. . . Always Thought . . .

Chapter 2 -

Short Summary: A parade of the Army of the Light leads to an assassination attempt, and Neelkan starts to realize something. His dreams... aren't just dreams... Plus he gets to play hero!

Quote: He glances from his friend to the Aes Sedai who is at least no longer on his 'Evil Woman' scroll (not that he really keeps a scroll for that, because every woman in existance starts out there, and then -might- move to the 'Not Too Bad' scroll or the 'Are Ya SURE Yer a Woman!?' scroll eventually, not that he really keeps those either...).

Characters: Neelkan, Christabel, Kalibar, Aed, Seon, Tiau, Denn'ryiel, Keay, Darien, Zaidah, Espiria, Kaomi, Aliana, and Dalloria

Realization -

Short Summary: The full impact of what happened at the Parade hits Neelkan.

Quote: Reaching up to brush at his dusty hair absently, Neelkan looks over Redd, then his eyes move to Wyntere. He's... oddly silent for some reason, and he seems... bothered by something. His eyes them move towards the bed that Wyn moved away from. Espi! She was there too!? Arg. Neel's really going to track down everyone in that mob and give them a black eye now. Glare.

Characters: Neelkan, Redd, Wyntere, and Espiria.

Singing and Hallusinations

Short Summary: While comforting the poor kid in the aftermath of the Parade, Neelkan sees something happen to a certain Novice that leaves him stunned and curious. What is going on with Espiria?

Quote: Arch?? Didn't... didn't Redd mention seeing a yellow arch...? Neelkan tries hard not to think about this and keeps a hand on the arm that isn't cribbling into the book. Never... made any rings? Could he have befriended someone who isn't completely stable in the head. He's tempted to put a hand to her forehead and check for a fever... but he won't. He'll just hold onto her arm, until it seems she might be stopping for a moment. This is when she mentions the Arch of course, and he blinks. "Arch? Ya don't see 'n arch 'r anythin', d'ya?" He looks around as if to see whatever it is the girl's seeing... This is -too- weird. Can he go back to being a bandit... please?

Characters: Neelkan, Aed, and Espiria.

Kaomi

Short Summary: The bandit in the infirmary meets Kaomi. Also known as the Amyrlin Seat. And for a change he gets off on the right foot.

Quote: "Yer startin' t' sound like m' ma." Neelkan says, narrowing his eyes a little. Oddly enough, his eyes drift down from her face for a moment. He really is a strange one. "'n ye'h. I've noticed the fact 'ere's a lotta women 'round 'is place. 'n it's an island too..." His face goes a little perplexed at the thought of it being an island. Wonder why?

Characters: Neelkan and Kaomi

Zaidah

Short Summary: A night on the town ends up.... well... disaster.

Quote: "Oh, why dontcha just go bite int' a lemon. Yer a'ready sour 'nough t' make m' think ya got one perminantly stuck in yer throat." For some reason he feels really childish right now... and he actually sticks his tongue out at the young woman briefly.

Characters: Neelkan, Zaidah, Wyntere, Darien and Juzriel.

Boot-napping

Short Summary: The Morning After disaster.

Quote: Ow. Head hurts. Don't think. He keeps his hand covering his eyes and tries to do just that... but alas... with something warm and sorta soft pressing against him, it's a little hard to ignore for long, even with the pounding in his head. He raises his fingers up again and looks through his lashes until... ERK!??!? A... a... woman? (Would he have perfered a man? NO!! Not in bed with him!! But the point is it's a woman!! An evil, evil, evil -woman-!!) He covers his eyes again, as if hoping this is all a horrible, pain filled nightmare and he'll wake up in a few minutes!!

Characters: Neelkan and Zaidah

An Offer

Short Summary: Neelkan gets an offer to join the Trainee program... The day after disaster. And he's in a fowl mood.

Quote: Ack! Neelkan finds himself lifted up into the air and he squirms, hoping his shirt doesn't tear apart even more then it already is... That might not feel very good falling on his back side yet again. If he heard any of that, he gives no incidation as he flails about like a child, kicking his legs and flailing his arms. He waits til the man is apparently finished speaking before he starts yelling though, "Put m' down ya big oaf!!! Blood and ashes!!" Grrrrrrrrr. "Lemme go!! D' I got some flamin' sign on m' forehead sayin' 'Push m' 'round t'day' 'r something'!?" It would be a safe bet that what was said didn't get absorbed.

Characters: Neelkan, Jessian, Espiria, and Tiau

Secrets

Short Summary: It's a long day of secrets being revealed. The day after the day after disaster... ;)

Quote: Suddenly, Neelkan's face goes completely pale, color draining out of his cheeks. White as those streaks in his hair. His eyes even widen a little. His breathing speeds up a little, but it doesn't exactly sound steady. Hmm? What's wrong now. He doesn't even seem to hear all of the end of Espiria's answer to the question of her talent. After a few moments he asks softly, "All 'ese... talents 'r connected t'.. uh.. channelin'?"

Characters: Neelkan, Espiria, Denn'ryiel, Christabel, Redd and Wyntere

Green Ajah -

Short Summary: Neelkan goes to see a Green Sedai to ask about Gaidin.

Quote: "I'm not afraid'a challange, 'n I doubt 'ey could work m' half as hard as m' sisters used t'!" Neelkan says with some honestly. Five older sisters. Living on a farm. And who did all the work? Little Neel. Bwah. Or Shun'u as he was called then. "'n I want t' do it. I was considerin' it f'r I was e'er offered."

Characters: Neelkan and Aliana

Deciding Factors

Short Summary: The disicion is yes, in terms of joining the Gaidin program.

Quote: Neelkan grins and nods, "Can't wait! I'll actually be able t' have some flamin' privacy!" Uh... "No offense!" he calls out the the closest Yellow sister. Yup. He seems in a good mood.

Characters: Neelkan, Denn'ryiel, Redd and Wyntere

Telling Wyntere

Short Summary: Espiria tells Wyntere about Neelkan's dreams.

Quote: "Well...we got him calmed down enough so that he would talk and after Denn left, he was so scared, Wyntere Sedai. He...Well it seems he has dreams that come true and he...was so terrified that it meant he was a channeler. He...just doesn't know what to do now. I mean..I talked to him about it and got him calmed down, but he...he's said that he's always been plagued by dreams like that. That's why he hardly ever sleeps. He's not wanting to close his eyes and see something else. Now, he's found out they aren't just dreams..and he's not sure 'what' to do anymore. He never wanted this..He wanted it gone too, until I explained that there's a good reason for him to have it. The Wheel doesn't just hand things out like this without some plan in mind...some reason for it." - Espiria

Characters: Wyntere, Espiria and Neelkan (first half logged without Neel's participation)

Addressing a Gaidin

Short Summary: A certain Novice friend of his teaches Neelkan how to properly address a Gaidin. Like he's going to actually learn from that...

Quote: "Eh? I don't understand. Do I know how t' address 'em? Can't I just say 'G'day?'" Neelkan asks, as if confused at the question of addressing someone. Light, this is the same guy who calls the Mistress of novices Wyn and the Amyrlin Seat Kaomi.

Characters: Neelkan, Espiria, and Savren