Alhanna woke with the coming dawn, sitting up in her bed with a start. Her mind still echoed with the sound of the crowds in the Tower courtyard Crowds, gathered to watch as she approached Mordelaine Sedai, her back as straight as the wooden post beside the Mistress of Novices. "Alhanna Gaimar.. Tower law.. run away.." the horror and panic she'd felt then settled in before she was aware of the knocking on her door. The novice gave a start, seeing the look on Alhanna's face when she opened the door.

"L-Lacy Sedai requested that I make sure you're awake."

Alhanna came close to smiling when the girl said that. The novice was short, barely reaching even Alhanna's shoulders, and had her blonde hair was still set in the elaborate curls around her head, a look found almost exclusively among the Cairhienin, that she knew of. The girl could not have been long in the white, to take such care with her hair in the morning.

"I am awake, child. You are dismissed."

The novice curtsied before scurrying away, probably rushing to do yet another errand- perhaps one Lacy had interrupted in the first place in sending the girl to her room. Alhanna sat at her small table in the straight ladder-backed embracing Saidar easily to heat the mint tea in a slightly battered pewter pitcher. Beginning the day with a few minutes to herself and a cup of tea brought a peace of mind that was seconded only by embracing Saidar, but was as rare an occasion as a free day for the novices. When the cup of tea was drained, Alhanna swept into action, quickly discarding her shift to change into a fresh one. After that came the dress of an Accepted, as pristine white as a novice's dress, but with hems banded with seven colors, representing the Ajahs of the White Tower. White, Brown, Green, Yellow, Grey, Blue, and Red. Green, the Battle Ajah, had been Alhanna's Ajah of aspiration since she'd been a novice. Of course, novices weren't supposed to consider such matters, but it wasn't anything that had disturbed her studies. She'd just simply known. Her hair, a wavy mass of reddish-brown that hung well past her shoulderblades, was quickly braided and secured with a white ribbon, banded in the same fashion as her dress. Sometimes she was able to get away with wearing a green ribbon, but she rarely took the risk unless she was sure to be spending most of her day in the Green Hall.

Her usual morning ritual, however, came to an end after dressing. Instead of hurrying down to the Warder Yards for her practice with the staff, she left her room at an almost leisurely pace, compared to the usual bustle, arriving at the Accepted Dining Hall during the first serving of breakfast. The room was quiet, which might seem unnatural to anyone not trained by the White Tower. Novice initiates were expected to remain silent during meal times, and many, including Alhanna, had gotten used to remaining so even after Raising. After receiving her breakfast, a creamy warm porridge that tasted faintly of strawberries- if she closed her eyes and thought hard enough- Alhanna sat between Maislyn and a blonde Taraboner she knew to be freshly Raised. Lines and shadows still showed in her face from sleepless nights and fretful days. The others, for the most part, were rushing through their breakfast, eager to be finished before the first serving was even over.

Her mentor, Lacy Sedai, was taking her to her brother's estate in Andor, only a day's ride from the Black Tower. The Green sister had been closemouthed about what she planned for their stay at Ashlin Manor. Lacy had proved herself to be unpredictable enough to have Alhanna worried about the coming week.

The Accepted spooned the last of the porridge into her mouth and left the dining hall to return to her room. Lacy expected her at the stable two bells before High, and she wanted to check her bags again before meeting the Aes Sedai. Twenty years behind the Shining Walls and Alhanna had procured a minimum of personal possessions, few of which she was taking- the necessities. Her clean shifts, banded dresses, hair brush, and a kit she'd prepared long ago filled the two bags easily, and Alhanna spent the rest of her spare time before the bell reassuring herself she was sufficiently packed.

"You packed light. Good," Lacy Sedai said in greeting as Alhanna dropped into a curtsy, glad she had resisted fitting a book into one of the saddlebags. Their mounts were already saddled and waiting nearby, each pair of reins held by a groom. After securing Lacy's bags, Alhanna saw to her own and mounted quickly.

"We are going to ride out to Ashlin Manor, Alhanna. Despite what you've learned, and taught, you've had scarce experience camping during a long journey. We will ride toward Ashlin Manor for three days before Travelling there to continue your lessons. At the end of the week we will Travel back to the White Tower," the Aes Sedai said matter-of-factly. "Yes, Aes Sedai," was Alhanna's only reply. They rode out soon after that, eventless, excluding a brief problem with one of the ropes during the ferry-trip across the Erinin. Alhanna closed her ears to the ferryman's muttered oaths and admired the view of the White Tower in the growing distance, her thoughts reflecting on the last time she'd been beyond the Walls. A matter best left forgotten, she thought, striking the memories of Arad Doman from her mind. Oddly enough, she found herself thinking about Adolphus. The siswai had progressed so well in his reading that Alhanna began wondering if lessons were necessary anymore, to her disappointment. Adolphus had become a close friend of hers since Qyntaryn Sedai had assigned her to teaching him to read, despite her brief reluctance in the beginning. He proved himself to be an apt student, and she enjoyed- more than she would ever admit, even to herself- the afternoons spent in the library with him, as often as not working through readers and, eventually, some of the books right off the shelves.

Their easy friendship changed abruptly during the Sunday celebrations, and Alhanna still felt uneasy thinking about it. Not the change itself; Adolphus' Talent as a Wolfkin frightened Alhanna about as much as a dancing bear the size of her thumb, but since that afternoon in the Infirmary, when Alhanna woke to find Adolphus watching her, his eyes glowing gold, everything about their relationship felt different. More intimate, and something else, something that Alhanna lacked the words to describe.

The Accepted was jolted into the present, literally, as the ferry reached the southern bank of the Erinin. This is it, Alhanna sighed deeply of the fresh air of the shore, I'm on my way.

The first night they rode, Alhanna and Lacy made camp a short distance from the road. They had run into no one on the road, nonetheless, the Green Sister created a Ward before they unrolled their bedrolls for the night. A small brook nearby yielded several trout to include with their rations for a passable dinner, once a small patch of herbs was discovered to flavor the fish. Lacy went through the steps of showing Alhanna each aspect of making camp in the wilderness; the Accepted found a profane dislike for laboring to dig the latrine several yards from the actual camp. After their second night in the wilderness, Lacy Sedai embraced the Source and created the Travelling gate into the courtyard of Ashlin Manor. Alhanna stood a little away from the Aes Sedai and watched as the vertical slash appeared in the air, widening to allow more than enough space for a person and their mount to walk through. Alhanna possessed the ability to Travel, but her gates were nothing more than narrow doorways, large enough for a single person to pass through.

Immediately after the Gateway disappeared, a handful of servants surrounded the Aes Sedai and her charge, seizing control and care of their bags and mounts, respectively. Several minutes later, Alhanna found herself in Lacy Sedai's rooms, pouring spiced wine into a goblet for the Aes Sedai as servants unpacked her bags. In her own room, Alhanna knew a servant was doing the same for her own minimal baggage.

"Thank you," Lacy accepted the wine Alhanna offered her. "Rosie will continue to serve you throughout the week. I've allowed this luxury because your mind will surely be occupied by more important matters than keeping your room tidy," the Aes Sedai glanced at the Accepted and continued wryly, "you will undoubtedly be dedicating yourself to the remaining days of study we have at the Manor. I expect that you will familiarize yourself with the grounds and see to the care of your mount before supper is served. Afterward, you will practice your weaves for your Raising test." Alhanna could tell she was dismissed. She curtsied deeply before exiting the room, her heart thumping in her chest, her only indication of the excitement she felt for the week to come.

"Harder!" The Aes Sedai barked, standing a short distance away, "try harder! You'll never pass the test if you are so easily distracted. Again!"

Alhanna took a deep breath and embraced Saidar resolutely. She began weaving again. One after another, the fine strands of the Source came together from her memory, the same weave every Accepted practiced every spare moment she had- if she was sensible. Alhanna and Maelinn had often practiced late into the night with the agreement that they would both try their hardest- both when distracting and when weaving. Alhanna had only complete the weave twice during those nights, Maelinn three. Lacy was now in the place an Accepted usually held, using tricks with Saidar to try to distract her mentee. Blasts of ice cold, flicks in her ear, even brushes of Air to try to tickle the Saldaean failed. Alhanna felt her feet leave the ground and swallowed thickly, pouring all of her concentration into weaving the twentieth out of a hundred weaves. Slowly, she began shifting, turning in the air.

When she was perfectly aligned upside-down, Alhanna's breathing increased sharply. She began panicking, fumbling the twenty-fourth weave. "You call that Weaving Saidar?" the Aes Sedai yelled, and released the weave of Air holding the Accepted's skirts up. Alhanna managed to tie off the weave, but lost her hold of Saidar when she began to attempt the twenty-fifth. To obtain the Shawl, the Accepted had to complete one hundred weaves in extreme environments while maintaining complete calm.

"Goats milk!" Alhanna yelled in frustration, yanking her skirts back down around her ankles. "What was that for, Lacy?" The Aes Sedai allowed her to address her informally, but Alhanna only did so in private.

"You must be ready for anything, Alhanna. I cannot tell you more than that- even helping you as I am today may be considered cheating. We practiced this enough for today; go get one of your riding dresses and be in the stable, ready to ride, within the next quarter of an hour."

Suppressing a groan, Alhanna curtsied and turned to re-enter Ashlin Manor, walking as best as she could without showing her exhaustion, physical and mental. The crowd of servants gathered outside the door made her straighten her spine even more, and set her jaw as she glided past the handful of men and women. She would again be the subject of conversation for the entire Manor tonight. They'd only arrived two days ago, and Alhanna had managed to embarrass herself before the servants each day since, beginning with knocking over a complete set of decorative armor in the main corridor a scant fifteen minutes after being dismissed from Lacy Sedai's rooms. Appalled at her own carelessness, Alhanna had tried to help put the suit back together, only making the ancient serving woman who'd witnessed the entire event laugh harder.

Alhanna arrived at the stable with several minutes to spare, clad in the dress Lacy provided her with yesterday. She'd worn many strange dresses in her time, but Alhanna had never seen an Accepted's dress made specifically for riding. It was pristine white, of course, and the hems were banded with the colors of all seven Ajahs, but the skirts were also divided in the fashion of the Saldaean dresses the Accepted was familiar to. Her mount was already saddled, and they rode out silently. It never occurred to Alhanna to ask where their destination was, she hadn't dreamed of questioning an Aes Sedai, even her mentor, since her first week in the White Tower. They soon came to a small clearing, average enough in appearance- before one looked closer to see the straw-filled dummies erected every few feet on either side of the clearing, leaving a space between the two rows wide enough for a horse and it's rider to ride past. Lacy didn't leave her to wonder for long.

"I know you've taken instruction from several Aes Sedai- you've managed to wangle several lessons from an impressive amount of Green Sisters- and I know you've hoarded battleweaves like gold. Don't bother denying it-" the Aes Sedai glanced over her shoulder at the Accepted, who'd remained stationary in her saddle, "you'll be utilizing what you know into an obstacle course of sorts. I Warded these dummies with several protections against Saidar last night, they should withstand a surprising bit of practice. You'll begin at the edge of the clearing-" Lacy gestured toward where they'd emerged from the path, "embrace the Source, and ride between the two columns of dummies while using battleweaves against each of them in turn. When you get the hang of it, we'll begin using several weaves each turn you take, given the dummies hold up. Any questions?"

Alhanna shook her head mutely, still amazed at the Aes Sedai's idea. She'd never heard of this sort of thing at the Tower.

"Good. I'll stay out of your way and observe. Begin when you're ready."

The Accepted turned her mount and faced the dummies at the end of the path. She paused for a moment to concentrate on the dummies, taking several deep breaths. Simultaneously, the brunette dug her heels into the mare's flanks and embraced Saidar at the same time. They thundered down the column, Alhanna coldly weaving balls of fire larger than her two fists put together, hurling them at each dummy's midsection one at a time. Before she even reached halfway down the column, the Accepted became dizzy from spinning around in her saddle so much. When she trotted back to the beginning, she saw that she'd missed the better half of her targets, and instead had hit several trees. "Oh," she breathed, her eyes wide.

"Don't worry about the trees, you've only singed a few, and they can be nursed back to perfect health. Do you understand what you did wrong?"

Alhanna nodded, "I took too much time on each weave. I can do multiple weaves at a time, so I should do so, just as I would in the midst of a battle against Shadowspawn." Lacy Sedai smiled and nodded, "Excellent. Try again, and slow your pace a little. You'd never be able to maintain that pace in a horde of trollocs and myrdraal, not without keeping yourself and your horse out of danger. I don't expect perfection today- you'll be running this course every day for the rest of the week."

This time Alhanna started right out, setting out at a gallop. The bay mare she rode was one with her, she was amid a band of carnivorous trollocs, the lone warrior against many! In her sudden battle fury, Alhanna wove several fireballs at a time, hurling them out with both hands as soon as they were woven, beginning another before the horse took it's next step. She kept up with the amount of dummies better, this time, and she didn't have to turn to aim at each one- they were smoldering before she galloped past them. At the end of the column, Alhanna spun her horse about and galloped back, inspecting her damage. Less than a third were lacking the tell-tale smoke rising into the air, but half of those showed signs of being singed from near misses. She continued through several more passes, her accuracy growing by leaps and bounds. For the rest of the afternoon she alternated between fireballs and streaks of lightning, then icy spears made of Water, Air, and Spirit a particularly fierce Aes Sedai named Trilaen had taught her only weeks before. By the time she made her final pass, only two dummies showed signs of surviving the most recent attack.

Alhanna released Saidar and exhaled audibly, physically and mentally drained from exertion. She rode back to the Manor silently beside her mentor, too tired to feel ashamed to be hunched over in her saddle. At the stable, Alhanna caught herself just in time to land on her feet, and had to take a moment to steady herself against her horse before allowing the groom to lead her away. "Go rest, Alhanna, it won't do for you to drown yourself in Cook's beef stew because you've fallen asleep at the table. I'll have dinner sent up to-" Alhanna was on her way before the Aes Sedai could even finish her sentence, unable to do anything but make the barest attempt at a curtsey that involved an awkward bob of her head, and the flop of her left hand.

Alhanna's habit of waking at dawn had surely become some sort of demon. It took the shape of her personal servant, Rosie, who had tried to help Alhanna dress her first morning at Ashlin Manor. The Accepted suspected that the woman had taken offense when she refused her help.

That goat-kissing, sour-mouthed, Light blasted woman is the Dark One Himself, Alhanna thought to herself darkly as she scrambled into a clean shift, almost shivering in the early morning chill. Throughout her morning stretches, breaking her fast, and dressing for the day, Alhanna continued to curse the woman, allowing herself the pleasure of thinking of poking the woman with a sharp stick until she woke- every morning well before dawn for the rest of her days. Of course, Alhanna didn't dare open her mouth about the rotten servant, certainly didn't complain about her. Nasty as she was, she did complete chores that, were the Accepted to perform them herself, Alhanna wouldn't have any sleep at all.

On her final full day, Rosie woke Alhanna later than usual.

"The mistress wanted me to wake y'earlier today, Accepted. She wants t'see ye in her study dressed in ye'r best," Rosie replied to Alhanna's confused look, something akin to compassion in her eyes, "ye'r dress is hanging over th'chair, and I found ye'r pretty shift in ye'r bags, freshly pressed it is, Accepted."

For once, Alhanna meant it when she thanked the woman. What a fickle creature, she thought idly as she dressed herself. Instead of the severe braid she normally imposed on her hair, Alhanna brushed out her hair with a mother-of-pearl brush she found resting beside her shift on the desk, securing it at the nape of her neck so it swung freely, just short of touching her waist. Her soft knock on the oak door was immediately answered with a gruff "enter". Alhanna opened the door quickly before it occurred to her to wonder about the strange beckon. She entered the room and stopped dead, her entire body frozen- except her heart, which beat furiously.

"Richard," Alhanna whispered, closing the door behind her, her wide, tilted eyes locked on the young man standing in front of Lacy Sedai's desk. He was dressed in the black uniform of the Black Tower, the harsh look of the clothing complimenting his good looks. I'd forgotten how handsome he was, she thought dumbly, taking another step into the room. She blinked and shook her head. "I-I can't believe you're here. Where's Lacy? I thought-" Alhanna's mouth snapped shut. It's just like Lacy to do something like this.

"Lacy Sedai sent for me from the Black Tower. I'm not sure how she managed to convince Kaiman to allow me to come to her estates, but-" he shook his head and crossed his arms. "She told me you had something important to discuss with me."

"You haven't written." Alhanna was beginning to recover from the shock, and she was again assuming the Aes Sedai calm. Her face and posture were stoic as she skirted her way behind the desk, sitting in Lacy's high-backed leather chair.

"I've been busy, you should understand that."

"I've still found time in my preciously busy schedule to write to you." Alhanna's voice remained calm, even though she seethed inside. Half of her life had been spent in the White Tower, but she was still very much Saldaean. "That isn't the point, Richard. Lacy was right, there is something I wished to speak with you about concerning our.. situation. Please, sit so we can speak."

Richard complied and sat in one of the chairs in front of the large desk. "Our situation- you mean our Promise?"

Alhanna nodded. "I know that we once were very close friends, but I think that we've both changed drastically since we last saw each other at the Feast of Lights. I've met new people, and I'm sure you have as well. In fact, I've met a Siswai. I trust him very much. He.. I don't know what the Wheel will weave for me, Richard. I'm considering asking him to enter a Bond with me at the appropriate time."

The chair scraped on the floor as Richard stood, "What are you talking about, Alhanna?"

"It's just that-" Alhanna took a breath, "it's been years, Richard. I haven't heard from you in years. I never received a reply to my letters, so I stopped writing. I worried for weeks, months even, waiting to hear whether you'd died in battle in the Blight, scrounging what news I could from an Accepted- who, I may add, was in regular contact with her Promised at the Black Tower."

"Alhanna-"

"I release you, Richard. I release you from any and all obligation you hold toward me. I think that's the best for both of us."

His face betrayed what he was thinking- the cold betrayal on his face made Alhanna want to back away. She didn't, however. She stayed her ground, her chin raised a notch stubbornly.

"So that's it, then," it was a statement, not a question. "I'm discarded." His lips were pressed into a thin line.

"I release you." She repeated, her voice quiet.

"I can't deal with this right now," he said, spinning around on his heel angrily. The door slammed shut behind him, but her head was in her hands, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. The door opened slowly, but Alhanna didn't look up.

"So you told him. I take it he didn't accept it so well." Lacy's voice was quiet, almost soothing. "It had to be done, Alhanna. You couldn't put it off any longer. You had an opportunity, you had to take it."

"You could have warned me." Alhanna lifted her head and pushed away from the desk, standing. "at the very least, you could have warned me!"

"What would you have done differently, Accepted Alhanna? Will you always expect a warning in the future? Shall the hordes of trollocs send you a courtesy note in advance of their attack? You will be Aes Sedai, Alhanna, not the Creator. Not even the Aes Sedai have the courtesy to be forewarned of everything in the future."

Alhanna sighed, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "I know, Lacy. I apologize for snapping at you. I don't know what came over me."

"You are tired. I know that I've extended you further than you're used to, but it was necessary. You haven't begun to learn what I wish we could cover, but even a week away from the Tower is too long for the Mistress of Novices." Lacy was standing not far from where Richard had a few minutes ago, her fine green dress was cut in the Andoran fashion, made with silks transported from Shara. Alhanna nodded miserably, "I understand, Lacy. I look forward to our return to the Tower." The Aes Sedai looked at her in surprise, "If I didn't know any better, I would say that the only thing keeping you from being Raised is that you enjoy being an Accepted too much," she said with a laugh. "There is still plenty of time left in the day, Alhanna; I'll meet you in the stable yard in a quarter of an hour to practice your weaves."

The following morning was filled with bustling servants going back and forth between Alhanna's and Lacy's rooms and the stables, preparing their horses for their departure. Instead of spending two days in the wilderness- as they had at the beginning of the week- Lacy Sedai was Travelling directly to the White Tower courtyard. Alhanna's bags were easily packed, and she spent the remainder of the morning in her room, reading a book she'd selected from Lacy's library.

"Are you ready?"

Alhanna looked up at Lacy, who leaned against the doorframe. The Accepted stood quickly, dropping into a deep curtsy. "If you are prepared, Lacy Sedai, I am, as well."

"Light, child, what did I tell you about that?" The Aes Sedai said, shaking her head, "not even at the White Tower yet, and you act as though I haven't been your mentor for over a decade!" Alhanna smiled as they left the room, "The only thing stronger than the walls of the White Tower, Aes Sedai, are the traditions. You know that well enough."

"Of course, child, but if we are constantly living in tradition, what is there to remind us that we're human?" Alhanna stared at the Aes Sedai for a moment before she remembered to continue walking. The Aes Sedai had always insisted on a certain amount of informality among herself and Alhanna- in return, Alhanna had often tried for the same friendliness with her own mentees- but she had never explained her reasoning. They continued toward the stable yard silently, Alhanna lost in thought. She'd never considered something like that to be the reason for Lacy's unorthodox request. The stable yard, as expected, was filled with servants, all of them seeming to be completing some task or other. Her mount stood a few feet apart from Lacy's, both fair mares from a fine Tairen stock.

"Everything seems to be in order."

Alhanna thought of Adolphus, waiting back at the White Tower. He probably doesn't even know I've been gone.

"Indeed."

Alhanna looked around her at the servants, now stood spread in a semi-circle around them both. "They'll miss you."

"They'll miss you, too. Even Rosie." Lacy grinned at her mentee, amused at the surprised look on her face. She knew about how Rosie treated me all along! she thought, finding herself marginally less surprised at the fact than she'd expected. They each took up their horse's leads, and Lacy embraced Saidar, creating the vertical slash in the air before them. Alhanna watched as the slash expanded and elongated, creating a window to a very different setting, the White Tower well in view. Lacy nodded at Alhanna and, taking a deep breath, the Accepted led her horse forward.