Cast:
Lynna, Accepted of the White Tower
Sionil, Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah, Mistress of Novices
Cavaeya, Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah
Owen, Warder Trainee

Setting:
Courtyard: White Tower, Tar Valon
Before you stands a magnificent palace made of delicately sculpted marble, rather than blocks. Gently arching walls and bulging domes rise high into the sky, seemingly just barely touching the clouds with its delicately crafted spires, topping off the breathtaking sight before you. Looking about, one can see a small garden off to the side, with a small winding path down it's center that leads into a maze of bushes where one might get lost if not too careful.
All around one can see bare trees and shrubs, as if the winter cold has taken the life from the plants. Snow softly blankets the ground and the benches in the yard, however there is a cleared path so that one may walk about the grounds. The sky shows off pinks, purples and hazy blues as the sun starts to settle beyond the horizon and the stars start to twinkle in early twilight. Aes Sedai seem to stand watch over those occupants in the courtyard area, making sure that Novices don't try to slip away from their chores before they are complete.
A broad stairway, made of pristine white marble, enters into the White Tower, marked by a massive pair of doors decorated with delicate carvings of intricate workmanship. A tall, white wall cascades around the yard, its entrances and exits marked by high gates leading to the street, watched by the Tower Guard. Somewhere in the courtyard you can see buildings for the barracks and the stables. You can also see an entrance to the practice yard, marked of by a row of high hedges.

Lynna finishes tugging her cloak over herself as she exits the Tower. She descends the steps before curtseying to Sionil, smiling faintly.

Owen emerges from the practice yard and heads towards the tower and warmth. Chores need doing even when the weather is inclimate. At least this weeks chores are both inside...laundry and Library duty.

Lynna looks toward Owen as he comes near where she's standing. She nods toward the large Trainee. "Peace favor your sword," she says in greeting.

Owen pauses slightly to bow his head to the accepted and continues on, "good day Accepted." If he spots the Sedai leaving the stables he doesn't show it."

Sionil walks normally, unlike any of the recent rumors of the Mistress of Novices may say otherwise.

Lynna nods again quietly, then moves further toward the center of the courtyard after Owen passes, before changing direction and heading toward Sionil. "May peace favor you, Sionil Sedai."

Sionil gives a small smile to Lynna "Good evening to you Accepted. You are well?"

Owen walks up the steps and goes through the main doors of the Tower.

Lynna smiles and nods. "I am doing well, Aes Sedai. I just came to get some fresh air before it gets cold out. How do you fare?"

Sionil responds "I am well. The brisk air is good for the lungs, no?"

Lynna nods. "For most people, yes, though I've seen quite a few in the infirmary when I've been there who would disagree."

Sionil nods "Still many novices there sick?" she asks slightly worriedly.

Lynna shakes her head. "Never many at once, at least that I have seen. There's almost always one or two there, though."

Sionil nods in understanding "Well, that's some good news. Could be better though."

Lynna says "True, Aes Sedai. Many of those I see there are the new novices, particularly those from further south, though I've seen a couple of the more 'willful' Novices who've been here for a couple years and don't follow suggestions."

Sionil nods "Well, then for the latter ones. The sickness will teach a good lesson."

Lynna nods her agreement. "Even the former learn something from the experience."

Sionil smirks a little "Yes, even they need to grow used to climates away from their homes. Although I'm not sure I would want to go to the borderlands this time of year."

Cavaeya walks down the steps into the Courtyard, after pushing through the main doors of the Tower.

Lynna chuckles softly and nods. "Borderland winters aren't for the inexperienced with cold. This is how it is in mid-autumn back there. 'Winter' makes this look mild."

Sionil ugs "I'll stay here then."

Lynna grins and nods. "I had assumed you might, Aes Sedai." She glances toward the Tower, and curtsies toward Cavaeya, silently.

Cavaeya sweeps from between the huge Tower doors, skirts trailing in the snow as she glides serenely down the stairs. She inclines her head to both Lynna and Sionil. "Good day."

Sionil turns slightly from the accepted to see Cavaeya "Good evening, Sister."

Lynna replies softly, much more formally, "Peace favor you, Aes Sedai."

"Did I happen to overhear some discussion concerning winter in the Borderlands?" Cavaeya inquires as she moves closer. "Not the most comfortable time of the year, if so."

Lynna nods once. "That is correct, Aes Sedai, on both counts."

Cavaeya eyes Lynna for a long moment. "Where are you from, Accepted?"

Lynna straightens slightly, to her full height, at the scrutiny. "I was born in Fal Dara in Shienar, Aes Sedai," she replies.

Cavaeya smiles briefly. "I enjoyed staying in Shienar, whenever I happened to wander up that way. Shienarans know how to treat an Aes Sedai with proper respect. Or any woman, for that matter. The formality became somewhat trying at times, though. Quite the headache."

Lynna smiles very faintly, but says nothing, managing to not shift uncomfortably, particularly regarding the formality.

Sionil grins to Lynna. "It's hard to imagine any other place more formal then here at the Tower."

Cavaeya folds her hands comfortably. "Indeed, all the Borderlands seem to share the same standards of politeness and industry. Some of my fondest memories are from my stays in Saldaea and Kandor." Sionil's comment receives a raised eyebrow. "Formality in the Tower, sister? Are you certain? I have noticed a distinct lack of formality since my return."

Lynna nods to Sionil, but remains silent as Cavaeya continues with her thoughts.

Sionil shrugs a touch, "I see no change since my inception as a novice."

Cavaeya adjusts her shawl, a tad briskly. "That was considerably after my last visit to Tar Valon, I suspect, Sionil."

Sionil nods a little "I cannot disagree with that, I may have gained the slowing but I still have yet to gain my agelessness"

Lynna remains perfectly silent - she may as well be standing in front of the King of Shienar, or at least one of his trusted advisors, with how she holds herself.

Cavaeya shakes her head slightly. "Don't be so quick to wish for Aes Sedai features. A young sister can move a great deal more freely than I can, in some cases." Another shake of her head, this time accompanied by a brief scowl. "I have said it before, and I will say it again...the Oaths do none of us any favours." A somewhat unusual leap to make, from ageless features to the Oaths, but the Blue's wits don't seem to be wandering quite yet.

Sionil asks "But if we did not have the Oaths, what would make us any different from an untrained, undisciplined wilder?"

Lynna glances quietly between the two Aes Sedai.

Cavaeya sniffs. "It takes more than three promises to turn a woman into an Aes Sedai, Sionil. You should know that by now. That is why we spend our lives training and learning." Abruptly, she turns to Lynna. "What is your opinion, child? How important are the Oaths?"

Sionil looks to Lynna for an answer

Lynna licks her lips quickly, taking in a slow breath before she answers. "I must agree that the Oaths are not everything, Aes Sedai - the training is very important or it wouldn't be so strongly stressed. I believe the the Oaths themselves are also important, though. The Tower is mistrusted by many as it is. Without the Oaths, what would make anyone believe that the Tower might not strike at a country with the Power?"

Cavaeya grunts, giving her shawl another twitch. "We've been purposefully tying our own hands for three thousand years in an attempt to secure the trust of the world. Has it worked? I think not. Does anyone actually believe that a sister always says the plain truth? We've turned bending the truth into an art, and along the way we've fostered even more suspicion. Ridiculous."

Lynna nods once. "True, Aes Sedai. What would the Tower have without the Oaths, however? If an Aes Sedai says something is so to the best of her knowledge, clear and plain, then it is so. Countries would be fighting each other for the rights to Power-forged weapons, and everyone would be petrified that Tar Valon might attack them. I believe that would be a much more serious handicap."

Sionil shakes her head with Cavaeya's words, although nodding to Lynna "The amount of chaos that the oaths keep from growing in the world, is better then the amount of distrust we gain because of our wordplay."

Cavaeya gazes at Lynna for a moment, cool-eyed. "The Tower could still attack any country it wished, Accepted. The Power is a formidable weapon, but it is not the only one at our disposal."

Lynna nods slowly. "I agree, Aes Sedai. It is the Power that people fear the most. Even as things are, people fear people of the Tower because of the One Power, but they can be safe that we will not use it as a weapon except as a last resort."

Sionil before going "By the first oath if I could stay and discuss this further I would, but obligations call me away."

Cavaeya nods to Sionil. "Of course."

Lynna turns and curtsies to Sionil. "May peace favor you, Sionil Sedai." Not nearly as familiar as her initial greeting to Sionil.

Cavaeya turns back to Lynna and waves a slim hand vaguely. "It might be better if the rest of the world feared the Tower a little. In truth, however, you are correct. The Oaths have their uses, in certain situations. They also have their drawbacks, however. Or do you disagree?"

Lynna shakes her head, confidently. "I do not disagree with that, Aes Sedai."

Cavaeya nods, then pauses for a moment. "You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, girl. A rare thing these days, I fear." The dryness in her voice is matched by a faint smile on her lips. "I want you to examine the Oaths from a number of perspectives. Why they were thought necessary when the Tower was first formed, what they have given us since then, and what they have taken away."

Lynna blinks once, and then nods, formally. "Of course, Aes Sedai. When and how should I present my findings?"

"I will discuss that with Sionil Sedai when I next see her," Cavaeya replies. "Get started on your research for the moment."

Lynna nods again, and curtsies deeply. "Understood, Aes Sedai." With that, she starts toward the Tower, at a hurried walk.