09/16/2000

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.


Denn'ryiel descends the stairs in a light blue dress this evening. For once
she isn't carrying any books with her. Her intended destination appears to
be the Dining Hall, but her progresses is slowed as she stops and
acknowledges acquaintences along the way.

Muttering darkly under his breath, Neelkan seems to be pacing a small piece
of the Entrance Hall. Back and forth, back and forth, completely lost in
some arguement he seems to be having with himself. He's in the middle of
his hundred and sixteenth pace (yes, he was counting, and can count that
high) when he notices Denn. He halts and watches her for a moment. In
/blue/ no less. Well, he said he wanted colors. He looks reluctent for a
moment, then quickly starts over, leaving the area he was trying to pace a
hole in the floor of... "'ey Denn. I like yer dress." He says with a small
smile, not exactly forced, but close enough.

Denn'ryiel looks up and spots the trainee coming towards her. Her cheeks
begin to color as soon as she hears the comment. "Thank you," she replies,
with a small smile. The fingers on her right hand subconsciously go to her
waist and rub a fold of the fabric between them. Apparently her opinion of
the dress isn't that high, but she doesn't let that show on her face. "I
hope I didn't interrupt anything," she says. "Were you headed some place?"

"Hmm?" Neelkan frowns for a moment, glancing around as if for a moment he
wasn't sure where he was. No, he isn't turning into a Brown, honest. He
shrugs after a bit and puts on that small grin again, "No. I'm just tryin'
t' stay warm in 'is bloody weather. I like the heat better 'en the cold, ya
know. So 'course ya didn't interupt nothin'." He doesn't seem to notice the
fact she isn't comfortable, but then when did he ever notice anything about
a woman unless it smacked him upside the head?

"Ah," Denn replies, and casts a glance at the large oaken doors leading to
the Courtyard outside. "Maybe you should look for another spot to pace.
It's probably colder here than anywhere else with the doors right there,
and the room's too large to heat properly anyways." Of course, there's also
the point of getting him to pace someplace away from visitors to the Tower,
but no point in mentioning that. "You might want to try the laundry room...
I don't think there are any refugees staying there."

There's a small nod after a moment and Neelkan seems to agree with that.
Sounds fair enough. Last thing he needs are more people asking him what's
wrong. And he certainly doesn't want to get sent to the Yellows to see if
there's anything "wrong" with him. Some of those suggestions they were
making just made him want to hit things more. "It is bloody cold 'ere, but
not as bad as outside." Which is where he'd rather be pacing a hole into
the underfoot.

Denn'ryiel's smile is suitable for a stones player who has just won the
game, or a merchant who just succeeded in negotiated a tough but profitable
sale. She turns towards the Common Wing and begins to walk that way, hoping
that Neelkan will follow. "I've... heard rumors, Neelkan. Are you feeling
alright these days?" she asks, in a concerned voice.

There's a small amount of hesitance, perhaps caused by the subject, then
Neelkan's moving right beside the White sister, watching the floor with
great interest. The novices sure keep it clean... "Uh... Light, I'm fine.
Really. Ya know me..." There's a pause and he glances up at the woman,
"What did ya hear 'xactly?"

Denn'ryiel shakes her head. "I didn't hear anything that wasn't fourth or
fifth hand, so I didn't pay much attention to what they said. I recall the
word 'crazy' coming up somewhat often," she admits, and turns her head back
to smile to see how her jest scores. "Anyways, with enough people talking
it seemed likely that something happened."

"Maybe I'm crazy 'en." Neelkan says with a exaggerated shrug, looking off
in front of himself instead of back at her again. "I just had a... pro'lem
controllin' m' temper. 'at's all. It's nothin' t' worry yerself o'er..."
There's another pause and he shrugs again, shorter this time, "'n if 'ere
is, 'en I'll know soon 'nough." He loses the serious bit as he glances back
over with a mischevious grin, "Ya don't think I'm crazy, d'ya?"

Denn'ryiel purses her lips and pauses before shaking her head. "No, I don't
think so," she says in a quiet serious voice. "To be honest, there is
something that I am concerned with you about, but it's not that." Her good
mood seems to have disappeared for the moment.

Neelkan shrugs lightly and looks forward again, letting his grin fade,
"Well, glad ya don't think I'm crazy too. I'm sure m' sister does, 'n most
the Gaidin prolly too. If not half the Tower itself." He seems to find that
funny, and laughs briefly. Then he sombers again and adds, "But if yer
worried 'bout somethin', maybe ya should tell m' now, so 'at it won't
bother ya so much anymore..." And also because he wouldn't be able to guess
if he tried.

Denn'ryiel nods her head and pauses, resting against the wall of the
corridor. She looks at Neelkan for a few moments, before saying, "...The
other night, when I came across you and your sister on the rooftop. During
the conversation there, there was a point... I don't know how to explain it
exactly, but I was convinced you were going to hit her then."

Good thing she decided to stop against the wall there, because Neelkan
wouldn't have been able to walk much further after that is said. He blinks
and stares for a few moments, not saying anything. Then he shrugs lightly,
"I.. I don't understand.. Ya're worried 'cause m' sister pissed m' off?"

Denn'ryiel shakes her head, with a frown, and becomes more serious. "No. I
know everyone thinks about doing things they shouldn't, but this went
beyond that. I was convinced for a half-second that you were going to hit
her. What troubles me the most is that next time, I might be the one that
upsets you, and that next time you won't stop yourself." She lets a sigh
go.

Neelkan opens his mouth to respond, then immediately closes it again. He
did want to hit Aidou then. She had no right to go around and blurting out
about his dreams. Even though he knows it would be the wrong thing to do,
he would have done it, and he knows it. But would he do it to Denn? No. He
wants to say that, but he can't. He frowns for a long moment, then says
softly, "I guess ya prolly don't want t' bond t' m' anymore, huh...?"

Denn'ryiel lets her gaze drop to the front of her dress, and pauses there
for a few moments. 'If the answer to that is yes, I'd be wearing gray,' she
realizes, though she doesn't give voice to her thoughts. "If I didn't want
to Bond you anymore, I would have come and told you. I respect you that
much," she says softly. "I guess the answer is that I need to think about
it... Figure out if this is something serious enough for that step." She
lifts her eyes and seeks out Neelkan's then.

During the silence, Neelkan just readies himself for her to say she doesn't
want to bond him anymore. Why would she want to be bonded to him in the
first place? As soon as she starts speaking he opens his mouth to tell her
she doesn't have to worry, he understands that she wouldn't want to, but
upon hearing the rest he doesn't get past the first word. When he does
manage he mutters softly, "Denn...I... blood 'n ashes." He grumbles and
steps back, "I... I understand. Take as much time as ya need. In no hurry
to finish training..." If he ever does that is. But then again, as
Christabel so kindly deminstrated with Rhys, Gaidin isn't nessassary to
gain before bonding.

Denn'ryiel smiles weakly and nods, reaching out to place a hand on the
man's shoulder lightly. "Thank you... I'm sorry to put you through this,"
she says with a sigh, glad that the hallway is fairly empty right now.

There's a small laugh and Neelkan shrugs against the hand, muttering
softly, "Ya had e'ery right t' say somethin'. Though Light, I ne'er thought
I would be 'at kinda... dirty..." He trails off and pulls back from the
hand, looking away as he says, "I don't want t' hurt ya. I really don't."

Denn'ryiel sighs, and lowers her hand. "And I didn't mean to start you
worrying that you would." Another burden of guilt for her conscience. "I
know you're not a violent person, Neelkan," she says softly. "You are more
gentle than you allow others to think you are."

There's a soft snort at the bit about being gentle, as if he wants to deny
it. And Neelkan quickly glances around as if to check for easedroppers.
"'at'll be our lil' secret, Denn." he says witha small grin, then adds,
"Don't worry 'bout it. Blood 'n ashes, I didn't e'en realize 'at..." He
trails off. He didn't realize how close he'd been to doing that. Finally
hitting back, after having a target sign on his head for years...

Denn'ryiel smiles a little bit now, since Neelkan finally tried to defend
himself, if only a little bit. "And no, I won't let your secret out, though
I think quite a few others have noticed as well."

"'is is why bandits don't stay in the same flamin' place too long. Hard to
keep up the image." Though it's said plainly, Neelkan does lower his voice
at the first bit. He still doesn't want a majority to know that. They
wouldn't like it most likely.

Denn'ryiel chuckles a bit and nods, glancing up and down the hallway to see
if anyone overheard. "Well, you can always let your guard down if you come
and visit," she replies. "And you're still more than welcome to do just
that."

"Light, I'm glad I didn't meet ya back 'fore I came t' the Tower... Either
ya would've hated m', 'r m' friends would've had a big laugh at m'
expense." Neelkan says with a small grin, the reaches over and grabs a lock
of her hair, tugging on it gently, "I'll visit ya still. It's bleedin' cold
in m' room, cause we don't have a fireplace." Not to mention his roomates
probably aren't happy about his... outburst.

Denn'ryiel winces at that. "No wonder so many trainees are in the Tower
now... I thought they must have emptied the Barracks." She gives Neelkan a
wry look at the hair pulling, but she really doesn't mind. "Did you always
laugh at each other?"

"Of course! 'specially 'en one of us made a fool outta himself o'er a..."
Neelkan trails off, but it's pretty obvious he was going to say a girl.
"Not 'at I e'er did." He adds quickly, defensevly, even if he didn't finish
saying what it was they laughed at exactly.

Denn'ryiel chuckles a bit, and flutters her eyes. "You mean I haven't
gotten you to the foolish stage yet?" she asks, before her smile breaks
with a chuckle. Yes, she knew what Neelkan was going to say.

Neelkan manages a small, false glare and reaches up and pokes the woman on
the nose lightly, "No. 'n don't count on it either. I'd hate t' disappoint
ya." He moves the hand down to her cheek, then darts a quick glance around
and leans in for an even quicker kiss before saying, "I better go, 'n let
ya get back t' business."

Denn'ryiel flushes slightly but approvingly at the physical contact, and
she nods. "Alright... I'll let you go this time then," she says in her
quiet voice, but a jest nonetheless. "Try to find someplace warm," she then
adds.

"If I don't, I'll find some reason t' get summoned t' yer room." Neelkan
says with a grin, and then backs up and heads in the direction of the
Entrance Hall itself, planning on taking a way through the Tower to get to
the trainee barracks. No walking in knee deep snow for him.