08/16/2000

Espiria's Room, White Tower, Tar Valon

        Simple and to the point, this novice room only containes just what
a person would be needing and no more. A simple desk desk rests against one
wall, papers and study materials cluttering it to show the person who
resides her is always working on something. Ink well and paper for letters
as setting left out in the event that a letter to family or loved ones is
needed. On the far side of the room is a small closet(presently closed)
which when open shows several small white dresses that young adult would
wear and small slippers of the same white material as the dresses rest
inside on the bottom when they are not on the feet of the user.

        By the back wall, a simple bed with coverlets and a nice pillow
awake the comfort and sleep hours of the one who inhabits the room. Simple
white curtains flutter gently in the breeze when the window is opened,
allowing a more homey feel to the otherwise austere surroundings that is
this room.


Knockknockknockknockknock. There's a sudden and almost urgent (though
almost too quiet to be that urgent) knocking on your door. Unknown to you,
Neelkan's found a way to sneak up here, and is currently trying to get into
your room between people wandering around. He doesn't want to get caught,
even if he really doesn't care all that much that he's breaking a rule.
Part of him is kicking himself. This is a BAD IDEA!! And the other part
just wants to at least make sure she's alright before he's going to be able
to sleep. He has enough reasons to toss and turn at night as it is. And
what Aed was talking about has NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!!!

Espiria blinks, looking over to the door semi-confused. She scoots the
blankets back and looks over to it as she rubs her eyes. Is it day?
No..it's still dark outside. Hmm..."Come in?" she softly calls, but loud
enough that you would hear it. She tips her head to see whom it might be
that comes to call upon her so late.

As soon as some assent is given the door opens quickly and closes just as,
though he doesn't slam it shut. Neelkan does close it as quickly as
possible because he heard someone coming around the corner. He waits for a
few moments, leaning against the door, and once no yelling of 'Hey you,
boy!' sounds, he turns and offers a small grin in your direction. "Shhh."
Yeah... Shhh. He's not supposed to be here... Obviously. "'re ya a'right?
Ya weren't in the Courtyard 'en I got back..."

Espiria yawns sleepily, smiling as she widens her eyes. Her voice stays
lowered though even as she says, "Neel!..what are you doing here! If they
catch you..." She giggles, sitting up and pulling the blankets around
herself. "Wyntere Sedai said I needed sleep more than I needed to be
waiting for you to get back. She thought..that Aed would have been keeping
you busy as it is." She chuckles, lifting a shoulder weakly, "I'm
alright..Just really exhausted. If I get a good night's rest..I'll be fine
in the morning."

Glancing around the room, Neelkan mumbles softly, "So this is an Accepteds
room..." Now he's seen them all. Almost. He hasn't seen a Gaidin's room
yet, or the Amyrlin's room, which might be different, but he's seen the
inside of most of them. "Ye'h, I know what'll happen if I get caught up
'ere, but I just..." Grrr. He's not going to explain. He fumbles slightly
at the mention of Aed keeping him busy and looks flustered again. "Um.
Ye'h. Real 'nnoyin' lil' kid." And something about that seems to have
gotten under his skin a little. Or a lot.

Espiria giggles softly, hugging her blankets around her as she sighs, "I'm
glad you were there Neel. I'm glad Varcel was there..and especially Gaidin
Raeth. I'm not sure what would have happened if..that...person had shown up
and noone was there to deal with those trollocs. We would have been..." She
shivers, sleepy eyes drooping slightly. "It was horrible how they just..."
She frowns, "They shouldn't have been able to do that, Neel. Not right into
the grounds like that."

Varcel. Varcel. Always comes back to Varcel. But then again, Neelkan was
kind of glad that he didn't have to fight the Trollocs alone. And he didn't
think he could handle a Fade with just his fan. He had a sword and was on
horseback the first time he fought one, and pretty much got lucky. Trollocs
he can handle. They're not as fast, and they are easier and dumber. He does
grumble however for a slight moment, then moves over across the room and
puts a hand on your head, trying to ruffle your hair. "Don't think 'bout
what might've happened, cause it didn't. A'right? The man's down in the
dungeon, 'n I'm sure the Sedai'll figure out somethin' t' make sure it
ne'er happens 'gain. Yer just fine." He offers a smile, then quickly blinks
and takes his hand back. Is this what Aed meant by being obvious...?

Espiria was worried, till you walked over and ruffled her hair. She smirks,
aiming an obvious punch for the side of your arm before she grins. She
doesn't see anything wrong with it. It's just friendly actions between
friends. "I knew I could count on you to pick up my spirits." She giggles
softly, moving slightly so she can see you better. "Neel...I know you don't
like to talk about...well, your dreams and stuff, but...would you really
keep watch? I know the bad ones keep you up..but..if there is /anything/ at
all that happens that's related to Wyntere Sedai...it might just warn us
before it happens and we can save her the pain she would go thru
otherwise." She sighs, "You..know I wouldn't ask that of you, but..you have
a very special gift and if it can help her..." She lets it hang there,
looking down to her blankets. She knows you could easily refuse, ignoring
the dreams as much as possible as you try to do, but she really hopes that
this once...you'll keep an eye out if you can.

Letting the punch land just knocks him completely out of his self-doubting
he was having there for a moment. If you'd noticed anything, you probably
wouldn't be so quick to punch back. Neelkan offers a grin, then you get
serious on him again and start talking about his dreams. He frowns
slightly, glancing off towards the wall for a moment. He hasn't had any
really detailed dreams lately. Not that they ever are that easy to read.
He's never had one that he knew what it meant until after the event
transpired. The most recent one he had about a person he knows... wasn't
Wyntere. And he doesn't think it is related. "I.. If I have a dream 'at
seems t' point t'wards anythin' t' do with Wyn, of course I'll tell ya
'bout it. But so far I've only had dreams 'bout two people where I knew who
'ey were..."

Espiria nods quietly, motioning toward the chair at her desk if you wish to
have a seat. "I'm always willing to listen to them, Neel. You know that."
She smiles brightly, "And who knows..maybe we can figure it out together if
possible and help someone else out." She gets more comfortable, settling
herself with her pillows right up behind her back so she doesn't have to
sit stiffly. Her being tired is shoved to the back for a bit as she gets
her thinking cap on and waits to hear more.

You know... The one about the other person is pretty bad. In fact,
Neelkan's not even sure if he's going to live through what's going to
happen, if what happened in the dream has any reflection on what will
happen for real, so... he decides it's probably /not/ a good idea to scare
her with it. So he shakes his head slightly and says, "I don't really
remember 'em all 'at well, 'n I haven't had anything 'at didn't seem t' be
a normal dream f'r a few nights now." True enough... Though he tends to
remember them all too well... "But if I have any 'at e'en relate t' Wyn in
any way, I'll tell ya."

Espiria nods and sighs, biting her lip a bit before she rubs her chin in
thought. "Remember how I was telling you how it would have to be something
really bad? For an Aes Sedai to be stilled?" She sighs softly, looking down
for a moment before she grits her teeth. "One..of the reasons is murder
Neel. The murder of someone in the Tower. If anyone is found to have killed
someone...It's a verdict most likely of stilling." She frowns deeply,
biting her lip as she waits for that to sink in. Oh boy has she got a
bombshell to drop.

"'at's silly. Wyn could ne'er kill anyone." And that is said with the most
conviction of anything he could ever say. Wyn couldn't hurt a fly. She dots
over everyone. She was even caring to him! Some women Neelkan has met... he
could believe they would be capable of such, but Wyntere is the furthest
down on that list.

Espiria sighs and nods, "Neel..you have to promise me...swear that you'll
never ever breath a word of this to anyone..including Wyntere Sedai. She
made me promise never to tell anyone, but if her life is on the line, than
I'd gladly break it to make sure she stays safe." She looks back over to
you, waiting to hear what you will say to that. Oh..Espi being serious?
Seriously serious this time. This is no joke at all she's pulling. Nor is
it something light to deal with.

There's a long pause, as he seems to absorb how serious this all is.
Something is very, very wrong here. And he does not like it one bit.
Neelkan frowns over at you for a while, not saying anything at first. You
want him to keep a secret? Well, he can keep a secret. But he doesn't know
if he really wants to know whatever this one is. No... he does want to
know. He's just not sure he should. After a few more moments he gives a
small nod, "I promise not t' speak of it t' anyone."

Espiria takes a deep breath, "You know that Wyntere has a child
here..right? That she..umm..bent the rules a bit and had one?" She glances
over to you to see if you've heard that talk being said around the Tower.
She pauses there, building up to what she has to say step by step. No sense
in just dumping. Too many misunderstandings happen that way.

"Ye'h. Don't see why it's 'gainst the rules t' have a kid though. Stupid
rule." Neelkan shrugs his shoulders a little. He knows that isn't the whole
thing, but he always thought it was a stupid rule when he heard the
whispers going around about it. "I mean ya guys live t' be really old 'n
stuff. Don't see why ya shouldn't be 'llowed t' have a kid 'r two." Yeah,
he knows all about how channelers live longer then 'normal people.' He was
so tempted to make sure you weren't thirty or something when he found out.

Espiria smiles gently, nodding after a moment's pause. "Yes..I know. I
think it's rather silly too, but it's a standing rule here and Wyntere
Sedai bent it. Well...really she broke it, but she didn't keep her daughter
with her which was the whole thing." She sighs, looking down at the
material for a moment, "Wyntere Sedai..was also born of an Aes Sedai,
Neel." Her eyes stray over to you as she continues, "Her mother
was...charged and convicted of being a Darkfriend...She was stilled
Neel..and she died not long after that."

Wyn's mother? Neelkan frowns a little and he peers off towards the wall to
absorb all this. A Darkfriend. An Aes Sedai Darkfriend... And Wyntere's
mother at that. He isn't exactly sure what to think... so he doesn't. He
just shakes his head and looks back, eyes determined, "I don't care what
'er mother was, 'r what happened t' 'er. Maybe 'at's what Redd saw!
Maybe... maybe he was seeing 'at secret surroundin' 'er family." Doubtful,
but he isn't sure how Redd's 'gift' works exactly yet. "But 'at doesn't
mean anythin' either. Wyn is still Wyn. No matter what 'er mother did, 'n
no matter the fact 'at she bent a couple rules."

Espiria shakes her head, "That's just it Neel... Wyntere's mother didn't do
anything. She was framed for doing it." She sighs softly, saking her head.
"Someone went to alot of trouble to set her mother up for her mother to
take the fall for something she didn't even do." She looks over to you to
see if you see where this is going. What she said just screams 'Frame-job'.

Neelkan doesn't exactly see where this is going. She was framed? Then how
could the Aes Sedai find her guilty if she was framed? It makes little se--
wait a moment. He gets it now. His eyes widen and he quickly straightens up
in his stance, staring down at you, "Ya don't mean 'at someone might try t'
do the same t' Wyn, d'ya? Why would anyone do 'at??" He's barely able to
keep from yelling. "I won't let 'em."

Espiria motions quickly with her hands, "Shhh...please. We need to discuss
this so we can help, Wyntere Sedai..and if you raise your voice someone
will know something is up." She glances toward the door, motioning with her
hand even though she's still weak and places wards on the door against
listening in. "Okay..try to keep it down, but noone will hear directly what
we are saying." She pauses, nodding. "I don't know why. The Black Ajah are
very vinctitive..Maybe her mother did something to thwart some kind of
scheme they were doing. Maybe the dark just doesn't like the fact that
Wyhntere Sedai helps so many girls find the Light within themselves. I
don't know for sure, but one thing /is/ sure...that Redd saw Wyntere
surrounded by other lights...and that her light was put out. That means
stilling... Next...there is a murder in the Tower..and whomever is
convicted gets stilled. That for certain. Next...Wyntere's mother was
framed..and /stilled/ for something she didn't do." She sighs, "That leaves
only one option...Someone is trying to frame Wyntere..and that someone is
still here to see the job done."

Neelkan looks... rather helpless for a few moments. He doesn't know what to
say, and he just wants to go out and 'bust a few heads' so-to-say. Anyone
who tries to hurt his friends deserves to be punished, and he wants to be
the one to aim the hits, thank you very much. Ahem. But he's able to keep
from doing anything stupid, like turn around and try to punch a hole in the
wall. He's very tempted though... "So.. in order t'.. protect Wyn. If
what's happenin' is what ya think is happenin'... 'en we gotta.. find out
who's might be tryin' t' frame 'er?" Right...?

Espiria nods simply, "Exactly. But..in order to do that when it comes down
to Wyntere getting arrested..we have to let that happen." She sighs, biting
her lip hard on that point. "If we stop that from happening..then the one
who really did it is going to run becasue she knows she's been found out.
We /have/ to let the arrest happen..if it's going to happen. That way the
one who really did it will relax. Her job is done...Wyntere will be accused
and she will only have to kick back and wait for the rest to come about.
She will...think that noone suspects her of setting Wyntere up..so she will
make mistakes because noone will be looking at /her/..only looking at
Wyntere. See?" She holds her hand up, "And before you start getting angry
about Wyntere being locked up..remember we want to catch the real murderer.
We can't do that if she runs..and she will if Wyntere is kept out of jail."

You're right. He doesn't like the idea of Wyn being locked up. Neelkan's
eyes darken, which is probably what tips you off. But when you insist he
not be, and give reason, he lets out a long grumble and goes to plop down
heavily on the bed. This would not be a good sight for an Aes Sedai to walk
in on. He's sitting on the bed now... "Blood 'n ashes. I dunno. I mean...
she... it..." Arg! "I'll d' whate'er ya need m' t' d' t' help catch whoe'er
is doin' 'is." He knew women were evil. Evil women. Bad women. Whoever
would do this to Wyn is evil. And those who let it happen won't score too
high in his book either.

Espiria puts a gentle hand on your arm, "Neel..don't you think it hurts me
to say 'let her be arrested'? I hate it with ever fiber of my being, Neel.
I want to tie the foul woman that did this to her..is going to do this to
her and choke the life from her." She shivers, biting her lip before she
sighs, "But it's not going to clear Wyntere. We /have/ to catch whoever is
behind it doing something to prove that Wyntere is innocent. I was linked
with Wyntere today..when I was healing Aed. She doesn't have an evil bone
in her body, but that won't hold up against the evidence when it's found.
The person didn't work this hard to frame her..only for the evidence to be
faulty. The Black Ajah is devious..and vindictive...and will even use
compulsion to make people say bad things about her just to get what /it/
wants done." She frowns gently, "Now..the only thing we need to work on is
possible suspects. It would have to be someone that is actually into the
investigating. It would have to be someone who is seen at good at what she
does..so that her words would hold up with others. It would have to be
someone that would have been spreading things about Wyntere...maybe even
before the murder took place. Or..maybe even someone that seems not to like
her all that well."

"The only one I know of who seems t' have it in f'r Wyn would be Christabel
Sedai, but after seein' what she was goin' through in 'at fight at the
Fort... I don't think she's Dark." She's just plain evil. In a woman way.
Neelkan shrugs a little as well. He doesn't know much else, even if he has
talked with almost all the Aes Sedai in the Tower, even if it was just to
ask for a task. "I didn't actually get t' do much of the investigatin' --
of the offical variety at least -- cause of lessons 'n stuff." And he won't
even consider the possibilty of it being Denn. Nope. Denn doesn't have an
evil bone in her body either.

Espiria rubs her chin for a moment, "I have a few ideas. I just wish we had
a few more people in on this so that we could watch them all." She sighs
softly, pusing her lips. "And then..there's getting into their rooms. I
know that Denn was supposed to check their rooms reciently, but I doubt it
that she's going to talk about it. Not with something like this. And she
would have seen the evidence firsthand too..." Hmm... She pauses for a
moment, thinking carefully. "We have to try not to be obvious in whomever
we are watching too. We have to make sure that it's just a happy
coincidence that we are in the same area as they are." She frowns gently,
looking over to you. "I have to say that my first choice would have to be
Cyli Sedai. She hasn't been here that long. Then the murder happens. She
comes to both Denn and I and tells us that the Black Ajah is involved..and
then on top of that tells us to keep an eye out for anyone acting odd.
Wyntere was acting odd...but Cyli is a healer too and could have easily
/made/ Wyntere act strange for a bit to put more suspicions on her."

"I could prolly get Denn t' talk 'bout what she saw pretty easily..."
Neelkan mumurs softly, though he doesn't exactly like the idea of 'using'
her to get information, especially if he shouldn't tell her why... Even if
it would help Wyn. But... He shrugs and says, "Cyli Sedai? 'at's a good
start 'least. I can maybe find out who Denn took with 'er t' search the
rooms. I know she didn't go 'lone, 'n 'at would be an innocent 'nough
question. If someone offered t' help 'er... well.." He shrugs. He's not all
that good at this investigating stuff. He's trying though. "'n I understand
'bout happy coincidences... I can pull 'at off fairly well." Not. But she
doesn't need to know that.

Espiria sighs and nods gently, "It is the only way that we can make sure
that the one really responsible for what happened doesn't go free. And that
the one being framed gets freed. I refuse to just sit back and let it
happen." She looks over to you and smiles, "I'm so glad you're going to
help me. I'm thinking of getting one other person involved that I know
would never breath a word of it to anyone. If we have one more..I think we
can manage to keep an eye open fairly well for anyone who's seeming a bit
overly happy at Wyntere's problem. I..mayb have to risk something and try
searching the rooms on my own. And I know I'll be picking Cyli Sedai's room
first of all." She frowns, "But..that might just tell her I've been there.
I'll have to use that weave I came up with that holds the wards back so I
can get into her room without her knowing about it."

You know... there's only one thing in all the information given in the last
few moments that Neelkan seems at all concerned about, not including the
fact that you are glad he's going to help. Or at least, that's the only one
he says anything on, "Who're ya goin' t' ask t' help us?" To be fair, he is
worried about more. He doesn't want you to risk anything to search a room,
but he can't ask you not to, because Wyntere's life and freedom will likely
be at risk, and there's no way that he can ask you not to do everything you
possibly can to help her.

Espiria purses her lips slightly, deep in thought so it takes a moment for
your question to register in her mind what with everything else going on in
there. She sighs softly, looking over to you. "I'm going to ask Varcel,
Neel." She lingers on looking at you for a moment, knowing how you've been
acting around him. "I can ask him to keep an eye out on the other suspect
that we may have. And to see if any of the Aes Sedai are acting overly
happy about Wyntere's problem also. He can cover the places you can't get
to..and vise versa. That way we cover twice as much ground as we did
before." She smiles gently, lifting a shoulder. "I'm sure..if..when..it
happens too, that Denn won't be the kind to believe it anymore than we are.
But..I'm not sure we can tell her all of it. She knows how happy Cyli
seemed to be when she came to us to tell us of her theories. Cyli Sedai was
as happy as anyone could ever see her be..when she asked us to watch out
for anyone acting strangely. I'd say that was pretty strange.." She
chuckles, shaking her head slowly before she offers a tired sigh. "It's all
we can do for right now..till it happens."

Of course it would be Varcel. Neelkan's eyes tighten and narrow and he
grumbles, then he takes a deep breath to keep from doing anything else that
might show the real reason he's upset about it. Instead of saying anything
more on this subject though, he stands up from the bed and ruffles at your
hair again, "Yer prolly exhaused 'n I've kept ya up long 'nough. Ya get yer
sleep, 'n we'll do what we have t' do t' help Wyn out." He backs away,
moving towards the door.

Espiria smiles at the ruffling, watching as you move from her side,
"Neel...Thank you..for listening to me..and for helping." She sighs,
shaking her head, "We..have quite a job ahead of us, but I know if we all
stick together...we can help her and make sure that....that...foul woman
never hurts another living person." She smiles, pulling the blankets up
before she waves her hand and drops her voice. "The ward is gone..be
careful getting back out and I'll see you tommorrow."

Throwing a wink, Neelkan says, "I'm a'ways careful." Then moves towards the
door and lays a hand against it, listening for movement on the other side.
He hears nothing so he cracks the door open and then a few seconds later is
gone, and the door is closed behind him. No screaming or yelling, so it
seems like he's home free so far.