07/10/2000

Courtyard, The White Tower, Tar Valon

Marble tiles gleam from a straight path which leads from the Gates of the
Tower to the wide double doors which announce its entry point. Soft grass
and well planned patches of flowers can be found to either side, with the
occasional shady tree. Accepted and novices sit on stone benches, some
practicing their Power to the dismay of uneasy petitioners passing through.
To the side there is a stable, near the fenced entrance to the clearly
visible yard where shirtless boys go through sword forms through the day.

Guards take the weapons of those wanting to enter, though the Gaidin spread
about the courtyard, seemingly about their leisure, look ready to pounce on
any men who "forgot" a dagger at the gates. Aes Sedai pass through on
various errands, some nodding to acknowledge bows or curtsies. The
atmosphere is busy, but calm.



Kaomi sits on one of the benches, calmly looking over reports.

Coming out of the Practice Yard, one trainee with white streaks in his red
hair looks fit to rip someone limb from limb. For all of five seconds.
Immediately when Neelkan suspects anyone might be watching he calms himself
down and walks up to the first woman he sees. A novice. He speaks a quick
apology, apologizing for all the rude comments he has made against women
within the Tower, then before the girl can respond he moves on. He's
heading towards another woman when he spots Kaomi! He starts over in her
direction.

Kaomi doesn't really seem to notice that bit of interplay. The Mother rubs
at her head for a brief moment. The stack of reports is excessively thick.

"Um... Kaomi? ... Mother? Amyrlin Seat?" What is he supposed to call her?
Neelkan leans more towards first names, especially with people he doesn't
dislike. He suddenly bows down deeply and does what he's had to do many,
many times already, "I would like t' apologize f'r all the comments I have
made within the Tower 'gainst women in general, 'n I'm sorry if any of 'em
offended ya." Whew. That one done. "'n I'm being punished f'r being
disrespectful t' General Christabel Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah. Is 'ere
any task 'at ya need help with 'at 'is time?" He almost manages to sound
humble, but he's too fiery looking to pull it off completely.

Kaomi looks up and amusment flashes across her dark eyes. She rubs one
finger alongside her nose. "I see," she says, managing to sound quite grave
despite her inward laughter. "Well then that begs the question, Neelkan.
Are you truly apologetic, or are you apologetic because you have been
ordered to apologize?"

"I am sorry f'r offendin' ya 'n the other women of the Tower, but..."
Neelkan shrugs his shoulders a few times, "I prolly wouldn't've said
nothin' if I hadn't been told too, no." At least he's being honest. He
straightens up, running a hand through his hair a looking a little
grumbling for a second, but he pushes it away again.

The Mother inclines her head, now allowing a slight smile to cross her
features. "Apology accepted, though truly, it has never bothered me. I find
unless you are manipulating politics it matters very little what others
think or feel about you, and the only true image I must maintain is one of
power -- not something I have trouble with -- I find it is perfectly
permissible for anyone to maintain their opinion."

Neelkan can't help but mutter, "Wish ya would tell 'at t' some of the Aes
Sedai 'ere..." One actually ordered him never to speak his opinion about
woman again. He refused that order though, because he knew he would not be
able to keep it. "So 'is 'ere any task 'at ya require of m' at 'is time?"
He's rather hoping it's nothing too difficult. He's already worn out, and
he's probably not even a fifth of the way through the Tower.

"Hmmm, no. Go lay in a leaf pile until someone else orders you around," The
Amyrlin suggests. Twould be a shame not to take advantage of the autumn
weather, the leaves and the winds and whatnot.

The Wheel choose this moment to weave Denn'ryiel out of the Tower. She
adjusts her vest as she exits, and starts down the stairs without really
looking to see who else is here.

This causes Neelkan to smile widely. He's exhausted! He didn't get a wink
of sleep last night because he was scrubbing some Red's study from top to
bottom with a brush the size of his finger. He flashes a grin at the
Amyrlin and says, "I'll ne'er let anyone say nothin' bad 'bout ya e'er,
Kaomi." Then he starts over to the pile of leaves and plops down on it,
closing his eyes almost instantly. He probably won't fall asleep, but he's
going to rest his body for a while. He even misses Denn's exit from the
Tower.

The door doors to the white tower fly outward with violent force and a
thunderous *BANG* as they slam against the walls of the tower. The nearly
seven foot tall Master Gaidin and General flows out the door second after,
an angry stalk to his step and a frown noticeable on his face around the
smoking pipe gripped between his teeth.

Denn'ryiel spots Kaomi as she reaches the bottom of the steps, and begins
to curtsey to her. She has to jump out of the way of the Gaidin and General
though when she's halfway down, but keeps her balance. "Light Shine,
Mother," she intones.

Neelkan is laying on his back, in a leaf pile in the courtyard, his eyes
closed and taking a moment to relax and rest. He's so worn out. If he never
sees another Aes Sedai or Gaidin it will be far, far too soon for him. But
of course living in the Tower, the minute he opens his eyes will be far,
far too soon.

Kaomi's attention is drawn from Neelkan and Denn'ryiel, however, by the
slamming, banging Master Gaidin. "Peace favor your sword, Michael," the
mother says wryly, smoothing her stole. "Might I ask what has led to such
an...explosive...entrance?"

"Light Shine mother," Michael says as he stalks down the stairs dropping
into a deep bow to the Amrylin before straightening. " And if you want to
know its Aes Sedai who overstep there bounds. Such as Christabel Sedai," he
turns looking over the courtyard now and spotting the pile of leaves. "
FLEDGLING NEEKLAN!! GET YOUR BLOODY HIDE OVER HERE!!"

Denn'ryiel winces at the hollar, and turns to locate whom is being
addressed. That alone is enough to bring a blush to her cheeks. She
definatly backs up out of the way now.

Flinch. Oh no... What did he do this time...? Neelkan grits his teeth a few
times, then pushes himself up from the pile of leaves, dusting off the bits
of leaves from his clothes and hair as he stands. He lets out a long
grumble before looking for the source of the... oh no... Not him. Not the
guy who dunked him. What's he going to do now? Throw him in the river?
Neelkan just steels his expression though and starts over, bowing down to
glare at the man's feet since he can't see that and says, "Um, yes Gaidin?"

Kaomi just folds her hands in her lap and watches in silence.

Michael crosses his arms over his chest as he stares down at Neeklan for a
moment, " Are you are trainee or a novice?" he ask rather simply before
puffing on his pipe.

Denn'ryiel decides that whatever garden she is standing closest to right
now is the one that needs the most work at the moment. She definately keeps
her ears open, and glances up from time to time as well.

"A trainee, Gaidin. I would ne'er b' caught dead in one'a 'ose silly
dresses." Neelkan says with a small grin, even if this isn't the time for
jokes. He seems to feel it is though. He spots Denn in the corner of his
eye and flashes a grin at her for a second, before turning his attention
back on the Master Gaidin.

Michael clears his throat as he glares down to Neeklan, " Fine then your
punishment for sticking your tongue out at christable or whatever you did
is one push up, after that you are free to go and have tomorrow off of
chores."

Kaomi hides a grin behind one hand. Well. Now she's just going to have to
express wide eyed surprise that Christabel should have a problem with any
of this when the woman comes back to complain to her.

Denn'ryiel blinks, wondering if she heard the Master Gaidin right. She
returns Neelkan's smile, and continues to give most of her attention to the
conversation.

This is where Neelkan lowers his head and looks away, grumbling for a few
moments at the ground, "Master Gaidin... Christabel Sedai did not give me
the punishment. She told m' t' leave the Infirmary 'n find the first Gaidin
'n ask f'r the strictest punishment he could think of. I did 'at." He's
actually... why doesn't he just take the one pushup and go!?

"I am the master gaidin and my word is law as far as the trainees go,"
Michael says as he looks over to Kaomi. " We have the amrylin seat here
though...mother do you think my punishment is sufficient combined with what
Neeklan has already performed?"

Kaomi inclines her head. "The word of the Master Gaidin, in the area of the
trainees, takes precedence over that of others, though Aes Sedai may
initiate a punishment if they feel it necessary at some point."

Denn'ryiel listens on with interest to the conversation, even though she
has no part in it. Her smile rises a little bit as Neelkan tries to shrug
off the lighter chores.

Neelkan grits his teeth for a moment, then looks up right at the Master
Gaidin, "With all due respect, I would like t' complete the punishment
given t' m'. A lot of the people 'ere in the Tower don't think I'm gonna
make it through a month. I've been called e'erythin' from 'n idiot, t' a
coward who's 'fraid 've women, 'n hundreds of other things since I came
'ere. A'most like yer tryin' t' make m' leave. I don't know if 'is'll
change anythin', but I'd like t' finish. Just t' prove 'at I can. But if ya
order m' t' take the push up 'n leave it 'at 'at, I will."

Michael considers Neeklan for a moment before he nods his head, " Alright
fledgling," he replies, " Seems you have a little steel to you, keep the
punishment you were given if thats your choice."

Denn'ryiel continues to work in the gardens. Somehow she is attuned enough
with her chore that she's able to devote most of her attention to Neelkan
and the Gaidin without making mistakes or slowing down significantly.

A little steel? Yes, Neelkan has a lot of steel. He straightens himself up
again, then nods his head towards the man, accepting that and moves away
towards Denn, "'ey." Light, he can not believe he just did that. He could
have gotten out of all the chores. He must really be an idiot.

Denn'ryiel grins and stands up. "Hello," she says, to her friend. "I hope
all these punishments you've been getting in weren't because of... you
know."

Sunan heads out of the Practice Yard, and his eyes immediately lock on the
Amyrlin. Not very observant am I, Sedai? I'm more observant asleep than you
are stable. Angrily he touches the bandages he appiled to his head. The
patch is much longer than wide. With his right hand, he's holding a
parchment. A emessage of some sort.

Neelkan quickly shakes his head, running a hand through his hair, "Oh no.
Nothin' from 'at yet." Yet. He presses his lips together for a moment, then
lowers his head towards the ex-Accepted friend of his and says, "If
anythin' I said within the Tower 'bout m' personal feelin's towards women
in general offended ya, I apologize f'r it." The task was for every woman
in the Tower. Denn may be a friend... but... he's going to do every part of
this punishment if it kills him. Which he hopes it doesn't.

Denn'ryiel chuckles and shakes her head. "If I was offended Neelkan you
would have heard from me long before now. I can tolerate such opinions."
She idly brushes the dirt from her skirt from kneeling in the garden,
without realizing what she is doing.

Kaomi looks over at Sunan and lifts an eyebrow, but doesn't comment just at
the moment.

Sunan approaches Kaomi's bench and bows deeply. He reaches the end of
bowability, and says, "Whoa, cant go lower." The, straightening, he extends
the parchment and says, "I was told to hadn this parchment to you by Gaidin
Allex."

"I didn't 'ink 'ey did, but I just..." Neelkan shakes his head and runs
fingers through his hair. "'least I don't gotta ask ya f'r a task." But
then again, if he had just done what the Master Gaidin was trying to let
him do, he would have gotten out of doing any more tasks.

Kaomi takes the parchment in gentle fingers and scans over it. "Thank you,
trainee," she murmurs. Wonderful, another piece of paper and another
problem to add to her endlessly expanding pile.

Denn'ryiel chuckles a little bit. "I hope they haven't kept you too busy,
or at the very least, that they've given you tasks away from the infirmary.
You were starting to become a permanent fixture there."

Grinning, Neelkan scratches at his hair for a moment, nodding, "Ye'h. I
would kinda like t' go up 'ere though, just t' check on Espi." That was
what he was trying to do when the thing with Christabel happened. "'n...
I'm tired, but I'll do all the tasks as best I can." But the second anyone
tells him to put on a dress, he's gone. No more tasks!

Sunan stands there for a moment, and the asks, "Am I supposed to be
dismissed or can I go?" He wonders.

"You are dismissed, trainee," Kaomi murmurs.

Denn'ryiel smiles gently and nods, placing a hand softly on his shoulder.
"I'm sure that you will, Neelkan. Don't worry, this will all be in the past
soon enough."

He certainly hopes so. "Maybe 'is'll get people t' stop talkin' 'bout m'
like I'm gonna pack outta 'ere in a month." Neelkan shrugs. That's the only
thing he wants to get out of this. Some semblance of respect. That's all he
wants. At least now that he's continueing the tasks of his own violetion,
he'll allow himself to sleep and everything, and not feel he has to finish
before he sleeps or does anything socialable. Which is the only reason he's
talking to Denn at the moment. "'ey, so did ya really 'ink I was gonna get
in trouble f'r kissin' ya?"

Sunan approaches the pair as the Amyrlin dismisses him, "Maybe what will,
Neelkan? I haven't heard all of your conversation." He glances a Neelkan
more closely, "Have you been having sleeping problems?" He asks.

Denn'ryiel blushes slightly and nods. "I'm surprised /I/ haven't gotten
into trouble over that, though the Sedai are a little confused as to
whether I can still get into trouble or not. I don't think they're going to
do anything. And as for getting them to talk about something else, I think
you succeeded."

"Most I've heard 'bout it so far is gossipers 'n nosey people." Neelkan
says witha shrug... then... Name the Dark One! No offense, but Sunan does
tend to be nosey. "'ey, Sunan. Ya didn't 'ear 'bout m' punishment? I have
t' ask a task 'a e'ery Sedai 'n Gaidin in the Tower. 'n I ne'er sleep well.
Ya should know 'at." He sleeps so badly that his hair has white streaks in
it, and he's only seventeen! "'n I guess the gossipers do got somethin' new
t' talk 'bout, yeah." He adds with a tired laugh.

Sunan touches his brother-turned-patient's face with concern, "You look
worse. I can give you some herbs to make you sleep. Lots have very few to
no side efects. You won't piss everywhere." He offers graphicaly. Wonder
where he learned that word. "I'm sorry about your punishment, are you close
to finished with it?"

Denn'ryiel frowns as she hears that. "I had forgotten about that. Your
sleeping, that is. I'm sorry there's nothing I can do to help you with
that. Not unless your nightmares are sent by Shadowspawn, anyways. I can't
protect from within."

Neelkan shakes his head, "Not close, no Sunan. Prolly not e'en a fifth of
the way through the Tower." And he almost got a reprieve, and he threw it
away! Stupid, stupid!! Then at all the talk about his sleeping and his
dreams he just continues to shake his head, "Really, I'm fine. It's not
gettin' t' sleep 'at's the hard part, Sunan. 'n... don't worry 'bout it
either, Denn. Shadowspawn sendin' m' dreams? Hah."

Sunan's brow furrows, concerned. He grabs his amulet and tosses it ahead of
them, on the grass. "I did not know you had nightmares, Neelkan. Perhaps I
can help you with them. Mother Trici, who I semi-apprenticed to, tried to
teach me about mental health as well as physical. Maybe something's been
bothering you?"

Denn'ryiel nods her head once. "It does happen, though I wouldn't worry
about it. There's really no reason for them to do so, and it's not like
they'll make things worse," she offers. She then blushes a little further.
"I... I want to thank you for not breaking our friendship. I know you had
every right to, if you felt like it."

Neelkan notices the amulet get tossed aside, and he looks greetful at Sunan
for a few moments before saying, "'ey're just nightmares. I've a'ways had
'em. I'm used t' 'em." There's a few lies in there he wouldn't have been
able to say. He has always had them... but they are not just nightmares,
and he'll never get used to them. Then he turns his attention back on Denn,
lightening his expression into a playful smirk, "'ey, just like the Tower's
gonna learn, ya can't get rid'a m' 'at easily." He even follows up with a
wink. Least he didn't follow up with a kiss, right?

Sunan stares at Neelkan a moment. "I don't beleive you." He says flatly.
"You are not used to them."

Denn'ryiel chuckles and grins. "No, I don't believe I could. I imagine if I
wanted to get rid of you efore, I would have tried fluttering my eyelashes
or something silly like that. It doesn't sound like that would work now
though."

Laughing a little, Neelkan shrugs, "Oh, well, ya might've worried m' f'r a
few, but I wouldn't've ran off on ya 'r nothin'." Then he leans in and asks
shamelessly, "Were ya thinkin' of battin' yer eyelashes 'at m' 'en?" He's a
stinker. Yes he is. Then Sunan goes and says that and the smile fades
slightly and he bites on his lip, "'ey just dreams... 'ey don't mean
nothin'." 'cept when some happen to come true...

Denn'ryiel scowls at Neelkan's tease and half-heartedly bats at him. "You
know what I meant, scoundrel," she says with a smile again. "I haven't
batted them yet, have I?"

Sunan shakes his head vigorously. "Don't lie to me Neelkan. I've never lied
to you. If you were used to it, you wouldn't moan. You wouldn't yell. You
wouldn't kick. Or scream. Or cry. Or fall of the bed. I've watched you.
I've heard you, woke myself up, and watched you. You won't let me help, but
I know you aren't used to it." At least he mentioned not a word Neelkan
said, coherent or not.

"Just leave it alone, Sunan!" Neelkan actually yells at the boy, getting
frustrated for a moment. "I don't wanna talk 'bout it!"

Sunan nods, slowly, to him. He walks over, takes his amulet, and leaves.

Raeth slips out of the tower, glad to be away from the dark little place he
calls his room. Giving a small glance around the courtyard he casually
walks down the steps and pulls out a small cloth and starts sliding it up
and down the glowing staff; cleaning it. He heads towards a empty bench and
gives Neelkan a quick nod.

Neelkan watches as both Sunan and Denn leave, and he suddenly feels rather
bad about yelling at the boy like that. He was just trying to help... the
boy with white streaks in his red hair shakes his head and grumbles a few
things under his breath as he moves away from the spot near one of the many
gardens. He takes not of the Gaidin with the glowing staff and pauses for a
moment, before bowing down, "Gaidin."

Raeth takes a seat at the bench, and keeps his cold gaze on the staff while
he cleans the carved serpents spiraling around it. "So tell me,
Neelkan...what are you doing here? At the tower I mean?" He voice is calm
and steady, cool as a winter breeze. For some odd reason, he probably looks
like he's in a good mood.

Neelkan lets out a long sigh, straighting to tilt his head towards the sky
as if to ask the sun 'Why him', but he doesn't do that, instead he just
shakes his head and answers, "I'm 'ere cause I choose t' be. 'n I want t'
be. 'n I got friends 'ere." He shrugs his shoulders, as if that's all he
has to answer that question with, or perhaps that's all he wishes to share.

"You know,..." Raeth frowns a little at some dirt caught deep inside the
carved edges of the staff, "...the tower isn't exactly a place to be
visiting people for such a long time. You basically live here. So tell me,
you haven't enrolled in the trainee program, so what are you doing _here_?"
He looks up, blue gaze drilling into yours, "Think before answering." His
eyes drop once more, almost happily, back to his staff, "Not to kiss the
accepted, I hope."

"Gaidin, I have enrolled in the Trainee program." Neelkan responds softly,
shrugging his shoulders. "But t' be a trainee isn't the reason I'm stayin',
it's just an excuse really. 'n no... I'm not 'ere t' kiss on the Accepted."

Vashta comes on troddling down the stairs of the Tower, dressed in her
normal outfit. She pauses and curtsies to the Gaidin that Neel is speaking
to and then proceeds to begin to weed the flowers.

Raeth's granite face cracks into a frown at Neeklan's response. "Just an
excuse?" Cool tone tightens into a cold whip, "Neither the tower or it's
gaidins have time to be wasting it on some trainee who merely enrolls in
the program just as an excuse. It is something serious and something to
commit to." Raeth has definetly stopping cleaning his staff now. "Now I
suggest you tell me _exactly_ why you are here." Raeth give a quick glance
at Vashta offering her curtsey only a quick nod before winter gaze snaps
back onto Neeklan.

Vashta giggles a bit and then stifles it as she begins to weed.

Neelkan narrows his eyes slightly and a flash of determination shows in his
face, "I meant 'at I don't really need the trainin'. I'm a'ready a good
fighter. I could prolly best most of the trainees ya guys have at m' level,
if not all of 'em. Most above m' too I bet. I'm 'ere because I'm not
leavin' m' friends. 'n because I want t' prove t' ya Gaidin 'n Aes Sedai
who keep tryin' t' get m' t' leave 'at I /can/ finish. And /will/ finish."

Raeth raises a brow, "So the lad thinks he's good?" He says almost to
himself while he shakes his head disappointedly, "I had a trainee like
you....said exactly the same things...that he was soooo good. Guess what?
He's dead now." Raeth twirls the staff so the blade is pointing at the
ground then strikes it down hard and leaves it there standing on its own,
then walks a couple of paces towards you, then leans in close, "Let me tell
you something, boy, there is ALWAYS somebody better. Even at your own level
of expertise, if that's what you have. You may be good, but there are
plenty of ruff edges we have to remove, if you can handle it with that big
head of yours. There is always something new to learn." His voice is a
cracked whip, and he pauses for a heartbeat to let it sink in before going
on, "You got courage boy, I can give you that, and as to the gaidin and
sedai wanting you to leave, I doubt it and if it is so, you bring them to
me."

Vashta whistles some mroe as she doesn't try it.. "Like tonking that staff
over your head if they feel like it."

Watching the man twirl the staff and leaves it there, Neelkan looks a
little impressed, but he doesn't look worried or scared as the man
approaches. He listens to all the man has to say before grinning lightly
before he says, "I don't think I'm the best, Gaidin. I just know what I can
do." He's not stupid enough to think he knows everything. He just knows
that he's not as unskilled as at least some of the trainees he's met. "I'll
do 'at next time someone goes 'bout tryin' t' make m' leave... Speakin' of
which..." Neelkan suddenly falls into a deep bow, taking a step back as he
does this and says, "I am bein' punished f'r being disrespectful t'
Christabel Sedai. If 'ere's any one task 'at ya require 'at 'is time, I
would b' glad t' furfill it f'r ya."

Not much throws Raeth off guard, but pouncing Neeklan with his words and
then have him suddenly go into a bow and asking if there was a task he
could do for him, just did. He blinks and frowns a lot deeper thinking for
a heartbeat that the lad is mocking him...and then he remebers. And to
think he was just to about to make the boy's life a living nightmare. He
takes a long patient breath, "No nothing, but stick around, I'm sure I'll
think up of something, trainee."

"Not goin' anywhere." Neelkan says as he straightens, running fingers
through his hair. "Ya people can't get rid'a m' 'at easily. But I'm prolly
gonna go t' m' room 'n get some sleep right now 'fore I go 'n do anymore
tasks. Yakani Sedai," A Red, "made m' stay up all last night t' clean 'er
room, top t' bottom, with a brush this small." He holds up his pinky finger
to show how small it was.

Raeth cracks a small grin, "Yakani Sedai can be like that at times. She is
friendly enough once you get to know her. Sometimes, that's is." He shakes
his head softly, "Go get some sleep, lad. You got chores to do in the
morning."

"'n I'm gonna do 'em too." Neelkan says, shrugging his shoulders and moving
towards the Practice Yards and to the Barracks beyond. For once he wants to
fall asleep as soon as he hits the bed. He's not even going to make an
attempt to stay up. He's too tired. He can worry about the consequences of
sleeping later.