Fanfic:Lucian Caeren's Great Stair
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Yellow Ajah Weave
Lucian felt the coughing fit get stronger and stronger until it was nearly impossible for him to breathe let alone think about channelling, and the intense increasing heat was not making the situation any easier at all. Suddenly a thought echoed throughout his mind "Do not give in to weakness, to give in to weakness is to admit defeat, to admit defeat is a blot on the honour of all those who came before you. Who laid down their lives so that you might live" with that clarifying thought he sucked in a hasty, extremely painful, and opened himself to saidin. For some reason the raging torrent of fire and ice that poured through him made it easier to think, and so he channelled. First several powerful threads of Air were woven in the shape of a cocoon around him, cutting off the nauseating airborne toxin that was constricting his throat, fir the first time in what felt like hours Lucian was able to breathe clean air again. All that he had left to deal with was the heat, channelling again he channelled Water into the surrounding air, water that immediately drew the heat into itself and removed it completely.
Yellow Ajah Step
"Hold them, HOLD THEM I SAY" the bellow roared out of Lucian's throat as his beleaguered Brothers and Sisters battled against the Darkspawn that threatened to overrun their precarious position. There were hundreds of Trollocs outside the walls, so many that it looked like a tide of beast-men were trying to get inside the walls that protected the Grey Tower delegation, and the townspeople. There were only so many Aes Sedai and Asha'man in the delegation, and they were spread thin trying to cover as much of the walls as they could, some of the townspeople stood with them and the Warders, but it wasn't enough to turn he tide without aid. Suddenly the single worst cry that can be heard in a siege was heard by Lucian, 'They have breached the walls", looking down he saw that the Trollocs had made a medium sized breach in walls and were trying to force their way in, and the only thing holding them back was an Asha'man, an Aes Sedai and her two Warders. Leaping down the steps nearest to him Lucian tried to reach the struggling pair as quickly as he could, but before he got to them he saw the Aes Sedai fall a trolloc arrow piercing her shoulder.
"Hold them back, you will be no use to her if you are killed while trying to help her" Lucian said to the Warders as they felt the woman who held their bond fall, and with fire and lightning dancing over their heads form the other Asha'man they returned to the fray. Kneeling Lucian took stock of the Sisters injuries and said "I am sorry Sister but this is beyond my skill to heal, don't pull the arrow out or you will bleed to death" he took out his kerchief and took hers from her pouch and balled them up on either side of the arrow. "Keep pressure on it and you will be fine" his ministrations were interrupted by a snarling behind him. His sword was unsheathed like a bolt of steel lightning, and the trollocs head was just lifting from its shoulders when the world dissolved around him.
Green Ajah Weave
Lucian barely had time to think as the axe flashed past his head, relying on years of military training and a militaristic childhood he examined the situation that he was in as quickly as he possibly could. He saw the array of deadly weapons flashing towards him at incredible speed and knew what he had to do; channelling saidin he quickly wove a thick shield of tightly woven threads of Air around himself, and smirked slightly when he saw the weapons bounce back from the shield with no sign of it weakening. Channelling again he wove a thick thread of Fire and used it to slash at the weapons that were spinning towards him, cutting short their deadly flight when they all burst into flames and were reduced to ash in a matter of moments.
Green Ajah Step
Lord Desmond was a charming host, his family the perfect mix of refined aristocrat bearing and common decency, sadly a quality that was becoming rarer and rarer to find in the world during these troubling times. They had just finished their dinner, a sumptuous fare that Desmond's chef had outdone himself one, something Lucian was sure to mention to his host, and Desmond only smiled and said "At the risk of sounding frivolous, he is worth twice that which he charges me, as his family left Desmond lead Lucian into his study and poured each of them a measure of truly excellent brandy. "He could cook for any monarch that he wanted, but he decided that he likes life here in my castle, even if we share a border with the Blight, a far off border but it is still there" he was silent for a moment, and Lucian let him be, life was tough here in the Borderlands and there was nary a soul that had not lost someone dear to them through trolloc raids or the like. But Desmond shook himself out of his thoughts with an apologetic look at his guest "Forgive me my friend, sometimes my mind wanders sometimes when the nights are quiet like this..." Lucian raised a hand cutting the man off and said "Please Lord Desmond there is nothing to apologise for, we all get pensive these days" raising his glass he said "to absent friends and comrades, may they never be forgotten." The two men drank the toast and sat in companionable silence for a moment until a shrill bell cut through their thoughts, the warning bell, the bell that meant only one thing, a trolloc raid.
Hurling themselves from their chairs the two men ran to the nearest window to see what the commotion was about, and to try to get an accurate reading of the enemy force, what they saw chilled them. Men were running around strapping on armour and weapons, whilst a large company of Darkspawn was making its way towards the castle at an alarming rate, Desmond made the sensible suggestion that they should do the same and meet on the battlements to discuss their next move. Arriving on the battlements a few minutes late Lucian felt calmer, he could sense saidin just beyond his sight ready for when he would need it, and the comfortable weight of the sword at his hip was a blessing from the Light, that blade had not let him down yet. Desmond opened his mouth to address the unit commanders standing before him when a runner ran up, out of breath and looking nervous, which on a boderlander meant that all those not from the Blight Border should be shaking in fear. "Blood and Ashes" exclaimed Lord Desmond "my friends it appears that our scouts have discovered that the company that marches to our gates is lead my several half men, at least two maybe more, this changes things." As the lord paced quickly his thoughts obviously running quickly in his head he turned to Lucian and said "Asha'man, I hate to impose but any assistance and advice you could provide on this matter would be most appreciated, I know that this is not your fight but..." For the second time in as many hours Lucian cut of Lord Desmond's words with a raised hand and said "My friend after the hospitality you have shown me the least I can do is help you with your pest problem" this drew a few chuckles from the tough Borderlanders but he continued "I would be glad to help, but for the moment the only advice that I can offer is common sense, we should do our utmost to keep their force together, it makes them much easier to hit with the siege weapons you have on the ramparts. I know your instinct is to divide them but that would just scatter them to the countryside until the Myrdraall can re-establish control over them" the men nodded understanding his words without him needing to explain himself "if we can kill enough of them in the opening hours they should return to whatever hole they crawled out from, but if they are here for a specific purpose...well you'll earn your pay tonight lads."
His last statement got the men laughing, a good sign considering the danger that they were about to go into, they began moving off, not running but at a controlled measured pace of men who knew what they were doing, the sight filled Lucian with the confidence that most of them may return from this skirmish, as he took his place and began to weave the weaves that would make the trollocs think that the sky was raining fire balls down on their heads, as indeed it would be, and send them scurrying back to their dark master the world once again dissolves around him.
Blue Ajah Weave
Lucian looked at the statue in front of him in puzzlement; the answer was obviously not a simple as it would initially appear. He had tried to channel the blocks from one side of the scales to the other using a mix of Air and Spirit, but that had not even gotten a shudder from one of the blocks, no matter how strong the weave was. Sitting back and thinking he came to the only conclusion that he could, that he would need to balance the scales using the power but not using the blacks from the other side. So channelling again he wove Air and Earth together and pressed down on the empty scale, nothing happened, he threw all of his strength into it and slowly but surely the scales began to even out, until they snapped into place, and the test was over.
Blue Ajah Step
Lucian sat alone at the bar, he was just passing through, not trying to call any attention to himself, and he had been out of the Tower for several months now, and all he wanted to do was to get back there and enjoy some normalcy for a change. He wasn't sure why his Ajah head had sent him out incognito to Tear to have a meeting with some of the High Lords regarding troop movements, nor at this point did he care, all he cared about was that he was not allowed to use the Power to get there and not allowed to use the Power to get back, no one must know that an Asha'man was in Tear.
He sipped the wine in the goblet before him, a surprisingly good vintage made locally; its rich fruit flavour soothed his ire like a warm bath would do to most other men. Unfortunately his peace was interrupted by a commotion coming from behind the bar, turning he saw the barkeep dragging one of the serving girls away by the arm, and she was struggling. Now Lucian noted two things about this situation, none of the patrons seemed to mind, indicating that this was a common occurrence, and the second was that he didn't like what was going on, that had not been the grip of someone pulling an employee aside to have words on their conduct, no there was violence about to be committed tonight, and Lucian Caeren would be damned if he let it happen.
Raising from his chair the tall man made his way through the crowd, felling their eyes on him up until the point where he walked through the door the innkeeper had been through moments before. The sight he saw on the other side shocked him, and set his temper flaring like a forest fire in the middle of autumn, it burned hard, fast, and deadly. The beefy innkeeper had his fist raised and the girl was lying on the ground, one eye swollen shut, her lip bleeding and her bodice ripped. The man turned to Lucian and said "You this is none of you business, get out of here before I bet you black and blue...." he never got a chance to finish his threats as Lucian's fist had knocked out most of his teeth in one titanic blow. Unfortunately the Three Oaths prevented him from teaching this monster the lesson he so richly deserves with the One Power, but it said nothing about fists.
Gripping the now blubbering man with his left hand he hoisted him up and slammed him against the wall, his sword had been drawn in one swift movement after the first punch had been thrown, and now the woman beater stared down several feet of glimmering Andoran steel, and wept, and felt his heart clench with fear at the deadly icy voice that emanated from the imposing figure before him.
"Listen to me you worthless bastard, for I shall say this only once. If I ever hear of you striking a woman again I shall return here and serve up your own gizzard for the supper you serve in this inn, or maybe i should do it now?" he pressed the tip of the sword against the man's throat, not hard but enough to draw a faint trickle of blood, the frantic shaking of his adversaries face got him to pull the blade back.
Sheathing his sword he let the innkeeper slump to the floor before he helped the serving girl up and got her to the stairs and into the arms of one of her friends before closing the door and returning to the man on the floor. "In case you think I am bluffing I am going to tell you something" he leaned in closer, almost so his lips were touching the other mans ear before he said "the eyes of the Grey Tower see all, you should remember that" and with that statement the man fainted, realising who he had managed to anger, and Lucian felt the world disappear once again.
Indigo Ajah Weave
The light that flashed from the torches was strange and unnerving to Lucian, the unnatural brightness and the strangeness of it making him feel very strange. Suddenly as the flashes themselves became more frequent Lucian was filled with fear, he knew deep inside that if he did not do something to stop the flashes then something terrible would happen. He calmed his mind as best he could and took control of saidin, the power stilled his fear slightly, not all the way, but enough so that he could do what needed to be done. He channelled Water, threads thick and strong into all the flames, expecting them to disappear, but they didn't. Racking his brain he tried to think of something else that would work, when he remembered the bright flash at the beginning, the number he had seen, knowing what he must do he channelled again Fire this time, fire to pull the flames themselves out of the torches and way from himself. It was then he found himself in darkness and knew that he had succeeded.
Indigo Ajah Step
Lucian was sitting quietly enjoying his meal, one of the things that he had been able to take great pleasure from for most of his life was the fact that he enjoyed good country cooking, getting him to make anything beyond cooked meat was a stretch but wherever he went he enjoyed sampling the local food at whatever inn he was staying at. He was travelling with a group of Aes Sedai and Asha'man from the Tower, they were searching for anyone who may have the ability to channel, whether they had the spark or would channel eventually it didn't matter, they were just trying to get to them before the White or Black Tower's did.
He raised his head from the delicious stew he was eating as he heard his name being said, glancing to the entrance of the inn he noticed that there was a man carrying a long wrapped bundle talking to the innkeeper, the same man that had said Lucian's name, and pointed over to his table. The man came over and introduced himself as a farmer whose farm was over on the western pastures, a farm that had not been doing very well in the recent months after he had found something, although his exact words "It all started some months ago, I was ploughing one of my fields getting ready for the planting when I unearthed something, this" with that he unwrapped his bundle and set a two foot tall statue of a beautiful woman garbed in a flimsy silk dress holding a water bowl at her right side, her long hair was swept over her right shoulder and almost reached the bowl, she was looking down, almost as though she was in the process of taking a step. Although the workmanship was exquisite, and the statue appeared to be carved from plain white marble there was something about it that bothered Lucian, something about it screamed that it was for use with the One Power. "I know not what you have found hear Goodman, but I do think that it is entirely to blame for your bad fortune, something like this would require someone to use it" at his raised eyebrow the farmer paled and said "No, light no Asha'man we have no practisers of the power in my house, none at all" the man's fear was so apparent that Lucian felt that he was telling the truth.
"Very well, thank you for bringing this object to my attention, may the Light bless you and keep you, you may go" the famer nodded his head and departed much swifter than he had arrived, obviously taking the Asha'man' interest in the statue to mean that it had something to do with the One Power. Leaving the statue on the table where it was Lucian returned to his meal, or at least tried to, but eventually curiosity got the better of him and he pushed his plate away and pulled the statue closer. When it was standing before him he looked into the carved sightless eyes, eyes that suddenly glowed blue and the world disappeared around him again.
Brown Ajah Weave
Coughing harshly Lucian grimaced and tried to banish the uncomfortable burning sensation from his throat where the dust had choked him. He handled the book with extreme care, lifting the pages from the centre so that the weight was not being pulled from the edge of the page which would only cause more damage to the obviously fragile document. Lucian absorbed the book, the words washing over him telling him things of distant times, great armies and cities, struggles and conflicts that were long gone from living memory, until something stood out, something that shouldn't have been as obvious as it seemed, it was a number. The number of tombs in a burial site not far from where this book had been discovered, the number was sixty seven, and when his eyes lingered on it, it flashed for an instance. Quickly grasping saidin he wove the weave represented by the number, a thin thread of Earth, Water and Spirit, which he touched to the number, then vanished.
Brown Ajah Step
Entering the basement Lucian followed Sister Rosama, Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah, and his friend for many years. Lucian enjoyed reading about history but was not by nature a studious man, unless it came to tactics and warfare, then that was different, so a book on an obscure Talent was not exactly his forte. But when his old fired came to him to ask for his help, he found that he could not refuse, besides spending time with the bubbly Brown was always entertaining, she knew so many wondrous stories, he would just enjoy hearing her tell them, and try to look busy.
They must have searched the whole place, several hours had gone by since they had entered the basement, looking only by candlelight and Lucian could tell that Rosama was getting downhearted at the thought that they would not find her precious book. Eventually Lucian made two discoveries, one strange, the other slightly more useful. He found an ancient looking chest, bound with blackened strips of iron that looked older than the Tower itself, a chest that they must have walked past several times in their attempt to find Rosama's book. His other discovery was that along the walls in specific interludes there were torches, he pointed it out to Rosama who blushed before saying "I am terribly sorry Lucian in my haste to find this book I forgot about the torches, silly of me I know, but when you consider the value of what might be contained within this books pages it could lead us to a whole new way of thinking about talents. I mean..."
At this point Lucian tuned her out and lit the torch nearest to him with a thin weave of Fire before using Air and Earth to prize open the lock of the chest to reveal....the book they were searching for. With a small smile he presented the book to the obviously overjoyed Brown, who kissed him on the cheek and half skipped, half ran back to the entrance, so keen she was on starting her research. Lucian couldn't help but laugh to himself, his laughter booming of the enclosed walls of the basement, he was laughing so hard he didn't notice the world go dim around him and fade from view.
Grey Ajah Weave
Reading the treaty Lucian almost groaned, even when he had been a Soldier diplomacy seemed far beyond his attention, but here he was looking through a treaty that seemed to be as long as a horse is tall trying to find one number that would show him the weave he was supposed to be doing. Finally though a number flashes before Lucian's eyes, it was almost at the bottom of the treaty, in the concessions section, detailing where one nation would send so many wagon trains of grain to one, where as the other would send so many soldiers to assist in the defence of the other. There were fifty seven wagon trains listed, the same number that had flashed moments before, calming himself Lucian channelled the weave, focusing Fire and Air together in a circular pattern then lacing it with Spirit before letting it touch the number on the page, as soon as weave and parchment touched he vanished.
Grey Ajah Step
The two General's glared at each other from across the negotiation table, it was well into the night and a decision had to be made, and at that moment tempers were as hot as the flames that burned in the nearby fireplace. "I still say that they committed their crimes here in Andor, let them face Andoran justice" said General Trokrahn from Andor, his counterpart from Cairhien stood up and said "They are citizens of Cairhien, they should be tried under our laws and punished according to our own good justice."
With that statement however the group descended into a barrack room argument with officers on both sides swearing and shaking fists at each other, it was then that Lucian lost his temper, he had been roused early that morning from his bed, a bed he sorely needed after the months of travel he had endured to get to this place, and then he was called in to settle a burglary dispute involving soldiers from a visiting delegation from the city of Cairhien.
Standing up abruptly he channelled, not in anger against the officers at the table, but he wove Fire and Air together to make lightning, but spread it out wide so a loud thunder clap and an accompanying flash of sheet lightning flashed throughout the room, stilling tongues and making all look to the obviously irate Asha'man sitting at the foot of the table.
He knew he should not have lost his temper but they were acting more like children instead of the commanders of armies and this matter needed to be sorted out, "Gentlemen if we could discuss this politely as men, not rabid dogs looking for an opportunity to go for each other's throats I would be most appreciative." His cool tone and disapproving glare worked the same on these men as it did on foolish Novices and Soldiers at the Tower "Now if I may make a suggestion?"
The question was phrased in such a way that it was clear that it would be very unwise to deny Lucian this request and General Trokrahn said "Of course Asha'man any assistance you can provide on this matter would be greatly appreciated."
Lucian nodded his head and outlined his idea "The offense was committed against the people of Andor so I believe that the trial should be here" he held up a hand to forestall any argument from the Cairhien and continued "Seeing as it was solders that committed this crime they should be tried under military law, but seeing as this was not the act of an invading army they should be tried also by their own people. So I suggest this, you two Generals act in cooperation, which this delegation was supposed to foster, and acts as judges on this case, they shall be tried by a group of their peers from the military section of this delegation and by a group of Andoran soldiers selected by lottery, is that satisfactory to all parties?"
Torkrahn nodded his head and stood up and went to the Cairhien and said "It is acceptable to me if it is to you General" and he held out his hand to the surprised other officer who shook it and nodded, and as their palms touched Lucian's world vanished to darkness again.
White Ajah Weave
Lucian looked at the strange patter in front of him, the white spaces were spread out at strange places, with only a few grouping together, stepping on them he noticed that the pattern changed again, he knew deep in his bones that he was going to be here for a while. Stepping on each space carefully Lucian made his way across the open space coming closer and closer to where the number etched stone was. He got so close that he thought that he must be able to see the number by now, but is always seemed just out of sight, finding no way to reach it, and having no luck in seeing what was on the stone he came to a decision. He channelled Air and Fire, weaving them together as tightly as he possibly could, then flattened them out to make a long platform, a bridge. Gingerly he stepped out onto it, finding it solid beneath his feet he made his way as fast as he could over to the other side, not looking down into the inky blackness that stretched for eternity beneath him.
Reaching the final platform he saw the number and performed the appropriate weave, not wanting to be in this dark place any more than he had to.
White Ajah Step
Lucian looked at the young Accepted and was torn between two extremes, bursting out laughing at the girl's logic, or giving her a severe punishment for not doing the work that she had been assigned to complete. "Very well Elise, you say that you don't need to do your assignments because I already know that you know the answers." The girl nodded her head defiantly, not willing to back down an inch.
"Well lest discuss this logically since you are so sure of yourself. I indeed know that you are familiar with the work that we have been working on these past few weeks, but no one else does." At her confused look a slightly intimidating smile crossed his features "I know you know what you are talking about, and obviously you do too. But say I would like to get another teachers impression on your knowledge, the most logical way for me to do that is to take along a piece of your written work for them to examine, but with you not completing the assigned work my colleague may just assume that I am playing favourites and am not doing my duty to teach you properly, and without the recommendations of your teachers you will not be raised to the shawl."
The last part of Lucian's sentence sent the blood draining from Elise's pale face, her hands trembled as she realised the blunder that she had just made. "As it stands Elise I am recommending that you spend the next three weeks contemplating that as you clean pots in the Tower kitchens, am I understood?" Elise just nodded and said "Yes Asha'man, I am sorry Asha'man."
Lucian nodded his expression returning to normal "Report to the Mistress of Novices after this class to receive your punishment. Now to get back to our original topic, the uses of Earth Weaves in Combat are useful because...." Lucian's voice trailed into nothing as the world around him shifted to nothingness.
The Three Oaths
You kneel in front of the M'Hael. Although his face does not move, you get the impression that he is smiling gently. You notice upon the cushion the Keeper carries rests the Oath Rod. The M'Hael reaches out and picks the Oath Rod up from the cushion. The smooth ivory white cylinder appears to be only a foot long and as think as the Amyrlin's wrist. You remember from your training that the Oath Rod is a ter'angreal that will bind you to the Oaths, and thus to the Tower and the Flame and the Fang.
You promptly raise your hands in front of you, palms upward. And Daimenin places the Rod there. The glow of saidan surrounds him, and he touches the Oath Rod with a thin flow of Spirit. You close your hands around the Rod, it feels like glass, except somehow smoother.
"Repeat after me. Under the Light, by my hope of salvation and rebirth I swear to speak no word that is untrue."
Lucian took a deep breath and said "Under the Light, by my hope of salvation and rebirth I swear to speak no word that is untrue."
After the Oath is finished you feel it settle on you like a second skin. You can still think a lie but your tongue will not work to produce it.
"Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I vow to make no weapon with which one man may kill another."
Taking another deep breath to calm himself Lucian repeated "Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I vow to make no weapon with which one man may kill another."
The Oath settles and your skin feels tighter, as though you have been sewn into an invisible garment much too tight, that is molded from the crown of your head to the souls of your feet.
"Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I vow never to use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn, in the last defence of my own life, that of my Warder, or that of another Brother or Sister of the Grey Tower."
Finally Lucian repeated the final oath by saying "Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I vow never to use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn, in the last defence of my own life, that of my Warder, or that of another Brother or Sister of the Grey Tower."
The garment shrinks to still greater snugness. You try to breath through your nose, clamping your jaws so it doesn't come out as a gasp. Invisible and utterly flexible, but oh so tight! You realize the feeling will fade, but not completely for a whole year. It will be another four years until you have the ageless face.
