Participants: Jaice, Maeve, Morillin, Raemira, Analee

Background: At long last, the day to return to the Tower had come. Jaice didn't know whether to count it as a relief or to regret leaving... on one hand spending the time with Maeve, both experimenting with weaves together like the old days, was wonderful... on the other hand, life had been anything but normal since the day she arrived, and Jaice was longing for her life back. Although she was nervous about using the ter'angreal to get back to the city, there was no helping it... the cube to deactivate the ill-fortune set on the city had to be returned, and as soon as possible. So she stayed up most of the night checking and re-checking the flows, until Maeve kicked her off to bed... and then she did the same. As nervous as the two women were, both were doubly more excited at the prospect of testing their new creation.

Setting: Moderal Residence: Cairhien, Cairhien

Morillin enters behind Coliena, with Kyra at the Red's side. Severan is there as well, along with the handmaiden they had brought with them.

"Any problems with it?" Maeve asks as she approaches Jaice, slender fingers absentmindedly smoothening over her dress, which does look a bit suspiciously creased in places, her grey eyes brushing over the frame with some concern. But no, it looks just as it should do. As the door opens her attention shifts to it, her expression growing perhaps a fraction tense.

"I suppose it won't be long until-" As the door opens Jaice's words cut off, and she cocks her head at the entering group with something of an amused glance to Maeve. "Ah, and there they are." Standing, she brushes one hand along the top of the frame and inclines her head to the group of women, and to Severan. "Is everything prepared to go, Aes Sedai?"

Morillin steps forward smoothly, as Coliena nods to her. "We are ready to depart for the Tower." Each sister carries her own saddlebags, and Severan his, though none are dressed for riding. "Do you have the ter'angreal fragment?"

"Yes, Aes Sedai." Jaice nods slightly, moistening her lips. She produces the cube from her dress pocket, holding it flat on her palm. "I am not sure we should... er... go through carrying it. There is much Maeve and I do not know about ter'angreal and how they interact... perhaps it should be tossed in ahead of us?"

Moving closer to the frame, Maeve merely has a polite nod for the group of Aes Sedai, her mind shifting for a moment to be mostly on the ter'angreal itself. Mainly, it seems, because she is more comfortable when ignoring the little gathering in the room. She runs a slender finger over its smooth surface, almost affectionately, though Jaice's words call upon her attention again. "If they are related... I seem to recall some writings on how they could affect each other then."

"I do not think they are," Jaice says thoughtfully, examining the cube. "But I do not want to take chances. If there is no danger, then it will be on the floor when we arrive. If there is, then any reaction would have passed before we went through it."

Morillin turns her head slightly, flicking a glance at Severan...no doubt she would suggest having the man carry it through, if only to see what horrible things might happen to him....then seems to shake the thought away after looking to Coliena. "Wrap it securely in something, child," she instructs Jaice. "And do not toss it too far. The Light help us if we lose it again amidst that dusty collection of rubbish."

Flicking a stray lock of hair out of her eyes, her braid being in a more untidy state than usual even, Maeve glances over at the cube Jaice holds, then once more lets her thoughtful gaze drift back to the larger ter'angreal. A slight frown touches her angular features. "I suppose it will have to go up on some wall once you're through, for the time being." Just a touch of dry amusement to her tone of voice, though beneath it there is a hint of troubled thoughts.

Jaice nods mutely, only casting about with her eyes for something with which to wrap it in. Finally she settles on a large cloth napkin on the table, and she bundles this about the fragment, tying a few deft knots in the top. Then she turns to the frame, kneeling to study it. A quick, tentative glance to Maeve, and then to the others. If she's nervous enough to moisten her lips again, that's the only sign she shows of it. "Let's hope it's not too high, or if I do have to make use of it again, I'll break a leg in the fall," Jaice mutters with dry amusement, before clearing her throat. "Ready then?"

Morillin inclines her head slowly, her dark hair trailing around her face. One hand absently traces a pattern along the edge of her saddlebags, but her eyes are as sharp as nails, watching everything.

Stepping back from the frame-ter'angreal, casting an odd sort of look its way as she moves a few paces back to watch, Maeve inclines her head faintly to Jaice. "Not that I will be doing more than watching how you do this, seeing it triggered will be interesting.," she comments in a neutral tone which barely betrays the curiosity she must be feeling.

Jaice catches that nod, pressing her lips as she turns to the yet-untested Ter'angreal. Light knows what would happen if they got it wrong... but they both had checked over this final version innumerous times, so it has to be right. Hadn't it? Swallowing once more, Jaice moves to one side and takes hold of the Source. Slowly, carefully, she begins weaving delicate flows of Spirit, the same she began so long ago back in the basement of the Tower. Then she changes them, splitting them into four more delicate weaves which touch at the four corners of the frame.

A spluttering light comes from the centre of the frame, wavers, then holds. Where the light spills out can be seen a fuzzy view of the storage room in the Tower basement, boxes and bundles stacked haphazardly about.

Morillin leans forward, eyes narrowing. Behind her, the other Aes Sedai do the same, embracing Saidar to study the flows which power the ter'angreal.

The glow of Saidar flickers into existance around Maeve, enveloping her in a soft, golden aura, and a ghost of a smile touches her lips, in spite of everything. But, as Jaice's weaves _do_ trigger the ter'angreal, the ter'angreal which they made, surprise comes to dominate her expression. "It works.... it really works."

Jaice sets the cloth-wrapped bundle on the floor and gently rolls it toward the frame. It is there one moment, innocently tumbling across the carpet, and the next it's gone. However, in the image through the frame, you can see a small object rolling to a halt on the floor. The slender Atha'an Miere turns back toward the group, nodding slightly. Does she seem more pale? "I think we are ready. I will go last, to keep powering it. Just walk before it, and..." Her voice trails off, but she nods again, almost as though to convince herself.

Maeve seats herself on the edge of the table, well out of range for the ter'angreal and with her grey-eyed gaze still faintly narrowed to study the weaves which power the innocent-looking frame. "Hrm... yes, I can see how you split them, and how it would work with the patterns we created, " she muses thoughtfully to herself, though that it is more an attempt to keep her mind off other things than her normally curious mind at work, that is obvious for the careful observer, if not for the casual one.

Morillin straightens, twitching her skirts into place though they really don't need it. Coliena, looking fascinated, hurries towards the ter'angreal and is caught within its grasp, vanishing from the room with the beginnings of a startled exclamation. She can suddenly be seen on the other side, blinking vigorously as she peers about. Severan strides through a moment later, followed by Kyra. Morillin herself, after one last tight-lipped frown at Maeve, steps forward with a swirl of silk, and is transported to Tar Valon in a heartbeat.

[Channeling] Raemira notes any AS type or Accepted type would be hearing the 'ter'angreal' wards going off right now. It's a silent ringing in the back of your head, and you 'know' what it's for.

Jaice's breath catches as the whole group goes through, and her gaze turns to Maeve with a rare expression nothing short of amazement. "Light, Maeve! By Stormbringer's Beard, it actually works!" Even seeing it she doesn't seem to believe it, but she turns reluctantly back to the frame and the Aes Sedai seen waiting there in the ter'angreal room. "They will be wondering why I'm not there already... I should go. Are you sure you won't reconsider studying at the Tower?"

A smile does curve Maeve's lips in response to yours, of course she cannot help but to be pleased that your first ter'angreal actually works the way it should. "You doubted it? With the two of us working on it?" A flicker of humor across her face, then her expression grows somber again, the amusement fading to nothing. "You should go Jaice. I shouldn't... and I wouldn't be very welcome in any case." A moment of silence, and she shakes her head lightly. "No, I shouldn't even think of it. Don't give them any excuses for annoyance now. The Light be with you, Jaice."

Jaice reaches out to take your hand in a quick squeeze before dropping it again. "You'll be hearing more from me, Maeve," she says as she steps toward the frame. "You can count on it." With that, she disappears, and as she does the frame darkens once again, silent.

[A return to the Basement: White Tower, Tar Valon]

Raemira comes huffing her way toward the ter'angreal room, along with several other huffy Aes Sedai. Her eyes are narrowed darkly and the source is embraced. She looks ready to chew nails, if not to make them out of the person invading the rooms.

A small group is standing in one of the ter'angreal storerooms, directly in front of what looks to be a wooden picture frame. A soft light envelops them all, apparently shining from the centre of this frame. Three of the women wear the shawls of Aes Sedai....one, in her brown-fringed shawl, is trying to take notes and mutter excitedly to herself at the same time. Morillin, her red fringe swaying, is trying to hold her skirts out of the dust with a faint expression of distaste. As Raemira and the others arrive, her head swivels towards them, before she steps forward and offers a small curtsy. "Mother. We have returned."

Jaice appears before the frame on this side, sways just a moment, and blinks her eyes to adjust to the dim light here. As she appears the frame dims and darkens again, and Jaice looks back to it for a long moment, seemingly oblivious to the others in the room. As Morillin says the word 'mother', Jaice's surroundings dawn on her, and she too curtsies, the blue silks of her dress brushing the floor.

Analee walks carefully down the stairs and enters the basement.

A scowl fits the Amyrlin's features, "So I and more than half the Tower sees." She snaps irritably. More than likely this is a function of the -other- ter'angreal. OR! She could really be in a bad mood.

As Jaice ducks to curtsy, she spies a small bundle nudged up against a crate, and this she picks up with careful hands. It looks for all the world like a little wad of fabric, but she holds it protectively against her chest. Her eyes widen at the Amyrlin's sharp temper, and she side-steps just a touch so the rest of the group mostly obscures her. Not hard, being she was the last to emerge.

Morillin's expression doesn't alter. She is holding a set of saddlebags...everyone but Jaice is...and she fiddles with the clasp for a moment to hide her irritation. "Did you receive our message, Mother?" she inquires blandly. "We /did/ say we would be returning quickly."

Analee slides in quickly, her eyes silently asking what is going on while she looks about for the answer to that question.

Raemira smirks. "Returning yes, but not how quickly." Her eyes flicker irritably toward Jaice, that scowl still present upon her features, "I expected a week or so from when I got the message, not within the vaults setting every Aes Sedai scurring down the stairs. You -know- they are warded."

Morillin says "We were unable to unravel those wards before arriving, Mother." There is a dry note in her voice, but her eyes glitter in the faint light coming from the corridor. "Certainly, we did not mean to alarm you."

Jaice shoots a glance at Morillin's back at that, one brow arching. Oh no, the Amyrlin would be confused if time were mentioned. Hem. Patience, Jaice. Schooling her features into unreadability, she still doesn't manage to meet the Amyrlin's stare. Perhaps wisely, she also still doesn't speak.

"Certainly." There is equal dryness within Raemira's voice, "Though you could have just as easily sent a pigeon." She makes a point there, "No words needed to be unraveled then." Her eye snow move to where Jaice is standing, or was, "Did you bring it?" Bring what? What could she be talking about.

Analee knows and looks over Jaice expectantly.

Morillin snorts softly, then vigorously rubs her nose. The dust, perhaps.

Jaice's slender fingers have been picking at the knot in the small bundle, and as she works them loose she nods slightly. "Yes, Mother." She holds forth a small cube, balanced on the palm of her hand. "And... the letter we found with it." This she produces from her pocket.

Raemira quirks a brow, gently taking the small cube from Jaice. She examines it while she holds out her other hand for the letter.

Morillin steps smoothly to one side, thoughtfully peering at a number of objects which have been laid out on one of the shelves. Reaching out, she runs a fingernail along the intricate carving of a fish, her lips slightly parted as she examines the object. She appears to have forgotten everyone else, for the moment.

Jaice places the letter in Raemira's hand, glancing uncertainly at the large group of Aes Sedai about as she forms her words. If ever she felt like a mouse in a den of cats, now surely outshone it. "Ah... from what Maeve and I gathered, if you place the cube on top of the ter'angreal -- it looks like a candlestick? -- it will fuse together and become nothing but junk." True, when Jaice had gone missing the source of the misfortune hadn't yet been found.

"A candlestick it is. Anyone going near it is unfortunate... if they can channel." A look of distaste disfigures Raemira's features for a few moments, then disappears. "If they can channel, they'll be stilled."

Morillin's head turns at mention of stilling, mouth tightening for a moment. Clasping her saddlebags, she studies Raemira, letting her gaze drift over the other woman's features and clothing before returning to her eyes.

Jaice blinks, evidently not having pieced together that little bit of information. "Oh." Her gaze strays then, to the frame behind her, then again to the various Aes sedai standing around. True, no danger had been found here, no thieves out to get the Tower's ter'angreal, but most lurk about just wanting to see what's going on.

"More than oh, child." That irritation flickers once more within Raemira's eyes. "You have much to account for, though I believe I will let you do that after you've recovered from your ordeal." Her eyes narrow slightly as she watches the others within the room. They fall upon Morillin, and the fish within her hands. No, she did not escape seeing that particular action.

Morillin calmly replaces the small carving on the shelf, one eyebrow lifting as she notices Raemira's gaze upon her. "Perhaps we might ascend to the upper levels, Mother?" she suggests in her cool voice. "This place is hardly suitable for an explanation, and the sooner we deactivate that ter'angreal, the better."

Analee simply stands quietly, looking on.

The dark-skinned Atha'an Miere -- looking quite a bit different in that blue silk dress -- merely swallows. This is hardly the time for the wayward Accepted to speak her mind, not when the Amyrlin is in such a mood. She'd be lucky if she got out of this intact as it is. "Of course Mother."

Raemira inclines her head, regally. Better watch out when she starts to do stuff like that. "After you." She speaks blandly, motioning to the doorway and stair beyond.

The sizeable group of Aes Sedai, along with those that arrived through the ter'angreal, all march upstairs.

Raemira motions toward the common area, ushering the others in that direction.

The large group files into the common lounge.

"Sit." Raemira speaks, a command not a request. Her eyes sweep about those within the room.

Morillin moves to a chair, placing her saddlebags on the floor beside it as she settles herself. Lifting a hand, she brushes a lock of dark hair from her cheek as she waits.

Analee places herself not far from Morillin, curious to hear the answer to the puzzle she could not solve.

Anyone who was relaxing in the room quickly leaves at the tone in Raemira's voice, most doing double-takes at Jaice's presence and then at her garb. Two girls can be muttering as they head out the door. "...alive??" "...tell Nevan!" But then the room quiets quickly as the assembled settle themselves on the couches.

"Explain." Well, if Raemira's tone the first time did not send people running, -this- time it does. She does not glance in Analee's direction, the girl having enough of a right to find out what's going on as the rest of the Aes Sedai that seemed to file into the room with them, most of which are eyeing Jaice with a mix of curiosity and disgust.

Morillin pauses for a moment, as if to gather her thoughts, before beginning. "We arrived in Cairhien in a timely fashion, Mother, and located Jaice soon afterwards. She was staying with the former Accepted Maeve. The two of them had already found the Leaning Ladder, and subsequently, the ter'angreal fragment which we have brought back with us. At that point, we sent our message to you. Following a short delay, we were fortunate enough to acquire the use of a ter'angreal to return us here." Short and to the point.

Jaice casts a glance at Coliena and Morillin, more than willing to defer to them in this situation. Sometimes it helps to be the junior.

Raemira listens quietly, her eyes moving from Morillin to Jaice, "How, exactly, did you get here?"

Morillin also directs her attention to Jaice. "I believe the child should explain that, Mother," she says quietly.

Raemira keeps her narrowed gaze on Jaice, hands finding their way upon her hips.

Analee watches Jaice sympathetically.

The newly-returned Accepted shifts her gaze from Morillin to Raemira, and presses her lips. "Ah. Well Mother, I take it you know how I ended up... there. We came back the same way. I would have tried that when I first got there Mother, but the one there was broken." How's that for confusing? "Simple, really."

Morillin's lips tighten. "Tell her, Accepted," she instructs softly, but with an edge to her voice. "Tell her everything."

Well, that's a kettle of fish. Jaice doesn't look at Morillin, but a crease forms between her brows at her words. "They were linked frames, Mother. When I got there I was in an old storage room, and a frame was there... a twin to the one downstairs. I was pretty disoriented at the time. Ah. I didn't actually look at the frame much there, but it seemed 'wrong'. I just thought I needed help, and I remembered Maeve was going there after she was... ah. Anyway, it took me two days to find her; when I did, we linked and I sent you that message. And of course," Jaice continues, her gaze lowering, "Maeve wanted to study the ter'angreal. Her project was on doorway ter'angreal so this was... a boon for her. Well... we could 'see' into it. And... well, someone had thought the one there -was- a frame, and had tried nailing the back, and that 'broke' the lines in it."

Morillin's gaze shifts to the Amyrlin as Jaice speaks, studying the woman's reaction.

Jaice moistens her lips, continuing as though speaking only of the weather. A good bluff for the agitation she's feeling. "Ah... so, we decided well, maybe everyone can see these lines, but perhaps we'll try... making one anyway. So we ordered up an... awful lot of wood, and copied bits of it." Now her eyes brighten, a show of how exciting the whole experiment was. "And it worked! So... we decided to copy the whole thing, and that took a long while, and a lot of tossing ideas off one another to get it right, but it worked too." She quiets then, finally sneaking a glance at the imposing figure of the Amyrlin. "And that's how we got back."

A number of the Aes Sedai who have gathered to listen frown as they realize what Jaice is saying. Eyes widen, and mouths fall open, if only for a moment. The soft rustle of silk drifts through the air as they shift, peering at Jaice with new intensity.

Raemira quirks a brow slightly, remaining quiet for a long, long time. Finally, after her long silence (literally) she speaks, "You are telling me, child... that you duplicated a ter'angreal?" She does not blink, just stares at Jaice. So do several others, eyes widening in disbelief.

The exchange of glances among the Sisters could almost be called telepathy, so extensively do they discuss the commentary of the Accepted with eyes and gesture.

Morillin is absolutely still, a picture of serenity.

"Yes, mother." Jaice has a hard job trying to avoid looking at all the Aes Sedai gathered about. Finally her gaze settles on the floor somewhere in front of her. Light knows what all this would end up meaning.

Raemira nods her head slightly, "Very well then, where is this ter'angreal you created....?" Her eyes narrow calmly on Jaice.

Jaice actually blinks then, casting Raemira a sidelong look. "Why... it's in Cairhien Mother. We couldn't both bring it with us and use it to get back, so I imagine Maeve still has it. And the... little bits we practiced with."

Raemira appears to frown slightly, no make that deeply, giving a curt nod. She makes a mental note. No doubt Maeve will be receiving another visitor sometime soon, "I see." Her eyes narrow even more at Jaice, "Do you think you can duplicate it again." She pauses her words, "On your own?"

Jaice bites her lip for only a moment before nodding resolutely. "Once you can 'see' inside one, it is like a map for making another. It was easier with Maeve... we got to try ideas off each other, but... we learned the basics. At least, with that ter'angreal. I think each ter'angreal would use different weaves, different Powers to create and to trigger. But... I haven't been able to study any others, so I am only guessing."

Raemira appears to frown even more deeply, if that is possible, "I did not ask if you could duplicate another, I asked if you could do it again, with the same ter'angreal."

"Oh. Well yes Mother, of course." Jaice seems to think that obvious, and she shrugs slightly. "The difficulty was in learning how to manipulate the small particles in it, and in what patterns. I know that one well, now. We both do."

Raemira inclines her head slightly, not showing any... discomfort in the fact that there is at least one channeler out there that was -not- brought back to the Tower to help teach this new talent. Tsk, tsk. "Very well then. You will duplicate this ter'angreal as many times as needed, showing as many people as possble. I wish for you to test others, Novices, Accepted, Aes Sedai, see if they can work with this particular talent. Do you understand?"

Morillin stirs for a moment. "Mother...if I may?"

"I do not think it would take making one to see if someone could do it, Mother." Jaice frowns a moment, thoughtfully. "We thought we could do it when we could see inside the frame in the storage room. If someone can see into one... can see the little bits in it, the lines, then they can probably also make one."

Raemira frowns back at Jaice, "Child, do you know how many ter'angreal there are here? How many were made for different purposes? The first might be like that, but somehow I do not see them all being the same"

Morillin speaks up, whether she has permission to do so or not. "Mother, it would be exceedingly unwise to duplicate that ter'angreal. The Light only knows what might happen if we have more of them. Relatively few are strong enough to work them, but accidents do happen, as we know well. Do we truly wish to have sisters, and even Accepted, vanishing into untested, possibly dangerous ter'angreal?"

"Ah, well..." Jaice purses her lips thoughtfully, and glances toward the door. "It would be easy to find out. That ter'angreal is rather large, and constantly gaining access to the ter'angreal room and out again when testing people would take a while. Perhaps we could see if I -can- see lines in the ones downstairs, and if so, perhaps use one of the harmless little ones used for the ter'angreal class and use it to test women? It'd be more... portable, and less ah... dangerous."

A pale haired Gray rubs her hands together gently, nodding slightly to an unasked question of the Red standing next to her. Two Whites alternately stare at each other, Jaice and the Amyrlin. A Green fidgets almost boredly in the back, while another next to her twirls her dark hair thoughtfully.

Morillin nods to Jaice as she speaks, ignoring her other sisters completely.

Meanwhile, a line of Browns stand by the door, staring at Jaice the way a fox stares at the henhouse. Oh, it would be an interesting few weeks.

"I will take that into consideration, Daughter." Raemira's words seem to cut through the room. She watches those present at the moment, "Come speak to me in the morning Jaice, we will talk about this... presumed talent with you then." The Amyrlin will not be happy with anything less than proof for the talent, that is for certain.

Morillin sighs softly. "Then perhaps we should try and deactivate that troublesome ter'angreal, Mother," she murmurs. "Before something else happens."

Jaice frowns at the floor. Presumed? She's sitting here, isn't she? "Yes Mother." Her blue gaze flicks over the Aes Sedai at the door, and by the passing crease between her brows, she's likely wondering how she's going to get back to her room.