Disclaimer: I do not own WoT (Wheel of Time), Aes Sedai, the White Tower, or anything else in Robert Jordan's books. Thanks!

Note: Madeline is not my character, and I am not the author of this first section. The author can be found at as Madeline Sedai. She is a great writer! :) I decided to put the sections of this work in separate chapters for easier management (from my p.o.v at least :).

A note to all note-leavers: I really appreciate feed-back. If you don't like my writing, you should tell me why. Maybe I can use your notes to improve my style over the months. Thanks :)

To Be Accepted.
By Madeline Sedai, AMoN.

Madeline smoothed the green fringe on her shawl over hips, thinking of how long it had been since she had worn it. There had been a time when she had never been without her shawl, but now it stayed in her closet except for in formal occasions. Today was certainly one such, the raising of an Accepted. Madeline always felt mixed emotions when she brought her novices to the arches, feeling both pride and sadness, knowing the pain the Testing always brought.

The novice quarters were fairly busy at this time of day, just after the evening meal and before the next round of lessons. She found Rayel's room and rapped on the door, giving a nod to a young novice who passed from the other way, lugging a stack of books taller then her head. The door swung open, and Rayel blinked in surprise, dipping into a graceful curtsy. There were faint streaks of charcoal on her white dress, and her eyes looked tired. She had worked herself to the bone the past several weeks, earning the approval of many Sisters, but it was taking a toll on her.

"It is time, dear," Madeline said quietly.

Rayel blinked in surprise. "…Time?"

Madeline nodded, saying nothing more, and beckoned for Rayel to follow. They made their way through a winding maze of corridors, heading deep into the bedrock of the Tower where few ever went. At the end of a long stone hallway, they reached a pair of double doors, carved with the image of the Great Serpent.

Madeline looked over at Rayel and gave her a reassuring smile. "You will do well, child. You have the strength and the heart for this, and you will do well."

And so they entered the great chamber where the ter'angreal was kept, now glowing with saidar. Several Aes Sedai bedecked in fringe shawls sat cross-legged surrounding the three silver Arches, one at each point. The stone walls of the rounded chamber flickered with torchlight, seeming rather surreal with the glow of the ter'angreal.

Madeline turned to Rayel. "I will now tell you that which no one hears until they are in this room. First, you should know that once you decide to begin, you must continue until the end. If you refuse to go on, we will have no choice but to see you from the Tower, with enough to gold to last you a year. Second. To seek, to strive, is to know danger. You will know danger in these Arches. Some women have gone into the ter'angreal, and were never seen again. If you will survive, you must be steadfast."

"This is your last chance, Rayel. You may turn back now, and try again another day with two more chances. There is no honor lost in this. Do you wish to continue?"

Rayel nodded. "Yes, Aes Sedai. I am ready." Madeline smiled proudly, and stepped away as a slender Yellow approached. Rayel quickly doffed her novice dress, folding it neatly on the ground.

"Whom do you bring with you, Sister?"

"One who comes as candidate for Acceptance, Sister."

"Is she ready?"

"She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance."

"Does she know her fears?"

"She has never faced them, but now is willing."

"Then let her face what she fears."

Rayel took a deep breath, and stepped through the first Arch. The light flared, and she disappeared. A thick silence settled over the room, as the Aes Sedai waited for their child to return.