A young man left the barracks early in the evening and went to the gardens, to find some solitude, or someone to talk to if that was possible. He smiled as he walked down the road, looking at all the trees, bushes and grass around him. Of course, this was just a little park compared to the real wilderness where he came from, but it was at least a few trees and some green. He had missed that a bit when coming here to the city, and the tower. He was more of a nature person than a..city person.

Walking down the road, he looked around himself and noticed people here and there. Also another issue. The great number of people in one place. He had only seen that a few times on his journey to the tower, and wasn't sure wether he should be uncomfortable or happy because of the company. He stopped for a moment to watch a guard pass by on a nearby road. There were a number of tower guards in the garden. better safe than sorry, he thought and smiled. Although he could not understand who or what would be stupid enough to try and do something against the law here. In the tower, of all places.

He continued his stroll, quickening his pace a bit as he saw a pond a bit further away. He looked around himself, as to check so that no one was close, and sat down beneath a maple tree, looking out over the calm water. His first day had been tiring. He had wanted to practice, yes. But he had not realized the physical stress involved in practicing 8 hours a day. His body was sore and tired, and his arms felt numb. Yet, he was happy. He felt as if he had done something good today. His instructor had been quite content with him, surprised at his skill even though he came from a land and family of farming. A smile spread across his lips. He also had gotten his sword exchanged. "You'll just hurt yourself with a bad sword such as that", he had been told. A bad sword? He didn't think of his old blade that way. But obviously, and now he knew, that it was. He had gotten a heavier model of a sword, with a broader and longer blade.

Sometimes he felt like chopping meat with that blade when he aimed and thrusted it against the poor training dummy, cutting off chunks of bundled hay. The seventeen year old stretched and leaned back on the grass, closing his eyes for a bit, in thought. The girls. The girls, watching the men practicing. He had never felt so embarassed in all of his life. Animals for sale. That's what some of them saw when they looked at us, he thought. He was sure of that. And he was also sure of the fact that he was being stared at by a few of them on purpose, to make him nervous and see if he would crack under the pressure and stress. That was also the reason why he never walked to the fence for water. The girls where there. Not only novices. Accepted, and also a Aes Sedai now and then! Outrageous! Why can't they simply let us practice in peace? he thought, and grumbled.

Then again, some men seemed to like the attention they got. Perhaps even more confusing, that. Flaunting themselves for the women like that! He sighed, covering his eyes with his left hand for a second and sitting up against the tree again.

(hope it's not too short. i don't have time for more right now :))

((OOC: It's not short, I hope you don't mind me responding ;) ))

The morning had been the most busy one in weeks and the afternoon not much better. She had taken the evening off now, needing some time away from all the disobeying little brats she had among the novices these days. She was just glad she hadn't had any more incidents with novices practicing at the training yard with the Gaidin and Asha'man. Light, did the girl really think anyone would let that slide? Obviously, Gwen would have, perhaps even the Master at Arms, he seemed to take no responsibility for it what so ever. Oh well her weapons are gone and so are her clothes. Perhaps the girl would at least somewhat concentrate on her studies.

Taking a deep breath Cayana walked around a tree and sat down next to the pond. It was peaceful here. She felt a need of some peace after this day. The towers really held a lot of people, it felt crowded at times.
As she gazed across the pond though she noticed someone on the other side. A man, young boy rather he looked like a teenager. Tall and handsome though, it made her smile. Herself she didn't look Aes Sedai sitting like this, that she hadn't acquired the ageless features wouldn't help his guessing if he noticed her. She would probably look like some young noble that had come to the towers to get away from the world. She wondered if he would think that or just assume she was Aes Sedai anyway. It didn't matter, he looked like he was deep in thought and wanting to be alone. Unless he showed interest she would just stay put and leave him be.

She smoothened her deep green silk skirt and let her gaze follow the water line away from the boy. Not that far away at the side of the pond where the stream began where one of the bridges. There were more then one, three actually, and it was really pretty. Cayana remembered sitting up there as a novice once throwing rocks in the water with a friend when someone suddenly had felt it quite convenient to push them both in the water. All three of them had gotten in trouble for that, but after a few revenge takings they had all become friends. The novice that had done it though had never passed the test for accepted and she had left the Tower long ago. Cayana missed her sometimes, she had been quite a free and fresh soul.
But she had problems with authorities and didn't see the point of Aes Sedai. Now that girl was a woman living in north of Arad Doman with three kids. Cayana hadn't seen her since that day she left. She herself had been raised to Accepted only days before and the tears in her friends eyes when she left was horrible, as if her friend blamed her for having to leave. She had gotten a letter later though explaining things somewhat and they had kept in contact since then. This place hold so many memories. Cayana thought to herself. It will hold more before I'm gone.

She looked back to the young man, seeing if he was looking over at her or not. She wouldn't mind a little chitchat with a man or boy really. She hadn't been out with anyone besides Rialt since that day at the tavern when she had met Sanin. Sanin didn't know who she was though and she hadn't more then seen him in passing while going past the training yard since that night. A little sad, she liked him, but good to perhaps since he had made her let her guard down. He really was quite the distraction. For a brief moment she wondered what it would be like to have him as a Gaidin, then she just dismissed the idea. A young Gaidin wouldn't want someone who would lead him on to believe their not who they seem to be to be his bondmate. Besides there are probably plenty of Aes Sedai with their eye on him, having a little fun with him until he bonds shouldn't be a problem if he's willing, but other then that she figured she should probably stay way from him. It's not like she'd want to get in trouble for 'stealing' a Gaidin now... Cayana almost giggled at that. Some Aes Sedai were so silly about those things, thinking the man had no choice really but that the Aes Sedai who 'stole' him would be fully responsible for the mans every little choice. Some Aes Sedai where really immature.

Jayon layed down completely now, stretched out on the soft grass even though it was beginning to get a bit colder during the evenings now. It wouldn't be long before it would get even colder and it would become more like...autumn or winter, rather than half-summer, like now. Autumn is nice, thought. I like the colors of brown, gold and red that the leaves get when autumn arrives. Harvest, as well. Harvesting of crops. He smiled at himself for thinking thoughts that would belong to someone living on a farm, not in the tower. He wasn't a farmboy. Not anymore. Smiling to himself though, he fingered in the pockets of his shirt and discovered what had been bothering him all day, feeling like someone was poking a stick against his chest. His flute, of course. How could he have forgotten that thing? He studied the fine woodwork. His father had given it to him at his 9th birthday, but he was not allowed to use it before he was 10. He had complained to his father about not having anything to do except thinking, when watching the sheeps or when his cutting of grass where done. So his father had bought him *this*. A wooden flute. He had learned to play it quite well during his first 4 years. Then the sword had come in the way a bit, but he still had played it when he was too tired to practice.

Smiling at his thoughts once more, he traced his fingers along the carvings he had added. His name, and a few decorations around the holes in the flute. He had been acceptable at carving too, he thought. I even carved my mothers forks and spoons a bit. He grinned at the memory of the switching he had earned for that action. He wasn't able to sit for days. Chuckling, he stuffed thef flute in his pocket again. That was something for later. Perhaps he would find time to play it a bit sometime, while here. But he doubted that would be anytime soon. Practicing would occupy him quite well. And practice today had been fruitful enough. He still wore his sword at his belt. But his clothes where still the clothes of a farmers boy. A plain, brown, woolen shirt. A pair of dark brown, hard breeches. He wouldn't exchange those. They were comfortable and looked nice. Not anything against that riff-raff that nobles wore, but to my liking, he thought.

Speaking of nobles.. He did not continue the thought and watched the women clearly eyeing him and his laying down in the grass. Quickly, he jerked up in a sitting position. That had to be a Aes Sedai! There are no nobles in the bloody tower, fool! Any woman not wearing white or white striped with colors is Aes Sedai! A Aes Sedai watching him. Only for a while, but still. Jayon gulped. Swallowed, again. This was stressful. Why would the Aes sedai have interest in him? He hadn't done anything against the rules. If not being here this late was against the rules. He tried to lay down again, as calm as he possibly could. Calm, fool. If she notices that you have seen her eying you, she will burn you to ash with fire. At least that was what his mother had told him about these women. Burning them to ash with searing fire that shot from her eyes. All those scaring stories about Aes Sedai coming to get him if he would not eat his food came back, but he shook his head. Tales. Stupid tales.

Slowly, he tried to calm down again. it was clear to anyone within the radius of a hundred metres that he had noticed her watching. As clumsy as a sheep he thought and sighed. But he was sure that if the woman wanted him something, she would go up to him and talk to him. He did not move a muscle for a long while. Then he remembered the flute. Calming melodies. He knew a few of them. The trick was playing so low that nobody except him would hear. He picked up the flute from his pockets again and moved a bit, leaning against the tree and putting the flute against his lips, wetting them slightly with his tounge and began playing very, very quietly. Calm melodies.

As she was watching the boy he suddenly sat up, or jerked up rather. She smiled at him, so he had noticed her now had he? He was cute, or rather.. well he was to her liking when it came to looks, but he was young, so obviously young. He stared at her for a bit and then pulled out his flute once more and started to play soft calm tunes. She could hear bits and pieces as they reached her across the water. It wasn't a bad flute and he wasn't a bad player of it. She had certainly heard better, but it wasn't bad. She guessed he was trying to calm himself rather then let her hear him play. A silly little boy. She still watched him and smiled a weak smile as she leaned back against the tree and stretched out her hand to touch the water with her fingertips. She let the hand flow back and forth causing ripples in the water. It was cold and nice and she felt calm and at peace sitting here listening to him play. To bad he doesn't seem interested, she thought to herself. He seemed far to nervous to have fun with, it could cause trouble and she didn't want that.

Slowly Cayana closed her eyes and just let the calmness flow inside her, the tunes were not really there anymore just the calmness of her surroundings. She could feel saidar pulsating, if she reached out she could touch it, but she didn't not now. Saidar wasn't to be played with. No matter how much she loved that complete feeling of channeling she couldn't play with it and she couldn't use it to much. Taking a deep breath she opened her eyes again and watched her hand as it continuously made the flowing motions back and forth in the water. Just her fingertips touching it. She wondered how many had unfreely and freely bathed here. How many who had been punished for it. It was almost sad, but then again it was a pond not a lake, it wasn't meant for bathing or anything of the like.

Waking up from her silly thoughts Cayana looked around. The sun was setting and cast a beautiful light across the sky, coloring the clouds high above. It certainly was evening. Humming to herself the melody of an old song she had learned in her own teenage years she just continued to enjoy the peace around her.

"As evening falls and the sun sets,
he will come for us all with the darkness.
As evening falls, the stars will light
and give to us a star lit night.
Night is young and the song is begun,
have a spin on the dance floor
and live while you still can."

The words she hummed where soft. The song that of the melody she once danced the sa'sara to. The meaning of the text was awful though, Cayana knew that but hadn't when she had learned it. The point of it was more pleasant. She hadn't danced the sa'sara for a long time, she almost missed watching as the mens blood boiled in their veins how they lost control and just wanted you more then they even could imagine. As she hummed the song a second time she cast a glance at the young boy then shook her head. There wasn't anyone she really could enjoy doing such a thing with, she didn't have a Gaidin and even if she had she shouldn't be doing such things. "It's not appropriate of Aes Sedai to dance such things..." The words of the former Mistress of Novices rang in her ears. It was true, it wasn't appropriate, but who wanted to be appropriate all the time? Still she couldn't think of someone to play with anyway, so she would just have to have that kind of fun an other time when things suited better.

Jayon played with closed eyes, enjoying the soft tunes of his flute. Without noticing it, he played louder and more clear. Part of his nervousness that he always held minutes after he started playing had now disappeared. His flute seemed much easier to play now, and he increased in speed as well. He was not bad at all, no. And he had practiced for about 7 years while herding sheep. Still with closed eyes, he relaxed more while leaning back against the roots of the tree more comfortably. This was nice. He was surprised he actually could ignore the woman a bit away so well as he did now. He moved his head slightly to the tune, enjoying every second of this. He remembered all those hours, suddenly. Sheeps eating grass, him sitting on a hard rock and practicing with the flute. He smiled at the memory and opened his eyes, only to find the woman still sitting there. For a second, he became more nervous again. But then again, she hadn't moved from her position. She probably did not want to do anything with him. Or talk.

He looked out over the pond, playing his flute softly and confident now. He knew that he probably could not compare to many of the fluteplayers here, or other instruments. As always, he only did his best and what he could. Now and then, he gave the woman clad in green a glance from his position. Aes Sedai, definatly, he thought. But of what ajah? He had heard a bit about the different ajahs and their tasks, in the stories. Probably green, judging from the color of her clothing. But clothing was not everything. She could be of any ajah. Somehow, he hoped green though. He had heard these particulary liked men. Perhaps he would manage to get away from a green without any injuries. Not that he thought that a Aes Sedai would injure him. He hoped not. But better safe than sorry. His deep, green eyes showed pure innocence and enthusiasm as he continued to play the flute.

He did not hear her singing or humming, and even if he would, it would just have made him a bit more nervous than he already was. When the tune he played was finished and the last tones disappeared he slowly moved the flute away from his lips. Stretched his arms a bit and straightened his back. His thoughts went back to the practice he had gone through during the day. Yet it seemed nothing compared to this. keep a calm expression while in the direct presence of a Aes Sedai. The challenge to do that if she decided to come to him would be far more than that....but then again..what reason would she have to do that? If you don't watch out, your head will get as big as a melon from your bloody ego, he thought and raised the flute to his lips again. The following melody was faster, and required more skill out of him. He closed his eyes once more, turned his head to half face the sky and played as well as he could.

Shaking her head once more Cayana stood up and started to walk without much thought, still humming the melody and thinking back on old memories as she had learned this song and what to do to it. Suddenly she found herself standing on the bridge looking out over the water. She smiled at herself. Perhaps I should just go to my rooms, or... She looked at the boy and then decided something. Smoothly and silently she walked over to him where he was staring up in the sky as he played. She stopped right next to his head to look down into his eyes. "Sorry to disturb your playing, but could you perhaps answer a small question of mine?" She smiled at him, knowing he'd probably freak judging on the reactions from earlier. The wind suddenly caught her and her skirt and hair went flapping behind her. Not in any embarrassing ways, but it caught her by surprise and was quite cold. It made her shiver despite that she knew very well how to ignore cold normally. Aes Sedai don't feel cold or heat, or at least they don't let it show. Cayana reminded herself in her thoughts firmly. Every bloody peasant knew that.

Jayon had continued to play with eyes closed and thus hadn't noticed or heard her coming closer in any way. It caught him by complete surprise when he heard a female voice so close. He jerked back against the tree and quickly took the flute and stuffed it back into the pocket. He eyed her with a mix of confusion, nervousness, respect and fear. At the same time. A question? That he should stop playing? Or what he did here at this time of the day? He felt very nervous and quickly stood up, bowing deeply. He then allowed himself to stare in awe for a second. Compared to any woman he had seen earlier, this woman made them all look like weeds in the shadow of a single rose. And she was the rose of course. He hadn't thought of women in that way earlier for more than once perhaps, and he didn't even notice now that he did. He felt a knot in his stomach, finding it difficult to speak.

"Good..evening, Aes Sedai. I'm very, very sorry if my crude...playing of the flute disturbed. I shall stop immideately, i swear."

He looked half respectful, half afraid and his green eyes shone with innocence and eagerness to please her if he had done something wrong, whatever it may be. He quickly got up completely from his bow as well, and faced her. He was much taller than her, but that did not stop him from feeling looked down upon. Even though that was probably not her intention. He carefully backed a step and corrected his simple peasant shirt a bit. Fool! However much you bloody correct that shirt, it won't look proper in her eyes! He stopped with the attempts of doing so and cleared his throat, watching her. Waiting for her to continue about what she wanted of him. If that was not that thing about the flute, of course. He hoped it was nothing worse at least.

The cold wind that made her dress and hair move made him shudder a bit because of the cold, but he tried hard to hide the fact. He was used to this kind of climate, he told himself. It wouldn't be a problem to withstand the fact that it was quite cold here. Most certainly not. He noticed his sword was out of place and corrected it against the belt. Watching her.

The wind settled and she stoke her hair out of the way so she could see a little bit better. She had seen every little thing the boy had done though. Could he be more nervous, Cayana thought as the boy gave a start, got up, bowed, ask her forgiveness and started to correct his shirt and sword. Light..! She just put a calm hand on his arm as he was correcting his sword. "I won't hurt you, and your flute wasn't disturbing me, you actually play fine." She smiled at him, trying to calm him somewhat so she could speak with him. All those emotions so visible on his face made it obvious he wouldn't be much help if he didn't calm down.

Cayana remembered her first meeting with an Aes Sedai of course. Far to well. She knew that she had been nervous, but not even near this nervous. She recognized the look of fear and feeling of awe and all of that. Had I looked like that? She couldn't think she had. It was way to silly behavior even of herself at that age. Though she had only been 15. It was a common reaction to Aes Sedai though, and quite annoying.

"It's a bit chilly isn't it?" She added as she saw him shiver a little. She wasn't alone in feeling the cold. "The autumn is coming." She stated just as a fact but also as idle chitchat hoping for it to calm him a little. He didn't really seem to. But she waited for him to answer just the same, just to get a conversation going.

Jayon nodded quickly as she spoke to him. He felt as though his arm would burn as she touched him, but he dared not pull back. He was restrained from correcting his sword by her hand, which was clearly her intention. Or so he hoped. She was close now, and he could look her right in her eyes. Which he did, even though he thought he never had felt this nervous in his whole life. She spoke "It's a bit chilly isn't it? The autumn is coming." Jayon nodded once more. Was that all. talk about the weather? or did she want something more? Jayon thought for an answer for a few moments and then replied.

"Yes...i guess so. Autumn is a nice time of the year."

He also dared to shrug slightly. Watching her. The comparison about roses and weeds still clearly in his head. Even more so, now. That figure of hers. She must be about 7 or 8 years older than him. wait a second, you fool. She's Aes Sedai. More 70-180 years older than me! The thought made him mentally pull back a bit from her, but he nevertheless eyed her with curiousity. This was not at all like the Aes Sedai from the stories. He also noticed her commenting his playing of the flute. Was he really good? He never would have thought that..except..well. He was acceptable and could play a few tunes, he thought. But not anything special. Never anything special. He was sure this Aes Sedai had heard much, much better players than himself. And of course he would be more nervous..she'd just have to wait until she spoke more, or came closer. With great mental strength he forced himself not to move his other hand to correct his shirt once more. He wondered when she would let go of his hand though.

He smiled slightly towards her, allowing himself to and hoping it would not offend her. Better safe than sorry, again he thought. And he had already gone a bit too far in himself being forward against her...hadn't he? He remained still, as little tense as possible. Tried not to move a muscle. He tried to remember what little he remembered how to behave in the presence of a noble. That surely would be useful now. Aes Sedai were probably more than nobles. Holding his gaze at her, he waited for her to reply. He must seem very shy, innocent and nervous to her.

"It is, nature becomes really beautiful." She smiled and let go of him. But she didn't step back. He was still nervous, but a little less in the annoying way and he was smiling back, a beautiful smile at that. She tried to think of where he might be from. Somewhere south, she reckoned. Perhaps Ghealdan or Murandy or perhaps Andor, she couldn't place the dialect. Maybe not Murandy though. She didn't know for sure anyway.

As he seemed to be calmer she smiled a little more. "I wondered, have you ever heard the song 'Dancing like a rose in the moonlight'?" She had wondered that, but it wasn't the question she really had wanted to ask, but standing like this close to him and with him not running as fast as he could the other way she though a little conversation wouldn't hurt. It was nice to have a conversation with a man every now and then, it was refreshing. They though quite differently most of the time. "One of the tunes you played reminded me of that." She added and leaned against the tree he had been sitting next too.

It was a maple tree she was leaning against, she had climbed that tree once, and gotten caught by a recruit who thought he knew better. He had regretted it afterwards as she had took revenge on him. And so had she when the Aes Sedai had found out. He had tried to flirt with her once he became youngling she had just ignored him though as she didn't trust him the least after that incident. Now why am I thinking about climbing trees when talking to a young man like this? It didn't make sense, but then again Cayana often had sidetracked thoughts sprung by things she saw, or events that happened, some found that to be an annoying habit of hers. I wonder what his habits are... She thought and smiled a little smile, friendly and warm.

"It is, nature becomes really beautiful."

The boy nodded once more, agreeing to what she said. It really became more beautiful in autumn. Mostly because of the color, but also because of the quite nice climate. All the brown, red, gold and yellow. He wished it would be here soon. She letting go of him resulted in him slowly pulling back his arm and trying to place it in a relaxed position against his side. He then remembered what she said and replied to her.

"Yes...that is true. All the colors in autumn can sometimes be much more beautiful than in the summer, or spring. And, it is harvest time, when all the crops.."

He fell silent. Stupid fool, talking about crops and harvest with a Aes Sedai! You'll never learn! Clearing his throat and blushing slightly he felt his face getting red slowly. He fought it, thought of the things he had learned today about how to handle a sword, and the blush disappeared quickly. But no doubt, it had surely been visible to anyone standing as close as she did now. He listened to her about the tune, but shook his head. He never had knew a song like that. Although from his experience, songs had different names in different countries and places. When a gleeman came from Murandy, he had called "Harvest under a golden sun" for "Five buckets of water". That had been quite....silly. He remembered and smiled slightly, without thinking about it.

"No, Aes Sedai. None of the songs i played has that name, at least not in Ghealdan and in my area. The songs i played on the flute where called "Finding the way home" and "Dancing until the sun doesn't shine".

He shrugged and continued, blabbering without thinking because of his nervousness.

"But perhaps it is the song...different songs have different names in different places."

He shut his mouth and held it shut, forced another slight smile on his lip. She seemed not to take offense in that. He was not used to this, talking to a woman. He didn't know where to look. They looked so much different than he did. Sure, he had noticed his sisters and his mother. But this was something else. Like some of the village girls. That skin, that...fairness and those things on her chest. Bosom, or something of the like. He had heard some of the boys in the barrack talk about it with fascination, but couldn't find what was so fascinating about it. Definatly not. And he forced himself not to look at her parts. Just..a quick glance, that was all. Nothing more. She shouldn't have noticed that, at least.

Breathing calmly, he desperately thought of something to say, but couldn't come up with anything. So he kept quiet and let her continue, if she had the desire to do so.

He really was a farmer, that was obvious with what he had said next. She just smiled and filled in. "..are ripe and ready to be cut. And the fruits fall from the trees." He was blushing and she couldn't help but to find it cute. He seemed to manage to settle down on his own this time, as the blushing faded fast. She might never had taken part in the actual harvesting, her mother wouldn't have that, but she had seen it all on the estates back home. the children had been playing and helping their parents and the older girls doing what they where know for. Her mother had just told her it wasn't proper, which stood quite odd next to her sa'sara lessons and dancing at parties...

He answered her question about if he knew the song and added the little thing about the names being different in different places. Oh, I should have thought of that. She thought to herself and nodded as she thought for a second. "the melody goes something like this." She said and started to hum the song without words. If he knew the melody perhaps he could play it. It was a dancing song, but to a slow form of dancing. The text from back home was beautiful, she had heard it here at the local taverns every once and a while sung by a Saldaean passing though. She missed the old songs at times, especially the beautiful one's.

As she hummed the melody for him she noticed him glancing at her body. She didn't mind, actually she enjoyed being looked at, but it did spoil the illusion of innocence about the boy. Perhaps he wasn't as innocent, just very shy. That was kind of cute in a way. Men like that usually where real animals though when you broke though that wall of shyness.

When she finished the song she added. "Do you think you have heard it under an other name perhaps?" She leaned her head against the tree as well and watch him. A lock of her hair fell down in her face, it had a tendency to do that no matter what she did to her hair, that little strand of hair just got loose anyway. She didn't care right now though, she was thinking about other things. As keeping this boys attention if nothing else.

"..are ripe and ready to be cut. And the fruits fall from the trees."

He flushed red, furiously trying to regain his calm and make that blush go away again. Very annoying, he thought. Very much so. Now she even encouraged or spoke about harvesting. He continued to watch her, but not her body in particulary now, just her. "the melody goes something like this." As she spoke about the song and began humming he desperately searched for the name of the song in his memory. He knew the song, he just needed to remember it and what it was called. And this was not a time when his brain worked as he wanted it to. At last though, he got some manner of control of his memory and came up with the name. He had said it earlier. "Do you think you have heard it under an other name perhaps?" Why couldn't i remember it now then?, he sighed to himself and said.

"The song is called "Finding the way home". Quite a nice song for danc....ing occasions."

He continued after the delay that was caused by his insecurity and finished the sentence at least. Otherwise he would seem dull and uninterested. He was not sure why he wouldn't want to seem that way...perhaps it would make her leave him. But..she could stay as long as she had to or wished to. This was just another of lifes lessons...life in the tower, that was. He was sure there were more women who would appreciate a small talk with a stupid farmers boy, like himself. Not stupid, mad for talking back like you have known her for years. You should just reply "Yes, Aes Sedai, and "No, Aes Sedai" and hope for her leaving soon!. He wanted to shake his head at himself but refrained from doing so. That would probably make him seem even more stupid. Something he did not want to.

Also, he was very innocent. Glancing at her body was out of pure curiousity, he had never seen such a body close up before. Maybe that night he didn't remember in that town on his journey here, but...he didn't remember it, and thus it was no point in saying that he had. But he doubted he'd look at her specifically on her bosom or other....female parts again. It simply wasn't proper. And here you are, thinking about what is proper and not toward a Aes Sedai, fool! you should go and throw yourself in a body of cold water for a while!, he thought angrily but forced the small smile to never leave his lips. After some time, he calmed down.

Her hair had fallen over her face a bit...it made her look even more...special. She definatly was no man, he thought. A man looking like that....he shuddered, not noticeable. He still was very unsure how to tackle this situation. Beneath a maple tree, talking about music with a Aes Sedai. He wasn't sure wether to laugh or to cry. He did nothing of the above and kept silent.

He listened intently as she hummed the melody for him and soon came up with a name for it. "Finding the way home.." She said nodding. It wasn't quite the same with that name she was sure. The text must be quite different. The only thing being the same was the melody. "And yes it is quite a nice tune for dancing. Do you like dancing perhaps?" She wasn't inviting him to dance with her, just keeping on the friendly conversation. If it where something she enjoyed it was dancing with a man who really could dance. That made her loose herself in the dance and moment at be. Few managed to do that though, mostly because she never relaxed in public quite that much.

A small rustle in a bush near by made Cayana look that way, but she looked back as she realized that it was just a small animal. "I'm guessing you are one of the recruits?" Either that or someone who's just visiting. Soldiers wore the black coat, and he didn't carry himself quite like a warrior yet. He might in a few years of training though. It was always nice to see people evolve here. "How's your mentor?" she couldn't help but to ask, even the Gaidin had a specific person to look after certain individuals, it made things easier so that you didn't miss anyone when there were so many. She had her own charges she took care of, mostly troublesome girls in need of lecturing and a firm grip.

~~~

"I'm gonna bond a hundred Gaidin," Minila announced sitting on the fence surrounding the training yard as they watched the Gaidin and their apprentices. Cayana giggled. "I'll settle for 3 or 4, those over there perhaps," pointing to a group of men that where fighting together against one of the Gaidin and doing a good job at the teamwork part of it. "Cayana you have to look big to get big," Her firend said with an expression of Cayana being such a child. Cayanas opinion though was that Minila was the child. Asking an Aes Sedai and she'd say they both were children, just because they where novices. That was such a silly thing, they may be young but at home they would be treated adult and soon, if not already, married off.

Minila sighed as a man wearing no shirt walked by and gave them both a smile. Cayana smiled back acting as if she was a little shy. Which made him try and keep eye contact with her longer then Minila as she showed so openly that she liked what she saw. Cayana knew how to flirt with certain types of men, this kind especially. They didn't want anyone who would give themselves freely, they enjoyed the hunt, once they got what they wanted they moved on. Minila just didn't get it.

~~~

Flirting had always been something Cayana got a hang of quick, she hadn't come across someone that reacted quite like this young man though... hmm I even forgot to introduce myself, and ask for his name. Cayana almost laughed at herself. This was a young boy, she wouldn't have more fun then making him blush. And she lost herself in the game as soon as she saw the opportunity. Light, I need to grow up. Well well, let see what he does.

"And yes it is quite a nice tune for dancing. Do you like dancing perhaps?"

Jayon smiled nervously when he heard her talking about...dancing. A Aes Sedai talking about dancing! He shuddered visibly, but of course it wasn't very obvious why. He remembered the one time he had danced. He had been 15 years old, and it had been a fair in the village. Sometime in the summer, he remembered. The girl had been one year older, but he was totally inexperienced when it came to dancing with someone. He had embarassed himself that evening, and badly. And he was not about to do so again. He shook his head, quickly removed a strain of hair from his eyes and replied.

"No..i don't dance very often." He chuckled, softly. "The one time i did dance was 2 years ago and i embarassed myself in front of the whole blo....village"

He fell silent before that last part, the curse, actually could leave his lips completely. Cursing in front of a Aes Sedai. Fool! he cursed himself and watched her, hoping she had not taken offense in his crude language. He was just a farmer boy after all. But no, he definatly wasn't able to dance well. His skills where limited to sword and flute, and some farming of course. But that wasn't very useful here in the tower. But then again, how useful would being able to *dance* be here in the tower? Judging from the Aes Sedai, it seemed like she danced. Danced. A Aes Sedai that danced. He wanted to shake his head, but didn't of course.

"I'm guessing you are one of the recruits?"

He nodded quickly. One of the newest recruits, he thought and replied quickly. "Yes, Aes Sedai. One of the newest ones, just arrived from Ghealdan after a month of wander...." She doesn't want to hear about the journey of a simple-life farmer, fool! "I mean....i'm here now. Aes Sedai." He fell silent. When he was asked about his mentor, though, he continued to speak, but more carefully this time. "Sanin Gaidin is my mentor, Aes Sedai". He had never met the person, just got informed that he had a mentor. Eventually he would meet him though, he was sure. He was busy with practice though, he was sure. Although there weren't as many Gaidins practicing in the yard as there should have been. He guessed they had better things to do. Off and killing shadowspawn with their Aes Sedai, probably.

He flourished another bow towards her and continued quickly. "Please forgive my crudeness, Aes Sedai. I am jayon Theran, humble recruit of the tower." He kept bowed for another while, then straightened and looked as innocent and eager as ever, but with a small blush on his face now because he actually had forgotten to introduce himself properly. What would she think of him? Of course, she probably already thought of him as a farmers little boy, too inexperienced to be here at all. Which maybe was true, he thought. But he would prove them wrong. I am good and old enough to be here! he thought. Come to think of it, she hadn't introduced herself either. Well..there really was no need for her to, he guessed.

"No..i don't dance very often. The one time i did dance was 2 years ago and i embarassed myself in front of the whole blo....village"

She nodded. "To bad, dancing is a nice way to enjoy an evening." She couldn't help herself from saying that, it might cause him to blush or might just make him scared again. He still seemed quite unsure of himself. Trying not to curse in front of her was polite, not that she cared much. Back in the borderlands it wasn't that odd to bump into warriors, they had the most peculiar language filled with odd curses and bad wording. As a young girl Cayana had loved trying to learn as many curses as she could, but her mother had put a stop to it of course. It wasn't proper for a noble girl to curse and especially not like that.

So he was a new recruit, well she knew that, it was obvious after all, but as he voiced the name of his mentor Cayanas eyebrow rose slightly. So he was Sanins mentee. "Have you met him yet?" Cayana asked, she couldn't help herself. She just didn't understand what about that man made her so curious. He was so mysterious with those beautiful hazel brown eyes and that way he danced. She quickly pushed the thoughts away, she was no little teenager or novice swooning over a Gaidin. "He seems to be very good for such a young Gaidin." Hmm... I could Cayana quickly realized that what she was thinking was stupid, when would she stop to think about the man?

Suddenly the boy bowed again and introduced himself. So he got back enough of his thoughts now has he? She just smiled and answered with a slight nod. "Nice to meet you Jayon Theran, recruit of the Towers. My name is Cayana Alhi." She just waited for that reaction she got from people nowadays at the realization of who they were talking to. Shaya's had displayed it oh so well. Some other novices who hadn't realized even though they should have had done the very same thing. People don't realize I'm Aes Sedai sometimes, I'm getting sick of it. She really was. Jayon had caught on quickly enough though, that was nice. She was glad some had respect at least. "Tell me, what is a farmers boy such as yourself doing in the tower? You still sound like you're in love with you're life back home." She wasn't accusing him of anything and that was plain on her face and the way she moved. She was genuinely asking him out of pure curiosity.

"To bad, dancing is a nice way to enjoy an evening."

He nearly blinked at that, but managed to keep a calm expression while nodding. "I am sure it is, if you know how to do it." He replied as smoothly as he could, and backed another small step at the simple thought of a Aes Sedai dancing. It was simply not something he had thought he would meet. Cursing though, was another business. His father cursed alot at home and Jayon had picked on quickly as a younger boy. His mother had given him another switch for that, and his father had to spend the night outside his room that day. of course, he didn't want his daughters and Jayon to know that, but Jayon knew when something was between his parents. Though that was rarely the case.

"Have you met him yet? He seems to be very good for such a young Gaidin."

No he hadn't met his mentor yet, as he thought earlier. Now that she told him that he was young, it made him curious. They made that young men gaidin? then of course, young for her could mean 60 years. Or 160. For all he knew. Age wasn't something to be discussed when dealing with Aes Sedai. Another good advice from the tales. "No, Aes Sedai. I haven't met Sanin Gaidin yet, but i am sure he is more than good enough for being a Gaidin if the other warders deem him ready for raising." Warder never made mistakes. Or at least he thought so. It certainly seemed to be that way.

He got back to watching her discreetly enough, not noticeable but still able to distinguish her different features and the way she was. He did it without noticing it himself, measuring her with his gaze. She was quite short. Then again, most men, even most of the Gaidin were alot shorter than he was. It had made problems in some places, being as tall as he was. bumping into planks above doors that were too low placed for his length.

"Nice to meet you Jayon Theran, recruit of the Towers. My name is Cayana Alhi. Tell me, what is a farmers boy such as yourself doing in the tower? You still sound like you're in love with you're life back home."

He nodded respectfully, made another half of a bow and replied. "Well, not really. Life on a farm does get dull many times if you compare to all the tales and glory out here in the world. But i must say i did not see much glory and excitement during my trip here, nor during the stay until..now." He shrugged slightly, clearly meaning that meeting with her was quite the exciting experience. That could be interpreted in many ways, although he meant it as in being nervous and not knowing what to do. But farming life was getting dull by the time he had left. It was time for something new. He shrugged once more. "If this fails, i will perhaps go somewhere else. But not home. I like the world." Perhaps a soldier. A soldier in the borderlands. That did sound like a plan, if this career in the tower failed. He smiled slightly and watched her.

"I am sure it is, if you know how to do it." Cayana smiled and nodded in response. Quite so, quite so. He backed away again and she wasn't at all surprised. As he spoke about his mentor though she repeated what she had done a second ago. "Oh I don't question his abilities." Definitely not. He had almost figured out who she was that time at the tavern. She wondered why he hadn't waited for her to go before he had, if he had then the Gaidin most likely would have known who he had been flirting with all night.

"Well, not really. Life on a farm does get dull many times if you compare to all the tales and glory out here in the world. But i must say i did not see much glory and excitement during my trip here, nor during the stay until..now." The smile she gave him this time was quite warm, the boy may be young and not very confident, but that couldn't be taken like anything but a compliment. "If this fails, i will perhaps go somewhere else. But not home. I like the world." At that she shook her head and put a hand on his arm. "Tales of gleemen and storytellers aren't really complete tellings of what has happened or how things are. A gleeman never tells about the cold nights of traveling or the muddy rains while wandering, as I am sure you are familiar with from getting here. The thing that separates a Gaidin from the normal warrior is his skills and his duties towards his Aes Sedai." She couldn't help but to tell him that. So many boys thought that life should be glory and wonders like in the stories. Even girls did sometimes. But life wasn't like that, not while being anything, Aes Sedai, Gaidin or farmer. Not even queens lived in wonder and daze every day of their lives.

"Thinking back, was it worth the wandering to get here?" She added with a small smile. Cayana could now after many years of training say that she was sure. Being Aes Sedai wasn't easy, and the rode there wasn't either, but it had been worth it. She had gotten to that goal she had set up for herself. Now she had a different goal to work towards. But this boy was the typical teenager, he had no goals yet, nothing but wishing for a full life he wouldn't get until he realized that there would never be such a thing, only strife and goals fulfilled or failed. That was life. Jayon would surly never ask her about such a thing though. Actually he didn't seem to wish to ask her anything at all. The only thing keeping this conversation going was her questions and his, every now and then, thoughts when he got a little more confident. She couldn't encourage him to much though, that could ruin the Aes Sedai façade that every Aes Sedai was supposed to uphold.

"Oh I don't question his abilities."

Jayon nodded at that. Only a fool questioned a Gaidin's abilities in swordskill. Only those worthy enough were raised to gaidin rank. Those not worthy..well..the weak would fall away eventually. He shrugged and smiled. He would prove himself worthy enough to be raised..if he was worthy, that was. He certainly hoped he was. Otherwise, the wandering to Tar Valon would have been in vain, and he didn't like the thought of that at all.

"Tales of gleemen and storytellers aren't really complete tellings of what has happened or how things are. A gleeman never tells about the cold nights of traveling or the muddy rains while wandering, as I am sure you are familiar with from getting here. The thing that separates a Gaidin from the normal warrior is his skills and his duties towards his Aes Sedai."

He listened to her every word there and nodded once more. Very true. But he had known that even when he took off from home. He was no child, only believing in gleemans tales. Of course there would be hardship during traveling. As she placed her hand upon his arm again, he fought against the reflex to recoil from her touch. Why did women touch so much all the time? Was that really necessary? Also, something smelled like roses. He searched for the source of the scent, before realizing it was her. Did she do that on purpose or did she like the scent? He cleared his head of the thoughts. A warders duty towards his Aes Sedai. What duties, except protection? being a friend to her, of course. For him, it was glory and adventures that had been the bait though. He wanted to experience that.

"Thinking back, was it worth the wandering to get here?"

He nodded slightly towards her, replying. "Yes. It was definatly worth it. The journey was a small adventure in itself. With it's bad parts though". Like sleeping under a bush or eating nothing for a day. But that was part of the life on the rode. He had gotten used to it pretty quickly. Also, he often had worked for his food at different farms on the road. He was used to the work there, and usually got something to eat for his work. He liked that. But....he would much rather like a job where he actually could earn some money for what he did as well. That would be very nice. Riches was another part never left out in the tales. He forced his concentration away from the scent of roses and thought of riches.

Every journey had it's bad parts and good parts. Some where hard and others easy. Cayana knew that and nodded as Jayon told her the same. "Have you been here long?" She asked him and stood up, walking over to the edge of the water. Jayon walked with her over and answered her as she wasn't looking his way. "A few days." He said and she smiled weakly. "I guess I should welcome you to the Tower then. Is it anything like you imagined?" She shot him a glance as she asked, a smile on her face just like before. So he was completely new. He'd learn his way around the place soon enough, if he didn't learn on his own Sanin would probably help him.

"No... much more lively then I thought" his answer came and Cayana blinked. This boy clearly was no city boy. The Tower may not be empty, but it wasn't at all filled to it's full capacity. She wondered how he would have felt if it was. "You're not used to large amounts of people." She stated, there was no question there. She was about to go on when something bumped into her leg. She looked down, moving her skirts to see only realizing the ground was slippery when it was to late. In one clumsy movement she slipped, bumping into Jayon who was also standing on slippery ground and they both fell in the water with a splash.

As they both sat up in the water Cayana was blushing so badly her cheeks where bright red and her temper made her shake visibly. She got up and swallowed hard before managing to calm down. "I'm sorry, the ground was slippery..." She apologized not looking Jayon in the face. She was to embarrassed to.

Cayana had heard about Aes Sedai getting punished for doing stupid things but this was the most clumsy thing... She felt like kicking herself hard. Aes Sedai weren't clumsy, Aes Sedai where gracious and people who built up myths around them just by being there. This sort of behavior was the opposite of that. It really tipped the myth of the beautiful and gracious Aes Sedai, battle queens and saviors and everything of the like, on it's end. Cayana really didn't feel well at this moment. All she seemed like now was like any normal really clumsy woman.

A small sound made her turn her head towards the place they had stood. On the stone next to where she had had her feet sat a large frog watching them. At that precise moment Cayana felt like strangling it. For years she had not done anything that clumsy, not one time. But now, due to a silly frog she had completely made a fool out of herself. Jayon may only be a boy, but he certainly wouldn't look at her with respect now. Who would? She thought to herself as the wind caught on again making her shiver from the cold.

Jayon nodded and answered her questions with a serene expression. It was a bit crowded here. And he certainly was not from the city. From the place he was from, there were much fewer people. About 50. Not like here. even though some might have said that the tower was empety, to Jayon it was filled with people. People he didn't know. People who didn't know him. He had not been used to that when he left home, at all. The journey however, had made him used to the fact that there were more people in the world than the actual 50 living in his village. He thought about this and was caught by complete surprise, not to mention shock, when he saw and noticed her bumping into him like that. She bumping into him! Obviously, she had walked on slippery ground and lost her foothold. He held his balance for a second, feeling her body close to his. Just that fact made him slipper worse and he fell backward into the pond, with her after him. With a splash, he hit the water and got instantly soaked. It was not very deep here though, but certainly deep enough.

It took a while before Jayon recovered from the shock and realized where they were. He blinked and turned his head just a bit to face her, realizing even she was sitting in the water, her whole dress soaked. It took a while before he realized what the water had done to her dress, and he swallowed. Gaping. Her bodily features were becoming so much more...visible. Too visible. Realizing what he was doing, he blushed. He had never blushed so badly in all of his life. He stood up in the water, reaching more than halfway to his knees and said. "I am sorry, i never saw you slipping, Aes Sedai. Otherwise i would have stopped it." Why are you apologizing, you fool? She was the one slipping like a clumsy sheep into the pond! But she was Aes Sedai. Jayon couldn't help it. It reminded him of a situation at home, where he himself had fell in the pond. He laughed, only for a second. Then blushed deeper because of his laugh. "I am sorry...i did not mean to patronize you in any way, Aes Sedai." With a quick and quite dexterous movement, he got out of the pond. He reached her his hand, hoping she would not mind him helping her.

"Take my hand, Aes Sedai. I will help you..from the pond" He tried not to look at her body, noticing a few certain changes now about the way she looked. He held his gaze on the ground and hoped she did not thought he was hiding a smile. His simple shirt had become all wet and it was sticking to his body. He unbuttoned it, took it off and did try to not care about the fact that it was revealing his bare chest now. He placed it on the ground, shivering from the cold but eyeing her. "If you wish, Aes Sedai, i could get a blanket. It would only be a minute, i swear. You cannot walk to...public ground like that." He realized what he had said and quickly added. "I mean...you should not..., Aes Sedai."

He watched her, waiting for her to get up also.

She just stood there watching him as he suddenly apologized. What in the name of the light... She didn't understand this. Not for the first few moments until he realized that since she was Aes Sedai and all... This was way to silly. Then he suddenly laughed! At first she felt like slapping him, but she realized that what he said after was true. He didn't mean anything bad and the situation was quite.. humorous. She didn't like it, but she couldn't help but to admit it. Still she couldn't keep a small smile off of her lips and as he offered his hand she took it and got out of the pond.

They were both badly soaked and before Cayana had the time to react to what Jayon was doing, being to busy realizing her dress was quite ruined, he had taken off his shirt and stood there with his chest bare in the cold air. She couldn't help but to smile a small smile at him. Then he offered to go get a blanket and she couldn't help but to laugh. "You forget Jayon, I am Aes Sedai." Taking a breath she embraced saidar. After that she wove the all to familiar weave to dry clothes and let it pass though her dress. Soon she was standing all dry again, only her hair still soaked.

"Could you do me a small favor... don't mention this little accident to anyone?" She looked at him with an expression telling that she was still quite embarrassed by the whole thing. Jayon only looked down into the ground and answered her with "Of course not." Stepping up to him, she let the weave flow though the clothes he was wearing to let him get dry as well, she put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you Jayon." She said, giving him a weak smile as she tried to get him to look at her. His shyness was all so cute, but she really wanted him to obey because he wanted to, not because she ordered him to. If he did want to he would keep the secret much better.

The blush had faded mostly now. She was still cold and so her cheeks had started to get rosy because of that instead. Jayons skin was soft and nice, it was also warm unlike like Cayanas fingers. Her fingers felt like ice compared to his skin and so she let her hand drop from his shoulder as soon as she had gotten him to look at her. He was probably uncomfortable with her touch and getting touched with such a cold hand probably was a lot worse.

"You forget Jayon, I am Aes Sedai."


He never forgot that. Never. But he nodded, slowly as she dried her clothes with her...one power. He noticed her eyeing his bare chest and shifted uncomfortably. Just like the girls had done at home. He never understood it. Never. He suddenly twitched as she dried his clothes, surprised but calmed down again and felt the warmth return to his body. He usually was warm. Only the wet clothes had been keeping him from getting warm again, and now he wasn't bothered by the heat very much. He watched her, glad her dress was back to normal. Nearly. He couldn't help but to remember the sight of her in a wet dress. He fought it, fought it out of his head and cursed himself for remembering her that way. That's not respectful enough for any Aes Sedai, you fool! he growled silently, not audible. He noticed her hair was still wet. Somehow, it looked even more nice than before, though he didn't quite understand how it was able to do that.

"Could you do me a small favor... don't mention this little accident to anyone?"

"OF course" He answered and quickly eyed the ground. He dared not to think of the consequenses of it if he told someone. But..it was quite amusing. He couldn't help to think of that. A Aes Sedai splashing into a pond. As she placed her icy fingers upon his shoulders, he shivered visibly but endured the cold. She was very cold. That could definatly not be pleasant for her. She should go inside and get some warmth. He looked seriously at her and said. "You should go inside, Aes Sedai. Your clothes are dry, but with that cold skin you surely will catch a cold." He breathed from the effort of saying that to a Aes Sedai. He must be crazy. Definatly crazy. She nodded...but she didn't move. He did not want her to get a cold because of him. He could get punished for that. Hesitating for a long time, he at last placed his warm hands against hers. How could anyone be so...cold?, he wondered, eyeing her. "You surely are cold, Aes Sedai. Are you sure you feel all right?" He asked, suddenly worried.

He wondered if the rest of her was cold as well..but...he wouldn't touch more by himself. Definatly not. This was enough. Nervous, but not really unpleasant. At least he thought so.

He warned her on getting a cold telling her she should go indoors and she just shrugged and nodded. She should perhaps, but she really didn't care about the cold. She wouldn't get sick if she took care of herself. She would. As she didn't go though he took her hands, his warm and nice, but against hers they felt like fire against ice. It almost burned and it was quite hard to ignore. "You surely are cold, Aes Sedai. Are you sure you feel all right?" Jayon asked her with worry in his voice. Pulling one hand free she touched his cheek. "I'm fine, just cold. It'll get better when I get indoors and have some tea or so." She couldn't help but to think him cute as he did what he did. For such a shy guy he was certainly not shy when he was worried.

She let the weave go through his shirt on the ground before releasing the source and then spoke quite softly. "Tea sounds good actually. Would you like some?" She was inviting him to come with her, but she was fairly sure he wouldn't accept. He wasn't used to Aes Sedai, and he probably never would get used to the one's being nice to him. At some point he would realize that Aes Sedai never where nice to strange men or boys unless they wanted something and that would most likely not make his shyness better. Unless someone makes sure he gets less shy... Cayana thought to herself feeling slightly amused. She didn't feel like it though. He was to young yet.

To Cayanas surprise though Jayons answer was "Yes... that sounds.. good." A bit hesitant, but he accepted the offer. It really made that shyness a bit odd again, like before. Smiling she gave his hand a squeeze before letting it go. "Shall we go then?" She asked as she took a few steps toward the bridge, waiting for him to follow.

He certainly was not used to any of this. But worrying for others was part of him, and he did not want to get punishment for not serving Aes Sedai. He was sure there was some kind of rule against that. "I'm fine, just cold. It'll get better when I get indoors and have some tea or so." A cup of tea sounded good for her, yes. Many Aes Sedai seemed to like it. Or so he had heard. He nodded towards her, slowly and let go of her hand when it felt warmer. She wouldn't want him to touch anymore than necessary, he was firstly a recruit and secondly a simple farmers boy. Not something for a Aes Sedai. Stop thinking! He gritted his teeth and tried to push thoughts away. They weren't right. None of these thoughts were right.

"Tea sounds good actually. Would you like some?"

tea? With him? It took a while to realize she meant him. Drinking tea with him? That sounded...strange. He never had done that before. Usually water. Sometimes beer. But tea...and with a woman? This whole situation felt very strange but he felt that he had to agree. She was Aes Sedai after all, and she invited him. So he shouldn't and couldn't say no. He answered "Yes... that sounds.. good." The good part wa added. He didn't know himself how it sounded, really. But that was yet to see. He nodded slightly towards her as she began to walk. He followed her as she went, trying not to be too nervous. He realized his chest was bare and tried to cover it up somewhat before quickly donning his shirt again. Fool! Walking around like that. He would never learn.

He wondered where they were to have tea. In the common room, surely. That would be the only thing proper. Then again, she wasn't a girl anymore. She surely would take him to her rooms. That thought made him a bit....very...nervous. He shivered. The thought of her earlier came into his mind again, and he was close to cursing out loudly, snapping his teeth together and forcing the thought away.

As Jayon had gotten dressed they walked together towards the white tower. Across the bridge and down along the path. As they had passed the bridge noticed him snapping his teeth together. She looked at him with a wondering expression. "Is something the matter?" Clearly he hadn't expected her to notice and so he gave a start as she asked. But his answer was just a "No.. not at all." She eyed him questioningly for a moment but then just smiled at him.

They soon reached the doors to the tower and walked inside, following the long corridors to the Green Ajah quarters. As they reached Cayanas rooms she picked a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door with it. Keys where really silly when the tower was filled with people who could open doors easily without them, but in these corridors opening a locked door with the one power would be noticed and punished harshly unless it was your own door. She opened it and walked inside after a glance at Jayon. "Come in." She said.

The room they entered wasn't Cayanas bedroom. The room had been an office until Cayana got her job and since she had a completely different office now she had remade this into a more comfortable room. In front of the fireplace stood two soft chairs, to the left stood a small table which had a mirror hanging over it. On the table laid a hairbrush and her Aes Sedai shawl, neatly folded with the flame visible on top, the fringes tucked in and not visible. To the other side of the fireplace stood a high bookshelf. In it stood a few rows of books and other objects that Cayana was studying or that where just there because she liked them. On the floor laid a nice warm thick carpet all in a dark brown with swirling green tones in it. The door to the bedroom was closed and opposite the door out of her rooms. The at the last wall there was just a drawer with a painting hanging above it. The painting was a portrait of a battle and on the drawer stood some pitches, canes, cups and glasses and next to it on either side stood two stools.

"Have a seat, Jayon. How do you like your tea?" Cayana said with a smile and a gesture towards the chairs as she walked over to the drawer. She embraced saidar heating the water in one of the pitchers as she held a hand against it to feel just how warm it was. It soon started to ose out of it as the water was heating up and she took her hand away in order not to burn it while watching the water.

They walked through the long corridors of the tower, places where Jayon never had been before. It was..interesting and a bit scary, perhaps. He was nervous in these corridors. What would happen and what did she intend? He had not buttoned his shirt again, that would be impossible to do while walking. He got a glance from a female servant as they entered the corridors which had to be of the green ajah. All the floor tiles decorated with swords of all different kinds. The battle scenes, weavings on the wall. Ancient banners. He watched everything with unspoken awe. A door in the corridor opened and another man came out. He reckognized Jayon from the Practice yard, and Jayon reckognized him. He was a Gaidin. Jayon swallowed. But he just gave him a raised eyebrow and then a quick wink before walking on. Jayon was puzzled. What was this all about? So many different things he did not understand. They passed a painting on the wall displaying a heroic last stand, probably famous, but Jayon did of course not reckognize it. He watched it for a while, then continuing on. This must seem..odd, he thought. A Aes Sedai and a recruit walking here, me with unbuttoned shirt. He tried to cover up completely, but it was useless. He had to stand or sit in order to button the shirt.

At last, they reached her room and Jayon was relieved. Another one of these staring servants and he would have screamed. She opened the door and said "Come in." Jayon nodded nervously and entered the room, looking around himself. He dared not look much. It was a womans room after all. But he saw the hairbrush...a hairbrush. So Aes Sedai did that kind of mundane tasks as well. He also noticed the shawl and shivered, slightly. He had never walked on such a comfortable carpet before. That was..interesting. Where did those come from, he wondered. mother would love them He also looked at the painting for a while, imagining being present at that battle as a normal soldier and wondered how it would be. If he would be able to kill other things than shadowspawn. Hopefully, it would never come to that.

"Have a seat, Jayon. How do you like your tea?" Her voice interrupted his thoughts and he nodded and quickly sat down in one of the chairs, hoping not to take her favourite chair. He eyed her and thought of the last part of her question and sighed. "I have never tasted tea before...please..make it as..most people like it." he looked unsure, but nodded. He then noticed and remembered that his shirt was still undone and blushed badly, quickly buttoning it while mumbling an apology to her. What was he thinking? He was ridiculous. Shaking his head, he leaned back a bit and tried to relax. He would not be good company if all he did was sit here and be nervous. Perhaps nothing would happen and it would be fine. Perhaps. But you could never be sure, never.

He also saw her utilizing the power to heat the tea water, and shivered. Did they use their power to do anything? What if they suddenly weren't able to channel anymore? Would they even survive? He was tempted to ask, but of course did not. He eyed her nervously and wondered what would happen. Tea drinking. Then it would be late enough for him to leave, probably. But would she let him? He was sure there was some scheming behind this. All Aes Sedai did that..didn't they?

Jayon took a seat in one of the chairs, the one with a blanket hanging over the back of it. Cayana liked both of those chairs and didn't much mind which he took. As she asked him about the tea his response made her turn around to look at him. He had never had tea? Now that was a first. He suddenly blushed and started buttoning his shirt and Cayana smiled and shook her head. "I think I'll let you do with it as you like." She answered and turned to poor water in two of the cups. Then she took two things that looked like spoons but they where double, one turned on the other to make a closed room and there where small holes through them. She opened one of the cans and filled the 'spoons' before putting them in the cups. After that she put them both on a tray. Put a can of honey and a bowl of sugar on it as well as a couple of normal tea spoons. Then she turned and walked over to the chairs. "Oh, could you please grab that book," she said and nodded to the small table between the chairs, it was just large enough for the tray.

The book had the title 'Other worlds' and the Authors name written on brown leather front. It was a book about other places like tel'aran'rhiod and the protalstones worlds and similar places. That was what Cayana was studying at the moment. She knew quite a bit about shadow spawn and the forces of darkness. It was what she had manly studied for the past 20 years or so, but she had decided to pick up on an other form of studies as she couldn't leave the tower to fight what she wanted. At the moment her way of contributing to the cause of the Green Ajah was to teach novices and Accepted so that they would have more people to fight the forces of the dark.

"Do you read Jayon?" She said as he had picked up the book and she was setting down the tray. Not all people could read. Jayon might not know how or just be learning as it was necessary while studying here. Herself being noble she had learned to read at a young age and read pretty well. Her favorite books as a child had been story books about battles against the dark ones forces or love stories. She still liked those books for relaxation, but she knew now how silly half of them where. She wondered which stories Jayon liked, besides the adventure ones he already had mentioned liking enough to leave home and come here.

Sitting down Cayana smoothened her skirts realizing it was a futile attempt. The cloth was ruined by the water and wouldn't get smooth by such a simple thing as her running her hands over it. Smiling a little she took the weird 'spoon' out of her cup after stirring it in the cup a little. She then took the honey can and added a little honey to sweeten the bitter taste. She didn't mind bitter, but this tea was a little to bitter for her taste. She took one of the other spoons after that to stir the honey around in the cup to make it dissolve all while waiting for Jayons response.

He watched her as she poured water into two cups and put them on a tray. "I think I'll let you do with it as you like." He saw her placing other things on the tray. So that was..tea. Water with some kind of substance that probably made it taste like something else. Interesting. "Oh, could you please grab that book," He nodded and took the book, placed it on his lap and waited for her to put down the tray so he could take his cup with hot water. She set the tray down and he took his cup, together with the teaspoon and strange device to hold the substance for the tea. He put it down in the water and did as she did, stirring it around a bit and a while more than she did. Just in case, and he suspected it would make the taste stronger.

"Do you read Jayon?" she asked him and he shook his head for an answer, blushing slightly. He probably seemed like an illiterate peasant boy now. "I am still learning to read and write better than...scribble. I can read, but i don't do it very often. I rather practice. To train your spirit and mind, you must first train the body." He said, very seriously. That was something he believed in. Of course, his body was already trained as much as needed but he still wouldn't stop practicing or starting to read more. The practice here was interesting, and he had seen a sword that he would want later. Lightly curved, and it looked very...nice. He wanted that sword, but he surely wouldn't be allowed to take it unless he proved that he needed it. He had to talk with the Gaidin about it, he knew that.

He took a bit of the honey and added it to his tea as well, later some milk. He was quiet for a bit, then took the cup and sipped a bit of the tea, looking thoughtful at the taste. A bit bitter. The honey and milk provided enough to lighten that taste though. It did not taste bad, but it was nothing of Jayon's taste. Beer was more..it. But that tasted a bit bitter sometimes as well, and he did not mind that. Maybe i'm just unused to it, he thought and said thoughtfully. "It tastes special..but not bad. I think. But ale and beer is something i rather prefer, actually." This would seem strange, he thought. A young boy such as him liking ale. But..he did. Although it had provided some strange situations at the journey to the tower. That night at that inn..he didn't remember much of it. And the morning had been horrible. Except the place where he woke up. That had been interesting. It would probably seem like he had some experiences with alcohol now, perhaps uncommon for farmers boys. Except that time he and his friends had taken a bottle of some strong alcohol. He did not want to think about that episode. It had not been pleasant. The night, or nights with drinking during his journey here had, most of them, been fun. Although he sometimes had to make himself a bit older than he really was.

He wondered if there were any good taverns in this town, and wether and when he would be allowed to visit them. That would be fun. He somehow lost track of time and space when he drank, and he found that "flying" experience quite pleasant. Most of the time, at least.

He told her about how he was learning how to read and write better then he had before and Cayana nodded. Then he added a philosophy she had actually heard before. "That's an interesting philosophy, just don't forget the mind." She said and winked at him. She was serious and meant what she said, but she said it in a joking way as she wasn't accusing him of anything. Why would she, she didn't know Jayons habits. "What kind of things do you like to read?" She added and leaned back with the cup in her hands warming herself on the outside of it as she sipped the contains. It tasted lovely as she swallowed the liquid.

As Jayon drank his own he commented on it. "It tastes special..but not bad. I think. But ale and beer is something i rather prefer, actually." she rose an eyebrow at that. "Do you have a lot of experience with drinking?" She asked. She wouldn't have thought Jayon would be a person to compare the two. Sure he had most likely tasted it, most men his age had, but to compare them, that was a different story as well as drinking it regularly. He probably has only tasted it sometime. He's to young in his mind to have done much else. She herself had had quite a bit of experience with the thing called alcohol. She avoided getting to drunk as she knew perfectly well what happened when she did and it wasn't at all to pleasant the day after. Some drank so badly they got black outs, but she never did. She always remembered every little thing she had done. Some could make even her cheeks heat a bit by just thinking about it, so she refrained from doing that.

Shivering a little she put the cup down and gestured at the blanket hanging over Jayons chair. "Could you hand me the blanket please?" She could ignore her cold body, but she preferred getting warm again. Her rooms where almost always chilly when there wasn't a fire burning.
Once he handed her the blanket she put it over her lap and tucked it around herself before picking up the cup again. It must have looked silly sitting there with the blanket, a wrinkly silk dress and a cup of tea like nothing special was going on. It even felt amusing in her own mind as she thought about it. At least they wouldn't get interrupted and no one but Jayon would see this.

"That's an interesting philosophy, just don't forget the mind."

"I won't, Aes Sedai." he said in a serious voice, although he noticed the joking tone in her voice, he knew it was probably more to it than that. And no matter how he looked at it, he always trained his body before he trained his mind. He sipped more of the tea. "What kind of things do you like to read?" He was a bit confused by the question. He didn't read much, like he said, and he looked thoughtfully to her. "Uhm...the few books i have read contain mostly tales. The Travels of Jain Farstrider. Such things. When i came to the tower, i started reading books of battles and sword practice. They are quite interesting as well." His voice was calmer now. He was more used to the situation than earlier, so he could talk more calmly to her. He smiled slightly and watched her as she continued.

"Do you have a lot of experience with drinking?" she asked when he told her about alcohol. He looked puzzled at first but said after a while, slowly. "Well...i was on a journey here after all...and many evenings where spent in taverns...i...don't remember a great deal of the evenings spent there." He shrugged, as if it was nothing..unusual. Well, for him it wasn't. He was used to it by now, and it did not scare him anymore like it had done the first time it happened. He wondered how much she drank. Fool! Aes Sedai don't drink alcohol! He watched her, trying to keep as calm as possible but inwardly cursed himself for being stupid. He did not remember many of the evenings though. That evening in that little village...first he thought himself remembering dancing and singing. But...light, he would never do such a incredibly stupid thing! Dancing! *Singing*! He would rather die before he sang something. Some of the mornings, he had woken up in strange rooms though.
He didn't think more of that. It was nothing...bad, he hoped.

He handed her the blanket and smiled slightly as she put it over her lap. He sipped more of his tea and put down the cup when he was done, allowing himself to relax some more. This wasn't as bad as he had thought it would be. Not bad at all. He watched her, seeing if she wanted to say more.

As he told about what he was reading Cayana smiled and nodded. The typical thing a recruit would read she guessed. Most anyway. Books about battles, unless story books, where so filled with tactics and details Cayana rarely read them. She had on occasion, in order to understand what a general and soldiers thought, but other then that she really wasn't much of a battle leader. When it came to weapons she preferred watching someone 'play' with them or learning how to use them herself than reading about them. As she was a channeling woman though, learning weapons wasn't really looked upon nicely. It was really odd since the men was allowed and they took in women to train with the gaidin. But most still held on to the old ways of thought and so she couldn't really learn without getting a lot of attention she didn't need drawn to herself. Sometimes she wished she had at least learned the knifes before leaving Saldaea, but she hadn't.

"Well...i was on a journey here after all...and many evenings where spent in taverns...i...don't remember a great deal of the evenings spent there." Cayana rose an eyebrow at first then she couldn't help but to have to force down the giggles in her throat. The boy got drunk on a regular basis, so drunk he didn't even remember it all. "No memory at all?" She asked smiling even if she had managed not to laugh. She made a mental note not to invite Jayon for a drink unless she wanted to get him drunk. "Sounds like you are used to drinking way to much." She added with a tone of wondering in her voice, but not really asking.

Once again she was reminded of the time she had not really wanted to get two young men drunk but managed to anyway. Really men would never learn not to take pride in themselves that much. Both the dedicated and the youngling had been dragged back to the tower and all of them had gotten severely punished. She couldn't help to think them silly, but as well she knew the men that just couldn't stop drinking as long as there where alcohol to be drunken. Jayon sounded like one of those and she'd rather stay away from him once he got near alcohol, if things were as she suspected. Such men could get violent and when she was a the tavern she had a tendency to get tipsy enough not to be able to channel properly and at those times she needed to be around people that wouldn't hurt her. Peoples personalities came loose when they drank. Shyness, fears and other such things just disappeared and all that was left was who people really where underneath it, at least she saw it that way.

She continued to sip her tea till the cup was empty and set it down. "Would you like some more?" She asked just to make sure, he didn't seem to want more. She didn't. She was quite warm now. Almost as warm as he was when I touched... Cayana shoved the thought away. She was not supposed to do anything more playful with this boy, not before she knew who he was a bit more at least. So thinking about his bare upper body, no matter how smooth and soft his skin was that was a seriously bad idea.

"No memory at all?"

He heard her say and he looked up from his gaze at the floor. Well...no memory during certain hours. "Well." He said, thinking for a while and then continuing "I don't remember much of the evenings when it approaches night. I seem to remember some severe drinking and other things, occasionally. But when it goes towards later times...it usually becomes much more difficult to remember things done, until i don't remember anything anymore" He shrugged and blushed slightly. It would seem like he was very...irresponsible, probably. He was young, after all. Suddenly he had a flashback of a person saying to him. "I like young" and he was startled, shaking his head slightly to clear away the crazy thoughts. Nothing of the like had happened. He had vivid imagination, that was all. As usual. He wasn't to be helped. I am the worst he thought and shook his head. Silly. But she smiled. Smiled! Why does she smile? Women were very strange. And Aes Sedai were even worse, at times. Very much worse. "Sounds like you are used to drinking way to much." He rose his eyebrow at that, but quickly lowered it again after remembering she was Aes Sedai. "Well. Actually i know how much i can drink before becoming drunk, but the feeling of being drunk, the partly flying, the joy and the forgetting about different problems is what makes it attractive. However, i know when to drink and when not to drink." He siad, seriously and as calmly as he could. He certainly knew that.

He also knew the fact that he didn't become violent when he was drink. People wouldn't smile at him when he left those taverns if he did. He didn't know why some of the maids where smiling at him, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know either. What if he actually had danced sometime when he had been drunk? That would have been quite horrible. He must surely be the worst dancer ever. Not to mention singing. The flashback became stronger but he pressed it back, desperately now. He did not want to remember what he did those evenings. He was sure it had been horrible. Living in happy ignorance of what had happened then was good, it would not happen here. At least not the same things. "Would you like some more?" Her voice interrupted his thoughts about alcohol and he blinked, after a while shaking his head. "No, i am fine. Thank you, Aes Sedai. The tea was good" What in the name of the light had happened all those evenings?

Suddenly, a few images came back to him and he looked thoughtful as the impressions washed over him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You dance well." Said the smiling, black-haired girl, clad in a serving maid apron and simple clothes. Jayon had glazy eyes, smiling at her and not feeling very balanced on his feet for a brief second. "I surely would like another dance this evening, if you do not have..other plans." She continued and gave him a quick smile before picking up a few mugs from a table and brought them off to the kitchen again. Jayon quickly nodded at her before she could leave and sat down at a table, clearing his head a bit. He noticed a woman in a green cloak watching him, smiling from another table. A few men he had sung with earler waved to him, many of them as old as his father. Jayon smiled. He loved this. He loved these kind of things. If they weren't available at the tower, he would miss them there.

He noticed another woman, a few years older than him move to sit at his table. Was that dress really..proper?, he wondered. It sure didn't seem like it. Somehow,he did not care though...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


He blushed and looked at the floor, shaking his head. Fantasies. That hadn't actually happened. He would never do such a thing. Such things. Dancing. Singing?! He quickly glanced at the Aes Sedai and noticed her curiously watching him. he quickly said "I'm sorry..i just....remembered some things" he shrugged, as if it was nothing, but pondered the whole memory.

((OOC: sorry this post is so short, I didn't have anything else to write))

Cayana listened as Jayon spoke and nodded at times. As he told about how he felt about being drunk she couldn't help but to ask. "What is it you want to forget?" She tilted her head to the side as she sat there leaned back in the chair with the blanket pulled up a bit. He was young but everyone at that age had somethings bothering them. Sometimes it was just part of being a teenager, other times there where reasons. She didn't know if Jayon would tell her why, he might not be comfortable with it, actually he didn't seem all to comfortable telling her about what he did remember. He was cute when he blushed though.

Cayana didn't think she ever would have told an Aes Sedai of why she had done her pranks, or gone out to drink with her friends and flirt with the boys, if she so had been ordered when she was an Accepted. The feeling of making a man desire you or to just have a good time could be so liberating from all that daily work, chores and such but it was from her own thoughts when she had been alone in the dark at night before bed that she had been fleeing. She still sought that feeling, still did flirt with boys just to feel that very special thing as they where warming up or came out from behind walls in a star blazing explosion of passion. The latter where always difficult to get rid of once you did that though. Cayana had made the mistake to lead one on once and wouldn't do it again unless she actually was serious and not just getting her fun for the evening.

She was pulled out of her thoughts as Jayon suddenly looked down into the floor shaking his head. She couldn't help but to feel curious, what was that about? He answered her before she had the time to say anything though. "I'm sorry..i just....remembered some things" he said and shrugged it off. Cayana wouldn't really let him though, she was quite curious. "What things might that be?" She said and smiled at him, trying to make him comfortable enough to tell her. It might be useless but at least she would have tried.

"What is it you want to forget?"

Jayon eyed her, fighting with himselfif he should tell or not. It was after all something that was very private for him, and he didn't share such things with everyone. What he wanted to forget...he didn't knew much of that himself. He wanted to undo many of the things he had flashbacks on doing at those drunk evenings. Of course, he was quite sure they were only imaginations. They had to be. He would never do something like that. He felt his cheeks heating again but finally made a decision and straightened his back, gathered what courage he could master and "I'd rather not remember att all. Basically the things i did at those evenings. If i did anything. I am sure i did not. I am not that kind of person." He said calmly, eyeing her briefly and then glancing out of the window. He hoped she would not press the issue more. He did not like to blush, especially not in front of her.

Jayon hadn't done pranks at home very much. He had been busy with farming and herding. The few things he had done had been punished. Like climbing trees when he was little. Or stealing a flask of strong brandy from the inn storage, together with the innmasters son, Garek. That had been the worst time. They had been stumbling through the village like cows, he had been told. And next day he had thought his head would fall off by itself. He did not get those strong hangovers anymore though, something he was happy about. Hangovers were never something nice. After that, he had only done pranks by practicing with the sword when he shouldn't be. That had usually only resulted in someone at home hiding the sword. His mother was a very strict woman. If given chance, she probably could teach the Aes Sedai here a thing or two, he thought and mused.

"What things might that be?"

He blinked again. Were wonders never to cease today? What interest could she possibly have in his little....strange daydreams. It had been a daydream, of course. She smiled, and he almost felt like he could tell her. Almost, however, that was not something you told people at all.and telling an Aes Sedai about daydreaming or even remembering *dancing* with girls would be outrage. I wont do that. Jayon shook his head "It is nothing of importance or relevance" He said, as calmly as he could, and gave her a quick smile. It was clear that he still thought of something however. His expression told that.