Lynna hangs up yet another freshly-washed Novice dress, the sleeves of her own dress rolled up.

Micana steps into the laundry and glances around. Her gaze focuses on Lynna and she steps over to her in a brisk stride. "Come with me now. Ask no questions, just follow. It is time." She speaks cryptically and heads for the door.

Lynna blinks, and does as she is told before she can even curtsey.

Micana passes through a large door and exit the steamy Laundry Room.

[Common Wing: White Tower, Tar Valon]

Micana moves briskly to the stairs to the basement and opens the door, leaving Lynna to follow. Micana places her hand on the handrail and walks down the stairs.

[Basement: White Tower, Tar Valon]

Lynna rolls down her sleeves as she follows, silently.

Micana leads the way along the corridor speaking over her shoulder. 'The wheel waits for no one." She pauses before a little noticed door.

Lynna nods her head quietly, and merely tries to keep up.

Micana opens the small door and holds it for Lynna to follow her in. Micana exits through a secret doorway.

[Testing Chamber: White Tower, Tar Valon]

Raemira appears to stand beside the podium, her expression well hidden. She waits in readiment, watching as the others enter. Her eyes appear to glimmer out from under a mass of auburn curls.

Micana leads Lynna in and steps to the side after nodding to Morillin and curtseying to Raemira.

Lynna follows Micana down, remaining quiet until she spots the Amyrlin, and the other Aes Sedai. She curtsies first to Raemira, then again to the others, eyes wide in amazement.

Morillin is standing off to one side, hands folded calmly in front of her. Giving Micana a slight nod, she then turns her cold, dark eyes on Lynna, studying her without expression.

Morillin gives the Amyrlin an inquiring glance, as if looking for permission to proceed.

With a brief nod of the head, Raemira gives Morillin the signal needed to start. She continues to stand there watching Lynna in a careful considering manner.

Morillin nods, then glides towards Lynna, her coolly musical voice ringing through the vast chamber. "Novices are given three chances here. You may refuse twice to enter the arches, but upon the third refusal, you will be sent away from the Tower forever. Do you understand?"

Lynna turns her attention to Morillin, her wonder replaced by seriousness, though with some nervousness that shows through. "I understand, Aes Sedai."

Morillin says "I will tell you two things no woman hears until she stands here. Once you begin, you must go on to the end. Refuse at any point once you have agreed to the testing, and you will be put out of the Tower the same as if you had refused for the third time. Secondly....to seek, to strive, is to know danger." There is no hint of sympathy in her dusky features as she gazes down at the Novice. "Some women have entered, and never come out. When the ter'angreal was allowed to grow quiet, they simply were not there. Nor were they ever seen again. If you wish to survive, you must be steadfast. Falter, fail, and..." She trails off with a slight shrug. "You may refuse now, and it will only count as the first. Do you wish to continue, knowing what you know?"

Lynna takes in a slow breath, holding herself a bit taller at the mention of danger. She lets Morillin's words sink in for a couple seconds, before she replies firmly, "I wish to continue, Aes Sedai."

Morillin nods. "Then remove your clothing."

Lynna blinks once at that, but the hesitation is only that brief. Without a word, she does as told.

Morillin turns and begins to glide towards the arches, nodding once to the Amyrlin as she does so.

Lynna follows behind the Mistress of Novices, still silent.

Raemira continues to watch for a few moments longer, then breaks her silence by speaking in a monotone voice which reverberates about the room, "Whom do you bring with you, Daughter?" Her eyes remain affixed to Lynna's form as she speaks.

Morillin says "One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Mother."

Lynna holds herself tall again upon hearing the Amyrlin's formal tone.

"Is she ready?" Raemira intones back, chancing a glance at the Red Sister for a brief moment before she goes back to her critical study of Lynna.

Morillin replies smoothly, "She is ready to leave behind what she was and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance."

"Does she know her fears?" Raemira appears to regard Lynna more intently as she asks this question of Morillin.

Lynna stays perfectly silent, her attention fixed on the Amyrlin, maintaining her composure as best she can, though there's some more tenseness at the talk of fears.

Morillin halts before one of the glowing arches. "She has never faced them, but now is willing."

"Then let her face her fears." There is such a note of finality in Raemira's voice that her words might send chills down several spins of those about the room. She locks her eyes now on Lynna, a small look of sympathy entering them.

Lynna indeed does shiver very slightly, despite trying to suppress it. Quietly, she turns her attention away from the Amyrlin toward Morillin.

Morillin inclines her head, then turns to look down at Lynna. "The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." Then she steps back from the arch and waits, icily calm.

Lynna nods once to the Mistress of Novices, then turns her attention to the glowing arch. Softly, she whispers, "Be steadfast," as she walks toward it, resolutely.

You enter the Arch One.

A bright light flashes as you step through the archway, finding yourself in plain clothing, or something you would normally be wearing when at 'home'. You are outside, working in a garden. Not too far away is a woman next to you, diligently working. Upon glancing at her you recognize her, surprisingly enough, to be your mother, Kessa. A warm smile touches her features. She glances up to spy on you, then chuckles faintly when she catches you glancing in her direction, "What is wrong Lynna dearest, you look as if you are watching Shayol Ghul itself...." Her face appears to light up as she watches her daughter. Not far behind comes another voice, that of your younger brother Jaeson "Hey Lynnie!" His pet name for his eldest sister, "Da needs your help in the barn...." Beside you, your mother watches with quiet eyes.

Lynna blinks, confused for a moment, before she looks up. "Nothing's wrong, Mother... Just these plants giving me trouble again, that's all." She turns to Jaeson, and smiles, shaking her head at the nickname. "All right." Glad to have a reason to be out of the garden, she rises, taking a moment to smile back to her mother, before heading toward the barn.

Kessa watches Lynna with an expectant look as her brother calls her to the barn. A faint, secretive smile touches her lips, though is marred by the slight chuckle she emits at her daughter's comment concerning the garden.

Inside the barn everything is dark and quiet, or appears to be so. Every now and again a bird can be heard flapping its wings.

Lynna slows as she walks into the barn, looking around slowly. "Father? Where are you?" Could Jaeson be trying to prank her? Nah - he should know better by now....

The lanterns come on, almost by magic, though not quite. There's a person manning each lantern, pulling a hood from the lantern shells. "Surprise!" comes a group of voices, which come from quite a few happy, smiling faces. From behind, come your mother and Jaeson. You've been working so hard that it was easy to forget your naming day.

Lynna jumps in shock - her father's couple self-defense tips almost coming to the fore - before she realizes that she's not in danger. Her face splits in a wide grin. "Peace, life, and beauty!"

Steadfast
  Steadfast
    Steadfast
      Steadfast
Once
  The way back
    comes but once.
           Once. 

Thoughts not of Lynna's own making tiptoe through her mind.

Lynna's smile fades almost immediately, one hand going to the side of her head. Plants may not like her, but gardening's never done *that* to her before....

Andrus steps forward, a bright smile widening on his features, "How could my little Lynna forget her naming day, huh?" He winks in an amused manner, "Of course... it was all for the best, seeing as how we actually got to surprise you for a change."

Kessa laughs faintly, her own eyes lighting up, "Come now Andrus, you know as well as I we've surprised Lynna before... just not in this way." What she talks about is the mare outside in the barn, the one you were given to train when she was a mere babe.

Lynna chuckles very softly, her good humor returning, putting aside her concerns. How could she have forgotten about that? Smiling to her father, "I've been so busy recently - I haven't even had the time to think about it." She grins. "Just don't think you'll surprise me like this a third time," she says, jokingly.

Andrus laughs happily, moving over to give his daugther a warm hug, "Of course, dear of course..." All the while, within his mind, he's saying, 'suuuuuur I can'.

Jaeson runs up to the two of you and wraps his own arms about you, making it a small group hug. There's no helping the feeling of belonging to these folks as your family, something that has always felt good to you in the past, even during the not so good times.

Along the rough cut barn walls, firmly seated in a scattering of dust and
hay, a silvery arch flickers in the periphery of vision, light glinting on
the rising arc.
        Be steadfast
        the way back comes but once.

Lynna smiles broadly, and wraps her own arms around her family. The arch almost escapes her notice - except for that voice. She blinks a couple times, confused. This is going to take a trip to the Wise Woman to fix or something.

Kessa walks over to the group, breaking up the hugging party, "Come on now, before the candles on the cake go out." And with Kessa's words, several people clear the way, revealing a beautifully decorated cake. "Or worse, the wax melts on it..."

Lynna relaxes, and smiles, heading over toward the cake slowly, though her eyes look back to that arch briefly. Still there? This excitement must really be getting to her ... Steadfast, though?

"Go ahead love, blow out the candles..." Your father urges.

"Come on Lynnie, get it over with so we can open your naming day presents." Your brother urges.

Meanwhile your mother just stands by and watches, her face the pinacle of pride.

A hum which is more felt than heard intrudes persistently in awareness and
calls attention to the curve of the waiting arch. 
         The way back 
        Comes
        But
        Once
        Be steadfast.

Lynna turns back to her family with a smile, then to the cake, before taking in a full breath of air - which gets let out well before she's ready. She shakes her head, another look toward the arch, before she repeats the intake of air, and blows the candles out. Once that's done, the arch gets her attention again, now with a frown.

Jaeson beams happily, his eyes brightening somewhat, "Yes... now for the presents." He runs over to a table and picks up one of the smaller gifts, holding it out to Lynna with an eager light upon his features, "Open this one first Lynnie, this one....." He certainly does seem excited.

Lynna smiles faintly toward her brother, but holds up a hand. "One second, Jaeson." She looks back toward the arch, frowning again. "I think something's wrong." She takes a couple steps toward it.

The young boy blinks a couple of times as Lynna walks away, "But Lynnie, yer gift..."

Lynna stops where she is, and looks back to Jaesin, chastened. "I suppose that looking can wait until I open my gifts..." she says, very softly, and offering an apologetic smile.

The hum fades and the silver seems to lose some of its shine as if it is
starting to fade. 
        Be steadfast.
         The way back comes but once.

Jaeson's brow crinkles, a look of confusion passing over his features, "Looking at what Lynnie?"

Lynna looks back to the arch, and frowns. "Or not..." She sets her jaw. "Must be steadfast," she whispers, and starts toward it again.

Jaeson starts after Lynna, meaning to take a hold of her arm, "Lynnie, where in the light are you going, the party is this way." He motions over his shoulder, back to where the others and your parents stand.

Lynna stops only for a moment, shaking her head slowly. "I have to do something first, Jaeson. It can't wait." Her tone is the one she usually takes when her mind is made up and it takes a parent to change it. "Be steadfast," she repeats, and starts toward the arch again, more quickly now.

Jaeson just stops, looking quite dumbfounded now, "But Lynnie...." His voice pleads.

Lynna doesn't stop, or look back this time. "I'm sorry," she says softly, before running through the arch.

You leave the Arch One.

"You are washed clean of what sin you may have done," comes Rameira's voice, with a chalice of water being poured over Lynna's head after she leaves the arches, "and of those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime you have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul." Her voice echoes about the chamber as the other sisters continue to power the arches.

Lynna's face is one of total shellshock as she comes out of the arch and memory returns - her reaction to the water and to the Amyrlin's words almost nonexistent. Softly, she says to herself, "What have I done? Jaeson....."

Morillin rests a hand on Lynna's bare shoulder and firmly propels her towards the next arch. "The second time is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Micana looks steadily at the intersection of the arches into which she channles, her face expressionless.

Lynna nods very slowly, her face ashen. She swallows hard, shivering as she finally notices the cold of the water. Trying to summon her courage again, she closes her eyes and murmurs a soft prayer before entering the next arch.

You enter the Arch Two.

You step through the second arch, once again greeted with a bright flashing light. Thoughts of the previous encounters in the first arch flit away from your mind, as well as any past experiences that happened within the Tower. Life for you only exists here and now. You are dressed in plain clothing, suited to your own needs. For a brief instant the thought moves through your mind that you failed your testing, causing a small bout of disappointment, howeer, that disappointment fades as you gaze down at your finger and notice your ring. In the distance, you see someone you recognize. Melli. She appears to be heading to the docks. Unfortunately, you also notice something else just behind Melli, the glinting of a sharp steep object grasped in the hand of a shadowed figure.

Lynna's shaking from before the arch becomes dismissed as her worries, a smile coming to her face as she spots Melli. That smile fades instantly, and she shouts out, "Melli! Behind you!" Plain clothes - she must have her own knife back by now, even if she never was very good with it. But she also didn't have the ability to use the One Power before, either.

Melli seems not to hear Lynna's words as she continues forward, oblivous to whats about her. The shadowed figure behind her also seems oblivious to the fact that someone shouted a warning to his prey, the knife glinting even more from the light hitting it. Melli pauses a brief moment, then continues, just moments away from a slash that could have ended her life.

Lynna reaches to her belt without looking, hoping that her knife is there, as she takes hold of Saidar without thinking. She starts running toward Melli and her assailant, readying a weave of Air as she does so, though not as quickly as if she were standing still.

Melli disappears around the corner to the right, once again just missing a slash at her back. Fortunately, this time, someone steps inbetween the shadowed figure and Melli, buying both you and her some time; her to get away unknowingly, and yourself to get to her to help.

The way back
The way back
        Once
        Once
        Once
  The way back comes but once.
          Steadfast
        Steadfast
    Steadfast
  Be Steadfast
Words echo in memory, faint whispers in Lynna's mind.

Lynna considers her options for that brief moment - attack the attacker directly, or just keep him from attacking Melli? She settles on the latter, first, sending her weaves of Air out to her friend even as she tries to catch up, doing her best to solidify the air behind her into a shield, and attaching that shield to her - she'll hopefully notice that. Steadfast? she thinks, momentarily distracted - but she has to force them out of her mind, at least for now.

The way back
The way back
        Once
        Once
        Once
  The way back comes but once.
          Steadfast
        Steadfast
    Steadfast
  Be Steadfast
Words echo in memory, faint whispers in Lynna's mind.

As if noticing something different, Melli turns around just as a slash comes to her front. She lets out a yelp and jumps back, just in time it seems. "Oh my light..." She fumbles to get a hold of the source herself, grabbing at it instead of trying to surrender to her, in a fit of panic.

"Stay still you bloody wench..." The shadowed figure growls, 'So's I can get my knife into you."

Lynna snarls quite unladylike, letting her shield - which is now in the wrong place - dissipate. Trying to give no more warning to her assailant, she readies her knife, hoping to stick it into the attacker's back.

The attacker moves forward once more in an attempt to get at Melli, "I's gots me a bloody job to do and I donna means to muck it all up cuz a girls tryin' to outrun me. I's done worse people'n you before." He creaks out a toothy grin as his knife this time slices at Melli's arm as she dashes back again. She stumbles on some boxes and crates, though regains her balance, "Get away from me you flea bitten piece of Trolloc bait."

Lynna decides that she's not going to get close enough to strike quick enough. She'll have to answer to the Aes Sedai for this one later - no time for subtlety. She spins more flows of Air, this time at the assailant, to try to bind him.

Gradually coming into view is something which is out of place, a silver
arch. It seems to frame part of the scene that is occurring and is close
enough to the attacker for the movement of his arm to bump it, however, his
arm seems to pass through it and he is unaware of the structure. 
         The way back
         Comes but once.
         Be Steadfast.

Unfortunately, at the time that Lynna sends out her weaves at the man, he too stumbles on some boxes and crates, the same that Melli stumbled on as well. The weave, however, does attatch itself to his clothing, helping to, oddly enough, steady him. A dark, wicked grin comes to his features, unawaure of Lynna's unintentional aid, "Comere pretty, pretty. I wont hurt you much, I promise." He walks forward, though is hindered a little by his clothing pulling him back.

Melli, without much else to do, continues to back away, unfortunately backing herself into a corner.

Lynna grumbles, and wonders what more could possibly complicate this situation. So, she decides totally against subtlety, running forward again. "Hey, you! Yeah, you, the one who can't swing a knife to save his life!" she shouts.

The man growls, turning his features toward Lynna, "You talkin' t' me wench?" Yes, it worked, now he's facing Lynna, his face red with anger, "Wanna play huh? Well after I do this one I can oblige ye... I can. But I gots me a payin' job to do first ya sees." He grins wickedly at Lynna.

In the meantime, Melli seems to have gotten a hold of her senses. The glow of the source now surrounds her.

In the dim rescesses of the alley a stray beam of light reflects off a
broken bottle and up against the waiting silver arch. The glimmer dances
among dust motes as the inaudible hum calls to the one it awaits. 
The way back comes but once.
Be steadfast.

Lynna hides her satisfaction behind a mask of anger - she accomplished what she wanted. She comes to a stop a few feet away from both arch and attacker, glancing to it briefly. She needs to press the issue, though. "That's right, I'm talking to you. You're simply too scared to go after someone who's actually holding a weapon - you've gotta go after someone who's unarmed first." She maintains the Air weave's hold on the attacker's clothing, as it might come in handy.

The man smirks, turning his back on Lynna, or seemingly so. After a few moments, a dagger finds it's way flying toward Lynna, one that was not in his hands before, while the other one remains, "Alright, if'n ye wants to play too, I can play wif ye both at the same bloody time, no skin of me bloomin' back." He once again starts to advance on Melli, "Nut I gots me a job to do and a jobs what I'm gonna do." He continues to walk toward Melli, who seems to have gotten a shred of confidence back, "Save yourself Lynna...." She seems to implore, "There's more than one out there. I had thought...." SHe cuts off, as she sees a shadow down the alley.

Lynna frowns as she spots the other shadow - now, situations have gotten worse. "Melli - run!" With that warning, she yanks as hard as she can on the Air 'tether' she has on the first attacker, trying to pull him away from Melli. With that, she runs up to the archway, but not through it yet, waiting for a moment in the hopes that she might see her friend get away.

The man goes flying back with an oopmh, just as he does so however the other man flashes by going after Melli. Melli blinks and starts to run, though not before a dagger lands in her shoulder. She lets out a scream but starts to run anyway, Lynna forgotten.

Shadows in the alley seem to be overcoming the silver arch, infusing it so
that the color begins to fade away. The hum diminishes and falters then
returns with a firming of the silver as if something momentarily
strengthens it. 
        Once
        Only once will the way back come.
        Be steadfast.

Lynna winces her eyes, and sends a crude Air-channeled punch at the second attacker, before she shouts out, "Run, Melli! For the Light, run!" She looks to the arch, back to Melli, and then turns to the arch again, plunging through - without letting go of the Source.

You leave the Arch Two.

Yet another chalice of water moves over Lynna as she exits the arches "You are washed clean of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition. You come to use washed clean, in heart and soul." The Amyrlin intones these words, yet a small token of sympathy touches her eyes as she does so.

Morillin's lips curve into a frown as she sees the glow of saidar surrounding Lynna. "Release the Source," she murmurs once the Amyrlin is done. "It can be dangerous to channel during the test."

Lynna blinks a few times, and actually notices the Amyrlin's words this time, blinking at her. Her head turns to Morillin, and in an instant, the glow of the Source winks out. With no words, she merely looks down at the ground.

Morillin guides the girl to the final arch. "Women have channeled before inside the ter'angreal. And had the ability burned out of them." The starkness of her words is only emphasized by the cool detatchment of her voice. "Unless you wish to still yourself, do not channel until...if...the test is completed."

Lynna shivers again, and nods toward Morillin, her reply a very meek, "Yes, Aes Sedai," as she is led to the last arch.

Morillin nods once, then steps back. "The third time is for what will be. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

Lynna nods again slowly, and stares at the last arch for a moment. One last time, she gathers her resolve - what's left of it - and walks through.

You enter the Arch Three.

For the last time you find yourself stepping through one of the arches, once again forgetting all that happened in the previous episodes. You find yourself walking down a city street in Tear. You are supposed to meet someone, someone very important, though the name seems to slip your mind just at this moment. You know this person is male, that much you can remember. As you reach your destination, you find a very nobly dressed man. He folds his arms before him, a dark look upon his features, "It's about time you arrived." He speaks, irritation in his voice. " A few more moments and I would have left. I'm risking my life just talking to you here and not, witch." He sneers, though there is a distinct look of fear within his eyes.

Lynna frowns very slightly, trying to clear her head without making any outward sign. "There are many things that can hold someone up, particularly here. But I am here now."

The man continues to sneer, "Save your excluses for the bloody dark one woman. I want none of them. It's information you want and it's information I've got. Now do ye wants to hear it or not?"

Lynna simply nods once again, ignoring the insults. "I would not be here if I did not."

"Yeah... sure... right. I know you Aes Sedai types. You nose around into everything, even stuff tha' ain' yer bloody business." The man holds out his hand expectantly, almost as if he expects to be paid, and maybe he does. Funny that he should be asking you to come to Tear, what with all the problems about the area currently.

Lynna pauses briefly as she sees the hand come out - sure that she's supposed to give him something, and trying to remember what before it becomes obvious that she's forgotten.

Back
        Back
             Back
The way back
    Comes but
  once
  once
  once.
        Be Steadfast.
Fragments of memories not Lynna's own tickle and play in the
back of her mind.

Lynna curses inwardly while trying to keep her expression calm - this is not the time for her mind to wander.

A dark look comes from the man, "No gold, no information. Sorry lady." He starts to turn to disappear into the shadows, "I'll tell the Savior you said 'ello. I'm certain he'll love to have one of your types working for him." The sinister expression on his features suggests that he can do just that too.

Lynna says in a very soft yet stern voice, "Have a little patience, and you will get your payment." Only then does she take her eyes from him, trying to find a sack or something that jingles with coin among her belongings.

The man snorts, "Patience ain' a virtue with me lady. Either pay up or leave this bloomin' place. I ain' gonna be resonsibl' for whatever 'arm comes to ya."

Slowly something starts to flicker a few paces away. Silver glints in and
out of vision as if there and yet not there before it solidifies into a
silver arch. An almost imperceptible hum fills the mind and words echo in
memory. 
The way back
        Comes but once.
Be steadfast.

Lynna replies as she looks, "I am certain that you have as little desire to return empty-handed as I do." Why won't her mind work right? Why all these distractions? she thinks.

The man pauses gathering all his things together, turning to eye Lynna carefully, "Look witch. Ifn' ya ain' got the cash up front, I canna do anything for ya. Sorry. That was t'deal. Cash first info last. Yer tryin' my patience as it is. Ya gots one last time t' produce and I'm outta here, lettin 'em know that yer 'ere for da takin'."

Lynna looks back up, her tone as cold as her homeland. "If you would wait for a moment, you might have your cash." Looking back down, she makes a mental note to have a few words with whoever sent her on this, or at least with whoever was supposed to provide the money for this foray. Or to really chide herself for poor planning. That payment has to be somewhere.

The man crosses his arms, giving the semblance of waiting. Meanwhile the time really is running out. Informants said this man might be difficult, however the information he holds is very, very valuable. Anything on the Savior is valuable. "While' yer wastin' time away yer precious Tower is bein' attacked." He exclaims slightly, "Course, I see now that you really donna care about that, eh?" A brow raises to take in Lynna, "Stallin' gets people no where, 'cept landed in trouble." Is it you or are the shadows moving about? Nah. His blubbering is just that.

The cool silver arch stands stolidly yet evades notice of any save its
intended user. The humm is fainter than earlier. It stirs a faint phrase to
scurry in Lynna's mind. 
        Be steadfast.
        The way back
        Comes but
        Once
        Once
        Once

Lynna sighs very softly - if she hasn't found coin by now, she doesn't expect she will. Nothing even in a pocket or anything. Still, she considers ... No, channeling would not be a good thing now. Why? Probably to avoid detection or something. "I've no desire to cause anyone any trouble. Nor do I have any desire to put this off at all - why should I if I'm the one who's looking for information?"

The man shrugs, "No cash, no information." He smirks, then starts down the alley. It looks as if he's very determined to leave the scene, so much so that a crossbowman appears. What is it that could have this man so frightened? Maybe he works closely with the man called the Savior...? What a minute, did he say the Tower was being raized.....? That may tickle the back of your mind, or not. "Good luck lady. With hope, yer precious friends will stay alive. He's got some pretty hefty thugs workin' for 'em." As he looks over his shoulder he cocks a toothy grin, "Something about a few male channelers with em. Bet the fireworks there'll be good." Course, that's only a seedling to the information he could have given, the real nest and he knows it.

Lynna spots the crossbowman - so much for keeping any illusions of near-safety. Perhaps its time to fight 'dirty'. "Fine, then. Though I would think that you'd want to keep your connections secret. It would be a pity if someone found out."

"I never gaves anyone my me name witch" The man sneers over his shoulder as he continues down the alleyway. In all honesty the man with the crossbow doesnt look like he's gonna shoot unless Lynna decides to chase after the so called informant.

Lynna offers a faint smile, though inwardly kicking herself for not remembering that detail. "Surely you don't believe that someone has't found out by now? But that's really not the point, is it?" Where did she leave that bloody coin? No sack on her belt or anything.... At this rate, she expects to get a rather searing 'debriefing' when she gets back ... if there's anything to go back to.

The humm gradually fades till it is barely sensed and the silver becomes
almost an afterimage in sight. After a moment the faint hum strengthens and
the silver is restored though flickering. 
The way back comes but once.
Be steadfast.

The man shrugs his shoulders as he continues onward, "I doubt it loverly." He smirks in his voice as he walks, "No doubt even ye wont remember who I am after tomorrow..." Now what does he mean by that.

Lynna backs up toward the arch slowly, considering throwing a retort, but there's no way that she's going to succeed now. Keeping an eye on the crossbowman, she moves toward the arch - through it if not stopped.

The men do nothing to stop Lynna. They never got their gold and no truly important information was given. Too bad for the witchy woman in their minds. Ah well, they didn't need a Tower anyway, did they?

You leave the Arch Three.

Lynna emerges from the arch - no tears, no panic, no shakiness. Only an uncharacteristically cold expression on such a normally cheerful young woman.

The last and final chalics is poured over Lynna's head as she exits the arches "You are washed clean of Lynna Shandra from Shienar." The Amyrlin pauses her words as she narrows her eyes upon Lynna, gone the sympathetic glance that was there before, "You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean, in heart and soul. You are Lynna Shandra, Accepted of the White Tower. Welcome, Daughter." Raemira leans forward and kisses Lynna on each side of her cheek, then steps back so the others might be able to file forward.

Lynna blinks at the Amyrlin's words, as she is pronounced to be Accepted - clearly surprised. Her next expression says it all - she thought she failed.

The three Aes Sedai let their flows go and just sit there for a long moment, exhausted. Slowly each rises and passes by Lynna to welcome her. One drapes a big warm towl around her shoulders. Micana bears a new dress for her, one with bands of color at the hem.

Raemira speaks quietly as the others press forward with their greeting, "It is custom at the Tower that you do not speak about what happened in the arches. I trust you will keep with that custom." It is not really a request, but more of an order. "You will have the next two days free of chores and classes, to recooperate, then the next two weeks will you meet with the hardest training you've had within your life. If you thought your Novice years will bad, you will find them a vacation to those of your Accepted years." She pauses then continues, "You may not teach until you've had your spirit class, and been observed by an Aes Sedai for the first time." She then pauses once more, watching quietly as she speaks the words upon the new Accepted, perhaps too much for her to absorb at the moment. Raemira pulls something out of a tiny pouch at her waist. Her eyes narrow slightly, as if considering something, though she murmurs, "Hold out your left hand please." She waits for the simple action.

Lynna covers her nose and mouth with her hands, the tears coming now, as she inclines her head respectfully to the other Aes Sedai as they greet her. As Raemira continues, again, she lets her hands down, with a couple soft sniffles, nodding at her words. At the command, she extends her left hand toward the Amyrlin.

A golden ring, carved with the image of the Great Serpent is produced and placed upon Lynna's ring finger on her left hand, "On this finger, and this hand alone may you wear this ring. Once you are raised to the shawl, may you wear it where you wish, but not until them" Raemira's voice holds a warning note, what is done to those that claim to be Aes Sedai, quite evident to those through the Tower. Her eyes even harden slightly. "After you are settled you are to report to Mistress of Novice's office to talk with Morillin Sedai about your new classes."

Micana watches silently. Other Aes Sedai quickly clean up the chamber and curtsey to Raemira as they depart.

Lynna inclines her head again, sniffling once more before she manages to softly say, "Thank you, Mother."

Raemira inclines her head slightly, regarding Lynna with a carefully concealed expression. "You are dismissed child." Back down from Daughter to child once more.

Lynna curtsies, more awkwardly than normal, in her new dress. Her mind still shaky, she makes her way out of the Testing Chamber.