Faint footsteps can be heard climbing up the stairs, they grow louder as they approach, although they seem no more than the gentle clicks of a lady's boots. They stop outside the door, and for a very long moment there is silence. Then a light rapping of knuckles can be heard at the door, as Etaine knocks upon the wood of the door frame.
The pacing from inside the room stops. For a moment silence reigns. Then three quick steps of booted feet and the door opens. Kaith bows slightly to Etaine and glances both ways down the hall. He opens the door fully and steps aside, gesturing for her to enter, 'Light Illumine, milady. Welcome to my humble abode.'
Etaine nods her head slightly and offers Kaith a warm smile. As she steps inside she undoes the pin on her left shoulder, letting the cloak slide into her hands. "Light illumine, Kaith. Thank you, I trust you are well?"
Kaith closes the door behind her and holds out his hand to take her cloak. He frowns slightly and says, 'I am doing well. I trust you had an uneventful trip.'
Etaine hands him the cloak and nods her head. "Aye, I did, for which I am most thankful." She sighs slightly as she seems to nervously smooth the skirts of dress. "I must speak of something to you.... My Gaidin, they were rather adamant about me not coming. But I told them that I gave my word, Ra'shad is standing just outside your door."
Kaith nods slowly and moves to the guarderobe. He hangs the cloak inside and turns back, examining the Aes Sedai with a thoughtful frown from across the room. After a moment he shrugs and says, 'I do not blame them. If I go mad, you could be dead before they even realized you were in danger. There are risks to what we do... I understand if you decide it is not worth those risks.'
Etaine shakes her head "No, in light of what happened, I think the risks are worth it, now more than ever." She licks her lips absently and then asks "Perchance, do you have some water?"
Kaith shakes his head slightly, 'No, I did not arrive much before you did. I can have drinks or a meal brought up, if you would like.' He gestures to one of the chairs, 'Please, have a seat and I will attend to it. Things are weighing on my mind and I have totally forgotten my manners, it seems.'
Etaine takes a seat this time purposefully checking to see her skirts are in order. "It is quite alright." She glances up at him and then looks to the other empty chair seemingly to wait for him to sit as well. "It seems obvious you are rather troubled, would you cared to discuss it?"
Kaith unbuckles his swordbelt and tosses it casually onto the bed before moving to the chair. He sits and regards the woman silently for a long moment. Letting out a tired sigh he says, 'I would, but I need your word that it never leaves this room.'
Etaine nods her head slightly. "You have my word, I will keep your confidence. I trust you will keep mine as well. We both risk much by doing just by speaking with each other."
Kaith slowly moves to take the other chair. He sits heavily, then crosses his feet at the ankles, left boot softly tapping on the floor. He leans forward towards Etain and props his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers together and staring at her over them. After a long, silent moment, he asks,'Do you know anything of the Healing of minds?'
Etaine's eyes grow slightly wide at his question, then she shakes her head "Nay, I do not. Do you fear the taint has taken too strong of a hold of you already?"
Kaith shakes his head quickly, 'Nay, If I thought I was going mad I would not risk meeting with you.' He sighs again, 'This is difficult.. where to begin... Do you know that we know how to bond as well?'
Etaine takes a deep breath and leans back in her chair. "Nay, I did not know that... I take it you have bonded someone to you." She purses her lips. "You know it is quite a delicate thing, the bond."
Anger flashes through him suddenly. Through clenched teeth Kaith says, 'No, I did not bond someone.' He takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out, bringing himself back under control, 'Let me explain a few things about the way we bond. If I were to bond a normal woman, the bond would be much like what an Aes Sedai and a Warder have, to my understanding. However,' and he shudders slightly, 'if I were to bond a woman that channels, it would be very different. She would be incapable of disobeying me. If I told her she wanted to obey me.. she would.'
Etaine sits calmly as Kaith speaks, nodding her head slightly. "You had spoken of being able to bond, and .... Please, I should not have interrupted, tell me more."
Kaith nods slightly and continues, 'It is as if they are trapped in their own mind. Not a very pleasant thing to do to someone.. Some say better than killing, but I am not entirely sure I agree.' He grips the arm of the chair and his knuckles go white, but he seems not to realize it, 'We had two such women on the farm for a time. They were bonded by Taim's lieutenant. Al'Thor ordered them released, and everyone seemed to think that was the end of it.' He shakes his head gravely, 'That was not the end. There are leftover effects. I know not what happened to Yaten, but Sharine Sedai still suffers from the effects of that bond.'
Etaine furrows her brow and sighs. "What you speak of is bondloss. If the bond were severed, by the death of the person who created the bond, it can cause some to go mad. I've seen this happen to a variety of degrees with some of the gaidin. If it is undone, released as you say, it still can occcur, although usually to a much lesser degree. I do not know who this Sharine Sedai is, but, usually in time the affects fade. If they don't kill themselves before then."
Kaith shakes his head, 'She learned some mental trick while she was bonded. A way to push away the contradictions. To allow herself to do as she was ordered even though it went against what she really wanted inside.. She continues to do this with anything stressful with which she does not wish to deal.' He looks Etaine in the eye and asks in a tone filled with pain, 'Is there anything that can be done to help?'
Etaine chews on her lower lip and contemplates his question silently for a moment. She then looks up again to meet his eyes. "With warders, when they suffer bondloss, we usually try to convince them to be bonded to someone else." The muscles of her face tighten "This is completely different... such a thing would just make matters worse, from what I can tell."
Kaith goes very pale, 'If she were to bond someone.. it would make things worse?
Etaine chews on her lip again and then shrugs with a slight shake of her head "I can not say, if she were then one who created the bond.... All I can say is that it does seem that no one should create the bond on her. You see, the affects on the person who is bonded is different than those who hold that bond. When my first gaidin died, it struck me a terrible blow, but I never lost my wits. If, it were I who had died instead, chances are he would have not survived me very long."
Kaith sighs loudly but gets a determined look upon his face, 'My responsibility. I will find a way.' He shakes his head to clear it, 'What is.. how.. I have never researched. How exactly do we do this?'
Etaine puts her hand out as if trying to stop him a moment. "Hold on a moment, you said she has found a mechanism to help her. Did you not? I think that it may be best just to let time heal her. Somethings are just best left to heal of their own accord." She settles back down against the back of her chair, lowering her hand. "How is the bond formed? Is that what you wish to know?"
Kaith grins suddenly, 'Well, I do not know exactly how you would bond. But I know the weave that we use. I was actually asking how to we go about trying to learn what we can do together.
Etaine giggles at herself. "I'm sorry, I misunderstood your question." She sighs heavily a puff of air sending the timny wisps of hair not caught in her braid fluttering about her face. "Research, if I were part of the Brown Ajah, I could tell you much better. I had gone to the library...." her voice trails off and she looks at him and swallows dryly. "First, there is something I must speak to you of."
Kaith nods slightly, 'There is a problem?' Suddenly he looks a bit distracted and a soft smile creeps across his face. He mutters softly, 'She is up to some mischief.' Turning back to Etaine, he refocuses, 'I'm sorry, this takes some getting used to. You were saying?'
Etaine smirks slightly "She has bonded you...." she says now seeming to know the truth of his concerns. She sits up straight in her chair and nods. "Yes, there is a problem. One of your Asha'man, I believe his name is Ekain, will not be much longer."
Kaith's brow furrows and he fixes her with a hard glance, 'I know Ekain. What do you mean?' The angry look fades and a cold calm washes over him, 'Where is he?'
Etaine sighs deeply and she places a hand protectively over her ribs. "He is in the dungeons of the White Tower. He gated into the library when I was there. He made threats against the Tower." She looks at Kaith squarely "It seems it is not the first time a male channeler has gated within the walls of the tower, and after the most recent one. Light, I would be pressed hard to deal with being abducted again. I had to do what I could to stop him."
Kaith shakes his head sadly, 'So another one falls to the taint. Not that he was ever quite right.' He studies her face again and asks, 'He was mad, was he not? And.. no, I know for a fact he was not the first man to gate into Tar Valon. I have done it myself.'
Etaine eyes widen "Light, are you sure you are not mad? Why would you do such a thing?" She seems to have gotten agitated by this. "You know if any Red Sister found out about you... they wouldn't hesitate to shield you from saidin." She closes her eyes and tries to compose herself. "But it was because of Ekain that my Gaidin didn't want me to come. Things happened so quickly, and ..." she bites her lip once more. "you know they fear losing me, just like you fear losing her."
Kaith shakes his head and says very calmly, 'Rolen Gaidin and Tiernee Aes Sedai died to bandits on the road between Caemlyn and Tar Valon. I could not prevent that. But it was worth a little risk in the dead of night to slip into the Tower Gardens and form the earth into a memorial for them.' He looks away for a long moment. When he looks back he says, 'And I was spotted there. Luckily the person that saw me was a Gaidin that I had known since we were both youths... some would say scoundrels.'
As an afterthought, Kaith adds, 'And one Red Sister would be wise to run for reinforcements.'
Etaine shakes her head "It is dangerous none the less. Who, if you don't mind me asking, is this Gaidin you speak of?"
Kaith shrugs, 'He is no longer with the White Tower, so it could do little harm to reveal him. Khorne.'
Etaine nods her head slightly. "The name is vague in my memory."
Kaith shrugs, 'As I said, he is no longer with the tower. He joined with those that split from Tar Valon.'
Etaine nods her head slightly "Yes... I just wanted you to understand if they are even more abrupt with you, what the cause is. You see, I was injured in the encounter with Ekain, and they get very angry when I am harmed."
Kaith frowns slightly, 'I can understand that... You have been Healed, right?' Before she can answer he quickly adds, 'I know your Gaidin are concerned about you.. but you might want to make sure they believe I mean you no harm. I am not the most relaxed man on earth right now and our training is not subtle. I would not wish to harm any of you through misunderstanding.'
Etaine nods her head gently "I was healed moments later, unfortunately, healing doesn't take away the memory of the pain." She smiles again "If I had not already convinced them otherwise, I would not be sitting right here right now. They understand why we are doing what we are about to do."
Kaith nods slowly and smiles back, 'Let us begin? I still am not sure how to proceed.' He ponders for a moment, 'It is said that the greatest works of the age of legends were done by men and women working together.. do you have any idea how they linked?'
Etaine purses her lips together and presses her finger against them. "Hmmm. Well I've formed links in the past. I don't see why it wouldn't work the same. What happens is that I bring myself to the point of just being able to embrace saidar, and then the one who is to control the link pulls me into it. I have no control until I'm released. It takes a great deal of trust to do a link."
Kaith listens carefully and shakes his head slightly, 'Have you ever controlled a link? Because I have never been involved in a link of any kind. I can bring myself almost to the point of seizing saidin..' He nods suddenly and says nervously, 'I am willing to try if you are.'
Etaine shakes her head "No, I've never controlled a link, but I'm willing to try." She appears to be a bit nervous too.
Kaith takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. His face goes slack and his eyes go flat, emotionless. He says in a monotone, 'I stand ready to seize Saidin. I certainly hope that nothing in the way this feels panics our bonded.'
Etaine takes a deep breath and then slowly exhales it letting herself relax. A bright smile appears on her face as she reaches saidar. She reaches out with her will and tries to draw out saidin from him.
Cameron knocks lightly at the door and opens it, letting himself in. In his hands is a small tray with 3 cups, a teapot and various smaller pots.
Kaith shivers slightly as Etaine reaches Saidar. He closes his eyes to relax trying to let go his control as he feels something brush against his connection to the source... He whirls sharply at the knocking, Saidin suddenly surging through him. He stands stock still facing the door, poised to hurl fire if needed.
Etaine looks up at the door and sees Cameron and then looks to Kaith. She tries defuse the sudden tension and saids softly "Kaith, you remember Cameron, don't you?"
Cameron shrugs calmly, his eyes intent on Kaith, "Good day, again."
Kaith releases Saidin and bows deeply, right hand on his heart in the Cairhienin manner, 'Light Illumine and welcome to my home away from home. Sorry for the tension, you startled me.'
Cameron shrugs halfheartedly, "Something to drink?" He looks around the room, "I've seen worse confines."
Etaine takes the tray from Cameron and smiles at him "Thank you.". Cameron nods his head an says "I'll be just outside the door." and he turns and leaves the room.
Kaith sighs loudly once the door closes and bows to the Aes Sedai, 'I apologize, Etaine. I am very edgy lately.'
Etaine turns about with the tray in hand and placed it upon the table. "Would you care for a glass?" as she picks up a pitcher of wine punch.
Kaith smiles a bit nervously, 'That would be lovely. Thanks.' He moves over next to the table as he answers. With a thoughtful frown on his face he asks, 'Linking is the first logical step, is it not? I confess to being totally lost here.'
Etaine picks up a glass and fills it with the punch. Beads of dew coat the outside of the pitcher, indicating the punch is nice and cold. "Yes, I do believe just trying to link is the first logical step, as to where we go from there, we should start off simple." She pours another glass of punch for herself. She raises her glass to him and smiles. "To discoveries."
Kaith tinks his glass lightly against hers, 'To discoveries.' Then, in the ultimate sign of trust from an Asha'man, he tilts the glass back and empties it without seeing if she falls dead from hers first.
Etaine takes a much more delicate approach to drinking from her glass, and just sips lightly at the wine. She places the glass down onto the table, next to the picture, the glass already beginning to sweat from the cool liquid inside. "Now, shall we try again?"
Kaith nods slowly, a calmness washing over his face as he sets the glass on the tray. In a cold, blank voice he says, 'I stand on the edge of seizing Saidin. I am ready when you are.' He watches her expressionlessly from the void.
Etaine smiles brightly as she embraces saidar once more. She takes in a deep breath to gather her will and tries to draw him into a link.
Kaith absently rubs his arms as if chilled when she embraces. He watches her dispassionately while he waits. His eyes widen slightly as he feels a gentle tugging on his connection to the Power. Remembering her words from earlier, he tries to foster a feeling of complete trust. He tries to surrender his control to her... and Saidin slides away from him. He sighs deeply, 'Well, we really did not expect this to be easy, did we?'
Etaine sighs as she releases her hold on saidar. "No, we didn't... I wonder, what is it like when you grasp saidin."
Kaith shrugs and holds out his open hand. He makes a quick motion as if trying to catch a fly, 'I grab Saidin as if seizing a serpent by the neck and wrestle it under my control, constantly struggling against it to force it to my will. When finished, I.. push it away from me.' With a gesture suited to his words, he makes an open-handed pushing motion at the air in front of him.
Etaine nods her head as she takes a seat once more. "I think that is where our troubles may lay. You wrestle with saidin, I surrender to saidar."
Kaith arches an eyebrow and pales slightly. He sputters, 'Saidin would burn me to a cinder if I surrended to it.. even for a second.' He shudders violently, 'No, this is not going to be easy.'
Etaine picks up her glass again and takes another drink. She then places it down onto the table in front of her and stares into it. "No, this isn't going to be easy, but in some way you must surrender the control of it over to me..... Or you can try to bring me into a link."
Kaith frowns in thought for a moment and begins pacing. He stops, pivoting on his heal to face her, 'But I have no idea how to even begin.'
Etaine stares into the glass again, seemingly deep in thought. She then looks to him and asks "Did you feel anything when I tried to link you?"
Kaith sighs and nods slowly, 'Yes, it felt almost like something was tugging at my connection to the power.. almost like a shield.. but the feeling was different.. a pulling instead of trying to step between.. if you understand what I mean.'
Etaine smiles and nods her head. "Yes, that is what it is like, do you think you can try to do the same to me?"
Kaith frowns in deep thought, 'Just try to... pull you in.. as if I am trying to grasp through you?'
Etaine nods her head again "Yes, that is what you must try to do. Are you willing?" Her eyes remain focused upon you awaiting your response.
Kaith nods his head slowly, 'Ye.. wait... How will this work if we do establish this link? I mean.. will both powers be flowing through both of us?'
Etaine shakes her head. "No, they will be centered on you."
Kaith asks very slowly, 'So there is no danger of the taint touching you?'
Etaine chews on her lip a moment "No, I don't think so, if you were to give control over to me... I'm not certain... only one way to find out."
Kaith sighs loudly, 'There is something you should know, then. I do not know how much you ken about the taint. It is extremely random. Taim has been channelling for years.. And I have seen a man go mad the first time he touched Saidin. I just think you need to be aware of that.'
Etaine nods her head "Yes, I am aware of that... but we both knew that this would entail many risks. Tell me, exactly how does the taint interfere with Saidin."
Kaith gets a look on his face as if he has tasted something foul, 'It is like a stagnant covering on top of a pool of purest water, or more accurately an oily scum. It feels like filth running through me when I channel.. but then there is Saidin..' He gets a dreamy expression on his face, 'Sweet.. pure.. like distilled life.. without the taint I do not know how men ever managed to release it.'
Etaine smiles and nods "Yes, saidar is like that, so do you struggle with the taint, or do you struggle with saidin?"
Kaith's eyes refocus on her, 'The struggle is with Saidin. It is a raging river of pure life.. too much is death.'
Etaine nods her head "Yes, saidar can kill you just as easily. We are very careful to watch our novices for just that reason. It is a matter of strict discipline when learning to use saidar."
Kaith nods slowly, the calm washing over his face once more. In that blank voice from deep within the void he says, 'I am ready to try if you are.'
Etaine smiles and takes a deep breath, slowly releasing it. "I am ready" she says in a very calm and soft voice.
Kaith nods once, gazing into her eyes. His nose wrinkles as if something smells when he seizes Saidin. Slowly he extends his concentration, reaching out, trying to grasp the power through the woman. His brow furrows in concentration and his hand comes up unconsciously as if trying to aid his mental grip. After several long moments he shakes his head and lets out a long breath, facial expressions returning to normal.
Etaine sits and watches him. She then shakes her head. "I felt nothing."
Kaith sighs and shakes his head, 'I did not either. I could not find anything to grasp.'
Etaine purses her lips together and looks back down into the glass of wine. "Hmmmm" she murmurs as she thinks. "Well, we both felt something when I tried to link you, but I think we will need to work on both ways."
Kaith nods slowly, 'Yes, I agree. Follow all possibilities..' He stops stock still and turns to face the east. 'She was wide awake, very nervous, very tense.. then asleep. Immediately.' He bows quickly to Etaine. There is an edge of panic in his voice as he says, 'I apologize, Etaine Sedai, but I must go.' A slash of light appears in the corner of the room and widens into a gateway showing the interior of a room in the Golden Bowl.
Kaith says, 'I shall be here tomorrow.. If I am not, something terrible has happened.'