Robert stood at attention, his senior staff officers arrayed in a single rank behind him, watching as the gilded carriage carrying the Seanchan emissary pulled up. The honor guard was in perfect alignment on either side of the traditional red carpet. Over to one side were the ambassadors and the senior military attaches of the various nations which had embassies in Tar Valon. Aes Sedai and Asha'man were crowding the balconies of the White and Black Towers to get a better view. Earlier, Robert had watched as the Seanchan galleon had sailed into the Southharbor and come to anchor. It easily outclassed any of the sailing vessels that Robert had ever seen, and it even put the ocean-going rakers of the Atha'an Miere to disadvantage. And they far outclassed the ships of Tear, Illian and Mayene.

Captain General Darien stepped out of the carriage. "Ten-hut!" The honor guard came to attention as he set foot on the red carpet. The band started to play the Seanchan national anthem. At the same time, the Guildsmen began what they called a 21-gun salute. As the booms rang out, Robert again wondered how they did that. Every soldier in the Westlands lusted after the secret, and it had been held close-held ever since the War of the Dragon.

Darien raised his hand to the salute and Robert raised his in return as the Ogier walked down the carpet towards him. The Captain General was taller than the average Ogier, over eleven feet in height. Unlike the Ogier in the Westlands, the Ogier members of the Deathwatch Guards were grim in demeanor and actions, and considered much deadlier fighters than their human counterparts. They all carried thick curved blades with a back edge one-quarter to one-third the length of the blade, a two-handed hilt, and quillons shaped like a C or a crescent moon. The sword pommel was a cap. They also carried pikes, decorated with black tassels, and shields, which were lacquered in black.

Dismounting from carriages behind Darien were various staff members, both human and Ogier. Robert spotted a somewhat scholarly man surrounded by staff members, he supposed that this could be the ambassador, who would take up permanent residence once all the prerequisite arrangements were made. Darien halted and came to attention in front of him, and both soldiers lowered their hands simultaneously. Robert then took the Ogier's hand and shook it in the Westlands fashion. "Welcome to Tar Valon, General," he said. Darien had obviously been well briefed on Westlands customs. He took Robert's hand without hesitation. "Thank you, Marshal," he replied. "Would you like to inspect the troops?" Robert asked. "I would indeed," came the answer. At that moment the Seanchan Imperial Banner, a golden hawk in flight clutching three lightning bolts, broke out from atop the White Tower. The two of them, accompanied by the banner general commandng the Amyrlin's Own, inspected the troops. Their turnout was perfect, of course. These were the best of the best, and Sapphira's own bodyguards were selected from here. Robert observed the Ogier Captain General occasionally nodding in approval.

"I am impressed, Marshal,"Darien said as they finished the inspection. "They are very different from what I saw two hundred years ago." Robert started for a moment, then remembered that Ogier had very long life spans compared to humans. "Back then, for the most part, you fought feudal levies and noble warbands. Very brave, but varying widely in training and discipline," Robert said. "We've thrown away our old rule book and adopted much of yours," he replied. "This is a disciplined and trained force made up of long-service professionals. Instead of fighting as individual warriors, they work together as soldiers. We've adopted much of your organization and staff system because they work, and are a large improvement in what we had before." He saw the Ogier nod at the compliment. The two of them, surrounded by staff officers, then mounted the reviewing stand for the marchpast by the Guard. The area had been opened to the citizenry, and they crowded into every possible vantage place to watch the pageantry. The two of them took the salute as the troops paraded past: infantry, cavalry and engineers, all in their ordered ranks, ready for battle. Robert hoped that the various attaches present took note.

"We have a small reception next, then you'll be shown to your quarters until the formal dining-in this evening. Tomorrow morning you will present your credentials to the Amrylin Seat, then there will be a formal dinner in your honor, and after that we can get to serious business."

The reception was open to senior officers and civilians from either side only. Erin was there as his hostess, and she circulated freely, doing her best to break the ice and get the two delegations to talk to each other. She was having only limited success. Robert beckoned the Ogier over. "I would like to introduce you to my senior staff officers," he said. He took Darien down the line and introduced them one-by-one. giving a small summary of what each officer did. Elaine was there, as his Chief of Intelligence, clad in the lieutenant general's uniform that she rarely wore. When they got to her Darien paused. "I have heard of you," he told her quietly, so that only the three of them could hear. "I must compliment you on your excellent work in the Tanchico affair several years back." Robert felt his eyes widen in amazement, and Elaine's mouth dropped open, and she stood there gaping like a landed fish. There are only supposed to be five people living who know about that, he thought, and three of them are in this room, the fourth being the Amyrlin herself and the fifth being Light knows where. That had been a very messy affair, with war being averted only by the "accidental" death of the King of Tarabon. That had been the first time that the White Tower had used assassination as a weapon in years, but the alternative would have been a war that would have enveloped the entire western coast of the continent.

We'll, he's let us know we're penetrated. He wouldn't give that away unless there was a very good reason for it. I guess we'll find out tomorrow, Robert thought to himself as they finished the introductions. Looking around him, he could see that the two sides were beginning to talk to each other, but that it was still rough going, with the huge cultural gap. He was introduced to the ambassador-presumptive, not quite catching the name, he was so distracted by his thoughts. It had been centuries since the Seanchan had had to deal with someone as an equal, so they were still feeling their way, as was Tar Valon. He turned to the Ogier. "We have a full set of exercises and demonstrations laid on for you while you are here." He saw the other nod. "I are most anxious to see how warfare has changed here since I was here last," was the reply.

The reception ended shortly after that, and the visitors were shown to their quarters to rest a little and prepare for the night's festivities. He called his senior staff together; they had much to talk about...

The dining-in was a formal affair. The military wore their dress uniforms with medals and orders gleaming up their chests, and the civilians wore their best dress up attire. Almost everyone brought their spouses and/or lovers, so their presence could keep things from getting as raucous as it could normally get with the amount of alcohol that flowed at such things. There were a number of aes sedai and asha'man present, including Sapphira, but they were in disguise, as it were, so they would not have to submit themselves to all the formalities. They were all seated at the head table. Robert, as commander-in-chief, was President of the Mess, and presided over all the festivities. Morgian, as Senior Bannerman of the army, and therefore the senior non-commissioned officer, was Vice President of the Mess. In the center of the Senior Officer's Mess was a table with a huge punch bowl in the middle. Into it had been gleefully poured all sorts of alcoholic concoctions. If you violated any of the myriad rules of the Mess, you had to partake. Fortunately, because of the guests, the rules had been greatly relaxed for this occasion. Which is just as well, Robert mused. Our visitors don't need to see a room full of drunken soldiers, as well as they may be used to the sight. Captain General Darien had only snorted as he saw the bowl. Apparently some things were universal. The other guests stared at the sight, unused to the customs.

Darien was seated to his right, in the place of honor, and Erin was seated to his left, as his official hostess. Senior officers and their companions from both nationalities alternated around the table. Sapphira had been placed near Robert across from the Seanchan commander and the ambassador, so she could observe them.

The meal was excellent, as it always was here. And the wines and brandies and ales and such were also the best that could be had. It's an incentive to work hard for promotion, Robert grinned to himself. He saw that their Seanchan visitors had begun to relax and converse with their neighbors, and he congratulated himself on that at least. He and the Captain General had talked about neutral matters at first, discussing that their militaries had in common, More since I started changing things, and various actions that they had seen. The ambassador-designate mostly kept silent, listening and commenting only occasionally. Robert noticed that there were several among the Seanchan who were busy with their questions and making notes on the answere. Probably Truth Seekers, he thought. It would have been a surprise if none of them had come along.

Finally the long meal came to an end, and the official toasts started. As host, Robert stood up, hoisted high a glass of wine, and said "Ladies and gentlement, in honor of our guests, I propose a toast to the health of the Seanchan Empress!" "The Empress!" came back the reply as all stood to drink her health. Then the Captain General stood. "To the Amyrlin Seat!" At that, it was time for the entertainment to begin. Tables and chairs were cleared out to provide an open space, and the pipes and drums of the Amyrlin's Own came out to give a performance with great panache. After that, it was a sword dance, accompanied with many cheers throughout and applause at the end. Then came various members of the Guard to display their talents. Soldiers needed hobbies in their off time, and many of them chose to express themselves in music. Some of them were quite good, and a few could have made a good living as entertainers if they chose to leave the soldiers trade.

After that, more tables and chairs were cleared away, and those couples who chose to began to dance. A band was playing a country air, counted as rustic and quaint by city folk, but one still neverless popular. Robert and Erin looked at each other, and her eyebrow quirked Why not? and they went out on the dance floor.

Robert liked dancing with his sister. Not only because she was a superb dancer, but by dancing with her he was able to avoid the predatory advances of the noblewomen of the City. All of the eligible high-born, and a few of the married ones as well, who should have known better, were always making excuses to come to his notice. Most of the ones who were married kept bringing their marriagable daughters to show off, including ones who were still in their teens, which Robert thought was scandalous. He had no interest in schoolgirls. If he married again he wanted another love match, not an arranged union.

Suddenly he saw Erin get a wicked glint in her eye, and she motioned with her head towards where Sapphira was sitting. As they passed close by, Erin gave him a little push towards her. Robert went up to her, bowed, and whisked her off onto the dance floor before she had time to object. Sapphira, once she had time to recover from her surprise, smiled and laughed with delight as he swept her across the dance floor. The last time he had danced with her had been at the Amrylin's Ball that had ended so disastrously. He wanted to wipe out those memories and replace them with new ones.

The dance finally ended. The custom at the end of this one was to steal a kiss from your partner, but Robert didn't quite dare. There were limits, even for one as himself. Instead he took her by the arm and led her back to her sight, with her laughing and chattering gaily. It was the first time he had seen her so relaxed and merry in months. He was also greatly cheered by the way the matrons and their offspring were glaring at him from across the room. Maybe someday they would take the hint.

Eventually the evening came to an end. Darien and his party made their excuses; they would have be up early to prepare for the official audience with Sapphira at noon, with a formal state dinner that evening. Then they could get down to serious business.

Post, people!!!

((I will, I swear, I just need to find the time to devote to reading all of that and then to posting. Maybe tomorrow, I hope))

i will post too just not enought ime to read right now

"You want WHAT?" Resolute demanded of his superior as the man stood over the foot of his bed. Resolute lay back on his pillows, dressed only in his black leather breeches. his eyes were rimmed with red, from too much drink and not nearly enough sleep. Gorst smiled down on him and somehow he made that smile seem pleasant, and yet threatening. Resolute shivered.

"Come now, Resolute. Your one of the few Asha'man who walks around trying to glare holes through everyone's heads. And we cant very well let you sit at a feast where you'll drink yourself half to death and embarrass the Towers and offend the Seanchan before they've even had their talks. "

Resolute glowered at Gorst for a second. "This isn't an optional assignment is it Gorst?" The smiling Asha'man shook his head bemusedly.

"This way though we will show the Seanchan that there are Asha'man who are always vigil, and still as violent as a rabid dog."

"Thanks....I think." Resolute muttered.

"You joined the wrong Shen to be a part of the politics Resolute." The white-blonde man laughed.

"I did at that. I did at that."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The red carpet had been thrown out for these Seanchan. The Tower's standing army stood in crisp military array as the occupants of the carriage descended into the Tower Grounds. Resolute, standing at the fore of a wedge of Asha'man watched as the members of the Seanchan marched forward. The military members of the guard surprised him. A couple Ogiers led the way, carrying dangerous looking weapons with casual grace. That kind of grace only came to those who knew how to use the weapons they carried.

Resolute swallowed faintly. He had enver heard of Ogiers carrying weapons, but he would rather face a score of Trollocs than the pair of Ogier guards flanking a third Ogier. The lead Ogier stopped by Robert, the Tower General, and they conversed for a moment. Above the Guildsman opened fire with their strange weapons. Booms sounded over the White city, and more than one Seanchan looked about in surprise.

Resolute was not that impressed. He could do the same thing the Guildsman's strange contraptions could. Burn him but he could rip people apart with only his thoughts.

The Ogier leader, Resolute could only guess at his rank, scanned the assembled troops. His black, unkowable eyes rested on Resolute, and his company of Asha'man. The Asha'man guard was dressed alike; solid unrelieved black that covered them from neck to feet. Each man wore a sword at their hip, and a deadly look in their eyes.

The Ogier got the measure of each Asha'man before turning and going into the Tower itself with Robert. Resolute shivered. Two score of Trollocs.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The feast was delicious. Or at least smelled so. Resolute stood at one side of the Grand doors, on the opposite side of a male damane and his mistress. The Resolute spent at least half his time glaring at the woman in her lightning panneled dress. And she spent a fair amount giving as good as she got.

More than once he caught that Ogier glancing his way. Each time the creature did Resolute had to grit his teeth to keep from breaking out in shivers.

He glanced around the Grand Ballroom, making sure all his men were still at their posts. Around them the people feasted and drank. Oh, how they drank! Resolute licked his dry tongue with his lips. Gorst had been right. In political settings like this, it was best not to let Resolute actually partake in the feast.

Curiously, he hadn't seen Rialt tonite. He ahd expected his former mentor to at least make an appearance. But, he thought the night was not over yet.
And as people began to dance, he knew there was still a lot of the night left to burn. a lot indeed.

(ill respond soon enough, i just need time to settle in my new place)

Sapphira would not greet the arrival of the Seanchan today, she left that entirely up to Robert, since the emissary was almost entirely made up of military personnel from Seanchan, he would be the one to greet them. Of course, Sapphira was there, just not right at the front, she would be a little out of the way, still available should the Seanchan Captain General want a word with her, but not flaunted in the front as she may have been if the visitor were a king or queen. As it turned out, nothing was said to her, and she did not think that Darien even noticed her, although no doubt Robert knew exactly where she was. She watched as the Seanchan came up the red carpet, watched as their Captain General inspected a group of Asha'man, Gaidin and Gaidar standing nearby for just this purpose. Sapphira did not entirely understand why a foreign Captain General would want or need to inspect White Tower troops, but she guessed it was some sort of military protocol that Robert knew all about, as he had been the one to put this welcome together. She saw the tall Ogier nod approvingly at her guard, well, most of them there were her guard anyway, the best fighters in the Tower, they certainly looked quite impressive standing in rank as they were. It had been agreed upon by all that despite the publicity of this occasion, Sapphira should not need her guard, or not all of it. There were still a few here with her, and she was more than ready should the Power be needed, not that she anticipated any problems. The ceremony ended, the crowd filed out of the entrance to the Towers, citizens went back to work, Tower-dwellers back to whatever they were doing, and Sapphira to catch up on everything that she had not been doing while she was here.
_____________________
The next evening, Sapphira made her way down to the Ballroom, one that was rarely used, but was always a success. She had never seen it decorated the same way twice, or even similarly really. This time it was completely bedecked in symbols of both Seanchan and the White and Black Towers. A Seanchan flag hung on the wall above the high table, between the flags of the Black and White Towers, all were below the flag of the Towers combined. The Golden Hawk and the symbol of Aes Sedai and Asha'man were displayed in more places than Sapphira could count, but tastefully, and the numbers of each were split very evenly, clearly someone had put a lot of thought into this. There was an Asha'man stationed at every entrance, as well as a damane and sul'dam. Sapphira had not wanted to make that concession- truth be told, she had not wanted any of those people in Tar Valon at all, but she knew better than to offend the Seanchan in that manner, and so they formed part of the guard that was more for show than anything else. Or, as far as the Seanchan knew it was, the Towers had learned their lesson about always being on guard during the Feast of the Dragon a few years back, they would never make the mistake of being underprotected again.

Sapphira was seated across from Robert and Darien, the Captain General, she listened closely to all that was said, but for a while did not say much. The food was absolutely delicious, everyone agreed on that, and the hall was decorated beautifully. Robert and Darien discussed trivial things for the most part, action they had seen and other such things in which Sapphira could have very little input. After a while, the meal ended, both herself and the Empress were toasted, and the Amyrlin's Own showed off a bit to everyone's pleasure. After that, a few soldiers showed off a bit of their own talents, not related to war, and then the dancing began. Sapphira watched as Robert and his sister walked onto the dance floor, as well as several other couples, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Before the first dance was over, Robert came over and took her onto the dance floor, really without even asking. Sapphira did not mind, the man was a lovely dancer, and she enjoyed it herself. It was a rather rustic dance, but one that never failed to be enjoyable, and Sapphira found herself laughing by the end of it. The meal had been wonderful, the entertainment pleasing, and a good dance was a perfect way to put her over the top in a good mood. She knew that at the end of the dance, she was supposed to get a kiss from Robert, but he did nothing of the sort. Of course he would not, he was too respectful of her rank for that, it did not matter either way. She walked back to their table with him, smiling and laughing, hoping everyone was enjoying this evening as much as she was.

Robert surveyed the scene once more. All was in readiness for the Amyrlin Seat to receive the Seanchan emissary. A mixed honor guard of Asha'man and Gaidin were stationed on the perimeter of the Grand Hall of the Tower. Even more were stationed on the balconies overlooking the room. The room and the balconies were crowded with high-ranking Aes Sedai, Asha'man and anyone else who could get an invitation. There were even a few Ogier, curious to see their brothers and sisters from across the ocean. Robert nodded to Lyla that all was in readiness. That worthy signaled towards the door behind which Sapphria was waiting and then called out: "She comes, she comes, the Watcher of the Seals, the Flame of Tar Valon, the Amyrlin Seat."

At that Sapphira entered the room, clad in full regalia and her multi-colored stole of office on her shoulders. Every man and woman in the room bowed as she came in and took her seat. Robert settled into his place at her right hand. The Keeper gestured, and the great doors to the hall opened, accompanied by the sweet, silver voices of trumpets.

The Seanchan embassy entered, Captain General Darien in the lead. He, as well as Robert and every other military person in the room, was clad in his full dress uniform, medals gleaming on his chest. Robert suspected that the longsword that rested in the scabbard was fully functional. Ceremonial swords were nice to look at, but useless in a fight.

Darien strode up the red carpet, halting directly in front of the High Seat. He gave a deep bow, and then went down on one knee, presenting his credentials to her as he did so. Robert heard a collective gasp from the audience. This was unprecedented. It meant that the Seanchan Empress accepted the Amyrlin Seat as her equal. From his vantage point Robert could see the Illianer and Amadacian ambassadors trying to conceal their rage. Take that! he thought gleefully to himself. Those two nations were always trying to undermine the goals of the Towers United.

Sapphira rose to accept the Letters Patent and began to give her official welcome.

*poke, poke, poke*