Here's chapter five. Hope you enjoy
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Sam's eyes widened as the city of Tar Valon came into view. A lone white tower surpassed the tallest buildings on the island. Several bridges stretched across the river like white fingers to reach the city.
"Wow…" Sam breathed.
"Have you ever seen anything like it?" Moiraine asked.
"Yeah," Sam said. "We have cities like this all over on my planet. But nothing as grand as this without big machines." She looked at Moiraine. "How many people live in Tar Valon?" she asked.
Moiraine shrugged. "I do not know the exact number, but it is well over several thousand. Many people come to trade or seek advise from Aes Sedai, though they would never admit to it."
"Why not?" Sam asked with a frown.
"Not everyone looks kindly on Aes Sedai. Some believe us to be servants of the Dark One, others simply fear us because of what we can do," Moiraine answered.
"I have a feeling that I have a lot to learn about this world," Sam muttered.
"We should reach the Tower by late afternoon," Moiraine said and led the way down the slope.
Sam swept her gaze across the skyline and frowned. "Moiraine, what's that mountain over there?"
"That is Mount Dragonmount," she replied. "It is where Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, was given birth."
The rest of the journey was done in silence till they reached the stables of the White Tower. After Lan and Moiraine handed their horses over to the stable hands, they led Sam inside of the Tower. Sam was amazed at how big the Tower was. If it looked imposing on the outside then the inside made it look intimidating.
Young women scurried about in plain white dresses while older women hurried through in white dresses with bands of seven different colors around the ends of the sleeves and the hem of the dresses. Sam recognized the Aes Sedai immediately. They were gliding serenely through the halls, their ageless faces staring curiously at Sam or not paying her any mind. Many of the Aes Sedai wore shawls. Sam noticed that each shawl she saw was one of the colors on the dresses of the Accepted.
Somewhere along the way Lan disappeared and it was just Moiraine and Sam walking up the steps towards the Amyrlin's Study. Before long they had halted in the antechamber and a woman in a blue dress and shawl looked up at them.
"It has been a while Moiraine," the woman said.
Moiraine curtsied out of respect. "It has Leanne. I need to see the Amyrlin immediately. It is a matter of importance."
Leanne nodded. "I will tell her that you are here." She rose to her feet and to a nearby door. She slipped through and Sam and Moiraine waited for several long minutes before Leanne returned. "The Amyrlin Seat will see you now."
As the pair walked towards the door, Moiraine glanced at Sam. "It would be wise to curtsy or bow your head in respect when you approach the Amyrlin." Sam nodded and they entered the room. They stopped several feet away from a sitting woman; a multi-colored stole around her shoulders. Sam bowed her head, keeping her eyes on the woman. Moiraine had dropped into a deep curtsy.
"Welcome back daughter," the Amyrlin said. "Tell me, what was so important that you needed to see me right away?"
"Mother, this is Major Samantha Carter. Lan and I found her running from Trollocs several days ago," Moiraine answered.
The Amyrlin looked at Sam. "Tell me child, why were the Trollocs after you?"
"I don't know. I'm sort of new around here," Sam answered.
"What land do you hail from?"
"Another world called Earth," Sam said. "It's a long way away from here."
"How many days journey?" the Amyrlin asked.
Sam stared the woman straight in the eye. "It depends. If you go by ship it would take months, if not years."
"There's another way to your land?" the Amyrlin asked.
"A device called the Stargate. It was built by a race of people known as the Ancients. Basically it establishes a tunnel through space and sends you across galaxies," Sam said. "I came through a Stargate in a barren, diseased land and was chased to Lan and Moiraine."
"Why did you not return home through this Stargate?" the Amyrlin asked.
"There was no way for me to dial my planet and the Gate was destroyed shortly after I came through. I'm stuck here," Sam said.
"An interesting tale," the Amyrlin said.
"It's the truth," Sam shrugged.
"Why have you come here?" the Amyrlin asked, sensing truth to Sam's words.
Sam arched a brow at the woman. "Because I have nowhere else to go. As much as I want to return home I can't." Though it won't stop me from trying to find a way back, she thought vehemently to herself.
"You wish to be Aes Sedai?" the Amyrlin inquired.
"I have nothing else here. No one will be able to find me ," Sam said softly, a pang in her heart as the words left her mouth. She stared steadily at the leader of the Aes Sedai, giving nothing away.
The Amyrlin smiled warmly at her. "We will take you in," she said. "Though the path to becoming an Aes Sedai is not easy."
"Nothing about my life has been easy," Sam said. "But I'm willing to do what it takes," she added.
The Amyrlin nodded in approval. "Very well. Moiraine, could you escort Samantha to the Mistress of Novices and tell her that Samantha is a new novice?"
Moiraine dropped into a curtsy. "Of course Mother," she said. She straightened and led Sam out of the room.
"I'll have to be formal to you now, won't I?" Sam asked as they walked along the halls of the Tower.
"You will need to show the sisters respect. Sheriam will explain it better than I will be able to," Moiraine answered. "But don't worry. I have a feeling that you will progress quickly. If you are diligent in your studies."
Sam shrugged her shoulders. "I was at the top of my class in every school I went to. I just hope I don't disappoint anyone."
"Worry about not disappointing yourself," Moiraine advised. "You'll do fine though." The two made the rest of the journey in silence.
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Hope you liked it. Now review. My army of radioactive purple penguins demands it.