(A/N- Hey everyone! Sry it took me so long to write this chapter. I've been kinda having a writer's block lately. So, anyways, here are the people who reviewed, same as always:
Zaz- Well, I am giving u more!
Lilyflower8602- No, I will not sign it!
Stormer- Thanx for the advise. I'll keep it in mind! And sure I'll read your fics! When I have time!
Aaria- Thanx! I'll try to keep them coming! I've started on Chapter 4 already!
So, anyways, this is the third chapter (No duh) and I hope u enjoy! Oh, and for all u out there that will be reading this after Crossroads of Twilight comes out, this takes place after Winter's Heart, but was written before Crossroads, so it may be different in there than here. So, r+r, and enjoy!
~Lady Arabella Sedai)
Chapter 3- NoviceBlinking her eyes like a light-struck deer, Ara stared at the scene in front of her. Aes Sedai bustled everywhere, almost hidden in the crowd of novices, Accepted, soldiers, and others. She lurched forwards as Niyusa was shoved in after her.
"New novices, this way please!" shouted a short, stout Accepted. Following her, Ara was led towards the center of the camp.
"Where are we going?" asked Ara curiously.
"Be quiet. It is not your place to ask questions of Aes Sedai or Accepted."
"But Verin Sedai let me."
"That was just Verin Sedai."
Ara followed her in silence. Stepping into a tent with the Flame of Tar Valon on it, she stared at the two women occupying the tent. The first wore a blue stole. She also, from what Ara had heard, should have had a staff to mark her position as Keeper of the Chronicles. The other woman was short, with dark brown hair and dark eyes. Lacking the ageless face, she wore the seven-striped stole. She was the Amyrlin Seat.
~ ~ ~
Egwene stared at the Domani girl ushered before her. The reason was her Dreaming. (A/N- Egwene's not Ara's!) She had dreamed that a Domani girl would come to train in the Tower that would have the fate of the world balanced on her shoulders. She hadn't known when though, so she had ordered that all new Domani novices be brought to her. She motioned to the Accepted, who led her out.
"Sheriam?"
Sheriam jumped. "What?"
"That's her. The one I Dreamed of."
~ ~ ~
Ara stared back at the tent as she was led to, to, to…well, she didn't know where to. She had only been in there one minute!
"Here," said the Accepted as Ara whipped her head around to look at her. "Go and get your novice dress."
Slowly Ara stepped though the door, lifting the canvas flap. Glancing around, she locked her gaze on a slightly plump woman who stood measuring Niyusa.
"What are you doing?" asked a sharp voice behind her. Whirling, she tilted her head back to stare at an Aes Sedai. "Are you a novice?"
"Y-Y-Yes…Aes Sedai?"
"Myrelle Sedai of the Green Ajah. Now, lets get you fitted for a novice dress."
"Y-Y-Yes Myrelle Sedai."
~ ~ ~
Ara lay staring at the ceiling of her new home, on her new bed, in her new clothes. It wasn't really a home, just a tiny tent that she had been taught how to put up and take down. Not that they were going anywhere soon, not with Tar Valon only a few miles away. The only reason they weren't camped in sight of Tar Valon, she had found out from an over-eager novice, was that the Aes Sedai didn't want to involve the novices and Accepted in their war. Daily attempts were made to bridge the wall and capture the White Tower, but none so far had made it. A loud knock sounded on the wood propped outside the door, to use as a knocker, causing Ara to leap up and fling open the flap.
"You have to start your lessons now."
~ ~ ~
An hour later, Ara sat cross-legged across from Anaiya Sedai.
"Concentrate again. Envision yourself as a rosebud. Surrender to saidar. Let it fill you, flow…"
Ara zoned out as she struggled to embrace saidar. She could sense it now, but not touch it. Anaiya had been surprised that she could sense it. It seemed most couldn't for weeks!
"…embrace it, let it fill you…"
Suddenly Ara felt something. She couldn't really explain what, but it was if she was filled with life. Filled with light. Her senses were sharper too!
~ ~ ~
"Envision yourself as a rose"
Anaiya noticed the glow of saidar surrounding Ara. How could it be?
"Ara!" she exclaimed. "You're embracing saidar!"
"What?" asked Ara drowsily.
"YOU'RE EMBRACING SAIDAR!!!"
"Oh. It that the light?"
"Yes."
Anaiya was stunned. Only wilders had ever learned quickly to touch saidar, but even wilders never embraced it on their first day!
~ ~ ~
Ara stood ten minutes later before the Amyrlin Seat.
"How did you do it?" she demanded.
"I just did," stammered Ara.
"I know that, but how?!?!"
"I don't know, Mother."
"Embrace saidar again."
The Amyrlin Seat looked on as Ara reached toward the circle of light crammed in the back of her head. Grabbing it, she let it fill her. She knew she could hold much, much more, but chose not to show off her power.
"You aren't holding as much as you can, are you?" inquired Egwene.
Ara blinked. How did she know? "Um, not really."
"Hold as much as you can. Don't stand there gawking girl. I told you to hold as much as you can!"
Straining, Ara pulled, and pulled, and pulled, until she could hold no more. Turning to face the Amyrlin, she stopped, seeing the look on Egwene's face. "What's the matter Mother?"
"You're holding twice what I could. And you haven't even grown into your power yet," she replied faintly.
~ ~ ~
Ara exited the tent one hour later, completely exhausted. She had been forced to do all sorts of tests. She didn't even know what half of them had been for~
"Hello…Arabella, right?" said a girl behind her. Ara turned, expecting to be berated about why she had been in the Amyrlin's Study. Instead, she found the girl smiling. She had long, flowing read hair with brilliant green eyes. She also wore novice white. "I'm Lily."
"I'm Ara for short. Where are you from Lily?" asked Ara cautiously.
"Oh, I'm from Andor. My full name though is Lady Lily of House Evan Black Lupin Potter (A/N- Pleeze note those names belong (Kinda) to J. K. Rowling. I didn't make these up. Thanx!). I'm the Daughter Heir of Andor, being Queen Elayne's closest relative, but only until Elayne has her child. Unless it's a boy. Then I'll stay Daughter Heir. Who are you?"
"Arabella Transtiva, daughter of Corele Transtiva, a Domani merchant. I think I'm related to the Queen, Egeandin of House Mindelan (A/N- Mindelan is from Tamora Pierce, not me. It will probably be used again, but as the next chapters aren't written yet, I don't know!). My mom was her sister, but married out of the family. I'd probably be Daughter Heir if that title existed in Arad Doman."
"Oh. So your almost a queen too Ara!"
"I am? I've never actually heard from the Queen. As my mother married out of the family, we gave up all claims to the throne. But as there are no heirs as they have all disappeared, I might become the heir, Lily."
"Do you have any classes with me?"
"I don't know. Since I've been moved to the advanced novice classes, I don't know who's in it."
"Well, I'm in the advanced novice classes so I'm sure I'll be in your class!"
"Neat."
"Here, let me introduce you to my other friends."
Turning, Lily shouted over to a small group of girls, "Come over here!"
The girls all trooped over. "What do you want Lily?" asked a short girl with pale skin and hair as black as coal. "Did you call us over for nothing?"
"No. I wanted to introduce you to my newest friend Lady Arabella of House Mindelan, of Arad Doman, heir to the Throne of Beauty and the Diamond Crown."
"But I'm not officially a lady, or the heir to the throne!"
"Hey! I'm Vana of House Shenalra," said the girl that had first spoken.
"I'm Zelda of the Shirnai sept of the Taardad Aiel. And what should we call you Arabella Mindelan?" said another girl, who was taller that even Ara, with pale hair and light eyes. One of the legendary Aiel who lived in the Aiel Waste. She better watch out for that one, in case she put a knife in her back.
"Call me Ara. And I'm Ara Transtiva, not Mindelan. I should maybe be of House Mindelan, but nothing's official. Nothing's even hinting that I will be of House Mindelan!"
"Okay. Whatever you say Ara," responded Lily.
"Ara, I'm Stella of House Bryne of Andor. I may be a minor house of Andor, but thanks to me, House Bryne is on its way to becoming a major house. Lord Gareth Bryne "adopted" me into his house so that there'd be a survivor of the House for him to leave behind," stated a third girl, with blond/brown hair and blue eyes.
"Wait! Don't forget me!!! I'm Chrissy of House Legolas (A/N- Legolas belongs to J. J. R. Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings books! Not me! Once again!) of Andor!" butted in a girl that could have been Stella's twin, except for the hair and eye colors.
"And, of course, the best of us, me. I'm Sa of the Shadrad Sept of the Goshien Aiel. I'm first sisters with Zelda," announced the final girl, a light eyed girl with hair to match Stella's. "You can call me Sa though."
The rest clamored to be called just by their first names: Lily, Vana, Zelda, Stella, Chrissy, and Sa. Finally, Ara interrupted them in a vain attempt to distract them. "Does anyone know when lessons begin?"
~ ~ ~
So, what did you think? This is my longest chapter! Yeah! Seven pages on Microsoft Word! Yeah! Same as always, review, yeah, you know. But, also, I will once again be posting the names of all that have reviewed my story! Thanx!
~Lady Arabella Sedai