Chapter 6
No! Not tonight! she mentally screamed. Not when Meidani is here. She could be hurt...
Her mind galloped away, envisioning Egwene dead in her bedroom, ripped to shreds by saidar or gutted by a hidden knife. Silviana nearly collided with two Tower guards and a bell-haired Arafellin who moved like a Warder, but she rolled up her sleeves, seized the Source, and ordered, "Follow me to the Amyrlin's room. Her wards have sounded."
She strode before the trio of men, torn between preparing a brutal weave of Earth and Fire or a net of Healing. How could she know what was needed most urgently until she arrived? Silviana turned a corner, sending her skirts whipping into the knees of the retinue behind her, and found herself staring into the furious brown eyes of Egwene al'Vere. Behind her a man with a sword on his hip hovered in the air, arms pinned to his side, as a rat's nest of red hair fell across his forehead. His cheeks were glowing crimson.
"Silviana Sedai," Egwene cooly greeted her Keeper. "Thank you for responding so quickly. I'm afraid it was a false alarm triggered by a disobedient child." No doubt the statement was intended for the stupid boy hanging overhead, who was either too ashamed to retort or gagged with Air. Silviana hoped for the latter and scowled mightily at his floating behind.
Gawyn Trakand, you will be the death of her if you keep this up, she spat internally.
"Of course, Mother," she dipped her head, releasing the Source. "You are well then?"
"As well as can be expected given the circumstances." Egwene spared an empty glance over her shoulder. "I shall retire to my study for a few hours of meditation. Leave him there."
"Yes, Mother," Silviana smiled. If he can so thoroughly ruin her plans, then she can certainly spoil his for the evening in return.
"Thank you all for coming," the Amyrlin continued graciously to the guards and Warder. "Tar Valon needs good men like you more with every passing day. Please return to your posts." She didn't bother ordering them to secrecy. Perhaps she hoped Gawyn would learn the hard way not to ignore her requests. He certainly looked as thought he could die from embarrassment.
Bidding Egwene good night, Silviana and the three men returned the way they came. The Warder muttered, "Seems a poor choice to sneak into the Amyrlin's rooms without an explicit invitation." The guards hid their smiles, but Silviana absently nodded despite his casual tone. At least some men were capable of forethought.
As she tucked a loose strand of hair into her tight bun, Silviana sighed outside of her study door. There was clearly no way to salvage the rest of the night after behaving so dramatically over that idiot's foolishness. She'd practically manhandled Meidani- the last Aes Sedai in the world who needed more rough treatment- and left her locked in her room alone and afraid.
She was being so sweet, Silviana thought. And... forward. At least, I hope that's what it was.
"Meidani Sedai?" she called, knocking twice. "It's Silviana."
The door clicked open immediately, and a pair of large blue eyes filled the crack. "Just Meidani is fine," she replied. Her exhale carried to hallway, and the Red found herself distracted again. She leaned closer unconsciously.
"Is everything all right? My Warder followed after you and he seems to be well." She didn't open the door further, but Silviana was too preoccupied by how pleasant Meidani smelled to notice. She swallowed thickly, willing away the fleeting notion that she should lean in and kiss her.
Completely inappropriate, you smitten buffoon.
"Ah. The Arafellin," she said, clearing her throat. "I wondered about him. He did well to respond so quickly."
"Leonin," Meidani smiled, gorgeous face illuminated with mirth.
"I'm sorry?"
"Leonin. My Warder is named Leonin."
"Ah. Yes." Silviana blushed. Berating herself for having not a smidgen of tact or composure, she added, "Leonin did very well. I appreciated his efforts, as did the Amyrlin." She fell silent, readjusted her shawl and skirt self-consciously.
The Gray lowered her head and her voice, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Would you like to come in, Silviana?"
"Yes, please," the Keeper breathed, following Meidani into her study with pursed lips. It seemed the longer she spent with the other Sister the more her mind flew out the window. No doubt Meidani noticed her dazed expression and assumed she had some sort of degenerative brain disease.
The lonely pair of teacups perched atop Silviana's desk. She sighed, "I'm terribly sorry for having ruined our evening. I would still enjoy a cup of tea with you, if you wouldn't mind relocating to my quarters."
She glanced up at the Gray, noting with pleasure that she smiled in return. The candlelight cast a flickering shadow across her high cheekbones as she watched Silviana thoughtfully. Her slim figure stood tall, so vastly different than the hunched, frightened creature she saw last night in the corridor, and the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest- she tried not to dwell on that thought- embodied her renewed calm. Some part of Silviana's heart took pride in the notion that she'd contributed to Meidani's tranquility, but another feared the hectic drumming in her chest that accompanied the Gray's presence.
Meidani murmured in her sing-song voice, "I was hoping you'd ask."
I am doomed, thought Silviana. I've hardly known her two days and she occupies my every thought.
Retrieving the teacups and desperately trying to conceal the confusing mixture of excitement and trepidation roiling in her chest, Silviana nodded toward the door, "After you." She retained the presence of mind to set her routine wards on the study, a nightly ritual, and turned from the door to see her companion leaning against the whitewashed wall outside with a mournful look.
"Meidani?" she tested the name on her tongue. It was both foreign and familiar, and sent a jolt of pleasure down her spine to use it freely. It's only a name...
"Forgive me." She added, "Silviana."
Meidani wrapped her shawl more closely around shrugged shoulders. "Things have been difficult lately, and I appreciate you taking the time for me." She closed her eyes, purpling eyelids betraying that she'd been too long without sleep. Her nails dug into the pale skin of her arms.
How can I respond to that? "You deserve the best"? "I wish I could give you more"?
Before she could answer, a voice called from down the hall, "Meidani Sedai, may I have a moment?"
Silviana turned as the bell-haired Warder strode past her in his dizzying color-changing cloak, guiding his Aes Sedai several paces away by the small of her back before she could reply. The Red's stomach dropped as they leaned close to one another, tiny smiles dancing on Meidani's lips whenever he playfully nudged her shoulder. She could not hear what was said, but the Gray's mournful mood had clearly dissipated in her Gaidan's presence.
I am a fool; she is taken with him. He's probably asking her to come back to bed.
Leonin- she painfully recalled the way Meidani had named him only moments prior- parted ways with his bonded with a wave, stopping to respectfully nod and murmur, "Silviana Sedai" as he passed by her again. It did not feel mocking, but she internally winced nonetheless. She hated that he was handsome and strong.
Silviana looked to the ground, berating herself for assuming the blonde Aes Sedai preferred women. Even worse, why would she gravitate toward another Red after the way she'd been treated by Elaida? Her Warder was a safer decision, a logical decision. She wondered if it would be rude to abruptly excuse herself and retreat to her quarters alone instead of pining like a naive novice with an unrequited crush.
"Forgive me, again," Meidani said lightheartedly. "Leonin felt he needed to remind me of something I mentioned earlier today."
"I see," Silviana stiffly replied.
Meidani peered her her curiously. "I... I am sorry for all these interruptions."
"As am I."
Her lips parted in a dragging moment of silence before she asked, "Did I do something to upset you, Silviana? It was never my intention."
"I- you- no. It's late. I understand if he wants you to retire for the night."
A smile of relief and amusement appeared on Meidani's face, brighter and wider than anything she'd previously worn. She smoothed the front of her rose-embroidered dress with a shake of her head. "Leonin has no bearing on when or where I go to bed."
"I- oh." Silviana flushed in her stole, suddenly uncomfortably warm. "I thought you might, ah-"
"Perhaps if he were female, and even that would be a trial," Meidani smirked. Before Silviana could choke out another shocked response, the tall Gray looped their arms together and asked, "Ready for tea?"
Notes: Silviana, gurl, you can't handle this Gray.