Ogier Grove: Tar Valon, Tar Valon

Tall trees of every make, higher than you've ever imagined, assault your eyes as you first enter into the Grove. Their sheer size is astounding, as they rise beyond the lowest spired building in the streets and several of the higher towers. Small paths work their way in and out of the trees, allowing one to go explore the wonders of this wide wonder, spanning almost two miles in diameter truly making it a forest inside the city. The summer heat can be felt within the grove, however it is soon forgotten with the first glimpse of the grove and it's wonders. Flowers and bushes are in full bloom, adding to the green delight. The bright morning sun sheds its light gently on the trees below, allowing it's rays to give warmth and love to the leaves of the trees. An early riser can be seen taking a stroll down one of the many paths. There is one visible exit seems to be the gates leading to the TreeSingers Avenue. If you venture far enough into the grove you might glimpse a strange structure that seems quite forgotten, covered in vines and other sorts of vegetation.

Contents: Keats, Faleen, Alesse

It is Nineday, 16 Tammaz, 1002 NE - summer morning

Keats is lost among the trees in the grove as he is practicing moving silently through the brush and leaves.

Faleen enters the Grove from the street, she pauses and smiles looking at the beauty the Grove has to offer. She then begins her slow walk, more of a stroll, on the main path. She loves the mornings here as she can find peace and solidtude. Faleen appears to be working her way toward the pond.

At an easy stride, Alesse crosses into the grove with a spring in her step. Paired swords rest in their places on each hip. Her uniform is impeccable as usual, coat unbuttoned and open, revealing the hilts of several daggers within the coat. She is simply on a patrol of her own.

With no harmful intent involved, Keats starts shadowing Faleen as she strolls peacefully through the Grove, simply to test out how well he is doing. And of course, being in the shadows and skilled at his current activity, it is unlikely that either Faleen, Alesse or anyone else in the Grove knows he is there.

Oblivious to anyone else at the Grove, Faleen has one thing in mind to go to the pond and watch the birds float and fly as they eat. She nears the pond and begins to softly hum as she finds a dry rock, now we wouldn't want to muss ourselves up would we. She pulls some grass and holds it out. Faleen is gazing at herself in the clear water "Come on little ones, I won't hurt you." The emerald ring on her finger catches the light as she moves.

Crossing off of the path towards the pond, Alesse's intent is quite obviously to approach Faleen, after she spots her competition for the candidacy. She moves at a relaxed pace, not really paying much attention to the security of the grove, and thus, does not spot Keats either. When she gets closer, she says quietly, "Mistress Faleen.."

Keats watches the ladies for a few moments, and seeing that he hasn't been noticed nods to himself and makes his way soundlessly away from the duo to retrieve his staff from where he left it deeper in the woods.

Faleen jumps as her name rings out in her ears. She turns from her place on the rock, but not before palming another said rock for her protection if needed. Seeing that strange woman she met at the Inn the other nite she smiles, can't hurt since they are running against each other and against that witch. "Good Morning Mistress Alesse." wow she used her manners, the ones she learned with such diligence. "How are you this fine day?" Faleen eyes the woman and wonders why anyone would go around wearing so much metals as it would only slow one down.

Finding a seat amongst the larger rocks at the edge of the pond, Alesse gets herself more comfortable before speaking, "I thought that we should talk..as..friends." She runs a hand through her hair, "I am feeling quite well, thank you." she says, in response to your words, and flashest the briefest of smiles.

Faleen nods and smiles "Oh that would be fun." Now is Faleen falling back on her lack of training using her childlike voice, the one of such innocence and excitement that it gets her into trouble. "I guess we are running against each other in the elections so may the best woman win." she offers that as a courteous comment "Do you have any plans yet of what you are doing? I was hoping maybe we could get together and put on something for the people so they could meet us."

Walking down one of the many trails in the Grove, staff being used as a third leg, comes Keats. Quite out in the open now he strolls with a casual air about him. He doesn't seem to have any set destination, though the path he is on will take him near the pond where the two women are chatting by.

"Plans for the election? Not any in particular, but I do have plans." She shrugs faintly, looking about the grove with a wandering eye, "Yes, we should do something for them to get to know us, since Išve been here over a year, and I've not heard of you, and many don't know me, i'm sure." Pondering things for a few moments, she catches a glimpse of Keats, but continues anyway, "I am in the process of purchasing the flaming arrow," she adds after a moment.

Faleen looks a bit surprised "why would a woman who wears weapons for clothing want to buy the Inn?" she is falling back into her lack of training but catches herself "I know the last election they had debate and it made a big difference for the voting. I feel we should have a party, here in the grove with fireworks and such. I think people really prefer us being available for questions on a more personal level." Faleen also looks around as she hears a noise in the bushes, a small creature scampers across the path and she grins then notices Keats "Hello Keats do come join us." her voice suddenly light and pleasant "I want you to meet Alesse, but then again you might have already met." oops her manners are slipping "how are you today?" she then returns to Alesse "I am not surprised you have not heard much of me. I spent most of my time working in the background for High Ambassador Adri. Once he fell sick I cared for him and then when he died I left for a time only to discover that my other employer Kirill also was killed. I still cannot believe what Kirill said about himself and I think he should have been looked after as the sick man he was. Kirill had just lost his entire family, for the second time. He just came back from hunting the men down and killing them and he snapped, he went crazy and began ranting and raving. Well this scared me so I again left to the woods for awhile then to a few small towns. But I got word that the elections were up again and I felt it my duty to run against that witch that is running as I don't trust her in the position." oh finally Faleen takes a breath.

Wyntere walks in from the west, leaving Treesingers Avenue behind as she takes in the splendor of the Grove.

Alesse and Faleen are sitting by the pond talking and Keats is on the walkway near them. Keats glances over to Faleen as his name is voiced. It almost looks like he hadn't even noticed them before being called. Smiling pleasantly he nods and makes his way over towards the couple and nods to each in turn. "Good day to you both. How do you fare?" he says as he leans against his ever present staff.

Before this young lady even makes her presense known, a young hawk flys into the grove. Crossing close to the water, he then soars up into a tree to take rest. Shortly after that, Wyntere walks down the path toards the pond. Her blue eyes glance around watching all who are there.

"Weapons for clothing?" Alesse asks with a chuckle, ands nods faintly at Keats as she continues. "If it makes you feel better, I was with Kirill a lot during his last days, and he was at peace at the end. Despite his.. failings.. he was a good man." She leans back slightly, "As for the inn, I think its a good place to start helping people in the city. Purchasing food supplies, getting work for those that need it, and providing food as well." She smiles faintly, "As far as the running.. I share your views on most things, Faleen."

Faleen grins "yep weapons for clothing. When I first looked at you the sun shined off your weapons and it looked like armor but a woman wouldn't wear armor and you look like you wear armor." she grins "I suppose running the Inn would be a good way for that and for catching a lot of the dirty dealings that go on there." Oh how she remembers the fancy lady and fancy man she met there the ones that changed here life "I am glad to hear about Kirill he was a good man and I know he would never, ever have been of the evil one but then why did they kill him? Why would this city not investigate more who he was and kill a man whose only problem was a period of madness and rantings because of loosing his family." oops your set her off again. She turns to Keats as he come near "Oh I fare well fine sir." she eyes the man and his staff "are you good with that staff? Kirill use to be good with the staff but he never showd me only that witch. I would love to learn staff would you teach me please?" she is on a roll someone stop her.

Keats blinks a few times, waiting for his ears to catch up to Faleen's mouth. "Ah, perhaps. I am not much into teaching." He shrugs before glancing towards the hawk and then the woman that follows it. He nods politely to Wyntere and asks simply, "How are you faring this fine day, Wyntere?" he asks, ignoring the two political figures for the moment.

Wyntere turns her head at her name and then nods. "Doing fairly well. And you, Keats?" Slowly she starts to make her way over to the group. She glances to her hawk once and just lets him be. "Anything good happening lately?" Finally she reaches the group and nods to the two women there.

Keats shrugs. "Well, Meeko's running for the High Ambassador, and it appears that so are these two fine women," he comments gesturing towards Faleen and Alesse. "As for myself... I just do what I'm paid to." Glancing towards the hawk he asks simply, "Yours?"

"It was a tower investigation of Kirill, nothing that the guards had any control over." Alesse says with a sigh, looking about, remembering the frustration of the trial, "I can teach you something of self defense, if you wish it, Faleen. I do train the entire guard after all, and i'd be glad to teach you when you have time. I've started teaching some of the youngsters about town as well." She nods to Wyntere, a small smile forming as she remembers the young hawk trainer.

Wyntere glances back to the hawk and then to Keats again. "Yes, that's Cale. I've had him for a little while now. Lady should be around here somewhere. She's growing more wild every day." Then she looks to the ladies again. "Pleasure to meet you both. Good luck in the running." No, she isn't going to start commenting about Kirill at all. Best keep that quiet.

Faleen turns abruptly as Keats greets another woman, she wants this man and she will get what she wants but she must remember manners, bloody manners "Hello lady Wyntere" she smiles having heard her name from the handsome guard with the great staff. she then turns to Alesse and smiles widely, like a child in a candy store "I would love to learn, maybe I could be a guard someday and wear a shiny uniform like yours and clank when I walk with weapons and stuff. I am a good student, really. Adri wouldn't teach me much of anything and Kirill was to busy teaching *that* woman skills I wanted to learn." oh a bit of jealousy maybe. Nods to Wyntere "thank you hawk lady. Your bird is pretty, do you train them yourself? Are you a witch like Meeko and talk to them? Do you train other animals?" Fallen is falling badly back into her old self and leaving all thoughts of manners aside, Adri would not be happy with this.

Keats nods silently at Wyntere's introduction of her hawk and then simply remains silent as the women talk on their important matters. He's just a guard after all.

Wyntere glances once to Keats and then back to Faleen at the bombardment of questions. Then she kneels down to sit where all three are in her view. "Yes, I'm training him myself. My uncle taught me how to train birds. And to answer your other question, I'm not an Aes Sedai and I don't know a thing about herbs and healing. So is that's what you mean by witch, then no I'm not a witch. And I really only train birds of prey. Hawks, falcons, eagles." Wyntere then tilts her head. "Why do you call Meeko a witch? She isn't an Aes Sedai. If you want to know witches, those are the ones to talk to. There's only about" She starts counting on her fingers, "Weste, Alisa, Lynna, um.. Well, there's less than a handful that are actually nice to people." And if she's treading thin water calling Aes Sedai witches, that's just tough. "What about both of you ladies? What do you do?" She looks between them both. Yes, Keats is still there. She just isn't sure what to say to him.

Faleen listens as Wyntere rattles on "I like birds and most animals." she says simply "Why do I call her a witch cuz she does funny things. She goes out with married men and calls them her own. She touches people and gets them healed. I have seen her touch a wound and not long after there was nothing left. She lies, like she lied to Kirills wife when she helped deliver the baby that died and then went back to her silly shop and acted like Kirill was her husband." she giggles "I don't know them people Wyntere. I know only a couple from the Tower and one I would never want to meet, someone called Zephi who had Adri so scared sometimes he was like a puppy on a leash." she eyes

Keats and pats the ground next to her "Oh Keats do come sit with us, your cute you know. But you probably already know that and I bet that Meeko has you under some spell or something to make you stay with her, but I can pay you well and I need a guard and someone around me now that I'm running for office cuz I need to be kept safe and she can take care of herself where I cannot." she breaths again "Right now I do nothing except campaign since my job as Social Secretary here in Tar Valon ended when Adri died and Meeko took over. I have been in mourning for several month and just returned so I can run this town as it should be run."

Keats glances towards the talkative Faleen. Smiling politely he shakes his head, "No thank you. I prefer standing." He has to search a minute to figure out what eles was said, since so much was said in so little time. "As for Meeko... she pays me, and when that is done I shall seek employ elsewhere. I shall keep your offer in mind, but at the moment see no need to leave the job I am currently on."

"Well, I never met Zephi, so I wouldn't know about her. But the rest sound about the same. Ranting about this and that. And calling everyone a child." Wyntere shakes her head. "They aren't very nice. Would you call me a witch, if I could do funny things? I can't mix drugs or anything and I can't heal. But I do talk to animals. Does that make me a witch?" Her blue eyes tilt sideways a bit as if posing the thought question. Then a small chipmunk comes up to her side and crawls up on her shoulder. She giggles at the tickling paws. "This is my friend Mr. Tumas. He's got a family here in the grove. But anyway, what do you want to run the city like?" Then Wyntere glances up to Keats at the mention of gaurding Meeko. She reaches up and rubs the back of her head a little, before reaching over to pet the chipmunk.

Faleen giggles at the chipmunk "I don't think your a witch not unless you go out with married men and lie to people as to how sweet your are." she smiles "can I pet him? I like animals, I wish I could talk to them." again she pauses momentarily "I would say you were a witch if you hurt me or were mean to me or looked at me funny or things like that. But you seem nice enough. My friend Kae could heal like that other one but she was nice to me and Meeko has never been nice to me so she is a with and Kae wasn't, she was nice." she looks to Keats "I will double your salary Keats if you join me now." she then ponders "I would run the city the way it should. I would let the people be the voice, I would ban the bad Sedai from the city but of cours I won't say that till after I'm elected. I would have parties and get money from places and goods and stuff. I would hire secretaries to write all that official stuff up since I did enough with Adri."

Keats ahs and simply says, "I'll think on it, Faleen." He does look at her a bit oddly at her campaign promises, perhaps wondering how well this lady is.

"Oh." Wyntere glances to Keats and moment and then back to Faleen. "YOu sure you want to run a city?" Perhaps that sounds like too much work. Then she hands Mr. Tumas over to Faleen. "Be nice to him. He's a father you know. Has cute kids too."

Faleen nods "I want to run the city cuz I will be popular and I don't want Meeko running it." she carefully takes the chipmunk and strokes it's little head. She then strokes it's chin and belly and turns holding the creature out to Keats "Look Keats how cute, he is almost as cute as you in a fuzzy sort of way." she begins to giggle.

"Ah hu," is all Keats says. Or comments perhaps. He exchanges a glance with Wyntere and then looks to Faleen. "If you say so, Miss Faleen." He glances around at the shadows and comments, "Well, I really must be going. Good day to both of you." He bows and turns towards the exit from the Grove.

Wyntere watches Keats head out and then relaxes as he leaves. Yeah, she's uncomfortable with him around. "Well, it's alot of work running a city, Faleen. You think about whether you really want all that work. Meeko isn't too bad. She tries her best at what she does." Yes, let's not insult the woman. She is quite powerful. "And yes, he is a cute chipmunk. I come to visit him at least once a week. So what else do you know about Meeko? There are lots of people that date married men that are still nice."

Keats wanders west, leaving the peaceful Ogier Grove.

Faleen shrugs "just that she thinks she is better them me." she watches the cute one leave "he is so cute I want to get to know him better." she grins then goes back to her conversation "I can do the work, Adri taught me. He showed me lots of things and if you want you can be with me too and maybe we can run it together." she frowns "Meeko was never nice to me she ordered me around and treated me like I was a little nothing and I don't like people who do that."

Wyntere nods to Faleen. "Well, I'm sorry to hear she was like that to you. It doesn't make sense to me, cause I've never seen her harsh with anyone." Glancing to where Keats walked away, she comments. "He's not that cute. You don't want him, Faleen. He's Meeko's gaurd right now, maybe more than that. Find you a man that isn't touched by a woman. Those are the best and rarest to find." Wyntere sighs and leans back enjoying the grass below her. "I don't think I could help you run the city. I'm not good with city things."

Faleen smiles "well Adri was good and he taught me a lot of things and I think I can do it but I will never know till I try." she plays with the water awhile "I like Keats though he is nice to me and were going to have dinner together. I like people that are nice to me." she speaks as her innocence shows through. Afterall she was a child of the streets trained by a harsh noble and then Adri to have manners, manners which she forgets whenever she can "That clanky lady Alesse is gonna teach me how to use weapons and stuff and maybe I can wear one of those cute guard uniforms oneday too."

Wyntere chuckles and shakes her head. "How old are you Faleen? You really want a gaurd uniform? You sound like you don't know what you want to do." Wyntere just shakes her head to the sides. Silly woman.

Faleen shrugs "I don't know my age for sure Wyntere I just want to have someone to keep me company and to protect me and that likes me." she smiles softly but her eyes show sadness "I have so few real friends and the only one I really had died but I'm ok." she rises and hands you back the chipmunk "I have enjoyed meeting you but I must go now. I hope we can talk again, your nice to me and I like you."

Wyntere grins to faleen and takes MrTumas back. Setting him on the ground, she waves. "Take care, Faleen."