Fanfic:A Bond
| Author(s) |
|
|---|---|
| Character(s) |
|
This is a piece of fanfiction. Only the original author(s) or Librarian(s) should make content changes to this page. |
Jip was sat in his room reading, he was now on the third book that Alyona Sedai had loaned him. He felt bad actually, even though Alyona had told him he could keep the books as long as he wanted he was taking an awful long time to read them. They were so complicated though! This one was on the Borderlands, a place that Jip found fascinating and terrifying, in its reality more terrifying, but when written in a book more fascinating.
He had not been there long, only about half an hour or so, he had been teaching all morning and for once his classes had gone well, no major injuries or fights or the thousand and one other problems that usually arose when Jip was teaching.
Jip turned the page again and rubbed tiredness out of his eyes, he still was not sleeping, if anything his nightmares were getting worse and it was becoming a daily challenge to hide the fact that he did not sleep.
A knock on his door startled him a little, though he was very good now at not letting shock show on his face, he stood up and silently padded over to the door, wondering who was knocking.
He opened it slightly peering out, his blue eyes wide and was faced with a Novice, a little taller then he was looking as nervous as Jip usually felt.
Before Jip could open his mouth the girl took a deep breath and blurted out in one breath, "Jip Gaidin, Isabel Sedai said I was to come and get you!" The minute she finished speaking she leapt back from the door and looked inpatient to get going.
Jip nodded slowly trying to keep the confusion of his face as he slipped on his shoes and followed the Novice down the corridor.
Isabel Sedai, the girl had said, that was news to him, though to be truthful he had not spoken to many people in the last few days, it was probably a sign he should pay more attention.
He walked silently behind the novice who was very jumpy still, as they walked he realised they were heading towards the White Ajah quarters, Isabel had not seamed to know what Ajah she was going to choose before. They finally came to a door and the Novice knocked.
Life had been rather busy, as of late, and tiring; yet she enjoyed every single moment! It felt good to receive the respect from the other Aes Sedai, and best of all, she would never be called child again!
Well, other then the Amyrlin, M'Hael and the Keeper of Chronicles.
To make things better, she was directly involved in helping rebuild the White Ajah, assisting in the restructuring. The Ajah itself had taken a rather large blow from the defection of Seraphim, and was using its first new member since the loss to full effect.
In many ways, Isabel was the face of the new White Ajah, along with the returning Catieri Sedai, and Amarys Tirandael Sedai, the latter being rumoured to be from the White Tower, and seeking the First Reasonner position.
Isabel spent much of her days meeting her fellow members of the White Ajah, and taking notes about custom, rules, history and various other special details. With all of the work being accomplished, she knew something was missing.
Something she would take care of this very day.
There were not many she trusted to help in such an important task, so she had summoned a young woman she knew could be trusted; Meya Snowlace, a girl who though the world of her.
Even now, they both should be on their way.
With anxiety fluttering within her stomach, she sat on her fine Tairien sofa, wearing a beautiful white dress. The material was of a soft silk, cut in a fashion she did not recognized, yet still appreciated. The dress covered her arms down to nearly her wrists, tight before her elbows, and hanging down the rest of the length, with some lace at the end. The bust was fully covered, yet it framed her neck quite nicely, which itself was hidden by her hair, hanging long once again.
The hem of the dress hung down to slightly passed mid calf, with similar lace like the sleeves. At her waist was a while belt, keeping the dress snug against her body. On her feet were beautiful white slippers, keeping the bottom of her feet nice and snug, yet showing the skin on the upper part of her feet.
As she waited, sandalwood incense filled the warm air, heated by a blazing fireplace. Even with the warmth and scent, she still felt cold, and nervous.
She knew Jip made the promise with her, she still worried, she had not seen the man in a long time, and so very dearly missed him. Perhaps if he still wished to bond, he would move in, taking the second bedroom she had prepared for him.
If he was to accept, he would find a room filled with various books, inks and papers. He would also find new clothes, many matching her clothing. He would also find a set of white hilted throwing daggers, custom made by one of the Tower blacksmiths.
Eventually, she heard the knock, and after a very long moment she said in as calm a voice as she could muster; "Come in, please, Jip Gaidin."
As the man came in, Meya left, knowing the next part of her duties. In one hour, food was to be brought within her quarters. Foods that were in part favourites of hers, and things she knew Jip enjoyed.
Once the girl left, and closed the door, she stood facing the Gaidin, feeling nervous. She wanted to hold the man, no cry with him, yet no! She wanted to dance with him! She was scared, excited, nervous, and happy. So many feelings, yet that told her one thing.
She loved this man, not as a lover, but as someone who she knew would forever be there for her. She loved this man, and would have him as no other could ever have him. She would bond him, and cherish him as a friend, and as a brother.
She would bond this man who was her soul mate.
With sudden strength, she stood up, stepped forward, until she was halfway to the Gaidin, and said warmly, yet softly.
"My champion."
Jip was nervous, not that that was unusual with Jip, but it also was, as Isabel was one of the few people that Jip was not actually nervous around. He looked up at the Novice who had brought him here, she looked at him nervously but as Isabel called them in the Novice seamed to brighten, she curtsied at Isabel and left.
Jip stood a bit bemused for a few moments, having not known that Isabel had been raised he had not been able to prepare for meeting her, and when he wasn't prepared it made him even more nervous then he usually was. It only took a few moments however before his mind caught up however and he turned his act of standing there gaping like an idiot into a bow.
He grinned as Isabel spoke and was able to whisper, "C...c..c...con...congr...congratulation s, Is...Is...Isabel S...Sed...Sedai."
"Thank you, Gaidin," Isabel responded in kind, nervousness obvious in her voice. "I... I cannot express how much I have missed you, my friend. It has been a rather difficult series of weeks since I have last seen you."
Knowing Jip would wonder about what had happened, she told him the summary of things, leaving out the less tasteful details.
"Zander and I found two suspected Darkfriends, and suffered through an assassination attempt on our lives for it. Someone had collapsed scaffolding right on top of us, burying us in brick, and part of the Brown Ajah courtyard. Luckily for us, Kailitha saved our lives. We both ended up in the Infirmary for some time. Zander I believe left the next morning, but I was there for a few days."
There was no need that the Darkfriends caught them almost in the act of making love, or that she was under Lucan's care for a few days. Also, out of respect for Jamelia, she would also hold back the night she spent helping mend her torn heart.
Adding as an after though, she said; "There were no long term injuries, just some trauma to my head. I am better now, though. I will admit, I feel fairly tired now, perhaps because I am recovering from such a difficult time in my life. I also spent a good week straight studying for my raising, which was truly difficult I must say."
Jip would know about the difficulties of studying, due to having been raised much sooner then she did. The man was older anyways, and in some ways, more mature.
He would eventually wonder why he was requested, so before he asked, she said "As I was studying for my raising, I found a rather interesting weave." She mentioned with a grin. "I have learned how to help fulfil our... promise."
He would understand her meaning, or at least she hoped.
Isabel sounded nervous Jip noticed as he raised his eyes to look into hers, this was something he had been practising with his friends, and though he was still finding it very difficult because his mind told him it was disrespectful he knew others expected it from him and so he was trying.
He managed a nervous smile as well as he took in her appearance, apart from the very first time they met he had never seen her in anything but the child like dress of a novice or accepted or in training clothes, to Jip's eyes today she looked beautiful, in the way that an older brother would pridefully think a little sister beautiful, though he also thought she looked sad, but that was because she was all in white, in fact, he saw when his eyes took in the room, everything was white. It shouldn't of surprised him he thought absently, she was an Aes Sedai of the White Ajah, but then again this was the first time Jip had ever been inside and Aes Sedai's apartments, and it hadn't really crossed his mind to think if everything inside them was the colour of the Ajah. In fact it was a strange thing to think about now, but it gave the room a sad sober look.
His eyes fixed, or tried to fix, back on Isabel's as she started speaking again he smiled again at first, to show how glad he was to see her, he had missed her these last few weeks he had not seen her. But his nervous smile soon faded into a slight frown, for some reason he had never felt like he needed to keep all his emotions off his face when he was with Isabel, like he did not feel he had to do with his brother.
At the moment that feeling was worry, and some anger, though anger was something Jip kept buried deap inside him, terrified of what he would do if he brought it to the surface. He couldn't believe he had not known about the assassination attempt, usually things like that were the source of fierce rumours, and he had seen Kailitha not so long ago. Though he thought this had probably happened after his meeting with Kailitha on the road to the Tower, or she would have told him. He had heard Kailitha had been raised as well now actually; it seamed many had these last weeks.
It frightened him to know that the Black Ajah has recovered so soon after the Battle of Lights, they were still repairing the damage in the square and the memories were still fresh in everyone's minds, and even though Jip had known that the Black Ajah would spring up once more, that they could not have defeated it he had not expected it to be that quick. The thought made him tremble slightly, especially when he thought on how they had tried to kill Isabel. He remembered the events before the battle of lights, how could he ever forget them? He had failed then, he had failed to keep Mouse safe and although she had survived in the end, though it had been Lucan who had ultimately rescued her, and Jip for that matter, quite a few times. He remembered that time vividly and he had swore to himself that he would never fail like that again, he would never let that happen to one of his friends again. Jip would never agree with violence and he would never be happy using it, but use it he would when it was necessary, and to protect his friends, especially Isabel, was definitely necessary.
Isabel went on speaking, explaining she was tired because of her raising, that Jip understood, raising was difficult, if anything the time just before being raised was hardest as you were pushed to your limits before being tested and so for that he felt empathy with her and smiled slightly again, a reassuring smile for she had made it, and now was Aes Sedai.
That was when it finally hit him that she was Aes Sedai, and he smiled inwardly, a proud smile, proud of the woman he thought of as his younger sister, proud of what she had achieved, despite all she had been through.
As Isabel spoke her final words he felt something else, anticipation, maybe, and fear quite a lot of fear, though it was different than any fear he had felt before, it did not send him inside himself like normal fear, because usualy he feared people. It was not so in this case, he did not fear Isabel and he knew, not just hoped, that she would never hurt her. There were only two other people in the world he could be sure of that with, and they were Mouse and Garren. This fear was something new, fear of the unknown.
Before he had come to the tower his life had had no pattern, his life on the farm had been one day after another, blurred into one where he had never known when he would next eat, if he would get through the day without been beaten, when he had left the farm his life had become more predictable, he had moved from one unstable job to another, never knowing where his next meal would come from, keeping hidden, spending each night wondering if he would still be free in the morning.
Then he had came to the Tower, his life gained meaning, and became very structured. He had food, and shelter, he learnt things and each day followed a scedule of training. The training had been, well hard didn't even begin to describe it, but he had been able to keep going, because he had a purpose, because he had an aim.
An aim that was to be realised this very day, he was a Gaidin, and had been for about half a year now and yet the real purpose of a Gaidin and everything they trained for, was to protect a channeler, to protect all channelers and the Grey Tower as well, but overall to protect one.
Until this point he knew what to do, his life had followed patterns and stability since he was eighteen, half starved and chasing after stories, even the next part he knew, he knew what words to say, they had been drummed into him since he had been a drin'far'ji, but after that, after that it was uncharted territory, and though he knew he should not Jip feared it.
Despite his thoughts, despite his fear, for he knew this was right, and he knew that if there was anyone he wanted to face this unknown with it was Isabel, since meeting her, that strange rainy night in the band of brothers he had loved her, in his own way.
That love had changed over time to the brotherly love he felt for her now and he knew he would do whatever it took to keep her safe, his hatred of violence ran deep, but he had long accepted that he would need to use violence, for their was no way to protect someone without it, and he was prepared for that, prepared to defend Isabel with his own life if necessary. It was strange, but Jip was not afraid of dying, only of taking other peoples lives.
It had only been about thirty seconds since Isabel had spoken and Jip raised his eyes once more, not even sure when he had dropped them. He smiled, and not even he knew what emotion he was trying to give out with that smile, he was trembling, and he felt like his heart would burst out of his rib cage it was beating so hard as he drew his sword slowly and carefully and knelt in front of Isabel Sedai.
He held his sword in his open palms in front of him, the way he had been taught so many years ago when he had thought this moment would be a life time away, and it had been, but here he was. For once when holding his sword he did not feel sorrow, but the blade felt heavier then it ever had before, as if the solemnity of the moment was pressing down on him, it helped ground him. Keep his mind focussed as he spoke.
His voice was not a whisper, and the ingrained words did not come out a stutter, but his voice was quiet, there was only Isabel their, and she was the only one who needed to hear his words, "By my mothers name," he started, I do not know her name, but whatever it is I swear by it, that and Tiahana, she was a mother to me as well he had only known her a few weeks before she died, before he had killed her, an act he would never forgive himself for, although he had never meant it, she was the only person to treat him kindly in thirteen years of memories and in his heart she was his mother, however briefly he had known her, "I will draw as you say 'draw', and sheathe as you say 'sheathe', by my mothers name I will come as you say 'come' and go as you say 'go'," he bent his head slightly and kissed the cold metal of his sword, trembling as he did so, for it seamed alien to kiss an object he hated so much, he raised his head again still trembling, "By the light and by the hope of my rebirth and salvation, I am yours, this I swear," he stared into Isabel's eyes his soul laid bare through blue orbs.
After countless lonely nights, of tears and fear and loneliness, Isabel truly felt like she was entering a new chapter of her life. It felt similar to the night she ascended the Great Stairs, yet this was greater somehow...
It was more personal.
Even as he knelt, and spoke words that truly brought tears to her grey eyes, memories of the past flooded her mind, some of the memories being of a night in the band of brothers dancing with Jip, where she regretfully used her forbidden talent on him.
There still some nights when she would wake up in a cold sweat, fearing his friendship being only the child of her irresponsibility. Never would she use that talent on him again, or on anyone, unless it was truly necessary.
As more memories flooded her mind, she recalled her first meeting with Garren and Whisper. It had been interesting meeting those two, both being Jip's closest friends. Even if she had misunderstood one, mistrusted the other, she had still been able to appreciate their noble spirits, and friendly natures.
Yet as even more memories flooded past, bringing joy and sadness to her heart, she began weaving the initial web of spirit. For good or ill, it had begun.
Even while I was being punished for using compulsion, you worried about me the entire month I was away She reflected, remembering having heard rumours about his gloomy behaviour when she was away working the fields for a month. It had touched her heart, hearing the stories.
There were so many other memories, one being the time Karta Drin'Far'Ji was found drunk, and another was the mission with the First Selector. There even the mission to the Blight border. Each held so much danger, yet his friendship was always there, protecting her from fear, and sadness.
Even when they had sparred together, and the time they sparred against another promised couple, the friendship and loyalty Jip held for her was always there. After her father's death, Jip had been like a steady rock for her to hold onto, as her feelings were uncontrollable like a roaring river.
With each second passing, the threads of spirit became like a well-woven net. It would not be long until the weave was ready.
"You have always been there for me, Jip, ever since I returned to the Tower. You have been a friend, a confidante, a partner and my very own champion." Isabel said softly as tears ran down her cheeks.
The moment was very emotional for her, the tears running down her face in happiness, and pride. Jip, a dear friend, had just given up his own goals in life for her sake. He would protect her; watch over her, and possibly breath his last breath on her behalf.
With Jip kneeling in front of her, all she wanted to do was kneel herself, and offer a soft kiss onto his forehead. She would not though, could not stop weaving. Instead, she bent over, and cupped the Gaidin's face with soft, yet firm hands.
"Jip, Gaidin, my dearest friend, I love you as only a Sister could. Your promise means more to me then you could ever know. My dear brother, I love you for your friendship, and love you for your inner strength. I look forward to this life we will walk together, and the many mornings we shall break bread together."
The small speech was not very formal, as many would offer when bonding. Instead, her words came from the heart, the feelings offered with a tender voice, and tears shed in joy.
"Jip, my champion."
With the weave now finished, she shrouds herself and her friend within, binding their fates even more tightly then a husband could a wife. Forever more will Jip and Isabel be one, as two opposites, walking together, supporting each other with their individual strengths. From this point on, these two people will be as one, being more as bond-mates then they ever were alone.
As tears started to run down Isabel's face Jip's emotions, which he had been keeping as under control as he possibly could finally got the best of him, and his own tears fell, slowly, tears of happiness and he did not even flinch as Isabel's hands cupped his face, he just smiled through his tears.
He did nothing but watch with wide eyes as Isabel spoke, her words made the tears come faster, but they were all tears of happiness, he no longer felt scared, Isabel's words had stopped any fear he had, reassured him again that this was right.
All of a sudden heat surged through him followed by shivers that nearly made him loose his balance. He panicked for a moment before he remembered that he had been told that this was an aftermath of the bond, and he knew it was done.
Tears were still coming down his face as the strange sensation faded and an utterly knew one came. Isabel was there, like a bit of his mind had been swapped with Isabel's. His eyes shining with happiness and wonder, wonder at this strange sensation, it was all he could do not to touch his head with his hand. He could feel Isabel's happiness as well, and it made him smile again.
"Isabel," he whispered, his voice choked with tears, which was all he could manage through his amazement, so he just smiled, and cried.
As the bond settled, she could almost forget the tight fitting three oaths. Her body and mind was in such a confusing state, she had to go onto her knees, for fear of falling. The oaths usually itched, and at times made her feel like she was suffocating; yet now it was almost just a part of the whole tapestry of her life.
She could feel him somewhere deep within her mind, as a gentle, comforting, yet strong presence. She could feel his body, in a vague way. She could tell where he felt some minor stiffness from training, and a great many other minor details.
With a sudden gasp, she could feel her very own hands on Jip's face! With a shaky hand, she trailed the line of Jip's jaw, running her fingers through his hair a moment later.
There was so much to say, to tell him, yet she was in too severe a state of awe to speak. Her heart was fluttering, and her mind racing. Life would forever be changed for the better, this she knew.
With Jip a part of her, she felt whole. She felt like she found something she had looked for her entire life, and literally just found it.
With a shaky voice, Isabel simply blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"Jip, I would be very happy if you moved in. I have prepared the second room for you, and have gotten you some gifts."
With the words spoken, her tears stopped. She knew he would say yes, and even before he answered, she offered a soft, lingering kiss onto his forehead.
The kiss would be one she would always remember, for she could feel it on her very own forehead.
Like a tattoo imprinted on her soul.
By the time Isabel went to her knees Jip had fell back so he was sat on the back of his legs, instead of kneeling upright as he had been. All the newness had overpowered him. He was still fighting the urge to rub his head, nothing he had been told about the bond had prepared him for the reality, and he realised he knew why, the sensation was indescribable. Isabel was in front of him, her hands were still touching his face, and he could feel her inside his head. Again he felt the urge to rub his head.
Even under this strangeness he felt a slight moment of panic as Isabel's hands moved over his face, he subdued it though, he could feel what Isabel felt and knew she wasn't going to hurt him, for sure now. He knew, he had known for a while, but this made it certain, and that was strange in itself, to be so certain of something.
Isabel's rushed question, said with nervousness. At her request all the tears rushed back to Jip's eyes, it struck him as amazing, and it was something that had struck him many times since arriving at the tower but never quite as sharp as this how everything had utterly changed for him.
It always surprised him when he realised he had friends, who cared for him and this was something else entirely, that Isabel cared about him as much as he cared for her was unexpected, though it shouldn't be, he just still after all these years wasn't used to kindness.
As Isabel's lips pressed against his forehead Jip did not feel panic, or fear, it was like he and Isabel were the same person, that feeling had all but heightened that, like they had swapped part of their souls with one another.
"I'd love to Isabel," he whispered though his tears.
With his answer, she simply smiled, and walked over to a chair, sitting down in a dignified manner. The weave, and the emotions had taken a great deal out of her, and she truly was tired.
Yet, she knew that the strength she did have remaining was from Jip himself. Part of the bond helped both share strength, amongst other things. She knew also, in thanks to the bond, that Jip felt weary.
In a soft, affectionate voice, she said; "Jip, please sit down. You are home now."
And so am I.
She truly was home now, with her champion sharing the apartment with her. The feeling banished the oaths to the shadows of her mind, and let her heart and soul soar in joy. This was home!
In a mischievous voice, she says; "I know of a certain Brown Aes Sedai who has a cat who has recently birthed some kittens. Perhaps we could find a bit more room in OUR home?"
She couldn't help it, she had to smile in joy. In part due to home, also in part due to feeling Jip closer then she had ever felt anyone, and in part to the future they would have together.
Already, she could imagine long evenings in front of the fire, reading to her shy Gaidin, while sipping peppermint tea.
Jip was slowly becoming more in control of the feelings that had totally overcome him moments before. He was still in awe, but he supposed that would be something that would not disappear in a long while. After what seamed like a long time Isabel rose and so did Jip, sheathing his sword again, it was unusual that the last many moments he had been holding his sword and yet hadn't felt uncomfortable, in fact he had forgotten he was even holding it. Now he realised and sheathed it as he stood up, his heart was just starting to slow down to a normal pace once more.
Isabel spoke, telling Jip to sit down, and her words made Jip grin again. His home, how his life had changed so much. When Jip had been a child on the farm, or even as a thief in Ebou Dar, if someone had told him that in not so many years he would be a Gaidin and living with an Aes Sedai, or even that he would have a home at all, he would have laughed at them, or thought they were taunting him. But now here he was and it seamed crazy, and made him grin at the shear wonder of it all.
Jip moved slowly over to sit near to Isabel, she spoke again saying about some kittens, Jip smiled again and nodded, he loved cats, he loved all animals, he found them easier to be around then humans.
As he felt Isabel's joy flow across the bond Jip couldn't help it, he raised his hand to his head, as if expecting to feel the part that was Isabel there. Realising what he was doing a second later he blushed bright red. Luckily a knock on the door saved him his embarrassment.
Meya entered Isabel Sedai's room at a call hoping that she had done everything right, she very much hoped she had because she didn't want to disappoint Isabel. Since Isabel had saved her life back when Isabel had also only been a novice Meya had felt in debt to her, especially since Isabel had gotten punished for her brave dead.
She curtsied, remembering her manners now that Isabel was an Aes Sedai and smiled, "I brought the food you wanted Isabel Sedai," she kept her eyes on Isabel as she spoke, which was proper, but once she fell silent her eyes flicked over to the man she had brought an hour ago, she was naturally curious and Isabel hadn't explained anything, not that she needed to she was an Aes Sedai, and Meya's hero.
"Thank you, child." Isabel responds kindly, adding a moment later; "Just do not forget, Meya, that the learning ranks are not supposed to speak until an Aes Sedai or Asha'man have spoken first."
Elder Aes Sedai in fact considered it a great rudeness, yet such things did not effect newly raised sisters until at least the first anniversary of their raising. Isabel would let this instance slide; yet she would have no choice but to punish the girl if it happened again.
"You may go, child, with our thanks."
With that, the young woman left, with a smile on her face, and new knowledge about being an Aes Sedai.
With a knife, Isabel cut a piece of turkey pie, and served Jip, with a warm, homely smile on her face. As she served him, she said; "In our home, we are equals, and if a lady wishes to serve her dearest friend, she will."
With that said, she served Jip a glass of warm apple cider. Soon after, she served herself a slice of the pie, with a cup of peppermint tea. Luckily, Isabel knew how to gather water from the very air, and knew how to heat it to a nice boil. Also, she had her own collection of tea, not far from the table.
The room may not be very grand, but it held what was needed. A coat rack, an area for boots and slippers, and enough room to add a weapons rack for guests. There were a few chairs, here and there, and a small sofa. There was a small table, with enough room for two to comfortably eat, with nice matching wooden chairs.
In one corner, there was even a nice writing desk, with various sheets of paper, and inkpots. She would need to get some wax and seals, but that would come with time.
As she ate, she explained some things to Jip.
"As an Aes Sedai, I am offered one thousand gold on every anniversary of my raising. Luckily, the Tower does supply food and shelter for free. Usually, we are offered a daily menu to choose from, and as my warder, I believe you will be offered the right of ordering from the menu as well."
With a slight chuckle, she adds; "I have about nine hundred gold left, from my raising. I have bought some supplies for personal use."
What she did not say though was that the majority of the spent gold went to the presents for Jip.
"What of you, my Gaidin, what benefits are offered after earning the fancloak?"
Jip watched the novice grin, and blush at the same time as she left. Most Novice's would have been running terrified at even making one mistake in front of an Aes Sedai, he thought that this Novice and Isabel Sedai must be friends, or used to be friends, as it didn't seam like it was easy to have a friendship between an Aes Sedai and a Novice.
Life was a funny thing, it changed so rapidly and you found yourself in situations you once never even dreamed about. This was one of them.
"Thank you," he whispered as Isabel passed him some food, though he tilted his head curiously at the mention of the word lady. He realised he didn't know much about Isabel's past at all, apart from the little she had told him when they had first met.
He couldn't imagine that Isabel was a noble lady though; she must have been just using the word in a different way Jip didn't know. He knew some Aes Sedai were, but many were just normal people as well, and Jip only knew of noble people in stories, and they were usually quite mean, and cold, unemotional, nothing like Isabel.
As Isabel started speaking Jip stopped his thoughts and concentrated on her words. He started eating, slowly and deliberately, which probably looked quite funny. But was a force of habit. When he had arrived at the Tower he had often got into trouble, or laughed at because he had eaten every meal like it was his last. Making himself ill a few times by eating too much too quickly. Manners had been something he had had to learn, and so now when he ate it was quite self-consciously.
Isabel had started speaking, explaining that an Aes Sedai got one thousand Gold pieces on the anniversary. Warders got something near that amount, and it still shocked Jip, who before that had never seen so much money in his life. He had thought the ten gold pieces the merchant had given him when he had left to find the Tower had been a fortune. He still did actually, which made this amount of money as much as he had imagined kings to have.
Jip sipped the drink that Isabel gave him cautiously, fearing it was alcohol. He didn't like to drink alcohol, though he had before, if it was given to him he was usually too frightened to refuse it. Dron had drunk a lot, all the time and even the smell of alcohol made Jip feel slightly ill if he let himself remember.
When Isabel asked him about what benefits were given to Gaidin after receiving the fancloak, Jip nodded and spoke quietly again, "Warders get about 700 gold pieces a year, but every month," he tried to say this as matter as factly as Isabel had but his tone showed how much this was a fortune to him. He had hardly spent any of his money, apart from clothes, since the ones he had before coming to the tower, even if they hadn't been in rags wouldn't have fit him anymore. He just didn't know what to spend that much money on, apart from to keep his armour and weapons in good condition. Isabel seamed to speak of such things with ease though, and Jip was reminded sharply once more how little he knew about Isabel's life before she had arrived at the Tower.
So financially we are well off. Isabel reflects, as she eats and relaxes. Yet with all of the good fortune found recently, the oaths still catch her attention, and cause her to have some difficulty breathing.
At least this time there was no itching.
Her heart beat even more rapidly, because of the lack of oxygen, and the worry that Jip would feel it. To beat the feeling, she simply surrendered to Saidar, and relaxed from the blissful, soothing touch.
After some time, and after seeing concern in Jip's eyes, she explains to him; "When the oaths settled upon me, it was like a tight fitting garment. It usually takes about a year to get used to it, and a few months to learn to ignore the suffocating sensations."
She did not mention the itching, due to feeling kind of embarrassed by it.
Now feeling kind of somber, she decided it was time to tell Jip some details about the bond.
"Jip, my dear Jip. There may be times where you will not feel my presence. If I was to..." She tries to say, only stopping with a slight blush. After a few seconds, she continues; "If I was to, um... Physically love... Someone. You would feel it, so by shutting you out, I can spare you, the... Feelings..."
Her cheeks were clearly red, now, proving how much she had begun considering Jip as a brother of sorts. In thanks to the subject, the oaths were forgotten once again. Jip knew all about Zander, so he would understand her meaning. She would just have to be careful if seeing Lucan.
Not someone she felt comfortable seeing; yet the man was much like a drug, and she was definitely addicted.
"Also, if in our presence a Channeler breaks the rules, it will be in my hands, yet if a trainee, I will follow your lead, alright?"
It was obvious, yet it needed saying.
The feelings over the bond changed subtly but there was definitely something wrong, Isabel's face kept completely calm though, she had definitely mastered Aes Sedai calm in a lot shorter time then Jip had gotten even as far as he had towards Warder calm.
His concern showed in his eyes and he opened his mouth to ask what was wrong but before he spoke, he bit his lip in puzzlement a little at her words. Obviously he knew of the three oaths that an Aes Sedai or Asha'man took, everyone knew of them. However this was the first Jip had heard of the oaths being uncomfortable, did that mean that the power was involved. He had known that the oaths were such that Aes Sedai and Asha'men could not break, but he supposed he had always assumed they were just so sacred that they couldn't break them, not that the power was involved. Again it was a reminder of how little he knew about anything.
As Isabel continued he could feel her embarrassment through the bond, her embarrassment made Jip feel awkward, not the subject though. He had spent enough years in Ebou Dar, where people were anything but subtle about such things, and again in the Warder Yards such talk was commonplace, not that Jip spoke to many people, but he had ears. Zander had told him, a while ago now that he and Isabel loved one another, and Jip was glad for them. He thought of Isabel as almost a sister and Zander was someone he trusted and he was happy that they were together.
He grinned at Isabel's red cheeks and nodded showing that he understood, the fact that channelers could make the bond disappear was something they had been taught about, as well as ways to protect them when they couldn't sense them through the bond, and though it was something Jip worried about he understood the reasons and knew the theory of how to work round it.
He nodded again at the next words, "Yes, that makes sense," he whispered, he thought he should say more but the whole situation had awed him to silence, he was watching Isabel like he had never seen her before in his life.
"There are also other sensations you need to know about, my friend." She said in a nervous voice. "Sensations a man may not be accustomed to." With the subject being one she felt very uncomfortable with, she walked away from Jip, and looked outside, towards the courtyard; An act that she would often do in the future, when nervous.
"For about four days a month, I have extremely painful cramping, from my moon's flow. Oddly enough, it has always been when the moon has been at it's smallest."
She was hoping the joke would lessen the awkwardness, yet it seems it simply made her feel even worse. She could even feel her face burning in a bright blush.
She knew that if she left it there, the subject would remain on their minds for a long period of time. So without much of a breather, she changed the subject.
"You must also know about the politics between Aes Sedai, my Gaidin." She began, feeling happy that inspiration brought out a very relevant subject. "There is a certain ranking to follow, with the Amyrlin Seat at the highest point, followed by the Keeper of Chronicles, the Mistress of Novices, the Mistress of Education, and then by Ajah Heads, sitters, and finally regular Aes Sedai."
All was true, yet she felt she needed to elaborate on a certain part.
"When two Aes Sedai are of the same rank, the weaker in strength with the one power should defer to the stronger, yet if about of equal strength, the youngest defers to the eldest. If that does not settle it, then there is the factor of who earned the shawl the quickest. Also, within the White Tower, being a wilder always made you the lesser of equals, yet here in the Grey Tower, such a belief is not very common."
It was enough for now, there was already much Jip had learned, and needed to learn. There is always another day to enjoy his company, and explain the secret life of an Aes Sedai.
"Such things are a secret between Aes Sedai, and at times, their Warders."
She did not directly tell his to keep the secret, yet she would test him with those very words. She did not need Jip to become a master at the game of houses, Daes Daemar, yet she needed him to know enough to survive, and not cause her harm.
Perhaps before the day ended, she may go over with him the list of rudeness never to perform near an Aes Sedai.
Jip did not understand women, he never had, had never particularly known any women, on the farm there had been none and then the only thing he had learnt about women in Altara was to stay well away from them. They carried knives. So did Isabel for that matter, as he had learnt the first time they had met. She even wore a dagger round her neck, very like a marriage dagger, though obviously she was not married.
In the yards Jip knew some women, but he did not know them well enough, he did not know anyone well enough really, to have conversations about anything intimate.
So though he could feel Isabel's embarrassment through the bond he was not exactly sure what she was talking about. Something about pain, and the moon, from her tone, apart from her embarrassment it was nothing to worry about. He was confused but nodded and did his best to hide the fact he was confused as he did not want to show his ignorance.
He considered telling Isabel about his nightmares, but something, his pride as a warder, stopped him. They were things he shouldn't have and he was still sure he could stop them. Anyways he was ashamed and had not told anyone of the nightmares, not even his brother who he told everything to.
He was glad when Isabel's changed the subject, talking again about Aes Sedai and the Tower. The first bit of what she said was something that he knew already, that was taught in classes and that everyone knew. He nodded to show he understood.
The second part however about strength in the one power, and deferring by power and age and being a wilder just made Jip confused.
He had been under the assumption that by the time Aes Sedai became Aes Sedai they all were the same in the power, except they could use it better then others in different ways. Like two Gaidin one who fought with a sword and one with a pole arm, both to the same level as skill but different. But what Isabel was saying was something else.
And why would being a wilder, Jip knew that meant someone who had began channeling before being found by a tower, be looked at as less. Surely they had more experience, and had been channeling longer.
At her last words Jip got even more confused and spoke his confusion out loud, not even realising it. "But how do you know, if no one ever speaks about it how do you know about strengths, or ages," all Aes Sedai after a while looked ageless. He bit his lip and blushed slightly as he realised he had spoken out loud. Isabel was one of the people he hated looking ignorant in front of.
"It is a study, and a test that begins the moment you sign the Novice book, my Gaidin." She answered, with a warm smile at the mention of his title. "Once you are a Novice, you begin to notice who learns faster, and who produces the better results. You also see who is raised first, and whom they defer to. This process continues until a woman becomes Aes Sedai, then she simply remembers whom she surpasses, and whom they defer to. It is a difficult study, yet one needed if a woman wishes to earn the shawl."
It had been somewhat difficult for Isabel at first, yet when she was finally raised, the pieces of information all fell into their proper places.
"I believe that shall do for today, concerning lessons. I feel rather tired, and overwhelmed due to the weave, and everything... Perhaps we should retire for the evening? I can arrange for two baths to be brought in, and filled, if you would desire one. I could sure use one myself. The bathing room can fit two tubs, with enough room to dry."
After mentioning this, she chuckles softly, adding; "Though I do not know how comfortable o would be fully exposing myself to a man who is my protector, best friend, and as much a brother as I have ever had."
She was tired, and getting rather sleepy. The new responsibilities, the oaths, the bond... They all took a toll on her scarred body, and mind.
Jip tilted his head to one side as Isabel spoke, telling him about how Novice's and Accepted had to learn early how strong they were and compare themselves to everyone else from when they were young. Jip frowned slightly; it all seamed very confusing to him. He understood what Isabel was saying but it all was very complicated, but then again everything about Aes Sedai was.
Jip nodded relieved that Isabel wasn't going to give him any more information, he had a good memory but the day had took his toile on him. It had all come about quickly and he was still trembling slightly from the effect of the bond.
As Isabel continued speaking though Jip started to blush, he often found it unfair that despite having olive skin of an Altaran he still blushed deep red when he was embarrassed, which he was now.
Unknown to him he started scrunching his cuffs in embarrassment and nervousness his face going redder and redder as he looked anywhere but Isabel.
Finally after many moments of awkwardness he managed to whisper out a nervous, "I...I'm a...al...alright I...I...Isabe...Isabel S...S...Sedai," he studied his hands for a moment.
Accepting Jip's decision, she simply walks over with a warm smile on her face. As she reached him, she gave him a slow, light hug. She knew the man could be nervous, and was very proud of him that moment for accepting it, and putting some weight into it.
Once the hug was over, she gave him a soft kiss on each cheek, her own cheeks blushing slightly. As she turned away and began walking to the bathing room, she called out to him; "Jip, in our home, I am simply your friend Isabel, unless there are others here of course."
Even as she spoke this, she could feel him as nervous as a virgin on her wedding night. She couldn't help but deeply love her friend for such a thing; she could not help but love him for the soft smile he gave her.
Opening the door, she spots one of the servants and politely asks her to draw her a hot bath. The day had taken its toll, and she was very weary. She then walked to the bathing room, and closed the door the majority of the way.
It took several minutes to carefully remove her dress, socks, and shift. She grinned at the sight of the two robes hanging on the wall; one long one for her, and a smaller one for Jip.
As she waited for the servants to come and fill the tub, which should be moments now, Isabel looked at herself in the mirror, feeling surprised that even now, having reached her third decade of life, her breasts were still as firm as the day she entered the Tower.
Everything about her body had either remained the same, such as her breasts and scars, everything else had hardened due to her training. Her stomach was not only flat, it showed vague lines of muscles. Her arms and legs were toned; her hair long and recently trimmed, and everywhere else was well maintained.
Eventually, she heard a knock at the door, and Jip being the good warder that he is and checking for whom knocked. From the sight through the slight opening of the door, she could see that her water had arrived. Quickly, yet with grace, she donned her robe, and waited.
As the servants entered and filled her tub, she simply stood in front of the mirror, ignoring the women, yet watching them through the mirror. She prevented herself from grinning, thinking that these women probably saw her still as a young woman simply making sure she was beautiful.
Once they were gone, Isabel began to disrobe. The door remained slightly open, so she could still see outside the bathing room.
Carefully, Isabel's naked form slipped under the water, including her head. She had to relax, to let herself get used to the oaths, and bond, for the combination of the bonds tightness and Jip's nervousness made her slightly short of breath.
After some time, she drifted off to a partial sleep.
Jip couldn't move, his arms were stuck to his side and no matter how fast he ran he was not moving anywhere, his feet were moving slowly like he was running through water and mud. He had been in the Tower, in a corridor but the world shifted around him and he stumbled, it was the blight.
In fact it was the clearing that he and his brother and Damon, Dwillon and Caden Gaidin had fought trollocs not too long ago. And Jip was stuck, on his own and trollocs were bursting through the trees. Jip was paralysed, he could not move, fear was suffocating, he screamed.
His screaming mingled with more screams, and shouts, and cries and all at once he was in the middle of a battle. But he had no weapons, he was not even in any armour, only the clothes he had worn as a child.
The battle was changing somewhat and people were disappearing, dying, falling in pools of blood, Jip let out a sob.
Then he saw his brother and stumbled a step towards him, still running through water. His brother turned to face him and smiled sadly, before bursting into flames.
Jip screamed and span around, he kept spinning as the faces around him, his few friends burst into flames around him. He screamed again, tears flooded his face.
He woke up in the unfamiliar room with a gasp.
The night had been a strange one, yet pleasantly so. Not once had Isabel awoken from nightmares of her father's fall, or her late husbands death. Surprisingly, she had not even dreamed of her lost child!
The fact that a close friend slept not to far away had eased her to the point of being able to actually relax. She was proud of her shy warder; he had taken the change surprisingly well.
As well as Jip could take such a dramatic change in lifestyle.
As she lay in bed, relaxed and half asleep, she felt a strange sensation through the bond that brought such a horrid feeling of fear from deep within herself. Tossing the blanket aside, she rushed out of the bedroom, quickly grabbing a robe to hide her naked body.
As she left her room, she focused, and let herself sink within the warriors void. She looked throughout the living room, feeling as much as looking for any threats. Once satisfied that there was nothing, she rushed to Jip's small bedroom, and found her Gaidin sitting in bed, eyes open and his bedclothes.
Quickly, she scanned the room for threats, and once satisfied that there was no one, she walked over to her dear friend, and hugged him with one arm, holding her robe closed with the other.
From the sound of his breathing, and the wetness on his cheeks, she could tell he had woken from some horrid nightmare. Holding him tighter, she whispered in his ear; "You are safe, my champion. You are safe, and home."
She nearly felt like crying herself, feeling his fear through the bond.
I though Warders had warded dreams. You must have woven the bond wrong, Isabel!
With that though, she shed silent tears, as the sunrise shone through the living room's window, and through the door to Jip's room.
It took Jip a mere moment to work out where he was, and why he was there as the event of the day before quickly unfolded in his mind. A split second later his mind recognised the bond and the worry there. Jip sat up quickly on his way to check what was wrong, worried about the worry he felt from Isabel.
And then she was there, he flinched slightly as her arm came round him, but he relxed slightly as he realised it was Isabel, and not some unknown intruder. His relief that Isbael was safe turned to embarrassment as he heard her words and realised what had happened. Isabel must have felt his fear from his nightmare through the bond.
Jip brought his knees up to his chest as his face went crimson. He had tried so hard for a long time to hide the fact of his nightmares from everyone, he had not even told his brother about them.
He studied his feet, too ashamed to look up at Isabel. He had failed again, it seamed he could not even go a day without showing how week and frightened he really was. He was meant to be a warder, he was now bonded to an Aes Sedai, who he was meant to protect and yet he still woke up crying from dreams like a child.
"I...I...I'm s...s...sorry," he whispered, fiercely blinking away tears.
"Why are you sorry?" Isabel asked in a soft voice, still awkwardly holding her robe closed. "You are human, and are allowed emotions. Everyone has nightmares, did you not know?"
She offered him one last kiss on the head, before she walked away to pluck a stray thread off of his usual Gaidin coat, hanging on a hook. She would give him his moment to regain composure, out of respect and love for him.
She knew her actions were appreciated, for she could feel a hint of appreciation, and affection through the sadness and shame flowing through the bond. With her back turned to him, she smiled softly.
After some time, she went over and sat on his bed, not looking at his, yet feeling his body close beside hers. Perhaps nightmares explained his usual sadness?
"You have been having nightmares for a long time." She stated simply, wanting to touch on the subject, yet not wanting to stress him by directly asking.
Jip did not bring his eyes up but they did widen as Isabel mentioned that everyone had nightmares. He had known that some people had them obviously, mainly children. But the idea that Aes Sedai, because Jip was pretty sure Isabel's tone implied that she was talking from experience, had them was completely alien to Jip.
He had been shocked enough when he had learnt that despite not showing them Aes Sedai did feel emotions like fear; he was shocked again now. As Isabel moved away from him, Jip made himself calm down, he had made enough of a fool out of himself that day.
Isabel didn't seam to be angry however, or annoyed at the fact he had been frightened. As his trembling stopped a little he felt wonderment again. He brought his eyes up and watched her for a second but dropped them back to his feet as she made his way back towards him. He was amazed that she was not annoyed at him waking her up.
He carried on watching his hands as Isabel asked him a question. He bit his lip, but he knew he trusted Isabel, and that if he could tell anyone it was her and so he stared at his hands as he whispered, "I...I had them a...as a child b...but then th..they stopped when I en...entered the tower. A...After I be...became a J...Ji'alantin I s...started having th...them again. Th...t...then af...after the ba...battle of li...li...lights," he took a breath, starting to tremble again, "ev...ev...every ni...night." He bit his lip again trying to stay calm.
"The battle of lights birthed many nightmares, old friend. You must rise, and stand against them." She said in a calm voice, one barely achieved through the worry she felt for him.
"After my mother and brother disappeared, and then my uncle Morad disappeared, and eventually my father passing away, many nightmares were born, adding to the ones already held in my heart." She admitted, with softness in her voice, yet with no weakness. "You must learn to accept the memories as reality, morn your losses, and understand that there is not only yesterday, but tomorrow as well."
Lowering herself in front of him, she trusted in his honour, and let go of her robe. She took hold of his face with both hands, looked deep into his eyes, and told him; "Repeat after me, my Gaidin. Remember the pain of the past, mourn today, and live tomorrow."
Even as she felt a slight breeze upon the flesh underneath the robe, she held his eyes, having faith in his heart.
Show me your strength, my Gaidin. Speak strong, speak honestly.
It was well known for Aes Sedai to change their Warders with such words, some believe it was through love, friendship, or compulsion through the bond. Some knew that Warders could bend to the point of breaking to protect those they swore to protect.
Jip's chin came to rest on his knees; he was still studying his hands, ashamed as Isabel spoke to him. It was true, with everything that had happened during the battle of lights and before nightmares had haunted most of the tower, both in the night and in the day.
Most normal people however, seamed to be able to ignore them; at least they didn't seam to have not slept a full night since those events. Jip again, for about the hundredth time since he had awoken berated himself for weakness.
Even Isabel, who had pretty much lost her entire family during that time, as she now reminded him, had managed to cope better then he had. He felt ashamed all over again and scrunched up further into a ball.
He was still listening however, he no longer went as deeply into himself when he was upset as he had as a drin'far'ji, there had been times when he could miss entire conversations because he was so upset, however his training had made him be aware of what was going on around him at all times even when he was upset.
He nodded at her words, he agreed with them they were just very hard to put into practice, because even though he had long since accepted what had happened his subconscious mind seamed to be determined to haunt him every night.
He flinched ever so slightly when Isabel's hands touched his face forcing it up and him to look into her eyes. His eyes shined with the sadness he felt, and also the shame, he wanted to squirm away but instead sat very still.
Even his trembling had stopped and his stance was like an animal freezing in order not to be found. The nightmare was coming back to him, as were the real events of what had happened. Other memories came in as well, his childhood, his time at the tower. Him and Mouse fighting Geano in the disused drin'far'ji room changed to Jip fighting Geano and Hex and Tean in the yards, followed by memories of before that, of them teasing him, tripping him up.
Geano's face turned to Erin's and Lucan was there as well, burning Malakh, telling Jip to give up, to cut his own thread. It was like a nightmare again, but one had when he was awake.
He was still staring into Isabel's eyes but he was not seeing her. Mouse was chained to a chimney, her lips sewn together, and Jip was hitting her with a sword. Repeat after me, my Gaidin Isabel's voice broke into the image, and it shattered, but was quickly replaced by another. Isabel's father passing out angrily telling him that Isabel was dead, except he didn't pass out, he got bigger and changed into Dron, but bigger then Dron had any right to be.
Remember the pain of the past the image shattered and Jip found himself in the hut where he had spent most his childhood. Erin was screaming somewhere in the background, and it was cold. There was no fire and there was Jip trying to light wet firewood before Dron came home.
Mourn today The same hut, but the screaming had stopped. Dron and Erin at the fire, with a traveller, who was watching Erin scratch letters into the soot that had fell out of the hearth. Childish jealousy from the child Jip cutting up turnips in the corner.
The image shattered and Jip found himself still staring into the steely grey eyes of Isbael and live tomorrow.
He started trembling again though he did not move his eyes, the memories that had risen to fight him seamed to have given up, though he had done nothing. Isabel's words were still ringing in his head and he whispered them back to her, a silent promise that he would at least try to be strong.
