Disclaimer: As we all know, we owe Randland and its
inhabitants to the ingenious mind of Robert Jordan; Nemi
Montoya, on the other hand, is property of a Norwegian comic-
drawer named Lise. Some of my jokes are from the comic Nemi
and some are from Calvin&Hobbes by Bill Watterson. If other
materials are quoted, I'll. say so in the end of the chapter,
as not to spoil anything for you...
A/N: *points her kitchy HP-fandom wand at the reader* Veritas! So there. Now you've got to tell the truth. R&R, please, it helps me a lot:) And, don't forget, it's a WAY better to flame me than to say nothing at all. I love the truth. Go truth! Go light! Go Green!
Nemi knew perfectly well that andilay root tea shouldn't be mixed with alcochol, at least if you didn't want to laugh like hell for an hour (without a reason obvious to anyone but yourself), behave foolishly (although it may seem terribly funny to you), and cry like a weeping willow for hours afterwards. Manic cheerfulness and deep depression afterwards: those were usual consequences of drinking a spirit while you take a tranquilizer, and Nemi knew it from her own experience.
But somehow...she had forgotten it this time. Maybe the conversetion with Alanna, a friend she hadn't seen in ages, had distracted her; maybe she stopped being used to being careful during her time out of the Tower - who knows.
Be how it may, now she walked briskly through the hallways, giggling like crazy while loudly telling who she had slept with during her Absence. Terrified gazes of servants (who didn't stop listening in spite of their supposed abomination) fallowed her, together with somewhat worried Alanna, who tryed to calm her down, to persuade to go back to her room, to try to sleep a bit, ANYTHING that would prevent Nemi from talking to Myrelle in this condition. Needless to say, it didn't help - Nemi just laughed louder.
Entering Myrelle's anteroom, Nemi spyed a servant (who had SOOO funny hair!) dusting around.
"I'm not sure it is the best time to disturb Myrelle Sedai, Nemi Sedai." the serving woman's voice was somewhat squeeky, or so it seemed to Nemi.
"Did she give an ORDER not to be disturbed?" Nemi managed trough the waterfall of giggling (Myrelle had some pretty naughty pictures hanging in her chambers).
"Well, no, but she..."
Nemi didn't pay her more attention than she payed to desperate Alanna who tryed to stop her once more, and then shrugged, and followed resignedly, as Nemi pushed her way in.
The dark green curtains of Myrelle Sedai's room were down, and the chamber was only dimly lit by an almost-exstinguished fire. Myrelle was obviously sleeping, tightly wrapped in a blanket, although it was rather warm - or was it only Nemi that sweated? Sometimes, when not quite sober, she simply didn't remember to concentrate... She tiptoed her way to Myrelle's bed, and stood there smiling broadly, casting a long, affectionate look at the asleep woman's face.
"I really like her, you know!" she whispered to Alanna. "She is a great Green, and the best Aes Sedai of all, and I think she should be the Amyrlin!"
"Why, that's nice, Nemi, " Alanna whispered back, a shade of hope in her voice. "If you like her so much, why don't you let her sleep in peace. We can talk to her later. I'm sure she is really tired and..."
"No way! She said she wanted to talk to me at once, and here I am. Whatch this, Alanna!"
Alanna winced, as Nemi reached towards the Head of their Ajah...
"Innie minnie miny moe - catch Myrelle by the toe!" she declared, as she took hold of the Aes Sedai's toe and pulled gently.
Myrelle snarled, suddenly sitting up straight in her bed, and instantly embracing Saidar. She looked sleepily around, cast an iron eye on Alanna whom she spotted first, and then she saw Nemi, whose fingers were only inches away from Myrelle's feet - an unbreakable proof of her guilt. Myrelle glared at her, and as Nemi giggled, the look of recognition filled Myrelle's eyes. She sighed.
"I thought I told you not to come to me when you are drunk, Nemi."
"At least when YOU are sober." Nemi chuckled.
"At least when I am sober," Myrelle repeated, before she knew what she was saying. She then rubbed her eyes, trying to come back to her senses, and finally let go of Saidar.
"Well?" Myrelle growled, firmly decided not to accept the game.
"Well," Nemi managed trough an even broadre smile. "I didn't know that you were sober."
Myrelle inhaled loudly.
"Look Nemi, whatever you might think, this is NOT cute, and NOT funny at all. This is ABOMINABLE, if you want to know what I think - and I guess you don't, do you? But YOU Alanna?" she added, turning to the other Aes Sedai, who returned her gaze guiltily. "How could you let her come to me drunk like this?"
"I'm really sorry, Myrelle, but it was completely impossible to stop her," Alanna managed, suddenly not looking all that tall, as if she shrank in front of the other Aes Sedai.
"I'm NOT drunk!" Nemi declared decidedly at the same time.
Myrelle looked as if she would slap her, but she grabbed an inkbottle instead and hurled it on the opposite wall.
"DON'T YOU TRY TELLING THAT TO ME!" she yelled so that the chamber echoed.
"I took only a sip of whiskey!" Nemi muttered apologetically, looking at the pieces of glass and the ink leaking from the wall.
Alanna sighed. "She mixed with andilay root again."
"Well, that is no worry of mine!" Myrelle snarled. "She will have a penance for this! And a heavy one, I will see to that. But first... FIRST I will have a talk with her. Alone."
The Arafellan Aes Sedai turned to leave, look of relief mixing with worry on her face. Walking through anteroom she could still hear Myrelle's furious voice.
"You might want to know that I spent HOURS talking to Amyrlin about you, Nemi, apart from all the other things I have to think about! And the MESS you made by leaving like that - can you even IMAGINE what we thought and how we felt? No, you can NOT, BELIEVE me on THAT!!! With the BLACK Ajah STORMING The Tower, with FORMER sisters MURDERING around, do you think I want to worry about YOU as an ADDITION to all the TERRIFYING things I have to..."
Alanna didn't listen any longer. She walked out, slamming the doors, and wishing she could sleep trough the next few days.
***
Nemi opened her eyes, her head in pain (for the second time this bloody day! Light! she thought drowsily). She sat up in her bed, hair in her sleepy eyes, and looked trough the window, wondering what the time it might be. The light was meak to the point of melting, and she concluded it had to be either twilight or dawn. Twilight, she decided optimistically. Twilight of the SAME day...
Then the memories began flowing back. There was that terrible talk to Myrelle, yes... and a penance... what was it now?... Oh, bloody son of a goat! She remembered... having to play Myrelle's secretary for a week. A secretary! Apart from being highly humiliating for an Aes Sedai - for a Green at least, she thought - the job required being tidy. Neat. Actually having a READABLE handwriting. She sighed, picturing herself in the middle of the night, making the SIXTH copy of some bloody report, and not even being able to make a conforting ink blot on the parchment...
Yup. Myrelle simply knew how to punish her worst. Or best, she grinned bitterly. Depended on the point of view, that... Bloody secretary. The word alone should be able to send her to get drunk and...
Oh no! she remembered suddenly. Not THAT! Myrelle really knew how to punish people when she was angry... Nemi was forbidden to drink anything alcocholic for a whole month! Bloody buttered onions, she thought... A month! To taste what a boring life the Sisters had led at the Tower while she was away, having fun - that was what Myrelle had said... And why? Why??? Because she had left without notice - not forbidden by the Tower Law, but not a custom anyway... Because she left other Sisters terribly worried and all... As if she KNEW the Blacks were going to attack that very night and...
Nemi suddenly stopped, her train of thoughts crudely interrupted by a single word. She rubbed her eyes. She had KNOWN there was more to it than just the penances. She had KNOWN she had a better reason to be depressed. A single word...
Jeaine...
She touched a knife in her sleave, stroking it gently.
'What d'you say?,' Nemi asked finally, taking last sip of the golden liquor. 'With our initials on it an' all...' Jeaine laughed softly, leaning on the bar.
'You do be a sentimental ol' girl, Nem', deep down at least, ha? When you do be drunk, anyway,' the older Aes Sedai ordered yet another round. 'Oh, do look at the poor thing, Nemi!' she exclaimed suddenly, spotting a creature on one of the inn's dirty walls.
Nemi looked in the pointed direction and shuddered incontrollably.
'Know what, Jeaine? Know what?'
'What?'
'Trollocs, YES. Wholeheartedly. Or Myrdraal - give me one anytime. Just DON'T make me fight CATERPILLARS!'
Jeaine cast her a hurt look, as if offended in the caterpillar's name.
'I thought you do be liking animals, Nemi. ALL animals.'
Nemi looked around, as if wishing for a couple of trollocs to enter the inn and give her something she knew how to fight.
'Well, yeah... I don't have anything AGAINST caterpillars, basically. Only...'
'Only?'
'Well, only if it's not too close, you see. If not...agressive.'
'Aggresive? Nemi?' Jeaine barked a laugh, and then studied the insect for a moment. 'It do be looking so... frightened, yes? Look at it, Nemi. Just come and - look...'
'Nope. It could jump on me,' she stated, after a moment's consideration. 'Look, Jeaine... we could ask the landlord to... well, I guess you don't want it killed, do you?'
Jeaine inclined her head slightly and then stood up, stumbling a bit. She's quite drunk, Nemi thought as she took a sip and looked at what the older Aes Sedai wasdoing. Jeaine tried to embrace the Source and failed - a rather common thing when one is drunk - and so she extended her hand and touched the insect lightly. The caterpillar moved, turned, and came to Jeaine's hand, stood there as if waiting for something.The Aes Sedai disappeared through the door for a moment, only to come back with a wide smile on her face.
'I put it in the grass... Hope no one trods on it, though.'
Animals tend to like Jeaine, Nemi thought, just like people do. Yet, she is MY best friend. Alanna is as well, but Jeaine is the bestest best. And I'm drunk. I sound like a novice. No, wait, I sound like a 7-year-old. An immature 7-year... oh, bloody Creator's dung. I'm drunk... Just so very very very...drunk...
'Don't fall asleep!' Jeaine laughed. 'Don't want to carry you home. What were we talking about?'
'Er... knives?'
'Yes. Knives. Two identical sets of knives with our initials on them,' Jeaine sighed and smiled. 'I do be liking the idea. Like a token of our friendship, yes? Oh, Nemi... I do be so terribly drunk... and probably pathetic... but we are the best friends, yes?'
'Of course we are,' Nemi melted, and then she swayed, almost falling from her chair. The room took to swirling around her head, and she tryed to follow it with her gaze - and failed. 'Best friends always.'
'Yes,' Jeaine replied, rising her glass to meet Nemi's. 'Always!'
And that was Jeaine... had been... A woman that saved caterpillars. Best friends. Always...
Nemi tuned around and dived into her pillow. She was not going to think about it. She was not! And yet, the small tight knot in the pit of her stomach didn't let her forget. Alcochol did, but it was forbidden. For a month. Jeaine always used to talk to her when she, Nemi, was depressed... Jeaine, that saved caterpillars. Jeaine that loved all the animals in the world.
Jeaine that was a Black Ajah, a darkfriend. Jeaine that had tryed to kill her...
A tear rolled from Nemi's eye, soon to be followed by another. Damped wheeping could be heard from her pillow for a time, and then no sound came... She slept again.
***
After an hour's soaking in her bath and some fretting over the terrible bags under her eyes, Nemi walked down the stairs, a thick bundle of papers under her hand. The stairway somehow always seemed shorter when you went down. She walked out the door carefully, soundlessly, a conspiratory smile on her face. Nemi Sedai, the invisible woman, opens the door faster than a lightning... soundlessly, she walks out... only tree steps more... te freedome is smiling back at her...
"Nemi?" a voice interrupted her happy train of thoughts - obviously 'happy' only on condition of avoiding the owner of the voice in question. "How are you doing."
Nemi smiled vaguely, being forced to turn back and look at the other woman. The last time Nemi saw her, Arecco was a slim, terrified-looking girl, always trying to avoid other people's attention (Nemi thought of her as a girl, although Arecco was at least 7 or 8 years older than herself). On the other hand, the last time Nemi saw her, Arecco was an Accepted. Now she stood straight, as if begging the surroundings to notice her blue-fringed shawl. What did she choose the Blue for?, Nemi wandered idly, as she walked towards the woman. The Blues had to have a goal of their own, and what was the purpose of Arecco's life, anyway? What goal could she have, this woman?
"Fine, just fine," Nemi answered, hoping that a sudden lightning or an attack of Trollocs would save her from this conversation. They had been novices together, and shared a hole in the wall, through which they used to whisper at nights. Or, more accurately, Arecco had whispered and Nemi had pretended she had been listening. "You've been raised, I see," she tried to smile at the Blue Aes Sedai.
"Yes," the woman replied, somewhat dryly. "A year ago."
Ooops, Nemi thought. My bad.
"Haven't seen you in a while, I suppose," she answered. Haven't seen or noticed you, whatever. Light! she thought for herself. She burned from the curiosity: why did the woman choose Blue? But it was impolite to ask. Oh well... On the other hand, the woman might be a Black as well. The thought of poor, cowardly Arecco being a darkfriend seemed ridiculous... but if Jeaine could follow the Dark One - anyone could.
"What do you have there?"
"Some papers for Myrelle. Promised to help her with the papirology," Nemi shrugged. Technically, it wasn't a lie. She saw the woman's confused look, and understood that Arecco was talking about her left hand. "Oh. Kaf. Haven't drunk the first morning kaf yet, so I thought I'd drink it outside. It's nice and sunny and all. Care to join me?" Well, it was polite to ask, considering the fact that the woman was a Blue. Their Ajahs were on friendly terms - at least officially - and she couldn't just skip the formality. Were Arecco a Red, Nemi could have passed her by with a slight nod of her head. But not a Blue... bloody traditions.
Arecco smiled a bit.
"I hoped it was tea, actually. Wouldn't mind some nice hot tea at this wonderful morning. But you have to tell me about yourself, Nemi. Just what have you been doing and all?"
Nemi looked at her in disbilief, as they sat down on a bench in the shade of a great oak tree. My bench. Mine. Mine! Nemi tought, as if wanting to blow Arecco away. Miiiine!!! And the woman has just asked her a personal question - and a weaker woman, at that. Nemi was just a middling, but was definitely above Arecco, and not only in the Power. Look at the number of years either of them spent as a Novice. Then Accepted. It was crystal clear.
Nemi smiled sweetly.
"It would be a rather personal thing, you see, Arecco. Wouldn't plague you with that."
She realized she was still holding the papers, so she put them on the stone table, remembering at the last moment to hide a small book from Arecco's sight.
"And what is that?" the woman inquired, obviously having noticed Nemi's effort.
Nemi ignored her, however, and channeled her kaf hot.
"Sure you don't want some, Arreco?" she smiled "You could jump and get yourself a mug or something," So. Just to remind her who is in charge hear and who is the jumping one.
Arreco showed no sign that she had understood the message.
"No, thank you, but I really don't appreciate the Sharran stuff. Too bitter. Don't know what you see in it. But-" the woman smiled, "you have always been different, haven't you. So original. Always the one to come up with things and plans... "
This was probably meant to mean something, Nemi grinned to herself. Something subtle, if I'm not very much mistaken. An offence probably. The fool woman maybe thinks that the reminder of being different will actually OFFEND me. Nemi waved a hand dismissingly. Definitely too stupid to be a Black Ajah.
"Novice times. Happy times, but long over" LONG ago for ME, at least.
"Of course," Arecco smiled and reached in the direction of Nemi's papers. "What's that book you are reading?"
Nemi took out her pipe and lit it casually. She won't show she's embarrassed. She won't!
"Just some legends of Birgitte," she answered, unsuccesfully trying to hide the glimmer in her eyes. "And Gaidal Cain, too."
"Such a dreamy look you wear, Nemi," Arecco giggled. Giggled! A Blue! "I always thought you'd choose Brown. Such an avid reader like you. And a dreamer, too!"
She is either stupid and completely tactless, or she's provoking me, Nemi thought. She has absolutely no right to be tactless! It's MY area!
"I've thought about the Brown, you see," Nemi said in a low, mockingly confidential voice. "But then I realised that only the Green Ajah could really give me what I wanted."
The Blue was staring at her, badly hiding her curiosity.
"Multiple warders?"
"Trollocs!" Nemi stated with a winning grin, as the other sister shuddered. "And Myrdraal too! Arecco, did you know that they actually continue to thrash when you kill them? You can cut their head off, or make their heart stop, but they can still run around. Like a hen when you cut its throat."
"Yes... you used to tell the horror stories when we were novices, too. Even Accepted were scared to death!"
Maybe she's actually trying to FLATTER me, not offend me.
Nemi turned to her, fake innocence written all over her face.
"Horror stories? But it's really that way."
"Yes... so the books say. Still, I hope we won't see a Trolloc in our time, Nemi..."
"Oh, I hope we will. What am I bloody doing being a Green, if I don't get to kill Shadowspawn?" Nemi barked a laugh. "All that practicing with knives and the bow would be in vain."
"Bow, is it?" Arecco gave her a tiny smile. "So you still dream of Birgitte, don't you?"
This WAS meant as puting me down. Our little Arecco thinks she is being SO very smart...
"It's more likely," Nemi explained paitently, "that I admire Birgitte. Who I dream of is Gaidal Caine." She couldn't help but sigh dreamily, and the other woman grabbed the chance.
"Oh, it's so typical for you," the other woman stated, and Nemi made a mental note to avenge this. "Falling in love with a book character and all."
The chance for vengeance was there already, Nemi noticed gleefully.
"Seems better," she said, poisonous honey dripping from her tongue, "than you, Arecco, that have been in love for what - six years - with that guard... What was his name, now?"
The Blue sighed, and it seemed genuine this time.
"Jarvis, yes... I don't even know if he knows I exist..."
"You see?" Nemi grinned. "I don't have that kind of problems, being in love with a Hero of the Horn."
Arecco stared at her for a moment, as if contemplating if Nemi was serious, and then forced a giggle.
"Yes... Now, Nemi... You as a Green probably understand me... I think I need a warder, you see. I think it's time. I should really have someone I can talk to, someone to listen to me, to understand me... Someone who would always be happy to see me."
Nemi stared at the other Aes Sedai in utter disbilief. Cold word wars are all well and right... she adored to exchange hidden offences with one Sister or another... but this? Was the woman trying to confide in her? They weren't even of the same bloody Ajah! Blood and ashes! Too much, really too much...
"I'm sorry, Arecco, but I don't have time for such, I have a work to do" she stated coldly, and the Blue (why Blue?) nodded, understanding that she has finally stepped over line. She stood up and smiled at Nemi vaguely.
"I'd better be going, too..."
Yup. Mutual understanding. Go go go! Don't turn around!
Nemi, however, couldn't restrain the last blow...
"Oh, Arreco. Just one thing more. As a Green, I can tell you one thing."
"Yes?"
"You said you needed someone to talk to, someone who would listen to you, right?"
"Yes"
"Someone who'd always be happy to see you?"
"Yes. So?"
"You don't need a Warder, Arecco. You need a dog."
A/N: Yes yes... I know it's terribly much of talk, and no action at all... What can I do when I LOVE to write evil Aes Sedai chit-chat. Anyways, for the next chapter I promise a CANDY! Nemi's gonna do some flirting, try to comfort some Warders that are not hers... And - Mat will be there! So - read on! And don't forget to review *uses compulsure* :)))
A/N: *points her kitchy HP-fandom wand at the reader* Veritas! So there. Now you've got to tell the truth. R&R, please, it helps me a lot:) And, don't forget, it's a WAY better to flame me than to say nothing at all. I love the truth. Go truth! Go light! Go Green!
Nemi knew perfectly well that andilay root tea shouldn't be mixed with alcochol, at least if you didn't want to laugh like hell for an hour (without a reason obvious to anyone but yourself), behave foolishly (although it may seem terribly funny to you), and cry like a weeping willow for hours afterwards. Manic cheerfulness and deep depression afterwards: those were usual consequences of drinking a spirit while you take a tranquilizer, and Nemi knew it from her own experience.
But somehow...she had forgotten it this time. Maybe the conversetion with Alanna, a friend she hadn't seen in ages, had distracted her; maybe she stopped being used to being careful during her time out of the Tower - who knows.
Be how it may, now she walked briskly through the hallways, giggling like crazy while loudly telling who she had slept with during her Absence. Terrified gazes of servants (who didn't stop listening in spite of their supposed abomination) fallowed her, together with somewhat worried Alanna, who tryed to calm her down, to persuade to go back to her room, to try to sleep a bit, ANYTHING that would prevent Nemi from talking to Myrelle in this condition. Needless to say, it didn't help - Nemi just laughed louder.
Entering Myrelle's anteroom, Nemi spyed a servant (who had SOOO funny hair!) dusting around.
"I'm not sure it is the best time to disturb Myrelle Sedai, Nemi Sedai." the serving woman's voice was somewhat squeeky, or so it seemed to Nemi.
"Did she give an ORDER not to be disturbed?" Nemi managed trough the waterfall of giggling (Myrelle had some pretty naughty pictures hanging in her chambers).
"Well, no, but she..."
Nemi didn't pay her more attention than she payed to desperate Alanna who tryed to stop her once more, and then shrugged, and followed resignedly, as Nemi pushed her way in.
The dark green curtains of Myrelle Sedai's room were down, and the chamber was only dimly lit by an almost-exstinguished fire. Myrelle was obviously sleeping, tightly wrapped in a blanket, although it was rather warm - or was it only Nemi that sweated? Sometimes, when not quite sober, she simply didn't remember to concentrate... She tiptoed her way to Myrelle's bed, and stood there smiling broadly, casting a long, affectionate look at the asleep woman's face.
"I really like her, you know!" she whispered to Alanna. "She is a great Green, and the best Aes Sedai of all, and I think she should be the Amyrlin!"
"Why, that's nice, Nemi, " Alanna whispered back, a shade of hope in her voice. "If you like her so much, why don't you let her sleep in peace. We can talk to her later. I'm sure she is really tired and..."
"No way! She said she wanted to talk to me at once, and here I am. Whatch this, Alanna!"
Alanna winced, as Nemi reached towards the Head of their Ajah...
"Innie minnie miny moe - catch Myrelle by the toe!" she declared, as she took hold of the Aes Sedai's toe and pulled gently.
Myrelle snarled, suddenly sitting up straight in her bed, and instantly embracing Saidar. She looked sleepily around, cast an iron eye on Alanna whom she spotted first, and then she saw Nemi, whose fingers were only inches away from Myrelle's feet - an unbreakable proof of her guilt. Myrelle glared at her, and as Nemi giggled, the look of recognition filled Myrelle's eyes. She sighed.
"I thought I told you not to come to me when you are drunk, Nemi."
"At least when YOU are sober." Nemi chuckled.
"At least when I am sober," Myrelle repeated, before she knew what she was saying. She then rubbed her eyes, trying to come back to her senses, and finally let go of Saidar.
"Well?" Myrelle growled, firmly decided not to accept the game.
"Well," Nemi managed trough an even broadre smile. "I didn't know that you were sober."
Myrelle inhaled loudly.
"Look Nemi, whatever you might think, this is NOT cute, and NOT funny at all. This is ABOMINABLE, if you want to know what I think - and I guess you don't, do you? But YOU Alanna?" she added, turning to the other Aes Sedai, who returned her gaze guiltily. "How could you let her come to me drunk like this?"
"I'm really sorry, Myrelle, but it was completely impossible to stop her," Alanna managed, suddenly not looking all that tall, as if she shrank in front of the other Aes Sedai.
"I'm NOT drunk!" Nemi declared decidedly at the same time.
Myrelle looked as if she would slap her, but she grabbed an inkbottle instead and hurled it on the opposite wall.
"DON'T YOU TRY TELLING THAT TO ME!" she yelled so that the chamber echoed.
"I took only a sip of whiskey!" Nemi muttered apologetically, looking at the pieces of glass and the ink leaking from the wall.
Alanna sighed. "She mixed with andilay root again."
"Well, that is no worry of mine!" Myrelle snarled. "She will have a penance for this! And a heavy one, I will see to that. But first... FIRST I will have a talk with her. Alone."
The Arafellan Aes Sedai turned to leave, look of relief mixing with worry on her face. Walking through anteroom she could still hear Myrelle's furious voice.
"You might want to know that I spent HOURS talking to Amyrlin about you, Nemi, apart from all the other things I have to think about! And the MESS you made by leaving like that - can you even IMAGINE what we thought and how we felt? No, you can NOT, BELIEVE me on THAT!!! With the BLACK Ajah STORMING The Tower, with FORMER sisters MURDERING around, do you think I want to worry about YOU as an ADDITION to all the TERRIFYING things I have to..."
Alanna didn't listen any longer. She walked out, slamming the doors, and wishing she could sleep trough the next few days.
***
Nemi opened her eyes, her head in pain (for the second time this bloody day! Light! she thought drowsily). She sat up in her bed, hair in her sleepy eyes, and looked trough the window, wondering what the time it might be. The light was meak to the point of melting, and she concluded it had to be either twilight or dawn. Twilight, she decided optimistically. Twilight of the SAME day...
Then the memories began flowing back. There was that terrible talk to Myrelle, yes... and a penance... what was it now?... Oh, bloody son of a goat! She remembered... having to play Myrelle's secretary for a week. A secretary! Apart from being highly humiliating for an Aes Sedai - for a Green at least, she thought - the job required being tidy. Neat. Actually having a READABLE handwriting. She sighed, picturing herself in the middle of the night, making the SIXTH copy of some bloody report, and not even being able to make a conforting ink blot on the parchment...
Yup. Myrelle simply knew how to punish her worst. Or best, she grinned bitterly. Depended on the point of view, that... Bloody secretary. The word alone should be able to send her to get drunk and...
Oh no! she remembered suddenly. Not THAT! Myrelle really knew how to punish people when she was angry... Nemi was forbidden to drink anything alcocholic for a whole month! Bloody buttered onions, she thought... A month! To taste what a boring life the Sisters had led at the Tower while she was away, having fun - that was what Myrelle had said... And why? Why??? Because she had left without notice - not forbidden by the Tower Law, but not a custom anyway... Because she left other Sisters terribly worried and all... As if she KNEW the Blacks were going to attack that very night and...
Nemi suddenly stopped, her train of thoughts crudely interrupted by a single word. She rubbed her eyes. She had KNOWN there was more to it than just the penances. She had KNOWN she had a better reason to be depressed. A single word...
Jeaine...
She touched a knife in her sleave, stroking it gently.
'What d'you say?,' Nemi asked finally, taking last sip of the golden liquor. 'With our initials on it an' all...' Jeaine laughed softly, leaning on the bar.
'You do be a sentimental ol' girl, Nem', deep down at least, ha? When you do be drunk, anyway,' the older Aes Sedai ordered yet another round. 'Oh, do look at the poor thing, Nemi!' she exclaimed suddenly, spotting a creature on one of the inn's dirty walls.
Nemi looked in the pointed direction and shuddered incontrollably.
'Know what, Jeaine? Know what?'
'What?'
'Trollocs, YES. Wholeheartedly. Or Myrdraal - give me one anytime. Just DON'T make me fight CATERPILLARS!'
Jeaine cast her a hurt look, as if offended in the caterpillar's name.
'I thought you do be liking animals, Nemi. ALL animals.'
Nemi looked around, as if wishing for a couple of trollocs to enter the inn and give her something she knew how to fight.
'Well, yeah... I don't have anything AGAINST caterpillars, basically. Only...'
'Only?'
'Well, only if it's not too close, you see. If not...agressive.'
'Aggresive? Nemi?' Jeaine barked a laugh, and then studied the insect for a moment. 'It do be looking so... frightened, yes? Look at it, Nemi. Just come and - look...'
'Nope. It could jump on me,' she stated, after a moment's consideration. 'Look, Jeaine... we could ask the landlord to... well, I guess you don't want it killed, do you?'
Jeaine inclined her head slightly and then stood up, stumbling a bit. She's quite drunk, Nemi thought as she took a sip and looked at what the older Aes Sedai wasdoing. Jeaine tried to embrace the Source and failed - a rather common thing when one is drunk - and so she extended her hand and touched the insect lightly. The caterpillar moved, turned, and came to Jeaine's hand, stood there as if waiting for something.The Aes Sedai disappeared through the door for a moment, only to come back with a wide smile on her face.
'I put it in the grass... Hope no one trods on it, though.'
Animals tend to like Jeaine, Nemi thought, just like people do. Yet, she is MY best friend. Alanna is as well, but Jeaine is the bestest best. And I'm drunk. I sound like a novice. No, wait, I sound like a 7-year-old. An immature 7-year... oh, bloody Creator's dung. I'm drunk... Just so very very very...drunk...
'Don't fall asleep!' Jeaine laughed. 'Don't want to carry you home. What were we talking about?'
'Er... knives?'
'Yes. Knives. Two identical sets of knives with our initials on them,' Jeaine sighed and smiled. 'I do be liking the idea. Like a token of our friendship, yes? Oh, Nemi... I do be so terribly drunk... and probably pathetic... but we are the best friends, yes?'
'Of course we are,' Nemi melted, and then she swayed, almost falling from her chair. The room took to swirling around her head, and she tryed to follow it with her gaze - and failed. 'Best friends always.'
'Yes,' Jeaine replied, rising her glass to meet Nemi's. 'Always!'
And that was Jeaine... had been... A woman that saved caterpillars. Best friends. Always...
Nemi tuned around and dived into her pillow. She was not going to think about it. She was not! And yet, the small tight knot in the pit of her stomach didn't let her forget. Alcochol did, but it was forbidden. For a month. Jeaine always used to talk to her when she, Nemi, was depressed... Jeaine, that saved caterpillars. Jeaine that loved all the animals in the world.
Jeaine that was a Black Ajah, a darkfriend. Jeaine that had tryed to kill her...
A tear rolled from Nemi's eye, soon to be followed by another. Damped wheeping could be heard from her pillow for a time, and then no sound came... She slept again.
***
After an hour's soaking in her bath and some fretting over the terrible bags under her eyes, Nemi walked down the stairs, a thick bundle of papers under her hand. The stairway somehow always seemed shorter when you went down. She walked out the door carefully, soundlessly, a conspiratory smile on her face. Nemi Sedai, the invisible woman, opens the door faster than a lightning... soundlessly, she walks out... only tree steps more... te freedome is smiling back at her...
"Nemi?" a voice interrupted her happy train of thoughts - obviously 'happy' only on condition of avoiding the owner of the voice in question. "How are you doing."
Nemi smiled vaguely, being forced to turn back and look at the other woman. The last time Nemi saw her, Arecco was a slim, terrified-looking girl, always trying to avoid other people's attention (Nemi thought of her as a girl, although Arecco was at least 7 or 8 years older than herself). On the other hand, the last time Nemi saw her, Arecco was an Accepted. Now she stood straight, as if begging the surroundings to notice her blue-fringed shawl. What did she choose the Blue for?, Nemi wandered idly, as she walked towards the woman. The Blues had to have a goal of their own, and what was the purpose of Arecco's life, anyway? What goal could she have, this woman?
"Fine, just fine," Nemi answered, hoping that a sudden lightning or an attack of Trollocs would save her from this conversation. They had been novices together, and shared a hole in the wall, through which they used to whisper at nights. Or, more accurately, Arecco had whispered and Nemi had pretended she had been listening. "You've been raised, I see," she tried to smile at the Blue Aes Sedai.
"Yes," the woman replied, somewhat dryly. "A year ago."
Ooops, Nemi thought. My bad.
"Haven't seen you in a while, I suppose," she answered. Haven't seen or noticed you, whatever. Light! she thought for herself. She burned from the curiosity: why did the woman choose Blue? But it was impolite to ask. Oh well... On the other hand, the woman might be a Black as well. The thought of poor, cowardly Arecco being a darkfriend seemed ridiculous... but if Jeaine could follow the Dark One - anyone could.
"What do you have there?"
"Some papers for Myrelle. Promised to help her with the papirology," Nemi shrugged. Technically, it wasn't a lie. She saw the woman's confused look, and understood that Arecco was talking about her left hand. "Oh. Kaf. Haven't drunk the first morning kaf yet, so I thought I'd drink it outside. It's nice and sunny and all. Care to join me?" Well, it was polite to ask, considering the fact that the woman was a Blue. Their Ajahs were on friendly terms - at least officially - and she couldn't just skip the formality. Were Arecco a Red, Nemi could have passed her by with a slight nod of her head. But not a Blue... bloody traditions.
Arecco smiled a bit.
"I hoped it was tea, actually. Wouldn't mind some nice hot tea at this wonderful morning. But you have to tell me about yourself, Nemi. Just what have you been doing and all?"
Nemi looked at her in disbilief, as they sat down on a bench in the shade of a great oak tree. My bench. Mine. Mine! Nemi tought, as if wanting to blow Arecco away. Miiiine!!! And the woman has just asked her a personal question - and a weaker woman, at that. Nemi was just a middling, but was definitely above Arecco, and not only in the Power. Look at the number of years either of them spent as a Novice. Then Accepted. It was crystal clear.
Nemi smiled sweetly.
"It would be a rather personal thing, you see, Arecco. Wouldn't plague you with that."
She realized she was still holding the papers, so she put them on the stone table, remembering at the last moment to hide a small book from Arecco's sight.
"And what is that?" the woman inquired, obviously having noticed Nemi's effort.
Nemi ignored her, however, and channeled her kaf hot.
"Sure you don't want some, Arreco?" she smiled "You could jump and get yourself a mug or something," So. Just to remind her who is in charge hear and who is the jumping one.
Arreco showed no sign that she had understood the message.
"No, thank you, but I really don't appreciate the Sharran stuff. Too bitter. Don't know what you see in it. But-" the woman smiled, "you have always been different, haven't you. So original. Always the one to come up with things and plans... "
This was probably meant to mean something, Nemi grinned to herself. Something subtle, if I'm not very much mistaken. An offence probably. The fool woman maybe thinks that the reminder of being different will actually OFFEND me. Nemi waved a hand dismissingly. Definitely too stupid to be a Black Ajah.
"Novice times. Happy times, but long over" LONG ago for ME, at least.
"Of course," Arecco smiled and reached in the direction of Nemi's papers. "What's that book you are reading?"
Nemi took out her pipe and lit it casually. She won't show she's embarrassed. She won't!
"Just some legends of Birgitte," she answered, unsuccesfully trying to hide the glimmer in her eyes. "And Gaidal Cain, too."
"Such a dreamy look you wear, Nemi," Arecco giggled. Giggled! A Blue! "I always thought you'd choose Brown. Such an avid reader like you. And a dreamer, too!"
She is either stupid and completely tactless, or she's provoking me, Nemi thought. She has absolutely no right to be tactless! It's MY area!
"I've thought about the Brown, you see," Nemi said in a low, mockingly confidential voice. "But then I realised that only the Green Ajah could really give me what I wanted."
The Blue was staring at her, badly hiding her curiosity.
"Multiple warders?"
"Trollocs!" Nemi stated with a winning grin, as the other sister shuddered. "And Myrdraal too! Arecco, did you know that they actually continue to thrash when you kill them? You can cut their head off, or make their heart stop, but they can still run around. Like a hen when you cut its throat."
"Yes... you used to tell the horror stories when we were novices, too. Even Accepted were scared to death!"
Maybe she's actually trying to FLATTER me, not offend me.
Nemi turned to her, fake innocence written all over her face.
"Horror stories? But it's really that way."
"Yes... so the books say. Still, I hope we won't see a Trolloc in our time, Nemi..."
"Oh, I hope we will. What am I bloody doing being a Green, if I don't get to kill Shadowspawn?" Nemi barked a laugh. "All that practicing with knives and the bow would be in vain."
"Bow, is it?" Arecco gave her a tiny smile. "So you still dream of Birgitte, don't you?"
This WAS meant as puting me down. Our little Arecco thinks she is being SO very smart...
"It's more likely," Nemi explained paitently, "that I admire Birgitte. Who I dream of is Gaidal Caine." She couldn't help but sigh dreamily, and the other woman grabbed the chance.
"Oh, it's so typical for you," the other woman stated, and Nemi made a mental note to avenge this. "Falling in love with a book character and all."
The chance for vengeance was there already, Nemi noticed gleefully.
"Seems better," she said, poisonous honey dripping from her tongue, "than you, Arecco, that have been in love for what - six years - with that guard... What was his name, now?"
The Blue sighed, and it seemed genuine this time.
"Jarvis, yes... I don't even know if he knows I exist..."
"You see?" Nemi grinned. "I don't have that kind of problems, being in love with a Hero of the Horn."
Arecco stared at her for a moment, as if contemplating if Nemi was serious, and then forced a giggle.
"Yes... Now, Nemi... You as a Green probably understand me... I think I need a warder, you see. I think it's time. I should really have someone I can talk to, someone to listen to me, to understand me... Someone who would always be happy to see me."
Nemi stared at the other Aes Sedai in utter disbilief. Cold word wars are all well and right... she adored to exchange hidden offences with one Sister or another... but this? Was the woman trying to confide in her? They weren't even of the same bloody Ajah! Blood and ashes! Too much, really too much...
"I'm sorry, Arecco, but I don't have time for such, I have a work to do" she stated coldly, and the Blue (why Blue?) nodded, understanding that she has finally stepped over line. She stood up and smiled at Nemi vaguely.
"I'd better be going, too..."
Yup. Mutual understanding. Go go go! Don't turn around!
Nemi, however, couldn't restrain the last blow...
"Oh, Arreco. Just one thing more. As a Green, I can tell you one thing."
"Yes?"
"You said you needed someone to talk to, someone who would listen to you, right?"
"Yes"
"Someone who'd always be happy to see you?"
"Yes. So?"
"You don't need a Warder, Arecco. You need a dog."
A/N: Yes yes... I know it's terribly much of talk, and no action at all... What can I do when I LOVE to write evil Aes Sedai chit-chat. Anyways, for the next chapter I promise a CANDY! Nemi's gonna do some flirting, try to comfort some Warders that are not hers... And - Mat will be there! So - read on! And don't forget to review *uses compulsure* :)))