09/10/2000 Library, White Tower, Tar Valon There is a particular smell that comes with libraries, the smell of fresh ink on crackling paper or dust blown off the cover of a book, just waiting for someone to discover the treasure within. The smell is clear, now, as shelf after shelf rises in majestic rows, each packed with volumes large and small, slim and heavy, useful and frivolous. Browns sit at tables, glaring at any who make noise and copying, slowly, out of recovered books on the verge of falling apart. A large purple carpet spirals out to include all the colors of the Ajahs and the flame of Tar Valon, but this cannot hold the attention long, for the colors of the books form a much brighter tapestry. There are worlds, here, and power between lines of text that simply await discovery. An elaborate catalouging system keeps it all in place, the sort of thing that takes years to master, years, and an unparralleled love for the written word. Imagine, if you will, what developing such a thing might have entailed. Novices, Accepted, and Trainees alike bend their head to their work in the front of the room. Massive wooden carts are employed to reshelf books that have been taken down. Cold balls of light formed by the One Power light the room, both for the economy of the matter and to prevent a fire. For such a thing would be a tragedy. Books on strategy, tactics and shadowspawn seem to dominate those being shelved and unshelved, though theamount of knowledge sought after here is hardly limited to such things. So abundant are the books that there are levels, spiral iron staircases which lead up to still more shelves, nearly as high as the eyes can tolerate, a good three stories worth, at least. Off the an area in the front room, near the edges, Neelkan sits with a couple books out in front of him. He was able to convince the Browns without adding too much detail on why, that he was interested in learning more about Dreaming after the lesson with Lisia Sedai. So all the books are things open to the public about the subject. Just three of them all together, and he seems to be having a hard time with some of the larger words. He flips a page idly and grumbles under his breath, "'ese Scholars should write like normal people..." He has a hard enough time reading as it is without them using huge flowery words. Denn'ryiel chuckles as she reads her own book nearby, one of the tomes the experienced Whites left for her. "Most normal people can't write though, Neelkan," she says, playfully jesting with him. Neelkan grumbles somemore and pokes at a word on the page that he won't even begin to understand. But then glances up and over and offers a small grin, "'ey." He speaks soft enough not to get his ear grabbed with air by angry Browns, but loud enough to be heard by her. "Well, 'ey should still write like 'ey don't got somethin' stuck up 'eir..." He trails off and shakes his head. "Just it's not easy t' understand 'en 'ey butter it up like 'is." Denn'ryiel nods her head once, understanding. "Well, they need some forum to let them express how intelligent they think they are," she replies just as softly. "Just show me the words that you're having problem with." Hopefully it wasn't Siegmelle Freud Sedei who wrote it. Neelkan immediately glances over, as if a little shocked, then shakes his head and pulls his hands away from the book quickly, "No. no... It's a'right. I'm just frustrated. I don't need t' know what the words mean." He shakes his head and glances down at the script for a moment, then looks back over, "What are ya readin'?" Denn'ryiel blinks quickly, surprised by Neelkan's reaction. "You don't need to know what the words mean? How will you understand what they are saying then?" She sets her book down and stands up to walk over and see what is giving Neelkan so much trouble. The page he is currently on is making a attempt to explain how a dreamwalker enteracts with the World of Dreams. Needless to say it goes into words that most common people don't hear often. Neelkan looks a little sheepish and shrugs slightly, "I won't understand 'em 'en." That is the only answer. He flushes lightly along his cheeks. Denn'ryiel looks confused, but also a little concerned. "Is everything alright, Neelkan?" she asks, noting his pallor. Flushing a little bit more, Neelkan pushes the book closed and looks away, then glances back after a few moments and speaks in a much lower voice, "Kaomi knows 'bout m'... um..." He taps on the word 'Dreamer' on the cover. "I think she's mad at m' f'r not tellin' 'er sooner. 'r 'least 'at's what I heard..." He looks sheepish again. Denn'ryiel nods her head and purses her lips. If the Amyrlin is mad at him, then his behavior is certainly understandable. "It's alright... I'm sure she won't be upset for long," she says, reassuring him. "How long have you known?" "'bout 'er bein' mad, 'r 'bout... 'is?" Neelkan says, motioning at the book again. He responds to both either way, without waiting, "... Someone told m' yesterday. I haven't seen 'er yet, 'n I still don't know how she found out... Got a pretty good idea who told 'er though... 'n I didn't know 'bout m' ... ya know... 'til after the Parade." Denn'ryiel nods her head with a small smile. "I'd advise you to make an appointment with her. Trust me, it's better if you find her than if she finds you. At least now though I'm not the only one in the relationship with weird powers." She seems to find that quite amusing. Grumbling, Neelkan actually does something quite childish, he sticks his tongue out before saying, "I'm a'ready weird 'nough without having to worry 'bout walkin' 'round in a 'nother flamin' world. But I do think it might be neat t' be able t' control thin's 'round m'..." He might grow to find that interesting. "'n sneakin' int' places 'at're usually guarded 'ere t' look at 'em." Any bandit can appreciate that. Denn'ryiel rolls her eyes but smiles. Obviously it isn't too childish for this Sedai. "And where would you be sneaking off to, exactly?" she asks, with a raised eyebrow and amused smirk. Shifting around in his seat, Neelkan can't help but go ahead and tell the truth, "I kinda wanted t' get 'nother look 'at 'at Fort." He shrugs, looking a little sheepish again at admiting that, "'n don't gimme an 'it's dangerous' speech, a'right?" Like danger would stop him... Denn'ryiel sighs and shakes her head. "I thought that was my job. I guess I could find your sister and ask her to give you the speech," she says, looking half serious. She probably wouldn't find his sister, but the subject is important to her. Suddenly that causes Neelkan to flush even more and he ducks his had down. "I don't need a speech, a'right? 'r anyone t' knock sense int' m'. I know perfectly well what I would b' gettin' m'self int', 'n I'll be careful..." He grumbles near the end. Denn'ryiel sighs and nods. "Alright..." she says, unwilling to push it further. Neelkan's been in danger enough times, somehow he always manages to come out in one piece. She walks back to her seat, looking somewhat more glum, and takes her book out again. Standing and gathering up his books, Neelkan moves over to stand behind the White Aes Sedai and peers down at her for a few moments, before leaning his head over her shoulder and saying, "If it makes ya feel better, I won't go 'lone." The first few times at least. No promises on later. Denn'ryiel blinks and turns her head to look at him, before smiling a little bit and nodding. "Okay then," she replies quietly. Then a thought occurs to her. "I understand that dreamwalkers can peak in on others' dreams. Did you ever... before I was Raised?" she asks. "I've ne'er done anythin' like 'at. But I've heard it said 'at some can do 'at, ye'h." Neelkan says, shrugging his shoulders. At least he doesn't /think/ he's been into anyone's dreams. But then again he never understood half of what was going on. Denn'ryiel looks a bit more relieved then. "I guess I'll have to watch what I dream about from now on," she says, with a small chuckle. Since Neelkan closed up his books, she does the same. "Care to go somewhere where we won't have to whisper?" she asks. "I wouldn't go int' yer dreams, Denn. I don't like the idea 'at someone could peek int' mine, so why should I peek int' someone elses?" Neelkan shrugs as if that was that, then nods lightly, "If ya want t'." Then he can't help it and grins mischeviously, , "'n what were ya 'fraid I'd see 'xactly?" Denn'ryiel gives an amused smile as she replaces the book where she took it from. "I guess I won't have to tell you then," she replies, looking over her shoulder. Neelkan grumps softly and straightens up. "Well, ya don't have t', but ya did mention it, so I was curious." Of course he was curious. Can't blame a guy for being curious after all. Especially when she looked so relieved that he hadn't peeked. Denn'ryiel smiles too innocently as she walks back to the table. "I can't blame you, true, but can you blame me for not wanting to tell? I could ask you what you dream of, Neelkan," she remarks. "Ya don't wanna know what I dream of, Denn. I don't e'en want t' know sometimes." Neelkan says honestly, reaching up to finger at his hair. "Not 'at I don't have dreams like e'eryone one else I guess, but I usually don't remember 'em past wakin'." Denn'ryiel ohs and nods her head. "That's right... you mentioned that once. I'm sorry." She picks up Neelkan's books and begins putting those away too. "Have you seen anyone elses' dream yet, to get an idea of what more normal dreams are like?" Yes, she's willing to admit Neelkan might not be normal. Neelkan shakes his head, "Not 'at I know of. I don't e'en know if I can do 'at yet." He shrugs his shoulders and starts to follow after her, but he doesn't try to reclaim his books and put them back himself at least. Denn'ryiel turns around as she replaces the books. "Well, maybe the Amyrlin can find someone to train you then. I'm sure there are other dreamers here." "I figured." Neelkan says offering a grin, then he finches visably as he remembers something. "We'll have t' talk later. I f'rgot I have classes t' teach now." Imagine him... teaching people... Scary. Denn'ryiel blinks again, before realizing he's serious. Trainees in Neelkan's hands? That's a dangerous thought indeed. "Alright then," she says. "Try not to corrupt too many of our youths." "Corrupt? Me?" Neelkan puts on the most innocent expression he can muster, and still looks like someone that most mothers would be worried about. "I'll d' m' best." He says with a grin, then leans forward to give the Aes Sedai a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out.