Reunion in the Green Halls (Attn: Mia)

[Trent]

Durent stepped into the room following Miahala, taking in the room. It was very much like his, though better kept. He spent very little time in his quarters outside of sleeping. Most of his days since returning had been busy getting reacquainted with the Tower's members and in the sparring yards. It could probably do with a good cleaning, Durent thought to himself.

Durent took a seat at the table with the offer of tea and was surprised at the wave of fatigue that left him as he relaxed into the comfortable-enough chair. He exhaled a quiet sigh, feeling the tightness in his neck and shoulders relax a little bit. In the Tower it was nice to have friends you could let your guard down around. It was a comfort born of their friendship, camaraderie, and Durent's sure knowledge that Miahala could easily read him like a book, no matter his attempts at shielding his emotions or agendas. She'd been able to since he was a Dedicated aspiring to the Green with her as the Captain General. He'd learned to just accept it.

"I'd appreciate some Flatwort Tea, if you happen to have it, otherwise whatever you're having is perfect." It was a tea made for easing fatigue and muscle pains. It was common for those who frequented the Yards. Durent usually had a bulk supply in his quarters at any given time.

[Bella]

In truth, Mia usually was not without it either. In the past, it had been for a variety of reasons she'd need the tea's consolation from fatigue and muscle pain: exercise in the Yards, being a passionately married woman, being the mother of young children... Now she just didn't sleep well, or all that much. She was often tired from the moment she woke up, and she wondered when this would pass. For now, she soldiered on, like she always had.

And drank tea. Sometimes something harder.

She smiled a small smile at her friend in her living room, however, and enjoyed the simply feeling of camaraderie that came with it. A little dash of Saidar found their water heated and their tea steeped within a few minutes. She brought the cups with her, handing on to him and then keeping her own as she took her seat. She took a long sip and then gave him a long considering look from across the small distance between them.

"So," she began, "you were asking about strange things here at the Tower that had happened between when we left and our now having returned." Pausing, another sip of tea was called for. "There is the existence of the Red Ajah, and that the Amyrlin and M'hael were both raised from it." With him, she felt freer with her words and her wry tone.

[Trent]

Durent relaxed slightly with the first sip of tea. He was glad he could be here and sharing this with someone at last. They would need to trust each other in the coming days, he felt. If his suspicions were correct, and not just that of a paranoid veteran, there were still many tests to come. He thought briefly of those that had come before him, had they also felt this much fatigue and worry for the future? No doubt they must have.

"The existence of the Red Ajah here does concern me, especially with our two leaders being from it, and both so young. That is one of many of my concerns and... oddities of the Tower since my return. I met the M'Hael, and he is surprisingly strong for one so young. I think those that raised him expected a puppet, and I like that he is not giving them one. I plan to meet with the Amyrlin, but her schedule has been full lately."

He took another sip of tea, feeling the warmth spread through his body. He contemplated how to explain his situation. How does one explain a strange theory and occurrence? Straight-forward, he decided. "So, the strangest thing that has happened for me so far, is how I ended up coming back to the Tower and the timing. I told you of the letter. It simply read, 'The Last Battle is nigh, you are needed back at your home.' It had no signature, I could not make out the handwriting. It was sealed with the Green Ajah seal and delivered by a perfectly normal messenger from Hama Valon. I don't even know who knew where I was. It's possible they didn't and they just lucked out that I was at my estates, I don't know. The timing of so many returns to the Tower in such a short period of time seems suspect to me, though.

[Bella]

Leaning back slightly in her seat, she sipped her tea and listened. She was very good at listening. Sometimes when she was doing so, it was hard to tell if she still lived... Being dead is highly overrated. A string of morbid humor flitted through her mind. She couldn't help but think that at least his return had been a little less...drastic than hers.

"The question is," she began thoughtfully, "is it the work of the Wheel as we are woven into the tapestry leading to the Last Battle, or the work of a more...living source?"

[Trent]

Durent nodded in agreement, "That is definitely the question. I imagine it's probably a mix of the two in some way, as these situations often are. The next question is what do we do about it? Go about our normal business, perhaps more acutely aware of what's going on, or something more proactive?" He wasn't sure what the best course of action was. He didn't know there was one to be sure about.

He sipped his tea, now half gone and starting to cool to the point where the taste was really coming out. "Either way, at least knowing what's going on will help us to see other 'coincidences' should they occur."

[Bella]

"True," Miahala agreed thoughtfully. "In truth, your return is less disturbing to my thoughts than my own." She smiled ruefully at him then, sipping her tea. "I can't imagine the Wheel would just weave me reanimated. There is a hand at work here, and I would like to find out whose body that hand belongs to." Other thoughts and fears surfaced, but she swiftly stamped them down.

She set her cup aside on the nearby table. "I don't think we should just sit and watch. I think we should at least start working what lines of investigation we can. I imagine we can, utilizing our considerable skills and a little time, at least find some hint of whether further searching is warranted. I anticipate it will be, but that should at least give us the direction. And a direction would be more than we have now.

"I trust little these days since my return, Durent. You may be one of the only things I do." Her blue-green eyes revealed more intensity in that moment than she usually allowed. "It has to be more than a coincidence, and if so, I do want to know why. I think we'll do better working together than apart, do you not think so?"

[Trent]

Even years of practice and training could not get Durent to hide the devilish grin that crossed his face at Mia's suggestion. He had so hoped this is where their conversation would lead. He knew he had her as a friend, but to have her as a dedicated ally, working together to unravel the mysteries surrounding them and many others... it brought both a calm and excitement to him. "I couldn't agree more. Allies and trust are hard to find any day, these days maybe less than usual, especially with so much in flux."

He downed the rest of his tea, an optimistic energy buzzing through him. Where to start? "I imagine each of us should solidify any eyes-and-ears networks we once had. I know mine could use some repairing. I will also step up my training in the Warder Yards to strengthen relations with the Warders, our own Green trainees and others. I wouldn't mind some suggestions in the investigations department. Outside of you and Silas, who also denied knowledge of the letter, I haven't the faintest of who to look into. Perhaps I could begin by collecting handwriting samples of various Tower members and comparing them? I fear I might need to find a Brown we can trust."

Durent realized he was talking very quickly and a sheepish look crossed his face. "I apologize, I am just so relieved to have found an ally in these endeavors. We should also definitely look into what items of Power might have the ability to reanimate the dead. I certainly haven't heard of any such Talents."

[Bella]

Miahala could not help but smile at his energy, and it broke through the ivory veneer of her features to reveal that there was indeed warmth inside of her after all. Yes, it felt good to have a friend and an ally. Someone who could, in some way, understand and help. To be part of a team, however minor a bond it might be, felt good to her. It seemed that not much felt good right now, so she would embrace it.

She let her smile linger as she sipped her tea. "Do not apologize," she said simply. "I have been trying to reach back out to my old eyes and ears, but it seems many of them..." Her laugh was so short and faint as to be little more than a staccato exhalation. "...many of them are dead, died while I was beyond the grave.

"As for the other..."

Here she paused again, feeling a darkness return to her. "I know of no Talents or Objects of Power that could do this either, which makes me greatly feared of where it can be found. I can't imagine that the Shadow Ajah would wish me back to life, especially still bound by the Three Oaths--and I am--but where else might such dark powers be found?" This was a fear she would express only to one most trusted, and perhaps only to Durent.

[Trent]

Durent nodded in understanding. His eyes-and-ears network was also frayed. Many of his informants had passed on as well. He would need to put considerable work, and perhaps take a few trips, in the coming months to reestablish connections where he wanted. He needed to work on his relationships and contacts here at the Tower as well. So much work to be done.

Durent's face grew grim at the last comment Mia made, the seriousness of it digging into him. He hadn't even considered that. It was definitely possible, but the implications were troubling. Greens were not like other Ajahs that pretended the Black Ajah didn't exist, or at least dare not speak of it. Greens had the social responsibility not to talk about it in public, usually, but Miahala and Durent especially had had enough interactions fighting them that they were beyond such notions as pretending them away. "I hadn't even thought about that... but we certainly can't rule it out. If they did bring you back, it means you still might be a part of their plan in some way."

Durent dismissed the idea for now with a wave of his hand."Until we know more we can't do much. Why don't we focus first on reestablishing our connections, both within the Tower and beyond. I think you and I should try to meet together regularly, but not draw too much attention to ourselves. Once we have more information coming in we can formulate some plans, perhaps even try to recruit some other allies eventually. What do you think?"

[Bella]

It was not an idea that Miahala could so easily dismiss from her thoughts as from her conversation, of course. She could not think of any source but the Black Ajah that would tangle with the powers of reanimating the dead, and yet what good to the Shadow was an Aes Sedai who was still bound by the Three Oaths of the Grey Tower? What purpose could she possibly serve as she was?

Yet even as her logic argued one side, a deep-seated seed of fear argued the other.

"I think you are quite right," she said levelly, showing none of the torment that continued inside her brain. She was, after all, quite skilled at hiding these matters. "Given that we are both Greens of long-standing, and not unknown to be friends, we can get away with more frequent meetings than some." She paused, forcing her thoughts around to try to figure out what needed work. "Information is what we need most."