The Grey Tower

Posted: **April 3rd, 2017, 10:36 pm**

To not be alone in the world was actually something that the Green valued above most other things. She had spent a great deal of it alone, and could handle most things without another. She was not scared of facing things alone, but the times in her life when she'd had someone to ride with her... Well, they were better than the other times.

If the warmth of the bond wasn't enough, the light in her eyes and the smile she gave him--a smile that no one else ever saw--would have been enough to speak to her feelings on the matter.

"I could be ready within the hour if you wanted," she said lightly. "But it doesn't have to be quite that quickly. However, I don't want to delay too long. I won't trust a Tuatha'an caravan to remain in one place for long. And I want to know more about the time that the woman was away from the Tower. She is an important piece in many mysteries right now."

Posted: **April 4th, 2017, 12:35 am**

Ravak

An hour? There was a lot that could be fit into an hour. Ravak voiced that thought aloud and got a mischievous and judgemental grin for his efforts. "After just working so hard to get me out of bed," Mia said with obviously mock-censure.

"Yeah, but there's no point in me walking to my office just to march back again." Ravak rose from the table. His hands dropped to his navel as he began working his shirt buttons open. "Plus, if we're going out, I need to put on something appropriate for travelling. And this won't do." It took him a few more moments to open up the rest of the buttons. He made a show of it, making sure that Mia couldn't miss the slow reveal of his chest. "I probably need to change my trousers too," he added lightly.
--- It only took the Gaidin Captain thirty minutes to locate a suitable replacement for his shirt and trousers. He was dressed in pale brown linen, making him appear more like a labourer than a trained warrior. Sweat glistened on his brow, adding to the effect. With Tuatha'an, there seemed little need for armour. Rav had always preferred to entrust in his speed and reflexes over armour, even if all of his scars were acquired when he ran around unprotected. For a wonder, he even considered whether to take his swords or not. He'd never met a group of Tuatha'an before, only individuals, and the Light knew how they would perceive someone sauntering around with two swords brazen on his hips.

The Shienaran was sitting in his favourite chair when Miahala reemerged from the bedchamber. He looked her up and down, careful not to comment on her second dress of the day. He still got a look for his troubles. There were no real secrets with the bond, not that he minded with such pleasant company. In a bid to lessen his punishment, he blew a kiss in her direction.

"We can leave whenever you desire, my love." Something strong and pointed flashed across the bond. It took Rav a few moments to unpick its meaning. "I'm as much to blame for the delay as you are, so don't try laying this one at my feet. We're both guilty." With an amused snort, he returned to his book.

Posted: **April 4th, 2017, 10:04 pm**

In truth, Mia was anything but annoyed. There remained such a flush of emotion and sensation to their bond and their union, that she certainly wasn't going to complain. If the worst of the moment was that she'd had to put on a second dress, she would consider herself lucky and leave it at that.

However, his cheekiness did earn an arched brow. She looked intently at the buttons on the edge of her bodice as she fastened the last of them, sauntering over to his chair.

Then she leaned down and put her hand on either arm rest, getting very close to his face. When he looked up, she smirked. "Don't put words in my mouth, love," she whispered with a wicked glint in her eyes as she leaned close enough to kiss him. When she leaned back, she tilted her head. "I'm ready to go now."

Posted: **April 5th, 2017, 2:57 pm**

Ravak
♫

[font=Kaushan+Script name=Kaushan Script]Quiet little voices, creep into my head
I'm young again, I'm young again, I'm young again, I'm young again[/font]As Mia's lips parted from his, Rav gave the woman who held his bond a cautious look. He had treaded, even if only slightly, beyond the boundaries drawn around their relationship. "Don't put words in my mouth." It was barely even a threat, but he was on alert for such things. He had one bond dissolved for his failure to put his bondmate first, and he had a relationship ended for his failure to read what was permissible.

[font=Kaushan+Script name=Kaushan Script]Quiet little monsters, creep into my bedroom wall
I'll fall for you, I'll fall for you, I'll fall for you[/font]Maybe other people saw them as Mia and Rav, two peas in a pod; a pair of Borderlanders both married to the battlefield. But the Gaidin thought that was a naïve outlook on the situation. In truth, Ravak never sought out a fight, at least not for many a year. At first he had wanted to be capable of fighting, and then he wanted to use that skill to defend those people and places that were important to him. He had no desire to seek out violence, although such things were readily available. He knew that there were illegal fights occurring somewhere in Hama Valon. Likely too that they existed in any major city. If he instead wanted to take the high road, his sniffing would allow him to round up every thief and pickpocket, every drunken lout, every criminal from the high to the low. But that didn't defend himself; that put him at risk. And there were people who needed him.

[font=Kaushan+Script name=Kaushan Script]Quiet words of wisdom, creep into your victim's ears
I'll die for you, I'll die for you, I'll die for you[/font]He wouldn't put Mia at risk. It seemed foolish drawing a parallel between seeking out the thrill of violence and speaking on her behalf, even if in private, but Rav could see it. Any misstep he made could place her in danger. It could tilt her thoughts in the wrong way at a crucial juncture. Her frustration at his clumsiness could distract her from a threat. There were many, many other possibilities.

It only took the space of one blink for all of that to run through his mind. He could still feel the heat of her lips on his, and a satisfied smile came across his face. "I shall bear that in mind, my love," he replied smoothly. Rav put the small strip of leather that he used as a marker into the book, then left it on the chair as he rose.

[font=Kaushan+Script name=Kaushan Script]In any which direction, call me
I will run to you / I'll come for you / I'll die for you
I'll come for you[/font]Standing, they were nearly eye to eye. The Saldaean was tall for a woman, but that still left her a touch below her Warder's height. Rav wanted to kiss her again, on the lips, or on the nose or on the forehead. Everything that Mia was, Ravak wanted. But the memory of failure kept him from pulling her into his arms and back into bed for a second time this morning.

[font=Kaushan+Script name=Kaushan Script]Quiet little voices, creep into my head
I'm young again, I'm young again, I'm young again, I'm young again[/font]Instead he did the next best thing which involved strapping on his sword belt. He was Ravak Darrow, Miahala Sedai's Warder. His duty was to keep her from harm, and sacrifice himself in order to save her life if it came to it. The indoctrinated rationalisation almost got through unimpeded, but love surged through all of that. He was Ravak Darrow, and he loved Miahala Sha'hal. That was why he would die for her.

[font=Kaushan+Script name=Kaushan Script]Quiet little monsters, creep into my head
I'll fall for you, I'll fall for you, I'll fall for you
I'll fall[/font]Again, the thoughts came and went in no time. He got his belt on, then looked about for his fancloak. After that he would be ready to leave.

[font=Kaushan+Script name=Kaushan Script]Quiet little voices, quiet little voice--
Quiet little monsters, quiet little mon--
Quiet little voices, quiet little voice--
Quiet little monsters, quiet little mon--
I'd better start now, I'd better start
Quiet little voices, quiet little voice--
Quiet little monsters, quiet little mon--
[/font]

Posted: **April 5th, 2017, 6:08 pm**

I've been reading books of old/The legends and the myths
Achilles and his gold/Hercules and his gifts
Spiderman's control/And Batman with his fists
And clearly I don't see myself upon that list

The bond and the look in his eyes as he held hers were a brilliant flash of maelstrom for a handful of heartbeats. Her blue-green eyes remained intent on his as she tried to unravel the knot, even after it was gone and replaced by a slow smile. She still eyed him for a moment before slowly pushing herself back up to standing and taking a step back.

Who ever would have thought this man would've slipped into her heart so...effortlessly?

When she had woken up in that sickly orange dirt, naked and covered in dried blood and a thousand agonies, she had barely been able to think of living another moment. She'd barely been able to think of living. She was supposed to be dead. But she somehow survived. The trip was not one she was eager to describe to anyone, but she'd made it home.

Then...all the way home. Back to the Tower. Yet as a tower of her own, ancient lore and grief and regret. Untouched and untouchable.

Yet...here she was.

But she said, where'd you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I'm not looking for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero
Some fairytale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can kiss

He stood and her gaze still kept locked on his. In the safety of her quarters, she easily allowed herself to let everything else fall away and to see just the blue-grey of his gaze and the knot she still tried to untangle. (Let it never be said that she wasn't determined.) She almost saw that strange combination of emotions before her like a colorful weave of Saidar.

Some of it she recognized and some was harder to determine, but his eyes shifted over her face for a moment and she said nothing. She wasn't quite used to a warder as close as this in height, but found she liked it. There was a sense of equality. Of balance. Something she'd rarely had in her life, yet always desperately wanted. Needed.

I want something just like this
Oh, I want something just like this

While he fetched his sword belt and looked for other things, Mia also turned and prepared herself. They did not have to pack much as she didn't anticipate this being a long trip at all. Gateway to near by where they were reported, find them, talk, and then come back to the Tower...of course, when did anything go the way she planned? Still, according to plan or not, it should be a short trip.

I've been reading books of old/The legends and the myths
The testaments they told/The moon and its eclipse
And Superman unrolls/A suit before he lifts
But I'm not the kind of person that it fits

As she gathered her cloak, the bond spoke again. She was a woman used to having to be acutely aware of the things going on around her, and within her. The emotion. It brought her up short for a moment, although she didn't let the physical pause last more than a moment as she finished pulling her cloak over her shoulders.

Mia felt like she wasn't surprised and yet was, as she thought further. What surprised her was the way her heart felt like it was physically expanding in her chest. So much that it almost made that scar along her breastbone ache. She put her hand over it, her back still turned to him, and took a deep centering breath.

She said, where'd you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I'm not looking for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero
Some fairytale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can miss

She felt him come up behind her and she glanced over her shoulder at him. Her eyes again had that unguarded look that they only got around him. Mia smiled, and said nothing.

She didn't need to.

I want something just like this
I want something just like this
Oh, I want something just like this
Oh, I want something just like this

Fastening her cloak, she held his eye a moment longer and then nodded once. They were both ready, and she led the way out the door. As soon as they passed that threshold, they would again be Aes Sedai and Gaidin. Mia and Ravak would remain in this room until they were alone again, and that was okay.

The pair of them could dance, and dance well, through any role and between them. She felt that more keenly with each passing day. Each passing moment.

It was everything she needed. Everything she wanted.

Where'd you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I'm not looking for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero
Some fairytale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can kiss
I want something just like this

Oh, I want something just like this

Posted: **April 8th, 2017, 12:34 am**

Ravak

The warm smile stayed on the Gaidin's lips until he opened the doorway to their chambers. After that, Ravak's face returned to the trained composure he had adopted in his many years as Master of Training. Like granite, his face seemed hard and immutable. Only inside his chest did he exhibit the warmth and love he felt towards Mia, but even that was tempered with duty. Ravak Gaidin was the mask he was wearing, and Ravak Gaidin was Miahala Sedai's Warder.

They walked through hallways that were now becoming familiar to the Shienaran, even if all of the Ajah Halls were the same in structure. Green tiles in the floor weren't the only giveaway to their location, but Rav didn't stop to look at the tapestries and armaments hanging from the walls. Even within the apparent safety of the Grey Tower Ravak was vigilant.

Descending the four stories between the Captain-General's apartments and the ground floor, servants and trainees and full brothers and sisters made their respectful bows toward Mia. Rav found it completely naturally to be, well not so much ignored as having a deferred priority. This was Miahala's Ajah, not his. The only thing that was his, so to speak, was the Captain-General herself.

Ravak did receive one nod of acknowledgement, from a short Kandori wearing the shawl of the Green Ajah. The mask broke slightly for Varistan Uki; he gave her a brief smile as they passed, but no more. A moment later Rav was back to watching everything, and Vari moved on with her duties.

"Are we going by foot or with the horses?" He picked a moment to ask when his question wouldn't be overheard by anyone else, even though they were still on Tower ground. One involved traipsing to the stables and back again, whereas the other meant they could go straight to the Channelling Yards.

Posted: **April 10th, 2017, 11:22 pm**

Mia almost laughed that he had even asked. She realized that he might not know her quite as well as those who had been around her for decades, but she still would have imagined the answer to be obvious. She flashed him a smile, knowing that there wasn't anyone else around to see the smile she only gave him.

"Horses," she said simply. "After all, there is some delay between my information and now. I don't know if they have moved from where they had last camped and I don't feel like walking on foot too great a distance when I could have my horse."

And so it was that the pair headed for the stable, like that had not so long ago--and yet while the calendar might mark little time, it seemed a lifetime before in other senses. However whether long or short, they were each quite different than before, and they were all changes that pleased the Captain-General and made her have to suppress a smile as they entered the stables.

As they walked in, a stable-hand sitting near the door--who looked to be little more than a boy of fourteen--jumped up with wide eyes and bowed. "Y-yours horses, Captain-General? G-Gaidin Captain?" he stammered as his head swung between the two of them, almost as if he wasn't sure who needed more attention afforded them.

"Yes, please," Mia said, giving assurance with her eyes yet also the simple message to head off and do what he was meant to do instead of gawking at them. He was clearly new in the stables.

After he had hurried off out of earshot and they were again alone, she turned to Ravak with just the very corners of her mouth turned up in a smile and her eyes sparkling. "I'm not really that frightening, am I?" she said, mirth splashed all over her tone--though only he'd now recognize it--and bleeding all over the bond.

Posted: **April 13th, 2017, 10:02 am**

Ravak

"Well..." Ravak drew out that word until it became a wide grin on his face. "You are the Miahala Sha'hal. You are something of a living legend, my love." Rav rubbed at his nose as he looked over towards where the young boy had headed. "Aes Sedai; Captain-General; former Amyrlin Seat." Formerly dead. He kept that thought to himself saying it wouldn't add to the humour of the moment. "It's fair to say that you cut a frightening figure."

His grey-blue eyes turned back to admire her. "And Light, I do love that frightening figure of yours."

Rav unapologetically still wore his grin when the stableboy returned with Impala and Seren. The levity in his heart made the Gaidin reach into his pocket and pluck out a coin for the lad. He pressed the silver mark into the boy's hand in exchange for Impala's reins. The generosity was unnecessary, but Rav received a grateful smile in return.

"Shall we depart, Miahala Sedai?" he asked in a tone of absolute deference. Ravak didn't know who he was winding up more; the boy or Mia. There was something fun about dancing on the knife-edge of a Saldaean's blade.

Posted: **April 14th, 2017, 2:15 am**

Living legend... Oh, how she hated those words, and yet she could not seem to give them her usual amount of loathing when they came from his mouth. The comment about her figure certainly didn't hurt that cause either, although she might have swatted at him for calling it "frightening" anyways had they not been under the gaze of others.

Her eyes flashed at him for his question, because she knew precisely what he was doing and precisely how much he was enjoying it. He certainly kept her on her toes (or not), which she needed in her life.

"We shall, Gaidin," she replied with what outward Aes Sedai sobriety she could muster as she took Seren's reins from the stable-hand and looked back at Ravak. She suppressed her smile as they led the horses out of the stable aisle and then mounted up, riding to the channeling yard where the Traveling-channeler-on-hand awaited them.

Mia smiled faintly and gave the area they needed to Travel to her fellow Aes Sedai: an area in the south of Andor. They would get close enough to the village the caravan was last spotted at, and with any luck, the group would not have moved too far away by now.

As the rippling slash of light formed, Mia held back and waited for Ravak to pass through first.

Posted: **April 18th, 2017, 12:47 am**

[font=Bubblegum+Sans name=Bubblegum Sans] Ravak [/font]

Ravak rode Impala through the Gateway. Both steed and rider were accustomed to the instantaneous transition from paving stones to grassland. The temperature on the other side of Andor was much the same as it was back in the Tower. Rav was grateful that his decision not to take his thick cloak was justified.

He made Impala veer to the left and he led his black gelding in a circuit around the opening. The Warder's pale gaze took in the relatively flat landscape. A few miles out in three different directions were farmsteads, as far as he could make out. They definitely looked like houses and barns. Closer was a larger grouping of buildings. Not a convoy of Tinkers' caravans, but a village.

No-one moved within a mile or so of where the Gateway had popped up. As Rav circled back to the front, he waited for Mia to follow through. Rav took in the closing Gateway from the corner of his eye, and he released a breath he wasn't aware he'd been holding. Scared the Gateway was going to close on me? That wasn't how he usually reacted to such things. His brain rooted around for a better answer, then struck upon one. You are a Warder now, Ravak. It's your duty to protect her. Impala pulled up alongside Seren. Rav's horse paid little mind to the Green's stallion, but that had always been the case.

"That way I take it, saying I don't see any painted caravans?" He pointed towards the village, but the bond already indicated his thoughts were correct. He scratched the edge of his beard above his chin. "Are you Miahala Sha'hal or Miahala Sedai for this trip?"

The Grey Tower

Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]

Re: Black Pawn to White Knight [Attn: Ravak Darrow Gaidin]