08/02/2000

Entrance Hall, White Tower, Tar Valon

The floor forms a beautiful mosaic of color as the seven colors of the
seven Ajahs are employed in tiny tile work to form the flame of Tar Valon
in all of its glory. Though it appears white from a distance, one needs
only bend down to see the fine artistry that went into employing those
colors in just the right way to create such an illusion. Seven that make
one, a fine metaphor for the Aes Sedai, and the first thing a petitioner
would see.

Women wearing great serpent rings, their faces young whatever their real
age, stride through the area, sidestepping petitioners, white-clad novices,
and striped Accepted, for the most part calm and aloof. Novices run
through, to grab petitioners or on their way to lessons, either one, wheras
the Accepted comport themselves with better decorum. Usually, these days,
it is tattered refugees, in grimy clothing, that finds itself huddling
within these fine white walls. As often as not, they cannot be helped,
whatever titles or sad stories they brought with them when they came.

More often than not the denizens of the Tower look straight over the heads
of these pathetic souls, staring straight south. As though they could see
the enemy over the horizon straight through the perfect white Ogier
stonework, and somehow eliminate it with a gaze, a glare, a frown. As if
some answer to the growing corner they find themselves backed in will
present itself from beneath the tangled hair of one of the refugees. Heads
tilt upwards with determination and perhaps a hint of anger, then, and
often times will disappear in a swirl of cloak and hemline.


Sunan steps into the White Tower, looking tired. Sleep. Need sleep! He
troddles along half-mindlessly, hungry.

Neelkan comes down the ramp, moving towards the Infirmary, as he wants to
get something to put on the bruises and scrapes he got during the escape.
He's cleaned up, though not fully, and he's wearing differnt clothing then
he was last saw in, the only thing remaining from his former attire being
the red sash around his waist. He likes it too much to get rid of it,
especially after it came in so handy in the escape. /It/ looks a little
dirty, and needs a wash badly. It's even got some blood stained (though it
just looks like a dark stain on the red fabric) on one end. Over all, he
looks grumpy, kicking the floor as he walks.

Sunan freezes suddenly. Though tired, he does not miss Neelkan. Disbelief
and shock hold him fast, tighter than chains, for one second. And one
second only. Thenm he leaps forward, yelling in a voice not of monotone,
but of excitement, "Neelkan!" He shouts, trying to grab his head to look
into it.

There's a sharp jump at the yelling of his name, then Neelkan suddenly
finds his head grabbed and pulled down until he's looking into the face of
his 'annoying little brother'. He raises his arms and pushes at the
grabbing hands, grumbling softly, "Cut it out, Sunan." He's never been much
for mushy stuff.

Sunan smiles widely, "This is great." He says, then wonders, "I don't wnat
to hug you. I don't like being hugged all the time, so I won't do it to
you, is that okay? What I did shoudl suffice." Then as he finishes his
explanation and releases him, he asks, "re you injured? What happened?"

Reaching up to straighten his hair (though managing only to poof it out
again in all directions) Neelkan just nods at the part about no hugs. He's
glad. He doesn't want to be hugged. "I'm fine. Just got a few scrapes 'n
stuff right now..." The big wounds were healed by the Dreadlord, but he
won't say that. "Me 'n Denn got out." But Verbena... He shakes his head and
sighs. The scrapes are visable on his knuckles and hands. Looks like he was
punching on something he shouldn't have. Like... a wall maybe.

Sunan gently tries to take his hand, "You are hurt. Let me give you some
herbs. Verbena Sedai is still captive? Maybe the Tower Dreamers can get a
message to her via Tel'aran'rhiod." The World of Dreams, though since they
are speaking the Old Tongue, the translation is obvious. "Are you hurt
anywhere else?"

Tel'aran'rhiod? ... There's a world of dreams? ... Tower Dreamers? ...
Neelkan kind of stares at Sunan for a few moments, then shakes his head, "I
dunno. If 'ey could've 'ey would've done it 'fore, I think." He sighs and
shakes his head again, "'n no 'anks on the herbs. I was just gonna get
somethin' from the Yellows 'n put it on m'self."

Sunan considers that a moment, "Maybe they have. Hrm. Well, how about I
make you a tea you can drink later? For your strength?"

Help with strength? Neelkan could certainly use some. Overall he looks
exhausted. And grumpy. He shakes his head though and says, "I just wanna go
sit down, 'en visit Espi in a bit." His friend was probably worried sick.
And he needs to thank her.

Sunan smiles widely, "I'll come with you." He turns around so he can stand
by Neelkan's side, ready to go. "What happened after you were captured."
Perhaps, fortunately for Neelkan, his amulet is not with him. "Did they do
anything..." He searches for a good word. Tact! He's getting some. "-Unkind
to you?"

Turning and heading towards the Common Wing, planning on sitting in the
common lounge where there's some nice seats, Neelkan pauses at the question
and looks at the young man for a long moment, "Nothin' 'at bad, really.
Just denied us food 'n water f'r a while 'en questioned us a lil'. It
wasn't all 'at bad really." Could've been much worse. Especially if certain
Dreadlords had gotten their hands on them. He continues on his way.

Lounge, White Tower, Tar Valon

The smell of hot tea, chamomile and orange, fills this room, which seems
designed for no other purpose but to relax and give comfort. Overstuffed
green couches are arranged almost haphazardly about on soft white carpet. A
large stone fireplace provides warmth in the winters, with various small
knicknacks and lanterns upon it. A high bookshelf in the back of the room
has relaxing reading: tales and poetry, nothing of scholarly value.

A small stove to boil tea upon is present, as is a full compliment of every
herbal variety designed to be steeped through water and drank for pleasure.
Small bowls of sugar and milk are spread about on this display, as are sea
folk tea cups and pitchers. Even the serving staff can be found about their
leisure here, and so the means are provided for people to help themselves.


Sunan follows just behind and to Neelkan's right, "What're we here for? I
thought we were going to the infirmary. Not that I couldn't make a salve."
He says a bit defensively. "How long were you without water?" he's not
concerned with starvation right now.

Floping down into one of the comfy overstuffed green couches, Neelkan leans
back and relaxes into something soft and fluffy, so unlike the cell floor
he had to sit and sleep on the last few days. He closes his eyes, but
answers Sunan, "We're 'ere cause I want t' be somewhere comfortable,
a'right? 'n 'ey gave us water 'n food after a while. 'n I've gotten fed 'n
stuff since I came back. I'm just fine, like I told ya."

Sunan gets and sits up on the back of the couch,. Though he's not touching
Neelkan, he's awfully close, reclining on the hard upper backinbg of the
couch, behind the padding. Head propped up by his elbow, he looks down to
Neelkan. "Okay." He allows him to relax, cutting off his questioning.

Keeping his eyes closed, for a long moment it almost seems like Neelkan is
going to doze off right there, which wouldn't be at all unlikely. He's
exhausted. But he opens his eyes once he starts to get too comfortable and
looks around to find where he ended up, then looks up at him, "So what all
happened while I was gone?"

Sunan hrms, and thinks before he replies. "Well, Michael Gaidin stepped
down from being Master Gaidin and Master General. Savren Gaidin is now the
Master Gaidin, but there's no Master General. Something odd is going on
with Wyntere Sedai I hear. Oh." He adds the last nonchalantly. "Darelen
Gaidin lost his arm in the battle but Kirra Sedai grew it back for him."

"Oh... a'right." Yup. That's all Neelkan has to say to any of that. Even
the arm bit. Though he will likely have a much different reaction later. He
doesn't know that growing arms back was thought to be impossible. Really he
doesn't. And while he was just starting to like Michael Gaidin, Savren's
alright too. And he's not in the frame of mind to think highly on anything
right now. "What 'bout Espi? Was she... a'right?"

Sunan says, "Espiria found out about you and Denn while she was with me.
She was crying. I wanted to try and help you, but Raeth Gaidin banished me
to the Practice Yards and gave me punishments. Don't know why." He's
confused and angry about that. Oh well.

She was crying? Neelkan sighs, closing his eyes again and leaning his head
back as if to look at the ceiling. Which he would if his eyes were open. He
lets out another sigh and says, "'ere was nothin' ya could've done, kid.
Really. Just... be glad we're out 'n a'right."

Sunan smiles, "I am. I still wanted to help though, and still would. But
what about Verbena Sedai? I'm worried abiut her, even though she is a very
strange person and made my food taste like soap. Hers was still good
though." He gets a distant look, his frown having faded long ago. "How can
we help her? How can I help her?"

Neelkan visably flinches many times during that, though for what
reasons...? He keeps them to himself and just grumbles, "'ere's nothin' ya
can d' kid. She gave 'erself o'er t' 'em durin' our escape so 'at we could
get out." And somehow he sounds pissed off when he says that...

Sunan responds skeptically, "Perhaps. I will still try." He then observes
keenly, "Your facial muscles shifted. Dramatically. That means a dramatic
chnage in emotion. What emotion would that be?" He doesn't understand what
the flinches mean, and entirely missed the tone because he didn't know he
needed to look for something.

Neelkan suddenly stands up, kicking his feet and clenching his fists until
he comes to the risk of breaking the scabbed over skin there, "Because it
was /MY/ fault, Light-Blind it!!! I PROMISED t' protect 'er! 'er 'n Denn!!
I bloody /PROMISED/ t' get 'em /BOTH/ out of 'ere! Not ONE! BOTH!! She
/SAVED/ us! 'n I couldn't flamin' d' nothin' t' help her! Blood 'n ashes!"
He looks fit to beat the crap out of someone right now, but instead he just
stomps around a few times with his fists clenched like that.

Sunan rolls down onto the couch and slides his legs off, bouncing up. "It
is not your fault!" He defends, as Neelkan won't defend himself. Wresting
Neelkan's attention (or trying to), he moves straight in front of him,
staring upward. "It is not your fault. It was Verbena Sedai's duty to
protect you. You're only a trainee! She is the Aes Sedai, the adult! You
were to be taken care of, not them!"

"Ya don't understand, Sunan!!" Neelkan snaps, yelling at him, then reaching
up and putting his hands into his hair. "Blood 'n ashes! I may.. I may only
be a Trainee, but it /was/ m' job t' protect 'er! 'cause I /told/ 'er I
would! I should've.. I should've.." He finally just looks fit to rip out
his own hair with his hands. But he stops himself and straightens, lowering
his hands. "I.. I'm sorry. I.. shouldn't've yelled 'at ya like 'at..."
Something about him is definately different since he got taken prisoner...

Sunan is different. He doesn't understand some things. But he is not blind
to this. Worried, he brings himself to try to touch Neelkan. Squeeze his
hand. The pressure is about the same as it would be if he sat on Neelkan's
back. "I do not mind. neelkan... when you are a Gaidin, it is your duty to
protect them. When you are a husband, it's yoru duty to protec your wife.
But not before. You're still a child, as far as the Tower goes. Like
novices. Aes Sedai and Gaidin are to protect you until you become a Gaidin.
Until you grow up. Granted, you are also to try to protect novices, but
it's not your duty to protect a wise Aes Sedai. Not yet." Of courese, were
there positionsreversed, Suna would disregard that.

Listening to all that, for a moment Neelkan actually looks as if he might
start to cry, but that's probably because his face loses the angry
expression and shows how sad and upset he trully is over the whole thing.
Then the angry expression returns and he jerks his hand back harshly,
saying in a soft growl, "I'm not a child, Light blind it! I'm a man, 'n Aes
Sedai 'r not, she's a woman, 'n..." Grrr! "I'll protect whoe'er I bloody
well wanna protect, a'right?" Without waiting for an answer he starts to
move towards the exit, stomping slightly as he goes.