Fianna enters the room late she has taken longer in a class then she first intended. Sitting down she realizes she has sat near some Aes Sedai she wonders about them. These wetlander women who weild the same power as the Wise Ones. The only Aes Sedai she has talked to have told her to curtsy she hated it. She has been sent to the Mistress of Novices so many times now she can't count them on her hand. She smiled at that. These woman were finding her to be harder to "train" then they first thought her to be. She loved to surprise her teachers. She knew if they had there way she would be a Novice forever but she couldn't be as her sisters and the Wise ones wished her to succed and for that she tried to show respect where it was due. She realized then she had been musing to much and needed to get back to eating. she looked down at her plate and wished for once she had made friends at the tower she wanted someone to talk to.

Zekieal had, for once in a long time, found the time to traverse the halls of his and Sapphira's tower. They governed the light forsaken thing, so why not get to see it every once in awhile? Pushing open the double doors to the mess halls, he grinned heartily. Fond memories erupting from every corner of his mind as he entered the room. But the memories disappeared, as the room hushed and people began to look and point his way. He had that affect when he entered rooms, recognized or not. they stared at him for a moment longer, those of the black tower longer then those of the white, and went back to their meals. Sighing, he moved through the tables, talking with a few of the soldiers and Novices, chuckling at an Accepted, and bowing in resepct to an Aes Sedai. Something he had found always useful, was just talking with those of the tower, both those newly brought in and those that have been here for quite some time.

He was a curious M'hael, this was known throughout the tower. Despite his past and the work he has done in the Red Shen, he was jolly. Jolly and a bit...eccentric at times. moving from table to table, he would at times, literally jump from table to table, landing with his arms outstretched. If he hadnt been such a benefit to the tower, he was sure that he would have "died in his sleep" a long time ago, because of his flambouyance.

Moving to the next table, he sat down, and whiped sweat from his brow, and took a drink out of a soldier's mug. The man raised an eyebrow at him, shocked and perplexed, but still humored by the antics of his M'hael. Moving to the next Table, He jumped onto the table, and stared down at an....Aiel Novice? A grin covered his face. and he spoke, his voice loud.

"An Aiel? I came to the tower because of Aiel, and it was a funny story, but we shant get into it. Tell me child, what do you know of stories?" Now was when Zekieal would feel a fool, if he were anyone else. Look at me he thought, the almighty M'hael, defender of the Light, now working as a Gleeman on the side. Sapphira was right...it would be an interesting thing to have go down into history beside my name "Zekieal was the one and only M'hael Gleeman".....

Fianna looked up at the man standing next to her with cool eyes. She hated being called child all the time. She had tried to hide the cooler calculating part of herself but the Aes Sedai always saw it in her eyes and she was sent to the Mistress of Novices for a lecture. She thought the Aes Sedai called her child sometimes just to see what she would do. She sighed he was going to send her to the Mistress wasn't he. She really tried to show more respect but she couldn't her maiden training was to strong. She bowed her head to the man though she knew he was one of the ones who ran the tower. "I know only the stories we learn in the Three Fold Land. I have never learned them however, my training took me away from those who tell stories." She remembered a few from when she was small but only bits and pieces of those. "I am sorry sir I can not tell you any from home. If you journey to the Three fold land and speak to the Wise ones or our clan cheifs you will learn much of stories."

((Think of Zekieal more like a channeling gleeman then your M'hael.)

Matthias grinned even wider at the cool grin, and he got down on his knee, his face inches away from the Aiel Womans.

"You are a dull one aren't you? Come you must know something to entertain us" And with that he was suddenly standing again, and now, channeling Saidin, lifting the Young Aiel Woman from her seat with a Weave of Air. looking back at the Aes Sedai sitting behind him he winked "My fair ladies, could you be so kind as to make sure our dear tempermental Aiel doesnt channel...and perhaps you could boost me up?" Raising both eyebrows, he gave them a comical look, as he was raised off the table, now both himself and the Novice floating in the air. Grinning boldly, he cried out over the tables, smiling his most winning smile.

"Children, Brothers, Sisters, Tell me, Do we want an Aiel Story! Who here wishes to hear this Child tell a story?" He was indeed the bloody master of this tower, if he could get away with this, and get the aide of Aes Sedai. If Sapphira heard wind of this, he would be lectured, but he thought it worth it. A little humor never hurt the soldiers and Novices, and it never hurt to show these people that he wasnt a heartless and efficient ruler at all times. This was a neccassary display of foolishness, to balance out the times to come, when he would work the Soldiers like dogs, and rub their faces in the mud. Same with the novices, if he could help it. Sapphira did a superb job with them, but he personally, wished to see them out on the fields with his men, training how to defend themselves when shielded, or how to take a hit. These were things these women might need later in their life, when trapped by a darkfriend, or when one was unable to channel, so that they could defend themselves, and maybe use a bloody weapon. No matter. he was to have fun here

Drawing on the raging rapids that was saidin, he raised the novice higher and spoke again "Well boys and Girl? What have you? A story? Maybe even a joke?" Turning to face the Aiel woman, he chuckled. "You must know at least one tale..." The voices of the filled lunch room screamed and hollered in laughter, and rooted him on.

Fianna sighed she really hated this tower. She was not able to channel but that had never stopped her from being defiant before. She gave the man her best glare which was very good and said loudly enough that the whole room would hear her "I am sorry I do not know any stories that will entertain you. If you wish to hear a story of our people's history you will have to ask one of the Wise ones." The room was not happy a girl yelled

"Tell us a tale of you then! What did you do in the waste?" I glared at her

"I was one of the Far Dareis Mai I was raised by them I had no choice really. My mother and Father were killed when I was about seven." Fianna's voice turned ice cold and her eyes blazed as she spoke " the Shaido attacked and killed most of the warriors and took what they could. They didn't kill me as I was hidden by my mother." She sighed then and her voice turned sad. "Our Clan had no warning of the raid and our warriors were gone on another raid. it was a sad day for the people. Only a few lived to tell of it." Her voice went flat again and she continued the story "I stayed hidden for a time and when the Shaido were about to leave I was found by one of there maidens. She was not kind to me. I fought her as best I could but one as small as I was then could not hope to do much against a fully trained Maiden. I was taken as a captive. I could not be a gai'shain as I was as yet to young but they would keep me to do work for them. However, they did not know that some of our warriors had returned and were waiting for them. Our Maidens and some of the other warrior Men came and showed no mercy for the Shaido. I was found by a woman named Rayelle she had pity on me and took me to live with the other maidens from the day I was old enough to carry a spear I was trained to be a maiden. The other childern were taken in by the other warrior socioties and we never have forgotten that day." Her voice turned hard again "They will be made to pay every one of them." She turned as best she could and asked the room "Is that a tale to your liking." She had wanted someone to talk to and she had gotten a full room. She knew now that she would never fit here people would not like her she thought. She missed her sisters of the Spear more then ever. She also wished these women would let her pick up a spear. The room was very quiet.

Sapphira stood from her desk and steched, it had been a long morning, and she was quite ready for a nice lunch. She thought she would eat in the common mess hall today, the Aes Sedai hall was well and good, but not really suited to her moods just now. She made her way out of her office, nodding at the Keeper Lyla as she exited the antichamber as well. She made her way through the halls of the Tower, nodding at everyone who curtsied, servant to novice to Aes Sedai, there was no reason she should be unkind simply because of a position.

She stepped out into the gardens and smiled, it was not a day that most would concider beautiful, but Sapphira loved the rain as much as she did sunlight. She tilted her face up for a moment, and closed her eyes, before continuing down the paths to the mess hall. She walked slowly, enjoying the light summer rain on her face, she did not care that her clothes got wet, she would simply dry them off once she got to the mess hall.

Sapphira pushed the door open and stepped into the mess hall, greeted immideately by laughter and a sight that made her wish she had stayed with all that work in her office. She felt her anger building, and quickly pushed it down, anger did nothing in most situations, but she could not understand how the m'Hael of the Tower could do something so childish! She heard the tail end of the novice's tale and her frown deepened. There was a line between having fun and being cruel, and it seemed Zekieal had run over it and danced further as the victor of a race.

She immideately embraced the Source and began several weaves, one to shield the Aes Sedai holding Zekieal in the air, the man fell to the ground with a rather satisfying thud. She then wrapped the novice in Air and shielded Zekieal, sat the novice down and wove a voice magnifying weave. When she spoke her voice echoed like thunder throughout the mess hall, her annoyance showing through despite all her efforts. "Zekieal al'Kith," she roared, "I want to see you in my office as soon as I am done here." She knew she was treating the man like the meanest of servants, but if he was going to act the part, he would get all the respect that role afforded. "You two," she said to the Aes Sedai who had complied to the m'Hael's wishes, "you will accompany him to the antichamber, I will speak to you after. The rest of you, get back to your chores. I do not care if you have just sat down, you will not eat another bite until breakfast tomorrow."

She let the weave go and made her way over to where the poor novice sat, "Child, I want you to go to the kitchens and tell Cook you are to have a plate of whatever you wish to have. I intend to see to it that you are not treated like this again." She turned back to the two Aes Sedai and Zekieal, already the mess hall was clearing out, but slowly, many hung back to see what was to happen. She released her shields, they had served their purpose and were no longer necessary. Sapphira stood facing the three, waiting for one of them to speak, ready to be completely unsatisfied by their story.

Fianna watched the others get into trouble and thought the man deserved it but the Aes Sedai did not. "Mother." she said the Armylin turned to her. "I ask you leave the Aes Sedai out of your punishment. They were doing only as asked it is hard to say no to one who is more powerful then yourself. All three owe me Toh in my land but I am here and so they owe me nothing. So I ask you to leave them be." She bowed to the Mother and the three others she turned to the M'heal "I am sorry I did not have a story to your liking." She turned then and left the room. She wondered why she should feel sorry for any of the the three up in the room but the Aes Sedai had done nothing to merit punishment or so she thought. She came to the cook and asked for some Lunch. The cook gave her a glare and asked if she had not already given her food. Fianna nodded and explained the Armlyin herself had sent her here. That sent the cook into a frezy and she made a good meal up for Fianna who smiled her thanks and took it back to the mess hall in good spirits

With A grin befitting a child, Zekieal bowed elgantly to the Amyrlin. He felt very mischievious like the days of his soldier and dedicted years, and this was an offer he couldnt pass up. "My dear, sweet beautiful Sapphira, Do not take these Aes Sedai in punishment, they were pawns in a prank I pulled. they deserve nothing more then a quick frown. But do I truly deserve more then that? Nay is the answer, Nay Nay Nay. "He emphasized the Nays with violent sweeps of his hands and shaking his head. "How was I to know this child had a tale of woe? I couldnt, for only the creator knows that. Now I will apologize to the girl, my sweet blossom of joy, And I'll report to your office" This he said, his voice holding an inquisitive tone. the Stragglers snickered at the remark, and consequently, recieved a cool glance from the Amyrlin.

"But seriously, my sweet, What I did was to humor the citizens of the tower, and perhaps embaress the girl a little." He had gradually moved closer to the Amyrlin as he spoke, now he was only inches from her, getting down to his knee, he grabbed her hand, and kissed it, speaking in his sappiest voice. "My sweet Amyrlin, I beg you to forgive your Humble M'hael, for he is a simple man, trying to help people enjoy themselves..."

(again consider me a gleeman, and that isnt as sappy as i wanted it -.-)

Sapphira was surprised that the novice did not want the two Aes Sedai punished, were Sapphira in her place, she would have wanted everyone in the mess hall puished much more severely than simply not getting lunch nor dinner. However, the novice was the one who had been mocked, and it was not for Sapphira to punish them if the child did not want them punished. "Very well, child, the sisters will not be punished," she said as the novice stood to go to the kitchens.

"You two may leave then," she said to the two women still standing there, then turned to Zekieal, who was surprisingly still wearing his gleeman mask. "Unfortunately, Zekieal, you do deserve more than simply a frown, quite a bit more. I don't care that you like to joke, joking at the expense of novices is unacceptable, even for you." She stopped then, the rest of this lecture could wait for later, that was simply to be a small bit of what he would hear later.

She resisted the urge to both laugh out loud, and pull her hand away when Zekieal knelt in front of her. She had to admit this was quite amusing, and suddenly she was very thankful there were so few people left in the mess hall. She kept her face smooth, but she knew Zekieal would see the humor in her eyes. When she spoke, she thought she caught a bit of it in her voice as well. "You are not a simple man Zekieal, no simple man is the m'Hael of the Black Tower. Perhaps you were simple at one time, but simple in your position would be devastating, and I would concider calling yourself simple an insult to me." Even though she was from all the Ajahs and none now, her past in the Red Shen still affected her. She was still Zekieal's other half, and that could not be undone except by death.

That bloody man, this is far from funny, so why am I laughing? Years of knowing her had shown Zekieal exactly what Sapphira thought funny, but why did he have to try to be amusing now? Ah well, for making her laugh his lecture would simply last longer. She knew it would likely make no difference, but at least he would see- yet again -that if he insisted on torturing initiates he would be bored to death for a good while. She stepped back from him, her humor in check again, but said nothing, simply waiting to see what he would do.

Zekieal grinned even more devilishly. "Ah, my sweet flower, I see I shall not get the full extent of your lecture here. I shall be in your office sometime today, to feel your wrath" And he walked off, embracing the source on the way out. As he opened the double doors, he turned back, and pinched the amyrlin's buttocks with a weave of air.

Cackling madly, He slammed the door shut, and wove as quickly as could be an inverted gateway to his office. Jumping through, he closed the weave and sighed, grinning devilishly....The Gleeman M'hael.....he grinned and laughed inwardly.

(short, but it gets what i want done ~-.-~ )

Sapphira was surprised that Zekieal was still being so strange, not that it was really strange for him, just now was not the time. She watched him out of the mess hall, and allowed herself to think that all was good when he opened the doors to step out. She jumped when something pinched her, and looked back at Zekieal, that fiend! Sapphira made her face neutral though, and walked steadily out of the mess hall. She saw no evidence of Zekieal though, and wondered where he was.

She decided that it did not matter, he had said he would be in her office later, and so he would, she could simply berate him there. And she thought she would end up berating him, concidering all he had done. She realized she had not eaten any kind of lunch, but continued on her way up to her study anyway, she was not hungry anymore. This time she did not nod at any of the curtsiers, her face was set in a less than happy expression, and she saw several people scurry out of her way, and even the Aes Sedai stepped quickly.

She opened the door to her antichamber on weaves of air, and pushed the door to her study open the same way. She did not acknowledge Lyla's curtsy, simply sat at her desk and resumed her paperwork, the pile of which had grown larger in the time she had been gone. Hopefully she could lose herself and her anger here until Zekieal came up, it was unfair to the Tower for her to be angry at all of them when really only one deserved it.