Bloody,Bloody M'Hael (anyone feel free)
Aran sat behind the great carved onyx desk with a stack of reports. Always it was reports...writing reports,signing reports. There were so many people at the Tower now that it could truely be called a city. He remembered when it was only a cluster of run down farm buildings. There was nothing left of that, not a single timber. It was almost sad in way.
He pushed the pile away, the rest would wait. He channeled briefly to remove the ink from the cuff of his sleeve. He pulled the short high collared black coat from the small closet in his office. The long black coat he had worn before he wa smade a stormleader hung there as did the tattered dark green coat he worn on the journey to the Tower. Both reminders of the past.
There were times he loved being the M'Hael and there were times when wished Eldrie had never put this responsibility on him. He tried not to think of Eldrie too much, the only frined he left from the early days now was Raekal. Was there any real chance that either of them would live to see the end of all this?
He opened a gateway and stepped out into the garden that surrounded the base of the Tower. He could even here hear the clang of metal on metal from the training camps. He walked out from the gardens onto the high street, what had once been the only street. It was paved in polished black stone and straight ahead he could see the large main gate where so many walked in to have their lives changed forever.
He wanted to find Raekal but there was no telling where the First was these days. There was so much for them all to do these days. So he walked the street soldiers stopping to salute him as he walked civillians mainly just stared, some he knew said greetings that he returned. There was somuch to do but he loved taking these walks through the city he had helped build...
Alexia looked around her as people went on about their business. She was happy to see she was a common sight now. She had been at the Black Tower for only a few days but people have adjusted to her guest status. She strolled along as if she had no care in the world but her mind was taking in what she had learned in the past few days. The M'hael was back for that she was certain but only because Brenna had told her. He had been gone for a longtime and even Raekal had not been sure of when he would be back. She asked Raekal pointed questions about where he had been and for what but she had been rebuffed and told to stick to things she could know. She rolled her eyes at that, he thought he could control her and he had found out time and again their past few meetings he was wrong.
Their conversations were interesting though and Alexia had to admit that at least he was not a yokel with power. His restraint in all things was truely amazing but foolhardy. Her gaze turned to Brenna and a frown crossed her face. Something was happening with the two of them. The girl's mood swings have been strange. She was constantly assuring Alexia she was ok but her tone seemed to change in the middle of a sentence or she would slip away completely one minute then be right as rain the next. It was chilling to say the least and it had Ghanima up in arms about the bonding of Asha'man to anyone.
"Alexia you alright?" Brenna nudged her and Alexia started. she noticed she had stopped in the middle of the small street. "Sorry I was lost in thought." "Well I wish you would stop staring at me then it is a bit spooky." Alexia smiled at the girl, "sorry i was just wondering about somethings." Brenna raised an eyebrow, "Like what?" Alexia shrugged, "What does Raekal and the others hope to accomplish here? Do they really thing this place would rival the White Tower and Tar Valon?" Brenna laughed, "It already does. Granted a bit more could be done about some of the ramshackle buildings the people living around the Tower are using but in half the time Tar Valon was built this place will be a reputable city." Alexia was sure the woman had gone daft. "I will not fault you for your misguided pride in what Raekal built." Brenna frowned at that and Alexia knew she was in for an earful but her eyes hit upon someone she had not expected to see, the M'hael was coming directly toward them. He did not look happy in the least.
-Yasha Murikovine Queen of Saldaea- -Brenna Selanos BT Civilian- -Aiden D'orgen BotRH- -AND Bio Checker-
Aran Alandar M'Hael Black Tower OL
Posts: 53
(6/19/06 1:48 pm) Reply
guests
Aran was not really paying much attention to where he was going and he happened to lift his gaze just in time to see an Aes Sedai striding towards him. He knew her and had never had any difficulties with her though he knew Raekal and her had many disagreements. He tried to put on a smile, it was best to at least try to civil with guests.
" Hello Alexia Sedai," he said smoothly," Taking in the sights today? I do hope your stay has not been too unpleasant. I know it is not what you are used to in Tar Valon but it is a far cry from the rundown farm it once was. We do try to be civilized."
Aran saw the look on her face and frowned slightly, she did not look to be best pleased.
" I am sorry I have been away so long I had important matters to attend to. If there is anything you wish to discuss now would be a good time."
Re: guests
Alexia stepped back a bit so the man would not seem to loom over her. Her lack in hieght was always such a hinderance to her. His unusual comment had her a bit shocked but she recovered quickly. "I have been enjoying my stay here Aran. Raekal and Brenna here have been very gracious." A glance around brought to her attention they were drawing a crowd. When Aran did not seem to notice Alexia smiled again decided to remedy the situation. She moved around Aran and started to walk again. Soon enough she had both of them along side of her, Brenna on one side and Aran on the other.
They walked in an uneasy silence. Brenna tried to watch everything but her and Aran. The M'hael seemed intent on picking her brain although he wanted her to speak first. Alexia stayed quiet a bit longer to gather her thoughts. She knew there was not much he would tell her but she wanted information so her phrasing had to be perfect. "So Aran where have you been the last few months? I am told you have been away. Even Raekal has not had much a clue as to where you been." Striaghtforwardness was not something ever Aes Sedai practiced and Alexia thought it was time for someone other then herself to be caught off guard. Unfortunately it might have the wrong effect but maybe she would get a feel for the situation in the long run. The Tower will not be held off for long and a truce had to be made soon.
-Yasha Murikovine Queen of Saldaea- -Brenna Selanos BT Civilian- -Aiden D'orgen BotRH- -AND Bio Checker-
Aran Alandar M'Hael Black Tower OL
Posts: 55
(6/21/06 1:09 pm) Reply
Re: guests
Aran sighed but decided in this case the truth may be neccesary, no weaving a story. What he had done he had doen for the world not for the Black Tower. He walked a little longer before turning his head to fix her with an intense gaze.
" I was making the world a safer place if that is any longer possible," he said," I was ridding it of the Forsaken Balthmal. I can not say for sure that he is dead but I believe him to be so. I have a hard time believing anyone could survive that, even one of the forsaken. I could tell you the details but i will not, let's just say it was very unpleasant."
He knew he had shocked her by what he had done as much as how blunt he had been in the telling of it but she regained her serenity quickly enough....
Re: guests
Stunned silence followed Aran’s revelations as Alexia came to a quick halt. Any mention of Forsaken stunned her into stillness. Controlling her expression she began to think. Alexia was sure that she had not heard anything about Forsaken or even some of their dark friends stirring in almost a month or two now. The fact that Aran had been investigating the whereabouts of Balthmael was a bit surprising and frightening all at once. And to add to that was the fact he thought he had rid the world of him. That bit of information was hard to believe and it made her wonder about the M’Hael’s sanity.
A snap of someone’s fingers had her come back to the present. Aran stared at her his expression impassive but his eyes gleamed with a small bit of satisfaction. She gave him a quick smile just to indicate she had been taken by surprise then continued her walk. Brenna had been quiet for the most part and walked along side her and Aran. She knew something and Alexia would get it out of her before long. “So you are unsure of the death of Balthmael yet you come back here? Did you not face him here not too long ago? If I have my information is true he caused a massive amount of damage. Why would you think he would not come after you went after him? It’s a dangerous thing you and your Asha’man do when you provoke a Forsaken.” His expression seemed to harden and Alexia sighed. She was doing it again, “I apologize if I sound as if I lecture you. I do not mean to I just wish to understand. If there are things you can not tell me then as a guest I should respect that.” Her mind raced with ideas. Now was the time to get them out but she had no way of knowing what was truly at work here in the Black Tower. Aran was not very forthcoming and neither was Raekal.
She had to find some sort of common ground. If she did not find it she would have to find a way to leave and she knew Raekal was not ready to let her and her companions go yet.
-Yasha Murikovine Queen of Saldaea- -Brenna Selanos BT Civilian- -Aiden D'orgen BotRH- -AND Bio Checker-
Aran Alandar M'Hael Black Tower OL
Posts: 68
(7/21/06 11:41 am) Reply
Re: guests
Aran walked in silence for a time before answering. He had told her something he normaly would not share as he did and yet still there was suspicion there.
" I believe him to be dead because I don't think he could survive the wound I gave him. I can not be sure however because at the very moment I gave it he opened a gateway."
He turned his head to stare at her out of the corner of his eye.
" I was too weak to follow him that last time. The light knows I followed him halfway around the bloody world as it was. I can not say for sure he is dead but if he is not he will know better than to show himself for some time. we must be content with that."
She had lectured but he would forgive that as she had not done it intentionaly.
" Someone must rid the world of them and if not us may I ask who?"
Re: guests
Alexia chuckled at his comment. "It is amazing the nerve you and your Asha'man have M'hael." She felt the moment he tensed in reaction to her comment.
"Do not misunderstand me Aran. If half the poeple and Aes Sedai I knew had your nerve there would be no doubt we would give the Forsaken the fight of their lives. But do you not think it's bit early to feel this way?"
His expression was enough to answer her question, "I am not trying to say you do not know what you are doing I just think it is rushed. Many more things need to be handled first. do you not think finding a way to unite everyone against the shadow should come first or do you not care about everyone else in the world?" Her tone was not meant to place blame. Her sisters we a bit like the Asha'man although they did not want to admit it. The world of people other then the so called important ones were the least of the White Tower's worries and Alexia knew that that had to change.
"Please tell me what the Asha'man plan to do other then die in battle?"
-Yasha Murikovine Queen of Saldaea- -Brenna Selanos BT Civilian- -Aiden D'orgen BotRH- -AND Bio Checker-
Aran Alandar M'Hael Black Tower OL
Posts: 70
(7/24/06 9:19 am) Reply
Re: guests
Aran laughed bitterly, when he saw her expression he raised a hand.
" No, I do not laugh at you Alexia Sedai. I wil live if I can but I fear there is not much chance of that is there? I think most o fthat hope ended when I first touched Saidin. But, neither will I live or act like a man doomed to die. No, I must live as if there was hope."
He turned his head and looked her in the eye as he went on.
" In the old tongue Asha'man means guardian and I take that very seriously. Aes Sedai means servant and I know you are aware and live by that responsibility. I do care about the rest of the world. The Dragon must be found by us and yes, through him the world must be united as one. When I said us i meant US, both Towers. I wish I could strangle every last Red sister for what they did. Not only to Eldrie but to the relationship between our Towers. That is me speaking as Aran. As M'Hael I have to act in the best interest of The Black Tower first even if that is not always my desire."
Aran laughed softly, he had made little sense he feared.
" I hope you know what I mean tby all that. Seeing the actions you took after Tear I feel you do."
Re: guests
Strangely relieved Alexia nodded. "I understood you perfectly Aran. I also respect what you are trying to do here now. Before I came here I was sure bringing male channelers into one area was a risk." She looked around her at the men in black clothes helping around the small town. Most went about their business and it was still hard to get used to. Male channelers were so unpredictable because of the taint. Aes Sedai knew that but they would also need to know they were important more now then ever. "I guess now is the best time to get everyone to see you differently." She gave Aran a hard stare, "It will not be easy but I will help were I can."
-Yasha Murikovine Queen of Saldaea- -Brenna Selanos BT Civilian- -Aiden D'orgen BotRH- -AND Bio Checker-
Aran Alandar M'Hael Black Tower OL
Posts: 71
(7/26/06 6:23 am) Reply
Re: guests
Aran nodded also relieved.
" I thank you for that offer. We will nedd help to see us in a better light. People see us and feel fear, unaware what it is these men are fighting and dying for. Our whole purpose is to ready the world for the Dragon's coming and then from there to help him win the last battle. I have no desire for personal power, I di not ask to be M'Hael. Eldrie named me M'Hael becasue he trusted me and I am the best man for the job. I do what I must and will stay the course. I had actually hoped to be a Warder one day when I was younger. It was my life's dream. The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills does it not?"
Aran took a deep breath, he had felt she was ab ally and now knew for certain.
" We must restrengthen the treaty between our Towers, we must."
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