The Arches of Kerdahlia Telnoray
Chapter 1
For What Was
Keri lifted her head in a proud way. She would be tested through the three arches, the testing to become Accepted. She entered the room a servant had led her to gaze at the many different eyes of the women that would lead her through her test. She smiled at Saige, who she had requested to be here with her. She calmly faced the line of Aes Sedai, waiting for her friend to begin.
---
Saige smiled what she hoped was a comforting smile to Keri, 'She will pass,' Saige told herself, then quickly scolded herself. You would think this was her testing by how nervous she was. Keri readied herself and stood before the line of Aes Sedai. Saige turned to the Mistress of Novices Daenya Sedai, at Keri's side. "Whom do you bring with you, sister?" Saige asked Daenya. "One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, sister," Daenya answered. "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."
Saige came and lead Keri to the first arch "The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." With that Saige watched as her friend entered the arch.
---
"The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." Keri stepped into the arch.
~For What Was:
Keri stepped forward. She blinked. No, please no.
Memory.
The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.
She pushed the nagging thought away.
Flicker.
Her father was sitting on a barstool. What... how? Those questions faded as her mind settled into this parallel world, and forgot the one she had left. They were on one of their peddling trips, like the many times before. "Richard..." The owner of the bar was warning her father, who put an arm around Keri. "This is my daughter. She stays with me." She looked around at the men surrounding them. They were glaring with intense anger at her father, who had just refused to go with them-- alone. This town was full of similar men, full of anger and themselves. The women were rarely seen, always disappearing quickly. Keri did not like being here. Not one slight bit.
Memory. Flicker. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. Flicker.
"As I said, she stays with me." Keri started to shiver. It wasn't cold. "I don't recall giving a choice, stranger." The leader did not look to be trifled with. Keri turned to her father's ear, under the pretense of snuggling closer to him. "Let's get out of here-- please." They had stopped here because their horses were very tired. They had ridden in the wagon a long way, and there was nowhere else to stop. "I have it under control." "Dad! Please! I don't think they're under your control!" He patted her on the head and returned to a normal tone, calm and... in control. "Gentlemen, let's not make this bigger than it is." He turned around straight into a full-armed punch. The fight began. It ended quickly. "Daddy!" He was on the dirty floor, bloody, beaten, and breathing heavily. She rushed towards him, or tried to anyways. There was an arm holding her back-- the only friend here of her father's-- the bartender. "Let me go!"
Memory. Flicker. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. This was happening too quickly. Her memory of the arches, Tar Valon, and Aes Sedai rushed back to her. It was different, yet similar to what had really happened. The men were... more harsh. Flicker.
Keri shook her head. Two men started towards her, but were distracted by her father's moans. One kicked him hard while the other laughed. Her father was a mass of wounds. "Leave her alone," he said with quiet authority. The leader told the men to take care of him while he headed over to Keri.
Memory. Flicker. A bright arch appeared. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. "Father!!"
Her father mouthed, "I love you."
The leader came closer.
Her father sagged lower.
The leader smiled leeringly.
"I love you, Daddy!!" She looked hard at him, his face, his eyes. She stumbled through the arch and the light.
~*~
Keri fell to her knees and wept openly-- not caring if all the Aes Sedai in the world would laugh at her for doing so. "I love you, Daddy..." Her heart was well and truly broken. She stood up, leaving the tears falling down her face, refusing to wipe away the memory of her father.
---
Keri stumbled out of the arch and fell to her knees, crying openly. Saige picked up the container of water and poured it over Keri. "You are washed clean of what sin you may have done, and of those against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul." She poured the last of the water over Keri and set the chalice down. Crouching beside she gave Keri her hand and escorted her to the next arch. "It's alright, Keri. It's over now. You have got to continue," Saige pleaded, "If you quit after you have started the ceremony, you will be cast out of the tower." They approached the second arch. "Are you ready?"
End of Chapter 1
Next Chapter: For What Is
Chapter 1
For What Was
Keri lifted her head in a proud way. She would be tested through the three arches, the testing to become Accepted. She entered the room a servant had led her to gaze at the many different eyes of the women that would lead her through her test. She smiled at Saige, who she had requested to be here with her. She calmly faced the line of Aes Sedai, waiting for her friend to begin.
---
Saige smiled what she hoped was a comforting smile to Keri, 'She will pass,' Saige told herself, then quickly scolded herself. You would think this was her testing by how nervous she was. Keri readied herself and stood before the line of Aes Sedai. Saige turned to the Mistress of Novices Daenya Sedai, at Keri's side. "Whom do you bring with you, sister?" Saige asked Daenya. "One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, sister," Daenya answered. "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."
Saige came and lead Keri to the first arch "The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." With that Saige watched as her friend entered the arch.
---
"The way back will come but once. Be steadfast." Keri stepped into the arch.
~For What Was:
Keri stepped forward. She blinked. No, please no.
Memory.
The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.
She pushed the nagging thought away.
Flicker.
Her father was sitting on a barstool. What... how? Those questions faded as her mind settled into this parallel world, and forgot the one she had left. They were on one of their peddling trips, like the many times before. "Richard..." The owner of the bar was warning her father, who put an arm around Keri. "This is my daughter. She stays with me." She looked around at the men surrounding them. They were glaring with intense anger at her father, who had just refused to go with them-- alone. This town was full of similar men, full of anger and themselves. The women were rarely seen, always disappearing quickly. Keri did not like being here. Not one slight bit.
Memory. Flicker. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. Flicker.
"As I said, she stays with me." Keri started to shiver. It wasn't cold. "I don't recall giving a choice, stranger." The leader did not look to be trifled with. Keri turned to her father's ear, under the pretense of snuggling closer to him. "Let's get out of here-- please." They had stopped here because their horses were very tired. They had ridden in the wagon a long way, and there was nowhere else to stop. "I have it under control." "Dad! Please! I don't think they're under your control!" He patted her on the head and returned to a normal tone, calm and... in control. "Gentlemen, let's not make this bigger than it is." He turned around straight into a full-armed punch. The fight began. It ended quickly. "Daddy!" He was on the dirty floor, bloody, beaten, and breathing heavily. She rushed towards him, or tried to anyways. There was an arm holding her back-- the only friend here of her father's-- the bartender. "Let me go!"
Memory. Flicker. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. This was happening too quickly. Her memory of the arches, Tar Valon, and Aes Sedai rushed back to her. It was different, yet similar to what had really happened. The men were... more harsh. Flicker.
Keri shook her head. Two men started towards her, but were distracted by her father's moans. One kicked him hard while the other laughed. Her father was a mass of wounds. "Leave her alone," he said with quiet authority. The leader told the men to take care of him while he headed over to Keri.
Memory. Flicker. A bright arch appeared. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. "Father!!"
Her father mouthed, "I love you."
The leader came closer.
Her father sagged lower.
The leader smiled leeringly.
"I love you, Daddy!!" She looked hard at him, his face, his eyes. She stumbled through the arch and the light.
~*~
Keri fell to her knees and wept openly-- not caring if all the Aes Sedai in the world would laugh at her for doing so. "I love you, Daddy..." Her heart was well and truly broken. She stood up, leaving the tears falling down her face, refusing to wipe away the memory of her father.
---
Keri stumbled out of the arch and fell to her knees, crying openly. Saige picked up the container of water and poured it over Keri. "You are washed clean of what sin you may have done, and of those against you. You are washed clean of what crime you may have committed, and of those committed against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul." She poured the last of the water over Keri and set the chalice down. Crouching beside she gave Keri her hand and escorted her to the next arch. "It's alright, Keri. It's over now. You have got to continue," Saige pleaded, "If you quit after you have started the ceremony, you will be cast out of the tower." They approached the second arch. "Are you ready?"
End of Chapter 1
Next Chapter: For What Is