It hadn’t been that long. Had it? She had arrived at the White Tower no more than 12 days gone – and she would be awake to receive the thirteenth, surely – and already, she thought she might go insane. She thought the fevers, headaches and anxiety attacks from four years ago were bad…but they had nothing on this. After having met with the Mistress of Novices, and Dalyiena’s best friend or worst nightmare for the next ten years minimum; what role Cayana Alhi Aes Sedai played depended on what novice Dalyiena was talking to.

Tossing and turning in her bed, looking over at the empty one across the room and then up at the white ceiling, wondering why there were no windows, Dalyiena found it difficult to breathe. She had been rubbing her hands together, but now her fingers where digging into her hair, clutching until it ached. The pain did nothing to soothe her, though, and attempting to meditate was as impossible a task as flying. With a loud grunt, she sat upright. She needed air. She needed soil under her feet. She needed to see the starts, but most of all, she needed to dance. It hadn’t really been that long. But her feet needed to move, and her ears needed music. Even when she was staying at villages, slept inside smaller rooms than this, she was able to leave when she wanted. She would go outside, breathe, and feel free again. But now the walls surrounding the Tower were closing in on her, and she couldn’t take it any longer.

Barefoot, with only her white novice dress on, she carefully stepped out into the halls when she was sure no one could see her. It was difficult, peering around every corner, tossing small rocks to make the stablemen or anyone else who was still lurking turn around to let her pass unnoticed. The guards all along the wall were hard to fool, if they were fooled at all. She did not distract them, but merely found a small spot beneath a group of trees that provided a good enough hideout. With a suppressed moan and a wide smile, she was only just settling on the wet grass, her eyes getting lost in the stars above, when a voice startled her.

((ooc - I hope you won't mind my jumping in :look I miss RPing in Fusions so much, and I want to meet the new ones around. ))

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He couldn't sleep. While that was not new, it was still very irritating at times, especially when your day was loaded with paperwork, troublesome boys, more paperwork and more troublesome boys. For two years Edeleas' days had been of the sort, just paper and scolding boys who knew too much for their own good. He was even surprised that he managed to live through the monotony of it all. He would have welcomed a sudden visit from a Chosen or a fellow Darkfriend, but none of the sort came. It was as if the Shadow had taken another sleep, or whatever semblance to sleep it could have, because Edeleas knew that the Great Lord was always awake. The Great Lord was always planning something, the Great Lord always knew what he needed to know. Many things had transpired. Rialt was now M'hael, and the desire to confess to everything had never been so overwhelming. In Rialt's position, nothing could harm him if he told his former mentor everything. Rialt would help him, no matter what had transpired between them both. He would understand. Had to understand that Edeleas did not want all of this - that he was forced into it. Rialt would understand, right? The M'hael's view on him did not change though. Always he was treated with the cold shoulder and he could only speak to the M'hael out of duty, and even then every sentence should be started with, "Rialt, I come in peace." Bloody ashes, Edeleas was growing tired of saying that everytime. He wanted out. He wanted to be what he once was, but he could never muster the strength to do so...

Blood and bloody ashes, he was wasting time lying on his bed, trying to feign sleep when he knew it would not come. The Master of Soldiers sat up, and for a moment buried his face into his hands. The strands of hair cascading down his bare back seemed to bury deep into his skin. Even though no candle was lit, Edeleas' vision could have been as if he were standing under the full moon. He could see clearly, despite of the Shadows that were thick around his chambers. He glanced at the window, where the curtains were dancing in the whisper of a nightly breeze. The stars that flecked the velvet black sky were bright as ever, as if they were the souls of the dearly departed, calling out to him.

Throwing aside his blankets, Edeleas walked over to the closet and dressed in Asha'man black. He pulled on his boots and ran a hand through his blonde locks before walking out of his room, no clear destination in mind except the winding paths on the Tower Grounds. No Aes Sedai, Gaidin or Asha'man would question him even if he was awake on such an ungodly hour. The ball of emotions that was Myara inside his head was a peaceful existence. She was asleep, and her sleep was untroubled, something he hadn't had for the Light knew how long.

Getting to the Tower Grounds was no problem, though he did meet some of the more nocturnal Asha'man along the way. Not one glanced at him, not one even hailed him, but Edeleas was far too used to this to care. He knew he was a dodgy character among his brothers, and may the Light burn everything in its path if he were to give a damn about it all. He had tumultuous thoughts in his mind, alongside his salvation. Things like Farina Aileen and the son or daughter that she should have borne him by now. He wondered how his sisters and father took to the pretense that Farina was his wife.

He sensed the child even before he could see her, but just this once, he was willing to pass by her offense unchecked. He marveled at how she made it this far outside in this time of the night unnoticed. As silent as a Shadow he walked to a spot not far from her, his boots not making a sound against the grass.

"Yes, they are pretty stars, no?" He whispered, his voice just soft enough so as not to startle the girl too much.