Corrielle Nerander
| Corrielle Nerander | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah |
| Affiliation | The Grey Tower |
| Nationality | Andoran |
Corrielle Nerander is an Andoran Green Oathsworn Aes Sedai of the Grey Tower.
Biography
Therien Nerander's head jerked up sharply as she heard the high pitched childish cry come from somewhere in the Queensman Inn. As if on cue, a little girl practically flew into the common room where Therien was cleaning tables. She looked lovingly at her youngest child and only daughter, Corrielle. The tears were streaming down her thin face, and her eyes were red. Therien scowled. She knew that her sons or some of the other children had been teasing her again. Most children took the taunts of their peers in stride, but not Corrielle. She had always been a shy child, timid and frightened. Therien gathered the child into her arms.
"What happened, little one?" she asked.
"Laric said....he said..." Corrielle started sniffling again.
"Go on dear. What did your brother say?" Therien asked, gently encouraging her daughter.
"He said I wasn't really his sister. I was just a baby you found," she answered. Therien silently cursed the cruelty of children. Most of Corrielle's insecurities could be traced to the fact that she was not Therien's natural daughter, but a child who had been left at the inn when she was only an infant. An attempt had been made to find her true parents, and Therien suspected she was somehow connected to a group of nobles that had stayed at the inn the night before Corrielle was found, but she had no proof of that. Therien and her husband, Darol, had taken her in and raised her as their own, but every day almost something reminded them that Corrielle was not their own.
"Listen to me carefully, child," Therien told her. "You are my daughter in everything but blood, and I love you as if I gave you birth, and if anyone tells you differently, that person is wrong. Do you understand me?" Her daughter nodded and smiled. Such a sweet smile, Therien thought, and a smile that was not seen very often. She ruffled the girl's auburn hair, and shooed her off to play.
The heat in Caemlyn the summer Corrielle turned sixteen was the most oppressive in anyone's memory. The entire city seemed dead, and residents of the capital sought shade and an escape from the heat inside. There were a few customers in the common room of the inn, but everyone was listless. Corrielle was bored nearly to tears. She had grown into a quiet, studious girl with a gentle beauty. She was smarter than all of her brothers, and loved to read and study old histories and tales of adventure. She knew most of the stories of the Hunt of the Horn, and had read The Travels of Jain Farstrider more times than she could count. Anyone who could make her come out of her shell would be blessed with hours of intelligent discussion. On that hot summer day, she didn't want to read. Just thinking of trying to concentrate gave her a headache. She looked at the corner of the room, where her flute and harp were stored. Some music would relieve her boredom, but she didn't want to expend the effort it would take to actually play her instruments. Frustrated, hot and tired, she began mentally running through her favorite song, and nearly fell out of her chair when the opening chords of the piece were resounded throughout the common room. The men at the tables stirred, and looked around for the musician, but there was none. Corrielle's harp and flute lay in their cases in the corner, undisturbed. A light that was strange and unnatural, but wonderful at the same time filled her. The music swelled, and Corrielle remembered being filled with joy before she blacked out.
She awoke several hours later. Standing over her were her mother and a smooth faced woman she had never seen before. A look of relief spread over Therien's face when she opened her eyes.
"Corielle," she said gently, "This is Carlayna Sedai. She tells me you can channel. How are you feeling?"
"I'm a little tired, but other than that I'm fine," she said. "What happened?"
"You channeled the One Power for the first time, I believe," the Aes Sedai told her. "You should consider yourself lucky. Three out of four do not survive unaided. But, it was your first time, and those who die are those who channel several times and cannot control it." Corrielle shuddered, thinking of what might have happened to her. "I will teach you for the time being, child. Your mother tells me you are young, and not ready to come to the Tower. I will show you enough not to hurt yourself until the time comes that you are ready." Corrielle nodded eagerly. She had enjoyed the feeling of the light flowing through her, and wanted very much to experience it again. "You are a rose, opening to the sun...." Carlayna began. She listened to the sound of the Aes Sedai's voice, and lost herself in the lesson.
Darol tightened the saddle of Corrielle's horse one last time, checking everything to make sure it was safe for his daughter. Two years had passed since she had first learned she could channel, and she was finally ready to begin her official training. The Grey Tower seemed so far away, especially for one who had never been away from her family before. Her mother, father, and brothers were all there to see her go. Nervously, she mounted her horse and followed the Aes Sedai who had come to escort her to the Tower. She looked over her shoulder and saw her family waving at her. For a moment, she wanted to turn around and go back, but the desire to learn more about the Power overcame her fears, and she followed the Aes Sedai away from the Queensman Inn and out of Caemlyn.
Career History
- Novice
- Accepted
- Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah
- Sitter of the Green Ajah
