was half conscious.

“Is she alright?” He seemed frantic, and Rialt nodded to him. “She will live.” With that he laid his head down and collapsed into unconsciousness. He worked quickly and healed the man as well, but also put a weave of sleep, so that nature could work its magic as well. After a while, they were well enough to leave the infirmary and did so. Neither of them were seen far apart from eachother after that day. Almasdair had spoken with Rialt and had thanked him for healing her through broken words. It had actually been that the Warder was the only reason she was not more seriously injured and had not died. If he had not gone with her to Amadicia, she would have died, he knew that, but still accredited Rialt for saving her. It was then that Rialt finally understood a part of why the Aes Sedai and Asha’man bonded together, or to Warders.

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Rialt stood in the Library, and surveyed the shelves in front of him. He ran his left hand over the spines of the varying shapes of the books that rested there. Some of them looked as if they hadn’t been taken off of their shelves since they were placed there. Finally he found what he was looking for, A Complete Analogy of the Human Mind by Manzara al’Cherone. A yellow no doubt, he thought as he pulled it free of its prison and turned to a table behind him where four other books of similar topic rested. A brown raised her eyebrow at him, she wasn’t used to Rialt just yet, as she had just been raised to the Shawl. He was in the library a lot, researching whatever topic seemed to catch his fancy at the time, but today, he was going to meet up with Kiren, a Gaidin that seemed to be very adept in the body and mind. Rialt had met her before, when she had been a recruit and had come to know her very well. It was a bit of a surprise to him and to many others that he seemed to warm up to her presence so well. He usually spent time away from other people, but he liked to talk to her, and on occasion spar. She was quite good.

He had met her though, when she first came to the Tower in the presence of an Aes Sedai and was informed that she was a wolfsister. Rialt had been absolutely fascinated. She slapped away most of the people who wanted to examine her, but she had not done so with Rialt. He always paid her the utmost respect and had helped her discover as much as he could about her gift that she did not know already. Kiren seemed to be a plethora of logic and she was a determined student. She seemed interested in his art, and he in hers, so they struck up the most unlikely friendship in the tower. She joined the Garrison, which didn’t surprise Rialt. Her spirit was too free to simply be.

He spotted her small frame in the corner, a book in her lap, and made his way over to where she was sitting, and slammed down his own set of books on the table. She did not look up from her book, “You shuffle your feet when you walk.” He looked at her and grinned, shaking his head. “Aren’t you supposed to be off doing Gaidin things?” He regarded her curiously and wondered what she was reading. He channeled the book away from her and it floated into his own. The Travels of Jain Farstrider “Don’t you ever get sick of this?” He had no taste for the book, it all seemed too fanciful.

Calmly Kiren walked into the library. It had been a rainy day, but during her walk –or rather run- in-between the garrison and the Halls of the White Tower, the rain had stopped. Off course it could have started all over again by now; but Kiren didn’t really mind.
The library was comfortably warm as usual and after a stern look from a brown sister, Kiren walked to an empty table to put down her rain soaked cloak. Not her fancloth cloak, no just a regular black one. my fancloth cloak... oh light it still sounds so good. she thought with a grin as she put down the heavy black garb and rubbed her shoes over the rug that lay on the floor.

She had been a Tower Guard for nearly a year now and still rejoiced about it nearly every day. About the comfort it brought. The fact that there were no more early classes to attend to, no more being ordered around by other Tower Guards or Gaidin, and no more Recruit or Youngling food. Nope! Now, as a Tower Guard she got food that at least had some flavour and she didn’t have to sneak into the kitchen each night to get something better. Well she still snuck in there every once in a while, but at least she didn’t feel compelled by her stomach to do so anymore.

When she thought her boots clean enough to go into the library, she stopped rubbing them on the rug and softly tread on the wooden floor, making nearly no noise at all. She came up to the librarians desk and opened the bag she carried to pull out a couple of books of which most were about human anatomy and healing. The librarian, a quite beautiful Domani Sister eyed the books without even the slightest alteration in her features and then gave Kiren a nod. This sister had always been the subject of Kirens amazement. The girl was without doubt one of the prettiest sisters in the tower, and yet she seemed not to intentionally use any of the traits of her homeland; nor enjoy the possibilities it gave her with men. After all; she’d be able to bond quite a number of men in the garrison at the snap of her fingers.

Kiren took one of the books back up and made her way trough the library to the corner where she and Asha’man Rialt often sat discussing various things –medical stuff and wolfkin stuff mostly- the Seeker of Truth had not yet arrived though; but then again she was early; and thus Kiren just let herself slump into a comfortable chair.
Earlier that day a soldier had come to the garrison, looking for her, to ask her to meet the Mahdi al’Tain in the library at Mid Chimes; she had been a bit surprised; normally she’d just accidentally meet the Asha’man on one of her many visits to the library, and they’d just stay and talk until the other had to leave. But never before after the official studies about her ‘special gift’ had been finished, she had been 'summoned'.
She had merely nodded and sent the soldier off with the task to bring her some snacks from the kitchen a bit before Mid Chimes and thus merely smiled when the lad showed up a bit later with a small bag of roasted nuts.

A bit after the Chimes had sounded softly in the library; Kiren heard soft shuffling on the floor, and connected the sound with the smell of the person approaching.
“You shuffle your feet when you walk.” She said plainly as a greeting. Something she’d never even dream about saying as a greeting to any of the Asha’man, especially not the Seeker. “Aren’t you supposed to be off doing Gaidin things?” He asked her with a hint of amusement in his voice. The book floated away from her and she raised her gaze to meet his amused look. “Don’t you ever get sick of this?” He asked her once more. Far too often –to his opinion at least- she sat in the library just reading that book.
“Oh but I am... I’m learning about the world outside Tar Valon, and outside of the wars I’ve been in.” she replied mockingly and then her gaze fell upon the books he’d slammed down earlyer.
“Y’know... no wonder that Brown sister keeps eyeing you, if you do that to those books” she said as her hand reached to the top book.
‘Unknown aspects of the mind’ a book by Frude, an Asha’man of the n’Dore al’Mordero. She’d read some parts of this guys theories... and had wondered whether the guy still had been troubled with the taint on saidin, after all, he was one of the very first Asha’man in the black tower and thus most likely had lived before the taint had been cleansed.

She chuckled “I wouldn’t read that... it’s bad for your mind. At least Jain doesn’t seem to have issues with his mother” she said with a broad grin on her face. And then quickly tuned serious again.
“But you wanted to talk?”

When he surveyed the book in front of him, he flipped through its pages uninterestingly, that type of book never caught his attentions. Half of what they were talking about could have been completely falsified and no one would ever know the truth. It held no real educational value, so he found no point in reading it, and he never had. Well, bits and pieces because he had been bored one day when he was a small lad, but that was about it. He inquired what she found so interesting about them, and he answer made him shake his head in amusement. “Oh but I am... I’m learning about the world outside Tar Valon, and outside of the wars I’ve been in.” Wars indeed… “Ah, next time I have a problem with any of the Nobles I’ll be sure to come to you for help on the matter. What with all this knowledge your learning from this book, you could be a great help.” He didn’t mean it in a mean sort of way at all, he was just teasing her. IT was quite obvious to him that if you read a book more than a few times, there wasn’t anything else to be gained from, since all of the material will have become prior knowledge.

She read the cover of his own book and looked like she would retch. “I wouldn’t read that... it’s bad for your mind. At least Jain doesn’t seem to have issues with his mother” his mother? Rialt honestly had no idea what she was talking about, and stared at her in confusion, but she waved her hand to dismiss the comment. She was probably just being condescending again. How is it that she has managed to become such a smartass? He remembered though, why he had asked to speak with her on this day at her questioning. “Yes, but I’d prefer to do it away from the library… It’s not really something you do or talk about around other people.” So he was finally going to do it… He had asked, and she had nodded, standing up with ease. He picked up his pile of books and went to one of the Brown sisters, asking her if she would please hold onto them until he came back. She gave him a side long glance and said she would for a day, and then they were going back on the shelf. He was quite certain that if he had been a Dedicated, the Sister would have whapped him over the head and told him to stop being lazy. Browns…he never would understand them.

He led the way out of the Tower Library and down into the Tower Gardens. He wanted to be in the open away from everyone else when he asked her. They chatted for a little while, of quite unimportant things, just enjoying each other’s company until finally Rialt felt that they were as private as they were going to get. He stopped walking and turn to face her, all seriousness in his gaze. “Kiren, I had an ulterior motive for asking you to meet me today.” She stopped and looked at interestingly, “I thought so…What is it?” Well she wasn’t going to let him beat around the bush at all and he felt no need to conceal it from her, this wasn’t a game of hide and seek. What she said today was very important to him. “Recently…I’ve been thinking a lot about my role in the Tower. You know that I have been in many wars…” He didn’t like to bring up the subject, but he felt it was necessary to convey what he meant to her as best he could.

“I have seen many of my brothers fall, when I know they would have lived had someone been by their side to watch their back…” He wondered If she picked up on where he was going with this. “Kiren, I do not want to become one of them. I have no plans of ending up with a tree named after me in the Garden here…” He paused to gather his thoughts and went on. “I have known you now, since you arrived. I would like to say that I think I know you very well, and I can call you a true friend of mine.” She would know that what he was saying was serious, he was not one to openly talk about his relationships with people. “What I am about to ask you is just that, a request..you are under no obligation to agree or do anything that you do not want to.” She listened patiently. “Kiren, would you become my Warder? I would be honored if you accepted…” He stood silently, and watched her reactions, hoping she wouldn’t laugh in his face.

“Yes, but I’d prefer to do it away from the library… It’s not really something you do or talk about around other people.” His sudden words making no sense with their topic and uttered more to himself then for her ears meant, immediately made her turn serious, and curiosity started rising again about what ‘it’ was that he wanted to talk about. He let his actions meet his words and after a nod from her he picked up his books and together they left the library.
For a little while they walked around in the Tower Grounds, and Kiren carefully minded his scent. Over the past five or six years, she had started to understand what most scents were, and had learned that with most people in the Tower, their scent seldom matched the image they projected of themselves.

For the Seeker, this was true as well at the moment, after all he did look like nothing special was happening, but he was nervous... and somewhat... eager it seemed; but most of all nervous. His sweat was fresh and he smelled of some fresh herbs, he often smelled like them; and she liked that about him. But there also was a scent of doubt, of fear... though very little and it was mostly dominated by the scent of him being stubborn. The entire mix of his emotions was intriguing, but still he managed to keep up a calm face and talk as if nothing was amock.
He led the way out of the Tower Library and down into the Tower Gardens. For a little while, they chatted, of quite unimportant things, just enjoying each other’s company until finally Rialt seemed to have found what he was looking for and turned to fce her with a serious gaze.

So; this is it... at least he has me interested now. she briefly thought before he spoke up. “Kiren, I had an ulterior motive for asking you to meet me today.” Without to much hesitation she spoke up as well, she knew that he sometimes would run around in circles without getting to the point, but this seemed to be important, and she was quite curious by now. “I thought so…What is it?”
The Asha’man took in some breath as if he wanted to brace himself for his words
“Recently…I’ve been thinking a lot about my role in the Tower. You know that I have been in many wars... I have seen many of my brothers fall, when I know they would have lived had someone been by their side to watch their back…” Something within her seemed to be alarmed and subconsciously she straightened her shoulders and felt like perking her ears. Had she really been a wolf, she’d put them up straight by now.
“Kiren, I do not want to become one of them. I have no plans of ending up with a tree named after me in the Garden here…” He paused, as if to gather his thoughts and went on, still sending chills down her spine. “I have known you now, since you arrived. I would like to say that I think I know you very well, and I can call you a true friend of mine.” She would know that what he was saying was serious, he was not one to openly talk about his relationships with people. “What I am about to ask you is just that, a request... you are under no obligation to agree or do anything that you do not want to.” he isn’t serious is he?. “Kiren, would you become my Warder? I would be honoured if you accepted…”



he is.



“Kiren, would you become my Warder?” the words rang in her head. Over and over again.
Somehow, while he had been speaking she’d known he was going to ask it... she’d anticipated it. but as soon as he’d asked it, she was at a loss of words. Or thoughts for that matter.
“Kiren, would you become my Warder?”
It all seemed so strange to her. Sure she’d seen the gazes that quite a few of the Asha’man cast at her on the training grounds; making her feel like a prized animal.

She and Nemah had been by far the only women in the garrison; but they were the ones that didn’t look as much like the men; and while the Aes Sedai and accepted often enough came to check out the male prized animals, Nemah and Kiren had often felt like they had been those of the Asha’man and their students

“Kiren, would you become my Warder?”

It sounded different from that time when Leon had asked her to be his bondmate. She had politely said no. She hardly even knew the Wind Talon and to this very day still had no clue why he had asked her in the first place.
This indeed was very different.
She knew Rialt. Even though he was the second most powerful man in the world, he was her friend and had treated her kind and with respect.
yes. But if you let him bond you then what? A bond is for life. Are you willing to let you life slip away from you for his sake? Will you be able to sacrifice your life for him every single day should it be needed?

Her eyes turned a bit glassy as she thought. A moist wind passed and gave her chills. She still saw Rialt though, watching her carefully. When she had just arrived here she would definitely think that gaze of his was one of a predator waiting to strike at it’s prey. But not now anymore. Now she had gotten used to him looking like that. He wasn’t going to strike at her should she say no. but why would I say no?
As if stuck numb, the question dawned to her. why would I say no? I have started training merely to stay here, yes, but I am a Tower Guard now. And I have sworn oaths to protect the Towers, to protect the Aes Sedai, The Asha’man, the Gaidin and all their students. And I meant my oaths. And Besides it’s Rialt.

Without knowing that there had actually passed quite a lot of time, Kirens eyes turned normal again and she met his gaze bluntly.
Slowly she nodded her head and then softly spoke, her voice was held in determination, though she couldn’t’ help but let a it of her nervousness about this shine trough. “If you are certain in this decision; then I will let my body be your shield, and my soul be your sword.” It was an old way to accept a bonding; and Kiren doubted that many still used it; but the words had always intrigued her, and had always sounded... true... and Just to the cause of a gaidin. They were inspiring and she would hold them high always.

Somewhat nervous she let her fingers rummage softly trough her pouch with roasted nuts; keeping the urge down to pop a few between her lips.

ooc -- i dont know if you took that acceptance part from the book...but im gonna go ahead and make up a response ^^

Rialt couldn’t help but feel slightly unnerved by the silence that Kiren greeted him with, it really wasn’t that long since he had originally posed the question to her, but for some reason it seemed an eternity. What was she thinking about in that time? Was she completely repulsed by him? Did she want nothing to do with him, and was she merely humoring him with her silence? No matter what her answer to him though, he would of course honor that. Bonding someone against their will was completely unheard of, the last case actually having been around a hundred years ago. That person was forced to pass the bond on, and then, they served a healthy penance. Had something like that happened to him, he was quite sure he would have gone utterly insane. But now was not the time to be thinking negatively.

Goosebumps broke out on his skin, and he wondered if she would see this apparent physical nervousness that utterly controlled him. She didn’t seem to…and he hoped that she would not. Kiren…she must have been wondering why he had asked her to become his warder in the first place, especially since it was almost unheard of for an Asha’man to bond anyone except Aes Sedai. He knew of one or two men from the Black Tower who had bonded Gaidin and not Aes Sedai, but they worked away from the Tower grounds, so he couldn’t really talk to them about the experience. It was just something that told him, if anyone was going to be his warder, it would be Kiren. Or someone much like her and he knew of no one. He wondered if she had ever been asked to be bonded before…he had, but he flatly and blatantly told the woman no. Especially since it made him uneasy not being the one to hold the bond. Asha’man were considered Gaidin in many respects when they bonded, since the Aes Sedai were the ones who controlled the weave binding the two together. Plus he hadn’t known the woman at all, merely for a year or so when she sprang it on him. He had declined, and had heard later that he had made her cry. Well, that wasn’t his fault. He needed to be truthful with her as well as with himself, and if that meant making her cry…well he was willing to live with that. She had found someone else anyway.

But he had known Kiren now for a long time, and he had at least helped her in her studies with medicine, if not with her ability as a Wolfsister. He never really thought it was that odd, and he didn’t stare at her the way most other people did. It was a normal walk of life really, especially since he had gotten used to Mishael’s presence over the years. Everything that man had done had in a way, numbed him to the same behavior that Kiren had. It made her more interesting. But that was not why he had chosen her in the first place. He knew that if ever he was going to choose someone for bonding, it was going to have to be someone who offset his personality well, he knew that. He could only stand and work properly with a few people. Well, that wasn’t true, he could work well with anyone almost, but he wanted someone he was going to enjoy as well as work with at the same time. Bonding was something that lasted for life, the Light willing. Kiren was a calm woman, and she retained a lot of common sense. Her quiet disposition would offset his temperament perfectly, and what’s more was that she knew that. Something in his mind told him, Kiren was the best choice. So many things had led him up to this point, and he was positive it would work…if only she would see that as well. He wanted her to, but what happened happened.

“If you are certain in this decision; then I will let my body be your shield, and my soul be your sword.” Her words pulled him out of his thoughts and he looked at her. He couldn’t help it; he broke into the widest grin he was sure she had ever seen on his face before. For a moment he didn’t have anything to say at all. Half of him had believed that she was going to tell him to go and rot in the pits of Shayol Gul, the other half was partial to believing that he might have slight chance of success. But she did accept, in an older fashion as well. It was not something he expected, because the custom was long outgrown. He searched his mind for the proper response, knowing that somewhere in there it lay waiting for him. And then he remembered and wasted no time in saying, “And I shall stand with you, my soul as your shelter until the Light is gone.“ All that remained now of course, was the actual bonding. Rialt had seen it done before, long ago. Not many of the men today knew how, since the women held and performed the bond, but he knew it easily. It was a twist of Spirit mostly, which was easy for him. But he wasn’t going to lay the weave on the two of them just yet.

“I am very glad that you have accepted Kiren…” He trailed off for moment, knowing that if she had declined, he probably never would have a warder. “I am not going to perform the weave at this moment; I want you to be able to think on this before I do so. I want you to understand, that once I perform the action, I cannot take it back except to pass it on to another, and I wish in no way to bind you to me or any other when you have no desire to do so.” The pact was almost assured; in fact, he knew that she was not going to tell him that she had changed her mind. She was stead fast in her words, and always spoke truth in his mind. No, Kiren was going to be his warder. But as was his belief, it was better to do so in the early evening, when the sun was setting. Something about the hour soothed him. “Unless you have any objections, I will be waiting in the evening for you.” It was then that he would perform the weave, the Light willing.

Her words brought a big grin to his face and suddenly Kiren felt giddy, looking at him like that. Sure she still was completely serious, but just for a moment, Kirent felt like they were two children up to some mischief and she was sure she’d have broadly grinned as well had he not immediately turned back serious and answered her in the same, old way she had agreed to his ‘proposal’.
“And I shall stand with you, my soul as your shelter until the Light is gone.” All that remained now of course, was the actual bonding. Kiren was nervous, but only nod did she notice the obvious nervousness that had clung to Rialt, and that now was waning; still part of it lingered and Kiren wondered whether it heb been fear that she’d turn him down. I suppose if I asked anyone something like that; I’d be nervous too.... but then again, I’m not the one asking right now, and am still nervous.

But the asha’man continued speaking. “I am very glad that you have accepted Kiren…. I am not going to perform the weave at this moment; I want you to be able to think on this before I do so. I want you to understand, that once I perform the action, I cannot take it back except to pass it on to another, and I wish in no way to bind you to me or any other when you have no desire to do so.”
he doubts. He isn’t sure of it himself. No... it’s not that... he is sure... he’s just procrastinating (wheeee I can write it!!!! *does a happydance*) he’s just... afraid maybe. But then again, it’s a big step for him as well. Maybe it’s best to let him have him time and be steadfast in his mind. I don’t want to be bonded if there is but the slightest bit of doubt within him.

With this in mind she slowly nodded to his words
“Unless you have any objections, I will be waiting in the evening for you.”
“I will be here.” She simply said, trying to keep her voice straight and steady before she gave him an inclination of her head and then walked away, her book still clutched in her hand.


Walking around in the gardens Kiren wondered what to do. I’ll be bonded today. No more single part of myself will be private... he will know everything. Simply everything.... hmmm what a turnoff. the surprise that she thought of more intimate things right now, made her chuckle and somehow break her serious train of thoughts. “Well then” she said, out loud, to no-one in particular. “Let’s enjoy my last moments of freedom shall we?” she said again, this time to a squirrel that passed by. The little fluffy thing stopped to see who was talking to it, but then quickly ran off again. “no? oh too bad.” She chuckled again and let the smile stay on her face as she continued walking trough the gardens and headed to the barracks.

Kiren had made a point of taking today off from her duties to enjoy the remainder of the day and thus she walked up to Brynden Tyher, the Master of arms, asking for it. Once she’d told him the reason, the older gaidin slapped her on her shoulder and told her to go have fun.

So first she stopped at the baths, and took a really long time there, just plainly enjoying the warmth and the clean feeling the steam upon her bare skin gave her. Some of the other gaidin and a few recruits came in and they talked, and after a while she got out again and left for the city.
It had been a while since she last had visited madam Miso, But today she’d go there again. The woman had wonder hands and managed to get every inch of stress or backache out of her; and for that, Kiren was willing to sacrifice quite a large part of her wages.

But even though she outwardly enjoyed herself, her mind still was quite a fog and she kept thinking about Rialt and the fact that by the end of the day she’d be bonded to him. She’d be his warder. His bondmate, sworn to protect him giving her life for him. Losing her mind should she fail. A high price to pay. And for what? A noble goal in life? well I suppose his standard of life is a bit higher then the one in the garrison. she mused while Miso’s hands did wonders on her back.

A bit later, about a big hour before the sun would be setting, Kiren found herself on the busy streets again, feeling somewhat lost and alone. She looked around her and saw people moving. The streets always were busy at this time of day, people returning home from their jobs, merchants trying to lure some late customers... but Kiren just felt empty. And alone. Somehow a feeling I doubt I’ll ever have again. How strange.... she let her feet guide her and a bit later she stood at the doors of a Domani restaurant, “the misty mountain”, one of her personal favourites.

The food was –as Domani standarts say- nicely spiced, and even though she hadn’t fully grown used to it, she still managed to use her sursa quite well, and had no problem what-so-ever to et the strange long strips of dough in a sort of soup.



The sun was setting in a nice tinge of purple and red when Kiren walked on the tower grounds, back to the secluded spot where she’d been earlier today. She was on time, she always was on time. At least when it was about something important; and this would definitely qualify as important.
She saw Rialt standing where they had before, looking at the sunset. Somehow he seemed content, and he smelled it as well. Sure a bit of nervousness could be smelled from it, but it was rather minor, and his posture gave nothing away. Silently she made her way over to him and stood beside him. Somewhere along the way he had heard her move to him for he did not seem surprised when she stood beside him. For a moment they just looked at the setting sun together and then their eyes met and Kiren softly nodded, her entire composure saying “I’m ready.”

Ooc – I still plan on having one more post or so after this one. I described this as best as I possibly could, I hope you like it.

Rialt took the day to ready himself for the evening, for what he was going to be doing, and also, to inform the M’Hael of his intentions. Inform was the operative word, Rialt was going to do this whether the man wanted him to or not. Zekieal though, had been very hospitable and had seemed very happy that Rialt had chosen to take a Warder. He was a bit surprised at who though, he must have thought Rialt was going to choose some Yellow or Green, an Aes Sedai at least. Probably Green... The meeting had taken almost no time at all, and after Rialt had explained what he was going to do, the M’Hael gave him some reassuring words and he was on his way again. Going back to his rooms, he laid down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, simply thinking. This is going to be the last day I am alone…the thought was more surprising, more confusing and exciting than he had expected. Never again was he walk the world alone, he wouldn’t have to worry about watching his back. He wouldn’t have to worry about sleeping one night, and not waking the next for fear of assassins or Darkfriends. He shuddered at the memory. Darkfriends invading the Tower…just a few, but they had managed to get fairly far before they were brought down.

No, never again will I have to be so paranoid as I was, I won't have to be alone.. After that, he had been vary wary indeed, and trusted few people he did not already know. It seemed the Creator felt it fit for that to end though. Sighing, Rialt rolled onto his side and shut his eyes. He woke up and rubbed away the sleep while searching for the clock he knew was somewhere in his rooms. There it is… It was already evening, but not quite time to meet Kiren. Kiren…all his thoughts were centered on what he was going to do. Bonding. Forever. Unless of course…well, that was something he could ponder on another night. He sat up, and took off his outer shirt and threw it on the floor in a heap. It was too wrinkled to wear anyway, and far too ornate. Actually ornate didn’t quite do it, it was a deep blue, and had gold stitching along its cuffs and collar. Hardly something an Asha’man would wear, more like a well to do merchant, but then again Rialt had always had a taste for fine clothes. He spent a lot of time inside the Black Tower, so it wasn’t necessary to dress commonly if he could get away with it, which of course he could. Tonight though, he wanted to wear something nice, but…not too flashy.

Light, I’m turning into a woman with all the thought I put into something so Frivolous. He shook his head and after rising from his bed, took a gray lined tunic from his wardrobe and drew it on unceremoniously. He grabbed a leather bound book from one of his shelves, set his wards, and made his way to the mess hall to eat. He didn’t actually get much of it down, light too much of his mind was preoccupied. Opening the leather journal, for that was what it was, he turned to the page he was going to use for the evening. A while back, when he had observed a bonding ceremony, he had made note of the weaves, how they were laid, what immediate effects they had had, and so forth. But they seemed…crude to him. So he had altered them, but only slightly. Kiren would be surprised indeed, when forty years from now, she found she had only aged perhaps a few years. Keeping was a simple thing to do, but it had quite wonderful results when used elsewhere.

Finally, he stood from his chair, and left the Mess Halls for the Tower Gardens, to meet Kiren. He arrived before her, just as the sun was setting. Perfect…he took a seat on the floor, relaxing, meditating, and readying himself. After only a few moments, he heard footsteps and looked up to find Kiren approaching. She seemed…she seemed to be content. His gaze betrayed nothing about how he was feeling; he let it all out for her to see. Yes he was nervous, excited, wary, everything one would expect to be feeling. He rose to meet her. She seemed more in control than he was! He took in a deep breathe of fresh air, and she nodded at him. Without any further ado and with no words at all, Rialt embraced the Source.

Instantly everything perked up, the world suddenly came alive. The vibrant hues of the setting sun were warm; beautiful. He began to construct the weave, patterns of Spirit, laced and woven together, and he formed the basic construct that would create the bond. But he was not done either, in with the bits of Spirit, he tightened and wound, until finally, he saw it come together the way he knew it would. He watched Kiren for any sign of hesitance, and when she gave no protest, he moved forward. “Under the Light…” He held out his hands, indicating that he needed her touch to perform the weave. He gently took her head in his hands, and let the weave sink into them both. He couldn’t help but shiver and felt her do so as well. Finally the thread of Spirit took hold, and slowly, it took root within each of them. When Rialt knew the weave was completed, he released her from his grasp, and stood back with a sigh.

“Under the light” he said, and gently held her head in-between his strong hands. Years of training under the gaidin had made it possible for her to keep her composure straight and unchanged; however in her stomach butterflies were flying around as in a storm, and she had suite some difficulty trying to keep her body from shaking. Sure she trusted Rialt, and she was absolutely certain of this; but still... it was something new, something unknown to her, and it made her queasy.

Then it started, and the sudden changes made her nervousness fade as now before a hot summers sun, for they were brushed aside by new, different feelings.
The bond settled in as if warm -but not hot- honey was poured over her, as if it settled on her body, on her bones, on her mind. They had told her that it would feel like this; but still it was extremely strange to actually experience it.
In the honey was he... his presence.

She let out a gasp of air that she hadn’t noticed she’d held and briefly shivered because of the strange feeling.
The warm feeling stayed upon her but the honey seemed to drench her and move into her, not upon her anymore, it made it’s way into her flesh, her bones, her mind.
Her entire body tingled and somewhere she had the feeling of some other feelings within her, something else that was not hers but that felt like her.... that felt like she was feeling.... that felt kindred.

As the feel of honey slowly started dissipating, everything in her body seemed to be different, and everywhere in her body where the honey had touched, seemed now to be connected by little.... strings... little thread, all coming together somewhere in the back of her mind; all coming together in a knot, a knot that she knew was he.


She noticed her breath was heavy and shivering, and immediately tried to take some form of control over it; but she was distracted by the newly formed bond; the bond between her and the Asha’man before her. She could now feel that ‘kindred spirit’ she’d felt before and realised that it was Rialt and that he was –just like her- exploring the bond, deeply concentrated and willed with wonder about what now was eternal between them.

As she actually started looking around she noticed that nothing had changed, besides the fact that he’d let his hands slip away from her head and was just staring at her as well. “So...” she suddenly said.
She had no idea why she said it, or how it had come to her mind, but she felt somewhat weird at the moment.
She knew he was standing before her, and she wouldn’t need her eyes or her nose for it, she just new it, she knew all about him; as he would about her.

Again some air that she didn’t know she’d been holding escaped her softly shivering lips.

It didn’t seem as cold as it was…yet both Rialt and Kiren were shivering from it. He shook his head, and closed his eyes, breathing in the nighttime aura. And Kiren. It was all so surreal, just a moment ago; he had been alone in his mind, completely beside himself with anticipation. And now, now there was a something there, inside his head, letting itself sink into his consciousness. The little bundle of emotions that was so strong, was Kiren, he could feel her every concern it seemed. He couldn’t read her mind no, but he had the impression that she was just as intrigued as he was about their present situation.

He was happy, but it was also mixed with a variety of anxiety (even though the bonding had been completed), awareness, regard, puzzlement, fascination, and fear. He did fear that he would not be what Kiren expected, that his mind now in the back of her own head was too overbearing, that his emotions were a bother to her. Stupid and foolish fears, but they remained never-the-less. He probed, if that was what you called it, along the bond, poking and testing, getting a feel for it. Kiren was also running through the same thing as he was.

It was an odd situation though, the way they both studied the link that now had woven them together eternally. They had not only the psychological to deal with, but also the physical. He knew that she was completely rested, but that she was a little stressed out, perhaps from overworking at the Garrison, or maybe for another reason. Rialt had a slight headache, and he knew that Kiren was feeling it as well. What an interesting phenomenon, that we should share a physical problem… He had not realized that through the bond, so much would be shared. It was a bit like making love, you knew of it, and what it was about, but you never truly understood it until you yourself had partaken in its effects. The same applied here, he had known of what the bond would do, but it was an entirely different story having it happen to him, to both of them.

He stood there, starting at her, and she at him. It wasn’t an awkward silence; there was much understanding and patience between them. But they could not stand there forever, he still had to inform Zekieal and Sapphira that it was done, and then, the word would begin to spread. They would receive many blessings in the day to come. He also thought it quite humorous that bonding in the Duel Towers was a bit like Marriage everywhere else. Both members were congratulated, and there were prayers offered up to them both (Serve under the light, may the Creator guide you both and watch over you, the usual). Rialt’s mind was a jumble of thoughts, one after another bubbling to the surface, only to be replaced with another.

“So...” Kiren spoke suddenly. He looked at her and smiled. “I suppose its done now…” There was nothing really that was necessary to say. They both understood each other. It was going to take some time to get used to the new sensation, the bond. All in good time though. “Thankyou my friend…I cannot wait to learn even more that I already know.”