Lia checked her hair in the rearview mirror.... She looked like yuppie scum, but well... If that's what it took, then.. that's what it took.. Lia had slid down the access road to the freeway... keeping the Vans in sight, but not associating herself with them.... Lissette and Sonja were too far back.. and looked like normal biker women.. noone wanted to screw with them There was an accident at the light, and Lia had to slow down a bit... Against popular belief she was actually taking care not to speed... no reason to get pulled over.... Her U-Haul had License plates from Caemlyn, and not even her own mother would know her now..
She took care to make sure that the only things showing on her seat were travel accessories.. munchies.. a few cans of Coke... an expensive sweater lay on the seat, and she was wearing her (eww) Seatbelt. no weapons were visible.. and the com unit was carefully Disquised as a Cellular phone on the seat.... and with a heavy heart, she slid the purple Ajah ring into the console between seats...
Her intentions had been to get ahead of the vans, and check out the area ahead of them... this wasn't helping..... She sighed.. as the woman at the roadblock in her neat Blue uniform approached her car. Lia pushed the button that rolled her window down and smiled, lowering her sunglasses, and turrning on her Caemlyn accent strongly.. " Hello Officer Sedai.... How may I help you...? "
"Routine check," The officer said brusquely, " Lisence Registration " She seemed bored.. and checking for the sake of checking.. Lia reached into the glovebox and removed a set of registration papers.... She opened a purse ( A what..?!) on the floor of the passenger side, and slid her drivers License out of an expensive leather wallet... She handed both to the Officer Sedai.
The woman's great serpent ring Glistened in the sunlight... and Lia smiled politly.. biting her tongue in an urge to gut the woman... The woman smiled softly... " Miss Sylvia Al'Morgan... You aren't married..? "
"No Officer Sedai... I Have found men to be very trying.. I'm going to Tear now for my mother.. she's ill, and wants to set me up with someone... " Lia shook her head emphatically, playing this act with her plum experience, even being a Techie took some acting... " I don't think I'll like him though... Men just don't seem to be what I'm looking for," Lia smiledsoftly...
"The officer smiled and handed her a business card lined in Red ink, " I can sense some ability in you.. should you find this new man... distasteful... perhaps we can teach you to be Aes Sedai.... You'd make a..... Tasty addition to the Red Ajah... "
Lia smiled and blew the woman a kiss.... Driving off laughing like a fiend... as soon as she was out of sight... she called up Patty on the Com unit, " I knew the Red Ajah were lesbians.... Blood and Ashes.. If She had hit on me any harder.. I think I would have lost my lunch.... If I'd eaten anything.... Pats.. Shouldn't we be hitting a Micky D's here soon..? "
Lia waited for Patty's response... and knew the entire tower would flip thier lids when they saw what she looked like..... "Ah.. but Lia isn't here... " She turned the accent Thick again " I am Sylvia.. Sylvia Al'Morgan... How can I be of service.... ?" She broke into another fit of hysterical laughter.....
Lia drove carefully on the Access road.... The toll booth shot into view and Helicopters.. "Fuck!" She slammed on the brakes.... " Damn it Damn it" She flipped the car around..... " I've had enough of this Bullshit..." She picked up the Cellphone Com unit and called to Vree, Patty.. anyone who had one..... " Guys..It's time that this Little Game of Daes De Mar the Aes Sedai are playing with us came to an end.... " She raised the Card the Red Ajah Cop had given her.... " The only way out... Is to find a way in..... I'm going to Tar Valon... I'm going to the White Tower.... and I am going to get to the bottom of this once and for all... Even if we get to Tear.. and Get Kelly and Nyna back.... Well... We'll still have to run.... I'm tired of running..... I've run my entire life.... I had to Kick Liandrin's Braided Honey-haired ass to get away from that.. .I'm NOT doing this again.... It's time I fought for what I loved.... It's time I started taking things back.... Hap's out of Bubble gum and I'm taking names.... This ends.. and it ends now!!!.... "
She slammed the phone down and screeched into the onramp for Tar Valon... Doing what had to have been Warp 16... Poison's Fallen Angel blaring through the killer sound system... she got there in short order.. only about 30 hours..... the Cell had range throughout the Continent.. and well... They could get in touch with her if they needed her..... She pulled through the gates to the City.. and recieved no notice... She pulled into the parking lot of the White Tower, and walked through the great Ivory doors and into the bare entrance hall... The entire place reeked of freshness.. crispness.. like a lawyers office.... She walked through the doors like she knew exactly what she was doing.. without stopping at the front desk.... noone noticed her.... Her pumps clicked on the tiles... whatever tilist they had was a good one.. each tile had that Ancient Aes Sedai symbol on it.... Lia walked through the novice quarters... and to the Study of the Mistress of Novices.... an Accepted walked past her that looked a bit like Katja.. but well... Who knew anymore....
She knocke dlightly on the door to the MoN study and slipped inside at the "Yes" that reverberated off the Ivory walls
The MoN Looked up and smiled.... "How may I help you..? You have great potential.. I can feel it in you... perhaps the greatest since we had that dark girl Liandryn in here a few years ago.... Surely you have come for Novicedom..? " The woman had a look in her eyes that betrayed her emotionlessness... Greed.. Yes..It was greed.. Apparently the Amrylin was offering bonuses to any powerful channelers who were found... and If one came of her own will.. the MoN got the credit..
"Actually, Aes Sedai... " Lia spoke politely.. her accent turned on yet again, "I have come for information.... Would it be possible to arrange a meeting with yourself, the Amrylin, and the Keeper.... "
"Of Course, Child.... We would want you to see what The White Tower has to offer one of your capacity.... "Her eyes flicke dinto Lia's Ice Blue ones, with a purpose.... "We would, of course, Likely start you out at Accepted, you understand... You have an abundance of Raw power.... I'm surprised that you hadn't found it yourself.... and come to us sooner.. or maybe burned yourself out.. but surely..."
The MoN pressed a button on her desk.. and the Keeper answered... " Potential.. wants interview.. have you time..? "
"Is it worth it" The keeper asked wearily.. " Oh yes.. Very much worth it.."
"On our way.."
Moments later the Amrylin and keeper.. complete with shawls arrived in the Study... The MoN had put on her own Shawl... and they asked Lia her name.. "Sylvia, Sylvia Al'Morgan, I'm from Caemlyn, I had originally been invited by a Red Ajah member... She flashed the card... but thought I might neglect to mention that if I could speak with you both a moment.... " They smiled and agreed that they could split the bonus between themselves.. apparently Dear Mayadi was a greedy one too... So greedy, she didn't even recognize Lia.... Too bad really...
"What I wanted to talk to you about was this.... The Purple Tower.... " There was a sharp intake of breath at this " See, I had a friend who is a part of this tower.... and she wants me to join them.... I wasn't really sure about it.. but well.... "
"The amrylin smiled softly... her eyes betraying her hatred, " As good you weren't child... They are darkfriends.. we are currently hunting them now... they can't be trusted.. nor can they be anything other than what we say...."
"Of course not, Amrylin... " Lia wove a quick bit of Air with Saidin, and "locked" the door shut.... with the same flow she cut the power to the intercom and phone.. and anythign that might get them help..... " I understand all this.... But surely they can't be that bad... I myself am a student of the arts... and as the White Tower forms Doctors, Lawyers, Police Officers... Why couldn't the Purple Tower form Actors, Painters, Writers, Musicians... It really can't be that different.... "
"Oh.. But it is.. They are Darkfriends..." The Keeper spoke up.. obviously believeing what she was saying.... They want to use their So called Arts to bring the Dark One out again.... "
"But you and I both know that the Dark one can't rise again until a New Dragon is born... and that hasn't happened yet... each male born is tested and tested.... We'd know by now if there was one.... "
"Me thinks the girl should be a Blue.. " The MoN laughed and the Keeper nodded..
The Amrylin however was inpatient..." Look child... You try my patience sticking up for this Tower of Miscreants... Their Leader, Jennaea Broke in and Beat and burned a novice and Ransacked The Keeper's office.. these are not things that light born people do... They also have under their control a Gholom.. and a Patryn... " Lia smiled,, Sredny and Haplo, ' These are not the type of creatures Light following people care to be around.. and thirdly.... it is known and not denied that they also house three.. yes three... "Former" Black Ajah members... And they have a Sister and her warder Captive... "
Lia used the opportunity of Mayadi's anger to slip a pretty little Saidin woven shield between Mayadi and the Source... Then between both the Keeper and the MoN... Then she smiled..... none noticed.... as they weren't trying to channel Then... she slipped another small shield between each and her warder.... Mirroring that each was fine... again.. no notice was taken.... Satisfyed that all was in order.. she stood up from her chair.... " Well.... as for the former Black Ajah members... I can only testify for one.... and that'd be myself.... Thanks for speaking so highly of me by the way.. MoN... I appreciate your approval.. really... I find it strange and disturbing.. but still... NOw.. you'll find yourselves.. shielded... and cut off from contact completely.. no calling your warders.. or any other Aes Sedai... All the Wolf-contact you may have is cut off.. and well... You are stuck and now have to listen to my story....
Jen didn't know how long it was, or how long it had been. She was sweaty and cold and dry all at once. Her eyes were beginning to hurt again; she'd turned the light off. She didn't know what was going on. She thought everything was going to get better, but it seemed it all just got progressively worse--her condition, that was. She felt fine the other day .... Turning over, she prepared to go back to sleep, but was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
Reluctantly craning her head over her shoulder to see who it was, through blurry eyes, Jen could make out Mayadi in the doorway, illuminated by lights in the hallway from behind.
"Jennaea, you have a visitor," she announced.
The woman who accompanied Miri walked briskly to Jen's hospital bed, wearing some sort of strange business suit. Black and silver hair fell around her shoulders, and tears clouded silver eyes. She pressed a hand against Jen's cheek. "It's over now," she said. "My friend, I've repaid you.... and now it's over...." She smiled, so happy, so grateful. The tears began to fall.
Jen was just confused. She had no idea what was going on. Who was this woman? What did she want with her? Confused, she looked at her visitor. "What have you repaid me for?" she asked.
"For home," came the answer. "For family. For understanding, and protection. And most of all, Jen ... Mom ... you broke me free. You got through all my layers ... and found me, the real me, the real Lia." Her name was Lia, she made a mental note of that. "Because you cared, all this time--you really cared about me as much as you cared for everyone else. I love you, Jen. You are my best friend."
Best friend. Okay. She could do this. Reaching up, she hugged her visitor. Lia. It seemed the right thing to do in such a situation. With Lia's arms around her, she looked to Mayadi, who still lingered in the doorway. The Amyrlin only smiled.
"Thank you for coming, Lia," Jen said. "It means so much to me."
Lia apparently couldn't say anything more than what had already been said. She whispered something as she wiped another tear from her eye before it fell. And then she left.
"Who was that?" Jen asked once she was out of earshot.
Mayadi stepped into the room, pacing before she answered. "An asset," she said, more to herself then Jennaea. "A very valuable asset." "Mother?"
"Ah, nothing," she said, then took a seat on a chair placed close to the bed.
"Mother," Jennaea continued, "when will I be allowed to conduct business again?"
Mayadi turned the question over in her mind. "When you are well," she replied.
"I'm feeling fine." Her repsonse was neither protesting nor cynical, just was. "I'd like to return to my rooms."
The two women sat there in silence as Mayadi deliberated within herself. Jennaea was only confused. Each day everything just got weirder, but just the same, everything became so much clearer. She was slowly but surely regaining her memory; the holes that had plagued it like so much Swiss cheese were filling with every passing day. She glanced down at the ring on her finger--it symbolized so much *power*! How could she ever have forgotten she was Aes Sedai? And Sitter for the Blue Ajah, no less! How could she have ever forgotten the endless trials and chores as a novice, the excruciating lessons as an Accepted? It seemed impossible that she could just ... forget. Yet she had. And the Tower was helping her. They were so kind; they could have simply kicked her out never to be seen again. But the Tower wasn't like that ... they were her family. *Family* -- the word echoed in her mind. This Lia, she had mentioned something of family, hadn't she?
"Lia, she is Blue, no?" she questioned. "Mother?" she added as a quick afterthought. Somehow that was the one thing she couldn't get used to.
"No," Mayadi replied. "No, she isn't. But she isn't far from it."
"Ah," Jennaea mused, understanding. An Accepted then, one who she'd taken under her wing and trained in the ways of the Power. She was likely about to be Raised to the Shawl. "So," she continued the topic from before, "when?" "You are impatient, child," Mayadi replied.
"My apologies, Mother."
"You will regain your position soon. Perhaps tomorrow, once all the papers are signed." Tomorrow. Jennaea couldn't wait.
Lia whispered, I love you Mom.. as she left Jen's room.... Smiling at Herself and happy.. loving the satisfaction in knowing everything was finally finally over.... Mayadi stayed with Jen a moment and Lia waited in the Hall When Mayadi came out Lia asked... " Would it be alright for me to stay until Jen is well again... I can't move her like this.. I'm no Healer mind you.. but even I see she's best here... " Mayadi smiled, " Of course you can stay Lia.. I think we have a room open in the Accepted wing if you don't mind... "
"Thanks... I'll just go get a few things from the car..."
Lia moved a few of her clothes and things into the small Accepted room... Even alone the room seemed Tiny.... though much like her study at the Purple Tower... She sat at a desk, ink stained and worn.. must have belonged to a future Brown.. She thought... She looked over at the other desk..... Carved in the desk were the words... Green Forever.... What a combination... Brown and green..... Like Me and Dieda.... How strange.... Wait a second..
Lia opened the green's desk and searched through the drawers... she laughed as she found the panel and slid it open.. inside was a piece of paper written in silver ink and signed by a brown and a Green accepted each....
"Best Friends Forever.... In Life and Death... The Fourth Vow we take... Will be to ourselves... Lia & Dieda"
Lia smiled as the memory flashed across her mind.... Dieda who had left the PT to return to the WT.. She had done so when they had all been on civil terms... Maybe They could be friends again.... She'd find her later.. for now.. She wanted to sleep.. It was so Early... The sun was up.... She lay down in the bed and closed her eyes... Dreaming peacefully for once....
Lia woke up quietly.... She was not really sure what was going on... The place smelled funny..... The sheets were course... it smeeled very anticeptic.... Something was wrong.. She wasn't where she was supposed to be..... " Oh.. Right.. I'm the the White Tower.. In my old room no less... Waiting for Jen to get better.... I should go see her"
The Small alarm clock read 8:15... It was dark... Lia was awake.... what else was new.... Lia changed her clothes.... Back to her normal ones, and checked the bundle of things Mayadi had left her when she brought Lia to the room... A Visitor Badge.. Full access.... Strange..... Keys to all the rooms in the Tower... Marked keys even... Even stranger.... It seemed Mayadi was givign her Free reign on the Tower... no restrictions... Maybe She really was changing for the good... Somethign was odd... Something was up... Not even the Keeper had this many Keys.... Lia shrugged, Slipped the keys intoher pocket, attached her namebadge to her belt, and slipped out her door.
Her heels clicked softly on the walkway.... The night was warm... a few Novices were sitting outside their doors with their studies.... One in particular looked up at her.. a freckle-faced skinny girl who reminded her of Danielle.. Even though Danielle was much.. Well... Bigger... Lia smiled.. The Novice smiled back and whispered to her friend, " She's the one.." Lia wasn't supposed to hear.. but well... She did...
So much confusion... Free access, strange whispers.... Something really is wrong here... I really need to see Jen.. She thought...
Lia reached the Yellow wing... She slid the key inside and walked in.... Remembering the way to Jen's room, she walked quietly.. not to disturb anyone... She got to Jen's room, and was about to knock when she heard voices...
"....Doesn't even remember." " Success then..? "
"Maybe.. there's still a chance that...."
The words were shielded then... and Lia channled a bit to hear more.. IT wasn't enough to hear everything.. and she figured with Yellows all about a bit of Channeling wouldn't be noticed...
"..... That other woman, the silver one.. she... "
".....Could be a problem, Yes... I think maybe we should....."
"Would Mayadi stand for..."
"..... But we must do something..... Jennaea...... Home.... "
It was breaking up.... Lia had to do something.. there was more.."
"..... wants to make Lia....... powerful asset...... Blue......"
What!! Thought Lia... " Oh Damn.. Oh Shit.... This is really wrong.. really really wrong....
Nightwind appeared from around the corner..... Lia was again surprised how the Panther got into places so easily... He was so ingenuitive... Lia could hear no more... So she knocked softly and opened the door, Quietly calling.. Jen.. Mom... Are you in here..??? Nightwind sent her a thought or COncern, and stayed arefully at her heels.... " Jen... Mom.... Are you awake..? "
It's great to be back, Jennaea thought as she walked down the halls of the Yellow wing. She had to retrieve a few things yet from the room where she stayed while recuperating. Standing just outside the door, though, was the silver girl Jen remembered from before, what's-her-name, Lia. The ... friend.
"Lia?" she enquired.
The other woman turned. "Oh ... hi ... I though you were still ..."
"No," Jennaea laughed, "I just came back to get a few things." She opened the door. "Come in, come in."
Upon entering, she found a nameless Accepted tidying the room. "Good afternoon, Aes Sedai," she greeted her, dropping a curtsy.
Jennaea nodded. "Leave us."
"Yes, Aes Sedai." The Accepted scurried off, her work still undone. Jennaea didn't care that the bed was only half-made; she needed to speak with Lia, and it didn't matter.
"Please, Lia, have a seat." She indicated a nearby chair.
"I'll stand."
"Suit yourself. Now, this matter--"
"What the hell is wrong with you?" the other woman cut off, flashing anger.
"Excuse me?" Jennaea honestly didn't know what was going on.
"I said, what the hell is wrong with you? Look ... Mom ... you're not Aes Sedai. You never were. You're not--"
Quickly aligning and thickening flows of Air, Jen slapped Lia across the face. "Don't you EVER talk to me that way again. You may be a guest of this Tower, but as long as you are here I NEVER want to hear you speak to ANY Aes Sedai like that! Just because you flunked out--"
"I didn't 'flunk out', I scared them."
"And with every reason," Jennaea retorted. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself."
The two women stared at one another in silence which hung thick like fog. The tension in the room could be cut with a butter knife. Finally Lia spoke: "I guess you are Aes Sedai, after all." She left without dismissal.
Jennaea gathered her things and went back to the Blue wing. That little wretch had no right to speak to her like that, or to anyone for that matter. She oughtn't be a guest of the Tower, she ought to be rotting in a cell somewhere. Jennaea was certain that she'd commited some crime somewhere along the lines; Light only knew how she'd managed to sneak past Tower security. The Gaidin were strong these days; their numbers were steadily increasing. The Tower was the guiding force of the world. Without it, all the land would be in ruin; there would be nobody to guide the public to its proper place in society. Light, there would be no society to speak of! Everything would, of course, run amok in total anarchy, and then--
CRASH! Stars blazed on red as Jennaea's glasses were knocked from her face and her possessions fell from her arms. She herself was almost knocked to the floor--fortunately she caught herself in time. She grabbed her glasses to secure the identity of her attacker, but he had run too far. "STOP!" shecalled.
The young man who had run ahead halted and turned towards her slowly. "Aes Sedai bitch!" he cried. "F--- you!"
Why oh why did the Tower ever accept male novices? "Come back here!" she ordered.
"Why should I?" he contested. He started running again, but it was no use--Jennaea had secured him in flows of Air: always her strongest Power.
"Because you have no other choice," she said, using that Air to bring him towards her. His features became clearer as she brought him closer: sandy hair hanging in greasy strings about his bloodied face, hazel eyes set fiercely in defiance. He was young, probably no more than 17 years old and frightened of his ability to channel. "Now," Jennaea instruced, "state your name, novice."
At her simple request, his eyes widened. "Jen?" he asked. "Jen, is that you? What the hell are you doing here? You've got to get out of here!" He began to struggle against the flows of Air that held him.
"I am Jennaea Sedai," she said firmly, "and I do not know what you are talking about. You will come with me."
"You don't understand!" he protested. He blathered all the way to the office of the Mistress of Novices, as Jennaea still held him in her grasp. Of course, she ignored his repeated insistence that he was some long-lost lover of hers and his maunderings of some Purple Tower. Purple, indeed! She had never heard of such a thing and never wished to. The only Tower was the White Tower, and that was the way it would remain throughout the Ages.
Jennaea knocked on the door to the MoN's study.
"Come in," came the pleasant yet firm response.
Opening the door, Jennaea smiled. "Got another one for you, Gelpha. I think the taint's got a hold of him already."
"Jennaea, so nice te see ye. Of course, I'll do what I can, but if the taint's possessed him there 'tain't much ye can expect me te do." Gelpha Sedai was Grey and prided herself on her leniency. The other Aes Sedai, however, knew better. Many a day she'd sent even the oldest Accepted to the kitchens and Light only knew what other punishments.
"There's no taint!" the boy exclaimed. "I've been severed--you don't go mad if you can't channel!!"
Jennaea turned sharply. "You'll give her no mouth, young man. Do you hear me?" "Jen, you know better than this!"
She ignored him. "Good luck, Gelpha."
"Thankye," the MoN replied, "I'll as soon need it!"
Sighing, Jen returned to the Yellow wing where she'd dropped her things to gather them from the floor and get back to her spacious room in the Blue wing. It certainly was nice to be back.