Fanfic:Runaway Novice (Group Fanfic)
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Runaway Novice
Luna Chislen had only been at the Tower two days, and she was already running away. She hadn't wanted to be a novice to begin with- she wanted to be a warder- but the two Aes Sedai who had found her in Hama Valon had insisted.
The novices she had met had convinced to at least give the Tower a try before she fled back to Kandor. Well, she had given it a try and had had enough. From the awful dresses to the constant chores to the curtsying (which she couldn't do, and kept being punished for), she had had enough and was leaving.
Changing into the tunic and loose trousers she had favored in Kandor, and packing the few belongings she had brought with her to the Tower, she slipped out of the novice quarters and then out of a door in the Tower. She was frankly surprised no one noticed her sneaking about, but she wasn't caught.
Stepping out of the Tower, she hurried into the bustle of Hama Valon. It was going to be a long trip back to Kandor, but that was preferable to staying here.
Aes Sedai? Not for me. Light, I don't even know why they'd want me to be Aes Sedai. I'm nothing like any of the Aes Sedai I've met so far.
Spotted
Firen pushed her dark, curly hair impatiently out of her eyes and scanned the Tower entrance for the twentieth time. The usual crowd of supplicants, Tower staff and the odd Dedicated or Accepted were milling about between the marble columns, blocking her view and creating a constant echo of boots on tiled floor. The courtyard was where every one from farmers to lords rubbed shoulders waiting to ask the Tower's help in a myriad of concerns, but today Firen had been tasked with searching for one of their own, and she dared not go back to the Mistress of Novices without her.
Suddenly Firen caught a glimpse of a small figure surruptitiously making his or her way in the opposite direction, towards Hama Valon. Firen squeezed past a pair of noblewomen and scurried towards the entrance. At thirteen years old she was the Tower's youngest novice and was used to being shorter than almost everyone but she could barely keep the woman in sight, she was sure it was a woman now and nearly sure it was the woman she was looking for.
"Wait," Firen called out, breaking into a run as soon as she was free of the crowd.
"Wait. Luna?"
It had to be the novice she was looking for.
You Don't See Me
Luna was doing her best to blend into the crowd, not an easy matter when you were a tall Kandori. Given her manner of dress, she was obviously not from Andor, and so blending in wasn't exactly a simple matter.
She had just squeezed through a crowd near the Tower entrance when she heard a voice behind her call out, "Wait, Luna." Light.., she groaned. So someone had spotted her. Well, she was fairly certain it wasn't the Mistress of Novices or any other Tower authority, as she suspected they would have merely snatched her up and hauled her back to the tower.
Glancing over her shoulder, but not stopping, she realized it was the novice who was known as the youngest in the novice's quarters, at only thirteen. Luna had been surprised to find out there were novices that young. She had thought the channeling ability began to show itself at an older age. Did they send her looking for me? Or is she also running away?.
"Go back, novice," she called back. She didn't see the harm in acknowledging the novice. Even if she had been sent for her, she didn't see how another novice was going to bring her back to the tower.
"I am leaving- I've no more business with the Tower." She didn't even truly believe she could channel.
An accident or fate?
Bladak was still turning in circles trying to figure out where he was supposed to go. Someone started yelling at someone not too far away. He turned again right as someone smashed into him, but bounced off and onto the ground, the impact making him stumble back a little.
Looking down, he saw a woman on the ground. He brushed off the hide clothing where she had ran into him and then reached out a copper-skinned arm to help her up.
"Um...sorry about that. I guess I shouldn't be standing here like that. I'm a little lost. Are you ok ma'am?"
Well, this is... interesting
Luna wasn't the most graceful of people, but neither was she the most clumsy. However, the press of people in the street was such that she found herself jostled into people right and left.
Light, what's with this crowd today? I know it's Hama Valon, but still . However, truly ,she didn't know much about big cities. She had grown up on a farm in south Kandor, and except for the occasional trip to Chachin, had spent most of her time on it. Truthfully, she wasn't much of a fan of cities.
"I'm sorry," she said to someone as she jostled them a bit. "I'm sor- Argh!" She cursed as she smashed into someone, the impact sending her flying back onto the ground.
Ignoring the arm offered to help her up, she pushed herself to her feet and stared at the man who had smashed into her (or had she ran into him?). "No, I'm not hurt." she said, "And no, you shouldn't be standing there like that. Not with this crowd today." She wasn't angry, merely exasperated.
Brushing off her clothing, she glanced over her shoulder, hoping she had lost that novice. "What are you looking for?"
"I..." Bladak stumbled on his words, "I'm sorry. It's my first day here. I'm to be trained as a Drin'...Drin'...something? Perhaps you can show me the way or point me in the right direction? I ran ahead of the woman who brought me here because I was excited to see this place."
Irony
Well, this is ironic, Luna thought, still keeping an eye out for that novice. I'm running away, and he's so excited he's running to the Tower. She was also jealous. He was doing what she wanted to do- join the yards. Life really wasn't fair some times.
"The Tower is that way," she pointed back in the direction she had came. "You can't miss it- you'll see the gates, as well as the guards. It is, I'm told, the largest, tallest structure in Hama Valon."
Luna turned and started to leave, hoping he wouldn't call her back. She knew she was being rude, but it was a long journey back to Kandor, and she needed to be on her way.
Caught
FIren felt a sense of relief when the woman turned around, but it was short lived.
"Novice," barked a plump Andoran Accepted, who was scowling suspiciously at her. "What are you doing? Novices aren't allowed here unless they are on an errand."
Firen curtsied low to hide her grimace and hurridly explained she was on an errand for the Mistress of Novices, who would not be pleased she had been detained. It cost her precious minutes to convince the Accepted, and when she was set free she fully expected to have lost her quarry, but luck seemed to be with her today. The young woman had been stopped by a boy she didn't recognise. Firen sprinted over before she could disappear.
"Luna! You can't leave, Leanne Sedai has already reported you to the Mistress of Novices. If you come straight back she said she might not class you as a run away."
Firen ran out of breath and gestured urgently towards the Tower. She was practically bouncing on her toes to be gone. Running away was almost the worst crime a novice could commit, just talking about it was making the Domani nervous.
"What are you waiting for? Bring your friend if you want, but the longer we take the more likely she is to change her mind."
Firen glanced at the young man next to her, hoping he would help.
"I'm Firen, a novice. Your friend is about to be in a whole lot of trouble if we don't hurry, are you heading for the Tower? Are you going to be a Soldier?"
Unsure situation
It looked as though this new girl was friends with the young woman he'd just met and he'd let them be.
Slightly overhearing the quick conversation, he stopped. "Friend?" Bladak stood there confused for the moment. "Actually, I just met the lady, ma'am. We do not know each other. My name is Bladak and I'm not sure about this..."Soldier" but yes, it is my first day. I'm here to seek training. She was only pointing me in the right direction."
Looking to Luna, he continued, "If you're leaving, the choice really is up to you. But have you given it a chance to see how it works? Sure, it will be hard; it always is when you start something new. But persistence and dedication will take you far."
Belated introductions
Firen shook her head impatiently, the choice was most definitely not up to Luna, once the Tower had you it didn't let go until it was sure you weren't a danger to yourself or others. Since it wouldn't help to mention this in front of a potential new recruit Firen used the momentary pause to introduce herself to Bladak, hoping Luna would consider his words.
"I'm Firen, one of the novices, and we can certainly help you find wherever you need to be. Actually I haven't met Luna before either, but I was supposed to yesterday. New noices get paired with someone who has been here for a while to help them find their way around. I should have been helping Luna with chores yesterday but, um, I forgot," admitted Firen, casting an apologetic glance at the other novice.
"I had a channeling class that went a bit wrong and I had to take Yule to the Infirmary and then I had to help clean the scorch marks off of the desk, and then - well, anyway, I'm rambling again."
"How did you find out you could channel?" she asked Bladak casually.
Stubborn
Luna groaned as the novice managed to find he again. Light, she's persistent, isn't she?. Even she had to admit she felt a slight chill, though, at the idea of being named a runaway by the Tower. Still, though, she was returning to Kandor and that was that.
To her surprise, the novice and the man she had just met struck up a conversation. It turned out their names were Firen and Bladak, and also that Firen was meant to help her with chores. Light.. she thought , listening to them talk I need to be on my way. .
She shook her head at both of them and their questions. "Hard work isn't the reason I'm leaving Bladak. I'm a farmgirl-I'm no stranger to hard work. But I know this isn't where I want to be."
She turned to Firen. "Novice, whether or not you had helped me with chores wouldn't have changed my mind." She gentled her voice somewhat. It wasn't Firen's fault, after all, that she had found herself at the Tower. "I'm told I don't have the spark inborn, I can only learn, so I doubt I'll be setting anything on fire. There's no reason for me to stay at the Tower. You should go back to the Tower before you also get into trouble."
She hefted her small bag. "now, if you'll both excuse me, I must be on my way." Again .
Wanting to leave a lasting impression
"I understand and respect your decision. Luna, was it? Please, take this with you." Bladak scrambled into a pouch at his side and pulled out some dried meat in a smaller sack and handed her the little bag. "It's not much, but it's some rations I brought with me for my trip here. Please, I insist you take it. I won't take no for an answer." With that, he quickly put the small bag into her hand, smiling and turned to Firen, put my arms on her shoulders and turned her away from Luna so she could leave in peace. "Fare thee well Luna. It was a pleasure to have met you," Bladak mumbled as he walked toward the Tower with the Firen.
Last try
Firen ducked under Bladak's arm and tried to make one last appeal to the novice before she was propelled backwards.
"Luna, you've only been here two days. It gets better, it really does. Once you start to channel you'll never want to be anything apart from Aes Sedai. You'll get to know the other novices, and understand what being part of the Grey Tower is about. It's really important!"
Firen gestured back to the bustling entrance of the Tower and opened her arms wide, trying to encompass the enormity of the Tower.
"We help so many people, through healing and diplomacy as well as channeling, we work against the Dark One in a dozen different ways and we stand ready for the Last Battle, and - "
Firen ran out of breath and tried to think of something else that sounded exciting while she fixed big, earnest eyes on Luna.
"Please stay," she finished simply.
A Good Try, But...
"I can do those things without being Aes Sedai, Firen," Luna called back over her shoulder. Or as a Warder. Well, not the channeling bit, but the rest of the things Firen mentioned could be done without being Aes Sedai. And the thought of scrubbing pots and floors and curtsying to every Aes Sedai she met until they decided she was ready for the shawl- which might take years- wasn't a pleasant one. It wasn't the adventure and excitement she had left Kandor for.
Luna felt a twinge of guilt at the earnest look the young novice gave her. She seemed like a nice person, truly, but Luna wasn't going to stay for her. She knew if she were caught by someone in charge, she would truly be in trouble, but as she didn't intend to be caught, that didn't concern her too much.
"I am sorry, Firen. It's good of you to try to convince me to stay, but I'm leaving." She waved slightly at both of them. "Farewell, you two."
Another path
Firen stared at the novice in despair, before turning away with Bladak. The girl would certainly be caught and punished, and Firen would have to report back to the Mistress of Novices that she had failed. Firen felt sympathy for Luna, she herself had been thrilled to learn she could channel, but perhaps an exciting life was not for everyone.
Firen shrugged her shoulders in resignation and made for the Tower.
Part Two: Leaving Hama Valon
Luna gazed after Firen and Bladak as they left. She felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl- she, after all, had only been trying to keep Luna out of trouble. Still, she turned and hefted her bag again before hurrying back into the crowded Hama Valon street.
I'll be glad when I'm out of the city she thought, pushing her way through the crowd. She didn't mind cities, but they were hardly her favorite place to be. She much prepared the open spaces of the countryside.
Threading her way through the crowds (jostling some people by accident and being pushed and jostled a bit herself), she made for the outskirts of the city. She kept a close eye out for anyone who looked like they might be from the Tower, and had to dunk several times when she spotted an Aes Sedai. From what Firen had said, it seemed like the Tower knew she was missing.
Finally, she reached the edge of Hama Valon. Cursing under her breath, she stopped for a moment to rub her left foot. Someone had trod on it hard, and it was quite sore. Bloody crowds she thought, replacing her boot and hurrying on her way.
The press of people had thinned now that she was out of the main part of the city, and she soon found herself out of Hama Valon. Finally, she thought happily. Now I can be on my way . Her plan was to stop in one of the villages near Hama Valon and purchase a horse and supplies for the long trip back to Kandor.
Is it really?
Carra felt sorry for the girl. She had overheard a few Aes Sedai who mentioned of this new girl with potential that didn't seem to want to stay. Normally Carra didn't care enough to bother investigating such things but this one struck a chord with her. She wasn't sure why but with all this talk of foretelling, and now some other new talents that might have surfaced Carra knew she would never have learned these things had she left when she first wanted to. Granted, if she had a choice she would not have come at all. Clearly the girl had no idea how good she had it here if she was itching to leave.
She had found the Novice, now dressed in regular clothes, but it wasn't that she was difficult to follow. Sure, Hama Valon was quite new to Carra and she had only just started to take trips out of the Grey Tower to see what the city was like. But following the tall, and rather clumsey Kandori was unsurprisingly easy. That no one caught on to Carra being there, however was interesting.
Then again, Carra took the time to dress in the clothes she wore to the Yard instead of her Accepted Dress. There was a lot less bowing this way and she truly disliked standing out the way Aes Sedai usually stand out.
Jumping around corners and over walls, Carra used a little air to nick an apple from a nearby vendor and doubled around a corner and caught the tall novice as she cornered out of Hama Valon's walls. Carra sat there, in a tree, as if waiting for the novice, munching on an apple that was nearing its core.
"They will hunt you down, you know. And if not the Grey Tower, it will be the White Tower and they are not nearly so nice to runaways."
Your Disguise Doesn't Fool Me
Luna had left Hama Valon and was heading for Elman's Creek when she heard a voice from the trees above her.
"They will hunt you down, you know.And if not the Grey Tower, it will be the White Tower and they are not nearly so nice to runaways."
"Bloody flaming-" she cursed, leaping slightly in shock. Glancing up, she noticed a young woman perched in a tree above her, eating an apple. How did I not notice her? she thought, annoyed with herself. Light, Luna, you need to pay better attention to your surroundings . Something she should know well, being from the Borderlands.
Luna quickly recovered herself, however, and raised an eyebrow at the woman. "I know they will look for me, whoever you are, but I do not intend to be caught." She paused, thinking. Luna was quite certain this woman was from the Tower. Why else would she care if she ran away? Besides, she was fairly certain she had seen her about the Tower grounds. Just what I need right now . "I do not see why they would care about me leaving," she continued. "I was told I don't have the spark inborn, so I will never channel without being taught. If that is true, why should I stay?"
"Anyways, I don't want to be Aes Sedai." She turned to continue down the road, hoping the woman wouldn't follow her.
Allow me to give you pause
"Well,.." Carra took one last bit before giving the apple a toss into the woods and jumped down with easy. The grassy floor of the ground below was much kinder then the paved roads in Caemlyn or Tar Valon. "For one, you still have the ability to Channel. Here, they are more lenient at least with what you want to learn. But at the White Tower, it doesn't matter if it is inborn or not. If you could be Aes Sedai they will force you to be Aes Sedai. Force you to learn and force you to be what you don't want to be. You won't have a choice."
Carra was at least half the girls height but it still felt like she was looking down on the Novice. "All because the Final Battle is coming. Tarmon Gaidon. And if you are capable they will force you. At least, that is what you will learn to expect if you leave here." She gave the girl a sort of malicious smile. Somehow she wanted to scare her, that she needed scaring. "Do you want to be hunted for the rest of your life?"
You Don't Scare Me
Luna would be lying if she said the thought of being hunted the rest of her life didn't giver her a slight pause. In truth, she hadn't considered that. And she had heard about some of the punishments the White Tower meted out.
She shook her head at the woman, however. "Why would the White Tower concern themselves with me? It's the Grey that will look for me, not them." She suspected from the nasty smile the woman gave her she was trying to scare her. Well, Luna was from the Borderlands. She didn't scare easily.
"And you don't scare, whoever you are." she added. "I am from Kandor, which is close to the Blight. There are things there you couldn't imagine in your worst nightmares. As for the Last Battle, I am quite aware of that. Every Borderlander is. But I do not have to be Aes Sedai to fight in that." It took a lot to get her temper started, but this was going it. Why was everyone so concerned about her being Aes Sedai? They had plenty of novices already. What did one more matter?
"The Grey Tower has plenty of novices. Why do they care if one leaves? If it is your intention to convince me to return, so far, you are doing a poor job of it."
I'm not the Nightmare
"Oh, I'm sure that the blight is full of delightful surprises. Some that will be a little more attracted to you now that the One Power can manifest in you. But you're right. I'm not scaring you, and really I don't care if you go." There was a non-challant shrug. "Maybe the Grey Tower might not either. I mean, you made it this far. The White Tower, on the other hand, they aren't nearly so nice and the more Novices they have the happier they are. But if you want to dodge Aes Sedai for the rest of your life, by all means."
"Although, if you do stay, you can learn to fight better. You could be stronger. You could learn to light Trollocs on fire and listen to them run away screaming. Sure you might have to spend a few years learning to do so, but you don't have to be Aes Sedai to do it." She dropped her one secret for the girl, one that she was sure Amairwyn would swat her hard for, but it would be interesting to see if it would change her ming.
"I'm not going to convince you of anything. You are going to convince yourself to stay because it is what you actually want more and are just too afraid to try."
A Tiny Pause
Luna had to admit the idea of the blight's creatures being a bit more attracted to her made her pause. Though she didn't truly believe that was the case.
"I don't believe you," she said sharply. "i have never heard of the Blight's creatures being any more attracted to channelers than regular people."
Though she had to admit, the idea of having a better weapon against Trollocs gave her pause. As did being allowed to eventually leave the Tower. Still, it wasn't enough.
"Once again, I don't believe you. Why would the Tower just let me leave, once I start channeling? Do you truly mean to tell me they won't force me to be Aes Sedai?"
Her chin came up sharply at the implication she was afraid ,temper well and truly up by now. "I am not afraid. I have seen things that would likely make you flee in terror. Have you ever seen a Trolloc raid? I have. It is a terrible sight." Trolloc raids weren't as common in south Kandor as they were farther north, but they still happened. Though at that thought, what this woman had mentioned about having a better weapon against Trollocs popped into her mind. Though she pushed it away.
"Is that all you have?"
"Well, since there are a series of tests that the Tower's ask of their initiates, you could simply fail and leave. Easy. Learn what you want and leave." She didn't tell her that it was possible for her to refuse her arches. There were things about the Arches that were just not spoken of outside that room, and it was one of ver few things that Carra respected and kept to herself. "Stick around, learn to how to swing a sword properly, get a little training in fire and leave when you're done. It would certainly beat being on the run and that way you won't be hunted. Sure, you'd be a Tower Failure, but it would be infinitely better then being hunted.
Carra gave her a smirk, "Yes, I'm sure that Trolloc raid was scary. Did you hide under a table while your parents died for you?" Carra was being mean, and she knew it but the girl was acting more like a noble then a borderlander. "I suppose you will have to find another way to fight then, if you leave. Caemlyn will only laugh at you. They did at me when I asked to learn. The White Tower is obviously out. You wont' get Gaidin training there. Sure you could learn back where you are from but you will learn only how to survive, not live."
Carra started to turn back to Hama Valon's gates. "But then, leaving now you would still be a failure in Kandor, right? They have a lot of respect for Aes Sedai, so I hear. Sucks to be you to have to return without even trying."
Anger
Luna barely heard what the woman said about the arches, though she did register it. So I can refuse the tests and leave?.
Her primary attention, however, was on what this woman had said about both her parents and her. Why... that...that . Her mouth merely opened and closed for a few moments. How dare she !. It was safe to say she well and truly angry now. hiding under a table? I would never! .
She stared at the woman fiercely. "You bloody, flaming, Trolloc kisser. You know nothing about me, or about Kandor. I did not hide under a table. I fought. Maybe I can't use a sword very well, at least not yet, but there are other ways to fight. Kandori women do not hide or cower." She crossed her arms. "As for life in Kandor, we do not merely survive there. We live. I dare say we understand more about living than people in the south." Typical southerner she thought, disgusted. She didn't exactly where this woman was from, but she knew it wasn't the Borderlands.
"And I am not a failure." The woman's words about Aes Sedai in Kandor struck home, however, whether she wanted them to or not. She did not think her parents would be disappointed if she left the Tower, but she knew they would be curious as to why she didn't want to learn.
She stared harder at the woman. "If you think I'm such a coward, I'm willing to prove you wrong. Fight me." It wasn't unheard of at all for Kandori to fight duels.
So there is Pride behind that Cowardice
Carra didn't even blink at the oaths sworn at her. She had heard herself called worse, in fact she spoke even worse herself. But it was the fire in the girls eye's that Carra wanted to see and she was satisfied to get the rise out of her.
However she gave a shrug at the stare, "I don't fight novices. Besides I don't have my sword on my to chase childish runaways. Fighting me with a sword won't prove anything but that you know which end to stick someone with. If you really want to prove you aren't a coward, i dare you to march right back to the Grey Tower and learn to Channel. Swords are easy. Going back to Kandor is easy. Staying, maybe if you do that I might believe you. Maybe then I might duel you."
Pride Indeed
Childish? she thought. I am hardly a child. . And this woman thought swords were easy? She must not know much about swordplay, then. As for staying.. she didn't want to. She truly did not. But her Kandori pride was getting the best of her. She wanted to prove to this woman that she was no coward, that a Kandori did not hide under a table, as it were.
Luna knew she was being manipulated. She knew it. She wasn't a fool. But her pride wouldn't let her leave now. I can stay, just to prove her wrong, then leave, once I learn enough. After all, it wasn't like that some skills like fireballs or battleweaves wouldn't be useful in the Borderlands.
She raised her chin again. "I am not childish. It is not childish to not want to be Aes Sedai. But I will stay, not because I want to, but to prove you wrong. But I still expect that we will fight our duel someday." Luna still had some things to prove to this woman sword wise, not to mention she needed the practice.
Turning on her heel, she spun and marched back to the gates, grimacing. The next few years weren't going to be fun at all.
Another Secret...
"Until then." Carra couldn't help herself but gave the girl a salute as she stalked past her towards the Grey Tower. She wondered how the girl would take to learn that she was only Accepted, not that it mattered. Carra was convinced they would cross paths again and it gave her more incentive to train more with Itarisa Gaidar. She wasn't sure if she could have won that match if they fought now so she was thankful that the girl didn't challenge her bluff.
What Carra didn't impart on the girl was that leaving the Grey Tower was something she had considered more often then not. Her Arches still sealed her fate but part of her felt like a coward for wanting to run away from it. No, childish wasn't about running away, but the girls reaction to not wanting to do something was. But Carra knew that it was cowardice and that she was a coward too.
No, those were not words she would share with the other girl. Not ever, not at all.
