Heya, all! I'm back (though whether that's a good thing or not you'll have
to decide) :-p
Disclaimer: I'm not making anything off of this!!! The almighty 1st paragraph of all WoT books is not my idea!
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose over the farmland north of Caemlyn. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.
White-laced trees, weighed down by masses of powdery snow, bent slightly in time to the breeze. Though it snowed no longer--for the time being, at least--a thin cloud of dusty white veiled the forest as wind helped lighten the trees' branches.
Rumors had spread throughout Andor like wildfire. Some said Aiel raiders held Elayne Trakand, the Daughter-Heir of Andor, captive, while others swore they were serving as her own personal guard. Some believed that Artur Hawkwing's armies had returned from across the Aryth Ocean. The Dragon Reborn had returned to claim the Rose Crown--no, the Dragon Reborn was imprisoned in Far Madding, kneeling to the High Lady Suroth herself. A thousand other tales spun a web of confusion that entangled the whole countryside.
Whatever tales the peddlers spread, Janin Ayenda believed none of them. Except for one, and he didn't really believe it. He only hoped-- letting himself take it for truth was too painful--but his eyes were drawn southwards more often than not, where he was certain a Black Tower trained men to channel.
"Jan, are you awake? Light, you looked as if a girl asked you to dance on feastday!" Another boy, Tonin Elohan, strode towards him with a poorly disguised grin. Tonin was not one to make the girls look more than once, usually, but perhaps that was because he was not yet old enough to shave more than once a week. Nevertheless, his dark brown eyes were quick to light with humor.
Janin shook his head and rolled his eyes even as his quivering lips betrayed him. "You wish, Ton!" After a minute of laughing, however, the two boys quieted; Tonin's gaze resting upon his house, and Janin's fixed to the southern sky.
Janin was the first to speak. "Have you ever...wanted to do something? I don't mean work around the farm, Ton, so don't give me that look. I'm talking about something...different. I've heard rumors, Ton...rumors about the Black Tower. Have you," the last words came out in a rush, "ever wanted to be something larger than yourself? Have you ever wanted to channel?"
Tonin let his eyes catch a small leaf, ravaged by winter, fall slowly to the ground. "I don't know what you're talking about, Jan. The," his tongue stumbled over the word, "Asha'man...they're maniacs. You've heard the stories, Jan. The stories of them going insane, breaking the world."
As if he didn't hear, Janin continued, "Did you see the man in the black coat yesterday, Ton? The one with the long, black curls? He lifted a three-hundredweight block of granite without twitching!"
"Is lifting rocks worth going insane?" Tonin asked softly. "Please, Jan, don't go near them. What else could be better about your life now? Give me one good reason--anything!--that makes going to the Black Tower better than staying here. Just one!"
Janin looked at his friend sadly before stooping down to pick up the leaf near his friend's feet. "This leaf, once full and green, has been shriveled and destroyed by the winds of time. To be honest with you, Ton, I'm afraid. I'm afraid I'll go through life as the leaf did--being merely one out of millions, and powerless to do anything but bend to the cycle of nature." His voice picked up in intensity, but cracked almost imperceptibly, "I will not be the leaf, Ton; not in this life. By my hopes of rebirth and salvation under the Light, I will be Asha'man. And I will change the world. I won't be the leaf, Ton--I'll be the winter!" His eyes burned with fervor. He realized he had gripped Tonin's shoulders with both hands, and he removed them, blushing. "I'm sorry, Tonin. I...didn't mean to do that. I'm really sorry."
Tonin stared at him wordlessly. His mind spun with what his friend had said. Leaf. Winter. He horrified himself when he looked at his home- -the home he had lived in and loved for years--and saw but one tiny piece of the gigantic puzzle that was Andor. Unbidden tears slid down his cheeks. The Light burn you for it, Janin, but you may be right!
Janin mistook his friend's expression. Disgusted and angry with himself, he started to walk away slowly. He stopped as he heard his friend's voice call him.
"Janin." Tonin turned to look at him. "Jan, please come back. I think...I think you're right. I just need...I need some time, okay? My fifteenth name day is less than a month behind me...I just don't know. It sounds too good to be true, being an Asha'man-what happens if we go mad? Anyways...it's getting late. I need to go home now."
Janin smiled, if a little weakly. "Sure, Ton. I need to be getting back to my place, too. I have some," his smile faded as he nearly spat the next word out, "firewood to split for the furnace."
Biting his lower lip and frowning, Tonin nodded, and the two friends parted. Both bowed their heads against a wind that was not really there.
***
"You seem quieter than usual, Janin, which is saying a lot. What's on your mind?" Mistress Ayenda asked, sipping a mug of hot tea.
Janin looked down at his barely touched breakfast. "I've been thinking, mother."
Mistress Ayenda tilted her head. "About what, Janin dear?"
"It's...hard to explain, and if I could, I'm not sure I'd want to." Janin winced-- that was about the worst way to keep a secret that he could think of.
Instead of taking offense, Mistress Ayenda laughed softly. "Found a sweetheart, have you? It's about time, Janin! I was beginning to worry--" she cut off as she saw him frown.
He sighed and shook his head. "It's not that."
A worried frown creased Mistress Ayenda's forehead. "What is it then? The Light knows you can talk to me, Janin--for the love of the Light, I'm your mother!"
Dark blue eyes downcast, he ran his tongue through the back of his lips nervously. "I...I'll tell you about it later." He pushed himself up from the table and decided to go see Tonin. I need to talk things over, but not with you, mother. I'm sorry.
Biting the inside of her cheek, she sighed softly and nodded. Best not to push the boy. He'll come out with it when he's ready. The sound of his footsteps heading towards the door caused her to call out, "Be back by dark, Janin, and stay away from those black-coated fellows! They make my skin crawl!"
Cursing silently, Janin clenched his fists and quickened his pace.
***
Master Elohan was waiting at the door as Tonin arrived at his house. "Where in the Light have you been, Tonin? Playing with Janin again?" At Tonin's nod, he continued, "Well, I suppose there are worse things to do with your time. Either way, I'm heading into Caemlyn for a while; your mother's been nagging me about getting a new pair of breeches for you for the past week."
Tonin's breath caught in his throat. Caemlyn! Light, I have the luck of ta'veren! "Can I come with you, father? I haven't been to Caemlyn in forever, and the Light knows I can choose my own breeches better than you could." He laughed nervously at the last, failing terribly to sound nonchalant.
Master Elohan peered at him suspiciously. "What's gotten into you, Tonin? You're not very good at keeping a secret. Anything happen between you and Janin?"
Tonin looked away and sighed. "Not exactly, father. I would like to go Caemlyn, though..."
Master Elohan shrugged. "Well, I have no problems with it. Go and ask your mother--I'll be readying the wagon in the meantime." After a few moments had passed and still Tonin remained motionless, he added, "Light, boy, something is wrong with you! A minute ago you were jumping to come along."
Tonin dragged himself away from his thoughts. "Sorry, father...I was just thinking. I'll go to mother now."
Shaking his head, Master Elohan started packing his cart. A minute later, he could just make out the sound of hoof beats pounding the path behind him.
***
Janin dismounted his horse and tied it to one of Master Elohan's fence posts. Calling from a distance, he shouted, "Master Elohan, may I see Tonin for a minute?"
"He'll be back here in a minute, Janin. He's talking to his mother about coming with me to Caemlyn for a quick...shopping trip." He smiled faintly at the last comment.
Janin's eyes went wide. "Caemlyn, Master Elohan? Is there any way I can come with you and Ton? I'd really enjoy a look at it, now that Elayne has supposedly taken control of the city." He really hoped he sounded convincing--he didn't care a whit about the bloody Daughter-Heir of Andor or even Caemlyn itself. He barely kept from cringing when Master Elohan stared him up and down.
"Tonin did the same thing when I told him about going to the bloody city! What's gotten into you boys?" Flatly, he added, "Anything I should know about?"
With a sickly grin, Janin gave his shoulders a weak shrug. "I don't think so, sir."
Twisting his mouth in frustration, Master Elohan shrugged helplessly. "Well, if you're going to be stubborn, there's nothing I can do about it." Almost as an afterthought, he said, "I'm sure your mother wasn't expecting you to go all the way to Caemlyn tonight. Wait a second," he cried, raising a hand as he saw Janin heading towards his horse, "my wife's heading over to your mother's to gossip." Grinning, he continued, "I'll ask her to tell your mother that you'll be gone. How about that?"
Breathing a sigh of relief, Janin grinned. "Thanks, Master Elohan. I'd appreciate that."
Seeing Janin's smile, he said, "That's more like it, my boy! Here, help me pack this Light-forsaken wagon so that we can get out of here all the quicker."
***
The ride to Caemlyn itself was uneventful. The New City rose up before the two friends, bold in its magnificence, but they only had eyes for black cloaks. Their eyes swept through the crowds, cutting through noble and beggar alike, searching for any sign at all of a man who could channel.
The actual trip lasted around two hours. Most of the time passed quickly for Janin, except for the last fifteen minutes.
I"What's wrong?" Tonin had asked. "Why aren't you happy we're coming to Caemlyn? We might see one of them, Jan!"
Janin sighed. "Do you think I don't know that? I'm worried, Ton...what if we...can't? What if we walk up to them and they tell us that we can't channel? I don't know if I could live with that."
Tonin bit his lip and stared out the window. After moments had passed, he turned back around. "Maybe that would be for the best, Jan. Only a select few have the privilege to go mad, you know." His feeble attempt at humor slid unnoticed past his friend.
Janin rubbed his eyes. "I've never not been good enough for anything, Ton. The only reason I'm not a better farmer is that I don't try. I know it is. Light, Ton, I'm scared. I have to be good enough for this! I have to!"I
An elbow brought him out of his reverie. "You have to what, Jan?" Janin shook his head and was about to speak when their wagon ground to a halt. Master Elohan's voice drifted through the wagon cover, "All right, boys, we're at the clothes shop." Hearing no response, he nimbly climbed out of his driver's seat and stuck his head inside the cart. "Light, boys, a few minutes ago you were excited about getting clothes...ah, I see. You didn't really come here for clothes, did you?" He sighed and shook his head. "I really don't mind if you go off on your own for a while," he lowered his head conspiratorially, "if your mothers don't hear about it."
The boys laughed and fervently agreed. Five minutes later, they found themselves heading towards the nearest inn. Asha'man have to eat, don't they? Jonin had asked his friend earlier, while they were deciding where they should go. He caught a glimpse of a stark-white coat in the crowd, and couldn't help but blurt out, "I wonder what the Children of the Light would think about our mad quest to become Asha'man?"
Tonin snickered and started to reply when a grizzled old man in black woolens blocked their paths, smiling slightly.
"I don't think they'd approve of it at all, lad."
Disclaimer: I'm not making anything off of this!!! The almighty 1st paragraph of all WoT books is not my idea!
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose over the farmland north of Caemlyn. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.
White-laced trees, weighed down by masses of powdery snow, bent slightly in time to the breeze. Though it snowed no longer--for the time being, at least--a thin cloud of dusty white veiled the forest as wind helped lighten the trees' branches.
Rumors had spread throughout Andor like wildfire. Some said Aiel raiders held Elayne Trakand, the Daughter-Heir of Andor, captive, while others swore they were serving as her own personal guard. Some believed that Artur Hawkwing's armies had returned from across the Aryth Ocean. The Dragon Reborn had returned to claim the Rose Crown--no, the Dragon Reborn was imprisoned in Far Madding, kneeling to the High Lady Suroth herself. A thousand other tales spun a web of confusion that entangled the whole countryside.
Whatever tales the peddlers spread, Janin Ayenda believed none of them. Except for one, and he didn't really believe it. He only hoped-- letting himself take it for truth was too painful--but his eyes were drawn southwards more often than not, where he was certain a Black Tower trained men to channel.
"Jan, are you awake? Light, you looked as if a girl asked you to dance on feastday!" Another boy, Tonin Elohan, strode towards him with a poorly disguised grin. Tonin was not one to make the girls look more than once, usually, but perhaps that was because he was not yet old enough to shave more than once a week. Nevertheless, his dark brown eyes were quick to light with humor.
Janin shook his head and rolled his eyes even as his quivering lips betrayed him. "You wish, Ton!" After a minute of laughing, however, the two boys quieted; Tonin's gaze resting upon his house, and Janin's fixed to the southern sky.
Janin was the first to speak. "Have you ever...wanted to do something? I don't mean work around the farm, Ton, so don't give me that look. I'm talking about something...different. I've heard rumors, Ton...rumors about the Black Tower. Have you," the last words came out in a rush, "ever wanted to be something larger than yourself? Have you ever wanted to channel?"
Tonin let his eyes catch a small leaf, ravaged by winter, fall slowly to the ground. "I don't know what you're talking about, Jan. The," his tongue stumbled over the word, "Asha'man...they're maniacs. You've heard the stories, Jan. The stories of them going insane, breaking the world."
As if he didn't hear, Janin continued, "Did you see the man in the black coat yesterday, Ton? The one with the long, black curls? He lifted a three-hundredweight block of granite without twitching!"
"Is lifting rocks worth going insane?" Tonin asked softly. "Please, Jan, don't go near them. What else could be better about your life now? Give me one good reason--anything!--that makes going to the Black Tower better than staying here. Just one!"
Janin looked at his friend sadly before stooping down to pick up the leaf near his friend's feet. "This leaf, once full and green, has been shriveled and destroyed by the winds of time. To be honest with you, Ton, I'm afraid. I'm afraid I'll go through life as the leaf did--being merely one out of millions, and powerless to do anything but bend to the cycle of nature." His voice picked up in intensity, but cracked almost imperceptibly, "I will not be the leaf, Ton; not in this life. By my hopes of rebirth and salvation under the Light, I will be Asha'man. And I will change the world. I won't be the leaf, Ton--I'll be the winter!" His eyes burned with fervor. He realized he had gripped Tonin's shoulders with both hands, and he removed them, blushing. "I'm sorry, Tonin. I...didn't mean to do that. I'm really sorry."
Tonin stared at him wordlessly. His mind spun with what his friend had said. Leaf. Winter. He horrified himself when he looked at his home- -the home he had lived in and loved for years--and saw but one tiny piece of the gigantic puzzle that was Andor. Unbidden tears slid down his cheeks. The Light burn you for it, Janin, but you may be right!
Janin mistook his friend's expression. Disgusted and angry with himself, he started to walk away slowly. He stopped as he heard his friend's voice call him.
"Janin." Tonin turned to look at him. "Jan, please come back. I think...I think you're right. I just need...I need some time, okay? My fifteenth name day is less than a month behind me...I just don't know. It sounds too good to be true, being an Asha'man-what happens if we go mad? Anyways...it's getting late. I need to go home now."
Janin smiled, if a little weakly. "Sure, Ton. I need to be getting back to my place, too. I have some," his smile faded as he nearly spat the next word out, "firewood to split for the furnace."
Biting his lower lip and frowning, Tonin nodded, and the two friends parted. Both bowed their heads against a wind that was not really there.
***
"You seem quieter than usual, Janin, which is saying a lot. What's on your mind?" Mistress Ayenda asked, sipping a mug of hot tea.
Janin looked down at his barely touched breakfast. "I've been thinking, mother."
Mistress Ayenda tilted her head. "About what, Janin dear?"
"It's...hard to explain, and if I could, I'm not sure I'd want to." Janin winced-- that was about the worst way to keep a secret that he could think of.
Instead of taking offense, Mistress Ayenda laughed softly. "Found a sweetheart, have you? It's about time, Janin! I was beginning to worry--" she cut off as she saw him frown.
He sighed and shook his head. "It's not that."
A worried frown creased Mistress Ayenda's forehead. "What is it then? The Light knows you can talk to me, Janin--for the love of the Light, I'm your mother!"
Dark blue eyes downcast, he ran his tongue through the back of his lips nervously. "I...I'll tell you about it later." He pushed himself up from the table and decided to go see Tonin. I need to talk things over, but not with you, mother. I'm sorry.
Biting the inside of her cheek, she sighed softly and nodded. Best not to push the boy. He'll come out with it when he's ready. The sound of his footsteps heading towards the door caused her to call out, "Be back by dark, Janin, and stay away from those black-coated fellows! They make my skin crawl!"
Cursing silently, Janin clenched his fists and quickened his pace.
***
Master Elohan was waiting at the door as Tonin arrived at his house. "Where in the Light have you been, Tonin? Playing with Janin again?" At Tonin's nod, he continued, "Well, I suppose there are worse things to do with your time. Either way, I'm heading into Caemlyn for a while; your mother's been nagging me about getting a new pair of breeches for you for the past week."
Tonin's breath caught in his throat. Caemlyn! Light, I have the luck of ta'veren! "Can I come with you, father? I haven't been to Caemlyn in forever, and the Light knows I can choose my own breeches better than you could." He laughed nervously at the last, failing terribly to sound nonchalant.
Master Elohan peered at him suspiciously. "What's gotten into you, Tonin? You're not very good at keeping a secret. Anything happen between you and Janin?"
Tonin looked away and sighed. "Not exactly, father. I would like to go Caemlyn, though..."
Master Elohan shrugged. "Well, I have no problems with it. Go and ask your mother--I'll be readying the wagon in the meantime." After a few moments had passed and still Tonin remained motionless, he added, "Light, boy, something is wrong with you! A minute ago you were jumping to come along."
Tonin dragged himself away from his thoughts. "Sorry, father...I was just thinking. I'll go to mother now."
Shaking his head, Master Elohan started packing his cart. A minute later, he could just make out the sound of hoof beats pounding the path behind him.
***
Janin dismounted his horse and tied it to one of Master Elohan's fence posts. Calling from a distance, he shouted, "Master Elohan, may I see Tonin for a minute?"
"He'll be back here in a minute, Janin. He's talking to his mother about coming with me to Caemlyn for a quick...shopping trip." He smiled faintly at the last comment.
Janin's eyes went wide. "Caemlyn, Master Elohan? Is there any way I can come with you and Ton? I'd really enjoy a look at it, now that Elayne has supposedly taken control of the city." He really hoped he sounded convincing--he didn't care a whit about the bloody Daughter-Heir of Andor or even Caemlyn itself. He barely kept from cringing when Master Elohan stared him up and down.
"Tonin did the same thing when I told him about going to the bloody city! What's gotten into you boys?" Flatly, he added, "Anything I should know about?"
With a sickly grin, Janin gave his shoulders a weak shrug. "I don't think so, sir."
Twisting his mouth in frustration, Master Elohan shrugged helplessly. "Well, if you're going to be stubborn, there's nothing I can do about it." Almost as an afterthought, he said, "I'm sure your mother wasn't expecting you to go all the way to Caemlyn tonight. Wait a second," he cried, raising a hand as he saw Janin heading towards his horse, "my wife's heading over to your mother's to gossip." Grinning, he continued, "I'll ask her to tell your mother that you'll be gone. How about that?"
Breathing a sigh of relief, Janin grinned. "Thanks, Master Elohan. I'd appreciate that."
Seeing Janin's smile, he said, "That's more like it, my boy! Here, help me pack this Light-forsaken wagon so that we can get out of here all the quicker."
***
The ride to Caemlyn itself was uneventful. The New City rose up before the two friends, bold in its magnificence, but they only had eyes for black cloaks. Their eyes swept through the crowds, cutting through noble and beggar alike, searching for any sign at all of a man who could channel.
The actual trip lasted around two hours. Most of the time passed quickly for Janin, except for the last fifteen minutes.
I"What's wrong?" Tonin had asked. "Why aren't you happy we're coming to Caemlyn? We might see one of them, Jan!"
Janin sighed. "Do you think I don't know that? I'm worried, Ton...what if we...can't? What if we walk up to them and they tell us that we can't channel? I don't know if I could live with that."
Tonin bit his lip and stared out the window. After moments had passed, he turned back around. "Maybe that would be for the best, Jan. Only a select few have the privilege to go mad, you know." His feeble attempt at humor slid unnoticed past his friend.
Janin rubbed his eyes. "I've never not been good enough for anything, Ton. The only reason I'm not a better farmer is that I don't try. I know it is. Light, Ton, I'm scared. I have to be good enough for this! I have to!"I
An elbow brought him out of his reverie. "You have to what, Jan?" Janin shook his head and was about to speak when their wagon ground to a halt. Master Elohan's voice drifted through the wagon cover, "All right, boys, we're at the clothes shop." Hearing no response, he nimbly climbed out of his driver's seat and stuck his head inside the cart. "Light, boys, a few minutes ago you were excited about getting clothes...ah, I see. You didn't really come here for clothes, did you?" He sighed and shook his head. "I really don't mind if you go off on your own for a while," he lowered his head conspiratorially, "if your mothers don't hear about it."
The boys laughed and fervently agreed. Five minutes later, they found themselves heading towards the nearest inn. Asha'man have to eat, don't they? Jonin had asked his friend earlier, while they were deciding where they should go. He caught a glimpse of a stark-white coat in the crowd, and couldn't help but blurt out, "I wonder what the Children of the Light would think about our mad quest to become Asha'man?"
Tonin snickered and started to reply when a grizzled old man in black woolens blocked their paths, smiling slightly.
"I don't think they'd approve of it at all, lad."