09/04/2000

Denn'ryiel's Room, White Tower, Tar Valon

        Denn'ryiel's room is rather large for a servant's. A feather bed is
against the west wall, facing the east window in order to catch the sun's
morning rays. Plants of all variety grow in pots throughout the room. Some
of them don't appear to be indoor plants, and a few flowers look completely
unique. They all combine to give a rather fragrant aroma, that becomes
apparent the moment anyone crosses the threshold into the room. A hearth
against the north wall provides warmth during the cold seasons. There's one
half-filled book shelf, but nothing else that would interest a Brown Sedai.
An oaken drawer with images of leaves carved into it sits next to the
window and holds her clothing. The only other furniture in the room are a
couple of birch chairs, a changing screen in one corner of the room, and a
well made Saferi rug covering the floor near the chairs and door.


A little while after the lesson in the Courtyard, no more then twenty
minutes later, there's a knock on the door. Neelkan found and escort and
demanded (yup, demanded) to be taken up to the Aes Sedai quarters so he
could see his White Aes Sedai friend. Looks like the novice or Tower
servent gave in after a while...

Denn'ryiel is sorting through the books in her room, looking for the next
one to read most likely. She goes to the door and opens it, looking
surprised to see her friend there. "Hello Neelkan, please come in. Thank
you Novice Brenya, you can go to your next class now," she says then,
dismissing the escort and closing the door.

Neelkan grumbles softly at the door, in the direction of the novice, then
glances back in the direction of the Aes Sedai and shrugs sheepishly. "Um.
Sorry. Just ya ran off from the Courtyard so fast..." He shrugs. "'n I
kinda needed a reason t' get outta 'ere. Sunan was..." he shakes his head
before finishing, "Being Sunan."

Denn'ryiel chuckles softly and nods. "No need to apologize, I understand.
Sunan will probably have the Sedai occupied for another couple hours. Can I
get you some tea?"

Shaking his head, Neelkan just goes to find somewhere to sit down, resting
his forehead on his palms and his fingers in his hair. "He's so bloody...
/eager/ t' know 'bout it, but... Light, if he had any idea... any idea at
all..." He trails off, leaning forward as he is and grumbles again. "Sorry.
I just... He's probably gonna be talkin' 'bout it all bloody night once he
finishes with the Aes Sedai..." Did he come up here to whine and complain?
Well, probably wouldn't be the first time...

Denn'ryiel frowns sympatheticly. "Sounds like a long night then. Does he at
least stop for sleep at all?" She takes Neelkan's silence for confirmation,
and walks over to the teapot, setting a kettle within to boil.

"I bloody well hope so, 'r I'm gonna have t' drug 'im with 'is own 'erbs."
Neelkan grumbles softly, but then shrugs, because he wouldn't be able to.
He's probably mix the wrong ones and Sunan may end up drinking something
that'll make him stay up longer or something!

Denn'ryiel giggles slightly as that very thought occurs to her. She turns
away from her pot as soon as it is set up. "I haven't... mentioned our
commitment to anyone yet. I thought you might want to handle that, whenever
it would be convienent for you." Of course, that could be the minute before
a Warder ceremony.

That is enough to pull him out of his own little complaining party. Neelkan
lifts his head and lowers his hands, staring over at her, and then blinks a
few times and then grins, "Ya haven't mentioned it, huh? Well, I guess it
would be somethin' we should... announce." He pauses and then suddenly
wonders if being bonded is like a marriage? So is this like an engagement?
He furrows his brow a little and thinks.

Denn'ryiel nods her head once. "Unless you'd rather not. It's your choice."
She smiles to the trainee. It's obvious in her eyes she sees some sort of
formal relationship here.

"Huh?" Neelkan starts out of his thoughts. "Why wouldn't I... I mean..
uh... is 'is normal? People usually mention 'is, right?" He ponders for a
moment, "'n I don't see any reason why I wouldn't want t'..." Or if he does
he's not gonna list them.

Denn'ryiel nods her head slightly. "If you believe so... I don't see any
reason why we should delay, though it might cause you more headaches than
me." She turns around as her teapot begins to whistle.

"What d'ya mean?" Neelkan wonders, trying to think of how announcing it
would cause headaches. And instantly comes up with a few ideas. "Light. The
minute we do announce, m' sister's gonna be on ya like wolfhound." Then he
pauses and glances over. "Ya do know 'at one of m' sisters is in the Tower,
didn't ya?" He might not have mentioned it. Light knows he's avoiding her
at all costs. But he can't seem to remember if he mentioned it or not.

Denn'ryiel shakes her head, and curiousity lights in her eyes. "Really?
You'll have to introduce me to her," she says with a teasing smile. Yes,
she's heard Neelkan talk about them enough to know how he must be taking
this news. She pours both cups of tea.

Neelkan grumbles softly. "'er name's Aidou. She's the youngest of m'
sisters, but still older 'n me. 'n get 'is... She's a novice 'ere." He
shakes his head, amazed at how all the women in his life are quickly
turning out to be channelers... Not includinga few. "But I'll introduce 'er
if ya really want. Don't believe anythin' she says 'bout m' though."

Denn'ryiel chuckles a bit, carrying his cup of tea over to him. "Hou much
of what you say about her should I believe then?" she asks, with a
speculative eyebrow. She takes a seat nearby and sits down with her teacup
in her lap.

Neelkan grumbles and snatches up his tea and gulps it a few times before
responding, "Ya think /I/ lie? If yer willin' t' deal with m' sister prolly
treatin' ya like... I dunno, I ne'er had anyone f'r 'er t' treat funny, but
I saw the way m' family looked o'er m' oldest sister's husbands. Like 'ey
were checkin' t' make sure he had all his teeth..."

Denn'ryiel nods her head once, slightly. "Well, if she is a Novice, then
I'll be able to return the favor. Maybe I should meet her before she learns
who I am, to get her unbiased reaction to me." She takes a sip of her tea,
judging it to be the right temperature.

Nodding lightly, Neelkan says, "A'right. After ya meet 'er, we can make
some kind of announcement I guess... What did ya think 'at would cause f'r
m'? Problem wise? Ya don't 'ey might try t' stop it, d'ya?" They being the
Gaidin and other Tower folk.

Denn'ryiel shrugs slightly. "I think you'd have more problems with Red
Sedai... I think a lot of them hope you'll just disappear after your
training. I would cause less trouble with Greens though, if you are having
any problems with them always being around."

"Yellows don't much care f'r m' either, I've noticed." Neelkan mutters
softly. But then again seeing as he lived in the infirmary for months, it's
a wonder they didn't find a way to heal his mouth shut. He takes a few more
sips and then sighs softly, "Well, I should prolly head back down..."