Edeleas was pushing his newly-acquired glasses on his nose as he walked toward Tar Valon's immense Mess Hall, wondering when was the last time he actually ate in there. It seemed long ago, when he made new friends besides other black-clad people in the Black Tower. It was here he met Kathera and Marian, now a proud Accepted. And that was also one of the two instances he saw them both; as he rarely went out of the Black Tower for anything. He had always been busy as a bee ever since he stepped into Tar Valon.

As usual, the place was teeming with white-dressed Novices and Accepted, and black-clad Soldiers like him and Dedicated. Edeleas patiently took his place at the last of the line, waiting as it moved in a moderate pace. He picked up a tray.

"What's yours?" the plump cook asked behind the counter. She squinted up at him with beady black eyes. "Aye, haven't seen you here in quite a while. You do be busy in the Tower?"

Edeleas nodded graciously as he jabbed a finger toward the steaming porridge. "Oh yes, ma'am. Very busy indeed. Oftentimes I'm just eating in my room."

The cook laughed and pushed a near-overflowing bowl toward him, and added two big pieces of bread and a cup of lemonade. Edeleas bowed and went to find a vacant table.

He found one easily, located at the far corner of the hall. Shrugging, he went toward it and sat down on one of the chairs and started ladling his porridge lazily. He also flipped open a book, one of his few possessions taken when he fled Cairhien. He started to read, waiting for his porridge to cool off. He was a shy one, but company was always welcome.

Miakoda found herself getting up early today. remebering how it was last time she was in the mess hall, it was way to full of people for her liking. All she really wanted was to eat in peace or with some new people to make new friends. Pulling her white dress over her hair and taking her brush out. She had lost serveral of her best hair ties and was upset with that. How she did not know, but she had her last one in her hands. Thinking that she really didn't need it she placed it back down and pushed some of her hair behind her ears, knowing as soon as she took a step it would fall out and cover her face and get into everything that she did. Sighing to herself she left the Novice halls. Some were still sleeping but most were all ready up and doing what needed to be done.

Finding her way to the mess hall she poked her head in and saw that the line was all not as long as she had thought and went to stand in it. Breakfest was always the best thing about the day. The food really didn't look that bad and the tea was allways greatful after a somewhata cold night of sleeping and a hard day of work a head. Grabbing a tray the cook smiled at her and she asked if there was any porridge left. "Yes there is child here here take it." She filled the bowl to the rim and pushed it over to Miakoda. Along with some tea and a small teaspoon of honey for the tea and the porridge as well. Standing just a little ways from the line she found that so many of the table that held Novices were full and she would have to seat with some one new today. Most of the time Miakoda would just look past that, but she was still new and didn't really know all of the rules of both towers yet. But she could see that men in all black were setting with the girls all in white. Sighing to herself she went to find a empty seat.

Spotting a seat in front someone who was all in black Miakoda walked over and placed her tray down. Pushing her hair back so he was able to see her face she smiled and took a seat. " I hope you don't mind that I breakfest here." her voice was low for Miakoda was able to see that he was reading. Her eyes glittered over the book's cover. Oh how she wished that she would be able to take a book from the libary and read it while eating breakfest, that to her would be a treat just it's self.

Edeleas gave a start as a curly-haired Novice joined him at the table and said, " I hope you don't mind that I breakfest here." in a low and melodious voice. Quickly, Edeleas removed his feet from the other seat and stood up to help the girl sit down and get comfortable.

It was only when the Novice was properly seated that Edeleas went back to his chair, pushing his glasses higher on his nose. He hated wearing the damn things, but there was no choice. It was a punishment for messing up with the One Power, and he should bear the results of his own irresponsible actions. He ladled his porridge and discovered that it had already gone stone cold.

The Novice smiled, and Edeleas returned her smile somewhat shyly. He had always been... horribly shy around women. But he had to keep her amused. It wasn't always everyday that he made new acquaintances in Tar Valon; far from that. He sat up straight and closed his book, carefully marking his page.

"Good morning!" he said, keeping his tone jovial and light. "I am Edeleas, nice to meet you. And your name is?"

He waited for her answer, and he couldn't help noticing her eyes continuously flicking toward his book. He smiled inwardly.

Ah...a kindred spirit...she likes books too!

Miakoda could only smile when the young man had removed his feet and helped her to her chair. She smiled at him and thanked him. She could feel her face going a little red. She could only hope that he didn’t see it. Miakoda tried not to watch him, but as she did, he didn’t take his chair until she was all right everything around her. She poured some hunny into her porridge and the rest into her tea. She could tell by the small bit of steam from her tea that it was still to hot to drink and she didn’t dare try to weave something into to make it cooler for her to drink. She only sipped it and tried not to stare at the book that he once was reading.
While still moving her porridge around to mix the hunny all the way in he spoke. His voice was jovial and light. "Good morning!" "I am Edeleas, nice to meet you. And your name is?"

“Good morning to you Edeleas, I am Miakoda. And the pleasure is all mine.” she greeted him just as warmly as she could. And she had hopped that he had. Finding friends at the tower seemed to be a little harder than she though it would be. Pushing her hair out of the way. oh how I need another hair tie, or to cut this curls right off Trying to keep her eyes towards him came a bit harder than one would think. He was a handsome looking young men. But she was always one to push young men out, and pick up a good book. She had hopped that he didn’t see and she had also hopped that Edeleas didn’t notice her continues book gazing. It was not her place to ask for it might be personal to him, and Miakoda didn’t want to push or talk about personal things to people she had only just meet.

Edeleas smiled as he took up a spoonful of porridge and ate it. He grew up in Cairhien, and he knew it when he was facing one of his countrywomen. Miakoda was Cairhienin, no doubt about that. His heart leapt in excitement at the thought of another Cairhienin in Tar Valon, actually talking with him too! And by the looks of it, she was a commoner. He smiled wider. Commoners were always better company than nobles, who knew nothing except watch your every move as if they were stripping you naked. He cleared his throat.

"You are Cairhienin, I suppose?" he asked before tearing a chunk of bread with his teeth. "I am from Cairhien too." he said cheerfully.

Miakoda brightened up. She smiled at him again. "Yes, Cairhienin."

And her eyes darted toward his book again. Edeleas had to choke back his laughter. He put his book onto the table and pushed it toward her, really wanting to guffaw as her eyes widened.

"Bookworm, I should say?" he said. "Don't worry, I've finished this fifty times before. It's one of my personal favorites, but I always want to share it with others. It offers quite an insight to the One Power, and an amazing history of the Black and White Towers. You can have it, if you want."

He took another spoonful of cold mush, watching Miakoda as she took the book, holding it reverently as if it was written by the Creator. Looks like a nice, long discussion would follow next.

As her food cooled down just enough to keep her warm and not to taste of just oats she took a small spoonful and almost choked when Edeleas said that he was from Cairhienin as well as her. She bighted up and took a napkin and wiped her face and smiled. “Yes, Cairhienin” She was unsure in how he know but most of the people that did come from Cairhienin did look the same in face and all. Though she was different, more out there than the rest of the people that she knew, or wanted to know. Miakoda could hear that Edeleas was trying to hold back a laugh and she did understand. A silly girl in a silly white dress drooling over a book that wasn’t even hers. Trying to hold back her laugh when all of a sudden the book was pushed towards her. Miakoda’s eyes widen and she picked up the book with such grace and flipped the pages careful as if she was holding a newborn. "Bookworm, I should say?" Miakoda looked up at him with a smile, before she was able to say another word he went on. "Don't worry, I've finished this fifty times before. It's one of my personal favorites, but I always want to share it with others. It offers quite an insight to the One Power, and an amazing history of the Black and White Towers. You can have it, if you want." Almost dropping the book she broke out into a small smile but shook her head.
“I will borrow it if you don’t mind but to keep….” Miakoda feel silent as she looked at the book in her hands. Her finger felt the spine of the book it was a well used and read book. She knew it was dear to him and would not allow her to keep a such a thing. “ I can not keep such prized personal gift” she finally said after putting the book down on the table. Though it was not close to her nor Edeleas. Jus the though of getting something on it would make her shiver and she would never be able to forgive her self.

Edeleas waved a hand as he drank from his lemonade. "Well, okay then. The Light knows how I love that. You can have it...and return it anytime you wish."

Miakoda took the book and smiled again. Edeleas grinned back and resumed eating. Miakoda did the same, eating primly.

"How is the White Tower?" Edeleas asked. "Not too many chores, I hope? In the black tower, we have so many things to do it's a wonder some people actually live to be Asha'man."

Miakoda watched him wave his hand and say "Well, okay then. The Light knows how I love that. You can have it...and return it anytime you wish." A great smile curved on her lips and she thanked him. Putting the book down beside her. She went to finish her porridge, she could tell that Edeleas was doing the same. When his throat was clear he asked "How is the White Tower?" he took a sip of his drink and went on. "Not too many chores, I hope? In the black tower, we have so many things to do it's a wonder some people actually live to be Asha'man." Miakoda smiled at the comment and gave a small little laugh. The white tower to her was so different in some area’s of her life than again they were all the same.

“I’m liking it, to tell you the truth.” She pushed some of her curly hair behind her ears again and went on. “It’s not that much of a difference from before coming. With the studying and the chores. As you can tell I really enjoy the whole studying thing.” Taking a small spoonful of porridge. “I’m just not use to getting up so early and working so late, with the no time to study.” She took a sip of her tea that was starting to get cold. Telling her soon she would have to leave and start her schooling.

"I see." Edeleas answered. "You like studying? I think you will be Brown Ajah someday." He smiled. "Are you in a hurry? Your classes will start soon?"

(ooc-sorry if this is so short!)

Miakoda smiled at that thought. A brown sister. Ever since she was able to read about the ajahs and joining in on that class about them. She was just amazed that there were other people out there like her. She had chosen her ajah just as soon as she heard.
"Yes, perhaps one day I will be able to walk with the brown shawl across my sholders." She smiled at the thought about having one drapped acorss her keeping a slight cool from anything, evning air, fall breeze. Just took another bite of her food and answered Edeleas qustion.
"Class will be starting soon, but I have time to finshe up my breakfest." She smiled at him. "So tell me what is the Black Tower like? Like what I have said about the White with so many things to do and no time to do it in? I hope you don't mind me asking these things." As she asked Miakoda took a sip of her cool tea.

Edeleas reclined in his chair, choosing his words carefully.

"The Black Tower...is busy." he said. "Aside from running errands and chores for Dedicated and Asha'man, we also have channeling classes and weapon practice. A fellow Soldier once told me that we're Aes Sedai and Gaidin combined, only the Gaidin was more dominant." he chortled.

"We do have some time to go to the library, but for me that isn't enough." Edeleas went on. "I like reading, very much like you, and when I'm at it I usually do it for hours straight. But since I came here, I only have minutes to spare, and breaks like these."

He fetched his lemonade cup and made to drink, but his eyebrows rose when he discovered there was not a single drop left.

OOC sorry that it is short and that I am late.

IC:Miakoda listen to what Edeleas as saying she had always wondered why they were out there with swrods and what not when she did have the chance to go out in the gardnes. She could see what he ment by they were Aes Sedai's and the Gadins combind into one. Miakoda always understood the whole reading part. She was lucky enough to have found this seat open and even more lucky that he had lent her the book to read. Her hands went for the books and her let her fingers run along the spine, it was a good thing that she had placed it beside her for she didn't want him to think of her as an idiot.

"You were lucky enough to have a book, that you were able to read in your spare time. Most of my things were taken and burned and I was sent off to the new quaters with a this simple white dress on." she looked down at her dress with a frown. It really wasn't the prettiest thing ever. "I've only ben to the libary once and that was just to find some information on something in one of the classes that I am in." Miakoda thought about her first time in the libary and how it was amazing to see all of those books in one place. A small broke across her lips and she went to pick up her tea, but insteed she spilled the last mouth full on the table. Jumping up she grabbed her napken pressing into the tea so it would soak it up.
"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to" She looked up at Edeleas to see if he was angery or trying to hold back a laugh.

ooc - That's okay, dear. *snuggles*

==

Edeleas shook his head in distaste. "Why'd they burn your things? The White Tower is a lot harsher than I thought - but then, when I came to the Black Tower, I barely had a satchel-full of things. But hey, the library is a good place, and we both barely have time to enjoy the books there, what a shame."

A pause occurred between them, until Miakoda made a slight mistake and spewed her tea onto the table. Edeleas quickly leapt up, fetched his own napkin and started wiping the table. Miakoda apologized, but Edeleas waved it away.

"That's okay, we all commit mistakes." He smiled. "Are you sure you did not mess up your dress?"

Maikoda thanked Edeleas for helping her clean the spill, but it was a little different she was use to cleaning things on her own. She made a small little giggle. "Well if I did spill something on it at least I'll be a novice with some colour." She looked down and at the bottom of the dress was some tea spills that were soaking through. She shurrged her shoulders and didn't think about it. She just simply had to change before going to her next class.


" I still don't know the real reason in why they would burn things. But you are only to keep those things that have a real meaning to you. And since most of my stuff didn't have that kind of meaning according to them, it was burt." Her voice didn't sound sad she had already shed her tears for that. Miakoda had moved on and was not about to let that bother her again. She had made a new friend or at least she had hoped so.

Edeleas sighed when Miakoda mentioned about the thing-burning again. Thank the Light he didn't have to go through that - if his precious books were burned then very probably he would have thrown himself into the fire too. He sat back down and stared at his empty plate for a minute before looking at her again.

"Well....you see I have to go soon," he smiled, holding out his hand. "I's very nice to meet you. If we could see each other again, here, sometime?"

Miakoda picked up the wet napkins and placed them on the empty plate. She gathered Edeleas empty plate as well and stacked them. She had to get going soon, just as she was thinking that Edeleas had said the same thing.
"Well....you see I have to go soon," he smiled, holding out his hand. "I's very nice to meet you. If we could see each other again, here, sometime?" Miakoda smiled back at him taking his hand in her's. "It was my pleasure. Yes meeting again sounds like a wonderful time, here or anywere. It is nice to have a good convserstion with someone other than Aes Sedai." She gave a little laugh and picked up the plates and was ready to leave and start her day.

Edeleas watched his new friend leave with a smile. He sighed deeply and stood as well, taking his empty plates and tray. Having friends was a good thing here in Tar Valon; it inspired one to persevere and work hard. Of course it gave a fullfilment to see yourself and your friends being raised alongside each other....

After depositing his dishes to the counter, Edeleas left the Mess Halls in a jog, heading for the Open Grounds to practice with his sword...

NEW RP SCENE

~~~~~~

Edeleas was still yawning widely as he made his way into the Mess Halls, his soiled black robe attracting questioning eyes of Soldiers, Novices and Accepted. He ignored their stares, proceeding to pick up a tray and fall in line toward the counter to patiently wait for his turn.

It was a relief, Edeleas thought, that being raised to Dedicated now gave him more time to eat and enjoy the Mess Halls of Tar Valon, to sit and relax and have opportunity to make new friends. But the longer free time did not mean he was no longer busy. It was just that being on second level allowed one some freedom, but the workload was the same, and with harder and nastier exercises thrown in the package.

He took his usual seat on the table at the Hall's farthest corner, stirring his porridge so that it would cool fast and allowing dew to stick to his cool teacup. He looked around before giving his glasses a push and proceeded to open a book he'd borrowed from the library.

He wondered who he'd meet today.