Post by Myridd on Dec 1, 2010 19:59:09 GMT -5
Lancelle had sent one of the Tower servants to locate the others, and was sitting in one of the chairs of one of the small meeting rooms of the Tower. She held the Source, saidar flowing through her, and had woven a ward against eavesdropping - a standard precaution taken during meetings - while she waited for their arrival. Her hands were folded in her lap, and she glanced to Reginald at her side. “Am I correct in deciding to return home?”
“You are correct as a sister in returning home.” Reginald said somberly. “But as an Aes Sedai, and a disinherited daughter. . .” He shrugged lightly. “I do not know. Neither is it my decision. Stand behind your decisions, Lancelle. I’ll stand by you.”
“Thank you.” She turned her eyes toward the door. “Even if I could normally compel them to join me on any voyage, I could not compel them for this one. It is not a concern of theirs.”
Reginald opened his mouth to speak as the door opened. Wren was the first one inside, nodding to Lancelle but refusing to look at the Warder. “Good Morning, Lancelle Sedai. Your Sisters have been gracious.”
Lancelle glanced between her brother and the noble girl, but did not ask the question that was in her eye. Instead, she spoke to Wren. “Good morning. Ariya Sedai did not dote on you too much, did she?”
“She did. But I thought it was charming. A refreshing change from Cairhein.” Wren turned her glance away from Lancelle for a second, before smiling slightly. “I mean no insult, but the Aes Sedai of the Tower are not at all like the stories would have you believe.” The door opened again, and Boyd entered the room, a freshly dressed gash on his cheek from his earlier match with Gruston.
“Oi, Good morn Lancelle. Lucan.” He nodded to each in turn, than took a seat on the opposite side of Lancelle.
A moment after Boyd’s entrance, Galin came in, offering a wide smile to each person there. “G’day.”
Wren smiled to Galin and Boyd as they entered. “Now, where were you all night?” She said with a sheepish grin as Galin came to sit next to her.
“I spent the night being a perfect gentleman, I’ll have you know.” Galin winked to her, tilting his chair back against the wall.
“A perfect gentleman by who’s standard?” Wren smirks, happy that Galin had found Beryl, but would not resist the urge to make fun of him for it.
“The only standards that mattered at the time... those of my companion.”
Lancelle cleared her voice quietly, drawing attention to herself. “I will be leaving Tar Valon within the next two days, as soon as preparations are made for my trip. Lucan will be joining me.”
“Sister dear..” Reginald leaned towards her and whispered in her ear. “I am beginning to believe terrible tact runs in the family. Perhaps the travels have made us a bit too blunt?” As he sat back up, his eyes flickered to those watching them. Wren’s brow was knit in confusion and Boyd seemed almost hurt.
“Just ‘ike that, ‘han?” The Borderlander said, his voice low. “And ‘his is how you gonna tell us?”
“My brother is missing.” The Aes Sedai turned her gaze on the Borderlander. “My family is in danger. Any of you who wish to join me may; I will turn away no help and I will turn away no support.”
“But you donna ask for it. Were you ‘ust gonna sit around, and be ‘urtin inside if none of us decided to ‘elp?” Boyd returned the comment, his tone a tad sharp.
“Whoever joins me will be going into danger... not simply to themselves. To their honor.” Lancelle’s eyes remained on the Borderlander, as if she were speaking only to him in spite of her words being more generally applicable. “I will ride hooded, unable to reveal my own identity for fear of unleashing something terrible on my family and all those who rely on them. The untruths I am unable to speak will have to be spoken by my companions. It is not a sacrifice I can ask another to make.”
“..Bull. You donna hesitate to join Galin an’ Wren on their quest to ‘ave the dancin’ girl, yet you donna feel up to askin’ for a little aide? You donna even approach me, say your trip be extendin’. Knowin’ full well I know who your family is. You think I care a bit ‘bout some political sense of ‘onor?” Boyd said, standing. “The only one I ‘nswer to is meself. I know you gonna follow the rules of your society, but your society stinks.” The Borderlander headed to the door and swiftly pulled it open. “I’ll be at the stables at ‘awn, two days from now.” With that he left.
“Well.” Reginald said thoughtfully as the Borderlander left the room in a huff. “Didn’t think he had it in him.” The Warder said with a small smile. He’s always spoken with honestly. Loyal to a fault, and insulted when others do not expect that from him. He’d make an excellent warder...
“If Wren’s in, I’m in.” Galin spoke up after a few moments of silence following Boyd’s withdrawal. “Beryl’s leaving soon for Tear, and says I can’t follow now - that we’ll meet again later. I find that seeing the world has left me with little desire to rush back to my father’s inn yet.”
Wren sat quietly for a long moment after Galin spoke, focusing her gaze on Reginald for a moment before speaking to the Aes Sedai. “.....Why did you even bother to tell us? You are an Aes Sedai. It shouldn’t matter what we think about you leaving. You fulfilled your mission by helping us save the girl, so why give us the option of coming along at all? What are you nottelling us, Lancelle Sedai?”
“I was born Lancelle al’Mar, Daughter-Heir of Andor.” The Aes Sedai spoke quietly and directly. “To avert a war with the Whitecloaks, I gave up my inheritance and my rights to my family’s name, and have lived as an exile. Were it not for the misfortune befalling my family, I would not have returned to Andor for the rest of my life.” The gaze she gave Wren was entirely Aes Sedai, showing insurmountable will yet entirely unreadable apart from that.
Wren crossed her arms, shaking her head a bit. “All right. That answers part of my questions, and I can understand some of your secrecy. But why us? Why are we so important, that you would draw us away from others to speak to us? Hoping that we would join you? You can give me that look all you want, Lancelle Sedai, but it really says it all.”
“When we are raised to be Aes Sedai, my sisters swear three oaths on a ter’angreal - an item of Power - that renders us incapable of breaking them. They are bound to us bone-deep. The first is that we will speak no word which is not true.” Lancelle’s gaze remained on Wren. “You are highborn. You know this. If I open my mouth to say that the sky is a color other than that which it holds, no words come forth, and my stomach convulses painfully. On threat of death, I would be unable to speak the lie.” She inhaled deeply. “You first caught my attention because you are ta’veren and the Shadow holds interest in you. If it were only those things, I would leave you here in the care of one of the Sisters who I trust and go alone to help my family. I offer you the choice to ride with me - or to go anywhere else you choose, with sufficient Tower gold to make that journey comfortable - because I trust you. I hope that you choose to ride with me because I like you.”
Wren smiled slightly. “Of course I’m going with you. Regardless of being ta’veren or not, though you’ll have to explain that in depth to me later, just... Why didn’t you tell Boyd that you liked us? Can’t you tell he fancies you?”
Reginald blinked and held in a chuckle. I am surrounded by completely blunt people. Its a refreshing change..
“Aes Sedai and Daughter-Heirs are no less capable of being fools when it comes to men than are Cairheinin noblemen’s daughters or ta’veren.”
Wren blinked several times in rapid succession, her cheeks flushed. “Ah...”
Reginald put a hand on Lancelle’s shoulder. “Than perhaps, Lancelle Sedai, you should go after him? I can get Galin an-”His voice pauses, the words caught in his throat. “Galin to help me with preparations. Light knows where we would be without the Borderlander.”
“Why do I have to do all the helping? Can’t Wren help too?” Galin blinked at the Warder as Lancelle smiled in agreement with him, bowed to the others, and slipped from the room.
Reginald walked over to Galin, and leaned down to the Cairhein man’s height and gave him a broad grin. “Listen here, son. If I say I just wish to be with you, perhaps I am saving the lady from my company.” He said, his voice slightly strained.
“Well... all right.” Galin looked to Wren with an expression of confusion, but rose to follow Reginald out the door.
“You are correct as a sister in returning home.” Reginald said somberly. “But as an Aes Sedai, and a disinherited daughter. . .” He shrugged lightly. “I do not know. Neither is it my decision. Stand behind your decisions, Lancelle. I’ll stand by you.”
“Thank you.” She turned her eyes toward the door. “Even if I could normally compel them to join me on any voyage, I could not compel them for this one. It is not a concern of theirs.”
Reginald opened his mouth to speak as the door opened. Wren was the first one inside, nodding to Lancelle but refusing to look at the Warder. “Good Morning, Lancelle Sedai. Your Sisters have been gracious.”
Lancelle glanced between her brother and the noble girl, but did not ask the question that was in her eye. Instead, she spoke to Wren. “Good morning. Ariya Sedai did not dote on you too much, did she?”
“She did. But I thought it was charming. A refreshing change from Cairhein.” Wren turned her glance away from Lancelle for a second, before smiling slightly. “I mean no insult, but the Aes Sedai of the Tower are not at all like the stories would have you believe.” The door opened again, and Boyd entered the room, a freshly dressed gash on his cheek from his earlier match with Gruston.
“Oi, Good morn Lancelle. Lucan.” He nodded to each in turn, than took a seat on the opposite side of Lancelle.
A moment after Boyd’s entrance, Galin came in, offering a wide smile to each person there. “G’day.”
Wren smiled to Galin and Boyd as they entered. “Now, where were you all night?” She said with a sheepish grin as Galin came to sit next to her.
“I spent the night being a perfect gentleman, I’ll have you know.” Galin winked to her, tilting his chair back against the wall.
“A perfect gentleman by who’s standard?” Wren smirks, happy that Galin had found Beryl, but would not resist the urge to make fun of him for it.
“The only standards that mattered at the time... those of my companion.”
Lancelle cleared her voice quietly, drawing attention to herself. “I will be leaving Tar Valon within the next two days, as soon as preparations are made for my trip. Lucan will be joining me.”
“Sister dear..” Reginald leaned towards her and whispered in her ear. “I am beginning to believe terrible tact runs in the family. Perhaps the travels have made us a bit too blunt?” As he sat back up, his eyes flickered to those watching them. Wren’s brow was knit in confusion and Boyd seemed almost hurt.
“Just ‘ike that, ‘han?” The Borderlander said, his voice low. “And ‘his is how you gonna tell us?”
“My brother is missing.” The Aes Sedai turned her gaze on the Borderlander. “My family is in danger. Any of you who wish to join me may; I will turn away no help and I will turn away no support.”
“But you donna ask for it. Were you ‘ust gonna sit around, and be ‘urtin inside if none of us decided to ‘elp?” Boyd returned the comment, his tone a tad sharp.
“Whoever joins me will be going into danger... not simply to themselves. To their honor.” Lancelle’s eyes remained on the Borderlander, as if she were speaking only to him in spite of her words being more generally applicable. “I will ride hooded, unable to reveal my own identity for fear of unleashing something terrible on my family and all those who rely on them. The untruths I am unable to speak will have to be spoken by my companions. It is not a sacrifice I can ask another to make.”
“..Bull. You donna hesitate to join Galin an’ Wren on their quest to ‘ave the dancin’ girl, yet you donna feel up to askin’ for a little aide? You donna even approach me, say your trip be extendin’. Knowin’ full well I know who your family is. You think I care a bit ‘bout some political sense of ‘onor?” Boyd said, standing. “The only one I ‘nswer to is meself. I know you gonna follow the rules of your society, but your society stinks.” The Borderlander headed to the door and swiftly pulled it open. “I’ll be at the stables at ‘awn, two days from now.” With that he left.
“Well.” Reginald said thoughtfully as the Borderlander left the room in a huff. “Didn’t think he had it in him.” The Warder said with a small smile. He’s always spoken with honestly. Loyal to a fault, and insulted when others do not expect that from him. He’d make an excellent warder...
“If Wren’s in, I’m in.” Galin spoke up after a few moments of silence following Boyd’s withdrawal. “Beryl’s leaving soon for Tear, and says I can’t follow now - that we’ll meet again later. I find that seeing the world has left me with little desire to rush back to my father’s inn yet.”
Wren sat quietly for a long moment after Galin spoke, focusing her gaze on Reginald for a moment before speaking to the Aes Sedai. “.....Why did you even bother to tell us? You are an Aes Sedai. It shouldn’t matter what we think about you leaving. You fulfilled your mission by helping us save the girl, so why give us the option of coming along at all? What are you nottelling us, Lancelle Sedai?”
“I was born Lancelle al’Mar, Daughter-Heir of Andor.” The Aes Sedai spoke quietly and directly. “To avert a war with the Whitecloaks, I gave up my inheritance and my rights to my family’s name, and have lived as an exile. Were it not for the misfortune befalling my family, I would not have returned to Andor for the rest of my life.” The gaze she gave Wren was entirely Aes Sedai, showing insurmountable will yet entirely unreadable apart from that.
Wren crossed her arms, shaking her head a bit. “All right. That answers part of my questions, and I can understand some of your secrecy. But why us? Why are we so important, that you would draw us away from others to speak to us? Hoping that we would join you? You can give me that look all you want, Lancelle Sedai, but it really says it all.”
“When we are raised to be Aes Sedai, my sisters swear three oaths on a ter’angreal - an item of Power - that renders us incapable of breaking them. They are bound to us bone-deep. The first is that we will speak no word which is not true.” Lancelle’s gaze remained on Wren. “You are highborn. You know this. If I open my mouth to say that the sky is a color other than that which it holds, no words come forth, and my stomach convulses painfully. On threat of death, I would be unable to speak the lie.” She inhaled deeply. “You first caught my attention because you are ta’veren and the Shadow holds interest in you. If it were only those things, I would leave you here in the care of one of the Sisters who I trust and go alone to help my family. I offer you the choice to ride with me - or to go anywhere else you choose, with sufficient Tower gold to make that journey comfortable - because I trust you. I hope that you choose to ride with me because I like you.”
Wren smiled slightly. “Of course I’m going with you. Regardless of being ta’veren or not, though you’ll have to explain that in depth to me later, just... Why didn’t you tell Boyd that you liked us? Can’t you tell he fancies you?”
Reginald blinked and held in a chuckle. I am surrounded by completely blunt people. Its a refreshing change..
“Aes Sedai and Daughter-Heirs are no less capable of being fools when it comes to men than are Cairheinin noblemen’s daughters or ta’veren.”
Wren blinked several times in rapid succession, her cheeks flushed. “Ah...”
Reginald put a hand on Lancelle’s shoulder. “Than perhaps, Lancelle Sedai, you should go after him? I can get Galin an-”His voice pauses, the words caught in his throat. “Galin to help me with preparations. Light knows where we would be without the Borderlander.”
“Why do I have to do all the helping? Can’t Wren help too?” Galin blinked at the Warder as Lancelle smiled in agreement with him, bowed to the others, and slipped from the room.
Reginald walked over to Galin, and leaned down to the Cairhein man’s height and gave him a broad grin. “Listen here, son. If I say I just wish to be with you, perhaps I am saving the lady from my company.” He said, his voice slightly strained.
“Well... all right.” Galin looked to Wren with an expression of confusion, but rose to follow Reginald out the door.