09/16/2000

Looooooooong day. The weather dropping again did not help at all. Neelkan
perfered the heat to the cold, being from the south he could cope with it
more easily. He grabbed a few extra blankets before heading back to his
room, which alas, has no fireplace. It helps that he shares it with three
others, but still, it's cold. He doesn't remove a stitch besides his boots
and covers up as thickly as he can before eventually dozing off. Normally
he avoids going to sleep until he's about to pass out, but today he just
wants to get warm, and stay that way. He'd sneak into an Aes Sedai's room
just to borrow the fireplace if it would work. And evetually he finds
himself wandering around inside something that looks a lot like the Tower
halls, only rather empty in comparison to normal. The Aes Sedai areas in
fact. Probably because that's what he happened to be thinking about before
he fell asleep.

Well, Neelkan. Wyntere would offer her fireplace if you only ask. But
Wyntere has had a long day and was glad to see the snow again. Something
about being a winter's child does that to her. But even the cold is too
much for this Aes Sedai. In fact, after writing a letter to a certain
somebody that seems to be controlling this crazy mess, she glances over to
her bed. After adding a few more blankets and channeling the fire hotter,
she changes into her brightly colored silk night clothes (a screaming green
shirt and roaring red pants). Then blowing the lights out with a small
breeze to where shadows are tossed on the walls of her room from the
hearth, she crawls into bed trying to sleep. Dreams are long in coming to
her from her readiness to meet the end of the weather changes.

Espi has had a fitful day as well. Not much one can do though while tied to
a tree, so once she has been force-fed more herbs and they begin to take
effect once more, she drifts in and out of consciousness. Hard to think.
Hard to care. Hard to do much of anything except hold on to the hope that
they will be found. Surely.../someone/ has come looking for them? Someone
has found Salamas. Oh...poor Sal and in her near dozing state she can still
see his staring eyes as he slowly drowned. She shakes her head, trying to
clear the image...trying to find a saner place to dwell on and her mind too
turns back to the place she found happiness. The Tower with it's gleaming
walls and seamless spires. A place where her friends..no her family live
and where she would despirately love to go right now. She finds herself
wandering in that place, misted facade greeting her wandering mind.

At this time one of the odd bubbles of dreamland meet her. It bumps into
her, drawing her into it as surely as a moth to a flame and then floats
along until it does the same for Neel. This seemingly elastic bubble of
dreams continues on it's way until it pulls Wyntere into it as well. The
world inside is misted, shrouded in a fog that is hard to see thru and yet,
flashes of various images appear here and there until it settles on one.
The forest, cool and restful. Outdoors with fresh air and sunshine shining
down thru a light haze that clings to everything and makes it seems
dreamy..or perhaps just miraculous.

Well, at least it's not freezing. Neelkan already finds the dream to be a
little odd, but then again he almost never has 'normal' dreams, so he
doesn't think on it too much. He wanders around slowly, glad that he
doesn't feel tired in this odd dream. No muscle aches. He runs hands
through his hair, his outfit a long dark jacket, changing in length and
small details randomly as he moves long, but it always remains dark and
closed under his neck and all the way down the front. At his belt hangs his
metal fan, as he wanders around silently.

Glancing around the forest, Wyntere shifts through the trees in a confused
state. She's never been one much for forest but at least the stars are more
magnificent at night. Except the sun is shining right now. Soft steps
crackle leaves and twigs as she steps. She has a color shifting brightly
colored outfit as if she never wears the same colors. But it finally
settles on a green shirt and blue pants. She feels lost in the woods and
not really at peace. Nothing is so calm as it is now. So something wrong
must be going on. And what about her students? Where are they? She never
travels like this without a few... at least accepted.

It seems that there are animals about, but only ones that scurry quickly
away at your passing. And you never truely see all of them, just faint
shadows which must be animals from the shape and soft movements they make.
The dream moves forward though, ever onward toward some goal that blends
what the ones dreaming bring with them. Regardless of what it may be, it
seems to spin off in odd directions, tree there one moment and gone the
next, only to be back again the next time you look. Almost as though the
dream were trying to accomidate those who are within it.

Espi herself is sitting next to a tree and crying. The mists cover most of
her, but you can see her head bowed and you can hear the soft noises of
someone sobbing coming from that direction. She rises then, walking over to
another tree and standing there. Her form seems, indistinct, but her face
is plain. Her hair matted and dirty. Her face pale and listless. Her hands
held toward her back as though she couldn't move them forward. She seems to
stare at a place on the ground, tears falling from her tears in the
heaviness of the dream, lost in her own part of the spinning of it for the
time being.

The warm sun is exactly what Neelkan wants right now. Warm sun, and warm
skin, and no snow. Grrr. The fan seems to fall off his belt after a while,
or at least it is no longer there after a few more steps and is instead on
his back, with the handle part peeking over one shoulder and there's a
sword at his belt instead. And his coat's shortened again, barely going
past his waist as he bends down to dig a rock out of the earth and toss it
up into the air idly, catching it before tossing it again. In the height of
one of the tosses, he hears the sobbing and the rock just vanishes,
completely forgotten as he starts in that direction. Once he comes upon the
girl he grinds to a hault, the fan somehow in his hand and opened,
unnoticed by him. When he sees who it is he frowns, and his fan is back on
his shoulder again. Dreaming of Espi crying? Figures he'd have a nightmare
tonight. "Espi?" he calls out faintly and hestitently.

Making her way over the various roots of trees and climbing over some that
are bigger than others and moving around stick trees. She comes near and
hears the sobbing. Her head turns in that direction and starts to hurry
there. Almost flying over the branches. Once there, she lets a sigh of
relief out seeing the two students. Okay, this place is going to be fine.
She did bring students with her. Oh good. But her smokey blue eyes sees
Espi and her mind races with what's going on. She looks to Neelkan. "What
happened here, Neelkan? Why..." is espi hurt and not you, but Wyntere
doesn't get that out before kneeling at Espiria's side. "Espiria?"

The dream alters again and Espi looks away from the place she was seeing.
Her eyes seem unfocused for a moment before she seems to see both of you.
"I..I can't help him. Why can't I help him?" She shakes her head, shivering
and now the mists slowly receed from her side and reveal the old battered
brown dress that she wears. The bright green smudge is on her face as
though she's rubbed her face in grass. The tears seem to slow though and
she shakes her head. "You can't be here. It's too dangerous. They will
come. They will steal you away in the night." Now it's a small girl that
stands before you. One about 7 years old. Still Espi, but definately a
small child. "Ma and Da didn't see them coming. Noone sees them coming if
they don't want you to." The sun quickly seems to set and it's twilight now
as though a whole day had passed in the blink of an eye. You can hear a
wagon jingling in the distance, but heading toward where you both are as
the girl stands there.

Idly hoping this isn't one of his dreams that tell the future, Neelkan
glances over as Wyn arrives and shrugs his shoulders, his hair seeming to
instantly shorten to a less spikey cut then normal, almost making him look
less rugged and more innocent as he mutters, "Blood 'n ashes." That's all
he says. Why talk to a dream? He goes over and bends down in front of the
young girl, his clothing changing again, this time to the gray tunic and
red trousers that he sometimes wore around the Tower. He doesn't seem to
notice as he tries to smooth back hair from the girl's face. "Shhhh. Don't
worry, kid. Nothin's gonna happen." And he wonders why people keep trying
to make him their big brother. He lowers his hands to rest arms against his
knees still knelt down and looks towards the sound of the wagon. This is
one of the weirdest dreams he's ever hand. He's dreamt of Espi before (in a
non-prophectic sense) but she never suddenly became a little kid in any of
them, surely. Ahem. Probably better he /not/ go down that path. But as he
does his clothing becomes a lot finer looking, stuff he probably wouldn't
be caught dead in awake.

Rubbing her eyes with both hands, Wyntere blinks. Espi? Younger.. oh no.
From everything Wyntere knows of Espi, younger years are bad. Wyntere moves
over by both children. "Maybe I can help him." She looks into the little
girl's eyes. "What going on?" Wyntere's hands rest one upon each of
Espiria's shoulders. "And I'll protect you both from whatever comes. They
can't hurt me." Wyntere embraces at this point. Well, she's usually in a
constant state of embracing. Seeing the night fall, Wyntere moves behind
both Neelkan and Espiria and brings them into a protective hug. "Neither of
you worry." The Gray's head turns towards the jingling wagon nearing. Her
clothes look more like a tinker's as the sound gets louder. "Neelkan, you
look nice cleaned up like this." wyntere says softly, hoping a casual
conversation can help relax nerves.

There the sound of the jingling stops. There is a sudden sound of metal
clashing with metal and screaming that begins. There are the sounds of
children crying and the sounds of horrible grunting noises. Could that be
trollocs? And that smell. The smell of animals. Strong and overpowering.
Espi doesn't seem to smell it, glancing over to Wynt for a moment as she
sighs. "I need to get back to Ma and Da now. They will be looking for me."
She shakes her head, "You nice lady. You not get hurt if you stay here. You
hide...they won't find you then." She drips out from under Wynt's hands,
glancing over to Neel with a sad smile. "YOu stay too. They hurt you if you
try to stop them...like they hurt me. Like..they hurt my brother." She
frowns, very upset and angry about that before she starts walking toward
the sounds of the fighting. There are several other screams, seeming cut
short and the clanging of more metal on metal. All of it in the direction
of where Espi is heading.

At the mention of his clothing, Neelkan's eyebrows raise and he glances
down at himself. His eyes nearly bug out at the find red clothes with
embroidery. On the collar there's peacock feathers worked in in carefully
dyed strands. His eyes, which are nearly the same color as the eyes on
those feathers immediately bug out and his clothing instantly changes to
the darkest, dirtiest, most poorly cut outfit one could imagine. Complete
with his hair sticking up in every direction again. Hrmpt! Then immedately
he grumbles and stands up, clenching his fists, "I don't need t' be
protected, blood 'n bloody ashes." As if to emphasize, that sword is back
at his waist and the fan is in his hand, folded and looking like a knife
with no point and multiple layers of metal. His eyes narrow at the mention
of the brother, and he looks very confused. Espi /always/ told him she
never had a brother. Didn't she? He even mutters as such. What the bloody
Light kind of messed up dream is this anyway!? He mutters that too, with
more cursing, if that's believable. His clothing does another switch,
finding a medium between the finery and the roughian wear. He starts after
Espi saying, "Wait! I'm not 'bout t' let ya get hurt, blood 'n ashes!" He
looks at Wyntere almost helplessly, his weapons gone again as if to show
that's how he feels. "Stop 'er!" He could run out in front of her and stop
her himself, but for some reason he doesn't think of that right now.

Gentle weaves of air wrap around Espiria not letting her head much further
away. "Hold it there, Espiria." Wyntere glances to Neelkan and nods. "I'll
need your help too. I protect you; you protect me?" She can accept him
helping out in the protecting part. Where'd Espiria end up with a brother?
Wyntere is confused about this girl too. The Gray is going to remember
Neelkan in finery. She'll get him to wear it one day. Wyntere is close
behind Espiria and then replaces her hands on the girl's shoulders as she
kneels to the girl's level. "Let me walk you home, please? Either that or
come with me. Nothing will happen to you when you're with me. I promise.
And Neelkan will help me protect you too." Gosh... Wyntere's own child
could be this girl. The motherlyness starts pouring from Wyntere and she
starts beating herself inside for not taking the punishment when Juliana
was born and raising the girl herself.

Espi stops in her tracks, blinking since she can't see what is happening to
her. She looks confused and frustrated as her arms go out toward the sounds
of the battle going on not far away. "Ma! Da!" She sobs, shaking her head,
"I want to go to them!" The image slips a bit, world going slightly off
center and you are nearer to the wagon than you were before. The mists seem
to cover most of what is going on, but you can see two figures in a wagon
trying to beat off several others who are evidently attacking the pair in
the wagon. An infant screams at the top of it's lungs, scwalling it's
terror and anger at what's happening. One of the shadowy figures grabs that
yelling small thing and runs off with it into the forest. Espi widens her
eyes and screams. "Brother!!!" She shakes her head, shivering as she can
only watch in horror. The other figures in the wagon seem to win the battle
though, chasing off the beasts finally. One figure turns to the other and
their voices carry. The one speaking is obviously male, "It's alright
dear...We had no choice. It was either him..or Espi. We couldn't save both.
Maybe...maybe she will forget in time...and forgive us." There is more
sobbing from the wagon and the form of Espi falls to the ground sobbing as
well.

What in the.... This is not a normal dream, obviously. But even if it's a
future dream there's something seriously messed up. If this were a normal
dream, Espi wouldn't be seven, and she wouldn't be worried and crying over
a baby brother he knew nothing about. Crying over Varcel maybe, but...
ahem. Neelkan shakes his head and moves closer to Wyntere and Espi, having
stood back to helplessly watch. He hopes this dream just poped out of his
strange and crazy mind. That has to explain it. "Espi... Light... don't
cry. Blood 'n ashes. I don't like seein' ya cry." He looks over at Wyntere,
wondering what /her/ part in the dream is. He doesn't remember ever having
dreams centered around the Mistress of Novices, except when she was on
trial. He kneels down again, biting down on his lower lip.

Espi sighs, letting herself be picked up, but it's odd as soon as Wynt's
arms make contact, Espi flows into the young adult that she is now. She
glances at Wynt, confused for a moment with her head tipping to one side.
"I..I don't understand. Get who back?" She glances into the trees and the
mists part slightly to reveal two figures tied to trees before she glances
away. The wagon is gone as well as all the bodies of trollocs that littered
the clearing. Espi smiles now, seemingly to have forgotten about whatever
it was that had her sobbing moments before. "It's good to see you Wyntere
Sedai. I though there for a moment I had lost you somewhere." She frowns,
glancing behind her. "I..I know I lost something, but I'm not sure what it
was." Redd's image can be seen working out in the practice yard across from
Varcel. But Varcel looks beaten up. More so than usual. His lip is bleeding
and then Redd's image shifts to Jaq'al. Varcel gets hit very hard and
slumps to the ground, unmoving now as Espu turns back to the both of you.
"Neel? Oh...Hello. I didn't know you came too. Did you come to help me find
it?" Odd how dreams do these wierd twists sometimes. But the scene seems to
blur again, perhaps altering for another dream entirely.

Seeing Espi return to herself, Neelkan immediately finds himself in the
fine clothing again, no matter what he might wish, and he blushes a little
when he notices, but it doesn't change this time. He watches Varcel and
Redd, frowning in confusion, then when Redd turns into the 'Rat Man' his
eyes widen a little. This is /definately/ a messed up dream. "Um... ye'h...
ya know m'." Help her find what? But before he can ponder over it, the
scenery changes, people (especially Varcel) vanishing all together. Except
Wyn and Espi of course. The trees shrink down and change, the landscape
becoming a little more hilly off to the horizon. It's still sunny outside,
and there is apparently a farm very close by. The finery is gone as he
changes as well, his hair flattening again, many of the white streaks
vanishing all together. The length has grown too, past his shoulders and
pulled back at his neck, a few hairs sticking out as if in protest to being
held there. He's wearing a bright blue vest and loose trousers, and seems a
little more scrawny and shorter then usual. He blinks at the area, suddenly
feeling all of fifteen years old on his family farm. This is a dream? He
doesn't seem to notice anymore as suddenly a young woman wanders into the
area, an older version of Aidou, with darker hair and skin tone, "Lazy lil'
brat, ya're supposed to be gathering firewood. Don't make me tell ya again.
Or do ya really want Aidou to come out and help ya?" He immediately
flushes, yelling, "No! No! I got it, I got it." forgetting that Espi and
Wyn are there and bends down to start picking up thick dried pieces of
wood. Boy he sure seems meek. And is he a lot shorter suddenly, or is that
just you?

Wyntere sets Espi down as she gets older again, but continues to hug her.
"It's good to see you too, Espiria. We have talking to do when we get
home." Wyntere seems to silence as everything changes and she's taken to
Neelkan's dream. Glancing around she watches as things change and trys to
take them all in. In fact, Wyntere changes and two or three years are taken
off her features. She's wearing less bright colors than before as if trying
to taken on the tinker look for the first time. She still rolls her
shoulders getting use to the clothing. She glances around taking in a deep
breath of the air around her. And if one was observant enough, they would
see that she looks about 3 months with child. Watching Neelkan picking up
firewood, she leans down and picks up a small piece taking it to him.
"Here, Neelkan. Here's a piece." Something else is odd about Wyntere. She's
much quieter in nature as if she's hiding a deep dark secret and is
ashamed. There is no Serpent ring on her finger and you would never know
she was an Aes Sedai.

Espi looks after Neel with some confusion, blinking as the woman comes out
and begins to order him around again. Her head tips to one side, widening
her eyes as she realizes just how Neel looks. Wait...he looks younger? This
must be where he grew up, but how did I..get here? She shakes her head as
though to clear it and dress altering into something alittle less dirty. In
fact, it seems to be her old clothing that she wore before the Tower and
she was back on her parents farm. She glances over to Wynt, managing a
smile of sorts since her face still appears to have bruises on it for some
reason. Espi doesn't notice them and soon they vanish from her face as
though never there. She frowns gently, "We should help him...since we are
part of the reason why he's wasn't working. Maybe then we can get /her/ off
his back." She rolls her eyes and walks over to Neel, grabbing another
chunk of wood and lifting it to her arms. "I'll help Neel. That way you can
get done quicker." She glances over to Wynt again, grinning a bit as she
reaches for another chunk. A few wisps of hair come out from her young
woman's braid which has been twined with wildflowers as she notices Wynt
starting to help. She does notice that Wynt has changed and blinks for a
moment before widening her eyes a bit, but it is if fleeting in favor of
the task at hand.

Picking up a handful, Neelkan (Or perhaps better to call him Shun'u?)
suddenly has a piece of cloth to tie around the logs so he doesn't have to
hold all of them together. He blinks up at the voice, then looks rather
confused for a moment. Neelkan... Just by hearing that name he almost seems
to be effected for a second, flickering a little as if the dream wants to
change to a time when Neelkan is the name that he answers to, which it
isn't right now. After a few seconds, he reaches forward to take the piece
of wood, muttering a soft thank you, then mumbling under his breath,
something about how he doesn't need help from a bunch of women. His eyes
move on Espi again and he pauses in his work. Foom. Suddenly he's in
clothes he shouldn't be gathering firewood in, but still of Eharon cut and
not quite as fine as what he was wearing before. His work is for the moment
forgotten, as if he's confused why these people seem farmilar, and not
hated, like women should be. (All women are mean, cruel, unfair creatures
after all.) There's a loud yell again as if in response to him forgetting
to work, "Don't make m' come over there and tell ya again, Shun'u! 'is
isn't a time to be socializing!" The yelling of that name, his true name,
seems to snap him out of it and he yells right back, "Oh, go moon over Koji
somemore, why don't ya!?" Ahem. Maybe there was a little Neelkan even back
then after all. The girl goes bright red and looks furious. He looks back
at the two with him and shrugs, "Ya can help if ya want, thanks."

"I don't mind, if I could perhaps get a meal out of it." No need to spend
money if you can work for food. "And maybe a place to sleep." Wyntere
glances down a moment and shame crosses her face for a second. In fact her
whole mannerisms give away that she's ashamed and embarassed about the
child growing inside her. She gathers a few more pieces of wood and then
glances around before embracing and using air to lift the pieces of wood
and keep the weight off her. "Why is she so mean to you, lad?" Wyntere has
forgotten these are her students now. She has regressed to a time before
them. Glancing to Espi, Wyntere nods. "I don't mind the work." There is
also a depressed feeling about Wyntere as if she lost her bond.

Espi grabs a few more chunks, grinning as she hears Neel yell back his
response. Evidently, she can sympathize with the girl's blushing response
since she covers her mouth so that she doesn't laugh too hard about it. Her
eyes dart over to Wynt again, head tipping to one side for a moment before
she turns back to Neel. "Is she always this bad to you? I can see you hated
it so much." She shakes her head, "Noone should be yelled at all day long
and over silliness." The hair framing her face come out a bit more as she
bends over to pick up a few more of the smaller ones. She hears Wynt's
words, tipping her eyes back over to her as she frowns, "Wyntere Sedai? Why
are you so sad? I'm here with you..Neel's here with you. Please don't be
sad... There's sadness enough in the world without you helping it win." She
smiles, shaking her head slowly. "We will find somewhere to sleep..never
fear. I know we will." She beams a happy smile to both of you, being the
strong one for the time being. Her confidence should be catchy if nothing
else. She hands over the wood to Neel, grinning gently before she chuckles.
"Your sisters just don't understand what a good person you are, Neel. They
are missing out on a great deal."

The sister glares for a long moment of blushing fury, then spins around and
walks away angerly, and Neelkan flinches with each step, knowing that he's
going to get it when he gets back to the house. He'll get even though. He
always does. Maybe... sneak a snake into her bed again, one that doesn't
bite of course. No, he's done that enough times. Maybe... borrow that scarf
Koji always wears and tie it around some flowers and leave it on her window
sill. Yeah! That's perfectly evil. He'll have the last laugh yet! He blinks
and shrugs a little, "I'll see what I can d', but ma might not like it...
But I can direct ya t' the Linen farm. I know Mistress Linen'll take ya in
for a night if ya need." She's one of the few women he knows who isn't
totally unfair. Oh, she's still mean, and cruel, but not unfair. She always
gave him honeycakes right along with his sisters. He can't promise a room,
oldest son (only son) doesn't count for anything in this farm. Even his
father has absolutely no say, outside his usual nod of agreement. At Espi
he stares again, the corners of the dream growing even more misty again as
if wanting to change. He seems to ignore it this time and says, "M' sisters
see what 'ey wanna see. Nothin's gonna change 'at."

Wyntere nods to Neelkan and seems to understand. "I'll talk to your folks.
I'm sure they shouldn't mind too much." Not after she produces a gold or
two. Then glancing to Espiria, soft blue eyes become defiant, "I'm not an
Aes Sedai." Pure lie, but Wyntere lies very well. You would never know. Why
is she sad? "The loss of loved ones is not easy." that should explain
enough. The baby's father? A love, a family member? Who knows who the lady
has lost. Looking to the house the Gray frowns. "They shouldn't treat you
like that. You can travel with me, if you like. I think I can help you make
it somewhere besides here." She offers a way out of the situation. What
will Neelkan do?

Espiria blinks at Wynt for a moment, head tipping to one side as she
glances away from her. What is she saying? Not? She puzzles it over for a
time, reaching for more firewood in the event Neel needs it for his pile.
She sighs softly, clothing shifting from a pure white dress to a white
dress matted with dirt, to one dress that is old and dirty and then back to
her old clothing again. It seems she is fighting with something, but she
doesn't show it other than the clothing shifts. She sighs softly, glancing
over to the house in an almost longing way. Maybe recalling something from
her past that she recalls when she sees farm houses? Could be since the old
style dress seems more stable when she does. "Neel...You shouldn't let them
be that way you know. I know you know better than that." She smiles at him,
tipping her head to one side as she makes the pile alittle bigger. And it
almost seems as though the same chink of wood keep reappearing over and
over, but piles up as though it was an entirely new chunk of wood. Her head
darts back over to Wynt at the mention lost loved ones and then frowns
deeply, rubbing her head for a moment as a lump shows up on the side of her
temple and then vanishes again. Her eyes look at Neel then as she nods,
"You can go with us. We'd both like the company."

There's a long pause, then Neelkan stands up, the small logs vanishing from
his hands, discarded out of his mine as he says with a grin, "Blood 'n
ashes, don't know why I'm sayin' 'is, but I'll come with ya. 'ey can find
someone else t' d' all the work 'round 'ere. 'ey might actually pay the
poor sap 'ey talk into it." During that speech his clothing changes again,
becoming dark gray trousers, a loose unlaced white shirt, a fan a little
different from the one he carries now appears at his belt, and he grows
about four inches and gains wieght and muscle almost instantly. Shun'u?
Shun'u who? He even has the looped earrings that Wyntere so kindly got back
for him. He frowns as he notices the lump and reaches over to brush at
Espi's hair lightly, but it's gone by the time he does. Weird. "If ya
really don't mind the company, I'd like t' come." This is odd over all. He
wasn't 'saved' from his life smooshed under his sisters and his mother by
two women. He was saved by a really impressive bandit leader who made the
scrawny kid a member. But perhaps this is better. He does seem to like
these women more then he's liked women before. Especially the younger
one... ... What?

Wyntere shrugs to Neelkan. "I don't mind if you come back with us. I warn
you though that it'll be a long journey until we find rest. I can't go home
right now." Nope, the child within her will have her punished further more
than anything else under the current Amyrlin of the dream from wyntere's
view. Her head hangs to the ground and she sighs. "The young lady might can
take you with her though." Yes, Wyntere is a different time. Could is be 12
years ago or more. As thoughts process, the Gray wipes her eyes as if they
were tearing up. But you look at them and they are dry in the dream.

Espiria shakes her head, blinking several times. "Umm...No..I want to go
with you. You need help later on." She glances at the area where the child
grows, face frowning for a moment as an image of an infant in a basket
appears just at her feet and then vanishes. "Neel...you don't mind helping
us, do you? I'm sure they could sure use you back at the Tower. They need
everyone possible you know." She shrugs a shoulder, "I..don't understand
any of this though and I feel very lost at the moment." The ground under
her feet rumbles as though echoing that feeling she has, but it's a
fleeting feel under foot. Her dress changes again, cloak covering her
shoulders now and her dress looking a bit more worn as though she'd been
traveling a long time in it. "I don't mind roughing it though..I've done it
before." There are two figures again tied to a tree not far away, but they
vanish as the mists swallow them back up. "I'll go with you." Her eyes
glance over to Neel, "We'll both help you."

Blinking over at Espi, Neelkan offers a small smile and a nod, "I don't
mind helpin' ya, Light, any place is better 'en here." And that's the
truth. He rubs her arm affectionately for a moment his clothing going to
the finery and more... handsome looking Neelkan for a second before he
lowers the hand. Not that he isn't good looking normal, he just looks like
the kind of young man your mother would keep a close eye on and your father
would toss out. He looks back at Wyn and furrows his eyebrows a little. He
doesn't understand that she's with child probably. He's a man, he doesn't
need to know that stuff. The farm might as well be gone, the mist having
risen enough to cover the area so that it isn't easily noticed at all. If
it's even there.

As the mist takes over figures darken into shadows. Even Wyntere seems to
fade. Then a slight breeze can be felt and solid images form again. A table
and then chairs as the room takes form and the walls become solid. It looks
like a small dining room in the house of a noble. And before you stands a
young girl of maybe 9 winters with chocolate colored pigtails and smokey
blue eyes. Yet they are very familiar if only they had wisdom to them, they
would match Wyntere's. The girl wears a dress representing the style of
Aelgar servants. The dress is covered in soap suds as she holds a small
brush and is knelling on the floor cleaning it. Seeing the two of you, she
whispers, "Stay off the clean floor, please..." There's a begging sound to
her voice as she never stops scrubbing. At all the sounds of footsteps from
other rooms, she gets tense and jumps if they seem to come closer.

Espiria widens her eyes at the change, tipping her head to one side as she
moves away from the little girl. She glances back though..several times
face showing puzzlement as she moves to a table. As she passes the girl,
she whispers softly. "It's alright...don't worry. I won't step on the part
you've cleaned already." She smiles at the girl, knowing she should know
this person. But so young? She takes a seat, eyes remaining on the girl as
she sighs. Now what. Where the heck am I? I sure don't know this place, and
she tips her head left and right noting Neel as well and widening her eyes
slightly. Well, there's a face I know...at least I think I do?

There's a small snort out of the young man, who's for some reason back in
the finery that would make it look like he's getting ready for a feast day,
though not up to noble standards. And Neelkan would be having a fit right
now if he looks in a mirror and sees it. Not to mention his hair! He
doesn't like his hair fixed so it isn't spiking out every which way like a
it's trying to make him be seen by waving it's arms in the air. If this is
how he subconsiously would like to look at the moment, he doesn't like it
one bit! Ahem. He does move around the clean area though, and grins at Espi
(oh, he couldn't miss her anywhere), "'ey, Esp." He looks back over at the
girl and is suddenly losing the details of his fine clothes. Not the fabric
or cut itself, just the details and the color. He glances towards the sound
of the footsteps and frowns lightly, wondering why the young girl who seems
so familar seems wary of them.

"He doesn't like the floors dirty when he comes in. Father that is."
Wyntere doesn't understand why a father would make a daughter scrub a
floor. But she does it to avoid whatever she can. Footsteps resound at the
door when it opens and a man appears. He glances to those in the room and
then his eyes focus in on the young girl. "Wyntere! What's this? Talking to
friends instead of cleaning?" The man walks forward and picks the girl up
by the collar of her dress. Her high pitched voice can be heard for a bit
throughout the house. "MOSHAY!!!" She's shivering with nervousness hanging
there in her father's grip. "Father, I was cleaning. See? The floor doesn't
have dirt. I was doing what I was suppose to." But the man just doesn't
seem to listen and starts pulling at his belt. The girl's eyes are wide and
she glances to Espiria. Help? And you can hear another set of footsteps
come running of someone younger coming quickly.

Espiria widens her eyes getting up out of her seat in the blink of an eye.
She stiffens, trying to focus her mind enough to do something, but all she
can do is head over to the man and scowl. "Sir! How can you do that to that
poor child! Your treatment of her is horrid and I'm sure there are others
in this establishment who feel the same way about this. She /was/ working
and your rough handling her isn't getting her task done any quicker." She
glances over to Neel hoping he can play the part of a horried customer.
Surely, if the man sees that his paying customers don't like it, he'll stop
if nothing other than to not loose their business. To make it seem better
for the act, her clothing shifts to a more expensive gown and she does seem
to carry herself with an older flavor...a more powerful one as well. She
turns back toward Wynt's father and stares at him pointedly. Her eyes don't
even dart toward the sound of the running feet since to do that would be to
loose her glare at the man and she can't do that while Wynt dangles from
his grasp.

Oh, there are a few things Neelkan just can not stand, and this is one of
them. He immediately gives the man one of his nastiest glares and clenches
his fists as all of a sudden he's in even finer clothing, with a cloak
hanging down behind him. A... color shifting cloak? What? Any Warder
Trainee (especially one who's worn one before) must dream of wearing them
/sometimes/. And Espi /is/ present, and Light knows one of his dreams would
be to be her Warder... Yeah, yeah, futile, unrealistic dream, but most
people don't dream about what they can have awake easily. He grumbles
loudly before trying to speak, "Put 'er down." Ok. Maybe not as attempting
to convince as Espi was going for, more fiery fury then anything else...
but he's barely resisting going over there and beating on the man here...
No one treats their children like that. Well, not to people /he/ likes at
least. For some reason it's ok when his family does it...

The footsteps enter the doors and a young man around his early twenty's
rushes in. "That's enough, Father. Let her be and deal with me." Moshay.
The younger man glances to Espiria and Neelkan. "You two, stop him if you
can." Color shifting cloak. Gaidin and Aes Sedai?? Aes Sedai?? Oh no..
Moshay's face frowns. "Aes Sedai, bind my Father or something. Help my
sister!" Moshay is already finding a candlestick for the dining hall to do
what he must to save the girl. "Wynt, kick father and come to me." But Wynt
is frozen stiff.

Well in dreams they say that anything is possible and though Espi knows she
can't do that in real life, she does realize this is a dream and that she
can do it here. She scowls at the man after the boy speaks and raises her
hand, wrapping air tightly around the man holding Wynt and takes another
small band to slowly pry his fingers from the material he still holds,
"That will be enough! I will not stand here and see a child abused." She
glances at Neel, nodding to him to do what he needs to do to the man if he
persists before turning back to him and slightly squeezing the air a bit
tighter. "Release her now before I quickly loose my good mood." Good mood?
Could it be that another 'aspect' of Espi si coming more to the fore? She
raises a slim brow, continuing to hold the man as she makes it slowly very
uncomfortable for him to continue holding the girl as he is. She does tip a
smile over to the boy and raises her other hand for him to wait for a
moment. Perhaps violence will not be needed.

Oooooh. This dream Espi is very cool. Ahem. Neelkan grins at her widely for
a moment, before turning his glare back on the man. Aes Sedai. And his Aes
Sedai... Oh Light he likes the way that feels. Arg! Back to the thing going
on! Grr. He keeps his glare on the man, slowly moving forward, still not
quite with the stalking grace of a animal that the warders have... he walks
like a thief. Still graceful, but also very, very silent. Sorry, Wyn, but
he steps on the clean parts of the floor too. "Just try somethin' ya sack a
pig dung." Not exactly the way a Warder speaks... A cloak alone won't wash
his mouth clean. Sorry. The brother gets a glance, to make sure that he's
still there as well. Neelkan definately likes this Moshay person.
Impressive men have always been instantly liked by him.

As the fingers release her, Wyntere runs to Moshay's protection and into
her brother's arms. Moshay nods to Espiria and Neelkan before he takes off
with Wyntere leaving his father to the two of them. The man scowls at
Neelkan and the Aes Sedai. "The two of you better have money to pay for
her!" But then the mist seems to dance for a second and the scene changes.

Very early morning before the sun rises, both of you are standing outside
'Gaileos Star', the home and shop of an astronomer. Not to be confused with
astrologer. A loud crash is heard from inside ans you hear the name from a
little older sounding girl. "NO!!!! Gaileos!!" Then it's followed by a,
"Moshay! Watch out!"

Espiria sways on her feet, eyes going wide for a moment at the sudden
shifting in scenes, but she hears the cries and takes off running toward
the sound of the yelling voice. What is this now? How did she get here? And
who in Light's name is yelling? Wasn't that the name of the girl's brother?
She only spares a glance behind her, shivering at the sound of things
falling. Light! What now? She hopes Neel is following, otherwise she
doesn't know what she will do with what sounds to be happening. She runs up
to the building, seeking an entrance of some kind.

Is Neelkan following? Is water wet!? He runs after Espi before even
thinking about it at all. The scene changed? If so he just takes it in
stride. It's just a dream, not like dreams don't change all the time. They
certainly shift on him when he leasts expects it. He doesn't run as fast as
he probably could though (especially with those earrings of his...) but he
runs fast enough, moving right beside Espi as he does. What's going to be
going on when they get there...? What... What...? Well, either way he seems
perpared for the worse, as there's his fan in his hand again. The cloak is
gone though.

The front door was open and as you walk in, a young woman of novice age
looks much like the young girl fromt he last scene. Moshay is there, but he
too is older. He is kneeled down next to an old man and someone in black
lowers the butt of a knife on Moshay's head; knocking Wynt's brother out
cold. Wyntere's blue eyes are full of tears and her hands out stretch to
the thief in instinct as the man gets flung against the wall sliding down
to his death. Wyntere stinks to the floor shaking. Her amulet can be seen
minus the saphirre star. It's alot like Haven's if you saw hers. Sobbing
can be heard coming form her as two men lie dead on the floor. One by her
own hands. Her brother looks dead, but if one looks carefully, Moshay is
still breathing.

Espiria goes running over to Wynt, shaking her head quickly as she gathers
up the girl into her arms for a moment. She leans the girl's face from her
though, looking into her eyes for a moment before she sees the flicker
of..something. Wynt? She widens her eyes, then blinks. "It's alright...He's
still alive, Wyntere." She takes a shot in the dark at the name, hoping her
guess is right. "He's still alive and I will heal him. You only did what
you had to do. Please..don't cry now." She smooths the girl's hair back for
a moment, smiling as she lowers her hand to the boy's head. The healing
begins. Oh if only she could do this with Varcel. That thought flies thru
her mind the instant she touches his head and heals him. Her eyes are
troubled as she looks back over to Neel and then to your face. Troubled and
very sad. "It's...alright. He'll be just fine. Neel? Will you carry him
out.. We can call someone to come and get the other two later on. We..have
to go." She glances at Wynt, taking her small hand in her own and sighing.
"Let's step outside so you can have some air. Neel will bring him with
us..alright?"

As soon as they get on the scene, Neelkan freezes and stares as if seeing
something he just can't handle. His jaw drops open as Wyntere sends the
thief flying, and believe it or not he runs over to the thief and not the
brother. He checks the man quickly and finds him dead before he even got
there and clenches his fists. What is this...? Why? This is... no! He
growls and closes his eyes for a moment, trying to remind himself that this
can't be real, this can't have happened. It's not! It's not real! He even
starts saying that softly under his breath a few times. It's not. It's not.
It takes a while before Espi's words break through and he turns around to
look at her and nods, looking very sad. He takes a deep breath and reaches
forward to close the theives eyes silently, then stands up, still telling
himself mentally that it isn't real. He moves over to the brother and hefts
him up as best he can without saying anything at all on what happened.
Nothing happened. It's not real. It's not... Everyone here seems troubled
and sad...

As soon as they get on the scene, Neelkan freezes and stares as if seeing
something he just can't handle. His jaw drops open as Wyntere sends the
thief flying, and believe it or not he runs over to the thief and not the
brother. He checks the man quickly and finds him dead before he even got
there and clenches his fists. What is this...? Why? This is... no! He
growls and closes his eyes for a moment, trying to remind himself that this
can't be real, this can't have happened. It's not! It's not real! He even
starts saying that softly under his breath a few times. It's not. It's not.
It takes a while before Espi's words break through and he turns around to
look at her and nods, looking very sad. He takes a deep breath and reaches
forward to close the theives eyes silently, then stands up, still telling
himself mentally that it isn't real. He moves over to the brother and hefts
him up as best he can without saying anything at all on what happened.
Nothing happened. It's not real. It's not... Everyone here seems troubled
and sad... (repose)

Wyntere flinches at the touch of Espiria as if not use to the kindness. She
is shaking and feels very weak from what she just did. But as she nods and
stands up to follow obediantly. An Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah walks through
the door looking alot like Wyntere might at a bit older age. And the blue
eyes match Wyntere's, even the pendant around her neck matches. Which one
of these is Wyntere? The girl or the Aes Sedai. But as Wyntere the girl
sees the woman, the tears flow again, "Mom?" The tiny voice of Wyntere
asks. Then suddenly as things hit Wyntere, she changes into her normal self
full of power and regal. The full Gray Aes Sedai and MoNster of the White
Tower under Kaomi's rule. The tears still streak her face as she whispers
to the place where the Blue faded away in the change. "I love you, Mom."
But it's too late, a point of pain within the Gray. If she had only known
beforehand... Wyntere glances to Espiria and Neelkan confused as she wipes
away tears. "What's going on? Why is Neelkan trying to carry nothing?"
True... the brother has faded into a shimmer and the old man and the thief.
No one but the 3 of use standing here.

Espiria gasps asshe sees the woman walk in and glances over to Wynt as she
changes. Her voice grows heavy, so full of sadness that she realizes what
has been going on. But already she feels the tugging of her body as they
try to wake her up. She gulps back a wave of panic, shakling her head a bit
to Wynt, "It...doesn't matter Wyntere Sedai. Neel...rest easy.
Please...Work hard. Stay free." Her clothing starts changing even as the
tears start to flow from her eyes. Again her face wears the green smudge as
she turns her eyes to Wynt, "I..love you both so....much." She shakes her
head, hands raising to run thru her hair and the bruises on her wrists can
be clearly seen. "Please....go on..even if..if I don't make it back. Love
one another..and stay strong. For..my sake." Her eyes plead for this and
it's hard to tell what it could mean, though one thing is certain, she
doesn't look all that good at the moment. "I..wanted to be
strong..I'm..trying so hard....So very hard...I..I.." She fades for a
moment, wincing before she's bad a bit stronger again. "Tell...tell Redd I
love him as well..and that..I tried...I really tried. I..just don't know
how long I can make it."

What in the bloody---- What he saw before is suddenly forgoten and
Neelkan's eyes widen and he takes a step closer to Espi, barely noticing
that he had something he had to carry a moment ago. "Esp... Espi!?!" He
looks frightened, more frightened then she ever saw him when he was worried
his dreams might mean he could channel. He moves forward and grabs onto her
arm in an attempt to hold her there a little bit longer, looking as worried
as he ever has, "What's going on!? Blood 'n ashes!! Espi... Please..." He
closes his eyes and growls wordlessly for a few moments, before muttering
something about how she can't go away. She can't. "If ya don't come back...
if ya don't... bloody Light, if ya don't... 'en ya'll prove t' m' 'at
women're cruel, unfair creatures! So ya get yerself back 'ere, I..." He
trails off, because pretty much whatever he says won't change anything.
This can't be one of his future dreams. Light he hopes it's not. Espi's
safe on a farm with Varcel watching over her. He is! He's watching her!
This is just because he's worried about her and misses her subconsiously...
Right?

Those sad blue eyes of Wyntere's reach for Espiria at seeing the bruises
and the tortured body. She wraps the girl in a hug. "Hang in there, my
Espi. You can survive, just like I have more than anyone's share." 3 times
now I think? her father nearly killed her and 2 kidnappings? "You need help
and I'll tell Kaomi. You hold on no matter what they do to you. Be good,
Espiria. Don't fight too much unless they try to kill you. Trust me. You
feel weak, but at this stage, it's the only way to survive." And yes, this
comes from Wyntere after her own kidnapping. "Neelkan and I will tell them
all." Oh no.. bad idea to send Espiria out alone. Grrr! And Neelkan, if
you're dreaming and worried, Wyntere is too. Yes, Espi's on the farm with
Varcel and Salamas and she's safe. Though Wyntere is headed straight for
Kaomi's office. You don't discover talents at her age and if so... oh, this
is bad. Wyntere isn't a dreamwalker. How did she get here? What this?
Wyntere glances between them both. "Espiria, you /are/ coming back.
Understand? I'm sending for you as soon as I get to Kaomi."

Espi looks at each of you smiling sadly, and wincing again as she feels
someone try to waken her up again. "Oh..It hurts so...much. I..I have to go
or else they...will do something to Varcel because I don't behave
myself..." The tears flow harder, "I..love you both....always remember
that...never forget..." She tips her head upwards and an image of Salamas's
dead staring eyes appear vividly behind her. "He's gone...How could they
kill him so...cruely...so viciously." She sobs, form fading even as she
looks at both of you. Her words fade as she does, but her lips move and you
can clearly tell she says it again just to keep it fresh in her mind as she
faces what she now has to go back to. 'I love you..both....' Then she is
gone.

Watching Espiria go, Wyntere glances to Neelkan and lowers her head. "Don't
worry. We'll get her back from the farm." Wyntere then starts to fade as
tears take her from the surroundings and everything that she's just been
through. Oh Wyntere will rest long and hard tommorrow or go get blackroot
tea from Mother. And with that, wyntere's safe under her blankets by the
warm firelight of her bedroom. She's sitting up straight and ready to get
dressed and wake Kaomi up.

"No.... no... oh Light..." Neelkan stares at seeing Salamas. He never liked
the guy. Respected him a little, but never liked him. That damn punishment
caused him to lose so much sleep. Even if he did take it on when he didn't
have to. Michael had given him a chance to get out of it. But he didn't
take it. When Espi vanishes he yells loudly, "NO!" Even Wyn's reassurances
can't help him. And then he's gone a moment or two later. Probably waking
up half the people in the Trainee Quarters with his yelling. And his
pounding his fist against a door.... And throwing things. Bloody dreams.
Bloody, flaming dreams.