Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

The World outside the Grey Tower is a vast place.
Alianora
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PC: Liaran Sedai, Blue Ajah
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » September 2nd, 2017, 4:41 am

Liaran Sedai
When her eyes opened again, Liaran immediately reached for saidar, only to find herself shielded. It would have surprised her if it had been otherwise, yet she was still disappointed, and more than a little angry at her captors. Sighing, she sat up on the mat and studied the room she was in. There wasn't much to look at. The stone walls and lack of a window suggested that she was being kept in some sort of cell. Aside from the mat, the only other furniture the room contained were a small table and chair shoved into a corner and a chamber pot in another. The only source of light she had came from a small crack under the door, making it impossible for her to tell whether it was night or day. It was not a comfortable place, and made it all too easy for the Aes Sedai to contemplate and fear what might happen to her.

She stood up, stretched, and paced on the cold stone floor. The sturdy boots she'd worn for traveling were gone, as were her bag and Great Serpent ring, presumably taken by whoever had brought her here. It frustrated her that she hadn't been able to see more of them. Not only had she not been able to see her captors, but since she'd been brought here, Liaran had not seen a single person. Hands shoved food through a slot in the door, but other than that, she could have been entirely alone. She supposed she was meant to be frightened by the isolation, and was less than pleased to admit that she was.

She walked from one wall to the other, then back again. In such a small space, it did not take more than a few steps either way, but Liaran had to do something, anything other than sit and wait for any other signs of life. While she paced, she did her best to try to keep her mind off her situation. In particular, she wondered where Haeden had gone. Liaran was relatively certain that he had not been brought here as she had, but what would he think when she couldn't be found anywhere in the house? She hoped he'd have the good sense to return to the Tower and report what had happened, possibly send help. As much as it frustrated her, the Aes Sedai wasn't sure how she'd ever get out of here without it.

Liaran turned again and let her mind wander somewhere else. For a time, she lost herself in planning out the weaves she would teach to some of her more advanced Accepted students. If she had been able to write them down, the Aes Sedai thought she would have had a year's worth done by now. She didn't doubt she'd forget most of it by the time she was free, but the work kept her mind occupied, and that was what was most important. She was startled out of her plans by the sound of the door creaking open.

Her head turned sharply, black curls flying. It was not just the slot in the door that had opened, but the door itself. Liaran's stomach churned, but she stood up straight, looking directly into the blue eyes of the woman who entered. The blonde was only slightly taller than Liaran, and her green dress suggested that she most likely belonged to the Green Ajah of the White Tower. The woman frowned, seeming displeased, but Liaran did not let herself look away.

Time passed, and the woman finally broke the silence. "So you're the wilder we caught in Cairhien, pretending to be Aes Sedai."
Liaran had been frustrated and slightly angry at her imprisonment earlier, but that was nothing compared to what the woman's words brought out in her. "I am Aes Sedai," she snapped. "Liaran din Chelai Morning Star, Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah of the Grey Tower." There was a slight emphasis to the last two words, though Liaran hadn't intended it. She was proud of the place she had chosen to call home.

The woman smiled. It was the sort of smile that might have been directed at a naughty child. "Foolish girl," she said. "Would you like to know what the White Tower does to women who lie about being Aes Sedai?" She went on to explain that since she could channel, Liaran was being given two choices. She could either sign the novice book and work towards becoming Aes Sedai in truth, or she could be beaten, stilled, and removed from the city.

To Liaran, both choices sounded equally horrible, though she thought she knew what she was expected to do. Sign the book like a good girl... she thought, disgusted. She would not do it! But the other choice was too terrifying for her to even contemplate. The blonde woman turned, opening the door. "Choose wisely, girl," she said, before leaving Liaran alone in the room with her racing thoughts.

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Bella
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » September 7th, 2017, 2:21 am

Willet's knowledge had been limited, but after a little...convincing, he at least had been forthcoming.

He had not had a name, but he'd had a description of a woman with an ageless face, and reference to Tar Valon. That was pretty much all that Haeden needed to know. It let him guess at what fate was in store for the Blue as well, although he had never before heard of such lengths of deception to take a channeler of the Grey Tower.

Having been born and raised at the Grey, to an Aes Sedai mother, he had learned of what the other Towers thought of them. It had never been an issue in his proximity before. His mother had even met and worked with White Tower Aes Sedai without this sort of happening, so why had this particular one gone and done this?

It was a question that wouldn't help anything now, though. The only question that needed answering was: how did he get her back?

Haeden knew that he could return to the Tower, but that would take time. He could not Travel, after all. Who knew what would happen to her while he was doing so? His best hope was that they were moving slowly on their way to Tar Valon, staying to the wagon and not using Gateways themselves, so he could catch them on the road.

What would he do from there? He had no idea. He just knew that Liaran Sedai was his Aes Sedai for this trip, and a Gaidin never let their Aes Sedai down without meeting death first.
* * * The blond Gaidin had made quick work of borrowing a horse from a local stable, for far more than it should have cost but he did not have time to haggle. He took the horse and hurried on the road that he knew they would have traveled on. It was not light on the travelers, which would benefit them and hinder him.

All he could do, for the moment, was take the road toward Tar Valon and hope he found her before they got there.
* * * Luck was not, of course, on his side. He had ridden hard, but knew that he was drawing close. There had been plenty of evidence of wagons passing through, and he'd even stopped a couple and 'insisted' they let him check their loads, but she was not among them. Had she been moved to another means of transport? He couldn't know.

When he drew nearer than made him comfortable, he pulled his borrowed horse off the road and took a moment to plan.

How did a lone Gaidin lay siege to the ivory city?

Alianora
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » September 10th, 2017, 5:42 pm

Liaran Sedai
Liaran lay awake in her cell, unable to settle her thoughts enough for any chance at sleep. How long did she have before they came for her? She didn't know, just as she didn't know long it had been since the blonde woman had left. Liaran didn't even want to admit to herself just how afraid she was of what awaited her. She knew that she could endure being beaten, and the physical pain it would bring. It would be neither pleasant nor easy, but she could manage. But....stilling. At one time, it would have effectively been a death sentence. Now that the Grey Tower had learned how to Heal it, that was not as true...but she would still have to make her way across most of Andor in order to reach it. She was not at all sure she would be capable of making that journey alone. Liaran shivered, and tried to redirect her thoughts, but it was not an easy thing to do. Eventually, as she became more tired, her thoughts ceased, and Liaran slept.

When she awoke again, it did not feel as though she had slept at all. Yawning, she forced herself to stand and to do what she could to brush the dirt off her dress. Most of it was ground into the blue fabric by now, and couldn't be helped, but she did her best, then sat down to try to pick some of the tangles from her curls. Liaran wasn't a vain woman, but she had no desire to leave the cell looking like a filthy prisoner. When they came, she would show them the Aes Sedai that she was, whether or not they would acknowledge it.

Some time later, the door creaked open, and Liaran pushed herself to her feet, head held high. Two of her captors entered, neither the blonde she'd dealt with previously. Again she was asked if she would sign the novice book, and again she refused. Liaran felt strands of Air wrap around her ankles, preventing her from running or walking with more than the shortest of steps. More Air bound her hands, which the Aes Sedai had placed behind her back in an effort to hide their shaking. Each woman took one arm, and together, they dragged Liaran from the cell. She did her best to walk under her own power, but the speed with which the other two walked forced her to a near run just to keep up.

They emerged into a courtyard where eleven other women were waiting. Liaran did not count them, but she was sure there were eleven, to form a circle of thirteen with the two who had brought her. They stood in a ring around a large wooden triangle with its point towards the sky. Liaran had never seen anything like it, but it was far too easy for her to imagine its intended purpose. She swallowed hard as she was dragged to it, the bonds of Air briefly dropped before being rewoven to fasten her arms and legs to the wood. Rough hands unbuttoned her dress. She was sure she heard some of the buttons tear free , clicking on the paving stones beneath her feet. The beating began, and Liaran let herself scream.

When it was over, she found herself being hurried through the streets of the city and almost pushed through its gates, with her bag and boots clutched in her hands. Liaran thought the road she stood on was the main road into the city, though she couldn't be sure since she hadn't been able to see when she'd been brought here. The Aes Sedai staggered away from the road into the grass beside it, though she didn't make it far before falling to her knees. Her throat was raw from screaming, and the lines on her back burned. She was aware of both, of course, but they were as nothing compared to the void inside her. It was so much worse than she'd imagined. She understood, now, why it was so hard to survive. Liaran could see the Erinin in the distance from where she knelt, and knew that if she had been closer to the river, it would have been far too easy to throw herself in and let the water take her.

Liaran bit down on her tongue to keep herself from crying out as she put her boots back on. There was something wet on her back, which could have been sweat, blood, or both. From the feeling of her dress sticking to her wounds, she suspected it was blood, though she did not think she cared to know for sure. Standing, she rummaged through her bag to see if any of her things had been taken from her, but aside from her ring, everything else appeared to be there. She looked down the road that led away from Tar Valon, trying to plan where she would go, and how she would get back. It was not an easy task. Saidar was still there, a constant distraction, and every time Liaran instinctively reached for it, she felt the loss as acutely as she had when she'd been....stilled. Even thinking the word made her wince.

She forced herself to move, eventually coming to a slow walk on the main road. Liaran knew she had to do her best not to think about what had happened and give into the despair. She couldn't stop herself from sensing saidar, which after so long was like a part of her, but she worked to keep her eyes on the road and her feet moving. Perhaps she would be fortunate enough to reach the Grey Tower, and perhaps she would not. At the moment, it hardly seemed to matter.
Spoiler: show
OOC:If you don't want them running into each other on the road, you're welcome to move her into the next village somewhere.

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Bella
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » September 12th, 2017, 10:53 pm

The road seemed to last forever.

Haeden knew that one's perception of time, most especially the passing of it, was a subjective thing and tinged by emotion. Despite his best attempts to keep the Void, his frustration and concern bled through. The Void worked best when one had a battle to focus, something outward, but when the battle was against the self... That was another matter.

He knew that his feelings were making the time pass with intolerable slowness. Still, he knew where he was going, even if he didn't know how he was going to do it.

It was at that point that he saw a ragged silhouette on the road ahead of him. First he saw that this person was not riding a horse, and then he saw she wore a dress. The step was lethargic. It only took a few more moments to recognize Liaran. His green eyes widened and he spurred his horse to great speed to reach her.

He barely slowed his borrowed mount before he dismounted. As a child of Miahala, he was a skilled horseman.

"Liaran," he said, forgetting pleasantries for a moment as he rushed to her. He immediately took in her state and felt his stomach drop with guilt and worry. He didn't know her well at all, of course, but she had been his charge. He had failed her. "What did they do to you?"

Alianora
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » September 16th, 2017, 6:37 pm

Liaran Sedai
Liaran stuck to the edge of the road, out of the way of the horses and carts, though she didn't think she'd mind much if one did just happen to strike her. She looked down at her own feet, focused entirely on continuing to move forward, thinking only of making her way back to her own Tower. Gradually, she found herself paying less and less attention to the road. Withdrawn into herself, Liaran never heard the hoofbeats that were racing towards her until the horse was almost beside her. Even then, she didn't bother to look at the animal. Only the thump of someone dismounting and calling her name got her to look up. The voice seemed familiar, but Liaran couldn't quite place it until she saw the blonde man hurrying towards her. Haeden? It looked as if the Gaidin had been traveling for a while, possibly as long as she'd been held. His black eye suggested that he'd been in at least one fight at some point, and Liaran didn't think she wanted to know why.

She wished he hadn't come. It was difficult enough for her to force herself to keep going, to not give in to the pain and almost overwhelming desire to just lay down and die somewhere. Liaran had no idea how she'd manage if Haeden insisted on staying with her. She barely even knew the Gaidin, and letting a virtual stranger know just how much she was struggling was not an idea that pleased her. He didn't waste any time asking what had happened, and Liaran knew it was a fair enough question, but she couldn't bring herself to answer it. Just leave me alone, she silently begged him, though she was too polite to say such a thing out loud.

Of course, he didn't leave. Liaran had wished for it, but hadn't really expected it. Sighing, she began to speak, her voice so hoarse she could hardly recognize it as her own. "They hid me in a wagon and brought me to the White Tower. They put me in a prison cell and left me alone. I don't know how long I was held." There was no emotion in her voice. Liaran knew very well that if she let herself recall just how scared she'd been, she wouldn't be able to go on. "One of the Aes Sedai came to my cell. She claimed that I was lying about being Aes Sedai." Anger sparked in her voice at the memory, just for a second before she forced herself to keep talking. "She told me I could either sign their novice book, or face...a worse punishment." Liaran took a deep breath, not at all sure she'd be able to make herself tell him exactly what that punishment had been. She told herself sternly that she was being foolish. Saying it wouldn't change anything. "I refused to sign their book, so they beat me and.......stilled me." Despite all her efforts, Liaran's voice cracked, then broke, and tears sprang to her eyes. She hadn't really been looking at Haeden to start with, but now she turned her back on him and took a couple of deep, shuddering breaths. Liaran blinked, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall, and when she thought she had them under control, turned around to face Haeden again.

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Bella
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » September 17th, 2017, 11:05 pm

One would say that death was always the worst outcome, but he knew from things his mother and sister spoke of that most (if not all) Aes Sedai would consider being Stilled to be even worse. His heart and stomach had already taken residence in the soles of his feet, but now they somehow sunk even lower. They were somewhere in the earth now.

How badly he had failed her... There was no atonement for this.

When she turned away from his, he stood and stared at her back. Haeden didn't know what to do. He was not a cold man--no child of Miahala could be--but he dare not intrude upon a woman. His hand twitched, wanting to at least put it on her shoulder to offer her some comfort, but he stopped himself. She had to hate him.

"My kin can help," he finally said, although he was slightly hoarse with the weight of his own failure. "Gareth Asha'man, among the best Healers of the Tower. I... I believe he is able to Heal Stilling. I will get you back to the Tower and he'll take care of you. I promise, I won't let anything else happen to you."

Alianora
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » September 20th, 2017, 10:05 pm

Liaran Sedai
When Liaran looked up at Haeden, her eyes were still wet with tears, and she wasn't at all sure that they wouldn't start falling again. It did not help at all that the Gaidin appeared to be distressed by what she had told him, and Liaran wondered if she'd been wrong to tell him everything she'd endured. She hadn't intended to hurt him. It seemed to take Haeden ages to say anything, and when he did there was something in his voice that Liaran could not identify and did not like.

She nodded when he mentioned Gareth's name. "I know Gareth Asha'man. I've worked with him before." She didn't doubt that the Yellow would be capable of helping her. His last words shocked her, however, and she found herself staring at him with wide, dark eyes. Does he think he's responsible for what happened? To Liaran, the idea was so ridiculous that it had not crossed her mind, neither in the cell nor now.

"You didn't let anything happen to me," she said, frowning slightly, still confused by the very idea. "I should have known there was forkroot in the tea." There was bitterness in her voice, but it was not directed at Haeden. Having been taken so easily was the only part of her ordeal for which Liaran blamed herself. She should have known better! Aside from that, she did not think he understood that in a way, she had chosen this herself, though she was quite certain he'd been listening when she'd mentioned it earlier. Liaran sighed and took a breath, not sure if she could find the words to explain it to him. "I told you earlier....I had two choices. I could have signed their novice book and found a way out later. I chose this." Her voice shook. For her, there had been no true choice, she could not have denied who she was, but that had not made it one bit easier. A single tear trickled down Liaran's cheek. More than almost anything, she just wanted to make it home.

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Bella
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » September 20th, 2017, 11:08 pm

You didn't let anything happen to me...

The words snapped back at him like someone had cracked a whip. She went on and tried to explain what she meant. It wasn't that he didn't understand, because he did. However, he was sure that she didn't understand just what Gaidin were trained to be; what was driven into them from the very first moment of their training.

Anything bad that happened to her was something he let happen, period. He took that charge very seriously, and this would weigh on him for the rest of his life. He had no concept of how he could make it up to her.

He wrestled with the Void, trying to stem his own emotional reaction because she did not need to be burdened with it. He managed, mostly, and bowed his head slightly. The shake of her voice and the tear streaking her cheek both threatened to crack his hold, but he held on tightly...not for his sake, but for hers.

"We need to get you back to the Tower," he said simply, but gently. "I have a horse borrowed from the city. He's big enough to take us both, so you can ride with me and we will journey straight home and I will see you to Gareth Asha'man's care."

Alianora
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » September 22nd, 2017, 1:35 am

Liaran Sedai
Liaran gave the horse waiting on the side of the road a nervous look. She truly hated riding, most likely because she was terrible at it, and no matter how much practice she got, it never seemed to get easier. Most of the time, the Sea Folk woman was convinced that the Father of Storms himself had had a hand in creating horses. On a normal day, a ride to Hama Valon would have been a challenge for her. In her current condition, she was not at all sure she would be able to make it across Andor, not that there seemed to be much choice. If she had been alone, she would have walked, but she suspected Haeden would object to that, and Liaran just didn't have the energy to argue with him. She did not tell Haeden any of this; what would have been the point? She had to get home somehow. She forced herself to get on the horse and brace herself as best she could, dreading what she knew would be the longest, most painful ride of her life.

It was every bit as bad as she had feared. Haeden had the horse running, which was understandable, but it forced her to hold on so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. She had never figured out how to stay still on horseback, and when she wasn't sliding from side to side in the saddle, she was bouncing up and down. Every time that happened, pain shot through the wounds on her back. It was almost a welcome distraction from the emptiness inside her. Saidar, just out of reach, was a constant torment, and there was nothing Liaran could do to ignore it. At times, it hurt so much that Liaran could hardly breathe. She might have called it intolerable, except that she had to tolerate it. Somehow, she managed to hold on.

They rarely stopped, and when they did, Liaran didn't fare much better. Walking was difficult for her after riding for long, and she didn't want Haeden to notice. Every stop became an effort to stagger out of his sight as fast as she could. She was sure she'd hurt him when she'd told him what had happened to her, and didn't want her struggles with riding to make it worse. He'd done nothing to deserve that. They continued on, and Liaran thought she could see the Grey Tower, not so very far away now, but she wanted to get there so much that she couldn't be sure she wasn't imagining it.

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Bella
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Location: New England

Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » September 23rd, 2017, 10:02 pm

He wanted to talk to her, but she didn't seem to want to talk...so he wasn't going to push it. Instead, he pushed himself and the horse, working to get them back to the Grey Tower as soon as humanly possible but still safely, for them and the horse. He had his mother's blood when it came to horses, so he knew just how far he could push before it was too far.

Time seemed to blur, and he buried himself deeper and deeper into his mind. They stopped when they had to, for whatever necessities there were for them or the horse, but only as long as they had to before they were off again.

At some point along the time--he wasn't sure how long that was, but they were all exhausted--the Tower rose into view. "We are almost there, Aes Sedai," he said in a low voice. He rode them along the road and then up to the gate. He lifted his face and they recognized him, letting him through.

Helping Liaran from the horse's back, he held the reins and peered at her. "Do you wish me to accompany you to the infirmary, Aes Sedai?" he asked quietly.

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