As usual all speech in italics is in the Old Tongue.

Interlude I - When Taija Met Mierin

Approximately 3,150 years ago.

The first time Taija had met Mierin was when she was only 30 years old. A fresh faced post-doctoral researchedr she'd just taken up a post in the physics department of the Paaran Disen Central University.

It had been at a drinks reception a couple of months into the job. She'd gone with her boyfriend of the time, a floppily-black-haired young man named Loim. He hadn't been at all interested in physics, philosophy had been his thing, but he'd been both dreamily handsome and alluringly witty.

He'd had connections too, had known all the right people, not that Taija had cared about that at all. However, it did mean he was often rubbing shoulders with the great and good, off at their events and he'd always wanted her to with him. Eventually, after weeks of nagging, she'd agreed to go to one, although only after some dire warnings that she was no one's arm candy.

It wasn't that Taija had been anti-social. Not at all. However, she'd never really seen the point of all that networking, even when Loim had insisted that it was important for her career and progress in life.

Of course Taija had told him she just wanted to study, spend time with him and her friends and pursue her hobbies, but she'd been in love and deep down she'd had to admit, he at least had a bit of a point. It probably would be good for her career.

In the end it had actually been quite nice getting properly dressed up. Taija hadn't normally worried too much about her appearance. Beyond looking reasonably smart and well put together, it had never seemed all that big a deal. However, Loim had gone on and one about how many important people would be there and how she'd needed to make a good impression. So Taija had bought herself a new dress, had her hair done and actually put on make-up for once.

It had been rather nice actually. When she'd given Loim a twirl in her new, knee-length, sleeveless, black cocktail dress he hadn't been able to take his eyes off her. It had also been exciting to have the opportunity to display the formal symbol of the aes sedai on the left breast of her dress. It had been a few years since she'd earnt the right to wear the sinuously divided black and white circle, but given how she'd avoided formal events like the plague there hadn't actually been all that many opportunities to flaunt it.

Actually being at the drinks reception had been rather less entertaining though. Loim had soon run off to hobnob with various people his parents knew and Taija had found herself wandering around, feeling a little lost. She'd had some nice chats with people, but on the whole they hadn't seemed all that interested in speaking to a random, young post-doc from Adanza. Especially when they'd found out she was just there as a plus one.

That was until Mierin had spotted her. Taija hadn't realised who she was at first. Mierin had come over and put her hand on Taija's bare arm to get her attention and Taija had thought she was just a stranger being friendly, albeit in an overly familiar way.

"Hello, I am Mierin Eronaile, pleased to meet you." Her accent had been pure Paaran Disen, smooth and sophisticated as crystal. It had made Taija feel like a country bumpkin, which was ridiculous, she was from Adanza, one of the great cities!

Taija had turned to face her and had been almost speechless for a second at how beautiful she was. It had been hard to believe she was real. She hadn't recognised Mierin's face, but of course she'd recognised her name. Everyone in her field had known it.

"H h hi, my name's Taija, Taija Kosola." She'd kicked herself for stammering, unable to stop her face heating as she embarrassed herself in front of the older woman.

Mierin's faint smile had widened into a genuine grin. "Oh, you are Taija Kosola! I had heard you were coming. I had been hoping to meet you." She'd leant in conspiratorially. "It is terribly boring at these events I know, I never really feel I fit in, but I am very excited to meet one of the real up and comers in our field. That is why I really come to these, for people like you. I would love to hear how your research on particle filtration webs is going, it is ever so fascinating."

Taija had hardly been able to imagine an apparition like Mierin not fitting in anywhere she wanted, but at least she'd been able to stop stammering when she replied. "Oh, it's err not all that interesting really. I'm just starting out."

"Nonsense," Mierin had been having none of it. "I do not believe that at all. I read your paper on combining spirit and air for electron separation and I thought it was groundbreaking."

"You read my paper?" Taija had hardly been able to believe it. Everyone had known that Mierin was going to be one of the greats. She hadn't earnt a third name yet, but it was only a matter of time. An incredibly talented scientist, stronger in the Power than any other woman alive and so stunningly beautiful that men and women would throw themselves at her feet. "I'm incredibly flattered!" Taija hadn't been exaggerating. "I was inspired by your own research on wave formation, I couldn't have made it to where I am without that."

Mierin had grinned back at her, "you are too kind. I can see that you have a talent for using the Power creatively, let me show you a little something I saw recently that you might find useful." The light of saidar had sprung up around her and she'd spun a small, but intricate web of spirit, air and earth above her hand. "This has a fascinating effect on slowing electron movement for easier viewing, far more efficient than than anything I have seen before."

Taija had looked carefully down at the web above Mierin's hand. It had been fascinating, she hadn't seen anything quite like it before. In fact she'd been so engrossed in it that she'd only been vaguely aware of Loim coming up to the two of them and putting his arm around her.

"That's fascinating!" Taija hadn't tried to keep the enthusiasm out of her voice and Mierin had been visibly pleased by it. "I could see a lot of uses for this, especially if you just tweak it slightly…" Taija had embraced saidar herself and spun her own web, tiny flows of spirit, air and earth coming together in a rapid flurry, perfectly imitating Mierin's web. "Now if I just shift that node of earth and add a touch of fire…" Taija's web had flickered as she altered it, "I think this would slow them by at least another 10%!"

Mierin had kept on smiling, but there'd just been the slightest tightening around her eyes. "How intriguing." She'd stared for a few more seconds before gathering herself. "Well it was lovely to meet you Taija Kosola and I am sure I will be following your career with great interest, but I think I see Beidomon over there and I really must say hello to him before I leave."

"Of course, thank you so much for speaking to me, I hope we can meet again." Taija had tried not to sound too awed and then in a moment of bravery asked, "perhaps we could meet over coffee some time? I'd love to hear your thoughts on… well on so many things!"

Mierin had hesitated and then smiled radiantly. "Of course, I would love to. Here, let me give you my number. Drop me a message and we'll set something up."

Number duly given, Mierin had headed off to find Beidomon, giving Loim a small nod of acknowledgment as she did. He'd watched her leave, his arm still around Taija's waist before speaking up. "So who was that then?"

"Who was that?! That was Mierin Eronaile! Haven't you heard of her?" Taija had torn her attention away from Mierin's departing form to stare at Loim in amazement.

He'd shrugged. "Nope, should I have?"

"Yes! She's one of the most famous physicists alive." Taija hadn't been sure whether to be outraged or amused at his ignorance. "A genius, incredibly strong in the Power and she's so beautiful too…"

Loim had smiled at that and made a show of eyeing Taija up and down with a grin. "Was she? I hadn't noticed, I was a bit distracted by someone."

Taija had laughed. "You're ridiculous. She's far better looking than me!" Still, she'd known there was a reason why she'd loved him.

"Nonsense, there's no one more beautiful here and I know exactly what I plan to do with that beauty tonight." He'd leant down to whisper in Taija's ear.

She'd briefly pretended to be outraged by what he'd suggested before promptly grabbing his hand and heading straight for the exit, dragging him along behind her.