Robert leaned back against the oak tree, reveling in the cool breeze in the shade. He was taking a break from all the paperwork that pursued him in the barracks. He liked to come here when he could and just relax and drink in the beauty of the gardens. Sometimes he would bring down a book, and spend a pleasant hour transported away from his duties and responsibilities. On the table in front of him sat a flask of ale and two goblets (he always brought a spare just in case someone happened to wander in and join him). Also in front was a basket with freshly-baked bread and some cold meats; he had thought to have his lunch here today.

Kiren has been right when she said that he should bond with an aes sedai. But the problem was that during all the years he had spent here in the Tower in the Guard, almost all of his time had been spent in the Barracks, and he rarely had any reason to interact with any of the Sisters. It was absolutely scandalous that he really didn't know as much about the aes sedai and their powers. He was the second-highest ranking gaidin in the Tower, after all, and he really should learn more and associate with them more.

Now, he thought to himself, how do I do it? Do I wait here and wait for them to come to me? Or do I go out looking? He thought for a moment. If I go out looking, I'll probably chase them away. So I'll try the passive approach first. Satisfied with his line of thought, he settled back and started to enjoy his food...

This was her first day as a novice. She had just arrived last night, but she had already be given tasks of a novice. This morning she had already had a lesson with her mentor, Freyja Sedai, and know she was to do chores. Kaliendra walked through the garden, she was on her way to do chores in the library. She didn’t know why she had been assigned chores in the library, she couldn’t read or write. What use could she be in a room full of books. Kali had wanted the chores in the kitchen, she was good at cooking, but the Aes Sedai had firmly told her no. She would not be doing chores in the kitchen, for a while. Perhaps if she had not told the Aes Sedai assigning chores about her past, she would have been allowed to cook.

As she walked through the garden she saw a man sitting down eating. She did not know who any of the citizens of Tar Valon were, or how to distinguish between their ranks and titles. This man looked important thought, he was probably one of those Warders, or maybe he was one of those men who could channel. Either way Kaliendra wanted nothing to do with him. She was just going to walk by him, but then she stopped and noticed what stood on the table next to him. It was a flask of ale. Alcohol was one thing she truly hated, it turned people evil. She wondered if this man knew. Did he know what alcohol could do to a man?

She paused, stood there and looked at him. He did not appear to be drunk yet, perhaps she could warn him. Kali had been standing there pondering what to do for so long, that the man was now looking up at her. Boldly she decided to say something to him about it. If he was already taken by the alcohol, or if he got angry at her pointing it out…well, he could not hurt her anymore than her father had. “Excuse me Sir...but I just wanted to tell you that….that stuff you are drinking will make you evil…you know?” She had the feeling that the man did not believe her, by the way he looked at her. “Believe me Sir, it is true…I have seen it happen…many times.” She had seen it happen so many times..

Having gotten a break that was meant for class, Nevira was walking though the garden. The class had been canceled for some reason she didn't know since she couldn't read the announcement. Why can't they just tell us? She thought to herself a bit annoyed. Kicking a rock it hit a tree with a thud. She knew she could ask someone to teach her how to read, but that would be admitting to her weaknesses and she hated that. She wouldn't unless she was forced to.

Rounding a tree she took off from the path and just walked randomly as the terrain presented itself. Not that that was much of a change from straight forward, this was a Garden after all, not a forrest. After a little while Nevira had calmed herself down and was practicing slipping in and out behind trees, on soft feet to try and keep her steps as soundless as she could. It was something that had always been necessary before and here she had noticed that the Gaidin did walk softly, and with the attitude of wolfs, but first things first.

Slipping past an other tree, standing in the shadows, Nevira spotted a novice talking to a Gaidin. More exactly the novice Kaliendra was talking to Robert Gaidin. Having met Kaliendra before she knew both names. The girl had just come up to the Gaidin saying something just as mind twisting as what she had to Nevira in the dining hall. “Excuse me Sir...but I just wanted to tell you that...that stuff you are drinking will make you evil…you know? Believe me Sir, it is true... I have seen it happen...many times.” Nevira sighed, now that was no way to speak to an elder, let alone a higher ranked person then yourself, their business was their business. Taking a deep breath, hoping to make the novice less of a fool then she already was Nevira walked up behind her and spoke, just a few feet away. "That might be true, Kaliendra, but what a Gaidin does is his own business. You should be careful with what subjects you speak to others about." Speaking as softly as possible she tried to make it so that only Kaliendra would hear. But she had no idea how well the Gaidin heard. Lifting her eyes to meet the Gaidin she made a bow. "Nice day for a picnic, Master Gaidin, is it not?" A picnic was something she hadn't been on for ages, and she didn't expect to be on one soon either. It just wasn't something that suited her life, she guessed.

"It is indeed a very nice day to be outside, Nevira," Robert said. He had been peacefully relaxing in the Garden, enjoying his lunch and minding his own business, when suddenly a young chit of a novice comes up and starts lecturing him on the evils of alcohol. He had been quite surprise to have someone seemingly come out of nowhere and start preaching to him. He recognized the symptons. The poor young thing was obviously someone who had come from a family where an adult had overused alcohol and been abusive, and having seen nothing else in her life, had quite naturally grown up to belief that all alcohol use was evil. He sighed inwardly. He had seen other cases like hers in his life. She was more likely a farm girl who had seen nothing of the world, and being immured here in Tar Valon for training was no help eitehr. She badly needed to be taken in hand.

He looked a look of quick gratitude at Nevira. The girl was obviously good at thinking on her feet. He would have to remember to compliment her later. Turning to the novice, he said, "What is your name, Child, and who is your mentor? I am Robert Laurel, the Nosane al'Haran, second in command of the armies of Tar Valon, and I was quite enjoying a peaceful afternoon until you so rudely interrupted me." There! I hope that gets through that she's done something quite unacceptable. There are others around who would not be quite so gentle. His intention was to go to her mentor and ask for a light punishment to teach her that she should think before speaking and not to be rude to her Elders. And this would also alert her mentor that the girl had some problems that definitely needed to be worked through.

Kaliendra heard a voice talking from behind her and turned her head around to see Nevira, "That might be true, Kaliendra, but what a Gaidin does is his own business. You should be careful with what subjects you speak to others about." Kaliendra looked at Nevira with a blank look. She didn’t understand with what the recruit had said. Why shouldn’t she tell him. It was true, after all. She knew it was.

Before she had time to question Nevira, she was already talking to the Gaidin. "Nice day for a picnic, Master Gaidin, is it not?"
"It is indeed a very nice day to be outside, Nevira," Robert said.

Then he turned to her and spoke, "What is your name, Child, and who is your mentor? I am Robert Laurel, the Nosane al'Haran, second in command of the armies of Tar Valon, and I was quite enjoying a peaceful afternoon until you so rudely interrupted me." Second in Command? Kali had no idea. Perhaps Nevira was right, she shouldn’t be talking to him. She should have just left him alone, to get drunk, but it was to late now. He was obviously mad at her for interrupting….he had called her rude. Kali didn’t know how talking to someone was rude, but it didn’t really matter. She stood there and just stared before she had the voice to answer. “uhh…” She quickly dropped a curtsey. She definitely didn’t want this man mad at her. Light, he’s second in command. “I’m sorry Master Gaidin…I didn’t know. My name is Kaliendra Baetal and my mentor is Freyja Sedai.” She stood there stiff, waiting to see what he would do next.

"My name is Kaliendra Baetal and my mentor is Freyja Sedai,” the girl answered. She was obviously frightened out of her wits now, the poor thing, wondering what she had gotten herself into. He stood and looked down at the novice. "Well, Kaliendra, let us go see Freyja Sedai then," he said. He started walking towads the Tower, not waiting to see if the novice was following him. He intended on asking the Yellow sister to be easy on her, as she was very new to the Tower and had obviously had a hard time before coming here. She needed some counseling to rid herself of the inner demons that so obviously racked her. He was going to ask Freyja Sedai to give Kaliendra a light task so that the girl would learn to think before she talked, and not jump to assumptions.

They passed into the Tower, and Robert halted at the entrance to the Yellow living area and stopped a passing novice. "Robert Gaidin to see Freyja Sedai about one of her mentees," he said quietly, and settled back to wait.

She stood there until he spoke, “Well, Kaliendra, let us go see Freyja Sedai then.” She was surprised that he wasn’t going to punish her for being ‘rude’. Kaliendra didn’t know what to think, all sorts of thoughts went through her mind. Was she going to be kicked out? Freyja had told her she would have to prove herself worthy to remain in the tower and one day be raised. Had she failed? Was Freyja going to punish her? Was he going to get mad at Freyja Sedai, for teaching someone who did not know the Tower rules?

Kaliendra looked up and noticed Robert had already started walking. She ran to catch up to where he was. When they arrived to the Yellow quarters he spoke to a novice. “"Robert Gaidin to see Freyja Sedai about one of her mentees.” and then he sat down. Kali remained standing up, and stood staring at the ground, waiting until Freyja could talk to them.

((OOC: never mind this post ;) ))

"It is indeed a very nice day to be outside, Nevira," Robert answered here and gave her a look of gratitude. After that she was completely forgotten. Robert gave the girl a talking to, showing she had indeed done the wrong thing in trying to lecture her elder. Now the two was walking of trying to find Freyja Sedai of the Yellow Ajah, who ever that was. Just as well, there are other things to do then to cover for a novice... Nevira walked off, continuing to practice things she felt a need to keep up and learn.

Freyja signed another paper in her neverending pile of paperwork. She hated paperwork, she thought it was a waste of time. But it was her duty to sign and read stupid papers, so she would. Being a Head gave responsibilities, and Freyja had no intensions in skipping them. But she still didn't have to like them.

She heard a faint knock on the door and she put her papers down, grateful for the interruption. "Come in" she said and the door opened, showing a eager novice. "What is it?" she asked and the novice dropped a low curtsy before saying: "Robert Gaidin is here to see you, Freyja Sedai, about one of your mentees." Freyja sighed a bit. Her mentees didn't usually cause any troubles, not enough for her to be involved. She wondered what it might be. Well, it could be anything. She closed her inkbottle and cleaned her pen before rising from her chair. Paperwork can wait, this is more important. "Show me where he is" she said to the novice and the whiteclad girl dropped another curtsy before leading Freyja out of her rooms.

Then Freyja saw them, Robert sitting peacefully and Kaliendra looking at her feet nervously. The skinny little girl looked miserable. Freyja wondered what she might have done. She was new in the Tower so she probably hadn't started doing pranks or anything. She didn't look like a prankster to Freyja, knowing her past, but who knew? "Thank you, you can go now" she said to the novice who had lead her there. The girl dropped a third curtsy and left. Freyja walked to Robert and Kaliendra, casting a slightly worried glance at her mentee. "What is it?" she asked plainly.

"Thank you for seeing me, Freyja Sedai," Robert said. He led the Yellow sister over to a corner where they could not be overheard and explained the situation to her. "I have no wish to see the girl punished," he said, "but rather I would hope that there is someway she could be helped, and soon. She is obviously carrying a huge load of anger and hurt, and the longer is festers inside, the more it will harm her." He spread his arms. "If she were one of mine, and it didn't involve alcohol, I would know what to do. But..." He voice trailed off. Get her falling-over drunk and get her to talking. But we won't go into that, Robert thought to himself. "I'm sure that you and yours could handle this better than I ever could," he said.

He had seen other situations like this over the years. If the people involved could finally let it out, they would recover and go on to lead happy and productive lives. If not, the results could get very, very ugly...

Kaliendra stood looked at her feet when Freyja walked out from her room. She heard the Aes Sedai’s voice in the room, but didn’t curtsey. She was to upset to remember about rules and ranks. Kali didn’t know what was going on. The Gaidin was obviously mad at her for telling him he shouldn’t drink, but what did this have to do with Freyja.

Freyja Sedai asked Robert to explain what was going on, and they both moved to a corner of the room and talked. Kali wondered why he wanted to tell Freyja without her listening. She already knew what happened, why shouldn’t she heard it again? Kali stood there stiff and staring down at the floor. She waited to see what her punishment would be.

"Thank you for seeing me, Freyja Sedai," Robert said and let her to a corner and explained the whole thing. Freyja frowned, she knew a bit about Kaliendra's past. Her father had been a drunk and used to beat her up when he had been drinking, so Freyja wasn't suprised that Kaliendra would think that no one should ever drink. But disturbing a Gaidin like that wasn't acceptable, not even for a new novice. But Freyja didn't blame Kaliendra really, she understood her behaviour but something had to be done. She agreed with Robert, Kaliendra needed help before this got any further.

"I'm sure that you and yours could handle this better than I ever could," he said. Freyja nodded. It would have been acceptable for him to order her a punishment but novices were primarly Aes Sedai business. And she too thought that she could handle Kaliendra better than him. Freyja could make her tell everything and then they would have a nice long talk. She truly hoped she could help the poor girl.

"I will take care of her personally. Thank you for informing me, her situation is more severe than I had thought. But I will take care of her." She walked to the novice and said: "I wish to see you tonight in my office. We will discuss about this there." Then she walked away, back to her rooms to finish that bloody pile of paperwork before the novice would come.

"Thank you, Freyja Sedai," Robert said. "You put my mind at east." He left the Yellow's office, feeling much better. Well, that's one good deed done today, he thought to himself. He went back to his office, reviewing what needed to be done in the rest of the day. There was a delegation from Cairhien due tomorrow. He planned to hold field exercises, for both training for the Guard and to drive a message home to the nobles: Don't mess with Tar Valon.