The Grey Tower

His days of being new to the Tower were long gone now, as his dark gaze took in recruits practicing with blades and shields. He was a quiet man by nature, and rather aloof of others. Hard to believe such a large man capable of disappearing, but he managed it whenever the mood struck him. He was nearing his 32 naming day, and had yet to be bonded or have more than teaching a class to worry with. Perhaps it was in his comfort bred his downfall.

Michael was not sneaking, though his walk was brusque as he cut through one of the Gardens. He rounded a shrub, and very nearly ran over a beautifully short blond woman. He seemed unable to move forward, until she lowered her hand, obviously as afraid she’d be plowed down as he’d been afraid to do so. His dark eye snapped to the ring around the woman’s finger, and he gave a quick bow.

“Forgive me, Aes Sedai, I did not see you. “ His voice was nice and deep, and Taylin’s face wanted to redden as she looked the man over.

“You are forgiven….Michael, isn’t it?” Taylin’s smile lit up her face. She wondered how long it’d take him to realize she’d been watching his comings and goings far before deciding to speak with him. Her hair was done up in curls of blond and near white highlights, with emeralds set in place to hold it together. Her earrings and large teardrop necklace matched the emeralds in the up-do of curls; complementing the green of the rather scantly cut silk and gold dress.

Taylin felt Michael’s eyes take her in at a glance, but she was far slower in her assessment of his black cloths and leathers. She knew what lay beneath them from watching him in the yard, and she’d often thought of letting herself feel him. But she’d fought the urge, so far. She’d simply come to talk. That was it. Her voice was warm, slightly deep for a woman, as she’d inquire. “Where is it you wander off to alone so often?”

Her face never altered, but she read surprise on his, now he knew for sure she’d been watching, and by the color of her shawl and yet-to-be Ageless Face, her could put things together. For the first time in a long time Michael felt himself flush and become somewhat mumbling in his words. “I , uh, yes, well Aes Sedai…”

“Please, call me Taylin, we are friends here.” Her voice was like crème, but her eyes…her eyes were a furnace.

“Of course, Taylin Sedai. I uh, go to the barn to work with the my horse, I prefer to get him out of the city.” Light blasted fool she was at least 5 years his junior but she made him squirm, in the best possible way.

“Then I shall ride with you, perhaps I can bring my eagle and let her stretch her wings?” Taylin hardly waited for an answer before heading inside. Michael looked around…What in the Light just happened?

The day was new. Taylin found herself in front of her stand mirror; green slashed white divided riding skirts adorned her body, with sleeves ending at her wrists in lace. It was meant to hold her in as the horse bounced. She preferred less clothing, but this was practical. She’d move into the sitting room as her maidservant finished lacing up the back of her dress.

She looked into a different full length mirror as she leaned forward to line her eyes with charcoal and lightly powder her face. She applied a small amount of pink lipstick to her finger then her lips, whipping it away on a clean towel. She gave a spin in the mirror, smiling at herself, at how far she had come, and how much she had grown.

These outings with Michael had become a thing they did once every two weeks, but now they were riding out together two and three times per week. There was a bet going on within the Ajah on how long it would take her to bond him, but of that she had no clue. Deciding she was ready, she’d put on a stylized leather glove to carry her Eagle to the stables with her. The bird was tethered and hooded, but seemed to calm at Taylin’s smell.

They made it through the Ajah halls easily enough, smiling and bowing her head without stopping. The agelessness was beginning to sneak up on her. Through her eyes and nose, she was beginning to see a difference; and it was as frightening as it was welcomed.
She reached the stables with little interruption at this time of day, to find Michael with both horses saddled and ready. Hers' was a beautiful black mare, a gift from Michael, where his own war-horse was perhaps 5 hands taller and much more muscular standing in his own stall.

She loved the creature; she had since he had gifted it to her some months back. She mounted up; tethering her bird to the perch made for the pommel, and waited as Michael did the same. He led the way through the city, his dual swords crossed on his back in their sheaths. What space in the streets his horse and look didn’t demand, the murmurs of Aes Sedai did. People bowed lightly, those about this time of day; and she’d acknowledge them in kind, ready to be into the countryside.

Once out of the city, Taylin took the hood off of her eagle, and un-tethered him, letting him take flight. She watched the bird soar from a hilltop as Michael sat on his horse to her left. For a moment, she wished she could fly with her, to be that free. But as she thought about it, in reality she was nearly free now. Her face was changing. Her mastery over the One Power was impressive, even with her having to learn control over her gift in Cloud Dancing. She was free to go and serve the Tower as she saw fit….and yet….she did not want to leave.

“There is much on your mind today, Taylin Sedai.” Michael spoke easily, pretending to survey the lands.

“There is much on my mind every day, Michael. This day is no different.” She spoke without looking at the man. She dismounted, to let her horse graze while she flattened an area of grass with a quick weave of Air. Taking a seat, she'd fan her dress out over her legs.

“It’s not just any day, Taylin Sedai. It was a year ago today I first met you in the Tower Gardens, young and hot headed. You’ve not changed, and I have no want of you too. I got you something…well to show you how much I appreciate our friendship. “ The usually quiet and masked Michael seemed normal, like any other man to her. In another world, they could have been a normal man and woman, and this far from Haman Valon…she could almost believe it.

Michael reached into his belt pouch and removed a velvet red pouch. Taking it in her hands with a grin, she opened it and found an emerald and white gold kesiera. She marveled at the beauty of it, he’d have spent a good part of his Tower earnings on it. This explained all his extra shifts. She allowed him do work his deft fingers and weave it into her hair. She marveled as she brought out a hand mirror from her bags.

Turning, she'd walk over to him with a deliberate pace. She did not cry, but he saw the closest she would come to it; as in their privacy she threw her arms around him, and parted her lips to his.

Today had been odd, in more ways than one for Michael. His morning class has been canceled, leaving him free time, only to realize all he wanted to do was find Taylin, who just so happened to be teaching a class on Cloud Dancing. It was perhaps one of the slowest days of his life.

He mucked his horse and Taylin’s horse stalls, making sure they were brushed down and fed. He knew the livery would do these things, but he preferred only himself and Taylin touch their horses; it would promote training them for battle. Checking shoes and hooves, he left no stone unturned in making sure they were in top shape. Afterwards he’d let them out for a time to run within the fence, bringing them back in only once the stalls were clean and water buckets scrubbed and refilled.

He went to the training yard to joust, and had his fun, but even after a shower and change of clothes, he still found himself prowling about the yards to see if Taylin had returned. It was near nightfall when she arrived at the Tower, her cloak heavy as if she’d been somewhere very cold. Her face smiled for him, but he knew her well enough to see that she was tiered. He walked her to her rooms, though the woman forced herself to walk as though she led him. He’d open the door to her rooms for her, and she’d smile gratefully as he took her cloak and she took a seat on her sofa, leaning back on a pillow safely behind closed doors.

“Look in the cabinet over there, there is a bottle of whiskey I keep for special occasions, what say we have a drink?” Taylin asked, but it was more than an invitation, it was obvious turning it down would send more than one kind of message.

Michael wove through the room, finding the place she pointed; he pulled out a crystal bottle filled with liquor and two wide based wine glasses with short stems. There was no ice, so he filled each glass, and put the bottle on the tray, carrying it to the table in front of the couch. He sat it down without spilling anything. Taylin smiled, gesturing to the place on the couch next to her. He moved to do so, not caring about age or station, this was a woman he’d come to know, not just an Aes Sedai.

The passion in her own eyes would be evident, and she made no move to stop him as he kissed her, and began to press his body to hers. For a long moment she lost herself to it, before she whispered “Stop.” She said it again, and Michael relented immediately. “I can’t expect this of you; you are not mine to have.” She picked up her glass, and drank near half in a gulp without wincing.

“Am I not my own man, willing to give myself to whom I chose in service to the Tower?” Michael’s answer held heat of its own. He finished his drink and poured another. Taylin followed suite.

“And you would give yourself to me, as a Warder?” She turned her head to look at him, her dress askew. The wild curls of her blond hair played in the candle light of the room, and fire that roared to life in the fireplace.

Taylin’s throaty laugh would accompany the act, as Michael kissed her neck. “I would give my life before yours, and serve you like no other, until my breath runs out.” He all but caressed her mind as he spoke in her ear.

“Then, Michael Alexander Valah….I would have you as my own.” Taylin guided his hands to the back of her dress, to undo it. She felt her chest breath as the dress came undone. She began to undo buttons, and with Michael’s help had his shirt off in quick order.

They made love on the couch, and in their throws of passion Taylin wove the weave to bind them, his words re-spoken, through a voice still catching its breath. “I will give my life before yours, and serve you, the Light, and the Grey Tower; until my final breath. I am your protector, guardian, and confidant.”

“And I will always do my best to protect you, and keep you from harm’s way. I am your protector, guardian, and confidant. Let it be.” Taylin let the weave settle in, and let forth a laugh at the bundle of emotions that sprang to life in her own mind. Michael seemed to stare at her in wonder. They remained in her rooms for the next day.