Setting: Testing Chamber: White Tower, Tar Valon

Players: Megwyn, Micana, Raemira

Raemira walks into the Testing Chamber, with an almost regal stance. Her features bear the stoic expression she was using earlier when she was being rather harsh with Chiara, though a look of sympathy seems to enter her eyes for a brief moment. She walks over to the podium and takes her place, turning to look toward Megwyn.

Megwyn swollows and turns towards the podium, toying a bit nervously with the loose end of her belt.

The Keeper turns and looks at the Amyrlin and the Novice entering the room. Several Aes Sedai stand about the rings, ready to power them, one at each ring. As soon as Raemira is settled in place, Micana starts, "You have already been given the warnings once, when you refused the first time, but I will remind you now of what was said." She pauses, to get her wording right, "Once you begin, you must continue to the end. Refuse at any point, and you will be put out of the Tower just as if you had refused to begin for the third time. To seek, to strive is to know danger." Her eyes show no shred of sympathy, "Some women have entered the arches, and never came out. When the ter'angreal was allowed to go quiet, they -were- -not- there, nor were they ever seen again. If you will survive, you must be steadfast." She foregoes the part about faltering and failing, "This is the last chance. You may refuse this time, and it will only count as your second and try once more, but if you accept now, there is no turning back. Choose now." She does not add a please to it, her eyes watching the young novice.

Megwyn swollows hard and--if possible--comes that much nearer the shade of parchment. She opens her mouth twice before finding her voice. "I.. will be tested, Keeper." And once said, she seems to find strength from the words, drawing herself up to her full heighth to look Micana in the eye.

Micana nods her head, "Then ready yourself, so that you may go into the arches unfettered."

Raemira shifts slightly, her eyes watching the Novice quietly as she looks over the young girl before her. She seems calculating almost, while others about the room seem to hold their breath.

Megwyn mulls 'unfettered' for a very long moment, regarding Micana with a puzzled look. Yet somehow, the idea seems to filter through and the puzzlement turns to incredulity and finally resignation as her hands find their way to the fastenings of her dress. Eventually dress, smallclothes and shoes find their way into a white pool on the floor and Meg stands shivering.

"Whom do you bring with you, Sister?" Intones the Amyrlin, her voice starting to boom about the room, her eyes falling to Megwyn.

Micana responds to the Amyrlin's voice, "One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Mother." Her eyes go from the Amyrlin to Megwyn, watching and waiting. In the background, the Aes Sedai present settle into thepr positions by the arches.

Megwyn's shoulders twitch at the words--yet at the same time it seems her spine stiffens further. As if she had an iron rod for her spine rather than bone and sinew. Her face is a mask of calm, but experienced eyes probably see thewildness around her eyes.

Raemira seems to furrow her brow slightly as she keeps up her silent study, "Is she ready?" Her voice speaks in a monotone sound.

"She is ready to leave behind what she was, and passing through her fears, gain Acceptance." Once again Micana answers, as others continue to look onto the small group of three near the middle of the floor.

"Does she know her fears?" The Amyrlin continues in her monotone voice, her expression remaining without emotion, not even a shread of sympathy now that she has started.

Micana intones in a flat voice. "She has never faced them but is now willing."

Formality seems to enter Raemira's voice as she nods, then intones, "Then let her face her fears." It is at that point, which the particular Novice may discover that she could be in over her head.

Micana leads the novice toward the first arch. "The first time is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." She squeezes her arm once and then steps back.

Megwyn looks at Micana and then the light glimmering within the arch. She takes a deep breath and steps within.

Megwyn enters the Arch One.

As you step through the arch, memories of the Tower and the time that you spent there melt away, completely. You find yourself back home, in Caemlyn, wihtin the inn where you spent so many of your formative years as a child. However, you are a little older than you were then. Your mother is walking about the inn, serving several of the customers, while you are sitting at a table folding napkins, a seemingly harmless job. Several men are teasing your mother at the moment, which apparently is starting to anger her. This is the first time, in your much sheltered life, that you've seen some of this happening, and you are not too entirely comfortable with it.

Megwyn chews on her lip and frowns at the men. The bar doesn't seem like much of a shelter and she squeels with indignation as Rolf chases her out from behind it and tries to get her to go into the kitchen. Meg sticks her tongue out at the man and dances away, weaving into the thick croud in the Inn tonight. She grins as she manages to get away and starts to push through the people towards her mother.

Silva continues to try to work on her various tables, looking more than slightly frustrated at the words spoken and deeds done by several of the men. After a moment, she seems to snap, "Will ye bloody be leavin' me be in peace? I gots me rounds to work on" She seems to scowl darkly, not noticing Megwyn coming in her direction just yet. Some of the men roar in laughter, amused at the woman's attempts to put their attention elsewhere.

Megwyn frowns at the sound of her mother's voice and the men's laughter. She begins to push harder at a croud that won't part for just a child. "Ma? Ma!" Childish tones cut through the constant murmur in the Inn.

The server, Silva, seems to grow more frustrated at the laughter, though furiously tries to continue her work, impeded as she is. She takes a moment to look about, looking for Megwyn no doubt, when a surely gentlemen steps in front of her. It's almost as if the past is starting replay itself out again, but not in the exact same manner as before... The gentleman introduces himself, leers at Silva, "Hello pretty, want to come have some fun?" Only to be rejected, with a slap of Silva's hand, "Blood and bloody flamin' ashes, donnae people unnerstand when I bloody asks to be left alone to do me work?" Her voice raises and as she speaks the word 'flamin' one of the nearby tables lights on fire mysteriously, her eyes darkening and Megwyn currently forgotten. She appears to be halfway from the door.

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

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

Megwyn is thrown in the sudden surge of people--patrons scrambling from the fire. "Ma? Ma!" Her cries are drowned out now by others of greater urgency--calls of panic. Meg's head whips around, looking for the whisperer quickly forgotton as someone treads upon her toes. Cries turn to tears as she beats at the backs of those pushing around her, trying to get to her mother.

Silva does not seem to notice the fire right off, glaring at the man before her. However, she does notice it as it starts licking at the floors, it's flames vicarously eatting anything and everything within it's path. Her eyes widen, with what seems to be her own fear, and at that moment another table seems to 'catch' fire. More and more people are starting to panic and run from the building, unmindful of those about them. Silva glances about, snapping out of her reverie, fear still in her eyes, "Megwyn??" She peers about, as if suddenly remembering her daughter was here as well. "Get ye out of 'ere girl. The buildings on fire!" She tries to maker her way to the front of the room, but somehow gets trapped behind the flames.

The crowd surges and parts at random, giving Megwyn only fleeting glimpses of her mother--but what she sees is enough. Panic sends the fire of adrenaline pounding through her body and her scream rises over all the rest of the noise. "Momma!" She flails towards the flames.

The flames continue to engulf the room at a rapid pace, "Get thee gone child." Silva speaks, somehow appropriate for this particular moment, "Lessin' ye wants t'be smootherin' by t'smoke." She tries to frantically find a way out of the flames, but there is none, and soon it starts to become hard to breathe.

A silvery arch flickers in the smoky dimness slong the periphery of vision, light glinting on the rising arc.

        Be steadfast
        The way back comes but once.

Memory teases mind and Megwyn pulls back as if burned by more than flame. Her head whips back and forth as she looks between the arch and the smoke-shrouded form of her mother. An inarticulate whine of denial sneaks through clenched teeth as she begins to back away, shaking her head-and finally throwing herself through the gap in the fire that allows her through that doorway...

Megwyn leaves the Arch One.

Water is poured over Megwyn's head as she exits the arches, "You are washed clean of what sin you may have done, and those done against you. You are washed clean of what crime," Raemira intones as she continues the ceremony, "you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul."

Megwyn is still whining--wimpering almost. A close sister to tears that haven't, quite, come yet. She looks at Raemira with eyes that speak volumes of pain, "Why? Why that--again?"

Micana waits a moment for the Novice to compose herself then steps forward to guide Megwyn to the second arch. She places her hands on the novice's shoulders, completely lacking in any sort of compassion, and steers her firmly toward the second arch. "The second time is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."

For a brief moment, a whisper, a flicker of sympathy passes over her features, however Raemira does not answer.

Megwyn closes her eyes and allows herself to be guided. She does not open them again until she faces the second arch.

Megwyn enters the Arch Two.

As you enter the second arch, the Tower as you know it once again winks away to the back of your mind. This time you are out along the the docks, with Ashlynn Sedai, a close second to your own mother figure. She is currently giving you another lesson on water, though this time along the dock. What you don't know is that she has never learned how to swim, yet is willing to brave going to the end of the pier to give this particular advanced lesson. Someone comes running down the docks, recognizing you, a male figure, yet you cannot quite make him out just yet.

Megwyn smiles over at Ashlynn. "I think I see.. could you show it again? I didn't quite catch the end of that weave."

Ashlynn inclines her head, "Certainly." She starts to form the weave she was demonstrating again, oblivious to the man who comes barrelling down the pier toward them. He seems to stumble accidentally, knocking the Aes Sedai into the water, who was perilously close to the edge. Ashlynn yelps as she's pushed into the water, surprised at the action, and the current starts to readily take her down stream with her head bobbing up and down. Megwyn would recognize the young man as Tig.

Megwyn jumps and reaches after Ashlynn, a look of surprise on her face. She whirls to see what has disturbed her lesson and brightens with a different sort of surprise, "Tig!"

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

Screams can be heard going down river, as well as someone gulping for air. Some of the sailors appear to be too far away to help, while others make an attempt to go after the drenched and semi drowning Aes Sedai. Tig casts a big grin at Megwyn, but not before glancing after the woman within the water, "Hey Megs" He speaks, "Um... I think your friend there needs a bit of help." He idly points toward Ashlynn, though for some reason does not seem too concerned for her welfare.

Megwyn whirls and is overcome by horror, "Ashlynn!" No Sedai this time. "Help! Somebody help!" She takes off at a run down the docks, weaving heedlessly. The Source glimmers there on the edge of conciousness--so close.

The Aes Sedai continues to be carried downstream, at a rapid pace. Several sailors continue to run forward, some trying to attempt to throw ropes out to her. Of course, the drowning Sedai seems rather oblivious to everything as she tries to reach the surface for air, hands flailing about helplessly. Up ahead, several rocks can be seen, starting to show some nearby rapids already forming. Tig jumps as you start to run after the sedai, confusion upon his features, but he shrugs and starts after you, "Hey Megs? What's going on? S'jes one of them witches." Perhaps it is his hope to convince you to leave the Tower with him, seemingly thoughtless and careless, not like the Tig you know at all.

Along the edge of the dock rises a shimmering silvery structure which certainly is foreign to this place yet seems somehow to 'belong' Silver glints along the curving surface which beacons by its very presence.

        The way back comes but once.
        Be steadfast.

Megwyn wheels to a halt in front of the gateway, arms flailing. She spins--there's no time to look but she does. Tig, horrifically unconcerned about the death of another person and Ashlynn's choking and frantic gasped breaths fading fast beneath the sound of the roaring current. Tig, Ashlynn, and the faint glimmer of light in the center of the arch and a growing rage as she throws herself into it...

Megwyn leaves the Arch Two.

Megwyn stumbles out with a rising screech, hands in balled tightly into fists--and yet her face is streaked with flowing tears.

"You are washed clean," Raemira's voice echoes throught the chamber, in a monotone expression, "Of false pride. You are washed clean of false ambition." A faint pause as she pours the chalice of water over your head, "You come to use washed clean, pure in heart and soul."

Micana 's gaze flickers with a hint of sympathy as it rests on the novice, then her expression becomes completely devoid of emotion. She moves to stand in front of the third arch, waiting without any show of impatience while Megwyn gathers herself. After a moment she takes hold of Megwyn's arm drawing the girl near and directing her to the third arch. "The third time is for what will be. The way out will come but once. Be steadfast."

Megwyn knuckles her eyes and stares at the empty glow of the third arch, openly shaking. She wavers, looking between Micana and Raemira before finally taking that last step that propells her under the final silver curve.

Megwyn enters the Arch Three.

For the last time you step through the arches, the Tower long behind you. This time you find yourself in a silk flowing silk gown, of the color of your choice. One of your fingers bears the rings of the Great Serpent. With you is your bondmate, Tigran, the one whom you've almost always held dear within your heart, since you first saw him within the Caemlyn thieve's compound when you were a child. This time, for some reason, you find yourself in the Rahad of Ebou Dar. A mission for the Amyrlin, one of grave importance. There seems to have been information that there were serveral objects made wiht the power, *angreal, hidden somewhere deep within this area (not particularly by the Kin, just happened to be what's come to me first). As if you were a target painted on you, arrows start to fly through the air, then as suddenly as they started to volley, they stopped, followed by a group of men coming out of nearby alleyways, swords and weapons drawn, closing in for an attack. One of the stray arrows seems to hit Tig in the shoulder, pain shooting through the bond, though it does not seem to be a bad wound.

Megwyn's eyes flash, the sweet power of Saidar flooding into her even as she begins to spin out a shield of Air to fend off the last of the arrows, shattering them in mid-flight. She stands tall, an obvious target and raises one hand, calling forth a bright burst of light that floods the alley along with her voice in ringing tones, "Hold! Flee or die, miscreants!" Long gone is her first instinct to cower and run. Instead she moves to protect her Warder's back, knowing that he will protect hers.

The 'hold' only causes the assailants to pause once, not really worried about the arrows that seem to stop. They continue to stalk their quarry after a moment, and if one could be seen grinning you could tell it through the mask that he wears. Chuckles resort from the men, "Pretty lady, with a pretty man, the money she must have." Skilled they are in fighting, though not as skilled as a Gaidin, enough to be dangerous to anyone who encounters them in a large group. One of them moves forward to encounter the Gaidin as the Aes Sedai's back is turned, while two from the group of five moves forward to encounter Megwyn, all weapons that they can manage drawn.

Megwyn snorts almost contemptuously and waves her hand. Lashing weaves leave five weapons in several pieces each in quick succession as the coiling air crushes each in turn. She grins ferally, "Leave, and you can live." In her hand, a single dagger--although anyone looking would see she favors that arm for no noticeable reason.

As Megwyn deals with the men in front of her, her Gaidin deals with those behind her, equaling in numbers. One by one the Gaidin fights each, but they each back away before he has a chance to do too much damage. They change their tactics then, starting to come at him two by two. They manage to cut and scrape at him, but nothing mortal at the time, yet in return receive the same for their services. Meanwhile, before Megwyn, at least three of the five find hidden daggers from their sleeves, and start to move forward again, while the two closest blink, fear showing in their eyes, and start to move back. One of the three throws a dagger within Megwyn's direction in an attempt to hit her, though it seems to fall short, hitting the ground before it does any damage. He seems to be trying to lure her to him, rather to turn her attention from the others.

Megwyn isn't perfect, but even she can feel the strain through her Bond. This time she's much harsher. Swift blows of air knock weapons from hands--probably hard enough to bruise or break bones--yet nothing is really lethal. She turns and takes out the next fellow down the line--by hauling him up into the air where the others can see him dangling and most likely yelling--and shakes him like a wet rag.

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

Megwyn frowns and shakes her head, disoriented. She returns her attention to the altercation and tosses the fellow she's trussed up off to the side and into a large pile of garbage. She turns and starts to assist Tigran by taking out one or two of the fellows on the fringe--knowing he wouldn't appreciate direct interference.

"Ahhhh" comes from the man dangling within the air, by invisible bonds. This is enough to shake the first two into running, and running fast, as well as cause a third to join them. The last left standing on his own seem so firm his features and move forward while the Aes Sedai has her attention elsewhere. He pulls out what seems to be his last dagger, and makes an attempt to at least snag her arm with it. Behind her, a scream can be heard as one of the others is felled, though in turn with that scream comes inscruciating pain felt within your abdoment, though it does not seem to be your own.

As you turn around, what you see is at least two men on top of Tig, one of them holding a sword and pushing it deeper into his abdomen, grinning evilly. You start to feel your bond's life to drain away, slowly though, as if he is fighting through the void to hold onto life and get the man from his body. He shoots a concerned glance in your direction, but seems to try to manage a smile, coquish almost, almost as a way of saying goodbye, unless something can be done to save him.

Megwyn stumbles, grabbing her gut and staggering towards her Warder, "Tigran!" Her attention is definately diverted now and she stumbles away from those that have started to retreat, beginning a weave even as she moves. Air blasts out, but not so gently this time, ripping Tigran's murderer from the ground and flinging him hard against the wall a full half-block down the alley. Blows lash out, felling most all the others in view as she staggers towards the fallen man.

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.

Pain can still be felt, though not more so than the fact that the life is still steadily draining from your bond. It might bring rememberances back from something Maeve was mumbling about before, within the Tower about someone dying, tickling at your mind. As Megwyn goes toward Tigran, a new wave of arrows starts to volley, surely knowing the couple is somewhat defenseless now, even though most attackers are run off or perished. Tigran shoots Megwyn a pained look, then whispers, "Go, leave... live to see another day." Hope is lost within his eyes as a look of knowledge of his death enters them. If only the bleeding could be stopped he might be saved though.

Megwyn reaches for Tigran, soaking the pale silk quickly with an amaranthine stain as she presses against him for just a moment. Movement draws her eyes to silver span. A choked sob is all that escapes--"Oh, love." A touch--fleeting of fingertips to cooling lips and she's on her feet, running for that bow of light. In but a few steps, she is through...

Megwyn leaves the Arch Three.

Megwyn is rigid, strung bow-string tight with grief. "Never--never. Oh, Tig!" She breaks and burries her face in her hands, openly sobbing.

Micana watches as Megwyn exits, her hands holding a large enveloping towel to wrap around Megwyn once the final rites are followed.

As soon as Megwyn leaves the third arch, the third and final chalice of water is poured over her head, "You are washed clean of Megwyn Verdani Mahieran from Andor. You are washed clean of all the ties that bind you to the world. You come to us washed clean" Still no emotion within Raemira's voice, "In heart and soul. You are Megwyn Verdani Mahieran, Accepted of the White Tower." As the last drop splashes onto Megwyn, Raemira speaks softly, yet in a tone of finality, "You are sealed to us now."

Micana places the towel around the girl's shoulders, the large size enveloping her form. She steps back again to the side.

Megwyn looks up, eyes brilliantly red from the crying. "I'm not Meg. Meg left him to die. I won't be that." A hiccough and eyes rise to meet Raemira's with a challange that dares the woman to gainsay her. "You can call me Verdani."

Raemira seems to regard Megwyn quietly for a few moments, then nods her head silently, "Very well. You are Verdani Mahieran, Accepted of the White Tower." With that she pulls a something from a small pouch at her side, "Raise your left hand for me please." It's not really a request but an order, as emerald eyes continue to watch the Accepted.

Megwyn extends her left hand as ordered, some of the tension falling out of her body as Raemira does not challenge her statement.

Micana gestures slightly to the Aes Sedai at the intersections of the rings. The humming, more felt than hurd ceases and the glow fades. Each walks to stand in a line near the others. Puddles of water seem to disappear from the floor and the faint sound of water splashing in a bucket behind the concealing podium may be heard.

A golden Great Serpent ring glimmers within the candle-light of the chamber, as Raemira Sedai pushes the ring on the third finger of the left hand. She leans over and kisses Megwyn/Verdani on each cheek, "Welcome Daughter." She speaks, not child, then rises and steps out of the way, giving instructions as she does, so others may come and greet the newly raised Accepted, "You will be excused from classes and chores for the next two days. It is tradition here at the Tower not to talk about your experiences within the arches. Each girl faces her own fears and they are hers alone to know." She pauses a moment, then continues, "You will see that the next two weeks will be the hardest on you, to weed out those that manage to pass the arches and become Accepted. More chores and classes will be pushed upon you than you can imagine. You will need to talk to Lanta Sedai about your classes and your project, when you get a chance, as well as first learn the Advanced Spirit class before you may teach, and be observed by an Aes Sedai when you give your first lesson." She pauses as if there is more, but needs to rest her lips and let Megwyn partially absorb everything she is being taught. As she does so, one of the Aes Sedai brings the banded dress to Megwyn and hands it to her.

Verdani bows her head in acknowledgement of Raemira's words. "Yes, Mother." A rustle of cloth and she replaces her smallclothes on her body before settling the new dress over it all. Her eyes linger on the banded hem-the only real external change. That, and the ring on her finger.

Micana watches the final moments of the raising, a faint smile curving the corner of her mouth upward.

Raemira seems to watch quietly, "I believe that is all that I've left to tell you." She murmurs, watching the young girl. "When you feel like leaving the chamber, you are dismissed"

Verdani settles the folds of her dress, eyes still red, but her breathing slowing now. She nods and curtseys deeply to Raemira and Micana before turning slowly and pacing deliberately out of the room

Verdani exits the chamber through the secret doorway.