Disclaimer – I do not own Bleach, Wheel of Time, or any of the creations from the great minds of Tite Kubo and Robert Jordan. I am merely a humble fan, molding their ideas into creations of my own in hopes of entertaining others. While I do own my OC's and ideas, I'm not making any money off em. So please, enjoy the story, but don't sue me. XD
I'm baaaack!! ^_^ Sorry for the lengthy wait. Take comfort in knowing that you won't
have to wait nearly so long for chapter 26, since it's pretty much finished. ^^;
I know everyone was dying for some Suiren x Byakuya action in chapter 25,
so I tried writing it. Only it's not what I originally had planned for this chapter so
I ended up failing miserably. It was total crap, trust me.
So, rather than give you crap, I wrote the chapter I wanted to do in the first place.
Alindrah fans rejoice, this is alllll her. XD
Special thanks to the following sweet and wonderful people! Thanks for reading and enjoying! -huggles-
From dA - inSAnityfReAk, Solosan, CrimsonPeony, anti-ignoramus, tasukikiko, Wintaerland, dailyintakes,
elevenstoriesup, Cinnuint, Nyyu and Yugima. (If I forgot someone, let me know!)
WannaBeNinja (aka oOLadyLuckOo) thanks for your sharp eyes. You always help me with editing, thanks so much!!
BlueDione I would be lost without you. Seriously. You're so intuitive and you've been absolutely priceless. I'm blessed
to have you and WannaBe as editors and more importantly, as friends.
MatsuMama I'm still totally honored that you like my story so much! I aspire to be a writer with your capabilities.
Jazzmaster You know, I'm never happy with a chapter till I get your review. Then I can breathe again! LOL
animechick247 I love all the PM's you send me!! :D Makes me happy to receive so much encouragement.
Jenneke88 and HollowHeartless bwahaha I knew I'd sucker you two in eventually!!
angil, The Neliel Tu, Gem Of The Stars, Byakuya117, darthgamer
Eesh...the list of people is getting to long for me to include. ^^; Thanks all of ya'll!!
Chapter 25 – Holding On To Sanity
The moment he'd unsheathed that short sword he always kept at his side, Alindrah's body tensed, hand flying up to draw the black veil across the lower half of her face. She could not figure out why he would do such a thing, but instinct told her to prepare to defend now and question his actions later.
Grinning wickedly, Gin Ichimaru casually tapped the smooth metal of his zanpakutō against the flat of his hand, taking one ominous step closer to the wild eyed woman in front of him.
"Trus' me, Kicho-han. Ya won't feel a thing."
"Trust you?" Alindrah replied, biting off each scorn filled word. "You delight in my suffering, Shadowfox. Now you bare your steel and expect me to believe you mean no harm? I would sooner trust a Shaido to guard a goat!"
Smirking, the fox-faced man shook his head in what appeared to be amusement. Or arrogance. Before she managed to secure the veil, Alindrah's hand came to a halt of it's own accord, freezing in place as though time itself had ground to a halt. She would have gnashed her teeth and wailed in horror had she been able to, realizing exactly what had just occurred. Once again he was going to force her to his will. Once again she would be as helpless as a newborn, an obedient puppet dancing to his tune.
The man shamed her to the bone. For an Aiel, shame the worst torture imaginable, far exceeding what could be done to her physical body. It cut her as surely as any blade could and more effectively. In her short time here, this man had brought her to her knees with his actions, crippling her under the weight of that shame. Any more and she would simply die of it.
As if by rote, she battled against the unshakeable hold he had over her. It was a fruitless endeavor and she knew it, but that did not mean she would relent. No matter how she fought or how solid her resolve, her body moved in accordance with his unspoken commands every time. There was no escape from this compulsion, none. Releasing the veil, Alindrah strode across the room to stand just below a small platform without a word. Not any that could be heard aloud. Inside her mind she let loose a string of curses, some in the Old Tongue, some picked up in her travels with Suiren and others she'd learned since arriving in this world. It was a measure of her discomfiture, for she rarely used such foul language, even in her head. There was still a little heat to them despite her hopelessness. Gin may have demoralized her but she was not defeated yet.
Doing her best to glare at him through glassy, blue fogged eyes, Alindrah knelt before the platform with her arms limp at her sides. Meek and compliant. Towering above her, Gin's constant smile positively reeked of satisfaction. He knew that no matter how eager she seemed to please on the outside, inside she was seething with rage. For some reason, that only encouraged him. A faint scraping behind her made her senses leap, screaming out a warning but she did not budge from her place. She could not. She knew was that someone was standing directly behind her, so close it made her skin tingle. The who and why, she could no sooner discern than she could turn her head.
With her mind so intently focused on the person at her back, she was actually startled when she found Gin's blade - Shinsō he called it - lancing through her body. Outwardly, she did not move. Internally gasping in alarm, Alindrah goggled at the short sword. Seconds after impact it begin to shine. Brighter and brighter until all she could see was a blinding white blizzard.
When the light receded, she blinked, eyes still struggling to adjust. Once her vision began to return to normal, Alindrah blinked again, doubting what she saw.
There was no room around her, no Gin and most notably, no sword buried between her breasts. The sun stood high over head, brightly scouring the sandy wasteland that surrounded her. Lifting one hand, she held it flat above her eyes to shield them from the light, harsh on eyes that had not seen the rays of the sun in a weeks time. In the distance a mountainous cave loomed, its pitch black rocks providing a startling contrast to the otherwise barren desert.
Somehow Alindrah felt compelled to begin moving towards it. Perhaps it was instinct, survival skills telling her to get out of the sun and the open where she was vulnerable to attack. Perhaps it was something else.
With her legs following the commands she gave at last, Alindrah began loping towards the cave despite not knowing what drove her to do so. Around her the wind began to pick up, lifting the sand and pelting her skin with sharp bites. Using the white scarf that hung lose around her neck she shielded her face, providing some protection from the storm that was building. It was habit alone that had her doing that, forgetting completely about Saidar.
Chuckling mirthlessly, she reached for the One Power and channeled. That was another difference of this preternatural realm. She was blessedly free of the collar that held her prisoner and the Source beckoned. Without the a'dam to restrict her, she was able to form an invisible wall around her body, making the grains of sand bounce off harmlessly about an inch above her skin as she pushed on ahead. As much as she'd love to savor the feel of Saidar radiating through her body, the training of her youth advised against such foolishness. Now was not the time.
The urge to reach the cave ahead was building, driving her to push on. The powerful need puzzled her some, but not enough for her to ignore it. It didn't seem possible to anyway. The ground eating strides she'd been making lengthened until she was pushing herself harder than she had in years. It felt as though some unknown demon nipped at her heels, compelling need shifting to near panic. Not quite fear.
By the time she made it to the shelter of charred rock, her chest was heaving with the exertion. That was a feat in and of itself. Aiel did not tire easily. They could easily keep up with horses and their endurance was said to match the speed of the animal as well. It might even surpass the creatures. To have run so hard that she was short of breath she must have come a long way but it felt as though almost no time had passed.
Shifting her feet, Alindrah turned to look the way she'd come, searching for that ominous presence that hounded her along with a way to measure the distance she'd travelled. To her surprise, the sand had been whipped up so heavily by the wind that she could see little more than 20 paces in front of her. Stranger still, the unexplained fervor that had flogged her completely dissipated the moment she stepped into the cave. It was as if whatever wanted to drive her here was now satisfied but still made certain she could not leave. Or would not. Only a fool would rush out into a sandstorm of that magnitude. Even with the power shielding her, she would still be wandering aimlessly into the Light knows what.
At her back, a deep rumble reverberated through the cavern, making the hair on the back of her neck rise. That sound was not created by anything human.
'Where in the Light am I and what was that?' A thousand questions raced through her mind, now that she actually had a moment to think them. In her mad dash to get here, she'd spared no time at all for thinking. She could not help but wonder if she'd just rushed blindly to her death. Whatever being made that unearthly sound did not seem best pleased by her arrival. An Aiel did not fear death, though. Being in the Wetlands for so many years were making her far too soft. For even being slightly concerned she chided herself, rolling her shoulders back and standing a bit straighter. Steps sure and confident, Alindrah moved deeper into the sulfur scented darkness that seemed to engulf the cave despite sunlight pouring in only a few feet away.
Creating a small globe of light with Saidar to light her path was a simple task, actually being able to see more than two feet in front of it was not. No matter what she did, the darkness consumed the light. An ill omen, in her eyes. Pebbles crunching beneath her feet, Alindrah followed the path downward, winding in a subtle curve. Strangely, the temperature seemed to rise as she moved ahead rather than falling as she expected. The air was thick as well, making it harder to breathe. Not for the first time she questioned her destination along with her current location. Directly ahead of her something....shifted....in the darkness.
Assuming a defensive stance, Alindrah studied the pitch black with ears piqued. Someone or some-thing was in front of her but she could not pinpoint where. Cautious eyes scoured the area, squinting at every little thing to try and see what she could not. Banishing the globe of light to conceal her own presence, seconds ticked by as she allowed herself to become accustomed to the darkness. A waste of time, as she eventually learned. The black that filled the cave completely enveloped her and everything else with it. She might as well be blind.
The crumble of pebbles and dirt was the only warning she had before something lashed out at her from the gloom, catching her across her stomach and lifting her. Her body struck the ceiling of the cave with a resounding crack that echoed through cave. Alindrah's lungs burned from having her breath so crudely pushed out of them, though that was the least of her problems. Whatever it was that attacked her now held her pinned tightly, nearly crushing her with it's weight alone. If she did not free herself quickly, it most likely would. Her hands slid across smooth, ridged flesh uselessly. Pushing it would accomplish nothing.
"Why have you come?"
A coarse but distinctly feminine voice reverberated throughout the narrow tunnel. It was almost a hiss, yet Alindrah could feel it actually vibrating her body. 'Definitely not human. A creature of the Dark One?'
"Do not put me with that foul lot, child!"
Alindrah's eyes grew wide at the statement. How had it known what she was thinking? That was impossible! Finding her voice, Alindrah questioned the mysterious 'thing' that lurked somewhere ahead, her strong voice not betraying the strain on her body.
"How can you know my thoughts? Explain yourself!"
"So you have a voice after all..."
The pressure across her body intensified, jamming her further into the unyielding stone and making her ribs ache to the point where she thought they would surely break. Grunting as she struggled, Alindrah hastily began to copy the weave she'd first seen Moghedien use upon their arrival to this world. It was the second time that she would have relied on that foul creatures knowledge to protect herself. She wasn't certain if she should be grateful or feel shamed for resorting to such a cowardly tactic. Threads of air, fire and earth intertwined around her, encircling her body with an air tight shield. Even as that weave was laid, she was already spinning another, one of air alone to push and pull away the great weight that held her down.
As soon as that crushing force released her, Alindrah sucked in as much oxygen as she could manage. Being inside the shield as she was, that meant painfully little. She was forced to release it almost as quickly or deprive herself of what she could not live without. The arm thick cords of air that bound that slippery body snapped in two with one twitch but it did not come after her again. Rolling the moment she landed on the ground, she hoped to put some distance between herself and her attacker. It also served to keep her location hidden from it. Or so she hoped. While she could see nothing in the murky cave, it must have some sense of it's surroundings. How else could it have launched a successful attack on her?
Relying on skills she'd mastered as a Maiden, Alindrah flattened herself against the wall without making a sound. Stealth was one of the most important abilities any Aiel warrior needs to master. One could not survive without it. Holding her breath, she made a rough calculation as to the whereabouts of the beast that was assaulting her. Without moving a hair, a growing ball of flame appeared several feet in front of her and launched itself, curving slightly to the left to seek out and sear away its target.
It was a blind stab in the dark, one she hoped would find at least part of it's target. If even a spark landed on the creature, she would know. The blistering heat that it produced was enough to burn anything to ash. Even if it did not kill the beast, it would likely cry out and give her a exact fix on it to allow for a successful follow up. That was the plan, at least. As she watched the pitch envelope that blazing inferno, she strained her ears to hear it's result. The expected howl never came, nor did anything resembling a successful blow. Instead, the creature spoke again, it's gravelly voice booming through the cavern.
"Foolish human."
As the words faded, two impossibly bright lights appeared directly ahead of her. The brilliant glow robbing her of sight as surely as the impenetrable darkness had, causing her to throw her arms up to shield her eyes from the glare. The position left her vulnerable to attack but once again she met with the unexpected. An attack never came, though what awaited her shook her to the bone.
Eyes quickly adjusting, Alindrah found she could actually see perfectly now. The thick darkness was banished in its entirety, as if it never even existed. Crimson and gold scales glittered off the mysterious light that illuminated the wide antre that opened up just a few feet ahead of her. They covered the serpentine creature entirely, from a whiskered face to each of it's clawed feet. It was so large that it's body had to wind around several pillars of stone in the room. The sight of it, however, did not surprise her entirely. She'd seen this behemoth before.
It was on the arm of every Chief in every Aiel Clan. A tattoo that shimmered on their arms just as this creature did. It was a single mark that only appeared on men who had survived the test to become a Chief by stepping through a stone arch ter'angreal. Those marks were dragons, just like the very creature that stood before her.
While she stood gaping at a beast of legend, a stone appeared a foot in front of her, black as pitch and sheathing what looked to be a sword with a rather ornate guard. Seven curved teardrops lined it, points out. Each a miniature copy of the symbol of all Aes Sedai, the Flame of Tar Valon. It was certainly not something she'd expected to see, and not just because it appeared right before her. Aes Sedai vowed to make no weapon with the power but this looked to be just that. It bore the telltale flames, seven to stand for each Ajah and she could feel a strange pull from it. Nothing she could put her finger on exactly but it was enough to tell her that it was no man made weapon.
"What are you waiting for, child? Take it."
The rumbling hiss no longer sounded taunting and the serpent made no move against her. If a dragon could be said to have an expression, it's looked encouraging. Shifting her eyes from the golden flames and deep green hilt, Alindrah looked back to the dragon, eyes flashing.
"You seem to know my thoughts and yet you ask me to touch a sword? I am Aiel, we will not allow such a weapon to touch us! Not now, not ever! Our weapons are hands and feet, spears, bows and knives. No Aiel will ever lay hands on a sword."
Planting her feet, she folded her arms and stared the creature down, boldly daring it to argue. Though the mood had altered, Alindrah would sooner drop her guard than lay a bridal wreath at Gin's feet.
"Who said it is a sword?"
There was a hint of amusement in the voice that slithered to her ears. A cocky assurance as well. It was enough to make her stubborn glare falter and arms loosen.
"It is not?" she questioned, still wary.
"Pull it free and see."
Uncertainty made her obdurate stance quaver, prickling her mind with the possibility that it truly was not a sword. Why would it attack her, then turn around and offer her a weapon? Had it just been testing her skills? But to what end? None of it made the slightest bit of sense. How had she come here? Why was she here and on that note, why was a mythological dragon here? Surely there was a purpose to it all.
Unfolding her arms, she began to unwind the shoufa on her head. Whatever the answer was to this riddle, she'd not find it by standing still. Shaking her hair once it was free, she used the white cloth to shield her from actually touching the hilt of the blade before taking hold of it. Across the expansive cavern, the dragon cackled at her cautious behavior, though it sounded more of a wheeze. Giving the hilt a good tug, she was surprised to have it slip free from the obsidian stone so easily. She'd been expecting at least some resistance. Holding it up to the light she carefully examined the short blade. Letting out a deep breath, Alindrah felt her body relax the moment she discovered that it was a dagger. Only slightly curved, the blade was not much longer than her forearm. Definitely not a sword.
Removing the covering of her shoufa, Alindrah grasped the dagger firmly in her bare hand, immediately flowing into a battle stance. With a deadly grace she moved across the pebble strewn floor without making a sound, fighting an invisible enemy. Light glinted off the weapon as it arced through the air at her command and satisfaction bloomed on her face. While she certainly enjoyed the respect she commanded as a Wise One and Aes Sedai, Alindrah still missed those short years she'd spent as a Maiden of the Spear. It felt good to wield a weapon again. After a few minutes a broad smile graced her features, growing until she was nearly bubbling with laughter. This blade was hers to use, made just for her.
Pausing mid step, she froze in place with the dagger held straight out ahead of her, gutting her imaginary foe. There was something more to this weapon that she'd not been told, something she'd sensed about it earlier.
"Ahh, so you've noticed have you?" The serpent's pleased question bounced off the stone columns, echoing in the distance. "This dagger is different.....Special. When you call to it, it will banish the darkness that surrounds you. Use those words then call my name. Only then will you begin to know the true power of this blade."
"And what is your name, dragon?"
Instead of an answer, the winds piercing howl filled the cavern all at once, drowning out all else. Around her the cave began to dissipate and the dragon with it. Glancing around wildly, Alindrah found herself in a state of stunned bafflement. What was happening? Why was the world itself dissolving? What was--
"Welcome back, Kicho-han."
Blinking mysteriously dry eyes, the blonde sucked in a gulp of air, body jerking as if just coming back to life. She was on her feet now, standing directly in front of Gin with each hand tightly fisting the white hakama he wore rather than the handle of her dagger. Jerking again she tore her hands away, ashamed to have found herself clinging to him so, confused by the sudden change and mourning the loss of her short lived freedom. It had been the light of hope for her and now it was gone once more. Giggling lightly at her reaction, Gin placed one hand atop her head, ruffling her hair in a seemingly affectionate manner.
Taking her eyes away as hastily as she had her hands, they darted around the room. What she saw turned her legs to water, nearly bringing her to her knees. Directly behind the place she'd been standing was a body, sprawled awkwardly like it had been flung down without a care. Long strands of strawberry blonde hair covered half the face of the woman dressed in white but there was no mistaking who she was.
It was her.
Alindrah took a step back, stumbling into the waiting arms of her tormentor but she took no notice. A dull roar was filling her ears and a tingling prickled her scalp as a result of the rapid, shallow breaths she now took. Nothing in her life could have ever prepared her to see her own sightless eyes, her body a lifeless corpse. It was one thing not to fear death, another thing entirely to experience it, and something all together different to find no release waiting for her.
If she was dead, why could she still feel with warmth of Gin's body? Why could she still see and hear? Why was she was still here, still...so alive?
A sluggish scan of her figure revealed entirely different attire from what she'd been wearing when she'd first entered the room. Now the simple black shihakusho that her sister's protectors wore covered her body in it's loose folds. Was this what the dead wore, or was she still seeing things? Still trapped in some strange world?
The roar lessened in strength slightly so that she could just barely hear the other voices in the room, though slurred and thick to her ears, even so it was beginning to deafen her. In what she could only deem to be a panicked stupor, she watched a dark haired women move to and crouch down beside the body. She sensed the woman channel, reflexively recording the weaves without knowing their purpose. Despite the immense stress on her psyche, that inherent ability to memorize weaves upon first sight was deeply engrained in her.
"Oi, Kicho-han. Don' go spacin' out on me again."
Gin's syrupy voice somehow crawled through to her mind, though it took a moment for her to truly understand the words. The woman that knelt beside the body had risen and was walking towards her. Another person, one of the Arrancar's moved to pick it up, tossing the limp form like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder. A pink haired Espada observed the other Arrancar, giving orders it sounded like. Her ears felt like they'd been filled with cotton, she simply could not make out what was being said. She wasn't sure she even wanted to know what they were doing. Ignoring the strong arms wrapped around her to hold her upright, she tried to rationalize, tried to make sense of what lay before her.
Realizing the raven haired woman was now standing directly in front of her, Alindrah willed her eyes to focus and obey her. Features sharpened and revealed a very smug looking Moghedien staring back and suddenly, she wished she had not.
"Even in death you cannot escape your fate, savage" the woman spat, words laced with a powerful venom that began to poison Alindrah's already disconsolate heart immediately.
As the Forsaken spoke, she lifted her hands to reveal what she'd taken from Alindrah's body, her reason for channeling. Shimmering in her grasp was the collar half of the a'dam, hanging open and sending a sliver of fear into the normally stolid Aiel. Alindrah had been so consumed by the mind numbing shock that she'd never even noticed the Source had been freely available to her even after watching another woman channel. Instinct kicked in that same instant, following on the heels of fear. She reached out now, desperately trying to embrace Saidar before the collar was placed on her once more.
Malicious laughter bounced across the pale walls as Moghedien shielded her from the Source, long before she could touch it. It made her want to howl in animalistic fury, to be thwarted when she was so close! Instead, she began struggling wildly to free herself from the vice like grip Gin had on her, frenzied rage providing her the strength to fight. If she could get out of Moghedien's sight, the shield would fall, she could defend herself...flee to safety. Wherever that was.
Kicking frantically, she tried to strike Moghedien, Gin, anyone. Behind her, Ichimaru's laughter made light of her struggles, feeble and weak to a powerful being such as himself. In front of her Moghedien smirked, channeling threads of air to twine around each of Alindrah's legs. They formed a thick cord that bound them so tightly she could not even wiggle her toes when they settled. Letting out a soft moan, Alindrah's head lolled from side to side as the Forsaken lifted the collar, bringing it to her throat. The silvery band encircled her neck once more, snapping in place with dramatic finality. To drive it home, the leash was reformed immediately, winding its way around her body and connecting her once again to the man that held her still, his firm grip on her wrists hard as ever.
For a moment she thought she would simply scream. Shriek until her voice gave out, then begin again. Only a thin shred of pride kept her from plummeting into insanity, giving in to what would have long since broken any other woman. The Light knows it called to her, tugging at her rapidly unraveling mind. Rather than give into the hysteria that filled her, she pushed it all down, gray eyes staring vacantly at nothing. Withdrawing into herself, Alindrah let the taunts and the laughter roll past without even hearing them. Shutting it all out she fell into a daze, reviving only after being struck across the face so hard she should have fallen. She would have, had she not been held upright. Wide eyes blinking, she stared now into the eyes of the truly blind.
Kaname Tōsen seemed to stare back at her, as if he could somehow see her. She found it very difficult to believe he could not. How else could a man move so? How could he strike a target he could not see? A preposterous idea. Still, his eyes were clouded behind that strange visor he wore, meeting hers almost evenly.
"You will thank Aizen-sama for bestowing this gift upon you, for granting you the power to become a blade of justice!"
Finding her tongue, Alindrah blurted out the first thoughts that formed without taking into account just who she was shouting at. "Justice? Justice?! Where is the justice in this? In imprisoning me, torturing me, in...killing me?!"
"The path we follow is the path of the least bloodshed. Some sacrifices are necessary to obtain peace. Your freedom is that price. However, you have been repaid on this day. You are no longer a weak human, unworthy of our cause. Using the limitless power of the Hōgyoku and Ichimaru's spiritual powers transfered through his zanpakutō, Aizen-sama has not only bestowed you the abilities of a shinigami but hastened the process dramatically. Simplified it. You would have suffered much more and possibly died without it. Be grateful, wretched woman, show proper respect to your betters. To the man you serve."
Alindrah gaped at him with her jaw working soundlessly. She was uncertain which appalled her more, his convoluted ideals or the simple statement declaring her no longer human. Not dead, not alive. A shinigami? The word held no meaning to her but she could only assume it was a higher being. Higher than humans at least. It would explain much.
Once more the dark skinned man raised his hand to strike her for what he deemed to be insolence in her lack of response. Caught up in quiet shock, Alindrah did not notice the blur of movement coming towards her until Gin stirred. A hairs breadth away from her cheek, her captor's bony hand encircled Tōsen's wrist, halting the blow. A gasp of surprise escaped her before she could clamp her mouth shut, biting her lip in the process as a reminder to stay silent.
Tilting her head back, she stared up at the silver haired fox, awestruck. The smile that was such a permanent fixture on his face vanished for the briefest of moments, flickering quickly back in place no sooner than she noticed it's absence. Unconsciously she let herself relax into him, feeling strangely comforted, though she could not say why. 'Shadowfox......Gin. Why do you protect me from one of your own? Is this another trick of yours? Or do you not want anyone to mar the face of your toy?'
"Yer so impatient Kaname. If ya jus' give her a secon' I'm sure she'll say thanks." Turning his gaze downward, he beamed a smile at Alindrah. "Won't cha', Kicho-han?"
A slight tingle surged through the a'dam, invisible barbs brushing her skin with a light touch. It did not hurt, but she knew it rested precariously on the edge of pain. A warning. Was he...helping her? Or helping himself? Would Aizen punish him for any show of favoritism? Licking her lips, she quickly decided that a prompt response now would be in her best interests. As much as she'd love to see Gin utterly destroyed, she knew that the pain she'd feel from it would be far worse than any torture she'd received till now. All she needed to do was say two words. It would be a lie, but these men were her enemies and obviously honor was lost on them.
Casting her eyes around the room, she quickly located the man in question calmly observing his subordinates. Up until that point, she'd been completely unaware of his presence. Upon locating him, she realized that he'd been here from the beginning. That disgustingly confident expression of his remained unchanged, despite the tension that blanketed the room. In one hand Aizen held a translucent box, small in size, containing a strange black orb in it's center. Those golden eyes flickered from that box to meet hers, locking on and crushing her newfound resolve with no effort at all. Shame roiled within her as Alindrah bowed her head, dropping her eyes hastily to the floor, unable to meet that frightful gaze.
"....Thank you" she whispered, voice barely more than a croak, but enough to be heard.
Scowling, Tōsen jerked his wrist free and spun on his heels before Aizen even nodded in acceptance. Gin's arm settled around her again, squeezing her lightly. Again, she sensed a warmth in his actions that was uncommon to say the least. Unnatural. 'The man is about as warm as a snake can be.'
-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-
When they were once again alone in the spacious but unwelcoming apartments Gin kept, she expected him to taunt her again as he so loved to do. Rarely did he miss an opportunity to do so. Instead, he revealed a short blade, putting it from his voluminous sleeves. It was the very same weapon she'd held in that strange world, the domain of that dragon. A fine blend of surprise and relief welled up in her at seeing it again. It had been real.
Surely Gin felt the sudden spike in her emotions but his expression never wavered. There wasn't a trace of humor or mocking in his voice as he explained the weapon to her, calling it a zanpakutō. Her zanpakutō. A piece of her soul. Something created when she was separated from her body.
When he'd stabbed her, he was actually transferring a small portion of his own shinigami powers into her. Aizen had apparently used that strange box to somehow activated abilities that would have otherwise been dormant without the combination of their two actions. It also served to hasten the process, which could have easily proved to be fatal for her. She was equally surprised to learn that the weapon glinting in front of her was the embodiment of the dragon she'd seen, interrupting Ichimaru in the midst of his explanation.
"You saw her?" she asked, incredulous.
Chuckling, Gin shook his head lightly and patted the blade at his side. "I jes' know what happens. We all see somethin' diff'rent when we get shinigami powers. Every shinigami has a zanpakutō, an' every zanpakutō has a spirit. Every spirit has a name. That's part of th' key ta usin' th' power of yer zanpakutō. Ya gotta call th' spirit's name first."
"I...I could not hear her name. I came back too soon, if only you'd left me there a moment longer I would have learned it. I'm certain of it!"
Clenching her fists, she gripped her hakama so tightly her knuckles began to turn white. Alindrah's eyes positively shone with a determination. Shaking his head again, Gin toyed with the curved dagger in his hands.
"I don' think so, Kicho-han. Not everyone hears th' name of their zanpakutō th' first time 'round. In fact, most of 'em don'."
"First time?" She cut in again, clearly agitated at the prospect of going through it all over again. "I don't expect I'll miraculously recover from your...zanpakutō...planting itself between my breasts a second time, Shadowfox."
"That aint what I mean. Yer gonna talk with th' spirit of yer zanpakutō again, count on it. In th' meantime, how about ya try holdin' it?"
Alindrah's sullen glare faltered as he offered her that strange dagger. The desire to touch it again filled her, as if keeping it on her person would somehow complete her. A peculiar idea, but no less peculiar than every other ordeal she'd suffered since her capture. Without hesitation she reached out to snatch it from him.
The very moment her hand closed around it's dark green hilt, the a'dam delivered a paralyzing bolt of electricity to her, crackling viscously throughout her body. In her haste, she'd forgotten one very important aspect of the collar that held her captive. It would not allow her to hold anything she considered to be a weapon. How in the Light would she ever be able to hold her zanpakutō again? Had they put her through all of that torment for nothing?
Gin tittered at her as she jerked back, sucking in air through her teeth and flexing her right hand continuously. With her left, she massaged her arm, trying vainly to soothe the ache her actions had created. Cutting her eyes at him, she let blame for it rest solely on his shoulders. It was quite obvious he found it amusing. How quickly that mysterious compassion had gone. Perhaps he had been toying with her earlier. The man did not seem to require reason or excuse to do so, it was as natural as breathing for one such as he. Still, she filed it away in her mind.
"Ah well, I figured ya might not be able ta hold it."
"Then what was the point in all of this?" Alindrah demanded, furious with how insouciant he seemed.
Surely he was concerned that their experiment had failed. The man was typically blithe but even this seemed to be stretching it. She did not want to believe that it was something to be taken so lightly. As she was about to inquire further, he reached out and placed one hand atop her head, much like one would pat a faithful hound.
"No need ta get all upset, Kicho-han. It's jus' gonna take some time. Ya gotta learn ta think of it like ya would yer hands or yer feet. Those are weapons too, ne? Yer zanpakutō is a piece o' ya, jus' like an extension of yer body. Once ya think of it like that, ya should be able ta hold it jus' fine."
For all his patient explanation, she wanted to bite him. The wretched man truly treated her as if she were an animal at times, never failing to remind her that she was his personal plaything, even in the smallest of gestures.
Her animosity did not go unnoticed but it was hardly something to give him pause. Gin much preferred her this way. The more her eyes shot daggers at him, the wider his grin became. Even when her expression was blank, that hatred rarely waned, creating a steady flow through the a'dam. That, he truly relished. Before pulling away he ran his hand across those thick, wavy locks of hers, savoring that surge of shame and rage as some men would a fine wine.
"Try it again, Kicho-han."
-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-
Later that night - or what she assumed was night as there was no sun in the desolate world known as Hueco Mundo. Only an eternal crescent moon. - Alindrah floated, bodiless in the blackness of the Tel'aran'rhiod. The dark expanse was scattered with hundreds of thousands of tiny, glittering lights. Those faint sparkles that dotted the pitch were the dreams of those sleeping and that familiar sight was strangely comforting. A talented Dreamwalker such as herself could locate specific individuals while in this state, targeting their dreams and honing in instantly after making that initial connection. It took time to make the first contact with a dreamer, many nights of hard work, but after finding them, returning to that dreamer again was a simple task.
The only problem now was knowing that what she needed was barred to her. She needed to contact Suiren, her first-sister. Because Moghedien had placed a barrier around her dreams, Alindrah could not get through to her. So for now she would take the next best thing, which was contacting Suiren's protectors. Namely, the handsome young man who she'd spoken with in her last trip to the World of Dreams. Something about that man tugged at her mind, giving her the strangest feeling that she'd seen him before coming to this world. It was not possible, yet that peculiar sensation remained.
Because she had brushed his dreams once before and very recently, it was an easy to locate him again. This time, however, she would go about things a little differently. Spotting the dreams of the flame haired shinigami took less than a breath, causing the world around her to lurch. The speed involved in the move should have sent her brown woolen skirt flapping, tugged by an unseen wind. Only, there was no wind. Not here at least. It was as if she stood still and the world around her rotated, yellow lights blurring with the velocity.
The dramatic shift brought her directly to the glowing orb that she knew to be his dreams. Peering in, Alindrah found him dreaming of drinking, of all things. Perhaps he was re-living the previous nights events in his sleep. That is what it appeared to be, at least. Sitting at the table with him were two other men. One with a timid expression as if he were unsure of himself or at least uncomfortable with his company. Pale blond hair covered almost half of his face, hiding it much in the way he seemed to want to hide. Beside him a man with short black hair laughed loudly, slapping the shy man on the back and trying to draw him into the conversation.
That same niggling feeling of familiarity struck her with this one as well. Crinkling her brow, Alindrah studied the raven haired man a bit closer. Unlike the other two, his black uniform differed slightly. Rather than long, flowing sleeves, his muscular arms were left bare. A band of hollowed black squares connected and encircled both biceps as well as his throat. It was not that oddity that caught her eye though. It was his face.
The right side of his face was scarred, three deep lines that started above his eye ran all the way down to his jawline. That alone drew Alindrah's eye more so than the strange tattoos on the opposite side of his face. Scars on a man usually meant they were a skilled warrior and to survive a wound like that he must be very strong. Or terribly lucky. Either way, to the battle hungry Aiel, a scar was a thing of beauty. On a man who was already handsome it made him all the more appealing.
'Now that is a man I'd love to watch in the sweat tents. If the rest of his body is as well cut as his arms I may not be able to hide my admiration.' Alindrah chuckled at the thought. Among her people, when one takes an interest in the other they show it with fleeting glances. Never directly staring at the other person, just shyly looking and immediately turning away if noticed. They also make a point to always place themselves where the other person can see them. Initially at least.
There were other ways to express interest, several of which were floating around her mind already despite the impossibility of it all. She could ask him to brush her hair...or if she was feeling particularly bold, ask him to wash her back. If her spear sisters had been around, they would have arranged for the man to come across her when she was not dressed.
That reminder was like a slap to the face. Alindrah was no longer a Maiden of the Spear. While she was still acting as a Wise One she could not forget she was Aes Sedai and one who's first-sister was in grave danger. Rather than admiring a man, she should be carrying out her own mission. Fiercely scolding herself, Alindrah reached into the dream and snatched the man she'd come for by the scruff. Giving him one solid tug, she jerked him straight out of his dream and into the Tel'aran'rhiod with her. Normally she would have entered his dream herself, pulling him out was not the most rational of ideas. Even as she yanked him out, she felt a sliver of guilt. She was little rougher than she intended, but it served its purpose nevertheless.
Mouth agape, the red head stared at her incredulously, then at the world around him. When pulling him out of his dream, Alindrah had altered their location to make things easier for him. Being yanked from a dream was upsetting enough and she did not have time to try and explain the shining orbs that had floated all around.
The two of them now stood on solid ground, cracked from heat and the lack of rain. The towering red rocks of her homeland formed an impressive wall around them. She'd brought him to the Three Fold Land, known as the Aiel Waste by outsiders. It was a harsh and nearly barren land where battles were fought over a stream of water small less than a pace across. Water and shade were two very important commodities for any Aiel and they were always in short supply.
"Where the...? What th-?" he began, words stuttering as his mind tried to wrap around what had just occurred.
"Do close your mouth, child. You look much like a...fish." Alindrah said, pausing before the last word.
Fish were still interesting to her. Before leaving her home all those years ago, she'd never seen one of the creatures in her life. The man did resemble one somewhat, eyes wide and mouth hanging open as he gawked.
Fortunately, he was quick to come to his senses. A good quality in a man, though rare. Narrowing his eyes he straightened, folding his arms across a broad chest and doing his best to look imposing. As if such a thing would have any effect on her.
"I'm not a child, girl." He shot back, adding emphasis to the word.
Giving a toss of her head, Alindrah grinned mischievously at him. Anyone who knew her would have recognized that quick flash of teeth as a sign of trouble. Rather than take note of her change in expression he continued on, taking a step forward and jabbing one finger in her shoulder.
"Who the hell are you anyway? And where are we? What is this?!"
Grin fading, smoky eyes slid downward, staring at the finger pressed into with disdain. She had no time for this. Not really, anyway. She had expected some difficulties. It was hard enough explaining things to someone in a dream, even if you knew them. Now that she'd pulled him from the dream he was fully aware. There was no chance of him forgetting this experience on waking and no chance of him dismissing it either. That was the point.
"Wetlander --"
"I have a name you know."
Resisting the urge to growl at his rudeness, Alindrah thinned her lips and instructed her body and mind to remain calm. She must have patience, but he did not help her any in getting it. Absently she straightened the green shawl that had appeared over her arms, tugging at it irritably.
"And that name is?"
Pulling his hand back, his demeanor changed ever so slightly. Curiosity still gleamed in rust colored eyes but he almost looked apologetic. Almost.
"Renji Abarai.... You're the woman I dreamed about a few days ago, aren't you?"
Heaving a testy sigh she nodded, preparing to speak again. That is, until he bowled right over her, bringing up the same questions he'd previously tried to ask though with considerable more clarity. Like most men he liked to feel as though he was the one in charge. She would allow him to believe that, for a while at least. Impatiently, she waited for him to pause as if she had all the time in the world, pouncing the moment he stopped to draw breath.
"Now that you are quite finished" she began, knowing he more than likely was not finished speaking. "I will answer the questions that are relevant and in exchange you will keep silent save to answer those questions until I say otherwise. Do I make myself plain?"
Renji's lips parted as if he were about to reply, with an objection or to agree, it didn't really matter to her. She wasn't here to play games with him. If she let him have all of his answers they would very well be spending the entire night here and accomplish nothing.
"Good. My name is Alindrah, I am first-sister to Suiren Bashere. I told you this the last time though it seems your memory has dulled somewhat." Renji shot her a glare at the gibe, folding his arms to further show his disapproval. "Where you are in truth is the World of Dreams, the Tel'aran'rhiod. This is very real and you will not forget any of this upon waking. This will be your proof when you wake."
Reaching out, she took his hand and pulled him closer, a belt knife appearing in her free hand. He jerked instantly at the sight of bared steel and would have pulled his hand free had she not moved quickly. In a blinding flash the blade sliced across the heel of his hand, opening a shallow wound. Hissing, Renji's eyes darted from the cut to her face.
"What the fuck was that for?!"
Releasing the knife, it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Placing a finger in front of her lips, Alindrah silently reminded him of his obligation to remain quiet. Still firmly gripping his hand she lifted it to display the wound clearly.
"This little scratch will persist even after you wake, in case you doubt my words. I did not expect such a big man to make a fuss over a tiny cut. You wetlanders are soft."
As expected, he growled at her insult as any man would, but he did hold his tongue. At least he caught on quickly. Continuing on, she proceeded to question him on the days events, eager to hear the details of what happened. Aside from knowing Ariam had failed, she was otherwise ignorant of the situation.
For a moment, she thought he was going to become petulant when she first began to make her inquiry, still soured over the small knick on his palm. The expression on his face suggested as much. The idea must have been rejected quickly, because he was already beginning to recite all of the information he had on the event with the terms and voice of a man who was a seasoned solider. A surprising man, this one. Mirthful but serious, when it came to something of importance at least.
He did not try to deny or hide the fact that he'd actually become easily ensnared by Ariam when he'd first arrived on the scene. Alindrah knew many a man who would have left that bit out to keep their pride. Wetlander men. Aiel do not lie, it would go against their code of honor and shame them. She had, in fact, shamed herself in lying earlier. Compared to what she had already endured, it was a drop in the bucket.
In her eyes, this crimson haired shinigami had already earned much honor. He'd saved the life of her sister and for that she owed him her gratitude. A great deal of it. Suiren was precious to her.
"Thank you for protecting my first-sister. My water is yours, Renji Abarai and the shade of my septhold will always welcome you."
"...What?"
Tattooed brow furrowing in confusion, he struggled to contemplate the meaning of her words. Those from the soft lands always did have difficulties in understanding Aiel, although most were too frightened of them to even try to learn. Waving her hand dismissively, she brushed off the question in favor of asking one of her own.
"Aizen will not stop trying to capture Suiren Bashere. Moghedien certainly won't. He'll not allow her to return to our world until she fulfills her end of the bargain they have apparently made. The man is very...formidable. What weakness does he have? Once I learn them, I am certain that I can--"
"No!" Renji burst out, gripping her tightly by the shoulders. "I know what you're thinking and you can forget it. Aizen is too powerful for you, for me...even Captain Kuchiki. The guy stopped Ichigo's blade with one finger! Without even trying he nearly killed me, Ichigo and Captain Komamura! If you even think about attacking him, he'll kill you."
Blinking, Alindrah stared at the man, dumbfounded. She'd not expected such a passionate outburst from him on the subject. It wasn't as though she was going to rush in blindly. He shamed her in thinking that she would, and for thinking she could not hold her own in a battle.
"What comes, comes, Renji Abarai. I am no fool and I am certainly no weakling."
"I never said you were. It doesn't matter how smart you are or how brave. It's going to take the strength of all the Seireitei to pull Aizen down. If you try it on your own, you're going to die. It's as simple as that."
"We must all wake from the dream sometime. I do not fear waking."
"Oh and I'm sure Suiren would be thrilled to know her sister rushed off to a pointless death. What does that have to do with sleeping anyway?"
Doing her best to resist the urge to give him a thorough beating, Alindrah hissed through her teeth. As much as she wished to deny it, there was a grain of truth to his words. Suiren would suffer greatly when she received news of her death. The loss of a Warder was almost incomparable, but the loss of a first-sister would be devastating all the same. The bond between first-sisters was vaguely similar to that of the Gaidin. It was a thing of the Power that bound their souls irrevocably and made it seem as though they truly had been born of the same mother.
Letting go of her abruptly, Renji raised a hand to drag it through his long red locks and froze with a look of horror painted across his face. Lifting the other hand, he gingerly patted at both sides of his head, feeling the tightly braided pigtails and following each one down to the bow that tied the ends. For a moment, Alindrah had managed to forget the little prank she'd played on him earlier. It was difficult to remain so somber now, watching him discover her handiwork. His expression was truly priceless.
"When did you...no, how did you do that? Why? Are you trying to make me look like a girl?!"
"A little girl, to be correct. Only little girls braid their hair in pigtails and carry around dolls."
Right on cue, a rag doll much like the one Alindrah had carried as a child appeared in his hand. Renji let out a shocked gasp, flinging the doll aside hastily as if it were a poisonous snake. She had to bite down on the corner of her lip to stifle the giggles that threatened to spill forth with his reaction. Watching him leap about was nearly too much for her.
"I am not a little girl!"
"Then you should not have behaved as one."
Glaring without truly appearing angry, Renji grumbled to himself as he hastily took apart he braids. For the life of him he could not figure out how the woman had braided his hair. He hadn't felt a thing! Focusing intently on removing them, he nearly jumped when she cleared her throat. That impish grin he'd seen earlier was back in place, one hand pressed to her lips as if to conceal it.
"What?" he asked, adding a little heat to his tone.
Eyes the color of polished silver swept down his body in such an intense stare he could feel his face growing warm before they made a full circuit. They still held a twinkle of humor in them but everything about that look suggested a woman fully appreciating a man. It was almost indecent.
"I believe you have convinced me, Renji Abarai. You are most certainly not a little girl."
"Convinced you? What the hell are you talking about?"
Rather than reply, Alindrah held one of her fingers between her teeth, biting lightly at it. Again her eyes scanned him from head to toe, making him curious enough to look down and see what had suddenly attracted her attention. What he found suddenly made pigtails seem much more appealing. His clothing had vanished, completely. He'd been standing there naked and oblivious for who knows how long and she'd just been eating it up. Yelping in alarm, Renji abandoned the braids to provide some cover for himself.
"Give them back!" he demanded. "I don't care how you took them, just put them back already!"
Releasing her finger, the blonde gave him one very pleased smirk. "It was no trick of mine, wetlander. That is part of being in the Tel'aran'rhiod. If you do not know how to control your thoughts, you end up reflecting them. You were apparently quite interested in proving to me that you were a man and not a child... You have certainly succeeded in doing just that."
"Can't you do something?"
Reaching out and resting her hand on his chest, Alindrah made a slow ambit around him, hand dragging lazily across the tone muscles. He could all but feel her eyes caressing him as she moved. "I could...but you have such a firm bottom, it would be a shame to--"
"Just give me my damn clothes back already woman!"
Clucking her tongue in exaggerated disappointment, Alindrah envisioned him wearing the same shihakusho she'd found him in and made it so. He must wear it almost constantly, because other than this one slip, his clothing had not altered a whit upon entering the Dream World. Typically, someone who was untrained in dream walking would have to first learn to maintain their appearance. Clothing shifted constantly otherwise, depending entirely upon mood and thought. In truth, he should have been able to return them on his own. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't seem to forget that he was naked. Because that is what he held in his mind, it did not change until she changed it for him.
Once he was properly clothed once more, Renji straightened and let out a relived sigh. He had forgotten all about his hair, which had reverted to its usual ponytail on its own. With his cheeks still stained red, he struggled to recover his dignity. That was no easy task considering the situation.
The black clothing pricked at her, reminding her of the attire she worn not long ago. Why was he wearing the same thing? Gin never explained how she came to be dressed that way, she just assumed it was the garb of the dead. But she was not truly dead, was she? That was something else she intended to question her captor on. What in the Light was a shinigami?
"Renji Abarai?"
"You can just call me Renji, you know."
"Why do you wear such unusual clothing?"
Rolling his shoulders, he gave a casual glance at his body to make sure he was still clothed before looking back at her. "It's a shihakusho. Every shinigami wears one, there's nothing odd about it. Well...maybe to you it is but not to us."
"Then you...you are one of the dead?"
Features twisting comically, Renji shook his head at her question. Somehow, he found her naivety amusing. For all the grief she'd given him by not answering his own questions, like how she got him here and what 'here' really was, he thought about leaving her to hang. The sincerity he heard in her voice and genuine interest on her face made him change his mind, feeling slightly guilty despite how she'd had no trouble harassing him. Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck, making an absent note of his hair being normal again.
"Yes and no. It's a lot to explain but the short of it is that shinigami are gods of death. Primarily, our duties are to lead souls to the after life and to cleanse the human world of evil spirits known as hollows. Once in the Soul Society, some souls discover they have powers that others do not, reiatsu or spiritual pressure. Most of them go to the Seireitei to train to become a shinigami because it's a much better life."
"How can someone who is dead have a 'life' at all?" Alindrah cut in, one hand cautiously reaching out as though she meant to touch him but changed her mind halfway there. "Life is a dream we must all wake from but this cannot be what awaits us!"
Arching a brow, Renji paused to study the tall woman before him. Judging by her tone, she was truly distraught at hearing his brief explanation though her face gave away nothing. It was puzzling. The woman didn't seem to be fazed by much, she hardly blinked at the threat to herself Aizen would pose. So why would she get so upset to learn something more about them? It didn't make any sense.
"I don't know what to tell you, Alindrah. We are what we are and I am what I am. Why does it bother you so much to know what happens after you die?"
Giving her skirts an unnecessary adjustment, Alindrah straightened her back and firmed her gaze. As if it could get any harder. The intensity of her eyes on him made Renji decide to quickly change the subject, reverting back to what they'd been previously discussing.
"Ahh back to what I was going to say earlier...rather than taking Aizen on all by yourself, why don't you help us help you? Gather as much information on him as you can. Anything you notice that could be of use, no matter how small. Then relay that to me...like this. Whatever 'this' is. Let us handle him."
Much to his relief, she seemed as eager to move away from the topic of shinigami as he. To his dismay, he didn't receive the reply he'd hoped for. Not even close.
"Do you think that because I am a woman, I should not fight? That I cannot?"
Chuckling softly, Renji shook his head in exasperation. The woman seemed to find an insult in everything he said, not to mention the fact that she did not seem to care one bit for her own safety. She acted like a person who had nothing left to lose. What could Aizen have done to her to make her this way? It had to have been him... Somehow, Renji found it hard to believe that she was always this hellbent on flirting with death.
"You're pretty stubborn, aren't you?"
Ignoring his question, Alindrah folded her arms beneath her breasts and let her eyes drive into him like steel spikes. The fool man wanted her to spy! As if any self-respecting Aiel would stoop to such a thing. Bristling like an angry ridge cat, she decided that she'd spent far too much time speaking with him. It was time for her to return to her own body, to try and get some rest.
"When you rise, deliver a message to my sister for me. Ask her to meet me in 'our' place in the Tel'aran'rhiod in three days time. It is important that you tell her as soon as possible. Now, sleep well and wake, Renji Abarai."
"Hang on just a second, promise me you'll --"
The man's words simply died out, his voice vanishing just as he had. Allowing her spirit to float back into her body, she returned to her own dreams to find them worrisome. Internally she made note of those that seemed to hold some significance while forgetting those that held none. In more than one dream she found Renji, along with his handsome friend. Their positions varied in them, along with her feelings about each man but she could not deny a strange tie to the two. The appearance of either or both men always brought comfort to her in the dreams, whether they were sharing a drink or simply walking together. No matter what the situation, there was an underlying intimacy between them. She wasn't sure what to make of that at all.
One reoccurring theme that presented itself in nearly all of her dreams was being bitten by a small spider. A very poisonous black spider. No matter what she did differently, somehow she found a thick web entangling her, making her easy prey. There was little doubt as to what that meant.
A/N: I offer a cookie to anyone who can guess what the name of Alindrah's zanpakutō will be. XD I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! Once I stopped trying to force myself to write a chapter I didn't plan on, things went pretty smoothly. Thanks again to my Master and Dione for all the help.
Ooh, and thanks to Solosan for drawing some gift art for me! -huggles- And inSAnityfReAk too!! That was an awesome pic of Suiren, her dress looked fabulous! Thanks Jenneke88 and anti-ignoramus for the helpful comments too. Ok, I'm hushing now. I could thank people forever I think....I love all my readers and reviewers! -blows kisses- Love my artists too. -nodnod- Especially Archie. XD
Just a note to any artists reading, I am currently hosting a contest on my deviantART page to draw my OC's. The top prize is $80 in cash or subs. Check out my journal for more information on it.
Alright ya'll, review! PM! Do your thing. Go see all the CoT fanart on my dA page. I should be shot for all the money I've spent. ^^;
Lagniappe: Of the 13 Aiel clans, the Shaido are considered to be untrustworthy and are often the butt of jokes and insults by other clans. Later in the WoT series, you learn just how untrustworthy. Aiel Clans battle frequently over food and water, both precious resources in the wasteland in which they live. Raids on live stock, such as goats, are commonplace. Hopefully this will help explain just what Alindrah meant when she said she'd sooner trust a Shaido to guard a goat. (Those shady bastards would steal it!)
On another note, Aiel men who wish to become a Clan Chief all make a journey to the abandoned city Rhuidean to be tested. There, they step through a stone arch ter'angreal and witness the lives of their ancestors, all the way back to the first of their people, the Jenn Aiel. Because of their beliefs, it's a very traumatizing experience for them and it lasts several days. Not everyone survives the testing, but those who do step back out of the arch marked with an iridescent dragon that loops around their left fore-arm.
Definitions:
Angreal - (anh-gree-AHL) They allow the person holding them to channel more of the One Power than they would be able to unaided. They also create a buffer to protect the channeler from burning themselves out. Angreal can come in any shape or size and the strength of each varies just as much as their appearance. Aes Sedai are required to turn in any angreal they find, or face severe punishment.
Sa'angreal - (SAH-ahn-GREE-ahl) Similar to angreal, they allow the channeler to hold more of the Power. However, sa'angreal are much more powerful and exceedingly rare. Most are specific to the male or female half of the One Power, though there are rumors of sa'angreal that can be used by both.
Ter'angreal - (TEER-ahn-GREE-ahl) Tools created during the Age of Legends, they each have a specific purpose. Some could only be used by Aes Sedai via the One Power, others were activated by touch or could be used by anyone. Very few of these remain after the Breaking of the World and of those that are known, most do not know what they were originally used for. Research is limited to none, because of the dangers in doing so. More than one researcher has been killed or burned out in doing so. (Burned out = cut off from Saidar accidentally. If on purpose, it is called Stilling.)
In this story, some ter'angreal you have read about are the Oath Rod, the a'dam, and now the stone arches in Rhuidean.
Pronunciations: Albeit rather late but better late than never. Whenever I actually get around to updating older chapters I'll add them in as I go.
A'dam - AYE-dam
Aes Sedai - EYEZ seh-DEYE
Aiel - eye-EEL
Atha'an Miere - a-tha-AHN mee-AIR (Also known as Sea Folk)
Far Dareis Mai - FAHR- DAH-rize MY (Maidens of the Spear)
Gaidin - GYE-deen
Gai'shain - GYE-shain
Rhuidean - RHUY-dee-ahn
Saidar - sah-ih-DAHR (Also referred to as the One Power, or the Source)
Saldaea - sahl-DAY-ee-ah
Sa'sara - sah-SAHR-rah
Shayol Ghul - SHAY-ol GHOOL (The location of the Dark One's prison)
Shoufa - SHOO-fah
Sul'dam - SUHL-DAHM
Tai'shar - TIE-SHAHR (True Blood of)
Ta'maral'ailen - tah-MAHR-ahl-EYE-lehn (The Web of Destiny)
Tel'aran'rhiod - tel-AYE-rahn-rhee-ODD (yeah, I snuck it in up there too XD)
Trollocs - TRAHL-lohks
Tuatha'an - too-AH-thah-AHN (also known as Tinkers, the traveling people or in very ancient times, the Jenn Aiel)
The Twisted Triad
WannaBeNinja - The Lost One – Master
Angil - The Mentally Insane One – Mercenary
SweetYuya - The Perverted One - Minion
-WannaBeNinja's Evil Minion of Doom-
-Angil's Partner in Crime-
-The Neliel Tu's Story Stalker-
-ArjetLuna's Groupie Fangirl-
-D.F.G.'s Corrupt Cohort-
-Jazzmaster's Judgement Junkie-
-BlueDione's Idea Idolizer-
-MatsuMama's Saké Sister-
-Sweet Yuya Shiina-